• Reverse incentives of VA health care made fixing the numbers easier than fixing the system

    Reverse incentives of VA health care made fixing the numbers easier than fixing the system

    Jun 10, 2014 12:41 AM EST

    ... Former Doctor, Phoenix VA Health Care System: I think what I was surprised at is so many brave individuals came forward, GS4s through GS6s being interviewed by GS14s and 15s. And we learned from this that 76 percent of facilities had at least one or more employee that had the ...

  • After decades, dirty power plant to get clean

    After decades, dirty power plant to get clean

    May 27, 2014 08:06 PM EST

    ... L.P. sued the Environmental Protection Agency to block the rule, saying it would cause it grave harm and bring a painful spike in electricity bills. None of those dire predictions came to pass. Instead, the massive western Pennsylvania power plant is expected in a few years to turn from ...

  • Why one economist isn't running with the bulls: Dow 5,000 remains closer than you think

    Why one economist isn't running with the bulls: Dow 5,000 remains closer than you think

    May 21, 2014 04:00 PM EST

    ... Rate Policy The Federal Reserve sets short-term interest rates. Since 2009, the Federal Reserve has followed a zero interest rate policy (ZIRP) by keeping rates at almost exactly zero (see chart). ZIRP is an extreme change from normal interest rate policy. The Federal Reserve controls short-term interest rates ...

  • Why obsessing over economic indicators may hinder economic improvement

    Why obsessing over economic indicators may hinder economic improvement

    Mar 07, 2014 01:04 AM EST

    ... t had an unemployment rate above 5 percent throughout this entire crisis, recession and recovery. Central California, Central Florida, parts of Detroit have had employment rates well into the teens for much of this time. So just saying, well, there's an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent is not ...

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    Why Robert Reich cares so passionately about economic inequality

    Oct 15, 2013 08:26 PM EST

    ... of his extended conversation with Paul Solman about what motivates his passion. Friday night's NewsHour featured about six-and-a-half minutes of an interview with newly minted movie star Robert Reich, professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley. We thought some folks might be interested ...

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    Shutdown's seventh day begins with political sniping

    Oct 07, 2013 01:25 PM EST

    House Speaker John Boehner at the U.S. Capitol Saturday. Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images "He knows what my phone number is, all he has to do is call." That was House Speaker John Boehner appearing on ABC's "This Week," clearly frustrated with President Barack Obama. Boehner on Sunday stressed he just needs a "simple conversation"...

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    House Republicans Huddling on Immigration With No Clear Consensus

    Jul 10, 2013 01:05 PM EST

    House Speaker John Boehner on Capitol Hill Tuesday. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images House Republicans will have a meeting of the minds Wednesday, but it remains unclear if the fractious group of lawmakers will be able to reach a consensus on a path forward with immigration reform. Despite pressure from the Senate, which last month...

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    Will Government Probes Crowd Out Policy Debates?

    Jun 03, 2013 01:45 PM EST

    Tea party activists protest against the IRS last month in West Palm Beach, Fla. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images. Official Washington begins the month of June with a massive agenda set against a backdrop of scandal politics that have kept the White House on the defensive and won't be letting up any time soon. On...

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    Trio of Scandals Puts Obama, Holder in Hot Seat

    May 15, 2013 02:02 PM EST

    Attorney General Eric Holder may be the lone witness at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight Wednesday. Watch a live stream of the hearing, which will begin at 1 p.m. EDT. Even when the White House says it disapproves or didn't know of the latest government action spiraling into a political scandal, it's hard...

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    After Emotional Benghazi Hearing, GOP Promises 'Investigation Is Not Over'

    May 09, 2013 12:57 PM EST

    Gregory Hicks, the former deputy chief of mission in Libya, testifies Wednesday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Photo by Jeffrey Malet. Last year's attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya, have been the subject of presidential debates, a report from an independent review board and on Wednesday, compelling testimony at a...