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Cut Waste and SAVEPosted byon July 14, 2011 at 1:17 PM EST
Watch the video announcing the third annual SAVE Award here.
Today, we launched the third annual SAVE Award (Securing Americans Value and Efficiency) – a contest for federal employees to submit ideas about how to cut waste, save taxpayer dollars, and make government more effective and efficient.
Over the past two years, OMB has received more than 56,000 cost-cutting ideas through the SAVE Award from federal employees from across the country. The ideas range from stopping the overnight, express delivery of empty containers to allowing people to make appointments with their Social Security office online and ending the printing and shipping to employees across the country of thousands of Federal Register volumes that could be read online.
These ideas have made a difference. The President's last two budgets each included approximately 20 SAVE Award ideas. Already, those submissions are saving hundreds of millions of dollars, rooting out redundancy and waste, and giving the American people a more accountable government.
Wasting taxpayer dollars is unacceptable at anytime, but particularly when we face huge budget deficits. That's why this year's SAVE Award is a critical part of the recently launched Campaign to Cut Waste – an Administration-wide initiative to hunt down and eliminate wasted tax dollars in every agency and department across the federal government.
The idea behind the SAVE Award is the belief that federal employees on the front lines know better than anyone where there is waste to cut and how to make government more effective and efficient. If you're a federal employee, please take a minute and send us your idea. You will help your government, your fellow citizens, and if you win, will get to present your idea directly to the President.
Make no mistake: these ideas alone aren't going to close the deficit of fix our fiscal situation, but they are critical to making sure that the American people can trust their government to treat every tax dollar with the same care and attention they do.
So, if you're a member of the federal workforce, please send us your idea, and for everyone else, stay tuned as we will ask your help in picking the winner.
As Vice President Biden wrote in an Op-Ed today, "This effort involves more than just eliminating fraud and waste; it means instilling a new culture of efficiency, of responsiveness, of accountability. We're changing the way government does business. We're working to give the American people the government they expect - and deserve."
Kenneth Baer is Senior Advisor and Associate Director for Communications and Strategic Planning at the White House Office of Management and Budget.Learn more about Ethics, Fiscal Responsibility
HomecomingPosted byon June 27, 2011 at 2:10 PM EST
On Friday, I had the honor of speaking in New York at the Forest Hills High School 2011 graduation.
A lot has changed since I graduated in 1972 from this high school in Queens, New York, but one thing has not: a stellar, public school education gave these graduates the opportunity of a lifetime. To read the full remarks, click here.Learn more about Education
Our Nation's First Federal CIOPosted byon June 16, 2011 at 8:13 AM EST
Today, Vivek Kundra, our nation's first federal Chief Information Officer (CIO) announced that later this summer he will be leaving the post for a fellowship at Harvard University.
When President Obama appointed Vivek Kundra as the first U.S. CIO, he said, "Vivek Kundra will bring a depth of experience in the technology arena and a commitment to lowering the cost of government operations to this position. As Chief Information Officer, he will play a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open, and efficient way possible."
When he began at the White House, he brought with him the promise of good ideas and a hard-charging style focused on getting things done, necessary qualities to tackle the difficult issues facing Federal IT – an aging infrastructure with rising operating costs, too many major projects failing to deliver, and increasing vulnerability to outside threats. Two and a half years after joining the Administration, Vivek has delivered on that promise. He has cracked down on wasteful IT spending, saved $3 billion in taxpayer dollars; moved the government to the cloud; strengthened the cybersecurity posture of the nation while making it more open, transparent, and participatory. His work has been replicated across the world from 16 countries that have deployed the data.gov model to tap into the ingenuity of their people to multiple countries that have deployed the IT dashboard to save money.
I want to congratulate him on his move to Harvard in mid-August to serve as a joint fellow at the Kennedy School and the Berkman Center for Internet and Society. We are planning for a smooth transition, continuing these remarkable gains in changing the way the Federal government manages IT and Vivek's impact on cutting waste and making government work better for the American people will continue to be felt well beyond his departure from Federal service.Learn more about Technology
New Ideas to Cut Improper PaymentsPosted byon May 23, 2011 at 10:53 AM EST
For many years, the federal government has erroneously cut checks to the wrong person for the wrong amount and for the wrong reason – sometimes these misdirected payments even go to dead people or prisoners. These mistakes, though often inadvertent, contributed to the $125 billion in improper payments made in 2010. Cutting waste and combating these kinds of erroneous payments has been a priority [http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/11/16/improper-payment-progress] for President Obama. Today, the Administration is taking another step to tackle these improper payments.
As part of the President's committment to crack down on improper payments he created the Partnership Fund for Program Integrity Innovation, to help States and localities find ways to save taxpayer dollars and deliver benefits more efficiently and effectively. The "Collaborative Forum," a group of 200+ state and local administrators and other stakeholders involved in the benefit delivery process, has been working to generate ideas for innovative pilot projects to reduce errors, fraud, and waste. As a result of their efforts, OMB is announcing four exciting new pilot projects focused on reducing improper payments.
These pilot investments could lead to at least $100 million in annual savings if the pilots are successfully scaled up and will provide hard data about how Federal agencies as well as States and localities can save money and significantly improve program integrity, service delivery and efficiency.
Here's a summary of the four new pilots:
- Through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), States will test how sharing a Medicaid provider enrollment system among a group of states may help Federal and State governments strengthen their abilities to detect and prevent provider fraud, while increasing administrative efficiencies.
- The Department of Labor will lead a project to test new ways to reduce overpayments in the unemployment insurance program by helping States access new data sources to more quickly identify beneficiaries who are most likely to be newly employed.
- Through the Food and Nutrition Service at the Department of Agriculture, States will test sharing benefits information, which could reduce duplicate payments, make it easier and quicker for a participant to find out whether they are eligible, and allow people in need to continue to receive benefits in the event of a disaster.
- The Department of the Treasury will test how they can apply their existing debt collection systems to help States collect outstanding debt that includes Federal dollars.
These pilots will help lay the groundwork for government to achieve better results at lower cost and improve service delivery for people who receive government services, whether in Washington or in communities across the country. We are thankful to the participants in the Collaborative Forum, who have lent their collective experience and expertise to explore new opportunities to improve stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
These new pilots build on the three Presidential directives on preventing and recapturing improper payments over the last year and a half, our use of cutting edge forensic technology and tools, the new accountability measures implemented with PaymentAccuracy.gov, the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010, and the Administration's early progress avoiding nearly $4 billion in improper payments and tripling the amount of improper payments to contractors recaptured last year. The President's 2012 Budget proposes even more aggressive tools that will help drive down this waste. Specifically, the Budget includes a number of legislative and administrative reforms on improper payments and debt collection, which if enacted will result in over $160 billion in savingsto the Federal Government over ten years.
As the President said in his last State of the Union address, "We shouldn't just give our people a government that's more affordable. We should give them a government that's more competent and more efficient. We can't win the future with a government of the past." Over the last two years, we have streamlined operations to save taxpayer dollars, curbed the decade long rise in contracting costs, proposed an aggressive plan to get rid of excess federal property, and saved billions by leveraging technology to make government work smarter and more efficiently for the American people. Cutting waste and changing the way Washington does business are critical priorities for the Obama Administration and we'll continue to update you on our progress.
To learn more about the Collaborative Forum, visit www.collaborativeforumonline.com. You can also submit pilot ideas to the Partnership Fund online at www.partner4solutions.gov.Learn more about Economy, , Fiscal Responsibility
CBO and the 2012 BudgetPosted byon March 18, 2011 at 1:42 PM EST
Today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its preliminary analysis of the President's FY 2012 budget.
Their analysis leads them to a different projection of the deficit picture, and it's worth understanding our analytical differences.
There are two main reasons why our projections differ. First, is that the CBO re-estimate does not reflect two important budget policies. In the budget, the President laid out a plan to make a historic investment in our transportation infrastructure in order that our country can keep pace with our competitors in the global economy. We were crystal clear that this spending had to be paid for with a bipartisan funding source and that if one was not identified, that the Administration would not support making these investments. This way there would be no risk that this spending would add to the deficit. CBO chose to treat this spending as a free-standing initiative, not in tandem with our commitment to pay for it – which is not the policy we proposed.
Similarly, the budget proposes that we fully pay for the cost of fixing the Medicare physician payment formula so that reimbursement rates are not cut dramatically which could lead to doctors refusing to treat Medicare beneficiaries. In past years, this fix was not paid for, but last year, the President signed into law a fully paid for fix for one year, and our budget identified tens of billions of dollars in specific health care savings that will pay for another two years. With three years of the fix paid for, we believe that this establishes a pattern of practice – critically important in scoring policies -- that strengthens our commitment to work with Congress on a permanent solution. Again, CBO chooses not to make this assumption.
