He has authored numerous articles on budgeting and federalism and his book, the Politics of Unfunded Mandates received the award for best book on federalism from the American Political Science Association. Prior to his academic career Dr. Posner was Managing Director for federal budget and intergovernmental relations at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. He consults with the OECD Senior Budget Officers group, the IMF, and several commissions recently established in the United States to deal with the federal deficit.

Presentation Overview

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND FEDERALISM: AN INFLECTION POINT?
The Obama Administration has initiated major changes in domestic policy and the role of the states. Compared to previous Administrations, this one has continued to centralize authority and responsibility for domestic policy in Washington. However, it has done so through greater reliance on fiscal transfers and competitive grants than pure mandates of the past. In launching new policy initiatives, it provided greater flexibility for state variations, enabling more progressive states to go beyond federal standards while giving the option to conservative states to opt out of program management responsibilities. The sustainability of these strategies, however, is uncertain as deficits begin to crowd the agendas of all levels of government.