WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration and Congress face a daunting set of budget-related deadlines in the coming weeks. Blowing them could upend global financial markets and cause a partial government shutdown. What you need to know about next month’s three-car pileup of must-do fiscal business, the prospects for resolution, and the consequences of failure: […]
federal budget
Posted inNation / World
GOP budget deadlock imperils Donald Trump’s hopes for tax overhaul
WASHINGTON (AP) — If Republicans can’t pass a budget, forget about a major overhaul of the nation’s tax code — at least if they want a GOP-only approach with President Donald Trump that would avoid Democratic delaying tactics. Congressional Republicans are struggling to first figure out a budget, but despite weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, they […]
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Posted inOp-Eds
Economic growth won’t salvage budget
WASHINGTON — Almost everyone has a simple cure for America’s stubborn budget deficits: faster economic growth. The Trump administration is particularly keen on this. It argues that its proposed tax reductions and regulatory cuts will accelerate economic growth and shrink the deficits. No doubt faster growth would help. But a more realistic appraisal is that, […]
Posted inNation / World
Trump budget: More for the military, less for the poor
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday sent Congress a $4.1 trillion federal spending plan that promises faster economic growth and steep cuts to programs for the poor in a bid to balance the government’s books over the next decade. The proposed 2018 budget immediately came under attack by Democrats, and even some GOP […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Tax plan would lead to larger deficit
WASHINGTON — Let’s be clear: America is an undertaxed society. Our wants and needs from government — the two blur — exceed our willingness to be taxed. This has been true for decades, but it’s especially relevant now because the number of older Americans, who are the largest beneficiaries of federal spending, is rising rapidly. […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
'A climate encouraging freedom'
Many have criticized the president’s budget for stripping benefits from the less fortunate in exchange for tax cuts to the wealthy. The problems don’t stop there. By eliminating the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, President Trump’s budget undermines people’s ability to talk about complicated subjects, whether budgets or […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web, Uncategorized
Analysis: How Trump's budget could affect Maine
President Donald Trump’s budget outline released this week is drawing mixed to negative reviews from Maine’s congressional delegation on how it would change the order of business for many government programs. The outline is a stunning reprioritization of the discretionary spending for departments and agencies that makes up about one-third of federal spending. Mandatory spending, such […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web, Uncategorized
Trump's budget raises concerns among Maine's lawmakers
President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget doesn’t impress Maine’s Democratic member of Congress or its independent senator. And Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin has concerns. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a 1st District Democrat, said she won’t stand for Trump’s “foolish and shortsighted budget proposal which will make America less healthy, safe, and economically secure.” U.S. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web, Uncategorized
Trump budget defunds agency that seeks to boost Maine's economy
A federal agency created to boost the fortunes of communities near the Canadian border with New York and New England faces extinction under President Donald Trump’s proposed federal spending plan. The agency, the Northern Border Regional Commission, was created in 2008 to promote jobs and opportunity for those living in the northern reaches of the […]
