Idea of the Day

In this series

Restoring Evidence-Based Medicine and Standards of Care
Article

Restoring Evidence-Based Medicine and Standards of Care

Far too many legislators continue to embrace laws that disregard evidence and science and inappropriately mandate care and how it is delivered.

Increasing Millennial Families’ Access to High Quality Child Care
Article

Increasing Millennial Families’ Access to High Quality Child Care

The United States has the third-highest child care costs as a percentage of family income compared to other developed countries, and current child care subsidy programs are simply not enough.

Avoiding Cuts to Pell Grant Funding
Article

Avoiding Cuts to Pell Grant Funding

It is time for Congress to be sensible rather than pit college students against sick patients, workers looking for retraining, and others who need federal assistance.

Fully Funding Our National Security
Article

Fully Funding Our National Security

In their refusal to negotiate a budget deal that would lift the sequester-level spending caps, Congress is unnecessarily risking critical defense and foreign policy priorities.

Addressing the Global Refugee Crisis
Article

Addressing the Global Refugee Crisis

There are many convenient excuses for inaction or doing too little, but this is no time to shirk the responsibility of our common humanity.

Amidst Economic Recovery, Combating Persistent Poverty
Article

Amidst Economic Recovery, Combating Persistent Poverty

These stagnant poverty and income numbers in the face of economic growth focused at the top should be a wake-up call for policymakers.

Amidst Economic Recovery, Combating Persistent Poverty
Article

Amidst Economic Recovery, Combating Persistent Poverty

These stagnant poverty and income numbers in the face of economic growth focused at the top should be a wake-up call for policymakers that greater action is needed.

Accurately Measuring Middle Class Income Trends
Article

Accurately Measuring Middle Class Income Trends

From any angle, middle-class families have seen minimal market income increases even as the economy continues to grow.

Expanding Apprenticeships in the United States
Article

Expanding Apprenticeships in the United States

As concerns from U.S. employers about a skills gap and an aging workforce intensify, apprenticeship programs represent an obvious solution to current and anticipated worker shortages.

Curbing Corruption and Illicit Financial Flows
Article

Curbing Corruption and Illicit Financial Flows

Illicit financial flows and corruption rob governments and their citizens of revenue; devastate trust in the state and the rule of law; and feed crime, terrorism, and unethical behavior.

Avoiding Further Sequestration in the Next Budget Agreement
Article

Avoiding Further Sequestration in the Next Budget Agreement

Budget cuts reduce the investments that lawmakers should be making to strengthen the middle class and undermine vital government functions that promote fair treatment for all Americans.

Increasing Access to High Quality Child Care
Article

Increasing Access to High Quality Child Care

In supporting the current workforce and preparing tomorrow’s workforce for success, the proposal would help secure America’s economic future.

Protecting the Right to Vote in North Carolina
Article

Protecting the Right to Vote in North Carolina

If advocates for voting rights want a level playing field in state courts, they must push for reforms to judicial selection.

Increasing Resilience to Climate Change Through Parametric Risk Insurance
Article

Increasing Resilience to Climate Change Through Parametric Risk Insurance

Parametric risk insurance—insurance policies that use environmental measurements to trigger an immediate payout—can play a key role in reducing the risks of climate change in developing countries.

A Renewable Energy Revolution on America’s Public Lands and Waters
Article

A Renewable Energy Revolution on America’s Public Lands and Waters

The partnership between the federal government and renewable energy developers has contributed to the nation’s twentyfold increase in solar generation and threefold increase in wind generation since 2009.

Reducing Chronic Truancy
Article

Reducing Chronic Truancy

While success in school is dependent upon many factors, being present each and every day is critical, particularly for low-income students and students of color, who face a variety of educational barriers.

Fairer Pay Through Updated Overtime Rules
Article

Fairer Pay Through Updated Overtime Rules

Seventy percent of 16- to 24-year-olds and 41 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds with full-time salaries in exempt roles earned less than the proposed threshold of $50,440 in 2013

The Real Threat to Grid Reliability
Article

The Real Threat to Grid Reliability

Author Myriam Alexander-Kearns discusses the greatest threat to grid reliability: climate change.

Curbing Arctic Warming at the GLACIER Conference
Article

Curbing Arctic Warming at the GLACIER Conference

Arctic and global warming are leading the world closer to rapidly approaching tipping points that will narrow cost-effective climate solutions, adding to an expanding list of regrets.

The Far-Reaching Effects of Climate Displacement
Article

The Far-Reaching Effects of Climate Displacement

People are 60 percent more likely to be displaced by a weather-related disaster today than they were in the 1970s.

The Enormous Cost of Mass Deportation
Article

The Enormous Cost of Mass Deportation

Deporting all unauthorized immigrants would shrink the labor force by 6.4 percent over two decades.

Ensuring a Fair Return on Public Resources
Article

Ensuring a Fair Return on Public Resources

The outdated laws and regulations governing energy and natural resource extraction on U.S. public lands provide few protections for the fiscal interests of U.S. taxpayers.

Staying the Course on Common Core
Article

Staying the Course on Common Core

Patience and faithful implementation of the standards will pay dividends.

An Expanded Child Tax Credit
Article

An Expanded Child Tax Credit

Given that research has shown that boosting poor children’s family income early in life has long-term effects on education, health, and earnings, an expanded tax credit also would likely have positive effects on children’s long-term economic mobility.

Raising Middle-Class Incomes
Article

Raising Middle-Class Incomes

Accurate measurement is important, but policymakers and journalists should focus on the question of how to raise middle-class incomes rather than worrying about technical adjustments that do not affect the overall picture.

Remembering the Victims of Oak Creek
Article

Remembering the Victims of Oak Creek

On the third anniversary of the shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, that killed six people, author Anisha Singh reflects on how the Sikh community has come together to advocate for forgiveness and raise awareness in the face of continued hate crimes against American Sikhs.

Making Savings Count with a Refundable Saver’s Credit
Article

Making Savings Count with a Refundable Saver’s Credit

Congress should take action on tax reform by making savings count through progressive matches in the tax code, with a refundable Saver’s Credit as the first step.

Updating the Voting Rights Act 50 Years Later
Article

Updating the Voting Rights Act 50 Years Later

50 years after the Voting Rights Act was signed into law, Congress needs to ensure that voting is accessible to all Americans as communities of color continue to grow in the United States.

Closing the Gap in Women’s Leadership
Article

Closing the Gap in Women’s Leadership

It has been estimated that, at the current rate of change, it will take until 2085 for women to reach parity with men in key leadership roles in the United States.

Ensuring Access to Health Care for Future Generations
Article

Ensuring Access to Health Care for Future Generations

The political conversation surrounding the ACA must move beyond repeal and turn toward serious debates about how to improve and shape health care for future generations.

A More Effective Federal Budget Process
Article

A More Effective Federal Budget Process

Setting a responsible course for the federal budget requires political will and compromise.

Promoting Inclusive Capitalism
Article

Promoting Inclusive Capitalism

Workers are not reaping the full benefits of their increasing productivity or the country’s economic growth.

Support for Providing Birth Control Coverage Among Small Business Owners
Article

Support for Providing Birth Control Coverage Among Small Business Owners

support for corporate religious freedom only serves to perpetuate a false, unrepresentative view of small business owners’ beliefs—and does so at the expense of working women.

Effectively Caring for an Aging Population
Article

Effectively Caring for an Aging Population

Recognizing and respecting the dignity of all work, embracing the responsibility to family, and caring for the most vulnerable citizens are values that must inform the United States’ approach to elder care.

Reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund
Article

Reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund

The Obama administration needs to fight for the basic idea that underpins the LWCF: Investment in conservation should be a condition for offshore drilling.

A Comprehensive Strategy for Combatting ISIS
Article

A Comprehensive Strategy for Combatting ISIS

U.S.-led effort to defeat ISIS remain hampered by the failure to fully integrate the anti-ISIS military strategy into wider political strategy.

Developing Responsible Lending Practices
Article

Developing Responsible Lending Practices

Aligning incentives would create a vibrant lending market in which both borrowers and lenders could benefit from the extension of credit.

The Positive Impact of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Article

The Positive Impact of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

A more permanent solution in the form of comprehensive immigration reform legislation—anchored by a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants—would yield even greater benefits and provide increased prosperity for all Americans.

Rolling Back Financial Regulations Won’t Boost Community Banks
Article

Rolling Back Financial Regulations Won’t Boost Community Banks

Rolling back financial reform and consumer protections in the name of helping small banks could bring back the risky practices that led to the financial crisis.

Continued U.S. Leadership in Robotic Space Exploration
Article

Continued U.S. Leadership in Robotic Space Exploration

Americans can once again bask in the pride that comes from leading—and completing—humanity’s initial exploration of its own celestial backyard.

Moving Past the Failed Trickle-Down Experiment
Article

Moving Past the Failed Trickle-Down Experiment

Trickle-down economics have failed to deliver higher overall income growth; the middle class needs active policy solutions that produce inclusive prosperity.

The Enduring Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Article

The Enduring Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Two years after the Senate passage of S. 744, the lives of millions of new Americans remain on hold while they wait for Congress to pass durable and permanent immigration legislation.

The Moral Case for Mitigating Climate Change
Article

The Moral Case for Mitigating Climate Change

The pope’s message sets scientific fact in a moral framework and calls for “decisive action, here and now.”

Reaching an Acceptable Nuclear Agreement with Iran
Article

Reaching an Acceptable Nuclear Agreement with Iran

Despite the threat that Iran will continue to pose, a deal that meets specific criteria offers the most effective pathway to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

A New Start for Pennsylvanians with Minor Criminal Records
Article

A New Start for Pennsylvanians with Minor Criminal Records

A clean slate policy would help Pennsylvanians gain employment and provide for themselves and their families, as well as grow the commonwealth's economy.

Modernizing the Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Process
Article

Modernizing the Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Process

The upcoming rulemaking that addresses the federal oil and gas leasing process is a critical opportunity to reevaluate how public lands are leased and ensure that the public receives a fair and equitable share.

Protecting Global LGBT Rights with the U.S. Asylum System
Article

Protecting Global LGBT Rights with the U.S. Asylum System

Authors Sharita Gruberg and Rachel West assert that while progress has been made in the United States and other countries, the United States must take steps to make sure that LGBT asylum seekers are not denied lifesaving protections.

Explaining the Continued Decline in Projected Medicare Spending
Article

Explaining the Continued Decline in Projected Medicare Spending

There are several reasons for the falling Medicare projections, including lower estimates for health care cost growth, lower-than-expected costs for the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, and the Affordable Care Act, or ACA.

Strengthening Social Security Disability Insurance
Article

Strengthening Social Security Disability Insurance

Rebalancing the OASI and Disability Insurance trust funds would ensure that Social Security is able to pay all promised retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for the next nearly two decades.

Investing in Congressional Competence
Article

Investing in Congressional Competence

Funding cuts and staff reductions over the past two decades thus not only hurt Congress’ ability to run smoothly but have also resulted in Congress’ increasing reliance on outside groups.

Expanding the Successful Child and Adult Care Food Program
Article

Expanding the Successful Child and Adult Care Food Program

Because CACFP plays an outsized function by leveraging resources, Congress should make a concerted effort to make the program even stronger.

The Centrality of Disparate Impact Analysis in the Fair Housing Act
Article

The Centrality of Disparate Impact Analysis in the Fair Housing Act

If the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Fair Housing Act does not prohibit policies with a discriminatory impact, potential renters and homeowners will lose a vital tool to ensure that they have equal access to housing.

Investing in Amtrak for Improved Rail Service
Article

Investing in Amtrak for Improved Rail Service

Amtrak provides critical rail service to commuters across the country, particularly the Northeast. Without additional investment, however, it will be unable to meet demand.

Eliminating LGBT Discrimination in Adoption and Foster Care
Article

Eliminating LGBT Discrimination in Adoption and Foster Care

Supporting federal laws such as the Every Child Deserves a Family Act can counter state-led efforts at discrimination—maximizing the chance that all children and youth can find loving, qualified parents and caregivers.

The Widespread Implications of Turkey’s Upcoming Election
Article

The Widespread Implications of Turkey’s Upcoming Election

The outcome of the election—possibly the last until 2019—may determine the future of the Turkish Constitution of 1982, the position of religion in the public square, and the quality of Turkish democracy.

Making Medicare Payments More Efficient
Article

Making Medicare Payments More Efficient

If Medicare is going to achieve its goal of moving away from fee-for-service payments, it must focus greater attention on bundled payment models which continuing to improve its accountable care organization programs.

Simplifying the Federal Financial Aid Application Process
Article

Simplifying the Federal Financial Aid Application Process

Policymakers should make allow students and families to determine their eligibility for federal student aid using old tax returns, as well as notify them of their eligibility at an younger age.

Bringing Entrepreneurship Back to the Middle Class
Article

Bringing Entrepreneurship Back to the Middle Class

Authors Adam Hersh and Jennifer Erickson discuss new data showing the steep decline in entrepreneurship in the United States and recommend solutions to bring it back.

What DAPA Means for the Economy and the Electorate
Article

What DAPA Means for the Economy and the Electorate

Fully implementing DAPA is not only the right thing to do for families and the economy—it also has key electoral implications.

Using ESEA Reauthorization to Address Inequities in School Funding
Article

Using ESEA Reauthorization to Address Inequities in School Funding

Congressional reauthorization of the ESEA should include measures to reduce the funding inequities between the public schools that serve affluent versus low-income students.

Curbing the Abuse of LGBT Immigrants in Detention
Article

Curbing the Abuse of LGBT Immigrants in Detention

As long as Congress continues to require ICE to detain 34,000 people daily in order to fill an arbitrary quota, LGBT immigrants will continue to be vulnerable to abuse in detention.

Expanding Medicaid to Replace Low-Income Pool Funding
Article

Expanding Medicaid to Replace Low-Income Pool Funding

As low-income pool funding expires, governors and state legislators in Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and Kansas must act to expand Medicaid to provide low-income residents with insurance coverage.

