Looking Ahead: Telehealth and National Debt
Special Guests: Former Congressman Charlie Stenholm, Cole Stenholm and Director of Health Care for the Progressive Policy Institute, Arielle Kane.
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
PPI's Vision for Recovery, Resilience
Special Guests: President and Founder of the Progressive Policy Institute, Will Marshall, and Concord Coalition Policy Director, Tori Gorman.
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Retirement: When and How?
Special Guest: Jason Fichtner, senior lecturer and an associate director of the Master of International Economics and Finance program at Johns Hopkins University.
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Jason Fichtner, senior lecturer and an associate director of the Master of International Economics and Finance program at Johns Hopkins University, and Concord Coalition Executive Director, Bob Bixby.
No Time to Hang Up Your Hats
Special Guests: Jon Lieber, managing director at the Eurasia Group and Concord Coalition Policy Director, Tori Gorman.
Wednesday, September 09, 2020
Common Ground Requires Conversation
Special Guests: U.S. Representative, Lee Hamilton, who served Indiana’s 9th district from 1965 to 1999, Concord Coalition National Field Director, Phil Smith, and Indiana-based Fiscal Lookout, Kevin Wiley.
Tuesday, September 01, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by former United States Representative Lee Hamilton, who served Indiana’s 9th district from 1965 to 1999, Concord Coalition Executive Director, Bob Bixby, Concord's National Field Director, Phil Smith, and Indiana-bas
Pandemic Relief: Long-Term Care and Payroll Taxes
Special Guests: Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, Andrew Biggs, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, and Concord Coalition Policy Director, Tori Gorman.
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, Andrew Biggs, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, Concord Coalition Executive Director, Bob Bixby, and Concord's Policy Director,
Shape of Things to Come: Longer Work Lives
Special Guest: Richard Jackson, president and founder of the Global Aging Institute.
COVID-19: An Epidemiologist's View
Special Guests: Dr. Jodie Guest, a research professor and epidemiologist at Emory University, and Concord Coalition National Field Director, Phil Smith.
Spreading Virus Brings Economic Flatline
Special Guest: Jared Bernstein, senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Favorable Position, Unsustainable Policy
Special Guest: American Enterprise Institute Resident Fellow and Milton Friedman Chair, Jim Capretta.
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by American Enterprise Institute Resident Fellow and Milton Friedman Chair, Jim Capretta, and Concord Coalition Executive Director, Bob Bixby. We discussed current fiscal and economic policy, entitlement programs, health care and even the federal debt limit.
CBO Director on the Good, Bad and Uncertain
Special Guests: Congressional Budget Office Director, Phil Swagel, and Concord Coalition Policy Director, Tori Gorman.
QUEST: Out of the Trough, Into the Unknown
Special Guest: Bob Carroll, co-director of EY's U.S. National Tax Quantitative Economics and Statistics Group (QUEST).
Wednesday, July 01, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Bob Carroll, co-director of EY's U.S. National Tax Quantitative Economics and Statistics Group (QUEST), as well as Concord Coalition Executive Director Bob Bixby.
What an Economic Recovery Plan Could Look Like
Special Guests: Former economic adviser to President Obama and Harvard Professor, Jason Furman, and Concord Coalition Policy Director, Tori Gorman.
Avoiding Myths and Mistakes After COVID-19
Special Guests: Concord Coalition Policy Director, Tori Gorman, and President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Maya MacGuineas.
Post-Pandemic Tax Policy
Special Guests: Dr. Diane Lim, director of outreach and senior advisor for the Penn Wharton Budget Model and Dr. Doug Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum and former Congressional Budget Office director.
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Concord Coalition Executive Director Bob Bixby, Dr. Diane Lim, director of outreach and senior advisor for the Penn Wharton Budget Model and Dr.
What are You Going to Do?
Special Guests: Concord Coalition Fiscal Lookouts, Brad Keithley (Alaska) and Bill Greenlaw (New Jersey).
Wednesday, June 03, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Concord Coalition National Field Director Phil Smith and Concord volunteer Fiscal Lookouts, Brad Keithley and Bill Greenlaw. We discuss the Fiscal Lookout program, Brad and Bill's grassroots experiences in Alaska and New Jersey and how listeners can make their voices heard and effect change.
Pandemic's Impact on Social Security
Special Guests: Nicko Gladstone, a research analyst with the Bipartisan Policy Center, and Concord Coalition Policy Director Tori Gorman.
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Nicko Gladstone, a research analyst with the Bipartisan Policy Center, Concord Coalition Executive Director Bob Bixby and Policy Director Tori Gorman to discuss how the pandemic might impact Social Security and the latest on Capitol Hill.
Shape of Things to Come: U.S. Demographics
Special Guest: Global Aging Institute Founder Richard Jackson.
Necessary, but Not Free
Special Guests: Director of the Progressive Policy Institute’s Center for Funding America’s Future, Ben Ritz, and Fiscal Policy Analyst Brendan McDermott.
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Concord Coalition Executive Director Bob Bixby, Director of the Progressive Policy Institute’s Center for Funding America’s Future, Ben Ritz, and Fiscal Policy Analyst, Brendan McDermott, for a discussion of PPI’s recent publication titled "
To Infinity and Beyond?
