Online Chat on Taxmageddon and the Buffett Rule

Taxmegeddon is coming. No, it’s not April 15th, but in 2013, there will be massive tax increases that will raise taxes by $494 billion. Does President Obama want to talk about that?  No. Just as he doesn’t want to talk about the deficit, or gas prices, or Obamacare.  Instead, President Obama gave a press conference  about his so-called “Buffett Rule” that will raise taxes on the wealthiest people. Join us on Friday, April 13 from 12-1 ET for our “Lunch with Heritage” online chat. We will be joined by J.D. Foster … More

New Study Shows Obamacare’s Huge Additions to Federal Deficit

A study released today by Charles Blahous, one of two public trustees of Medicare and Social Security, once again shows that Obamacare increases federal deficits and significantly worsens the nation’s fiscal outlook. According to the study’s most optimistic scenario, the health law will increase federal spending by $1.16 trillion and increase the deficit by $346 billion between 2012 and 2021. The worst case—and most realistic—scenario: an increase in spending of $1.24 trillion and $527 billion in new deficits. Obamacare’s failure to reverse the federal government’s abysmal financial situation is not … More

Obama Stumbles While Stepping Back on Supreme Court Comments

Although the Supreme Court Justices are tight-lipped, most everyone else has condemned President Obama for the attack he launched at the judiciary on Monday.  Even the Washington Post editorialized that “the comments strayed perilously close to a preemptive strike on the court’s legitimacy.” On Monday, Obama – who often is described as a former professor of constitutional law –  made comments that demonstrated little knowledge of the concept of judicial review, while demonstrating great contempt for proper separation of powers.  Obama stated that to find his administration-defining health insurance legislation … More

President Obama Accuses Bill Clinton of ‘Thinly Veiled Social Darwinism’

By Daniel J. Mitchell

Actually, Bill Clinton must be something even worse than a social Darwinist. That’s because the title of this post is wrong. Obama said that Paul Ryan’s plan (which allows spending to grow by an average of 3.1 percent per year over the next decade) is a form of “social Darwinism.” But the proposal from the [...]

President Obama Accuses Bill Clinton of ‘Thinly Veiled Social Darwinism’ is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog

Senators Speak Out Against President’s Whispers

“On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this—this can be solved, but it’s important for him to give me space,” stated President Obama during his recent conversation with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The President’s comments have caused quite a stir, since they imply his willingness to further give in to Russia’s demands after the election. This week, a group of Republican Senators led by Senator Jon Kyl (R–AZ) penned a letter objecting to the President’s indications that he might favor Russian concerns over his duty to defend Americans against … More

Definition of a Mic Gaffe: Politician Telling the Truth

On August 11, 1984, President Ronald Reagan joked over a “hot” mic, “My fellows Americans, I am pleased to tell you today that I have signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.” It was a joke, but we all knew it masked a serious truth. Reagan had declared on more than one occasion that the Soviet Union was a grave threat to freedom and security—only the year before he had declared it the “evil empire.” President’s Obama’s now-infamous “flexibility” gaffe ought to be seen … More

U.S. President Willing to Give in to Russia’s Missile Defense Demands

The United States does not need to protect itself from a threat of ballistic missiles. At least that is what President Obama suggests in his recent exchange with Dmitry Medvedev, president of the Russian Federation, during the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul. “On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this can be solved but it’s important for him [incoming president Vladimir Putin] to give me space,” stated President Obama. “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility,” he continued. These comments should come as … More

ObamaCare Supporters, Be Warned: This May Sting a Little

By Michael F. Cannon

Cato has now posted my remarks from last week’s “Obamacare in the Supreme Court” conference: The full conference will be available here soon. ObamaCare Supporters, Be Warned: This May Sting a Little is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog

ObamaCare Supporters, Be Warned: This May Sting a Little is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog

Podcast: ObamaCare’s Most Unconstitutional Provision Isn’t the Mandate. It’s IPAB.

By Michael F. Cannon

My latest podcast, “IPAB: ObamaCare’s Next Constitutional Hurdle.” Podcast: ObamaCare’s Most Unconstitutional Provision Isn’t the Mandate. It’s IPAB. is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog

Podcast: ObamaCare’s Most Unconstitutional Provision Isn’t the Mandate. It’s IPAB. is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog

The Numbers Are in, and the Buffett Rule Comes Up Short

President Obama’s infamous “Buffett Rule,” which would set a 30 percent minimum effective tax rate for families and businesses with incomes greater than $1 million, would raise a paltry $47 billion over 10 years according to a recent report by the Joint Committee on Taxation. During that same timeframe, President Obama’s budget would ring up an additional $6.7 trillion in new debt on the national credit card. That would leave the national debt at 76.5 percent of the economy in 2022. And that assumes $2 trillion of higher revenue—not including … More