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American DREAM: How the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act Would Strengthen and Expand the American Middle Class
The DREAM Act provides a path to citizenship for unauthorized immigrant students who entered the U.S. as children. DMI finds that it would boost the middle class by allowing students to contribute more to the economic prosperity necessary to sustain a strong middle class, keeping unauthorized immigrants out of the underground economy, and facilitating the economic integration of immigrant families.
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President Obama’s 2011 Budget Shortchanges Cities: Neglect of Urban Fiscal Collapse Could Halt Economic Recovery
DMI finds that President Obama’s 2011 budget neglects the urban fiscal collapse and fails to invest sufficiently in cities. The budget will not offset lost growth potential, higher unemployment, increased taxes and fees, and service cuts at the local level — all negative economic indications that cities will hinder national recovery from the recession in the months to come. The innovative urban programs the administration has proposed will fall short at a time when economic and fiscal conditions in cities continue to deteriorate.
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The Urgency of Resurrecting Congestion Pricing in New York
Unless political leaders intervene and establish a new source of revenue for the region’s mass transit system, the MTA will be forced to cut vital services and to increase fares by at least 15 percent. City and state leaders must act quickly to resurrect the idea of congestion pricing to stave off these devastating service cuts and fare increases. The report explains why other short-term fixes are insufficient and why congestion pricing must drive a long-term reinvestment strategy for the region’s mass transit system.
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2010 State of the Union Response: Obama’s Economic Agenda Doomed without Reinvestment in Cities
In his State of the Union address, President Obama failed to explain how his latest plans for economic growth, job creation, and the middle class can truly succeed — not by freezing spending, but by aggressively reinvesting in the places where most Americans live and work, the places that provide the vast majority of economic opportunities and services people need: cities.
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Digging Ourselves Out: The 2009 Year in Review
This January, President Obama stepped into office to face a nearly overwhelming array of challenges, from a plummeting economy to an unaffordable health care system, to the threat of global climate change. In this Year In Review, we evaluate the nation’s efforts to dig itself out with a look at the best and worst in the year’s public policy, a mayors’ eye view of economic recovery efforts in six American cities, a recommended reading list for progressives and of course, the DMI Injustice Index.
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Setting the Record Straight on the Kingsbridge Armory: The Costs and Benefits of Living Wages and Economic Development
This fact sheet provides an evidence-backed assessment of New York City’s proposed redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx. DMI finds that unless the project’s developer agrees to guarantee living wages for all future employees at the Armory, the deal will be an economic loss for the city and state.
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From Disaster to Diversity: What’s Next for New York City’s Economy
This wide-ranging collection of essays is the result of an intellectual organizing effort, convening a diverse group of people whose ideas and arguments, proposals and prescriptions, are brought together here for the first time. All are equally concerned about how to make New York City stronger and healthier than ever. A blueprint for post-recession governance, the book contains ambitious but workable plans for advancing policies to strengthen vital areas and sectors, assets and drivers, of the local economy.
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Principles for an Immigration Policy to Strengthen and Expand the American Middle Class: 2009 Edition
Building on DMI’s earlier immigration work, this report argues that immigration policy must be driven by the needs of American workers striving to stay afloat through the economic crisis. We find that the current and aspiring American middle class relies on the economic contributions of immigrants, but that the exploitation of undocumented immigrant workers threatens to undermine us all. We conclude that Congress must reform immigration policy to maximize immigrants’ economic contributions and strengthen their workplace rights. An earned legalization program for undocumented immigrants is a critical part of this reform. The report includes talking points and fact sheets for use by advocates.
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The Next Economic Imperative: Undocumented Immigrants in the 2010 Census
Examining the latest data and evidence, DMI finds that the nation cannot afford to exclude undocumented immigrants from the 2010 Census. Without accurate information about an estimated 12 million undocumented residents, local and state governments won’t receive adequate funding for public services; businesses will be discouraged from investing in new markets and creating jobs in growing communities; and costly mistakes will be made in infrastructure, education, and healthcare because of incomplete demographic data.
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No More Delay: Proven Policy Solutions for
New York City
As New York City approaches its municipal elections, DMI asks where the city has fallen short – and how New York can do better. This report takes an in-depth look at six successful policies implemented in Austin, Berkeley, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Washington DC, and explores how these ideas can work for New York City. The policies address a range of city issues including economic opportunity, housing affordability, criminal justice, workplace standards, environmental sustainability, and health care.
