Russell Rhine, associate professor of economics, has been selected to work for Congress during the fall semester. He will be a senior economist with the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee, a bipartisan bicameral committee. Rhine will conduct economic analysis and make policy recommendations to legislators in both houses of Congress. He has been approved a leave of absence from St. Mary’s College of Maryland for this opportunity.
When asked how the job aligns with his research interests, Rhine explains, “Much of my research is on the causes of the continual expansion of the Federal government in size and scope. One implication of this expansion is the unsustainable growth of the Federal government debt. The committee chairman, Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.), is concerned about this issue and wants me to conduct an economic analysis on this and other topics.”
Rhine hopes that he can offer his expertise “to influence policy making at the highest level of the federal government and perhaps have a significant and lasting positive impact on the country.”