The Culture of Congress, Yesterday and Today
Apr. 30, 2012
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Many have commented on how much Congress has changed over the last 40 years for a variety of reasons, most noticeably from the increasing importance of political parties in the legislative process and their increased polarization from each other. Has this trend toward what some political scientists have termed, "conditional party government" provided a sharper choice for voters to choose from or has it pushed Congress into a parliamentary cul de sac with no central accountability exit ramps at either end of Pennsylvania Avenue? These were some of the questions this roundtable of former members, congressional staff and area political scientists tackled along with the ultimate question of whether there is any way to restore a greater measure of deliberation and bipartisan national problem-solving.
Disputed Elections: What Can the Nation Learn from Minnesota?
Apr. 24, 2012
University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs
In the wake of the controversial 2000 presidential election - and high-profile close elections like those in 2008 and 2010 in Minnesota - scholars and practitioners alike are examining how states can best handle the challenges of disputed elections. Political considerations often get top billing, but the legal questions presented are often the most difficult to resolve. Add the fact that new technology and procedures are reshaping elections across the country and it becomes clear that the nation needs to think hard - and well in advance - how to resolve disputes about who actually won an election.
Egypt After the Revolution: What's Next?
Apr. 19, 2012
Bipartisan Policy Center
More than a year after mass protests forced Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak from power, the potential of Egypt's revolution has yet to be realized. Both the direction of the country and its relations with the U.S. are uncertain.
Although parliamentary elections were held during the winter and presidential elections are scheduled for this summer, the country's constitutional panel is marred by disagreements reflecting the divided state of the nation: a small group of liberals and minorities facing a strong majority composed of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist parties. Simultaneously, relations between Egypt's military rulers and the U.S. are tense and Egypt's economy continues to deteriorate - despite a renewed pledge of $1.5 billion in aid. BPC held a discussion on Egypt's future and the implications for U.S. national security interests and foreign policy.
Housing in America: Innovative Solutions to Address the Needs of Tomorrow (Orlando Public Forum)
Apr. 17, 2012
Rollins College (Bush Auditorium)
The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Housing Commission held a public forum in Winter Park, Florida to discuss the state’s response to pressures on Florida’s housing market, where foreclosures are nearly double the national average. According to CoreLogic’s February foreclosure report, the Orlando and Tampa metros tied for the highest foreclosure rate, with 12.3 percent (1 in 8) of homes with a mortgage in some stage of the foreclosure process. In addition, the Commission released new research from the University of California, Berkeley that highlights the complexities and opportunities of the U.S. housing finance system compared to other countries; how different types of regulatory structures may have contributed to the housing boom and bust; and how this data can inform domestic housing policy moving forward.
The forum, held at Rollins College, featured former U.S. Senator and Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez, who co-chairs the BPC Housing Commission. It also brought together regional housing experts to discuss Central Florida’s housing market, its effect on the local economy, and implications for the future.
Protecting the U.S. Homeland Against the Threat from Iran
Apr. 12, 2012
Bipartisan Policy Center
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper recently stated that Iranian officials "have changed their calculus and are now more willing to conduct an attack in the United States in response to real or perceived U.S. actions that threaten the regime."
BPC announced the new members of its Homeland Security Project and examined the domestic nature of the Iranian threat, including actions that the U.S. can take to be better prepared to prevent and respond to transnational terrorism.
The Future of Red and Blue: How Changing Party Demographics Will Impact the 2012 Election and Beyond
Apr. 11, 2012
Bipartisan Policy Center
Is there a demographic trend that favors either party? Ruy Teixeira, author of The Emerging Democratic Majority, has argued that the Democratic future is bright with the growth of the Hispanic vote and the move of younger educated voters to the Democratic Party. Sean Trende, in his recently released The Lost Majority: Why the Future of Government Is Up for Grabs - and Who Will Take It, argues that the future is less certain for Republicans and Democrats. Both the Reagan coalition and the Clinton/Obama coalition have fractures, and there is no clear indication of what the future holds.
BPC examined these longer-range trends and more immediate questions such as: How will the Hispanic vote affect 2012? Will the president draw African American and younger voters in as large numbers as in 2008? Will the GOP advantage in the over 65 demographic increase as it has for the past several elections?
NextGen: Aligning Costs, Benefits and Political Leadership
Apr. 4, 2012
Bipartisan Policy Center
The Eno Center for Transportation (Eno) presented its recently completed paper on the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). NextGen is a comprehensive overhaul of our National Airspace System, replacing an aging ground-based radar system, with a satellite/GPS based system. With a continuous roll-out of improvements and upgrades, NextGen has the potential to guide and track air traffic with more precision and efficiency, reducing congestion, fuel consumption, noise and pollution.
Mar. 29, 2012
Newseum Knight Broadcast Studio
With the release of the House Republican’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget resolution, budgetary issues are roaring back to the front burner. National Journal held a policy summit that took a substantive look at each of the leading budget proposals. Where might budgetary compromise and confrontation exist in the competing plans? What does each plan say about the political parties’ respective vision for the country? How are issues like entitlement reform or changes in the federal tax code addressed? And finally, given the long-standing political impasse on budgetary issues, is passing a comprehensive budget still possible, or is the age of continuing resolutions the “new normal” in polarized Washington?
