American Action Forum
President of the American Action Forum, former fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Peterson Institute for International Economics; former director of the Congressional Budget Office (2003-2005) and the director of Domestic and Economic Policy for John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign
Reality Checks on The Donald Donald Trump has famously contradicted himself many times, but he's been relentlessly consistent on two major proposals. He wants a moratorium on any foreign Muslims entering the country, and he wants all undocumented workers to be deported. Both are crucial to Trump's base of support, and both have been roundly denounced — even by some members of the Republican Party. The moratorium has been called both un-American and unconstitutional, but we hear about some legal precedents that may surprise you. As to mass deportation, what would it take to round up 10 to 12 million people? What would it mean for the size of government and the economy?
Obama Renews Focus on Economy as Partisan Battles Loom Normal.dotm 0 0 1 66 377 KCRW-Santa Monica College 3 1 462 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Bill Clinton made “it’s the economy, stupid” a rule of American politics. Now Barack Obama says Washington “has largely taken its eye off the ball.” Nobody disagrees, but Republicans were trashing the President’s latest “pivot” to jobs and the Middle Class even before today’s “major speech” was delivered. We’ll hear what Mr. Obama has to say as he kicks off another public relations campaign. What about job growth, stimulus spending and the sequester?
Obama Budget: New Consensus or Continued Gridlock? Partisanship has left the budget process in shambles since 2010, but this year the Republican Congress and Democrats in the Senate have both passed spending plans. Having refused to start the proceedings in February, as required by law, President Obama has waited to weigh in. Tomorrow, he's expected to take what Washington calls a "risk" by proposing social-program reductions that infuriate many Democrats. The White House calls that "conciliatory," and hopes that Republicans will agree. But they're likely to balk at the tax increases on which his cuts are conditioned. Social Security, Medicare and "the Sequester" are part of the package, with the deficit, tax reform and the debt limit looming on the horizon. We hear what to expect from the White House, with both parties already thinking about the mid-term elections next year.
Negotiations and the 'Fiscal Cliff' After the election three weeks ago, leaders of both parties posed for pictures at the Obama White House and vowed to avoid another dramatic confrontation over the so-called "fiscal cliff" looming at the end of the year. Making a real deal is another matter. This week, the President is conducting a very public campaign to raise taxes on three million families who make more than $250,000 a year. At the same time, Republicans have been drawing their own lines in the sand. What are the prospects of Democrats and Republicans reaching a deal? Would it be so bad if they didn’t?
What if the US Goes over the 'Fiscal Cliff?' Just after the election three weeks ago, leaders of both parties posed for pictures at the Obama White House and vowed to avoid another dramatic confrontation over the so-called "fiscal cliff" looming at the end of the year. Making a real deal is another matter, with both sides back to familiar public posturing with no reports of progress in private. This week, the President is conducting a very public campaign to raise taxes on three million families who make more than $250,000 year. At the same time, Republicans have been drawing their own lines in the sand. Would actually going over the "cliff" be so bad after all? Would it really send the economy spinning back into recession? Would it set off a scramble to resolve long-term issues once and for all? We hear predictions of financial disaster, and from the "Thelma and Louise Caucus," which says the best action is no action at all.
Looking Over the edge of the Fiscal Cliff The "fiscal cliff" means all income-tax payers are in for an increase and most government programs are in for massive reductions by the first of next year. What if the re-elected President and the lame-duck Congress can't make a deal? Would gridlock necessarily lead to another recession? We look at the financial picture and ask which players have the most to gain or lose in the aftermath of last week's election.
The Affordable Care Act and America's Uninsured In the first of three days of arguments , the US Supreme Court made pretty clear today that it will rule on the constitutionality of President Obama's Affordable Care Act . Tomorrow, it will hear arguments on the so-called "Mandate" to buy insurance. In the meantime, we hear what it's like to go without health insurance, and arguments about the potential impact of what Republicans call "Obamacare."
