Tax Policy Center

Debt Limit

Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Should We Eliminate the Extraordinary Measures?

You’ve probably heard that Treasury will hit the debt limit on October 17 and soon thereafter it won’t be able to pay all of America’s...
October 11, 2013Donald Marron
Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Latest House Debt Limit Plan Will Accomplish Nothing

Washington may be about to do what it does best--kick the can down the road. House Republicans have tentatively agreed on a plan to extend...
October 10, 2013Howard Gleckman
Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

It is Never Good When the U.S. Treasury Gets Compared to Brazil

The other day, I was talking to a guy who closely watches Washington for big foreign investors. Like most of us, his clients are struggling...
October 8, 2013Howard Gleckman
Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Actually, the United States Has Defaulted

Since the day of Alexander Hamilton, the United States has never defaulted on the federal debt. That’s what we budget-watchers always say. It’s a great...
October 4, 2013Donald Marron
Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Government Shutdowns Threaten To Become The New Normal

President Obama must continue to refuse to negotiate policy while the government is shut down. If he does not hold firm on this principle, these...
October 3, 2013Howard Gleckman
Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

It's Groundhog Day Over the Debt Ceiling

If you recently heard the news that Congress is debating the merits of raising the debt ceiling, don't think you have time-traveled back to 2011...
October 2, 2013William G. Gale
Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Could the GOP Boost Tax Reform By Adding the Idea to the Debt Limit?

House Republicans reportedly are considering several ways to add a framework for tax reform to legislation needed to increase the federal government’s borrowing authority. Could...
September 26, 2013Howard Gleckman
Individual Taxes: TaxVox

The Costs of Debt Limit Brinksmanship

Today I had the chance to testify before the Joint Economic Committee about a perennial challenge, the looming debt limit. Here are my opening remarks...
September 18, 2013Donald Marron
Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Is Obamacare the GOP’s White Whale?

“The White Whale swam before him as the monomaniac incarnation of all those malicious agencies which some deep men feel eating in them…All that most...
September 17, 2013Howard Gleckman
Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Tax Reform Bumps Into More Political Reality

If Congress is going to reform the tax code, it will take an enormous amount of hard work and a lot of luck. The stars,...
June 13, 2013Howard Gleckman