From the editors of the award-winning nonpartisan website Public Agenda Online comes this irreverent and candid guide to the federal budget crisis. Here's the book that explains --in plain English-- exactly what the fat cats in Washington are arguing about.

The looming federal debt crisis will affect your savings, your retirement, your mortgage, your health care, and your children.

Here's essential information that every American citizen needs --and has the right-- to know.

This guide to deciphering Beltway jargon on the budget covers everything from the country's $9 trillion debt to the fact that, for 31 out of the last 35 years, the government has spent more than it has collected in taxes.

You'll also find out why elected leaders from both parties have so far failed to address this issue and what we need to do about it now.

Here's some of what you'll find inside:

• The six points you need to know to understand the federal budget crisis
• What's a billion dollars really worth? And how many Manolo Blahniks would it buy?
• More than a dozen ideas for putting Social Security and Medicare on a solid financial path
• Six glib answers to the country's budget crisis that aren't really getting us anywhere
• The "Where Does the Money Go" Voter Protection Kit -- to help you figure out where the candidates really stand on this issue
• Five signs you're being a lazy citizen and five signs you're part of the problem

What Others Are Saying

The New York Times says "If you are going to buy just one book in this presidential election year, you might want to consider 'Where Does the Money Go?'...entertaining and irreverent while serving as an informative primer on a subject that is crucial to the future of all Americans."

U.S. News and World Report recommends Where Does the Money Go? on it's "Bookshelf" feature:

Watch Jean and Scott on C-SPAN's Washington Journal, airing March 3.

Watch this space to hear the podcast from their appearance on the national radio program, The Jim Bohannon Show.

An interview with Scott aired on the Feb. 26 edition of the public radio business show, Marketplace.

Listen to Jean and Scott's Feb. 19 appearance on The Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC public radio in New York.

Watch Scott and Jean on Bill Moyers' Journal on PBS, airing Feb. 15 nationwide.

Listen to Jean and Scott on Fresh Air with Terry Gross on National Public Radio, airing Feb. 14.

Listen to Jean and Scott on the national radio show, Culture Shocks with Barry Lind.

Read what Barron's editorial page editor Thomas G. Donlan has to say about Where Does the Money Go?

Read the review of Where Does the Money Go? at Bookviews.com by Alan Caruba.

Listen to Scott and Jean's interview on the "Written Voices" podcast with host Allan Hunkin.

Since We Went to Press

As we point out in the book, the federal budget is a moving target. The details change constantly, even as the big picture stays the same. (Unfortunately). So we're going to flag some of the major developments here. Another good place to keep up to date is the Facing Up to the Nation's Finances site, also run by Public Agenda, which includes a budget blog by Scott Bittle and a news feed.

The latest word:

President Bush will submit the first $3 trillion federal budget in February, expected to include a $400 billion deficit and "significant" cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. (Jan. 31, 2008)

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the deficit for 2008 will rise to $250 billion - but that's not counting the impact of the economic stimulus package under consideration in Congress. That will add another $150 billion to the short-term deficit, although if it keeps the economy perking, the extra revenue may balance things out somewhat. (Jan 24, 2008)