C. Eugene Steuerle's Blog: The Government We Deserve, page 3

How Norms and Laws Might Further Limit Executive Branch Influence Over Investigations

Recent stories in the news raise important questions about the ability of government to impose constraints on abusive government investigations. I’m not here to judge the credibility of the allegations that President Trump used his office to encourage foreign governments to investigate Joe Biden’s son or that a Treasury Department official interfered with audits of […]

Multi-Trillion Dollar Fiscal and Monetary Gambles

Under pressure from President Trump and worried about a worldwide economic slowdown, the Federal Reserve recently cut short-term interest rates. By continuing to push rates down, the Fed may be doubling down on a $25 trillion gamble with future costs yet to be covered. At the same time, the Trump Administration reportedly is considering tax […]

How Much State Spending Is On Autopilot?

This column was co-authored with Tracy Gordon and Megan Randall and was first published on Tax Vox. In his 2005 State of the State address, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sounded like he was being chased by the new Terminator T1000: It is on automatic pilot. It is accountable to no one. Where will it all […]

The SECURE Act Falls Far Short Of Enhancing Retirement Security

This column first appeared on TaxVox. Congress seems about ready to pass a package of about 28 retirement and pension plan changes the House calls the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act. This bill demonstrates bipartisanship, generally good policy, and a willingness to finance its tax cuts with some offsetting tax increases, […]

Can One Think Charitably About The Bryce Harper Deal?

This column first appeared on TaxVox. As a long-time baseball fan, I’m happy that my office moved closer to the Washington Nationals ballpark, where I expect to take in more games this year. But I’ll do so with some misgivings, in part because of how the Nationals and their former star Bryce Harper missed an […]

Alice Rivlin: The George Washington of the Congressional Budget Office

On June 21, the family and friends of Alice Rivlin joined with much of Washington’s public policy community to celebrate her life and extraordinary public service. This note represents only a small addition to the outpouring of tributes made to her. This column first appeared on TaxVox. Alice Rivlin, who passed away on May 14, […]

How Government Tax And Transfer Policy Promotes Wealth Inequality

Federal tax and spending policies are worsening the problem of economic inequality. But the tax breaks that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy are only part of the challenge. The increasing diversion of government spending toward income supports and away from opportunity-building programs also is undermining social comity and, ironically, locking in wealth inequality. Many flawed tax […]

My New Year’s Greeting: Thanks for Being You

Happy New Year to all of you. And thanks, once again, for renewing my hope in our future.

The Legacy of George H.W. Bush: Some Further Notes

“For where the rewards of virtue are greatest, there the noblest citizens are enlisted in the service of the state.” – Pericles’s Funeral Oration, as told by Thucydides At least from the time of ancient Athens to this day, we extol the virtuous actions of those who have died, less as a tribute to them—after […]

Regulation, Kavanaugh, Trump & the Indexing of Capital Gains

Remember that the best way to avoid bad regulation or rule making is to avoid bad law making.