The second main difference between our and CBO's analysis is that our economic assumptions differ. The economic forecast in our 2012 Budget, which was prepared in November 2010, is actually more cautious than the consensus forecast for 2011, and is well within the range of the Federal Reserve's assumptions in all years. Beyond the short-term, we believe that the economy will fully recover after this recession as it has after previous ones. It is our view that the economy will return to full strength, and that is a view shared by the Federal Reserve as well.
There is large uncertainty in economic projections and differences of opinion when it comes to assessing individual policies. But regardless of our differences, CBO confirms what we already know: current deficits are unacceptably high, and if we stay on our current course and do nothing, the fiscal situation will hurt our recovery and hamstring future growth. That is why the President's 2012 Budget puts forward more than $1 trillion of deficit reduction including a five-year freeze in annual domestic spending that will save more than $400 billion over the next decade, and puts the nation on a sustainable fiscal course. And that is why we are committed to making real progress on our fiscal situation this year and not put off action any longer. As this debate continues, we look forward to working with people from across the spectrum to rein in our deficits, grow our economy, and win the future.
Jack Lew is the Director of the Office of Management and BudgetLearn more about Economy, Fiscal Responsibility
Hammer Misses the MarkPosted byon March 11, 2011 at 1:48 PM EST
In today's Washington Post, Charles Krauthammer calls into question the integrity of the Social Security trust fund and the integrity of statements I have made recently about the program. Let's examine his charges.
First, Krauthammer says that I am making a "preposterous claim that Social Security is solvent for 26 years." This is not a "claim." This is the projection of the independent Social Security Trustees, who report that even though Social Security began collecting less in taxes than it paid in benefits in 2010, the trust fund surplus will continue grow until 2025, and will have adequate resources make full and timely benefit payments through 2037.
Second, Krauthammer argues that the White House believes that there is "no need to fix it because there is no problem [italics his]." But in the State of the Union, the President explained that "To put us on solid ground," the President said, "we should also find a bipartisan solution to strengthen Social Security for future generations." And in my recent USA Today op-ed that Krauthammer cites in his column, I stated: "Strengthening Social Security is an important, but parallel, issue that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible [italics mine]."
Third, Krauthammer's explanation of the Social Security trust fund and its interaction with the rest of the budget is off base.
Social Security benefits are self-financing, paid for with payroll taxes collected from workers and their employers throughout their careers. To prepare for the retirement of the Baby Boom and to keep Social Security solvent, I was part of the bipartisan effort in 1983 that built up trust fund balances to pay benefits owed to current and future beneficiaries.
Krauthammer is correct when he writes that there is no "lockbox" that keeps the money sent in by workers for until they retire. By design, when more taxes are collected than are needed to pay benefits, funds are invested in Treasury bonds and are held in reserve for when revenue collected is not enough to pay the benefits due. Yet these Treasury bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government in the same way that all other U.S. Treasury bonds are, making them anything but "worthless IOUs" as Krauthammer suggests. The government has just as much obligation to pay back the bonds in the Social Security trust fund as we do to any other bondholders.
Responsibly honoring that obligation – one that we planned for and always knew was there –entails undertaking fiscal policies that would make it easier, not harder, to meet these obligations. When I last was OMB Director at the end of the Clinton Administration, the Congressional Budget Office estimated $5.6 trillion in budget surpluses over the next decade because of fiscally responsible measures that Democrats and Republicans, working together, had taken.
We are now in a very different fiscal position. When I returned to government at the start of the Obama Administration, the country faced projected deficits of more than $8 trillion over the next decade. These deficits primarily were the result of specific decisions made by the previous Administration and Congress to spend money on initiatives without finding a way to pay for them, notably the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 and the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
This is the most important point: the problem is not with Social Security, but in the near term the mismatch between what we take in and what we spend in the rest of the budget. Working people had payroll taxes taken from their salaries to pay for future benefits, and instead the money was used to pay for tax cuts and other initiatives. It is hardly fair now to say that those working people caused the problem just when they are ready to collect benefits.
Krauthammer's argument is inside out. We should not blame Social Security for our current fiscal problems when it is the irresponsible fiscal behavior of the past that has presented the country with future challenges to fund our commitments, including Social Security over the next two decades.
That is why in the short term, we have to honor the legal and moral obligation to keep the promises made to Social Security to repay those surpluses. Doing that entails getting our fiscal house in order. That is why the 2012 budget the President proposed includes more than $1 trillion in deficit reduction over the next decade and makes tough choices that will put the country on a sustainable fiscal path by the middle of the decade.
Looking to the long term past 2037, we have a pressing need to replenish the trust funds and make sure Social Security is on sound footing for generations of workers. The sooner we act the better as it is always easier to give people many years to adapt to any changes in the program (as we saw with the reforms made in 1983 that are still being implemented today). That is why I have repeatedly called for quick action, and have spent most of the last 30 years helping to make the tough decisions to do so.
Jack Lew is the Director of the Office of Management and BudgetLearn more about Seniors and Social Security
Women in America: Investing in What WorksPosted byon March 4, 2011 at 11:20 AM EST
At a time when the Government is striving to do more with less, it is more important than ever to ensure we are investing in what works.
This week, the White House released a new report entitled Women in America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being, receiving well-deserved and wide attention. Women in America compiles statistics from across the Federal government that indicate how women are faring in the United States today and how their lives have changed over time. This is the first comprehensive federal report on women since 1963, when the Commission on the Status of Women, established by President Kennedy and chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, produced a report on the conditions of women.
One of the Office of Management and Budget's roles is to oversee the Federal statistical system—a range of agencies that produce the data that drive what we do as a government. In that role, we initiated this data project and worked with the Economics and Statistics Administration within the Department of Commerce and the Federal statistical agencies to create Women in America in support of the White House Council on Women and Girls (CWG).
Of course, the report only touches upon a few of the many indicators collected by the federal government concerning the lives of women. In order to facilitate public access to these broader resources, we have compiled on the CWG website links to many other reports, and sections of reports, related to women produced by the federal statistical agencies, making it easier than ever for policymakers, journalists, researchers, and interested members of the public to get the facts.
The project is consistent with the Obama Administration's commitments to pursuing evidence-based policymaking; to partnering with the private sector - including academic researchers - to analyze data and formulate policy; and to pursuing a comprehensive, cross-agency approach to addressing special issues affecting Americans.
The tough fiscal situation necessitates doing more with less, not only to reduce budget deficits, but ensure that taxpayers are receiving maximum value for their hard-earned dollars. By gathering and consolidating the data gathered across the Administration, we can learn more about how services and programs are impacting lives. Armed with the facts, we can target our resources to deliver the best results for women, families, and all Americans.
Jack Lew is the Director of the Office of Management and BudgetLearn more about Women
Progress for the PartnershipPosted byon February 23, 2011 at 10:56 AM EST
Making sure that taxpayer dollars are not wasted lies at the heart of the stewardship obligations we have as public servants. When the country is facing serious fiscal challenges as it is now, it becomes even more important that we take aggressive action to make sure government is effective and efficient. That is the thinking behind the President's Accountable Government Initiative , and it is what is behind OMB's Partnership Fund for Program Integrity Innovation. The Fund supports projects that bring all levels of government together to test creative ways to reduce red tape, cut improper payments, and improve how eligible beneficiaries receive services.
I am pleased to announce that we have funded our first pilot project: an effort at the Department of the Treasury to test new methods of working with states to significantly improve the integrity of payments made under the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), reduce errors and provide assistance to those in need.
Tackling the long standing problem of improper payments is a top priority for the President and his Administration and we are aggressively exploring new technologies and analytics to significantly reduce errors and crack down on fraud. The EITC program provides needed financial support to low and moderate income workers and helps directly reward work. However, the program is also challenged by an unacceptably high error rate that both wastes money and leaves many individuals underserved. If successful, this new innovation could help the government avoid more than $100 million per year in improper payments.
This is just the first of many grants the Partnership Fund plans to make. In the past year, the Partnership Fund has received more than 100 ideas from stakeholders including Federal, state, and local government agencies; nonprofits; the private sector; academics; and engaged citizens.
In addition, the Partnership Fund is taking steps to get the best ideas from those on the frontlines since stakeholders, whether state administrators or community partners, often have the best ideas about how to streamline and strengthen programs. To draw on this expertise, an open, self-directed group called the Collaborative Forum holds regular virtual meetings to design the most effective pilots from the most promising ideas. In addition, the newly redesigned Partnership Fund web site, partner4solutions.gov, makes it easier to learn about the program, submit an idea, or become more involved. The Partnership Fund has an important role to play in defining the most efficient and effective practices for 21st century government.
