Brian Riedl
Brian Riedl
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.
congress costs learn maybe next programs progress sky start symbolic whose year
It's symbolic progress for Congress to learn that they can terminate programs without the sky falling. Maybe they can come back next year and start terminating programs whose costs make a difference.
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.
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.
bills congress
The more controversial bills will most assuredly end up in a lame-duck Congress.
children costs means passed
What that means is those costs are being passed down to our children - with interest.
clearly dragging feet instead senate senators spending tax
The Senate is clearly dragging its feet on spending reform. Some senators have called for instead reversing the tax cuts.
consider deciding gets worthy
Earmarks could be worthy or not, but we still consider it corrupting because lawmakers are deciding who gets a grant.
balance debt dump history household increases laps largest next per percent reach tax within
dump the largest debt in world history into the laps of the next generation. Within a decade, tax increases would need to reach $7,000 per household (a 37 percent tax hike) just to balance the budget.
capital companies constantly finding good ideas investment investors looking profitable
There's so much investment capital out there for profitable new technologies. Investors are constantly looking for good ideas to invest in. If these ideas are as good as these companies say, they should have no problem, at minimum, finding a loan.
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.
sacrifice
Sacrifice? ... At this time, there is none.
coming conclusion seeing spending
Most lawmakers are coming to the conclusion that the spending spree we're seeing right now is unsustainable.