Policy Briefs

Almost a year after passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), and as Republicans in the House of Representatives begin their effort to repeal or slowly dismantle the legislation, it makes sense to revisit some of the…

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…

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

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…

As two new bipartisan plans make clear, serious deficit reduction will require highly controversial changes in the federal budget. But if elected officials reject solid recommendations just because they are unpopular, warns Robert L. Bixby, executive director of The…

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 Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently released projections showing that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could require between $73 billion and $215 billion in additional help from the U.S. Treasury through 2013.The FHFA oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,…

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…