Bond Insurance (Policy)
A financial guaranty insurance policy provided by a bond insurer which pledges to make scheduled payments of interest and principal of a bond issue in the event the issuer is unable to make those payments on time.
bond-basics
Budget Reconciliation
A procedure used by the U.S. Congress to amend federal revenues and expenditures more easily than possible under normal order. Most notably, the process allows the U.S. Senate to pass qualifying legislation without needing 60 votes to invoke cloture, thereby needing only a majority vote (51) to avoid the threat of an indefinite filibuster.
Both chambers of Congress must first pass a concurrent budget reconciliation resolution that outlines the budget parameters for forthcoming reconciliation legislation. Once Congress passes the concurrent resolution, which does not need Presidential signature, the chambers can begin work on legislation that fits within the rules of the budget reconciliation process and the parameters set forth in the concurrent resolution. The final legislation requires a Presidential vote.
Restrictions on Reconciliation
In general, budget reconciliation is limited to legislation that impacts the revenues and outlays of the federal government, including changes to tax law, spending, and the debt limit. The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 largely governs the rules of the process. The “Byrd Rule” was introduced in 1985 as a further means of limiting what legislation can be passed via reconciliation.