The Partnership Fund is just one of many ways we are working to get government to work better for the American people. We will highlight other efforts in the months ahead.
Jack Lew is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.Learn more about Civil Rights, Fiscal Responsibility
A Primer on Primary BalancePosted byon February 18, 2011 at 9:37 AM EST
After two days of hearings on Capitol Hill and reading scores of articles, commentaries, and blogposts about the President's Budget, there seems to be some confusion about a key accomplishment of this plan: putting the Budget into primary balance by the middle of the decade.
"Primary balance" does not mean that a budget is balanced. It is a technical term that describes something that is actually quite easy to understand. For a moment, put national finances aside and think about the finances of a family.
Imagine a family – already living beyond its means -- where one of the parents is laid off at the same time that the roof of their house needs repair and they are hit by unexpected health expenses. With less money coming in and more money needed to go out, they are forced to charge more and more on their credit card. The result is that they sink deeper in to debt.
The first thing that this family would need to do on the way to getting their finances in order is to stop charging new items onto their credit card. Once they do that, the income they have coming in would be enough to cover their current household expenses. Of course, they would still have the overhang of the debts they incurred, and those debts would grow as the interest payments did. But, the rate at which their debts would grow would slow. They would have reached an important milestone toward being fiscally sound.
While the federal budget is enormously more complex, it works in a similar way. In the years leading up to the Obama Administration, the government was not living within its means, notably, taking on two large tax cuts and a new prescription drug benefit for Medicare without paying for it. Once the economic crisis hit, revenues plummeted just as outlays – including automatic stabilizers such as unemployment insurance and one-time emergency measures needed to jump-start the economy – increased. As a result, our deficits – already large – grew even larger, reaching 10.9 percent of the economy this year.
Like our hypothetical family, what we need to do now that a recovery is underway is to get to the point where our current spending on programs is no longer adding to our debts by increasing the principal that we owe. The 2012 Budget does that: it includes more than $1 trillion in deficit reduction – two-thirds from lower spending -- and puts the nation on a path toward fiscal sustainability.
Specifically, by the middle of the decade, we will be able to pay our current bills and remain in primary balance for the remainder of the decade (for those of you so inclined, go to this table in the Budget and look at the last line on page 176). This does not mean that the federal government is debt-free. It means that the government will be in a place where it is paying for all of its programs—in other words, where spending on government programs will not be adding to our debt, and debt is growing no faster than the economy. Just as no longer charging new purchases to a credit card is a crucial first step for a family to start living within its means, reaching primary balance is an important first step for a nation on the road back from high deficits. That is why one of the charges to the Fiscal Commission was to find a path to primary balance because policymakers on both sides of the aisle saw how important reaching this milestone was.
Reaching primary balance will mean implementing the most deficit reduction since the end of World War II as we go from our current historic deficit of more than 10 percent of GDP to around 3 percent of GDP, the level at which we will reach primary balance and be paying for the government's programs.
To be sure, reaching this milestone is not enough. The debt is still there, and it is still accumulating interest—just like a credit card bill. And we are going to have to start paying that debt down too. That is why the President has called this budget a down payment, because we will still have work to do to pay down the debt and address our long-term fiscal challenges.
Doing that work will take all sides being clear about our goals, finding areas of agreement, and then exploring where we can work together. The Administration is committed to doing that because what we need now is not more partisanship, but more problem-solving.
Jack Lew is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
The 2012 BudgetPosted byon February 14, 2011 at 3:17 PM EST
Today, the President sent to Congress his budget for the 2012 fiscal year. This document is built around the simple idea that we have to live within our means so we can invest in the future. Only by making tough choices to both cut spending and deficits and invest in what we need to win the future can we out-educate, out-build, and out-innovate the rest of the world.
This is the seventh Budget that I have worked on at OMB, and it may be the most difficult. It includes more than $1 trillion in deficit reduction – two-thirds from spending cuts -- and puts the nation on a path toward fiscal sustainability so that by the middle of the decade, the government will no longer be adding to our national debt as a share of the economy and will be paying for what it spends – and will be able to sustain that for many years afterwards.
The President has called this budget a down payment because we will still have work to do to pay down the debt and address our long-term challenges. But it is a necessary and critical step for we cannot start to move toward balance and to cutting into the size of our debt until we first stop adding to it – and that is what this Budget does.
A Tribute to Bob BallPosted byon February 11, 2011 at 4:23 PM EST
Last Friday, I had the honor to deliver remarks at the dedication of the Robert M. Ball Federal Building in Baltimore. Bob Ball and I first met when, as a young staffer for House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr., I was assigned to work on the bipartisan effort to reform and strengthen Social Security that culminated in the 1983 Social Security Reforms. He was the object lesson of how one person – dedicated to learning as much as he could and working as hard as he can – can make a difference, not just in the lives of millions of people, but in the life of the country. For his entire career, across six decades, Bob Ball gave so much of himself -- deep into his own retirement – in order to make sure that millions of Americans could have a dignified retirement.
My full remarks are here and I hope they reflect my great respect for this examplar of public service who represented the best of both career and political leadership in government.
Jack Lew is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.Learn more about Seniors and Social Security
Turning the Tide on Contract SpendingPosted byon February 4, 2011 at 4:07 PM EST
"Buying less" and "buying smarter" are simple ideas to understand, but history tells us that these basic principles of fiscal responsibility are not as easy to implement as one might think. Since 1997, and in 18 of the past 20 years, total spending by the federal government on contracts has increased – and at a near break-neck pace of 12 percent per year between 2000 and 2008. During this eight-year period, annual procurement budgets grew from $200 billion a year to more than $500 billion a year.
This Administration is doing what has been so elusive in the past: cutting wasteful spending on contracts and getting better value for the taxpayer dollar. For the first time in 13 years, we have reduced spending on contracting and agencies have stopped the costly upward spiral in contract growth. In FY 2010, agencies spent nearly $80 billion less than they would have spent had contract spending continued to grow at the same rate it had under the prior Administration.
A new sense of fiscal responsibility is taking hold. Agencies are thinking more carefully about what they buy and how they buy it. They are ending contracts they cannot afford or no longer need. They are taking greater advantage of buying strategies that are more appropriate for the world's largest purchaser – pooling their buying power to negotiate better prices and deeper discounts. And, after years of inattention, they are rebuilding the capacity and capability of the acquisition workforce to achieve and sustain better acquisition outcomes and improved government performance.
In his State of the Union address, President Obama said that, "we can't win the future with the government of the past." Instead, he said we must reform the way we do business in Washington and give the American people a government that's not only more affordable, but also more effective and more efficient. This principle has been the cornerstone of our work on contracting and across the Accountable Government Initiative. From reforming and cutting costly IT systems, implementing unprecedented transparency and reporting efforts, buying in bulk, establishing a government-wide Do Not Pay list, or moving toward electronic government payments, we're making real progress in changing the way government does business.
Here is more information about how we are saving money, cutting waste, and getting better results from our acquisitions. We are turning the tide, but there is still more to be done. OMB's Office of Federal Procurement Policy will continue to work closely with agencies to build on their accomplishments to date and explore new opportunities for saving so that every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely.
Jack Lew is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Welcoming our 2010 SAVE Award WinnerPosted byon January 28, 2011 at 6:30 PM EST
On Tuesday night, President Obama spoke about giving the American people a government that's not only more affordable, but also more effective and more efficient. Federal employees are important partners in that effort. From inspecting the food heading to our tables and making sure Social Security checks go out on time to treating wounded troops and helping returning Veterans pursue higher education, Federal employees are working day in and day out to serve the American people. The President believes these frontline workers are essential to any effort to improve government.
That's why he launched the first ever SAVE Award in 2009 to gather ideas from employees across the country about how to cut waste and make government work smarter for the American people. Today, the President met with the employee who the public voted this year's winner: Trudy Givens of Portage, Wisconsin.
Trudy is a 19-year employee of the Bureau of Prisons, currently serving as a Business Administrator at the Federal Correctional Institution in Oxford, Wisconsin. Over the course of her career, Trudy noticed that several copies of the Federal Register — the federal government's official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices from Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents– were delivered to her workplace several times per week, but employees rarely referenced the documents. The Federal Register was made available online years ago, and most members of the interested public reference that online version now. Trudy thought that in keeping with the President's spirit of cutting out waste and going green, the government should cease the printing and mailing of thousands of Federal Registers to employees who don't need them.
Even ideas that sound small can add up. Printing just one page of the Federal Register costs a little more than a penny, but when you amplify that across the whole of government, suddenly your talking millions of dollars. We expect to save the vast majority of those dollars – at current costs that could be up to $4 million dollars per year-- by limiting print distribution to those who need it.
