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.
A Small Change, But a Good Idea
Looks like the White House wants to attack the deficit one small change at a time. After promoting the Reduce Unnecessary Spending Act to give the...
Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy, or Something in Between?
Yesterday, Donald Marron asked the question: " How Blurry is the Line between Monetary and Fiscal Policy?" As our readers know, we have been tracking...
Disappointing Employment News, the Extenders Bill, and Credible Fiscal Policy
Yes, today’s employment news from May is disappointing – even though there are some encouraging signs. Let’s start with the bright side: the...
Employment Situation
Today's May jobs report was a surprise to many economists, who had expected stronger private sector gains. Government-hired Census workers accounted...
The Short-Run Problems of US Debt
Jeanne Sahadi wrote for CNN today on the sometimes-overlooked short-term perils that the growing US debt could create, and how they affect the average...
Deficits, GDP, and Automatic Stabilizers
According to a new CBO report, automatic stabilizers added about $282 billion to the federal deficit last year and are projected to add $351 billion...
‘Line’ Items: Recess and Rescissions
Lots of Assignments Due After Recess – Lawmakers are home this week for the Memorial Day recess. When they come back next week they will have a lot of...
Wolf Airs Concerns on Fiscal Commission
In a publicly released letter to the co-chairs of President Obama’s fiscal commission, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) warned of the “deep and downward slide”...
Weekend Editorial Roundup
Here are the highlights from this weekend’s editorials on fiscal and budget policy: In light of Obama advisor Larry Summers’ recent speech on the...
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
We at CRFB believe in the Wizard of Oz theory of deficit reduction. Passing the right package of spending cuts and tax increases requires a brain – so...
House Passes Extensions, But Senate Will Wait Until After Recess
The House today passed a one-year extension of various tax breaks as well as expanded unemployment benefits until November on a 215-204 vote. In a...
Up-Hill Drive for Spending Bills, But No Gas in the Tank for Paying for Them
Two massive spending bills that congressional leaders wanted to dispose of before hitting the road for Memorial Day have hit potholes as lawmakers...