by Richard Eskow | Oct 2, 2015 | Blog, Education, Election 2016
The differences between the college financing plans offered by Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are important – both for their impact on the middle class, and for what they tell us about the candidates and their governing philosophies. Elementary and high school...
by Jeff Bryant | Oct 1, 2015 | Blog, Education
In New York City, this school year opened with a historic event: Every child who wanted to start pre-kindergarten was given a seat. As the New York Daily News reports, "Some 65,504 four-year-olds are now enrolled in full day pre-K." A more recent article from the same...
by Terrance Heath | Oct 1, 2015 | Blog, Conservatism, This Is The GOP
As John Boehner eyes the exit, the line-up for the post-Boehner House GOP leadership is all white, all male, and as extreme as they wanna be. House Republicans will vote for new leadership in just one week. House Speaker John Boehner’s decision to resign from Congress...
by Dave Johnson | Oct 1, 2015 | Blog, Conservatism, Democracy
Yesterday the House was presented with a "clean" continuing resolution to keep the government in operation. The House passed it overwhelmingly by 277-151. Wait, you thought this was controversial? You thought the House wanted to shut down the government over defunding...
by Dave Johnson | Oct 1, 2015 | Blog, Economy, Trans-Pacific Partnership
Vice President Joe Biden is considering a run for president. But Biden is currently working behind the scenes to push the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which most (if not all) core Democratic-aligned groups will likely oppose. Can Biden run for president as a...
by Bill Scher | Oct 1, 2015 | Uncategorized
3 PM ET Today: Webinar on the Federal Budget Battle Click here to join Robert Borosage at 3 PM ET today for a webinar and discussion on what matters in the federal budget debate and how we as progressives need to be positioning ourselves for the political fights...
by Robert Borosage | Oct 1, 2015 | Blog, Conservatism
It has come to this. In the last hours before a government shutdown, the Republican-led Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open for all of 72 more days (until December 11), with funding at current levels. The CR did not include the...
by Bill Scher | Sep 30, 2015 | Blog
For years, I and other liberals urged Speaker John Boehner to stand up to the Tea Party. Before the 2013 shutdown, I suggested Boehner dare the right-wing to oust him, and then partner with Democrats to save his speakership in exchange for a budget compromise and...
by Emily Schwartz Greco | Sep 30, 2015 | Blog, Climate, Conservatism
With his gentle grace, disarming humility, and penchant for saying “God bless America” like he means it, Pope Francis appeared to sweep Washington off its feet. Cheering throngs accompanied his every move. The powerful and powerless alike made a fuss. Take Senator...
by Dave Johnson | Sep 30, 2015 | Blog, Trade, Trans-Pacific Partnership
Negotiators are meeting in Atlanta, trying to wrap up the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). It might be wrapped up as soon as Thursday. While the agreement is secret, there are reasons for people to be very, very concerned. Here is a news article that explains why...
by Bill Scher | Sep 30, 2015 | Uncategorized
Warren Embraces Black Lives Matter Sen. Elizabeth Warren delivers powerful speech supporting Black Lives Matter: "Fifty years later, we have made real progress toward creating the conditions of freedom. But we have not made enough progress ... violence against African...
by Dave Johnson | Sep 30, 2015 | Blog, Conservatism, Jobs and Growth
Should we run our country for the benefit of We the People, or so that a few people can profit off of We the People? This is a question that is rising to the surface in a battle between those who want the United States Postal Service (USPS) maintained and expanded,...
by James A. Haught | Sep 29, 2015 | Blog, Progressive Vision
If you study history, you’ll see episodes that changed civilization. For example, in Ancient Greece, for the first time, bright thinkers sought natural explanations for the world around them, instead of believing that phenomena were caused by gods and spirits. This...
by Bill Scher | Sep 29, 2015 | Blog
[fve]https://youtu.be/NABnv4u1yl8[/fve] During the 2012 campaign, Mitt Romney repeatedly criticized President Obama for failing to reduce the unemployment rate below eight percent. Then, in the month before the election, the unemployment rate did drop below eight...
