PUBLICATIONS BY Alison Acosta Fraser
Research
Commentary
Media Appearances
2008 Research
December 16, 2008
Fulfilling Your Budget Reform Promise of a Net Spending Cut: A Memo to President-elect Obama
By Brian M. Riedl and Alison Acosta Fraser
(Special Report #35)
President-elect Obama, you campaigned on fiscal discipline and the need to make tough choices. Although your budget blueprint specifies large new spending hikes, you also promised a cumulative "net spending cut."
December 03, 2008
Cutting Taxes to Promote Growth and Restore Fairness: A Memo to President-elect Obama
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Curtis S. Dubay
(Special Report #29)
President-elect Obama, a centerpiece of your campaign was your pledge to cut taxes for 95 percent of American workers. Middle-class voters, especially, connected strongly with this pledge and expect their taxes to decline. Tax cuts are one key way to strengthen the economy for both the short term and long term, creating jobs and increasing wages. Targeting families, workers, and small businesses is a good starting point, but your promised tax cuts will deliver only minimal benefit to the groups you target.
September 28, 2008
An Initial Review of the Bailout Agreement
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Todd F. Gaziano
(WebMemo #2089)
Administration and congressional negotiators reached agreement early Sunday on a package of actions to address the alarming financial situation facing the U.S. economy. Although several drafts of legislative language have been circulating, it is not yet possible to provide an overall assessment until the agreement’s final language is examined carefully. The devil is always in the details, and so it is wise to look at the details.
September 19, 2008
What Should Be Done About the Financial Markets?
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D., Alison Acosta Fraser, and James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #2070)
Lawmakers have just been presented with the outline of an expansive and potentially costly package of proposals said to be needed to bring a permanent solution to the financial crisis. As they evaluate this package and other proposals, lawmakers should be guided by certain goals and strategies.
June 25, 2008
The SAFE Commission Act (H.R. 3654) and the Long-Term Fiscal Challenge
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(Testimony #9999)
Testimony before the Committee on the Budget, United States House of Representatives.
March 31, 2008
Taking Back our Fiscal Future
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D., Alison Acosta Fraser and Other Authors
(White Paper #9999)
Taking Back our Fiscal Future
February 04, 2008
Congress Must Pull the Trigger to Contain Medicare Spending
By Robert E. Moffit, Ph.D., and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1796)
A trigger in Medicare law presents Congress with an opportunity to reform entitlements.
2007 Research
December 17, 2007
Ethanol Loses Ground at U.N. Climate Conference: Congress Should Rethink Energy Bill Mandate
By Nicolas Loris and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1750)
Ethanol mandates come at a steep price and will not solve energy and environmental problems.
December 13, 2007
HOPE NOW: One Step to Resolve the Subprime Mortgage Crisis
By David C. John and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1742)
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s “HOPE NOW” is a far better way to deal with the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of subprime mortgages than heavy-handed legislation.
September 26, 2007
Spending Run Amok: President Should Veto Water Resources Development Act
By Nicola Moore and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1641)
WRDA offers more evidence that Members of Congress have abandoned their pledge to get spending under control.
May 02, 2007
Post-Veto War Supplemental Must Eliminate Pork and Support Troops
By The Honorable Ernest Istook, Nicola Moore, Baker Spring, and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1440)
President George W. Bush was right to veto the war supplemental funding bill. In his second veto since taking office, the President rejected a bill that contained an unconstitutional usurpation of presidential authority as commander in chief and, by adding billions of dollars in pork and pet programs, made a mockery of the new Congress's pledges to return to fiscal discipline.
April 13, 2007
Closing the Tax Gap Means Taxpayers Beware!
By Alison Acosta Fraser and William Packer
(WebMemo #1424)
Efforts to raise compliance would have a negative impact on economic growth, individual freedom, and the burden of tax compliance.
March 14, 2007
The Republican Study Committee’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights: Making Federal Budget Accountability a Reality
By Nicola Moore and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1394)
If it is serious about fiscal responsibility, Congress would do well to give the RSC's recommendations honest consideration.
