Foreign Debt

VIDEO

Addressing our Nation’s Fiscal Future

The Honorable Jim Cooper (D-TN) and The Honorable Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), June 18, 2008

Two distinguished members of Congress: Representative Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and Representative Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) spoke at a Brookings forum on methods to correct the unsustainable path of our current fiscal policies. Rep. Ryan, the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee, addressed containing government spending by restructuring the tax code, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Rep. Cooper is a Democrat on the House Budget Committee and a member of the Blue Dog Coalition. He recently introduced the “Securing America’s Future Economy Commission Act” or SAFE Act, which would establish a commission to address the long-term fiscal outlook. Senior Fellow Isabel Sawhill moderated the panel.