The attack demonstrates al Shabaab’s capability to follow up on its threats to strike internationally and its desire to remove barriers to its control of southern and central Somalia. The attack also contributes to al Shabaab’s goal of receiving recognition from al Qaeda (more)
The Great Recession of 2008-09 has put enormous strain on the social contracts of Western economies. This paper provides an American perspective on how well the social welfare systems of the United States and the European Union countries have performed in cushioning their populations against the economic dislocations associated with the Great Recession and how effective U.S. and European policy has been in softening the severity of the recession and in creating the conditions for future (more)
The limitations imposed by the role of the states in the U.S. unemployment insurance system are the reason why a majority of workers are not protected and why even insured workers receive inadequate protection. (more)
The Administration has made clear that it intends to address housing finance reform as soon as financial regulatory reform is concluded. To many, this means the Administration will release its long-awaited plan for the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two housing government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) whose combined losses could result in a $1 trillion bailout (more)
Many states are lobbying the Senate to extend the Medicaid bailout enacted in the February 2009 stimulus bill. While several attempts by Senate leaders to extend the bailout passed by the House have failed, it is likely to be brought to the floor again. (more)
No doubt, the problems we face — massive unemployment, a broken immigration system, a malfunctioning financial sector — are monumental. But it does not follow that each complex, giant problem must be addressed by one complex, giant bill. If anything, history shows that piecemeal reforms are often more lasting than a legislative Big Bang. (more)
America is substantially wealthier than many European countries. For instance, America’s per capita income was over $45,000 in 2007, while Germany’s weighed in at just over $34,000. If Germany were an American state, its per capital level would sit in between South Carolina and Oklahoma (more)
The economy clearly failed to respond in the manner predicted by Obama’s advisors. But why? There are two popular explanations. The first is that the stimulus spending simply did not work. The other explanation is that the stimulus actually did work and that without it, unemployment would be even higher than it is today. This is the argument being made by President Obama (more)
I have read scores of Supreme Court decisions, but rarely has their been so broadly vague and amateurishly twisted a rationale as in Chief Justice John Roberts majority decision (Jan. 21) on Holder, Attorney General, Et al. vs. Humanitarian Law Project. With only three justices dissenting, this dangerous judicial activism disables the free-speech anchor of the First Amendment. (more)
Global warming alarmists claim vindication after last year’s data manipulation scandal. Don’t believe the ‘independent’ reviews. (more)
When it comes to government spending, “stimulus” apparently means never having to say “enough.” (more)
The debates raging over what policies will pull the U.S. economy out of its Great Recession replicate one that occurred during the Great Depression. Thanks to the efforts of Richard Ebeling, a professor of economics at Northwood University, we have compelling and concise documentary evidence. He has unearthed letters to the Times of London from the two sides that mirror today’s debates. (more)
On Wednesday, June 30, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) updated its long-term budget outlook. Contained within it were updated projections for America’s largest domestic program, Social Security. The updates are not pretty. (more)
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham may no longer claim allegiance to the climate bill currently being debated in the Senate, but according to a new independent analysis released this week, the cap-and-trade proposal being advanced by Sens. Kerry and Lieberman does no better by the American consumer than previous iterations of the bill that bore his name (more)
While the federal deficit captures the news headlines, there is a deep and pervasive fiscal crisis in state finance. This crisis is largely a result of the Great Recession, which has caused the steepest decline in state tax receipts on record. It is also a structural issue, resulting from unfunded retirement plans that are beginning [...] (more)
China has at least $2.5 trillion in foreign exchange and must, due to its own balance of payments rules, invest it all overseas (more)
With Herculean-like effort, the Obama Administration continues to insist that the New START treaty between the United States and Russia will not limit U.S. ballistic missile defense or the strategic options available to the President. However, numerous limitations and other problematic issues have continued to be exposed throughout the treaty. A recent Heritage Foundation panel [...] (more)
The Internet has been a revolutionary technology that has empowered the little guy, but not for the reasons Free Press and others neutrality advocates think (more)
Physicians and patients often have access to drugs and devices that can treat certain illnesses, but which have been approved by the FDA for other uses. This practice, called “off-label” prescribing (more)
Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler released a February 24th written opinion detailing his understanding that Maryland courts could recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states (more)
