Politics with Marc Ambinder

Recently in Invited Comments Category

Feb 13 2009, 11:45AM

Dems And Welfare: A Response

by Marc Ambinder

The author, who asked to remain anonymous, is a former Democratic Hill staffer who spent years in trenches of welfare reform.

"I can assure you that Democrats are not "secretly gutting welfare reform."  Democrats have long been concerned that the "caseload reduction credit" is a blunt instrument.  Why exactly should a state get credit towards the work participation standards just because they have fewer people on the caseload?  The evidence is pretty clear that it's not like 100% of people who leave welfare get jobs -- the "leaver studies" of the late 90s suggest that, at best, 2/3 of those who leave have jobs at some point.  What Rector at Heritage is arguing -- and has always argued -- effectively means that states should get credit towards the work participation rate for families they cut off and end up in homeless shelter.  How is that work?  What Democrats have tried to get -- including during the early 00's reauthorization -- was a more targeted "employment credit" that would give states credit for former recipients with jobs.  Crazy liberals like Blanche Lincoln and John Breaux supported this switch."

More

Feb 6 2009, 4:17PM

Was Blago Rolled?

by Marc Ambinder

Rich Miller, editor of Capitol Fax Blog, the insider publication of record on Illinois politics and government, disagrees with National Journal's Jonathan Rauch on whether Gov. Rod Blagojevich was treated fairly by the Illinois legislature. 

More

Feb 3 2009, 1:28PM

Toss The Tax Code

by Marc Ambinder

Reader Paul Hogan:

I'd just like someone to recognize how Obama's administration is becoming an organizational embodiment of how absurd our tax code is. One after another of his nominees is backing out due to tax problems. Simplifying the tax code is generally a Republican rallying call, but Obama might be smart to co-opt their fire; the process is clearly absurd.  Toss the 60,000 pages and let's craft something that makes sense.

Comments (2)