November 4, 2009
Jim Pethokoukis of Reuters: Health Care Reform, the Deficit and Economic Recovery
Both the House bill and Senate Finance Committee plan are expected -- according to Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee and Taxation projections -- to reduce the deficit, but whether large cuts to Medicare spending will actually happen remains to be seen. Regardless of whatever health care reform proposal emerges from Congress (or when), it appears tax increases are on the table.
Outside discussions of health care reform, reducing the deficit - whether through spending cuts or tax increases or both - is a policy priority on both sides of the aisle. As the Tax Foundation has reported, higher taxes alone cannot erase the deficit.
This week's podcast guest is Jim Pethokoukis, the Money & Politics columnist and blogger for Reuters. Jim discusses health care reform, the deficit, economic recovery and the possibility of a federal value added tax (VAT).
To listen to the podcast: Play the audio above or right-click on the audio file below, and select "Save Target As."
