Blog
Welcome to our blog – The Bottom Line, where you’ll find up-to-date commentary and analysis on the most important news in the fiscal world. Below is a list of our blog posts.
CBO Shows an Unsustainable Long-Term Budget Outlook
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) today released its 2015 Long-Term Budget Outlook, showing a clearly unsustainable long-term path for debt. The...
A Comparison of the House and Senate Trade Bills
The House is considering trade legislation (H.R. 1314, H.R. 1295, and H.R. 644) this week that would fast-track authority for a few major trade deals...
Why Lawmakers Were Able to Extend Highway Spending for Free
At the end of last month, lawmakers passed a two-month extension of the highway authorization bill with very little fuss. There was no discussion of...
Four Gimmicks to Watch Out For
As Congress begins the appropriations process, maneuvers through this year’s Fiscal Speed Bumps, and looks to pay for the costs of new legislation...
Budget Issues Abound in the Senate Defense Authorization
Update: The Reed amendment was rejected in floor consideration by a 46-51 vote. The Senate is currently considering the National Defense Authorization...
Huckabee Position Doesn't Add Up for Debt or Social Security
Former Arkansas Governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has criticized other candidates who are calling for entitlement reform...
Maya MacGuineas: Another Look at That IMF Paper on Debt–and What It Means for the U.S.
Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, wrote a commentary that appeared in the Wall Street Journal Washington...
$12 Billion Cures Bill Advances in House
Update: This blog was updated on June 30 to reflect a CBO estimate published on June 23. Our original estimate was $13 billion, based on staff...
House Set to Target Deficit-Reducing Parts of ACA
Update (6/12/15): A new CBO score estimates that repealing IPAB will cost $7.1 billion over ten years, with all of the cost recorded after 2021. The...
Congress Postpones Highway Decisions Until July
The President signed a two-month extension of the highway bill on Friday evening, postponing decisions about spending and the financing of the Highway...
Time to Get to Work on a Highway Trust Fund Solution
Lawmakers have many potential options to address the shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund. With the President expected to sign a two-month extension of...
Richmond Fed Releases Bailout Barometer
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond has updated their “ Bailout Barometer,” which measures the total financial sector liabilities that have a...