Senators Tom Coburn (R–OK) and Joseph Lieberman (I–CT) unveiled a major Medicare proposal. Based on preliminary estimates provided by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the proposal would reduce total Medicare spending by more than $600 billion in the next 10 years and cut the program’s long-term (75-year) unfunded liability by approximately $10 trillion. This is a serious start. Without remedial action, Medicare faces a long-term unfunded liability of almost $37 trillion. The Medicare hospitalization trust fund is running a deficit of $34.1 billion this year alone. While the program has …
Doesn’t the Department of Energy (DOE) have enough needless programs and spending projects on its plate? DOE recently announced that it is launching a new program in cahoots with the Consortium for Energy Efficiency in which they will award the producer of the most efficient television. Producers will compete internationally for the chance to stamp their televisions with a logo from the DOE saying their products are energy efficient, leading consumers to believe that they will save money on their electricity bills. Maybe they will, but if a producer is …
Catching you up on clips, commentary and news of the day. Sign up for the daily email update from Scribe. Obama’s illusory ‘peace dividend’ – Ed Feulner No Defense Cuts or Tax Increases in Debt Deal – Marc Thiessen Fewer prosecuted in benefits program fraud – Brad Heath Trade Pacts Clear Key Hurdle on Worker Aid – Elizabeth Williamson ‘Sick notes’ for protestors raise ethical questions – Alissa Smith Federal Lawmakers to Consider Distracted Driving Law – WIFR The Obama Doctrine Defined – Douglas J. Feith & Seth Cropsey The Coming …
In his speech last week on the war in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama uttered some magic words that sent a few of America’s anti-war mayors into a big-spending tizzy. The Heritage Foundation’s President Ed Feulner explains in today’s Washington Times: “For most of us, it’s the season of sun, sand and backyard barbecues. But the U.S. Conference of Mayors seems to think it’s Christmas. And all because of one key sentence in President Obama’s recent address on withdrawing forces from Afghanistan more quickly: ‘America, it is time to focus on nation-building here …
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), in an exclusive interview with Heritage, criticized her liberal colleagues for opposing Social Security reform, warning that they would rather increase taxes on businesses. Hutchison singled out Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) for his repeated assertions that Social Security is not in trouble. Reid has gone so far as to call it a “myth” perpetuated by conservatives. “It’s clearly in trouble if its own trustees say its going bankrupt in 25 years,” Hutchison said in the interview. “If that’s not a signal to …
This week the U.S. Supreme Court rounded out its session by striking down an Arizona law that provided publicly funded candidates with funds matching those of their privately funded opponents. Heritage expert Hans von Spakovsky explains in more detail here. Campaign finance reform nerds of the conservative persuasion cheered, but the decision actually has far-reaching implications for all Americans’ First Amendment rights, even if they never run for office or even bother to vote. A Wall Street Journal report notes today: The majority [of Supreme Court justices] is reaching these …
Video chat rooms at Ustream The Bloggers Briefing is a weekly policy discussion hosted by The Heritage Foundation. You can watch the live feed (above) via Ustream.tv beginning at noon today. We have three guests speaking at today’s briefing: Cal Dooley, president of the American Chemistry Council, will discuss how the NAT GAS Act would impact U.S. businesses. Heritage Action has documented growing opposition to the bill, which expends billions of dollars for failed energy subsidies. Fourteen lawmakers have already withdrawn their support for the legislation. Alex Cortes, executive director of Let Freedom Ring, …
“America’s economic strength and standing in the world economy are directly linked to our ability to equip students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the 21st-century economy….We must insist on standards that will prepare our high-school graduates for the demanding challenges they will face.” So wrote former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R) along with former Chancellor of New York City schools Joel Klein last week in a Wall Street Journal editorial arguing for the Common Core—a set of nationwide education standards. No one would disagree with the statement …
Today is the deadline for U.S. retailers to unload any unsold cribs that don’t meet the federal government’s new safety standards. An estimated 100,000 cribs could be headed to the trash — even though they’ve never been declared unsafe or a hazard to children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) had the opportunity to spare businesses of the expense at a special meeting two weeks ago. But the Democrat-led commission voted against extending the deadline. As a result, retailers stand to lose at least $32 million, according to the commission’s …
President Obama’s announced plan for accelerated troop reductions in Afghanistan puts at risk the hard-earned battlefield gains made by the coalition forces over the last 10 months, but he rightly highlighted significant progress in training Afghan security forces: Afghan security forces have grown by over 100,000 troops, and in some provinces and municipalities we’ve already begun to transition responsibility for security to the Afghan people. In the face of violence and intimidation, Afghans are fighting and dying for their country, establishing local police forces…” Progress in preparing Afghan security forces …