March 01, 2007
Congress Should Not Lard Up the War Supplemental Bill
By Brian M. Riedl, Baker Spring, and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1376)
President Bush should draw a clear line in the sand and vow to veto any supplemental bill that would spend more than his requested total.
February 08, 2007
Bush's Budget: Protecting Homeland Security and Defense by Reining in Entitlements
By Baker Spring, James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Alison Acosta Fraser, Brian M. Riedl, and Will Packer
(WebMemo #1352)
The most important feature of the President’s budget proposal is its focus on reining in the crushing costs of entitlement programs like Medicare while adequately funding national defense and homeland security.
February 01, 2007
The Triple Whammy of Taxes: How the AMT, Repealing the Bush Tax Cuts, and the Social Security Wage Cap Would Raise Taxes on Millions of Americans
By Rea S. Hederman, Jr., Alison Acosta Fraser, William W. Beach
(WebMemo #1334)
Three tax increases that would harm the economy and subject millions of taxpayers to significantly higher marginal tax rates.
January 23, 2007
State of the Union 2007: Fiscal Policy Challenges for Today and Tomorrow
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1325)
The President's call to fix the big entitlement programs demands urgent action.
January 16, 2007
Congress Should Reject New Taxes and Curb Exploding Entitlements
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D., and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1313)
Any tax increase would be a real and unacceptable threat to America’s prosperity.
2006 Research
December 19, 2006
Memo to Speaker Pelosi: How to Make PAYGO Discipline the Federal Budget
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1289)
A weak PAYGO will show that the incoming Congress is not serious about getting the budget under control.
October 31, 2006
A Better Measure of Long-Term Spending: FASAB Proposes Changes in Accounting for Social Security, Medicare
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1242)
Social Security and Medicare are a growing threat to the federal budget, and providing better information about their liabilities will help the public and policymakers to address them seriously.
June 27, 2006
Third-Quarter Report Card for Congress: Improvement Needed
By Brian M. Riedl, Ronald D. Utt. Ph.D., and Alison Acosta Fraser
(Backgrounder #1947)
There is no reason why Members of Congress cannot raise their performance measures on key domestic policy issues, many of which have already made some progress through the legislative process. Over the past few weeks, Members have shown exceptional resolve on a number of controversial issues. If they maintain this pace, they could easily complete the needed work.
June 22, 2006
Federal Budget Should Include Long-Term Obligations from Entitlement Programs
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(Executive Memorandum #1004)
The financial reporting principles used by the private sector and state and by local governments should be applied to the federal budget to give policymakers a clearer picture of the nation's financial health. Congress should change the federal budget process to reflect changes in long-term liabilities and obligations as the first step in addressing $36 trillion in unfunded entitlement obligations.
June 20, 2006
House Appropriators' PART Prohibition Perpetuates Wasteful Spending
By Michelle Muccio and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1137)
PART is a modest effort to provide lawmakers with the knowledge to make informed and efficient budgetary decisions, and it is the only program that assesses performance across the entire federal budget. Sadly, there is no evidence that Congress has used PART to make long-overdue reductions in the size and scope of the federal government. Even so, preventing agencies from participating in this type of analysis is irresponsible.
June 14, 2006
Speeding Reconstruction by Cutting Red Tape
By Nancy Marano and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1126)
More than nine months ago, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ripped through the Gulf Coast destroying lives and communities. As Members of Congress continue to explore options for facilitating the ongoing reconstruction, they should consider several basic guidelines, which have been reinforced by the lessons learned so far in the reconstruction process:
June 13, 2006
Supplemental Success: Conference Report Meets President's Challenge
By Brian M. Riedl and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1121)
Against all odds, the conference committee report for the Iraq and Katrina supplemental meets President Bush's challenge to maintain fiscal discipline.
May 30, 2006
Past Trends and Future Troubles in Federal Spending: A Look at the Federal Budget Chart Book
By Rea S. Hederman, Jr., Alison Acosta Fraser, and Michelle Muccio
(WebMemo #1098)
Rapid economic fluctuations have been the norm for the United States over the past 40 years. The U.S. economy has sustained both unprecedented expansionary highs and "mini-depression" lows. Inflation, interest, and unemployment rates have hit soaring highs and remarkable lows. The one constant throughout this period has been the relentless growth of the federal government.
