November 16, 2009
Bipartisan Entitlement Commission Needed to Control Spending and Debt
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2698)
A fiscal reform commission is essential to tackling the coming tsunami of entitlement spending and deficit red ink that threaten the economy.
October 30, 2009
The Spending, Deficit, and Debt Control Act Would Help Congress Rein in Spending and Deficits
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #2669)
Congress needs a budget framework that promotes responsible budgeting.
October 6, 2009
50 Examples of Government Waste
By Brian Riedl
(WebMemo #2642)
Here are 50 of the most egregious examples of government waste.
September 24, 2009
Congress's Health Care Bills Would Increase Spending and Federal Budget Deficits
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #2324)
Both the House health care reform bill (H.R. 3200) and the bill authored by Senator Baucus would increase government spending by hundreds of billions of ...
September 22, 2009
President Obama's Agenda Would Bring $13 Trillion in Budget Deficits, Not $9 Trillion
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #2319)
President Obama's budget will likely produce $13 trillion in deficit spending over the next 10 years--nearly $4 trillion more than forecast. The White House figures ...
September 16, 2009
Obama to Spend $10.3 Trillion on Welfare: Uncovering the Full Cost of Means-Tested Welfare or Aid to the Poor
By Robert Rector, Katherine Bradley, and Rachel Sheffield
(Special Report #67)
Means-tested welfare spending nearly rivals the combined cost of Social Security and Medicare, and President Obama's response has been to continue the permanent enlargement of ...
September 16, 2009
Rein in Spending by Stopping the Stimulus and Ending the TARP
By Stephen A. Keen and J. D. Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2618)
The federal budget deficit is already unsustainable and threatens to balloon further as Congress considers a multitude of new spending initiatives from health care reform ...
August 27, 2009
Budget Update Shows No Need for Tax Hikes
By Curtis S. Dubay
(WebMemo #2597)
The OMB and CBO budget updates show that spending cuts—not tax increases—are necessary to bring deficits under control.
August 25, 2009
New Budget Estimates Show Unsustainable Spending and Debt
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #2595)
The OMB's new budget spending estimates are alarming and absolutely unsustainable-and are the true cause of these appalling levels of deficit and debt.
July 27, 2009
Federal Spending by the Numbers 2009
By Brian M. Riedl
(Special Report #63)
Spending and deficits are surging at a pace not seen since World War II. Washington will spend $33,932 per household in 2009--$8,000 per household more ...
July 27, 2009
Keynesian Fiscal Stimulus Policies Stimulate Debt--Not the Economy
By J. D. Foster, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2302)
The federal government has poured extraordinary amounts of fiscal stimulus into the economy two years running, yet unemployment continues to rise with the national debt. ...
July 15, 2009
Understanding CBO Health Cost Estimates
By Donald B. Marron
(Backgrounder #2298)
Congressional Budget Office analyses often rely on sophisticated economic modeling and are usually framed in ways that match the specific, sometimes arcane, requirements of the ...
July 15, 2009
Understanding CBO Health Cost Estimates
By Donald B. Marron
(Executive Summary #2298)
Congressional Budget Office analyses often rely on sophisticated economic modeling and are usually framed in ways that match the specific, sometimes arcane, requirements of the ...
July 13, 2009
Facing America’s Long-Term Entitlement Challenges Laid Out in the Financial Report of the United States Government
By Brian Riedl
(Testimony )
The most striking part of the 2008 Financial Report of the United States Government is not the balance sheets showing total assets of $2 trillion ...
June 29, 2009
Entitlements Darken Long-Term Outlook for Federal Budget
By Nicola Moore
(WebMemo #2510)
Congress ought to take the warnings issued in the CBO's "Long-Term Budget Outlook" seriously.
June 18, 2009
Obama Gets a Tax Issue Right--Is Congress Next?
By J. D. Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2491)
President Obama's PAYGO proposals suggest the revenue baseline be fixed. Congress should now direct the CBO to reform its procedures for calculating the revenue baseline. ...
June 9, 2009
One Cheer for the House Republican Budget Cuts
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #2472)
House Republicans get credit for beginning a necessary and overdue conversation about spending restraint. They should go further to offer meaningful cuts.
June 1, 2009
Obama's Deficits Put U.S. Credit Rating at Risk
By J. D. Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2465)
The dangers of the U.S.'s credit rating being downgraded are real, and an imminent fundamental policy course correction is inevitable.
May 22, 2009
The Tipping Point: The Transportation-Housing Trade-Offs of Suburban, Urban and Rural Living
By Alan E. Pisarski
(White Paper )
The white paper discusses the issue of the relatives costs of housing and transportation, particularly: the transportation-housing trade-offs of suburban, urban and rural living; and ...
May 18, 2009
2010 Budget Resolution Raises Taxes and Hurts Economic Recovery
By Curtis S. Dubay
(WebMemo #2452)
Congress recently passed the fiscal year 2010 budget resolution, which includes several provisions that will significantly raise taxes and hurt economic recovery.
May 7, 2009
President's Budget Cuts Should Go Towards Deficit Reduction
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #2427)
Congress should go much further than the $17 billion in savings the President has proposed and should make sure these cuts are not transferred into ...
May 6, 2009
Correcting the Pervasive Inequities in Gas Tax Spending Should Be a Reauthorization Priority
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2269)
The federal highway program's allocation formula shortchanges states in the South and Great Lakes regions and benefits the slow-growing, high-income Northeast. The most effective remedy ...
April 3, 2009
Obama's Proposal to Reduce Charitable Deductions Would Hurt Civil Society, Expand Government
By Ryan Messmore
(WebMemo #2379)
Congress should resist President Obama's proposal to reduce the tax deduction rate on charitable gifts from high-income earners.
April 1, 2009
Budget Proposal Will Raise Taxes, Grow Government, and Cut Defense
By Mackenzie Eaglen
(WebMemo #2373)
The military cannot afford a "modernization depression"—yet that is exactly what is coming.
April 1, 2009
Economic Analysis of the House Republican Budget Alternative (H.R. 85): "Report on the Path to American Prosperity"
By Karen A. Campbell, Ph.D.
(White Paper )
On April 1, 2009, Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI), the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee, introduced the House Republican Budget Alternative to budget initiatives ...
April 1, 2009
House Republican Budget Would Confront Hard Choices and Rein in Budget Deficits
By Brian Riedl
(WebMemo #2377)
The House Republican blueprint provides a strong contrast to President Obama’s plan to saddle Americans with historic tax increases, runaway spending, and a doubling of ...
March 18, 2009
Medicare Reform: Setting Attainable Goals for Sustainability
By J. D. Foster, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2251)
The Treasury Department's general fund subsidizes Medicare by an amount equal to about 1.3 percent of GDP, a large but manageable sum and an apparently ...
March 16, 2009
The Obama Budget: Spending, Taxes, and Doubling the National Debt
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #2249)
President Obama has framed his budget as a break from the Bush Administration’s policies. However, Obama’s budget would double the publicly held national debt to ...
March 2, 2009
Omnibus Spending Bill: Huge Spending and 9,000 Earmarks Represent Business as Usual
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #2318)
Even a recession and record $1.4 trillion budget deficit has not altered Congress's business-as-usual culture of spending and pork.
February 26, 2009
Obama's PAYGO Law Would Not Slow Spending or Budget Deficits
By Brian Riedl
(WebMemo #2312)
PAYGO has proven to be more of a talking point than an actual tool for budget discipline.
February 24, 2009
The Elements of a Responsible Budget Proposal
By Brian M. Riedl, Mackenzie M. Eaglen, Curtis S. Dubay, J. D. Foster, Ph.D., William W. Beach, and Rea S. Hederman, Jr.
(WebMemo #2309)
The President must ensure that his budget proposal protects America’s security abroad and economic security at home.
January 22, 2009
Will Lobbyists Turn the Stimulus Package Into a Festival of Fiscal Greed?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2232)
As Congress and President Obama try to devise a fiscal stimulus package, and as the proposed spending for this package has risen from $300 billion ...
January 21, 2009
Key Questions for Timothy Geithner, Nominee for Treasury Secretary
By J. D. Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2232)
The United States Senate will soon consider the nomination of Timothy Geithner to be Treasury secretary of the United States. The following are a few ...
January 13, 2009
How to Reform Entitlement Spending: A Memo to President-elect Obama
By Brian M. Riedl and Alison Acosta Fraser
(Special Report #43)
President-Elect Obama, you based much of your presidential campaign on the promise of a better future for all Americans. A better future must be one ...
January 9, 2009
Any Stimulus Legislation Must Include Budget Reforms to Address Long-Term Challenges
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #2199)
If President-elect Obama insists on a huge spending bill, he must ensure it does not result in huge permanent new government programs and thus potentially ...
January 7, 2009
CBO Budget Baseline Shows Historic Surge in Spending and Debt
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #2193)
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently released its annual 10-year budget baseline. A realistic baseline shows that historic spending increases are projected to drive the ...
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 ...
November 20, 2008
Defense Spending Fraud, Waste, and Abuse: Hype, Reality, and Real Solutions
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Eric Sayers
(Backgrounder #2212)
Government should take every responsible measure to eliminate fraud, waste, and ...
November 12, 2008
Why Government Spending Does Not Stimulate Economic Growth
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #2208)
Washington has already spent hundreds of billions of dollars on economic stimulus bills that have failed to revive the economy. Tax rebates do not help ...
November 10, 2008
Emergency Spending: $333 Billion Tab Busted the Budget in 2008
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #2127)
Congress and President Bush enacted at least $333 billion in "emergency" spending in the just-completed 2008 fiscal year. While some of this spending may have ...
October 23, 2008
The 2008 Index of Government Dependency
By William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #08-08)
The first wave of baby boomers began to retire in 2008. We find ourselves on the eve of the largest retirement of people in world ...
October 15, 2008
Obama's and McCain's Budget Proposals Lack Detail
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #2102)
Both Barack Obama and John McCain have produced budget plans that focus on short-term goals, and both their plans lack detail on how to achieve ...
October 15, 2008
Obama's and McCain's Tax Plans: A Mixed Bag
By J. D. Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2101)
Senators John McCain (R–AZ) and Barack Obama (D–IL) have released tax plans indicating their priorities when one of them becomes President of the United States. ...
September 19, 2008
Time to Move Iraq and Afghanistan Funding into the Regular Budget Process
By Brian Riedl and Baker Spring
(WebMemo #2068)
The U.S. military has been engaged in major combat operations overseas for seven years in Afghanistan and five in Iraq. Congress has provided annual funding ...
September 18, 2008
A Second Economic Stimulus Bill Will Fail—Just Like the First
By Rea S. Hederman, Jr., Stephen Keen, and Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #2186)
The new economic stimulus proposals rely on increased government spending, which is a proven failure. Highway and infrastructure projects take too long and do not ...
September 11, 2008
Putting the Brakes on the Automaker Bailout
By James L. Gattuso and Nicolas D. Loris
(WebMemo #2060)
Having the government, and ultimately the taxpayer, finance a transition to more fuel efficient cars is simply bad policy rooted in election-year politics. Policymakers should ...
September 10, 2008
New CBO Budget Baseline Shows Entitlements Driving Budget Deficits Higher
By Brian Riedl
(WebMemo #2057)
The Congressional Budget Office’s new 10-year baseline shows steep Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid spending costs driving the budget deficit upwards.The best way to get ...
September 8, 2008
Ten Myths About Budget Deficits and Debt
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #2178)
The Bush tax cuts did not cause the budget deficit because the budget would have still fallen into deficit due to national security, runaway spending, ...
September 2, 2008
Medicare's Financial Woes: Bigger Than Official Estimates
By J. D. Foster, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2174)
Medicare is financially unsustainable in its current form. The Medicare Trustees’ 2008 estimate of the program’s total excess costs is $85.6 trillion. The Trustees acknowledge ...
August 11, 2008
Obama to CBO Revenue Baseline: Nuts—and He's Right!
By J. D. Foster Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2019)
Perhaps to his own surprise, Barack Obama has apparently joined forces with conservatives to correct the CBO revenue baseline. Maybe this also demonstrates that Washington ...
July 22, 2008
The Higher-Education Bill: The Unnoticed Budget Buster
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #2164)
The College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008 represents one of the largest authorized discretionary spending hikes in American history. Lawmakers should strongly question its ...
July 1, 2008
The Iraq War Bill Was the Wrong Place to Create a Permanent New Entitlement
By Brian Riedl
(WebMemo #1976)
Once again, Congress and President Bush have turned legislation intended to fund American troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan into a Christmas tree for domestic ...
June 27, 2008
CBO's Warning on Raising Taxes to Pay for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2153)
Three former CBO directors and other budget analysts from across the political spectrum have urged a fundamental restructuring of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security to ...
June 25, 2008
The SAFE Commission Act (H.R. 3654) and the Long-Term Fiscal Challenge
By Alison Acosta Fraser
(Testimony )
Testimony before the Committee on the Budget, United States House of Representatives.
June 20, 2008
Discussion of the Costs of the Iraq War
By William W. Beach
(Testimony )
Testimony before the Joint Economic Committee United States Senate
June 12, 2008
Congress Again Lards Iraq War Spending Bill
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1953)
Despite vowing to rein in spending, cut the budget deficit, and implement pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules, the Democratic Congress recently voted to cast these promises aside. ...
June 9, 2008
H.R. 6003 Would Be the Costliest Bailout in Amtrak's 40 Years of Federal Subsidies
By Ronald D. Utt
(WebMemo #1949)
This June, Members of the House of Representatives will be asked to support or reject the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. ...
June 5, 2008
Congress's Budget Resolution Promises Spending Hikes Now and Tax Hikes Soon
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1946)
Disregarding their promise to restore fiscal responsibility in Washington, the House is about to follow the Senate in passing a budget resolution conference report that... ...
June 5, 2008
War Funding Bill: PAYGO Awry, Surtaxing Toward GI Benefits
By J.D. Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1947)
The Congress is readying legislation to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and threatening to load up the bill with unrelated related programs and ...
May 15, 2008
Federal Funds and State Fiscal Independence
By Sven R. Larson, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2136)
If the present trend in federal aid to states continues, federally sponsored programs will soon eclipse state budgets and turn the federal government into the ...
