Domestic
This week Marshall Fitz debunked health care reform opponents’ claims that proposed legislation will extend coverage to illegal immigrants. Fitz said these claims prevent solutions on both health care and immigration.
The Center also published an issue brief by Robin Chait and Raegan Miller on ineffective uses of Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title II funds. They argued that school districts have spent too much of their funds to support professional development even though it has little impact on effectiveness.
In addition, Alexandra Cawthorne and Melissa Alpert kicked off the new CAP series “Parenting with Dignity” with an issue brief on how to improve economic security and employment for pregnant women and working mothers.
Finally, the Senate voted to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, marking a historic victory for all Americans who believe in equal justice under the law.
Economy
David Madland wrote that the latest news about job figures is better than expected. Job losses reached an 11-month low and unemployment declined for the first time in over a year. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is beginning to pump money into the economy.
Heather Boushey underscored that more families must rely on women wage earners as men continue to lose three out of every four jobs since the Great Recession that began in late 2007.
After analyzing the first report on the performance of mortgage service companies charged with modifying at-risk home mortgages under the Obama administration’s Home Affordable Modification Program, Andrew Jakabovics suggested there are two types of servicers: those that are making a good faith effort and those whose performance is disappointing.
And Amanda Logan and Christian Weller observed that Americans seem to be saving more according to the latest Bureau of Economic Analysis data, but without stronger income growth such a trend could come to an end.
National Security
The Center continued its work on “sustainable security” by publishing an introduction to the subject after Senior Counterterrorism Advisor John O. Brennan said that the United States must redefine its strategy to include all facets of national power.
CAP’s CEO and President John D. Podesta accompanied former President Bill Clinton to North Korea on a mission to secure the freedom of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. And Colin Thomas-Jensen offered an analysis on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo in an Ask the Expert video.