Setting National Priorities: The 2000 Election and BeyondHenry Aaron, Robert D. Reischauer Brookings Institution Press, 2011 M07 1 - 516 pages "If the subject of influence in Washington interests you, this series of books deserves your respectful attention...it has changed the ways in which American politicians think about the budget." - The Washington Post For the first time in more than four decades, the federal budget has registered two consecutive surpluses, and the need to reduce the deficit is not casting a pall over the policy debate. This new, highly accessible book examines the policy options that are available in this new environment to address the new and recurring challenges that face the nation. The book, which continues the Brookings Institution's highly acclaimed and influential Setting National Priorities series, will serve as a guide for understanding many of the complex issues that will be discussed during the presidential and congressional campaigns of 2000. The book centers around three themes: providing opportunity in the domestic arena, restoring confidence in government, and adapting to the post-Cold War international environment. It tackles such critical issues as Medicare and social security, tax reform, and foreign policy spending, as well as many areas not included in previous editions; namely, education, urban problems, the environment, trade, government renewal and reform, crime and drugs, and families. In addition to the editors, the contributers are Gary Burtless, I. M. Destler, John J. DiIulio Jr., William Gale, Bruce Katz, Donald F. Kettl, Paul C. Light, Thomas E. Mann, Michael O'Hanlon, Paul R. Portney, Diane Ravitch, Isabel V. Sawhill, and James Sly. |
Contents
HE DEBATE OVER national priorities at the centurys end is | 1 |
tion to root out inappropriate and fraudulent charges lower | 9 |
ish In that case lawmakers will not be | 14 |
Providing Security for the Elderly and Disabled | 22 |
longterm care services varies significantly from state to | 24 |
work force planning system existed to enable those responsible for | 32 |
of less moneyhas made reinvention a permanent movement | 33 |
In addition conflicts among desirable goals produce legitimate dis | 34 |
Authors calculations based on data from Internal | 215 |
ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX Besides the regular income tax | 217 |
Growth | 226 |
dences One study reports marginal effective tax rates of | 232 |
standard deduction would reduce revenues For this reason it | 239 |
tion would achieve this objective more simply A distinction | 242 |
replace the current graduated rate structure with a single tax | 250 |
No country has run a sales tax at anywhere near | 257 |
Defense and | 37 |
Figure 21 US Spending on National Defense 19622004 | 39 |
also needed and some have already occurred For | 47 |
Table 26 Training Rates | 50 |
should go far toward solving the problemif the | 51 |
figures are correct the direct costs are certainly modest | 64 |
Trade Policy | 73 |
ble in the year 2000 and beyond unless it is | 75 |
they would oppose the legislation¹² Facing a likely defeat | 81 |
In the 1980s the result was a major upsurge | 84 |
leads stepbystep to negotiating | 92 |
Families | 97 |
Poverty rate if no growth in femaleheaded families | 106 |
cans approved as disapproved of women working for pay24 At | 110 |
Although marriage penalties and bonuses are inescapable under a | 112 |
Provider in | 116 |
aging parental responsibility Too little support exposes children and | 121 |
Growing American | 137 |
35 | 139 |
has been greater in the United States than in most | 140 |
countries the average income is 20 percent or more | 144 |
Figure 52 Change in Real Hourly Earnings by | 146 |
surge in demand for highly skilled workers has pushed the | 150 |
Figure 54 Number of AFDC Cases 196098 | 157 |
the income of the person at the 5th percentile | 162 |
Paying for an | 167 |
of assistance from veterans disability compensation pensions | 169 |
10 | 170 |
porting the economically inactive population shifts from families to | 171 |
would be less variable across account holders than under the | 177 |
The 21st Century plan would fully close social securitys long | 186 |
ble explanations for limited participation As medicare reform increases | 203 |
the lack of consensus about the best approach to the | 208 |
The Rocky Road | 211 |
portions had reversed The overall level of revenues hovered | 213 |
insurance for their employees Because sales proceeds are taxable | 258 |
125 | 262 |
enforce permit rates to be cut and promote | 263 |
The National Agenda | 269 |
10 percent of the nations total budget for elementary and | 270 |
similar to seven and ahead of only two | 273 |
fields with persistent shortages such as advanced mathematics and | 277 |
local school board a state agency or a | 279 |
At present American education is marked by low productivity | 298 |
of all metropolitan area jobs in 1980 but only 24 | 306 |
In short sprawl imposes unnecessary costs not only on | 310 |
Third metropolitan coalitions everywhere confront powerful polit | 324 |
toral politics but good public policy But federal dollars | 348 |
Environmental Policy | 359 |
canceled out by increased greenhouse emissions from the developing | 385 |
Changing the Shape | 393 |
In the increasingly elliptical future the rest of the | 395 |
Layering creates impediments to efficient and effective governance It | 399 |
Light 1999 tables 22 25 | 400 |
Accidents and Confusion | 402 |
provide services to one another as part of the Government | 413 |
1960 levels only in the most narrow sense but | 418 |
The Three Faces | 421 |
launched the effort and scored some important victories In | 423 |
had already been a problem during phases one and two | 428 |
Figure 132 Average Grade Trend for GS Employees | 434 |
managers explain costly failures and television news magazines | 439 |
It could provide a | 441 |
it or that if they use it the result | 442 |
under Strain | 449 |
their use of candidate names and images their negativism | 457 |
Constructive steps would include a single eightyear | 474 |
Contributors | 479 |
Other editions - View all
Setting National Priorities: The 2000 Election and Beyond Henry Aaron,Robert D. Reischauer Limited preview - 2011 |