Beyond Zombie Rule: Reclaiming Fiscal Sanity In A Broken Congress - Paperback

by Gene Steuerle (Author)

In his provocative new book, "Beyond Zombie Rule," renowned economist Eugene Steuerle sounds the alarm on a critical yet underappreciated threat to American prosperity and democracy. Yet it will never be solved simply by whether Democrats or Republicans win the presidency or control of Congress. "We've created a system where the dead hand of past Congresses controls an increasing portion of our national budget," Steuerle writes. "It's as if fiscal zombies are ruling from the grave, leaving current and future generations with less and less ability to address the challenges of their time."
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See Steuerle's C-SPAN interview with James Capretta, where he discusses Zombie Rule, 9-23-2024
https: //www.c-span.org/video/?538597-1/aei-discussion-fiscal-policy-federal-budget
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Steuerle argues that well-intentioned but increasingly outdated spending and tax programs are devouring an ever-larger share of federal resources. Absent significant reform, any new Congress will quickly discover that every dollar of growing revenues has already been committed before they first walk through the doors of the Capitol. These past choices leave little room for new investments in education, infrastructure, environmental improvement, support for the long-neglected working class, and other priorities crucial for upward mobility and economic growth. Our kids and their future are among the biggest losers.