Campbell Institute News

"If Democrats want universal adult voter registration, nonpartisan electoral districting and mandatory disclosure of election-related spending, they would probably have to embed those requirements in the Constitution as well," writes Thomas Keck, Michael O. Sawyer Chair of Constitutional Law and Politics.

"Now a majority of people opt to start claiming at 62," says John Palmer, university professor and dean emeritus, about social security benefits, in an article for the U.S. News & World Report.

Chris Faricy, associate professor of political science, says  "You can tell people you gave them a tax cut, but if they don’t believe it and their refunds are smaller, it’s a hard sell politically," in an article for Bloomberg. 

"If enacted, this directive will add an organizational overhead expense for this separation and will create countless bureaucratic fist fights over what goes into which part of this new Department of the Air Force enterprise," writes Sean O'Keefe, University Professor and Howard G. and S. Louise Phanstiel Chair in Strategic Management and Leadership.

"Most experts agree that there is no crisis at the southern border," William Banks, professor emeritus of public administration and international affairs, says about Trump's claim that a wall is needed because of a crisis at the border.

Generally, people find workers and taxpayers to be deserving of government benefits,” says Christopher Faricy, associate professor of political science.

"Most people are not being inundated with fake news," says Emily Thorson, assistant professor of political science. "That is not to say that this isn’t a problem, but I don’t think this is the magnitude of a problem that people often think it is."

"Politicians are always looking to avoid blame," says Shana Gadarian, associate professor of political science. "It's not surprising that the IRS is one of the agencies where people are now going back, because people do notice if they don't get their tax refunds on time. What this is doing is to try and get the public to not notice, to smooth over some of the bumps we'll see if the shutdown continues much longer." 

According to University Professor Sean O'Keefe, "...it isn’t necessarily the beginning of a new space race as much as it is evidence that exploration beyond low Earth orbit is picking up momentum. That’s been a long time coming, but it signals the dawning of a new chapter of global ambitions to explore our neighborhood in this solar system." 

“Codifying Data Analytics for Public Policy as an area of study will allow us to deepen and expand our relationships with top employers in this area and ensure that Maxwell remains at the leading edge of this rapidly evolving field,” said Chair and Professor of Public Administration and International Affairs Robert Bifulco about Maxwell's new area of study in Data Analytics for Public Policy.

"Today’s technology gives us the means to minimize human risk of space ventures by having a much better idea of what we’re likely to encounter and the ability to have a much better plan of what we can do when people do arrive," says Sean O'Keefe, University Professor and Howard and Louise Phanstiel endowed Chair in Strategic Management and Leadership. 

"There still isn’t clarity on what is the best way for the Democratic Party to position itself to face Republicans generally and Donald Trump specifically," says Professor of Political Science Grant Reeher, adding that there are good arguments to be made on both sides. "I still don’t think it’s clear. And Bloomberg himself is unclear."

"The new Democratic majority in the House spells big trouble for President Trump, who will now be subject to substantial congressional oversight," says Thomas Keck, Michael O. Sawyer Chair of Constitutional Law and Politics.

"If there are going to be deals between the House of Representatives and the president, one of the main places will be in the budget, so the appropriations committee will have a big role," says Professor of Political Science Grant Reeher.

No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, accept your temporary defeats and get involved in local or national affairs, encourages Keith Bybee, professor of political science. Studies indicate that volunteering—participating in a cause greater than yourself—is a surefire way to boost your well-being.