May 13, 2008
Individual Income Tax Reform
By J. D. Foster
(Testimony )
Mr. Chairman, Senator Grassley, Members of the Senate Finance Committee, my name is J.D. Foster. I am the Norman B. Ture Senior Fellow in the ...
May 12, 2008
Seven Reasons to Veto the Farm Bill
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #2134)
Since the enactment of the last farm bill in 2002, crop prices and net farm income have more than doubled. Yet the new farm bill ...
April 2, 2008
SOS: Congress Must Save the Aircraft Carrier Fleet
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen and Jim Dolbow
(WebMemo #1880)
Congress should reject the Navy's request to temporarily reduce its fleet of 11 aircraft carriers to 10.
April 2, 2008
More Transportation Spending: False Promises of Prosperity and Job Creation
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2121)
With the economy slowing and job growth declining, lobbyists are urging Congress to spend more on transportation to stimulate the economy, but creating jobs is ...
March 31, 2008
Taking Back our Fiscal Future
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D., Alison Acosta Fraser and Other Authors
(White Paper )
Taking Back our Fiscal Future
March 26, 2008
2008 Social Security Trustees Report Continues to Show the Urgent Need for Reform
By David C. John
(WebMemo #1868)
David C. John answers frequently asked questions about Social Security's financial outlook.
March 26, 2008
Congress Must Not Ignore the Medicare Trustees' Warning
By Greg D'Angelo and Robert E. Moffit, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1869)
Congress should take steps to transform Medicare from a costly open-ended entitlement program to a defined-contribution program.
March 25, 2008
Medicare and Social Security: The Challenge of Giant Entitlement Costs
By David C. John and Robert E. Moffit, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1867)
Today's report affirms the need for Congress to begin a serious overhaul of both of these vital programs.
March 13, 2008
Fair Tax Policy Requires a Fair Revenue Baseline
By J. D. Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1848)
Congress should use the budget resolution to correct the bias toward higher taxes in the CBO's budget projections.
March 11, 2008
The House Budget Resolution: Tax Hikes Would Harm Economy, Taxpayers
By Shanea Watkins, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1844)
This WebMemo projects the likely impact of the House budget resolution in states and congressional districts.
March 11, 2008
Tax Hikes Hiding in Budget Resolutions' Treatment of AMT Patch
By J. D. Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1846)
Congress should include language in the budget resolution to extend the AMT patch without an accompanying tax hike.
March 11, 2008
A Guide to Fixing Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #2114)
Unless lawmakers promptly reform Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, America faces a future of soaring taxes and government spending that will cause poor economic performance. ...
March 10, 2008
The House Budget's $3,000-per-Household Tax Increase
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1842)
The White House has responsibly pledged to veto legislation with tax and spending increases that would follow from these proposals. Congress should start over and ...
February 25, 2008
Federal Spending By the Numbers 2008
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1829)
A detailed explanation of recent trends in federal spending.
February 19, 2008
Rethinking Social Insurance
By Stuart M. Butler and Maya MacGuineas
(White Paper )
The single greatest threat to the fiscal health of the United States is the runaway growth of the nation's major retirement and health care entitlement ...
February 19, 2008
Providing for the Common Defense: What 10 Years of Progress Would Look Like
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Baker Spring, and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #2108)
The U.S. military must cap manpower costs, adapt Reserve Component forces, maintain access to cutting-edge technologies, deploy a robust missile defense system, obtain military space ...
February 19, 2008
Executive Summary: Providing for the Common Defense: What 10 Years of Progress Would Look Like
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Baker Spring, and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Executive Summary #2108)
The U.S. military must cap manpower costs, adapt Reserve Component forces, maintain access to cutting-edge technologies, deploy a robust missile defense system, obtain military space ...
February 12, 2008
The President's Proposals for Medicaid and SCHIP: One Step Forward, One Step Back
By Nina Owcharenko
(WebMemo #1806)
Congress should embrace the President's proposals for Medicaid but reject the increase in SCHIP spending.
February 11, 2008
Make Medicare Budget Options Compatible with Comprehensive Reform
By Robert E. Moffit, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1807)
In response to the trigger in Medicare law, Congress should move the program toward a new system based on free market principles.
February 8, 2008
Congress Should Ignore Budget Requests Relating to the Law of the Sea Treaty
By Steven Groves
(WebMemo #1804)
LOST is a flawed treaty that should not be ratified, much less funded prior to ratification.
February 5, 2008
The President's Medicare Budget: A First Step Toward Entitlement Reform
By Robert E. Moffit, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1797)
It Members of Congress do not agree with the President's proposals, they should develop reasonable alternatives of their own.
February 4, 2008
President's Budget Would Restrain Entitlements and Domestic Discretionary Spending
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1794)
Lawmakers should seriously examine the President's proposals to bring long-term sustainability to entitlement spending.
February 4, 2008
Notes on the New 10-Year CBO Budget Baseline
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1795)
The best way to get the budget under control is by reforming Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
February 4, 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.
January 25, 2008
President Bush Should Keep His Pledge to Halve the Number of Earmarks
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1780)
President Bush should sign an executive order cancelling the vast majority of earmarks.
December 21, 2007
Omnibusted: The Top 10 Worst Problems with the Omnibus Spending Bill
By Nicola Moore
(WebMemo #1760)
Just 10?
December 20, 2007
Omnibus Earmarks Out: President Bush Should Cancel Congress's Pork Spending
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1757)
Though Congress brazenly broke its pledge to the American people to reduce earmarks, the President's hands are not necessarily tied to carry out their irresponsible ...
December 18, 2007
The Omnibus: "Stealth" Security Provision is Unnecessary
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1753)
This policy rider threatens both the economy and the integrity of the lawmaking process.
December 18, 2007
Omnibus Prohibits Oil Shale Development
By Nick Loris
(WebMemo #1754)
Spending bills should not include policy riders that stand in the way of U.S. energy independence.
December 18, 2007
Omnibus Eliminates Funding for the Reliable Replacement Warhead Program
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1755)
Creating a new nuclear warhead is essential for the security of the United States and its friends and allies.
December 17, 2007
CBO Confirms: Long-Run Fiscal Outlook Remains Grim
By J.D. Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1749)
Congress and the Administration must work together to pass meaningful reforms to entitlement programs and the health care market.
December 17, 2007
Omnibus Spending Bill Busts the Budget to Pay for Pork
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1751)
Unless Congress removes its pork from the bill, the President should veto it.
December 14, 2007
Spending Hikes: A Guide to the Gimmicks
By Ernest Istook
(WebMemo #1746)
The omnibus appropriations bill exceeds the advertised $933 billion figure because it is stuffed with billions more in budget tricks and gimmicks.
December 14, 2007
Watch Out for Budget Gimmicks in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill
By Ernest Istook
(WebMemo #1748)
The budget process includes a number of loopholes that Members exploit to increase spending.
December 13, 2007
Scrap the Senate Farm Bill and Start Over
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1738)
H.R. 2419 retains an expensive and broken farm susbsidy system.
December 12, 2007
Five Benchmarks for the Omnibus Spending Bill
By Nicola Moore, Stephen Keen, and Brian Riedl
(WebMemo #1737)
If Congress passes a fiscally irresponsible Omnibus Spending Bill, the President should veto it.
November 14, 2007
President's Budget Vetoes Put Needed Brake on Congressional Spending
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1702)
Congress should trim pork and other excessive spending from the appropriations bills.
November 5, 2007
The Senate Farm Bill: A Missed Opportunity
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1690)
With crop prices soaring, farm incomes setting records, and Congress pledging to reduce the budget deficit, now is an opportune time to reform the bloated ...
October 30, 2007
The Democratic Congress's 2008 Budget: A Tax and Spending Spree
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #2081)
Congressional Democrats have portrayed themselves as responsible fiscal stewards who would rein in spending, clean up pork-barrel projects, resist large tax increases, and maintain strict ...
October 23, 2007
National Heritage Areas: Costly Economic Development Schemes that Threaten Property Rights
By Cheryl Chumley and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D
(Backgrounder #2080)
Rather expand federal involvement in local affairs, Congress should limit existing National Heritage Areas to their initial federal funding caps and enforce the statutory requirement ...
October 23, 2007
Executive Summary: National Heritage Areas: Costly Economic Development Schemes that Threaten Property Rights
By Cheryl Chumley and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D
(Executive Summary #2080)
Executive Summary: Rather expand federal involvement in local affairs, Congress should limit existing National Heritage Areas to their initial federal funding caps and enforce the ...
October 22, 2007
National Heritage Areas: Costly Economic Development Schemes That Threaten Property Rights
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and Cheryl Chumley
(WebMemo #1671)
If enacted, H.R. 1483 would cost taxpayers an additional $135 million, jeopardize the property rights of private citizens, and distract the NPS from its core ...
October 16, 2007
Washington Metro Needs Reform, Not a Federal Bailout
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1665)
Congress should link the continuation of existing federal subsidies to management and labor reforms at the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority.
October 11, 2007
Congress Loads Spending Bills with Pork and Earmarks
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1660)
To uphold a promise to voters, the Democratic-led Congress should eliminate the pork-barrel projects in the fiscal year 2008 appropriations bills.
September 28, 2007
Increasing the National Debt Limit Should Spur Congress to Tackle Entitlements
By Nicola Moore
(WebMemo #1648)
Congress must reform entitlements in order to avoid unsustainable levels of debt in the future.
September 27, 2007
State and Local Tax Hikes Add to Federal Tax Relief Pressures
By JD Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1647)
To pay for tax relief and higher-priority spending at the federal level, policymakers should cut back on federal grants to the states.
September 26, 2007
Taxpayers, Beware: Record Tax Burden Is Rising
By JD Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1639)
Before launching a new spate of tax hikes, Members of Congress should consider the historical context of overall tax levels and where those levels are ...
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.
September 24, 2007
Budget Delays Should Not Cause Government Shutdowns
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1633)
An automatic continuing resolution would save time and tax dollars while protecting government services in the event of congressional gridlock.
September 20, 2007
Congress Should Link Amtrak's Generous Subsidy to Improved Performance
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2072)
Amtrak fails to fill half of its seats on any given day, and ridership has remained largely unchanged since 2005, yet Amtrak receives the highest ...
September 20, 2007
Executive Summary: Congress Should Link Amtrak's Generous Subsidy to Improved Performance
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #2072)
Executive Summary: Amtrak fails to fill half of its seats on any given day, and ridership has remained largely unchanged since 2005, yet Amtrak receives ...
September 10, 2007
The Subprime Mortgage Situation: Bailout Not the Right Solution
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and David C. John
(WebMemo #1604)
The government's response should be limited to dealing with the immediate problem and should not become a vehicle for expanded housing programs or pushing other ...
August 29, 2007
Restoring the American Social Contract
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #1039)
Returning to the principles of mutual obligation within a financially responsible framework will restore the American social contract to its original principles as a bargain ...
July 30, 2007
Congressional Spending: Past Abuse Is No Excuse for Today's Excess
By Ernest Istook, Jr.
(WebMemo #1575)
Despite the Democrats’ promise to be more fiscally responsible than their predecessors, Congress is on a spending binge that will harm economic growth and job ...
July 30, 2007
Senate SCHIP Bill Makes a Mockery of PAYGO Budget Rules
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1576)
Turning their backs on a campaign promise, Senate Democrats have proposed a bill that would put into motion $60 billion in new deficit spending over ...
July 24, 2007
Don't Be Fooled: House Farm Bill Weakens Payment Limits
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1566)
If Congress is serious about ending agricultural corporate welfare, it should lower the income cap for subsidies to $200,000, as President Bush proposed, and retain ...
July 12, 2007
Mid-Session Budget Review Shows Surging Tax Revenues
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1549)
Though a rapid increase in federal revenues shows that the 2003 tax cuts have succeeded in boosting economic activity, the entitlement spending tsunami still threatens ...
July 10, 2007
Higher Education for Taxpayers
By JD Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1547)
The reauthorization of the federal higher education programs should be used as an opportunity to reprioritize and, where possible, reduce federal spending—not as an excuse ...
July 9, 2007
SCHIP Reauthorization: Congress Should Beware of Creating a New Entitlement
By Nicola Moore and JD Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1540)
Congress ought to focus on addressing the entitlement spending problem it has already created. Expanding yet another federal healthcare program would be reckless, risky, and ...
July 9, 2007
Earmark Appropriations: Pork - Or Mystery Meat?
By Ernest Istook
(WebMemo #1541)
House Republicans pushed successfully to reform the rules regarding earmarks, but the battle over Congress's pork spending is still just beginning.
June 27, 2007
Federal Farm Subsidy Programs: How to Discourage Congressional Conflicts of Interest
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2045)
Members of Congress who receive federal farm subsidies should (1) declare them in annual financial disclosures and recuse themselves from voting on legislation that would ...
June 27, 2007
House Transparency Rules Reveal that Pork Projects Tilt Heavily Toward Appropriators
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1530)
Although lawmakers claim to fund projects based purely on merit, the two latest spending bills suggest that committee assignments play a large role in the ...
June 20, 2007
How Farm Subsidies Harm Taxpayers, Consumers, and Farmers, Too
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #2043)
This year's farm bill debate will test whether Congress is serious about reform or will continue business as usual by pandering to special interests. Congress ...
June 20, 2007
Executive Summary: How Farm Subsidies Harm Taxpayers, Consumers, and Farmers, Too
By Brian M. Riedl
(Executive Summary #2043)
How Farm Subsidies Harm Taxpayers, Consumers, and Farmers, Too
June 20, 2007
Pork-Barrel Spending: Republicans Win Transparency, but $23 Billion Slush Fund Remains
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1517)
After an important victory for budget transparency, House Members must now eliminate pork projects and the slush fund created to fund them.
June 13, 2007
The House Democrats' $23 Billion Pork Slush Fund and Spending Spree
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1503)
The House Democratic majority should honor its pledge to bring transparency to budgeting by releasing the names of and allocations for pork projects while appropriations ...
June 12, 2007
Reject Pork in Homeland Security Appropriations
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Garrett Murch, and Diem Nguyen
(WebMemo #1502)
Earmarking homeland security funding would prevent the DHS from establishing the most effective national security system possible.
