Budget Matters Blog


The SOTU Demands a Better Budget

Our nation is operating on a temporary budget and a temporary debt-ceiling suspension with indiscriminate budget cuts threatening critical investments ranging from education to food safety. The State of the Union address failed to acknowledge how far we are from resolving our fiscal challenges in a manner worthy of the dreams and aspirations held by the people of our nation.


The State of the Union is Government by Crisis

The State of the Union is usually a speech about a vision – not only for the twelve months ahead, but for years to come. This year is different.


Hoping to Build a Country That's Built to Last

Jackie Bray is a single mother who lost her job as a mechanic but has a new one working at a wind turbine factory in Charlotte, North Carolina. In his State of the Union Address on Tuesday night, President Obama used this story to illustrate his vision for America’s economy. ...


Budget Brief- State of the Union Preview

Senior research analyst Mattea Kramer talks about what NPP is expecting in President Obama's State of the Union Address on Tuesday night, including job creation measures and proposed higher taxes on the wealthiest earners. Watch President Obama's State of the Union Address on Tuesday Jan. 24 at 9pm EST.

State of the Union Part 2: What to listen for in Tuesday’s address

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the State of the Union address is important in part because it gives a preview of the president’s forthcoming budget request. (In early February President Obama will release his budget request for fiscal year 2013, which begins on October 1, 2012.) National Priorities Project ...


State of the Union Part 1: Why does the State of the Union matter?

On Tuesday night President Obama will give the final State of the Union address of his first term. Much speculation precedes the address, and much analysis follows. But why does the State of the Union matter so much? One reason the State of the Union has been important historically is ...