PoliticalScience

The Republican National Committee has announced it wants to hold its 2016 national convention as early as June. As Political Science Professor Thomas Schaller writes in an op-ed published January 28 in The Baltimore Sun, the decision to do so centers around finances. “It’s a wise but also very sad decision because it confirms what most Americans already know applies to both parties: Money matters most,” Schaller writes. In his column titled “In presidential primary schedule, money talks,” Schaller notes condensing the primary schedule and moving the convention earlier has two potential benefits: time and money. He writes moving the convention earlier… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, Op-Ed in The Baltimore Sun

In his latest op-ed published January 14 in The Baltimore Sun, political science professor Thomas Schaller comments on the current state of today’s media, arguing the most popular stories are ones that feed off of emotion and feelings of moral superiority. “In today’s media age, whether in the regular news or so-called reality television, the best stories are those for which viewers and listeners need almost zero information or background as a point of entry,” Schaller writes. In his column titled “The outrage machine,” Schaller mentions certain programs and stories that tend to draw out emotion and feelings of superiority and… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, Op-Ed in The Baltimore Sun

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley is sending his final budget to the General Assembly this week. Political science professor Roy Meyers was a guest on WYPR’s Maryland Morning on January 13th and analyzed what the budget will look like and what Gov. O’Malley’s priorities will be. “I think he’s probably going to stay the course. He’s going to claim credit for the innovations he’s made over the previous years and also try to promote additional job creation,” Meyers said. He described potential ways Gov. O’Malley could create jobs with the budget including investments in infrastructure and education. “The long term strategy of the… Continue Reading Roy Meyers, Political Science, on WYPR’s Maryland Morning

In his year-end op-ed in The Baltimore Sun for 2013, political science professor Thomas Schaller looks back 100 years to New Year’s Day 1914. Throughout the column, Schaller recounts what the political landscape looked like when the country hadn’t yet fought two major wars and the federal income tax was only a year old. The year 1914 also included election changes with the first round of senators elected by popular vote. Schaller notes he normally writes about highlights and major happenings in Maryland or national politics and culture, but wrote his year-end column “Reflect on, don’t fetishize, the past” to argue obsessing… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, Op-Ed in The Baltimore Sun

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget bill Thursday that would avoid another government shutdown next year after it’s passed by the Senate. Roy Meyers, professor of political science, analyzed the budget deal in detail in The London School of Economics USApp blog. “Coming just two months after a foolish government shutdown caused by the antithesis of bipartisanship, the current budget agreement must be seen as an effort in reputation repair,” Meyers writes. He notes the deal offsets spending increases with minor savings and extends “sequestration” ceilings on programs such as Medicare and fees for customs and border protection. “This… Continue Reading Roy Meyers, Political Science, in The London School of Economics USApp Blog

Tension has been building in recent weeks between Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and Attorney General Douglas Gansler, both Democratic candidates in Maryland’s race for governor. The Gansler campaign has criticized Brown for his handling of the state’s rollout of the Affordable Care Act.  Brown’s campaign has come under fire for using a tracker to document any Gansler missteps. Laura Hussey, assistant professor of political science, was interviewed for a Capital News Service article about the growing level of tension between the two campaigns. “It’s a little bit nastier than I recall from recent races [in Maryland]. They had their disagreements. But… Continue Reading Laura Hussey, Political Science, in Capital News Service

A recent column in The Washington Post argues the ongoing technical problems with the rollout of the Affordable Care Act in Maryland are unlikely to have a negative impact on Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown’s chances in the race for governor. The article states Brown has six months until the Democratic primary to correct problems with the state’s health care exchange and has secured endorsements and support from almost all of the party establishment. Political science assistant professor Laura Hussey was interviewed for the column and said the health exchange problems will likely fade away come election time. “This is not a scandal that… Continue Reading Laura Hussey, Political Science, in The Washington Post

In his latest op-ed in The Baltimore Sun, Political Science Professor Thomas Schaller writes about the Obama Administration’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act, calling it a “disaster.”  He compares it to the rollout of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or “the stimulus,” which had far fewer technical problems and glitches. “To be fair, ACA is a bigger, more complex and permanent law than ARRA,” Schaller writes. “But the uncomfortable fact is that this administration had more than three years to prepare for the implementation of ACA’s key policy innovation: the state health care exchanges and their attendant websites.”… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, Op-Ed in The Baltimore Sun

With less than a year to go before Election Day 2014, three Southern Democrats in the U.S. Senate are up for re-election and Republicans are trying to capture all three seats, which would strengthen the party’s firm hold on the Senate in South. Senators Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, and Kay Hagan of North Carolina are the three Democrats up for election next year. Political science professor Thomas Schaller was interviewed by The New York Times about the Democrats’ future prospects in the South. “Democrats are fighting against history in most of the South,” Schaller said. “You can still… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in The New York Times

With no agreement in sight on a long-term budget deal with a budget conference committee self-assigned deadline coming up next month, some political experts say another U.S. Government shutdown in January is highly unlikely. Political science professor Roy Meyers was interviewed for an article in International Business Times about the likelihood of another shutdown. He said a “small-ball deal” will likely be cut among lawmakers next month, but it won’t be the grand bargain to solidify a long-term deal. “[It’s] one that would simply set an appropriations level for the rest of this fiscal year and it would make some modifications to the sequestration… Continue Reading Roy Meyers, Political Science, in International Business Times