Conservatives want to cap spending at 18 % of GPD

Image via WikipediaThe Hill:Key members of the conservative Republican Study Committee introduced a bill to make good on their pledge to “cut, cap and balance” federal spending.RSC Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) endorsed the bill submitted Friday by top-ranking GOP appropriator Rep. Jack Kingston (Ga.) that would cap spending at 18 percent of GDP....There is more.On average that is about what

Democrats split on how much to raise taxes

Image via WikipediaWashington Post:While Republican tensions over tackling the national debt have been on public display for days, Democrats have also been squabbling with one another, though largely out of view.At issue for Democrats is whether the party risks going overboard in its embrace of tax increases — a perilous proposition for lawmakers from political battlegrounds.Those tensions

Medicare going broke quicker than predicted

Image by DonkeyHotey via FlickrThe Hill:Medicare will run out of money five years earlier than previously estimated because of the slowing economy, the program's trustees said in their annual report Friday.By 2024, the trust fund that pays for seniors’ hospital stays will be paying out more money than it takes in, the trustees warned. Social Security is projected to reach that imbalance in 2036.

Sen. Schumer's debt ceiling votes

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeMark Tapscott:...H.R. 2015, Roll Call Vote #241: Passed 270-162, 6/25/97, Schumer Voted Nay· H.J. Res. 51, Roll Call Vote #202: Passed 53-44, 5/23/03, Schumer Voted Nay· S. 2986, Roll Call Vote #213: Passed 52-44, 11/17/04, Schumer Voted Nay· H.J. Res. 47, Roll Call Vote #54: Passed 52-48, 3/16/06, Schumer Voted NayAbout which, Michael