Steve Stanek

Steve Stanek (sstanek@heartland.org) is a research fellow at The Heartland Institute and managing... (read full bio)

Fed Stands Pat on Mortgage-Backed Securities Program

Steve Stanek

|

October 31, 2012

No change. For now. The Federal Reserve has announced it will make no change in its bond-buying program that is keeping interest rates artificially low.
Fed's Low-Interest Rate Policies Dragging Down Banks' Profits

Steve Stanek

|

October 31, 2012

People who save money in banks or money markets, hold certificates of deposit, or live on fixed incomes are not the only ones being hurt by record-low interest rates.
New-Home Construction, Existing-Home Sales Climb

Steve Stanek

|

October 23, 2012

Residential home construction in September hit its highest level in four years, and in some markets, existing home sales also have been surging.
Three States Join Lawsuit Challenging Dodd-Frank Law

Steve Stanek

|

October 17, 2012

The states of Michigan, Oklahoma and South Carolina have joined a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
Obama, Ryan Budgets ‘Should Define This Election’

Steve Stanek

|

October 12, 2012

President Barack Obama’s budget plan would continue policies that have made the economic recovery since 2009 the weakest since the Great Depression, whereas those of Rep.
Fed Announces Limitless QE3; Skeptics Say It's More of What's Failed

Steve Stanek

|

September 13, 2012

By an 11-1 vote, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors signaled deep worry about the economy by pledging an open-ended program to create money and keep interest rates at or near record lows at lea
Republicans Put Gold-Backed Dollar Into Discussion if not Circulation

Steve Stanek

|

September 12, 2012

Not since 1971 has the dollar been tied to gold or other tangible asset. Now Republican Party leaders have put creation of a “gold commission” in the party’s official platform.
United States Drops Two Spots in World Competitiveness Ranking

Steve Stanek

|

September 05, 2012

For the fourth consecutive year, the World Economic Forum has lowered the United States in its annual ranking of the world’s most competitive economies.
Report: Pensions Biggest Culprit in States' $4 Trillion of Debt

Steve Stanek

|

August 29, 2012

States have shrunk their budget deficits by half compared to one year ago, yet their debt levels remain nearly unchanged.
Puerto Rico Embraces Pro-Growth, Pro-Wealth Policies

Steve Stanek

|

August 27, 2012

Four years ago Puerto Rico had a worse fiscal crisis than California, Illinois, or any other state.
Buffett Action Signals Concern Over Municipal Bonds

Steve Stanek

|

August 23, 2012

When the Oracle of Omaha speaks, investors tend to listen. And with actions speaking louder than words, there may be good reason for municipal bond investors to pay special attention.
Feds to Fannie and Freddie: Give Us Profits, Not Dividends

Steve Stanek

|

August 21, 2012

The Obama administration, without action by Congress, has restructured terms of the federal government’s bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored mortgage behemoths that went
Atlanta Voters Reject Transportation Tax, Slap Down Political Leaders

Steve Stanek

|

August 03, 2012

Atlanta-area voters have overwhelmingly rejected a proposed $7 billion transportation tax even though tax supporters outspent opponents more than 500 to one.
Flood Insurance Program Extended With Important Reforms

Steve Stanek

|

July 12, 2012

President Barack Obama has signed into law a five-year extension of the National Flood Insurance Program that includes a number of important reforms that program critics believe could improve its f
Obama Wants One-Year Extension of Bush-Era Tax Rates, But Only for Some

Steve Stanek

|

July 11, 2012

President Barack Obama has asked Congress to take up legislation that extends for one year the Bush-era tax rates for families earning less than $250,000 annually.
Second Scandal Rocks Futures Industry

Steve Stanek

|

July 10, 2012

Nine months after the collapse of MF Global rocked the commodities futures market comes news of a similar scandal involving Peregrine Financial Group, Inc.
Fed Keeps Twisting to Lower Long-Term Interest Rates; Doubters Abound

Steve Stanek

|

June 21, 2012

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday announced plans to expand “Operation Twist,” prompting some economists and financial experts to wonder why anyone would expect this move to succee
Truth Squad: Have Families Really Lost 40% of Wealth?

Steve Stanek

|

June 15, 2012

The recent Federal Reserve announcement that the Great Recession caused median family net worth in the U.S.
Short-Term Flood Insurance Extension Promises Long-Term Solutions

Steve Stanek

|

June 12, 2012

Federal legislators have given themselves until July 31 to okay a long-term extension of the troubled National Flood Insurance Program.
Overwhelming Support for Pension Reform in San Diego, San Jose

Steve Stanek

|

June 07, 2012

Wisconsin wasn’t the only place government unions took an election-day drubbing in June.

Steve Stanek

Stuff We Wish We Wrote - Homepage

friend us on facebook

Somewhat Reasonable

Reform Medicaid

Heartland Sites