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Non-profit

Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB)

Website:

www.crfb.org/
Location:

WASHINGTON, DC
Tax ID:

52-1231278
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $2,256,835
Expenses: $4,186,697
Assets: $1,994,124
Type:

Think Tank
Formation:

1981 1

References

  1. “About Us.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/about-us

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) is a cross-party think tank focusing on federal fiscal policy and the budget deficit.

Former U.S. Rep. Robert Giaimo (D-CT) and former U.S. Sen. Henry Bellmon (R-OK) started the CRFB in June 1981. 1 The organization opposes large spending bills as well as large tax cuts. 2 The organization has called for changes to entitlement programs to improve their fiscal sustainability. 3

Background

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget is a fiscal watchdog nonprofit with bipartisan staff and board members made up of policy staff formerly affiliated with the House and Senate Budget Committees, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Government Accountability Office (GAO).4

Former U.S. Rep. Robert Giaimo (D-CT), a former chairman of the House Budget Committee, and former U.S. Sen. Henry Bellmon (R-OK), a former ranking minority-party member of the Senate Budget Committee, started CRFB in June 1981 after retiring from Congress. 5

While often critical of Democratic spending proposals, the committee is also known for being critical of Republican-backed tax-cut proposals. 7 CRFB president Maya MacGuineas demanded Congress consider Social Security options and stop “running away” from the potential insolvency problem. 8 The committee has previously called for means-testing Social Security benefits. 9

The organization hosted the Peterson-Pew Commission on Budget Reform, which released its initial report titled “Red Ink Rising” in December 2009 and its second report “Getting Back in the Black” in November 2010. 10

The “Getting Back in the Black” report called for “creating fiscal targets; establishing automatic budgetary triggers; and increasing transparency of budgetary information and procedures.” The recommendations included enacting budget limits that would automatically be enforced through spending cuts and tax increases if Congress and the president do not enact necessary budget reforms. The report also called for adopting long-term limits on spending and borrowing. 11

During the first term of the Obama administration, the committee supported the work of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, led by former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-WY) and former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles. Both Simpson and Bowles are on the CRFB board of directors. 12

In 2011, the committee issued a letter signed by former government officials, business leaders and budget experts asking the Joint Congressional Committee on Deficit Reduction (known as the “Supercommittee” at the time) to “go big” in developing a plan for debt reduction. 13

Projects

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget launched the “Campaign to Fix the Debt” with former Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) and former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) as steering committee co-chairs. 14 The campaign argues the three key myths are that the national debt does not matter, that tax cuts pay for themselves through economic growth, and that taxing only the top 1 percent will solve the national debt. 15

CRFB’s COVID Money Tracker followed whether the trillions of dollars in federal spending and grants allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic was spent properly. 16 Kate Generelli, a policy analyst for the CRFB, provides support for the COVID Money Tracker project. 17

Health Savers Initiative is a project of the committee, teaming with Arnold Ventures and West Health to promote policy proposals to make health care more affordable for the federal government, businesses, and households. The initiative advocates for reducing Medicare Advantage overpayments, more competition in drug prices, and capping hospital prices, among other issues. Josh Gordon, the director of Health Policy at the CRFB, leads the project. 18 19

The Trust Fund Solutions project focuses on the solvency of programs such as Social Security and Medicare with a combined shortfall of $3 trillion. 20 Gordon also runs the Trust Fund Solutions project. 21

The FixUS project is a special initiative to assess the root causes of political divisions. 22 The project holds a Democracy Reformers Breakfast Group and gathers academics from across the political spectrum for the Thought Leaders Discussion Group. 23 CRFB Chief of Staff Michael V. Murphy heads up the FixUS project. 24

In 2023, the CRFB also set up an interactive tool, “Build Your Own Discretionary Budget,” to allow people to prioritize spending, and share with others. 25

Donors

Donors to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget have included the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, 26 Arnold Ventures, 27 and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. 28

The Peter G. Peterson Foundation, also a deficit watchdog group, contributed at least $12 million to the CRFB from 2012 through 2020. The foundation’s founder, hedge fund billionaire and former Nixon administration Commerce Secretary Peter G. Peterson, was on the CRFB board from 2012 until his death in 2018. 29