And Trudy's not alone. Employees across the government are contributing ideas to make their agency work more effectively and efficiently. Through the SAVE competition, we are starting to see a cultural shift where employees are really becoming engaged in rooting out waste. Several agencies including the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Defense have launched their own internal competitions or online engagement tools to encourage employees to submit their ideas to save money and make government work more efficiently and effectively all year round.
It is incumbent upon all of us in public service to be conscientious stewards of your taxpayer dollars. But it is particularly important to do so when the fiscal times are tough. Congratulations, Trudy, for winning this year's award, and thank you for your contribution to making the government more effective and efficient.
Health Care Reform Check-UpPosted byon January 26, 2011 at 10:35 AM EST
Today, the House Budget Committee is holding a hearing about the fiscal impacts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which the President signed into law last year and has already given Americans new freedoms and protections. It's important to get the facts straight about what impact the Affordable Care Act has on our deficits and long-range fiscal situation.
Rising health care costs are the biggest driver of our long-term deficits, and getting them under control is crucial if we want to grow the economy, create jobs, compete in the world economy and win the future. The Affordable Care Act helps us achieve that goal.
As the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) made clear in a letter sent earlier this month to the Speaker of the House, repealing the Affordable Care Act would increase the budget deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade. The CBO letter notes that "over the 2012–2021 period, the effect of H.R. 2 [the repeal of ACA] on federal deficits … is likely to be an increase in the vicinity of $230 billion." And in the decade after that, we will save more than $1 trillion thanks to the new law.Learn more about Fiscal Responsibility, Health Care
Regulatory StrategyPosted byon January 18, 2011 at 11:20 AM EST
OMB plays a central role in implementing a President's regulatory agenda. Through our Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), OMB acts as a clearinghouse for the most significant regulations and rules, making sure that policies are consistent across the federal government and with the agenda of the President. OMB also ensures that analysis of rules is done properly, according to one set of standards.
With that in mind, I want to point readers to the op-ed that President Obama wrote in today's Wall Street Journal, detailing his approach to regulation and the strategy that has guided his Administration from the start. As the President wrote, our aim is to "strike the right balance" between what is needed to protect the safety and health of all Americans, and what we need to foster economic growth, job creation, and competitiveness. The Administration has followed this balanced approach since taking office, and this executive order formally details our basic operating principles.
With this EO, there should be no confusion about what guides this Administration when crafting regulations. The basic tenets are: to consider costs and how best to reduce burdens for American businesses and consumers; to expand opportunities for public participation and stakeholder involvement; to seek the most flexible, least burdensome approaches; to ensure that regulations are scientifically-driven; and to review old regulations so that rules which are no longer needed can be modified or withdrawn. This smarter approach builds on the best practices of the past, while adapting to serious economic challenges the country faces today.Learn more about Economy
Celebrating MLK Day with City YearPosted byon January 17, 2011 at 10:08 AM EST
Today, I am joining hundreds of volunteers at Intermediate School 292 in Brooklyn as part of City Year's celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. I look forward to seeing the hundreds of energetic and idealistic City Year corps members who are always an inspiration.
I helped to launch City Year New York after September 11 as part of our City's healing, and was honored to chair its board. MLK day at City Year always brings together hundreds of people eager and excited to give something of themselves, not just to honor Dr. King, but also to improve their community.
Advancing the idea that MLK day should be a "day on" doing service rather than just another "day off", more than 20 members of the Cabinet are at schools, homeless shelters, and other community service organizations pitching in.Learn more about Civil Rights, Service
A New Deputy DirectorPosted byon January 7, 2011 at 11:54 AM EST
Earlier today, the President announced that he intends to nominate Heather Higginbottom as the Deputy Director of OMB.
Many of us at OMB know Heather from her work as Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council. In that position, she has played an integral role on issues ranging from education to poverty to food safety. Before she joined the Administration, Heather was the Policy Director for Obama for America. She came to that job after eight years working in the US Senate for Senator John Kerry, culminating in serving as his Legislative Director. Heather also founded and served as Executive Director of the American Security Project, a national security think tank. A Binghamton, New York native, Heather holds a bachelors degree in Political Science from the University of Rochester and a Masters degree in Public Policy from the George Washington University.
Heather has a passion for her work and has demonstrated throughout her career a dedication to sound public policy that makes a difference in people's lives.
Heather is replacing a trusted colleague and a good friend, Rob Nabors. Rob's willingness to take a leave from his new job in the West Wing to help steward OMB through this recent period of transition demonstrates the depth of his commitment to what OMB does and to the institution itself, and his own commitment to serve. I am personally grateful to him for once again being part of my team as we produce the 2012 Budget.
I am confident that Heather will be an outstanding addition to the OMB team, and I look forward to her joining OMB as soon as possible.
Jack Lew is the Director of the Office of Management and BudgetLearn more about Additional Issues
New Year, New Estimate, Same ResultPosted byon January 6, 2011 at 4:18 PM EST
The new year starts with a renewed focus on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which the President signed into law last year and has already delivered a host of consumer protections and benefits to millions of Americans.
Yesterday, the House Republican leadership introduced a bill to repeal the ACA. Today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) sent a letter to the Speaker of the House giving its assessment of the budgetary effects of a repeal: it would increase the budget deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade. The CBO letter notes that "over the 2012–2021 period, the effect of H.R. 2 [the repeal of ACA] on federal deficits … is likely to be an increase in the vicinity of $230 billion." This result is not surprising since CBO scored the ACA as reducing the deficit by more than $100 billion through 2019 and by more than $1 trillion in the decade after that.
To be fair, CBO is clear that this is a preliminary estimate that does not take into account a host of changes in the economy, technical matters, and the effects of the implementation to date. But even after a more comprehensive analysis, we should expect the same outcome: the deficit would increase substantially if ACA were repealed. As CBO Director Elmendorf wrote in his blog today, "those developments will probably not have a major effect on the overall budgetary impact of repealing the legislation."
For those in both parties who care about the deficit and our future fiscal course, the repeal of the ACA should concern them deeply. Rising health care costs are the biggest driver of our long-term deficits, and getting them under control is crucial for the fiscal health of the nation and to keep our economy growing, creating jobs, and competing in the world economy. Beyond that, we need to keep in mind that repealing the ACA also would roll back what the bill already has done to help millions of Americans -- from the families benefitting from the end to lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits to the young people now able to join their parents' policies and the seniors who now are able to afford their prescription drugs. And repeal would deny an estimated 32 million American citizens health insurance in years to come.
Jack Lew is the Director of the Office of Management and BudgetLearn more about Health Care
More on USASpendingPosted byon December 6, 2010 at 2:44 PM EST
A cornerstone of the President's Accountable Government Initiative and Open Government Initiative is the belief that transparency leads to more oversight, less waste, and more accountability, resulting in a more effective government. For too long, many government resources have been difficult to navigate or inaccessible.
This fall, we have taken another important step toward making government more open and accountable to the American people with a major addition to the type of data available on USASpending.gov.
For the first time on USAspending.gov, you will be able to track payments made by federal agencies not only to direct recipients, but also those made by those recipients to other entities – such as by a prime contractor to a sub-contractor. Leveraging the lessons learned from previous transparency efforts, such as those associated with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we have worked hard with stakeholders to reduce the burden of reporting, while ensuring that the information provided to the public is useful.
This was not an easy task.
The prior Administration made little headway on this issue, so the team at OMB already was running behind the schedule for implementation set by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (Transparency Act). In addition, they needed to change regulations and reporting guidance; develop, test, and deploy a new IT solution to capture data; and undertake extensive outreach to contractors and grantees so that they would be ready for the change.
Last month, sub-award information on contracts began to appear on USAspending.gov for the first time. And beginning last week, USAspending.gov is displaying sub-award information associated with new prime grant awards (made on or after October 1, 2010) over $25,000. So far this week, we reported 930 sub-awards, related to a variety of grants in areas such as health, food and nutrition, and transportation. In total, these 930 sub-awards account for $750 million in Federal funding. We expect this number to increase significantly over-time, but it represents a critical milestone in our efforts providing the public with unprecedented transparency into how and where tax dollars are spent.
Improving the data available on USAspending.gov is part of a larger effort to use transparency to boost government accountability. Already, we launched the IT Dashboard to provide the American people with unfiltered access to Federal technology spending information and progress made on IT projects across the government. And earlier this year, we stood up PaymentAccuracy.gov which allows the public to track progress in preventing improper payments.
Jack Lew is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Tightening Our BeltsPosted byon November 29, 2010 at 12:13 PM EST
As I wrote last week upon my return to the Office of Management and Budget, the fiscal and economic situation we face today is very different than the projected surpluses we left behind the last time I served as OMB Director in the 1990's. After years of fiscal irresponsibility, President Obama inherited a $1.3 trillion projected deficit and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
The President and his economic team worked quickly to address the crisis, and we are seeing our economy recover – albeit more slowly than anyone would like. Families and businesses are still hurting, and too many who want to work are not able to find a job. Our top priority must be to do what we can to help boost economic growth and spur private sector job creation.