Special Guests: Marc Goldwein, Senior Vice President and Senior Policy Director for the Committee for a Responsible Budget and Phil Sletten, Senior Policy Analyst for the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute.
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Marc Goldwein, Senior Vice President and Senior Policy Director for the Committee for a Responsible Budget (CRFB), and Phil Sletten, Senior Policy Analyst for the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI).
When This is Over
Special Guests: Gene Steuerle, a fellow at the Urban Institute, and Concord Coalition Policy Director, Tori Gorman.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Gene Steuerle, a fellow at the Urban Institute and Concord Coalition Policy Director, Tori Gorman. We discussed when pay-fors should be considered for economic-relief packages passed by Congress, when policymakers should address long-term budget deficits and what new aid packages elected leaders are exploring.
In a Crisis, Pull out All the Stops
Special Guests: Wilson H. Taylor Resident Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute, Joe Antos and UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law Professor and Director of Health Law and Policy Programs, Lucy Hodder.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Wilson H. Taylor Resident Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute, Joe Antos, UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law Professor and Director of Health Law and Policy Programs, Lucy Hodder, and Concord Coalition Executive Director, Robert L.
Don't Pass the SALT
Special Guests: former Congressman and Ambassador Dick Swett, Concord Coalition Policy Director Tori Gorman and Senior Policy Advisor Josh Gordon.
Wednesday, April 08, 2020
Best for the Long Term: Make It a Short Term Problem
Special Guests: Concord Coalition Policy Director Tori Gorman, Senior Policy Advisor Josh Gordon and Economist Mom and Director of Outreach & Senior Advisor at the Penn Wharton Budget Model Diane Lim.
Wednesday, April 01, 2020
Doing What it Takes
Special Guest: Don Marron, fellow and director of economic policy initiatives at the Urban Institute.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and Donald Marron, a fellow and director of economic policy initiatives at the Urban Institute and a member of The Concord Coalition’s board of directors.
Emergency Response, Necessary Deficits
Special Guest: Concord Coalition Policy Director, Tori Gorman.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and Policy Director Tori Gorman. We discussed the federal government’s response to the Coronavirus, including stimulus packages and their potential impact on long-term fiscal policy.
The Correct Prescription
Special Guests: Loren Adler, associate director of the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy, and Lucy Hodder, professor and director of health law and policy at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby, Loren Adler the associate director of the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy and Lucy Hodder professor and director of health law and policy at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law.
Health Care: Trends, Challenges and Changes
Special Guest: Concord Coalition Senior Policy Advisor, Josh Gordon.
Wednesday, March 04, 2020
On the latest Facing the Future, Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and Senior Policy Advisor Josh Gordon joined me to discuss health care, from challenges and changes to the Affordable Care Act to trends driving up federal spending in key programs.
Leadership, the Biggest Deficit Right Now
Special Guest: Former Comptroller General of the United States, David Walker.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Former Comptroller General of the United States David Walker and Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby joined the latest Facing the Future to discuss defense spending, fiscal policy as a national security issue and more.
Marrying Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth
Special Guest: Concord Coalition Executive Director, Robert L. Bixby.
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Opportunity Costs and Heroic Assumptions
Special Guest: Diane Lim, Economist Mom and director of outreach and senior advisor at the Penn Wharton Budget Model.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and Diane Lim, Economist Mom and director of outreach and senior advisor at the Penn Wharton Budget Model, joined the latest Facing the Future to discuss President Trump’s budget proposal, the opportunity costs of an unchecked national debt and why budget deficits still matter.
Choppy Waters Ahead
Special Guest: Ashley Hunt, partner in the Iowa-based PR and government affairs firm LS2.
Wednesday, February 05, 2020
Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L.
Spending Smarter vs. Spending More
Special Guest: Ben Ritz, director of the Progressive Policy Institute’s Center for Funding America’s Future.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L.
You've Got Questions, We've Got Answers (Again)
Special Guest: Concord Coalition National Field Director Phil Smith.
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and National Field Director Phil Smith joined me on the latest Facing the Future. We spent the program answering a wide range of fiscal-policy related questions submitted by listeners in this second annual Q&A session.
Grassroots, Granite State
Special Guests: Concord Coalition National Field Director Phil Smith and Fiscal Lookout John Bohm from Virginia.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Concord Coalition National Field Director Phil Smith and Concord Fiscal Lookout John Bohm from Virginia joined me on the latest Facing the Future. Smith provided an update on Concord’s nationwide grassroots efforts, Bohm shared a bit of his history that reaches back to one of Concord's co-founders and they both shared their experiences during the New Hampshire Primary and the recent College Convention.
An Intergenerational View: The National Debt
Special Guests: Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute Brian Riedl and Director of the Center for Funding America’s Future at the Progressive Policy Institute Ben Ritz.
Thursday, January 09, 2020
On Facing the Future, Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute Brian Riedl and Director of the Center for Funding America’s Future at the Progressive Policy Institute Ben Ritz join me for the show’s 100th episode.
2019 Highlights: Concord’s Economic Growth Agenda
Special Guest: Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby.
