Blogs

A recent panel discussion in Washington underscored the fiscal and economic challenges facing the country but also pointed towards possible solutions and ways to protect the country now and in the future. There was considerable agreement among the panelists that…

Recent reports on U.S. defense spending have raised questions about whether it is too much or too little, as discussed in a recent blog post. In response to a reader’s suggestion, we are presenting some information on how what the…

A bipartisan commission recently released a report filled with alarming language about the country’s ability to defend itself against China, Russia and other threats. “The security and well-being of the United States are at greater risk than at any time…

Amid bipartisan frustration over the federal budget process, Congress early this year created a special committee to develop reforms that could enable lawmakers to pass spending bills on schedule and in a more effective and thoughtful manner. There were high…

Congressional candidates have said little, if anything, about the federal government’s deteriorating finances. When the winners turn their attention to legislating, however, they will find that ignoring the problem did not make it go away. The first budget they are…

Since 2001 the Defense Department has received $2.2 trillion in special funding that has been on top of the basic defense budgets that Congress has approved through regular annual appropriations. That amounts to 20 percent of total defense appropriations over…

How do high and rising federal deficits hurt ordinary Americans? With the Treasury Department’s recent announcement that the deficit had climbed to $779 billion in the fiscal year that just ended -- a 17 percent increase over the previous year…

Social Security benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent next year, the federal government announced yesterday. The increase, which is tied to the government’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), is the highest in seven years. While older Americans…