February
February 27, 2009
Idea of the Day: Increase U.S. Funding for Governance, Civil Society, and Other Such Initiatives in China
In the face of the economic crisis and pressure to downplay human rights problems in China in favor of other bilateral interests, there may be a temptation to cut funding levels for governance, civil society, and other such initiatives in China. Such a temptation should be strongly resisted and, if anything, these levels should be increased.
February 26, 2009
Idea of the Day: Encourage U.S. NGO Funders of Democracy and Human Rights Initiatives in China to Develop a Coordinated Funding Strategy
The U.S. government should support private funders of government and human rights initiatives in China and encourage them to develop a coordinated strategy.
February 25, 2009
Idea of the Day: Public Programs' Role in Health Reform
Public programs will play a critical role in health reform, and reform is an important opportunity to improve the health safety net.
February 24, 2009
Idea of the Day: Develop a Strategy for Cost Recovery for a National Clean-Energy Smart Grid
Because the benefits of a national clean-energy smart grid are hard to assign to any single group of customers or region, and because beneficiaries are often remote from the site of new transmission, allocating costs widely across all electricity ratepayers within each electrical interconnection will be the most equitable approach and will minimize the cost burden on any single region or segment of the population.
February 23, 2009
Idea of the Day: Regulatory Authorization to Construct New Long-Distance Transmission Lines for Clean Energy
To ensure the United States rapidly builds out a coherent national grid network—designed to maximize efficiency and clean energy—any improved planning processes must be backed by authority to ensure that planned transmission lines are able to obtain the necessary authorizations and certifications to actually be built.
February 20, 2009
Idea of the Day: State and District Teacher Effectiveness Grants
In addition to proposing a new investment in infrastructure, a grant program is needed that would provide seed money for states and districts to implement a range of reforms that focus on teacher effectiveness.
February 19, 2009
Idea of the Day: Increase Funding for the ILO and Its Projects in China
The United States should increase its financial support for the ILO as a whole as well as for targeted programs that the ILO undertakes in China to help improve labor standards there.
February 18, 2009
Idea of the Day: Appoint U.S. Embassy Officials to Track China’s Foreign Policy on Human Rights Abroad
Developing greater in-house expertise that regularly monitors developments bearing on human rights will allow for a more proactive approach, including addressing issues privately with the Chinese before they become hot-button public disputes.
February 17, 2009
Idea of the Day: Elevate Attention to Abuses Directed at Uighurs
The U.S. government should assertively discourage the Chinese government’s efforts to justify sweeping human rights abuses against Uighurs in the name of “counterterrorism.”
February 13, 2009
Idea of the Day: Conduct a Regular Bilateral Dialogue on Human Rights with China
The Obama administration should push for continuation of a bilateral human rights dialogue with China on a regular basis but also establish benchmarks for success and reevaluate the effectiveness of the dialogue at regular intervals so that China cannot use the process to “run out the clock” on meaningful human rights change.
February 12, 2009
Idea of the Day: Allow for Income-Based Flexibility in the Repayment of Student Loans
A promising modification in the way students pay for college is income-contingent loans that allow for flexibility in loan repayment on the basis of post-college income flows.
February 11, 2009
Idea of the Day: Modify Financial Aid to Better Meet the Needs of Two-Year College Students
The current federal financial aid system could be modified to better meet the needs of two-year college students by extending eligibility (and therefore increasing participation) for federal aid to more students as well as by redefining the metrics used to determine student need.
February 10, 2009
Idea of the Day: Encourage China to Sign the TIP Protocol and Follow International Standards
The U.S. government should do all it can to encourage Chinese adoption of the TIP Protocol and legal definitions that are consistent with international standards.
February 9, 2009
Idea of the Day: Support and Build the Capacity of High School and College Educators
Increasing college readiness is fundamentally an instructional challenge that will require developing classroom environments that deeply engage students in acquiring the skills and knowledge they will need to gain access to and succeed in college. Supporting this shift within the classroom will require a serious investment to increase the capacity of high schools by providing teachers and principals the development opportunities to enhance their instructional practice.
February 6, 2009
Idea of the Day: Develop Strong Signals and Clear Incentives to Students About the Path to College
The federal government, states, and districts should send clear messages directly to students about what is required of them in order to prepare for college and, in turn, provide rewards for strong performance.
February 5, 2009
Idea of the Day: Send Text Messages to Cardholders About Credit Card Fees
One simple technological solution could help level the playing field between cardholders and credit card companies and put money back into families’ budgets. Text messages—or a similarly rapid electronic method—could allow a financial institution to transfer information to cardholders at the “teachable moment” when they need it the most.
February 4, 2009
Idea of the Day: A Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights
A bill currently before Congress, the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act, would, among other things, prevent card companies from unfairly increasing interest rates on existing card balances.
February 3, 2009
Idea of the Day: Create Data Systems that Track College Readiness and Attainment and Build Accountability
A first key step in increasing college readiness and attainment is for the federal government, states, and districts to work together to build data reporting and accountability systems that link school and college outcomes and can track these outcomes over time and across schools and institutions.
February 2, 2009