Topic: U.S. Office of Management and Budget

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Opinion 6 ways to avoid the 'fiscal cliff'

Republican congressional leaders and President Obama sharply disagree over how to deal with the impending “fiscal cliff.” But a successful plan shouldn’t be that hard to put in place. Here are six ways Washington can avoid the “fiscal cliff.”

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Social Security proposal from Obama: How would it affect you?

'Chained CPI,' a leading idea for how to keep Social Security solvent for the decades ahead, is part of President Obama's budget proposal. Here's what it would mean for benefits.
Decoder Wire Obama 5% of salary: He'll give it back, in sign of 'sequester' solidarity

Obama 5% of salary will be returned as a tribute to federal workers facing furloughs under the sequester. That's $20,000 – a big chunk for most people, but for the president, not so much.
Life after 'sequester': Does federal budget have $1 trillion in fat to cut?

Deficit hawks say that, 'sequester' or not, federal spending needs to come down by at least $1 trillion during the next decade. But finding that money just in government waste is hard.
Tax VOX Spending cuts: five reasons allowing sequestration is bad policy

Spending cuts will begin to automatically take effect in two weeks, Harris writes, and allowing the sequester's automatic spending cuts to happen would be terrible policy.
Donald Marron The balanced budget amendment's $300 billion error

The Senate Republicans balanced budget amendment contains a striking error, Marron writes.
Energy Voices USPS ends Saturday letter delivery. How much fuel will it save?

USPS owns and operates the world's largest civilian vehicle fleet, paying $1 billion a year for fuel. Ending Saturday letter delivery will help cut those costs, but the savings for the USPS are less than you might expect.
Jacob Lew: Is 'safe' choice for Treasury also a good choice? (+video)

Jacob Lew is valued by Obama as a Beltway numbers guy able to endure high-stakes budget fights. But some critics worry he won't tackle fast-rising debt. And the Treasury job could demand big duties beyond fiscal strategizing.
Energy Voices Jack Lew, picked for Treasury post, has ties to energy (+video)

Jack Lew may be best known for budgetary finesse, but President Obama's pick for the next Treasury secretary has experience in the energy world. Would the energy industry have an ally in Jack Lew?
Obama expected to nominate Jack Lew as Treasury secretary

The President's chief of staff has an extensive background in government work that includes running the Office of Management and Budget.
Opinion 6 ways to avoid the 'fiscal cliff'

Republican congressional leaders and President Obama sharply disagree over how to deal with the impending “fiscal cliff.” But a successful plan shouldn’t be that hard to put in place. Here are six ways Washington can avoid the “fiscal cliff.”
Why Pentagon won't say how it would cut $55 billion starting Jan. 1

The Pentagon may finally be planning for dreaded spending cuts set to take effect in the new year, though it is mum on any specifics. It wants Congress to come up with a different solution to US deficit spending.
Great expectations for US economy: Are Obama, Romney too optimistic?

Mitt Romney and President Obama both present to voters rosy views of future economic growth. Those scenarios aren't impossible, but it's fair to attach some big asterisks to them.
Presidential debate 101: Does Romney want extra $2 trillion for Pentagon?

Romney's call for Pentagon spending to be no less than 4 percent of GDP could add $2 trillion to its budget. But Obama's claim that this is money the military doesn't want misses a key issue: civilian control.
Everything you need to know about budget 'sequestration' – except the consequences

The White House has reported on the $1.2 trillion in automatic budget cuts that are part of last year's debt ceiling deal. But how the cuts will impact individual programs remains unclear.
Two health groups sue US for failure on food safety

In the wake of numerous food-borne illness outbreaks this year, two health and environment organization are suing the federal government for failing to protect the food supply.
Rover Curiosity is a star, but can it help fund future of Mars exploration?

The steady stream of enticing photographs from the rover Curiosity may be wowing scientists and the public, but NASA is facing serious budgetary constraints on the future of Mars exploration.
Dreaded sequester looming, Congress demands White House identify cuts

In a rare, nearly unanimous vote, the House and Senate called on the Obama administration to itemize within 30 days what, exactly, the $109 billion in mandated spending cuts will affect Jan. 1.
Opinion Bring back the American Dream? It’s not that hard.

The problem isn't lack of knowledge on what to do, but partisan arguments that ignore common-sense consensus. America needs an activist government and individual responsibility. It needs immediate job creation, and over the long term, debt reduction and stronger families.
Romney begins search for running mate

There will be no Sarah Palin or Dan Quayle-like surprises from Romney's VP, sources say.
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.
Opinion Beyond Obamacare: 5 opinions on health care reform

Health care reform remains a contentious issue in the United States. The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of President Obama's health care law, the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. But some Republicans, like presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, hope to repeal the law under the next Congress. Here, writers explore five key aspects of health-care reform.
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.
Is NASA giving up on Mars? (+video)

NASA's 2013 budget includes deep cuts to its planetary science mission, particularly its efforts to send spacecraft to Mars. Instead, the space agency will focus on human spaceflight and infrared astronomy. Is NASA now heading down the wrong path?
Obama to slash NASA budget. Will space exploration suffer?

NASA’s planetary science division would shoulder a heavy share of the cut. Under the president’s proposal, its budget would drop from $1.5 billion to $1.2 billion, a 20 percent reduction.
Mitch Daniels State of the Union rebuttal makes GOP wonder: 'What if?'

Mitch Daniels was seen as a potential challenger to President Obama until he opted out of running last year. After his rebuttal of Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday, some GOP elites are openly longing for a Mitch Daniels candidacy.