Provides articles, current information and source links to economic data, including leading federal economic indicators and indices, the trade and budgetary deficits, Social Security issues, income tax proposals and analysis, employment and outsourcing trends and more.
President Obama's $787 billion stimulus package is a consortium of thousands of federal tax measures and spending on infrastructure, education, health care, energy and other projects. Many Democrats believe that the stimulus was too small to bolster the economy, as evidenced by the continuing U.S. economic slump.
Pros and cons of U.S. free trade agreements, including a brief explanation and history of U.S. free trade pacts, and of presidential fast-track trade authority, which Congress permitted to expire on July 1, 2007.
Readers share their thoughts about whether or not free trade is a negative or positive for the U.S. economy and the U.S. worker.
The Employee Free Choice Act of 2009, also known as "card check" legislation, would cause three major pro-labor changes to the National Labor Relations Act, which was established by Congress in 1935...
Paul Krugman, American economist, bestselling author and respected professor, was awarded the prestigious 2008 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. An avowed liberal, he is an influential, outspoken opinion leader on politics and the economy.
On October 10, 2008, Obama announced a "Small Business Emergency Rescue Plan" to quickly aid U.S. small businesses during this historic downfall of the American economy. The main purposes of this smart plan are to help small firms obtain the loans the need to meet operating expenses, make important short-term investments, and meet payrolls.
Summarizes Barack Obama's 12-point plan to repair the damaged U.S. economy, and to bring about REAL change.
Text of the well-received, "red meat" speech on the failing U.S. financial markets by Barack Obama in Golden, Colorado on September 16, 2008 in which he compared his and McCain's records and set forth a six-point plan for reform of U.S. financial markets.
An overview and quick-reading details of '08 presidential candidate Barack Obama's policies and plans to repair the U.S. economy for middle-class Americans.
Armed with catastrophic predictions reminiscent of the rushed run-up to the Iraq War, the Bush White House insists that complete collapse of the world economy is imminent if they aren't IMMEDIATELY given a blank check for up to $1 trillion to dole out to friends and cronies in the financial services industries.
Presents the facts surrounding President Bush's ideas to "reform" Social Security by diverting payroll taxes into privatized accounts. Doing so would cause Social Security benefits to be reduced significantly, and would cost taxpayers $2 trillion. There are far better, more modest solutions.
The Democratic Party Agenda on retirement security[/link] includes pledges to protect Social Security and to fight for pension reform that protects employees.
[p]The following is the Democratic Party agenda on economic prosperity and education. "We will create jobs that stay in America and restore opportunity for all Americans, starting with raising the minimum wage... We also believe in budget discipline that... "
When one only looks at the simplistic "big picture" of economic elements that directly affect most Americans, it's easy to believe that the U.S. economy is vibrant and healthy, and growing at a pace to support all Americans. Why, then, does the American public strongly disapprove of the President's handling of the economy?
This article, "Shifting federal budget erodes protection from levees; Because of cuts, hurricane risk grows," was published on June 8, 2004 in the Times-Picayune newspaper of New Orleans. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and parts of Mississippi and Alabama, wreaking major havoc, destroying most buildings, leaving over 1 million residents homeless, killing hundreds of people.
In an April 2005 speech, John Edwards urged an overhaul of the US tax system to reflect the Constitutional and faith-filled values of equality and hard work in its tax policies. I briefly summarize his progressive 6-point plan to reward hard-working US families, and to radically undo Bush tax breaks for lobbyists, the very wealthy and corporations.
The Senate struck a resounding bipartisan blow this week against President Bush's cold-hearted 2006 budget proposal by reinstating billions in Bush cuts to education, local community services, medical care for veterans, local Homeland Security forces and precautions, and healthcare for the poor, young, elderly and diabled. Read here to learn more.
President George Bush released the first budget of his second term. The self-proclaimed Compassionate Conservative revealed his misplaced priorities in this decidedly uncompassionate plan. Under the Bush budget scenario, the wealthy few get much wealthier, and the rest get hunger, poor education, no health care, a deteriorating environment, less police and fire fighters.
US Congressional Budget Office is the nonpartisan organization that assists Congress in budget and financial matters, including spending and revenue legislation and support for the Budget, Finance, Ways & Means and Appropriations Committees. Its staff and panel of Economic Advisors are comprised of leading economists and public policy analysts.
Links to the US Senate Budget Committee Democratic Caucus homepage, which includes news and discussion of the federal budget and debts,budget hearings and statements, budget resolutions, and Congressional Budget Office reports and press releases.
The US version of the Financial Times, recognized worldwide for its authoritative, accurate and analytical global business reporting. Pubished by the Financial Times, based in London. Financial Times is the world's leading, most-visted business website. Includes market reports, US & world business, indsutries, technology and comment & analysis.
Lou Dobbs is a leading, award-winning financial journalist whose "Lou Dobbs Tonight" financial & news program on CN is "must viewing" for incisive, pragmatic financial analysis. Dobbs has won almost every major award for TV journalism. His site includes links to his special reports of Exporting America (on outsourcing of American jobs) and Broken Borders 9on immigration).
Center for American Progress is a leading progressive think-tank devoted to analysis of major US issues. This leads to its Economic Issues homepage, with links to policy papers on economic outlook, economic policy, labor market, manufacturing, offshoring, retiree healthcare, private pensions, taxes, trade and more. Includes analysis of the 2005 federal budget.
President Bush wants to entirely end the federal estate tax. To do so would cut taxes of $745 billion of the wealthiest taxpayers precisely when Social Security solvency becomes an immediate concern. In reality, this is a "back-door" way for Bush to accomplish two cherished goals: to erode or end Social Security and to give even more tax breaks to wealthy families like the Bushes and Cheneys.
