Headlines
New GOP faces at the helm of 9 House committees
Republicans remain in charge of the House, but it won’t be the same Republicans leading many committees. Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, is poised to run the chamber for the fifth straight year, but nine committees are getting new heads, providing…
Obesity is not a curable condition
This is in response to the Dec. 29 editorial “Obesity as disability.” Obesity is not a “curable condition.” Class 3 (severe) obesity affects about 6 percent of U.S. adults. Anyone who has severe obesity or works with people who have…
Budget war looms for Obama, GOP
The federal budget is almost certain to be the central battleground between President Obama and the new Republican Congress in 2015. The GOP has vowed to use control of the House and Senate to slash the size of government, with…
Under Obama, red tape will be hot commodity for 2015
The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities calculates today’s spending mix as: defense and national security (19 percent); Social Security (24 percent); health care, including Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program and Obamacare (22 percent); other public assistance programs, including…
Repairing the middle class in 2015
What is curious about the present understandable preoccupation with the middle class is the assumption — both explicit and implicit — that the system is “rigged” (to use Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s favorite term) against this vast constituency of Americans. In…
CBO’s 2014 Long-Term Projections for Social Security: Additional Information
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released a new (December 2014) report with long-term projections for Social Security. In the report, the CBO projects that under current law, the DI trust fund will be exhausted in fiscal year 2017, and the…
A decision for “Make up your mind” day
On Dec. 31, the nation celebrates National Make Up Your Mind Day. The timing is perfect to coincide with those pesky New Year’s resolutions. Some decisions are big and you might need time to plan before you make up your…
Planning to Retire in 2015? Read This
For those whose 2015 calendar includes a retirement party, it’s time to get to work. Even for potential retirees who have spent years planning and saving, there’s a to-do list that needs attention to ensure finances are running smoothly. Before…
How to turn cheaper gas into retirement savings
The lowest gas prices in years isn’t only an opportunity for motorists to cut fuel costs — it’s also a chance to fill up your retirement savings. Indeed, although cheap gas can boost the U.S. economy as a whole, many…
Government Spent $29,000 Per US Household in 2014
Uncle Sam Spent $29,000 Per Household in 2014 New Heritage Foundation Study on Federal Spending Government Spending Over $3.5 Trillion Last Six Years Entitlements & Interest to Hit 85% of Spending in 2024 What is Driving the Growth in Entitlement…