In FY15 federal budget proposal, president outlines spending priorities

The $3.9 trillion federal budget request for fiscal 2015 that President Barack Obama sent to Congress on March 4 serves as a policy blueprint for his remaining three years in office, and beyond, laying out a wish list of significant domestic initiatives.

Most notably for local government, the budget would increase spending on early education and surface transportation programs and includes a gun violence reduction plan.

The proposal calls for a four-year, $302 billion surface transportation reauthorization financed through taxes on offshore profits of multinational corporations. According to a statement from the White House, the program is designed to support infrastructure projects, including improvements to roads, bridges, transit systems and railways, and to create jobs. The proposal emphasizes a “fix-it-first” philosophy focused on repairing existing transportation infrastructure.

The budget includes $76 billion over the next decade to support the president’s goal of providing high-quality early education to every 4-year-old in low- and moderate-income families. The program would be paid for through higher tobacco taxes. The proposal also encourages states to expand access for middle-income 4-year-olds and to provide full-day kindergarten.

A new Race to the Top program would focus on increasing the academic performance of high-need students and closing the achievement gap.

The budget seeks to reduce gun violence largely through improved FBI background checks and the National Criminal History Improvement Program. The initiative includes funds to train state and local law enforcement to respond to active shooters and prevent mass casualties. The budget would invest in programs for early identification of mental health issues and continue the Comprehensive School Safety Program and other initiatives to enhance security in public schools.

In December 2013, as part of a fiscal 2014 spending agreement, the House and Senate set a discretionary spending cap of $1.014 trillion for fiscal 2015, taking much of the uncertainty out of the congressional budgeting process. The president’s budget exceeds the discretionary spending cap and is unlikely to gain traction with Congress.

Republican leaders in the House said Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan would release a budget proposal in late March or early April. Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray indicated that her committee would not release a budget blueprint this year, saying the two-year budget agreement passed last December is sufficient.

A narrative detailing the president’s budget request is available at www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget.