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February 27, 2009
Weekly Round Up: February 23 - 27, 2009
Our experts analyzed Obama's budget, offered ideas for how to bring the electrical grid into the 21st century, and responded to Obama's call for a college education for all.
February 27, 2009
The Promised Withdrawal from Iraq
President Obama lives up to his campaign promise on Iraq, setting a withdrawal deadline that meets the needs of the United States and Iraq, writes Lawrence J. Korb.
February 27, 2009
A Transition to Cleaner Energy
At a CAP event, author Robert Hefner offers alternatives to limited forms of energy and how to avoid catastrophic climate changes.
February 27, 2009
Realizing the Promise
Report from Robin Chait and Michele McLaughlin explains how state policy can support alternative certification programs for teachers.
February 27, 2009
Economic Stimulus Forum: Let's Get People Back to Work!
The best thing we can do for women and their families is to get people back to work.
February 27, 2009
A Reinvigoration of International Cooperation
MP Des Browne discusses the future of the United States and the international community at a CAP event.
February 27, 2009
One Step Closer to Better Health Care
The Obama administration’s budget contains promising evidence that health care reform is a top priority, writes Karen Davenport.
February 26, 2009
A New, Ambitious Course of Action
Michael Ettlinger provides analysis on President Obama’s blueprint for the federal government, which prioritizes spending on health care, energy, and education.
February 26, 2009
A Postsecondary Degree or Credential in Every Pot
President Obama's bold goal of retaking America's global leadership in college graduates by 2020 is critical for our national competitiveness and economy, writes Louis Soares.
February 26, 2009
Think Again: Thank God for Gitmo!
The punditocracy's attacks on Obama for the decision to close Guantanamo deserve close scrutiny, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
February 26, 2009
Virtudes Conservadoras, Ayer y Ahora
Los comentaristas de la derecha sostienen que los estadounidenses necesitan la disciplina de una recesión e incluso durante la burbuja sostuvieron que la codicia era buena, como lo indica Sally Steenland.
February 26, 2009
Energy Budget Is Sunlight After Eight Years of Darkness
Obama’s proposed energy spending launches a global warming program and builds on clean energy investments made in the Recovery Act, writes Daniel J. Weiss.
February 26, 2009
Investing Wisely in Our Children
Obama’s new budget blueprint includes much-needed money alongside critical reforms to transform our public schools, write Cynthia Brown and Melissa Lazarin.
February 26, 2009
Conservative Virtues, Then and Now
Right-wing commentators argue Americans need the discipline of a recession, yet during the bubble they insisted greed was good, observes Sally Steenland.
February 26, 2009
Obama’s Defense Budget Is on Target
The $534 billion the president proposed for defense spending is adequate to maintain troop quality and infrastructure, and modernize the force, writes Lawrence Korb.
February 26, 2009
Drinking to the Budget
We should all celebrate the honesty and integrity of President Obama's first budget blueprint, says Michael Ettlinger.
February 25, 2009
It's Easy Being Green: How to Be a Greener Reader
E-books, print, or online: What’s the greenest reading option?
February 25, 2009
Processor Wars Speed into Court
David Balto on Law.com about the most critical antitrust case involving a dominant firm: the challenges to Intel Corp.
February 25, 2009
Why Hillary Clinton Got It Right on China
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's recent comments about human rights in China have dismayed many human rights activists. Might they be overreacting? "Successive [U.S.] administrations and Chinese governments have been poised back and forth on these issues, and we have to continue to press them. But our pressing on those issues can't interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis, and the security crisis" the secretary told reporters. On what grounds could a responsible observer -- even one devoted to human rights, like myself -- disagree with those observations?
February 24, 2009
Constitutionalism Abroad: How Do We Actually Do This?
Brian Katulis discusses the book Demagogue by Michael Signer at Talking Points Memo cafe.
February 24, 2009
The Dimensions of a Digitally Networked Campaign
Alan Rosenblatt explores various "dimensions" of online campaigning and the strategies that each dimension requires in a four-part series for Politics magazine.
February 24, 2009
The Ticketmaster-Live Nation Merger: What Does It Mean for Consumers and the Future of the Concert Business?
CAPAF's David Balto testifies on the proposed merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation and its potential consequences.
February 24, 2009
Economic Snapshot for February 2009
The U.S. economy is experiencing its worst recession in decades, writes Christian E. Weller, and the only sector of the economy that can turn it around is the federal government.
