CAHSS

The Gazette reports that following Congressional reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Frederick’s Heartly House will be able to continue providing counseling services for victims of domestic abuse without worrying about major program cuts. Heartly House receives about $30,000 in federal funding under the law each year. House Republicans had resisted reauthorizing the legislation because it expands coverage to new groups. UMBC assistant professor of political science Laura Hussey told the Gazette that blocking VAWA put House Republicans in a tough position. Although some stated that they opposed VAWA because they want to curb federal spending and involvement… Continue Reading Laura Hussey, Political Science, in the Gazette

A new Washington Post poll, published this weekend, explores Marylanders’ views on Governor Martin O’Malley in the context of a potential future run for president. O’Malley received mediocre marks in some areas of the poll, which the authors note could be due to his work on polarizing issues, including same-sex marriage. “He’s taken some very gutsy positions on some controversial issues,” said UMBC political science professor Thomas F. Schaller. “My suspicion is that’s poisoned the well and brought him down some.” read the full article at the Washington Post.

A new USA Today article exploring the impacts of sequestration suggests federal budget cuts designed to save $85 billion in the short term might end up costing the government more money in the future through lower tax revenue, increased unemployment, contract terminations, and deferred maintenance on warships and airplanes. UMBC political science professor Roy T. Meyers, a former Congressional budget analyst, adds, “It makes it less likely that some contractors will want to supply services into the federal government, and in the future they’re going to charge a risk premium.” Meyers further argues, “We’ve been paying this cost of sequester… Continue Reading Roy T. Meyers, Political Science, in USA Today

Sunil Dasgupta, director of UMBC’s political science program at the Universities at Shady Grove and non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, has published a new East Asia Forum commentary on India’s potential responses to civil war in Pakistan. Dasgupta writes: In 1971, India intervened militarily on behalf of Bengalis in the civil war in East Pakistan, dividing the country in two and helping to create Bangladesh. In 2013, prospects of another civil war in Pakistan — this time one that pits radical Islamists against the secular but authoritarian military — have led once again to questions about what India… Continue Reading Sunil Dasgupta, Political Science, on East Asia Forum

Last week, PoliFact’s “Truth-O-Meter” assessed President Obamas assertion that the sequester “won’t consider whether we’re cutting some bloated program that has outlived its usefulness, or a vital service that Americans depend on every single day. It doesn’t make those distinctions.” Citing analysis by UMBC political science professor Roy T. Meyers and others, PolitiFact concludes that Obama’s statement is an oversimplication, but it is mostly true that sequestration cuts will be indiscriminate. The site notes, “even the fact that some programs are exempted from the sequester supports Obama’s point.” How? Meyers explains that the list of exempted programs (e.g., Social Security,… Continue Reading Roy Meyers, Political Science, on PolitiFact