​Is America’s debt crisis the biggest threat to prosperity—and can we fix it before it’s too late?

In this week’s Let People Prosper Show, I sit down with Romina Boccia, one of the nation’s top fiscal minds and a fearless reformer when it comes to Washington’s runaway spending. Romina is the Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy at the Cato Institute, where she leads research on federal spending, debt, and entitlement reform. She’s also the principal author of Debt Dispatch—the number-one fiscal newsletter read by members of Congress—and author of the new book Reimagining Social Security: Global Lessons for Retirement Policy Changes.

I first met Romina during my time at the White House Office of Management and Budget, and I’ve admired her work ever since. In this episode, we talk about her journey from Germany to D.C., how she became one of the fiercest advocates for limited government, and why entitlement reform isn’t just a numbers issue—it’s about moral responsibility to future generations.
We unpack why the national debt—now over $37 trillion and rising by about $2 trillion a year—is a bipartisan failure decades in the making. Romina explains how unchecked spending, not too little revenue, is driving the crisis—and why sustainable reform to Social Security and Medicare is critical to preserving both freedom and prosperity.

For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and broader social media network. 

(0:00) – Introduction and Guest Background
(3:00) – Romina’s Journey from Germany to D.C.
(9:00) – The U.S. Debt Crisis and Its Root Causes
(18:00) – Entitlement Reform and Political Obstacles
(27:00) – Lessons from Reimagining Social Security
(36:00) – Immigration, Growth, and Fiscal Health
(45:00) – Restoring Sustainable Budgeting
(54:00) – The Future of Fiscal Reform

​As I record this, the federal government is in yet another shutdown. Sadly, this isn’t new. Washington has become addicted to chaos in budgeting, marked by shutdowns, continuing resolutions, and bloated omnibus bills. We must be clear that this shutdown is just a symptom. The disease is runaway government spending.

The U.S. debt has soared past $37 trillion. We’re running nearly $2 trillion in annual deficits. And Congress hasn’t passed a full budget on time since 1997—that’s almost three decades of fiscal irresponsibility. Instead, lawmakers punt with short-term patches and massive, unread spending packages. That’s fiscal malpractice.
VIDEO
In this episode of This Week’s Economy, I’ll be covering who needs to take responsibility and what steps must be taken to prevent future shutdowns, address our nation’s spending problems, and get America back on track. 
You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.
Visit: VanceGinn.com
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​Today’s guest is David Ditch, Senior Analyst in Fiscal Policy at the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC). With over a decade of experience examining the federal budget, David has worked at the Senate Budget Committee and at The Heritage Foundation, where he helped launch the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget. His work has been published in outlets like FoxNews.com, the Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Tribune.

David’s reputation is clear: he cuts through Washington spin with data-driven analysis, showing how Congress, bureaucrats, and special interests have fueled a debt crisis that threatens the future. In our conversation, we dive into the national debt as a failure of elites, the false fights over discretionary vs. mandatory spending, and what Washington could learn from low-tax, low-spend states. We also cover the gimmicks that dominate appropriations and the challenge of making fiscal responsibility popular again.

For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and broader social media network. 

(0:00) – Introduction to Fiscal Policy and Budgeting
(3:04) – David Ditch’s Journey in Politics and Policy
(5:49) – The Reality of Federal Spending and Budgeting
(8:57) – The Role of the Senate Budget Committee
(12:07) – Current Issues in Federal Budgeting
(15:01) – Understanding the National Debt Crisis
(20:49) – Political Dynamics of Spending and Welfare
(24:02) – The Need for Comprehensive Reform
(29:42) – The Executive Branch and Spending Control
(35:48) – Housing Affordability and Family Dynamics

​Today’s guest is Kurt Couchman, Senior Fellow in Fiscal Policy at Americans for Prosperity—and a trusted fiscal ally since our days in Washington, back when he was at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Kurt’s cutting-edge thinking on balanced-budget amendments, statutory fiscal targets, and bipartisan reform has made him one of the most respected voices in the fight against runaway spending.

His new book, Fiscal Democracy in America: How a Balanced Budget Amendment Can Restore Sound Governance, is out now—and it’s essential reading if you care about fiscal responsibility, government accountability, and long-term economic growth.

For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and broader social media network. 

(0:00) – Introduction to Fiscal Policy and Guest Background
(3:02) – Why Fiscal Responsibility Matters for Future Generations
(5:50) – Lessons from Working in Congress
(12:06) – The Role of Institutional Economics in Budgeting
(15:00) – Incentives and Accountability in Congress
(23:16) – Principles-Based Balanced Budget Amendments
(25:40) – Pathways to a Balanced Budget Amendment
(31:06) – The Role of Primary Balance in Budgeting
(35:39) – Why Comprehensive Budgeting Is Essential
(42:41) – Finding Political Solutions for Fiscal Reform

​My family recently returned to Texas after a week-long vacation in Colorado. It was heartbreaking to come home to news of the deadly flooding in Kerrville, which took so many lives. While our area was spared, the grief and devastation in nearby communities are deeply felt. My prayers are with the families who are mourning and those beginning the hard work of rebuilding.

Policy usually slows down in the summer, but this year is different. From the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill to new tariff developments and a special legislative session starting in Texas next week, there’s a lot to catch up on.

You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.
Visit: VanceGinn.com
Subscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com