June 6, 2007
Amnesty Will Cost U.S. Taxpayers at Least $2.6 Trillion
By Robert Rector
(WebMemo #1490)
The illegal immigrants granted amnesty under S. 1348 are likely to impose a net cost of at least $2.6 trillion on U.S. taxpayers during their ...
May 17, 2007
Budget Resolution Calls for Massive Tax Hikes and Spending Increases
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1460)
Lawmakers should go back to the drawing board and write a budget that meets the President's spending targets, deals realistically with coming entitlement costs, and ...
May 15, 2007
The Water Resources Development Act of 2007: A Pork Fest for Wealthy Beach-Front Property Owners
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1458)
Congress appears intent on diverting taxpayer dollars from the most important responsibilities of the Army Corps of Engineers to finance water-sports and other low-priority schemes. ...
May 10, 2007
Lawmakers Should Reject Another Irresponsible Supplemental Farm Bailout
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1452)
Rather than pile on more corporate welfare in "emergency" agricultural spending, Congress should follow President Bush's lead and reject this unnecessary, irresponsible proposal.
May 2, 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 ...
April 24, 2007
The Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report Again—And Again Problems Have Worsened
By JD Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1430)
The financial condition of Medicare and Social Security is terrible and got significantly worse with another year of legislative inactivity.
April 12, 2007
President Must Veto Unconstitutional, Irresponsible War Funding Legislation
By Edwin J. Feulner, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1422)
The President is right to threaten a veto of Congress's legislation. Anything that falls short of the standards of constitutionality and responsibility must face a ...
March 30, 2007
Ten Myths About the Defense Budget
By Baker Spring
(Backgrounder #2022)
Despite the ongoing war against Islamic terrorists and the need to meet enduring national security requirements, the defense budget is not large. By itself, it ...
March 28, 2007
A Responsible FY 2008 Budget: House Republican Substitute Focuses on Spending and Economic Growth
By Andrew M. Grossman
(WebMemo #1412)
Unlike the House Democrats' budget resolution, the Republican budget substitute embodies a vision of fiscal restraint and economic growth.
March 27, 2007
House and Senate Defense Budgets Imply the Need for Future Supplemental Funding
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1411)
Congress needs to support plans to fill the gaps in the defense budget between FY 2009 and FY 2012 and pave the way to sustain ...
March 22, 2007
The Senate Budget: A $2,641 Per Household Tax Increase and No Entitlement Reforms
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1405)
The Senate budget relies on massive tax increases while ignoring the coming tsunami in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid spending.
March 15, 2007
The Congressional Earmark Moratorium: Will It Last the Year?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2016)
Courage and leadership matter most in establishing a pattern of fiscal responsibility in Washington. The leadership on both sides of the aisle needs to ensure ...
March 15, 2007
Congress Hijacks Troop Funding for Pork
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1397)
As federal spending nears $24,000 per household, the House of Representatives took the President’s vital national security supplemental bill and larded it up with $21 ...
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 8, 2007
Federal Spending 2007: By the Numbers
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1390)
Twelve pages of tables, charts, graphs, and bullet-point explanations of recent trends in federal spending.
March 8, 2007
The DHS Budget for FY 2008: Time for a Comprehensive Approach to Homeland Security
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #2013)
Congress should follow a set of strategic principles to create a comprehensive approach to homeland security spending instead of funding piecemeal programs. It should also ...
March 5, 2007
Defense FY 2008 Budget Analysis: Four Percent for Freedom
By Baker Spring
(Backgrounder #2012)
Maintaining a healthy defense posture requires sustained funding for national defense at no less than 4 percent of GDP. Unless Congress continues to separate funding ...
March 1, 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 20, 2007
The Urgent Need to Reform the FAA's Air Traffic Control System
By Robert W. Poole, Jr
(Backgrounder #2007)
Congress can open the door to the Next Generation Air Transportation System by reforming the Air Traffic Organization. By adopting what has become the global ...
February 20, 2007
Executive Summary: The Urgent Need to Reform the FAA's Air Traffic Control System
By Robert W. Poole, Jr.
(Executive Summary #2007)
Executive Summary: Congress can open the door to the Next Generation Air Transportation System by reforming the Air Traffic Organization. By adopting what has become ...
February 8, 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 ...
February 6, 2007
The President's Medicare Budget Proposal: A Step Forward on Entitlement Spending
By Robert E. Moffit
(WebMemo #1344)
In his FY 2008 budget, the President has proposed a set of serious Medicare proposals that will begin to address the enormous fiscal challenge of ...
February 5, 2007
Farm Subsidies, Free Trade, and the Doha Round
By Daniella Markheim and Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1337)
The United States must make a meaningful offer to cut agricultural protection if Doha is to progress.
February 5, 2007
Bush Budget Reins in Entitlement Costs
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1341)
The key feature of President Bush’s fiscal year 2008 budget request is not its strategy to reach a balanced budget in five years but its ...
February 5, 2007
An Adequate Defense Budget That Must Be Sustained into the Future
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1342)
The U.S. government will need to devote no less than 4 percent of GDP to defense on a sustained basis to meet the nation’s defense ...
January 31, 2007
Solutions to Our Long-Term Fiscal Challenges
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D.
(Testimony )
As Comptroller General David Walker has pointed out, entitlement-driven unfunded growth in spending will impose staggering financial burdens on our children and grandchildren. It may ...
January 24, 2007
New CBO Budget Baseline Shows Entitlement Spending Imperiling Deficit Reduction Goals
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1329)
Reforming Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is the only way to get the budget under control.
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
Halving Student Loan Interest Rates Is Unaffordable and Ineffective
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1308)
Reducing interest rates on student loans does not increase college access for prospective students, but merely subsidizes loan repayments after college.
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.
January 16, 2007
Fiscal conservatism after the 2006 elections
By Larry Kudlow
(WebMemo #1310)
The following is Larry Kudlow's November 13 address to members of The Heritage Foundation's President's Club at the fall 2006 President’s Club meeting, held at ...
January 9, 2007
The Budget and Entitlements: Time to Take Action
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1303)
If America does nothing, entitlements will crowd out other federal spending and push taxes to unprecedented heights.
January 5, 2007
Bush's Call For Fiscal Restraint: Entitlement Control is the Key
By Stuart Butler, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1298)
While the goal of balancing the budget in five years has a popular ring to it, the real threat to the economy and families is ...
January 3, 2007
Memo to the New Congressional Leadership: How to Improve Proposals for Congressional Earmark and Lobbying Reform
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1296)
Any serious earmark reform must require extensive reporting and transparency so as to expose the link between earmarks and campaign contributions. Anything less would not ...
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.
December 14, 2006
Will New Congress Be Santa to Taxpayers and Grinch to Lobbyists?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1287)
Congress cuts out earmarks, marking a big victory for citizen-activists and fiscal restraint.
December 6, 2006
A Taxpayer Victory Against Wasteful Agricultural Subsidies
By Brian M. Riedl and Andrew M. Grossman
(WebMemo #1279)
The Senate votes down an $800 million increase in "emergency" agricultural subsidies.
December 4, 2006
Five Reasons for the Senate to Reject Boosting Farm Subsidies
By Brian Riedl
(WebMemo #1274)
Lawmakers should resist emergency agriculture spending and instead prepare to overhaul farm subsidies next year.
December 1, 2006
The 2006 Index of Dependency
By William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #06-11)
The 1980s and 1990s generally witnessed much slower growth in the Index. If the 1989–1993 period had reflected the policies of 1981–1988 and 1994–2001 periods, ...
November 15, 2006
Congress Returns to Spending Bills Loaded With Pork
By Brian M. Riedl and Michelle Muccio
(WebMemo #1256)
Congress loads next year's spending bills with 10,000 pork projects despite voters' demand for restraint. Features a list of the worst pork projects of FY ...
November 8, 2006
How Minority Leader Pelosi Can Use the Lame Duck Session to Restore Integrity to the Federal Budget Process
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1249)
Reject earmarks to demonstrate a firm commitment to integrity in budgeting.
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 ...
October 25, 2006
Fiscal Policy Lessons from Europe
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1979)
Living standards are much higher in America than in Europe, unemployment is far lower, and growth is much stronger; left unchecked, however, the growing burden ...
October 25, 2006
Executive Summary: Fiscal Policy Lessons from Europe
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #1979)
Executive Summary: Living standards are much higher in America than in Europe, unemployment is far lower, and growth is much stronger; left unchecked, however, the ...
October 13, 2006
The 2006 Budget Numbers Show Impact of Pro-Growth Tax Policy, But Also Continued Spending Increases
By Daniel J. Mitchell
(WebMemo #1237)
The FY2006 budget numbers demonstrate the benefits of maintaining pro-growth tax policies, but also the need to reduce spending and reform entitlement programs.
October 2, 2006
The Army Needs Adequate Funding
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1228)
Ongoing operational expenses inadequately covered by Congress’s supplemental appropriations may leave the Army in the hole, risking America’s security.
September 28, 2006
Tax Rate Reductions Strengthen the Economy, But Excessive Government Spending Threatens Long-Run Performance
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D., and Michelle L. Muccio
(Backgrounder #1975)
To enhance economic performance, Congress should make the pro-growth portions of the Bush tax cuts permanent, implement reforms to shift the Internal Revenue Code closer ...
September 25, 2006
Still Spending: Senate Set to Bust Budget Caps by $32 Billion
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1222)
Budget gimmickry leads to higher spending and a big bill for taxpayers.
September 13, 2006
Congress Considers Costly Bailouts for Amtrak, Metro
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1211)
The President should threaten to veto costly and irresponsible bailouts of Amtrak and Washington's Metro system.
September 5, 2006
Will the Senate Raid the Treasury for Amtrak?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1956)
Because Amtrak’s most recent annual report reveals that financial and operational problems continue to worsen, the railroad’s new board and management should begin to eliminate ...
July 20, 2006
How to Improve the Government Waste Commission Proposals
By Brian M. Riedl and Michelle Muccio
(WebMemo #1170)
With federal spending expanding 9 percent in 2006 alone, lawmakers are finally taking up the government waste commission bills (H.R. 5766 and H.R. 3282) authored ...
July 19, 2006
Improving the Performance of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1167)
The extensive flooding of New Orleans caused by several breaks in the levee system during Hurricane Katrina led to an extensive debate about the performance ...
July 17, 2006
H.R. 3496: The Biggest Pork Barrel Earmark in History?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1163)
Representative Tom Davis (R-VA) is requesting the House of Representatives to consider an amendment (H.R. 3496, as revised) to the Deep Water Energy Resources Act ...
July 14, 2006
The Wolf SAFE Commission Act: A Chance to Get the Budget Back on Track
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1162)
A proposal to break spending paralysis in Washington.
July 11, 2006
Observations on Budget Estimates from the Mid-Session Review
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1149)
The Office of Management and Budget has released its annual Mid-Session Review (MSR) that updates the budget projections from this past February. While the rapid ...
July 10, 2006
Four Elements of a Successful Government Waste Commission
By Michelle Muccio and Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1147)
Congress will soon consider legislation to establish a commission that could bring an end to wasteful and counter-productive government programs.
June 30, 2006
Congress Must Not Shortchange the Military at a Time of War
By Baker Spring and Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1141)
On June 20th, the House of Representatives passed its fiscal year 2007 Defense Appropriations bill. Given that the nation is at war and is conducting ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
June 19, 2006
The Stop Over-Spending Act: A Real Opportunity to Limit Spending
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1132)
The Stop Over-Spending (S.O.S.) Act, authored by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-NH) and cosponsored by over a dozen senators, provides a strong blueprint ...
June 15, 2006
10 Elements of Comprehensive Budget Process Reform
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1943)
The most effective reforms of the budget process would impose government-wide spending caps, account for long-term unfunded liabilities, and better enforce existing budget constraints.
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.
June 13, 2006
Comprehensive Budget Reform: The Need Has Never Been Greater
By The Honorable Paul Ryan
(Heritage Lecture #945)
Budget process reform, including a legislative line-item veto, earmark reform, strong spending caps, and a sunset commission for federal programs, is essential in controlling the ...
June 5, 2006
A Costly Delay: Air Traffic Controllers' Expensive New Strategy
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1113)
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives will vote on fiscal responsibility and the integrity of the existing federal statutes that bind and guide them. At ...
May 31, 2006
Three Lessons from the Recent Budget Reconciliation Debate
By Brian M. Riedl
(Executive Memorandum #1002)
Congress should reform baseline budgeting; make permanent the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts (and other temporary tax cuts insofar as they promote economic growth without ...
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 ...
May 16, 2006
Winning the Fight to Curb Excessive FAA Salary Costs
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1078)
In September 2005, the existing contract between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the air traffic controllers expired and discussions over its replacement began in ...
May 5, 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
May 5, 2006
Holding Troops Hostage to Pork Barrel Spending Is No Way for Congress to Fight the War on Terror
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1062)
Unreasonable spending demands threaten funding for the troops.
May 4, 2006
Desperate Attempt to Save Railroad to Nowhere
By Brian Riedl and Ron Utt
(WebMemo #1059)
New justifications of the "Railroad to Nowhere" fall short.
May 3, 2006
Springtime for Amtrak and America
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1932)
Because Amtrak's most recent annual report reveals that financial and operational problems continue to worsen, the railroad's new board and management should begin to eliminate ...
May 1, 2006
Medicare and Social Security: Big Entitlement Costs on the Horizon
By David C. John and Robert E. Moffit, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1054)
Social Security and Medicare have promised $37 trillion more in benefits to senior and disabled workers than the programs will be able to pay.
April 27, 2006
Executive Summary: A Primer on Lobbyists, Earmarks, and Congressional Reform
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #1924)
Executive Summary: Growing evidence linking earmarks to bribes from lobbyists and their clients has encouraged Congress to enact reforms, but many of these proposals would ...
April 27, 2006
A Primer on Lobbyists, Earmarks, and Congressional Reform
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1924)
Growing evidence linking earmarks to bribes from lobbyists and their clients has encouraged Congress to enact reforms, but many of these proposals would make only ...
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 25, 2006
Senators Should Derail Mississippi's "Railroad to Nowhere"
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1048)
A questionable earmark wilts under strong scrutiny.