SCOTUS Reviews Healthcare: Day One The US Supreme Court today began an almost unprecedented three days of hearings on President Obama's Affordable Care Act . Passed without a single Republican vote, so-called "Obamacare" is designed to bring America closer to universal health coverage. Who are the uninsured? What is it like to live without coverage? Employer-provided insurance is on the decline. How come? Would the Affordable Care Act (ACA) make things better or worse? We get the background as the court prepares to take on a case that could affect millions of people, including voters in an election year. (Special thanks to KCRW volunteer Gideon Brower for production assistance.)
Healthcare Spending Is on the Decline, but at What Cost? The good news is that America's historic expansion of healthcare spending has slowed to its lowest rate in 51 years, though that could change fast. The reason for the decline is the recession, which left millions unemployed, uninsured and less able or less willing to pay for doctors, hospitals and drugs. Maybe they're just eliminating unnecessary care. However, if they're foregoing what they really need, they could get sicker and require much more in the future. We ask consumers why they've cut back and ask experts, will spending go up again when the economy improves? This story was informed in part from sources in the Public Insight Network. Find out more at our website, www.kcrw.com/insight .
A Divided Congress Gets to Work before Winter Break Another holiday means another deadline for important legislation in Congress, and opportunities for each political party to embarrass the other. Last night, the Republican House passed a bill extending payroll tax cuts and unemployment insurance. An hour later, the Senate's Democratic Leader, Harry Reid, called it " dead on arrival ." What's at stake for the latest example of dysfunctional government?
Holiday Sausage-Making on Capitol Hill Last night, the Republican House passed a bill extending payroll tax cuts and unemployment insurance. An hour later, the Senate's Democratic Leader, Harry Reid, called it " dead on arrival ." Deadline gamesmanship is under way in both houses of Congress. Bills that "must pass" before the holiday recess are loaded with so-called "poison pills." Other matters being held hostage include unemployment benefits and appropriations to keep government agencies open. Both parties are playing the game, with the President threatening vetoes and saying that, "nothing gets done until everything gets done." Can Congress accomplish its basic work in time to go home for Christmas? What's the price of dysfunctional government in the long term?
Financial Reform: Unwritten Rules for an Empty Road When he signed the Dodd-Frank finance reform bill less than a year ago, President Obama said it would protect consumers from the reckless behavior of banks that caused the Great Recession, and then got bailed out with taxpayer money. But implementing the measure has run into serious roadblocks. Today, a House committee held yet another hearing . Are taxpayers and the global economy still vulnerable to banks that are "too big to fail?"
Financial Reform: Unwritten Rules for an Empty Road When he signed the Dodd-Frank finance reform bill , President Obama said it would protect consumers from the reckless behavior of banks that caused the Great Recession and then got bailed out with taxpayer money. Less than a year after calling the legislation a "key pillar" of economic recovery, he hardly mentions it any more. He's meeting with Wall Street leaders he once called "fat cats," presumably looking for campaign contributions. Republicans, and some Democrats, are delaying the new rules to give teeth to reform. The new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will open for business on July 21, but Obama still has not appointed a leader. Is the economy still vulnerable to risky practices by banks that are "too big to fail?" What's the future of consumer protection?
Tax Cuts, the Deficit and the November Election Tax cuts signed into law by George W. Bush were attacked for making the rich richer at the expense of the Middle Class and for helping to turn a federal surplus into a deficit. They are scheduled to expire at the end of this year and Republicans are warning of the biggest tax increase in history. President Obama wants to let the tax cuts expire in the top bracket, but keep them in place for individuals making $200,000 or less and for couples at or below $250,000.
Tax Cuts, the Deficit and the November Election Tax cuts signed into law by George W. Bush were attacked for making the rich richer at the expense of the Middle Class, and for helping to turn a federal surplus into a deficit. They are scheduled to expire at the end of this year and Republicans are warning of the biggest tax increase in history. President Obama wants to let the tax cuts expire in the top bracket, but keep them in place for individuals making $200,000 or less and for couples at or below $250,000. The impending epic political battle will have high stakes for taxpayers, the deficit and economic recovery. Will Republicans and Democrats find a middle ground in an election year? What are the consequences of no action at all?
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.