Commentator Liz Herman says we need to find a way to both reduce the deficit and spend the right amount on social services.

Later this morning President Obama is expected to outline a new plan to shrink government. He's going to ask Congress to give him the authority to merge some departments and agencies.

Now that Congress has averted a government shutdown, it takes up the extension of the payroll tax cut and long-term unemployment benefits

Planned layoffs are up in 2011 over the previous year -- and there's still a month to go.