Fostering Social Cohesion to Build Climate Resilience
Article

Fostering Social Cohesion to Build Climate Resilience

Government policies must foster community cohesion and incorporate community input in climate resilience and mitigation plans.

Taking a Two-Generation Approach for English Language Learners
Article

Taking a Two-Generation Approach for English Language Learners

Ensuring that both parents and children have access to quality English language instruction will increase the economic well being of families and communities.

Modernizing Military Compensation
Article

Modernizing Military Compensation

Congress should use this year's defense authorization bill to modernize the U.S. military compensation system.

Closing Loopholes in Coal Royalty Valuation on Public Lands
Article

Closing Loopholes in Coal Royalty Valuation on Public Lands

The Department of the Interior should strengthen its proposed rule to ensure that taxpayers get a fair return on coal mined from public lands.

A High Bar to Clear for Privatizing Air Traffic Control
Article

A High Bar to Clear for Privatizing Air Traffic Control

As Congress considers reauthorizing Federal Aviation Administration operations, it should consider the successes of the current system as well as the uncertain consequences of privatization.

Net-Zero Energy Buildings For the Federal Government
Article

Net-Zero Energy Buildings For the Federal Government

The U.S. Department of Energy must finalize a rule that would make federal government buildings more environmentally friendly.

Raising the Minimum Wage
Article

Raising the Minimum Wage

The Murray-Scott minimum wage bill would deliver a long-overdue wage hike to many working Americans and a boost to the U.S. economy.

Renew Lease-Purchase Programs To Increase Home Ownership
Article

Renew Lease-Purchase Programs To Increase Home Ownership

Properly designed, home ownership programs could avoid the pitfalls of past efforts and help more Americans transition from leasing to owning a home.

Empowering Teachers To Successfully Implement Common Core
Article

Empowering Teachers To Successfully Implement Common Core

Teachers are hard at work implementing the Common Core standards each day, and their input on implementation is vitally important to its success.

Crafting Effective Regulation for the Prepaid Card Market
Article

Crafting Effective Regulation for the Prepaid Card Market

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should alter its proposed rule to make prepaid cards safer, more transparent, and more affordable.

Helping Students Through Transparent College Oversight
Article

Helping Students Through Transparent College Oversight

By releasing its list of colleges under heightened cash monitoring, the Department of Education is bringing transparency to its oversight of troubled institutions.

Decarbonizing America’s Energy System
Article

Decarbonizing America’s Energy System

The EPA's Clean Power Plan represents a significant step towards decarbonizing America's energy sector.

How U.S. Federal Courts Affect Everyday American Life
Article

How U.S. Federal Courts Affect Everyday American Life

U.S. Federal Courts exercise tremendous influence, making decisions that affect the everyday lives of Americans across the country.

Cutting Nutrition Assistance Would Harm Job Growth
Article

Cutting Nutrition Assistance Would Harm Job Growth

Proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program would impair job growth and drive vulnerable Americans deeper into poverty.

The Cost of Congressional Inaction on Immigration
Article

The Cost of Congressional Inaction on Immigration

While deferred action is an important interim step, comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship would provide enormous benefits to the U.S. economy.

Reckoning with History at the University of North Carolina
Article

Reckoning with History at the University of North Carolina

Columnist Sam Fulwood III argues that his alma mater must deal directly with its history, not revise it for the sake of contemporary comfort.

Millennial Support for LGBT Nondiscrimination Legislation
Article

Millennial Support for LGBT Nondiscrimination Legislation

A new poll from Generation Progress reveals that Millennials broadly support comprehensive LGBT nondiscrimination legislation at the state and federal level.

Strengthening the Economy Through DACA and DAPA
Article

Strengthening the Economy Through DACA and DAPA

President Obama's executive actions on immigration will provide a boon to the U.S. economy, increasing GDP by approximately $230 billion over the next ten years.

Investing in Resilience To Combat Extreme Weather
Article

Investing in Resilience To Combat Extreme Weather

As extreme weather events become more common across the United States, Congress must increase its investment in resilient infrastructure.

Discriminatory Legislation is Bad For Business
Article

Discriminatory Legislation is Bad For Business

Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act is sparking a backlash among business interests that could have severe consequences for the state's economy.

Taking Dramatic Steps to Turn Around Failing Schools
Article

Taking Dramatic Steps to Turn Around Failing Schools

An examination of the research shows that dramatic action—not incremental shifts—is often required to improve failing schools.

Expanding Urban Opportunity
Article

Expanding Urban Opportunity

Addressing the economic challenges faced by depressed urban areas is key to reinvigorating the American economy and increasing access to opportunity.

Congress Should Enforce, Not Sabotage, an Agreement with Iran
Article

Congress Should Enforce, Not Sabotage, an Agreement with Iran

Rather than work against President Obama during negotiations, Congress should ensure that any deal to constrain the Iranian nuclear program is enforced.

Increasing Abortion Access Through Expanded Care
Article

Increasing Abortion Access Through Expanded Care

To increase access to abortion care, states should pass legislation allowing advance-practice clinicians, or APC's, to provide medical abortions.

Equal Access for LGBT Immigrants
Article

Equal Access for LGBT Immigrants

Although we have seen great progress in the 50 years since the Immigration and Naturalization Act, additional measures are needed to ensure that LGBT immigrants are not disadvantaged in attempting to access the legal immigration system.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Federal Lands
Article

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Federal Lands

The Obama administration should take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fuel extraction on federal lands and waters.

Using the Green Climate Fund to Meet the Climate Challenge
Article

Using the Green Climate Fund to Meet the Climate Challenge

Countries—including the United States—should meet their financial obligations to the Green Climate Fund in order to help developing countries curtail their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.

A Critical Moment in Iran Nuclear Negotiations
Article

A Critical Moment in Iran Nuclear Negotiations

Negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 nations over the Iranian nuclear program have reached a decision point.

Higher Education For Undocumented Students
Article

Higher Education For Undocumented Students

Higher education opportunities for undocumented students must be expanded, not restricted, at the state level.

Afghan Security
Article

Afghan Security

The authors explore the critical needs of the Afghan National Security Forces.

Tackling Inequality
Article

Tackling Inequality

The author's explore how serious congressional majority leaders are about boosting opportunity and expanding the middle class.

Weakening Renewable Energy Schedules
Article

Weakening Renewable Energy Schedules

Many states are already facing coordinated campaigns across the country to roll back state-level renewable energy standards, write the authors.

Dynamic Scoring
Article

Dynamic Scoring

The Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation are being forced to adopt dynamic scoring, writes the author.

The National Ocean Policy
Article

The National Ocean Policy

Ocean-dependent businesses look to ocean planning to make the most of marine resources, explains the author.

Executive Action on Immigration
Article

Executive Action on Immigration

Immigration enforcement harms families and children, writes the author.

Medicare Payment Reform
Article

Medicare Payment Reform

The new Medicare goal for payment reform is a significant milestone toward improving patient care and making health care spending more sustainable, write the authors.

Diversity in America
Article

Diversity in America

Sam Fulwood III ponders the far-reaching policy implications of demographic change in the United States.

Public Transportation
Article

Public Transportation

Conservatives continue to advance specious arguments that are harmful to federal funding for public transportation, writes author Kevin DeGood.

LGBT Communities and the EITC
Article

LGBT Communities and the EITC

The authors explain the Earned Income Tax Credit and how proposed modifications to improve its effectiveness can benefit the LGBT community.

Executive Action on Immigration
Article

Executive Action on Immigration

Attempting to deport all 5 million people who would benefit from the president’s directives on immigration would be costly, writes the author.

Redesigning Teacher Salaries
Article

Redesigning Teacher Salaries

Teacher compensation reform improves school districts’ ability to attract, retain, and leverage a high-performing teachers, write the authors.

American History
Article

American History

Conservative efforts to whitewash the history taught in our schools harms students, writes the author.

Federal Home Visiting
Article

Federal Home Visiting

The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program provides critical support to high-risk children and families across the country, write the authors.

The Defense Budget
Article

The Defense Budget

The Pentagon’s fiscal year 2016 budget request makes important reforms but ignores fiscal and political realities, write the authors.

Weaponized Words
Article

Weaponized Words

The amount of negativity we observe and consume on a daily basis threatens to undermine the quality of civic life, writes the author.

January’s Employment Report
Article

January’s Employment Report

January’s strong employment release report had only positive news, but we should wait and see how the Fed responds, writes the author.

Coal Market Distortions
Article

Coal Market Distortions

Policymakers can raise revenue to invest in coal communities by ensuring that coal companies mining from federal lands pay their fair share, write the authors.

ESEA Title I, Part A, ‘Portability’
Article

ESEA Title I, Part A, ‘Portability’

A new proposal to update the No Child Left Behind Act could substantially affect the students most at need.

Addressing the Wealth Gap
Article

Addressing the Wealth Gap

Struggling communities of color need tangible assistance, writes author Sam Fulwood III.

Transgender Youth Homelessness
Article

Transgender Youth Homelessness

Policies and programs aimed at homeless youth routinely fail transgender young people, write the authors.

Malaysia in 2015
Article

Malaysia in 2015

The United States has much to gain from enhanced ties with Malaysia, write the authors.

Disabled Workers
Article

Disabled Workers

There are several practical solutions that would remove barriers to employment for workers with disabilities, write the authors.

Labor-Market Opportunities
Article

Labor-Market Opportunities

Subsidized jobs offer a targeted strategy to give disadvantaged workers a foot in the door to the labor market, write the authors.

U.S.-Egypt Relations
Article

U.S.-Egypt Relations

The United States and Egypt need new anchors of economic and diplomatic cooperation, write the authors.

Faith Leaders in 2015
Article

Faith Leaders in 2015

Religious leaders and faith advocates remind us how important faith voices are as we work together to create a more just and equitable nation, write the authors.

How Gun Violence Affects Women in Nevada
Article

How Gun Violence Affects Women in Nevada

State leaders need to take action to ensure that dangerous domestic abusers and stalkers do not have easy access to firearms, write the authors.

Guantanamo Bay
Article

Guantanamo Bay

Congress is trying to erect more barriers to thwart President Obama’s desire to close Guantanamo, writes author Ken Gude.

America’s Outdoor Economy
Article

America’s Outdoor Economy

The outdoor economy should be recognized as a crucial sector of the U.S. economy and accurately measured, write the authors.

The Affordable Care Act and African Americans
Article

The Affordable Care Act and African Americans

Author Emmanuel Hurtado highlights the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for the African American community.

Big Money in Judicial Elections
Article

Big Money in Judicial Elections

Concerns about the appearance of corruption in American courts have grown more urgent in recent years as spending on judicial races has exploded, writes the author.

Latinos and the Affordable Care Act
Article

Latinos and the Affordable Care Act

Fernanda Denys Reyes highlights the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for the Latino community.

Race and New Technology
Article

Race and New Technology

The new tech economy has not conquered racial bias, writes the author.

Stagnant Wages
Article

Stagnant Wages

While the U.S. economy has added 11.2 million private-sector jobs, wages are still going nowhere, explains the author.

New Teachers Are Staying in Their Jobs Longer
Article

New Teachers Are Staying in Their Jobs Longer

Seventy percent of new teachers stay in their positions for longer than five years, write the authors.

Short-Term and Long-Term Fiscal Outlooks
Article

Short-Term and Long-Term Fiscal Outlooks

Failing to distinguish short term from long term often confuses the federal budget debate, writes author Harry Stein.

Implications of Shifting Demographics
Article

Implications of Shifting Demographics

Changing electoral demographics will have noticeable effects on the 2016 elections, writes author Patrick Oakford.

The Fossil-Fuel Industry’s Spending
Article

The Fossil-Fuel Industry’s Spending

The coal, oil, and gas industries spent more than three-quarters of a billion dollars in the 2014 election cycle, write the authors.

A Look at the U.S. Economy in December
Article

A Look at the U.S. Economy in December

CAP economist Christian E. Weller examines the state of the U.S. economy in December 2014.

Fossil-Fuel Industry Spending in the Midterm Elections
Article

Fossil-Fuel Industry Spending in the Midterm Elections

The coal, oil, and gas industries spent more than three-quarters of a billion dollars in the 2014 election cycle. The question is: What will be the return on that investment?

The Silver Line
Article

The Silver Line

To fully realize the potential of Metro’s Silver Line, policymakers must break with past development practices, writes the author.

Remedying Gender Inequality Through Public Policy
Article

Remedying Gender Inequality Through Public Policy

There are lessons to learn from other countries where public policy has been used to help women succeed, write the authors.

The Orion Launch
Article

The Orion Launch

Authors Peter Juul and Rudy deLeon write on the significance of the Orion launch.

State-Level Promise Zones
Article

State-Level Promise Zones

State leaders can adopt the Promise Zones model to support innovative localities, explain the authors.

Investing in Preschool
Article

Investing in Preschool

Many children currently lack access to high-quality preschool, write the authors.

The Federal Coal Program
Article

The Federal Coal Program

Reforms are needed to fix an outdated federal coal program, explains the author.

The Barriers to Higher Education
Article

The Barriers to Higher Education

Undocumented students must navigate a labyrinth of policies from federal, state, and postsecondary institutions to earn a college degree, explains Zenen Jaimes Pérez.

The Search for Open-Mindedness
Article

The Search for Open-Mindedness

As the country slides into a so-called “opinion nation,” it made it nearly impossible to find common ground, writes Sam Fulwood III.

The Explosion of Student-Loan Debt
Article

The Explosion of Student-Loan Debt

Elizabeth Baylor discusses the effects of states’ devastating budget cuts to public colleges ushered in by the Great Recession.

The Role of States in Implementing the Clean Power Plan
Article

The Role of States in Implementing the Clean Power Plan

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan offers states the opportunity to curb rising natural gas use in the United States, writes Alison Cassady.

America’s Aging Sewage System
Article

America’s Aging Sewage System

A CAP infographic illustrates why policymakers need to invest in the resilience of our wastewater treatment infrastructure.

