Blogs

No sooner had Congress approved its fourth budget stop-gap measure in four months than lawmakers began talking about the need for a fifth one in February. On Wednesday the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, Majority Whip John Cornyn, raised…

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has presented a new infrastructure plan that includes a realistic look at two key issues: the federal gas tax and the need for immigration policies that will ensure a sufficient labor force. On the gas…

National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson warns that budget cuts in recent years have significantly reduced the ability of the IRS to explain and enforce the tax code, a situation likely to result in greater confusion over the tax overhaul…

During the 2016 presidential election and his first year in the White House, President Trump often promised to significantly increase military spending. He sounded that theme again last month in releasing his National Security Strategy, saying “historic investments” were required…

When it comes to budget negotiations, many interest groups demand that certain items be considered “off the table” and exempt from any changes. The reality, however, is that everything needs to be on the table for both economic and political…

To reduce budget deficits, policymakers must make politically painful policy changes by raising taxes on constituents and/or reducing spending on services provided to them. Because different tax increases or spending cuts of the same magnitude do not always have the…

Before Congress approves a final package of tax cuts estimated to add more than a trillion dollars to the national debt over 10 years -- in addition to the $10 trillion already projected under current law -- The Concord Coalition…

There is no shortage of proposals in Congress and in academia for improving the federal budget process. Given that the process has remained essentially unchanged since 1974, it may well be overdue for a facelift. Many of these proposals, such…