May 05, 2006
Spending Lines Firmly Drawn for a Showdown at the Veto Corral
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1061)
The supplemental bill appears headed for a showdown with the veto pen
April 26, 2006
High Marks for Administration's Veto Line in the Sand
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1050)
The dynamic of the supplemental battle in the Senate has quickly shifted.
April 17, 2006
The Senate's Deadly Sin: Larding Up Emergency Appropriations
By Brian M. Riedl and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1038)
The Senate piles pork atop an emergency spending bill.
April 05, 2006
The FY 2007 Budget Resolution: Long-Term Spending Challenges
By Michelle Muccio and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1029)
Four proposals, one of them serious.
2005 Research
December 06, 2005
Budget Reconciliation Guide for Conferees
By Alison Acosta Fraser (Editor)
(WebMemo #933)
Returning to fiscal sanity means setting priorities and making tough choices.
November 09, 2005
The Deficit Reduction Act: One Small Step for the House
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #911)
The House's Deficit Reduction Act contains $53.9 billion in budget savings over the next five years aimed at reducing the deficit. Among other things, reconciliation bills are a way for Congress to reduce spending on mandatory programs such as Medicare and Medicaid that normally are allowed to grow on autopilot every year.
October 07, 2005
House Leadership Reacts To Calls For Fiscal Responsibility
By Michelle Muccio and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #879)
A step in the right direction.
October 06, 2005
A Line in the Sand for Fiscally Responsible Lawmakers
By Edwin J. Feulner, Ph.D., and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #874)
Policymakers who are serious about controlling spending must give up their earmarks and postpone the drug benefit.
September 28, 2005
The Growing Disconnect: Federal Spending and Congressional Leadership
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Michelle Muccio
(WebMemo #865)
Operation Offset would ensure that limited federal dollars are directed to the highest priorities.
September 16, 2005
How to Turn the President's Gulf Coast Pledge into Reality
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D., James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Alison Acosta Fraser, Dan Lips, Robert M. Moffit, Ph.D., and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #848)
Private investment, direct assistance to individuals, and sound economics are the basis of recovery.
July 28, 2005
Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights Should Not Be Breached
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(Backgrounder #1873)
Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights imposes sensible tax and spending limits on the state government, reducing the burden on taxpayers and creating a better climate for economic growth; but rather than make politically difficult belt-tightening decisions, lawmakers have proposed Referendum C, a $3 billion tax increase that will permanently change TABOR, increase the size of government, and pose long-term fiscal risk.
June 24, 2005
Awakening to the Need for Budget Accountability
By Keith Miller and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #774)
A set of committee hearings gives the fiscally responsible a reason to be optimistic.
March 17, 2005
Performance-Based Decisions in the President's 2006 Budget
By Keith Miller and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #690)
The President's FY 2006 budget proposal focuses on demonstrable results and reflects a willingness to hold programs and agencies accountable if they fail to perform.
February 09, 2005
The President's Call To Fix the Budget Process
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #660)
Now concerned about spending, the President is right to address the budget process.
February 03, 2005
Time for the Federal Budget Process to Include Unfunded Entitlement Obligations
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(Backgrounder #1818)
Congress should include a formal measure of liabilities and obligations in the budget process to present a realistic assessment of the nation's huge fiscal challenges. While this action alone would not be a panacea for fiscal responsibility, entitlement reform, or the preservation of pro-growth tax policies, Congress needs a strong warning mechanism as it makes budget and policy decisions.
February 03, 2005
Executive Summary: Time for the Federal Budget Process to Include Unfunded Entitlement Obligations
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(Executive Summary #1818)
Executive Summary: Congress should include a formal measure of liabilities and obligations in the budget process to present a realistic assessment of the nation's huge fiscal challenges. While this action alone would not be a panacea for fiscal responsibility, entitlement reform, or the preservation of pro-growth tax policies, Congress needs a strong warning mechanism as it makes budget and policy decisions.
January 10, 2005
A Bad Week for Limited Government
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Keith Miller
(WebMemo #637)
The House Republican Conference rejects sensible measures to curb spending.
