January 2011 Blog Archives


The President Speaks

Tuesday night, the President delivered his annual State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress. Article II, Section 3 of the US Constitution requires the President to “from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration ...

The Politics of Health Care Policy

The Politics of Health Care PolicyEven before the November 2, 2010 elections catapulted them back into power in the U.S. House of Representatives, members of the Republican leadership were already announcing their intention to repeal “Obamacare” – the health care reform legislation enacted by Congress only eight months earlier – ...

DC Speak: The Biggest Credit Card Bill Ever

The United States has been borrowing its way out of mounting obligations and lowered revenues for some time. We rely on the federal government to provide a variety of services across the country, including healthcare for veterans, special education programs, and energy grants for those with lower incomes. When tax ...

What would you do with $1 trillion dollars? Ask a young filmmaker

The American Friends Service Committee and National Priorities Project are preparing to announce the six lucky winners of If I Had a Trillion Dollars (IHTD), a national video contest which asks young people to convey how they would spend the more than $1 trillion dollars spent on the U.S. wars ...

Pell Grants: Not out of the woods yet!

By Samantha DanaIn the Continuing Resolution passed by Congress on December 21, 2010 one line specifies that the maximum Pell Grant award amount shall not exceed $4,860. These grants, which do not have to be repaid, are an essential part of making college affordable. However, not many are aware of ...