Whisper it—we may be at a tipping point in the US economic recovery. The announcement that U.S. budget negotiators have reached a provisional two-year deal to avert another government shutdown (which had been set to happen, …
Government
Mel Watt Confirmed as Head of Federal Housing Finance Agency
Obama promises that the new leadership will help create an agency that Americans can be proud of
The Major Tech Companies Missing From the Surveillance Reform Letter
Eight major American tech giants have teamed up for a government surveillance reform campaign, decrying the National Security Agency’s sweeping power and demanding the end of bulk data collection in a letter to President Barack …
Why Politicians Keep Jacking Up Taxes on Travelers
Politicians are addicted to taxes that they swear aren’t really taxes—not ones paid by locals anyway.
China’s Economic Reforms Are More Sweeping Than Anybody Realized
But it remains unclear if change will go deep enough to solidify the country’s economic miracle.
Tomorrow Voters Decide on Marijuana Taxes, Minimum Wage Hikes, and More
Tomorrow is election day, and across the country states and localities are putting important questions directly to the voters — some of which will have a direct impact on businesses and the economy. Because off-year elections …
Already Cheap Gas Prices Are About to Hit Rock Bottom
Prices at the pump sometime head in the exact opposite of the trajectory forecast by analysts. But this autumn, gas prices are steadily plummeting, just as predicted, recently hitting a low for the year.
New Way to Save Downtown: Open-Air Public Drinking, Longer Bar Hours
Bourbon Street, or something sorta like it, may be coming to a city near you. To create more vibrant nightlife scenes and bring faded downtown districts back to life, cities around the U.S. are drunk on the concept of pedestrian …
Coporate America’s Hidden Hand in Government Programs
A glitch earlier this month that kept food stamp recipients in 17 states from accessing their benefits drew attention to the role office giant Xerox plays in electronic benefits transfers. Last week, USA Today reported that …
The Federal Agency That Makes $1 Billion for Taxpayers and the Fight to Abolish It
The Federal Export-Import Bank announced this morning that it was sending $1 billion profits back to the Treasury. So why are lawmakers fighting to abolish it?
The Shutdown Is Over But Could Still Ruin Holiday Shopping
The lingering effects of the federal shutdown, combined with a general lack of confidence in both the economy and the ability of our nation’s political leaders to avoid gridlock, means that retailers are looking at a …
Wall Street Is Over Washington Dysfunction
With at least a temporary end to the budget showdown that has kept the government closed for weeks and the U.S. on the brink of default, stocks soared yesterday afternoon, with the S&P 500 closing within 1 point of its all-time …