Memo to GOP: Don't Run on What Voters Don't Want

With the national debt skyrocketing, a faction on the right is hoping to turn the 2012 election into a debate on entitlement reform. No doubt, many Democrats are hoping the very same thing. Democrats would view that development as a chance to gain politically, while some Republicans would see it …

Read more

Written by Fred Bauer on Thursday September 1, 2011

States Will Be Slammed by Default

A federal default could cascade through state governments, forcing tax increases and budget cuts on local taxpayers. Medicaid budgets could be slashed. Federal money for unemployment benefits could halt. State colleges could lose federal grants. The Pew Center on the States reports that …

Read more

Written by Nicole Glass on Wednesday July 27, 2011

What to Watch in the Debt Negotiations

Here are the things to watch as the news about the debt negotiations comes out today. While we await the news from today’s debt ceiling negotiations between Republicans and Democratic leaders, news outlets are already leaking and reporting on the possible contours of a deal. But which …

Read more

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday July 7, 2011

GOP Cost-Cutting Takes Aim at Medicaid

While the GOP has taken a lot of heat for the Ryan plan’s Medicare cost-cutting proposals, switching their focus to Medicaid isn’t the right response. According to reports, the House GOP is considering plans to reduce spending on Medicaid rather than the more politically intractable Medicare or …

Read more

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Tuesday May 10, 2011

Ryan's Budget Gives Obama What He Wants

The Republican plan to cut taxes and slash government health care spending gives the president prime opportunities for political victory. “Whatever you do, don’t serve to his backhand.” “Don’t be nervous. I have the new Ryan serve. It’s bold!” “Trust me on this. Don’t serve to his backhand.” …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Wednesday April 13, 2011

What the Ryan Budget Gets Right

There's a lot that's baffling in the Ryan budget plan, but also many proposals that are a step forward. I wrote yesterday about what is baffling in the Ryan budget plan. What is positive? 1) The Ryan plan accepts that tax cuts must be "paid for" with offsets elsewhere in the budget. That's …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Thursday April 7, 2011

A Budget That Can't Budge

The Ryan Plan won't become law. So what's it for? What is the much-discussed Paul Ryan plan ? You probably know the plan’s main elements: A huge cut in Medicaid, a big cut in the value of future Medicare coverage for those under age 55, substantial cuts in discretionary domestic spending, …

Read more

Written by David Frum on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Will Congress Buy Ryan's No Nonsense Budget?

Paul Ryan has taken the great leap forward by proposing a budget which tackles the real drivers of our debt crisis. But is Washington ready to act? Paul Ryan, House Budget Committee Chairman and realist, has taken the great leap.  He has publicly proposed a budget resolution for Fiscal Year …

Read more

Written by Steve Bell on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Ryan's 2012 Budget: Radical or Realistic?

Tuesday, Paul Ryan will formally present the Republican budget for Fiscal Year 2012. Here's a primer on the new budget proposals biggest question marks. Tuesday, Paul Ryan will formally present the Republican budget for Fiscal Year 2012 at noon. Frum Forum will liveblog the presentation of the …

Read more

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Ryan Right to Punt on Social Security Reform

A new budget proposal from Paul Ryan will make Medicare and Medicaid reforms while leaving Social Security more-or-less untouched. Ryan's got the right priorities. A new budget proposal from Rep. Paul Ryan will make Medicare and Medicaid changes while leaving Social Security more-or-less …

Read more

Written by Eli Lehrer on Thursday March 31, 2011

Obamacare: One Year Later

Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the health reform bill. But in this past year there's been no progress on addressing the real crisis: high health costs. Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the Democrats' health reform bill. But in this past year little progress has been made on …

Read more

Written by Stanley Goldfarb on Thursday March 24, 2011

Universal Coverage: Stand Around & Wait

NM SYMPOSIUM: America already has government healthcare: Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, programs for Indians on reservations. The program I’m personally familiar with is Tricare, for military dependants. Go to Clark Clinic on Fort Bragg to see how government medicine works: Not very well. Tens of …

Read more

Written by Sean Linnane on Thursday August 27, 2009