Topic: The Pew Charitable Trusts

Obama budget: Is it 'austere'?

President Barack Obama's 2014 budget includes increases in spending for setting up health exchanges, increasing scrutiny for food safety, and gun violence and Alzheimer's disease research. It includes cuts to Medicare, such as reducing subsidies for wealthier people and diminishing the pay rate for physicians.

Humans kill nearly 100 million sharks each year, say conservationists

Shark populations have declined rapidly, driven largely by demand for shark fins, a delicacy in many Asian countries.

Obama's universal preschool proposal: Game-changer or federal overreach?

President Obama said in his State of the Union address that he will push for universal preschool. Advocates say the plan could be transformational, but critics say it's too ambitious. 

Opinion: Bring back the American Dream? It’s not that hard.

The problem isn't lack of knowledge on what to do, but partisan arguments that ignore common-sense consensus. America needs an activist government and individual responsibility. It needs immediate job creation, and over the long term, debt reduction and stronger families.

The Monitor's View: Feeling poor? Wealthy? Here's a reason why.

More studies probe gaps between people, especially in income. This trend only reinforces a self-image based on stereotypes and relative comparisons. Isn't identity anchored first in the absolutes of life?

Consumer Energy Report 'Race for the Arctic' exposes need for US to ratify UN treaty

As the world continues to seek out new energy sources, the Arctic Ocean is becoming a hot bed of activity. The US must ratify the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in order to secure exclusivity rights to the lucrative area.

Parents support limits on junk food in school vending machines

As the number of children classified as obese continues to grow, the US government is planning possible new limits on junk food sold in school vending machines, a move most parents support according to a new poll.

Top 5 nations that use renewable energy

Here are the top users of renewables, not counting biofuels or hydroelectricity.  Numbers indicate country percentage of total global renewable usage.

Tax VOX What is a 'value-added tax' and what can it mean for the economy?

A well-designed Value-Added Tax, a national consumption levy that would tax household purchases of all goods and services, could simplify the tax code for most households and finance significant reductions in corporate and individual income tax rates without adding to the budget deficit.

The defining issue of 2012: Who should government serve?

The biggest political issue of the coming year won't be the government's size, but who that government is for: corporations or people?

Two options for fixing the nation's budget mess

With congressional deficit reduction efforts largely collapsed, the question remains: What are we going to do about the nation’s long-term budget crisis?

Is American dream fragile? History says it's strong.

The rise in bank fees is over

Bank fees typically go up before new regulations. Now that the rules are in place, the most troublesome fee hikes are disappearing and competition will keep them from coming back.

Staph in meat: Are US cattle and poultry over-drugged?

A new report warns that Staph bacteria are showing up in high rates at supermarkets, raising concerns about whether US meat and poultry industries rely too heavily on antibiotic drugs.

Obama signs historic food safety law: Will it make dinner safer?

The food safety law aims to secure the farm-to-table food chain. But some Republicans are threatening to hold up funding, saying the food supply is already '99.999 percent safe.'

Senate clears bill to tighten food safety. Will House go along?

Food Safety Modernization Act passed the Senate Tuesday on a bipartisan vote. The legislation, which gives the US added powers to inspect and recall, moves to the House, where hurdles remain, especially over cost.

Does the GOP really want to slash spending in a weak economy?

Yes, the GOP wants to shrink the government. Yes, some voters agree. But is this the time?

Immigrants gaining jobs, native-born Americans aren't

Since the recession's end in June 2009, legal and illegal immigrants posted a net gain of 656,000 jobs, while native-born Americans lost 1.2 million, says a Pew Hispanic Center report.

Timber companies agree on conservation plan for Canadian forests

Timber officials inked a deal with nine environmental groups. Increasingly, boreal-forest preservation has been considered as vital as tropical-forest preservation in efforts to fight global warming.

The Art of the Steal: movie review

Backroom wranglings over the prestigious Barnes Foundation art collection play out as good guy vs. bad guy in 'The Art of the Steal' documentary.

US budget deficit: Finding solutions

The US budget deficit is surging and is likely to remain high for years unless Congress finds solutions. Some financial experts say that remedies will have to include new taxes.

New credit card laws 2010 still have 'gotchas.' Here are five steps to avoid them.

The most sweeping reforms of President Obama's new credit card laws went into effect Monday. But consumers must take these steps to avoid the 'gotchas.'

New credit card laws 2010: How will I benefit?

New credit card laws in 2010 will put an end to some confusing billing practices and retroactive interest-rate hikes. They took effect Monday.

Obama to create 17,000 green jobs. What's a green job?

Despite the president's initiative, no one really knows how to count green jobs. A definitive answer is months away.

Poll: Global warming is real, so do something, US voters say

A bipartisan poll released Monday finds that a majority of Americans believe global warming is happening and want the US government to act. The Senate will discuss a global warming bill Tuesday.