The left-leaning Huffington Post reported on the CRFB’s corporate ties, including taking money from tobacco companies such as Phillip Morris in creating the Cost Containment Coalition. 30 The coalition lobbied against an excise tax on tobacco being proposed to help pay for the Clinton administration’s health care proposal. 31

Leadership

Maya McGuiness is the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. She earned a salary of $462,821 according to 2020 tax documents. 32 McGuiness previously worked at the Brookings Institution, and was on the Washington Post editorial board covering economic and fiscal policy. 33

Marc L. Goodwein is the senior vice president and senior policy director of the CRFB. He earns a salary of $229,947. 34 Goldwein previously was associate director of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, also known as the Simpson-Bowles Commission, and was a senior budget analyst on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the Supercommittee. 35

Michael V. Murphy is the chief of staff for the CRFB. He earns $181,524, according to 2020 tax documents. 36 Previously, he worked for Comeback America, an organization established by former Comptroller General David Walker to promote fiscal issues. He is a former senior transportation program analyst for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He also worked in legislative affairs for the American Cancer Society. 37

The three co-chairmen of the CRFB board of directors are: Mitch Daniels, former Republican governor of Indiana, and a former director of the Office of Management and Budget under the George W. Bush administration; Leon Panetta, a former Secretary of Defense and former director of the Central Intelligence Agency during the Obama administration and former OMB director and chief of staff in the Clinton White House; and former U.S. Rep. Timothy Penny (D-MN).  38 39

The board of directors also includes former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson (R-WY); former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles; former U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA); former U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND); former U.S. Rep. James Cooper (D-TN); former U.S. Rep. Jane Harmon (D-CA); former U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND); former Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R); former U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC); former U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble (R-WI); former Reagan administration OMB Director and U.S. Rep. David Stockman (R-MI); former U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI); former U.S. Rep. Dave McCurdy (D-OK); former U.S. Rep. David Minge (D-MN); former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (D); former U.S. Rep. John Tanner (D-TN); and Charles Robb, a Democrat who served as Virginia governor and U.S. Senator. 40

References

  1. “About Us.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/about-us
  2. Hiltzik, Michael. “Billionaire anti-deficit hawks are already attacking Biden’s spending plan. Ignore them.” Los Angeles Times. November 10, 2021. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-11-10/the-anti-deficit-hawks-are-already-attacking-biden-plan
  3. Tanner, Jeremy. “Retirees Face $17,400 Hit in Social Security if Fund Isn’t Bolstered: Analysis.” NBC 4. August 15, 2023. Accesses August 19, 2023. https://news.yahoo.com/retirees-face-17-400-hit-101850341.html
  4. “About Us.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/about-us
  5. “About Us.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/about-us
  7. Hiltzik, Michael. “Billionaire anti-deficit hawks are already attacking Biden’s spending plan. Ignore them.” Los Angeles Times. November 10, 2021. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-11-10/the-anti-deficit-hawks-are-already-attacking-biden-plan[/note

    Advocacy

    In August 2023, a Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget study on the solvency problems of Social Security determined a typical two-income couple retiring in 2033 would face an immediate $17,400 cut in current-dollar benefits, while single retirees would be hit with a $13,100 cut if no changes to the policy were made. 6 Tanner, Jeremy. “Retirees Face $17,400 Hit in Social Security if Fund Isn’t Bolstered: Analysis.” NBC 4. August 15, 2023. Accesses August 19, 2023. https://news.yahoo.com/retirees-face-17-400-hit-101850341.html

