Mar 02 Weekly Poem: 'Salvage' Poet Laureate Kay Ryan recently sat down with Jeffrey Brown to talk about her work and her role as Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. That conversation will be posted here soon. Much more about Ryan can be… Continue reading
Mar 02 Why Don't We Offer Earlier Retirement Incentives to Open Up Jobs for the Unemployed? Question/Comment: Someone must have already considered this idea for the economic stimulus, but I haven’t heard anything about it: Why don’t we offer earlier retirement incentives for people still working at retirement age because they want to get their maximum… Continue reading
Feb 27 What is the Process for Reprivatization of Banks? Question/Comment: If the banks are nationalized and become healthy again, what is the process for reprivatization? Do stockholders on record as of the date of nationalization have any priorities when the banks are reprivatized? How did Sweden manage this process?… Continue reading
Feb 27 Watch Government to Take Larger Ownership Stake in Struggling Citigroup The Treasury Department and Citigroup announced a new plan Friday in which the government will take ownership in a larger portion of the company's stock. Washington Post reporter Binaymin Applebaum explains the move. Continue watching
Feb 27 Economy Shrank 6.2% at End of 2008, Fastest Since 1982 By Admin, PBS News Hour The U.S. economy contracted at a sharp 6.2 percent pace at the close of 2008, its worst showing since 1982, as exports plunged and consumers and businesses cut back spending. Continue reading
Feb 27 What Are "Targeted Jobs"? By Business Desk Question/Comment: Paul, can you explain what “targeted jobs” are? Are these something different from the type of jobs that people are losing now? It seems to me that $30,000 spent on retaining a librarian would have the same economic benefit… Continue reading
Feb 26 Watch Orszag Outlines Policy Priorities in Budget Blueprint White House Budget Director Peter Orszag details the new $3.5 trillion budget plan, explaining how the Obama administration will balance policy priorities and an anticipated $1.75 trillion deficit. Continue watching
Feb 26 Watch Other News: U.S. Jobless Claims Rise, Stocks Fall on Health Care Plans In other news, the Labor Department reported that U.S. jobless claims rose to their highest levels since 1982 and markets fell on concerns that medical and drug companies would lose money under the president's new health care budget. Continue watching
Feb 26 Watch Obama Administration Rolls Out $3.5 Trillion Budget Plan President Obama's $3.5 trillion federal budget plan for the fiscal year includes both record spending and deficits for a wide range of programs, including health care, education and bank rescues. Kwame Holman reports. Continue watching
Feb 26 Seeking More Aid, GM Posts Massive 2008 Losses By PBS News Hour General Motors Corp. announced Thursday that it lost nearly $31 billion in 2008, saying its auditors were likely to cast doubt on its viability as it seeks more federal aid to stay afloat. Continue reading