February 29, 2012
Idea of the Day: Rising Gas Prices Help Big Oil Companies
Each penny rise in the average quarterly (three months) price of a gallon of gas corresponds to a $200 million increase in quarterly profits of the big five oil companies.

February 28, 2012
Idea of the Day: Politicians Need to Stop Race Baiting
Race baiting to win votes is a disturbing and despicable practice. But it doesn’t begin to reach the level of damage done when racial stereotypes and prejudice influence our public policy decisions.

February 27, 2012
Idea of the Day: Conservative House Leadership Doesn't Support the Middle Class
The conservative leadership of the chamber and their backbench Tea Party firebrands doesn't support the interests of American middle-class families.

February 24, 2012
Idea of the Day: Voter Suppression Legislation Is Continuing to Be Advanced
Today, African Americans and people of color find themselves facing a growing number of impediments to the ballot box.

February 23, 2012
Idea of the Day: Selling Reserve Oil Will Bring Down Gas Prices
Selling oil reserves from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a proven tool for temporary reductions in oil and gasoline prices that can forestall reduced economic growth and help middle-class families.

February 22, 2012
Idea of the Day: Smart Economic Policy Can Continue to Strengthen Recovery
The economy and the labor market will have to grow much faster for much longer to restore economic security for America’s middle class.

February 21, 2012
Idea of the Day: Extension Passed in Congress Helps the Middle Class
Congress passed an extension Friday to the payroll tax cut, unemployment benefits, and the “doc fix” for the rest of 2012, avoiding the March 1 expiration and a potential hit to middle-class families across the country.

February 17, 2012
Idea of the Day: Boosting Infrastructure Investments Generates Business, Creates Jobs, and Boosts Public Safety
The prospects for economic growth and job creation from increased federal investments in our transportation, water, and energy infrastructure are undeniable and more affordable than most think.

February 16, 2012
Idea of the Day: The Stimulus Bill Worked
Three broad but important indicators for the American economy indicate that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was a success.

February 15, 2012
Idea of the Day: H.B. 56 Is Hurting Alabama
The law lives up to its billing as the nation’s toughest immigration bill and goes well beyond the Arizona law (S.B. 1070) on which it was based.

February 14, 2012
Idea of the Day: The President's Budget Proposal Has Many Good Ideas
The FY 2013 budget proposal released yesterday is unlikely to get much traction in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives this election year, but that doesn’t invalidate the many good ideas in it or the overall positive direction it outlines.

February 13, 2012
Idea of the Day: Egypt's Political Transition Continues to Unfold
U.S. policy on Egypt and the Middle East will need to make major changes.

February 10, 2012
Idea of the Day: New Mortgage Foreclosure Settlement Helps Homeowners
Yesterday’s announcement of a $25 billion settlement between a consortium of state attorneys general and the nation’s largest banks over alleged misconduct in the processing of mortgage foreclosures provides important assistance for the struggling housing markets.

February 9, 2012
Idea of the Day: Looking at 'What Works' Platforms in Education
These “what works” platforms are in their infancy but they represent a promising step toward evidence-based public decision-making in education.

February 8, 2012
Idea of the Day: Big Oil Produced Less Oil but Made Record Profits in 2011
The five largest oil companies yielded lower oil production last year than in 2010. But these companies combined made a record-high $137 billion in profits in 2011.

February 7, 2012
Idea of the Day: Open Educational Resources Will Help Students
These web-based educational tools hold the promise of both reducing the cost of higher education and helping learners to complete their degrees by providing access to top quality course materials and instruction.

February 6, 2012
Idea of the Day: The Economic Recovery Needs to Accelerate
The recovery is continuing and building momentum. But it needs to accelerate. Strong policy actions can make sure this happens.

February 3, 2012
Idea of the Day: Colleges Need to Lower Tuition
As it’s unlikely that one federal policy will reverse the trend of rising college tuition, the Obama administration must attack the cost problem from many different angles.

February 2, 2012
Idea of the Day: Rep. Kline's ESEA Proposals Wouldn't Help All Students
Rep. John Kline's ESEA proposals would weaken equity provisions in the law designed to ensure historically disadvantaged students get a fair shot at a good education.

February 1, 2012
Idea of the Day: This Year's Deficit Is Not the President's Fault
The narrative that an “Obama spending spree” caused our deficit problem is utterly false.