This week on Off the Charts, we discussed the economy, why President Bush’s tax cuts for high-income households should expire on schedule, the tough budget choices states are making, Social Security, and the health reform law.
- On the tax cuts for high-income households, Chuck Marr explained how extending the tax cuts may exacerbate a stunning shift in income away from the middle class and towards the highest-income people in the country over the last three decades. We also posted a joint op-ed from Robert Greenstein, the Center’s executive director, and John Podesta, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, on why the tax cuts should expire on schedule.
- On the state level, Elizabeth McNichol explained why most states have rejected a cuts-only approach to addressing budget shortfalls. McNichol also sat down with us to discuss why the state budget crisis continues even though some states are reporting year-end surpluses.
- On Social Security, we showcased a new report from our colleague Kathy Ruffing outlining the program’s outlook over the short and long term.
- Lastly, on health reform, we highlighted a recent opinion piece on an element of the Affordable Care Act: a new insurance program for long-term care. Paul Van de Water is one of the authors.
In other news, the Center released a podcast on why the state budget crisis continues even though some states are reporting year-end surpluses. Find it on iTunes here.