But to lay the foundation for long-term economic growth and to make our nation competitive for years to come, we must put the United States back on a sustainable fiscal course. And that's going to require some tough choices.
Today, the President made one of those: proposing a two-year pay freeze for all civilian federal workers. This will save $2 billion over the remainder of this fiscal year, $28 billion in cumulative savings over the next five years, and more than $60 billion over the next 10 years. The freeze will apply to all civilian federal employees, including those in various alternative pay plans and those working at the Department of Defense – but not military personnel.
We are announcing this move today because tomorrow is the legal deadline to submit to Congress the President's decision about locality pay, a key component of overall federal worker pay. In addition, we are in the midst of the 2012 budget process, and need to make a decision about pay to develop the 2012 budget. Simply, the time to decide about pay for those two years is now.
Make no mistake: this decision was not made lightly.
Like everyone honored to serve in the White House or the Cabinet, we work with extraordinarily talented public servants every day. Throughout my career in the Congress, at the State department, and here at OMB, I have met federal workers who have sacrificed more lucrative jobs and hours with their families - -and, in some cases, put their lives in harm's way -- in order to serve their fellow Americans. Indeed, anyone who has flown safely, enjoyed our national parks, received a Pell grant to go to college, or relied on a Social Security check to retire in dignity has benefited from the service of federal workers.
This pay freeze is not a reflection on their fine work. It is a reflection of the fiscal reality that we face: just as families and businesses across the nation have tightened their belts, so must the federal government.
Already, the Administration has taken a number of steps in this regard as part of its Accountable Government Initiative from the President freezing the salaries for all senior White House officials and other top political appointees upon taking office to his efforts to get rid of $8 billion of excess federal real property over the next two years, reduce improper payments by $50 billion by the end of 2012, and freeze non-security spending for three years – which will bring non-security discretionary spending to its lowest level as a share of the economy in 50 years.
Moving forward, we will need to make many more tough choices to construct a plan to pay down these deficits and put our nation on sound fiscal footing. Later this week, the Fiscal Commission will release its report laying out its approach, and I look forward to working with people from across the spectrum on this challenge in the weeks to come.
Jack Lew is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
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Call for Papers
Democracy & Society Vol. 12, Issue 1 (Fall-Winter 2014)
The Democracy and Governance Program at Georgetown University is seeking well-written, interesting submissions of 1,500 – 2,000 words for their Fall-Winter 2014 publication, Democracy & Society. The submissions can be new publications, summaries, excerpts of recently completed research book reviews, and works in progress. Submissions for this issue will be due by November 10, 2014. Please email all submissions along with a brief author's bio to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Democracy, Conflict and Peace-Building:
Across the globe policymakers are faced with the daunting task of forging democratic institutions after severe conflict. Likewise, we have seen supposedly stable democracies falter into civil war. International peacemaking institutions face unforeseen challenges, and at times making peace and restoring democracy seems out of reach. With recent conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe in mind, what do we know about the relationships between democracy, conflict and peace building?
We are seeking articles that address the following issues and questions:
Forging Democracy after Conflict: If democracy is to be used as a conflict resolution measure, what practices have worked best and which have failed? How do you forge democratic institutions after severe conflict? What tools must we use to address these conflicts and promote stability and peace in volatile, post-conflict states?
Transitional Justice: What new insights are there into this longstanding question – how do you balance the need for accountability after conflict with the need to reach consensus in order to build new political institutions?
The Relationship between Democracy and Conflict: Does democracy foster stability, or rather, in certain contexts, does it lay the seeds for future conflict? Do democratic institutions actually solve conflict or simply reinforce and freeze existing tensions and divisions?
The Causes of Conflict: Are there new insights into the causes of civil conflict, and what new information do we have about the role of resources, state capacity, and sectarian division?
Variations on these themes will be accepted. Research on post-conflict societies, democratic proliferation, and analysis of war and peace are encouraged. Questions and comments are welcome.
Please visit, democracyandsociety.com for more information about Democracy & Society and http://government.georgetown.edu/cdacs for more information about the M.A. in Democracy and Governance and the Center for Democracy and Civil Society.
40 Years, 11 Years, and 7 Years
Four decades ago, on April 25, 1974, a military coup overthrew the Portuguese military regime, inaugurating the set of transitions from authoritarianisms known as the third wave of democratization. In 2003, the Department of Government in Georgetown University opened the Center for the Third Sector, later renamed the Center for Democracy and Civil Society (CDACS). Its objective was to carry out original research and advocate for domestic and international policies to better understand and promote democratization processes. In 2007, the CDACS program of Master of Arts in Democracy and Governance received its first class, forming political scientists and policy makers specialized in democratic change. To celebrate these anniversaries, CDACS organized on April 24 the panel discussion "The State of Democracy and Democracy Studies", with the participation of Thomas Carothers, Steven Heydemann, and Sharon Wolchik.
Thomas Carothers noticed the presence of "disappointments" with democracy in several regions of the world. In many countries, as in the post-Soviet area, or Africa, democracy has not taken root. But, as noticed earlier by himself and other authors, something else, not between, but different to democracy and authoritarianism, has emerged. And in other places, as the U.S. or Europe, democracy is facing performance crises and major social protests, as citizens perceive political parties are nor responsive to their demands or interests. Yet, Carothers observed, these problems have confirmed the central importance for democratization of an agreement on national identity and of a civil society with a democratic culture. For some time, these concepts were thought of as being given in all countries or as fads in the literature. But empirical evidence has shown otherwise.
Steven Haydemann questioned the extent to which uprisings with the intent to democratize have challenged authoritarian regimes in the Middle East. The answer relates to the institutionalization of authoritarianism in the countries of these regions. There, generals in positions of power tend to operate elections as military campaigns, pushing towards the outcome that will be the most beneficial or less damaging to them. Furthermore, authoritarian regimes have adapted (or "upgraded", following Haydemann's terms) their exclusionary techniques. Now, they have to try to control civil society, manage contestation, or capture economic resources, as opposed to using blatant and open coercion. In the end, social protesting in the region have brought about changes; not for democracy, as demanded, but to strengthen authoritarian tools.
Sharon Wolchik discussed problems for democratic consolidation in post-Communist Europe. She commented that it was thought that constitutional reform would be more difficult to undertake than political culture reform. While this was true, constitutional reform was still very complicated. There is a noticeable party volatility in many countries in the region. Some parties, even those which have been in office, sometimes disappear after being voted out, and new incumbents make radical changes to the constitution, diminishing its democratic features. Without a transformation in political culture both in society and in elites, democracy will not only be at problems to take root, but can also be reverted, as in Hungary. Additionally, Wolchik commented that the international community should not forget how important it was to foster change immediately after the fall of Communism. By giving money, organizational help, or sharing experiences it was essential to give a democratic breath to the changes in the early nineties. There is no reason to believe that its help is less necessary now.
These presentations seem to have ended in a rather gloomy tone on democracy. It appears that this system of governance is failing in one of its essential components: linking governors with governed. Are politicians behaving in ways unacceptable for democratic norms, or are theories and their derived institutions challenged by reality? What is needed: new mechanisms to facilitate interactions between authorities and citizens, or the enhancement of the existing tools? What are the chances for democracy in countries suffering from major social unrest? Forty years after the beginning of the third wave of democratization, Georgetown University's CDACS and its MA program in Democracy and Governance will continue to address these questions in an attempt to improve the world state of democracy.
Elections in Hungary: Fidesz Round Two
Hungary held general elections on Sunday 6. As expected, the ruling party, Fidesz (Hungarian Civil Alliance), jointly with the Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), won 44 percent of the vote, which translated into 133 seats in the 199-member parliament thanks to the rewarding electoral laws. This represents a reduction in the vote share for this party in the 2010 election, when it got 53 percent. Still, Fidesz maintains the control of 67 percent of the parliament (versus 68 percent of the outgoing legislature). With this position, Fidesz and its leader, Viktor Orbán, will continue unmatched their series of reforms that many domestic and international observers have classified as increasingly authoritarian.
Fidesz first came to power in 2010. The vote for this extreme-right party was a punishment to the Socialist Party (MSZP). In 2006, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány gave a supposedly confidential speech, which was recorded and made public by the media, in which the recognized he had lied about the state of the government, that he had nothing to be proud of during his tenure, and that the economy was in a really bad shape. Fidesz, the second party in parliament at the time, made the best of this leaking and managed to win its second government (the first one being from 1998 to 2002) in the 2010 general election.
