Fact Check: The U.S. Senate can pass legislation that affects the federal deficit.
What We Know
The U.S. Senate has the authority to pass legislation that can impact the federal deficit, primarily through the budgetary process established by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. This act outlines various points of order that enforce budgetary levels for spending and revenue, which directly relate to the federal deficit. For instance, legislation that would cause budget authority and outlay spending totals to exceed the totals in the budget resolution can be prohibited under section 311(a)(2) of the act (Budget Points of Order).
Additionally, the Senate can pass budget resolutions that set forth appropriate budgetary levels for future fiscal years, including projected deficits. For example, S.Con.Res.7, which sets the congressional budget for fiscal years 2025 through 2034, explicitly includes provisions for deficits (S.Con.Res.7).
Furthermore, the Senate's ability to pass legislation that increases the deficit is also governed by rules that require offsets for certain types of legislation. For instance, the 2010 Budget Resolution prohibits consideration of legislation that would cause a net increase in the deficit in excess of $10 billion unless it is fully offset (Budget Points of Order).
Analysis
The claim that the U.S. Senate can pass legislation affecting the federal deficit is supported by the structure of budgetary rules and points of order that govern Senate proceedings. The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 provides a framework that allows the Senate to regulate its legislative actions concerning the federal budget, including the deficit. The existence of points of order, which can be raised against legislation that violates budgetary rules, indicates that the Senate has mechanisms in place to control how legislation impacts the deficit (Budget Points of Order).
Moreover, recent budget resolutions, such as S.Con.Res.7, demonstrate the Senate's active role in determining budgetary levels and deficits for future years. This resolution was agreed to in the Senate, indicating that the body can indeed legislate on matters that will affect the federal deficit (S.Con.Res.7).
However, it's important to note that while the Senate can pass legislation affecting the deficit, there are constraints and rules that may limit this ability. For example, legislation that increases the deficit must often be offset to comply with budgetary rules, which adds a layer of complexity to the legislative process (Budget Points of Order).
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high, as they come from official congressional documents and reputable news outlets. The Congressional Budget Act is a foundational legal document that outlines the budgetary process, while the resolutions and points of order cited are part of the official legislative record.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The U.S. Senate can indeed pass legislation that affects the federal deficit. This is supported by the framework established by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, which allows for the enforcement of budgetary levels and the passage of budget resolutions that explicitly address deficits. The Senate's legislative authority, combined with the points of order that regulate budgetary compliance, confirms that the claim is accurate.