April 24, 2006
Reining in Excessive FAA Salary Costs
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1927)
The Federal Aviation Administration should continue to resist the air traffic controllers' demands for a contract that would increase total compensation to over $200,000 by ...
April 20, 2006
Competitiveness Means Less Government, Not More
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1929)
The Administration's American Competitiveness Initiative is the wrong solution in response to a flawed diagnosis. America's competitive position is not threatened because the federal government ...
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 5, 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.
March 30, 2006
The President's Proposed Line-Item Veto Could Help Control Spending
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1021)
A good step, but not one that will solve spending on its own.
March 23, 2006
A Responsible Budget Resolution in Three Easy Pieces
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1020)
The budget resolution should freeze discretionary spending, get moving on entitlement reform, and extend the tax cuts.
March 10, 2006
RSC Budget Provides Serious Blueprint for Spending Restraint
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #1011)
Finally, a proposal that makes the difficult choices necessary to avert fiscal and economic meltdown.
March 7, 2006
Lobbyists, Earmarks, and Congressional Reform
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1008)
Because of the regrettable actions of a few, Congress is now considering significant reforms that would curb the influence of lobbyists and discourage the use ...
February 16, 2006
Discretionary Spending Trends: Past, Present, and Future
By Brian Riedl
(Testimony )
The 7.9 percent of GDP ...
February 14, 2006
The Myth of Spending Cuts for the Poor, Tax Cuts for the Rich
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1912)
During the 2005 budget reconciliation debate, critics trotted out the tired old myth that Republicans were cutting spending for the poor to pay for tax ...
February 14, 2006
The Myth of Spending Cuts for the Poor, Tax Cuts for the Rich
By Brian M. Riedl
(Executive Summary #1912)
Executive Summary: During the 2005 budget reconciliation debate, critics trotted out the tired old myth that Republicans were cutting spending for the poor to pay ...
February 9, 2006
The Bush Budget's Hidden Gold: Dynamic Scoring Comes to the Treasury
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #994)
At last, real economics will guide tax policy.
February 7, 2006
The President's Tax Agenda: Pro-Growth Measures Jeopardized by Excessive Spending and Misguided Focus on Deficit
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #992)
Making the tax cuts permanent is a good idea, but what about fundamental reform?
February 6, 2006
Federal Spending: By the Numbers
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #989)
Basic budget facts.
February 6, 2006
The President's Budget: Strong on Short-Term Spending, But Long-Term Challenges Remain
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #990)
To get a handle on long-term spending, entitlement reform is necessary. The President's budget doesn't go far enough.
January 31, 2006
State of the Union 2006: The President's Call For Spending Restraint
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #975)
A few new programs, a few more program cuts, and a new commission: What does it all mean?
January 27, 2006
New CBO Baseline Substantially Understates Grim Budget Picture
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #970)
CBO's new spending projections are sunny--and very unrealistic.
January 25, 2006
Six Budget Reforms to Restrain Lobbyists and Special Interests
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #968)
Six reforms that would do more to change the role of money in politics than any "lobbying reform" effort.
January 4, 2006
The Fiscal Burden of Government Is Undercutting U.S. Competitiveness
By Ana Isabel Eiras
(Backgrounder #1906)
The Bush Administration and Congress should cut spending to balance the federal budget, lower corporate and personal income taxes, and continue to support the expansion ...
December 22, 2005
Bait-and-Switch on Alaska Bridges Undermine Congress's Credibility—Again
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #951)
The two Bridges to Nowhere live.
December 16, 2005
Grim New CBO Long-Term Budget Projections Show Deterioration, Yet Understate Situation
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #947)
Balancing the budget in 2006 would require immediately terminating such programs as homeland security, justice, highways, veterans' benefits, unemployment benefits, environmental spending, social services, community ...
December 14, 2005
Ready for Reconciliation: The Top Five Items No Fiscal Conservative Could Possibly Support
By Andrew M. Grossman
(WebMemo #939)
Is Congress finally getting serious about federal spending? Here's your scorecard.
December 6, 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 30, 2005
Entitlement-Driven Long-Term Budget Substantially Worse Than Previously Projected
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1897)
If policymakers fail to reform Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the nation will be forced to choose among devastating tax increases, the elimination of nearly ...
November 30, 2005
Entitlement-Driven Long-Term Budget Substantially Worse Than Previously Projected
By Brian M. Riedl
(Executive Summary #1897)
Executive Summary: If policymakers fail to reform Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the nation will be forced to choose among devastating tax increases, the elimination ...
November 9, 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 ...
November 7, 2005
Time To Pull the Plug on Federally Subsidized Electricity
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #910)
Congress has finally started looking for places to cut spending but so far has left alone federal expenditures on energy. However, the government wastes billions ...
November 4, 2005
The Army Corps of Engineers: Reallocating Its Spending to Offset Reconstruction Costs in New Orleans
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1892)
The Army Corps of Engineers¹ annual budget should be reallocated to shift spending priorities to the repair and upgrade of New Orleans¹ levees. The estimated ...
November 3, 2005
Senate Scheduled to Vote for More Wasteful Transportation Spending
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #909)
At a time of fiscal crisis, boosting federal subsidies to money-losing and mediocre Amtrak makes no sense.
October 27, 2005
The Senate Attempts To Prematurely Extend the Bloated Farm Bill Through 2011
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #899a)
This $60 billion commitment will likely eliminate any chance to meaningfully reform farm bloated farm programs.
October 26, 2005
An Innovative and Bold Budget Proposal in the Senate
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #896)
The "Fiscal Watch Team" calls on Congress to offset hurricane-related costs and bring back fiscal responsibility
October 25, 2005
The Economic Consequences of Government Spending
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(Testimony )
Economic theory does not necessarily tell us the proper size of government. Instead, economic theory tells us to examine costs and benefits in order to ...
October 20, 2005
The Bridge to Nowhere: A National Embarrassment
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #889)
In the face of opposition from leadership, Sen. Tom Coburn puts forward a gutsy amendment.
October 19, 2005
Senate Leader Defends Spending Spree Rather Than Enacting Reforms
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #887)
A fact-filled response to a disappointing memo.
October 11, 2005
Federal Spending: By the Numbers
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #881)
Basic budget facts.
October 7, 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 6, 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 21, 2005
The Economic and Budgetary Effects of the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005
By Tracy L. Foertsch, Ph.D., and Ralph A. Rector, Ph.D.
(White Paper )
Projections of the bill's economic and budgetary effects.
September 21, 2005
Pelosi Leads the Way on Highway Bill Give-Back
By Andrew M. Grossman and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #852)
Politics makes strange bedfellows, but apparently hurricanes have far stranger effects.
September 21, 2005
Deeply Flawed CRS Katrina Study Urges Return to 1960s Fiscal Policy
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #854)
With the advances in economics over the past 40 years, this report is a bit of a suprise.
September 16, 2005
Hurricane Costs Send Budget Projections Deeper into the Red
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #844)
Federal spending on Katrina could top $200 billion, sending deficits soaring.
September 15, 2005
Congress Faces Pressure to Surrender Pork for Flood Relief
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #841)
The plan to redirect highway bill pork to a higher cause gathers steam.
September 14, 2005
Examples of Government Waste
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo )
Twenty-five quick examples of wasteful government spending.
September 14, 2005
A "Victory" Over Wasteful Spending? Hardly
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #839)
Want to offset emergency spending? There's plenty to cut.
September 2, 2005
The Katrina Relief Effort: Congress Should Redirect Highway Earmark Funding to a Higher Purpose
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #832)
In the face of genuine need, don't these expensive earmarks seem comparatively frivolous?
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 ...
July 13, 2005
The Tax Cuts Are Working, Yet Spending Challenges Remain
By Brian Riedl and Rea S. Hederman, Jr.
(WebMemo #794)
Deficits are trending down, for now, but spending must still be cut.
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.
June 15, 2005
A Serendipitous Flaw: Could Bad Brakes Lead to Fundamental Reform of Amtrak?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #764)
Amtrak's own ineptitude, along with an unexpected equipment failure, may finally force reform of the troubled railroad.
June 13, 2005
The 2005 Index of Dependency
By William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #05-05)
The Index of Dependency appears to have regained the growth rates of the Carter and Bush years. Although this appears to be due mostly to ...
May 27, 2005
The Advanced Technology Program
By Brian Riedl
(Testimony )
Federal spending now tops $22,000 per household, the highest inflation-adjusted total since World War II, and $5,000 per household more than in 2001.
May 9, 2005
Using the Veto Threat to Impose Reform on the Highway Reauthorization Bill
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #741)
As the Senate this week considers its version of legislation to reauthorize the federal highway program, Senators will be confronted with a number of opportunities ...
April 25, 2005
Can Both Sides of the Sprawl Debate Find Common Ground on Property Rights?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #730)
The backlash against restrictive zoning.
April 11, 2005
Getting Urban Transit Systems Focused on Cost and Service
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #717)
How to put an end to transit's burden on taxpayers.
April 8, 2005
The Specter of Pork Barrel Homeland Security
By Keith Miller and James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #715)
Congress should reject adding earmarks to homeland security appropriations.
April 6, 2005
Rethinking a Highway Bill Veto: What Would President Andrew Jackson Do?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #709)
Pork barrel spending should make the highway bill veto bait.
April 6, 2005
A Responsible Way to Reconcile the House and Senate Budget Resolutions
By Brian M. Riedl, William W. Beach, Nina Owcharenko, Ben Lieberman, and David C. John
(Backgrounder #1842)
Although the House and Senate budget resolutions do not include deep spending cuts, it is important that lawmakers begin the reform process. The best budget ...
April 4, 2005
Top 10 Examples of Government Waste
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1840)
President George W. Bush has proposed terminating or strongly reducing the budgets of over 150 inefficient or ineddective programs...
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. ...
March 16, 2005
House Lawmakers Should Enforce Their Own Budget
By Brian Riedl and Keith Miller
(WebMemo #691)
The RSC/Tuesday Group proposal is vital to budget control. Requiring a recorded vote to bypass the budget would show Americans that Congress is serious about ...
March 16, 2005
Amtrak Bankruptcy: It's Time
By Keith Miller and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #689)
It is time for Amtrak to declare bankruptcy and get itself reorganized for a better future
March 16, 2005
The Five-Step Solution: Cutting the Budget Deficit in Half by 2009 While Extending the Tax Cuts and Rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1833)
The best way to reduce the budget deficit is to reduce excessive spending. Lawmakers should therefore focus on freezing discretionary spending, reducing subsidies for large ...
March 15, 2005
The Impact of Government Spending on Economic Growth
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1831)
If government spends money in a productive way that generates a sufficiently high rate of return, the economy will benefit, but this is the exception ...
March 15, 2005
Executive Summary: The Impact of Government Spending on Economic Growth
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #1831)
Executive Summary: If government spends money in a productive way that generates a sufficiently high rate of return, the economy will benefit, but this is ...
March 15, 2005
Supplement to "The Impact of Government Spending on Economic Growth"
By Daniel J. Mitchell
(Backgrounder #1831)
The academic evidence catalogued below strongly supports the hypothesis that government spending has a generally adverse effect.
March 14, 2005
PAYGO: A Recipe for Steep Tax Increases and Runaway Spending
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #685)
PAYGO is the wrong answer to runaway spending and budget deficits.
March 7, 2005
Congress Gets Another Chance to Improve America's Transportation: Should It Be Its Last? (Draft)
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo )
Turn back the highway program to the states or to allow states to voluntarily opt out.
March 1, 2005
Congress Should Follow the President and Eliminate the Advanced Technology Program
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1828)
Terminating or drastically reducing support for the over 150 ineffective and wasteful programs cited in President Bush's 2006 budget request would pave the way for ...
February 18, 2005
The Blue Dog Democrats' Budget Process Proposal: An Emerging Bipartisan Consensus
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #670)
Members of both parties agree, the budget process is in shambles and must be fixed.
February 11, 2005
President's Budget Does Not Threaten the Safety Net
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #663)
Does Bush's budget slash anti-poverty spending?
February 9, 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 8, 2005
President's Budget A Solid Step To Rein in Spending
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #659)
President Bush's fiscal year 2006 budget proposal is a strong step towards getting the budget back under control.
February 7, 2005
The President's Proposal to De-Fund Amtrak will Force the Railroad to Adopt Needed Reforms
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #655)
Maybe now Amtrak will get its act together.
February 7, 2005
Why America's Debt Burden Is Declining
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1820)
Focusing on budget deficits is misguided. The debt ratio, a superior measure of government's debt burden, is as dependent on economic growth as federal borrowing. ...
February 7, 2005
President's Plan to Consolidate Federal Economic Development Programs Is Long Overdue
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #656)
With over 1,000 earmarks are at stake, the President makes a move.
February 7, 2005
White House Budget Lowers Burden of Government
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #658)
The discipline displayed in this budget should be applauded
February 3, 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. ...
February 3, 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 ...
February 1, 2005
Time for Congress to End the Regional Inequities in the Federal Highway Program
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #645)
The federal highway program shortchanges many states
January 25, 2005
What's Wrong with the Federal Budget Process
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1816)
A better budget process would be simple, understandable, less prone to loopholes, and designed to facilitate communication between the President and Congress. Lawmakers should enact ...
January 25, 2005
Executive Summary: What's Wrong with the Federal Budget Process
By Brian M. Riedl
(Executive Summary #1816)
Executive Summary: A better budget process would be simple, understandable, less prone to loopholes, and designed to facilitate communication between the President and Congress. Lawmakers ...
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.
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 15, 2004
A Budget Agenda for the 109th Congress
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1812)
Runaway spending is a larger concern than the budget deficit because all spending must eventually be paid for in taxes, and tax increases would damage ...
November 22, 2004
Another Pork-Laden Omnibus Spending Bill
By Brian M. Riedl and Keith Miller
(WebMemo #613)
As runaway spending pushes the cost of government over $20,000 per household, and the budget deficit past $400 billion, Congress continues to pile an endless ...
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.
November 10, 2004
Is Pork Barrel Spending Ready to Explode? The Anatomy of an Earmark
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #608)
Lobbyists devise a new strategy to push pork-barrel spending.
