CQ Researcher

Financial Industry Overhaul: Will the new law avert another crisis?
By Marcia Clemmitt
July 30, 2010 

On July 15, three Republican senators crossed the aisle to help pass the most sweeping financial-regulation overhaul since the Great Depression. Supporters of the 2,300-page legislation say the new rules will rein in investment risk-taking by big financial firms that otherwise might endanger the economic system again. Trading in complex investments known as derivatives will also get closer scrutiny. But some critics say that the law's effectiveness depends on the same federal regulators who missed the signs of the last impending crisis. Other critics say the new law is nowhere nearly as tough as it needed to be. They point out, for example, that the law doesn't prevent banks from growing to enormous size, which many analysts say makes financial institutions unmanageable and leads to conflicts of interest. 

America at War : Can withdrawal from Afghanistan begin next July?
By Peter Katel
July 23, 2010 

Americans' discontent over the war in Iraq helped propel Barack Obama into the White House. U.S. forces now are preparing to leave Iraq next year, but they may remain in Afghanistan longer than many Obama supporters had hoped. In recent weeks, heavy resistance has delayed anti-Taliban operations. At the same time, relations between the United States and Afghan President Hamid Karzai remain tense, partly because of U.S. worries over corruption in his government. Overall, Afghanistan is proving a bigger challenge than Obama might have anticipated when he said a military surge now under way would be followed by a troop "drawdown" in July 2011. Meanwhile, Gen. David Petraeus, who replaced Gen. Stanley McChrystal as Afghanistan commander, said the drawdown will be gradual - and could even be postponed. Petraeus also said a potential new agreement could stretch out the Iraqi pullout deadline as well. Republicans generally back Obama's military commitments, but some Democrats are getting anxious. 

Gangs in the U.S. : Are anti-gang efforts by law enforcement effective?
By Alex Kingsbury
July 16, 2010 

Violent-crime rates are near historic lows in the United States, but in many urban areas violent crime, particularly homicide, remains pervasive, largely due to street gangs. In some areas police blame 80 percent of all crime on gangs. This summer, during a single weekend in Chicago, 54 people were shot, nearly all because of gang violence. Meanwhile, spillover from Mexico's violent narcotics trade is swamping U.S. law enforcement resources. The federal government estimates the U.S. gang population at 1 million, distributed across some 20,000 gangs. As the gangs grow larger, they merge and grow in strength, often overwhelming local and state police efforts. And a new study calls federal anti-gang efforts uncoordinated and ineffective. Meanwhile, though studies have shown that prevention and counseling programs provide a greater return on public investments than crime-fighting efforts, police anti-gang efforts still get far greater financial support. 

Offshore Drilling: Is tougher federal oversight needed?
By Thomas J. Billitteri
June 25, 2010  

The blowout two months ago at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico has turned into one of the worst environmental catastrophes in U.S. history. Well owner BP failed in repeated attempts to stop the undersea gusher spilling millions of gallons, and experts say it may be months before it is brought under control. The blowout has exposed corner-cutting by BP and massive regulatory failures at the Minerals Management Service, the federal agency charged with overseeing the 4,000 offshore drilling facilities in the Gulf. The spill also has laid bare ideological differences over national energy policy and heightened debate over how to balance environmental protection with the economy's dependence on oil. Pressed by President Obama, BP promised to set aside $20 billion to pay damage claims. Still, the White House has been at a loss to stem political fallout from the disaster, which ultimately may help define the Obama presidency, much as Hurricane Katrina helped define the legacy of George W. Bush. 

Water Shortages:Is the United States facing a crisis?
By Jennifer Weeks
June 18, 2010 

Clean water is a critical resource not only for drinking but also for agriculture, energy production and high-tech manufacturing. But severe drought - once seen as an issue only for the arid West - has become a fact of life in many parts of the United States. Meanwhile, many cities depend on water mains and sewer pipes more than 100 years old. Environmental laws have sharply cut water pollution and improved drinking-water quality since the 1970s. But experts say the nation needs to spend more than $250 billion in the next several years to modernize water treatment systems, and current investments are falling short. The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new ways to regulate water pollutants, and economists say charging more for water would promote conservation. But whether Americans will pay more for a resource that many view as a basic human right remains to be seen. 

