February 2014 Blog Archives


Secretary Hagel's Cuts Don’t Translate into Less Spending

Yesterday Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel gave a major speech at the Pentagon, and a bold headline ran in The New York Times announcing that the Pentagon would shrink the Army to pre-World War II levels. While the speech did announce cutbacks in a number of military programs, the Pentagon isn’t planning any major reductions in spending any time soon.


President’s 2015 Budget Preview

Next week on March 4, President Obama’s fiscal year 2015 budget will be released. Here’s what will -- and what won’t -- be in his budget request.


International Open Data Day 2014

February 22 is International Open Data Day. Celebrate by checking out some of NPP's open data tools.


Wow! National Priorities Project nominated for 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.

National Priorities Project has been nominated for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize by the International Peace Bureau.


Congress Passes Clean Debt Ceiling Bill

The battle to pass a debt ceiling suspension bill is finally over. Earlier this week, lawmakers in the House of Representatives passed a suspension of the debt ceiling until March 15, 2015. Yesterday, after a dramatic vote to end debate on the bill, Senate leaders voted 55-43 to pass the House version of the debt ceiling suspension. 


Three Dangerous Myths About the Debt Ceiling. Again.

Will lawmakers act in time to avoid the dangerous debt ceiling limit?


Congress Doesn’t Restore Unemployment Insurance Despite Weak Job Growth

Late last week, Senate lawmakers failed to reach an agreement to restore jobless aid to 1.7 million unemployed workers. The Senate voted 58-40 Thursday on a proposal that would have reinstated unemployment insurance benefits through the end of March, just two votes shy of the 60 votes needed to end debate on the bill.


Debt Ceiling Deadline 2014

A few glimmers of hope came from Washington in recent months. Lawmakers agreed on a bipartisan budget resolution.