A Snapshot of the Economy
Article

A Snapshot of the Economy

It’s time for an economy that works for everyone and not just the wealthy few, explain the authors.

Tunisia’s Fragile Transition
Article

Tunisia’s Fragile Transition

Ariella Viehe discusses the difficult political, economic, and security decisions that lie ahead for Tunisia.

Overloaded Immigration Courts
Article

Overloaded Immigration Courts

Over the past two decades, the United States has put immigration and border enforcement into overdrive, while not allocating adequate resources to the immigration court system, explain the authors.

The Positive Effects of DACA
Article

The Positive Effects of DACA

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program has had an enormous effect on the lives of hundreds of thousands of undocumented young people and their families, explains the author.

Iranian Negotiations
Article

Iranian Negotiations

Author Shlomo Brom discusses the diplomatic efforts to address Iran’s nuclear program.

Reform in Myanmar
Article

Reform in Myanmar

The authors discuss President Obama returning to Myanmar two years after his initial visit.

Los Angeles and Climate Change
Article

Los Angeles and Climate Change

Cities around the globe are on the front lines of climate change, explain the authors.

President Obama and the Veto
Article

President Obama and the Veto

President Obama should follow the lead of former President Clinton and wield the veto pen, writes Tom Kenworthy.

Millennials and Entrepreneurship
Article

Millennials and Entrepreneurship

Sarah Ayres Steinberg explains why young people want to start businesses and the challenges they face challenges.

Private Enforcement Mechanisms
Article

Private Enforcement Mechanisms

Anna Chu explains the importance of a recent Delaware Supreme Court decision.

The Environment and the Next Congress
Article

The Environment and the Next Congress

The new Congress will have its sights set on rolling back environmental protections, explain the authors.

The Fight Against ISIS
Article

The Fight Against ISIS

Military action in Syria must remain focused on degrading the terrorist threat while pushing for a political transition, explain the authors.

Long-Term Care Services
Article

Long-Term Care Services

Targeted reforms will help more Americans afford long-term care, write the authors.

America’s Neglected Wastewater Infrastructure
Article

America’s Neglected Wastewater Infrastructure

Policymakers need to invest in the resilience of our wastewater treatment infrastructure, explain the authors.

Gainful Employment and For-Profit Colleges
Article

Gainful Employment and For-Profit Colleges

The effectiveness and approach of for-profit colleges is being questioned, explains author David A. Bergeron.

The Growth of Women of Color in the Electorate
Article

The Growth of Women of Color in the Electorate

Women of color are a key voting bloc with the potential to affect elections and public policy, writes Maya Harris.

The Great Recession and Public Colleges
Article

The Great Recession and Public Colleges

Public investment in higher education is vital to the performance of our economy, explain the authors.

The Role of Anchor Institutions in Community Revitalization
Article

The Role of Anchor Institutions in Community Revitalization

The federal government has a vested interest in exploring strategies that harness anchors’ power to increase community revitalization and economic growth, explains Tracey Ross.

Immigration Facts
Article

Immigration Facts

The CAP Immigration Team provides a rundown of everything you need to know about our foreign-born population.

The Unequal Mortgage Market
Article

The Unequal Mortgage Market

Massive disparities persist in the housing market and the economy based on the color of one’s skin, explains Michela Zonta.

Testing in the United States
Article

Testing in the United States

States and school districts are far from the goal of better, fairer, and fewer tests, explains Melissa Lazarín.

U.S.-Egypt Relations
Article

U.S.-Egypt Relations

Egypt continues to face a long list of challenges, explain the authors.

Gun Violence in Washington State
Article

Gun Violence in Washington State

There are many facets of gun violence in Washington state that stand out as exception, unusual, or above the national average, explain Chelsea Parsons and Lauren Speigel.

Seafood Fraud
Article

Seafood Fraud

Shiva Polefka and Michael Conathan explore how to get crime out of the seafood supply chain.

American Spaceflight
Article

American Spaceflight

The United States must strengthen its space program and regain control of exploration beyond Earth, explain the authors.

Financial Reform in China
Article

Financial Reform in China

Deeper structural changes are needed to reform China’s financial system, explains Adam Hersh.

The Pygmalion Effect
Article

The Pygmalion Effect

Research makes clear the importance of high teacher expectations for all students, the authors explain.

Executive Action on Immigration
Article

Executive Action on Immigration

Executive action on immigration would bring tangible benefits to the nation, explains Philip Wolgin.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Article

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposal to release consumers’ complaints adds additional transparency to the financial system.

Shortsighted Spending Cuts
Article

Shortsighted Spending Cuts

Harry Stein and Hilary Gelfond explain why austerity is so out of hand.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Article

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Aarthi Gunasekaran and Vikram Singh discuss the meeting between newly elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama.

Corporate Inversions
Article

Corporate Inversions

Alexandra Thornton explains what Americans need to know when it comes to corporate inversions.

The Efforts to Improve K-12 Education
Article

The Efforts to Improve K-12 Education

While the Common Core State Standards have become increasingly contentious, research shows support for the Common Core’s principles remains high.

Out Of Touch Institutional Voices
Article

Out Of Touch Institutional Voices

Pop culture now has the tools to take racial insensitivity to task, says Sam Fulwood III.

Improving Our Tax Code
Article

Improving Our Tax Code

Despite the political gridlock over taxes, there are actually many areas on which both sides agree, explain the authors.

Controlling Climate Change and Expanding Job Opportunities
Article

Controlling Climate Change and Expanding Job Opportunities

Effectively mitigating climate change requires identifying exactly how the United States will transform its energy economy to attain international goals to help protect our climate.

Child Care Regulations
Article

Child Care Regulations

Recent updates to the child care subsidy system bring much-needed changes, writes Maryam Adamu.

The Fight Against ISIS and Assad
Article

The Fight Against ISIS and Assad

The Obama administration has an important opportunity to adjust its course in Syria and Iraq, the authors explain.

Immigration Reform Is Good for All
Article

Immigration Reform Is Good for All

Black Americans have no reason to fear job losses from the promised White House protections for undocumented immigrant families, explains Sam Fulwood III

Encouraging Renters To Save
Article

Encouraging Renters To Save

Drawing on the most successful elements of previous efforts is the key to designing strong and effective renter savings programs, explains David M. Abromowitz and Sarah Edelman.

An Integrated Strategy to Advance Middle East Stability
Article

An Integrated Strategy to Advance Middle East Stability

Brian Katulis, Hardin Lang, and Vikram Singh argue that combating ISIS in Iraq and Syria will require a concerted diplomatic and security strategy in coordination with U.S. allies around the world.

Promoting Access and Success for All Students
Article

Promoting Access and Success for All Students

Antoinette Flores explores why several colleges and universities have had greater success than others in graduating both students of color and low-income students.

The Need For More and Better Jobs
Article

The Need For More and Better Jobs

Adam Hersh writes on the concentration of new jobs in low-wage industries.

The FHA Distressed Asset Stabilization Program
Article

The FHA Distressed Asset Stabilization Program

Sarah Edelman, Julia Gordon, and Aashna Desai provide recommendations for how the Federal Housing Administration can better help neighborhoods and homeowners while still saving money for taxpayers.

Controlling Climate Change and Expanding Job Opportunities
Article

Controlling Climate Change and Expanding Job Opportunities

Effectively mitigating climate change requires identifying exactly how the United States will transform its energy economy to attain international goals to help protect our climate.

Afghanistan and the NATO Summit
Article

Afghanistan and the NATO Summit

Aarthi Gunasekaran explains why the international role in Afghanistan should be reassessed during the NATO Summit.

The Science Gap
Article

The Science Gap

Congress has not followed up with the appropriations necessary to double funding for basic research.

State of the Economy, August 2014
Article

State of the Economy, August 2014

Congress needs to cut the party-line bickering and refocus its efforts on policies that help American workers, say Christian E. Weller and Jackie Odum.

Delivering Development
Article

Delivering Development

Molly Elgin-Cossart discusses the shifting conversation on the post-2015 development agenda.

Apprenticeship National Standards
Article

Apprenticeship National Standards

Sarah Ayres writes on how employer-written national guideline standards can strengthen America’s apprenticeship system.

Social Security and Communities of Color
Article

Social Security and Communities of Color

Christian E. Weller and Farah Ahmad explore how improving economic and health outcomes for communities of color has the potential to help combat Social Security’s projected shortfall.

The Troubles in Ferguson
Article

The Troubles in Ferguson

Sam Fulwood III writes on the turmoil playing out in the Show Me State.

Millennium Development Goals
Article

Millennium Development Goals

Annie Malknecht writes on the accomplishments of the Millennium Development Goals.

Community Development Block Grant Program
Article

Community Development Block Grant Program

CDBG continues to serve as an important tool in helping communities across the country tackle emerging challenges in affordable housing, infrastructure, and economic development.

Syrian Refugee Crisis
Article

Syrian Refugee Crisis

Shiva Pedram explains why the Middle Eastern countries currently sheltering Syrian refugees need international support.

Florida’s Immigration Turnaround
Article

Florida’s Immigration Turnaround

Zach Fields writes on Florida’s changing demographics and their effects on immigration policy.

The Shangri-La Dialogue
Article

The Shangri-La Dialogue

The annual Singapore-based Asia-Pacific security summit, traditionally a convivial affair, is becoming more candid and sharp elbowed—and that’s a good thing.

Skewed Perspective in the Media
Article

Skewed Perspective in the Media

A hashtag campaign confronts the racial biases in the images we see of black Americans.

Central American Children Fleeing Violence
Article

Central American Children Fleeing Violence

Violent conditions are causing tens of thousands of children and families from Central America to take refuge in the United States and neighboring countries.

Children Fleeing Central America Need Legal Counsel
Article

Children Fleeing Central America Need Legal Counsel

The United States should provide legal representation for Central American child refugees, many of who have legitimate claims for relief.

Liquefied Natural Gas Exports
Article

Liquefied Natural Gas Exports

Increased LNG exports could theoretically result in a net benefit for the climate.

The Toll of Offshoring Work
Article

The Toll of Offshoring Work

Reshoring tax incentives can ease the wage and employment pressures

The Kurdish Peace Process in Context
Article

The Kurdish Peace Process in Context

The United States must rethink its policy toward Kurdish political groups.

Economic Opportunity Improvments
Article

Economic Opportunity Improvments

Successful anti-poverty solutions should be coordinated in a way that meets the needs of families and should build upon lessons learned from successful programs across the country.

Powder River Basin Coal Leasing
Article

Powder River Basin Coal Leasing

The federal coal-leasing program in the Powder River Basin is costing taxpayers billions of dollars.

The Effects of Abandoning RGGI on New Jersey
Article

The Effects of Abandoning RGGI on New Jersey

Giving up the plot to leave RGGI would be a relatively simple and effective way to implement proposed carbon-pollution limits while strengthening New Jersey’s health and economy.

Unaccompanied Children from Central America
Article

Unaccompanied Children from Central America

The humanitarian situation on the U.S. southern border demands a range of sustainable interventions across northern Central America, as well as increased international assistance.

What Rep. Paul Ryan Should Say
Article

What Rep. Paul Ryan Should Say

Rep. Paul Ryan’s latest poverty proposals will exacerbate poverty and inequality, if past is prologue.

Apprenticeships in America
Article

Apprenticeships in America

The United States lags behind its European counterparts in the use of apprenticeships.

Historical Insights Into Racism
Article

Historical Insights Into Racism

Only time will tell how history will judge today’s political figures amid charges of racism and reverse racism.

A Nuclear Deal With Iran?
Article

A Nuclear Deal With Iran?

The United States and its international partners are nearing the deadline to reach a comprehensive agreement with Iran.

Gridless Electricity
Article

Gridless Electricity

In the fight against energy poverty around the world, distributed electric generation is a vital tool.

The ‘Too Big to Fail’ Problem
Article

The ‘Too Big to Fail’ Problem

We need to understand the varied concerns underlying too big to fail and implement tailored solutions.

The Impending BRICS Summit
Article

The Impending BRICS Summit

The meeting highlights the potentially positive role the BRICS countries could play in revitalizing the global system of partnerships and alliances to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

The Need to Encourage Responsible Credit
Article

The Need to Encourage Responsible Credit

Exploring how stronger laws and enforcement can reduce debt traps in short-term lending.

Why Professional Support for Principals Is Essential
Article

Why Professional Support for Principals Is Essential

New data show that principals believe they have a major influence on teacher evaluation. However, principals do not receive the professional support they need.

State Policies that Could Promote Apprenticeship
Article

State Policies that Could Promote Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is a time-tested worker-training model and could be a possible solution to America’s workforce challenges.

Why Effective Teaching is the New Measure of Equity
Article

Why Effective Teaching is the New Measure of Equity

While the ruling in Vergara v. California may have sparked strong reactions, we can all agree that great teaching matters.

Evaluating the U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy
Article

Evaluating the U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy

The United States needs to closely examine its record in helping to build security-force capacity before investing in a new $5 billion fund to support foreign counterterrorism efforts.

The Importance of Breadwinning Mothers
Article

The Importance of Breadwinning Mothers

A new CAP report highlights why the nation's labor standards need to be updated.

Protecting Women from Gun Violence
Article

Protecting Women from Gun Violence

A new CAP report offers four policy solutions to protect women from gun violence.

How to Respond to the ISIS Threat in Iraq
Article

How to Respond to the ISIS Threat in Iraq

A new CAP issue brief discusses how the Obama administration should manage the threat of a new terrorist group in Iraq.

Assessing the Value of Liberal Arts
Article

Assessing the Value of Liberal Arts

Competency-based education is an innovative way to measure the value of a liberal arts degree.

How to Unleash Democracy in the Black Belt
Article

How to Unleash Democracy in the Black Belt

A new CAP report looks at how lessons learned from Freedom Summer can advance democracy in the Black Belt.

Continued U.S. Support Is Necessary in Jordan
Article

Continued U.S. Support Is Necessary in Jordan

A new CAP report discusses how the United States should support Jordan's political and economic reform in the wake of the Arab uprisings and the Syrian civil war.

