Fiscal Policy

Beating the “Budget Cuts” Horse Unicorn

By Marc Comtois | August 3, 2011 |

I know I’ve beaten and flayed this particular horse unicorn (a unicorn is a mythical creature, just like actual government “cuts”), but I continue to stress that there are no “cuts” in the recent deficit deal because it undermines the hyperbolic sturm und drang being propagated by liberals like Froma Harrop who are calling Tea…

Debt Ceiling Deal Passes House

By Carroll Andrew Morse | August 1, 2011 |

The debt ceiling and budget deal has passed the House, with Congressmen James Langevin and David Cicilline both voting in favor. Keith Hennessy has a good summary of what’s contaned in the deal, available here (h/t Instapundit).

Is this the Debt Ceiling Deal That Will be in the News Tomorrow?

By Carroll Andrew Morse | July 31, 2011 |

Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review Online has posted an outline of a debt ceiling and budget process deal that Speaker of the House John Boehner sent to the Republican caucus this evening.

History Will Begin to be Made this Week

By Carroll Andrew Morse | July 31, 2011 |

This is very likely going to be a memorable week in the history of self-government and public finance. In addition to the Federal debt-ceiling issue which needs to be resolved by Tuesday in order for the Federal government to be able to keep paying everything it owes without resorting to various less-than-scrupulous financial gimmicks, the…

No Debt Ceiling Vote Tonight

By Carroll Andrew Morse | July 28, 2011 |

Various sources tweeting from Captiol Hill are saying there will be no debt ceiling vote tonight.Robert Costa from National Review Online: Top GOP member confirms no vote tonight, still working on whip count and changes. Weary mood among leadership. Not lost, but no slam dunkHowever, there’s some kind of activity with the House Rules committee…

Understanding the Debt Ceiling

By Carroll Andrew Morse | July 22, 2011 |

0. Just like any other organization, the Federal Government is subject to laws of economics, probability and mathematics that it can’t change. 1. Every organization, including the Federal Government has a cash flow, related to but different from an annual summation of revenues and expenditures. For example, your local bridge club may have $600 in…

What is Cut, Cap and Balance?

By Carroll Andrew Morse | July 20, 2011 |

The Republican “Cut, Cap and Balance” plan for addressing the tendency of government budgets to increase towards infinity passed the House yesterday. President Obama has said he would veto at least an earlier version, and Rhode Island Representatives James Langevin and David Cicilline both voted against it. Title I of the bill is the cut,…

“Rhode Island’s Rising Pension Tide”: Some Questions for Gary Morse

By Carroll Andrew Morse | July 18, 2011 |

At the conclusion of the Providence Republican City Committee’s event on “Rhode Island Rising Pension Tide” last Thursday, I was able to ask presenter Gary Morse (no relation) a few questions about specific numbers and predictions for the future. Question: I’ve heard the claim made the pensions are superior to 401(k)-type plans, because aggregating all…

Debt Ceiling Stand-Off: What Does Compromise Look Like When We Already Borrow 43 Cents of Every Federal Dollar Spent?

By Monique Chartier | July 16, 2011 |

This staggering item stands out from Mark Steyn’s (characteristically excellent) column of today. When the 44th president took office, he made a decision that it was time for the already unsustainable levels of government spending finally to break the bounds of reality and frolic and gambol in the magical fairy kingdom of Spendaholica: This year,…

“Rhode Island’s Rising Pension Tide”: The History that Makes the Future

By Carroll Andrew Morse | July 15, 2011 |

At a forum sponsored last evening by the Providence Republican City Committee, Gary Morse (no relation), the primary advisor to 2010 Republican Gubernatorial candidate John Robitaille on the subject of pension issues, delivered a talk titled “Rhode Island’s Rising Pension Tide”. The Providence Republicans promised that this would be a non-partisan forum, and Mr. Morse…