Brian Riedl
Brian Riedl
days few precious
There are precious few legislative days before the election.
bleeds congress creates cultural culture effect federal government larger lobbyists means percent spending together true
Yes, it's true that earmarks are only 1 percent of all federal spending, but earmarks have a cultural effect on Congress that is much larger than their cost. It fuses Congress together with lobbyists and creates a culture of government spending as a means to re-election, which bleeds into other areas.
annual bold budget budgets deficit fiscal good growing growth immediate issue overwhelm pledge president programs proposal propose quickly rate reforms slow threaten trends
President Bush's pledge to halve the budget deficit by 2009 distracts policymakers from the real issue of unsustainable trends in long-term entitlement spending. The president's proposal to slow Medicare's 9% annual growth rate is a good fiscal step, but the budget does not propose enough immediate and bold reforms to the quickly growing entitlement programs that threaten to overwhelm the budget.
ability cripple cut explore given hunger nasa national nor represents
NASA represents something important in the national psyche. Given that, there isn't a lot of hunger to cut NASA substantially, nor to cripple their ability to explore space.
coming conclusion seeing spending
Most lawmakers are coming to the conclusion that the spending spree we're seeing right now is unsustainable.
education programs room social threatened
Those who are advocates of anti-poverty programs, social programs, education, have their programs threatened by runaway entitlements. There won't be room for both.
bankrupt biggest care coming crisis danger economic entire federal health literally needs next problem system
The biggest economic danger of the next 50 years is the coming crisis in entitlement spending. The problem is the entire health care system is in crisis. The entire U.S. health care system needs to be overhauled. If not, it will literally bankrupt the federal government.
campaign congress create entirely government grants helps illusion incentive pork reform rein retaining sell system
Congress has no incentive to rein in pork, because pork helps lawmakers get campaign contributions and get re-elected. It is entirely predictable that Congress would create the illusion of reform while retaining the system that allows them to sell government grants for campaign contributions.
decide
It's something we have to decide as a country. What are our priorities?
children costs means passed
What that means is those costs are being passed down to our children - with interest.
absolutely addicted baby boomers congress costs dealing director fiscal medicare outlook retire social spending top
Director Portman will be inheriting the most dire long-term fiscal outlook we've ever had. The first baby boomers retire in 18 months, and the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid costs are set to explode. On top of that, he'll be dealing with a Congress that's absolutely addicted to runaway spending and pork!
congress continues cutting resist
Congress continues to resist cutting even one program.
believe government orleans prioritize safety therefore top washington
Even small-government conservatives believe Washington should prioritize defense, safety and security, and therefore see rescuing New Orleans as a top government priority.
candidates difficult political shortage
There is no shortage of candidates for elimination. There is only the shortage of political will to make the difficult decisions.