On the latest Facing the Future, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute Brian Riedl, joined me to discuss his “Plausible Blueprint for Fiscal Sustainability.” The proposal addresses a variety of issues, such as the national debt, taxes, health care, Social Security and more.
Reidl said he decided to put his money where his mouth is on fiscal responsibility. So he put together a 30-year budget plan to stabilize the national debt.
“We’re on course to add about $80 trillion in deficits over the next 30 years,” he said. “And I felt like there weren’t a lot of plans out there that weren’t either conservative dream scenarios that were totally unrealistic, liberal dream scenarios that were totally unrealistic or just gimmick-filled messaging documents.”
Putting something together that was at least within the realm of bipartisan plausibility was one of his goals. Reidl chose a relatively unambitious goal of stabilizing the debt at a 95 percent debt-to-GDP ratio, which is actually higher than its current level, and his reforms would be implemented beginning in 2023.
Hear more on “Facing the Future.” I host the program each week on WKXL, NHTalkRadio.com (N.H.), and it is also available via podcast. Join me and my guests as we discuss issues relating to national fiscal policy with budget experts, industry leaders, elected officials and candidates for public office. Past broadcasts are available here. You can now subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play or through RSS.
