Scoring the Republican Presidential Candidates

On Thursday, February 23, CRFB’s US Budget Watch project will unveil its study of the budgetary impact of the campaign promises of the major Republican presidential candidates. RSVP for this event, which will take place at 9:30 am, to see all the analysis as well as a discussion with veteran budget experts Vic Fazio, Bill Frenzel, and Alice Rivlin. A second round including President Obama will come later this year.

The purpose of US Budget Watch is to raise public awareness of the critical fiscal issues facing the country during the election season and to bring attention to the fiscal consequences of presidential candidates’ tax and spending policies. Early in the campaign season, the project offered 12 Principles of Fiscal Responsibility for the 2012 Campaign in order to promote a constructive debate regarding our fiscal challenges and how to address them.

Budget Watch was very well received in 2008 -- moderator Bob Schieffer referred to our findings in one of the Presidential debates and other journalists used our analysis as well.

"The most detailed analysis of McCain's and Obama's budget plans comes from the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget." -- CNN

"The most recent, comprehensive analysis of the candidates' spending and taxation plans [is] by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget." -- New York Times

If you are growing tired of mudslinging and soundbites, stay tuned next week for some substantive, objective analysis. RSVP for the release event, or watch for our tweets using #BudgetWatch.