Topic: National Debt
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Opinion 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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If not 'sequester,' then what? Five ideas from left and right.
Few in Washington believe that "the sequester,” $85 billion in automatic spending cuts set to hit the federal budget as of March 1, is a good idea. But what's the alternative? Here are five proposals, from the right, the center, and the left, to replace the sequester. Which do you like?
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What does the federal government do with your money? Take our taxes quiz.
It seems there’s no end of taxes – and of debate about what the federal government does with all the money it collects. Test your knowledge of America’s fiscal behavior!
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Opinion 6 ways to make tax reform happen
Here are six ideas that can guide Congress to a tax reform-deal that both parties should be able to live with – a deal that will raise necessary revenue and help pay down the debt.
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Pentagon's budget nightmare: How each branch would handle sequester cuts
With the threat of a mandatory, across-the-board series of cuts known as sequestration looming over the Pentagon, each of the services has begun its worst-case-scenario planning. Here is where the cuts stand now:
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Tax VOX With European elections, is austerity in the US doomed?
It's easy to look at European elections in France, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Denmark and see a massive rejection of fiscal austerity. Is that accurate, and what does it mean for proponents of austerity in the US?
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The Daily Reckoning Will austerity come to the US?
The United States may be headed for the same belt-tightening austerity that has caused an uproar across Europe. Done right, it could actually work.
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No government yet for Greece after Sunday's election
Voters sent a strong message of anger over austerity measures imposed by Greece's foreign lenders, but with no party in the majority a government has yet to be formed.
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Greece election results cause problems for bailout plans (+video)
Elections in Greece over the weekend saw both far-right and left-leaning politicians gain seats in parliament, setting up a fight over the country's economic future.
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The New Economy Is US a model for austerity-wary Europe?
Despite its sluggishness, the US economy is growing while Europe's is contracting. A rising number of policymakers blame Europe's austerity moves.
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The Monitor's View Finally, European debt crisis goes to the polls
Elections in France and Greece may help quell a rising sense of victimhood from this long euro crisis. Such popular sentiment is exactly what the European Union is meant to curb.
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Briefing Six 2012 races where the tea party counts
After playing kingmaker in the 2010 election cycle, the tea party movement is having a less prominent role in 2012. But its support or opposition could swing some key races and even determine whether Republicans win control of the Senate. Here are six US Senate contests where the tea party could make a difference.
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Stocks surge on strong US profits; Spain
The Dow jumped 194 points to close at 13115, its biggest gain in a month after promising signals about the profitability of US companies and a strong debt auction by Spain.
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Euro debt crisis: Is Spain the new Greece?
Spain has become the focal point for Europe's debt crisis. But Spain isn't Greece. It's better – and worse.
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Why the GOP loves to hate the Democrats' Buffett rule
For Republicans, the danger in disavowing the so-called Buffett rule, a tax hike on millionaires, is that Democrats can paint them as the party that protects the rich. But they believe they can prevail with voters by fighting it. Here's why.
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Stocks' worst day in 2012: Dow loses 213
The Dow slipped 213 to 12715, its biggest drop of the year and third triple digit loss in four days.
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Donald Marron A tax on high heels?
High heels can exert a heavy toll on the body, and are often uncomfortable and unsafe. Should they be taxed?
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Stocks fall to their worst week in 2012
The Dow fell 14 points to close at 13060 on fears that Spain may have trouble paying back its debt. The stock market suffered its worst week since December of last year.
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US stocks plunge; Dow down 124
US stocks suffered their worst losses in a month amid renewed worry over European debt. US stocks on the Dow lost 124 points to close at 13074.
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Marco Rubio & 9 likely Republican VP candidates
Too soon to start speculating about possible Republican vice-presidential candidates? Evidently not. Mitt Romney's rise to the level of presumptive presidential nominee seems to have given political writers and pundits the go-ahead to begin one of the favored handicapping contests in all of politics.
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Stocks rise on Apple dividend
The Dow rose 6 points to close at 13239 on a dividend from Apple, a deal for UPS and the promise of greater demand for U.S. Steel.
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Greek finance minister quits post to lead struggling Socialist party
Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos is resigning his cabinet post amid the ongoing debt crisis to lead the Socialist party in general elections this spring.
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Highway bill clears Senate, but GOP dissenters foreshadow House fight
Some senators challenged not just how to pay for a $109 billion highway bill, but also whether Washington should even continue its role financing the nation's roads, bridges, and ports.
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Biggest debt restructuring in history buys Greece only 'a bit of time'
Private investors agreed to write off 85.8 percent of Greece's private debt, but analysts warn that if Greece doesn't address underlying problems, the deal will not fix things for long.
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Stocks rise as Greece nears debt swap deal
The Dow gained 70 points to close at 12907 Thursday as Greece closed in on a deal to restructure its debt and avoid a default.
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The New Economy Greek default? It's already happening, debt deal or not.
Greek debt swap may not be a default technically speaking, but it's still a default. Holders of Greek debt and Greece's citizens are feeling its pinch.
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Greece's debt: What happens if deal fails?
Greece debt default looms if 75 percent of debt-holders don't go along with the negotiated restructuring plan. Even so, market reaction to a disorderly default on Greece's debt could be minimal.
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Stock market takes a dive, ending 2012 rally
Stock market suffered its biggest losses of the year Tuesday amid worries about the global economy and Greece. The Dow fell 203 points to close at at 12759 in its biggest drop since November.
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A hard landing for China? Six top economists weigh in.
China's economy grew 8.9 percent last quarter, the slowest pace in 2.5 years, and on Monday Premier Wen Jiabao cut the nation's growth target for 2012 to 7.5 percent, an eight-year low. Worries of a Chinese hard landing, defined as a sharp and sudden deceleration in growth, have gained momentum. However, China has been proactive in its efforts to prevent a hard landing. It has fine-tuned its policies to curb inflation, boost domestic consumption, and prevent a housing bubble. The Chinese government intervened heavily from 1989 to 1991 to cool its economy, causing real growth in gross domestic product to plunge to 4.1 percent in 1989, from 11.3 percent the previous year. It stepped in again in 1993. And some argue that this time around it's no different, and that the government knows exactly what it is doing. So we asked six top China analysts whether they saw a hard or soft landing scenario and what we should keep an eye on.
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Try, try again: Senate 'Gang of Six' hatching plan on US debt reduction
Congress punted last year on a plan for major US deficit and debt reduction. But the bipartisan 'Gang of Six' senators is back at it, crafting a blueprint they say will be ready for consideration even before Election 2012.
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