Articles in the federal budget Category

David Brooks writes about taxes, deficits, and morality in his column today in the New York Times, and his ideas suggest some good reasons to support income security for all. Brooks does not go so far, of course. Perhaps one day he will. Here’s a key section: Debt reduction has to be about renewal and [...]

Paygo, budget deficits, and income security Politicians are talking about paygo, and President Obama endorsed the concept a few days ago. Why not? It purportedly worked in the 90s, when President Clinton and the Republican Congress cut government spending and produced a budget surplus. It’s a simple rule: New spending legislation must include the cuts [...]

The $3.4 trillion federal budget has passed both houses of Congress, nicely timed for President Obama’s 100th day in office. That’s total spending, the broad outlines, setting the scene for lots of fights over the details. When people hear about Citizen Dividends, they often agree with the concept – stop the bailouts, give money directly [...]

The Federal Reserve Board will spend $1.2 trillion to buy long-term government bonds and other securities as a way to stimulate economic activity. That $1.2 trillion could give every adult roughly $1,000 a month for six months. Give us the money. We’ll stimulate economic activity by our spending. We’ll make mortgage payments, ending the foreclosure [...]

Some questions about President Obama’s budget, regarding each item and expenditure: Who benefits? Who, specifically, is getting our taxpayer money? Is that appropriate and cost-effective? Those are fairly obvious, though often not asked, and the answers typically come in a cloud of conventional assumptions and rhetoric. Here’s a fourth: Would that still make sense if [...]