Health-Care Reform: Is the landmark new plan a good idea?
By Marcia Clemmitt
June 11, 2010

The health-care reform legislation signed into law by President Obama on March 23 marked the biggest attempt to expand access to health care since Medicare and Medicaid were launched in the 1960s. The massive legislation will help 32 million Americans get health insurance coverage and bans insurers from denying coverage to those with preexisting illnesses. It also expands Medicaid to all poor people - except illegal immigrants - and gives subsidies to low- and low-middle-income people to buy insurance. But opponents, including every Republican member of Congress, say the coverage expansion is simply too expensive, at a price tag of about $1 trillion over 10 years. They also say new fees and taxes to help pay for the coverage place too big a burden on currently insured people. Meanwhile, a group of state attorneys general is challenging the constitutionality of the law's requirement that everyone buy health insurance. 

Jobs Outlook:Is a college education important?
By Peter Katel
June 4, 2010 

The economy has finally started to grow again, but more than 8 million jobs that disappeared after the economic crisis began in late 2007 haven't returned, and the unemployment rate is nearly 10 percent. To be sure, 290,000 jobs have been added, but the jobless rate remains high. People who do have jobs are working harder, increasing productivity. In another major change on the job front, advances in technology are intensifying the allure - to employers - of offshore jobs. What's the best strategy for getting a job in today's tough job market? Experts may argue over how many jobs are at risk, but no one disputes that a college degree gives by far the best salaries and the best odds for finding a job - and the ability to switch careers if necessary. Demand is also rising at the low end of the market, but mid-level jobs that fall in between the two extremes may be most at risk. 

Campaign Finance Debates: Should regulations be loosened further?
By Kenneth Jost
May 28, 2010  

The Supreme Court's controversial decision in January allowing corporations to spend unlimited amounts from their own treasuries in federal elections has raised the stakes for supporters and opponents of campaign finance regulation. Critics of campaign finance laws are citing the so-called Citizens United decision in an array of court cases aimed at loosening the restrictions on fund-raising or spending by political committees and advocacy groups. Meanwhile, supporters of campaign finance regulation are hoping Congress or the states will pass legislation to limit the impact of the Supreme Court decision. Two leading congressional Democrats are sponsoring a bill to impose new requirements for corporations that spend money on congressional or presidential elections. Republicans, who stand to benefit from increased corporate spending in the year's midterm congressional elections, are opposing the proposal. Advocates and experts on both sides are also waiting for final rulings in two cases where lower courts struck down state public financing schemes. 

Census Controversy: Should undocumented immigrants be counted? By Thomas J. Billitteri
May 14, 2010 

Now under way, the 2010 census has sparked bitter partisanship. Some conservative Republicans, for example, have criticized the census as an unconstitutional intrusion on privacy; others warn that census participation is important for maintaining GOP power, since the count is used to apportion congressional seats and allocate federal money to cities and states. Liberal Democrats have been more supportive of census procedures, which for the first time will count same-sex couples. To raise response rates, the Census Bureau sent every household the same brief 10-question form and dropped use of the “long form” — a lengthy questionnaire seeking data on housing, transportation, education and income. The long form has been replaced by a separate, ongoing monthly survey that will provide timelier data, but from a smaller sample of households. Researchers generally hail the change but say it will cause some problems, at least initially. 

U.S.-China Relations: Is a future confrontation looming?
By Roland Flamini
May 7, 2010 

Disputes that have bedeviled relations between the United States and China for decades flared up again following President Obama's decision to sell weapons to Taiwan and receive Tibet's revered Dalai Lama. From the U.S. perspective, China's refusal to raise the value of its currency is undermining America's — and Europe's — economic recovery. Beijing also rebuffed Obama's proposal of “a partnership on the big global issues of our time.” In addition, the Chinese insist on tackling their pollution problems in their own way, and have been reluctant to support U.S. diplomatic efforts to impose tough sanctions on nuclear-minded Iran. With the central bank of China holding more than $800 billion of the U.S. national debt in the form of Treasury notes, and their economy speeding along at a 9 percent growth rate, the Chinese are in no mood to be accommodating. 