February 24, 2009
Ask the Expert: Three Types of Challenges at Guantánamo
Ken Gude discusses the hurdles that the Obama administration will face as it move along the process of closing Guantánamo by January 2010.
February 24, 2009
Progressive Fundamentals: The Dignity of Work
Work is an essential component of human dignity, a fact that should not be ignored when considering how to move forward on economic recovery, writes Susan Thistlethwaite.
February 23, 2009
A National Clean-Energy Smart Grid 101
Our nation’s outmoded electricity grid poses several problems, but transforming it through investment in a national clean-energy smart grid would help confront these challenges while advancing key priorities.
February 23, 2009
Wired for Progress
A report from Bracken Hendricks outlines how to develop a secure, reliable, national, and clean electricity grid to power America’s coming clean energy economy.
February 23, 2009
The Public Supports U.S. Involvement in Afghanistan
Maintaining public support for operations in Afghanistan will be critical to the Obama administration’s success, writes Ruy Teixeira.
February 23, 2009
One Congress Under God
The 111th Congress is one of the most religiously diverse yet, embodying the founding fathers’ vision for religious freedom in the country, writes Sarah Dreier.
February 23, 2009
The Week in Congress: February 23 – 27, 2009
Congress and the administration work on the budget, plus action on the economy, voting rights, and global warming. Get the materials you need to stay ahead.
February 23, 2009
Before the Bush Recession
Supply side tax cuts failed to deliver jobs and growth between 2001 and 2007, writes Joshua Picker.
February 23, 2009
Building a Clean Energy Pipeline
Infographic shows four components needed to create a successful clean energy grid.
February 23, 2009
An Open Letter to the Next Federal Trade Commission Chairman
David Balto discusses the FCC in Global Competition Policy magazine.
February 22, 2009
Economic Analysis: Heather Boushey
Heather Boushey writes in the" Denver Post that, "The president's swift response to the deep economic mess he inherited will stop the accelerating downward spiral of our economy and set the stage for a broad-based recovery in the years ahead."
February 20, 2009
Goldilocks and the Recovery Act
The $787 billion Recovery and Reinvestment Act is neither too big nor too small, too fast or too slow, observe Will Straw and Michael Ettlinger. In fact, it’s just right.
February 20, 2009
Weekly Round Up
Find out what happened this week at CAP: readying for health reform, help for homeowners, and gearing up for the Oscars.
February 20, 2009
Israel’s Likely New Leader
Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu hopes to form a broad government in Israel, but his path is littered with challenges, writes Moran Banai.
February 20, 2009
Fighting for the South Central Farm
Reel Progress talks with Julie and Stuart Sender producers of the Oscar-nominated documentary "The Garden" about a community garden in Los Angeles.
February 20, 2009
Entitlement Reform Means Fixing the Broader Health System
Lester Feder and Ellen-Marie Whelan discuss how to solve Medicare and Medicaid’s budget challenges in this health policy brief.
February 19, 2009
Think Again: Media to Climate: "Drop Dead"
Developing a climate policy beat has been a nonstarter in the mainstream media, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory, but this is one disaster we can see coming.
February 19, 2009
Medicare Matters
The right way to control Medicare costs is to have Medicare lead the way in system-wide health reform, write Judy Feder and Marilyn Moon.
February 19, 2009
Fighting Poverty in the Recovery Act
Alexandra Cawthorne details how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides needed help to the most vulnerable Americans.
February 19, 2009
Clinton must press China on rights
When Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton touches down in Beijing this week she will face an authoritarian Chinese government wringing their hands over a remarkably brazen online petition for human rights and an end to autocratic rule that is circulating among its citizens.
February 19, 2009
At the Border of Reality and the Subconscious
Ari Folman’s new film, “Waltz with Bashir” delves into the experiences of soldiers during the 1982 Lebanon war and offers hope for a two-state solution.
February 18, 2009
At Last, Help for Homeowners
The Obama administration’s housing plan actually helps homeowners, writes Andrew Jakabovics. Now that’s progress.
February 18, 2009
Democracy Promotion in the Middle East and the Obama Administration
Brian Katulis discusses the challenges facing the Obama administration in the Middle East in this report for The Century Foundation.
February 18, 2009
Las minorías y el mercado laboral en la recesión
La experiencia de las minorías en el mercado laboral durante la recesión indica un mayor desempleo y una menor prosperidad.
