Budget Battles
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Trump's Legacy: $7.8 Trillion Rise in Debt
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Biden Unveils $1.9 Trillion ‘American Rescue Plan’
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Trump Impeached Again: What's Next?
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America’s Infrastructure Gap Will Hit $5.6 Trillion: Report
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Trump Impeachment Could Delay Biden Stimulus
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Biden Calls for Trillions More in Covid Relief
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Dems Pledge $2,000 Checks as Biden Agenda Gets a Boost
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Why Biden’s Ambitious Covid Relief Plan Could Get Cut in Half
By Michael Rainey and Yuval RosenbergPresident-elect Joe Biden’s plan to “rescue” the American economy proposes $1.9 trillion in federal spending to fund a national vaccine program, boost unemployment benefits, provide additional direct...
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Orszag, Rubin and Stiglitz Call for a New Fiscal Framework
The consensus on the dangers of rising debt has shifted dramatically over the last decade. Economists have been reexamining how best to spur recovery and encourage wider-spread prosperity as...
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Biden Unveils $1.9 Trillion ‘American Rescue Plan’
President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday unveiled an economic relief package that calls for $1.9 trillion in aid, including money for $1,400 direct payments to most Americans as well as $350 billion in...
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Unemployment Claims Surge Along With the Coronavirus
By Michael RaineyAbout 965,000 people filed initial jobless claims in state unemployment systems last week, the Department of Labor announced Thursday. The new filings far exceeded economists’ expectations,...
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Democrats Plan a Major End Run Around the GOP
By Michael RaineyYou’ll probably be hearing a lot about “budget reconciliation” in the coming weeks, as Democrats work to pass a substantial spending package in the early days of the Biden administration. The term...
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America’s Infrastructure Gap to Hit $5.6 Trillion by 2039: Report
The gap between America’s projected infrastructure investment needs and its likely spending on those needs is projected to top $2.6 trillion by 2029 and more than $5.6 trillion by 2039, according to...
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Trump Administration Hands Republicans a Big Win on Medicaid Funding
By Michael RaineyThe Trump administration delivered a long-sought victory to Republicans late last week by approving a request from Tennessee to receive Medicaid funding as a block grant. As part of a 10-year “...
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Trump Impeachment Could Delay Biden Stimulus
By Michael RaineyPresident-elect Joe Biden’s plan to pass a multi-trillion-dollar stimulus package in the early days of his administration could get caught up with the looming impeachment of President Trump. House...
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Paycheck Protection Program Restarts
The Paycheck Protection Program reopened on Monday with $284 billion in funding authorized under the coronavirus relief package passed last month and revamped rules meant to get forgivable loans to...
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Deficit Hits $572 Billion for First Three Months of Fiscal 2021: CBO
The federal budget deficit for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 totaled $572 billion, up $215 billion from the same period a year earlier, the Congressional Budget Office estimated on Monday...
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McConnell Blocks $2,000 Covid Relief Checks
By Michael RaineySenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Tuesday blocked an attempt by Democrats to pass a bill that would increase coronavirus relief payments from $600 to $2,000 for most Americans...
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Trump Caves, Signs $2.3 Trillion Year-End Covid Relief and Spending Package
After five days of drama and uncertainty created by his demands for the massive year-end Covid relief and government funding bill, President Trump on Sunday unexpectedly signed into law the package...
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House GOP Blocks $2,000 Relief Checks Sought by Trump
In a final bit of pre-Christmas political theater, House Republicans on Thursday blocked an attempt by Democrats to approve the $2,000 stimulus payments President Trump demanded this week. After...
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The Night Before Christmas 2020
'Twas the night before Christmas, and up on the Hill Congress keeps fighting over its stimulus bill. Pelosi pressed Republicans to see if they dare Block the bigger checks Trump said are fair. Sure...
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Trump Vetoes $741 Billion Defense Bill
By Michael RaineyPresident Trump carried through on his threat to veto the $741 billion National Defense Authorization Act Wednesday, setting up what is expected to be the first veto override during his...