Articles by David C. John

Economy

Financial Report Reflects Ideology More Than Facts

David C. John | January 27, 2011

The release of the final report(s) of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC) brings to mind the story of several blind men trying to describe… Read More

Economy

Bailouts or Bankruptcy for State and Local Government Pension Problems?

David C. John | December 15, 2010

The year 2011 will be the year of decision for underfunded state and local governments with pension and debt problems. The end of federal money… Read More

Economy

Chicago, Other Cities Face Huge Tab for Their Government Pensions

David C. John | October 19, 2010

It turns out that many city public pension plans are just as underfunded as various state plans are. For instance, Chicago has only about $22… Read More

Economy

Pelosi Proposes Seniors Subsidy to ‘Replace’ the 2011 Social Security COLA

David C. John | October 15, 2010

Today’s announcement that Social Security recipients will not receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) again in 2011 brought an immediate reaction from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi… Read More

Economy

No Federal Bailouts for State and Local Government Pension Problems

David C. John | August 27, 2010

There is bad news and worse news for state governments faced with underfunded pension promises. First, a new academic study shows that not only is… Read More

 

Taxpayers Benefit from SEC Action Against Lying about State Pension Underfunding

David C. John | August 20, 2010

The fact is that New Jersey lied and got caught, but taxpayers everywhere may benefit. Yesterday, the State of New Jersey settled with the SEC… Read More

Economy

The Automatic IRA: A Conservative Way to Build Retirement Security

David C. John | August 13, 2010

With the introduction of new legislation to implement the Automatic IRA—a simple, low-cost retirement savings vehicle for employees of small businesses—the effort to enable many… Read More

Economy

Once Again, the Social Security Trust Fund Has No Money in It

David C. John | August 05, 2010

Almost as soon as the 2010 Social Security trustees report comes out today, various groups will claim that the program is fiscally healthy because its… Read More

Economy

The Hill Misses the Story on Auto IRAs

David C. John | July 23, 2010

An article on the Automatic IRA in the July 13 edition of the Capitol Hill newspaper The Hill (“Democrats and AARP want to make IRA… Read More

Security

Federal Wind Insurance Is Still a Huge Mistake

David C. John | July 21, 2010

Like the monster in a third-rate horror movie that seems to be destroyed but comes back again and again, some bad ideas in Washington keep… Read More

Economy

Automatic Enrollment Builds Retirement Savings – Period.

David C. John | July 01, 2010

Adding automatic enrollment to a 401(k) retirement savings plan builds retirement savings. It especially helps lower and moderate income workers, but employees at all income… Read More

Economy

Deal with Fannie and Freddie Now or We’ll Pay Later

David C. John | May 17, 2010

What’s the main selling point for the financial regulation bill Congress is debating? That it would end taxpayer bailouts. The Senate even added an amendment… Read More

Economy

In the Dodd Bill, “Bank” Could Mean Anyone

David C. John | April 28, 2010

The Dodd financial reform bill is beginning to scare executives. However, it is not necessarily scaring bankers or Wall Street fat cats. It is scaring… Read More

Economy

Senate Financial Regulation Bill: How Fast Can You Read 1,336 Pages?

David C. John | March 22, 2010

At 1,336 pages, the Dodd financial services regulation bill proposal, which the Senate Banking Committee will begin to consider today, includes language that could create… Read More

Economy

Taxing Banks to Pay for TARP: Just Playing Politics

David C. John | January 12, 2010

It is fun and politically profitable to attack banks and bankers, especially in the wake of a bailout program estimated to have cost American taxpayers… Read More

Economy

Bernanke and Regulation: The Perils of Headline Writing

David C. John | January 05, 2010

Interpreting statements of Federal Reserve Chairmen has long been considered a high art form. During Alan Greenspan’s time, journalists and financial analysts made huge efforts… Read More

Economy

Bankruptcy: A Better Answer to “Too Big to Fail”

David C. John | December 10, 2009

The financial reform bill that is currently before the House would give regulators virtually unlimited power over “too big to fail” financial institutions. Those are… Read More

Economy

Consumer Financial Protection: An Alternative

David C. John | December 10, 2009

Creating a new “Consumer Financial Protection Agency” (CFPA), as proposed in the financial regulation bill now before the House, would raise costs for consumers, reduce… Read More

Economy

Mortgage Cramdowns Will Hurt Consumers

David C. John | December 10, 2009

Just as the housing market is showing definite signs that it is stabilizing after a lengthy drop in housing prices, the House of Representatives is… Read More

Economy

CIT Bankruptcy Shows that It is Time to End TARP

David C. John | November 03, 2009

Sunday, CIT Group, with $71 billion in assets one of the largest small business lenders in the country and the recipient last December of $2.3… Read More

Economy

The Obama-Frank Systemic Risk Plan: Some Good and a Lot of Bad

David C. John | October 28, 2009

The Treasury Department and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank have just released a highly complex 253 page draft bill that is supposed to… Read More

Economy

Bernanke Makes The Right Call On Systemic Financial Risk

David C. John | October 02, 2009

One of the larger mistakes in the Obama financial regulatory reform package was its attempt to give the Federal Reserve additional powers so that it… Read More

Economy

Obama Budget Recognizes the Need for More Retirement Savings

David C. John | February 26, 2009

While many aspects of the Obama budget are questionable and just plain wrong, they recognize the need for more Americans to be able to save… Read More

Economy

An Increased Range of Tools to Fight the Economic Crisis

David C. John | October 02, 2008

The economic rescue package that the House will vote on tomorrow provides federal regulators with a broader array of tools to fight the economic problems… Read More

Economy

Now Is Time to Focus on Solutions for Social Security

David C. John | August 14, 2008

“There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.” –John F. Kennedy “We are increasingly… Read More