Indiana Bill Would Force Women to Endure Two Medically Unnecessary Transvaginal Probes
"Indiana Gov. Mike Pence may be set to follow in Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's shoes and take over the title of Governor Ultrasound if he ends up supporting this bill that just passed his state's Senate."
February 22, 2013
White House Announces Plan To Open Up Access To Research Supported by Federal Funds
White House Announces Plan To Open Up Access To Research Supported by Federal Funds: Today, the White House released a memo directing federal agencies to make publicly funded research available to the people who pay for it: “The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) hereby directs each Federal agency with over $100 million in annual conduct of research and development expenditures to develop a plan to support increased [...]/p
Pete Peterson's Puppet Populists | Common Dreams
Pete Peterson's Puppet Populists | Common Dreams
"Fix the Debt is the most hypocritical corporate PR campaign in decades, an ambitious attempt to convince the country that another cataclysmic economic crisis is around the corner and that urgent action is needed. Its strategy is pure astroturf: assemble power players in business and government under an activist banner, then take the message outside the Beltway and give it the appearance of grassroots activism by manufacturing an emergency to infuse a sense of imminent crisis."
"Fix the Debt is the most hypocritical corporate PR campaign in decades, an ambitious attempt to convince the country that another cataclysmic economic crisis is around the corner and that urgent action is needed. Its strategy is pure astroturf: assemble power players in business and government under an activist banner, then take the message outside the Beltway and give it the appearance of grassroots activism by manufacturing an emergency to infuse a sense of imminent crisis."
Sequestration Sacrifices Jobs to Save Billionaire Tax Breaks | Common Dreams
Sequestration Sacrifices Jobs to Save Billionaire Tax Breaks | Common Dreams
"To hear the billionaire proponents of austerity tell it, America is teetering on the brink of economic ruin. America, we are told, is broke. And the only answer is to “Fix the Debt” with deep spending cuts followed by the radical reordering of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
But America is not broke.
"To hear the billionaire proponents of austerity tell it, America is teetering on the brink of economic ruin. America, we are told, is broke. And the only answer is to “Fix the Debt” with deep spending cuts followed by the radical reordering of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
But America is not broke.
America has broken priorities.
That's what the billionaire proponents of cuts-at-any-cost economics won’t acknowledge as the advance a "Fix the Debt" agenda that imposes austerity on everyone else while stacking the deck in their favor."
Montana Bill Would Give Corporations The Right To Vote
Montana Bill Would Give Corporations The Right To Vote: A bill introduced by Montana state Rep. Steve Lavin would give corporations the right to vote in municipal elections: Provision for vote by corporate property owner. (1) Subject to subsection (2), if a firm, partnership, company, or corporation owns real property within the municipality, the president, vice president, secretary, or other designee of the entity [...]/p
Blockadia Rising: Voices of the Tar Sands Blockade | Common Dreams
Blockadia Rising: Voices of the Tar Sands Blockade | Common Dreams
"In 2012, Texas landowners and environmental activists came together to organize resistance against a dangerous pipeline being built by a Canadian corporation to bring tar sands oil from Alberta Canada to refineries near the Gulf of Mexico. This hazardous project continues despite unprecedented opposition from indigenous communities, local farmers and even global environmental movements."
"In 2012, Texas landowners and environmental activists came together to organize resistance against a dangerous pipeline being built by a Canadian corporation to bring tar sands oil from Alberta Canada to refineries near the Gulf of Mexico. This hazardous project continues despite unprecedented opposition from indigenous communities, local farmers and even global environmental movements."
Rep. Alan Grayson Honors Aaron Swartz - Truthdig
Rep. Alan Grayson Honors Aaron Swartz - Truthdig
"Aaron Swartz, the Internet freedom advocate who committed suicide in mid-January, was an intern in Florida Congressman Alan Grayson’s office after the onset of the economic crisis. Grayson recently paid tribute to Swartz at a memorial service in Washington, D.C."