by Alan Jenkins | Sep 29, 2015 | Blog, Progressive Vision
When Viola Davis took the stage earlier this month to accept an historic Emmy Award for Best Leading Actress in a Drama, she declared that “the only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.” Her poignant words were about racial and gender...
by Bill Scher | Sep 29, 2015 | Uncategorized
Trump Tax Plan Far From Populist Trump's tax plan helps the rich. Time: "The 25% rate for higher earners compares to a top marginal rate today of 39.6% (plus Medicare surtaxes) ... Trump’s plan also eliminates the estate tax. And it cuts the income tax rate paid by...
by Terrance Heath | Sep 29, 2015 | Blog, Conservatism, This Is The GOP
House Speaker John Boehner is like the ineffectual substitute teacher whose presence barely keeps an unruly class in line, and whose exit ensures that chaos will ensue. Boehner’s exit leaves a chaotic House GOP without adult supervision. On Friday, Boehner (R-Ohio)...
by Isaiah J. Poole | Sep 28, 2015 | Blog, Tax Reform
Donald Trump has a tax plan for you, and it's going to be "amazing" – especially if you happen to be a billionaire like Trump, or even a mere millionaire. Yes, his tax plan will take millions of lower-income people off the tax rolls. Married couples earning less than...
by Dave Johnson | Sep 28, 2015 | Blog
A new round of negotiations is underway in Atlanta this week between the United States and 11 Pacific Rim countries. They are trying to finalize the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Some groups are asking people to come to Atlanta to protest. There are also calls for...
by Elizabeth Warren | Sep 28, 2015 | Blog, Economy, Jobs and Growth, Progressive Vision
Senator Elizabeth Warren Remarks at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate September 27, 2015 [fve]https://youtu.be/IPEDI2hR0dM[/fve] ***As Prepared for Delivery*** Thank you. I'm grateful to be here at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the...
by Bill Scher | Sep 28, 2015 | Uncategorized
Could Shutdown Still Happen? No deal yet to keep government open. THe Hill: "'No, I wish it were true,' Pelosi said [on CNN]. 'All we have agreed is that we have to honor the calendar which says that on Sept. 30 the fiscal year ends and we have to have a continuing...
by Robert Borosage | Sep 28, 2015 | Blog, Democracy, Progressive Vision
The Washington Post on Saturday reported that Hillary Clinton has launched “an intense press to stockpile campaign dollars in the final days of the quarter, aiming to build a war chest big enough to eclipse what is expected to be a healthy fundraising haul by Sen....
by Bernie Horn | Sep 28, 2015 | Blog, Democracy, Progressive Vision
Pope Francis on Saturday delivered a homily at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Billed as an address on religious freedom, conservatives hoped and expected the Pope to praise their hard-line opposition to abortion, contraception and LGBT rights. Right-wingers could...
by Terrance Heath | Sep 25, 2015 | Conservatism, This Is The GOP
Pope Francis came to town in Washington, DC, this week, calling for a “revolution of tenderness,” and bringing his powerful messages on climate change and poverty to Congress. Naturally, wingnuts don't want to hear it. Right-wingers have been giving Pope Francis the...
by Dave Johnson | Sep 25, 2015 | Blog, Climate, Conservatism, This Is The GOP
In honor of Pope Francis' address to Congress, House Republicans are taking up their "Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development", or RAPID, Act. (Democrats are calling it the "Regrettably Another Partisan Ideological Distraction.") With this bill...
by Dave Johnson | Sep 25, 2015 | Blog, Conservatism, This Is The GOP
Today's dog-bites-man story is that Jeb! Bush said something really stupid. Again. Jeb! says Pope Francis should keep his climate views to himself because he's not a scientist. HuffPo: "Jeb: Pope Shouldn't Discuss Climate Change Because He's 'Not A Scientist'": Former...
