Category Archives: Federal Budget

A first look at sequestration’s impact on Minnesota

It’s April in Minnesota, which means many of us are caught up in the budget discussions brewing at the state Capitol. However, at the federal level, policymakers’ inability to reach a deficit-reduction deal has triggered a series of across-the-board federal … Continue reading

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What’s at stake for low-income taxpayers in the fiscal cliff

I had the pleasure of speaking last week at an AccountAbility Minnesota public policy forum about what’s at stake for Minnesota’s low-income families in the federal and state tax policy debates. As you might expect, the fiscal cliff was a … Continue reading

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Minnesota stands to lose millions under federal deficit-reduction plan

If federal policymakers fail to put forward a balanced deficit-reduction plan that includes significant revenues, Minnesota’s schools, roads and bridges, and communities would be substantially harmed, with serious implications for the state’s economy. New analysis by the Center on Budget … Continue reading

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Extending all Bush tax cuts is the wrong way to go

Extending the expiring 2001 and 2003 federal tax cuts would give the largest tax benefits to the highest-income Minnesotans and is a relatively ineffective way to spur economic growth, a new report from Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ) finds. An … Continue reading

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President Obama’s proposed jobs bill would support jobs, economic growth in Minnesota

The American Jobs Act proposed by President Obama could create or support more than 26,000 jobs and inject at least $1.5 billion into Minnesota, according to estimates by the Obama Administration. Those jobs include teachers, police, firefighters, engineers, construction workers and more. … Continue reading

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Nobel laureates, leading economists oppose Balanced Budget Amendment to Constitution

Seven of the nation’s top economists, including five Nobel laureates, a former vice chair of the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors and a former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, have come out in opposition to a Balanced … Continue reading

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Join letter to Congress opposing Balanced Budget Amendment to Constitution

The fierce debate in Washington over how to reduce federal budget deficits has taken a dangerous new turn. Both the U.S. House and Senate are poised to vote as early as the week of July 18 on a Balanced Budget Amendment … Continue reading

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Responsible federal budget choices must recognize the true contributors to deficits

Many in Congress are pursuing a radical deficit reduction strategy that would lead to massive cuts in education, affordable housing, environmental protection, law enforcement, services for people with disabilities, and other vital services. Such cuts would have a severe impact on … Continue reading

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Deep cuts for education, housing, labor and health and human services in federal budget deal

A last-minute budget deal to avert a federal government shutdown on April 8 includes approximately $38 billion in spending cuts for the current fiscal year 2011 that ends on September 30. According to an analysis by the Washington Post, more than half … Continue reading

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Make your voice heard in support of a responsible and balanced approach to federal deficit reduction

Our nation is starting to recover from the longest and deepest recession since the Great Depression. Yet many Minnesotans are still struggling with unemployment, underemployment and rising costs for energy, housing, health care and other basic needs. Right now, President … Continue reading

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