20/20 Vision

Fed Chair Powell Hits the Hill

Update 395 — Fed Chair Powell Hits the Hill:Is it Time for a Third Mandate for the Fed? Fed Chair Jerome Powell testifies this week before the Joint Economic and House Budget Committees to discuss the overall economic outlook. His appearances give members of Congress the opportunity to ask what could and should the Fed …

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Tax Priorities and Possibilities

Update 393 — Tax Priorities and Possibilities:Congress’ 2019 Tax Dash; Warren’s 2020 Plan  Today, Sen. Elizabeth Warren released a $20.5 trillion proposal consisting of revenue raisers to pay for her Medicare for All plan.  The comprehensive proposal would make substantial changes to an array of tax titles, ruling out a direct tax increase on the …

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Progressive Strategy Summit 2019

Update 392: Progressive Strategy Summit 2019 Domestic Econ. Policy Consensus Emerge Last week, the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center and Progressive Caucus Action Fund hosted the Progressive Strategy Summit in Washington.  The event brought together members of Congress, grassroots organizers, and policy and political strategists. Attended by over 500 people, the Summit reflected on progressive achievements …

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Silver Lining on the Horizon

Update 391 — Silver Lining on the Horizon(How) Do Automatic Stabilizers Really Work? Economists now speak of the next recession in terms of when, not whether.  As the recession approaches ever closer, so too do increases in fiscal stimulus known as  “automatic stabilizers,” such as unemployment insurance, representing a silver lining.  How do these triggers …

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Recessionary Indicators, Pt. 2

Update 390 — Recessionary Indicators, Pt. 2What the Best 8-Balls Say about the Economy While much of the political world is preoccupied with constitutional concerns, the economy also continues to confound.  Some indicators point to continued expansion, record low unemployment, and the stock market close to record highs. Others point ominously at the next recession …

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Recessionary Indicators, Pt. 1

Update 389 — Recessionary Indicators, Pt. 1What the Economic Tea Leaves Say Today  Over the next two updates, we will look at macroeconomic indicators of the end of the current post-crisis expansion — leading vs. lagging, from coal mine canaries, to red herrings, to black swans.   The political implications of an economic reversal of fortune …

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2020 Presidential Candidate Series — Tom Steyer

Update 388 — 2020 Presidential Candidate Series;The Economic Agenda of Tom Steyer For our final presidential candidate update series, we look at the economic policy of billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer. He has emerged as far and away the most outspoken climate change advocate among remaining Democratic candidates. His campaign focuses on anti-corruption and reducing …

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2020 Presidential Candidate Series — Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

Update 387 — 2020 Presidential Cand. Series:The Economic Agenda of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has made an impression on the 2020 presidential debate stage and the campaign trail thus far as passionate and combative.  Her take-down of Sen. Harris in their second debate served notice that Gabbard fights tough but fair. …

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FY 2020: Budgeting by Default

Update 386 — FY 2020: Budgeting by DefaultHas “Fiscal Policy” Become an Oxymoron?The Federal budget-making process could fairly be described as broken. If it can fairly be described as a process at all. There’s the law — the statutory deadlines, constantly being waived or disregarded by Congress.  Then there’s practice — some assortment of appropriations …

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