Back in office, Fidesz promised to bring the strength back to Hungary. Orbán renationalized industries, supported by an aggressive discourse saying that foreign capital was stealing the wealth of the country away from Hungarians, succeeded in reducing unemployment, increased wages, and cut energy bills. However, Hungary is still greatly reliant on loans from the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Although Hungary has not seen the severe austerity measures in countries as Spain or Greece, which have also received help from these organisms, the government has had to implement some reforms to ensure the fiscal viability of its social security system, including eliminating early retirements and forcing welfare recipients to get back to work.
The apparent success of Fidesz in the economic arena, mostly in comparison to the antecedent Socialist government and the turmoil in other assisted European countries, has prompted citizens to vote again for it. Yet, Fidesz has also managed political institutions to secure its position. Since his 2010 inauguration, the Orbán government made more than fifty changes to the constitution, finally adopting a new one in 2012. Most of these changes are aimed at reducing counterweights to the government. For instance, the power of the courts, especially in reviewing legislation and questioning the constitutionality of the administration's actions, has been curtailed. Also, the party has put at the heads of expectedly autonomous agencies (such as the state audit office, the public prosecutor's office, or the budget council, which can veto the budget) party members or figures close to Orbán. Further, a new media law prompts broadcasters to limit government criticism under fears of sanctions from the politicized regulating agencies. Under this scenario, official electoral publicity and pro-Fidesz coverage flooded this campaign, leaving little space for the opposition. In spite of this, there were no acknowledged vote fraud or coercion. With the ruling party working to entrench itself in state institutions and leaving little margin of action for its opponents, some foreign observers have called this Saturday's election "unfair but free".
This label and many of the political developments in Hungary are fit the description of the so-called hybrid regimes or electoral authoritarianisms. While democratic practices, such as elections, continue to happen, the government is imposing a series of controls to limit the plurality that is expected to exist for multiparty contests to take place. By attacking the autonomy of agencies and changing the laws to its favor, the Orbán government is limiting the possibilities for contestation. There is no way to know if this is a first step in becoming more exclusionary. For some, the fact that the power of churches to carry out social work has been diminished, or that Roma are being left out of some of the government's policies, indicate attempts to secure the party's and ethnic Hungarian's position at the expense of other social actors.
Yet, this leads to other question. Are these changes to be explained only by the authoritarian desires of the incumbents? Orbán has repeatedly used the electoral fallacy that as people freely voted for him, it must be understood that everything he does is what Hungarians want. Thanks to his economic performance, Orbán could be authentically popular, to some extent. Even more, his project is accepted by Hungarians as opposed to what? Socialists, as commented above, are punished by voters. Yet they are the second force in parliament, with 38 seats, almost a hundred less than Fidesz. The third party is another extremist, Jobbik, the Union for a Better Hungary. It proposes privatization, rejects the EU, and constantly attacks Jews, Roma, socialists and homosexuals. In this election it got 23 seats, increasing by 5 percent its vote share. Thus, the opposition represents no clear, or acceptable, alternative to Fidesz for Hungarian voters. Theorists of democracy tend to emphasize the coercive capacities and coercive state building of incumbents in trying to explain the rise of authoritarianism. But as the Hungarian case points out, for voters the choice might not necessarily be between democracy and no democracy, but between bad or worse. And, as has been the case in other countries, parties failing to appeal electors coinciding with other parties able to capitalize such discontent is a formula that easily steps away from democracy.
Surviving and Thriving. France's Front National
The most recent municipal elections in France suggest that the right has gained ample ground in elections, mostly favoring the National Front (FN) and the Union for Popular Movement (UMP) parties. Despite Marine Le Pen's considerable work in having the FN embrace a more conciliatory discourse, the FN is still considered as an extreme-right party around the world. The UMP, a center-right party, also performed fairly well as it was reported to have been taken "some hundred cities" from the left. President Francois Hollande's party, the Socialist Party (PS), had major losses (150 towns were lost) that appear to be related to very poor economic performance and lack of political expertise.
The rise of the right in France came as early as the Third Republic and it has risen in moments of crisis. Several scandals triggered the emergence of the extreme right, such as the well-known "Capitan Dreyfus" affair, when this Jewish captain was forced to lifetime jail for having allegedly sold state secrets to the enemy. Antisemitist feelings became obvious for the first time in France. Eight years later, the sentence was reversed as it was discovered that document was forged to deliberately blame him. France's right has slowly penetrated political circles. Today, the rise of the French right is strongly related to poor economic performance. Such a situation also comes along a very low voter turnout –61.5% of voters showed up. It is assumed that right-wing voters were more motivated to vote than their left-wing counterparts. French citizens are also disappointed with President Hollande in that his party has been unable to deliver political and economic promises. Doubtlessly, such as situation has taken a toll. The strength of the right is such that it has penetrated cities that have been predominantly left since 1912 –Toulouse, Roubaix, Amiens, Tours and Reims. During the second round, the combined left vote was 40% while for the mainstream right was 46%. Furthermore, a study showed that in 15 cities where the unemployment rates had been the lowest, the FN is present in only 11 cities. In the 15 cities with the highest unemployment in France, the FN systematically presented a candidate list and scores as high as 20% of votes –almost double.
FN's good performance is also related to negative perceptions about immigration. During the period of 1975-1999, immigration in France was stable at an average rate of 7.4%. However, starting 2000, the French national statistics institute (INSI) reports higher immigration rates at an average of 8.6% per year. In periods of economic downturns like the one France is undergoing, immigrants tend to be regarded as job-stealers by nationals. Thus, citizens with these perceptions vote right as a way of rejecting immigration and embracing national identity. In addition to immigration, France's unemployment rate is very telling in evaluating the reason why the extreme right won greater ground. When Francois Hollande came to power, unemployment was at 9.5. Today, France's unemployment rate is about 11%. Yet, could it be possible that inequality has influenced the emergence of the right despite its welfare state? France is one of the major countries that prides itself for having a broad welfare system, through which it seeks to mitigate inequalities. Yet, data from the European Commission shows that there exists a rising trend of inequality – in 2002, its Gini was 27 and in 2012 was 30.5.
Will France's future fall into right-wing hands? Current gains by the right can tell us about France's future panorama. As a solution to the crisis, one austerity measure could be to cut state welfare provisions. Nevertheless, French people highly value their welfare system and many of them rely on it, particularly for medical emergencies. By mid-April, France needs to submit its spending plan to the European Commission, along with a plan for public-spending savings of 2015-2017. But how will public-spending will be reduced? The coming weeks will tell. If the economic cycle in the following years does not improve, it is likely that we will see some major cuts to France's welfare state. Such policy-making would be supported by the continual rise of the right (FN) that advocates for a small state. Only if the leading left-wing party in the future, the PS, is elected once more and matches a period of good economic performance, then France's welfare system could remain strong.
Good-bye G8; Welcome back G7. Implications for democracy
This Monday, the Group of 8 (G8) decided to become, once more, the Group of 7 (G7) by leaving Russia out of the meetings. Such exclusion is a result of the dispute of the Crimean peninsula between Russia and Ukraine. In an attempt to support Ukraine, the European Union and Ukraine have already signed a political association agreement on March 21 as a first step towards fuller integration. Enhanced cooperation will depend upon Ukraine holding Presidential elections in May. The United States has fully supported Ukraine as well. But what can these tensions tell us about our current and future world order? What are the implications for conceptualizing democracy in the modern world? Future events will be shaped by the interactions between the old democratic economies and the emerging economies, the BRICS –albeit not necessarily fully democratic. Our conception of democracy will be likely be modified. Thus, in the West, it is likely that we will be more able to accurately distinguish the gray area of hybrid regimes.
The event of last few weeks in Ukraine have not only represented the strengthening of Russia's authoritarian regime but they have also posed major challenges to the political science community. After Ukraine ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanokuvych, Crimean parliamentarians requested to be re-annexed to Russia. In a referendum, Crimean citizens allegedly voted towards annexation. In a speech, President Putin mentioned that there was a high voter turnout (82%) that favorably voted towards annexation (96%). There were no or few Western international observers to validate such referendum. As the OSCE did not recognize the Crimean government, its request to observe and invitations to observe were denied and rescinded. There were non-Western organizations like the Eurasian Observatory for Democracy and Elections that did attend indicating that elections were according to international standards. However, their objectivity remains questionable given their proximity to Russia. Whether Crimea's referendum was fair and independent, it is impossible to know. Today, the G7 has already isolated Russia by temporarily cancelling a G8 meeting, supposed to be held in Sochi. Instead, the G7 will meet in Brussels during the same time frame. (G7 members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain.) Some sanctions that the G7 might take could be related to energy, banking and defense sectors. Additionally, Ukraine and NATO have been cooperating and have warned about the building up of Russian troops along its eastern border, suggesting the possible annexation of Transdniestria –a territory in Moldova.