Gridlock in Washington: Is Congress too polarized to act?
By Marcia Clemmitt
April 30, 2010 

Historic health-care legislation was enacted this spring, but the slow crawl of the law through the Senate suggests to many observers that Washington is in a state of gridlock — nearly unable to make new policy. Some political scientists blame the increasingly fierce competition for power between the ideologically rigid Democratic and Republican parties, which has risen to levels not seen since the Civil War. Other analysts blame the Senate's cloture rule, which requires a 60-vote supermajority to end a filibuster and proceed to voting. The rule gives undue, perhaps even unconstitutional, power to the minority, its critics argue. But other scholars maintain that the eventual passage of the health-care law is proof that Washington is not paralyzed. Indeed, they say a more serious problem is widespread voter misunderstanding of the importance the U.S. Constitution places on lengthy deliberation of issues before new laws are made. 

Caring for Veterans: Does the VA adequately serve wounded vets?
By Peter Katel
April 23, 2010 

Battle-scarred veterans often spend more time waiting for decisions from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on their disability claims than they spent at war. At least 500,000 veterans have waited an average of six months for a decision on a disability claim and another 200,000 have waited an average of five years for a decision on an appeal. New VA Secretary Eric Shinseki — himself a disabled Vietnam vet — vows to unblock the huge claims backlog, but it may take until 2015. That's partly because the VA has expanded the number of compensation-worthy illnesses from the Vietnam War. Veterans' organizations laud Shinseki but disagree over how deeply VA changes should run. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Congress are close to passing legislation to compensate relatives and friends caring for veterans with catastrophic, lifelong disabilities such as traumatic brain injuries arising from improvised explosive devices — the devastating homemade bombs that are the hallmark of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Revising No Child Left Behind: Can Obama's blueprint fix Bush's education policies?
By Kenneth Jost
April 16, 2010

President Obama is proposing a substantial overhaul of the No Child Left Behind Act, the controversial centerpiece of George W. Bush's educational policy. Both liberal and conservative critics say the eight-year-old law has hurt education by overemphasizing standardized tests and unfairly labeling schools as underperforming without providing help to improve. Obama wants to focus federal enforcement on the lowest-performing schools, which could be required to fire staff, convert to charter schools or close altogether. He also wants to hold teachers more accountable for student performance. State policymakers and many experts are welcoming the proposed changes, but the powerful teachers' unions say firing teachers is unfair and ineffective in raising student achievement. Obama also wants states to adopt national “core standards” developed by the states' governors and education chiefs. 

Earthquake Threat: Is the U.S. ready for a seismic catastrophe?
By Thomas J. Billitteri
April 9, 2010 

The earthquakes that ravaged Haiti and Chile this year raised compelling questions about the ability of the United States to cope with a seismic catastrophe of its own. Thirty-nine states, from Alaska and California to the Carolinas and New England, are considered susceptible to moderate or severe quakes, and the Midwest is widely viewed as among the most vulnerable regions. In California, the U.S. Geological Survey puts the probability of a magnitude 6.7 or larger quake within the next 30 years at more than 99 percent. Should a magnitude 6.5 quake hit Manhattan, which sits on ancient faults, damage could total well over $1 trillion. Officials say the United States is making progress at mitigating potential death and destruction from future earthquakes but has a long way to go. In developing countries, scores of cities — overcrowded, poorly built and many sitting on seismic faults — remain highly vulnerable. 

Breast Cancer: Is mammography being oversold and overused?
By Barbara Mantel
April 2, 2010 

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States, after skin cancer, and the second-leading cause of cancer death, after lung cancer. Yet breast cancer mortality rates have been declining, most probably the result of early detection and better treatment. Advances in hormone therapy and discoveries of antibody treatments have markedly improved the outcome for breast cancer patients, along with the development of genetic tests on tumor tissue to determine which patients will best benefit from chemotherapy. While progress is being made, some debates seem never to fade. There continue to be disagreements about the age at which women should begin mammography screening, how to treat the increasing number of “zero stage” breast cancers that screening detects and the extent to which environmental pollutants cause breast cancer. In addition, disparities in treatment and racial outcomes continue to be documented. 

