This year’s IASPS Koret Fellows Month in Washington was a tremendous success. This year three trained economists took part in the program. They spent a month in the office of U.S. legislators working on issues close to their Israeli research projects, which will be the basis for IASPS Policy Studies. All three Fellows, and the Congressional offices to which they were assigned, agreed that one month in Washington is just too short a time.

Telecommunications Reform

Daniela Green, who provides research for Raanan Cohen in the Knesset, spent her month in the office of Congressman Steve Largent of Oklahoma. Green spent her time preparing for hearings and committee markup sessions on the Tauzin-Dingell telecommunications reform bill, to which Congressman Largent was offering alternatives. 

Best known for his legendary prowess on the football field, Congressman Largent has made a name for himself in Congress as a champion of deregulating telephone and communications monopolies harmful to consumers. Green had an impact on Congressman Largent's policy alternatives as she prepared research on the effects both bills would have on consumers. 

While Congressman Largent's bill was ultimately defeated, Green learned the vital role that research plays in advancing the cause of free markets and increasing competition. Perhaps she will be able to put some of her experience in Washington to use in helping set Israel’s telecommunications firms on a course toward market-based operations, rather than perpetuating the expensive local monopoly that stifles creativity, growth and consumer satisfaction.

Anti-dumping 

Moria Katz, who works with Regional Cooperation Minister Tsippi Livni, spent her month in Washington working with Senator Charles Grassley, who is outgoing chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. 

Katz focused her research on the issue of anti-dumping legislation and the bilateral relationship between the United States and Canada. 

While in Senator Grassley's office, Katz worked closely with international trade lawyers who are negotiating trade agreements between the U.S. and Canada regarding the importing of Canadian lumber for use in home construction. Katz took part in meetings that took place between the two sides on Capitol Hill, and was an integral part of the question and answer session between the parties.

In addition to preparing research memos for the attorneys, Katz found time to blend into the office. Her office was across from the Senator's and the two visited frequently. Senator Grassley told her a story he was told by Yitzhak Shamir about the biblical origins of her first name, Moria. Katz also found time to attend a ceremonial function at the request of Senator Grassley's wife. 

This was the third year an IASPS Koret Fellow was placed in Senator Grassley's office. It is an important relationship and one that will continue next spring as the Senator has warmly expressed interest in hosting another Fellow next year. Special thanks to the Senator’s chief of staff, Ken Cunningham.

Solid Waste

Yaakov (Koby) Simana spent his month in Washington with Congressman Paul Gillmor of Ohio. Simana provides research to Housing and Construction Minister Natan Sharansky in Israel. Simana prepared several reports for the Congressman. Simana's special area of interest is municipal waste and it happens that Congressman Gillmor chairs a subcommittee on environment and public waste. The cornerstone of Simana's research for Congressman Gilmor was preparing a report on various regulations concerning interstate shipment of solid waste, as well as the amounts shipped from the various exporting states. 

The research he compiled expanded and updated the records of the U.S. government. Simana discovered that the federal government did not have accurate and up-to-date records on the amounts shipped to and from various states. The most recent federal records were two years old. Simana updated these statistics and pointed out loopholes in regulations that allowed states to report in different ways the amounts they either exported or imported. His research will be used by the Congressman when he prepares for legislation later this term. 

As part of their Month in Washington, the Fellows flew to San Francisco for a luncheon in their honor held by the Koret Foundation. At this luncheon, each of the three Fellows spoke on his work in the Knesset, the Congress, and his research at IASPS, and how the three meshed. 

At this luncheon with Bay Area Jewish and civic leaders, the Fellows told of the importance of the IASPS Koret Fellows Program in training an independent economic policy community in Israel, focused on bringing meaningful reform and new ideas to their country. There is no program like it in Israel, and judging by the reaction of the crowd in San Francisco and their hosts on Capitol Hill, IASPS's work is having a meaningful impact.

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