According to Vladimir Putin's recent speech, all these boils down to Russia being constantly ignored by the West. In his own words, Russia is "an independent, active participant in international affairs" that has the right to pursue its own national interests that need to be respected. Whatever views of victimhood or lack thereof, the fact is that there was a clear Russian intervention in Ukrainian affairs. What most catches my attention is the sense of entitlement. Indeed, Ukraine is within Russia's sphere of influence. But this sense of entitlement goes beyond that. It speaks of an emerging powerful economy that is no longer afraid of confronting the rich Western economies; it is unconcerned about their retaliatory power. The main reason: Russia knows that, in a not very distant future, old Western economies will mostly become second to the BRICS emerging economies. (The breakdown of the economies in 2050 is here.) Importantly, it is likely that its most important trade partners will be located within this group. Although Western economies are still strong and influential, the recent economic downturn in these region has questioned their persistence and prowess.
Russia believes that it supported Crimea in its right of self-determination –a principle recognized by the United Nation's Charter– and it believes that no country should stand against this. The Western world agrees with this principle, but it does so to the extent that procedures are transparent, fair and representative of people's views. This is why, in the West, we highly value having international observers in elections as a way of ensuring transparency. For those countries encouraging more authoritarian tactics, the principles will be left untouched yet the methods are likely to remain obscure in order to justify an increased search for power. This should not come as a surprise, as BRICS economies are growing more powerful. By 2050, the U.S. will be replaced by China (BRICS economy) as the largest economy (est. GDP at PPP of $53,586 US dollars). If in 2011, most of the top 10 economies were Western, European and Anglosaxon economies. By 2050, the upper top 10 places will be occupied by BRICS and will be accompanied by some other Western economies. Several implications may derive from this. Western policymakers and political scientists are likely to search for better ways to distinguish the definitions of hybrid regimes –regimes having a mix of authoritarian and democratic procedures. The most authoritarian BRICS economies, are likely to continue carrying out a rhetoric favoring a non-transparent electoralist fallacy. Therefore, in the West we will likely see more research on how to better distinguish transparent electoral procedures. Although the scenario of increased justification for authoritarianism is possible, it is exciting to think about the contributions that political science could possibly conceive towards better policy making.
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I've been doing genealogy off and on for more than 15 years. Even before that, I was always fascinated by cemeteries. I have found the work done on this website by the volunteers and owners to be very inspiring, so I have tried to add records in the hope of helping other researchers as I have been helped.
I'm always glad to do corrections and updates. If you want me to link a memorial to another, please include the id numbers of the memorials that you want linked.
If you want a family member transferred to you, please remember to include your membership number in the request.
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Contributions to
Find A Grave
5,071 Memorials Added
5,037 Memorials Managed
18 Memorials/Week
3,004 Photos
10 Photo Requests
129 Volunteer Photos Taken
26 Virtual Flowers
3 Virtual Cemeteries
1 Fame Rating
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Ayers Family
Elliott family
Hallenbeck & Hansen
Messages left for Triste Elliott (152)
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Jo Ann Ford
Thankyou so very much, Jo Ann
Added by
Jo Ann Ford
on Jul 26, 2014 11:28 AM
Frances A Marsh
Please transfer management of Frances A Marsh to me #48131159 as this is my 1st cousin and she is buried with her husband Ralph, her mother, Clara Jeannette and father, I F Mattlack Townsley, and her grandparents, Ida G and David S Fitzgerald in Upper Octorara Cemetery. Thanks.
Added by
on Jul 20, 2014 3:01 PM
Ralph H Marsh
Please transfer management to me #48131159 as Ralph Marsh is my 1st cousin, Frances Townsley's husband.
Added by
on Jul 20, 2014 2:58 PM
David S Fitzgerald
Please transfer management to me #48131159 as this is my 3rd great grandfather. Thanks.
Added by
on Jul 20, 2014 2:54 PM
Ida G Fitzgerald
Please transfer management to me #48131159 as this is my 3rd great grandmother. Thanks
Added by
on Jul 20, 2014 2:53 PM
RE: C. Jeannette Townsley
I just read your message of June 2014 and do request that you transfer management of C Jeannette Townsley to me #48131159 as she is my great grand aunt and daughter to my 3rd great grandmother Ida G Simmons Fitzgerald. Thank you.
Added by
on Jul 20, 2014 2:48 PM
RE: I. F. Matlack Townsley
I just now read your message regarding I F Matlack Townsley and I do request that you transfer management to me (#48131159)as I am his great grand niece through Clara Fitzgerald. Their daughter Frances and her husband, Ralph Marsh as well as Clara's parents, David S Fitzgerald and wife, Ida G Simmons (my 2nd great grandparents) are also buried in close proximity to "Uncle Matt's and Aunt Jeannette's grave.
Thank you.
Added by
on Jul 20, 2014 2:45 PM
JT Swisher
RE: Swisher-Swymeler - Fairview Cem
This is great news Triste. Pennington I don't know but I did some research on Swymeler - from Reading originally. Great work in clarifying this for Find A Grave. Hats off to you for doing God's work...
Added by
JT Swisher
on May 28, 2014 11:14 AM
RE: Dina Smith
Cemetery burial information found at ancestry in their PA and NJ Church and Town Records database. Gerberich Collection.
I have been sending this info out with my edits, but sometimes I forget!
Added by
on May 14, 2014 2:39 AM
Robin Arvickson
RE: Meads at Erie Cemetery
I added the other Mead picture for you. Also I photographed the graves and added memorials for Emma and Harry Pressly who are buried in the Mead plot. If you would like their memorials let me know and I'll transfer them to you.
Added by
Robin Arvickson
on May 03, 2014 5:36 PM
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13 results for "nets trade"
NBA - Five teams that that could make a splash before the trade d...Tom Haberstroh
Five teams to keep an eye on as the Feb. 21 trade deadline nears.Story | Conversation | February 12, 2013
Four potential Dwight Howard trades that make sense - NBATom Haberstroh
Tom Haberstroh creates four possible trade scenarios involving Dwight Howard that would benefit both the Magic and the teams that receive Howard.Story | Conversation | May 31, 2012
NBA: Rasheed Wallace to Detroit Pistons best deadline deal of dec...Tom Haberstroh
While the jury's still out on the Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams trades, Tom Haberstroh takes a look back at the best deadline deals of the past 10 years, with the Detroit Pistons' acquisition of Rasheed Wallace coming in at No. 1.Story | Conversation | February 23, 2011
Imagining a Heat-Nets playoff scenarioTom Haberstroh
The Heat might have left Denver already, but they should keep a close eye on the resolution of the Nuggets' trade talks involving Carmelo Anthony. Why? Because if Anthony goes to the Nets in a reportedly discussed three-team deal also involving the D...Blog | January 14, 2011
NBA - Examining rebuilding efforts of Wizards, Knicks, Warriors, ...Tom Haberstroh
A busy offseason featured a few teams returning to square one to rebuild their franchises. Tom Haberstroh spotlights the five teams whose rosters changed the most and how they'll fare this season: the Wizards, Knicks, Nets, Warriors and Timberwolves.Story | Conversation | October 13, 2010
Joe Johnson tops list of top 10 unmovable NBA contractsTom Haberstroh
Given the uncertainty of the next collective bargaining agreement, teams loathe taking on big contracts. As a result, trading for players such as Carmelo Anthony becomes that much more difficult. Tom Haberstroh ranks the NBA's top 10 unmovable deals.Story | Conversation | October 06, 2010
Searching for a better NBA trio than the Miami Heat's LeBron Jame...Tom Haberstroh
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh just became the NBA's most formidable trio, but are we just a couple of years away from an even-better triumvirate? According to Tom Haberstroh, Thunder fans could soon have reason to dream.Story | Conversation | July 13, 2010
NBA free agency 2010: What Boston Celtics' Ray Allen is worth on ...Tom Haberstroh
Insider continues its free-agency Buyer's Guide series with a look at Ray Allen. While he may be in the twilight of his career, there are plenty of teams who'd still be interested in his pure shooting stroke.Story | Conversation | June 26, 2010
NBA free agency 2010: What Memphis Grizzlies' Rudy Gay is worth o...Tom Haberstroh
Insider continues its free-agency Buyer's Guide series with a look at Rudy Gay. He has legitimate upside and elite athleticism for a relative bargain compared with other free agents. Still, he's not the top priority for any team seeking a big move.Story | Conversation | June 25, 2010
NBA free agency 2010 - What Dwyane Wade is worth on the open mark...Tom Haberstroh
Insider continues its free agency Buyer's Guide series with a look at Dwyane Wade. His unique skill set makes him the league's premier combo guard, but will his body betray him sooner or later? And what does that mean for him as a free agent?Story | Conversation | June 23, 2010
NBA free agency 2010 - What David Lee is worth on the open market...Tom Haberstroh
Insider continues its free agency Buyer's Guide series with a look at David Lee. Defensive shortcomings aside, Lee could give one lucky team the same production as Amare Stoudemire for a lot less cash.Story | Conversation | June 22, 2010
2010 NBA free agency: What Amare Stoudemire is worth on the open ...Tom Haberstroh
Insider continues its free-agency Buyer's Guide series with a look at Amare Stoudemire. Plenty of teams -- particularly the Bulls, Heat and Knicks -- are said to covet him, but with poor defensive skills and a balky knee, is he worth a max contract?Story | Conversation | June 17, 2010
NBA free agency 2010 - What Carlos Boozer is worth on the open ma...Tom Haberstroh
Insider continues its free agency Buyer's Guide series with a look at Carlos Boozer. Is he worth something in the range of a max contract? Is he little more than an ideal complementary player? Where's the best place for him to land? Here's a look.Story | Conversation | June 17, 2010


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19 Ways To Get Through "Game Of Thrones" Withdrawal
Winter is coming, and that means one thing: No GoT.
