Topic: Federal Budget
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
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Five ways to improve Obama's pre-k plan
President Obama’s Preschool for All plan is well intentioned but includes features that are not justified by research and won’t help it pass in Congress. The plan must make the following five adjustments.
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Where do things stand at Guantánamo? Six basic questions answered.
President Obama this week pledged to “reengage” with Congress to find a way to close the terror detention camp at the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, naval base. The renewed focus comes as 100 of the 166 detainees are reported to be engaged in a hunger strike. Here is a brief look at where things stand now.
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World's five largest companies
For the first time in nearly a decade, the world’s five largest public companies are all American affair These are the Top 5, as of mid-April 2013.
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5 steps to bipartisan cuts in Medicare – and the deficit
Medicare is the single greatest contributor to long-term deficits. If Democrats and Republicans cooperate on waste-cutting ideas – many of which are backed by President Obama – both parties stand to gain. Here are five ways Congress should act.
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Briefing
After the 'sequester,' now what?
$85 billion in across-the-board cuts to defense and social programs took effect March 1. The cuts must occur this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Here's how things look.
All Content
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The New Economy Facebook IPO: a bittersweet one-year anniversary
One year after the disastrous Facebook IPO, the company is making strides in mobile ad revenue, but its stock price is still far below its original IPO price. Also this week: Consumer sentiment hits six-year high; retail sales rise unexpectedly; and the world has a new (old) richest person.
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Sea of protesters fills streets in Rome
Thousands took to the streets on Saturday to protest austerity measures and advocate for job creation and workers' rights in Italy. The country is experiencing its longest recession since 1970, with unemployment rates soaring.
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Energy Voices Ernest Moniz confirmed unanimously as Energy secretary
Ernest Moniz earned bipartisan approval Thursday as the Senate voted 97-0 to confirm the nuclear physicist as the next secretary of the Department of Energy. The support for Ernest Moniz is in contrast to divided opinions over Gina McCarthy, President Obama's pick to head the EPA.
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The sound of abundance
A Christian Science perspective.
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Federal deficit falling fast: Is that a good thing ... or a bad thing?
New estimates show the US federal budget deficit falling faster than forecast. To some, that's a sign that fiscal policy is becoming too austere, valuing quick cuts over more-needed reforms.
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Why federal budget deficit is falling faster than CBO expected
The federal budget deficit will shrink this year to $642 billion, the nonpartisan CBO said in a new estimate Tuesday. Just three months ago, it was forecasting a deficit of $845 billion.
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Five ways to improve Obama's pre-k plan
President Obama’s Preschool for All plan is well intentioned but includes features that are not justified by research and won’t help it pass in Congress. The plan must make the following five adjustments.
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Paper Economy Food stamp use declines in February
Food stamp use was down in February, according to the latest food stamps data released by the Department of Agriculture. A notable 213,962 individual recipients were removed from the food stamps program.
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What tax hikes? Retail sales rise in April despite fears of slowdown.
Retail sales numbers for March had been down compared with last year, in part because of a rise in Social Security payroll taxes. But April's numbers rebounded unexpectedly.
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The New Economy IRS apologizes for targeting tea party: this week in the economy
The IRS is under fire for the extra scrutiny its workers gave to 'Tea Party' and 'Patriot' groups' applications for tax-exempt status. Plus, the Dow hit a milestone, jobless claims continued to drop, and other news from around the US economy this week.
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Tax VOX Health cost growth slows. Time to rethink budget debate?
If future medical costs continue to grow at their current low rate the federal budget will be in much better shape than most analysts thought, Gleckman writes. The slowdown in health spending growth is sure to drive the fiscal debate in some important and perhaps unexpected ways.
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The New Economy Dow passes 15000. Now what?
With the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting the 15000 milestone and economic signals flashing continued growth, the case for bull market optimists looks stronger. But there are reasons to be cautious about a retrenchment of the Dow.
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The Monitor's View: China must end cyberspying on US industry, look to its own innovation
The Pentagon accuses China of massive cyberspying on American industry to gain a competitive edge. Beijing has already invested heavily in innovation. Why not look to is own people for creativity?
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Robert Reich How Republicans quietly repeal laws they don't like
Repealing laws by hollowing them out – failing to fund their enforcement or implementation – works because the public doesn’t know it’s happening, Reich writes. Enactment of a law attracts attention; de-funding it doesn’t.
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Portugal adds an hour to public employees workday as part of budget cuts
In order to meet its bailout targets, Portugal will raise the retirement age by one year to 66 and increase the workday for public employees by an extra hour. The measures will save roughly 4.8 billion euros.
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$900,000 per inmate: World's most expensive prison (+video)
$900,000 per inmate makes Guantanamo Bay the world's most expensive prison. That's 13 times the cost of a super max inmate. Is $900,000 per inmate worth it to US taxpayers?
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Why no sign of 'sequester' cuts in perky April jobs report?
Economic doom and gloom were supposed to follow the 'sequester' cuts in federal spending, but there's no evidence in the April jobs report that the labor market has been hurt. Just wait, warn some economists.
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Where do things stand at Guantánamo? Six basic questions answered.
President Obama this week pledged to “reengage” with Congress to find a way to close the terror detention camp at the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, naval base. The renewed focus comes as 100 of the 166 detainees are reported to be engaged in a hunger strike. Here is a brief look at where things stand now.
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USA Update Top general: 5 bad habits for the Pentagon to fix (+video)
The Pentagon has not had to do any serious belt-tightening for years, and Gen. Martin Dempsey, the nation's top military officer, says some budget discipline could be beneficial.
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Colbert Busch trades jabs with Sanford in S.C. debate
During tonight's debate, Stephen Colbert's sister, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, criticized ex-Gov. Mark Sanford's policies as a member of Congress. Mr. Sanford pointed out that she contributed to his post-congressional campaign for governor, so "I don't think it must have bothered her that much."
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Pentagon budget woes: furlough civilians, buy tanks you don't want
Once again, the Pentagon wants to scrap a weapon – in this case, the Abrams tank – that Congress has an interest in preserving. But with 'sequester' cuts, the tradeoff will be civilian furloughs.
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Air shows cancelled: Blue Angels, Thunderbirds grounded by sequester (+video)
Air shows cancelled: Automatic sequester budget cuts mean an end to the 2013 season for the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds. The real losers may be local economies benefitting from air shows.
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Lawmakers cancel FAA furloughs, flee Washington – by air
Air travelers breathed a sigh of relief after Congress passed quick legislation allowing the FAA to cancel furloughs for air traffic controllers. But that's just increased partisan sniping over the sequester and its across-the-board budget cuts.
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The New Economy Economy picks up, but still disappoints (+video)
GDP expanded at a 2.5 percent annual rate in the first quarter. Economists expect slowdown in GDP growth this summer as sequester takes hold, which already delayed air traffic briefly.
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Before members rush for airports, Congress ends sequester flight delays
Once again, the prospect of missing flights home helped Congress resolve a standoff, this time over sequester cuts that had furloughed air traffic controllers and caused flight delays this week.
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