Why Are Many Women of Color Becoming Entrepreneurs?
Article

Why Are Many Women of Color Becoming Entrepreneurs?

Women of color entrepreneurs stand to play an even bigger role in the U.S. economy as the nation becomes more diverse.

Decentralized Management Is Helping Schools
Article

Decentralized Management Is Helping Schools

A new CAP report discusses the rise of school networks in New York City, Baltimore, Denver, and Chicago.

Further Expanding Access to Rooftop Solar
Article

Further Expanding Access to Rooftop Solar

A new CAP issue brief looks at the adoption of rooftop solar in emerging residential markets.

Understanding the EPA’s Climate Protection Proposal
Article

Understanding the EPA’s Climate Protection Proposal

The public deserves to know the relevant facts in the debate over the Environmental Protection Agency's forthcoming carbon pollution rule.

Austerity Since the Great Recession
Article

Austerity Since the Great Recession

Research highlights why austerity has been such a harmful economic policy in the United States and Europe.

How We Should Expand Credit Card Reform
Article

How We Should Expand Credit Card Reform

A new CAP issue brief discusses both the successes of the Credit CARD Act and what still needs to be done.

Egypt Is Facing an Uncertain Summer
Article

Egypt Is Facing an Uncertain Summer

While it is clear who will win Egypt's upcoming presidential election, it is not clear what he will do and whether the country will stabilize.

How to Adapt to a Hotter United States
Article

How to Adapt to a Hotter United States

Congress needs to increase its assistance for low-income households to help them adapt to the hotter weather that is a result of climate change.

Learning from Germany’s Reform of Its Prescription Drug Market
Article

Learning from Germany’s Reform of Its Prescription Drug Market

In a new CAP issue brief, Daniel Bahr, Germany's federal minister of health, explains how wide-reaching reforms to Germany's prescription drug market can inform U.S. research.

Reshaping the Federal Place-Based Agenda
Article

Reshaping the Federal Place-Based Agenda

A new CAP report looks at America's first five Promise Zones. It also details how the federal government can improve the initiative and support place-based work.

Optimizing Experience in the Health Care Marketplace
Article

Optimizing Experience in the Health Care Marketplace

As the next round of open enrollment begins in November, a new and more effective management structure is essential for the Affordable Care Act's next phase of implementation.

Reforming the Wildfire Budget Is Critical for Our Public Lands
Article

Reforming the Wildfire Budget Is Critical for Our Public Lands

Congress can provide the Interior Department and the Forest Service with the funds they need to prevent and fight wildfires by enacting President Obama's recent budget proposal.

Responding to the Crisis of Crimea and Ukraine
Article

Responding to the Crisis of Crimea and Ukraine

A new CAP issue brief highlights what President Barack Obama and today's policymakers can learn from the national security approaches of Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

Pfizer’s Potential Corporate Inversion Shows Need to Tighten Our Tax Rules
Article

Pfizer’s Potential Corporate Inversion Shows Need to Tighten Our Tax Rules

Pfizer is currently attempting to move its headquarters out of the United States by acquiring the U.K.-based AstraZeneca; we must do more to prevent these kinds of tax-dodging corporate inversions.

What Would Universality Mean in the United States?
Article

What Would Universality Mean in the United States?

A new CAP report looks at the goals of the emerging post-2015 development agenda, including the innovative focus on universality.

The Congressional Quota Harming LGBT Immigrants
Article

The Congressional Quota Harming LGBT Immigrants

The congressional bed quota in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities is placing LGBT immigrants in inhumane conditions and grave danger.

How Climate Action Can Reduce Poverty
Article

How Climate Action Can Reduce Poverty

If countries commit to a global development agenda that improves livelihoods in ways that support low-carbon and sustainable economic growth, it is possible to prevent climate change and end poverty.

Grading States’ Recusal Records
Article

Grading States’ Recusal Records

A new CAP issue brief analyzes how judges and legislators have failed to address conflicts of interest in multimillion-dollar state judicial elections.

Big Oil Still Wants Its Tax Breaks
Article

Big Oil Still Wants Its Tax Breaks

Despite $23 billion in first-quarter profits, the big five oil companies are still receiving special tax breaks from the federal government.

How to Get More Teachers of Color into Classrooms
Article

How to Get More Teachers of Color into Classrooms

A new CAP report looks at how we can diversify the U.S. teacher population and improve the academic performance of students from all racial backgrounds.

How to Answer the Ukraine Crisis
Article

How to Answer the Ukraine Crisis

A new CAP column looks at what steps the United States needs to take to respond to the crisis in Ukraine.

How the Oil and Gas Industry Is Reshaping American Conservation
Article

How the Oil and Gas Industry Is Reshaping American Conservation

The oil and gas industry's growing influence on the National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, and Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation is reshaping the politics and policies surrounding the conservation of American land and wildlife.

What You Need to Know About STDs
Article

What You Need to Know About STDs

CAP highlights STD Awareness Month and how these diseases affect Americans' health.

Understanding the FY 2015 Defense Budget
Article

Understanding the FY 2015 Defense Budget

The U.S. Department of Defense must make hard choices to create a fiscally responsible budget for the years ahead.

The State of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Article

The State of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

A new CAP series features the most comprehensive research and analysis available for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the fastest-growing demographic in the nation.

How to Achieve Unity in Ukraine
Article

How to Achieve Unity in Ukraine

The best chance for enduring peace in Ukraine rests in transparent and inclusive constitutional reform.

How to Reduce Methane Emissions from Landfills
Article

How to Reduce Methane Emissions from Landfills

The Obama administration must take more action to reduce methane emissions that contribute to climate change.

How Restoring Coastal Ecosystems Will Help Our Economy
Article

How Restoring Coastal Ecosystems Will Help Our Economy

If we restore degraded coastal ecosystems, we can get economic returns above and beyond economic stimulus and short-term job creation.

How the Supreme Court Ruled on Political Corruption
Article

How the Supreme Court Ruled on Political Corruption

The recent Supreme Court ruling in McCutcheon v. FEC will allow the wealthiest Americans even more influence over politicians, including elected judges.

How the Ryan Budget Hurts Communities of Color
Article

How the Ryan Budget Hurts Communities of Color

The fiscal year 2015 Ryan budget once again puts millionaires, big corporations, and Big Oil ahead of communities of color.

The Struggle for Political Pluralism in Tunisia
Article

The Struggle for Political Pluralism in Tunisia

A new CAP report looks at intra-Islamist debates about political change and the battle of ideas against North Africa's violent extremism.

The Ryan Budget Is a Broken Record—Again
Article

The Ryan Budget Is a Broken Record—Again

For the past three years, the Ryan budget has cut middle-class investments and the social safety net in favor of tax breaks for millionaires, corporations, and Big Oil.

The Effect of the Turkish Elections
Article

The Effect of the Turkish Elections

A new CAP issue brief looks at how Turkey's upcoming elections will shape its future relationships with the United States and European Union.

Addressing Russian Aggression in Ukraine
Article

Addressing Russian Aggression in Ukraine

Our response to the Ukraine crisis should include sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine.

The Risks of a Poorly Decided Hobby Lobby
Article

The Risks of a Poorly Decided Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby has the potential to redefine religious liberty to promote discrimination and unfair advantages in the corporate world.

How Race to the Top States Are Doing
Article

How Race to the Top States Are Doing

Although Race to the Top states have made strong progress since the start of the program in 2010, many have a lot of work to do to meet their commitments.

Understanding Putin’s National Security Policy
Article

Understanding Putin’s National Security Policy

A new CAP issue brief explores what Putin learned from his role as Russian national security advisor in the 1999 Kosovo war.

How to Address the Crisis in Ukraine
Article

How to Address the Crisis in Ukraine

A new CAP report looks at the key economic and diplomatic tools we have to support international law and impose a cost on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Putting the Fiscal Debate in Context
Article

Putting the Fiscal Debate in Context

Progressives are making another compromise with the current spending cap.

Arizona’s Immigrant and LGBT Rights
Article

Arizona’s Immigrant and LGBT Rights

Given Arizona’s 2010 passage of the anti-immigrant S.B. 1070 and the significant backlash it faced, Gov. Jan Brewer’s recent veto of S.B. 1062 may indicate that the state is moving in a positive direction on LGBT and immigrant rights.

How the Minimum Wage Affects SNAP
Article

How the Minimum Wage Affects SNAP

If we raised the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, we would lower government spending on federal nutrition assistance by $46 billion over the next 10 years.

The Incomplete Story of the Asian American Community
Article

The Incomplete Story of the Asian American Community

Policymakers need to understand the complexity and diversity within the Asian American community when considering how to address economic inequality.

Hostile School Climates Harm LGBT Youth
Article

Hostile School Climates Harm LGBT Youth

Research suggests that harsh discipline policies at schools foster hostile climates, pushing LGBT youth out of schools and disproportionately pipelining them into the juvenile justice system.

The Freedoms to Serve and Work
Article

The Freedoms to Serve and Work

A new CAP report discusses how the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and other common-sense measures to prevent workplace discrimination could benefit more than 1 million service members and veterans.

The Perils of Inaction for the Highway Trust Fund
Article

The Perils of Inaction for the Highway Trust Fund

Congressional failure to address the impending shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund will mean a substantial cut to highway and public transportation programs during the heart of construction season.

A New Model for the U.S.-China Relationship
Article

A New Model for the U.S.-China Relationship

A distinguished group of American and Chinese experts convened last September for a high-level track II dialogue to discuss a new model for the U.S.-China relationship.

The Cost of Climate Change
Article

The Cost of Climate Change

Changing how we invest in our nation's infrastructure will strengthen both it and our economy in the face of extreme weather.

Equipping Classrooms for the 21st Century
Article

Equipping Classrooms for the 21st Century

We can address the growing technological gap in schools by modernizing the E-rate program.

The Importance of ENDA and Immigration Reform
Article

The Importance of ENDA and Immigration Reform

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act and comprehensive immigration reform are good for workers, business, and the economy.

Supporting Caregivers Through Paid Family Leave
Article

Supporting Caregivers Through Paid Family Leave

A new CAP issue brief illustrates the need to support caregivers through paid family leave and flexible hours.

Why Courts Matter in the Fight for Voting Rights
Article

Why Courts Matter in the Fight for Voting Rights

A new CAP report addresses voter suppression tactics and details the power of the Voting Rights Act to combat them.

How to Support Common Core Implementation
Article

How to Support Common Core Implementation

If we redesign schools so that they have significantly more time for student learning and teacher development and collaboration, they will be better able to meet the challenges of Common Core implementation.

A Positive Step on Retirement
Article

A Positive Step on Retirement

The president's MyRA plan is a start, but Congress needs to do more to help Americans save for retirement.

Extreme Weather Threatens American Cities
Article

Extreme Weather Threatens American Cities

Without investing in resilience programs, cities affected by the rise in extreme weather events will suffer economic hardship.

Comparing Health Care Effectiveness
Article

Comparing Health Care Effectiveness

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute should rapidly increase investment in comparative effectiveness research.

Ending Mass Digital Data Collection
Article

Ending Mass Digital Data Collection

The president should immediately suspend the bulk collection of our call records.

How to Finance a Greener Future
Article

How to Finance a Greener Future

New York is the latest on a growing list of state and municipal governments to establish green banks.

How to Make College Affordable
Article

How to Make College Affordable

We need to alleviate student-loan debt and make sure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed in higher education.

Congress Needs to Extend Unemployment Insurance
Article

Congress Needs to Extend Unemployment Insurance

It would be unprecedented and unwise for Congress to allow unemployment insurance to expire while long-term unemployment is this high.

After the War on Poverty
Article

After the War on Poverty

A major new study of public attitudes about poverty, work, and economic opportunity reveals that many Americans still suffer from economic hardship and desire new efforts to provide low-income families with good-paying jobs, greater access to education, and more-supportive communities in which to raise their children.

Learning from the War on Poverty
Article

Learning from the War on Poverty

On the 50th anniversary of the War on Poverty, it’s time to apply the lessons learned to today’s economic and social challenges in order to usher in a new era of shared prosperity.

Game-Changing Reforms in Higher Education
Article

Game-Changing Reforms in Higher Education

Emerging education reforms show promise for increasing program completion, reducing costs, and improving quality.

The Congressional Budget Deal and Defense Spending
Article

The Congressional Budget Deal and Defense Spending

While the Murray-Ryan budget deal does not eliminate the challenges that the Department of Defense faces from sequestration, it does provide an opportunity to reduce defense spending responsibly.

6 Claims About Gun Background Checks
Article

6 Claims About Gun Background Checks

A new CAP issue brief takes a look at the gun debate one year after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The Budget Agreement Is an Imperfect but Good First Step
Article

The Budget Agreement Is an Imperfect but Good First Step

Despite some unfortunate concessions made to appease conservatives, the Murray-Ryan budget deal is a net-positive step for the country.

Why We Need Paid Parental Leave
Article

Why We Need Paid Parental Leave

A new CAP report illustrates why paid parental leave is important to families' economic well-being.

Why We Need the Safe Streets Act of 2013
Article

Why We Need the Safe Streets Act of 2013

A new CAP issue brief illustrates the necessity of Complete Streets to a balanced transportation system, as they expand personal mobility through designs that are both safe and accommodating for all users regardless of age, income, or ability level.

Inequality Is Holding Back Our Economy
Article

Inequality Is Holding Back Our Economy

A new CAP issue brief outlines three new CAP reports that debunk trickle-down economics.

Guantanamo Is a $5 Billion Folly
Article

Guantanamo Is a $5 Billion Folly

Congress is wasting billions of dollars on the unnecessary Guantanamo prison.

The Outcome of the Warsaw Climate Talks
Article

The Outcome of the Warsaw Climate Talks

The U.N. climate talks in Warsaw, Poland, ended with a foundation for a global climate agreement by 2015.

The Value of Paid Family Leave
Article

The Value of Paid Family Leave

A new CAP issue brief illustrates how paid family leave upholds the value of caregiving, fights injustice, and helps American families.