Teen Pregnancy: Does comprehensive sex-education reduce pregnancies?
By Marcia Clemmitt
March 26, 2010 

After dropping steeply for a decade-and-a-half, America's teen birth rate began edging upwards in the past few years. Analysts aren't sure whether the trend will last and say there are numerous causes. A significant factor, however, is a drop-off in contraceptive use that began in the early 2000s, as better HIV/AIDS treatments diminished fear of the disease. In 2009, the Obama administration ended the Bush administration policy of federally funding only sex-education programs with abstinence until marriage as the primary focus. Instead, most funding will now go to programs that have been demonstrated in large, randomized trials to be effective for pregnancy prevention. Critics say the plan will unfairly eliminate funding for abstinence programs, which they contend have not been adequately evaluated by researchers and are the only ones that consistently teach the value of committed relationships. 

Tea Party Movement: Will angry conservatives reshape the Republican Party?
March 19, 2010
By Peter Katel 

The Tea Party movement seemed to come out of nowhere. Suddenly, citizens angry over the multi-billion-dollar economic stimulus and the Obama administration's health-care plan were leading rallies, confronting lawmakers and holding forth on radio and TV. Closely tied to the Republican Party — though also critical of the GOP — the movement proved essential to the surprise victory of Republican Sen. Scott Brown in Massachusetts. Tea partiers say Brown's election proves the movement runs strong outside of “red states.” But some political experts voice skepticism, arguing that the Tea Party's fiscal hawkishness won't appeal to most Democrats and many independents. Meanwhile, some dissension has appeared among tea partiers, with many preferring to sidestep social issues, such as immigration, and others emphasizing them. Still, the movement exerts strong appeal for citizens fearful of growing government debt and distrustful of the administration.

Prosecuting Terrorists: Should suspected terrorists be given military or civil trials?
By Kenneth Jost
March 12, 2010

President Obama is under fierce political attack for the administration's decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the so-called Christmas Day bomber, in civilian courts instead of military tribunals. Republican lawmakers argue the defendants in both cases should be treated as “enemy combatants” and tried in the military commissions established during the Bush administration. Administration officials and Democratic lawmakers say criminal prosecutions are more effective, having produced hundreds of convictions since 9/11 compared to only three in the military system. And they insist that Abdulmutallab is providing useful information under interrogation by FBI agents. But the administration is reconsidering Attorney General Eric Holder's original decision to hold Mohammed's trial in New York City and considering making greater use of military commissions with other terrorism cases.

Youth Violence: Are “get tough” policies the best approach?
By Thomas J. Billitteri
March 5, 2010

Several recent violent crimes by youths, including the vicious beating death of a Chicago honor student by a mob of teenagers, have sparked a new look at urban youth violence. Despite a steep overall drop in youth crime in recent years, researchers say many urban areas continue to be plagued by homicide and other violence involving young offenders. Some experts say tougher sentencing laws and a greater focus on parental responsibility are the best ways to fight the violence, while others argue for more federal money for social programs and anti-violence efforts. In some cities, collaborative approaches involving police, educators, community leaders and neighborhood groups are aimed at pressing youths to forsake violence while offering them a path toward redemption. Meanwhile, two competing proposals are being considered on Capitol Hill, and major foundations are funding programs to help youths in trouble.

Cybersecurity: Are U.S. military and civilian computer systems safe? 
By Patrick Marshall
February 26, 2010

The recent attacks on Google servers, apparently launched from China, underscore the threat cyberattacks pose to American individuals and businesses as well as to national security. In addition to billions of dollars being stolen by cybercriminals, military secrets and critical civilian infrastructure — including utilities, transportation and finance — also are at risk. Indeed, attempted attacks on Pentagon computers alone number in the tens of thousands each year. The hackers range from international gangs to the agents of other countries. Lawmakers and cybersecurity analysts agree the U.S. is woefully unprepared to deal with the challenge. Civilian and military leaders say they are ramping up defensive efforts, but many experts warn that the measures proposed are inadequate. Some analysts argue that to counter the threat the United States will not only have to spend hundreds of billions of dollars but also fundamentally change the way Americans work with computers and the Internet.