Energy Innovation at the Department of Defense: Assessing the Opportunities
Mar. 28, 2012
Bipartisan Policy Center
If the U.S. is to achieve a timely transition to reliable, low-cost, low-carbon energy, we must make continued advances in a suite of energy technologies. Increasingly, the Department of Defense (DoD) is recognized as a powerful driver of advanced energy technologies. Although DoD has been one of the most potent innovators in history, DoD's security mission will always take priority. Therefore, a key challenge for policymakers is maximizing DoD's capacity to contribute to progress on energy-related technologies in ways that also advance its security mission. BPC hosted a discussion of the opportunities and challenges at DoD for accelerating advanced energy technologies. The conversation featured leading defense and innovation experts and highlighted findings from a new BPC-commissioned report, Energy Innovation at the Department of Defense: Assessing the Opportunities, by the Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes at Arizona State University and the Clean Air Task Force.
Preparing for Deployment of Small Modular Reactors
Mar. 16, 2012
Washington Marriott at Metro Center, Salon D
Small modular reactors (SMRs) have received considerable attention in recent years from the policy and technology communities in the U.S. and internationally. BPC held an expert briefing on promising domestic and foreign SMR technologies, as well as a discussion of the business and technical case for SMR deployment and the possible role of government support for commercialization.
Putin's Return: The Political and Commercial Implications for America
Mar. 15, 2012
Bipartisan Policy Center
Relations with Russia remain central to U.S. strategic interests. With the return of Vladimir Putin to the presidency, despite efforts to "reset" the relationship, bilateral ties have worsened in recent months. Future U.S. policy towards Russia should aim to advance common goals and work to resolve the issues that divide us. With Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), the U.S. will be at a commercial, and political, disadvantage unless it graduates Russia from the Jackson-Vanik amendment and grants it permanent normal trade relations status. BPC's Foreign Policy Project (FPP) hosted a discussion on its recent paper analyzing this subject as well as U.S.-Russian relations after Putin's return.
The Presidential Primary System: How Well Does it Serve American Democracy?
Mar. 8, 2012
Bipartisan Policy Center
This year's rollercoaster primary season raises many questions: Is primary voter turnout too low? Why do some states use party caucuses and can we count the voters accurately? Should we all vote on one day or in regional primaries? Just two days after Super Tuesday, BPC examined these questions and more in an analysis of the pros and cons of the current presidential primary system. The panel highlighted the release of a new report on 2012 primary turnout by Curtis Gans, the nation's leading expert on voter turnout.
Housing in America: Innovative Solutions to Address the Needs of Tomorrow (San Antonio Public Forum)
Mar. 6, 2012
International Conference Center
The Bipartisan Policy Center Housing Commission and the Jack Kemp Foundation kicked off the first of four public forums to gather input on key housing issues facing the nation. The aim of these forums is to develop innovative yet realistic recommendations to improve the nation’s housing policies today and for the future.
Cyber Security: New Models for the Future
Feb. 22, 2012
Bipartisan Policy Center
BPC held a discussion on forging public-private partnerships to improve cyber security, focused on the latest policies advocated by the FCC.
Julius Genachowski
Chairman, FCC
Stewart Baker
Partner, Steptow & Johnson LLP
Former Assistant Secretary for Policy, DHS
Michael Glenn
Director, Risk Management Information Security, CenturyLink
Andy Ogielski, PhD
President, Renesys Corporation
Jenny Menna
Director, Critical Infrastructure Protection Awareness, National Cyber Security Division, DHS
Energy Innovation in a Time of Fiscal Austerity and Policy Uncertainty
Feb. 7, 2012
Bipartisan Policy Center
Energy innovation offers the best chance for solving the urgent and interrelated problems of worldwide insecurity over energy supplies, rapidly growing energy demand, and climate change. But if we are to achieve a timely transition to reliable, low-cost, low-carbon energy, the U.S. energy innovation system must be significantly improved. Creating an innovation system to produce sustained and timely advances across a range of energy technologies is especially challenging in this era of budget cuts and fiscal austerity. BPC held a discussion on how we can speed up the introduction of new technologies and business models and accelerate their deployment on a massive scale. The conversation explored Lester and Hart's new book, Unlocking Energy Innovation: How America Can Build Low-Cost, Low-Carbon Energy System, and highlighted ways to advance innovative technologies amidst challenging fiscal and political times.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ashley Berrang
Director of Communications
aberrang@bipartisanpolicy.org
For media inquiries related to energy policy, please contact:
Rosemarie Calabro Tully
Energy Project Press Secretary
rcalabrotully@bipartisanpolicy.org
For Congressional inquiries, please contact the Bipartisan Policy Center Advocacy Network:
BPCANinfo@bipartisanpolicy.org
202-218-6761
