WebMemo posted March 4, 2009 by David M. Mason
Avoiding a Keynesian Rush to Regulate the Financial Markets
In his address to Congress, President Obama vowed to "move quickly" to reform financial regulation. The next day the President met with economic advisors and Members of Congress to jump-start the effort--that's quick. There is little doubt financial regulation needs improving. But a rushed restructuring would almost certainly do more harm than good. There are at least…
Lecture posted February 13, 2002 by David M. Mason
Campaign Finance Reform
In the midst of the controversy over foreign money
in the 1996 elections, a pollster asked whether interviewees
preferred new campaign finance laws or better enforcement of the
laws already on the books. Americans responded quite sensibly that
they preferred enforcing the laws we already had.
Today,
in the wake of a different financial controversy, Congress…
Executive Memorandum posted March 25, 1998 by David M. Mason
Seven Steps To Budget Process Reform
The
House Budget Committee's Task Force on Budget Process Reform now
has the historic opportunity to review the congressional budget
process outside the constraints of an economic or budget crisis.
The task force should conduct a broad review of the budget process
and develop a comprehensive package of remedies. Unless task force
members can agree about defects in…
Backgrounder posted July 21, 1997 by David M. Mason
Why Congress Can't Ban Soft Money
Introduction
Eliminating political party "soft money" and regulating similar
spending by groups other than political parties are central
features of many proposals that would reform campaign financing.
Soft money (defined as money raised and spent outside the
regulatory structure for federal election campaigns) has played a
growing and increasingly…
Executive Memorandum posted June 9, 1997 by David M. Mason
Making Pay-Go Pay Off
Rules governing how Congress writes tax and entitlement
legislation (known as pay-go, for pay-as-you-go) are to be extended
under the recent budget agreement between President Bill Clinton
and congressional leaders. The current rule makes tax cuts more
difficult than necessary and fails to limit discretionary spending.
Before extending pay-go in the reconciliation…
Executive Memorandum posted February 17, 1994 by David M. Mason
Time to Resolve the House Post Office Scandal
When the House of Representatives returns from its current break
on February 22, Members will decide how to resolve the House Post
Office scandal.
Despite the conviction of seven former House employees for Post
Office-related crimes, and allegations of improper activity by
sitting Members of Congress, the House has failed to investigate
the matter properly or even…
Executive Memorandum posted February 1, 1993 by David M. Mason
REFORM NOW: The House Should Abolish Select Committes
If Congress is serious about reform -- cutting spending, staff,
and the undergrowth of overlapping committees -- there is no better
place to start than by eliminating "select committees." Organized
around hot-button issues, these panels have large budgets and
staff, but lack authority to pass legislation to solve the problems
they examine. Tomorrow the House is…