Romina Boccia
Heritage Foundation
Washington, DC, United States
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Past articles by Romina:
This Is How Big the COVID-19 CARES Act Relief Bill Is
$1.8 trillion. That’s the official price tag on the federal government’s most recent stimulus bill, passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That estimate is lower than previous projections of $2.3 trillion, in part because it excludes loan guarantees on debt that the government expects will be repaid. How much is $1.8 trillion in the scope of federal spending? → Read More
Lawmakers Need to Reform Postal Service, Not Provide Massive Bailout
The Postal Service is required by law to fund the expected future cost of retiree pension and health benefits to prevent a future taxpayer bailout. → Read More
Congress Should Focus on Pandemic Control and Fix the CARES Act for an Economic Rebound
Sweeping mitigation measures necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19 (a disease caused by a novel coronavirus) are in effect throughout the United States, with most economic activity deemed nonessential by state and local officials shut down to enforce social distancing requirements. At the same time, approximately half of the U.S. population is under an order to stay at home or shelter in… → Read More
America's Dual Nightmare: Coronavirus and Massive Debt
Without question, the federal government has an important role in responding to major national emergencies such as the novel coronavirus pandemic. But its response should be specific and short-term. And it shouldn’t push us still further into debt. Congress and the administration must stay focused on responding directly to the public health crisis, in a timely, targeted, and transparent manner,… → Read More
Trump’s Budget Would Balance, Congress Can’t Say the Same
It’s budget season in Washington, and President Trump just fired the opening shot. The president’s plan puts the federal budget on a path to balance over 15 years by reining in wasteful government spending while keeping taxes low and America’s national defense strong. → Read More
What happened to balancing the federal budget in 10 years?
At a time of trillion-dollar annual deficits as the economy soars, President Trump’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2021 moves in the right direction — and yet it leaves much to be desired. Moving toward budget balance in 15 years is better than growing deficits indefinitely, but it still falls short of where the GOP was just a few years ago. → Read More
Ignoring the Debt Will Come Back to Bite Us
Shrinking the national debt would do a world of good for the country. For one, it would allow us to ensure a strong national defense in the face of rising global threats. It would allow us to preserve and build on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to keep taxes low and unleash further investment. It would also boost incomes. A new analysis by the Congressional Budget Office found that shrinking the debt… → Read More
Ignoring the Debt Will Come Back to Bite Us
Congress and the president have the responsibility to enact change, but we the people are ultimately responsible for demanding it. → Read More
Averting the Next Fiscal Train Wreck
Congress needs to take a sober look at America’s debt addiction and hit the brakes on out-of-control spending. → Read More
This Labor Department Decision Could Save Uber, Lyft, and Other App-Based Platforms
Internet platforms and their workers are facing a tough question that is unique to our time: Are gig workers, such as Uber drivers and TaskRabbit providers, independent contractors or employees? The answer to that question has far-reaching implications, including potentially the end of gig work altogether. If gig workers are deemed “employees” under law—as some activists would like—it would hurt… → Read More
16 Reforms to Improve the Solvency and Integrity of Social Security Disability Insurance
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program is functionally and financially broken. With average wait times approaching 600 days, too many individuals die while awaiting their benefits. As the system denies benefits for some individuals with rather apparent disabilities, almost half of all benefit awards stem from non-medical factors, such as age, education, and work experience.… → Read More
CBO Budget Projections Show Hill Must Stop Deferring Spending Reforms
Even if Congress abides by the budget caps, that won't suffice to avert the long-term budget crisis. It should consider more effective fiscal restraints. → Read More
U.S. Needs Fiscal Rules to Tackle Rising National Debt
The U.S. national debt is closing in on $22 trillion — $68,000 for every man, woman, and child living here. While lawmakers seem content to bring a portion of the federal government to a halt over a $6 billion line item, few blink an eye over this year’s projected deficit of more than $1 trillion. There is a better way. Last year, I met with economists in Switzerland and Sweden to discover what… → Read More
House Democratic Rules Package Could Mean More Spending, Higher Taxes
In one proposed change, the House would turn a blind eye to the damage its own policies inflict on the economy. → Read More
The High Cost of Refusing to Confront the Exploding National Debt
Legislators concerned primarily with getting re-elected tend to be shortsighted in addressing challenges for which they are unlikely to reap much credit. → Read More
Heroes of Character
Liberty and character are two sides of the same coin. Together, they make possible miraculous achievements in human progress. Subtract either one and disaster inevitably follows. Drawing from his book, Real Heroes: Inspiring True Stories of Courage, Character and Conviction and other writings, Mr. Reed will tell the stories of some remarkable people whose principles, integrity, and… → Read More
How Emergency Spending Has Exploded in Recent Years
Domestic spending classified as an emergency has exploded from 5 percent of total domestic discretionary spending in 2016 to 22 percent in 2018. → Read More
Biennial Budgeting Is No Antidote to Budget Process Failure
Members of the congressional Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform are considering biennial budgeting—preparing a budget for a two-year period—as a possible reform of the congressional budget process. Proponents advocate the change to provide greater certainty over appropriations to free up time for congressional agency oversight and to increase the likelihood that… → Read More
How International Tax Competition Benefits American Workers
When tax rates in a country are consistently elevated, mobile capital moves elsewhere. New investments in factories are made in countries with lower taxes. → Read More
Congress Wants to Do Even Less Budgeting. Here's Why That Would Be Disastrous.
Moving to a biennial budget would make it easier for lawmakers to ignore America’s growing fiscal crisis. → Read More