WASHINGTON, DC - Today the New America Foundation's Federal Education Budget Project released an updated version of the issue brief "A Primer on the Budget Resolution's Impact on Education Funding," by the project's Research Director Jason Delisle.  

This week the Congressional budget committees will consider the first drafts of the fiscal year 2010 budget resolution, marking the start of the annual Congressional budget process.  The respective versions of the fiscal year 2010 budget resolution will likely head to the full House and Senate the following week. The primer serves as an insightful guide to this confusing and often partisan process.  

"The budget resolution and the ensuing budget process itself can have significant effects on education funding," Delisle said. "The arcane procedures Congress uses to produce and act upon the budget resolution, however, are often confusing to the media and education advocates alike." The budget primer aims to shed light on these issues by addressing important budget topics such as:  

• Can Congress set funding levels for individual programs in the budget resolution?
• How does the budget resolution influence the appropriation process?
• What is the difference between mandatory and discretionary spending in the context of the budget resolution?
• What special mechanisms exist for enforcing budget rules and funding levels in the budget resolution?

You can read the whole primer here or on the Federal Education Budget Project website www.EdBudgetProject.org.

If you wish to speak with the author, please contact Jason Delisle at delisle@newamerica.net.

Please direct media inquiries to Erin Drankoski, 202-997-8727, drankoski@newamerica.net.