Restoring America’s Future: Bipartisan Policy Center’s Plan to Revive the Economy and Improve Our Long Term Fiscal Outlook
Statement by Michael A. Peterson, Vice Chairman of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, on the Report by the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Debt Reduction Task Force
“The report released today by the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Debt Reduction Task Force is another blueprint that demonstrates that America can succeed in overcoming its long-term fiscal challenges. The report represents another example of how both parties can come together to develop and agree on a comprehensive solution that puts our nation on a sustainable fiscal path.
“Proposals such as these, which put everything on the table, help foster a greater national dialogue about how we can get our fiscal house in order and preserve economic opportunities for future generations of Americans. We hope that this report will be one of a range of bipartisan, sensible proposals that we consider as a country. Addressing our fiscal challenges, while promoting economic recovery and preserving important programs for our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, should be the national imperative at this critical time.”
Report Analysis
By: Jon Quinn
November 19, 2010
On Wednesday, November 17, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) released the report, “Restoring America’s Future,” the final product of its Debt Reduction Task Force. The Task Force is co-chaired by former Senator Pete Domenici and former director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Alice Rivlin. The plan is a comprehensive budget reform proposal that aims to balance the budget and stabilize the debt at 60 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2020. It does so by addressing all aspects of federal spending and modifying the tax code to raise additional revenue.
The BPC proposal is the first in a series of reports that will be released over the next several months that examines different ways to bring the budget back into balance and reduce the country’s mounting debt burden. The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (“President’s Commission”), on which Alice Rivlin also serves, is due to report on December 1st. The proposal from its co-chairs (or the “Chairmen’s Mark”) was released on November 10. Bill Galston and Maya McGuineas (of the Brookings Institution and the New America Foundation, respectively), have also put together a comprehensive plan. See the table below for a comparison of the BPC Fiscal Plan to the Chairmen’s Mark.
Bipartisan Policy Center | Co-Chairs’ Proposal | |
Goal | Balance primary budget (excluding interest cost) by 2014, stabilize debt relative to the size of the economy by 2020 | Balance primary budget by 2015, stabilize debt by 2014 |
Discretionary Spending | Short-term freeze in new, annual funds, then funding grows each year at rate of GDP (economic) growth | Cuts through 2015, then funding growth capped at price growth (inflation) from 2015-2020. This would be a slower rate of growth than GDP growth. |
Mandatory Spending | ||
Social Security |
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Medicare |
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Medicaid |
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Convert portion of the program from open-ended entitlement to a block grant or a fixed payment to the states |
Other Health | Medical malpractice reform | |
Phase out the exclusion of employer health care from employees’ taxable income | Cap exclusion of employer health care from employees’ taxable income | |
Other Mandatory |
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Revenues | ||
Personal Income Tax | Eliminate most deductions and simplify those that remain | |
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Corporate Income Tax | Eliminate most tax deductions and simplify those that remain | |
Reduce rate to 27 percent | Single rate (at different levels for the different options) | |
Other Taxes |
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Process Reforms |
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About the Bipartisan Policy Center:
The Bipartisan Policy Center was founded in 2007 by former Senators Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell. It is dedicated to developing policy solutions to critical national issues that appeal to both sides of the partisan divide. They aim to develop policy initiatives that can garner popular and political support and that will represent a centrist perspective on issues. The work of the Debt Reduction Task Force was partially supported by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.
Further Reading
Top 10 Reasons Why the National Debt Matters
At $36 trillion and rising, the national debt threatens America’s economic future. Here are the top ten reasons why the national debt matters.
What Are Refundable Tax Credits?
The cost of refundable tax credits has grown over the past several years, with the number and budgetary impact of the credits increasing.
Three Reasons Why Assuming Sustained 3% Growth is a Budget Gimmick
Lawmakers are reportedly counting on 3 percent economic growth for the next decade. Here are three key reasons why that is an irresponsible budget gimmick.