"Aaron Swartz, the Internet freedom advocate who committed suicide in mid-January, was an intern in Florida Congressman Alan Grayson’s office after the onset of the economic crisis. Grayson recently paid tribute to Swartz at a memorial service in Washington, D.C."
Mike 'Two Times' Pence To Steal 'Gov. UItrasound' Title
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Pete Peterson’s “Fix the Debt” Astroturf Supergroup Detailed in New Online Resource from the Publishers of ALECexposed.org
Pete Peterson’s “Fix the Debt” Astroturf Supergroup Detailed in New Online Resource from the Publishers of ALECexposed.org
"One of the most hypocritical corporate PR campaigns in decades is advancing inside the beltway, attempting to convince the White House, Congress, and the American people that another cataclysmic economic crisis is around the corner that will destroy our economy unless urgent action is taken. Soon this astroturf supergroup may be coming to a state near you."
"One of the most hypocritical corporate PR campaigns in decades is advancing inside the beltway, attempting to convince the White House, Congress, and the American people that another cataclysmic economic crisis is around the corner that will destroy our economy unless urgent action is taken. Soon this astroturf supergroup may be coming to a state near you."
America Wakes Up To The Sequester
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Citizens United 2.0? Supreme Court Could Further Open Door to Money in Politics
Citizens United 2.0? Supreme Court Could Further Open Door to Money in Politics
"The U.S. Supreme Court could open the door to even more money in politics than it did in the disastrous 2010 decision Citizens United v FEC as it considers a new case challenging limits on how much wealthy donors can give directly to federal candidates and political parties."
"The U.S. Supreme Court could open the door to even more money in politics than it did in the disastrous 2010 decision Citizens United v FEC as it considers a new case challenging limits on how much wealthy donors can give directly to federal candidates and political parties."
Blackwater Off the Hook Again in Plea Deal With Bush-Appointed Judge | Common Dreams
Blackwater Off the Hook Again in Plea Deal With Bush-Appointed Judge | Common Dreams
"The charges against the commandos involved weapons trafficking and a wide selection of other weapons violations amounting to fifteen counts of serious felonies."
"The charges against the commandos involved weapons trafficking and a wide selection of other weapons violations amounting to fifteen counts of serious felonies."
Birthers of the World Unite: Larry Klayman to Represent Group Defending Joe Arpaio | Right Wing Watch
Birthers of the World Unite: Larry Klayman to Represent Group Defending Joe Arpaio | Right Wing Watch
"Well this comes as no surprise. Larry Klayman, the birther attorney who is now calling for an armed revolution against President Obama, is representing a new group of Tea Party members defending Sheriff Joe Arpaio from a potential recall election. "
"Well this comes as no surprise. Larry Klayman, the birther attorney who is now calling for an armed revolution against President Obama, is representing a new group of Tea Party members defending Sheriff Joe Arpaio from a potential recall election. "
In Ancient Caves, Evidence Shows Small Uptick in Temps Could Spell 'Massive' Permafrost Melt | Common Dreams
In Ancient Caves, Evidence Shows Small Uptick in Temps Could Spell 'Massive' Permafrost Melt | Common Dreams
"Scientists studying the geological history inside ancient Siberian caves say that evidence suggests a global temperature increase of just 1.5ºC could trigger massive melting of the northern hemisphere's permafrost, unleashing gigatonnes of carbon and methane into the already warming atmosphere."
"Scientists studying the geological history inside ancient Siberian caves say that evidence suggests a global temperature increase of just 1.5ºC could trigger massive melting of the northern hemisphere's permafrost, unleashing gigatonnes of carbon and methane into the already warming atmosphere."
Cover Ups, Corruption and Death: What GEO Group Doesn't Want You to Know about Its New Stadium Sponsorship | Alternet
Cover Ups, Corruption and Death: What GEO Group Doesn't Want You to Know about Its New Stadium Sponsorship | Alternet
"The real story behind how the largest private prison company bought the naming rights to Florida Atlantic University's football stadium."