Winter is coming, and that means one thing: No GoT.
Abby Elyssa 3 months ago 227 responses
Leaked documents have been circulating that reveal all the massive plot twists coming up in Game of Thrones. They're called the books. [Ed. note: Spoilers, obviously.]
Tanner Ringerud a year ago 177 responses
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Site in read-only mode
This site is now read-only due to the impending release of MyBB 1.8 and the new MyBB Mods site.
You can continue to download submissions as normal, however new submissions won't be accepted until the new site is launched in the coming days. The new site will be available here.
We appreciate your patience during the release of 1.8 and our new website.
Top Referrers
Show on the index the top referre members.
Author: GhostMasterTop Referrers
Submitted: 4th October 2011
Submitted: 4th October 2011
Did you ever want to show the top referrers of the month? Give gifts to the users that most invite other to join? And dont know how to keep the track of the top users? Ok so that is about this plugin, this plugin shows on the index page the top Referrers of a month or a week or a day.
You can show the number on the top you want.
MyBB version support:
1.4 and 1.6
Do whatever you want, but dont resell it or remove the credits, author and sponsor.
1. Extract the php file from the .zip file.
2. Upload to inc/plugins folder.
3. Activate plugin via ACP.
4. Configure the settings on the ACP.
1. Deactivate on the ACP
2. Delete the php from rhe inc/plugins folder.
Change Log:
0.1 - 04.10.2011
First release of the plugin.
This plugin is sponsored by http://www.redlinepctech.com and created by http://yaldaram.com. Respect the others work please.


text: Front View larger PAC WRI-P Add wireless remote capability to select Pioneer receivers Item #: 541WRIP In Stock 4 Reviews | Ask Questions Was:$44.99 Price Break:-$15.00 Your price: $29.99 Earn up to 30 Rewards points Add to Cart Lifetime Tech Support + Add to wishlist + Email me alerts for this product View all associated offers Need help? 1.888.955.6000 Email Chat We don't check this item for fit or compatibility. x By buying this product you'll earn up to 30 Rewards points. When you sign up for a Crutchfield account, you'll be enrolled in Crutchfield Rewards. You'll earn one point for every dollar you spend on gear from us. You can turn your points into Rewards Cards that you can use toward future purchases. You can sign up for an account now, or after you complete your purchase (you'll get credit for the points either way). Sign up for a Crutchfield account


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Senior Member
Hi guys,
In the shop, you can purchase a 14 day IP boost. Does this only work for winning games like the rest of the boosts? Or does it work for losses too. I'm considering getting it
No, the day IP boosts work for both.
I wouldn't recommend getting it, though, until they solve the current server problems and you have the time to play enough games to make it worth it.
That's nice to know, thanks.
Yeah, with the servers down lately, I don't think I will.
Jing Qian
Also, Boost that are charged bywins (such as a 10-win IP boost) and daily boost (such as 14 day) stack thus giving double your double IP xD
Serra ArkAngel
The IP per game ratio on day long boosts is pretty low so I recommend the per win boosts to most people unless you can play like 8 hours a day for 14 days straight.
If you have a weekend set aside just for LoL getting a 3 day boost on top of a 10 win boost usually racks up the IP.
Emissary of the League
Pretty sure the purchasing of boosts is disabled for the meantime anyway.
i lost my boost due to inability to log on
© 2014 Riot Games, Inc. All rights reserved. Riot Games, League of Legends and PvP.net are trademarks, services marks, or registered trademarks of Riot Games, Inc.


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love the coat. fantastic work!
looks great. love the velvet and lace. and yer hair! ah it's fabulous ;)
there is nothing not awesome about this coat! fantastic work!
i love them! yer blog is great too :)
love love love this!
I found this incredible plushy knit fabric and knew it was to be a jacket! I made it with 3/4 sleeves, a high neck (to keep ya warm) and two button closures. It's warm, soft and rather light in wei…
i bought some super soft chevron material and i couldn't get past the want to use the softest part on the inside (it's been chilly around here!) so i did.. it started as a jacket, then i had anothe…
thank you
cute collection. I've never been one fer polkadots, but I really embrace these simpler patterns. …
I made this dress in about 4 hours the other night. Had a lot of this burgundy sateen-like fabric laying around and decided to make a dress of it. I can't get myself to use a pattern lately, I thin…
thanks! the tags blew my mind! haha I used fabric transfer sheets, printed, then ironed the image…
wowwow!! amazing job!! everyone looks beautiful!
looks great! like yer blog too :)
awesome dress! you look smokin' in it!
ahhh verrry awesome! you've inspired me to actually try to make some leggings! thanks :)
Nice! I'd love to have it!
Awesome contest, thanks for the chance!
Sewing & Techniques
See how Meg made this edgy dress using the Janome Artistic Edge Digital Cutter!
Editors' Pick
No need to go outside… spend the morning in dolled up in this collection of vintage style pajamas.
BurdaStyle Magazine US
Get an inside look at the patterns from the first 4 issues of BurdaStyle US
As an early special Black Friday promotion you can now enroll in the course ($80 value) for $49.99!
Register for Meg's new course, space is limited!
Sewing & Techniques
Learn how to use your bodice sloper to draft this popular collar style
Get the Piped Trench Coat pattern
You must allow our "request for permission" request to login to Burdastyle with Facebook.


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The cast of Midsummer Night's Fantasy by Rumford Dance Theatre - over 1 year ago
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Crossgates Youth Triathlon Team - Sea Turtle Triathlon by MiaErick - over 1 year ago
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Jerseys make all the difference! by Coach Dave - over 1 year ago
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Click on the logo below for a
complete listing of the latest schedule of shows
On November 15, 2012, the Board of Education of the Croton-Harmon School District contracted with The Altaris Consulting Group. Altaris works with school administrators and school teams to determine their district's current level of emergency preparedness.
The Common Core is all about making sure our students are equipped for success when they graduate.
What is the Common Core? Click below to find out.
Friday, November 28, 2014
To further discuss CET building issues we have assembled a panel discussion that will be held on
Monday, November 17 from 7 pm – 8:30 p.m. in the CET multipurpose room.
Panel participants will discuss testing results and offer perspectives on our investigations to date (including the medical perspectives of air quality issues). To give our experts time to prepare for the evening, and to ensure that all concerns get addressed we ask that you submit your questions in advance of the November 17 meeting.
You can email your questions to email@example.com.
*CLICK HERE TO WATCH the Panel Discussion*
INFORMATION on 11/17/2014 Panel Participants at CET
CET Reports Listed Below
Q14-9290 Project Close Out- Projects Room Asbestos on Closet Exterior Wall


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Clarion Hotel & Conference Center
1 Atwood Dr.
Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: (413) 586-1211
Fax: (413) 586-0630
Starting From
See all Rates
1 Atwood Dr., Northampton, MA, US, 01060
- Phone: (413) 586-1211
- Fax: (413) 586-0630
3.1 out of 5 (146 reviews)
45% of guests recommend this hotel
Lake Compounce Family Theme Park
Lake Compounce is the oldest continuously operated theme park in the United States and was founded on the shores of Lake Compounce. The amusement park and adjoining water park are one of the hottest summer attractions in the region, featuring a spooky Haunted Graveyard, a wooden roller coaster (the Wildcat, built in 1927 and reconstructed with new wood in 1985) and a carousel built in 1911. No other theme park in the country can offer the fun and the history that is Lake Compounce.
822 Lake Avenue
Bristol, CT 06010
+1 860 583 3300
Earn valuable points toward free nights.


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