Len Burman

Father, grandfather, @taxpolicycenter cofounder at @urbaninstitute. Paul Volcker Professor emeritus at @MaxwellSU. I cycle, swim, cook, and sing. I disclaim!

[The Tax Law Center at NYU Law @TaxLawCenterNYU]

In response to news that the Acting Attorney General signed an apparent addendum to the Trump v. IRS settlement with a sweeping general waiver of claims—including claims related to the President’s tax returns—Policy Director Brandon DeBot released the following statement:

[Tax Policy Center @TaxPolicyCenter]

The Supporting Newborn Parents Act (SNPA) would provide parents of newborns a refundable tax credit of up to $2,000 per infant to help cover early costs. TPC estimates 3.4 million families with children would receive just over $2,000 per family. https://t.co/iy6DIvztbg

[Mark Zandi @Markzandi]

The economic damage caused by the Iran War extends beyond higher oil and other commodity prices. This was made clear this past Friday when interest rates surged. The 10-year Treasury yield jumped to 4.6%, which is at the upper end of its range since before the Global Financial Crisis. This reflects quickly changing expectations regarding the Federal Reserve’s next move on rates. Instead of cutting rates, investors increasingly think its next move will be to hike rates.

[Len Burman @lenburman]

@JessicaBRiedl @GS_Watson It’s like the flu. It’ll be back. The idea that government spending is free is too seductive to go away. Like the idea that tax cuts pay for themselves. Both mythologies would make governing so much easier if true.

[Bobby Kogan @BBKogan]

The way the Judgment Fund is being used for the Trump “settlement” creates a profound loophole in the Appropriations Clause, allowing an administration to fund any program it wants without an appropriation. Sort of thing the Court needs to stop.

[Len Burman @lenburman]

Dan Halperin was a brilliant and creative scholar, a gifted communicator, a wonderful teacher, and a kind person. I’m very lucky to have known him.
https://t.co/Tqxt1nVdLs

[Len Burman @lenburman]

@TaxPolicyCenter @JessicaBRiedl Nice piece. Note that the conventional wisdom at the time was that the dot-com bubble was a much bigger factor than OBRA93. CBO documented it in its budget reports. The rise in 2000s deficits was exacerbated by GWB’s large tax cuts and spending increases.

[Len Burman @lenburman]

@TaxFoundation As you know, the distribution of all federal taxes is far less progressive. Payroll and excise taxes are regressive. And the fact that Congress chooses not to pay for an increasing share of spending is an enormous wildcard. The distribution of the burden of debt is unknown.

[Len Burman @lenburman]

Has anyone ever received a @UPS package within the delivery window promised? I don’t think I ever have. And, yet, we are waiting so we can be home to sign for the package, which is already late. Hope again triumphs over experience.

[Len Burman @lenburman]

@mattyglesias It does make you wonder about the efficient markets hypothesis.

[Len Burman @lenburman]

Excellent article by Jason Furman on why manufacturing jobs have been falling since 1950 and why it’s a fool’s errand to try to reverse the inexorable trend. https://t.co/d8LDi7UBX1

[Len Burman @lenburman]

@DIRECTVhelp Also, I assume I need to add nationals TV to my channel lineup, but I don’t see that as an option anywhere.

[Len Burman @lenburman]

.@DIRECTVhelp Two days in a row, my recording of the Washington Nationals tried to record the Chicago Cubs feed and produced a blackout message. How do I avoid this?

[Len Burman @lenburman]

@DIRECTVhelp Thanks for the quick reply. I did that. But DIRECTV still wants to use the opposing team’s feed. It is as if the record function doesn’t know about channel 641, even though I can tune into it live.

[Len Burman @lenburman]

@NatsGal @TalkNats I think the @nationals owners hate their fans. They say they have been "rebuilding" for six years, but they keep trading away the players they acquired for the rebuild once they get good. The current roster could lose 100 games. And they made it impossible to watch Nats games.

[Dana Milbank @Milbank]

I am leaving the Washington Post to join a new journalistic venture backed by Politico founder Robert Allbritton that will be both the hometown publication the D.C. region sorely needs and a scrappy and fearless national news organization. I hope you'll join us.

[Len Burman @lenburman]

I wanted to post this, à la @TheOnion : Trump issues executive order repealing first amendment. Fourth amendment may be next.

But I worried some people would think it true.

[Len Burman @lenburman]

What Donald Trump learned from Putin and other dictator pals. https://t.co/XVjfZ6EEcE

[Robert McClelland @Rob_McClelland]

This is one of the problems with politicians even hinting that they object to economic data. Mundane changes generate outsized concern because of the threat of political manipulation

[Len Burman @lenburman]

@ScottUhlTX @JustinWolfers Hillary Clinton’s emails.