Public Debt & Deficits: Can America Fix Its Fiscal Mess?
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C-SUITE PERSPECTIVES

Public Debt & Deficits: Can America Fix Its Fiscal Mess?

Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, joins Steve Odland for a conversation that unpacks the state—and daunting trajectory—of America’s public debt and deficits, and how policymakers can course-correct to get the nation’s fiscal house in order.

Setting the size and scope of the federal budget has long sparked fierce debate between the parties. But this year, the process is more fraught than usual: the President has proposed a $6 trillion budget, Democrats are hoping to pass a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill encompassing a broad swath of legislative priorities, and Republicans adamantly oppose these proposed expenditures.

On top of that, the clock is ticking for legislators to raise the debt ceiling in a matter of days, explains Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board—and the latest guest on CEO Perspectives. Failure to raise the ceiling would likely prove catastrophic for the US economy.

Hosted by President and CEO Steve Odland, tune into this podcast for a conversation that unpacks the state—and daunting trajectory—of America’s public debt and deficits, and how policymakers can course-correct to get the nation’s fiscal house in order.

  • How does the current debt compare to historic levels, and what are the future projections?
  • Is there a point at which the debt is too high? What happens then?
  • What is the federal process to create a budget, and where are we now?
  • What is the difference between debt and deficits?
  • What is reconciliation—and how is the process playing out this cycle?
  • What steps can policymakers take to cut spending and increase revenue to shrink the rapidly growing debt?
 Public Debt & Deficits: Can America Fix Its Fiscal Mess?

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Setting the size and scope of the federal budget has long sparked fierce debate between the parties. But this year, the process is more fraught than usual: the President has proposed a $6 trillion budget, Democrats are hoping to pass a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill encompassing a broad swath of legislative priorities, and Republicans adamantly oppose these proposed expenditures.

On top of that, the clock is ticking for legislators to raise the debt ceiling in a matter of days, explains Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board—and the latest guest on CEO Perspectives. Failure to raise the ceiling would likely prove catastrophic for the US economy.

Hosted by President and CEO Steve Odland, tune into this podcast for a conversation that unpacks the state—and daunting trajectory—of America’s public debt and deficits, and how policymakers can course-correct to get the nation’s fiscal house in order.

  • How does the current debt compare to historic levels, and what are the future projections?
  • Is there a point at which the debt is too high? What happens then?
  • What is the federal process to create a budget, and where are we now?
  • What is the difference between debt and deficits?
  • What is reconciliation—and how is the process playing out this cycle?
  • What steps can policymakers take to cut spending and increase revenue to shrink the rapidly growing debt?

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Experts in this series

Join experts from The Conference Board as they share Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead™

Steve Odland

Steve Odland

President and CEO
The Conference Board, Inc.

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Dr. Lori Esposito Murray

Dr. Lori Esposito Murray

Former President
Committee for Economic Development

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C-Suite Perspectives

C-Suite Perspectives is a series hosted by our President & CEO, Steve Odland. This weekly conversation takes an objective, data-driven look at a range of business topics aimed at executives. Listeners will come away with what The Conference Board does best: Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead™.

C-Suite Perspectives provides unique insights for C-Suite executives on timely topics that matter most to businesses as selected by The Conference Board. If you would like to suggest a guest for the podcast series, please email csuite.perspectives@conference-board.org. Note: As a non-profit organization under 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code, The Conference Board cannot promote or offer marketing opportunities to for-profit entities.


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