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Taxonomy: Term ID

New York Times Obit: "Supply-Side Economics"

Apr 6, 2007 by Dana Chasin

An announcement appears in today's New York Times of the imminent demise of "a frequently misleading and meaningless buzzword" and its "perversions ... long past time ... to be put to rest ... for good." Bruce Bartlett, senior advisor to Reagan and Bush I, author of Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy, and "present at the creation of 'supply-side economics,'" now ridicules its nefarious notion that "all tax cuts raise revenue," adding that

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FDA Improves Transparency by Launching New Webpage

Apr 6, 2007 by Matthew Madia

FDA's ability to monitor and ensure the safety of drugs and medical devices after they appear on the market has been the subject of great scrutiny lately. As OMB Watch has reported, Congress and others have been critical of the agency for failing to conduct post-market safety studies. There are plenty of ideas for how the agency can improve their practices. Legislation is floating on Capitol Hill to beef up FDA funding and authority.

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Supreme Court Asked to Review Restrictions on Private Funds of Legal Aid Programs

Apr 6, 2007 by Kay Guinane

The Brennan Center for Justice has released this announcement:

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Shays & Meehan v. FEC

Apr 6, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Martin Meehan (D-MA) have asked the D.C. district court in Shays & Meehan v. FEC (Shays II) to order, yet once again, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to issue a regulation on when 527 groups must register as a political committee. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI), represented by the Campaign Legal Center, filed an amicus brief supporting Shays and Meehan.

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Plenty of WRTL Amicus Briefs to Discuss

Apr 6, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) filed an amicus in the Wisconsin Right to Life (WRTL) case. Bob Bauer at moresoftmoneyhardlaw.com contends it is "the first and so far most significant major constitutional test of McCain-Feingold, and while this engagement was won by his adversaries, he has yet to disarm." McConnell argues that grassroots lobbying broadcasts should not be limited, but also charges that ads without any reference to a candidate or the purpose of influencing an election will not in the end have any influence on the election.

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NPP On Income Tax Spending

Apr 6, 2007 by Matt Lewis

Tax day is coming up; want to be disgusted by what your income taxes are actually paying for? Check out this new report from the National Priorities Project.

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Krugman on PAYGO, Sorta

Apr 6, 2007 by Matt Lewis

Paul Krugman's column today highlights what seems to me an unintended but good consequence of the PAYGO world: rooting out corporate welfare.

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Dudley on the Editorial Pages

Apr 6, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Susan Dudley's recess appointment is the subject of editorials in this morning's Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Let's compare and contrast.

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Senate Estate Tax Votes: Less Zeal for Repeal

Apr 6, 2007 by Dana Chasin

United for a Fair Economy has just come out with a background piece analyzing the four estate tax votes held in the Senate on March 23. The votes show reduced Senate support for repeal of the tax, compared with previous votes on the issue. The findings:

ten Senators took new positions on the estate tax, supporting estate tax reform rather than repeal or opposing repeal for the first time:
- Baucus (D-MT), Kyl (R-AZ), Lincoln (D-AR), Lugar (R-IN), Nelson (D-NE), Pryor (D-AR), Stevens (R-AK), Voinovich (R-OH), Warner (R-VA)

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CBO's Monthly Budget Update

Apr 6, 2007 by Craig Jennings

The CBO has released April's Monthly Budget Review. The short version: Revenues are higher this March than they were a year ago, thanks mostly to rising income and payroll taxes. The summary paragraph from the report: The federal government recorded a deficit of $257 billion for the first six months of fiscal year 2007, CBO estimates, $46 billion less than the shortfall incurred during the same period in 2006. Revenues have risen by 8 percent in the first half of the year, whereas outlays have grown by about 3 percent.

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