January 07, 2005
Here's to a Good Year: A Look at Employment Gains in 2004
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Rea S. Hederman, Jr.
(WebMemo #634)
It was a very good year.
2004 Research
December 21, 2004
Walker's Warning: Nation's Top Accountant Worried About Financial Future
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #627)
The U.S. Comptroller General is a worried man.
December 20, 2004
House Rules: An Important Step for Spending Restraint
By Keith Miller and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #625)
A few small changes to the House's rules could make a big difference.
December 03, 2004
Jobs Gap Defies Expectations
By Alison Acosta Fraser, Tim Kane, and Rea Hederman
(WebMemo #616)
Today's job report issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is still more evidence of an expanding economy, with job growth exceeding 100,000 for the fourth straight month.
November 17, 2004
Debt-Limit Increase Signals the Need for Budget Reform
By Keith Miller and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #610)
With budget reform, Congress could go more than 18 months without raising the debt limit.
September 28, 2004
Not Again! Congress Evades Its Budget Caps
By Keith Miller and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #576)
Congress resorts to the time-honored methods of appropriations gimmickry.
September 16, 2004
An $82 Million Answer to Youth Suicide?
By Keith Miller and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #566)
Teen suicide is a real problem. Is government intervention the answer?
September 03, 2004
A Labor Day Report Card
By Tim Kane, Rea Hederman, and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #560)
The jobs market looks great today. Look back over the last year, and the picture is even better.
September 02, 2004
A Poor Critique: Personal Retirement Accounts and Transition Costs
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #559)
The President laid out his vision, and the critics are ready to pounce. But do their arguments add up?
August 04, 2004
Federal Highway Spending Jumps the Shark
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Jonathan Swanson
(WebMemo #548)
Think you know about the earmarks in the highway bill? Think again.
July 21, 2004
Legislative Branch Appropriations: The Beginnings of Fiscal Restraint?
By Keith Miller and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #544)
The Legislative Branch appropriations bills passed by both the House and Senate are a welcome return to fiscal restraint.
June 23, 2004
Is This Finally the Week for Budget Process Reform?
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Keith Miller
(WebMemo #524)
Because Congress has shown that it is easier to spend taxpayers' money than exercise fiscal discipline, it must undertake serious and significant budget process reform if federal spending is to be reined in
May 27, 2004
The Budget Conference Report and the Need for Real Process Reform
By Alison Acosta Fraser, Brian Riedl, and Keith Miller
(WebMemo #513)
The budget conference report has some good points but lacks real process reform
May 07, 2004
April Jobs Report: It's All Good
By Tim Kane, Rea Hederman, and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #499)
On its face, the April jobs report released today by the Labor Department looks good, but the details look even better.
May 07, 2004
The April Fools Diet: How Government Pork Fights American Obesity
By Erin Hymel, Keith Miller, and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #500)
The Get Outdoors Act is not really about health or obesity; it is definitely, however, about fat.
April 14, 2004
The Silver Lining of Tax Day 2004
By Alison Acosta Fraser, Bill Beach, Daniel Mitchell, and Keith Miller
(WebMemo #477)
April 15 is a date that engenders much fear and loathing among taxpayers...and for good reason.
April 08, 2004
Four Principles of Budget Process Reform
By Brian M. Riedl and Alison Acosta Fraser
(Backgrounder #1746)
Restraining federal budgetary spending will require the implementation of process reform. Budget process reform should reflect the following principles: (1) Overall spending should be capped at a set level; (2) the annual budget should present a full picture of future obligations; (3) the President should be involved throughout the budget process; and (4) budget decisions should include strong enforcement.
April 02, 2004
Strong Employment Growth in March
By Tim Kane, Ph.D., and Alison Fraser
(WebMemo #468)
Today's release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is a strong one and should lay to rest any remaining doubts about the strength of the economic recovery.
April 02, 2004
Strong Employment Growth in March
By Tim Kane, Ph.D., and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #468)
Today's release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is a strong one and should lay to rest any remaining doubts about the strength of the economic recovery.
April 01, 2004
What's Really Happening with Jobs and Outsourcing?
