Bill Overview
Title: No Budget, No Fundraising Act
Description: This bill prohibits Members of Congress and national congressional campaign committees from soliciting federal campaign funds during a fiscal year until a balanced budget resolution is in effect and appropriations bills that are consistent with the budget resolutions are enacted.
Sponsors: Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21]
Target Audience
Population: People associated with Members of Congress and political campaign teams
Estimated Size: 50000
- The bill directly targets Members of Congress by limiting their actions related to campaign fundraising based on budgetary conditions.
- It indirectly affects the staff of Members of Congress or campaign teams involved in fundraising activities.
- Political consultants and firms that support fundraising efforts for Congress members' campaigns could face changes in their workload.
- Constituents who are represented by these Members of Congress may experience indirect effects based on how their representations and funding efforts are strategized.
- It could have broader political implications if it changes the timing or nature of political campaigns.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily impacts those directly involved in political fundraising and budgeting, reducing its primary audience to members of Congress and their teams.
- The secondary and indirect influence may trickle down to constituents if representation strategies change due to altered funding environments.
- Given the target size of 50,000 and budget constraints, the policy is primarily symbolic with limited enforced change in behavior in the short-term on a grand scale.
- The wellbeing implication could fluctuate based on political dependency on campaign timing and fundraising cycles.
- Long-term, changes in political campaign flows affect political dynamics potentially impacting constituents indirectly.
Simulated Interviews
Congressional Campaign Manager (Washington D.C.)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could initially disrupt our fundraising cycles which we heavily rely on.
- Adjustments in strategy and timing are crucial to navigate through this act.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Political Consultant (New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's going to require a rethink of how strategies are formulated for yearly campaigns.
- Not all clients may want to wait for a balanced budget to move forward.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 10 |
Congressional Staffer (California)
Age: 34 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't have a direct role in fundraising, so my job isn't impacted.
- It's interesting to see how this could change office dynamics though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 10 |
Retired Voter (Florida)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that pushes for fiscal responsibility seems good to me.
- I hope this act puts pressure on Congress to act more responsibly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Political Science Student (Texas)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.5 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm really interested to see how this policy will shift the current political landscape and campaign finance.
- The theory behind it makes sense, but how it's enforced will matter.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 10 |
Non-Profit Director (Illinois)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Indirectly, this might change how we lobby Congress if their priorities shift.
- We'll likely need to adapt our messaging in presidential terms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Retired Political Consultant (North Carolina)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- When I was working, managing budgets was key, and this policy could add pressure.
- As a retiree, I don't have to manage this risk, but it's still significant for current consultants.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Campaign Volunteer Coordinator (Ohio)
Age: 54 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Holding back fundraising could impact volunteer enthusiasm if budgets are not secured.
- The nature of volunteering requires flexibility, and this policy might require us to adjust quickly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Grassroots Campaign Worker (Massachusetts)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We've been increasingly relying on digital platforms, this policy might set different timelines than we're used to.
- It could provide an interesting case study on the importance of timing in campaigns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 10 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 10 |
Member of Congress (Pennsylvania)
Age: 43 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We’ve needed to balance the budget for years, but it’s a tall order in practice.
- This policy might pressure us in Congress, but I'm skeptical about the enforceability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $700000)
Year 2: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $700000)
Year 3: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $700000)
Year 5: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $700000)
Year 10: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $700000)
Year 100: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $700000)
Key Considerations
- There will need to be a system in place to monitor and enforce the prohibition on fundraising, involving additional administrative oversight.
- Adjustment periods for campaign teams and political committees as they align activities with the bill's requirements could introduce temporary inefficiencies.