2019 Highlights: Remembering Alice Rivlin
Special Guests: Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby as host, Concord's National Field Director Phil Smith, "Economist Mom" Diane Lim and AFP Senior Policy Fellow Alison Acosta Winters.
Building the Workforce
Special Guest: Urban Institute Fellow Dr. Robert Lerman.
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Fixing Us?
Special Guest: Mike Murphy, chief of staff and director of strategic initiatives at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Where Reality Meets Visionary
Special Guest: Concord Coalition New Hampshire State Director Tyler Sweeney and Iowa-based consultant for LS2 Group Ashley Hunt.
Wednesday, December 04, 2019
On Facing the Future, Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby, New Hampshire State Director Tyler Sweeney and Iowa-based consultant Ashley Hunt, joined me to discuss grassroots efforts during the 2016 and 2020 presidential election cycles, social media use during campaigns and voter engagement.
Intergenerational Conversations
Special Guest: “Economist Mom” and Senior Advisor at the Penn Wharton Budget Model, Diane Lim.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
On Facing the Future, Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and “Economist Mom” Diane Lim, a Senior Advisor at the Penn Wharton Budget Model, joined me to discuss generational perspectives on fiscal and economic policy and the role of economists in policy making.
Millennials and The Fiscal Flywheel
Special Guests: COO of the Millennial Action Project Layla Zaidane and Steven Borne, newly published author of "Consuming Government."
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
On Facing the Future, Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby, COO of the Millennial Action Project Layla Zaidane and newly published author Steven Borne joined me to discuss Millennial perspectives on key issues, building trust amongst members of Congress, fiscal policy, government efficiency and more.
Millennial Perspective: Climate Change and National Debt
Special Guests: Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution Stuart Butler and Tim Higashi, a senior research analyst at Brookings.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Shutdown, Tax Cuts and Medicare For All
Special Guest: Senior Vice President and Director of Research at The Committee for Economic Development, Joe Minarek.
Trust Fiscal Facts
Special Guest: Josh Gordon, former Concord Coalition policy director, now executive vice president at Free the Facts.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
On Facing the Facts this week, The Concord Coaliton’s Executive Director Robert L Bixby substituted for regular host Chase Hagaman. Bixby’s guest was Josh Gordon, Executive Vice President and Director of Policy & Research at Free the Facts. Prior to joining Free the Facts in October, Gordon served for 18 years as Concord’s Policy Director.
Reforming the 'Third Rail' of Politics
Special Guest: Senior Vice President and Senior Policy Director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Marc Goldwein.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
On Facing the Future, Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and Senior Vice President and Senior Policy Director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Marc Goldwein joined me to discuss Social Security reform and how it fits into Concord's new fiscally responsible economic growth agenda.
Fiscally Responsible Economic Growth
Special Guest: Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
On Facing the Future, Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby joined me to discuss Concord's new fiscally-responsible economic growth agenda, which concerns key topics like health care, workforce development, R&D investment, Social Security and immigration reform.
Missed Opportunity Costs
Special Guest: Senior Advisor at the Penn Wharton Budget Model Diane Lim.
Wednesday, October 09, 2019
On Facing the Future, Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and Senior Advisor at the Penn Wharton Budget Model Diane Lim joined me to discuss missed opportunity costs created by a large-and-growing national debt, perennial budget deficits and interest on the debt.
Interactive Budgets
Special Guest: New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute Policy Analyst Phil Sletten.
Wednesday, October 02, 2019
On Facing the Future, Policy Analyst for the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute Phil Sletten joined me to discuss interactive budget exercises, similarities and differences between state and federal budget processes and the impact federal policies can have on state budget decisions.
Reforming Health Care, Restoring Bipartisanship
Special Guests: Ambassador and Congressman Richard N. Swett and Wilson H. Taylor Resident Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute Joseph Antos.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Making Fiscal Policy More Real, Relatable
Special Guests: Senior Policy Fellow in Economic Freedom at Americans for Prosperity Alison Acosta Winters and Senior Advisor at the Penn Wharton Budget Model Diane Lim.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
On Facing the Future, Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby joined me, Senior Policy Fellow in Economic Freedom at Americans for Prosperity Alison Acosta Winters and Senior Advisor at the Penn Wharton Budget Model Diane Lim. They discuss the work of PWBM and AFP on economic and fiscal policy and methods to make such issues more understandable and relatable.
Boosting Productivity to Grow the Economy
Special Guest: President of the Information, Technology and Innovation Foundation Dr. Robert Atkinson.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
On Facing the Future, Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby joined me and President of the Information, Technology and Innovation Foundation Dr. Robert Atkinson to discuss ITIF’s new plan that calls for and outlines an increased federal funding commitment to research and development.
Combating the Next Recession
Special Guest: Senior Vice President at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Marc Goldwein.
Wednesday, September 04, 2019
New CBO Report Shows Bigger Deficits
Special Guest: Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Fiscal Lookouts
Special Guests: Concord Coalition Fiscal Lookouts Joe Spartz, Brian Carter and Tejas Vakil.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
During Facing the Future, Concord Coalition National Field Director Phil Smith and three of Concord’s volunteer Fiscal Lookouts joined the program to discuss grassroots efforts in their respective states and their perspectives on federal fiscal policy.
