2012 Elections
  • Obama’s Bargain: Lower Rates for Higher Spending

    President Obama intends to make one last pitch for a “grand bargain” of new spending and tax policy on Tuesday that will attempt to marry corporate tax reform with funding for jobs to benefit the...

  • Ominous Signs for the GOP in 2014

    By Bruce Bartlett, The Fiscal Times

    The conventional wisdom is that Republicans are in good shape going into next year’s congressional elections. Gerrymandering and the enormous benefits of incumbency virtually guarantee them continued...

  • Trading Tax Write-Offs for Real Growth

    By Andrew Fieldhouse, The Fiscal Times

    Overhauling the tax code is a wonky fixation of the D.C. policymaking elite, for good reason — it’s an area loaded with policy nuance, lobbying intrigue and major ramifications for long-term fiscal...

  • IRS Scandal: How the Brouhaha Went Bust

    By Peter Weber, TheWeek.com

    Rep. Darrell Issa is still banging the scandal drum. Is anyone listening anymore?

  • Beer, Burgers, and a Two-Man Blitz on Tax Reform

    By Josh Boak, The Fiscal Times

    Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) are keeping hope alive that the tax code can be rewritten. Both peg the odds of successful reform at more than 50 percent, according to a joint lunch...

  • The Ryan vs. Biden Debate: All Heat, No Light

    By Josh Boak, The Fiscal Times

    ice President Joe Biden set a confrontational tone in the Thursday vice presidential debate, referring to Republican opponent Rep. Paul Ryan as a “friend” whose arguments were “malarkey” when his...

  • If Romney Wins, Will His Tax Plan Survive?

    By Bruce Bartlett, The Fiscal Times

    Republican Mitt Romney’s signature campaign issue is his plan to cut tax rates by 20 percent across the board to jumpstart the economy. Should he be elected, what are the odds that he will be able to...

  • Biden Next Up to Try to Save a Sputtering Obama

    By Eric Pianin and Josh Boak

    Former President Bill Clinton thrilled the entire Democratic National Convention by giving a stronger explanation and defense of Obama’s economic policies than Obama himself did the next night. Now,...

  • Romney Needs Tea Party Support for Tax Plan

    By Kim Dixon, Reuters

    If Mitt Romney is elected president on November 6, he likely would look to fellow Republicans in Congress to fill in the blanks of a framework to slash rates and pare deductions as part of an...

  • Romney Even or Ahead of Obama in 3 New Polls

    By Josh Boak, The Fiscal Times

    Republican Mitt Romney, just weeks ago considered on the verge of irrelevance, swung back into contention after the first presidential debate last week with three new polls showing the former...