Though you may be unsure about who to pick as your national champion, the American public is quite sure about their concern for the economy. YG Network is pumped up about its recently released national survey that spotlights where Americans stand on several issues. Americans believe we’re at an economic crossroads and are still concerned about focusing on jobs and the economy over social issues. “Moreover, focusing on family pocketbook issues like soaring energy costs and the impact of Obamacare on out-of-pocket expenses garnered broad support.”
Despite a booming stock market, this survey indicates that people are downright fed up with our current economic trajectory. As a result, conservatives have a great opportunity to learn from this survey: Americans are still concerned about the economy (e.g. energy prices), they’re calling for changes to our immigration and education system, and few people (only 9%) believe Obamacare will actually lower their healthcare costs.
It’s that time of year again…FIERCE MATCHUPS! INTENSE COMPETITION! Analyzing and over-analyzing who is the better pick!?!? That’s right…it’s time for Bucket Bracketology!For the rest of March and until the championship game, we’ll focus on a budget matchup every day and analyze the which budgetary policy has the best stuff to move on!MATCHUP BREAKDOWN: This is a critical matchup folks. Looks like the policy from the top part of the bracket has the stuff to make it long-term. The Senate budget sounds nice, but from the bracket, it’s pretty easy to see that they never really close that deficit. Playing from behind is never a way to win. Looks like the “Surplus in 2023 of $7 billion” is a better pick.
On Tap For Today2:00 PM: Senate Judiciary Committee - Hearing Full committee hearing on “How Comprehensive Immigration Reform Should Address the Needs of Women and Families.”
4:00 PM: House Energy and Commerce Committee - Hearing Health Subcommittee hearing on “Saving Seniors and Our Most Vulnerable Citizens from an Entitlement Crisis.”
4:40 PM: President Obama delivers remarks at a Women’s History Month reception.
Tweet Tweet
@GottliebShow “Oregon,Oklahoma State and St Louis in one Pod? Wow. The Lou is tremendous”
@zerohedge “Goldman wins headline of the day: ‘Cyprus: a steady deposit picture – until end of January 2013′”
@ByronTau“White House will nominate Tom Perez as Secretary of Labor.”
@JayBilas “NCAA Selection Committee gets a C for the job it did this year. Too many seeding mistakes, and poor selection logic on Virginia.”
@UKCoachCalipari “We had our chances, but I’m not going to stop. It’s a great lesson for the future of our program & a humbling experience for me as a coach.”
On The Radar
Economic Growth
Debt Deal We Need Is In Reachfrom The Hill by Judd Gregg. “Dangerously, some observers believe the country has completed its work on deficit reduction. Despite some improvements, the debt will continue to rise as a share of our economy over the long-term. This fact continues to present a serious economic danger for the United States.”
Economists: China Mirrors U.S. On Eve Of Financial Crisisfrom The Wall Street Journal by Richard Silk. “The same three warning lights that preceded America’s real estate crash and financial crisis are now flashing over China, two economists say, leaving the government limited time to get out of trouble. In a research note published on Saturday, Nomura economists Zhiwei Zhang and Wendy Chen outline the way that elevated property prices, a rapid build-up of leverage and a slide in the country’s potential growth rate could lead to a systemic crisis.”
Why Twenty-Somethings Aren’t Doomed to Be Poor (But Thirty-Somethings Might Be) from The Atlantic by Jordan Weissman. “As we’re all too aware by now, it’s been a raw decade for young Americans. The job market still has a giant, recession-shaped crater in it. A college degree is more expensive yet more essential than ever. Wages are stagnant.”
Washington Becomes A Test Case For Changes In Online Higher Educationfrom The Washington Post by Steven Overly. “In many ways, Washington serves as a microcosm for trends reshaping the industry. Web-based graduate degree programs are cropping up at area business schools in particular, yet no two universities are taking an identical approach to online education.”
Ryan: House Budget Only A ‘Down Payment’ On Looming Debt Crisisfrom The Hill by Carlos Muñoz. “Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), architect of the House GOP budget plan unveiled last week, defended his proposal Sunday, saying it was Washington’s best chance to make a ‘down payment’ and avoid a looming debt crisis. … The House Budget Committee chairman said he welcomed Obama’s outreach to congressional lawmakers but would wait and see if the president was sincere about reaching an accord on a grand deficit deal or would resume campaigning.”
Immigration
Durbin: Divide On Border Security, Path To Citizenship Blocking immigration Dealfrom The Hill by Molly K. Hooper. “A key Democrat is ‘positive’ about the possibility of reaching a deal on immigration reform, but cautioned that a bipartisan Senate group has many ‘tough’ issues to resolve. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said on ‘Fox News Sunday’ that he feels ‘good’ a deal coming together with Republicans on the thorny issue of immigration reform, but said questions over border security issues and a pathway to citizenship were holding up the final agreement. … The final plan, though, will likely face questions from both Republicans and Democrats.”
A Senate Group’s Immigration Plan Alters Waiting Periodfrom The New York Times by Michael D. Shear and Ashley Parker. “The bipartisan group’s overhaul of an immigration law would decrease the amount of time it takes to become a naturalized citizen, but increase the wait for a green card.”
Health Care
Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford: No Medicaid Expansion from Politico by Jonathan Martin. “Florida GOP House Speaker Will Weatherford declared in an interview that the prospect of Medicaid expansion in his state is ‘dead’ – regardless of any additional lobbying from Gov. Rick Scott.”
Matchmaker, Er, Match Week, Make Me A Doc from KHN by Ankita Rao. “Fourth-year medical students have been talking a lot about their perfect match these days: first impressions, the one who called right after they met, some that were too far away. For many, “match week” – this week — is what they’ve been working toward over the past four years. It’s the week that decides if, and where, they will complete the next step of their training and become a full-fledged doctor.”
Durbin Hits Ryan Budget, Eyes Medicare Reform from Politico by Tal Kopan. “While suggesting Democrats were open to reforming Medicare and other entitlements, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin also took some shots Sunday at Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget, saying it would eliminate Medicare. … ‘In 10, 12 years Medicare goes broke. That’s unacceptable. We want to make sure that Medicare is there for generations to come, and that means making some reforms and some constructive changes,’ Durbin said.”
X-Factor
World Poll: Image Of U.S. Declines from Politico by Kevin Cirilli. “Worldwide approval of U.S. leadership dipped considerably during President Barack Obama’s fourth year in office — but it increased in some countries, including Mexico, according to a poll Wednesday. The median approval rating for U.S. leadership for 130 countries was 41 percent in 2012, down 8 percentage points from the 49 percent approval during Obama’s first year in office, Gallup found - noting the America’s standing is still generally higher than it was during President George W. Bush’s final years in office.”
For Obama, Trip Is A Chance To Repair Relations With Disappointed Israelis from The Washington Post by Scott Wilson. “It is an argument that Obama appeared to ignore in the eyes of Israel’s most ardent supporters, who viewed him as focusing too heavily on relations with the Islamic world early in his first term. The result: a deep Israeli mistrust of Obama that severely undermined his early push for a new Israeli-Palestinian peace process.”
U.S. Cancels Part Of Missile Defense That Russia Opposed from The New York Times by David M. Herszenhorn and Michael R. Gordon. “The United States has effectively canceled the final phase of a Europe-based missile defense system that was fiercely opposed by Russia and cited repeatedly by the Kremlin as a major obstacle to cooperation on nuclear arms reductions and other issues.”
This & That
Capital Area’s Apartment Boom Could Fizzlefrom The Wall Street Journal by Dawn Wotapka and Robbie Whelan.
