Can Social Security Be Solvent? Karen E. Smith, October 16, 2015. The Urban Institute.
“Social Security is expected to run short of funds to pay all promised benefits in less than 20 years. However, none of the most popular reform options, including raising the retirement age, cutting cost-of-living adjustments, and raising the cap on earnings covered by Social Security, are enough to permanently close the funding gap without additional changes. Other reform efforts are needed to modernize the benefit to better serve today’s families, improve its work incentives, and ensure that it provides adequate resources for those who depend on it. This brief helps frame the issue as we enter the presidential campaign.”
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Daily Archives: October 22, 2015
22 Former CRS Employees Support Free Public Access to CRS reports
From the October 22, 2015 letter [via Politico]: “Dear Chairman Blunt, Chairman Capito, Chairman Miller, Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Schumer, Ranking Member Schatz, Ranking Member Brady, Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz, and Vice Chairman Harper: We are former employees of the Congressional Research Service (CRS), with more than a collective five hundred years with the agency.… Continue Reading
Supreme Court Appointment Process: President’s Selection of a Nominee
CRS – Supreme Court Appointment Process: President’s Selection of a Nominee. Barry J. McMillion, Analyst on the Federal Judiciary. October 19, 2015. “The appointment of a Supreme Court Justice is an event of major significance in American politics. Each appointment is of consequence because of the enormous judicial power the Supreme Court exercises as the… Continue Reading
Qatar Country Analysis Brief – Energy
EIA: “Qatar is the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world, and the country’s exports of LNG, crude oil, and petroleum products provide a significant portion of government revenues. Like many of its neighbors, Qatar relies on its energy sector to support its economy. According to the Qatar National Bank (QNB), Qatar’s… Continue Reading
International banking statistics at end-June 2015
“The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) today released international banking statistics at end-June 2015. • Between end-March and end-June 2015, cross-border bank lending contracted significantly for the first time since late 2013. The $910 billion quarter-on-quarter decline more than offset the $781 billion expansion observed in the first quarter of the year. • Cross-border claims… Continue Reading
Status of Federal Housing Assistance for Low-Income Households
Presentation by Elizabeth Cove Delisle, an analyst in CBO’s Budget Analysis Division, with Natalie Tawil, an analyst in CBO’s Microeconomic Studies Division, to the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities. In 2014, the federal government provided about $50 billion in housing assistance specifically designated for low-income households. This presentation describes the ways in which the… Continue Reading
Supreme Court Appointment Process: Senate Debate and Confirmation Vote
CRS – Supreme Court Appointment Process: Senate Debate and Confirmation Vote. Barry J. McMillion, Analyst on the Federal Judiciary, October 19, 2015. “The procedure for appointing a Justice to the Supreme Court is provided for in the U.S. Constitution in only a few words. The “Appointments Clause” in the Constitution (Article II, Section 2, clause… Continue Reading
GAO Reports – FEMA, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act, Strategic Sourcing, VA Primary Care
Emergency Management: FEMA Has Made Progress since Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, but Challenges Remain, GAO-16-90T: Published: Oct 22, 2015. Publicly Released: Oct 22, 2015. Medicaid: Additional Federal Controls Needed to Improve Accuracy of Eligibility Determinations and for Coordination with Exchanges, GAO-16-157T: Published: Oct 23, 2015. Publicly Released: Oct 22, 2015 Patient Protection and Affordable Care… Continue Reading