Covering the Campaign and White House
Special Guest: Eli Stokols, staff writer and White House reporter for the Los Angeles Times' Washington, D.C. bureau.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Not a Dream Scenario
Special Guest: Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, Brian Riedl.
Wednesday, August 07, 2019
Paying for a Progressive Budget
Special Guest: Director of the Progressive Policy Institute's Center for Funding America’s Future, Ben Ritz.
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
During the most recent Facing the Future, Ben Ritz, director of the Progressive Policy Institute’s Center for Funding America’s Future, joined me to discuss PPI’s latest policy proposal, “A Progressive Budget for Equitable Growth.” The blueprint addresses a variety of issues, such as the national debt, taxes, health care, infrastructure, climat
Good Compromise, Bad Compromise
Special Guests: Concord Coalition Policy Director Josh Gordon, State Director Tyler Sweeney and summer interns, Ari Huff and Matthew Livi.
Adapting Benefits to the Changing Workforce
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the next "Economist Mom" segment.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
I was joined by Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and economist Diane Lim on the latest Facing the Future for the “Economist Mom” segment. We discussed real world policy and program strategies that could adapt worker benefits to the evolving economy and changing nature of work.
Termites in the Walls
Special Guest: Concord Coalition National Field Director Phil Smith.
Dead Men Still Ruling
Special Guest: Urban Institute Fellow Eugene Steuerle.
Evolving Economy: the Changing Nature of Work
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the next "Economist Mom" segment.
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
I was joined by Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and economist Diane Lim on the latest Facing the Future for the “Economist Mom” segment. We picked up on our conversation about the changing economy and the changing nature of work.
Rethinking Legal Immigration: A Tool for Economic Growth
Special Guest: American Action Forum Director of Immigration and Trade Policy Jacqueline Varas.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
During the latest Facing the Future, I was joined by Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and American Action Forum Director of Immigration and Trade Policy Jacqueline Varas. We discussed Concord's new initiative, a fiscally responsible economic growth agenda, as well as immigration and tariffs.
Bold Reforms Needed for Changing Economy
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the next "Economist Mom" segment.
Dueling Facts, Reinforcing Values
Special Guests: Morgan Marietta, an associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and Jamie Burnett, a policy and political strategy consultant in New Hampshire.
Monday, June 03, 2019
“A lot of people now think that alternative facts had to do with the Trump campaign … we think it started way before that,” said Morgan Marietta. “It’s not about Trump, and it’s not going away when Trump goes away.”
Alice Rivlin: Remembering an Economic Patriot
Special Guests: National Field Director Phil Smith, "Economist Mom" Diane Lim and AFP Senior Policy Fellow Alison Acosta Winters.
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
On the latest Facing the Future, Alice Rivlin is remembered as a valued colleague, a trailblazer and a policy expert focused on bringing people together and making progress on important issues.
Nonpartisan, Public Education, That's It
Special Guest: Concord Coalition Communications Director Steve Winn.
Friday, May 17, 2019
“This is public education, about fiscal responsibility, that’s it,” said Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby in describing the organization. “That’s what we do on a nonpartisan basis.”
Bixby said Concord’s founders wanted it to be grassroots and oriented toward public education because there were already plenty of think tanks in Washington. “The Concord Coalition has always maintained the focus of being beyond the Beltway.”
Washingtonian Policy and The Evolving Economy
Special Guests: Concord Coalition Policy Director Josh Gordon and economist Diane Lim.
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
The latest Facing the Future featured Robert L. Bixby, Josh Gordon and “Economist Mom” Diane Lim. They discussed potential tax extender legislation in Congress, a recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis concerning interest on the national debt, and how the country’s economy has changed.
Tax Cuts and Health Care Costs
Special Guests: Manager and CPA for Penchansky & Co., Adam Lord, and commentary from the recent public forum “Health Care Costs: Key Federal and State Strategies” by policy experts, Joe Antos, Trish Riley and John McDonough.
Monday, May 06, 2019
During the latest Facing the Future, Adam Lord, a manager at the CPA firm Penchansky & Co. in Manchester, New Hampshire discussed the 2017 tax legislation and how some of the changes impacted taxpayers.
As a millennial and member of The Concord Coalition’s New Hampshire advisory board, Lord said his generation needs to step up and become more involved in the conversations on issues like taxes, the economy, Social Security and health care.
Trustees' Warning: Time Running Out
Special Guests: Marc Goldwein, senior vice president for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, as well as economist Diane Lim for the latest "Economist Mom" segment.
Monday, April 29, 2019
“To me the number one message is: We are running out of time,” said Marc Goldwein. “Medicare Part A is projected to be insolvent in just seven years, the Social Security Old Age program is projected to be insolvent within 15 years.”
“We cannot guarantee full benefits under current law for today’s retirees,” said Goldwein, a senior vice president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. “So action is needed pretty quickly to put these programs on a sustainable path.”
Health Care Rx: Transparency, Competition and Choice
Special Guest: Joe Antos, the Wilson H. Taylor Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute.
Monday, April 22, 2019
On the latest Facing the Future Joe Antos, the Wilson H. Taylor Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at the American Enterprise Institute, discussed the nation's health care system and potential reforms to help reduce cost growth.