How to Expand U.S. Apprenticeships
Article

How to Expand U.S. Apprenticeships

If policymakers expand apprenticeships in the United States, they can create pathways to well-paying middle-class jobs for young Americans and help businesses meet the need for skilled workers.

How to Reduce the Sequester
Article

How to Reduce the Sequester

If we fix the sequester to account for the debt reduction in the fiscal cliff deal, we will set ourselves on the path to a stable federal budget and strong economic recovery.

Protecting LGBT Immigrants in Immigration Detention
Article

Protecting LGBT Immigrants in Immigration Detention

A new CAP report explains why reforms to our immigration system need to include protections for LGBT immigrants, who are particularly vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment in immigration detention.

Sequestration Will Get Worse in 2014
Article

Sequestration Will Get Worse in 2014

A new CAP report highlights four key factors that will make sequestration even worse next year.

How We Can Improve School Funding
Article

How We Can Improve School Funding

We need innovation and flexibility in school finance to ensure the most bang for our education buck.

The Importance of Investing in Our Communities of Color
Article

The Importance of Investing in Our Communities of Color

We need to invest in our growing communities of color today if we want to lay the groundwork for America's future success and broadly shared prosperity.

We Need to Boost Adult Educational Skills
Article

We Need to Boost Adult Educational Skills

According to a new OECD report, the United States is failing to ensure that adults are keeping pace with the increasing need for the basic and advanced skills that today's middle-class jobs require.

New Americans in the Military
Article

New Americans in the Military

Immigrants play a key role in U.S. military readiness.

The Debate over USAID Procurement Reform
Article

The Debate over USAID Procurement Reform

USAID can greatly increase its partnerships with local institutions and build support for procurement reform within our development community if it better defines the rationale behind the reform, increases transparency, and uses current mechanisms to expand its partner base.

Americans Support ENDA
Article

Americans Support ENDA

A majority of Americans support protecting LGBT Americans from workplace discrimination.

Consequences of Delaying the Individual Mandate
Article

Consequences of Delaying the Individual Mandate

Calls to delay the individual mandate for a year due to technical issues with the rollout of the Affordable Care Act are both unnecessary and harmful.

The State of Communities of Color in Our Economy
Article

The State of Communities of Color in Our Economy

A new CAP report shows that communities of color are still struggling to catch up with whites on many economic indicators.

What You Need to Know About Housing Finance Reform
Article

What You Need to Know About Housing Finance Reform

The CAP Housing Team provides four fact sheets to explain the current role of the federal government in housing finance, recommend core principles for reform, and provide information on technical issues.

Too Many Barriers Remain for Women of Color
Article

Too Many Barriers Remain for Women of Color

A new CAP report examines the progress made and the unique challenges remaining for women of color in America.

We Should Revamp the Teacher-Pay System
Article

We Should Revamp the Teacher-Pay System

The president of the National Education Association says the salary schedules school districts have traditionally used to pay teachers no longer work, and they should be replaced with a system that recognizes teacher effectiveness.

Millennials Need a Middle-Out Economy
Article

Millennials Need a Middle-Out Economy

A new CAP report explains how rebuilding our economy from the middle out will ensure that it works for Millennials.

How to Create a Stronger Financial System
Article

How to Create a Stronger Financial System

We can create a stronger financial system by leveraging cities and employers, improving transparency, providing consistent regulations, and building public options.

How to Replace the Sequester
Article

How to Replace the Sequester

Now that the government shutdown is behind us, it's time to focus on reversing damaging austerity policies and investing in economic growth.

Facts About the Debt Limit
Article

Facts About the Debt Limit

A new CAP column explains everything you need to know about the debt limit, from what it is to who is responsible for raising it.

What to Expect if the United States Defaults
Article

What to Expect if the United States Defaults

A new CAP issue brief explains what is likely to happen if the United States defaults on its debt.

The TRUST Act Is Smart Legislation
Article

The TRUST Act Is Smart Legislation

The TRUST Act makes public safety the touchstone for limits on state collaboration with federal immigration authorities.

The State of Our Economy Without Austerity
Article

The State of Our Economy Without Austerity

Consider what our jobs numbers may have very well looked like had federal and state governments not adopted policies of fiscal austerity.

Why For-Profit Corporations Do Not Have Religious Freedom Rights
Article

Why For-Profit Corporations Do Not Have Religious Freedom Rights

A new CAP issue brief discusses why giant retailer Hobby Lobby does not have the right to avoid compliance with the Affordable Care Act on the grounds of religious freedom.

Why We Should Pay Attention to Legislative Prayer
Article

Why We Should Pay Attention to Legislative Prayer

A new CAP issue brief considers the implications that an upcoming Supreme Court ruling could have on religion in the public sphere.

How We Can Help LGBT Homeless Youth
Article

How We Can Help LGBT Homeless Youth

LGBT youth continue to be disproportionately represented in our homeless youth population; their experiences continue to be characterized by poor health, violence, discrimination, and unmet needs.

The State of Women in Our Country
Article

The State of Women in Our Country

A new CAP report examines both the progress made and the challenges remaining for women across the country. It considers three categories critical to their overall well-being: economics, leadership, and health.

A Nationwide Analysis of DACA’s First Year
Article

A Nationwide Analysis of DACA’s First Year

A new CAP report analyzes the first year of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, including its implementation; which groups have experienced the most success; and the role that community-based organizations, new and traditional media, and the political context of individual states play in its implementation and outreach.

Why We Need to Reset the Fiscal Debate
Article

Why We Need to Reset the Fiscal Debate

A new CAP column illustrates why demands for fiscal austerity no longer make sense.

Women and Families Need a Fair Shot
Article

Women and Families Need a Fair Shot

CAP's new Fair Shot campaign is a coordinated, comprehensive effort to fight for women and families in America.

How Comprehensive Immigration Reform Will Benefit Workers
Article

How Comprehensive Immigration Reform Will Benefit Workers

A new CAP issue brief illustrates how the Senate immigration reform bill protects immigrants' employment rights and helps American workers.

Speaker Boehner’s Continuing Resolution Is Not So ‘Clean’
Article

Speaker Boehner’s Continuing Resolution Is Not So ‘Clean’

The stopgap funding measure proposed by Speaker of the House John Boehner asks Congress to support another round of spending cuts and signals a willingness to increase funding for defense only.

Larger Middle Classes Mean More Economic Mobility
Article

Larger Middle Classes Mean More Economic Mobility

Economic mobility has become a scarce commodity in America, making it difficult for children to succeed beyond their parents' pocketbooks.

Common-Sense Immigration Reform Will Help American Workers
Article

Common-Sense Immigration Reform Will Help American Workers

Immigration reform such as S. 744, which the Senate passed in June, will lead to higher wages and better job opportunities for all of our workers.

Expanding the Protection of Our Marine Sanctuaries
Article

Expanding the Protection of Our Marine Sanctuaries

NOAA's proposed expansion of the National Marine Sanctuary System represents real progress for the management of our marine natural resources.

Erdoğan Should Focus on Addressing Turkey’s Serious Issues
Article

Erdoğan Should Focus on Addressing Turkey’s Serious Issues

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is aiming to divert attention away from his own country's problems with his latest remarks against Israel.

The 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington
Article

The 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

Although conservatives have had some success in defeating the march's progress toward economic justice, there is reason to be optimistic and a need to take action.

Did State Farm Influence the Illinois Supreme Court for Its Own Benefit?
Article

Did State Farm Influence the Illinois Supreme Court for Its Own Benefit?

A lawsuit alleges that insurance giant State Farm secretly spent millions of dollars to help elect a justice to the Illinois Supreme Court—a justice who later overturned a billion-dollar verdict entered against it.

Protecting Our Public Lands Amid the Energy Boom
Article

Protecting Our Public Lands Amid the Energy Boom

A new CAP report discusses why the federal government has to bridge the gap between oil and gas development and public demand for greater recreational opportunities and the protection of lands for future generations.

Compromising on Tax Reform to Create Jobs
Article

Compromising on Tax Reform to Create Jobs

The president's latest proposal to create jobs comes with a significant concession on corporate tax reform to attempt to achieve a compromise with conservatives in Congress.

Big Oil Doesn’t Need Special Tax Breaks
Article

Big Oil Doesn’t Need Special Tax Breaks

The big five oil companies are doing fine without the help of tax breaks: They made $19.5 billion in profits in the second quarter of this year.

Fiscal Austerity Is Not Helping Our Economy
Article

Fiscal Austerity Is Not Helping Our Economy

New data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis show that U.S. GDP growth is anemic thanks to the across-the-board spending cuts that have been in effect since March, as well as other mounting fiscal austerity.

Our Use of Natural Gas Must Peak by 2030
Article

Our Use of Natural Gas Must Peak by 2030

Although in the near term natural gas can be used to achieve the emissions reductions necessary for climate stabilization, we must swiftly transition from natural gas to zero-carbon energy.

How the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act Would Help Borrowers
Article

How the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act Would Help Borrowers

Currently up for a vote in the Senate, the bill would provide student-loan borrowers with a reasonable interest rate that does not change over the life of the loan.

Reforming Our Housing Finance System
Article

Reforming Our Housing Finance System

CAP offers a comparison of 26 plans to reform the nation's housing finance system.

How the Universal Savings Credit Will Help Americans Rebuild Wealth
Article

How the Universal Savings Credit Will Help Americans Rebuild Wealth

A new CAP issue brief discusses how implementing the Universal Savings Credit will help low- and middle-income Americans struggling to recover from the Great Recession.

The Snowden Affair Highlights U.S.-Russian Security Relations
Article

The Snowden Affair Highlights U.S.-Russian Security Relations

A new CAP issue brief discusses what Edward Snowden’s stay in the Sheremetyevo airport transit zone in Russia says about our relationship with Russia.

How to Help Teachers Develop Professionally
Article

How to Help Teachers Develop Professionally

A new CAP report focuses on how we can help teachers do their jobs better so that they can prepare students for college and careers.

How to Avoid an Electric Service Gap
Article

How to Avoid an Electric Service Gap

A new CAP issue brief discusses the importance of avoiding the "electrical divide" and staying committed to safe, affordable, reliable, and clean electricity as our power sector undergoes rapid and transformative change.

Tax Reform Should Focus on the Middle Class
Article

Tax Reform Should Focus on the Middle Class

Lawmakers should reform the tax code so that it is simpler and fairer for the middle class and raises revenue for investments in future economic growth.

The Fight for LGBT Equality Is Not Over
Article

The Fight for LGBT Equality Is Not Over

A new CAP issue brief illustrates why marriage equality is not the end of the road in the progression toward full LGBT equality.

We Need to Provide Access to Public Preschool
Article

We Need to Provide Access to Public Preschool

By giving children access to public preschool today, we can help ensure that both they and the country have a bright and vibrant future.

Investing in Climate Preparedness and Resilience Will Save Us Money
Article

Investing in Climate Preparedness and Resilience Will Save Us Money

A new CAP report illustrates how investing in climate preparedness and resilience will save money in the long run by combating extreme weather and the impacts of climate change.

Yesterday’s Historic Overhaul of Our Immigration Laws
Article

Yesterday’s Historic Overhaul of Our Immigration Laws

The bipartisan Senate immigration reform bill puts unprecedented resources toward border security, creates an achievable path to citizenship, accelerates family reunification, and promotes economic growth.

Yesterday’s Huge Victories for Same-Sex Couples
Article

Yesterday’s Huge Victories for Same-Sex Couples

The Supreme Court ruled in two cases yesterday that same-sex couples deserve equal respect and treatment under the law.

How Immigration Reform Benefits Social Security
Article

How Immigration Reform Benefits Social Security

Legalizing the undocumented immigrant population would increase productivity, wages, and tax revenue and create new jobs.

We Need to Reduce Super Pollutants
Article

We Need to Reduce Super Pollutants

A new CAP issue brief illustrates why reducing super pollutants is necessary to avoid dangerous impacts of global warming.

How to Reduce the Cost of Defensive Medicine
Article

How to Reduce the Cost of Defensive Medicine

A new CAP issue brief illustrates how reducing the cost of defensive medicine will improve health care outcomes and patient safety.

How We Can Reset Our Fiscal Debate
Article

How We Can Reset Our Fiscal Debate

A new CAP report focuses on the importance of changing our fiscal debate to meet the changes that have occurred in our fiscal and economic reality.

How We Can Support Working Women
Article

How We Can Support Working Women

A new CAP issue brief illustrates the importance of policies to support women who work and take care of their families.

The Affordable Care Act Is Good News for Young Adults
Article

The Affordable Care Act Is Good News for Young Adults

A new CAP issue brief illustrates how the Affordable Care Act helps more young adults get affordable health care coverage.

We Need to Focus on What Is Important in Libya
Article

We Need to Focus on What Is Important in Libya

Those in Washington who are centering the Libya debate on the Obama administration's old talking points fail to understand the real issues that need to be addressed in the country.

Stronger Gun Laws Are Still Within Reach
Article

Stronger Gun Laws Are Still Within Reach

A new CAP issue brief illustrates why we can still make progress toward stronger gun laws.

Big Oil Is Profiting Even During Sequestration
Article

Big Oil Is Profiting Even During Sequestration

Big Oil is enjoying huge profits and tax breaks despite severe sequestration cuts to many middle-class programs.

Ending Gender-Identity Discrimination in Health Insurance
Article

Ending Gender-Identity Discrimination in Health Insurance

A new CAP issue brief discusses how we are taking action to put an end to discrimination based on gender identity in health insurance—and why this action makes sense.

How Carbon Markets Can Help Address Climate Change
Article

How Carbon Markets Can Help Address Climate Change

A new CAP report looks at how global carbon markets could help increase the international community's ambition in the fight against climate change.

Credit Hours Cannot Accurately Measure Student Achievement
Article

Credit Hours Cannot Accurately Measure Student Achievement

Moving from credit hours to a competency-based model of measuring student achievement will have many benefits for students when they begin to look for employment.