Modernizing the Grid: Is the electric power system at risk?
By Jennifer Weeks
February 19, 2010

The U.S. electric power grid — the nationwide system of interconnected regional power systems — is a century old and under strain. Long-term power demand has grown steadily since the 1980s, but investments in transmission have lagged behind. Three major blackouts in the past decade have raised concerns about providing electricity reliably. Federal agencies are working with utilities, manufacturers and information technology companies to develop a modernized grid that uses computers to monitor the system. Advocates say this “smart grid” will be able to generate more electricity from renewable fuels and save money for businesses and families. The Obama administration calls the smart grid an urgent priority and is spending billions to help design it. But some experts worry that a digital grid could be vulnerable to cyberattacks or that it will violate consumers' privacy. Others say that promoting energy conservation or building new power plants near population centers would be more effective than building new high-voltage transmission lines.

Sleep Deprivation: Are chronically tired people at greater health risk?
By Marcia Clemmitt
February 12, 2010

New research links sleep deprivation to a large number of automobile and other accidents. Moreover, chronically sleep-deprived people are at higher risk for poor memories, mental illnesses, obesity, cardiovascular disease and early death. Yet today's 24/7 culture fights against the human body's biological need for about seven hours of sleep a night. Some people are especially sleep deprived, notably teenagers and late-shift workers such as police officers, nurses and medical residents. Meanwhile, some experts worry that overuse of sleeping medications is becoming a serious problem. Newer medications like Ambien and Lunesta are in some ways “safer” than older drugs, but they also affect brain function and sleep patterns in ways that are still not fully understood. With primary-care doctors now able to prescribe these medications because of their greater apparent safety, more people may get into trouble with sleeping pills.

Press Freedom: Should partisan bloggers get free-press protections?
By Peter Katel
February 5, 2010

Wrenching changes in the news business are starting to alter the legal landscape for journalists. The federal Freedom of Information Act and “shield” laws in many states give reporters access to official documents and offer some protections against prosecutors who demand to know their confidential sources or information that reporters have gathered. But amid catastrophic revenue declines, media companies struggling to stay afloat have less money to throw into court fights to enforce their journalistic rights. And the increasing numbers of online bloggers — including those who call themselves independent journalists — have even fewer resources. Moreover, politicians have been arguing over which kinds of bloggers — if any — should be defined as journalists entitled to free-press protections. The debate on that issue has stalled progress on a proposed federal shield law in the Senate, though backers were hopeful of reaching a compromise.

Professional Football: Is the NFL doing enough to protect players?
By Kenneth Jost
January 29, 2010

Football is the most popular spectator sport in the United States, and with annual revenues topping $8 billion the National Football League is the country's wealthiest professional sports organization. But the league was on the defensive during the 2009–2010 season because of a jarring debate over its alleged indifference toward player safety and health. Medical research now indicates a connection between concussions that players routinely suffer during games and long-term brain disease, including dementia. Under pressure from the NFL Players Association, news media and Congress, the NFL is belatedly acknowledging a possible link and trying to minimize the risk to players by, among other changes, limiting a player's return to the game after a concussion. Despite football's popularity, the NFL is also facing economic difficulties. Attendance sagged during the 2009–2010 season, the future of lucrative TV contracts is cloudy and the league and the players' union start out far apart as negotiations begin for a new collective-bargaining agreement.

Sex Scandals: Do the media pay too much attention to adultery?
By Alan Greenblatt
January 22, 2010

From Thomas Jefferson to Tiger Woods, sex scandals have been a recurring feature of American life. Today, text messages and surveillance cameras have made it harder to keep affairs secret, and the proliferation of Web sites and cable TV shows means that a politician or celebrity who cheats is more likely than ever to be exposed. Politicians and clergy who preach “family values” have had their personal hypocrisy revealed. In the wake of scandal in recent years, governors have resigned, a president has been impeached and senators have been caught using prostitutes and soliciting in an airport men's room. Nevertheless, questions remain about the ethical and journalistic propriety of publicizing private acts. Does the public have a right to know about private affairs — especially when they are not related to official duties? Should the news media focus on more “serious” issues?

