December 08, 2008

A new study released today by The NorthBridge Group urges policymakers to learn from history in order to successfully navigate today's energy challenges. At a discussion hosted by the COMPETE Coalition, a panel of experts, including the study authors, discussed the findings which compare the detrimental policy decisions made through monopoly mandates in the 1970s and 1980s with the results of competitive options for meeting the energy challenges facing America today. Full release

OECD's latest survey of the United States, to be published on Tuesday 9 December 2008, assesses the challenges facing the new administration amid a severe economic downturn. They include tackling the financial crisis and achieving universal healthcare. The Washington D.C. launch will be held on Capitol Hill, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Dec 9 and will offer first a panel discussion to present the macroeconomic analysis of the U.S. economy and a second panel discussion focusing on the U.S. healthcare system. Full release

Casey Research has analyzed the costs of the government bailouts of the housing crisis, the credit crisis and others and has concluded that the total is $8.5 trillion - more than the cost of all U.S. Wars, the Louisiana Purchase, the New Deal, the Marshall Plan and the NASA Space Program combined. Full release

The following remarks are being released by the U.S. Department of Justice: WASHINGTON, D.C. ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL PATRICK ROWAN: Good afternoon. My name is Pat Rowan. I'm the Assistant Attorney General for National Security. I am joined on stage by Jeffrey Taylor, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, and Joseph Persichini, Jr., the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. The prosecutors on this case, Kenneth Kohl, Jonathan Malis, and Barry Jonas, are also here with us today. I'll provide some brief remarks, and then turn over the podium to Jeff and Joe for further comment. Afterwards, we'll be happy to take your questions. We are here today to announce that a 35-count indictment has been unsealed in the District of Columbia. Full release

With payrolls plunging, retail sales dropping and manufacturing contracting, economists and labor leaders will raise the stakes for how much the government should invest in an economic recovery package on a conference call with reporters on Tuesday. Full release

The independent, non-profit, eHealth Initiative applauds President-Elect Obama's inclusion of electronic medical records for every doctor's office and hospital in the country in his Economic Recovery Plan, key elements of which were announced as part of his December 6, 2008 Weekly Radio Address (http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/the_key_parts_of_the_jobs_plan/). Full release

In 30 states across the nation, community organizers are coming together with local groups to ask Congress to pass an economic recovery plan for Main Street, targeting local economies and those hardest hit by the recession. The week of action, in partnership with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, USAction and the Institute for Policy Studies, comes as consensus grows among leading economists that an economic stimulus package is needed to head off a worsening recession. Full release

The following is a statement from the American Small Business League: Barack Obama may already be losing credibility over his explanation as to why he dropped the windfall profits tax on the oil and gas industry from his administration's agenda. During his campaign, President-elect Obama promised to enact a windfall profits tax on the oil and gas industry, which would help finance a $1,000 emergency energy rebate for American families. During the campaign, Obama repeated his commitment to enacting a windfall profits tax on the oil and gas industry hundreds of times. The Obama camp ran national television advertisements touting the windfall profits tax, and used the issue in campaign speeches right up to the election. Full release

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich today praised a new report outlining the need for fundamental reform to America's national security apparatus. "Forging a New Shield provides critical insight into our present-day national security practices as well as a truly unique vision as to the changes today's world demands," said Gingrich. "Every member of our national security community needs to take a hard look at the work done by the Project on National Security Reform." Full release

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