October 4, 2004
The Balanced Budget Amendment: The Wrong Answer to Runaway Spending
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #580)
The Balanced Budget Amendment amendment would likely fail to rein in spending but could bring about tax increases.
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 21, 2004
Would Senator Kerry's Budget Really Reduce the Deficit?
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1797)
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's promise that, if elected, he will halve the budget deficit by 2008 ignores the mountain of impending entitlement spending that, ...
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?
August 27, 2004
Restrain Runaway Spending with a Federal Taxpayers' Bill of Rights
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1793)
Runaway federal spending is the predictable result of an outdated budget process that lacks any enforceable spending limits. A Federal Taxpayers' Bill of Rights (TABOR) ...
August 4, 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.
July 19, 2004
Can Canada Teach Us How to Hold The Line on Amtrak Funding
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #539)
Congress should limit Amtrak funding to $900 million and demand that Amtrak adopt improvements that have worked in Canada.
July 14, 2004
How Uncurbed Entitlements Will Force Large Tax Increases
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #540)
Without entitlement reform, a balanced budget would require taxes to rise about 15 percent in 10 years, and 30 percent in 20 years.
July 7, 2004
Congress's Risky Zero Down Payment Plan Will Undermine FHA's Soundness and Discourage Self-Reliance
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #529)
The Zero Downpayment Act could cost taxpayers a bundle, evidence from similar programs shows.
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 ...
June 8, 2004
What Is the Real Reason to Worry about the Deficit?
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #519)
The federal deficit isn't the bogeyman that many claim it is. What should be worrying--and what will be most damaging to future generations--is the state ...
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 24, 2004
Another Year at the Federal Trough: Farm Subsidies for the Rich, Famous, and Elected Jumped Again in 2002
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1763)
Farm subsidy programs enrich agribusinesses and other non-farmers at the expense of family farmers, the farm economy, and taxpayers. With federal spending spiraling out of ...
May 20, 2004
A Note to House and Senate Conferees About the Highway Reauthorization Bill
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D
(Backgrounder #1756)
When considering the Transportation Equity Act (H.R. 3550), the following areas will require conferees' attention: earmarks, tolling restrictions, private-activity bonds, performance accountability, and the reopening ...
May 14, 2004
Better Budget Reform: A Guide to the Family Budget Protection Act
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1758)
The pledge by House lawmakers to vote on reform of the federal budget process represents an opportunity to overhaul a process that was created in ...
May 7, 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.
May 5, 2004
Federal Spending Creates Few Jobs, Less Value
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #497)
Most studies find that federal spending creates few job.
April 26, 2004
Refocusing Higher Education Aid on Those Who Need It
By Krista Kafer
(Backgrounder #1753)
During the current Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization, Congress should restore the HEA's original intent by awarding taxpayer subsidies and grants to those students who ...
April 22, 2004
PAYGO on Tax Cuts Could Bring Back the Estate Tax
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #489)
If PAYGO on tax cuts were in force, however, the likely result would be massive tax increases, as the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and ...
April 15, 2004
Highways and Jobs: The Uneven Record of Federal Spending and Job Creation
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph. D.
(Backgrounder #1747)
The findings of decades of independent studies cast serious doubt on advocates' claims for the federal highway program's job-creation potential. Even the one substantive study ...
April 8, 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 ...
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 30, 2004
Memo to Budget Conferees: PAYGO on Tax Cuts Means Higher Taxes
By Brian M. Riedl and Keith Miller
(WebMemo #460)
Making sure that the pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budget enforcement mechanism does not cause tax increases should be the central concern of conferees.
March 24, 2004
Why Chairman Nussle's Budget is Superior to the Democrat Alternatives
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #457)
Budgets are about setting priorities, and Nussle's budget focuses on priorities better than several competitors.
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 ...
March 18, 2004
Republican Study Committee Budget Sets the Right Priorities
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #452)
The fiscal year 2005 budget resolution proposed by the Republican Study Committee (RSC) represents real progress towards fiscal responsibility.
March 15, 2004
Restoring PAYGO Would Mean Tax Increases and High Spending
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #447)
PAYGO, which requires that any new tax cuts or mandatory expansions be balanced by equal tax increases or mandatory spending cuts, would do little to ...
March 10, 2004
How to Get Federal Spending Under Control
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1733)
In 2004, national defense, homeland security, and entitlement challenges make spending reform more important than ever. Congress and the President should seize this opportunity to ...
March 10, 2004
Senate Rejects Spending Controls
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #443)
The Senate is poised to pass a budget resolution that lays the groundwork for substantial tax increases while avoiding even minimal cuts in spending.
March 10, 2004
Executive Summary: How to Get Federal Spending Under Control
By Brian M. Riedl
(Executive Summary #1733)
Executive Summary: In 2004, national defense, homeland security, and entitlement challenges make spending reform more important than ever. Congress and the President should seize this ...
March 6, 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.
February 27, 2004
More Corporate Welfare Embedded in the Farm Bill
By Charli Coon and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #436)
Among the many troubling aspects of the costly farm bill were a series of provisions to provide even more federal subsidies to rural electric cooperatives. ...
February 13, 2004
The Family Budget Protection Act: A Bold Step to Fix the Federal Budget Process
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #425)
The Family Budget Protection Act (FBPA) presents an enormous opportunity for Congress to create a budget process that encourages belt-tightening.
February 13, 2004
Yes, Mr. President, Veto the Highway Bill
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1725)
The current highway bill is a poster child for profligate spending, expected to be loaded with pork-barrel earmarks, multimillion-dollar boondoggles unrelated to improving mobility, and ...
February 13, 2004
Balancing the Budget Within 10 Years: A Menu of Options
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1726)
President George W. Bush's fiscal year (FY) 2005 budget proposes cutting the budget deficit in half over five years. Yet lawmakers are under intense pressure ...
February 9, 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 2, 2004
The President's 2005 Budget: A Summary
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #410)
While the President's budget would eliminate some unnecessary programs, it is no sweeping reassessment of federal spending.
February 2, 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 ...
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 ...
January 6, 2004
Guidelines for a Successful BRAC
By Jack Spencer
(Backgrounder #1716)
A successful Base Realignment and Closure will rid the Department of Defense of excess infrastructure, free resources, and ensure that the remaining infrastructure is appropriate ...
December 16, 2003
Omnibus Spending Bill Hikes Discretionary Spending by 9 Percent in 2004
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #385)
The omnibus appropriations bill (HR 2673) that is currently in the Senate will set the stage for discretionary spending to increase by 9 percent in ...
December 5, 2003
American Dream Downpayment Act: Fiscally Irresponsible and Redundant to Existing Homeownership Programs
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #378)
The House of Representatives is considering the American Dream Downpayment Act. Although encouraging home ownership is a useful policy goal from a variety of perspectives, ...
December 3, 2003
$20,000 per Household: The Highest Level of Federal Spending Since World War II
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1710)
The 2003 fiscal year mercifully concluded on September 30. Reckless spending by Congress and the President made it a year in which the federal budget ...
December 2, 2003
Another Omnibus Spending Bill Loaded with Pork
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #377)
Congress's continued fiscal irresponsibility is clearly exhibited in the thousands of pork projects contained in the fiscal year 2004 omnibus spending bill. Congress is set ...
November 13, 2003
Most New Spending Since 2001 Unrelated to the War on Terrorism
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1703)
Building America's homeland security and creating an infrastructure able to respond to any future terrorist attacks are expensive, long-term projects. The nation's priorities have changed, ...
October 28, 2003
A Strategy to Eliminate Wasteful Federal Spending
By The Honorable Sam Brownback
(Heritage Lecture #806)
Federal waste is a grave disservice to hardworking taxpayers across our great nation, and yet our governmental bureaucracies are riddled with it. Too many special ...
September 11, 2003
Closing the Spending Gap Between Contending Transportation Reauthorization Proposals
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1688)
Recent proposals by the Bush Administration and some Members of Congress to use tolls and other user fees to supplement revenues from the existing federal ...
August 28, 2003
How Congress Can Achieve Savings of 1 Percent by Targeting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1681)
The 2004 Congressional Budget Resolution required each committee to find enough waste, fraud, and abuse to reduce its mandatory program budgets by 1 percent. The ...
July 15, 2003
The Advanced Technology Program: Time to End this Corporate Welfare Handout
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1665)
With government spending surpassing $21,000 per household for the first time since World War II and the budget deficit approaching $400 billion, the $90 billion ...
July 7, 2003
House Appropriators Undermine the President's Competitive Contracting Program
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Memorandum #890)
An amendment attached to the Interior Department spending bill for FY 2004 would forbid DOI managers from spending money on cost studies (as directed by ...
June 18, 2003
What Unfunded Mandates? CBO Study Reveals Washington Not at Fault for State Budget Crises
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1663)
States have successfully secured a $20 billion bailout from Washington to close their expanding budget deficits. Never mind that state overspending created this crises. General ...
June 13, 2003
Ten Common Myths About Taxes, Spending, and Budget Deficits
By Brian M. Riedl
(Executive Summary #1660)
Executive Summary: When political leaders communicate to their constituents, the media transmit and often analyze those messages. How Americans view the world, their government, and ...
June 13, 2003
Ten Common Myths About Taxes, Spending, and Budget Deficits
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1660)
When political leaders communicate to their constituents, the media transmit and often analyze those messages. How Americans view the world, their government, and the economy ...
May 28, 2003
What Unfunded Mandates? CBO Study Reveals Washington Not at Fault for State Budget Crises
By Brian Riedl
(WebMemo #283)
Although state budget struggles are real, Washington did not impose them. Free-spending states created their own fiscal crises: Total state government spending topped $1 trillion ...
April 16, 2003
The Economic and Fiscal Effects of the President's Growth Package
By William W. Beach, Ralph A. Rector, Alfredo Goyburu, and Norbert J. Michel
(Center for Data Analysis Report #03-05)
Congressional efforts to fashion the FY 2004 budget come at a time when the United States faces weaker than expected job growth, shrinking consumer confidence, ...
April 16, 2003
Appendix: The Economic and Fiscal Effects of the President's Growth Package
By William W. Beach, Ralph A. Rector, Ph.D., Alfredo Goyburu, and Norbert J. Michel
(Center for Data Analysis Report #03-05)
Appendix: The Economic and Fiscal Effects of the President's Growth Package
April 9, 2003
A Modest Proposal: How to Offset More than Half of the President's Tax Cut
By Brian Riedl
(WebMemo #254)
President Bush has proposed a $726 billion tax relief package that would drop that total to "only" $27.2 trillion. While that amount seems sufficient to ...
March 28, 2003
CBO Estimates: Spending Weakens Effects of Pro-Growth Tax Relief
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #241)
The CBO report shows that the only way to create thousands of jobs and unleash economic growth is to enact the President's entire tax package, ...
March 12, 2003
Balancing the Budget by 2008 While Cutting Taxes, Funding Defense, and Creating a Prescription Drug Benefit
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1635)
By focusing on priorities it is possible to write a budget that enacts all of the tax reductions in President Bush's 2004 budget proposal.....
February 28, 2003
Against a Federal Bailout: State Budget Resources
By The Heritage Foundation
(WebMemo #216)
Describes what 31 states must do to fill a combined $17.5 billion budget gap before June 30.
February 12, 2003
Ten Guidelines for Reducing Wasteful Government Spending
By Brian M. Riedl
(Executive Summary #1622)
bg1622: Executive Summary - Ten Guidelines for Reducing Wasteful Government Spending
February 12, 2003
Ten Guidelines for Reducing Wasteful Government Spending
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1622)
Ten Guidelines for Reducing Wasteful Government Spending
February 5, 2003
President Bush's 2004 Budget Proposal: A Summary
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #202)
The President's 2004 budget proposal focuses on the priorities of: 1) protecting the nation from foreign threats and terrorists through defense and homeland security increases; ...
February 4, 2003
Fact v. Fiction: State Spending
By Norbert Michel
(WebMemo #201)
Argument that neither raising taxes nor sending more federal cash to states will force these officials to act responsibly.
February 4, 2003
The Case Against a Federal Bailout of the States
By Brian M. Riedl
(Executive Memorandum #857)
State governments have wisely concluded that their constituents should be spared higher state taxes, but the bailout solution would simply raise federal taxes instead.
December 20, 2002
An Overview of the Index of Dependency
By William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #02-09)
The Index of Dependency plots the growth of federal programs that substitute for similar initiatives at lower levels of government and civil society. It increased ...
October 17, 2002
Debunking Four Election-Year Budget Myths
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(Executive Memorandum #837)
President Bush's tax cut should not be immune from criticism, but the debate should be based on fact rather than election-year rhetoric. It appears that ...
October 4, 2002
The Disappearing Budget Surplus Highlights the Importance of Economic Growth
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1599)
Those in Congress who are using the budget deficit to play politics and call for higher taxes ignore the real problem of the economy. History ...
September 4, 2002
How Washington Increased Spending by Nearly $800 Billion in Just Four Years
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1581)
Massive spending increases have been added gradually to federal programs. Unless Congress and the President make a concerted effort to address runaway spending, families will ...
September 4, 2002
How Washington Increased Spending by Nearly $800 Billion in Just Four Years
By Brian M. Riedl
(Executive Summary #1581)
BG1581es: How Washington Increased Spending by Nearly $800 Billion in Just Four Years
September 3, 2002
The Future of the Subsidy State: What the Heritage Index of Dependency Shows
By Hon. Jim DeMint, David T. Beito, Peter N. Kirsanow, and William W. Beach
(Heritage Lecture #759)
The Index raises concerns about the ability of local governments to provide aid and other assistance. They raise as well a traditional republican concern about ...
July 10, 2002
Time to Ink the Veto Pen
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and Christopher B. Summers
(Backgrounder #1566)
With the last remnants of spending restraint fading fast in Congress, fiscal discipline will be restored only if the White House declares a defined limit ...
June 25, 2002
Amtrak Gets More Than Its Fair Share of Federal Funding
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D. and Wendell Cox
(WebMemo #118)
Amtrak and its supporters frequently argue that a key reason for Amtrak's manifest deficiencies is the "unfair treatment it receives within the federal budget." Adjusted ...
