A Gimmick We Like

We spend a lot of time warning about budget gimmicks. But OMB’s new contest for federal employees to submit ideas for how the government can save money, with President Obama choosing the winning idea next month, is a gimmick we like. While the bigger ideas that would save a significant amount of money, such as raising the retirement age or broadening the tax base, may not be the types of ideas sent in from the agencies who are charged with ‘improving the quality of output at lower costs,’ there is sure to be many productivity enhancing, cost saving ideas.

OMB should open up the contest to outsiders as well.

Tags

Trending

Blog

Congress Should Avoid a Costly End-of-Year Package

With debt nearing record levels, interest payments surging, and major trust funds approaching insolvency, Congress should avoid worsening our already unsustainable fiscal situation during the Congressional lame duck session. Instead, lawmakers should begin making progress on the debt either by enacting savings or implementing process reforms.

Read more

What's Next