by Bill Scher | Sep 25, 2015 | Blog
Speaker John Boehner resigned, presumably, to save the government from another shutdown. Now he can pass a bill to keep the government open -- while also maintaining funds for women's health clinics including Planned Parenthood -- by relying on Democratic votes to...
by Bill Scher | Sep 25, 2015 | Uncategorized
BREAKING: Boehner To Resign Boehner to leave Congress after keeping government open. Politico: "Now that he doesn't have internal political considerations to weigh, Boehner is certain to push through a government-funding bill next week that funds Planned Parenthood,...
by Bill Scher | Sep 25, 2015 | Blog
A faction of anti-abortion conservatives is one week from shutting down the government over the funding of Planned Parenthood. Yet they got no words of encouragement from Pope Francis, leader of the biggest anti-abortion institution in the world. In fact, Pope Francis...
by Jeff Bryant | Sep 24, 2015 | Blog, Conservatism, Education, This Is The GOP
If Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker thought running for President of the United States was a big challenge, he may be facing an even more imposing contest back in his home state. Last week, all across the community of greater Milwaukee, thousands of parents and public...
by Emily Schwartz Greco | Sep 24, 2015 | Climate, Conservatism, This Is The GOP
The second Republican presidential debate shed light on why the GOP doesn’t want to do anything about climate change. Senator Marco Rubio led the way, misconstruing the shift toward green-energy — which even Royal Dutch Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden says is in...
by Dave Johnson | Sep 24, 2015 | Blog, Conservatism, Economy, This Is The GOP
Republicans have shut down the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank because a vehement minority of them don't believe the American government should have a role in helping American companies compete in the world. Republicans also don't believe that the American government...
by Bill Scher | Sep 24, 2015 | Uncategorized
Pope Addresses Congress Today Pope addresses Congress at 10 AM ET. NYT: "... both sides of the aisle will be looking to his words for moral support for their arguments. Democrats were already cheered by his backing of immigration and climate change regulation during...
by Dave Johnson | Sep 24, 2015 | Blog
Again and again we hear about corporations doing bad things so they can make more money: polluting, selling contaminated food or otherwise harming people's health, selling products that injure people or just don't do what they advertise, tricking and scamming people...
by Isaiah J. Poole | Sep 23, 2015 | Jobs and Growth
The Federal Reserve's decision last week not to increase interest rates was preceded by a considerable amount of commentary that our economy, with a 5.1 percent overall unemployment rate, was close to "full employment." If an economy has reached "full employment" at a...
by Keith Ellison | Sep 23, 2015 | Blog, Progressive Vision
This week the Pope, the world's most influential religious leader, is speaking to the world's most powerful legislature. The Pope's message of helping the poor, healing the planet, and balancing the scales of justice is a timely call to action. People everywhere will...
by Bill Scher | Sep 23, 2015 | Blog, Conservatism
Republicans, uncomfortable over Pope Francis' focus on climate, were given a glimmer of hope last week that the papal visit would backfire on President Obama. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that "the Vatican has taken offense at the Obama administration’s...
by Terrance Heath | Sep 23, 2015 | Blog, Economy, Jobs and Growth, Progressive Vision
As Pope Francis brings his powerful message on poverty to America, the U.S. Census Bureau’s report on poverty rates reminds us that our efforts to fight poverty are working, but we’re still not doing enough. Safety net programs — like food stamps, Social Security and...
by Bill Scher | Sep 23, 2015 | Uncategorized
Obama and Pope To Meet Moral Action on Climate Justice Rally to coincide with Pope Francis' congressional address tomorrow: Join the Moral Action for Climate Justice Rally to demand urgent action on the climate crisis – and a strong response to the cry of the Poor....
by Bill Scher | Sep 23, 2015 | Blog, Conservatism, Jobs and Growth
Three years ago it seemed that Gov. Scott Walker was leading a wave of anti-union sentiment. He had effectively stripped Wisconsin public sector workers of collective bargaining rights. He had built a national network of thankful corporate donors. He had survived a...