June 24, 2002
Congress Should Call Amtrak's Bluff
By Wendell Cox
(WebMemo #115)
Amtrak's new president, Dave Gunn, has threatened to not only close down the intercity rail system, but also close down commuter rail operations in the ...
June 6, 2002
No Bailout for Amtrak; Board Members Should Resign
By Wendell Cox
(WebMemo #108)
The worst thing that could happen would be for Congress to bail out Amtrak. This would only perpetuate Amtrak's bloated cost structure and put off ...
June 5, 2002
2002 Supplemental Spending Bill: Drowning in Pork
By Brian M. Riedl with Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(WebMemo #107)
The $34 billion Senate FY 2002 Supplemental spending bill to enhance Homeland Security has been abused by many Senators to provide unnecessary spending to privileged ...
May 30, 2002
The Key Behavioral Elements Needed in a Model for Budget Estimation
By Gary Robbins, Aldona Robbins, and William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1558)
Policymakers and decision-makers in Washington must insist that those who estimate the effects of a tax policy change on the federal government's revenues incorporate the ...
May 2, 2002
The Case Against the Farm Bill
By Brian Riedl
(WebMemo #96)
Four reasons to vote against the Farm Bill.
March 15, 2002
Can Congress Be Embarrassed into Ending Wasteful Pork-Barrel Spending?
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and Christopher B. Summers
(Backgrounder #1527)
Congress is spending taxpayer dollars on incumbents' reelection campaigns.
February 25, 2002
How Farm Subsidies Became America's Largest Corporate Welfare Program
By Brian Riedl
(Backgrounder #1520)
Abandoning a massive $171 billion corporate welfare farm bill that is designed to shift more money to the largest farms and agribusinesses at the expense ...
February 14, 2002
Six Truths on How to Get the Economy Moving
By Lawrence Whitman
(Executive Memorandum #801)
The way to reverse the economic slowdown is to reduce government barriers to economic expansion imposed by high tax rates on working, saving, investing, and ...
January 30, 2002
What Really Is Turning the Budget Surpluses into Deficits
By Brian M. Riedl
(Backgrounder #1515)
The past century provides rich lessons in economic policy during recessions. Policymakers should heed those lessons and reduce the burden on American families and businesses ...
January 30, 2002
What Really Is Turning the Budget Surpluses into Deficits
By Brian M. Riedl
(Executive Summary #1515)
BG1515es: What Really Is Turning the Budget Surpluses into Deficits
December 17, 2001
Subsidies in the Soil: Farm Bill Talking Points
By Brian M. Riedl
(WebMemo #68)
Congress should focus on the war and the stimulus now, and then come back next year to examine fresh approaches to agriculture.
December 6, 2001
The Economics of Stimulus Legislation
By William W. Beach
(Testimony )
We have a recession produced by policy errors and aggravated by hostilities. Those hostilities call forth policy responses that are compassionate and generous. In neither ...
December 4, 2001
What Congress Should Do to Ease the Impact of the Recession on Unemployed Workers
By D. Mark Wilson
(Backgrounder #1506)
The current congressional debate regarding assistance to unemployed workers centers on three different proposals: President Bush's Back to Work Relief Plan, the Economic Security and ...
November 27, 2001
Essential Conditions for a Pro-Growth Stimulus Package
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(Executive Memorandum #793)
Congress is considering some form of tax relief to help the nation's sputtering economy, but not all tax cuts are created equal. Some proposals, such ...
November 26, 2001
Time for a Veto Threat on the Farm Bill
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D.
(Executive Memorandum #794)
If the President is truly determined to speak for all Americans in these difficult times, he must send a message to Congress that is loud ...
November 13, 2001
Lobbyists Continue to Use Tragedy to Raid American Taxpayers: An Update
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1502)
In the aftermath of September 11, Politicians are rushing to grab federal funds for states affected by the attacks.
November 9, 2001
The Economic Effects of President Bush's and Senator Daschle's Economic Stimulus Plans
By William W. Beach, D. Mark Wilson, Rea S. Hederman, and Ralph A. Rector
(Center for Data Analysis Report #01-09)
The two current economic stimulus plans reflect the two major views of government's role in economic planning. While both plans transfer income to low- and ...
November 8, 2001
Congress's Rush to Undo Farm Reform
By John C. Frydenlund
(Executive Memorandum #789)
Authorization for the current farm bill will not expire until September 2002, yet Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) is pressuring Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry ...
November 8, 2001
Lobbyists Continue to Use Tragedy to Raid American Taxpayers - An Update
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(WebMemo #55)
Ordinary Americans saw the terrorist atacks of September 11th as a challenge demanding a sacrifice of themselves for the good of others. However, many of ...
November 5, 2001
How the Economic Stimulus Proposals of the Administration, the House, and the Senate Would Effect the Economy
By William W. Beach, D. Mark Wilson, Rea S. Hederman, and Ralph A. Rector
(Center for Data Analysis Report #01-08)
CDA01-08: How the Economic Stimulus Proposals of the Administration, the House, and the Senate Would Effect the Economy
October 22, 2001
The House Farm Bill: A Step Backwards in Agricultural Policy
By John C. Frydenlund
(Executive Memorandum #786)
Rather than follow the House's lead by prematurely passing farm legislation that returns to failed policies of the past, the Senate should carefully examine U.S. ...
October 22, 2001
Lessons on How NOT to Stimulate the Economy
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1495)
Although Congress is split over whether the stimulus package should be comprised of tax cuts or spending increases or some combination of both, lessons derived ...
October 5, 2001
Where the Justice Department Can Find $2.6 Billion for Its Anti-Terrorism Efforts
By David B. Muhlhausen
(Backgrounder #1486)
After September 11, The United States cannot afford to waste valuable resources on misplaced priorities and ineffective programs. Common sense dictates that resources should be ...
September 21, 2001
Is a Cash Handout Really the Best Solution?
By The Heritage Foundation
(WebMemo #42)
The airline industry is vital to future economic recovery, however, a cash bailout from the federal government is not the right solution.
March 7, 2001
The Economic Outlook and the President's Budget Priorities, 2002-2011
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(Testimony )
The Economic Outlook and the President's Budget Priorities, 2002-2011
October 19, 2000
The Economic and Budgetary Effects of Vice President Gore's and Governor Bush's Economic Plans
By D. Mark Wilson and William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #00-11)
The Economic and Budgetary Effects of Vice President Gore's and Governor Bush's Economic Plans
September 28, 2000
THE VIEW FROM WAYS AND MEANS
By The Honorable Philip M. Crane
(Heritage Lecture #686)
The View from Ways and Means
September 20, 2000
Clinton's Budget Focus: More Spending, Not Debt Reduction
By Peter Sperry
(Executive Memorandum #695)
Clinton's Budget Focus: More Spending, Not Debt Reduction
June 13, 2000
How to Protect the Surplus from Wasteful Spending
By Peter Sperry
(Backgrounder #1378)
How to Protect the Surplus from Wasteful Spending
June 2, 2000
Report of Public Transit's "Record" Ridership is Questionable
By Wendell Cox
(Executive Memorandum #676)
Report of Public Transit's "Record" Ridership is Questionable
April 12, 2000
How Congress Can Save Now, Plan for Tomorrow, and Still Achieve a Fiscally Responsible Budget
By Peter Sperry
(Backgrounder #1358)
How Congress Can Save Now, Plan for Tomorrow, and Still Achieve a Fiscally Responsible Budget
April 6, 2000
Time for the Senate to Unmask "Emergency" Spending
By Peter Sperry
(Executive Memorandum #667)
Time for the Senate to Unmask "Emergency" Spending
March 1, 2000
How to Sustain Prosperity In An Era of Budget Surpluses
By Angela Antonelli
(Executive Memorandum #657)
How to Sustain Prosperity In An Era of Budget Surpluses
February 14, 2000
The President's Budget Proposes a High-Tech Pork Barrel
By Adam Thierer and Gregg VanHelmond
(Executive Memorandum #652)
The President's Budget Proposes a High-Tech Pork Barrel
February 2, 2000
Senate Should Not Take FAA Spending Off Budget
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Executive Memorandum #647)
Senate Should Not Take FAA Spending Off Budget
November 2, 1999
How to Make Across-the-Board Budget Cuts Work
By Peter Sperry
(Executive Memorandum #634)
Congress can find the savings necessary to meet its goal and be fiscally responsible merely by making targeted reductions in 11 of these subclasses.
September 8, 1999
Breach of Faith: How Washington is Poised to Shatter the Budget Agreement and Squander the Surplus
By Peter Sperry
(Backgrounder #1321)
All the indications are that Congress is ready to spend as much of the surplus as it can get away with spending.
September 8, 1999
Top Ten Ways to Avoid Wasting the Surplus
By Peter Sperry
(Backgrounder #1320)
When the OMB and CBO released their June 1999 reports that projected an "on budget" surplus for fiscal year (FY) 2000, President Clinton immediately presented ...
September 3, 1999
How "Emergency" Farm Spending Squanders the Surplus
By Peter Sperry
(Executive Memorandum #621)
The Senate approved a $7.6 billion "emergency" agricultural spending package that will consume about half of the CBO projected on-budget surplus.
July 23, 1999
Crafting a Responsible Budget: The Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation
By Peter Sperry
(Executive Summary #1313)
BG1313ES: Crafting a Responsible Budget: The Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation
July 23, 1999
Crafting a Responsible Budget: The Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation
By Peter Sperry
(Backgrounder #1313)
The House of Representatives recently passed an appropriations bill to provide $14.3 billion in discretionary funding to the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies. ...
July 9, 1999
Moving Aviation Trust Fund "Off Budget" Undermines the Budget Process
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt and Gregg Van Helmond
(Backgrounder #1305)
The House passed H.R. 1000 to reauthorize the FAA through fiscal year (FY) 2004 and to increase significantly federal spending in support of commercial aviation. ...
June 22, 1999
Crafting a Responsible Budget: Avoiding Transportation Appropriation Chicanery
By Peter Sperry
(Executive Summary #1298)
BG1298ES: Crafting a Responsible Budget: Avoiding Transportation Appropriation Chicanery
June 22, 1999
Crafting a Responsible Budget: Avoiding Transportation Appropriation Chicanery
By Peter Sperry
(Backgrounder #1298)
The House Appropriations Committee recommended spending $13.4 billion on discretionary transportation programs in fiscal year (FY) 2000.
June 22, 1999
Last Chance for Washington to Show Good Faith on the Budget
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1297)
The first budget Clinton submitted after the agreement contained discretionary outlays scored by the Congressional Budget Office at $12 billion over the agreed level.
June 10, 1999
Crafting a Responsible Budget: The Energy and Water Appropriation
By Peter Sperry
(Executive Summary #1292)
BG1292ES: Crafting a Responsible Budget: The Energy and Water Appropriation
June 10, 1999
Crafting a Responsible Budget: The Energy and Water Appropriation
By Peter Sperry
(Backgrounder #1292)
The Appropriations Committee is attempting to keep U.S. DOE and other agencies on track to maintain the budget targets.
June 7, 1999
Preserve the Public's Right to Know About Federally Funded Research
By Angela Antonelli
(Executive Memorandum #604)
Giving and then taking away the public's access to information it funded would be a mistake.
June 4, 1999
FAA Reauthorization: Time to Chart A Course for Privatizing Airports
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Executive Summary #1289)
BG1289ES: FAA Reauthorization: Time to Chart A Course for Privatizing Airports
June 4, 1999
FAA Reauthorization: Time to Chart A Course for Privatizing Airports
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1289)
The FAA's authorization expired in 1996, and since then Congress has granted several temporary extensions as it tries to work out its differences with the ...
May 27, 1999
Time for the President to Honor His Budget Pledge
By Peter Sperry
(Executive Memorandum #601)
The President delivered a budget to Congress earlier this year that busts the caps agreed to in 1997, and he seems unwilling to do anything ...
May 21, 1999
Crafting a Responsible Budget: The Agriculture Appropriation
By Peter Sperry
(Executive Summary #1284)
BG1284ES: Crafting a Responsible Budget: The Agriculture Appropriation
May 21, 1999
Crafting a Responsible Budget: The Agriculture Appropriation
By Peter Sperry
(Backgrounder #1284)
The subcommittee appears to be keeping the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on track to maintain its budget targets and to assure that surplus money ...
May 6, 1999
To Maintain Fiscal Credibility, Limit the Supplemental Kosovo Appropriation to True Emergencies
By Peter Sperry
(Executive Memorandum #596)
President Bill Clinton has requested $6 billion in emergency supplemental spending authority to fund U.S. military and humanitarian programs in the Kosovo region.
April 23, 1999
How to Avoid a Budget Train Wreck and Maintain the Spending Caps
By Peter Sperry
(Backgrounder #1277)
Congress has produced a budget resolution (H. Con. Res. 68) that appears to hold spending to levels outlined in the 1997 Balanced Budget Agreement.
April 2, 1999
How Congressional Earmarks and Pork-Barrel Spending Undermine State and Local Decisionmaking
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Executive Summary #1266)
BG1266ES: How Congressional Earmarks and Pork-Barrel Spending Undermine State and Local Decisionmaking
April 2, 1999
How Congressional Earmarks and Pork-Barrel Spending Undermine State and Local Decisionmaking
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1266)
Governments have long used the power to tax and spend to favor certain constituencies with special benefits over and above what a system based on ...
March 25, 1999
A Budget Resolution on the Right Track
By Peter Sperry
(Executive Memorandum #582)
The House and Senate Budget Committees have reported budget resolutions which appear to hold to the spending levels outlined in the 1997 Balanced Budget Agreement. ...
March 17, 1999
Time to Hold the Line on Spending Caps
By Peter Sperry
(Backgrounder #1262)
The chairmen of the House and Senate Budget Committees in the 106th Congress have stated their commitment to maintaining fiscal discipline and restricting discretionary spending. ...
March 17, 1999
Time to Hold the Line on Spending Caps
By Peter Sperry
(Executive Summary #1262es)
Time to Hold the Line on Spending Caps
March 5, 1999
Using Supplemental Spending Bills to Raid the Budget Surplus
By Peter Sperry and Gregg VanHelmond
(Backgrounder #1260)
President Bill Clinton already has presented Congress with three requests to supplement or add to the spending agreed to for this year.
