Government Executive - Authors - Tim Fernholzhttp://www.govexec.comen-usFri, 01 Feb 2013 15:17:58 -0500Seven ways to look at US Energy Secretary Steve Chu’s resignation and legacyhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/02/seven-ways-look-us-energy-secretary-steve-chus-resignation-and-legacy/61049/The Nobel-prize-winning physicist symbolized the Obama administration’s belief in science.Tim Fernholz and Christopher Mims, QuartzFri, 01 Feb 2013 15:17:58 -0500http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/02/seven-ways-look-us-energy-secretary-steve-chus-resignation-and-legacy/61049/ManagementEd Andrieski/APWhy the $1 trillion platinum coin won't solve the U.S. debt problemhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/01/why-1-trillion-platinum-coin-wont-solve-us-debt-problem/60530/Administration officials have said the president will not resort to constitutional or legal loopholes to avoid the debt ceiling.Tim Fernholz, QuartzTue, 08 Jan 2013 10:18:33 -0500http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/01/why-1-trillion-platinum-coin-wont-solve-us-debt-problem/60530/ManagementThe ten-dollar bill is a denomination of currency that Treasury currently mints.Frank L Junior/Shutterstock.com Baseball players are also worried about the fiscal cliffhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2012/12/baseball-players-are-also-worried-about-fiscal-cliff/59907/Outfielder B.J. Upton asks for $3 million bonus to be paid before Dec. 31.Tim Fernholz, QuartzMon, 03 Dec 2012 11:14:03 -0500http://www.govexec.com/management/2012/12/baseball-players-are-also-worried-about-fiscal-cliff/59907/ManagementB.J. Upton, right, signed a free agent deal with the Atlanta Braves last week.John Bazemore/APThe budget deficit is shrinking faster than at any time since World War IIhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2012/11/budget-deficit-shrinking-faster-any-time-world-war-ii/59707/It's still huge, but this year alone it fell by $210 billion.Tim FernholzWed, 21 Nov 2012 14:55:54 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2012/11/budget-deficit-shrinking-faster-any-time-world-war-ii/59707/OversightOver the fiscal cliff: Bigger budget austerity than in Europehttp://www.govexec.com/management/2012/10/over-fiscal-cliff-bigger-budget-austerity-europe/59002/Combination of sequester and tax hikes would lead to deeper cuts more quickly than European nations in crisis have experienced.Tim Fernholz, QuartzWed, 24 Oct 2012 14:28:34 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2012/10/over-fiscal-cliff-bigger-budget-austerity-europe/59002/ManagementPhotodiscObama hails renewed Gang of Six efforthttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/07/obama-hails-renewed-gang-of-six-effort/34416/President praises group of senators for coming up with a plan that is "balanced" and includes tax revenues.Tim FernholzTue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/07/obama-hails-renewed-gang-of-six-effort/34416/OversightU.S. long-term debt outlook worsenshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/06/us-long-term-debt-outlook-worsens/34215/Increasing debt will make it harder for lawmakers to adopt spending priorities in good times and will give them less flexibility during recessions.Tim FernholzWed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/06/us-long-term-debt-outlook-worsens/34215/OversightFor incoming Defense chief, no easy answers on budget cutshttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2011/06/for-incoming-defense-chief-no-easy-answers-on-budget-cuts/34143/Cost of maintaining the U.S. presence in Afghanistan will remain high even after troop withdrawals begin.Tim FernholzMon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2011/06/for-incoming-defense-chief-no-easy-answers-on-budget-cuts/34143/DefensePawlenty lays out Reaganesque economic agendahttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/06/pawlenty-lays-out-reaganesque-economic-agenda/34107/The former governor cites USPS, the Government Printing Office, Amtrak, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as candidates for privatization.Tim FernholzTue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/06/pawlenty-lays-out-reaganesque-economic-agenda/34107/OversightGeithner, defending Obama plan, says GOP owns potential U.S. defaulthttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/05/geithner-defending-obama-plan-says-gop-owns-potential-us-default/33986/Treasury head says he is confident deal will be made.Tim FernholzWed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/05/geithner-defending-obama-plan-says-gop-owns-potential-us-default/33986/OversightAs government hits debt limit, tensions risehttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/05/as-government-hits-debt-limit-tensions-rise/33970/Vice President Joe Biden is heading up talks with congressional leaders designed to reach a deficit reduction framework and pass an increase in the debt ceiling.Tim FernholzMon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/05/as-government-hits-debt-limit-tensions-rise/33970/OversightThe cost of battling bin Laden: $3 trillionhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2011/05/the-cost-of-battling-bin-laden-3-trillion/33924/Over 15 years, the terrorist leader cost America more than any villain, ever -- which is