May it Please the Court…but Mostly the Senate
Justice Scalia’s recent passing has created a political hailstorm, bringing the third branch of government into the heat of electoral primary politics. Earlier this month, President Obama announced via SCOTUS blog his intention to fulfill his responsibilities as the commander-in-chief and nominate a justice to the Court, saying that his nominee would have “a sterling record…a deep respect for the judiciary’s role…an understanding of … Continue reading May it Please the Court…but Mostly the Senate
Universal Pre-K: A Parent’s Perspective
Becoming a parent changes an individual fundamentally. I was interested in childcare policy before becoming a parent, but now when I think about childcare policy, I think about what is going to be best for my smiling one year-old twin girls. One of the major issues in childcare policy is the cost of childcare and an often-proposed remedy is government-provided Universal Pre-K. Under a Universal … Continue reading Universal Pre-K: A Parent’s Perspective
The Flint Water Crisis: Who’s to Blame?
The response, or lack thereof, to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan has dominated headlines in recent weeks. Until April 2014, the city of Flint used water from Lake Huron. As Flint faced a financial crisis, city officials opted to use the Flint River as the city’s water source, switching from using Detroit’s water pumped from Lake Huron to save $4 million per year. However, … Continue reading The Flint Water Crisis: Who’s to Blame?
When Self-Regulation is not Enough: A Look at Food Marketing to Children
Childhood obesity is a problem that has received a growing amount of national attention, largely due to Michelle Obama’s health initiatives as First Lady. One area related to child well-being that has yet to see a lot of policy development is food marketing to children. Currently, food marketing is self-regulated by the advertising industry through programs like the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI). Recent … Continue reading When Self-Regulation is not Enough: A Look at Food Marketing to Children
Federal Subsidies to Amtrak: Are They Worth It?
Are federal subsidies provided to Amtrak worth their cost to taxpayers? This is a fundamental question that politicians, economists, and the public have debated since 1970, the year the federal government created Amtrak by act of Congress. This question is of particular interest to people living in cities on the east coast, where Amtrak’s trains are most frequently used. Proponents of Amtrak argue that subsidies … Continue reading Federal Subsidies to Amtrak: Are They Worth It?
Are Wildfires Spreading the U.S. Forest Service Too Thin?
Budgetary and resource concerns rise amid record-breaking wildfire season Wildfire occurrences and vastness in the United States are on the rise, and with these trends, there are mounting concerns that the U.S. Forest (USFS) and National Park Services (NPS) are being pushed to their limits. Several policy solutions have been proposed to accommodate the growing financial needs of the USFS and NPS, but none have successfully … Continue reading Are Wildfires Spreading the U.S. Forest Service Too Thin?
Kasich’s Hidden Extreme Agenda
The 2016 presidential cycle has, so far, seen Republican candidate after Republican candidate trying to out-right and out-extreme one another. With Donald Trump suggesting registering Muslims in a database and calling all Mexican immigrants “rapists,” and Marco Rubio refusing to admit that the issue of gay marriage is settled, despite the Supreme Court ruling otherwise, it is easy to lose sight of what one would … Continue reading Kasich’s Hidden Extreme Agenda
