Blogs

A recently released paper by Charles Blahous, one of the two public trustees for Social Security and Medicare, has received considerable attention because of its discussion of trust fund accounting and the 2010 Affordable Care Act. The annual report from…

On today's federal tax filing deadline, it just so happens that Congress and the Administration have been thinking of different ways to raise tax burdens on the rich. (more…)

On Friday President Obama signed legislation to extend surface transportation programs for an additional 90 days. Earlier last week, the House passed the extension on a 266-158 vote and the Senate passed the bill by voice vote. The previous authorization…

Although spending cuts in last year’s Budget Control Act (BCA) lead to an improved fiscal outlook, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reminded policymakers this week that the larger long-term budget challenges remain.The law targets discretionary spending and, under two different…

A fiscal reform plan based on comprehensive recommendations by a bipartisan majority of the Simpson-Bowles commission made it to the House floor last week, where 22 Democrats and 16 Republicans joined to give it their support. Although a House majority eventually…

A rare display of bipartisan fiscal cooperation broke out on Capitol Hill last week when 38 House members (22 Democrats and 16 Republicans) braved an onslaught of interest group pressure to vote in favor of a budget resolution designed to…

Student loan debt appears to have recently surpassed $1 trillion, far higher than previous estimates had indicated, according to the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).“Unlike other consumer credit products, student debt keeps growing at a steady clip,” said Rohit…

Despite considerable congressional interest in eliminating many of the tax breaks that favor some individuals over others, a new report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) warns of a number of complexities in attempting to broaden the tax base.“In a…