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(Heritage Lecture #827)
Many proposed "solutions" to outsourcing and the current false perception of job loss are forms of trade isolationism that will not work, but policies like lowering the burden of regulation, attacking frivolous lawsuits through tort reform, and implementing pro-growth tax policies will lead to payroll job gains that catch up with the rest of the economy.
April 01, 2004
Ten Myths about Jobs and Outsourcing
By Tim Kane, Brett D. Schaefer, and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #467)
America's workers deserve a more informative, less partisan debate on outsourcing. The negative impact of outsourcing on the economy and American employment has been greatly exaggerated and the benefits of outsourcing almost entirely ignored.
March 31, 2004
Unfunded and Unnecessary: The Truth About So-Called "Pay Parity"
By Keith Miller and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #463)
Some in Congress are calling for a Civil Service pay increase more than twice that proposed by the President. This would be irresponsible
March 22, 2004
Cutting Spending and Living to Tell About It
By Keith Miller and Alison Acosta Fraser
(Backgrounder #1738)
Conventional wisdom has long held that voters punish politicians who cut government spending. A survey of state executives, however, shows that, regardless of party, current governors who have cut state spending to balance their budgets enjoy strong popularity, and their counterparts who chose to raise taxes find support waning.
March 06, 2004
Senate Budget Resolution Sounds a Positive Note
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #441)
Policymakers serious about reining in spending must set priorities and make disciplined choices before they dive into the federal checkbook.
March 05, 2004
Employment, Unemployment, and the Puzzle of Payroll Anemia
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Rea S. Hederman, Jr.
(WebMemo #440)
Is this really a "jobless recovery?" Or is a fundamental restructuring in several sectors of the economy changing the rules of game, for the overall benefit of most workers and consumers?
February 09, 2004
"PART" of the Solution: The Performance Assessment Ratings Tool
By Keith Miller and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #418)
While the President deserves praise for cutting programs poorly ranked by PART from his 2005 budget proposal, much remains to be done.
February 06, 2004
Increased Investment Pushes January Job Growth
By William W. Beach, Alison Acosta Fraser, Rea S. Hederman, Jr., and Tim Kane
(WebMemo #416)
The President's pro-growth economic plan – and his tax cuts, especially – contributed to last month's increase in employment.
February 02, 2004
The President's 2005 Budget: A First Step
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #411)
The President's budget takes a first step towards reining in federal spending. However, bolder steps are necessary to pass on a strong economy and sound fiscal foundation for the next generation.
January 21, 2004
A Responsible Energy Policy
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Charli Coon
(WebMemo #396)
the President was right to call for an energy policy that will provide affordable, reliable energy and protect the nation's economy by decreasing our dependence on foreign sources. The key will be to open access to our own resources, eliminate special interest meddling, and let the markets do the rest.
January 21, 2004
The State of Spending
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #398)
Federal spending -- especially discretionary spending -- has soared over the past two years. The President's State of the Union pledge to limit growth of discretionary spending to 4 percent isn't nearly enough.
January 09, 2004
Unemployment Report: Manufacturing Down, Service Up; Long Term Trends Still Positive
By William W. Beach, Alison Acosta Fraser and Rea S. Hederman Jr.
(WebMemo #388)
Today's employment report is not good. But there is still reason for Americans to be optimistic. It also reveals some longer-term, positive employment trends.
2003 Research
December 05, 2003
The Beat Goes On: Unemployment Drops
By William W. Beach, Alison Acosta Fraser and Rea S. Hederman Jr.
(WebMemo #380)
For the first time since March the unemployment rate is below 6 percent. Widespread evidence suggests this economic growth will continue throughout 2004 and probably 2005.
2007 Commentary
February 22, 2007
Why our domestic entitlements could doom our children
By Alison Acosta Fraser
Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid threaten to swamp the federal budget. Left unfixed, these three programs will push federal spending from about 20 percent of GDP today to nearly 50 percent by 2050. Medicare spending alone will triple in less than two generations.
