Category: budget

Don’t Call It a Budget

Commentary Call it a joke, call it smoke and mirrors, call it a sales job, call it stupidity, call it whatever you want but please don’t call it a “budget.” Anyone who thinks the latest version of California spending and income figures projected for 2023–2024 by our governor is a budget should really go back…


Dutton Urges Government to Increase Jobseeker Working Hours

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called on the centre-left Labor government to increase the working hours threshold for JobSeeker recipients before it affects their payments. Dutton also refused to reveal whether he backed the move to increase the minimum wage to keep up with inflation but argued that the best thing the government can do…


Newsom’s Revised Budget Doesn’t Cut Enough

Commentary As expected, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revision of his January budget proposal, announced at 10 am May 12, projects a major deficit of $31.5 billion for fiscal year 2023-24, which begins on July 1. That’s $10 billion more than his January projection of a $22.5 billion deficit. The May Revise, as it’s called in Sacramento…


Australian Government’s Increased Welfare Payments to Surpass Budget Forecasts

The Australian federal government’s welfare spending is expected to exceed the rates outlined in the budget forecasts as it will be driven higher by top-ups to keep up with inflation. According to the budget paper from September, the centre-left Labor government will increase the rate of income support welfare payments—including JobSeeker Payment, Austudy, and Youth…


States Face Budgetary Pressure Amid Weaker April Income Tax Revenues

A number of states are feeling financial strain as they deal with lower income tax revenues for April compared to last year, but Fitch Ratings says most remain on track to meet or exceed year-end budget forecasts thanks in part to conservative revenue projections and prior-year surpluses that boosted reserves. April is a key month…


LIVE NOW: FBI Director Wray, DEA Administrator Testify to Senate Appropriation Committee Hearing on Budget

FBI director Christopher Wray and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram testify to the Senate Appropriation Committee hearing on their budget at 2:30 p.m. ET on May 10. …


FBI Director Wray, DEA Administrator Testify to Senate Appropriation Committee Hearing on Budget

FBI director Christopher Wray and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram testify to the Senate Appropriation Committee hearing on their budget at 2:30 p.m. ET on May 10. …


‘Quit Building Big’: Space Force Officials Talk Need for Speed and Agility

Defense officials told senators what they think the United States must do to compete with China and other rivals in space. Time, they agreed, is of the essence. “The trick is to quit building big,” said Frank Calvelli, assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, in answer to a question from…


LIVE 1:30 PM ET: FBI Director Testifies at House’s Budget Hearing

FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies at the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing on the FBI’s budget request at 1:30 p.m. ET on April 27. …


LIVE NOW: FBI Director Testifies at House’s Budget Hearing

FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies at the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing on the FBI’s budget request at 1:30 p.m. ET on April 27. …