In a speech at the University of Miami, where he toured an engineering program for energy efficiency, President Barack Obama on Thursday defended his energy policies (WashPost). He said there are no “quick fixes” for rising gas prices, and argued that his “all of the above” policy, which includes increased domestic production, improved fuel efficiency standards, and clean energy investment, is the smartest way to insulate the United States from the volatility of the global oil market. Read more »

A report released today by the bipartisan Center for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) offers some insight into the potential fiscal outcomes associated with the GOP field running for president. According to an analysis of their tax and spending proposals, all of the Republican candidates would likely keep growing the national debt as a percentage of GDP during a hypothetical two terms as president: Read more »

The GOP candidates were questioned during Wednesday’s presidential debate about the United States’ role in Syria. Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich advocated the use of  allies and other outside groups to arm the rebellion. Read more »

With a slew of primary contests and caucuses coming up in the next couple weeks, the four remaining GOP presidential candidates in Arizona debated for the last time before Super Tuesday, touching on a variety of foreign policy issues ranging from foreign aid and defense policy to Iran and immigration. Read more »

CFR’s Renewing America project focuses on six challenges the United States faces domestically that impinges on the country’s ability to project power globally. The country’s economic woes are certainly front and center as the presidential campaign heats up and candidates debate the debt and deficits coming  out of Washington as well as how to make the economy thrive. Read more »

The Obama administration released the president’s proposals for overhauling corporate tax codes (PDF). At the centerpiece of his proposal is a reduction of the top corporate tax rate to 28 percent (NYT), down from 35 percent, with dozens of loopholes and subsidies eliminated in exchange. In addition to the corporate tax rate reduction, Obama’s plan would establish a minimum tax on multinational corporations’ foreign earnings to discourage relocation of production overseas or shifting of profits abroad. Read more »

GOP presidential candidates will square off in a debate Wednesday night (CNN) in Mesa, Arizona, the 20th debate so far this election season. According to GOP Governor Jan Brewer, Arizona voters are, like the rest of the country, worried about jobs and the economy. “Here in Arizona people are also concerned with their border security, they are concerned about new federalism and states’ rights, and are very interested in natural resource issues,” she said. Read more »

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich touted the possibility of $2 per gallon gasoline (ABC) if he is elected Monday. Under his policies, Gingrich said that “we will dramatically expand our independence in the world market, dramatically expand our capacity to produce energy without regard to our foreign potential enemies, and in the process prices will clearly be a lot lower.” Read more »

Iran rates as the country’s greatest enemy, according to 32 percent of voters surveyed in Gallup’s annual world affairs poll released February 20. Rounding out the top five countries are China at 23 percent, North Korea/Korea at 10 percent, Afghanistan at 7 percent and Iraq at 5 percent. Iran has topped the list for the past five surveys and has the most unfavorable U.S. voter rating, at 87 percent, of any country surveyed this year. With the recent arrival of UN inspectors to look at Iran’s nuclear program, this NPR program discusses the country’s regional, diplomatic, and nuclear goals. Read more »