The UMBC Department of Public Policy is pleased to announce that the inaugural recipient of the Judith A. Shinogle Memorial Award is an outstanding Ph.D. student in health policy currently conducting research for his dissertation. Stephen will receive $1,500 to provide support for his scholarly advancement. Stephen received his M.A. in Economic Policy Analysis from UMBC, where he was selected by the Economics Department as the Outstanding Graduating Student in 2007. His research interests include economics of health-related behaviors, pharmaco-economics, and mental health economics. Stephen is employed full-time as a Senior Research Leader at Truven Health Analytics, assisting pharmaceutical clients… Continue Reading Stephen Johnston, Public Policy PhD Student, Receives Inaugural Judith A. Shinogle Memorial Award
As the 2014 Maryland gubernatorial race quickly takes shape, ABC7 interviewed UMBC political science professor Thomas F. Schaller on what the state can expect moving forward. Schaller’s comments focused on the strength of the Democratic party in the state. He noted, “The Republican party just has such a very short bench in Maryland.” Schaller walked the reporter through the past several gubernatorial elections and the tactics candidates found successful. He suggested, “for a long time, Democrats maximized their votes in Baltimore City, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.” For example, Parris Glendening (1995-2003) won those three areas and was elected,… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, on ABC7
Towson University’s new Tiger Arena opens tonight. The arena cost $70 million, funded through $20 million in Towson’s reserve funds, combined with bonds paid back through a student fee set aside for construction projects. UMBC economics professor Dennis Coates told the Baltimore Sun that although new arenas generally succeed in increasing the owner’s ability to generate revenue, whether that benefits those who pay for construction is less clear. “It creates a nice buzz,” said Coates, “but otherwise, the impact is spread out.” Coates also commented in a recent Wall Street Journal article on how Brooklyn’s Barclays Center impacts local retailers,… Continue Reading Dennis Coates, Economics, in the Baltimore Sun and Wall Street Journal
Donald F. Norris, professor and chair of public policy at UMBC, has published an op-ed in today’s Baltimore Sun that gives a sense of scale to Joe Flacco’s $20 million Ravens contract in relation to education funding in Maryland. Norris writes, “We could do a lot with $20 million to support the education of our students that would further ensure that they graduate with the best learning possible, and would make even more certain that, no matter where their futures take them, they are as well equipped to succeed as possible.” Read the full op-ed at the Baltimore Sun.
“Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman shook up Maryland’s 2014 gubernatorial race by announcing they will run as a ticket for the Democratic nomination in 2014. Politically and electorally, it’s a shrewd and gutsy move,” writes UMBC political science professor Thomas F. Schaller in today’s Baltimore Sun. Schaller notes, “Picking running mates before the primary remains unconventional,” with most gubernatorial and presidential candidates assuming they should make solo nomination bids and pick running mates only after receiving the nomination. Brown and Ulman, however, are positioning themselves as a complementary ticket, highlighting Brown’s service in the state… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun
A new guest column by UMBC political science professor Thomas F. Schaller on Sabato’s Crystal Ball ask the highly provocative question, “How Should We Vote?” Schaller writes: Given pervasive gerrymandering and a shrinking number of competitive districts, any serious reform of congressional elections might also entail changes to our voting rules — that is, how votes are cast by voters and aggregated to determine winners… So what sort of voting rule reforms might significantly alter the composition of Congress, encourage greater voter participation and create a more responsive national legislature? Changing voting rules can change voter behavior in two important… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, on Sabato’s Crystal Ball
The sudden appearance of three referenda in Maryland’s last election made some in Annapolis predict that they would be a regular feature in future elections, used as a tool by Maryland’s GOP to contest policy passed by the Democratic majority in the Maryland General Assembly. However, political scientists now suggest that the number of signatures required to get a referendum on the ballot is still a high threshold to meet, even with the help of the Internet in gathering signatures. Donald F. Norris, professor and chair of public policy at UMBC, told AP that this year’s failed efforts to contest… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in AP Story on CBS Baltimore
The Baltimore Sun today recognized the 30th anniversary of the Charlestown Retirement Community with a front-page article on founder John C. Erickson and transitions in the retirement housing industry. UMBC’s Erickson School was founded, in large part, through a generous donation from Erickson. Today, the Erickson School offers a range of programs, from a B.A. and M.A. in the Management of Aging Services (MAgS) to professional and executive education. In the Sun article, Kevin Heffner, director of external relations for the Erickson School, describes the challenges the senior housing industry faced following the broader housing market crash and credit crisis… Continue Reading Kevin Heffner, Erickson School, in the Baltimore Sun
Donald F. Norris, professor and chair of public policy at UMBC, offered insight for today’s front-page Baltimore Sun story, “Democrats watch for Gansler’s next move,” on the state attorney general’s possible plans to run for governor. Gansler is planning to wait until the fall to announce any campaign, but Norris questions that strategy. By delaying an announcement, says Norris, “he gives a three-month advantage to Brown-Ulman. They’ll be able to out-fundraise him and go around the state as the only announced candidates.” Norris appeared in three other news stories yesterday about the 2014 gubernatorial election. In another Baltimore Sun article… Continue Reading Donald F. Norris, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Sun, Washington Examiner and on WBAL
Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., recently took an unusual approach to opposing the Keystone XL oil pipeline: arguing that it’s an earmark and thus not in line with current House rules. The fact-checking site PoliFact asked UMBC political science professor Roy T. Meyers to weigh in on the accuracy of that statement. Meyers told PolitiFact, “Earmarks have been criticized, often justifiably, for not being subject to sufficient scrutiny on their policy merits.” He continued, “Unlike most research grants that are subject to demanding peer reviews, or many contracts that must undergo extensive agency review and competitive bidding, earmarks are awarded only… Continue Reading Roy Meyers, Political Science, on PolitiFact
In a new Washington Times article on Maryland’s minority-contracting program, UMBC political science and public policy professor George La Noue argues that definitional and structural program flaws translate to too few businesses “graduating” from the program (i.e., losing eligibility through successful growth to a certain size). La Noue argues that the definition of what qualifies a business as “disadvantaged” for program eligibility is too broad. He suggests, “To argue that someone is economically disadvantaged who has that kind of money is a very tortured definition of that concept; it would mean that 95 percent of all Americans are disadvantaged. The… Continue Reading George La Noue, Public Policy/Political Science, in the Washington Times
In this week’s news of Maryland’s 2014 gubernatorial race, Harford County Executive David R. Craig set a date to announce his Republican candidacy and Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown’s campaign confirmed that his running mate in seeking the Democratic nomination will be Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. Donald F. Norris, professor and chair of public policy at UMBC, told the Baltimore Sun that in selecting Ulman, Brown’s campaign is “appealing to a different Democratic base.” He predicts that while Brown’s strength is among Baltimore and Prince George’s County voters, Ulman can help Brown pick up votes in Howard, Anne Arundel… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Sun and Daily Record
