06/17/19
As though it wasn’t hard enough to assess competing government programs on a benefit/cost basis, comparisons are further complicated by using varying funding strategies. Read More...Tags: ethanol blending mandate, President Donald Trump, benefit/cost ratio, strategic importance, job training programs, disability awards, Social Security payments to dead people, Medicare, low balling costs, targeted spending cuts, log rolling, filibuster rule, trust fund, Social Security, regulatory mandates, renewable energy , student loan mess, Alice Rivlin
05/27/19
SAFE board mulls some tough issues, including reviving the interest of our political leaders in balancing the budget vs. promising “free stuff” that taxpayers aren’t willing to pay for. Read More...Tags: joe Biden, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Beto O'Rourke, President Donald Trump, President Barack Obama, China trade war, Strategas Research Partners, Morgan Stanley, Lewis Powell, Federal Researc monetary policy, Fed inflation target, Sen. Tom Carper, Bloom Energy, PSC, DNREC, John Nichols, Sen. Harris McDowell, John Greer, Gov. John Carney, MD Governor Larry Hogan
02/25/19
SAFE contacts selected political leaders re path forward for the fiscal problem. Effective presidential leadership would be essential as Congress isn't equipped to get the job done on its own.
Read More...Tags: Congressional Budget Office, President Donald Trump, Peter Schiff, budget caps, Rep. John Yarmuth, carbon tax, President Ronald Reagan, targeted spending cuts, Major Savings and Reforms, presidential leadership, President Bill Clinton
02/18/19
SAFE suggestions: Abolish debt limit, prune spending, don't expand entitlements, don't raise taxes, expect 2020 presidential candidates to support balancing the budget.
Read More...Tags: Rep. Paul Ryan, President Barack Obama, Congressional Budget Office, Social Security, healthcare programs, Interest expense, Green New Deal, Medicare for all, President Donald Trump, Office of Management and Budget, Joint Select Committe re budget process, Balanced Budget Amendment, Sen. Mike Lee, Sen. Chuck Grassley, debt limit, Steven Mnuchin, Citizens Against Government Waste, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security 2100 Act , Ivankacare, tariffs, carbon tax, business tax breaks, Budget Reconciliation Act, Rep. Kevin Brady
11/26/18
Bipartisan reform of the "broken" congressional budget system sounded like a nice idea, but the JSC proposals wouldn't deliver any real benefits. Better to leave things as they are. Read More...Tags: Bipartisan Budget Act, Joint Select Committe re budget process, Joint Select Committe on Deficit Reduction, Tom Schatz, Michael Tanner, Mick Mulvaney, House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Speaker John Boehner, Amakudari, Rep. Steve Womack, groupthink, Steven Covey, David Obey, Budget Contol Act, Congressional Budget Office, continuing resolutions, biennial budgeting, spending caps, appropriation committees, Senate filibuster rule, reconciliation process, debt limit