July 26, 2010
Government Debt and Economic Growth
From Economic Policy Institute: There is currently much cautionary talk in policymaking circles regarding the dangers to the economy’s future health posed by crossing a specific threshold in the ratio between government debt and gross domestic product. These fears have...
June 10, 2010
Medicare and Medicaid Are NOT Like Social Security - by Greg Anrig
From Ascribe Newsfeed: Following is commentary by Greg Anrig, vice president for programs and policy at The Century Foundation. In an otherwise admirable New York Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/business/economy/09leonhardt.html?ref=business) about how deficit fears have impeded an adequate response to persistently high...
Policy responses to long-term unemployment
From Economic Policy Institute: On June 10, 2010, EPI President Lawrence Mishel told the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support that the jobs crisis remains catastrophic and that “a better safety net” is needed to...
June 2, 2010
Stalled Estate Tax Proposal Could Threaten State Revenues that Support Education, Public Safety, and Other Key Services
From Center on Budget: Comprehensive News Feed: A provision that several senators were reportedly considering for a now-stalled estate tax proposal could squeeze state revenues that support education, public safety, and other vital services to help cut taxes on the...
Budgetary Concerns Should Not Be An Obstacle to Passing the New Jobs Bill
From Center on Budget: Comprehensive News Feed: Congress is about to take up a jobs bill that will provide a needed boost to the economic recovery and help people still struggling to find work in a difficult labor market. Senate...
New CBO Report Finds Recovery Act has Preserved or Created up to 2.8 Million Jobs
From Center on Budget: Comprehensive News Feed: A new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report estimates that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) had preserved or created between 1.2 million and 2.8 million jobs as of March. In other words,...
May 27, 2010
Obama Plan Would Help Preserve Public Housing
From Center on Budget: Housing: At the last minute, the House yesterday dropped an extension of Recovery Act assistance for cash-strapped states from jobs legislation, which it then passed, in order to help satisfy congressional critics who complained about the...
May 25, 2010
Report Shows Health Reform Will Reduce Health Care Spending by Nearly $600 Billion While Improving Access to Care for 32 Million Uninsured
From The Commonwealth Fund: The Center for American Progress and The Commonwealth Fund released a report today that details the effects of the health reform law passed in March. The report, "The Impact of Health Reform on Health System Spending,"...
May 4, 2010
President's Budget Would Strengthen Housing Voucher Program
From Center on Budget: Housing: In a budget that would freeze overall funding for non-security discretionary (i.e., non-entitlement) programs, the Administration has made the renewal of “Section 8” Housing Choice vouchers a priority. The President’s budget requests $17.1 billion to...
October 30, 2009
Recovery Act spurs genuine growth
From Economic Policy Institute: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act can’t seem to catch a break. When the economy contracted at a 0.7% rate in the quarter after it was first enacted, critics argued that the contraction was evidence that...
