Latest News From Demos

PROP Trading ACT: Crucial Reform Limits Bank Risk-Taking, Will Help Restore Stability and Accountability to Our Financial System;

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:48:00 EST

Washington--Under a bill introduced in the Senate yesterday, The PROP Trading ACT, bank holding companies that benefit from federal deposit insurance and access to the Federal Reserve discount window would be banned from making speculative investments in stocks and derivatives for their own accounts. They would also be prohibited from owning hedge funds or private-equity firms, among other critical changes. The five Democratic senators who backed this bill include Senator Merkley, a key advocate of financial industry reform on the Senate Banking Committee, and has the support of Senator Levin, Senator Kaufman, Senator Sherrod Brown, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen. In response, Heather C. McGhee, Washington Director Demos, issued the following statement.

Demos and The American Prospect Magazine Announce Partnership;

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:47:00 EST

New York--This week, Demos and The American Prospect magazine (www.prospect.org) announced a strategic and institutional partnership of the two organizations with the following joint statement:

Demos Welcomes Civil Rights and Labor Activist Si Kahn and Environmental Journalist Heather Rogers as Fellows;

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:03:00 EST

New York, NY--Demos, a national research and policy center, is pleased to announce the addition of two new members of its fellows program who are also developing new books under the Demos Books Project.

Leaked Financial Regulation Plan Puts Bank Profits Before Families; Independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency Needed Now; Demos Responds to Banking Committee Proposal, Publishes CFPA Briefing Paper; National Call-in Week to Support CFPA, March 1-4: 866-544-7573

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:58:00 EST

Washington--This weekend, details of a revised Senate Banking Committee financial industry regulatory proposal were leaked to the public. The plan, a result of months of lobbying by the banking industry, the Chamber of Congress and corporate interests, reveals highly compromised reforms that tilt power toward banks and the failed regulators who contributed to the financial crisis.

In response, the following statement was issued from Demos, which has been supporting the establishment of an independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) to protect families and small business from abusive financial products.

Maryland's Voters Would Benefit from Same Day Registration; Bill Debate Starts Today; Turnout Increases of 4.3 Percent Likely Under Current Proposed Legislation

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:18:00 EST

Annapolis, MD--In the historic 2008 presidential election, Maryland ranked 12th among states in voter participation by eligible residents. Voter participation in Maryland could significantly increase if the state passes Same Day Registration (SDR) into law, according to a new report published today by Demos and released in collaboration with ACLU of Maryland.

Same Day Registration significantly improves voter participation in states where it is law, and today the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee of the Maryland General Assembly, is holding a hearing on a new SDR bill, Senate Bill 417.

Banks Levy New Extreme Fees and Penalties Despite Credit Card Law; New Independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency Needed Now; Demos Issues Statement on CARD Act and Upcoming Financial Regulation Debate; Publishes Background Paper on Consumer Financial Protection Agency

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST

WASHINGTON--This week, even as the reforms of the CARD Act take effect, reports show that credit card issuers are implementing a wide range of new and excessive fees and penalties that fall outside of the law's restrictions. Today, Demos, which has conducted extensive research on the growth of debt and credit industry practices, published a new briefing paper underscoring the urgent need for an independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) to establish rules against potentially abusive financial products.

Advocates Commend Census Bureau for Enhancing States' Access to Data on Prison Populations in 2010 Census; Bureau's Action Is First Step Toward Ending Prison-Based Gerrymandering

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:29:00 EST

New York, NY--This week, the Census Bureau has agreed to produce a new data product that will assist state and local governments in avoiding prison-based gerrymandering, whereby districts that contain prisons are given extra representation in the legislature. The move was commended by a national network of advocates working to reform state redistricting practices, including the Prison Policy Initiative, Demos, the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), and The National Coalition.

New Report Shows One- and Two- Year Credentials Offer Path to Jobs; Community college credentials can play a vital role in creating economic security for young adults while at the same time rejuvenating career opportunities.

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:20:00 EST

New York, NY--As President Obama calls for massive increases in Federal college grant aide in the 2011 budget, a new report by the policy center Demos shows how one-and two-year postsecondary degrees are vital tools for moving people into living-wage jobs.

New Demos Report Finds High-Risk Trading Profits Soared in '09 At Affected "Too Big to Fail" Firms; President Urges Congress to Act

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:06:00 EST

Washington, DC--Last night, President Obama called for directing $30 billion in TARP funds to community banks for small business lending, in recognition that the largest banks have used taxpayer funds for increased trading activity while lending remains low. He also reiterated his determination to limit the size and risk-taking of big banks. In response, the public policy center Demos issued the following statement from Washington DC office Director Heather McGhee, as well as new data examining 2009 earnings reported by the biggest banks and how that revenue is connected to trading activity:

Statewide Coalition Kicks Off Campaign to End Prison-Based Gerrymandering; Rev. Al Sharpton, Senator Eric T. Schneiderman, Assm. Hakeem Jeffries Will Introduce Bill to Change How New York Uses Census Prisoner Counts

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:32:00 EST

New York--The Rev. Al Sharpton, Senator Eric T. Schneiderman and Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries joined forces with a statewide coalition today to announce a new organizing campaign plan to end prison-based gerrymandering in New York State before the 2010 Census.