Deep Dives

Over the past several weeks, there has been a flurry of activity on Capitol Hill as Congress considers legislation to reauthorize federal surface transportation programs. The previous authorization bill was enacted in 2005 and expired in 2009. Since then, Congress…

I. What’s a structural deficit? One possible response to the recent spike in federal budget deficits -- from $161 billion in 2007 to more than $1 trillion in each of the last three years is: Don’t worry. It’s all caused…

Many people were urging members of the deficit reduction super committee to “go big.” Now it appears that they will just go away. It’s yet another disappointment in a year that has seen many failed attempts at a “grand bargain”…

Government projections of a rising federal debt that will eventually exceed the size of the economy and continue growing after that raise fundamental moral questions for today’s Americans. “How can we justify burdening our children and future generations with such…

The tax proposals in President Obama’s latest deficit-reduction plan have led to partisan charges and counter-charges of “class warfare.” Journalist have focused heavily on his proposed “Buffett Rule,” which Obama says would ensure that people like Omaha billionaire Warren Buffett…

Efforts by the bipartisan “Gang of Six” in the Senate to forge a comprehensive budget deal have received vigorous support from members of The Concord Coalition's Board of Directors who have previously served in Congress.“The cooperative approach taken by the…

As the President and Congress consider deficit reduction options and an increase in the debt limit, budget process proposals have recently become popular on Capitol Hill. (more…)

President Obama has turned to a well-known expert on the federal budget to run a Defense Department where the administration hopes to dramatically improve efficiency and reduce spending.The President named Leon Panetta, who has been CIA director, to replace Robert…