Essays on the Federal Budget Process, The Line-Item Veto, and Examples of Issues That May Be Experienced When Moving a Bill Through the New York State Budget Process

This article discusses six issues in the budgeting process. The first essay addresses the federal budget process, with the second describing constitutional issues related to a line-item veto. The essay proposes that Congress adopt a Single Subject Rule that is similar to the rule in Florida. The remaining four essays describe budgeting issues that exist in the New York State budget process. The third essay outlines a proposal to tax New York State drug manufacturers. Such a bill would likely face federal opposition under the Commerce Clause, the Dormant Commerce Clause, and possibly the Supremacy Clause. The fourth essay adopts a more conversational approach, in which the parties to a negotiation consist of the bill’s proponents, while the other parties include the New York State House and Senate. The idea behind this essay is to familiarize the reader with how to conduct, suggesting what to say, and when to say it. The fifth essay explains how to handle a surprise budget addition. The sixth and final essay discusses under what circumstances a municipal bond issue is appropriate.