January 6, 2009
Economic Stimulus: Dos and Don'ts
By Nicola Moore
(WebMemo #2187)
The first order of business for the President-elect and the new Congress is to get the American economy back on track. To that end, Democratic ...

November 14, 2008
TARP and the Treasury: Time to Allow Markets to Work
By James L. Gattuso, David C. John, and J. D. Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2131)
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson recently announced yet another change in direction of the “Troubled Asset Relief Program” (TARP), sowing more uncertainty and confusion in the ...

October 24, 2008
How to Successfully Stimulate the Economy
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #2113)
Serious work by the Congress in tax, energy, and spending policy will create greater predictability for investors and business owners and assure workers that they ...

October 23, 2008
Treasury's Bank Capital Purchase Program: Avoiding a Dangerous Legacy
By David C. John
(WebMemo #2110)
Last week, the Treasury Department announced the direct purchase of equity stakes in U.S. banks in order to increase the capital levels of those institutions. ...

October 23, 2008
Why an Independent Financial Markets Commission Is Needed Now
By David M. Mason
(WebMemo #2112)
An Independent Commission on Financial Markets—similar to the 1987 Brady Commission, but chartered by Congress—could provide Congress and the next Administration with the information necessary ...

October 17, 2008
Gordon Brown's Financial Folly: The Global Economy Does Not Need More Regulation
By Brett D. Schaefer
(WebMemo #2107)
Gordon Brown's proposal to create a new Bretton Woods system with greatly enhanced powers over international financial markets may be aimed at boosting his flagging ...

October 2, 2008
SEC Makes Mark-to-Market Accounting Markedly Better
By David C. John and James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #2095)
The SEC and FASB clarifications on mark-to-market accounting rules both address shortcomings in the application of the existing rule and will help to ensure that ...

October 1, 2008
Action on Financial Rescue Plan Urgently Needed
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D., and Edwin Meese III
(WebMemo #2094)
A revised so-called "bailout" package is being readied for a Senate vote and subsequent action in the House. Action on this rescue package is urgently ...

September 29, 2008
The Bailout Package: Vital and Acceptable
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D., and Edwin Meese III
(WebMemo #2091)
Financial markets in the United States and around the world face a dire emergency requiring urgent and decisive action. The package of emergency steps now ...

September 28, 2008
An Initial Review of the Bailout Agreement
By Alison Acosta Fraser and Todd F. Gaziano
(WebMemo #2089)
Administration and congressional negotiators reached agreement early Sunday on a package of actions to address the alarming financial situation facing the U.S. economy.  Although several ...

September 26, 2008
The Housing Bailout: Constitutional Infirmities Remain, but a Ray of Hope
By Andrew M. Grossman, Robert Alt, Todd Gaziano
(WebMemo #2086)
Congress can put together a plan that does not violate our fundamental law. Those who, for reasons of economic policy, favor the leadership/White House proposal ...

September 24, 2008
All Deliberate Speed: Constitutional Fidelity and Prudent Policy Go Hand in Hand in Fixing the Credit Crisis
By Todd F. Gaziano and Andrew M. Grossman
(WebMemo #2079)
For sound policy and constitutional reasons, Congress should not recess until it acts on a solution to the credit crisis, but it should also be ...

September 23, 2008
Financial Cleanup Steps for Congress—The Next Steps and Beyond
By J. D. Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2075)
Congress is working toward passage of legislation requested by the Administration that would create a new financial entity as part of the federal government to ...

September 22, 2008
The Financial Bailout (and the New Resolution Trust Corp.) Must Restore the Markets and Protect the Taxpayer
By David C. John
(WebMemo #2072)
The House and Senate must have two objectives when putting together their versions of the financial bailout proposal made by the Treasury and Federal Reserve: ...

September 19, 2008
What Should Be Done About the Financial Markets?
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D., Alison Acosta Fraser, and James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #2070)
Lawmakers have just been presented with the outline of an expansive and potentially costly package of proposals said to be needed to bring a permanent ...

September 19, 2008
First Thoughts on the New Resolution Trust Corporation
By David John and J.D. Foster, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #2069)
Perhaps the most important and most controversial measure amidst the financial turmoil is the suggestion that Congress create an entity similar to the Resolution Trust ...

September 9, 2008
Fannie and Freddie: Time to Clean up the Mess and Move Forward
By J.D. Foster, Ph.D., David A. John, and Stephen C. Keen
(WebMemo #2055)
Decades of policy mistakes creating and protecting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac finally led the predicted system risk to become a dangerous financial reality. However, ...

July 15, 2008
Congress Should Fix the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Mess
By David C. John
(WebMemo #1993)
Sunday's announcement by the Bush Administration and the Federal Reserve seems to have cooled the immediate crisis concerning Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. However, their ...

April 4, 2008
Economic Pessimism: No Excuse for Protectionism
By Anthony B. Kim
(WebMemo #1883)
Especially in a presidential election year, Congress must take a long-term view focused on strengthening economic fundamentals.

April 3, 2008
Subprime Mortgage Problems: A Quick Tour Through the Rubble
By Ronald D. Utt
(WebMemo #1881)
Proposals for new federal spending and credit programs would greatly expand the role of government in the economy while doing little to alleviate the distress ...

March 31, 2008
The Housing and Financial Markets:
Congressional Action Could Disrupt Market Correction
By J.D. Foster
(WebMemo #1874)
Congressional action could prolong and exacerbate the current situation.

March 31, 2008
The Isakson Tax Credit: Another Approach that Won't Fix the Mortgage Mess
By David C. John
(WebMemo #1873)
Unfortunately, there are no simple or quick solutions to a highly complex financial situation.

March 24, 2008
Frank-Dodd Approach Won't Fix the Mortgage Mess
By David C. John
(WebMemo #1864)
The most discussed proposals in Congress would make matters worse over the long term.

March 20, 2008
Preventing the Next Subprime Crisis
By David C. John
(WebMemo #1862)
If implemented properly, recommendations made by the President's Working Group on Financial Markets will help to prevent the next subprime mortgage crisis.

March 18, 2008
The Fed Engages as Economy Wavers
By J.D. Foster, Ph.D. and David C. John
(WebMemo #1857)
The health of the economy will depend significantly on the actions of the Federal Reserve in the days and weeks ahead.

February 7, 2008
President's Homeownership Proposals Should Be Sent Back to the Drawing Board
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1802)
Expanding the federal government's role in the mortgage market would encourage more irresponsible behavior.

December 13, 2007
HOPE NOW: One Step to Resolve the Subprime Mortgage Crisis
By David C. John and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1742)
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s “HOPE NOW” is a far better way to deal with the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of subprime mortgages than ...

September 10, 2007
The Subprime Mortgage Situation: Bailout Not the Right Solution
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and David C. John
(WebMemo #1604)
The government's response should be limited to dealing with the immediate problem and should not become a vehicle for expanded housing programs or pushing other ...