President

Budget Battles

  • Senate Approves Measure to Keep Government Afloat

    By Eric Pianin and Josh Boak

    The Senate on Friday afternoon approved a measure to keep the government running at roughly the same spending levels through mid-November. The bill was then sent back to an uncertain future in the...

  • The Economic Impact of a Government Shutdown

    By Josh Boak, The Fiscal Times

    So a government shutdown is supposed to crush the economy. Every major player has sounded alarms about the downturn that happens without a spending measure in place by Monday night. It seems to be...

  • The Loophole That Could Blunt a Debt Limit Debacle

    By Bruce Bartlett, The Fiscal Times

    Current funding for the federal government expires at midnight on Monday. If Congress fails to act, an 1884 law, the Anti-deficiency Act , requires the government to shut down except for essential...

  • Will Obama Finally Close GITMO As Promised?

    By David Francis

    Remember President Obama’s pledge to close Guantanamo Bay? He made that promise way back when – during the first week of his first term – and he’s repeated it numerous times since. On January 22,...

  • Boehner Shifts to Debt Ceiling Game Plan

    By Josh Boak, The Fiscal Times

    The more House Speaker John Boehner talks about the budget and debt ceiling showdown, the less the American public understand how the differences with President Obama get resolved without damaging...