Tax Loopholes Are Corrupt and Inefficient, but They Should only Be Eliminated if Every Penny of New Revenue Is Used to Lower Tax Rates

by Dan Mitchell | Nov 22, 2010 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Taxation

There’s been a lot of heated discussion about various preferences, deductions, credits, shelters, and other loopholes in the tax code. Some of this debate has revolved around whether it is legitimate to refer to these provisions as “tax expenditures” or “subsidies.”...

Co-Chairmen of Obama’s Fiscal Commission Unveil Real Tax Increases and Fake Spending Cuts

by Dan Mitchell | Nov 11, 2010 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Government Spending, Taxation

I have many pet peeves, but one that causes me endless frustration is the Washington “spending cut” scam. This happens when politicians increase spending, but claim that they’re cutting spending because they previously had planned to make government even bigger. The...

Here’s How to Balance the Budget

by Dan Mitchell | Oct 4, 2010 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Government Spending, Taxation

Our fiscal policy goal should be smaller government, but here’s a video for folks who think that balancing the budget should be the main objective. The main message is that restraining the growth of government is the right way to get rid of red ink, so there is no...