The Woodrow Wilson Center hosted a colloquium on “The Economic Effect of Immigration: Implications for Income and Employment of Low-Skill Labor in the United States.” Speakers at the colloquium included Tamar Jacoby, president and CEO of Immigration Works USA, and Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies. (more…)
The Senate Judiciary Committee convened today to discuss low-income legal assistance. The hearing on “Closing the Justice Gap: Providing Civil Legal Assistance to Low-Income Americans,” was heard by one senator and had two witnesses testifying. Although it is law in this country that legal assistance can be provided to all, no matter income status, there is a growing concern that proper legal assistance to those who need it is not being provided. (more…)
Robert Kuttner, author of The Squandering of America and co-founder of The American Prospect, says that OECD countries use low taxes in other countries to argue for lowering taxes, causing a race to the bottom and cutting of social services. He says that the U.S. could restore tax codes from 1999 or 1978 without hurting the economy, because people with high income “can damn well afford” taxation rates as high as 50%. He says that Democrats should try to make such rates popular again. Kuttner spoke at an event organized by the Campaign for America’s Future and the Progressive Caucus, and featuring Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). (1:00)