"The real story behind how the largest private prison company bought the naming rights to Florida Atlantic University's football stadium."
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Convicted On Corruption Charges
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Convicted On Corruption Charges: A suspended Republican Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice and her sister have been convicted on multiple corruption counts for their use of paid judicial and legislative staff in judicial campaigns. Justice Joan Orie Melvin’s former clerks and interns had alleged that Melvin forced them to work on her campaign, and asked to falsify records to obtain [...]/p
Raising the Minimum Wage Is Good for Business (But the Corporate Lobby Doesn't Think So)
Raising the Minimum Wage Is Good for Business (But the Corporate Lobby Doesn't Think So)
"Contrary to naysayers in the business lobby, numerous studies suggest increasing the minimum wage to $9 an hour and tying it to the cost of living will lift millions of Americans out of poverty and stimulate the economy."
"Contrary to naysayers in the business lobby, numerous studies suggest increasing the minimum wage to $9 an hour and tying it to the cost of living will lift millions of Americans out of poverty and stimulate the economy."
Declining value of the federal minimum wage is a major factor driving inequality | Economic Policy Institute
Declining value of the federal minimum wage is a major factor driving inequality | Economic Policy Institute
"The last decade has produced no improvement in real wages of a broad range of workers, including those with either a high school or college degree. It has also produced a widening divergence between overall productivity and the wages or compensation of the typical worker. In addition, wage inequality has continued to grow between those at the top and the rest. The declining value of the minimum wage has played a key role in these trends."
"The last decade has produced no improvement in real wages of a broad range of workers, including those with either a high school or college degree. It has also produced a widening divergence between overall productivity and the wages or compensation of the typical worker. In addition, wage inequality has continued to grow between those at the top and the rest. The declining value of the minimum wage has played a key role in these trends."
Choked To Death On Waste | Common Dreams
Choked To Death On Waste | Common Dreams
"The appalling evidence mounts. A new scientific study urges that our omnipresent plastic debris - 280 million tons produced last year, less than half recycled, 370 species suffering its effects and another possible 33 billion tons produced by 2050 - be declared "hazardous"."
"The appalling evidence mounts. A new scientific study urges that our omnipresent plastic debris - 280 million tons produced last year, less than half recycled, 370 species suffering its effects and another possible 33 billion tons produced by 2050 - be declared "hazardous"."
Republicans Declare War on College | Alternet
Republicans Declare War on College | Alternet
"Bobby Jindal doesn't want the GOP to be the "stupid party," but fellow governors are plotting to wreck higher ed"
"Bobby Jindal doesn't want the GOP to be the "stupid party," but fellow governors are plotting to wreck higher ed"
February 21, 2013
Investigation Finds High-Class, Crisis-Peddling 'Astroturf Supergroup' Behind 'Fix the Debt' Campaign | Common Dreams
Investigation Finds High-Class, Crisis-Peddling 'Astroturf Supergroup' Behind 'Fix the Debt' Campaign | Common Dreams
"A new online resource launched on Thursday aims to show that behind the scenes of the ongoing fiscal battles in Washington—including the current fight over 'sequestration'—a billionaire-funded and CEO-backed media campaign is operating as an 'astroturf supergroup,' using its outsized pocketbook and influence to peddle long-discredited policy prescriptions for the ailing economy."
"A new online resource launched on Thursday aims to show that behind the scenes of the ongoing fiscal battles in Washington—including the current fight over 'sequestration'—a billionaire-funded and CEO-backed media campaign is operating as an 'astroturf supergroup,' using its outsized pocketbook and influence to peddle long-discredited policy prescriptions for the ailing economy."
