Reforming Social Security Benefits Testimony from C. Eugene Steuerle Posted: May 23, 2013Reform of the Social Security benefit structure should proceed on the basis of principles and goals related to adequacy, protections in old age, encouragement of work to protect the tax base on which programs like this depend, and equal justice under the law for those equally situated. Many features of current law violate basic principles of public finance without promoting other worthy goals in an effective or well-targeted manner. In his testimony before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, Gene Steuerle lays out how to go beyond the types of options put forward by many proposals under consideration to achieve such reform.
Finding Just the Right Tax Rate Commentary from Kim Rueben Posted: May 22, 2013In a contribution to the New York Times' Room for Debate, Kim Rueben argues if the tax rate for marijuana is too high, people will continue to buy weed from the guy on the street. However, setting the tax rate too low leaves revenue on the table and use might boom.
Apprenticeships Could Help U.S. Workers Gain a Competitive Edge Commentary from Stuart Eizenstat,
Robert I. Lerman Posted: May 08, 2013In this Washington Post commentary, Robert Lerman and Stuart Eizenstat argue that the U.S. manufacturing sector is poised for a comeback, but faces serious workforce challenges. To avoid squandering the opportunity to sustain a manufacturing resurgence, the U.S. must match the quality and quantity of skills training achieved in many other countries. One way to do this is a 21st-century apprenticeship program. By training youth and adults through a combined work-based learning and classroom instruction program leading to a recognized and valued occupational credential, apprenticeships can increase employment, while insuring a close match between the skills learned and the skills required.
Poverty in America: How We Can Help Families Commentary from Olivia Golden Posted: May 08, 2013In this commentary for BlogHer.com, Urban Institute fellow Olivia Golden discusses a two-generation policy agenda that can help promote young children's development and low-wage workers' economic stability, which should start with a national focus on the first year of life.
Options to Reform the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction Testimony from Eric Toder Posted: April 25, 2013Eric Toder's testimony before the U.S. House of Representative’s Committee on Ways and Means in a hearing on tax reform and residential real estate.
Sustainable Housing Finance: Perspectives on Reforming FHA Testimony from Sarah Rosen Wartell Posted: April 10, 2013In testimony before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, Urban Institute President Sarah Rosen Wartell described alternatives for reforming the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to ensure a sustainable housing finance system, focusing on steps Congress can take now to improve FHA’s financial health by strengthening its ability to assess and manage risk and mitigate loss.
Financing Medicare and Medicaid Testimony from Judy Feder,
Paul Van de Water Posted: March 18, 2013Continuing to slow health cost growth is essential; but Medicare and Medicaid are not in crisis. Recent per beneficiary cost growth has slowed so significantly that CBO has dramatically reduced its spending projections for the coming decade. In Medicare, refinement of existing payment mechanisms alongside payment reform can produce additional savings. But as the elderly population doubles over the coming decades, a balanced deficit-reduction package must include new revenues The alternative, changing entitlement structures through vouchers or block grants (or adopting an overly ambitious savings target that could produce the same results), would undermine essential protections and shift or even increase health care costs.
Financial Products Tax Reform Discussion Draft Testimony from Steven Rosenthal Posted: March 20, 2013Steven Rosenthal's testimony before the House Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures of the Committee on Ways and Means on the Discussion Draft’s proposals to reform the tax rules for derivatives and securities investments.
Costs of the Death Penalty Testimony from John Roman Posted: March 20, 2013John Roman's testimony before the Judiciary Committee of the State of Delaware Senate on the cost to a state of having the death penalty.
The Implications of the Affordable Care Act for Employers Testimony from Linda J. Blumberg Posted: March 13, 2013This Congressional testimony draws on analyses of the ACA done by Linda Blumberg and Urban Institute colleagues. Together, these analyses demonstrate that, contrary to concerns that the ACA will increase costs and reduce employer-sponsored coverage, the law will have a negligible impact on total employer-sponsored coverage and costs and makes small businesses—for whom coverage expands the most—financially better off. Nor is there any indication that the law will have significant negative implications for overall employment.
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