Topic: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Newest hurdle to how to pay for healthcare reform: unions

President Obama meets with union leaders Monday. Unions worry that the Senate healthcare reform bill's 'Cadillac tax' on expensive health-insurance policies could affect its members.

Opinion: Obama's right: The wealthy don’t need a huge tax break to support charity

Nonprofits are worried that lowering the tax deduction given to the very wealthy for donating to charity would hurt them. But there's no conclusive proof of that.

D.C. Decoder: Where do your tax dollars actually go?

In a recent survey, Americans said slashing money for space exploration would help balance the federal budget. But the bulk of tax dollars go to other programs.

Four ways to tax Wall Street’s rich

As a first step, Congress may extend the estate tax. There are faster methods, too.

What recovery? Budget deficits get worse for states.

Budget deficits for 2010 have worsened in 39 states in the past two or three months, according to a new analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

House extends estate tax - a blow to Bush-era plan to abolish it

The House voted Thursday to continue the estate tax – an attempt to foil the Bush-era cuts that would have led to the expiration of the estate tax in 2010. But complications remain.

Pew report: nine states join California in facing fiscal crisis

Ten states from Arizona to Oregon now face a fiscal crisis, says a Pew report. Some economists say additional stimulus is needed to soften the economic impact of impending state budget cuts.

ECONOMIC SCENE: On national debt, worries are bipartisan

The national debt is worrying to conservatives and liberals alike. The question? What to do about it.

Poverty is up, but how much? Census tells two stories.

Almost 16 percent of Americans lived in poverty last year, according to new data released by the Census Bureau. The numbers were sharply higher than official rates, which reflect different measures.

Do seniors on Social Security deserve that raise next year?

Elected officials seem eager to raise Social Security payments for seniors, even though inflation has been flat. It could lead to larger costs in the future, some analysts warn.

New healthcare bill won't hurt deficit. What about your wallet?

The CBO says the Senate Finance bill will create a $81 billion surplus over 10 years. But critics say its fees, taxes, and mandates will hit Americans’ pocketbooks hard.

To restore jobs to the economy, what can Obama do?

Obama's team cites the stimulus bill for keeping people working, but with the US economy still shedding jobs, calls to do more are getter louder.

Read their lips: Mixed signals from Obama team on taxes

The White House said Monday that Obama's commitment not to raise taxes on the middle class stands firm. Some economists question if that's realistic, given America's fiscal plight.

Even college grads are signing up for food stamps

Healthcare reform hangs on cinching the cost to taxpayers

Latest effort to lower the federal price tag taps companies that don't offer health insurance to employees. They would pay an annual fee.

Coming to 25 states: higher taxes

And more states may follow, as officials try to balance budgets in the midst of an economic slump.

New budget year finds many states still scrambling

Some will need to make midyear cuts, beyond what they've sliced from their budgets already, say fiscal experts.

Economic Scene: Obama tax hikes would not hit US multinationals hard

Obama's budget whacks 121 programs

In a $3.5 trillion spending plan released Thursday, the White House proposes $17 billion in cuts – including some items that President Bush also tried to ax.

Will deficits trim Obama's agenda?

Even Democrats signal adjustments are likely, given rising projections for budgetary red ink.

Obama budget: restoring income equality in the US?

Liberal economists see the $3.6 trillion proposal as a 'step in the right direction.'

Undaunted by the economy, Obama presses ahead on healthcare reform

His introduction of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) for secretary of health and human services marks an attempt to press for reforms even amid the economic crisis.

Obama’s deficit promise won’t be easy to keep

A likely topic in his address Tuesday, the long-term budget gap is largely caused by popular entitlement programs.

Fight against poverty unites Christian left and right

Liberal and conservative groups bridge some differences in new collaborative efforts to fight the problem.

What stimulus bill can, and can’t, do

The $789 billion plan cuts taxes and shores up safety net. But how long will its benefits last?