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No Economic Recovery Without Cities: The Urgency Of A New Federal Urban Policy
President Obama’s newly created White House Office of Urban Affairs presents a new opportunity for federal urban policy. The urban policies of previous administrations have viewed cities as problems or have held that the federal government could do best for cities by doing least. In contrast, the Office of Urban Affairs provides an opportunity to maximize the economic potential of cities through well-coordinated, productive relationships with the federal government. These relationships are particularly important to the success of the economic stimulus package and to economic recovery. DMI offers a number of policy principles to guide the Office’s efforts to develop a strategy for metropolitan America.
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MiddleClass.org 2008 Congressional Scorecard
Who stood up for the middle class? We examine the good and bad decisions Congress made in 2008 – from the February stimulus bill to the Senate filibusters that killed legislation to address the home mortgage crisis and to assist the struggling auto industry. We look at how the middle class gained from the New GI Bill and the Higher Education Act, and how ordinary Americans lost with the no-strings-attached bank bailout. Each member of Congress is graded on his or her votes for or against the middle class. |
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DMI on the 2009 Presidential Address to Congress
The President’s vision is an inspiration, and his accomplishments so far are significant. But in the context of the most severe economic crisis the nation has faced in generations, our actions must be still bolder.” The Drum Major Institute’s rapid analysis of Obama’s State of the Union-like address hails the President’s remarkable achievements for the current and aspiring middle class and calls for economic, health, education and energy policies commensurate with the tremendous challenges America faces. |
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Restructuring New York City's Personal Income Tax
224,000 New York City households are too poor to pay state and/or federal income taxes, yet still owe taxes to the city. Almost are households with children, most are headed by single parents. DMI proposes eliminating city income taxes on these households and paying for it with a tax increase on the city’s wealthiest residents. The plan was endorsed by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Councilmember David Yassky, and State Senator Liz Krueger. |
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2008 Year In Review
In this Year in Review, the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy offers a first look back at 2008 through the best and worst of the year’s public policy, on-the-ground stories from five American cities, an idiosyncratic election timeline, a recommended reading list for progressives, a hawk’s eye view of what the think tanks on the conservative right are up to, and our 2008 Injustice Index, with a by-the-numbers appraisal of the Bush legacy. |
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DMI Position on the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act
Helping homeowners modify the terms of their loans and pay them back successfully would not only help restore confidence in America’s housing and credit markets, but help lift sagging public support for the idea of using taxpayer dollars for a major government intervention. In order to receive popular support, the President and Congress need to demonstrate that their primary concern and investment is in aiding struggling families and communities, not the financial services industry. |
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A Strengthened Middle Class
America did not ask to be divided into warring camps of red and blue. Across the country, people have far more in common than anyone would guess from the polarized politics of recent decades. Most Americans hope to achieve and hold onto a middle-class standard of living. That means, among other things, a job that pays enough to support a family; a safe and stable home; good schools for our children and the chance to help them go to college; health care that doesn’t bury us in debt; a dignified retirement; and time off work for vacations and major life events. |
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The Middle-Class Squeeze 2008: A Drum Major Institute for Public Policy Overview
Being middle class used to mean having a reliable job with fair pay; access to health care; a safe and stable home; the opportunity to provide a good education for one’s children, including a college education; time off work for vacations and major life events; and the security of looking forward to a dignified retirement. But today this standard of living is increasingly precarious |
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DMI’s First Annual Survey on the Middle Class and Public Policy Finds Broad Policy Agreement Among Fearful Families
DMI’s first annual survey on the Middle Class and Public Policy reveals that America’s middle-class households are fearful families – overwhelmingly pessimistic about the direction of the country, especially the economy and high gas prices. Most have little flexibility in their own economic situations and have little if anything left over each month after meeting basic expenses. The middle class is disgruntled with the direction of the country and politicians and see little coming out of Washington that would give them cause for optimism. |
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TheMiddleClass.org 2007 Congressional Scorecard
Did your representative make the middle-class grade? DMI takes a closer look at the decisions made by Congress in 2007, from the one-year freeze to prevent the Alternative Minimum Tax from hitting middle-income families to the filibuster that originally torpedoed a minimum wage increase, and the trade bill that put the interests of multinational corporations before the concerns of middle-class Americans. Examining 13 bills in detail, this report assigns a grade to each Member of Congress based on his or her votes for or against the middle class. |
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DMI on the 2008 State of the Union
The more Americans demand change, the more President Bush’s State of the Union address stays the same. DMI examines the President’s domestic policy agenda in-depth and finds the same worn out ideology that has repeatedly failed America’s middle class, from inadequate proposals to address the home mortgage crisis to a stimulus package that favors pet projects over proven methods of generating economic growth. Future leaders will determine whether the President’s distorted worldview lives on and continues to afflict the nation.
