Jeffrey Lewis in Government Executive | 'Marine General Lays Groundwork for Unprecedented Change'

Communications — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:45:00 -0400

New America in the News:
Even some of the general's greatest admirers said that his justification for the intercept strained credulity. "I am willing to believe General Cartwright, even though his statement makes no sense to me," said Jeffrey Lewis, who directs the Nuclear Strategy and Nonproliferation Initiative for the New America Foundation. "His personal credibility is so high." LINK

Maya MacGuineas in Government Executive | "Final Budget Battle"

Communications — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:55:00 -0500

New America in the News:

Congress, administration gear up for final budget battle (Government Executive)

"The president won," said Maya MacGuineas, director of the fiscal policy program at the New America Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank.

Michael Dannenberg on Student Aid Chief on GovExec.com

Communications — Mon, 14 May 2007 09:32:00 -0400

New America in the News:

An executive running the Education Department's Federal Student Aid office took home more than $250,000 in performance bonuses over the last four years, a period in which the office's oversight capabilities have been called into question.

Theresa Shaw, who is stepping down in June as chief operating officer of the office, received the bonuses under a 1998 law aimed at modernizing the organization's management. For fiscal 2003, Shaw took home a $71,250 bonus. She received a $60,000 bonus for fiscal 2004, $65,000 for fiscal 2005 and $65,000 for fiscal 2006, according to the department...

Shaw's office has been under increased scrutiny relating to its oversight of the student loan industry since revelations of improper financial ties among universities, companies and government officials came to light. In one instance, Matteo Fontana, who worked with Shaw at Sallie Mae before both came to Education, was put on administrative leave because he acquired at least $100,000 in stock in a student loan company, a perceived conflict of interest.

"The office of federal student aid under Ms. Shaw's tenure has been characterized by a lack of oversight and negligent administration of the student loan program," said Michael Dannenberg, education policy director at the New America Foundation, a Washington-based think tank. "Her office has cost taxpayers and students hundreds of millions of dollars. To find out that she got a bonus is just stunning."

Dannenberg's calculation is based in part on recent revelations that student loan companies -- most notably the Nebraska-based company Nelnet -- used a loophole to receive a government-guaranteed 9.5 percent rate of return on loans offered to students at much lower interest rates...

For the complete article, please visit the Government Executive website.