Newsmakers

Frank on Maddow

By Robert Preer

Johnson Professor of Economics Bob Frank spoke with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow (“The Rachel Maddow Show,” Feb. 28) in support of targeted infrastructure spending to boost U.S. economic growth. Countering the suggestion that this type of spending would dangerously neglect needed deficit reduction, Frank told Maddow that an injection of funds into short-term, specific projects will help the deficit longterm. Says Frank, “The deficit is not an artificial problem, but it is a long-term problem.”

Earlier, Frank was invited to talk with Maddow on her program via satellite to discuss job creation vis-à-vis spending (Nov. 30, 2010). He shared his thoughts on extending unemployment insurance and Bush-era tax cuts. Maddow celebrated Frank’s opinions on issues such as the need to extend unemployment benefits insurance and end Bush-era tax cuts on the very wealthy.