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  • Entitlements, Taxes & Spending

    Replace the culture of entitlement with the culture of mutual responsibility.

    VIDEO: Jim DeMint Says Obama Is “Running Out of Excuses” on Debt

    Heritage Foundation President-Elect Jim DeMint told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren last night that President Obama is “running out of excuses” on America’s debt problem and liberals are in denial if they think Washington doesn’t have a spending addiction. Greta, the president is running out of excuses. He can’t blame … More

    GDP Fell in the Fourth Quarter of 2012

    The Department of Commerce made news Wednesday by announcing the first quarterly decline in gross domestic product (GDP) since the recession ended in 2009. As always, GDP is only a summary measure, not the whole story. This GDP report continues the narrative of the past three years: We are making … More

    Coverdell Education Savings Accounts—Now Safe from Taxation—Could Still Be Improved

    Congress and President Obama preserved the rules regarding Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) when they passed the “fiscal cliff” deal. Coverdell ESAs are the lone tax break available to parents for kindergarten through twelfth grade education expenses. But beginning January 1, 2013, the accounts were going to be only useful … More

    Don’t Gut Our Military: $150 Billion in Commonsense Proposals to Prevent Sequestration

    Unless Congress acts, March 1 will trigger a $55 billion-per-year ($43 billion in 2013, as the fiscal cliff deal delayed the cuts for two months) cut in national defense, known as sequestration, which will weaken the United States’s ability to defend itself. But this does not have to happen; Congress … More

    Scholars Agree: High Tax Rates Do Harm Growth

    The Congressional Research Service (CRS) stirred controversy last year when it released a study claiming that tax rates do not influence economic growth. Predictably, those who favor higher taxes used the flimsy report to bolster their backward argument that raising tax rates, as Congress and President Obama did with the … More

    The Curious World of Jack Lew, Treasury Secretary Designate

    President Obama has nominated White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew to succeed Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary. Lew could be in for some tough questioning. For better or for worse, the Secretary of the Treasury stands at the center of the U.S. financial system simply by virtue of the … More

    Heritage in Focus: What IS the Debt Ceiling?

    Research Coordinator Romina Boccia discusses the phrase “debt ceiling,” which the mainstream media have been focusing on for weeks, and how policymakers can improve our economy going forward on Heritage in Focus. Jackie Anderson hosts. To get regular updates on Heritage in Focus podcasts, visit our RSS feed or subscribe … More

    Conversations with Conservatives: Congressmen Weigh in on Debt Ceiling Deal (VIDEO)

    In advance of Wednesday’s vote on suspending the debt ceiling, six Republican congressmen joined The Heritage Foundation’s Bloggers Briefing to discuss conservative viewpoints on the budget deal. Not all of the congressmen who spoke were persuaded of the debt extension. Representative Justin Amash (MI) was the first to state he … More

    Phil Mickelson and His Tax Bogey

    Professional golfer Phil Mickelson, one of California’s many but dwindling wealthy, apparently carded a bogey when he intimated over the weekend that the near 60 percent marginal tax rate on the state’s millionaires may be enough to make him flee to a lower tax burden state. In November, the state … More

    Morning Bell: It’s Time to Balance the Budget

    Today, the House will vote on a proposal that would suspend the debt ceiling until May 19, buying a bit more time for the overarching budget debate. This puts off the difficult decisions that are needed to get the country’s fiscal situation in order. Heritage’s vice president for domestic and … More