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Playing On Thin Ice: Congressional Absences As Inevitability and Choice

Multiple members of congress have already died this term, giving already slim margins for the GOP the chance to flip on any given day.

So far, though, absences and vacancies are hurting Democrats' margins and ability to resist more than they are affecting the GOP's majority.

A third Democrat has died this term of congress. The recent passage of a budget, massive tax plan, and multi-year policy agenda by Republicans in the house won by one vote. Had Trump not pulled Elise Stefanik’s nomination to be Ambassador to the UN or one of the three Democrats had not died, it is not certain, but it would have been less likely the bill would have passed.

Avril Lavigne and Climate Change

Avril Lavigne has been plagued by conspiracy theories, but the public health and environmental narratives have not broken through in the conversation.

UMD Baltimore's Dr. Kirsten Lyke, a force in medicine, warns of 'really treacherous times’ (Maryland Reporter)

VECTOR Library Launches to Strengthen Response to Disease (Morning Ag Clips)

US Military: It’s time to get ‘Tick Smart’ about Lyme disease

Nickel For Your Thoughts?

The American penny may be dead. What does that mean for the climate, consumers, and clean energy?

Eliminating the penny may actually lead to a need to produce more nickels. The five-cent piece costs the US more than 13 cents to make so, like the penny, costs more than it is worth. Is the next step rounding to the dime??

Bulgaria is moving very close to converting from the lev to the Euro. The country is one of six obligated to join the Euro sometime in the future due to EU membership. Joining strengthens the EU’s ability to sanction while insulating member countries from tariff and other macro forces. If the Euro drops its penny, another country will thus drop theirs.

As society seems to be moving away from cash, how are the most vulnerable impacted? i.e. the elderly, those without access to a bank account

The Physician Shortage

While efforts have been made by some medical schools to increase enrollment, there is still a projected physician shortage in coming years and, as anyone trying to make an appointment today probably feels, likely already one right now. Despite such projections and experiences, the number of residency slots has hardly budged as it is largely (up for debate) outside the control of medical schools. In fact, Congress has capped the number of slots at 1996 levels.

So, while there has been a nearly 50% increase in medical students in the US in the last two decades, there has been a miniscule increase in residency openings. Still, due to specialization and other factors, residency slots across a few dozen specialties go unfilled while more popular ones are “oversubscribed.”

Foreign students greatly subsidize American higher education, especially at the graduate-level with many staying in the US or bringing important skills back to their home countries. The US dollar is the world’s reserve currency - used in more than a majority of transactions. Less foreign students could have an outsize role on that status.

The above-mentioned tax bill passed by the House and currently under consideration in the Senate would cut off certain federal loans for medical school (and other grad programs including law school).

While focused on public transit programs, this article from the Urban Institute gives a helpful context for auto-enrollment of benefits and free or discounted programs of any kind. This can be extended to university tuition and grants for energy efficiency programs. Requirements to “opt-in” or share data leads to lower enrollment as those that are otherwise eligible choose not to apply. New America has a similar piece tying efficiency of service delivery and presentation to tax credits.

A smattering of other newsletters raised solutions already available and how we can communicate more efficiently and consume less without a “scarcity” mindset.

The main ones I encourage you to check out are Climate Communications, Intro To Degrowth, We Have All The Solutions: Low-Flow Ain’t What It Used To Be, and Overlooked Government Efficiency Opportunities.

Washington governor signs right-to-repair laws for electronics and wheelchairs (Waste Dive) - Right To Repair laws remove barriers manufacturers put up that prevent us from fixing our devices as they push us to “just buy a new one.”

No Miracles Needed a book by Mark Z Jacobson

Contrary to most public narratives, businesses want climate regulation, with those in the EU asking for regulations NOT to be pared back while US leaders are still leading significant DEI programs and committed to their values, just not in the public eye.

“In an effort to combat fraud, the Labor Department has pulled back money from states meant to help combat fraud.”

The Paperwork Reduction Act Created a Paperwork Explosion - a pretty intense commentary from the former CTO of the VA again highlighting that huge opportunities not just for efficiency in government, but better customer service exist, but are being missed or ignored by current efficiency efforts.