Category: Public Policy

SEC Changes it Policy on Fraud Settlement Language…Somewhat

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has made a nuanced policy shift toward its fraud investigation settlements.  Previously the SEC allowed companies to settle fraud charges by paying a fine without admitting wrongdoing.  This practice has received widespread criticism despite SEC claims that it encouraged settlement and avoided expensive litigation. Going forward, the SEC will no longer allow defendants to say …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2012/01/sec-changes-it-policy-on-fraud-settlement-language-somewhat/

$535 million U.S. Loan to Solyndra was predicted to be a failure

Solyndra was a manufacture of solar cells based in Freemont California. In August & September 2011, Solyndra ceased all business activity, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and laid off all employees. The federal government is Solyndra’s largest creditor, having made the company a $535 million loan guarantee. The interesting thing about this loan is not …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/09/535-million-u-s-loan-to-solyndra-was-predicted-to-be-a-failure/

What Did S&P Actually Downgrade?

Late on Friday, August 5th, Standard and Poor’s changed their rating on long term US government debt from AAA to AA+.  The move puts S&P in disagreement with Moody’s, which had reaffirmed their highest rating for the US shortly after the debt ceiling deal.  It also occurred despite the administration’s position that there was a trillion dollar error …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/08/what-did-sp-actually-downgrade-2/

California Quits the Early Primary Game

The California Legislature recently decided with the full support of Governor Brown to forgo having a split primary as it has had in recent presidential election cycles.  Instead next year California will have just one primary election in June, likely well after the presidential candidates have been chosen. Envious of the attention given to small …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/08/california-quits-the-early-primary-game/

Most Debt-Limit Debate Ignores the Real Issues

Yesterday, we initiated a new poll regarding the topic that is dominating current financial news. However, while the poll does address the question of tax increases vs. spending cuts, any poll limited to a single question on this difficult subject cannot address the full issue. The real issue is the deficit. Borrowing is only required …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/07/most-debt-limit-debate-ignores-the-real-issues/

Spending That Pays for Itself

Occasionally one is faced with a moment of clarity; a choice that forces a display of where someone’s true priorities lie.  This occurs when two professed priorities are placed at odds against each other.  Congressional Republicans recently faced this dilemma.  What was foremost on their minds? Is it reducing the deficit, making the government run sensibly like a business, or shrinking …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/04/spending-that-pays-for-itself/

A Ponzi scheme to make Bernie Madoff blush

Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme shocked the nation.  Initial estimates of missing client money were around $65 billion. A court later declared actual client losses of $18 billion. Many characterized the scandal as the biggest Ponzi scheme in history.  Of schemes that have already collapsed, the characterization might be true, but to call it the largest …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/04/a-ponzi-scheme-to-make-bernie-madoff-blush-2/

Social Security goes paperless…saves a bunch of trees and a ton of dough.

The Social Security program is undergoing several changes in 2011.  One seemingly benign change is that new recipients will be required to utilize direct deposit or have their payments loaded onto a prepaid Debit MasterCard (existing retirees have until March 2013 to make the switch).  No more paper checks…a fact which will put a smile …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/01/social-security-goes-paperless%e2%80%a6saves-a-bunch-of-trees-and-a-ton-of-dough/