Blog Posts and Analysis / Revenue & Spending

The Bush Tax Cuts are No Worse than the Reagan Tax Cuts?

There seems to be a common misperception that while things are pretty bad, the country survived the Reagan tax cuts, and the Bush tax cuts aren’t that much worse. All that progressives need to do is continue working against any more tax cuts and advocating for adequate appropriations funding, and we'll get through it. This complacency is misplaced and dangerous. The tax cuts, the fiscal condition of the federal government and the states, and the politics are very different. Conservatives have been working on a long-term agenda of shrinking government by reducing revenue. Movement conservative Grover Norquist wants to cut spending on federal programs in half within the next generation; in his words: "kill the taxes and you kill the government."

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OMB Watch on Estate Tax Tour

On behalf of Americans for a Fair Estate Tax, a coalition of nonprofit organizations opposing the repeal of the estate tax, OMB Watch economist John Irons will be traveling the country in early September – from Washington, D.C., to Washington State, Portland, Oregon, to Portland, Maine, and a number of places in between – to discuss recent reports assessing the impact of estate tax repeal on charitable giving. These local events will be organized by United for a Fair Economy, the Fair Taxes for All coalition, and their local affiliates.

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Economy and Jobs Watch: 2001 Recession in Perspective

The recession that began in March 2001 was relatively mild by historical standards when measured by total output. The recession saw just three quarters of negative growth and a cumulative output decline of less than 1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). By the end of 2001, GDP had fully recovered to pre-recession levels.

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Help Us Put "A Face on the Numbers"!

Have you ever felt frustrated that policy makers in D.C. don't seem to understand the lives of real people who depend on federal and state services? OMB Watch is launching a new web site to change this, and we need your help to make it happen.

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New State Information

National Priorities Project Introduces "Quick Reports"

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September Will be Appropriations Month

Looking foward to a hectic September...

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Internal Revenue Service Scales Back EITC Certification Plan

Initial Internal Revenue Service (IRS) plans to "pre-certify" certain recipients of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) have come under considerable criticism by advocates during the past few months. After agreeing to allow a comment period on the process and the forms, the IRS substantially modified the program. See the IRS press release.

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