  8. [1] Lamberg, Erica. “On this day in history, August 14, 1935, Social Security is signed into law by FDR.” Fox News. August 14, 2023. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/this-day-history-august-14-1935-social-security-signed-law-fdr
  9.  Hiltzik, Michael. “Billionaire anti-deficit hawks are already attacking Biden’s spending plan. Ignore them.” Los Angeles Times. November 10, 2021. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-11-10/the-anti-deficit-hawks-are-already-attacking-biden-plan
  10. “Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.” Library of Congress. Accessed August 18, 2023. https://www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0006868/
  11. “Getting Back in the Black.” Pew Trusts. November 10, 2010. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2010/11/10/getting-back-in-the-black
  12. Hiltzik, Michael. “Billionaire anti-deficit hawks are already attacking Biden’s spending plan. Ignore them.” Los Angeles Times. November 10, 2021. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-11-10/the-anti-deficit-hawks-are-already-attacking-biden-plan
  13. Marron, Donald. “How to solve foreign debt? Go big.” Christian Science Monitor. September 19, 2011. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Donald-Marron/2011/0919/How-to-solve-foreign-debt-Go-big
  14. Gregg, Judd and Rendell, Ed. “Together, we can fix the debt.” Politico. August 19, 2012. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/together-we-can-fix-the-debt-079858
  15. Simon, Rachel. “Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.” Read Think Act. March 25, 2019. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://readthinkact.com/committee-for-a-responsible-federal-budget/
  16. Home. COVID Money Tracker. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.covidmoneytracker.org/
  17.  “Staff Members.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/staff-members
  18. “Health Savers Initiative.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/project/health-savers-initiative
  19. “Staff Members.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/staff-members
  20. “Trust Fund Solutions.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/projects/trust-fund-solutions
  21. “Staff Members.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/staff-members
  22.  “Staff Members.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/staff-members
  23. Fix US Now Network. Fix US. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://fixusnow.org/the-fixus-network
  24. “Staff Members.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/staff-members
  25. “About Us.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/about-us
  26. “Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.” Hewlett Foundation. Accessed August 19, 2023. https://hewlett.org/grants/committee-for-a-responsible-federal-budget-for-general-operating-support-2/
  27. Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.” Arnold Ventures. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.arnoldventures.org/grantees/committee-for-a-responsible-federal-budget
  28. “Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.” Carnegie Corporation of New York. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.carnegie.org/grants/grants-database/grantee/committee-responsible-federal-budget/#!/grants/grants-database/grant/201770414.0/
  29. Hiltzik, Michael. “Billionaire anti-deficit hawks are already attacking Biden’s spending plan. Ignore them.” Los Angeles Times. November 10, 2021. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-11-10/the-anti-deficit-hawks-are-already-attacking-biden-plan
  30. Blumenthal, Paul and Grim, Ryan. “CRFB Corporate Ties: Budget Watchdog Funded By Big Tobacco In 1990s Health Care Fight.” Huffington Post. January 24, 2013. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/crfb-corporate-funds_n_2545878
  31. Hiltzik, Michael. “Billionaire anti-deficit hawks are already attacking Biden’s spending plan. Ignore them.” Los Angeles Times. November 10, 2021. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-11-10/the-anti-deficit-hawks-are-already-attacking-biden-plan
  32. “Committee for Responsible Federal Budget.” Pro Publica. Accessed August 18, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521231278
  33. “Staff Members.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/staff-members
  34. “Committee for Responsible Federal Budget.” Pro Publica. Accessed August 18, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521231278
  35. “Staff Members.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/staff-members
  36. “Committee for Responsible Federal Budget.” Pro Publica. Accessed August 18, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521231278
  37.  “Staff Members.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/staff-members
  38. [1] Groppe, Maureen. “Mitch Daniels to help lead Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.” Indianapolis Star. July 28, 2015. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.indystar.com/story/behind-closed-doors/2015/07/28/mitch-daniels-to-help-lead-committee-for-a-responsible-federal-budget/30804693/
  39. “Board Members.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.” Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/board-members
  40. “Board Members.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.” Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.crfb.org/board-members
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 1982

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form 990 $2,256,835 $4,186,697 $1,994,124 $249,048 N $2,250,568 $0 $5,217 $737,620 PDF
    2019 Dec Form 990 $5,863,809 $3,476,962 $3,874,884 $199,946 N $5,850,841 $0 $11,134 $586,581 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $586,400 $3,287,833 $1,463,338 $175,247 N $584,728 $0 $136 $582,109 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $5,421,527 $3,038,669 $4,170,544 $181,020 N $5,398,765 $0 $149 $564,772 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $1,109,159 $3,227,336 $1,765,243 $158,577 N $1,104,244 $378 $333 $515,013 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $4,988,957 $3,385,499 $3,870,785 $145,942 N $4,986,275 $0 $713 $521,412 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $989,630 $2,646,618 $2,187,276 $65,891 N $987,500 $0 $1,830 $277,140 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $7,086,781 $9,803,207 $3,994,677 $216,304 N $7,082,287 $0 $4,494 $538,351 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $14,666,810 $8,266,400 $8,186,146 $1,691,347 N $14,665,905 $0 $905 $226,633 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB)

    1900 M Street NW, Suite 850
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036-3536