February 18, 2009
Unions Are Good for the American Economy
February 18, 2009
Minorities Struggle in the Labor Market
Amanda Logan’s by-the-numbers look at minorities’ experience in the labor market throughout the recession shows increasing unemployment and decreasing prosperity.
February 18, 2009
It’s Easy Being Green: What’s a Climate Friendly Diet?
Authors and researchers examine the effects of diets on the health of humans and the planet, and they find altering habits can improve the health of both.
February 17, 2009
Supply Side Madness
Scott Lilly explains that conservative opposition to the Obama administration’s recovery policies ignores the fundamentals of market economics.
February 17, 2009
Democracy Strengthened or Weakened?
Venezuela approved Hugo Chávez’s request to abolish presidential term limits, evidence of a broader trend toward stronger presidents in Latin America, writes Stephanie Miller.
February 16, 2009
Bringing Back Antitrust Law
David Balto in Legal Times discusses President Obama's nomination of Christine Varney for the assistant attorney general of the Antitrust Division.
February 16, 2009
Public Opinion Snapshot: Support for Economic Stimulus Package Increases
Conservatives tried their best to derail President Obama’s economic stimulus package, but public support only rose, writes Ruy Teixeira.
February 13, 2009
Recovery Bill Puts a Light at the End of the Tunnel
The final recovery compromise produced a strong bill; now it’s time to get started on next steps: stabilizing the financial sector and working on the 2010 budget, writes Michael Ettlinger.
February 13, 2009
Recovery Plan Captures the Energy Opportunity
The recovery package Congress is about to pass includes unprecedented investments in clean energy and would put Americans back to work, write Daniel J. Weiss and Alexandra Kougentakis.
February 13, 2009
Weekly Round Up
Find out what happened this week at CAP: analysis of the economic recovery and next steps, Darwin Day, and more on higher education.
February 13, 2009
A Two-State Solution Is Still Essential
Moran Banai explains that despite support for right-wing candidates in Tuesday’s Israeli election, a political solution is still possible for Israelis and Palestinians.
February 13, 2009
The Nationwide Allocation of Recovery Funding
Will Straw shows state-by-state funding allocations from the final House-Senate Recovery and Reinvestment Act compromise in this interactive map.
February 13, 2009
Science, Religion, and a Language for Public Policy
Experts at CAP event discuss the cultural history of Darwin's theory of evolution and its role in modern society.
February 12, 2009
Setting the Health System Up to Fail
It’s no surprise that most of the Medicare demonstrations failed, writes Ellen-Marie Whelan; the useful lessons are in the two that succeeded.
February 12, 2009
Something Darwin Didn't Know
Darwin's commitment to weighing the facts, even when the topic was an emotional one, would serve competing advocates of science and religion well as the world celebrates the great naturalist's 200th birthday today and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his "On the Origin of Species."
February 12, 2009
Think Again: FCC, Meet "Change"
President Obama’s FCC will have their work cut out for them in restoring the agency to the side of the citizens and consumers, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
February 12, 2009
Darwin Day: A Celebration of Science, Not Conflict
D. Graham Burnett and Chris Mooney on untangling the cultural history of evolution.
February 11, 2009
Recession, Poverty, and the Recovery Act
The recovery package would help millions of families who are at risk of falling out of the middle class, write James Kvaal and Ben Furnas.
February 11, 2009
Poor Measurement for Poverty
Policymakers should modernize the poverty measure. The current guideline does not take into account key provisions in the stimulus package such as the creation of a Making Work Pay Tax Credit and the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit.
February 11, 2009
Ask the Expert: Next Steps in Economic Recovery
Michael Ettlinger on how the recovery package invests in short- and long-term growth and how soon we will begin seeing its effects.
February 11, 2009
Health Information Technology Belongs in the Recovery Package
Health IT creates jobs that Americans need right now, but it also invests in infrastructure that will continue to help the economy for years to come.
February 11, 2009
Clean Energy Decision Time
The House recovery bill is better for clean energy and job creation than its Senate counterpart, write Dan Weiss and Alexandra Kougentakis.
February 11, 2009
Pakistan is Closer Than You Think
Now that the inaugural celebrations are over, we’ve moved into that difficult phase of the presidency called governing. To say that President Barack Obama faces unprecedented challenges is practically an understatement. At the very least, he faces greater challenges than any president since Franklin D. Roosevelt. On the international front alone, he must grapple with wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, a global financial meltdown, a sullied American reputation, an explosive situation in the Middle East, an aggressive Russia and a defiant Iran. And those are only a few of the more urgent items.
