Apr 19 S&P’s Dire Warning: Of Any Significance At All? Call me a contrarian -- or just your garden-variety journalist/skeptic -- but when I read the much-ballyhooed Standard & Poor's announcement yesterday, I shook my shiny head. "Because the U.S. has, relative to its AAA peers, what we consider… Continue reading
Jan 26 Paul Solman on the Economics of the Union By Elizabeth Shell What a relief: a SOTU address without the traditional partisan whack-a-mole standing ovations. "Date night's" civility - or, if you prefer, lack of passion - had the virtue of keeping Democrats and Republicans mostly in their seats. (Sitting… Continue reading
Dec 08 Watch News Wrap: House Democrats Push $1.2 Trillion Government-Funding Plan In other news Wednesday, House Democrats moved to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year to the tune of $1.2 trillion. The measure would freeze the budgets of most Cabinet departments. Continue watching
Dec 03 Watch Deficit Plan Dealt Setback, But Austerity Ideas to Live On The president's deficit commission voted 11-7 Friday on a combination of spending cuts and tax increases recommended by its co-chairmen, falling short of the 14 votes needed to send the plan to Congress. Co-chair Alan Simpson still showed optimism, saying… Continue watching
Nov 10 Watch Next Steps Unclear for Commission’s Drastic Debt-Reduction Plan A bipartisan deficit commission appointed by President Obama issued a draft proposal of drastic spending cuts Wednesday, ranging from changes in Social Security to tax policy. Lori Montgomery of the Washington Post gives details on what the panel leaders are… Continue watching
Jun 23 What’s the Relationship Between Inflation and Interest Rates? Question: I am confused about the cause/effect relationship between inflation and interest rates. Many economic talking heads claim that interest rates will rise if present monetary policy produces inflation. But the principle of supply and demand suggests that if… Continue reading
Dec 26 Watch With Economy in Shambles, Congress Turns Focus to Middle Class As the economy continues in a downward spiral, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are concentrating on serving the needs of the middle class. Kwame Holman speaks to legislators preparing to tackle the economic crisis. Continue watching
Dec 15 Regarding the Bailing Out of Corporations, What is the Role of Their Board of Directors? Question/Comment: Regarding the bailing out of corporations like the automakers, what is the role of their board of directors? Do these board members not have any fiscal responsibilities for keeping their companies afloat? Non-profit board members have a fiscal responsibility… Continue reading
Nov 14 Watch New Senate Leaders Prepare for Next Term The newly elected members of the House had their freshman photograph taken Tuesday on Capitol Hill, while Senate Democrats elected their new leaders. Expert analyze the upcoming changes in the House and Senate. Continue watching