By Rachel Goldfarb, originally published on Next New Deal
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What's the Deal: What's Next for Financial Reform (YouTube)
Roosevelt Institute Fellow Mike Konczal talks about what the Dodd-Frank financial reform law accomplished, what still needs to be done to change the system, and why there are reasons for reformers to be optimistic about the future.
- Roosevelt Take: Read "An Unfinished Mission," the report from the Roosevelt Institute and Americans for Financial Reform that Mike discusses in this video, here.
New Fed Chief Janet Yellen Lets a Long Career of Breaking Barriers Speak for Itself (WaPo)
Ylan Q. Mui profiles Janet Yellen's career with a focus on gender, as Yellen has been a prominent face for women in economics over the years. She notes that Yellen has rarely spoken on gender issues, and has asked her staff to use the title "chair" rather than "chairwoman."
Oh, Sweet Mercy, Are We About To Have Another Debt Ceiling Fight? (HuffPo)
Jason Linkins examines why another debt ceiling fight seems likely, even though the GOP has already lost bargaining power by giving in on the last two. He sees the Republicans' insistence on turning everything into a fight against Obamacare as a losing strategy.
Domino’s Delivery Workers Settle Suit for $1.3 Million (NYT)
Steven Greenhouse reports on the settlement between 61 deliverymen and a Manhattan Domino's franchise. The workers filed the suit based on minimum wage and overtime violations after many were forced to list far fewer hours on time sheets than they actually worked.
Walmart’s Holiday Profits are Way Down. Food Stamp Cuts are a Big Part of the Reason. (Washington Monthly)
Kathleen Geier says the most interesting part of this story is the explicit tie Walmart has made between food stamp cuts and low sales. She sees this as part of the cycle of austerity politics, which fail to recognize how government cuts can slow the overall economy.
Jerry Brown's Austerity Kick Unpopular with Advocates for Poor (LA Times)
Anthony York writes that Californians disagree on how to use their multibillion-dollar budget surplus. In his State of the State address, Governor Brown pushed for a rainy-day fund, but others are discussing popular social safety net proposals like universal pre-K and paid sick leave.
The Problem with Retirement Savings: Making Enough Money to Save (The Guardian)
Suzanne McGee praises President Obama's MyRA plan as a "tiny positive step," but points out that it won't do anything to solve the real problem. As wages have flatlined, increased options for saving won't help workers who need every dollar for bills today.