The European Union (EU) has announced plans to levy a tax on airline emissions for all planes landing and taking off from EU airports. This tax would be calculated not only based on mileage flown in EU airspace but also for the entire length of the flight (thus, Chinese and Japanese airlines would be taxed for an entire journey from Beijing or Tokyo).

The Mountain West —Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah —has become the new swing region in American politics. All signs point to these states, especially Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico, being crucial in the 2012 election. Unfortunately, the rise of this region has been underreported in the media,...

In "It’s Even Worse Than It Looks," congressional scholars Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution and Norman Ornstein of AEI identify two overriding problems that have led Congress — and the United States — to the brink of institutional collapse. Mann and Ornstein call on the media as well as the public at large to focus on the true causes of dysfunction.

The United States must condition the continuation of the U.S.-Iraqi relationship as it begins its exit from Iraq on the willingness of the Iraqi leadership to guide their country in the direction of greater stability, inclusivity and effective governance.

U.S. Election administration has changed dramatically since the controversial Florida vote count in the 2000 presidential election and additional changes in technology, election law and administrative practices might further strengthen future American elections.

During two closed sessions before the luncheon, committee members discussed the latest in financial regulation issues. At a luncheon briefing following these sessions, SFRC members gave several statements and answered questions.

The digital revolution is opening the doors for greater citizen participation in political events and government should create incentives to engage and expand the role of small donors.

Experts in health care policy reached a consensus on a set of concrete, feasible steps that show promise for slowing spending growth and improving quality in health care.