Rein in Deficits

The federal government usually runs an annual budget deficit, which is measured by the difference between the amount of money it spends and it receives in a given year. Each year’s deficit is added to the total amount the government owes to creditors, known as the national debt. ...More

In some instances it makes good economic sense to run a short-term deficit. But consistent and growing deficits and national debt can hurt the economy. Our Constitution mandates that Congress pass a federal budget every year. It is up to Congress to cut spending and raise revenue in order to stop running a deficit year after year. Over the next few years, lawmakers must begin reducing the national debt and put in place a credible long-term plan to keep the federal budget in balance.

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All the latest content from TCS in Rein in Deficits
Our Take

Organizational Review of the Office of the Secretary of Defense

September 17, 2013

Organizational Review of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter have instituted a review of the organization of the Office of... Read More

Letters & Testimony

Taxpayers Cannot Afford a $1 Trillion Farm Bill

September 11, 2013

Taxpayers Cannot Afford a $1 Trillion Farm Bill Today, TCS sent a letter urging the House to reject a new trillion dollar farm bill and instead enact a short-term extension.... Read More

Our Take

It’s Been a Busy Summer!

August 09, 2013

It’s Been a Busy Summer! It’s been a busy summer! So far, we’ve been instrumental in exposing corporate subsidies in the farm bill. We gained ground in our fight... Read More

Our Take

Senate Finance Subcommittee Discusses Energy Tax Reform

August 01, 2013

Senate Finance Subcommittee Discusses Energy Tax Reform The Senate Committee on Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure met Wednesday, July 31 to discuss the... Read More

Our Take

Big Oil Continues to Receive Billions in Taxpayer Subsidies While Profits Soar

July 30, 2013

Big Oil Continues to Receive Billions in Taxpayer Subsidies While Profits Soar As midyear profit results are released this week, the oil and gas industry is asserting itself once more as one of the most lucrative and... Read More

Our Take

Important Cuts Fail & Wasteful Subsidies Hang On in House Energy & Water Bill

July 12, 2013

Important Cuts Fail & Wasteful Subsidies Hang On in House Energy & Water Bill Late Wednesday night the House wrapped up debate on the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2014. Several... Read More

More in-depth material from TCS in Rein in Deficits
Policy Brief

Bringing Sequester in for a Landing: Congress on Verge of Avoiding FAA Furloughs with Budget Gimmicks

April 25, 2013

Bringing Sequester in for a Landing: Congress on Verge of Avoiding FAA Furloughs with Budget Gimmicks Update (9:03 pm): The Senate has gone with option 1 (see below), allowing for the transfer of $250 million from the Airport Improvement... Read More

Fact Sheet

Path to Trillion Dollar Farm Bills

March 04, 2013

Path to Trillion Dollar Farm Bills Not only have recent farm bills come in significantly over-budget, but they have also doubled in cost over the past decade. ... Read More

Policy Brief

Taxpayer Subsidies for Small Modular Reactors

February 27, 2013 > Updated: July 25, 2013

Taxpayer Subsidies for Small Modular Reactors The Department of Energy (DOE) is asking Congress to provide hundreds of millions in subsidies to commercialize small modular nuclear... Read More

Policy Brief

Energy Tax Breaks Catch Ride on Fiscal Cliff Train

January 03, 2013

Energy Tax Breaks Catch Ride on Fiscal Cliff Train At the 11th hour lawmakers and the White House agreed to a deal on the fiscal cliff. While the deal was crafted to address urgent tax hikes... Read More

TCS appearances in the media in Rein in Deficits

Ky. Sen. Mitch McConnell Faces Hard Choices on Spending

September 16, 2013 | USA Today

WASHINGTON — As Congress faces a potential meltdown over the budget and spending, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is staring at tough... Read More

Q&A: The Lowdown on the Shutdown, or Why You Should Care About the CR

September 13, 2013 | CNN

Washington (CNN) -- In less than a month, the government may shut down. Lines are being drawn. Vacations are being canceled. Friends are... Read More

Congress’ Massive To-Do List

September 11, 2013 | U.S. News & World Report

Congress came back to town this week and there is plenty to do in the brief time both chambers are in session during September. First,... Read More

House Panel May Unveil CR Today

September 10, 2013 | Federal Times

The House Appropriations Committee will release the text of a continuing resolution as early as Tuesday, with the full House scheduled to... Read More

Obama and the GOP Hawks

September 10, 2013 | National Review Online

By all accounts, President Obama’s efforts to lobby Congress in support of military intervention in Syria are going poorly. Perhaps most... Read More

Weekly Wastebasket

Our weekly reality-check for federal spending. View All

September 13, 2013

Syria: Excuse 535 To Not Cut the Deficit

Volume XVIII No. 37 Possible action in Syria has become the most recent excuse du jour for Pentagon boosters... Read More