FISCAL BLOG

The cost and quality of the U.S. healthcare system is one of the most prominent issues facing everyday Americans. It is a top policy concern for voters, a key indicator of economic efficiency, and a significant driver of the national debt.

Americans and the economy are vulnerable to a series of high-stakes fiscal deadlines, with an uncertain path forward.

If the president and Congress are unable to come to an agreement on the amount of the budget caps, they will risk either a harmful government shutdown or a potential automatic across-the-board cancellation of budgetary resources.

This year’s report demonstrates why lawmakers should focus their attention toward improving our nation’s debt path as soon as possible.

The primary deficit excludes interest payments, thereby measuring the gap between all other spending and total revenues collected.

The deficit is projected to reach $1 trillion this year, according to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which released its annual mid-session review on Friday.

The words debt and deficit come up frequently in debates and conversations about the policy decisions that lawmakers face. The two concepts are similar, but are often confused.

The United States leads the world in an unfortunate category: the pace of growth in its debt.