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Election '08:
A Pro-Civil Justice Presidential Platform
Many Presidential candidates claim they stand "for the little guy," but do they have a proactive policy for strengthening our civil justice system so that it works for those whom it was meant to protect? Well, we have some ideas. The Drum Major Institute's latest report, Election '08: A Pro-Civil Justice Presidential Platform, lays out common-sense policy proposals that would turn the balance of power back to regular Americans.
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Turning the Big Ship: DMI's Review of the Year in Politics and Policy
In 2007, we've seen the government sell out consumer safety while cities got smarter about sustainability and sick leave. Progressive think tanks pushed to end the foreclosure crisis while conservative think tanks claimed global warming was a lie. All this and more inside the 2007 Year In Review!
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Lessons From The Marketplace: Four Proven Progressive Policies from DMI’s Marketplace of Ideas
In Maine, moderate-income residents buy prescription drugs for as little as half the retail price. In San Francisco, some violent criminals are 82 percent less likely to commit new crimes after their release from prison.
In Minnesota, the public can reclaim subsidies when economic development incentives don’t produce the promised results.
In Oklahoma, 92 percent of four-year-olds attend a high-quality public preschool. This report recounts how these successful policies got started, and how they can be replicated across the nation.
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Saving Our Middle Class: A Survey of New York's Leaders By the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy
In the wake of troubling findings by the Brookings Institution about New York City's disappearing middle-income neighborhoods, the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy conducted a survey of New York City’s leaders to find ways to strengthen and expand the city's middle class. The following results offer the next steps New York must take to make our city more livable and affordable for the current middle class, and put a middle-class standard of living within the reach of more New Yorkers.
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Principles for an Immigration Policy to Strengthen and Expand the American Middle Class: 2007 Edition
The newly updated edition of DMI’s groundbreaking immigration report argues that immigration policy must be connected to the larger conversation about America's squeezed middle class and those striving to attain a middle-class standard of living. Finding that immigrants contribute to middle-class prosperity as workers, taxpayers and consumers, the report also concludes that undocumented immigrants' lack of workplace rights undercuts the middle class.
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DMI on the 2007 State of the Union
There was little for current and aspiring middle-class Americans in President Bush’s State of the Union Address this year. DMI's "instant analysis" released just hours after the speech, examines the President’s domestic policy agenda in-depth. We find that the President’s proposals, at their core, are driven by a conservative ideology that doggedly protects the wealthiest Americas from tax hikes by sharply cutting social programs, while also absolving corporations of their obligation to protect the health and welfare of their employees by shifting those burdens to the workers themselves.
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2006 Year in Review
Read our annual Year in Review for: the year's best and worst public policy, the 2006 DMI Injustice Index, progressive efforts from the states, a look at the dangerous policies advocated by conservative think tanks, profiles of eight top advocates for progressive policy nationally, the year's must-read list, and a recap of the year in the netroots.
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Congress at the Midterm: Their 2005 Middle-Class Record
DMI’s third-annual scorecard, takes a closer
look at the decisions made by Congress to favor the already wealthy and powerful
and drive the American Dream further out of reach for ordinary citizens in 2005.
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Fighting for New York's Middle Class
DMI's 2001-2005 New York State Legislative Scorecard is aimed at increasing governmental accountability. To accomplish this objective we grade individual legislators, as well as the Senate and Assembly as a whole and each of the major parties, on their votes over the past five years on bills with the potential to impact the state's middle class.
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Immigration Report
The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy offers "Principles for an Immigration Policy to Strengthen and Expand the American Middle Class: A Primer for Policymakers and Advocates" in response to inadequacies in the current conversation about immigration.
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Year in Review 2005
In this Year in Review, the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy offers a look back at: the best and worst in public policy this year, the six events that impacted the future of America, a report from the frontlines in six states and from the blogosphere, our recommended reading list, a recap of what the think tanks of the conservative Right are up to, and, as always, the 2005 Injustice Index. No matter how you slice it, 2005 changed America.
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Annual Report 2005
The 2005 Annual report takes a look back at DMI's achievements of the past year. We brough the thoughts of leaders from diverse communities to the conversation about public policy through our Marketplace of Ideas series and our Fellows Program. In 2005 we launched a new Web site and the DMIBlog, offering perspectives on struggles for justice and insightful discussions of the policies and social realities that impact our lives.
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Middle-Class 2004: How Congress Voted
It talks the middle-class talk, but does Congress walk the walk? "Middle Class 2004: How Congress Voted" issues each member of Congress, as well as the House and Senate as a whole, a letter grade based on their 2004 votes on legislation critical to expanding and strengthening America's middle class.