Robert L. Bixby, The Concord Coalition’s executive director, framed the conversation by explaining the system’s current costs.
Fiscal Therapy with Bill Gale
Special Guests: Economist Diane Lim and Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Bill Gale for the next "Economist Mom" segment.
Political Persuasion: Tradition and New Tech
Special Guests: New Hampshire Institute of Politics Executive Director Neil Levesque and political strategist Dante Vitagliano.
Monday, April 08, 2019
New Hampshire Institute of Politics Executive Director Neil Levesque joined the latest Facing the Future program to discuss the institute, the New Hampshire primary, presidential candidates and more.
Health Care Spending and 'Medicare for All'
Special Guest: Concord Coalition Policy Director Josh Gordon.
Money, Campaigns and Fiscal Reform
Special Guests: Professor Lawrence Lessig and attorney Jim Merrill.
Trump's Budget: Rosy or Realistic?
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the next "Economist Mom" segment.
Monday, March 18, 2019
During the latest “Economist Mom” segment on Facing the Future, Diane Lim said that President Trump’s proposed budget is not likely to spark needed fiscal reform efforts.
“I think that those efforts have to start in a bipartisan way in Congress,” said Lim, a principal at the District Economics Group.
An Academic Perspective
Special Guests: Wayne Lesperance, vice president of academic affairs and professor at New England College, and Stephan Unger, professor of economics and business at Saint Anselm College.
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Wayne Lesperance, vice president of academic affairs and professor at New England College, and Stephan Unger, a professor of economics and business at Saint Anselm College, joined the latest Facing the Future program to discuss political and civic engagement of college students, the New Hampshire primary, the fiscal policies of other nations and more.
Tax Refunds, Health Spending and the Debt Limit
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the "Economist Mom" segment.
Friday, March 01, 2019
During the latest “Economist Mom” segment on Facing the Future, Diane Lim, a principal at the District Economics Group, said that the statutory debt limit has become a problem because it is used as a political weapon instead of a tool for fiscal discipline.
On the Trail
Special Guest: Political correspondent Paul Steinhauser.
Monday, February 25, 2019
During the latest Facing the Future program, political correspondent Paul Steinhauser and Concord Coalition New Hampshire State Director Tyler Sweeney discussed candidates running for president in 2020 and activities taking place in advance of the New Hampshire primary.
Congress, Get Woke on Immigration
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the next "Economist Mom" segment.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Economist Diane Lim hopes that Washington policymakers “will somehow become woke and enlightened and . . . say, ‘Hey you know what? We need to focus more on our economy and to do more of what would help our economy prosper.’ ” If that happens, she says, “there are a lot of things that policymakers could do on the immigration front to . . . dispel this notion that it’s a zero-sum game.”
Missing: Concern for Fiscal Policy Issues
Special Guest: Campaign veteran, policy advocate and digital marketing consultant Jeff McLean.
Friday, February 08, 2019
On the latest Facing the Future program, Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby discussed President Trump’s State of the Union address and crucial items that were missing in it.
“One thing the president didn’t do . . . was face the future on the fiscal front,” Bixby said. “There was really no mention of the debt . . . there was no mention of the annual federal budget deficit.”
Shutdown Ends, Bad Fiscal Policy Continues
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the next "Economist Mom" segment.
Friday, February 01, 2019
Diane Lim discusses the end of the government’s longest shutdown and the new 10-year outlook from the Congressional Budget Office in the latest “Economist Mom” segment on Facing the Future.
One Month, and Counting
Special Guest: Economist Brian Gottlob.
Monday, January 28, 2019
On Facing the Future, economist Brian Gottlob joined the most recent program to discuss demographic trends, budget deficits during a period of economic growth, and feedback from the latest tax code overhaul.
“We’ve had deficits, and we’ve had big deficits for a while,” Gottlob said. “This situation is more concerning. . . we’re running very large deficits at a time when the economy has had really good growth over the last couple of years.”
State of the (Fiscal) Union
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the first "Economist Mom" segment of the new year.
Friday, January 18, 2019
In the latest “Economist Mom” segment on Facing the Future, Diane Lim discusses the partial government shutdown and the state of the nation’s fiscal policies, handing out poor grades to Congress and discussing what President Trump should tell the nation about Washington’s budget problems.
Lim gave Congress a “D” or “F” for its job performance this year.
Playing by the Rules
Special Guest: Attorney, financial advisor and professor Alex Talcott.
Monday, January 14, 2019
On the latest Facing the Future program, Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby discusses the partial government shutdown and rules changes in the U.S. House.
Some of the rules changes that resulted from the change in House leadership have a bearing on fiscal issues, Bixby said.
Best of 2018: Investing in Our Future
Special Guests: Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Senior Vice President Marc Goldwein and Bipartisan Policy Center Director of Economic Policy Shai Akabas.
Best of 2018: Former Congressmen Share Insights
Special Guests: Ohio Governor John Kasich, former Congressman Tim Penny from Minnesota and former Congressman Chris Shays from Connecticut.
Economist Mom: Are You Scrooge or Santa?
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the "Economist Mom" segment and New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute Policy Analyst Phil Sletten.
