government spending
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., prepares to announce a debt ceiling deal in July 2011. That deal laid the foundation for the across-the-board spending cuts set to take effect on New Year's Day, 2013. Harry Hamburg/AP hide caption
Tax the other guy's subsidy all you want, but hands off my incentive — that's good policy you're messing with. Alan Cleaver/Flickr hide caption
Lawmakers have begun a debate on how to tackle the budget deficit, though Congress is unlikely to act until late this year. KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) holds a copy of the U.S. Constitution during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill January 5, 2011. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption