WASHINGTON — As candidates for federal office put their fall campaigns into high gear, The Concord Coalition today released its latest “Key Questions” that voters should ask them about the nation’s fiscal challenges.
In doing so, Concord urges all candidates — Democrats, Republicans and independents — to provide the electorate in the next few weeks with clear explanations of how they would hold down future deficits, fix the tax system, repair entitlement programs and put the country on a more responsible path.
WASHINGTON — As candidates for federal office put their fall campaigns into high gear, The Concord Coalition today released its latest “Key Questions” that voters should ask them about the nation’s fiscal challenges.
In doing so, Concord urges all candidates — Democrats, Republicans and independents — to provide the electorate in the next few weeks with clear explanations of how they would hold down future deficits, fix the tax system, repair entitlement programs and put the country on a more responsible path.
“Key Questions Voters Should Ask Candidates About Our Fiscal Future” includes background information to help voters assess current political rhetoric on topics such as the defense budget, Social Security, Medicare, the U.S. health care system, tax policies, government waste, highway spending and the need for compromise and bipartisan cooperation.
“As in past economic recoveries, the short-term federal budget picture has been improving,” Concord says. “But deficits are projected to begin rising again in a few short years, Congress flounders over what were once considered routine decisions, and the nation remains on a long-term fiscal path that is simply unsustainable.”
That’s why voters should expect candidates in the coming weeks to explain — clearly and specifically — how they intend to deal with the huge challenges ahead. Concord warns, however, that comprehensive fiscal reform will be difficult:
“Our nation is undergoing an unprecedented demographic transformation against the backdrop of a slow economic recovery, uncertainty about future health care costs, and a $17.7 trillion federal debt that is already quite high by historical standards and expected to rise rapidly in the years ahead.”
Concord may update the “Key Questions” periodically to reflect new fiscal estimates and address specific claims and arguments that emerge as Election Day approaches. The document can be found here.
Media Contact: Steve Winn, [email protected], (703) 254-7828
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The Concord Coalition is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to fiscal responsibility. Since 1992, Concord has worked to educate the public about the causes and consequences of the federal deficit and debt, and to develop realistic solutions for sustainable budgets. For more fiscal news and analysis, visit concordcoalition.org and follow uson Twitter: @ConcordC
