To help move the political discussion forward, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has put forth this report, “Twelve Principles for Fiscal Responsibility.” These principles will help voters ask the necessary questions and develop a better understanding of important fiscal issues, and they will help politicians speak directly to these looming problems in a manner that will prepare the country for the necessary changes ahead. Unless the next president and Congress take action to put our fiscal house in order, they will put the budget, the economy, and the well-being of future generations at risk.