Rubin, Clinton aides form research group

WASHINGTON --Former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and other policymakers in the Clinton administration are forming a research group to tackle some of the country's long-run economic problems.

The group announced Wednesday will be called the Hamilton Project, after Alexander Hamilton, the first treasury secretary. It will be housed at the liberal Brookings Institution.

"The Hamilton Project believes that our country can have a bright economic future, but realizing that potential will require dramatic change in economic policy," Rubin said.

Rubin, who was President Clinton's second treasury secretary, will serve on the advisory board.

Joining him will be Roger Altman, deputy treasury secretary in the Clinton administration. Also on the advisory board will be Laura Tyson, who was head of Clinton's National Economic Council, and Alan Blinder, who served on the Council of Economic Advisers.

Rubin said the group was in search of moderate Republicans to join in supporting the research effort that would seek to address such problems as growing income inequality, federal budget deficits and the huge trade deficits.

One of the group's research papers released on Wednesday recommended that school districts address a looming shortage of teachers by creating a second path to teaching that would not require applicants to get teaching certificates.

Instead, applicants with an undergraduate degree and knowledge in a specific subject could start teaching right away on a trial basis, with their performance judged over a two-year period.

Peter Orszag, a special assistant for economics in the Clinton White House, will serve as director of the Hamilton Project.

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On the Net:

Hamilton Project: http://www.hamiltonproject.org