Should Congress pass a bump stock ban?
A Congressional bump stock ban likely would not have bipartisan public support, would have uncertain effectiveness, and almost certainly would face Constitutional challenges that could invalidate the ban On June 14, the Supreme Court invalidated a ban on firearm bump stocks that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) had imposed in 2019. The Trump […]
Read MoreMexican border wall standoff in the debt ceiling negotiations
It is unsurprising that the Biden administration and the Democratic-majority Senate, on the one hand, and the Republican-majority House of Representatives, on the other hand, are having trouble agreeing on appropriations bills for fiscal year 2024. If they cannot agree by October 1, they will need to pass a short-term continuing resolution or there will be […]
Read MoreWork requirements in the bipartisan debt ceiling bill
The SNAP and TANF work requirements in the debt ceiling bill have bipartisan support and may both increase employment rates among less vulnerable groups and reduce poverty rates among a few more vulnerable groups. However, the effects of the new work requirements on Black Americans, in particular, should be carefully monitored. The recent bipartisan debt […]
Read MorePresident Biden’s proposal to offer public health insurance to DACA recipients
The Biden administration’s proposal to allow DACA recipients to obtain public health insurance would help reduce insurance and health disparities among Latinx Americans at a relatively reasonable cost, but would be politically divisive and would share the DACA program’s uncertain future in the courts, although it should not add to that uncertainty. The Biden administration […]
Read MoreElection day 2022 recap: A good day for moderates
On Election Day, Americans elected 34 U.S. senators (with Georgia’s election going to a runoff), 435 U.S. representatives, 36 governors, and members of 88 of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers. They also voted on dozens of ballot proposals. Overall, the results were generally favorable for moderates. The U.S. Congress will be divided, with Democrats […]
Read MoreArizona’s school voucher law
Although the effectiveness of school vouchers is still unproven, there is plurality support across parties for these programs and the equity and legal issues seem manageable The largest school voucher program in U.S. history recently took effect in Arizona. The new law will give parents who send their child to a private or parochial school […]
Read MorePresident Biden’s student loan forgiveness
It helps to address equity issues among current borrowers, but does not address college affordability going forward, is more expensive than the White House has admitted, has a questionable legal basis, and is opposed by a narrow majority of Republicans On August 24, President Biden announced his intention to take executive action to cancel up […]
Read MoreWhat does moderate abortion policy look like after Dobbs?
Allowing voters in each state to determine their state’s abortion policies would be broadly popular, but requiring some women to travel for abortions would create effectiveness and equity concerns that would need to be mitigated by other policies Introduction The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned its earlier decisions in […]
Read MoreBipartisan Safer Communities Act
It’s broadly popular and likely to be at least partly effective, although it mostly funds programs with unproven impacts and its gun regulations may face Constitutional challenges On June 25, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) into law. The BSCA passed the Senate by a 65-33 vote, which included 15 Republican votes, […]
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