What’s Driving Growth in Spending on Means-Tested Programs
Fiscal policy

What’s Driving Growth in Spending on Means-Tested Programs

Last week, the Congressional Budget Office released an interesting infographic depicting the growth since 1972 in spending on federal means-tested programs and tax credits, such as Medicaid, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp program). The expansion of such programs has been staggering: … Continue reading

Social Security: A Little Reform Today Might Solve a Big Problem Tomorrow
Debt / Economy / Fiscal policy / Taxes

Social Security: A Little Reform Today Might Solve a Big Problem Tomorrow

The CBO’s budget and economic outlook, released last week, looks bleak. And one of the drivers of future budget shortfalls? Social Security. During the Feb. 13th house budget hearing on CBO’s outlook, Rep. John Campbell (CA) asked Doug Elmendorf – CBO Director – if we were in a pickle with regards to the U.S. budget. … Continue reading