October 7, 1998
President's "Emergency" Spending Requests Target the Surplus
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Executive Memorandum #554)
President's "Emergency" Spending Requests
October 7, 1998
The One Percent Showdown: Clinton's Veto Threats in Perspective
By Angela Antonelli
(Executive Summary #1224)
Bg1224es: The One Percent Showdown: Clinton's Veto Threats in Perspective
October 7, 1998
The One Percent Budget Showdown: Clinton's Veto Threats In Perspective
By Angela Antonelli
(Backgrounder #1224)
The One Percent Budget Showdown: Clinton's Veto Threats In Perspective
June 4, 1998
Current Budget Priorities May Have Serious Defense Consequences
By Baker Spring and John S. Barry
(Center for Data Analysis Report #98-03)
Budget Priorities May Have Serious Defense Consequences
May 20, 1998
Five Good Reasons To Close Down The Department of Commerce
By Angela Antonelli
(Backgrounder #1181)
Five Good Reasons To Close Down The Department of Commerce
May 20, 1998
Five Good Reasons To Close Down The Department of Commerce
By Angela Antonelli
(Executive Summary #1181)
BG1181es:Five Good Reasons To Close Down The Department of Commerce
April 27, 1998
Clinton's Foreign Assistance Budget: Over the Top and Down the Drain
By Bryan T. Johnson and Brett D. Schaefer
(Executive Memorandum #525)
Clinton's Foreign Assistance Budget: Over the Top and Down the Drain
March 31, 1998
Why Moving Transportation Trust Funds "Off budget" Threatens Taxpayers
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D. and Geoffrey Freeman
(Executive Memorandum #519)
Why Moving Transportation Trust Funds
March 27, 1998
The Budget Supplemental: How Sincere Is The Commitment To Fiscal Restraint?
By Geoffrey Freeman
(Executive Memorandum #517)
The Budget Supplemental How Sincere Is The Commitment To Fiscal Restraint
March 27, 1998
Transit Pork Has Few Passengers
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Executive Memorandum #518)
Transit Pork Has Few Passengers
March 25, 1998
Seven Steps To Budget Process Reform
By David M. Mason
(Executive Memorandum #515)
Seven Steps To Budget Process Reform
March 9, 1998
Why Congress Must Preserve Spending Caps
By Scott A. Hodge
(Executive Memorandum #511)
Why Congress Must Preserve Spending Caps
March 5, 1998
Increasing the Mandated Minimum Wage: Who Pays the Price?
By D. Mark Wilson
(Backgrounder #1162)
Increasing the Mandated Minimum Wage: Who Pays the Price?
March 5, 1998
Increasing the Mandated Minimum Wage: Who Pays the Price?
By D. Mark Wilson
(Executive Summary #1162)
BG1162es: Increasing the Mandated Minimum Wage: Who Pays the Price?
May 15, 1997
"How Do We Manage the Economy Intelligently?" An Analysis of Our Budget, Our Debt, and Our Future
By Senator Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah)
(Heritage Lecture #584)
HL584: "How Do We Manage the Economy Intelligently?" An Analysis of Our Budget, Our Debt, and Our Future
May 13, 1997
Balancing the Budget: What Washington Can Learn From the States
By The Honorable Terry E. Branstad (R)
(Heritage Lecture #586)
HL586: Balancing the Budget: What Washington Can Learn From the States
May 12, 1997
The 1997 Budget Agreement: The Return of Big Government
By Scott A. Hodge
(Backgrounder #1116)
BG1116: The 1997 Budget Agreement: The Return of Big Government
May 12, 1997
The Budget Deal's Medicare Benefit Inflation
By Carrie J. Gavora
(Backgrounder #1114)
BG1114: The Budget Deal's Medicare Benefit Inflation
April 29, 1997
Ten Good Reasons to Eliminate Funding for the National Endowment for the Arts
By Laurence Jarvik, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1110)
BG1110: Ten Good Reasons to Eliminate Funding for the National Endowment for the Arts
February 19, 1997
Why a Tax Limitation/Balanced Budget Amendment is Needed to Control Spending
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1104)
BG1104: Why a Tax Limitation/Balanced Budget Amendment is Needed to Control Spending
January 31, 1997
False Alarm Over Foreign Affairs Spending Cuts
By Bryan T. Johnson and Brett D. Schaefer
(Backgrounder #1102)
BG1102: False Alarm Over Foreign Affairs Spending Cuts
October 15, 1996
Reinvention Has Not Ended the "Era of Big Government"
By Scott A. Hodge
(Backgrounder #1095)
BG1095: Reinvention Has Not Ended the "Era of Big Government"
May 16, 1996
Will Clinton Pay the Price for America to Remain a Global Power?
By Baker Spring
(Backgrounder #1083)
BG1083: Will Clinton Pay the Price for America to Remain a Global Power?
May 1, 1996
Is There a Clinton Crunch?: How the 1993 Budget Plan Affected the Economy
By Scott A. Hodge, William W. Beach, and Mark Wilson
(Backgrounder #1078)
BG1078: Is There a Clinton Crunch?: How the 1993 Budget Plan Affected the Economy
March 29, 1996
Why Clinton Should Not Get Credit For Reducing the Deficit
By Cobb, Joe; Hodge, Scott A.; Beach, William W.
(FYI #92)
March 18, 1996
Getting the Federal Budget Process Back on Track
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1073)
BG1073: Getting the Federal Budget Process Back on Track
March 11, 1996
Clinton's FY 1997 Budget: The Era of Big Government Lives On
By Scott A. Hodge
(Backgrounder #1071)
BG1071: Clinton's FY 1997 Budget: The Era of Big Government Lives On
March 4, 1996
Top Ten Political Slush Funds
By Charles P. Griffin
(Backgrounder #1069)
BG1069: Top Ten Political Slush Funds
December 29, 1995
Balanced Budget Talking, Points #8: How a. Capital Gains Tax Cut Would Boost State Revenues
By Beach, William W.
(FYI #82)
December 29, 1995
Balanced Budget Talking Points #9: Why Tax Relief is Necessary in a Balanced Budget
By Beach, William W. ; Barry, John S.
(FYI #83)
December 22, 1995
Keeping Faith With the Troops: Why Clinton Should Sign the DOD Bill
By Baker Spring
(Executive Memorandum #442)
EM442: Keeping Faith With the Troops: Why Clinton Should Sign the DOD Bill
December 11, 1995
Balanced Budget Talking Points #5: Clinton's $300-Per-Child Tax Cut Plan Denies Relief to 23 Million Children
By Hodge, Scott A.
(FYI #78)
December 11, 1995
Balanced Budget Talking Points #6: What a Balanced Federal Budget With Tax Cuts Would Mean For Current and Future Retirees
By Barry, John S.
(FYI #79)
December 4, 1995
Balanced Budget Talking Points #3: What a Balanced Federal Budget With Tax Cuts Would Mean for Family College Costs
By Barry, John S.
(FYI #77)
December 4, 1995
Balanced Budget Talking Points #2: Who Will Benefit From Cuts in Capital Gains Taxas?
By Beach, William W.
(FYI #76)
December 4, 1995
Balanced Budget Talking Points #4: The $500-Per-Child Tax Credit Means One Month's Food and Mortgage for a Typical American Family
By Hodge, Scott A.
(FYI #75)
November 14, 1995
Balanced Budget Talking Points #1 : What a Balanced Federal Budget With Tax Cuts Would Mean to the Economy
By Beach, William W.: Barry, John S.
(FYI #69)
October 31, 1995
Appropriations Club Opts For Business As Usual on Lobbying Subsidies
By Marshall Wittmann
(Executive Memorandum #439)
EM439: Appropriations Club Opt For Business As Usual on Lobbying Subsidies
August 21, 1995
How to Close Down the Department of Commerce
By Joe Cobb
(Backgrounder #1049)
BG1049: How to Close Down the Department of Commerce
August 1, 1995
The Defense Budget for Defense: Why Nunn-Lugar Money Should Go to the B-2
By Baker Spring
(Executive Memorandum #424)
EM424: The Defense Budget for Defense: Why Nunn-Lugar Money Should Go to the B-2
August 1, 1995
Budget Cuts Could Spell End of American Global Power
By Spring, Baker
(Backgrounder Update #258)
July 21, 1995
A Guide to Crafting a Tax Package for the Budget Resolution
By Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies; Antonelli, Angela; Barry, John; Beach, Bill; Cobb, Joe; Hodge, Scott; M Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder #1043)
June 16, 1995
Why Budget Debate Must Not Sideline Agricultural Reform
By John E. Frydenlund
(Executive Memorandum #417)
EM417: Why Budget Debate Must Not Sideline Agricultural Reform
May 16, 1995
The Senate Republican Budget: Why Tax Cuts Must Be Included
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #248)
May 16, 1995
Slashing Congressional Spending, Part I: Congressional Pay, Pensions, Perks, and Staff
By Dan Greenberg
(Backgrounder #1034)
BG1034: Slashing Congressional Spending, Part I: Congressional Pay, Pensions, Perks, and Staff
March 10, 1995
Cutting the Deficit and Improving Services By Contracting Out U
By Utt, Ronald D.
(Backgrounder #1022)
February 16, 1995
Establish a Spending Reduction Commission
By Cobb, Joe
(Issue Bulletin #206)
February 15, 1995
Focus on Free Markets: How to Cut Foreign Aid
By Holmes, Kim R.
(Committee Brief #3)
February 10, 1995
A Strategy to Cut Interior and Related Agency Spending
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Committee Brief #2)
January 24, 1995
Why a Balanced Budget. Amendment Must Include True Tax Limitation
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #237)
January 15, 1995
The Balanced Budget Amendment: Ending the Federal Spending Binge Bar
By Barton, Representative Joe
(Heritage Lecture #514)
October 28, 1994
How Washington Wasted Your Money in the 1995 Appropriations Bills
By Hodge, Scott A.; Barry, John
(Backgrounder #1008)
October 13, 1994
The Politics of Cutting Spending
By Butler, Stuart M.; Hodge, Scott A.
(FYI #41)
June 8, 1994
Adding to 'A to Z': A Permanent Lock Box for Spending Cuts
By Greenberg, Dan
(Backgrounder Update #226)
May 6, 1994
The Index of Economic Freedom: A Tool For Real Reform of Foreign Aid
By Sheeny, Thomas P.
(Backgrounder #986)
April 12, 1994
How Domestic Cuts Can Pay for the Exon-Grassley Budget Amendment
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Backgrounder Update #222)
March 25, 1994
Rethinking Foreign Aid: The Index of Economic Freedom
By Sheeny, Thomas P.
(Heritage Lecture #485)
March 7, 1994
The Kasich Budget Plan Means %59 Million a Year for the Typical Congressional District
By Hodge, Scott A.
(FYI #13)
February 7, 1994
The Budget and the Economy: A First Year Assessment of the Clinton Presidency
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #213)
January 13, 1994
The Economic and Budget Impact of the Clinton Health Plan
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder #974)
October 15, 1993
Why America Needs A Balanced Budget Amendment
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #204)
August 5, 1993
Fifteen Reasons Why the Clinton Tax Package Would Be Bad for America's Future
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #201)
July 20, 1993
Slowing the Spending Stampede: A Five-Day Waiting Period for Congress
By Greenberg, Dan
(Backgrounder #951)
June 23, 1993
The Senate Reconciliation Bill: Repeating the Mistake990 Budget Deal
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #197)
June 4, 1993
How Clinton's Budget Plan Taxes the Elderly
By Cobb, Joe
(Backgrounder Update #193)
May 25, 1993
The House Budget Reconciliation Bill: Making a Bad Budget Even Worse
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #192)
April 28, 1993
The Spratt-Stenholm Enhanced Rescission Bill Needs Enhancements Har
By Harte, Brian
(Executive Memorandum #353)
March 5, 1993
The Clinton Challenge Answered
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Backgrounder #931)
February 24, 1993
Clinton's Economic Program: Myths and Realities
By Richard W. Rahn
(Heritage Lecture #440)
HL440: Clinton's Economic Program: Myths and Realities
February 18, 1993
Clinton's Budget: Higher Taxes and More Spending
By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #928)
BG928: Clinton's Budget: Higher Taxes and More Spending
January 18, 1993
Why You Were Right In Calling for a Line-Item Veto
By Schwalm, Steven
(Clinton Memo #11)
January 15, 1993
How to Get Spending Under Control
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Clinton Memo #8)
October 23, 1992
A Guide to the Presidential Candidates' Economic Plans
By The Heritage Foundation
(Backgrounder #918)
BG918: A Guide to the Presidential Candidates' Economic Plans
August 28, 1992
Real Deficit Reduction Demands Real Spending Cuts
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Backgrounder #913)
August 19, 1992
Washington's Budget Binge: Getting Even Worse
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder #912)
July 31, 1992
How Washington Boosts State and Local Budget Deficits
By Cowin, Andrew J.
(Backgrounder #908)
June 11, 1992
A Balanced Budget Amendment That Won't Tax America
By Kasten, Senator Robert W. Jr.
(Heritage Lecture #386)
June 9, 1992
A Lawmaker's Guide to Balancing the Federal Budget
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Backgrounder #901)
June 4, 1992
Solving the Federal Spending Crisis with a Balanced Budget Amendment
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder #899)
May 1, 1992
Escalating the Pork Barrel Wars: Using Rescissions to Help Overtaxed Americans
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Executive Memorandum #328)
February 10, 1992
The Bush Budget: Audit #1 Real Increases, Phantom Cuts
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Executive Memorandum #322)
January 29, 1992
Bush's Fiscal 1993 Budget: More Taxes, More Spending, and Missed Opportunities
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Executive Memorandum #320)
September 6, 1991
Back to Budgeting as Usual: New Spending Caps Leave Room for Plenty of Pork
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Backgrounder #849)
July 18, 1991
The Results Are in on the 1990 Budget Agreement
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder #842)
May 17, 1991
The Case Against More Funds for Drug Treatment
By Jeffrey A. Eisenach and Andrew J. Cowin
(Backgrounder #829)
BG829: The Case Against More Funds for Drug Treatment
February 26, 1991
Washington's New Domestic Spending Spree
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Backgrounder #811)
October 26, 1990
The "New" Budget Agreement, Part V: The Brink of Disaster
By Hudgins, Edward L.; Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Executive Memorandum #290)
October 19, 1990
The Four Big Lies of the "New" Budget Agreement
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #150)
October 18, 1990
The Congressional Budget Process: The Real Culprit in Washington's Fiscal Crisis
By Liedl, Mark B.
