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.
Inflation Spikes to Highest in Nearly Two Years
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased a massive 0.9% in March, driven largely by rising energy prices, and is up 3.3% over the past year – putting...
Recap: Maya MacGuineas Testifies Before Senate Finance Subcommittee
On March 11, the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth held a hearing titled “The Fiscal Outlook: 2027-2036.” The...
Event Recap: Boomerang: Wealth, Retirement, and the Generational Divide
On April 8, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget hosted Boomerang: Wealth, Retirement, and the Generational Divide. This Trust Fund...
CMS Abandons Efforts to Rein in Medicare Costs
After proposing meaningful reforms to reduce Medicare Advantage (MA) overpayments in January, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)...
12-Month Rolling Deficit is $1.6 Trillion in March 2026
The federal government borrowed $1.6 trillion over the past 12 months based on new estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). CBO estimates...
Senators Introduce 3% Fiscal Target Resolution
Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Angus King (I-ME), along with Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA) and Gary Peters (D-MI), recently introduced a resolution...
An Overview of the President's FY 2027 Budget
The Trump Administration released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget request today. While the President’s budget typically presents a comprehensive plan...
Potential Steel and Aluminum Tariff Changes Would Raise $70 Billion
Note: (04/02/2026) The Administration's proclamation issued today adjusting tariffs on the imports of steel, aluminum, and copper differs from...
Weak Auctions Underscore Risks of our Growing Debt Burden
Auctions for the 2-year, 5-year, and 7-year Treasury notes went poorly last week and Treasury yields spiked, raising concerns about investor demand...
Appropriations Watch: FY 2026
Updated 3/30/26: On March 27, the Senate passed a Homeland Security funding bill by voice vote. The legislation would provide funding for most of...
A $1.5 Trillion Defense Budget Could Mean Nearly $7 Trillion in Higher Debt
President Trump is expected to release his Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget later this week, which may include a proposal to increase the defense budget...
Senators Introduce Fiscal Commission Act
Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Angus King (I-ME), joined by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Todd Young (R-IN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)...