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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/article_listing/public/managed/media-images2022-02/2014-confetti.jpg.webp?itok=hhZRHOMQ)
Line Items: New Year and New Fears Edition
Out with the Old, In with the ? – 2013 is history and 2014 is just underway. While the New Year is usually a time for optimism, this year begins with...
![](/sites/default/files/styles/article_listing/public/managed/media-images2022-02/smalltank_0.jpg.webp?itok=SgefzIEd)
Editorial Boards: Tiny Military Pension Cut is a Good Move
Among the elements of the budget deal that passed Congress last month was a small $6 billion change to the way military pensions are calculated for...
![](/sites/default/files/styles/article_listing/public/managed/media-images2022-02/alarm_3.jpg.webp?itok=I028r6Tz)
Unfinished Business for the New Year
The passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act was a positive move away from governing by crisis, and a demonstration that policymakers can meet self...
![](/sites/default/files/styles/article_listing/public/managed/media-images2022-02/medeal.gif.webp?itok=K3UTaAxJ)
2013 SAVE Award Announced
Since 2009, the White House has held an annual contest for federal employees to submit their money saving ideas, called the SAVE Award (which stands...
![](/sites/default/files/styles/article_listing/public/managed/media-images2022-02/max_s_baucus_2.jpg.webp?itok=MLR60smR)
Baucus Draft to Extend and Reform Energy Incentives
It's the beginning of 2014, and Congress did not pass legislation to extend the "tax extenders," a collection of over 50 provisions that expired at...
![](/sites/default/files/styles/article_listing/public/managed/media-images2022-02/macro-dollars-bills-money_10.jpg.webp?itok=E5JFNHom)
Stopgap Unemployment Benefit Extension Should Be Offset
At the end of 2013, Congress allowed extended unemployment benefits to expire, and as a result the maximum number of weeks for collecting benefits has...
![](/sites/default/files/styles/article_listing/public/managed/media-images2022-02/social_security_10.jpg.webp?itok=m80poId7)
Social Security Trustee Warns About Expansion Proposals
Late in 2013, a debate about Social Security erupted centering around calls from some progressives to broadly increase Social Security benefits at a...
![](/sites/default/files/styles/article_listing/public/managed/media-images2022-02/blog-paper-default-img.jpg.webp?itok=ZKphAsWb)
![](/sites/default/files/styles/article_listing/public/managed/media-images2022-02/excess_cost_growth_3.png.webp?itok=jn6Zj4px)
Happy New Year!
We have an end-of-year tradition here at CRFB to take a look back at the prior year. In 2013, we wrote roughly 45 policy papers, budget updates, and...
![](/sites/default/files/styles/article_listing/public/managed/media-images2022-02/snowflake-wallpaper-style-favor-photos-pictures-and-6pwn722n.jpg.webp?itok=j8bUFQcA)
Happy Holidays
Best wishes to all our readers. We look forward to bringing you coverage and analysis of important fiscal policy issues throughout next year. From all...
![](/sites/default/files/styles/article_listing/public/managed/media-images2022-02/SSx.png.webp?itok=7ltTQNbl)
Setting the Record Straight on Social Security
Recently, many policymakers and commentators have called for expanding Social Security benefits rather than slowing the program’s costs, suggesting...
![](/sites/default/files/styles/article_listing/public/managed/media-images2022-02/wrapping_paper.jpg.webp?itok=TIkZCTbG)
Line Items: Wrapping Up Edition
That’s a Wrap – The House wrapped up its work for 2013 last week, passing the budget agreement worked out by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Paul...