(Backgrounder Update #149)
October 17, 1990
The, "New" Budget Agreement, Part III: The Fairness Issue, Trojan Horse for Taxing the Middle Class
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #148)
October 12, 1990
The 'New' Budget Agreement, Part II: Back to Carternomics
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Backgrounder Update #147)
October 10, 1990
The "New" Budget Agreement, Part I: From Bad to Worse
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Executive Memorandum #289)
October 9, 1990
How the Forest Service Wastes Tax Money on Needless Roads
By Ancil, Ralph
(Executive Memorandum #288)
October 8, 1990
The Budget Summit Agreement, Part IX: What Next?
By Hudgins, Edward L.
(Executive Memorandum #287)
October 7, 1990
The Budget Summit Agreement, Part VIII: Hidden Time Bombs
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #146)
October 6, 1990
The Budget Summit Agreement , Part VII: Economics Speak Out
By Mitchell, Daniel J. ; Miller, James; Ture, Norman; Roberts, Paul C. ; Niskanen, William; Entin, Stephen; Ludlow, Lawrence; Hart, Betsy C.
(Executive Memorandum #286)
October 5, 1990
The Budget Summit Agreement, Part VI: No Real Budget Process Reform
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #145)
October 4, 1990
The Budget Summit Agreement, Part V: Faulty Economic Assumptions
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #144)
October 3, 1990
The Budget Summit Agreement, Part IV: The Myth of Entitlement Reform
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #143)
October 2, 1990
The Budget Summit Agreement, Part III: No New Taxes Needed
By Hodge, Scott A.; Rector, Robert
(Backgrounder Update #142)
October 1, 1990
The Budget Summit Agreement, Part II: Serious Damage to the Economy
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder Update #141)
September 30, 1990
The Budget Summit Agreement, Part I: Serious Damage to the Economy
By Mitchell, Daniel J. ; Hodge, Scott A.
(Backgrounder Update #140)
September 21, 1990
The Four Percent Solution to the Deficit Impasse
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Executive Memorandum #281)
September 4, 1990
Rx for the Federal Deficit: The Four Percent Solution
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Backgrounder #787)
August 3, 1990
What Deficit Crisis? Congress Continues Its Pork- Laden Spending Spree
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Backgrounder Update #137)
August 1, 1990
The Washington Establishment vs. The American People: A Report from the Budget Summit
By Gingrich, Representative Newt
(Heritage Lecture #279)
July 25, 1990
While Talking About a Deficit Crisis Congress Proposes Billions in New Spending
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Backgrounder #780)
May 1, 1990
In the Battle of the Budget Bush Should Read His Own Lips
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Executive Memorandum #266)
April 3, 1990
Save the Gramm-Rudman Sequester
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder #763)
March 22, 1990
Rostenkowski's Budget Proposal: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Executive Memorandum #263)
February 9, 1990
The Peace Dividend: It Belongs to the People Not Congress
By Butler, Stuart M.
(Backgrounder #752)
October 25, 1989
The Legislative Line-Item Veto: Testing If Congress Truly Wants Deficit Reduction
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder Update #117)
October 5, 1989
A Winning Budget Battle Plan for George Bush: The Veto
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder Update #114)
September 1, 1989
The Budget Mess: A Comprehensive Plan to Balance the Budget
By Cox, Representative Christopher
(Heritage Lecture #211)
July 25, 1989
"Taxes, Economic Growth, and Budget Deficits: What Washington Can Learn from the States"
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder #722)
June 29, 1989
How to Move the Postal Service Truly Off Budget
By Utt, Ronald
(Backgrounder #716)
May 17, 1989
Time to Break Congress's Code of Silence on the Line-Item Veto
By Moore, Stephen
(Executive Memorandum #236)
March 1, 1989
The Woods Report: Why the U.S. Needs New Foreign Aid Goals
By Hudgins, Edward L.
(Executive Memorandum #226)
November 9, 1988
Immediate Test for Bush: Picking National Economic Commission Members
By Butler, Stuart M.
(Executive Memorandum #217)
September 30, 1988
The National Economic Commission: A Tax-Hike Trojan Horse
By Butler, Stuart M.
(Executive Memorandum #216)
August 15, 1988
Fiscal Conservatism: Managing Federal Spending
By Pierce, Honerable Samuel R. Jr.
(Heritage Lecture #166)
July 28, 1988
Taming the Federal Spending Monster
By Uhler, Lewis K.
(Heritage Lecture #164)
June 16, 1988
The Army Base Closings Bill: Rolling Back the Military Pork Barrel
By Moore, Stephen
(Executive Memorandum #205)
June 7, 1988
Pepper's $30 Billion Home Care Time Bomb
By Ferrara, Peter J.
(Issue Bulletin #141)
May 25, 1988
A Budget Summit to End the $100 Billion Spending Spree
By Moore, Stephen
(Executive Memorandum #202)
April 8, 1988
How Drug Smugglers Gain from Coast Guard Budget Games
By Moore, Stephen
(Executive Memorandum #194)
February 12, 1988
Rx for the Ailing Federal Budget Process
By Buttarazzi, John E.
(Backgrounder #634)
February 10, 1988
The Dirty Secrets of the 1987 Continuing Resolution
By Bandow, Doug
(Backgrounder #630)
January 1, 1988
Fiscal Federalism: A Constitutional Approach to the Deficit Problem
By Poulson, Barry W.
(Heritage Lecture #144)
December 1, 1987
A Spending Freeze, Not New Taxes, Will Solve the Budget Crisis
By Buttarazzi, John E.
(Executive Memorandum #181)
November 10, 1987
The Deficit Summit: Overlooking the Real Cause of the Market Crash
By Buttarazzi, John E.
(Backgrounder Update #59)
October 26, 1987
An Eight-Point Presidential Agenda for the Budget Summit
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder Update #56)
September 14, 1987
A Warm Welcome to Federal Loan Sales
By Buttarazzi, John E.
(Backgrounder Update #52)
September 10, 1987
Congress's Dirty Dozen: Budget Process Horror Stories
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder #602)
July 8, 1987
Using the $2.3 Trillion Debt Ceiling to Balance the Budget
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder Update #47)
July 6, 1987
New Taxes to Cut the Deficit: Another Congress Bait-and-Switch Ruse
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder #591)
June 25, 1987
Raising Federal Revenues by Lowering Capital Gains Rates Bartlett, Bruce
By Bartlett, Bruce
(Executive Memorandum #166)
May 11, 1987
Using the Debt-Ceiling Vote to End the Spending Binge
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder #579)
April 21, 1987
Foreign Assistance and Foreign Policy
By Edwards, Representative Mickey
(Heritage Lecture #101)
March 27, 1987
The Highway Vote: A Litmus Test for Deficit Reduction
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder Update #41)
March 18, 1987
The Gramm-Kemp Trade Bill: How to Open Markets to U.S. Exports
By Hudgins, Edward L.
(Executive Memorandum #154)
February 27, 1987
The Highway Authorization Bill: Inviting a Presidential Veto
By Moore, Stephen
(Issue Bulletin #127)
January 14, 1987
In the Federal Budget Game, Reagan Holds the Best Cards
By Butler, Stuart M.
(Executive Memorandum #145)
December 15, 1986
Growing Enthusiasm for the Sale of the Federal Loan Portfolio
By Buttarazzi, John E.
(Backgrounder Update #33)
September 30, 1986
Christmas in October: Why Reagan Should Veto the Continuing Resolution
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder #538)
September 22, 1986
Mr. President, Don't Blink: Veto the Monster Continuing Resolution
By Fein, Bruce
(Backgrounder Update #23)
August 19, 1986
Cutting the Deficit $5 Billion Without Hiking Taxes
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder #529)
June 1, 1986
One Freshman's Approach to Balancing the Budget
By Schuette, Representative William D.
(Heritage Lecture #60)
May 20, 1986
With the Veto, Reagan Can Salvage the Budget
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder Update #11)
April 22, 1986
By Raising Spending and Killing the Deferral, The House Concocts a Taxpayer's Nightmare
By Moore, Stephen
(Executive Memorandum #116)
March 26, 1986
How to Save Money at the Pentagon While Improving the Nation's Defense
By Holmes, Kim R.
(Backgrounder #497)
March 25, 1986
The Senate Committee's Proposed Budget: It Could Hardly Be Worse
By Moore, Stephen
(Executive Memorandum #110)
March 13, 1986
"How ,to Privatize Federal Services by ""Contracting Out"""
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder #494)
March 3, 1986
The United Nations Is Not Exempt from Budget Belt Tightening
By Brooks, Roger A.; Pilon, Juliana Geran
(Backgrounder #492)
February 28, 1986
A Tax Hike Is No Cure for the Deficit
By Bartlett, Bruce
(Backgrounder #491)
February 20, 1986
Privatizing Federal Services: A Primer
By Butler, Stuart M.
(Backgrounder #488)
December 12, 1985
Narrowing the U.S. Trade Deficit by Antitrust Reforms
By Gattuso, James L.
(Executive Memorandum #103)
October 16, 1985
The Deficit Control Act: A First Victory in the War on the Deficit
By Moore, Stephen
(Executive Memorandum #96)
September 5, 1985
The Odds Are, Reagan Can Make His Vetoes Stick
By Moore, Stephen
(Executive Memorandum #91)
May 14, 1985
Price-Indexed Bonds: Trimming $12 Billion from the Deficit
By Palffy, John M.
(Backgrounder #433)
April 8, 1985
Breaking the Budget Impasse
By Butler, Stuart M.
(Executive Memorandum #78)
March 13, 1985
"For Revenue Sharing, Time Has Run Out"
By Ferrera, Perter J
(Backgrounder #417)
February 28, 1985
Putting Off-Budget Federal Spending Back on the Books
By DiLorenzo, Thomas J.
(Backgrounder #406)
February 11, 1985
A Guide to the Reagan Budget
By Moore, Stephen
(Backgrounder #408)
June 15, 1984
The Rose Garden Budget: A Taxing Thorn in Reagan's Side
By Palffy, John M.
(Executive Memorandum #56)
April 3, 1984
Line-Item Veto: Trimming the Pork
By Palffy, John M.
(Backgrounder #343)
March 26, 1984
Dangers of the Deficit Reduction Plan
By Palffy, John M.
(Backgrounder #341)
January 27, 1984
"Understanding the Federal Deficit, Part 1: How Forecasters Get It Wrong"
By Humbert, Thomas M.
(Backgrounder #328)
January 20, 1984
How the U.N. Spends Its $1 Billion from U.S. Taxpayers
By Merkle, Melanie L.
(Backgrounder #323)
December 7, 1983
Privatization: A Strategy for Cutting Federal Spending
By Butler, Stuart M.
(Backgrounder #310)
November 11, 1983
Giving the Budget Process Teeth
By Palffy, John M.
(Backgrounder #305)
October 27, 1983
Congress Guns Down the Defense Budget
By Foelber, Robert
(Executive Memorandum #37)
May 18, 1983
Taming the National Debt
By Humbert, Thomas M.
(Backgrounder #268)
May 5, 1983
The Hatch-Gramm Balanced Budget Spending Freeze Proposal
By Palffy, John M
(Issue Bulletin #91)
January 26, 1983
Saving $111 Billion: How To Do It - Part 3
By Palffy, John M.
(Backgrounder #242)
January 25, 1983
Saving $111 Billion: How To Do It - Part 2
By Palffy, John M.
(Backgrounder #241)
December 2, 1982
How the Lame Ducks Can Save $12 Billion
By Palffy, John M.
(Backgrounder #230)
August 30, 1982
Incentives for a Balanced Budget
By McKenzie, Richard B.
(Backgrounder #207)
August 9, 1982
Financing the National Debt: Time for Innovation
By Kaufman, George
(Backgrounder #202)
July 14, 1982
The Reagan Defense Budget: Failing to Meet the Threat
By Foelber, Robert
(Backgrounder #196)
May 3, 1982
The Balanced Budget Amendment (S.J.Res.58 -H.J.Res.350)
By Valero, Robert J .
(Issue Bulletin #83)
February 18, 1982
The Reagan Budget: Still Too Timid
By Humbert, Thomas M.
(Backgrounder #166)
September 18, 1981
Budget Cuts: The Key to Economic Recovery
By Germanis, Peter G. ; Humbert, Thomas M.
(Backgrounder #151)
April 29, 1981
The Reagan Economic Program: Selected Budget Cuts
By Germanis, Peter J.
(Backgrounder #139)
March 6, 1980
The Balanced Budget Amendment: An Economic and Constitutional Review
By Ascik, Thomas R.
(Issue Bulletin #59)
September 28, 1979
The FY 1980 Budget: Several Questions
By McAllister, Eugene J.
(Issue Bulletin #52)
June 25, 1979
Foreign Assistance Appropriations Act of 1980 (H.R.4773)
By Woodard, Susan P.
(Issue Bulletin #45)
June 7, 1979
A Review of the FY 1980 Budget Resolution
By McAllister, Eugene J.
(Issue Bulletin #42)
May 15, 1979
International Development Assistance Act
By Unknown
(Issue Bulletin #40)
April 10, 1979
"Balanced Budgets, Spending Limitations and the Economy"
By McAllister, Eugene J.
(Backgrounder #80)
January 26, 1979
A Review of the Carter Budget (FY 1980)
By McAllister, Eugene J.
(Backgrounder #73)
How Your New Taxes Will Fund New Pork
By Hodge, Scott A.
(Backgrounder #954)
Taxes, Spending, Gimmicks, and Snake Oil: Why Bill Clinton's Budget Is Bad for America
By Mitchell, Daniel J.
(Backgrounder #932)
July 14, 2009
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