exactly the way he wanted it.Jim Tankersley and Tim FernholzFri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2011/05/the-cost-of-battling-bin-laden-3-trillion/33924/DefenseAs debt ceiling nears, Washington gropes for agreement on budget toolhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/04/as-debt-ceiling-nears-washington-gropes-for-agreement-on-budget-tool/33827/Debt-reduction package could allow politicians to save face and punt the consequences of future disagreements.Tim FernholzThu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/04/as-debt-ceiling-nears-washington-gropes-for-agreement-on-budget-tool/33827/OversightStudy shows budget deal will cut spending by only $352 millionhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/04/study-shows-budget-deal-will-cut-spending-by-only-352-million/33777/Congressional Budget Office analysis shows total outlays are actually some $3.3 billion more than in 2010, if emergency spending is included.Tim FernholzThu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/04/study-shows-budget-deal-will-cut-spending-by-only-352-million/33777/OversightBudget cutting a difficult taskhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/04/budget-cutting-a-difficult-task/33761/Composition of cuts in budget agreement shows the difficulties of reducing spending for the White House and Congress.Tim FernholzTue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/04/budget-cutting-a-difficult-task/33761/OversightHouse budget chair offers plan with $6 trillion in cutshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/04/house-budget-chair-offers-plan-with-6-trillion-in-cuts/33691/Sweeping reductions in government, safety net contrast with Obama's plan, but revenue assumptions and deficit estimates may not be credible.Tim FernholzTue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/04/house-budget-chair-offers-plan-with-6-trillion-in-cuts/33691/OversightFiscal debate shifts from short-term cuts to long-term fixeshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/04/fiscal-debate-shifts-from-short-term-cuts-to-long-term-fixes/33681/As shutdown vote and Friday deadline approach, both parties seek a broader budget debate.Tim FernholzMon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/04/fiscal-debate-shifts-from-short-term-cuts-to-long-term-fixes/33681/OversightLawmakers seeking private funds for major infrastructurehttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/03/lawmakers-seeking-private-funds-for-major-infrastructure/33557/Two bills approach public project financing from different directions: investments and bond underwriting.Tim FernholzThu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/03/lawmakers-seeking-private-funds-for-major-infrastructure/33557/OversightFederal performance chief: It's about managing missions, metricshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/02/federal-performance-chief-its-about-managing-missions-metrics/33359/National Journal interviews Jeffrey Zients, deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget.Tim FernholzFri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/02/federal-performance-chief-its-about-managing-missions-metrics/33359/OversightObama budget calls for targeted cutshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/02/obama-budget-calls-for-targeted-cuts/33304/Fiscal 2012 proposal seeks $1.1 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years, but many spending reductions would be reinvested elsewhere.Tim FernholzMon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/02/obama-budget-calls-for-targeted-cuts/33304/OversightAFP PHOTO/Mandel NGANGOP proposed cuts get smaller the closer you lookhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/02/gop-proposed-cuts-get-smaller-the-closer-you-look/33245/Leaders tout $74 billion in cuts from Obama proposal, but only $32 billion from current spending.Tim FernholzFri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/02/gop-proposed-cuts-get-smaller-the-closer-you-look/33245/OversightHouse GOP proposes $74 billion in spending cutshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/02/house-gop-proposes-74-billion-in-spending-cuts/33231/Proposal from Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., includes surprise cut of $16 billion for defense and other security programs.Tim FernholzThu, 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/02/house-gop-proposes-74-billion-in-spending-cuts/33231/OversightObama rebuffs GOP calls for immediate deep spending cutshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/01/obama-rebuffs-gop-calls-for-immediate-deep-spending-cuts/33162/President calls for spending freeze much more limited than the huge reductions in discretionary spending Republicans are demanding.Tim FernholzTue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/01/obama-rebuffs-gop-calls-for-immediate-deep-spending-cuts/33162/OversightHouse GOP mulls retroactive spending cutshttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/01/house-gop-mulls-retroactive-spending-cuts/33097/Reaching backward would allow Republicans to spread out the pain more, but would invalidate a rationale for retreating from $100 billion savings goal.Tim Fernholz and Humberto SanchezFri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/01/house-gop-mulls-retroactive-spending-cuts/33097/Oversight