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Monday, March 21, 2011

Budget

News                                                                                                                             
Washington Times | CBO: Obama’s budget doesn’t reach primary balance
Congress‘ chief scorekeeper says President Obama’s budget never achieves primary balance, the key measure the White House said would show the country is living within its means.
WSJ | Senators Push Obama on Deficit
More than 60 senators sent a letter to President Barack Obama Friday urging him to "engage" on long-term deficit reduction, a sign of legislative momentum on the issue and impatience with the White House

Econ Comments                                                                                                             
CNN Money | Deficit pessimist sees hope for a deal
...even in the current hostile partisan environment, that it's becoming increasingly possible.
Washington Times | EDITORIAL: Obama’s red ink grows by $2.7 trillion
Now it looks like the amount of debt President Obama’s budget will generate in the coming decade will be $2.7 trillion more than expected. Oops.
Barron's | The Dangers of Lessons Unheeded
A Nobel Prize-winning economist says the West hasn't learned much from Japan's long slump or the struggles of Hoovernomics.

Blogs                                                                                                                             
NY Times: The Caucus | That Budget ‘Battle’? Only a Skirmish
Think of Washington’s initial 2011 budget fights as spring training — for a season about to open in a hailstorm.
USA Today | Democratic senator to break with Obama on debt limit
When it's time to count votes on raising the nation's debt ceiling, the Obama administration may not be able to put Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in its column.
Heritage Foundation | CBO Report Confirms: Obama’s Budget Laden with Debt
Again, it is made plain that the President chooses to ignore the recommendations (pdf) of his own bipartisan fiscal commission, which called for prompt and serious reform of entitlement programs.

Reports                                                                                                                         
Mercatus Center | Interest Payments on the Federal Debt
As the national debt rises, the interest on the federal debt merits increased scrutiny and concern, especially given the government’s levels of short-term debt and potential inaccuracies in measuring the true interest costs on the debt.
CBO | Preliminary Analysis of the President's Budget for 2012
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), with contributions from the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, has analyzed the President’s budget submission for fiscal year 2012.
Republican Staff Commentary | Spend Less, Owe Less, Grow the Economy
In the long term, fiscal consolidation programs that reduce government spending as a percentage of GDP accelerate economic growth.