Our Trash Can Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Article

Our Trash Can Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A new CAP issue brief discusses how we can reduce our reliance on landfills and curb greenhouse gas emissions through recycling, composting, and energy-from-waste facilities.

How We Should Approach Tax Reform
Article

How We Should Approach Tax Reform

A new CAP issue brief takes a look at the competing tax reforms proposed by President Barack Obama and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan.

Women of Color Are Unfairly Impacted by Unequal Pay
Article

Women of Color Are Unfairly Impacted by Unequal Pay

A new CAP issue brief sheds light on the fact that working women of color earn disproportionally less than both other women and men.

We Need to Address Youth Unemployment
Article

We Need to Address Youth Unemployment

A new CAP issue brief illustrates the many costs of the country's high rate of youth unemployment.

North Korea’s Nuclear Tests Are Causing Major International Tension
Article

North Korea’s Nuclear Tests Are Causing Major International Tension

The recent actions of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his country's army are causing great tension between the Korean peninsula and the United States, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United Nations.

Why We Should Promote Inclusive Capitalism
Article

Why We Should Promote Inclusive Capitalism

A new CAP report aims to show how the promotion of inclusive capitalism can improve our economy and benefit workers.

The Link Between Gun Violence and State Gun Laws
Article

The Link Between Gun Violence and State Gun Laws

A new CAP analysis suggests that there is a relationship between weak state gun laws and high levels of gun violence.

Cutting Nutrition Assistance Would Harm the Economy
Article

Cutting Nutrition Assistance Would Harm the Economy

The House Republican budget cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could affect up to 13 million people and cost the economy hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Medicaid Expansion Would Reduce Mortality Rates
Article

Medicaid Expansion Would Reduce Mortality Rates

Many lives could be saved if states that are currently opposed to expanding their Medicaid programs agree to do so.

How the Affordable Care Act Is Improving Health Care
Article

How the Affordable Care Act Is Improving Health Care

In just the three years since its passage, the Affordable Care Act has already had many positive impacts on health care.

How to Comprehensively Manage Household Risk Exposure
Article

How to Comprehensively Manage Household Risk Exposure

A new CAP report explains why comprehensive management of household risk exposure should be an integral part of U.S. savings policies.

How to Reform the Student-Loan-Repayment System
Article

How to Reform the Student-Loan-Repayment System

A new CAP issue brief discusses 10 models that Congress could look to in reforming the student-loan-repayment system.

How the Obama Administration Should Lead in the Middle East
Article

How the Obama Administration Should Lead in the Middle East

A new CAP issue brief discusses CAP's findings from its recent discussions in the Middle East, as well as what steps the Obama administration should take to lead in the region.

The Federal Government Needs to Fight Back Against the Gun Lobby
Article

The Federal Government Needs to Fight Back Against the Gun Lobby

A new CAP issue brief discusses how the gun lobby has impeded federal ability to take action against gun violence—and what President Barack Obama can do about it.

The Ryan Budget Is Based on Fantasy
Article

The Ryan Budget Is Based on Fantasy

Rep. Paul Ryan's new federal budget calls for unrealistic cuts that it doesn't explain how to pay for—and it would actually dramatically increase our deficit and debt.

We Need to Rethink Our Policy on Syria
Article

We Need to Rethink Our Policy on Syria

The United States needs to offer more assistance to the Syrian opposition in Syria's current political conflict.

5 Myths that Big Oil Wants You to Believe
Article

5 Myths that Big Oil Wants You to Believe

Gas prices have kept rising—but Big Oil is insisting that oil prices are not part of the problem.

How Climate Change Correlates to the Arab Spring
Article

How Climate Change Correlates to the Arab Spring

A new CAP report looks at the correlations between climate change and the recent revolutions in the Arab world.

How to Address Climate Change and Conflict in South America
Article

How to Address Climate Change and Conflict in South America

A new CAP report looks at climate change, migration, and related conflicts in South America—and what steps can be taken to address instability.

The NRA Is Spending Big to Elect Pro-Gun Judges and Prosecutors
Article

The NRA Is Spending Big to Elect Pro-Gun Judges and Prosecutors

A new CAP issue brief highlights how the NRA is working—and spending—to elect judges and prosecutors who will advance the organization's pro-gun agenda.

Why Recently Proposed Gun-Violence Legislation Is Constitutional
Article

Why Recently Proposed Gun-Violence Legislation Is Constitutional

A new CAP issue brief discusses why President Obama's recently proposed legislation to regulate the sale and ownership of guns does not violate the Second Amendment.

Immigrants Are Good News for the Economy
Article

Immigrants Are Good News for the Economy

Contrary to the belief of immigration opponents, immigrants are makers—not takers—when it comes to the economy.

More Families Deserve Access to Preschool and Child Care
Article

More Families Deserve Access to Preschool and Child Care

A new CAP report describes how President Obama can ensure that more children and their families have access to preschool and child care.

We Need to Do More to Guarantee Workers Paid Leave
Article

We Need to Do More to Guarantee Workers Paid Leave

On the 20th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act, 54 million Americans are still not eligible to receive paid leave—meaning that they are at risk of losing their jobs if they take time off to care for their families.

Political Conflict over U.S. Fiscal Policy Is Hurting the Economy
Article

Political Conflict over U.S. Fiscal Policy Is Hurting the Economy

The economy most certainly would have grown at a faster rate were it not for the ongoing political brinksmanship over the debt ceiling and the risk of sharp fiscal contraction in the form of the pending automatic “sequestration” budget cuts.

Why We Should Focus on Immigration Reform
Article

Why We Should Focus on Immigration Reform

CAP offers 10 reasons to support immigration reform in light of President Obama's recent speech on the subject.

Nondefense Discretionary Spending on Track to Historic Decline
Article

Nondefense Discretionary Spending on Track to Historic Decline

Because of the spending cuts that have been signed into law since the fall of 2010, within 10 years, nondefense discretionary funding will be about 14 percent lower than its lowest point in the past 50 years—even before taking into account the effects of the large automatic spending cuts scheduled to begin in March 2013.

Congress Should Pass the Violence Against Women Act
Article

Congress Should Pass the Violence Against Women Act

Congress can show the American public that it can come together over important issues like domestic violence—the House should follow the Senate’s lead this time.

Justice Is Essential in the Fight for Reproductive Rights
Article

Justice Is Essential in the Fight for Reproductive Rights

Rev. Matthew Westfox writes about why justice is so important in the fight for women's reproductive rights—and why justice cannot exist without compassion.

Continuing Clean Energy Progress in President Obama’s Second Term
Article

Continuing Clean Energy Progress in President Obama’s Second Term

Many of the top energy and environmental priorities for the president's second term should reduce industrial carbon pollution by boosting investments in clean energy technologies, protect public health by reducing pollution from the largest emitters, and help communities cope with the increase in frequency and severity of extreme weather events linked to climate change.

Corporate Campaign Money Is Eroding the Impartiality of the Judiciary
Article

Corporate Campaign Money Is Eroding the Impartiality of the Judiciary

A new CAP compilation includes recent reports that illustrate the corrupting influence of corporate money on the judiciary and provide policy recommendations that can help to correct the problem.

We Need to Do More to Prevent Gun Violence
Article

We Need to Do More to Prevent Gun Violence

A new CAP issue brief offers 13 legislative proposals and executive actions to prevent gun violence.

President Obama Made Great Progress on Clean Energy in His First Term
Article

President Obama Made Great Progress on Clean Energy in His First Term

The Obama administration made substantial progress on clean energy priorities, despite the worst economy in nearly 80 years and strong opposition from Big Oil, coal, and other energy interests.

We Need to Support a Resolution of the Conflict in Afghanistan
Article

We Need to Support a Resolution of the Conflict in Afghanistan

The United States needs to support political processes that will lead to a stable and more independent Afghan state after the security transition in 2014.

The New Fiscal Cliff Deal is a Good Start, But It’s Not Enough
Article

The New Fiscal Cliff Deal is a Good Start, But It’s Not Enough

The recent fiscal cliff legislation will raise a substantial amount of revenue for the country over the next 10 years, but it will not raise enough for fiscal stability.

Plan B Won’t Resolve the Fiscal Showdown
Article

Plan B Won’t Resolve the Fiscal Showdown

House Speaker John Boehner's plan to address the fiscal showdown would hurt the economy and the middle class—and it wouldn't achieve meaningful deficit reduction.

How We Can Help Communities Hit by Extreme Weather
Article

How We Can Help Communities Hit by Extreme Weather

The creation of a community resilience fund would help communities affected by extreme weather increase their resiliency to it in the future.

‘Right-to-Work’ Laws Harm Unions and the Economy
Article

‘Right-to-Work’ Laws Harm Unions and the Economy

Unions—not the "right-to-work" laws that undermine them—are vital to strengthening the middle class and the economy.

We Need to Reduce Carbon Pollution
Article

We Need to Reduce Carbon Pollution

Carbon pollution has long been a problem for the United States. We must work to reduce it now.

Undocumented Immigrants Need a Path to Citizenship
Article

Undocumented Immigrants Need a Path to Citizenship

The foremost priority for any immigration reform proposal is creating a legislative track for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States to earn the privilege of citizenship.

Progressive Immigration Policies Would Be Good for America
Article

Progressive Immigration Policies Would Be Good for America

Progressive immigration policies would improve the American economy by generating new revenue and tapping a talented and diverse labor pool.

We Should Have a Progressive Carbon Tax
Article

We Should Have a Progressive Carbon Tax

A new CAP report explains how the introduction of a carbon tax will help fight climate change and stimulate the economy.

A New Progressive Coalition Has Emerged
Article

A New Progressive Coalition Has Emerged

President Obama's re-election shows us that a multiracial, multiethnic, cross-class coalition has emerged, supporting an activist government agenda to expand economic opportunities and personal freedoms for all people.

How to Improve the College Scorecard
Article

How to Improve the College Scorecard

A new CAP report provides recommendations for improving the government's college scorecard design.

Social Sector Innovation Funds Can Help Young People and Their Families
Article

Social Sector Innovation Funds Can Help Young People and Their Families

A new CAP report focuses on how the government can better use social sector innovation funds to positively impact education, economic opportunity, and workforce and youth development.

Sequestration Would Harm Gay and Transgender Americans
Article

Sequestration Would Harm Gay and Transgender Americans

A new CAP report illustrates how federal programs that support gay and transgender Americans and their families would suffer under sequestration.

Workers Deserve Paid Leave and Workplace Flexibility
Article

Workers Deserve Paid Leave and Workplace Flexibility

Workers deserve to have paid leave, paid sick days, and workplace flexibility so that if they get sick or need to take care of a family member, they don't have to fear losing their jobs.

2012 Elections May Have Striking Effects on Our Oceans
Article

2012 Elections May Have Striking Effects on Our Oceans

Even with the outward appearance of status quo, a deeper look inside the results of the recent elections shows that when a few key seats change hands, the effects on our oceans and coasts may be striking.

Climate Destruction Hurts Middle- and Lower-Income Americans
Article

Climate Destruction Hurts Middle- and Lower-Income Americans

A new CAP report looks at recent extreme weather events and how we can combat the damaging effects climate destruction has on middle- and lower-income Americans.

Congress Needs to Extend Emergency Unemployment Benefits
Article

Congress Needs to Extend Emergency Unemployment Benefits

By putting money into the pockets of people who will spend it, unemployment benefits boost demand, spur economic growth, and propel job creation.

America Should Have Paid Family and Medical Leave
Article

America Should Have Paid Family and Medical Leave

A new CAP issue brief proposes legislation for paid family and medical leave which would better answer the realities of American family life.

The Cost of Higher Education Is Student Debt
Article

The Cost of Higher Education Is Student Debt

An increasing number of students are turning to loans in order to pay for higher education--and many of them are going into significant debt.

Latinos Support Gay and Lesbian Equality
Article

Latinos Support Gay and Lesbian Equality

A majority of Latinos are for gay and lesbian equality, whether it be in marriage or elsewhere.

How Do We Achieve an Energy-Independent Future?
Article

How Do We Achieve an Energy-Independent Future?

The United States cannot achieve lasting energy and economic security through resource extraction alone.

Chinese Leaders Are Facing New Challenges
Article

Chinese Leaders Are Facing New Challenges

Chinese leaders must discover how to meet the new demands of the Chinese people. If they don't adequately answer calls for quality-of-life improvements, they face protests and a loss of power.

America’s Values Voters Are Concerned with a Wide Range of Moral Issues
Article

America’s Values Voters Are Concerned with a Wide Range of Moral Issues

America's "values voters" have proven themselves to be concerned with a wide range of moral issues, including economic inequality and fairness, poverty, climate change and the environment, gay and transgender rights, and health care.

The Federal Weatherization Program Has Been a Success
Article

The Federal Weatherization Program Has Been a Success

On September 27, the 1 millionth home was weatherized under the Weatherization Assistance Program. Weatherization has both economic and environmental benefits.

Paid Family and Medical Leave Would Help Americans
Article

Paid Family and Medical Leave Would Help Americans

A new CAP report proposes and outlines the Social Security Cares Act, which would establish paid family and medical leave for the nation.

Marriage Isn’t the Answer to the Poverty Problem
Article

Marriage Isn’t the Answer to the Poverty Problem

Some policymakers have said that marriage can improve the country's poverty numbers, but they need to consider more realistic ways of helping struggling families gain employment.

Gay Service Members Deserve Equal Military Benefits
Article

Gay Service Members Deserve Equal Military Benefits

Gay service members can now openly serve their country. But they are still not given the same benefits as straight straight service members.

Ideology Plays a Big Role in the Presidential Race
Article

Ideology Plays a Big Role in the Presidential Race

A new CAP report illustrates how ideological differences have joined demographics and questions of economic stability in shaping the presidential election.

Americans Should Be Able to Retire with Dignity
Article

Americans Should Be Able to Retire with Dignity

A new CAP issue brief discusses ways in which Americans can more easily achieve a comfortable retirement.

