Payment Due

Timothy J. Penny recently retired from the U.S. House of Representatives, where he led the fight for deficit reduction, and is the author- with Major Garrett- of Common Cents (1995). Steven E. Schier, author of A Decade of Deficits (1992), is professor of political science at Carleton College and director of the Carleton in Washington program.

• 1 A Clear and Present Dilemma, 2 Origins of the Dilemma, 3 Politics and Institutions: The Dilemma’s Context, 4 False Starts: Two Failures to Reform, 5 Principles, Solutions, and Leadership