government spending

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DC Deficit Fixer: Print on Both Sides of Paper

$102M in painfully obvious cuts shows how outdated gov't is

(Newser) - A short while ago, President Obama called on his Cabinet to make budget cuts in their departments totaling $100 million. They came up with $102 million, but some of the cuts were so obvious one wonders why it took a presidential edict to elicit them, the Wall Street Journal notes....

It's Too Soon for Feds to Ease Up on Economy
It's Too Soon for Feds to Ease Up on Economy
OPINION
Jun 15, 2009 9:42 AM CDT

It's Too Soon for Feds to Ease Up on Economy

If Washington cuts off the cash, recession will worsen: Krugman

(Newser) - With critics prematurely calling on Washington to scale back financial rescue efforts, economic history fans see “déjà vu all over again,” writes Paul Krugman in the New York Times. This is the third time a major economy has been stuck in a liquidity trap, and both previous...

Don't Let 'Waste' Taunts Prompt More Waste
Don't Let 'Waste' Taunts Prompt More Waste
OPINION
May 14, 2009 9:01 AM CDT

Don't Let 'Waste' Taunts Prompt More Waste

Obama shouldn't scrap chopper deal just to appease McCain

(Newser) - Fearful of appearing wasteful, the Defense Department wants to dump a contract for new presidential helicopters and start fresh—but that means losing $4 billion already spent on the project. It’s the same old story when it comes to “wasteful procurement,” writes Gail Collins in the New ...

Iowans (Mostly) Still Smile on Obama

Residents support president's efforts, fear over-spending and Afghanistan

(Newser) - Iowa, arguably the state that launched Barack Obama on his path to the presidency, will always be a "special place" for him, says press chief Robert Gibbs. And the feeling is—mostly—mutual, Politico reports. Obama enjoys a 64% statewide approval rating, and Iowans are reviving their Obama for...

Obama Asks Workers How to Curb Spending

(Newser) - President Obama appealed to federal workers today to propose ways to make their agencies' and departments' budgets more efficient. The president said employees' ideas would be key as his Cabinet officials cut millions from the federal budget and trim the deficit. "After all, Americans across the country know that...

Opinion on 'Tea Parties' Split Down Party Lines

(Newser) - Evaluations of the effectiveness of yesterday’s anti-tax “tea parties” are split predictably down partisan lines, Chris Cillizza writes for the Washington Post. Republicans touted the protests, which brought out tens of thousands and garnered major media coverage, as a success. “I think something is going on out...

Why Waste Tea When Taxes Are Going Down?

(Newser) - Want to get in on the fun and excitement of the anti-Obama Taxpayer Tea Party? Here’s how, writes Marc Cooper in the Los Angeles Times: “Go to a hobby store. Buy a scale model of a UN One-World-Government Black Helicopter and a tube of glue. Toss the model...

Tax-Day 'Tea Parties' Test Aversion to Obama Spending

Tens of thousands set to attend nationwide demonstrations

(Newser) - Fiscal conservatives across the country will reenact Revolutionary history today with tea parties in every state to protest taxes and increased spending, ABC News reports. Tens of thousands are registered to attend in major cities, testing whether anti-Obama budget sentiment, which has picked up steam on the Internet, with help...

Stimulus Sours Obama's European Honeymoon

US urges more spending; EU focused on regulation

(Newser) - European leaders’ love affair with President Obama has hit its first snag: Obama is pushing Europe to spend more to battle the financial crisis, while Europe would prefer to focus on stricter regulation, the Los Angeles Times reports. “The Americans should be more modest about giving lessons, because the...

GOP Guvs Right to See Stimulus Cash as 'Trap'
GOP Guvs Right to See Stimulus Cash as 'Trap'
OPINION
Feb 23, 2009 8:40 AM CST

GOP Guvs Right to See Stimulus Cash as 'Trap'

Say law is a 'budget trap' that will hook them on more spending

(Newser) - Five Republican governors are threatening to turn down much of their stimulus windfall, afraid of taking addictive doses of spending on education, welfare, and health care that the states would have to shoulder in 2011 and beyond. And they're right to worry, the Wall Street Journal says. Take enrolling new...