Oil and Gas Drilling Could Put Our National Parks at Risk
Article

Oil and Gas Drilling Could Put Our National Parks at Risk

Oil and gas companies want less federal regulation in the energy development of public lands. This has the potential to harm our national parks.

Congress Needs to Focus on Job Creation
Article

Congress Needs to Focus on Job Creation

New Census data highlight why Congress needs to focus on policies to alleviate unemployment.

Our School Districts Can’t Afford Sequestration
Article

Our School Districts Can’t Afford Sequestration

Congress needs to understand the negative effects that cuts to Impact Aid, a federally-funded education program, would have on struggling school districts.

We Need to Maintain and Strengthen Supplemental Security Income
Article

We Need to Maintain and Strengthen Supplemental Security Income

A new CAP report details why Supplemental Security Income is important in the care of children with severe disabilities, and what we can do to make the program stronger.

We Need More Public-Sector Jobs
Article

We Need More Public-Sector Jobs

Congress needs to focus on job creation, particularly in the public sector.

We Need a National Infrastructure Bank
Article

We Need a National Infrastructure Bank

A CAP report suggests that we need to create a national infrastructure bank and planning council to increase investment in infrastructure and better organize infrastructure projects.

Immigrants Play an Important Role in Our Economy
Article

Immigrants Play an Important Role in Our Economy

The effects of immigrants' labor and consumption on economic growth and fiscal health must be factored in as we consider how to address the situation of a large undocumented workforce.

The Middle Class Is Struggling
Article

The Middle Class Is Struggling

The middle class faces a number of economic challenges. Incomes are stagnant or falling, while the costs of life’s necessities continue to rise, and the risks of falling behind grow.

Gov. Brewer’s New Executive Order Will Hurt Arizona
Article

Gov. Brewer’s New Executive Order Will Hurt Arizona

A new executive order from America’s most famously anti-immigrant governor will likely further tarnish Arizona's image as an unwelcoming hotbed of intolerance while harming its economy.

New Fuel-Economy Standards Will Reduce Oil Use and Create Jobs
Article

New Fuel-Economy Standards Will Reduce Oil Use and Create Jobs

New fuel-economy and carbon-pollution standards from the Obama administration will reduce oil use, save families money from lower gasoline purchases, create jobs, and reduce emissions responsible for climate change.

Stop Undermining Women’s Health Care
Article

Stop Undermining Women’s Health Care

The recent comments by Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) alluding to an unfounded theory that there might be a medical mechanism in women’s bodies that prevents pregnancy in the case of “legitimate” rape—and the subsequent frenzy among Democrats and Republicans alike—is the latest in a series of events trying to undermine women’s right to health care.

Students of Color Need a Level Playing Field
Article

Students of Color Need a Level Playing Field

Students of color are being shortchanged by the government compared to white students in terms of per-pupil spending and local spending on education. Policymakers must address this gap before it gets too wide.

We Need Comprehensive and Commonsense Immigration Reform
Article

We Need Comprehensive and Commonsense Immigration Reform

Deportation affects families, children, and communities as a whole, and policymakers need to pass comprehensive reform to lessen the negative impacts on undocumented and documented immigrants alike.

We Need Paid Family and Medical Leave
Article

We Need Paid Family and Medical Leave

Policymakers must pass paid family and medical leave legislation for the good of employers, employees, and American families.

Presidential Candidates Need to Address the Housing Crisis
Article

Presidential Candidates Need to Address the Housing Crisis

As the presidential campaign shifts into high gear in the coming weeks, President Obama and Gov. Romney must lay out their respective visions for housing in the United States.

What Should the United States Do in Syria?
Article

What Should the United States Do in Syria?

U.S. restraint was the right call in the early phases of the rebellion, but the recent escalation in fighting poses greater risks to key U.S. interests and will likely lead to greater U.S. involvement.

Soot Is a Problem for Public Health
Article

Soot Is a Problem for Public Health

Nearly 6 million people in the United States live in an area with unhealthy year-round levels of particle pollution.

Latinos Report the Highest Uninsured Rates
Article

Latinos Report the Highest Uninsured Rates

The Affordable Care Act will uniquely impact Latino communities by significantly increasing access to health care through expanding insurance coverage.

Close Gaps in Latino Health Care
Article

Close Gaps in Latino Health Care

The Hispanic population, similar to most working-class communities, faces significant barriers to accessing adequate health care.

Americans Want Government in Health Care
Article

Americans Want Government in Health Care

The public continues to embrace strong government involvement in the health care system.

More Latino Veterans Suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Article

More Latino Veterans Suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

There are more than 1.2 million Hispanic veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs reports that 39 percent of Hispanic veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Congress Needs to Address the Jobs Problem
Article

Congress Needs to Address the Jobs Problem

President Barack Obama proposed a solution to the jobs problem: the American Jobs Act. But House Republicans have continually thwarted this effort by refusing to consider the much-needed legislation.

The Middle Class Is in Trouble
Article

The Middle Class Is in Trouble

The weakness of our middle class is a problem not just for those who are struggling but also for all Americans because a strong middle class is essential for a vibrant democracy and a healthy economy.

Mental Health Service Cuts Could Prove Deadly
Article

Mental Health Service Cuts Could Prove Deadly

Federal efforts to stem the state-level cuts and ensure sufficient Medicaid funds for behavioral health treatment must be considered a basic public-safety investment.

Reproductive Care Is Young Women’s Primary Health Care Need
Article

Reproductive Care Is Young Women’s Primary Health Care Need

The debate in Washington around contraception has at times missed the most important issue: When we talk about young women’s health care, most of the time we are talking about their reproductive health care.

We Need Better Public Safety Measures for Gun Purchases
Article

We Need Better Public Safety Measures for Gun Purchases

Congress and states need to adopt clear and commonsense public safety measures that make it much more difficult and always illegal for people with a history of mental illness or drug abuse to purchase guns.

Senate Republican Tax Plan Protects the Rich
Article

Senate Republican Tax Plan Protects the Rich

The Senate Republicans’ plan would likely raise taxes on more than 20 million families—about 10 times as many people who would see higher taxes next year under the Senate Democrats’ plan.

Passing Dodd-Frank Was Only the First Step
Article

Passing Dodd-Frank Was Only the First Step

Passing Dodd-Frank through Congress was simply the first step in a process of shoring up the financial system that continues to this day.

Texas’s Health Care Decision Hurts Latinos
Article

Texas’s Health Care Decision Hurts Latinos

Texas's decision to not expand Medicaid or establish a health insurance exchange especially hurts the state's Latino population.

Women of Color Have an Increasingly Significant Role in Shaping Our Nation
Article

Women of Color Have an Increasingly Significant Role in Shaping Our Nation

Women of color have a lot at stake in the policy decisions being made, especially relating to jobs, the economy, and health care, because they are most likely to benefit from reforms intended to equalize opportunity for all Americans.

We Need to Invest in Mothers of Color
Article

We Need to Invest in Mothers of Color

For many mothers of color the ability to have and provide for a family is severely limited by poverty, the need to work, and incarceration.

Diversity Is Necessary in the Workplace
Article

Diversity Is Necessary in the Workplace

Businesses that embrace diversity have a more solid footing in the marketplace than others.

Alternative Fuels Greatly Benefit Our Nation
Article

Alternative Fuels Greatly Benefit Our Nation

The development and use of alternative fuels is vital to the safety of our troops and the long-term fiscal health of our nation.

Most Americans Now Support Marriage Equality
Article

Most Americans Now Support Marriage Equality

Recent polls show increased support for marriage equality among nearly every single demographic group, including men, African Americans, Latinos, political independents, and generations young and old.

Climate Change to Blame for Worse Wildfires
Article

Climate Change to Blame for Worse Wildfires

While there are various proposals on the table to deal with increasingly destructive wildfires, they are likely to continue and become worse unless we tackle climate change.

Obamacare Helps Medicare Beneficiaries
Article

Obamacare Helps Medicare Beneficiaries

To say the Affordable Care Act takes money away from Medicare and raises costs for seniors is grossly misleading and overly simplistic.

We Need More Reliable Power
Article

We Need More Reliable Power

We can make investments in a more resilient electric system so that damages to power lines and other parts of the grid don’t cause people to go without power for days on end.

The Individual Mandate Isn’t Really a ‘Tax’
Article

The Individual Mandate Isn’t Really a ‘Tax’

Viewing the individual mandate as a tax only makes sense if you think penalties for littering, speeding, or engaging in other irresponsible behavior are also “taxes.”

Obamacare Helps Youth of Color
Article

Obamacare Helps Youth of Color

Young people, especially those of color, benefit substantially from the Affordable Care Act.

The Strategic Energy Production Act Hurts the Nation
Article

The Strategic Energy Production Act Hurts the Nation

In addition to dramatically weakening health safeguards from smog and other air pollution, the bill would significantly expand oil and natural gas drilling on public lands, reducing places for hunting, fishing, hiking, and other uses.

American Families Need More Solid Economic Footing
Article

American Families Need More Solid Economic Footing

Families continue to face large economic uncertainties as the economic recovery slowly moves into its fourth year.

How to Improve the Budget Process
Article

How to Improve the Budget Process

The budget process would be better if it involved considering what programs are most effective and then seeking to direct more resources to them.

Black Voters Are Rapidly Evolving on Marriage Equality
Article

Black Voters Are Rapidly Evolving on Marriage Equality

African American voters are rapidly evolving on marriage equality, and it appears that President Barack Obama’s recent endorsement sparked the momentum.

Gay-Straight Alliances Make Schools Safer
Article

Gay-Straight Alliances Make Schools Safer

Gay-straight alliances work to make schools safer by specifically addressing antigay and antitransgender behavior, helping create a climate that is inclusive of gay and transgender youth.

Egypt’s Power Struggle Threatens U.S. Security
Article

Egypt’s Power Struggle Threatens U.S. Security

A divided, weak, and undemocratic Egypt is a recipe for even more instability in the Middle East, which is bad for Egypt’s security interests, and bad for U.S. security interests.

Workers Need More Human Capital
Article

Workers Need More Human Capital

Workers with low levels of human capital—such as education, skills, and peer and professional networks—are extremely disadvantaged in their efforts to achieve upward mobility in an increasingly knowledge-based economy.

Understanding the Implications of Sequestration
Article

Understanding the Implications of Sequestration

It is critical that policymakers begin to understand the possible implications of the automatic, across-the-board budget cuts included in the Budget Control Act.

Don’t Overturn Plyler v. Doe
Article

Don’t Overturn Plyler v. Doe

Well-funded anti-immigration groups have hatched a plan to encourage the Supreme Court to revisit and overturn both the Plyler ruling and other well-settled legal questions about the limits of a state’s power in the immigration realm.

Religious Liberty Is Alive and Well in Our Country
Article

Religious Liberty Is Alive and Well in Our Country

Religious freedom is becoming a divisive wedge and a partisan political weapon, and this distortion of a core American value is bad for politics and religion.

Mass Incarceration of the Elderly Is Unnecessary and Expensive
Article

Mass Incarceration of the Elderly Is Unnecessary and Expensive

Our extreme sentencing policies and a growing number of life sentences have effectively turned many of our correctional facilities into veritable nursing homes—and taxpayers are footing the steadily increasing bill.

ENDA Doesn’t Threaten Religious Freedom
Article

ENDA Doesn’t Threaten Religious Freedom

With its religious exemption, ENDA in no way poses a threat to religious freedom, contrary to the misleading claims of conservative opponents of workplace fairness.

We Need to Reduce Health Care Administrative Costs
Article

We Need to Reduce Health Care Administrative Costs

In an era of government budget deficits and rising health care costs, the case for reducing the administrative complexity of health care is compelling.

We Need to Tackle Afghanistan’s Opium Problem
Article

We Need to Tackle Afghanistan’s Opium Problem

The high cost of the Afghan drug trade for both Afghanistan and the broader international community means that U.S. and Afghan policymakers cannot afford to ignore this problem.

New Carbon Rule Will Spur More Clean Energy
Article

New Carbon Rule Will Spur More Clean Energy

The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed carbon pollution rule will finally shut the door on new coal plants polluting for free and open the door to more clean energy.

Egypt Needs ‘Just Jobs’
Article

Egypt Needs ‘Just Jobs’

Stability depends on whether Egypt’s economy can generate enough “just jobs” to give the nation’s new democracy the underpinning it needs to thrive.

Americans Don’t Want to Repeal Obamacare
Article

Americans Don’t Want to Repeal Obamacare

A new poll confirms that the public is not interested in repealing the Affordable Care Act.

Children Need High-Quality Early Childhood Education
Article

Children Need High-Quality Early Childhood Education

The United States needs to create a high-quality early learning system that reaches far more children than the current system permits.

More Organizations Need to Support Antibullying Measures
Article

More Organizations Need to Support Antibullying Measures

In order to prevent bullying against gay and transgender youth (and all youth for that matter), gay and transgender organizations, as well as civil rights organizations and education advocacy groups, need to support antibullying measures.

Attacks on the Child Tax Credit Are Unwarranted
Article

Attacks on the Child Tax Credit Are Unwarranted

The argument that billions of dollars in tax credits are being unlawfully claimed by undocumented tax filers is patently and demonstrably false.

Government Action Helped Rescue the U.S. Economy
Article

Government Action Helped Rescue the U.S. Economy

Quick and decisive government action was necessary between 2008 and 2010 to avoid a second Great Depression and to help our economy recover from the deepest recession since the 1930s.

Politics Have Changed in the Mountain West
Article

Politics Have Changed in the Mountain West

The region should no longer be considered a reliably conservative and Republican area but rather a new swing region of the country.

Big Oil Will Profit from Americans’ Memorial Day Travels
Article

Big Oil Will Profit from Americans’ Memorial Day Travels

Big Oil will be making huge profits off of Americans’ travel expenditures on fuel while at the same time fighting for increased drilling that threatens some of our most cherished vacation destinations.

Obamacare Is a Lifeline for Women and Their Families
Article

Obamacare Is a Lifeline for Women and Their Families

A ruling that strikes down this important law would not only undo decades of precedent, it would have a devastating effect on the health and well-being of millions of women.