Medicare’s Projected Spending Has Dropped $500 Billion Without Lawmakers Cutting A Dime
Medicare’s Projected Spending Has Dropped $500 Billion Without Lawmakers Cutting A Dime: Medicare will spend $511 billion less between now and 2020 than was predicted two and a half years ago, according to the latest number crunching by the Center On Budget and Policy Priorities. More importantly, this drop occurred completely separate from any changes in government policy — rather, it resulted from an overall slowdown in [...]/p
Republicans With Influence On Immigration Debate Are Top Recipients Of Private Prison Contributions
Republicans With Influence On Immigration Debate Are Top Recipients Of Private Prison Contributions: As the immigration reform debate heats up, private prison executives have made it clear that they are monitoring how it will affect their rates of incarceration. During a call with investors last week, Corrections Corporation of America CEO assured investors that there will “always be demand for beds”, reflecting concern that incarceration rates will actually go [...]/p
'Fix The Debt' and Pete Peterson's Long History of Deficit Scaremongering | Common Dreams
'Fix The Debt' and Pete Peterson's Long History of Deficit Scaremongering | Common Dreams
"Fix the Debt financier Peter G. Peterson knows a thing or two about debt: he’s an expert at creating it. Peterson founded the private equity firm Blackstone Group in 1985 with Stephen Schwarzman (who compared raising taxes to “when Hitler invaded Poland”). Private equity firms don’t contribute much to the economy; they don’t make cars or milk the cows. Too frequently, they buy firms to loot them. After a leveraged buyout, they can leave companies so loaded up with debt they are forced to immediately slash their workforce or employees’ retirement security."
"Fix the Debt financier Peter G. Peterson knows a thing or two about debt: he’s an expert at creating it. Peterson founded the private equity firm Blackstone Group in 1985 with Stephen Schwarzman (who compared raising taxes to “when Hitler invaded Poland”). Private equity firms don’t contribute much to the economy; they don’t make cars or milk the cows. Too frequently, they buy firms to loot them. After a leveraged buyout, they can leave companies so loaded up with debt they are forced to immediately slash their workforce or employees’ retirement security."
200,000 Demand House Republicans Pass Violence Against Women Act | Alternet
200,000 Demand House Republicans Pass Violence Against Women Act | Alternet
"Remember when the House Republicans blocked the passage of approximately a million pieces of legislation last session—including the renewal of the act to prevent violence against women? Remember when the U.S. public considered blocking that legislation to be so pathetic, so despicable, just so downright offensive that President Obama coasted to victory on one of the largest gender gaps in modern electoral history?
"Remember when the House Republicans blocked the passage of approximately a million pieces of legislation last session—including the renewal of the act to prevent violence against women? Remember when the U.S. public considered blocking that legislation to be so pathetic, so despicable, just so downright offensive that President Obama coasted to victory on one of the largest gender gaps in modern electoral history?
Yes, all that happened. But here’s the clincher: It’s still not over. In fact, in some ways, this whole rape-denying thing is getting even more egregious."
Wells Fargo Latest Bank Attempting To Skirt New Rules On Risky Financial Trading
Wells Fargo Latest Bank Attempting To Skirt New Rules On Risky Financial Trading: Wells Fargo is the latest bank to ramp up new forms of risky trading in advance of the Volcker Rule, a regulation included in the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act meant to make banks safer by prohibiting certain types of trades that helped trigger the global financial crisis in 2009. The rule bans proprietary [...]/p
Anti-Spending GOP Rep Wants Federal Funds To Make George W. Bush’s Childhood Home A National Park
Anti-Spending GOP Rep Wants Federal Funds To Make George W. Bush’s Childhood Home A National Park: Rep. K. Michael “Mike” Conaway (R-TX) has been among the most vocal critics of federal spending, claiming that massive cuts would actually create more jobs. But as he publicly pushed to stop “wasteful government spending,” he privately lobbied the National Park Service to turn the childhood home of former President George W. Bush into a [...]/p
President Obama Wants America to Be Like Germany—What Does That Really Mean? - The Atlantic
President Obama Wants America to Be Like Germany—What Does That Really Mean? - The Atlantic
"The conventional wisdom among some observers of the U.S. economy is that manufacturing can't compete with low-cost labor in China. Germany has shown this viewpoint to be utter rubbish. One study by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics found that hourly manufacturing compensation (wages plus benefits) was $48 in Germany and only $32 in the United States (that study was for all manufacturing workers, not just those in SMEs, but Germany's manufacturing workers in SMEs make comparable wages to those working for their large corporations).
