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.
Image
Maya MacGuineas: Debunking Budget Myths Before They Become Part of 2016 Campaign
Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, wrote a commentary that appeared in the Wall Street Journal Washington...
Image
JCT Confirms: Dynamic Scoring Doesn't Make Extenders Look Much Better
Lawmakers have so far been reluctant to pay for the group of temporary tax cuts known as the " tax extenders," instead generally just adding the cost...
Image
Do Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves?
Some advocates of tax cuts have suggested such cuts will not lose revenue since they will spur economic growth and thus produce enough additional tax...
Image
Can We Fix the Debt Solely by Taxing the Top 1 Percent?
A popular suggestion is that raising taxes only on high earners (for example, the top one percent – households that make above roughly $435,000...
Image
With Deficits Falling, Our Debt Problems are Behind Us
Since the Great Recession, the deficit has fallen by about two-thirds, from $1.4 trillion in 2009 to $485 billion in 2014, a fact that some have used...
Image
Can We Continue Borrowing Without Consequences?
One of the most common myths about the national debt is that we can increase it without consequence. Some argue that because the United States borrows...
Will Tax Increases Cripple Economic Growth?
One common argument against increasing tax revenue is that it requires raising marginal tax rates, which could severely damage economic growth by...
Image
Will Repealing “Obamacare” Fix the Debt?
Some candidates may propose to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as “Obamacare,” in order to solve the fiscal situation. But repealing...
Image
Is There No Harm in Waiting to Solve Our Debt Problems?
Another debt myth is that even if the long-term debt outlook is a problem, there is no need to address the debt now – it can be dealt with later. This...
Image
Can We Dramatically Lower Tax Rates by Closing a Few Egregious Loopholes?
Candidates who propose tax reform plans that are revenue-neutral may suggest that the cost of tax rate reductions can be offset by closing egregious...
Image
Can Social Security’s Shortfall Be Closed Simply by Raising Taxes on or Means-Testing Benefits for the Wealthy?
Increasing the amount of wages subject to Social Security payroll taxes from the current $118,500 cap would raise more revenue and improve the...
Image
Is a Balanced Budget Amendment All We Need to Fix the Debt?
Many candidates will suggest some form of a balanced budget amendment (BBA). Even in the best case, such an amendment is a supplement rather than a...