Pew "Budget Challenge": Choose From Over 100 Spending And Tax Programs To Reduce National Debt

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Do the supercommittee's job for them . . .

from Ezra Klein (Wonkbook):

Pew Fiscal Analysis Initiative unveiled its "Budget Challenge": an online deficit-reduction calculator that lets you choose from almost every policy the supercommittee is known to be considering, and quite a few they're not. You may have used deficit calculators before, but probably not one this detailed. Pretty much the only thing you can't do is go back on the defense cuts in the trigger. That's such advanced budgetary work, even the wonks leave it to Congress.

Give it a try: http://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_report_detail.aspx?id=85899366327


also from Wonkbook . . .Supercommittee members could resort to gimmicks, reports Janet Hook: (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204323904577040392351066690.html)

"With Congress's deficit-reduction supercommittee barreling toward a deadline for striking a big budget deal, both parties are reaching for accounting gimmicks to help reach their target of $1.2 trillion in savings over 10 years. Some tools are familiar to old Washington hands, such as massaging budget assumptions and painting rosy economic scenarios. Others include taking credit for 'saving' money on wars that are ending and putting off until next year what lawmakers don't want to deal with now...Any perception of gimmickry could undermine the bill's credibility especially among tea-party conservatives and on Wall Street, possibly risking another hit to the U.S.'s credit rating...Both Democrats and Republicans have indicated willingness to change the baseline to assume the Bush tax rates are extended, with no impact on the deficit."

read more:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204323904577040392351066690.html

Wonkbook: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/wonkbook-supercommittee-sabotage/2011/11/16/gIQAfAm1QN_blog.html

[SheilaT]

1. I'm guessing that none of the

black budget, off the books things are there.

[jtown1123]

2. I don't see an option for repealing Bush tax cuts? Is it there?