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.
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This Year (and a Half) In Stimulus
Yesterday, the House passed the $26 billion bill that would extend increased Medicaid matching to states and education funding to prevent teacher...
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A Look at International Pension Reform Efforts
As we think about Social Security reform in the United States, it makes sense to look at what other countries are doing to reform their public pension...
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Robert Rubin Joins the Announcement Effect Club
Former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin joined the Announcement Effect Club on " Fareed Zakaria GPS" in an appearance alongside another former Treasury...
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Options for Reform
We've talked a lot about the long-term outlook for Social Security (it is insolvent), its impact on the federal budget (it will increase debt held by...
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Gates Announces Plan for Defense Spending Cuts
Yesterday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates held a press conference in which he announced sweeping DoD budget cuts. Gates proposed the dismantling of...
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CRFB Releases Analysis of Medicare Trustees Report
Today, CRFB released its analysis of the Medicare Trustees’ report on health care cost projections (for an analysis of the Social Security Trustees...
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Social Security: One Program, Two Viewpoints
This week, The Bottom Line will be celebrating Social Security’s upcoming 75th birthday on August 14th, and our main present is a comprehensive look...
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‘Line’ Items: Coming and Going Edition
Gone and Back – The Senate has left for its August recess, the House will return this week (for a day). Congress will be back in session after Labor...
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Memo to Policymakers: Expectations Matter
Our policymakers need to focus more how shaping and managing fiscal expectations can help us get our fiscal house in order while supporting growth at...
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Beyond Solvency
When we think about Social Security reform, we tend to look at options in terms of their impact solvency -- measured over a 75 years period. In their...
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MARKETWATCH: August 2-6
Today’s disappointing employment report (unexpectedly, June was revised downward and July was weak) prompted a Treasury rally, attributed by the...
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Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report Released
Today, the Social Security and Medicare Trustees released their annual reports on the financial status of the two programs. The Trustees now project...