On Jan. 14, the New York Times reported that “President Obama on Friday announced an aggressive campaign to shrink the size of the federal government, a proposal less notable for its goal — the fight against bloat that has been embraced by every modern-day president — than for the political challenge it poses to a hostile Congress.” more

If Black Friday’s message is a broad-stroke “Buy! Buy! Buy!” then the theme of the more focused Small Business Saturday is “Buy local!” So that’s the theme to shop … more

Halfway through his first term as county executive, Ed Mangano is proposing yet another budget that takes a hatchet to spending. more

The U.S. government faces a historic choice over the next very few years: get our fiscal house in order or see our status as a world economic power permanently lost in an avalanche of debt. Fiscal responsibility knows no party or ideological bounds. It is neither Democratic nor Republican, liberal or conservative. If our economy falters, the consequences will be dire for us all. Our children and grandchildren will face the very real prospect of living less well off than previous generations. The American Dream of ever-growing prosperity will evaporate. Our future will look more like that of bankrupt Greece. more

There are times when I wish it was 2012. Not because I’m wishing my life away but because I’d love to see how today’s crop of politicians worked their way out of the worst financial crises in federal, state and local history. more

In one of its first orders of business in the new legislative session, the State Senate passed the Job Creation and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2011 on Jan. 19. Supporters of the three-part plan say it will encourage the creation of new private-sector jobs with a tax credit, ensure fiscal responsibility with the enactment of a 2 percent state spending cap and require a two-thirds “super-majority” vote to increase taxes if the Assembly, and then voters, approve a constitutional amendment. more

On New Jersey’s Election Day, April 20, Gov. Chris Christie wanted voters to reject school budget proposals in any districts where the unionized teachers weren’t willing to freeze their salaries for a year. more

I trust you haven’t forgotten the famous slogan Gov. Hugh Carey used during New York’s fiscal crisis in the 1970s: “The days of wine and roses are over.” Unfortunately, the … more

Jets head coach Rex Ryan, the Big Apple’s newest favorite son, gave a bunch of rowdy Dolphins fans the finger after they heckled him in a Miami bar. The Jets fined Ryan $50,000. more