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Drinks with Joe
In or around NYC this Thursday? Come on by for some Policy on the Rocks - at American Idle.
As China churns out engineers, the internet flattens the earth and US teens take a pass on Math, citizenJoe stops to ask "Does America still have what it takes to be #1?"
We hope you join us at Star Lounge for a Singapore Sting or two while Marc Chandler - Wall Street strategist, global development prof and straight-shootin' economist - helps us place the American corporation and worker on the shifting world economic map.
Check out the details.
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Recycled Joe
Spring... ah... the season of blossoming gas prices - a yearly phenomenon not lost on presidential candidates and congressional leaders.
While the campaigners and lawmakers trot out their remedies for another year's price spike, citizenJoe thought it would dust off its Gas Price issue guide, for those looking for the basics - and facts - on how to ease the pinch at the pump.
See also our fact page on fossil fuels, this year's line up of energy bills and our price gouging primer.
This Week on Capitol Hill
It's another low-key week on the floors of Congress, with the House giving a final nod to outlawing discrimination based on what's in your DNA (at least when it comes to insurance and employment) and the Senate weighing in on a plan to modernize air traffic control (by tossing it up to satellites).
What's Popping in May
Homeowner helper: Congress could wrap up a major mortgage bail-out bill next month. The Senate already has a small-fry housing bill in the bag, but it looks like it'll align with the House to okay $300 - $400 billion in backing for refinanced mortgages.
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Fresh Joe
In its “Presidential Diff” series, citizenJoe peers into ’09 to predict what, exactly, will be the diff between having a Clinton, McCain or Obama in the Oval Office.
Having covered health care, energy & the environment and the economy, cJ now rounds out its series with – almost everything else.
This Week on Capitol Hill
Feast for farmers. House and Senate leaders have until the end of the week to knock out the final details of "the farm bill" - a massive crop subsidy, conservation and nutrition package that comes up for renewal every few years. Although fiscal conservatives were keen to cut down on farm hand-outs, the new farm bill looks as subsidy-filled as the old farm bill. The last minute negotiations (to meet a Friday deadline when the old bill runs out) are over how to divvy up - and fund - about $10 billion in extra support for farmer tax breaks, a disaster fund and food stamps.
College credit. With the credit crunch reaching the student loan market, the House may act this week to give students an extra cash cushion - by raising federally backed loan limits $2000 and temporarily opening up tuition credit to families with faltering mortgages.
This Week on Capitol Hill
With a GOP-Dem deal struck last Thursday, senators now have a mini housing-market-booster bill they can pass - which they are expected to do this week. The bill sets aside $4 billion for cities to buy and turn around foreclosed homes, $100 million for mortgage counseling, and federal backing for $10 billion in local bonds to refinance homes - as well as tax breaks for homeowners, homebuyers and the housing industry. It's a drop in the housing crisis bucket and spells little relief for families stuck in subprime mortgages, but the Senate is working on another heavy-hitting bill - with up to $300 billion in backing for refinanced mortgages - that may follow in the weeks to come.
The House is busy but quiet this week with a stream of small-potatoes health and conservation bills.
This Week on Capitol Hill
Senators take another stab at passing a mini mortgage-rescue bill this week. The measure would give cities $4 billion to buy and turn around foreclosed homes and set aside $200 million for mortgage counseling as well as $10 billion to refinance homes. The likely deal-breaker is the power the bill gives bankruptcy judges, letting the courts renegotiate mortgages at lower pricetags and rates.
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Fresh Joe
CitizenJoe files the next installment in its series “The Presidential Diff” – charting political Ouija boards to see what difference it’ll make who our next president is and how the candidates are likely to change our – and the rest of the world’s – lives.
This week we look at what little a prez can do about the Economy - a glance at spending, taxing and trading.
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