Blogs

If the Obama administration follows through on its newly announced effort to identify and weed out unproductive federal programs, it could build public confidence and support for more sweeping fiscal reforms in the future.The White House has asked federal agencies…

While advocates of a federal value-added tax (VAT) point to key benefits for a country struggling with big deficits, the idea has drawn strong opposition from both ends of the political spectrum. (more…)

Deficits remain a big focus in Washington as President Obama, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and members of Congress in both parties have struggled to find the right balance between nurturing the economic recovery and demonstrating fiscal responsibility.But timing is…

The Obama administration has announced a very small effort to reduce deficit spending, and yet liberal groups are attacking them for promoting a policy that will kill the economy – or at least prolong the recession. And conservatives continue to…

How large is the federal debt? That's something of a trick question in economic circles, and some analysts believe it may have already tripped up the President's fiscal commission. (more…)

Before leaving Washington for the Memorial Day recess, the House passed a scaled back version of a bill extending several tax and spending provisions while the Senate passed a supplemental appropriations bill, though neither bill cleared both chambers. This has…

Public concern about the nation’s rising debt burden is beginning to have an impact on the legislative agenda. That much was evident as the House passed a scaled back “extenders” bill (H.R. 4213) on May 28 by a slim margin.…

There’s debate over whether the President’s fiscal commission should focus on total federal debt or just the part of the debt that is held by private investors and foreign countries. Either figure, however, is high by historical standards.No one can…