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Impact Schools Report
A Look At The Impact Schools, is a profile of the middle and high schools targeted by City Hall's 'Impact Schools' safety initiative. This report finds that high levels of crime and disorder aren't the only characteristics that distinguish the Impact Schools from their peers in the New York City public school system.
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The 2004 DMI Year In Review
"Is America better off now than it was a year ago?" The DMI 2004 Year in Review recaps the year in politics and policy, offering a scathing indictment of the national administration while highlighting local successes in expanding access to affordable prescription drugs and stalling the steady encroachment of big-box mega-stores into hard-working communities. Also included is the 2004 Injustice Index, the 2004 Election Recap, the State of the States, and more.
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2004 Annual Report
Today, talk of policy in America threatens to become a one-sided conversation as the conservative wing consolidates its power and the left too often settles for being right-light. In this environment, it is crucial that we speak openly about the challenges to social and economic justice in our nation. In these turbulent times of trouble abroad and dissent at home, DMI's mission is more important than ever and our resolve is even more steadfast. We must outthink the right.
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Campaign 2004 for the US Senate
This special report is based on the findings of DMI'S 'Middle Class 2003: How Congress Voted,' the first-ever, first-annual scorecard of votes on legislation that significantly impacts America's middle class. Representatives were graded on their votes on key legislation that helps the middle class (such as the American Dream Downpayment Act, the Pharmaceutical Market Access Act) and hurts it (such as Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act and the Death Tax Repeal Act). In it we spotlight the 2003 voting records of the 26 incumbent U.S. Senators seeking re-election in 2004 on issues important to the middle class.
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The Myth Of The Middle?
Campaign 2004 On America's Middle Class
This survey of the candidates for the 2004 Democratic nomination for President looks at their positions on issues important to the middle class, including raising the minimum wage, expanding access to health care, making college education more affordable and restructuring the tax code to benefit middle-class families.
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Middle-Class 2003: How Congress Voted
In 2003, the 108th Congress considered several pieces of legislation that would significantly impact America's middle class. The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy discusses this legislation in detail in Middle Class 2003: How Congress Voted, issuing members of Congress a grade based on their support of the middle-class position.
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2003 Year In Review
In this Year in Review, the Drum Major Institute offers our take on the year's best and worst legislation, a 2003 Injustice Index, the best of the ProgBlog, a reading list, and an in-depth look at five of our states. We've also polled prominent Americans for their thoughts on this action-packed year. With that, we invite you to take a look back at 2003.
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2003 Annual Report
The Drum Major Institute has attempted to end the silence—in board rooms, voting booths, and even on the Internet—that surrounds public policy. There is much work to be done, and many drum majors required to do it. Here's what DMI did to get out in front in 2003.
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People And Politics In America's Big Cities
May 2003 / The changing face of America is creating new challenges and opportunities for America's big cities. This report, by leading demographers John Mollenkopf and John Logan, analyzes the 2001 mayoral and city council elections in New York and Los Angeles to determine the impact of these demographic changes on urban democracy.
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DMI in Print — Spring 2003
Recently, the Drum Major Institute sponsored a series of focus groups inviting people in the forefront of social change work to discuss broader issues of policy formation. The articles that follow, on issues ranging from expansion of the franchise to non-citizens, to the importance of extending unemployment insurance, are compelling and articulate policy pieces that represent the progressive ideal that governments act to protect the interests of the people.
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From Governance To Accountability: Building Relationships That Make Schools Work
January 2003 / In light of 2002 legislation giving New York City's mayor responsibility for its public school system, this report concludes that "developing a new community accountability system that anchors the essential relationships between schools and communities in ongoing efforts to improve schools is one of the most critical tasks before us."
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2002 Annual Report
The 2002 Annual Report looks at what the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy has accomplished in less than a year in its latest incarnation. From rebuilding the organizational identity, launching a web site, organizing several important conversations designed to provide a microphone to progressive thinkers who too often go without one, DMI has shown that it is capable of getting out in front.
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Class Acts: How New York City Newspapers Covered The Budget Crisis After 9/11
Do New York City's daily newspapers help the general public to understand the proposals being discussed by their elected representatives? In this report, leading media scholar Robert M. Entman of North Carolina State University provides his response in an analysis of New York City daily newspaper coverage of the budget debate following 9/11.
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DMI in Print — Winter 2003
The Drum Major Institute E-Journal is an on-line hybrid — part public policy report, part op-ed — offered free of charge to the Drum Major Institute's several thousand registered online subscribers and visitors to our daily-updated website, www.drummajorinstitute.org.
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