A People's Guide to the Federal Budget

July 1, 2012

Kramer (senior research analyst, National Priorities Project) here provides an understandable explanation of federal spending and revenues. The text explains why readers should care about the federal budget and how it affects them. It also breaks down technical language, e.g., mandatory and discretionary spending and revenue sources; 13 spending categories; how Congress and presidential administrations prepare budgets; nominal versus real dollars; fiscal and calendar years; departments that influence the budget and their acronyms, e.g., OMB, GAO, CBO, and CRS; budget creation chronology, beginning with the president, House and Senate action, their subcommittees' proposed appropriations, House and Senate reconciliations, and final presidential signature. That "politics, economics, and lobbying add complications" seems an understatement. Also included is a how-to guide readers can use to lobby their representatives. VERDICT This book is worthwhile reading for all U.S. citizens, though it presents issues of spending and revenue rather uncritically given the current economic environment. Of particular value for high school and college teachers, the book contains several lesson plans, and many more can be accessed at nationalpriorities.org. With a foreword by Barbara Ehrenreich.--Joanne B. Conrad, SUNY at Geneseo

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2012

Gr 10 Up-At the risk of inundating readers with sheer numbers, pie charts, and assorted graphics The People's Guide takes a singularly dry topic and admirably makes it accessible to the masses. A solid review of "Where Does the Money Come From?" and "Where Does the Money Go?" lays the groundwork for an analysis of the Federal Debt and Obama's 2013 Budget Request. The specific aim for this text is to help readers understand Obama's 2013 proposed budget, a call to action if you will, with an aim to nonpartisan presentation. The text is carefully laid out in a highly digestible and sequential format. It includes simple, layperson's concepts such as our Social Security wage tax holiday, down to 4.2 percent until the end of 2012, upon which the elucidation of more complex tax topics can be built. A more complex graphic is a bar graph with a 70-year review of "Revenues, Outlays, Deficits and Surpluses"-and current deficits versus outlays aren't looking good! In the "Take Action" chapter, a proactive chart provides a month-by-month layout of "Opportunities to Take Action" leading up to October 1, the new fiscal year. Readers would be well served by having a solid grasp of basic government fiscal machinations prior to reading this guide. With clearly presented concepts, consistently referring back to prior explanatory text, there is a wealth of data packed into every page.-Meredith Toumayan, Topsfield Town Library, MA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2012
This primer on the complicated federal budget process is offered in readily understandable language for all readersnovices, those with more information, and high school and college students. The book clearly addresses such issues as discretionary and mandatory spending; how the federal government creates a budget; where the money comes from and goes; and the federal debt. In the foreword, author Barbara Ehrenreich reflects on the challenges people face in trying to make ends meet on meager paychecks or without a paycheck. Many individual lives are profoundly impacted by necessary safety-net programs for public assistance. Ehrenreich's priorities for helping working people include universal heath care, better public schools, and affordable housing. Other important priorities include construction of roads and highways, law enforcement, and veterans' assistance. There is much disagreement about the role of the federal government, but it is imperative that all Americans understand its operations in order to effectively participate in our political process. This is a valuable resource for a wide range of library patrons.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)