Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state to the Europe and Eurasian Affairs, spoke today and said he doesn’t believe in balance of power politics but believes that countries should work together to solve problems. (0:55)

 

 Standard Podcast [(0:55)m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

[Read more →]

The House Judiciary Committee met today to discuss ‘Retail Gas Prices’ and the effects it has on consumers. The Competition Policy and Antitrust Laws Task Force Subcommittee led the hearing, which discussed the future of diesel fuel and it’s effects on small businesses as well as consumers. Many of the witnesses suggested drilling for oil in ANWR, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and turning the oil market from an oligarchy to a competitive market.

We regulate onions more than we do oil, said Dr. Mark Cooper, director of research of the Consumer Federation of American today. The oil industry is not a competitive market and thus is under the jurisdiction of the antitrust task force. Cooper stressed the necessity to not ignore the traditional problem of the market structure. Since the market is working like a “cartel”, drilling in the United States whether in ANWR or creating more refineries will not influence the world price of oil. Cooper said it is necessary to change the market and make it more competitive, which will in turn lower gas prices.

Read the rest of this entry »

[Read more →]

Tamara Draut, director of the Economic Opportunity Program at Demos, talks about the relationship between worker income and having a college degree for both males and females during conference call on “Young Americans and the Economy.” (0:55)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

[Read more →]

A conference call featuring Tamara Draut, director of the Economic Opportunity Program at Demos and David Madland, director of the Center for American Progress today addressed “The Economic State of Young America.”

Draut and Madland discussed the many ways that the current state of the American economy effects young Americans. Draut noted that the job market now basically demands incoming workers attain college degrees, which proves to be costly for many unable to afford the substantial cost college tuition amounts to. Also, Draut said that because college loans are increasing and that those with lower incomes have to take out more money to go to school, many find themselves even further in debt upon graduation.

Madland discussed the “generational effect” (how different generations have different viewpoints) and how such viewpoints have led to younger people being more supportive of reforms such as universal healthcare.

[Read more →]

Experts from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) held a conference call that discussed the weak gross domestic product (GDP) report and the forthcoming Bureau of Labor Statistics reports on employment, unemployment and wages for the month of April.

Economist Jared Berstein discussed how because the job market is so slim, people are struggling to find hours that will pay them to maintain a modest lifestyle for themselves and for their families. Berstein mentioned that the average pay for workers is falling behind inflation rates, and that a staggering 5.2 million workers who work part time, but would prefer to work full time, cannot, because finding jobs with reasonable hours is too difficult to do.

EPI President Larry Mishel said that once people leave their jobs it is harder today to come back into the market than ever before. Mishel noted that whether our country was technically classified as being “in a recession” was irrelevant- the fact that Americans do not have the jobs, hours, and money that they sorely need is what really matters.

[Read more →]

Deputy Director of the Office of Management Steve McMillin and Budget discusses the President’s food bill request during a conference call. (0:52)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

[Read more →]

Speaker Pelosi held a press conference today to discuss the current gas price crisis. Speaker Pelosi was insistent that work is being done to address the issue citing many experiences from ordinary Americans and their gas tribulations. She recounted stories from citizens that not only are having trouble finding work near home, but the fact that they then have to drive farther to find work making there income become seemingly non-existent factoring in the gas costs to travel to and from work.

The Speaker also addressed strengthening GI programs. She was adamant about welcoming our veterans home and having appropriate health care and educational programs available to them.

[Read more →]

In a conference call with the Sen. Hillary Clinton’s (D-NY) presidential campaign, her advisers discuss new polls that demonstrate that she is better prepared than Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) to beat Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the general election because of her strong position on the economy.

 

 Standard Podcast [49:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

[Read more →]

The newest polls show that Senator Hillary Clinton is the strongest democratic candidate to take on John McCain in November, winning by 10 points.

Over the past two weeks since the Pennsylvania primary, there has been a dynamic shift in opinion on who would be the strongest democratic candidate against McCain in the general election, said Geoff Garin, chief strategist for the Clinton Campaign in a conference call today. Clinton has a comfortable lead on McCain in key swing states like Ohio and Florida, which is not the case for Obama.

Read the rest of this entry »

[Read more →]

Congressman John P. Murtha (D-PA), chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, discussed the five years of violence in Iraq after President Bush declared “Mission Accomplished” in 2003, in a discussion at the Center for American Progress today.

Murtha talked about the wars in Vietnam, Lebanon, Beirut and Somalia and compared them to the current situation in Iraq. Similar to the military actions taken in those countries, in Iraq the U.S. went in without an exact strategy, the mission remained undefined and the U.S. military ended up becoming nation builders without a clear exit strategy.

Read the rest of this entry »

[Read more →]