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Although the nation’s economic and fiscal challenges are daunting, Diane Lim Rogers, The Concord Coalition’s chief economist, encourages ordinary citizens not to give up in pressing politicians for effective action. (more…)

Fitch Ratings on Monday affirmed the U.S. government’s AAA rating but lowered its long-term rating outlook from “stable” to “negative” and warned that there is “a slightly greater than 50 percent chance of a downgrade over a two-year horizon.” The U.S.…

In the wake of the super committee’s failure last week, Congress faces some key decisions on expiring policies over the next few weeks that could have a significant impact on the federal deficit in the years ahead. On Monday, for…

The congressional “super committee” charged with recommending at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction for the next decade announced Monday that it had failed to reach agreement on a plan. Democrats and Republicans each blame the other for the failure,…

President Obama signed the first regular appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2012 into law last Friday. The legislation was referred to as a “minibus” and combined three of the twelve regular appropriations bills: Agriculture, Commerce/ Justice/ Science, and Transportation/ Housing…

It is now a little under one week until the deadline for the congressional joint committee on deficit reduction, or super committee, to report its recommendations. Inside Washington, many are skeptical that committee members will meet their goal of $1.5…

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to consider the constitutionality of the legislation approved last year to revamp the U.S. health care system. The court indicated that it would examine not just whether the government can require people to buy…

Nearly 200 Iowa residents slipped into the role of congressional deficit-cutters on Monday night, and in many cases were able to reach agreement on the sort of sweeping fiscal reforms that have so far eluded Congress.Working in groups of six…