Monday, December 24, 2018
“It would be nice if, in the long term, we actually paid for the government that we want,” says economist Diane Lim.
The latest Facing the Future features Lim and Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby in another “Economist Mom” segment. With a holiday theme, they discuss the Congressional Budget Office’s recent report on options to reduce the federal deficit.
New Lawmaker, Ex-GOP Chair: Prioritize Fiscal Policy
Special Guests: Democratic Congressman-Elect Chris Pappas and former New Hampshire Republican Party Chair Jennifer Horn.
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Democratic Congressman-elect Chris Pappas and former Republican Party State Chair Jennifer Horn joined the latest Facing the Future program to discuss campaigns, policy priorities and the need for bipartisan reform.
Among the policy issues mentioned by Pappas, he stressed the importance of identifying budget priorities and tackling growing budget deficits.
Economist Mom: The Psychology of Deficit Reduction
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the "Economist Mom" segment.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Remembering McCain, a Straight-Talking Hero
Special Guest: New Hampshire businessman and Republican National Committeeman Steve Duprey.
Monday, December 03, 2018
During the latest edition of Facing the Future Steve Duprey, a longtime friend of the late Senator John McCain, discussed his legacy. Duprey, a New Hampshire businessman and Republican national committeeman, also touched on midterm election results and the New Hampshire primary in 2020.
Duprey praised McCain’s character and approach to politics.
“He was willing to admit when he made a mistake in judgment or fell short of his own expectations of how he should handle something,” Duprey said.
Economist Mom Talks Trump Policy and Beyond
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the next "Economist Mom" segment.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
“I think that there has been a little bit of shock and awe among the fiscal policy community, reacting to the fact that this big tax cut passed,” said Diane Lim, a principal at District Economics Group and former chief economist for The Concord Coalition.
Divided Government and Citizen Journalists
Special Guest: Ashley Hunt from LS2 Group.
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
“We could be facing an even more tense face-off between the two parties on spending and taxes” as the result of the recent congressional elections, says Robert L. Bixby, executive director of The Concord Coalition.
Economist Mom Explains Obama Era Fiscal and Economic Policy
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the next edition of the "Economist Mom."
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Having entered the White House in the midst of the Great Recession, then President Obama spent much of his time in office trying to deal with the weakened economy. Tax cuts and stimulus spending measures contributed to high federal deficits for several years.
CEO's Simple Fix: Reform Spending and Revenue
Special Guest: Former Honeywell CEO and Simpson-Bowles Commission Alum David Cote
Monday, November 05, 2018
Politicians do not want to address the nation’s debt issues because that would require both tax increases and reductions in spending on entitlement programs, said David Cote, former CEO of Honeywell.
“It is just basic math that no one wants to address,” he said on the latest “Facing the Future” program.
Economist Mom: Lessons from the Clinton and G.W. Bush Years
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the next installation of our recurring segment, "The Economist Mom."
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
“Clinton came into the White House acknowledging that the deficit was a problem and that it was necessary to be a little more disciplined about tax cuts and spending going forward in his administration,” said Diane Lim, a principal at District Economics Group who served as an economist in that administration.
Defend or Defund Our Future?
Special Guests: Bipartisan Policy Center's Director of Economic Policy Shai Akabas and Director of the Progressive Policy Institute's Center for Funding America's Future Ben Ritz.
Monday, October 22, 2018
“Most people recognize the fact that we have a major challenge in America today,” says Shai Akabas of the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC). “People are living longer and it is getting more and more difficult to save for retirement.”
Economist Mom Explains Deficit Financing
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the next installation of our recurring segment, "The Economist Mom."
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Diane Lim, a principal at District Economics Group and former chief economist for The Concord Coalition, draws a parallel to personal finances in explaining the federal deficit.
“On a basic level,” she says, “the government borrows for the same reason an individual borrows: When they want to consume, or spend, more than their current income allows. The government deficit is just the difference between annual spending and the government’s annual revenue.”
Stealth Spending on Autopilot
Special Guest: Concord Coalition National Political and Field Director Phil Smith.
Monday, October 08, 2018
“People are arguing about spending bills and they do involve a lot of money and they are important, but the stealth spending spree ... often goes overlooked,” says Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby.
Welcoming Economist Mom
Special Guest: Economist Diane Lim for the new, recurring segment "The Economist Mom."
Tuesday, October 02, 2018
The latest “Facing the Future” introduced a semi-monthly segment entitled “Economist Mom,” with Diane Lim, a principal at District Economics Group and former chief economist for The Concord Coalition.
Lim wrote the Economist Mom blog when she was with Concord. The purpose of this radio and podcast segment is -- as it was with the blog -- to help make fiscal responsibility more tangible for everyday Americans.
Let’s Fix Washington
Special Guests: former Congressmen David Jolly and Patrick Murphy.
Monday, September 24, 2018
Last week, The Concord Coalition was joined in New Hampshire by former Congressmen David Jolly (R-FL) and Patrick Murphy (D-FL).
Their visit included an interview on The Concord Coalition’s radio show and podcast “Facing the Future.”
Greased Wheels Move Some Appropriations, But Deficits Growing
Special Guest: Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Initiatives Mike Murphy.
