Too Big to Fail: The Path to a Solution

May 14, 2013
The National Press Club (Holeman Lounge)

Recap: New Report Points the Way Toward the End of Too-Big-to-Fail

After the financial crisis and government bailouts of 2008 everyone vowed ‘never again.’ The passage of the Dodd- Frank Act in 2010 was hailed by its supporters as ending ‘too-big-to-fail’. Yet many on both sides of the aisle remain skeptical that this has been accomplished.

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Financial Regulatory Reform Initiative’s Failure Resolution Working Group unveiled a new report that analyzes and makes recommendations on how the Dodd-Frank Act is tackling the ‘too-big-to-fail’ problem. This report specifically examines how the financial regulators are implementing the authority granted to them in Dodd-Frank to ensure that any financial institution can be made ‘to fail’ without creating or exacerbating a financial panic. This report critically reviews how Dodd-Frank addressed or failed to address the ‘to fail’ problem. This is the first in a series of papers the initiative will release in the coming months.

The Road to Damascus: U.S.-Turkish Cooperation Towards a Post-Assad Syria

May 2, 2013
Bipartisan Policy Center

Ridding Syria of President Bashar al-Assad has been the goal of the United States for almost two years. Should this objective be achieved, however, an enormous challenge will still remain: stabilizing and rebuilding Syria in a way that advances U.S. strategic goals and values. However, this will require the cooperation of Turkey—a U.S. ally with keen interests in Syria. Ankara’s interests, however, do not perfectly match Washington’s, posing the challenge for policymakers of finding the right tools to align more closely the two countries’ visions of Syria’s future.

Drones and the Rule of Law and War

May 1, 2013
Bipartisan Policy Center

The Bipartisan Policy Center's (BPC) Homeland Security Project hosted a discussion convening legal and policy experts on the rule of law and war to discuss the use of drones and targeted killings. Panelists evaluated issues like the current frameworks regarding the use of drones, the ramifications of a "drone court," the targeting of U.S. citizens abroad, and whether Congress should examine what these policies mean for the country.

The First 100 Days: A Reflection

Apr. 29, 2013
Bipartisan Policy Center

Beginning with the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the first 100 days became the initial marker for a new presidency. Since then, political scientists, media strategists and pundits alike have examined and dissected every aspect of a new Administration - from the Inaugural Address to the first State of the Union of the new presidency. Policy proposals, staff changes, and presidential appointments are just some of the inevitable changes that a new presidency endures in its early months.

Perspectives from British Ambassador Peter Westmacott on Financial Regulatory Reform & Free Trade

Apr. 25, 2013
Bipartisan Policy Center

Since 2008, the world economy has fought hard to get back on the path to prosperity. The UK, with its world leading financial services sector, historically high levels of public debt and proximity to the Eurozone, has been in a unique position in this regard.

The Evolving Immigration Debate: Reform and its Implications for the High-Tech Community

Apr. 23, 2013
Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel (Ballroom A)

The Bipartisan Policy Center’s (BPC) Immigration Task Force held the first of a series of regional events to discuss key immigration issues facing the country. Launched in February 2013, the goal of the Immigration Task Force is to develop consensus policy recommendations and produce objective analysis to further the national debate.

A Bipartisan Rx for Patient-Centered Care and System-wide Cost Containment

Apr. 18, 2013
Bipartisan Policy Center

Recap: New Report Envisions More Cost-Effective Health Care System

The United States spends more on health care than any other country and yet tens of millions of Americans are facing uncoordinated and costly medical care. With health care spending expected to continue to grow for the foreseeable future and with the nation's growing federal deficit and debt, system-wide health care cost containment is both a critical component of any long term deficit reduction strategy and urgently needed to ensure the sustainability of our health care system.

Care Transformation Prize Series: Revolutionizing the Delivery of Health Care through Big Data

Apr. 16, 2013
Bipartisan Policy Center

Faced with continued concerns about rising health care costs and uneven quality, the federal government, states, and private sector are rapidly adopting new models of delivery and payment that promise to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care. Providers are being asked to provide higher quality care while lowering costs. Successfully doing so requires access to and analysis of large data sets to predict, identify interventions for, and assess cost and quality outcomes for patient populations. Most health care organizations, however, have little knowledge or expertise on how to leverage and analyze the clinical data sets now being developed as the result of an increasingly digitized U.S. health care system.

Federal Budgeting in 2013: Fundamentally Challenged

Mar. 25, 2013
Bipartisan Policy Center

The current federal budget process has been stymied by political and philosophical priorities. Dr. Phil Joyce, William Hoagland, Maya MacGuineas, and Dr. Robert Reischauer discussed the current environment, what should happen next, and what is likely to occur.

Filibuster Reform 2013: What Happened?

Mar. 21, 2013
Bipartisan Policy Center

For the second consecutive Congress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has considered exercising the "nuclear" or "constitutional" option to force a change in filibuster rules by simple majority vote instead of the two-thirds vote required to end debate on rules changes. And, for the second time, a bipartisan agreement was reached at the last minute to reduce the number of possible filibusters in return for more fairness in offering amendments. The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) hosted a panel of Congressional and academic experts to examine how this deal compares with the previous one, and consider whether reformers are satisfied with the results.

Building a More Sustainable Future for America's National Parks

Mar. 19, 2013
Bipartisan Policy Center

Our national parks have an extraordinary, special place in American life and culture. Yet the erosion of park funding threatens the future of these beloved American institutions. Without creative and collaborative approaches, our parks will face increased closures, a decline in the quality of facilities and ranger services, and a diminished ability to protect threatened inholdings and maintain existing resources. The National Parks Conservation Association and the National Park Hospitality Association are launching a national dialogue to identify potential funding strategies that can tap into the deep bipartisan appreciation for America's treasured national parks and draw on bipartisan support.

A National Conversation on the State of American Unity

Mar. 6, 2013
Webcast, polling, and Twitter platform

The Bipartisan Policy Center's (BPC) Commission on Political Reform (CPR) launched with a town hall meeting. USA TODAY's Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page moderated the discussion with more than a dozen commission members – including national political figures, volunteer and religious leaders, business executives, academics, state and local elected officials, and journalists. The national conversation examined how polarized our country is, the causes of that polarization and its effect on our government and decision-makers.

Energy Innovation Congressional Reception

Feb. 28, 2013
The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (HVC 201 A & B)

In conjunction with the annual three-day ARPA-E Summit, this reception brought together members of Congress and other government officials with ARPA-E key performers and other leading innovators to highlight some of America's most creative energy ideas. For more information on the Summit, click here.

America's Energy Resurgence: Sustaining Success, Confronting Challenges

Feb. 27, 2013
The National Press Club (Ballroom)

America’s economy—in fact our way of life—is highly dependent on secure, affordable, and reliable energy. Though the U.S. has increasingly abundant and diverse sources of domestic energy, many challenges remain: affordable energy is still a challenge for many households and businesses; the oil and gas boom comes with environmental challenges; an aging electric grid faces infrastructure and reliability hurdles; and public investments in energy R&D are insufficient to help keep an international edge. Meanwhile, the issues of climate change, global energy market volatility, policy uncertainty, and competition for energy resources by countries with growing economies remain.

2013 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit

Feb. 25 - 27, 2013
Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center

The U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) hosted the 4th annual ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit. The Summit brings together leaders from academia, business, and government to discuss cutting-edge energy issues and facilitate relationships to help move technologies into the marketplace.