The Deficit is Growing! The Deficit is Growing!

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has issued its latest report on the FY 2002 budget deficit, which is now expected to reach up to $100 billion.

read in full

Tax Day

As people around the country bring last-minute work on their tax returns to a close today, the House Republican leaders are gearing up for their annual "Tax Freedom" day – a time for denigrating government spending and the taxes that enable the government to provide the services that help support the country. This year, the legislative focus of their Tax Freedom day is likely to be the introduction, on April 18, of legislation to make permanent last year’s $1.35 trillion tax cut, which expires (or "sunsets") at the end of 2010.

read in full

$50 Billion Per Year is Not Pocket Change

As reported in the Washington Post on March 25, advocates of estate tax repeal have redirected their efforts to state legislatures, pressuring them to "update" their estate tax laws to reflect the changes implemented in last June’s $1.35 trillion tax cut.

read in full

Resolutions Not Worth Keeping

The FY 2003 Congressional budget plan is probably not going to be a resolution worth keeping.

read in full

Economic Stimulus Package Passed by Congress is Lacking: Spring 2002

The House and Senate, by votes of 417-3 and 85-9 respectively, have finalized “economic stimulus” legislation, and it is now on its way to the President, who is expected to sign the bill. The bill’s title -- “Economic Recovery and Assistance for American Workers Act of 2001” -- is misleading given that it is overloaded with huge tax breaks that will do little to stimulate the economy and the provision for unemployed workers and their families is limited to a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits to those whose 26-week benefit limit has expired.

read in full

President Issues Welfare Reauthorization Proposal

The President released his Welfare Reform Agenda last week and with it came much concern from those who are currently working to ensure that changes are made to the 1996 welfare reform law to address the needs of those who are working (currently defined as a success under the 1996 welfare reform law measurement) but are still unable to provide for the basic needs of their families.

read in full

The Game of Ping-Pong, or "The Economic Stimulus Package Debate"

Less than two weeks ago, many observers -- including OMB Watch -- were predicting that an end, at least for the foreseeable future, had come for the debate on an economic stimulus package.

read in full

Poverty and Welfare Information

Analyses and statements by other organizations on welfare reform in general, the history of welfare reform, the 1996 welfare reform law, welfare reform in the states, as well as specific aspects including children, child care, food stamps, and job training

read in full

Economic Stimulus Proposals Resource Page

The following are analyses, updates and action alerts from OMB Watch and other organizations on the Fall 2001 - Spring 2002 attempts to create an "economic stimulus package."

read in full

New Priorities and Future Tax Cuts

Kennedy, Daschle and their Republican counterparts have made clear over the last 4 months that the nation is now facing new problems (on top of existing problems) and we cannot afford a debate over semantics. Instead, we must address the problems laid out by Daschle and Kennedy over the last 2 weeks and by the President in his State of the Union address next week.

read in full

Pages