RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Martin Neil Baily, September 29, 2009, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Martin Baily testified before the Senate Banking Committee on the creation of a single micro prudential regulator, combining the regulatory and supervisory functions now carried out by the Fed, the OCC, the OTS, the SEC and the FDIC. He calls attention to the Australia model as a good positive example where a single prudential regulator has worked well. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Gary Burtless, August 17, 2009, National Journal
The federal deficit represents a serious long-term problem. According to Gary Burtless, it is not, however, a threat to our economic recovery, nor will it be a threat anytime soon. Our near-term problem is weakness in private demand rather than excess government borrowing. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
E.J. Dionne, Jr., March 23, 2009, The New Republic
Many argue that President Obama is biting off way more than he can chew, "overloading" the system and dealing with all sorts of "side issues," when he should be focusing solely on the broken economy. E.J. Dionne writes that Obama's biggest task will be restoring faith that what he had in mind is still possible. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Thomas E. Mann, Norman Ornstein and Melanie Sloan, March 16, 2009, The Diane Rehm Show
President Barack Obama promised to change how Washington works but the omnibus spending bill he just signed contained more than eight thousand earmarks. Thomas Mann joined Norman Ornstein and Melanie Sloan on the Diane Rehm Show to look at how members of congress set aside money for projects in their districts and how the new administration hopes to reform the process. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Thomas E. Mann, March 06, 2009, Politico
The $410 billion omnibus spending bill has about 9,000 earmarks, constituting less than one percent of the federal budget. Thomas Mann argues that abolishing earmarks would have a trivial effect on the level of spending and budget deficits. Instead, he says attention needs to be placed on the critical decisions that we face in the months and years ahead, including making sure new funds are expended in the most responsible way possible. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, January 08, 2009
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
When the 111th Congress convenes it will turn first to internal issues—including a disputed Illinois Senate seat and proposed rule changes in the House of Representatives. On January 8, Sarah Binder and Thomas Mann, with AEI’s Norman Ornstein, offered recommendations on how the new Congress may strengthen what they have called "the broken branch." They also critiqued whether the Democratic-majority 110th Congress achieved their objectives in mending the institution. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Sarah A. Binder, Thomas E. Mann, Norman J. Ornstein and Molly Reynolds, January 08, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Sarah Binder, Thomas Mann, Norman Ornstein and Molly Reynolds look ahead to the 111th Congress and what it will take to overcome the shortcomings of the 110th. Although the previous Congress was able to achieve some policy successes, increase oversight of the executive and strengthen ethics standards and procedures, it was limited in its ability to overcome fully the realities of divided government, the ideological polarization of the parties and the institutional dynamics that have shaped Congress in recent years. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Buchanan, December 30, 2008, The Brookings Institution
In this Issues in Governance Studies, Bruce Buchanan examines how Congress and the American people evaluate presidential wars of choice. When it comes to whether or not to use American military power, presidential discretion is virtually unchecked. Using the Korean War, Vietnam War and the current Iraqi operation as case models, Buchanan explores the presidential accountability for wars of choice and recommends the use of policy trials. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Sarah A. Binder and Mark Spindel, December 09, 2008, The Brookings Institution
Sarah Binder and Mark Spindel suggest that Congress should amend the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program in several ways, including a rewrite of the conditions put on institutions that take TARP dollars. It is not too late to fix the mistakes made in the rush to enactment, they write. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, November 11, 2008, The Washington Times
As U.S. armed forces continue their heroic operations around the globe, worries have intensified about sustaining adequate defense funding in the future. Michael O'Hanlon agues that a 4 percent gross domestic product floor for defense spending is unnecessary, because needs will fluctuate and there should not be a law preventing lower spending in the future if the geopolitical environment allows. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Sarah A. Binder, September 23, 2008, The News & Observer
Given the slew of questions that have been raised about the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street firms, Congress is right to reject open-ended grants of power at untold cost, writes Sarah Binder. But, if Congress fails to grant new powers to the Treasury, it risks deepening—and being blamed for—the greatest financial crisis since the Depression. Binder offers basic ground rules on how Congress should proceed. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Matthew C. Waxman, July 24, 2008, The Brookings Institution, Georgetown University Law Center and the Hoover Institution
Matthew Waxman examines the questions underlying the discussion of administrative detention, the possible need for new laws in combating terrorism, and how to make and review detention decisions for whom to detain. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Benjamin Wittes, July 17, 2008, House Committee on the Judiciary
The interrogation programs of both the military and the intelligence community have been criticized at great length for being inconsistent with American values. In testimony before the House Committee on the Judiciary, Benjamin Wittes examined America's interrogation policy in the war against terrorism and offered steps towards a healthier statutory environment. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Thomas E. Mann and Lawrence Lessig, April 16, 2008, Bloggingheads.tv
Thomas Mann and Lawrence Lessig of Stanford Law School appeared on Bloggingheads.tv to discuss ways to restore public trust in Congress, and its failure to engage in responsible and deliberative lawmaking, to police the ethical behavior of its members, and to check and balance the executive. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Sarah A. Binder, Thomas E. Mann and Molly Reynolds, January 22, 2008, The Brookings Institution
Thomas Mann and Sarah Binder conclude that in the 110th Congress, members are working harder, ethics regulations are tougher and a modest legislative harvest is being reaped. But, they warn, the venomous partisan atmosphere remains. Read More