America / CFPB / Economy / Other / Regulation / Uncategorized

Rebuilding and Altering the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Deep Breath Before the Plunge It would be an understatement if the hearing on February 8th, 2011 would be considered as anything less than tame. During opening statements alone, which were typically no longer than two minutes, both attacks and decibels were on the rise. Whether on the attack or coming to the defense of … Continue reading

Economy / Education / Energy / Foreign Policy / Healthcare / Regulation

News of the Day: What We’re Reading

Economy Employment Rate For Young Adults Lowest In 60 Years, Study Says http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/09/employment-rate-young-adults_n_1264241.html Just 54 percent of Americans ages 18 to 24 currently have jobs, according to a study released Thursday by the Pew Research Center. That’s the lowest employment rate for this age group since the government began keeping track in 1948   Regulation … Continue reading

America / Economy / Energy / Regulation / Tax

What’s the Solution? Roundtable Discussion has Committee Leaders Asking How to Bring Back “Made in America” to Manufacturing

In yet another installment of the Jobs and Innovation Forum Series, hosted by the Energy and Commerce Committee, House leaders focused on job promotion and creation by discussing the obstacles facing American manufacturers with actual American manufacturers. Some of the non-politicians at the table included Liat Tala, the owner of a denim manufacturing company based … Continue reading

America / Education / Energy / Gov. Officials / Politics / Regulation / U.S. Domestic Policy

The Scientists Strike Back

On Friday, the Energy and Environment Subcommittee held the second hearing “Fostering Quality Science at EPA: Perspectives on Common Sense Reform.” At this hearing, the overarching theme was attack and response of the EPA research and risk analysis process. Again, Representative Harris and Representative Miller acted in dichotomous, conflicting positions attacking and defending the EPA, … Continue reading

America / Economy / Education / Politics / Regulation / U.S. Domestic Policy / Uncategorized

The Lost Generation

On Wednesday, the Center for American Progress (CAP) hosted a seminar on Restoring the Middle Class. Senator Harkin, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, outlined his need plan to attempt to restore middle class section of America. He began with “Over the past year, Republicans have been pushing not … Continue reading

America / Education / Energy / Gov. Officials / Healthcare / Politics / Regulation / U.S. Domestic Policy

When Politicians Attack….

On Wednesday, the Energy and the Environmental Subcommittee convened to discuss issues related to Hydraulic Fracturing Research, and quality control of data related to the EPA analysis. EPA was initially tasked with review of the hydrofracking measure to inform both the public and private on the potential risk of these practices through a scientific, quantitative … Continue reading

America / Culture / Politics / Regulation / Tax

Corporate Person: A Legal Fiction and the Reality it Represents

There has been a significant amount of discussion and disagreement about the rights held by corporations. Citizens United has equated individual speech and expression rights the speech rights of an individual with a “corporate identity.” Occupy Wall Street has demanded that corporations be striped of the rights of individuals, and the status as a “corporate … Continue reading

America / Economy / Energy / Regulation / Uncategorized

Climate Change and Public Heath: The Truth and the Myth

In the APHA Seminar #4: “Climate Change in Public Health”, real solutions were proposed by a panel of five environmental change experts for the impact of the changing environment.  Jonathon Patz, director of the School of Public Health at University of Wisconsin-Madison, started the discussion, dictating the known issues of climate changes. His outline consisted … Continue reading

America / Economy / Gov. Officials / Politics / Regulation / U.S. Domestic Policy

The “What If” Game

Yesterday morning at the Senate Budget Committee hearing, we saw yet again the same old run-around arguments that seem to be the only support behind the stimulus bill. Research presented by two of the three witnesses, Dr. Alan Blinder and Dr. Joel Prakken, attempted to model what would have happened if the government had not … Continue reading

America / Dpt. of State / Energy / Gov. Officials / Politics / Presidency / Regulation

Keystone Rejection: Goodbye Jobs, Energy, and Revenue

Last Wednesday, President Obama announced that he had rejected TransCanada Corp.’s request for a permit to construct the Keystone XL pipeline. TransCanada was prepared to fund the highly publicized project that would consist of a crude oil pipeline extending from an oil supply hub, at the tar sands oil fields of Alberta, Canada, all the … Continue reading