February 11, 2009
It’s Easy Being Green: How to Plan a Green Vacation
Taking a vacation without leaving behind a large carbon footprint isn’t as difficult as you might think.
February 10, 2009
The Elephant in the Room
Amending the alternative minimum tax in the recovery bill could mean half a million fewer jobs for American workers, writes Scott Lilly.
February 10, 2009
Developing Innovative Economic Tools
Several economic projects—a loan guarantee facility, political risk insurance and supply chain management efforts aimed at creating tangible economic growth in the West Bank and Gaza—help provide important economic steps that link up with the other tracks to move the peace process forward.
February 10, 2009
A To-Do List for Clinton's China Trip
The secretary of State should push for Beijing's help on the economy, nuclear proliferation, climate change, and pandemic disease, writes Nina Hachigian.
February 10, 2009
The Role of Religion in Presidential Campaigns
E.J. Dionne and Shaun Casey discuss the changing shape of religion in presidential races, from Kennedy to Obama.
February 10, 2009
Animation: How the Recovery Works
This video shows that recovery is about rebuilding confidence in the economy and creating an environment that will enable economic growth and job creation.
February 10, 2009
Getting the Stimulus Bill Right
The House and Senate must work out differences in their two economic stimulus bills this week, writes Michael Ettlinger. The negotiators should favor the House provisions.
February 10, 2009
Senate Recovery and Reinvestment Act Sells Health Care Short
The Senate compromise bill provides less access to health insurance, eliminates funding for prevention, and reduces workforce training initiatives.
February 10, 2009
House Recovery Act Creates More Jobs than Senate Compromise
Will Straw provides state-by-state analysis that shows that the Senate recovery bill would create fewer jobs than the House bill.
February 10, 2009
The Other College
Report from Molly F. McIntosh and Cecilia Rouse examines retention and completion rates in two-year colleges.
February 9, 2009
The "Patent Pending" Problem
One million US patent applications are gathering dust today, waiting an average of three years to be examined and ruled upon. That's a problem because despite the widespread notion that patents are about greedy companies gaining monopoly rights, the patent system is primarily a tool of progressive policy making - of sharing information and advancing technology.
February 9, 2009
A Step Forward, a Stumble Back
Michael Ettlinger parses the economic stimulus and recovery legislation, and finds the House version would do more to help the economy recover.
February 9, 2009
Obama's Approach to Iran: How Should He Proceed?
When President Obama begins to implement his campaign promise to engage Iran diplomatically on all the issues dividing us, he needs to keep in mind certain events that have shaped Iran’s perception of the United States, as well as the problems that his predecessors faced when undertaking diplomatic initiatives toward “evil” regimes. And, he needs to consider that a big player in getting Iran to modify its behavior is going to be Russia.
February 9, 2009
The Week in Congress: February 9 - 13, 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dominates action in Congress this week. Get the materials you need to stay ahead.
February 9, 2009
New Beltway Bandits
The conservative economic stimulus compromise now before Congress will hurt cities and states badly, writes Henry Fernandez. What were they thinking?
February 9, 2009
Compromising Women’s Jobs
The Senate compromise legislation to stimulate our economy sacrifices women’s jobs on the altar of centrism, writes Heather Boushey.
February 9, 2009
House Recovery Act Creates More Jobs than Senate Compromise
The House Recovery and Reinvestment Act will create more jobs than the Senate compromise, writes Will Straw.
February 9, 2009
Making Hunger History
CAP event discusses how bolstering food safety net programs for hungry families can save lives and help heal the economy.
February 9, 2009
Cuts to Senate Recovery Bill Mean Fewer Jobs in States
The Senate compromise legislation will create fewer jobs in every state. This chart shows what the changes will mean state by state.
February 9, 2009
Video: How the Recovery Package Creates Jobs
Heather Boushey explains how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act would create jobs.
February 6, 2009
Weekly Round Up
Find out what happened this week at CAP: analysis of the economic recovery package and the labor market, a new report on credit cards, and information on health reform.
February 6, 2009
World Publics Optimistic About Obama Presidency
Public opinion analysis from Ruy Teixeira shows that world publics believe Obama will improve relations and that he should start with the economy and Iraq.
February 6, 2009
Job Losses Continue at Accelerated Pace
New, dismal jobs data released today highlights the need for action on economic recovery, writes Heather Boushey.
February 6, 2009
Card Check: Unions' Salvation?
