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Last month I participated in a conference of mostly military officials and national security experts at the Naval War College in Newport, RI. The conference title was “Economics and Security: Resourcing National Priorities.” (more…)

Debate on the so-called “extenders” bill has focused on the size and duration of unemployment benefits, health insurance assistance for those who recently lost their jobs, Medicare physician payments, state aid for health care and various offsets to mitigate the…

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…