January 22, 1998
Contact:
Ann Marie Deer Owens
(615) 322-2706
[email protected]
As you prepare your coverage of President Clinton's State of the Union address Jan. 27, here is a list of Vanderbilt University faculty who are available to offer their perspectives on the address and some of the issues the President is likely to discuss:
Incremental reform continues "new Democrat" strategy The President is likely to stick with the moderate stance that won him re-election in 1996, says presidential scholar Erwin Hargrove. Clinton's current strategy of seeking reform in incremental steps is far more successful than what he tried with comprehensive health care reform at the start of his presidency. Hargrove also believes it will be very difficult for the GOP to combat Clinton's middle-of-the-road-approach with domestic issues. Hargrove, a professor of political science and co-author of "Presidents, Politics and Policy," says Clinton has enjoyed recent victories that dispel any notion he has become a lame duck. Hargrove can be reached at (615) 322-6227.
Proposals may have ironic effect While many political observers say the President's middle-of-the-road strategy will make it difficult for the GOP to offer new initiatives, a former chief of staff for the Republican National Committee says the Democratic leadership in Congress could also feel shortchanged. Bill Phillips, who is the co-author of "Nothing Sacred: Journalism, Politics and Public Trust in a Tell-All Age," says Clinton's desire to stake out a moderate role could result in neglect of traditional "bread and butter" issues for the Democratic party, such as support for organized labor and anti-poverty programs. Phillips, who currently works in administration at Vanderbilt, says Clinton is also setting himself apart from previous presidents with his blatant support for his vice president's political aspirations two years before the next presidential campaign. Phillips can be reached at (615) 322-8333.
Medicare buy-in plan "potential disaster" A Vanderbilt University economist warns that the plan to allow people aged 62 through 64 to buy into the Medicare health care program for $300 a month could bring disastrous results if there is a recession. J.S. Butler says both the President and Congress are rushing to take advantage of a momentary respite from budgetary problems to achieve short-run political gains. The prudent policy would be to set aside funds for future problems, such as the increased health care costs for an aging population. While proposals for expanded health coverage and day care subsidies from Clinton and tax cuts from the Republicans may be popular, he says the eventual result could be reductions in health coverage. Butler, who has written extensively on labor economics, work and health after retirement and the effects of the food stamp program, can be reached at (615) 322-3237.
Education standards bring consistency National educational standards are a good way to quantify the inconsistencies among individual states, according to Charles B. Myers, a professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Vanderbilt's Peabody College of education and human development. Much of the criticism of the Clinton Administration's proposal for voluntary national standards centers on the tests themselves. "I'm willing to accept the narrowness of the test and its validity for the time being because we have to start somewhere," he says. Myers is the author of the new book "Re-Creating Schools: Places Where Everyone Learns and Likes It." He currently heads a national task force that is preparing standards for certification of social studies teachers and can be reached at (615) 343-2598.
Child care initiatives should target low-income families Any new child care initiatives should focus on helping low-income families with child care through direct subsidies, according to May Shayne, an expert in children's issues at Vanderbilt's Institute for Public Policy Studies. Subsidized child care for low-income families delivers much greater "bang for the buck" than does subsidy of care for middle-income families, who are the beneficiaries of the proposed child care tax credits. Research shows that high-quality child care has a significant beneficial effect on children at risk of academic, behavioral and developmental problems. However, at least one study has shown that only one out of seven centers provides excellent care. Shayne, who is director of the Center for State and Local Government Policy at Vanderbilt, is helping evaluate the effectiveness of a new neighborhood after-school care program in Nashville, Tenn. She can be reached at (615) 322-8524 or (615) 383-4965.
NIH funding increase to replace scientists' aging infrastructure President Clinton's proposed $1 billion increase in NIH funding will enable scientists to replace equipment and other "infrastructure" lost in earlier budget cuts, according to Travis Thompson, director of the John F. Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development at Vanderbilt. Thompson, who has testified before Congress on the need for increased funding for research into developmental disabilities, says efforts to understand the connections between genetics, brain science and early child development would receive a boost from the President's plan. The proposed increases in biomedical research funding will spur development of "tailor-made interventions" to prevent some of the more severe aspects of early-childhood disabilities, he says. Thompson's research focuses on multidisciplinary approaches to problem-solving in developmental disabilities. He can be reached at (615) 322-8242.
Broader view of research needed The President's plan to increase federal funding for biomedical research is too narrow and overlooks the important medical benefits that have resulted from other types of research. Richard Chappell, an adjunct professor of physics and former chief scientist for NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, says the President needs to address research and development needs across the board. "The nature of science is that you never know where the next big breakthrough will come from." For example, research conducted as a result of the U.S. space program has contributed in such medical advances as laser angioplasty and improved mammograms. Chappell, who is also Vanderbilt's director of science and research communications, can be reached at (615) 321-9588.
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