Blog
Welcome to our blog – The Bottom Line, where you’ll find up-to-date commentary and analysis on the most important news in the fiscal world. Below is a list of our blog posts.
Are Retirement Savings in the Budget Deal?
The budget conference committee is rumored to be close to a deal that includes changes to federal retirement programs, increasing the share that...
Health Care's Black Friday Sale
Earlier this year, we discussed how the prospects for a permanent fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate formula had improved given CBO's dramatic...
Could PBGC Premiums Be Part of a Budget Deal?
With Budget chairs Ryan and Murray apparently close to a deal, they may turn to PBGC premiums as a way to raise money without increasing taxes. For...
Will ACA’s Uncompensated Care Payment Reductions be Made Permanent?
Among the proposals that the budget committee is rumored to be considering to replace a small part of the sequester is an extension of a reduction in...
MY VIEW: David Walker December 2013
It's just a little over a week before the budget conference committee is supposed to present its recommendations to Congress. Former U.S. Comptroller...
Like Other Extenders, Unemployment Benefits Should Be Offset
Recently, several Members of Congress and outside groups have called for continuing extended unemployment benefits to allow the unemployed to collect...
Line Items: Bargains Edition
Deals to be Had – We survived Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday. While the door buster bargains may be gone, there are still deals for the...
Not Stepping Backward: CRFB's Paper on Budget Gimmicks
In his recent testimony, CBO directory Doug Elmendorf argued that it would be beneficial for policymakers to make large improvements to our budgetary...
A Responsible Approach to Tax Reform
Last month, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) released three tax reform discussion drafts. One of the most commendable elements in...
The Rumored Aviation Security Fee Increase Explained
A recent CNN Money article suggests that budget conferees are likely to propose an increase in aviation security fees. When added to an increase in...
The Longer We Wait, The Tougher the Choices Become
In our recent paper, " Our Long-Term Debt Problems are Very Far From Solved," we showed that while the debt problem may be long-term, solutions need...
MY VIEW: Laura Tyson December 2013
CRFB board member Laura Tyson and Berkeley Research Group directors Eric Drabkin and Ken Serwin wrote in Project Syndicate in favor of Baucus's...