Kurt Couchman Journalist Profile

Articles

Will this lame-duck Congress trip the next one over the fiscal cliff?

Nov 4, 2024 | bizpacreview.com | Kurt Couchman

Congress’ post-election, lame-duck session will be a mess. A barely Republican House, barely Democratic Senate, and barely competent Biden-Harris administration have finished barely any of the routine business of government this year. They need to wrap it up without any funny business. Next year’s fiscal cliff will consume every scrap of policymakers’ time and attention.
KURT COUCHMAN: Will This Lame-Duck Congress Trip The Next One Over The Fiscal Cliff?

Nov 1, 2024 | dailycaller.com | Kurt Couchman

Congress’ post-election, lame-duck session will be a mess. A barely Republican House, barely Democratic Senate and barely competent Biden-Harris administration have finished barely any of the routine business of government this year. They need to wrap it up and without any funny business. Next year’s fiscal cliff will consume every scrap of policymakers’ time and attention.
Opinion: Kansas Legislature can improve state budget process with these 4 changes

Oct 28, 2024 | finance.yahoo.com | Elizabeth Patton |Kurt Couchman

Every nook and cranny of the Sunflower State is impacted by 40 senators and 125 representatives in the Kansas Legislature. They represent diverse communities, and their different backgrounds and values reflect the people. It is only within their ability to properly balance competing interests and values, but how can their perception of budgeting work better for the diverse communities they represent?
What is the Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act?

Sep 5, 2024 | americansforprosperity.org | Kurt Couchman

facebook twitter linkedin Americans are frustrated with Congress. They see the festering bloat, discoordination, and waste and think Congress ignores obvious problems. The growing debt burden makes us poorer, crowds out other priorities, and threatens stagnation or worse. Members of Congress are frustrated, too. They often face up-or-down votes on deals they didn’t get a chance to shape.
Federal Finances Are on Thin Ice. Congress Is Catching On.

Mar 9, 2024 | townhall.com | Kurt Couchman

Spring is just around the corner, and the federal government’s finances are on thin ice. New projections show that federal debt is so high that just paying the interest on it already costs more than defense spending this year. Debt service will exceed Medicare spending next year. Half of this year’s borrowing – more than $2,500 per U.S. resident – merely pays interest on what’s already on the country’s credit card.
KURT COUCHMAN: Biden Is Ignoring This Law. A New Bill Would Put A Stop To That

Feb 6, 2024 | dailycaller.com | Kurt Couchman

President Biden failed to give Congress a budget request yesterday. He also neglected to submit a National Security Strategy. By law, both are due to Congress on the first Monday in February. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA) have had enough of presidents flouting the law.
Restoring representation: 10 ways to help congressional committees get results

Dec 6, 2023 | americansforprosperity.org | Kurt Couchman

facebook twitter linkedin Immediately after taking the gavel, Speaker Mike Johnson pledged to decentralize power in the House of Representatives. The committees are key to making that promise reality. Committees are venues for applying members’ knowledge, experience, and resources within a manageable space for deliberation.
What leverage? Shutdown fights don’t get results

Nov 17, 2023 | budgetprocess.substack.com | Kurt Couchman

Americans know our semi-regular debt limit showdowns all too well. These occur primarily because of the struggle for concessions between the parties, with the debt limit and subsequent shutdown risk dangling over all of us. However, argues Kurt Couchman of AFP, this struggle should not primarily be laid at the feet of rank-and-file members. In fact, most members of Congress want to avoid a shutdown at all costs. But:Those who negotiate and set the agenda for spending legislation know this.
What leverage? Shutdown fights don’t get results

Sep 27, 2023 | msn.com | Kurt Couchman
What leverage? Shutdown fights don’t get results

Sep 27, 2023 | thehill.com | Kurt Couchman

As the federal government approaches another funding deadline, naturally there’s another attempt to get something big out of it. Unfortunately, the possibility of shutdowns creates leverage only for congressional leadership and top appropriators, not for most Republican members or the American people they serve. Think about it. Most members of Congress will accept a lot to avoid a government shutdown. And with good reason.