Monday, September 17, 2018
In the most recent episode of “Facing the Future,” the show returned to its usual format after concluding its New Hampshire candidate interview series.
Candidates on the Issues: Mindi Messmer and Steve Negron
Special Guests: Democratic candidate for New Hampshire's First Congressional District Mindi Messmer and Republican candidate for the Second Congressional District Steve Negron.
Candidates on the Issues: Paul Cardinal
Special Guest: Democratic candidate for New Hampshire's First Congressional District Paul Cardinal.
Candidates on the Issues: Eddie Edwards and Lincoln Soldati
Special Guests: Democratic candidate for New Hampshire's First Congressional District Lincoln Soldati and Republican candidate for the same district Eddie Edwards.
Candidates on the Issues: Lynne Blankenbeker
Special Guests: Republican candidate for New Hampshire's Second Congressional District Lynne Blankenbeker.
Candidates on the Issues: Andy Sanborn and Stewart Levenson
Special Guests: Republican candidates Andy Sanborn and Stewart Levenson.
Candidates on the Issues: Chris Pappas
Special Guest: Democratic candidate Chris Pappas.
Candidates on the Issues: Maura Sullivan and Terence O’Rourke
Special Guests: Democratic candidates for New Hampshire's First Congressional District, Maura Sullivan and Terence O'Rourke.
Candidates on the Issues: Deaglan McEachern
Special Guest: Democratic candidate for New Hampshire's First Congressional District Deaglan McEachern.
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
The Concord Coalition’s “Facing the Future” program is kicking off a series of interviews with Sept. 11 primary candidates in New Hampshire’s First and Second Congressional Districts.
The program originates on WKXL NH Talk Radio in Concord, New Hampshire. Republican and Democratic candidates will answer questions about their policy priorities and plans regarding federal fiscal policy and related issues.
Elected Leaders, It’s Irresponsible to Ignore the Debt
Special Guest: Former Congressman Chris Shays.
Monday, July 16, 2018
“It is totally irresponsible that nobody is focusing on the debt, because it is our biggest problem,” said former Congressman Chris Shays.
Shays joined me on “Facing the Future” to discuss how being a candidate and a member of Congress have changed since he first took office in 1987. Shays, a Republican, represented Connecticut’s Fourth District until 2009.
You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Answers
Special Guests: Listener Questions, Concord Research and Policy Analyst Rob Ryan.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
The latest episode of Facing the Future is all about you, our listeners. The Concord Coalition’s Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and Policy Director Josh Gordon answered questions submitted via e-mail and social media.
One listener submitted a question through Facebook concerning the different measurements of the national debt.
“The two main measures of the debt, in terms of dollar figures, are the ‘debt held by the public’ and what we call ‘the gross federal debt’,” said Gordon.
Don't Hesitate: Change the Status Quo
Special Guests: Former Ambassador and Congressman Dick Swett, former Congressman Charlie Bass.
Tuesday, July 03, 2018
“When you are in power... you are hesitant to change the status quo because you don’t know what the consequences may be,” said former U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass.
Millennials: Heading Toward a Generational Showdown?
Special Guests: Alexandra Sosnowski and Andrew York.
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Andrew York, a Millennial financial planner in New Hampshire, fears the country is heading for “a big family fight” over federal budget priorities.
“You’re going to have the parents fighting the kids over who’s paying for what,” he predicts.
On last week’s episode of “Facing the Future”, I was joined by York and Alexandria Sosnowski, who are both members of The Concord Coalition’s New Hampshire Advisory Board. Sosnowski, also a Millennial, is an attorney.
Trust the Trustees
Special Guests: former public trustees of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds, Robert Reischauer and Charles Blahous.
Monday, June 18, 2018
“The story we expected and the story we got was that the shortfall was becoming a more urgent situation,” said Charles Blahous, a former public trustee of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds about the latest reports on the programs’ finances.
Congress, he added, “is running out of good options for dealing with it.”
Science Fiction Doesn't Work for Fiscal Policy
Special Guest: New Hampshire political reporter Paul Steinhauser.
Monday, June 11, 2018
“I think our issue is in outer space at the moment,” said Robert L. Bixby, executive director of The Concord Coalition.
The fiscal challenges facing our nation, and the lack of attention given them, seem unreal. Add in vast and expansive numbers, and you may have the beginnings of a work of science fiction.
Don't Be Penny Wise and Pound Foolish With the Budget
Monday, June 04, 2018
“As we look at keeping discretionary spending under control we do want to be careful and maintain a fiscally responsible approach, but we don’t want to cut the heart out of things that are needed for investment or national security,” said Robert L. Bixby, executive director of The Concord Coalition.
On the latest "Facing the Future" episode, Bixby joined the program to discuss discretionary spending and entitlement programs.
College Students Tell Leaders “Reform is ‘Up to Us’”
Special Guests: College students Evan Rufrano and Brittany Brown, and Megan Shea from the national "Up to Us" competition.
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
“I remember sitting, looking at the national debt clock projected on the smart board and realizing how much of an issue this is,” said Brittany Brown, a top ten finalist in the national “Up to Us” competition to encourage fiscal responsibility.
