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.
One More FDIC Bank Closing
On Friday evening, the FDIC reported that it has taken over an additional bank ( San Joaquin Bank) for a cost to the FDIC of around $103 million. This...
A Really Big Deficit
The message from the end of the year deficit number is clear: we must start planning how to get the deficit under control. A $1.4 TRILLION deficit is...
Obama Nominates New Social Security Trustees
Today, the White House nominated Charles Blahous, III and Robert Reischauer. Both have been nominated to fill vacant posts for public trustees on the...
Say 'Bayh' to the Debt?
This week, Senator Bayh (D-IN) and nine other Democratic senators sent a letter to Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) expressing concern over the size of the U...
Meeting Today of President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board
Today PERAB, otherwise known as the Tax Reform Subcommittee of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, is holding a meeting focusing on tax...
Administration Proposes One-Time Payment to Seniors
Today, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that, in light of the deflation experienced over the past year, there will be no COLA for...
Vetting the VAT
In a recent op-ed, Henry Aaron and Belle Sawhill argued that a value added tax (VAT) – a tax on consumption imposed piece-wise in various stages of...
Congress pressured to extend tax credit for homebuyers
Today Congressional Quarterly reported that Congress is feeling pressure to extend the tax credit for homebuyers that was included in the stimulus...
Senate Finance Committee Passes Health Care Bill
The Senate Finance Committee voted this afternoon 14-9 to pass the America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009 out of Committee. Republican Olympia Snowe was...
What About Cutting Spending?
In their oped in the Washington Post today, Henry Aaron and Isabel Sawhill argue that raising taxes will be necessary to close the fiscal gap and help...
Weekend Editorial Roundup
Here are the highlights from this weekend’s editorials on fiscal and budget policy: In an editorial titled, “The Greatest Show on Earth,” The Wall...
Coalition Tries to Make a Stimulus Tax Break Permanent
Today, the Congressional Quarterly reported that a coalition of airport authorities, port authorities, and student loan lenders is pushing Congress to...