• 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 EDT

    ... 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 ...

  • 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 EDT

    ... 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 EDT

    ... 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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    House Republicans Huddling on Immigration With No Clear Consensus

    Jul 10, 2013 01:05 PM EDT

    ... Boehner is trying to decide where he is. Pick an issue. How about the farm bill? Last year's farm bill, this year's farm bill. He has dissension in his own ranks. We know that," Reid told reporters at a Capitol Hill stakeout. "He is saying the bipartisan bill ...

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    Will Government Probes Crowd Out Policy Debates?

    Jun 03, 2013 01:45 PM EDT

    ... an attempt to get to the bottom of who knew what and when. At the same time, the Senate returns to consideration of the farm bill this week. Lawmakers are facing pressure over proposed cuts to the food stamp program known as SNAP, and there's little agreement between the ...

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    Trio of Scandals Puts Obama, Holder in Hot Seat

    May 15, 2013 02:02 PM EDT

    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 EDT

    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...

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    Supreme Court Takes Up Gay Marriage for First Time

    Mar 26, 2013 01:19 PM EDT

    Justin Kenny of Akron, Ohio, holds a flag Tuesday morning in front of the Supreme Court building. Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images. Tuesday's arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court involving California's ban on same-sex marriage, known as Proposition 8, boil down to this: Can a popular vote revoke a privilege already granted by a state...

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    Obama Weighs Use of Executive Authority, Set for State of the Union

    Feb 11, 2013 02:10 PM EDT

    President Obama is set to deliver his State of the Union address Tuesday night. Photo by Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images. President Obama is prepared to exert executive authority on a host of issues, from strengthening protections for gays, to toughening regulations as part of an energy platform and to helping homeowners with refinancing mortgages. The Washington...

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    Obama: Nation Must Answer 'Hard Questions'

    Dec 17, 2012 01:56 PM EDT

    President Obama attends Sunday's vigil at Newtown High School in Connecticut for families of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Photo by Kevin Lamarque/Reuters. "We as a nation, we are left with some hard questions." President Obama addressed some of those questions late Sunday at a vigil for the 26 victims of Friday's...