News & Op-Eds

The Economist: The Courageous Progressive Caucus Budget

April 22, 2011

"The caucus's co-chairs, Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Keith Ellison of Minnesota, released it on April 6th. The budget savings come from defence cuts, including immediately withdrawing from Afghanistan and Iraq, which saves $1.6 trillion over the CBO baseline from 2012-2021."

The New Republic: Redrum, Redrum--er, Red Ink, Red Ink

April 21, 2011

"In passing, Miller also draws attention something that's gotten far too little attention in this debate. The most fiscally responsible plan seems to be neither the Republicans' nor the president's. It's the Congressional Progressive Caucus plan, which relies heavily on tax increases and cuts to defense spending."

The Guardian: The Only Responsible Budget In Town

April 21, 2011

The Prog caucus budget would balance the books by 2021 (Ryan, by 2040, Obama by something in between). It would reduce deficits by $5.7 trillion by then. It would take publicly held debt as a percentage of GDP down to under 65% by then (it is now about 73% and expected to go higher).

Matt Miller: 'The Shining' - national debt edition

April 20, 2011

Yes, I know: The Democrats' plans are no better on the debt (though it must be noted that the Congressional Progressive Caucus plan wins the fiscal responsibility derby thus far; it reaches balance by 2021 largely through assorted tax hikes and defense cuts).

ThinkProgress: Ellison Stumps Republican On House Floor By Asking Him When Paul Ryan's Plan Would Balance The Budget

April 15, 2011

This morning, the House debated the budget proposal put forth by the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a response to the budget drafted by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). During the debate, CPC member Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) asked Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN) when the Ryan budget would balance and create a surplus. After hemming and hawing for a few seconds, Rokita ultimately couldn't come up with an answer.

Dana Milbank Thinks It's Ridiculous That Lawmakers Would Attempt To Advocate For The Middle Class

April 15, 2011

"I think that actually the progressive plan will be useful, in that it will pressure Obama to hold his line instead of making further compromises in the direction of Paul Ryan. That way we won't end up with a compromise that's further out in the wrong direction. But then, unlike Milbank, I'm assessing the utility of this gambit from the vantage of the actual humans who will be impacted by the policy proposals, and not from the perspective that says policy is a means to the end of getting a president re-elected."

Democracy Now!: While Obama Touts Compromise with GOP, Progressive Lawmakers Unveil "People's Budget"

April 14, 2011

In a televised address yesterday, President Obama set a goal of cutting the U.S. budget deficit by $4 trillion over the next 12 years. He countered Republican budget plans with what he said was a more balanced approach that relies in part on tax increases for the wealthy as well as on spending cuts. The Congressional Progressive Caucus meanwhile has unveiled an alternative plan called the "People's Budget." We speak to Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. [includes rush transcript]
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