Obama Plans to Slash Deficit by 2013
Obama Plans
to Slash Deficit by 2013
Feb 21, 2009 10:33 PM CST

Obama Plans to Slash Deficit by 2013

Goal hinges on Iraqi withdrawal, letting Bush's tax cuts lapse

(Newser) - Having proved he can get the government to pony up $787 billion to stimulate the economy, President Obama will now attempt to highlight his frugal side. Obama will unveil a budget Thursday that aims to cut the deficit—which could climb to $1.9 trillion in 2009—to $533 million...

Don't Like the Stimulus? Don't Take the Cash
Don't Like the Stimulus? Don't Take the Cash 
OPINION
Feb 16, 2009 2:21 PM CST

Don't Like the Stimulus? Don't Take the Cash

Opponents can be 'guinea pigs' for alternate plans: Begala

(Newser) - Here’s a clear way for political leaders to oppose spending in the stimulus package: “refuse to take the money,” Paul Begala writes for CNN. Case in point: South Carolina’s governor, who opposes the plan, shouldn’t help his struggling state with federal cash. Instead, he can...

Gleeful Brown Is Acting Like a Drunk Dowager

Brits' PM 'swanks' and 'preens,' but the economy is his fault

(Newser) - Gordon Brown, "known as a gloomy old nail-biting misery-guts," has turned into the life of the party ever since the economic downturn hit Britain, writes Boris Johnson in the Telegraph. Deeming that the swooning market and plummeting home prices demand action, he's gleefully launched measures that will incur...

US Infrastructure Is a 'Bridge to Almost Nowhere'

Infrastructure spending is critical, but not on bridges to nowhere

(Newser) - Recently the House passed an $18 billion infrastructure bill, and Barack Obama has indicated that he'll ask for billions more in spending to create jobs while improving the nation's roads and bridges. But as New York Times columnist David Leonhardt writes, insufficient investment is only part of the problem. At...

China Unveils Massive $586B Stimulus Bill

Beijing focuses on boosting infrastructure, social welfare

(Newser) - China announced a $586 billion stimulus package today in its biggest move to stop the global financial crisis from hitting the world's fourth-largest economy. A statement on the government's website said China's Cabinet had approved a plan to invest the money in infrastructure and social welfare by the end of...

GM-Chrysler Inch Closer to Deal
 GM-Chrysler Inch Closer to Deal 
Oct 29, 2008 1:57 PM CDT

GM-Chrysler Inch Closer to Deal

Merger would create world's largest automaker

(Newser) - General Motors and Chrysler have ironed out the major issues in their proposed merger, bringing the troubled giants a step closer to becoming the world's largest automaker. The deal's final form will depend on financing and government support—of which GM is requesting $10 billion—but both companies agree GM...

Enough about the Deficit: It's Time to Spend
Enough about the Deficit: It's Time to Spend
OPINION
Oct 17, 2008 10:32 AM CDT

Enough about the Deficit: It's Time to Spend

The Fed can't help much, but the government can

(Newser) - Volatile markets rule the headlines, but the imperiled nonfinancial economy is more worrisome, Paul Krugman writes in the New York Times. The way to get that rolling again, contrary to what John McCain said in Wednesday’s presidential debate, is to ignore the deficit and increase government spending. As retail...

$16K on Flowers Accents Pelosi's Spending Spree

New speaker's $3M outlay doubles her GOP predecessor's

(Newser) - Nancy Pelosi spent 63% more in her first nine months as House speaker than Dennis Hastert did over the same period last year—including $16,000 on flowers, the Hill reports. Republicans said the $3 million figure gave the lie to Democrats’ promises of fiscal responsibility; Pelosi aides say the...

A Buck on Lobbying Rakes in $28
A Buck on Lobbying Rakes in $28
Sep 11, 2007 6:55 PM CDT

A Buck on Lobbying Rakes in $28

Critics say that spending 'earmarks' only 'about politics'

(Newser) - Mystery solved: companies rake in about $28 for every dollar spent lobbying Capitol Hill, BusinessWeek reports. According to the numbers, it's military contractors that get the most spending "earmarks" slipped into bills by lawmakers. But recent scandals over the system have prompted Bush and Pelosi to call for cuts...

States Discover, Spend Surpluses
States Discover, Spend Surpluses
Jun 11, 2007 11:15 AM CDT

States Discover, Spend Surpluses

Embarrassment of riches will benefit education, gay rights, or just make tax cuts

(Newser) - Oversized tax collection has left state governments with unexpected funds to dole out, and newly Democratic governments are working some big-government swagger. The Times reports that more than 40 states have deeper coffers than budgeted, and new money is going to local initiatives in education, health care and gay rights—...

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