Center for American Progress Center for American Progress
Issues Idea of the Day2009 July

July

July 31, 2009

Idea of the Day: Facilitate Russia’s Accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

The Obama administration should facilitate Russia’s membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
July 30, 2009

Idea of the Day: Work with Allies on Euro-Atlantic Integration

The United States should work with the European Union and NATO member states to help Georgia and Ukraine achieve security and prosperity.
July 29, 2009

Idea of the Day: Require Federal Contractors to Provide Work-Family Benefits

The government should follow the recent recommendation made by Workplace Flexibility 2010 to adopt a pilot project requiring federal contractors that have hourly workers working on federal contracts to provide at least two types of flexible, family-friendly work arrangements.
July 28, 2009

Idea of the Day: Improve Information Available about Work-Family Benefits in Federal Contractors

Far too little is known about the federal contractor workforce.
July 27, 2009

Idea of the Day: Reward Responsible Federal Contractors Offering Work-Family Benefits

Federal procurement laws require the government to purchase goods and services only from responsible contractors.
July 24, 2009

Idea of the Day: How to Promote Human Rights Standards in the United States

For human rights to be established there must be both strong popular support and a clear legal or policy mandate.
July 23, 2009

Idea of the Day: Include Family-Friendly Workplace Benefits in Existing Laws

Federal contractors—covered by the Service Contract Act—are required to provide prevailing fringe benefits to their service employees’ performing work under the contract.
July 22, 2009

Idea of the Day: Enforcing Laws to Prevent Pregnancy and Caregiver Discrimination

Executive Order 11246 prohibits sex and race discrimination in the federal contractor workforce.
July 21, 2009

Idea of the Day: Plan for the Possibility of Palestinian Elections in the Coming Year

A key impediment to a two-state solution is the lack of unified Palestinian institutions and leaders endowed with the support of its people.
July 20, 2009

Idea of the Day: Launch a Strategic Communications Effort in the Middle East

The Obama administration’s diplomatic efforts over the settlements are not yet concluded and must be continued in order to revive U.S. credibility in Palestine and the Arab world.
July 17, 2009

Idea of the Day: Immediate Action to Address the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

The United States should work directly and openly with Israeli officials to establish a clear list and transparent criteria and rationale for allowing the import of food, medicines, and reconstruction material.
July 16, 2009

Idea of the Day: An Integrated Program to Strengthen Palestinian Institutions

Neither elections nor stronger Palestinian security forces will be sufficient to produce a capable and legitimate Palestinian government if other Palestinian Authority institutions are not developed in tandem.
July 15, 2009

Idea of the Day: Compensation Reform Must Be Done with Teachers

Compensation reform will not be effective merely because a district or state mandates it, and provides additional monies for awards.
July 14, 2009

Idea of the Day: Six Cornerstones of an Effective Performance-Based Compensation System

The lesson of performance-based compensation is one of institutional change.
July 13, 2009

Idea of the Day: Low-Carbon Technology Development and Transfer

The fight against climate change will not be won without a revolution in the use of existing low-carbon technology and a tidal wave of new inventions.
July 10, 2009

Idea of the Day: Links Between U.S. and Russian Civil Society Groups

The administration should facilitate broad civil society engagement between the United States and Russia.
July 9, 2009

Idea of the Day: Pay for Performance in Health Care

Pay-for-performance purchasing, sometimes referred to as value-based purchasing, is a method of adjusting fee-for-service payments to reflect the quality of the health care provided. Performance-based payment is being used in a wide variety of ways around the country, including by many private insurers and in pilot programs within Medicare.
July 8, 2009

Idea of the Day: Engaging Directly with the Russian Society

Many Russians are profoundly wary of U.S. intentions and often subscribe to myths about American society and foreign policy.
July 7, 2009

Idea of the Day: Develop Solutions to Arctic-Related Challenges with Russia

The Arctic is emerging as a key locus of both competition and cooperation between Russia and the United States.
July 6, 2009

Idea of the Day: Build a Legislative Compromise to Repeal the Jackson-Vanik Amendment

The Jackson-Vanik Amendment was originally intended to support freedom of emigration from the Soviet Union and was an important policy tool when it passed in 1975. But now it serves little purpose and is a significant irritant in bilateral relations. Its repeal would allow the United States and Russia to focus on critical issues such as arms control, nonproliferation, and Iran instead of rehashing Cold War-era disputes.
July 2, 2009

Idea of the Day: Regional Diplomacy to Support Iraq’s Reintegration

Iraq’s neighbors can stabilize Iraq by helping secure its borders, helping its refugees, and contributing to its reconstruction efforts.
July 1, 2009

Idea of the Day: Help Iraqis Build the Infrastructure for Democratic Governance

The United States spent tens of billions of dollars arming and training Iraq’s security forces over the past six years but not enough has been done to build the civilian infrastructure needed to sustain and provide democratic oversight to those security forces. The United States should expand its efforts to train the Iraqi civil service and develop the capacity of these individuals to manage large bureaucracies in order to fight corruption and increase the capacity of Iraq to execute its budget.