Resolving the Iranian Nuclear Crisis
Article

Resolving the Iranian Nuclear Crisis

Even though halting Iran’s nuclear weapon ambitions is an urgent priority, there is time for a disciplined approach and a serious and determined effort to resolve the situation diplomatically.

Rising Obesity Rates Will Hurt Health Care Costs
Article

Rising Obesity Rates Will Hurt Health Care Costs

If something isn’t done to counter the trend of rising obesity, health care costs will be more than unaffordable for the average American and maybe for our country as a whole.

Sen. Rubio’s New Proposal Is Hypocritical
Article

Sen. Rubio’s New Proposal Is Hypocritical

His bill, which is designed to restrict eligibility for the additional child tax credit, the refundable portion of the federal child tax credit, landed like a heavyweight’s blow to the chin of low-income immigrant families.

NATO Faces Immediate and Long-Term Challenges
Article

NATO Faces Immediate and Long-Term Challenges

While the immediate problems will no doubt garner the most attention in the upcoming Chicago summit, the long-term challenges are far more important for the United States and its European allies as they enter a period of austerity.

How Will Fossil-Fuel Addiction Affect Our Future?
Article

How Will Fossil-Fuel Addiction Affect Our Future?

Scientific projections and analyses can help us understand what the future might hold if we refuse to break our addiction to fossil fuels.

Reform the Pentagon’s Personnel Budget
Article

Reform the Pentagon’s Personnel Budget

If military personnel costs continue growing, they will begin to divert funds from other critical national security initiatives such as training and modernization.

President Obama Joins Majority of Americans in Supporting Marriage Equality
Article

President Obama Joins Majority of Americans in Supporting Marriage Equality

Fifty-three percent of Americans currently believe that gay and lesbian couples should have the right to marry, and the number of those against it has dropped significantly since 1996, from 68 percent to 45 percent.

Is Hollande’s Win a Turning Point for Europe’s Economy?
Article

Is Hollande’s Win a Turning Point for Europe’s Economy?

Francois Hollande, the leader of the Socialist Party, boasts the qualifications to lead a pragmatic, progressive, pro-growth economic revival in Europe.

Close the Gingrich-Edwards Tax Loophole
Article

Close the Gingrich-Edwards Tax Loophole

Closing the so-called Gingrich-Edwards loophole is a commonsense way to pay for the student loan fix.

Obamacare Is Important for Women
Article

Obamacare Is Important for Women

Obamacare will increase health insurance coverage for women, lower their health care costs, and end the worst insurance industry abuses against them.

Students of Color Are Especially Vulnerable to Interest Rate Hikes
Article

Students of Color Are Especially Vulnerable to Interest Rate Hikes

Given that students of color are more likely to rely on financial aid to finance their college education and graduate with higher student debt, increasing these interest rates would disproportionately impact them.

Congressional Inaction Will Boost the Cost of College
Article

Congressional Inaction Will Boost the Cost of College

If Congress fails to act by July 1, millions of students will see their interest rates soar to 6.8 percent on the new loans they take in the next year thereby causing a steep rise in their loan burden and effectively increasing the cost of attaining a college degree.

EEOC Ruling Protects Transgender Workers
Article

EEOC Ruling Protects Transgender Workers

Monday's ruling helps ensure workers are not forced out of a job and into the ranks of the unemployed based solely on their gender identity.

State-Level Immigration Laws Won’t Work
Article

State-Level Immigration Laws Won’t Work

Laws like Arizona's S.B. 1070 will never fix our nation’s broken immigration system.

The Gulf Coast Still Needs Attention
Article

The Gulf Coast Still Needs Attention

The Gulf Coast is still struggling with the lingering effects of the spill and will likely continue to do so for decades to come.

More Women Supporting Their Families Economically Now than Ever
Article

More Women Supporting Their Families Economically Now than Ever

There are more wives, and women generally, supporting their families economically now than ever before—and there could not be a more important time to ensure that working women receive the pay they deserve.

Gay and Transgender People of Color Face a Greater Struggle
Article

Gay and Transgender People of Color Face a Greater Struggle

Gay and transgender people of color face high rates of unemployment or underemployment, overall lower rates of pay, higher rates of poverty, and a greater likelihood of being uninsured.

Workers of Both Sexes Need Paid Family Leave and Caregiving Credits
Article

Workers of Both Sexes Need Paid Family Leave and Caregiving Credits

Despite the heightened importance of women’s earning power for today’s families, women continue to face real barriers to staying in the labor market at the same earnings level when family caregiving needs arise, including the birth of a child or the serious illness of a family member.

Public Favors the President’s Approach to Growing the Economy
Article

Public Favors the President’s Approach to Growing the Economy

In a recent Bloomberg poll, by a 51-41 margin, respondents endorsed the Obama-style approach of government investments in infrastructure, education, and alternative energy over the Ryan-style approach of spending cuts and tax cuts.

Strong First Quarter for Jobs Growth
Article

Strong First Quarter for Jobs Growth

2012 registered the strongest first quarter of job growth since the first quarter of 2006—at the peak of the real estate bubble—and stronger than any other first quarter of jobs growth since the 1990s boom economy.

We Need to Transition Our Energy Infrastructure
Article

We Need to Transition Our Energy Infrastructure

By transitioning our energy infrastructure from capital-intensive, risky, and often highly polluting energy sources to clean, labor-intensive energy sources we can create many new jobs, grow our middle class, ensure greater energy security, and protect our nation and planet from the predictable ravages of unchecked climate change.

New Menu Highlights Global Job Creation Policy Ideas
Article

New Menu Highlights Global Job Creation Policy Ideas

Policymakers are tackling unemployment in different ways but are often unaware of solutions other countries are pursuing. CAP's new policy menu of options attempts to bridge that gap by highlighting job creation ideas from select advanced and developing economies.

National Organization for Marriage Plans to Use Race-Baiting Tactics
Article

National Organization for Marriage Plans to Use Race-Baiting Tactics

The Human Rights Campaign last week obtained copies of the National Organization for Marriage’s confidential strategy documents, which disclosed the conservative organization’s plan to use despicable race-baiting tactics in its fight against marriage equality across our country.

Contraception and the Economy Are Closely Connected
Article

Contraception and the Economy Are Closely Connected

Many seem to miss the fact that contraception and the economy do not live in separate realms. In fact, they are closely connected.

We Need More Months of Much-Stronger Job Creation
Article

We Need More Months of Much-Stronger Job Creation

American families need more months of much-stronger job creation to eliminate the massive economic pain that the crisis and its aftermath brought.

Principal Reduction Will Help Prevent Foreclosures
Article

Principal Reduction Will Help Prevent Foreclosures

Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the country’s two biggest mortgage finance companies, have yet to embrace one option—principal reduction—as a viable foreclosure mitigation tool.

Obamacare Is Improving the Lives of Latinos
Article

Obamacare Is Improving the Lives of Latinos

The Affordable Care Act helps Latinos gain access to critical preventive services, protecting those with pre-existing conditions, and making health coverage more affordable for everyone.

Ryan Plan Will Hurt the Poorest Americans
Article

Ryan Plan Will Hurt the Poorest Americans

The House Republican budget proposal reduces supplemental nutrition assistance spending by nearly 20 percent annually. Such a cut will have a devastating impact on the poorest American children, elderly, and adults.

Paul Clement Is Incorrectly Interpreting the Constitution
Article

Paul Clement Is Incorrectly Interpreting the Constitution

Paul Clement's brief attacking the Affordable Care Act as unconstitutional is riddled with misrepresentations of precedent and inaccurate descriptions of what our Constitution says.

Ryan Plan Makes the Tax Code More Regressive
Article

Ryan Plan Makes the Tax Code More Regressive

The House budget bemoans the complexity of the tax code at length. But the actual policies have nothing to do with making the tax code simpler and everything to do with making it less fair.

Workplace Discrimination Harms Businesses Financially
Article

Workplace Discrimination Harms Businesses Financially

Workplace discrimination imposes significant financial harm on businesses, introducing inefficiencies and costs that cut into profits and undermine businesses’ bottom line.

The Main Failures of the New House Budget
Article

The Main Failures of the New House Budget

This latest budget blueprint not only mirrors last year’s disastrous effort but also manages to reject what little bipartisan budget agreement was forged in 2011.

SNAP Is Crucial in the Fight Against Poverty
Article

SNAP Is Crucial in the Fight Against Poverty

The importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in combating poverty in our country by alleviating hunger was driven home anew during the Great Recession of 2007–2009 and the subsequent tepid economic recovery.

What Will Be in the House Republican Budget Plan?
Article

What Will Be in the House Republican Budget Plan?

There are a few areas in the budget that will tell us whether the House Republicans are truly serious about solving our budget problems or are merely ideologues unwilling to compromise.

We Need to Fix Our Criminal-Justice System
Article

We Need to Fix Our Criminal-Justice System

It is imperative that criminal-justice reform evolves as the civil rights issue of the 21st century.

Americans Don’t Favor Military Action Against Iran
Article

Americans Don’t Favor Military Action Against Iran

Military action against Iran to get it to shut down its nuclear facilities is not favorable for a vast majority of Americans, who much prefer economic and diplomatic efforts.

Gay and Transgender People Abuse Substances at a Higher Rate
Article

Gay and Transgender People Abuse Substances at a Higher Rate

The gay and transgender population experiences disproportionately high rates of substance use, which is a significant impediment to the health of this group.

Returning Veterans Will Need Help and Support
Article

Returning Veterans Will Need Help and Support

Many returning veterans will need help and support from safety net programs or job training to transition to civilian life, but that help isn’t guaranteed to be there.

Americans Are Deeply Worried About Economic Inequality
Article

Americans Are Deeply Worried About Economic Inequality

Many Americans believe they will personally succeed in spite of inequality. But there is no doubt that Americans are deeply worried about economic inequality and the state of the middle class.

We Need the Independent Payment Advisory Board
Article

We Need the Independent Payment Advisory Board

The Independent Payment Advisory Board is essential to reducing health care costs while improving the quality of care.

Congress May Have Hurt the Economic Recovery
Article

Congress May Have Hurt the Economic Recovery

There is increasing evidence that the current economic recovery might be considerably stronger were it not for a number of congressional actions taken over the past year.

How Will a Putin Victory Affect the U.S.-Russia Relationship?
Article

How Will a Putin Victory Affect the U.S.-Russia Relationship?

The real challenge to the U.S.-Russia reset will be if Putin himself brings about its end either by violently cracking down on dissent or by rejecting cooperation with the West as threatening to Russian national interests or his own rule.

Rising Gas Prices Help Big Oil Companies
Article

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.

Politicians Need to Stop Race Baiting
Article

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.

Selling Reserve Oil Will Bring Down Gas Prices
Article

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.

Smart Economic Policy Can Continue to Strengthen Recovery
Article

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.

Extension Passed in Congress Helps the Middle Class
Article

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.

The Stimulus Bill Worked
Article

The Stimulus Bill Worked

Three broad but important indicators for the American economy indicate that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was a success.

H.B. 56 Is Hurting Alabama
Article

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.

The President’s Budget Proposal Has Many Good Ideas
Article

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.

New Mortgage Foreclosure Settlement Helps Homeowners
Article

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.

Looking at ‘What Works’ Platforms in Education
Article

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.

Big Oil Produced Less Oil but Made Record Profits in 2011
Article

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.

Open Educational Resources Will Help Students
Article

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.

The Economic Recovery Needs to Accelerate
Article

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.

Colleges Need to Lower Tuition
Article

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.

Rep. Kline’s ESEA Proposals Wouldn’t Help All Students
Article

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.

The Economy Needs to Grow Faster
Article

The Economy Needs to Grow Faster

The economy will have to grow much faster for much longer to restore economic security for America’s middle class.

The Defense Budget Needs More Work
Article

The Defense Budget Needs More Work

Secretary Panetta’s $6 billion reduction for the next fiscal year is a positive first step and a major achievement, but there is a long way to go to reach sustainable levels of defense spending.

Don’t Deny the Child Tax Credit to Immigrant Parents
Article

Don’t Deny the Child Tax Credit to Immigrant Parents

If our end goal is a stronger economy, offsetting the payroll tax holiday by denying the child tax credit to immigrant parents of American children would be both cruel and ineffective.

Innovation Will Help the Middle Class
Article

Innovation Will Help the Middle Class

Innovation is an intrinsic aspect of the American identity, and an indispensable tool to ensuring the future success of our economy and middle class.

Rehab-to-Rent Programs Can Help Hard-Hit Communities in Economic Crisis
Article

Rehab-to-Rent Programs Can Help Hard-Hit Communities in Economic Crisis

Government-owned, foreclosed properties could earn a greater return for taxpayers and do more to promote an efficient and resilient housing market if they are taken out of for-sale markets and converted into rental units.

2012 Will Bring More Challenges for Egypt’s Political Transition
Article

2012 Will Bring More Challenges for Egypt’s Political Transition

2012 will present even more challenges to advancing a policy in Egypt that balances the complexities of offering support for Egypt’s political and economic transitions while advancing U.S. security interests for stability in the broader region.

Reproductive Rights Are at Risk
Article

Reproductive Rights Are at Risk

This year, once again, we see conservative candidates running for office promising economic reform. But if they win, we can expect more of the same culture war maneuvering when they take office.

Previous Congresses Greatly Helped the Middle Class
Article

Previous Congresses Greatly Helped the Middle Class

Previous Congresses passed legislation that increased access to health care and education, expanded home ownership, protected the savings of average Americans, and ensured the rights of Americans in the workplace and beyond.

More Ways to Help the Middle Class
Article

More Ways to Help the Middle Class

A strong middle class is integral to the vitality of the American economy as a whole.

How Do Wraparound Services Affect Teacher Efficacy?
Article

How Do Wraparound Services Affect Teacher Efficacy?

A new CAP report examines specific examples of schools where wraparound services are benefiting teachers in addition to students.