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The federal government began a partial shutdown today because it lacked a budget for the new fiscal year, raising concerns about whether Washington has become so dysfunctional that it might also fail to raise the federal debt limit before the…

Federal spending on everything other than major health care programs (Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program), Social Security and net interest--will decline to historically low levels as a share of GDP in the next few decades, according to…

Two recent reports draw attention to the issue of generational equity and the burdens that the growing federal debt could place on younger Americans and future generations.The Congressional Budget Office’s 2013 Long-Term Budget Outlook, released earlier this month, shows that…

With advice and encouragement from two former U.S. House members, participants in a federal budget exercise Monday in Lawrence, Kansas developed broad fiscal reform plans that would put the government on a more responsible course over the next 10 years.The…

While a bill authorizing military action against Syria has been put on hold while diplomatic options are pursued, that country’s use of chemical weapons has raised additional questions about the impact of the budget sequester on the U.S. military.Some members…

The Congressional Budget Office has released new long-term projections that show why Washington must work towards comprehensive fiscal reforms even though the federal deficit has fallen sharply this year.“We’ve had some good short-term news on the deficit this year, but…

The latest budget struggles in Washington are a reminder of the need for public engagement in the nation’s fiscal challenges.“For 21 years, staff members of the nonpartisan Concord Coalition have crisscrossed the nation discussing the causes and consequences of federal…

As Congress considers authorizing military action in Syria, many lawmakers and analysts have turned their attention to the possible impact on the defense budget.The cost of a limited strike in Syria would likely be small relative to the $680 billion…