Deficit, Taxes and the Middle Class

Bad to worse yesterday on the debt ceiling front, on the rising crisis in Washington.

The President and Republicans part ways, again, at the White House. The Fed chief is forced to warn of “calamity” and say he may again try throwing rescue cash at the economy. Moody’s said it’s reviewing America’s triple-A bond rating for a possible historic downgrade.

The agenda today for White House summitry: taxes.

The GOP says no way. The President says revenue belongs on the table. My guest today says we’ve had a free lunch, and the bill is coming.

This hour On Point: debt, and taxes.
-Tom Ashbrook
Guest:

David Leonhardt, Economic Scene columnist and staff writer for The New York Times Magazine. His latest column is "Why Taxes Will Rise in the End."
Sara Murray, economics reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Read her article "Budget Solution: Squeeze the Middle" (WSJ subscription only).

Peter Coy, economics editor of Bloomberg Business Week.