The Children Are Our Future
Special Guest: Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Senior Vice President Marc Goldwein; Concord Policy Director Josh Gordon.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
“In only a few years we will be spending more servicing our past debt than we will investing in our future,” Marc Goldwein, senior vice president for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), said recently.
Deficits and Social Security: Time For a Plan
Special Guest: Former Democratic Congressman Paul Hodes.
Monday, May 14, 2018
Former U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes discussed fiscal responsibility, the need for bipartisanship, and his House experiences in the latest episode of “Facing the Future.”
Who Will Make the Serious Decisions?
Special Guest: New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute Analyst Phil Sletten.
Sunday, May 06, 2018
During the most recent episode of “Facing the Future,” I took some time to focus on the state-level impacts of federal budget policy. The Concord Coalition recently partnered with the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute to conduct a state/federal budget exercise with class members of “Leadership New Hampshire.”
Bringing Budgets to Life
Special Guests: Matt Glassman of the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University; Concord Coalition Communications Director Steve Winn.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Through taxes and a wide array of programs and benefits, the federal budget affects every person and community in the country. Yet many Americans -- including some who serve in Congress or work in federal agencies -- have only limited knowledge of current budget issues and the difficult long-term fiscal challenges facing the United States.
We're All Getting Old: Health Care and the Budget
Special Guests: Former Senator Bob Kerrey; Concord Coalition Policy Director Joshua Gordon
Friday, April 20, 2018
Former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey warned recently that U.S. health care spending is on an unsustainable path as it continues a long pattern of growing as a percentage of the economy.
Former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey shares his thoughts on health care and the federal budget. Concord Coalition Policy Director Josh Gordon and Bob Bixby also discuss health care as Bob fills in for Chase this week.
Trillions and Trillions
Special Guest: Diane Lim, Principal Economist, The Conference Board
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Guests on “Facing the Future” last week lamented new projections of trillion-dollar federal deficits beginning in Fiscal 2020 and discussed how recent tax and spending decisions had contributed to the problem.
There Aren't Even Any Deficit Pigeons
Special Guest: Former New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg.
Monday, April 09, 2018
To remain competitive and successful in the global economy, the country needs smart workforce investment and immigration reform, said former U.S. Senator Judd Gregg during the ninth episode of “Facing the Future.”
Going From Lurching to Leading
Special Guest: Concord’s North Carolina State Coordinator Marjorie Dufek
Friday, April 06, 2018
“There are countless things we can do to eat our spinach,” said Concord Coalition National Field Director Phil Smith about fixing the nation’s fiscal problems. “Politicians have taken such a short-term view of things we have to go from lurching to leadership.”
Ready or Not, Here Comes 2020
Monday, March 26, 2018
The seventh program of “Facing the Future” covered a variety of topics, including the budget process, the 2020 presidential election and funding to combat the nation’s opioid crisis. I was joined on the show by Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and Concord’s New Hampshire State Director Tyler Sweeney.
Where Do We Grow From Here?
Special Guest: Concord’s newest addition to the team, New Hampshire State Director Tyler Sweeney.
Monday, March 19, 2018
During the sixth broadcast of “Facing the Future,” Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby and the newest addition to Concord’s team, Tyler Sweeney, discussed a wide range of topics, from immigration reform to civic engagement.
Episode 5: Get in the Game
Special Guest: New Hampshire High school teacher Rachel Roberge.
Monday, March 12, 2018
“Get in the game!” That was the message for young Americans that was communicated during the fifth broadcast of “Facing the Future.”
Episode 4: Fiscal Freefall: When Will it Stop?
Special Guests: Ohio Governor John Kasich and former Democratic Congressman Tim Penny, moderated by Concord’s Executive Director Robert L. Bixby
Monday, March 05, 2018
During the fourth broadcast of “Facing the Future,” we aired portions of The Concord Coalition’s recent event in Washington, “Fiscal Freefall: When Will it Stop?,” which featured Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich and former U.S. Rep. Tim Penny.
The conversation focused on the nation’s fiscal policies and how they are jeopardizing our future. Despite the nation’s challenges, however, the two former congressional colleagues expressed hope and discussed possible bipartisan solutions.
Episode 3: Fiscal Leadership, Anyone?
Special Guests: New Hampshire Politico, Brad Cook; former Ambassador and Congressman Dick Swett
Monday, February 26, 2018
The third broadcast of “Facing the Future" focused on the need for stronger leadership in Congress on the nation’s fiscal challenges.
Episode 2: The President's Budget
Special Guests: Bipartisan Policy Center SVP, Bill Hoagland; Committee for Economic Development SVP, Joe Minarik
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
During the second broadcast of "Facing the Future" budget experts expressed concern over the nation’s path after recent deficit-financed tax and spending legislation, and they saw a lack of fiscal discipline in the president’s Fiscal 2019 budget proposal.
Episode 1: Welcome to Facing the Future
Special Guests: Former Senator Bob Kerrey; Concord Coalition Executive Director Bob Bixby
Tuesday, February 06, 2018
Former Senator Bob Kerrey and Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby discussed the nation’s difficult fiscal challenges this week in the inaugural broadcast of Concord’s radio program “Facing the Future.”