Super PACs can’t crown a king
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George Will offers a strong defense of campaign funding and points out that spending doesn’t buy elections. The Post, dismayed about super PACs, reports “a rarefied group of millionaires and billionaires acting as kingmakers in the GOP contest, often helping to decide, with a simple transfer of money, which candidate might survive another day.” Kingmakers? [...]
Harry Reid Shuts Down Budget Process In Senate
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The Democratic Senate has not adopted a budget in three years. This is not only flagrantly irresponsible, it is a violation of federal law. Outgoing Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, who is retiring at the end of the year, apparently felt pangs of conscience, because he decided it was finally time for his committee to [...]
EconTalk: David Autor on Social Security Disability Insurance
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David Autor of MIT talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. SSDI has grown dramatically in recent years and now costs about $200 billion a year. Autor explains how the program works, why the growth has been so dramatic, and the consequences for the stability of the program [...]
A Guide to Budget Rhetoric
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Arnold Kling offers some perceptive words Congressional budgeting and campaign rhetoric. Because the budget is so far from being sustainable, budget rhetoric needs to be re-interpreted. When their side refuses to cut spending because it would be “cruel,” they are ensuring that future spending cuts will be even crueler. When our side refuses to raise [...]
Why I love Walmart despite never shopping there
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But my esthetic and aspirational standards are those of a comparatively wealthy person even in U.S. terms, let alone world terms. To the people who use Walmart and belong there, Walmart is a tremendous boon that stretches their purchasing power, enabling them to have things that don’t suck.
Despite Its New Diet, Virginia State Government Is Fatter Than Ever
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A. Barton Hinkle examines the Virginia state budget and determines that increased Medicaid spending is the big reason that the state government has had to cut the budget in recent years.
Medicaid Takes Up More of State Budgets, Analysis Finds
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Maybe it’s time to consider reforming Medicare? Before it eats up state budgets completely? And maybe we could do it without demonizing the one party that’s willing to talk about it? (Hello, Congressman Paul Ryan.)
WPRI Report: Rebuilding and Modernizing Wisconsin’s Interstates with Toll Financing
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This is the real work of “rebuilding America’s crumbling roads”. And the money involved is going to require everyone to pitch in, especially the people who use Wisconsin’s roads the most.
All highways wear out over time, despite ongoing maintenance. Over the next 30 years, most of Wisconsin’s Interstate system will exceed its nominal …
Who’s Unwilling to Compromise?
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I was making exactly this point, while driving home last night.
For the Tea Party Republicans who make up a significant part of the House GOP caucus, Boehner’s proposal is a significant retreat from “Cut, Cap and Balance.” Those who support the Boehner proposal, which is formally known as the Budget Control Act, consider …
Understanding the McConnell debt limit proposal
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Keith Hennessey explains what the McConnell debt limit proposal is, how it works, and what its political motivations are.
I still support “Cut, Cap, and Balance” as the best long-term plan. While I’d love to see it enacted, I don’t see it happening with this Senate and this President. I’d initially been disposed to strongly dislike …