RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Alice M. Rivlin, March 26, 2009, The Washington Post
President Barack Obama’s budget is the subject of floor debate in the House and Senate this week. Alice Rivlin says that the budget offers good remedies for America’s economic ills, but urges Congress to make it even better by paying for the new investments and reducing the long-term deficits. Read More
VIDEO
Grover J. "Russ" Whitehurst, February 04, 2010
In submitting his first budget to Congress, President Obama asked for a $3 billion dollar boost in education while freezing spending in many other programs. Grover J. Whitehurst says this budget proposal contains some solid ideas for improving education but it changes the federal-state dynamic, which may rankle some people.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Mark Muro, February 04, 2010, The Brookings Institution
Mark Muro examines President Obama's proposed innovation investments in the federal budget, and finds that though the top-line numbers are lacking, the budget would provide a major increase to civilian research and development. Muro writes that these investments could lead to technology will be a key part of creating jobs and increasing American energy independence. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, February 04, 2010, The Brookings Institution
When it comes to infrastructure, President Obama faces a tricky balancing act. On one side he needs to invest in the kind of infrastructure that the nation needs to remain competitive and put us on the path to a low-carbon future. On the other he has to operate in a constrained fiscal environment with programs that are in fundamental need of reform. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Alan Berube, February 04, 2010, The Brookings Institution
In a FY 2011 budget that freezes non-defense discretionary expenditures, the Department of Education has attracted some attention for being one of the few places in the federal government that would attract an increase in funding if the plan is enacted. Read More
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Washington, DC
President Obama’s budget for the federal government landed on Capitol Hill February 1 with a plan to freeze non-military discretionary spending for three years beginning in 2011. On Wednesday, February 3, Isabel Sawhill discussed the release of the federal budget and what it will mean for the coming fiscal year in a live web chat moderated by POLITICO’s senior editor Fred Barbash. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Isabel V. Sawhill, February 03, 2010, The Brookings Institution
President Obama’s $3.8 trillion budget for the federal government landed on Capitol Hill this week with proposed spending cuts and freezes, increases for defense and homeland security spending, and a new jobs plan – along with a projected deficit of 1.55 trillion for this year. On Wednesday, February 3, Isabel Sawhill discussed the release of the federal budget and what it will mean for the coming fiscal year in a live web chat moderated by POLITICO’s senior editor Fred Barbash. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Mark Muro and Sarah Rahman, February 03, 2010, The Brookings Institution
The Obama administration’s FY2011 budget request unveils several proposals to support regional industry or innovation “clusters” through multiple federal departments, which could put the U.S. on par with other nations in providing support to these systems of business development. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
William A. Galston, February 01, 2010, The Brookings Institution
William Galston looks at how President Obama's FY 2011 budget tackles deficit reduction and fiscal restraint. Galston notes that most economists believe the recovery is weak, and the possibility of a double-dip recession remains, therefore another year of economic stimulus is likely necessary. Read More
VIDEO
Bill Frenzel, January 27, 2010
In his State of the Union address, President Obama recommitted himself to creating jobs and offered a plans to freeze government spending and create a presidential commission to address the budget deficit. Bill Frenzel gives mixed reviews to this flurry of ideas and proposals from the president.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Anthony Popiel and Charles McLean, January 26, 2010, The Brookings Institution
From healthcare to Afghanistan to the U.S. economy to counter-terrorism policies, President Obama will likely cover several critical issues in his first State of the Union address. Anthony Popiel and Charles McLean argue that Obama's message will resonate best with Americans if the president "keeps it simple" and focuses on a few key priorities. Read More
PAST EVENT
Friday, January 15, 2010
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
University of Southern California, Los Angeles
CA
The Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and USC-Caltech Center for the Study of Law and Politics presented a conference on the long-term fiscal crisis. Leading experts from a range of disciplines assessed the causes of the current crisis, the magnitude of the challenge facing the country in the next decade, and the possible responses by the federal government and the states. Read More
VIDEO
William A. Galston, December 18, 2009
As the federal government continues its efforts to stabilize and expand the economy it must also take action to manage its mounting debt. William Galston supports the idea of a fiscal commission to help the Obama administration and Congress walk the fine line between spending and fiscal restraint.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Julia B. Isaacs, Tracy Vericker, Jennifer Macomber and Adam Kent, December 09, 2009, The Brookings Institution
In the third annual Kids’ Share report, Julia B. Isaacs, Tracy Vericker, Jennifer Macomber and Adam Kent examine federal spending expenditures and federal tax policies that support and impact children and families. They find that since 1960, the children’s share of the federal budget has diminished by a quarter, while spending on the share devoted to the non-child portions of entitlement programs has more than doubled. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
William A. Galston, November 10, 2009, Senate Budget Committee
Speaking before the Senate Budget Committee, Senior Fellow William Galston discussed how the Untied States’ current fiscal course is unsustainable. The level of deficits, debt, and borrowing from abroad projected for the next decade threatens not only our economic prosperity, but also our currency, global leadership, and national independence, he asserted. Galston recommended that an independent, bi-partisan commission be created to address the challenge of developing a sustainable fiscal policy. Read More