2006 Commentary
August 19, 2006
The real worry about U.S. budget policy? Spending
By Alison Acosta Fraser
What's really going on with the budget deficit? The latest report from Washington was that the deficit had shrunk to $260 billion - down from $318 billion last year and down to 2 percent of the economy (as measured by the gross domestic product). This was even better news than the July report, which projected a $296 billion deficit. With so many different numbers bandied about, it's hard to tell what's really going on.
June 20, 2006
Four simple steps to fix Washington's spending habits
By Alison Acosta Fraser
Over the past few years, Americans have watched Washington ratchet up spending with a seemingly unquenchable thirst for their tax dollars.
Spending has grown by 33 percent since 2001 alone. Special-interest earmarks -- pork-barrel spending such as the $700 million "railroad to nowhere" -- have exploded. This project would relocate a high-traffic, perfectly functioning rail line in Mississippi in order to make way for a Vegas-style gaming district.
May 01, 2006
U.S. spending grows at historic rate
By Alison Acosta Fraser
On Tuesday, the White House warned the Senate that it would veto funds for the war effort and hurricane relief.
April 24, 2006
Heading toward a deficit disaster:It's up to Congress to fix U.S. finances
By Alison Acosta Fraser
Running a deficit is nothing new for Washington. But the problem's getting worse. Last year, the "official" federal budget deficit was $319 billion, bringing D.C.'s total public debt to $4.6 trillion.
April 18, 2006
Stop the Senate's Supplemental Spending Spree
By Brian M. Riedl and Alison Acosta Fraser
Congress has jacked up federal spending by 45 percent in just five years. Agriculture, education, Medicare, energy and highway bills have all registered scandalously high hikes.
2005 Commentary
November 28, 2005
Do the math: Trimming social programs eases debt
By Alison Acosta Fraser
When Congress returns from Thanksgiving recess, lawmakers will move forward on a long-term mandatory spending budget package. This is a fancy term for programs such as Medicare and Medicaid that grow automatically each year without any budget deliberation.
October 27, 2005
Regaining Fiscal Sanity
By Alison Acosta Fraser
Every American family can relate -- things seem to be going well financially when disaster strikes. Maybe one of the children needs braces. Maybe the car has broken down.
March 10, 2005
Fix Easier Problem First
By Alison Acosta Fraser
Alan Greenspan is the latest notable Washington expert to tell us that Social Security and Medicare need to be fixed - and soon. The question is, which first?
2004 Commentary
October 26, 2004
President knows how to tackle energy problem
By Alison Acosta Fraser
Oil roars past $50 a barrel. The presidential election nears. And here come the candidates with their "plans" to cut our dependence on foreign oil, reduce our demand for energy, increase less-expensive sources of energy - yet leave our economy unharmed.
September 16, 2004
Improving Social Security: Pay A Lot Now or Even More Later
By Alison Acosta Fraser
In his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, President Bush revived several initiatives from his first presidential campaign.
June 23, 2004
Budget Process That's Spent
By Alison Acosta Fraser
Calls for Congress to get serious and rein in its spendthrift ways once and for all are nothing new.
April 18, 2004
Myths about Jobs and Outsourcing
By Tim Kane, Brett Schaefer and Alison Acosta Fraser
The American economy never rests. At this moment, in fact, economic growth is vigorous. Yet every time there is a slight dip in the acceleration of output, jobs or incomes, the undying myths of a sputtering, backfiring economy rise again. Today, many of those myths concern the ills of outsourcing.
2003 Commentary
December 08, 2003
Key Factors Indicate Recovery is Sustainable
By Alison Acosta Fraser
With glad economic tidings rolling in from all fronts, it's beginning to look a lot like . . . a recovery.
November 10, 2003
A Recovery That's Working
By Alison Acosta Fraser
Bad news: The economy is booming.
August 20, 2003
Power To The People
By Alison Acosta Fraser
Almost as soon as the lights went out in parts of the northeastern United States and Canada, those in the affected areas began wondering, along with the rest of us: Did terrorists do this?
July 23, 2003
A Double Standard for Unions
By Alison Acosta Fraser
Here we go again. Accounting shenanigans, lack of disclosure, misidentification of expenses, off-the-books enterprises, embezzlement. Who's the corporate villain this time? It's not big business, but big labor.
January 5, 2009
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