S. 2911: Common Sense Budgeting Act

111th Congress · introduced 2009-12-18 · Economics and Public Finance · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2009-12-18 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Common Sense Budgeting Act

Plain summary

Common Sense Budgeting Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to make it out of order to consider in either chamber any legislation that would exceed specified discretionary spending limits. Sets discretionary spending limits for FY2010-FY2014. Permits waiver or suspension of such prohibition, or successful appeals from rulings of the Chair in the Senate only: (1) by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (67) of the Senate; or (2) in the case of the defense budget authority, a declaration of war by Congress. Makes it out of order in the Senate to consider any direct spending or revenue legislation that would increase the on-budget deficit or cause an on-budget deficit for: (1) the current fiscal year; (2) the budget year; or (3) 5 to 10 ensuing fiscal years after the current fiscal year.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Common Sense Budgeting Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL] · 7 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

John Cornyn (R-TX), John Barrasso (R-WY)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-111s2911.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/111/s>

Record fed-us-cong111-s2911 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111