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Veronique de Rugy: Articles, Commentary, and Publications

Mercatus Reports: Spring 2008 - Bush at Midnight

April 22, 2008

This report in the Spring 2008 issue of Regulation discusses midnight regulations and the Bush Administration.

The Trillion-Dollar War

April 15, 2008

This article by Mercatus Center Senior Research Fellow Veronique de Rugy appeared as the May 2008 cover story in Reason. The article addresses the current spending levels and process used to fund the War on Terror. 

The Never-Ending Emergency: Trends in Supplemental Spending

April 14, 2008

In this Mercatus Policy Series paper, Mercatus Senior Research Fellow Veronique de Rugy takes a look at the use of supplemental spending over the last 25 years. The paper addresses the budget rules that lawmakers are subject to, it looks at trends in supplemental spending, demonstrates how the White House and Congress have abused their powers to request and pass supplemental bills, and also offers four different and complementary ways to fix the supplemental spending process.

Midnight Regulations: An Update

March 28, 2008

In this working paper, Veronique de Rugy and Antony Davies show that, going back to 1948, when the White House switches parties, the number of pages in the Federal Register increases on average by 17 percent in the three months following an election. This outburst of regulatory activity is called "midnight regulation," and it suggests a consistent effort on the part of administrations of both parties to hurry regulation through before they leave office.

Facts and Figures about Seven Years of Homeland Security Spending

March 3, 2008

In this working paper, Veronique de Rugy discusses ten facts about Homeland Security spending since 2001.

Billions and billions dig a deeper hole

February 6, 2008

Veronique de Rugy writes on President Bush's fiscal year 2009 budget in this Los Angeles Times op-ed.

Mercatus Reports: Winter 2007 - Big Banks, Not Small Businesses, Benefit from the SBA

December 31, 2007

This report in the Winter 2007 issue of Regulation discusses the ways in which large banks benefit from SBA loan programs.

Small Business Administration: Is the 7(a) Program Achieving Measurable Outcomes?

November 1, 2007

This testimony was delivered before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security. Mercatus Senior Research Fellow Veronique de Rugy discusses the Small Business Administration's 7(a) loan programs, the role of SBA loans in the market for capital, and the program's lack of outcome-based performance measurement.

Is Port Security Funding Making Us Safer?

November 1, 2007

Veronique de Rugy writes on the effectiveness of increased port security spending in this paper written for Audits of the Conventional Wisdom, a publication of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Center for International Studies. 

Mercatus On Policy - A Guaranteed Success?

September 24, 2007

Mercatus Senior Research Fellow Veronique de Rugy examines SBA loan guarantee programs and analyzes whether they are necessary and effective.

Mercatus On Policy - Banking on the SBA

September 24, 2007

Mercatus Senior Research Fellow Veronique de Rugy analyzes the ways in which the banking industry benefits from issuing and selling government-guaranteed small-business loans.

Why Washington was right to reduce its anti-terrorism grant to Los Angeles

July 30, 2007

Veronique de Rugy discusses the Department of Homeland Security's anti-terrorism grant allocation process in this Los Angeles Times op-ed.

The Debate Room: Axe the SBA

June 22, 2007

Veronique de Rugy debates the value of the Small Business Administration in this Business Week "Debate Room" article.

Budgetary Sleight of Hand

June 4, 2007

Veronique de Rugy discusses the use of emergency supplemental dollars to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in this Washington Times op-ed.

Rangel-ing Over AMT

May 23, 2007

In this New York Sun op-ed, Veronique de Rugy writes on past, present, and future of the Alternative Minimum Tax.

France's Battle With Pride

May 8, 2007

Veronique de Rugy writes on the promises of new French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, in this New York Sun op-ed.

Let Them Be

April 23, 2007

Veronique de Rugy writes in this Wall Street Journal op-ed, "Politicians of all stripes seem to worship small businesses, and enjoy showering the objects of their reverence with all manner of totems and gifts -- targeted tax credits, regulatory favors, preferences for landing public contracts. But what the government gives with the right hand it has a nasty habit of taking away with the left. There's a much better way to pay respect: Get out of their way."

The SBA's Justification IOU

April 9, 2007

The promotion of small business is a cornerstone of U.S. economic policy. There are about 25 million small firms in the United States, employing almost 50 percent of all workers. Given their share of employment and the influence that many small business owners have in their communities, small businesses attract considerable political attention to their common concerns.