"The draft proposal issued Wednesday by the co-chairmen of President Obama's deficit reduction panel has both strengths and weaknesses," Heritage Foundation vice president Mike Gonzalez reports. Heritage economist Alison Fraser outlines some of these strengths and weaknesses in a new report. She lauds the plan for "lay[ing] out some tough choices for cutting spending" and avoiding a value-added tax. But while it does address runaway spending on entitlement programs, if imperfectly, the plan leaves Obamacare in place and proposes massive tax increases and irresponsible defense cuts. Our experts have advised the new Congress to immediately freeze and cut spending as a way to get our nation's finances in order. Heritage's Brian Riedl recently offered up a plan to easily cut $343 billion from the federal budget. Fraser, who directs Heritage's Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, also warns that "changes this important—and necessarily bold—should be given every consideration and not be crammed through by a lame duck Congress." What do you think? Will the Deficit Commission be successful cutting our soaring national debt? Post your comments here » -- Nathaniel Ward From the Comments: How to Respond to the Obama Tax Hikes In the comments on our new myHeritage site yesterday, Heritage member Robert Orsino asked us to help him respond to liberal misinformation from groups like MoveOn.org: | The latest being wide spread is against extending the Bush tax cut giving the following reason— "most economists agree that the top 2%—the richest folks who the Republicans are going to bat for—don't spend this money, meaning this tax giveaway doesn't have any stimulative effect on the economy." Do you have any facts rebutting this claim that I can use in my response? | | The Heritage Foundation has been responding to liberal distortions about the effect of tax cuts for years. Our experts have produced a point-by-point rebuttal of common liberal myths about what reducing marginal tax rates does and doesn't accomplish. An analysis by Heritage's Center for Data Analysis concluded that President Obama's proposal to impose new taxes on the wealthy would have several harmful effects: Continue Reading and post your comments here » Heritage Hosting Orientation for New Congressmen The Heritage Foundation's New Members Orientation seminar will take place later this month for newly elected Members of Congress. This conservative policy orientation will provide a comprehensive and informative overview of the key policy issues that new members of Congress will confront in the 112th session of Congress. The program will feature experts covering a wide range of issues including the need to cut spending, enhance our national security, health care reform, and restoring constitutional conservatism. Heritage Foundation experts and scholars will appear along with guests such as Ambassador John Bolton, CNBC anchor Larry Kudlow, Ambassador Paul Bremer, and author Amity Shlaes. What issues do you think Congress needs to address? Post your comments on myHeritage. |
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