Government and Religion: Was the United States founded as a “Christian nation?”
By Thomas J. Billitteri
January 15, 2010

A decades-long culture war over the relationship between government and religion and the role of faith in civil society shows no sign of abating. New cases are coming before the Supreme Court, and fresh conflicts are arising over the placement of religious displays on public property and the use of government money to support faith-based social-service programs. At the heart of the battle lies the question of whether the United States was formed as a “Christian nation” — as many conservatives contend — or whether the Founding Fathers meant to build a high wall of separation between church and state. President Obama outraged conservatives when he declared, “we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or Muslim nation” but a “nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.” Still, the share of Americans who profess to be Christians has been shrinking, while the percentage who claim no religious preference has nearly doubled since 1990.

Animal Rights: Is the treatment of animals improving?
By Marcia Clemmitt
January 8, 2010

The passage of dozens of tough state animal-protection laws last year reflects growing public interest in animal welfare. Today, many Americans view pets as family members, and some even leave bequests to pets in their wills. Vegetarianism has gone mainstream as people have become concerned about the conditions on factory farms, and many scientists say farm animals have feelings. Fifteen years ago, only 10 of the country's law schools offered animal-law courses; today about 130 do. At the same time, however, billions of animals are slaughtered for food each year in our meat-eating society, and live-animal research is a major tool of biomedicine. The food industry, researchers and others who depend on using and killing animals are fighting back against what they call overblown concerns about animal rights. Last November, for example, Ohio voters approved an amendment to the state's constitution barring the legislature from approving any animal-protection laws that would apply to farms.

Housing the Homeless: Is the solution more shelters or affordable housing?
By Peter Katel
December 18, 2009

The face of homelessness is changing in the United States. In the past, the homeless typically were single men and women who lived on the street or in shelters; many were mentally ill or drug addicts, or both. But today's homeless may well be a suburban couple with children who lost their home to foreclosure and are staying with relatives or living at a shelter. As the recession continues to ravage the middle class and the working poor, job losses and medical emergencies add to the number of homeless Americans. Advocates for the homeless also cite a shortage of affordable housing. A 2008 federal government survey showed a one-year 9 percent increase in families relying on homeless shelters. In recent months, local governments and school districts have been reporting homelessness cases more than doubling this year. But funding shortages may force agencies that help the homeless to curtail services.

Bilingual Education vs. English Immersion: Which is better for students with limited English?
By Kenneth Jost
December 11, 2009

More than 5 million public school students have limited English proficiency, and the number is growing. Most English learners enter school behind fluent English speakers, and many never catch up either in language or other academic areas. In the 1960s and '70s, the federal government supported bilingual education: teaching English learners in both their native language and in English. A backlash developed in the 1980s and '90s among critics who attacked bilingual education as academically ineffective and politically divisive. They favored instead some form of “English immersion.” Educators and policy makers continue to wage bitter debates on the issue, with each of the opposing camps claiming that research studies support its position. Some experts say the debate should focus instead on providing more resources, including more and better-trained teachers.

Prisoner Reentry: Can aid to ex-inmates significantly reduce recidivism?
By Peter Katel
December 4, 2009

Nearly three-quarters of a million prisoners will be released from state and federal prisons this year — an unprecedented number — and about half of them will be returned to prison over the next three years after committing new crimes or violating parole. As the recession makes it harder for ex-prisoners to find jobs and limits states' ability to house rising numbers of inmates, worries about revolving-door incarceration are escalating. Many experts see an answer to the problem in so-called reentry programs, which are designed to lower recidivism by helping soon-to-be-released or newly released prisoners land on their feet, sometimes assisting them in getting jobs before leaving prison. But even after enactment of former President George W. Bush's Second Chance Act, which supports reentry programs, they remain relatively scarce. In fact, in many states, funding for prison needs has overtaken proposals to pay for reentry.

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