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    Government Regulations, Spending Erode America’s Economic Freedom

    Congressional passage of three free-trade agreements yesterday marked a rare victory for economic freedom in America. But the United States has a long way to go before it regains its status as a leader in economic freedom, according to a new video from the Charles Koch Institute. Government regulations and … More

    Chart of the Week: Cutting All Defense Spending Would Not Solve Debt Crisis

    House Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) is a man on a mission. He’s making the rounds on Capitol Hill to convince his colleagues, particularly those on the 12-member Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, that they should avoid cutting defense spending. McKeon has a point — and it’s one … More

    The Continuing Saga of the CR: Choking on Offsets

    Although differences over the continuing resolution (CR) that failed in the Senate Friday seem absurdly small, the stakes may indeed be significant—and not just because of the threat of a government shutdown. The legislation is the first test of Congress’s will to cut spending, at least within the limits of … More

    Chart of the Week: Your Share of the National Debt Is Growing Rapidly

    The newly formed Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction holds its first meeting this week. The 12-member panel will gather at 10:30 a.m. Thursday for an organizational session, then meet again on Sept. 13 at 10:30 a.m. for a hearing on “The History and Drivers of Our Nation’s Debt and … More

    Chart of the Week: Federal Spending on Defense vs. Entitlements

    Providing for the defense of the United States is Congress’ constitutional obligation. Lawmakers should recognize defense is a necessity, if not the federal government’s most important responsibility. In recent years, however, defense spending has continued to decline as entitlement spending increased. Priorities are being misplaced as the gap between entitlement … More

    New Push to Make ‘Super Committee’ Operate in the Open

    The newly formed Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction has its 12 members, but beyond that there’s little known about how exactly it will operate. Congressional leaders have promised transparency of its deliberations. And as of now, though, only the first meeting and final report are required to be publicly … More

    Dear Conan, Reckless Government Spending Is Worse Than You Think

    Late-night comedian Conan O’Brien’s blog has a new post parodying Washington’s excessive spending. “Team Coco has found out why our government is so broke,” the blog explains, “They’ve been spending all our hard earned tax dollars on some pretty ridiculous programs.” The post contains a list of humorous fake programs and encourages … More

    Estonia’s Rebound Through Fiscal Discipline: A Message for America?

    In the midst of a world embroiled in economic turmoil, a few nations have managed to do surprisingly well—among them, Estonia. After near economic collapse during the 2008–2009 financial crisis, the country has managed to successfully bounce back with substantial GDP growth, a vibrant trade environment, and a notable budget … More

    Our Big Government Addiction Must End

    As soon as the U.S. Treasury was cleared to start borrowing again, it quickly borrowed $238 billion more and reached a milestone.  Our national debt is now more than $14.5 trillion, which means that it has surpassed the size of our total annual economy. The federal government now owes more … More

    Chart of the Week: Federal Spending Per Household Is Skyrocketing

    With the United States engaged in a debate over debt, the common consensus among Americans is that spending needs to be reduced. A recent poll commissioned by Generation Opportunity and the polling company, inc./WomanTrend found this was especially true among young Americans who are self-identified independents. They believe less federal … More