Policy Briefs

Citing the country’s “extreme fiscal duress,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates last week said the administration would cut $78 billion from its five-year defense plan. The Pentagon budget would still continue to grow above inflation for the next three years, however.Gates…

After John Boehner (R-OH) was formally elected speaker of the House of Representatives last week, the first order of business was approving rules to govern the House during the 112th Congress. The House quickly adopted a rules package making several…

Whether the United States can move beyond “deficit denial” may depend on three elected officials who will each present a budget plan early next year: President Obama, incoming House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), and Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad…

On Tuesday, Dec. 7, President Obama announced that he had reached agreement with congressional Republican leaders on a major package of tax cuts and emergency unemployment benefits. Some of the tax cuts are new, but most would temporarily extend provisions…

With lawmakers returning to Washington this week, Republicans face an extremely difficult task: Living up to the campaign rhetoric that helped them gain dozens of congressional seats in the Nov. 2 elections.Republicans campaigned on a pledge to move towards a…

The co-chairs of President Obama’s fiscal commission released sweeping proposals last week that won praise from The Concord Coalition and many other analysts while drawing fire from some strident voices at both ends of the political spectrum.The proposals from co-chairs…

Although today’s election will change the political landscape in Washington, unpleasant fiscal realities will remain: Rapidly rising medical costs, a Social Security system headed for insolvency, a deeply flawed tax system and federal debt that is on an unsustainable track.Will…

Many baby boomers put a high priority on “investing” in their children by encouraging good health habits, getting them to doctors and dentists for regular check-ups, and preparing them for college.But Diane Lim Rogers, The Concord Coalition’s chief economist, points…