David Thornburgh
By David B. Thornburgh, Executive Director of Fels Institute of Government
Like any good public-policy watcher, I tuned in to the President’s State of the Union address last week. My reaction? As a speech…meh. More important to me, though, was the question about what we can reasonably expect the President to deliver from the agenda he outlined in his address. It’s in...
Fels Executive Director David Thornburgh was recently asked by National Public Radio (NPR) to comment on their story about "The Most Dangerous Desk Jobs in Washington", which concerned the role of those leading federal agencies under a very public microscope after events such as a natural disaster or unflattering report. Click here to go to NPR's website.
A verbal bouquet of things to love about February - snowstorms not included!
By David B. Thornburgh, Executive Director of Fels Institute of Government
Because everything has been said, but not everybody has said it, here's my top
5 list of takeaways from Election Night 2012:
1. The Center Rules
What will it take for the GOP to
learn that the divisive Tea Party social issue fringe doesn't win presidential
elections? Am I the only one to notice that...
In a recent Philadelphia Inquirer article, Fels Executive Director David Thornburgh commented on Philadelphia’s growing appeal to young professionals and remarked that “Philadelphia's ace in the hole is its authenticity, its lack of pretension.” With 393,000 young adults, a 50,000 increase from a decade ago, Philadelphia has been able to retain and attract recent college graduates. Read more...
In our constantly moving global economy, we all rely on a complex web of transportation. Yet, while the nation keeps bustling forward, our transportation system is being left behind. Washington is taking note as the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, addressed the issue by suggesting "it was very unlikely that a transportation reauthorization bill will pass in the current session." While...
The word is out -- “Moving People, Practically Speaking” at the National Constitution Center on Thursday, February 2nd is a not-to-be-missed program! The first of a series of events set to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Fels Institute of Government, the program will examine and discuss the future of transportation in the United States. The event has received notice from the Wall Street...
In his 2008 convention speech, Barack Obama proposed to create five million green economy jobs. In April 2009, the US Conference of Mayors predicted that green jobs would result in 10 percent of new job growth over the next 30 years. However, with soaring unemployment rates and a stagnating economy, the feasibility of such job opportunities is raising more and more questions. Although...
Fels Executive Director David Thornburgh was recently featured on a BBC Radio broadcast with his observations about the upcoming mid-term elections. In addition, he has a new series of weekly commentaries featured on KYW News Radio in Philadelphia. Thornburgh's commentaries from both the BBC and KYW can be heard on Fels' iTunes U channel.
What is "ovation inflation", who is Sallie Glickman, and why is PhillyStat on the shelf in the City of Brotherly Love? Answers to these and many other questions can be found in the latest one minute commentaries by David Thornburgh, Fels' Executive Director, which can now be heard on Fels' iTunes U channel. David's observations on issues which affect business, government, and nonprofits in the...
