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    Morning Bell: Heritage Experts Analyze the State of the Union

    President Barack Obama laid out an ambitious agenda last night. Here are some highlights of our experts’ analysis of his claims, his plans, and his promises. Responding to Newtown All Americans, no matter what our backgrounds or political perspectives, abhor the death of innocent human beings. We were shocked by … More

    Five Health Care Takeaways from CBO’s Report

    The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its Budget and Economic Outlook for 2013–2023 today. Here are five major takeaways: 1)      Health care entitlement spending is bypassing all other spending. Spending on Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare subsidies, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program will be greater than all other spending—including Social Security … More

    CBO: Tax Increase Fails to Solve Spending and Debt Crisis

    While President Obama keeps calling for more taxes, today’s figures from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) show the tax hike he signed into law just last month will provide no lasting improvement in the federal government’s fiscal outlook. This is because spending continues to grow, driving deficits back toward the … More

    Will Debt Ceiling Baby Step Lead Toward a Balanced Budget?

    The debt ceiling is bearing down on Washington. As with most such momentous occasions, plenty of partisan potshots have been exchanged, like this whopper from the White House: that House Republicans who are demanding spending reductions in exchange for increasing the debt limit would compromise the full faith and credit … More

    The United States of Argentina?

    Is President Obama channeling Juan Perón? The President does seem to have a few things in common with the political descendants of the late Argentine dictator. For example, due to ongoing lawsuits stemming from Argentina’s still unresolved $100 billion sovereign debt default in 2001, Argentina’s current president, Peronist Cristina Fernández … More

    Debt Ceiling: Default Not at Issue, Federal Spending Is

    President Obama is expected to make his case for a debt ceiling increase at a press conference this morning. The development comes as House Republicans are reportedly weighing “default” and “government shutdown.” While it’s encouraging that conservatives are gearing up for a fight, it’s important that policymakers and the public … More

    Morning Bell: See America’s Ranking in the 2013 Index of Economic Freedom

    When we talk about “economic freedom,” what do we mean—and why does it matter? Economic freedom is the fundamental right of every human to control his or her own labor and property. In an economically free society, individuals are free to work, produce, consume, and invest in any way they … More

    Morning Bell: Uproar Over Bloated Sandy Aid Package

    Leaders from New Jersey and New York blew up yesterday after House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) postponed a vote on an aid package related to Hurricane Sandy. But the bill is so loaded with pork projects that these officials should consider directing their anger at the Obama Administration, which is … More

    Morning Bell: Taxes to Rise on Most American Workers

    Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called it “a happy start to a new year.” That probably tells you all you need to know about the fiscal cliff deal that passed the House last night. The bill—which President Obama has promised to sign, though he took off for Hawaii again after the … More

    Chart of the Year: Entitlements and Interest Drive the Fiscal Crisis

    The end of 2012 was marked by lawmakers engaging in a distracting fiscal cliff debate over tax rates when the solution to the real fiscal crisis lies in an entirely different area of the budget. Federal spending on entitlements and interest on the debt drives the federal budget crisis. Together … More