February 6, 2009
Bank Bailouts Done Right
Spending an additional $350 billion to rescue the U.S. financial system requires adhering to four basic principles, writes Andrew Jakabovics.
February 6, 2009
Arts Bashing
Five million Americans work in the arts, so why are conservatives holding back funding that will help save their jobs, asks Scott Lilly.
February 6, 2009
Where’s the Pork? (Nowhere)
Conservatives belittle a massive job-creating stimulus package now before Congress so that businesses can gain more tax breaks, observes Will Straw, but their talking points are nonsense.
February 5, 2009
Big Labor's Expectations of Obama
February 5, 2009
Guantánamo's Secrets
The United States' hostility toward publishing details of Binyam Mohamed's treatment suggests that the stakes are higher than we may realize.
February 5, 2009
Corporate Tax Break Puts the Cart Before the Horse
The award for the least effect measure in the recovery and reinvestment package may go to the Net Operating Loss corporate tax break, writes Michael Ettlinger.
February 5, 2009
Managing the Transition in U.S. Policy
The results of Iraq’s provincial elections are not yet final, but some analysts have already drawn conclusions about their meaning.
February 5, 2009
Interactive Map: U.S. Lags Behind Rest of World in Responding to the Growing Crisis
An updated interactive map shows how G20 countries have responded to the financial crisis—and how the U.S. is falling behind.
February 5, 2009
Rescuing the American Economy
Michael Ettlinger discusses how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act works to rescue the economy.
February 5, 2009
Think Again: William Kristol: Journalism’s Indispensable Man
Columnist William Kristol moves to the Washington Post after a year of blurring the line between journalism and political strategy at the New York Times, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
February 4, 2009
Help for Students, Help for the Economy
Raegen Miller explains why education is important to economic recovery and what type of education provisions are in the current stimulus proposals.
February 4, 2009
President Obama Signs Expansion of Children's Health Insurance Program
The extension and expansion of CHIP will cover an additional 4.1 million needy children
February 4, 2009
Putting Credit Card Debt on Notice
Report from Tim Westrich on using electronic reminders to give consumers the right information at the right time.
February 4, 2009
It's Easy Being Green: Top Cities to Leave Your Car at Home
Several websites have taken up the difficult task of ranking the top cities where you can get around without filling up a tank or sitting in traffic.
February 4, 2009
After the U.S. Recovers, Will Unions?
February 4, 2009
Role of the U.S. in the World Order
John D. Podesta speaks at the Sanderstolen Conference on Energy Policy in Norway about the need for U.S. leadership and action on climate change.
February 3, 2009
Basic Needs Assistance for the Poor Advances Economic Recovery and Employment Goals
An issue brief from Joy Moses shows how addressing the basic needs of the poor boosts the economy and helps meet national employment goals.
February 3, 2009
Autoworker unions: villains or victims?
How much are deals struck with labor unions weighing down Detroit? Shikha Dalmia and David Madland debate.
February 3, 2009
Meeting the Needs of Low-Income Families in the Economic Recovery
The House’s recovery plan contains provisions that will help keep Americans out of poverty; the Senate should follow suit, writes Alexandra Cawthorne.
February 3, 2009
Selective Keynesians
Scott Lilly shows that contrary to the current assault by the right wing echo chamber, the New Deal proved the necessity of economic stimulus, not the reverse.
February 2, 2009
The Week in Congress: February 2 - 6, 2009
This week Congress takes up economic recovery and reinvestment, children's health insurance, appropriations, and housing.
February 2, 2009
Building on Success: The Role of Public Coverage Programs in Health Reform
Public health insurance programs may not be perfect, but by improving on their strengths and fixing their weaknesses, they can be a solid foundation for health care reform.
February 2, 2009
Public Opinion Snapshot: Public Strongly Supports Economic Recovery Plan
New polls show that the public supports the stimulus—even when told about the price tag, deficit, and new spending, writes Ruy Teixeira.
February 2, 2009
Interactive Map: The Recovery, for Children
These three interactive maps show how the education provisions, health benefits, and tax cuts in the recovery package will help American children.
February 2, 2009
Preparing for College, and Sharing How to Get There
Panelists at a CAP event offer ways to improve students’ preparation for and success in college.
February 2, 2009
Interactive Map: Beyond the Beltway: Recovery's Local Impact
About two-thirds of the recovery packages under consideration by the House and Senate will be spent by state governments. Here's how.
January 12, 2009