1 Feb 2010
Counting Jobs Created or Saved by the "Stimulus" Bill, Part 4:
Jobs 'created or saved' becomes jobs 'funded'
by Richard Belzer
in Regulatory Economics
Washington Post staff writer Ed O'Keefe says the "Obama administration's economic stimulus program created nearly 600,000 jobs in the final three months of 2009."
These figures are analogous to those reported three months ago and which caused significant controversy. Initial reporting was rife with errors and relied on a system that impeded error correction.
They are different, however, in ways that make them incomparable with the figures initially reported.
More...28 Jan 2010
The State of the Union:
President Obama's challenges to Democrats and Republicans
by Richard Belzer
in People & Institutions
In his State of the Union address last night, President Obama challenged Democrats to take advantage of their substantial congressional majorities and challenged Republicans not to obstruct them:
To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve problems, not run for the hills. And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that 60 votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town -- a supermajority -- then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. (Applause.) Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it's not leadership. We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions. So let's show the American people that we can do it together.
Here are some intriguing facts about filibuster-proof congressional majorities and the legislative productivity of the 111th Congress.
More...23 Jan 2010
Counting Jobs Created or Saved by the "Stimulus" Bill, Part 3:
Estimation replaced by assumption
by Richard Belzer
in Regulatory Economics
Previously, we have noted that the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, which is responsible for ensuring accountability and transparency in the reporting of jobs "created or saved" by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, or "stimulus" bill), was not actually performing this task. Further, the underlying data were invalid and unreliable because the Office of Management and Budget did not specify a consistent estimation methodology.
Recently, Washington Post staff writer Alec MacGillis reported that White House Council of Economic Advisers chairman Christina Romer now claims ARRA "has created or saved between 1.7 million and 2 million jobs."
Examining these figures closely reveals that they are not estimates at all, but assumptions built into the Administration's estimation model.
More...14 Jan 2010
Paperwork Reduction Act
How to improve implementation of the law
by Richard Belzer
in Paperwork Burdens
On October 28, 2009, the Office of Management and Budget solicited comments on its implementation of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The purpose of the PRA is to minimize burdens on the public resulting from the federal government's information requests.
Neutral Source managing editor Richard Belzer submitted comments on his own behalf. These comments eventually will be uploaded by OMB to Regulations.Gov, the Federal government's web portal for all regulatory matters. (Clicking on the link above will reveal a fundamental weakness of the web portal: Unless the agency chooses to include information identifying the name and organizational affiliation of the submitter, there is no way to find any specific comment without opening them all.)
In response to numerous requests, a copy of these comment is posted to the Library.
More...13 Jan 2010
Sin Taxes:
Maryland's proposed 10-cent per drink alcohol tax
by Richard Belzer
in Regulatory Economics
Sin taxes are always popular with legislators. People volunteer to pay them, and volunteers garner little public sympathy.
Maryland legislators are proposing to levy a new tax of ten cents per eight ounces of alcoholic beverage sold in the State. A news story today shows how proponents of sin taxes tend to also be in favor of sin.
More...7 Jan 2010
A Pollution Tax or a New Sales Tax?
The District of Columbia charges 5 cents for each disposable shopping bag
by Richard Belzer
in Regulatory Economics
On January 1, the District of Columbia began imposing a a 5-cent "fee" on disposable shopping bags.
Is this a pollution tax, as its backers claim, or just another sales tax?
More...6 Jan 2010
Health Care Legislation, Part 13:
Would the Senate bill prevent a future Congress from repealing the law?
by Richard Belzer
in Legislation, Regulatory Policy
It has been reported widely that the version of health care legislation passed by the Senate (HR 3590, as amended) includes provisions that would prevent a future Congress from changing or repealing it.
A careful review of the bill shows that these reports are incorrect.
More...5 Jan 2010
Health Care Legislation, Part 12:
by Richard Belzer
in Amusements, Regulatory Policy
Cartoonist Lisa Benson explains the "individual mandate."
