Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

An excellent story for teaching about congressional agencies... one day too late.

As NPR reports, the CBO's projection of Obamacare's impact on jobs is not pretty.  Remember, the CBO's job is to project the cost of legislation Congress has passed or is considering.

As we have discussed in class, both parties have a tendency to use their own numbers to support their claims.  What this story also highlights is that even the CBO numbers -- which, despite coming from a non-partisan, official congressional agency -- are often politicized.

Its interesting: While Republicans have recently had a tendency to dismiss the CBO numbers (or outright attack it), they will surely be using these new numbers in their 2014 campaigns.  Likewise, while the Democrats have recently been using CBO numbers to claim Obamacare victories, the White House is now downplaying and disputing the recent report.

Of course, while "non-partisan" and "official" numbers are often better than the alternatives, that doesn't mean they are always correct.

Farm Bill Expected to Pass

I recommend checking out this NPR story and this CBS story on the farm bill that is expected to pass.  As we talked about in class, the 5-year farm bills are often "christmas tree bills" full of earmarks.  This one will be no different.

Bias in the Shutdown Coverage

Later in this course, we will examine the role of the American media in politics.  The government shutdown, however, provides an interesting and important case study in media presentation that just can't wait.  I recommend this NPR story:

Monitoring For Signs of Bias in Media's Shutdown Reporting (Morning Edition, NPR, 10-4-13)

How have the broadcasts and webpages you follow been presenting the news?  Try to check out the "other side" -- you'll notice an entirely different take on the "blame game."

A Government Shutdown?

As you are likely aware, we currently have a divided government (the presidency and Senate are held by Democrats and the House is controlled by Republicans).  Divided government inevitably results in showdowns like the one currently going on in Washington.  By October 1 -- the beginning of the fiscal year for the national government -- the Congress (both houses) have to pass a spending bill to keep the government operational.  While there are many areas of agreement, there is one fight that persists in the current showdown:

The House of Representatives passed a bill that funds the government, but removes all funding for Obamacare.  Essentially, they hope to repeal Obamacare without literally repealing Obamacare.

In the Senate, passed a "clean" funding bill, which does not defund Obamacare.  This was an expected outcome because the Democrats clearly had the votes and clearly would not defund Obamacare, but that didn't stop Republican Senator Ted Cruz from dominating headlines over a "faux" filibuster protest against the passage.

This is a classic showdown in which both sides are hoping to win the political battle, but -- presumably -- neither side really wants the battle to end in a government shutdown.  Its basically a game of political chicken.

Consider the potential result if a government shutdown really does occur.  The Washington Post has an overview of previous shutdowns that actually happened.  AP speculates what it might look like this time around:

Read up about the battle online (if this is news to you, I recommend starting here) and decide for yourself:

• Are the Republicans out of line to attach a defunding Obamacare demand to a crucial spending bill, or should the Democrats take up the bill as the House passed it?  
• What other motives do you see in this political fight?
• What should current Congressmen have learned for past government shutdown battles?
• Do you think the shutdown will actually occur?  Why or why not?

Sorry I forgot to clarify how to actually do this assignment in class: Respond to some or all of the above discussion questions (or record other thoughts) in a "comment" to this post.  (I think you should be able to use your school google account.)

The Case of Mary Surratt: The Conspirator

The case of Mary Surratt, the only woman accused in the conspiracy to kill the President, Vice President, and Sec. of State, is an interesting and complicated case study in examining the right to a fair trial.  This movie presents the case from the perspective of Frederick Aiken, a young lawyer and war hero.  His perspective is particularly interesting and complicated, as it presents us with both moral and legal questions regarding wartime law, the use of the death penalty, and the role of revenge in punishment.


"'Equal justice under law' is not just a caption on the facade of the Supreme Court building.  It is perhaps the most inspiring ideal of our society."
-- US Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell, Jr

"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury... and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witness against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
-- Sixth Amendment

Blog Post: Response to one of the following prompts.  In addition, respond to a classmate's blog post (it can be one the same prompt or not).  Clarify by the titles provided which prompt you are responding to.

1.) Military Tribunals: Using the example of Mary Surratt or others, describe and discuss the critical differences between a civil court and a military tribunal.  Why is the use of military tribunals with civilians controversial?  Do you think it is appropriate to try civilians in this way?  If so, in why circumstances?

2.) Trials in Wartime: Using the example of Mary Surratt or others, explain how war can change the processes of the legal system.  How does public opinion play a role in cases like Surratt's?  What differences do you notice about the trial due to its connection to the Civil War?

3.) Rights or Revenge?: Using the provided excerpt from Aiken's closing argument, discuss whether Mary Surratt's trial was about rights or revenge (or somewhere in between).  Explain Aiken's comparison of lawyers and soldiers.  Explain what you think Abe Lincoln meant in the quote used by Aiken.  Do you agree with Aiken that the commission has the choice of "preserving Surratt's rights, or revenge?"

• Excerpt from Frederick Aiken's closing argument: "For the lawyer as well as the soldier, there is an equally imperative command.  That duty is to shelter from injustice the innocent, to protect the weak from oppression and, when necessity demands, to rally to the defense of those being wronged.  'At what point shall we expect the approach of danger?  Shall some transatlantic military giant step the ocean, and rush at a blow?  Never!  I answer, if danger ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us.  If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher.  As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.'  Those words were spoken by a struggling young attorney.  His name? Abraham Lincoln.  Do not permit this injustice to Mary Surratt by sacrificing our sacred rights out of revenge.  Too many have given their lives to preserve them"

The Budget in an Election Year

Obama Renews Push for "Buffett Rule," Romney Pushs for Ryan Plan

Watch Obama Renews Push for Buffett Rule on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

Listen to this NPR story about how Mitt Romney has embraced the "Paul Ryan budget."  The Paul Ryan budget - named after the Wisconsin Republican Congressman who is credited as the chief author and introduced it to Congress - characterizes current conservative fiscal thinking.  In short, it calls for significant cuts to spending while maintaining current tax cuts and extending new tax cuts.

The Obama budget, which characterizes liberal fiscal thinking, calls for a new tax on the super rich - the so-called "Buffett Rule," named after Warren Buffett, the billionaire who has suggested taxing the super rich at higher rates - while cutting less from domestic spending.

After you have an understanding of the practical and ideological differences between the Obama and Romney (Ryan) budget, write a reflection on (1) which budget is a better solution to the current fiscal situation, and (2) how these contrasting budgets will play a role in the 2012 presidential campaign.

Consider some of the following in your response;

• Which budget do you think will be more popular among independents and "swing voters?"
• How do these budgets reflect the ideology of their proponents?
• Where do you see the greatest strengths in each of these budgets (fiscally and politically)?
• Where do you see the greatest weaknesses of each of these budgets?
• Do you see any compromise here?  Do either of these plans deal with entitlements and mandatory spending?  Which plan is better?

Who Is Your Candidate?

Wondering whether President Obama or one of the Republican candidates best reflects your views and ideology?  Take this short quiz from USA Today.