THE PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION
Reuters/Jean-Paul Pelissier - An eye surgeon uses a microscope as he performs an operation on a patient.
Henry J. Aaron, January 16, 2009
Almost 50 million Americans are uninsured, the cost of public and private health insurance is rising and the quality of care is uneven at best. Henry Aaron offers a public memo to President-elect Obama with recommendations on how to deal with the challenges that will confront him in reforming health care. The memo is the twelfth of 12 Brookings memos on the most crucial public policy priorities facing the new president.
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Health Care
SPOTLIGHT: Energy Security
Reuters/Jeff Topping - A view of a greenhouse with a solar panel attached for heating water.
Charles K. Ebinger, January 16, 2009
Energy efficiency and conservation should be the cornerstone of President-elect Obama’s economic stimulus program and energy efficiency plan, writes Charles Ebinger. He argues that the Obama administration should pursue measures that insure the middle class and those making $50,000 or less benefit from these types of programs.
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Energy Security, Environment, Troubled Asset Relief Program, American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, Transportation
THE PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION
Reuters/Max Rossi - The logo of the next G8 Summit is unveiled in Rome.
Carlos Pascual, January 15, 2009
The 44th president will face a world of transnational threats and multiple crises. The United States cannot succeed alone. Carlos Pascual presents his recommendations to President-elect Obama on how to restore credible American leadership; galvanize cooperative action against major global challenges; and revitalize key international institutions.
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Transnational Security Threats, The Presidential Transition, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, Proliferation
SPOTLIGHT: Financial Institutions
Reuters/Brendan McDermid - A man walks past a CitiBank branch in New York
Martin Neil Baily and Charles L. Schultze, January 15, 2009
Martin Baily and Charles Schultze say the criticisms of Treasury’s handling of the first $350 billion of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) are misguided and that Congress should release the second $350 billion immediately with reasonable, enforceable rules. They say the program should be measured on the problems it has prevented from happening, and that the new funds should be used for their intended purpose: bank recapitalization to limit further contraction of lending.
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Financial Institutions, Troubled Asset Relief Program, Banking, Fiscal Policy, U.S. Economy