"The conventional wisdom among some observers of the U.S. economy is that manufacturing can't compete with low-cost labor in China. Germany has shown this viewpoint to be utter rubbish. One study by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics found that hourly manufacturing compensation (wages plus benefits) was $48 in Germany and only $32 in the United States (that study was for all manufacturing workers, not just those in SMEs, but Germany's manufacturing workers in SMEs make comparable wages to those working for their large corporations).
German workers in SMEs also all have quality, affordable health care."
Worst Drought in 1,000 Years Could Begin in Eight Years
Worst Drought in 1,000 Years Could Begin in Eight Years
"Beginning in just eight years, we could see permanent climate conditions across the North American Southwest that are comparable to the worst megadrought in 1,000 years."
"Beginning in just eight years, we could see permanent climate conditions across the North American Southwest that are comparable to the worst megadrought in 1,000 years."
Oklahoma: Not OK With Science | Alternet
Oklahoma: Not OK With Science | Alternet
"Republican Representative Gus Blackwell wants to protect Oklahoma high school students' rights to be ignorant of basic science."
"Republican Representative Gus Blackwell wants to protect Oklahoma high school students' rights to be ignorant of basic science."
GOP Activists Behind Three Troubling Supreme Court Cases Aimed at Dismantling Our Democracy | Alternet
GOP Activists Behind Three Troubling Supreme Court Cases Aimed at Dismantling Our Democracy | Alternet
"Three troubling U.S. Supreme Court cases -- one that has already undermined public participation in elections and two new ones threatening to further tilt the balance toward wealthier and whiter slices of society—have all been brought by Republican activists who want to change the rules to benefit their shrinking political party."
"Three troubling U.S. Supreme Court cases -- one that has already undermined public participation in elections and two new ones threatening to further tilt the balance toward wealthier and whiter slices of society—have all been brought by Republican activists who want to change the rules to benefit their shrinking political party."
February 20, 2013
9 Economic Facts That Will Make Your Head Spin | Alternet
9 Economic Facts That Will Make Your Head Spin | Alternet
"How much will you need for medical expenses in retirement? What does it cost to keep 2.5 million Americans behind bars? Here are a few facts and figures that might surprise you."
"How much will you need for medical expenses in retirement? What does it cost to keep 2.5 million Americans behind bars? Here are a few facts and figures that might surprise you."
You've Heard of the Birthers, Now Meet the Simpson-Bowlers
You've Heard of the Birthers, Now Meet the Simpson-Bowlers
"Yesterday, the pair introduced a rebooted, or should we say, rebaked, version of the original Simpson-Bowles "Catfood Commission" idiocy. That original plan, you'll remember, was so bad that their own commissioners wouldn't vote for it."
"Yesterday, the pair introduced a rebooted, or should we say, rebaked, version of the original Simpson-Bowles "Catfood Commission" idiocy. That original plan, you'll remember, was so bad that their own commissioners wouldn't vote for it."
Cutting Government Jobs Wrong Remedy For Recovery
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The Wage Theft Epidemic - In These Times
The Wage Theft Epidemic - In These Times
"Former investigators interviewed for this article say that budget cuts over the past decade have impeded their ability to perform meaningful investigations. They paint a stark picture of weakened enforcement divisions, lacking both necessary staff and funding, that regularly close claims of wage theft that appear legitimate. Such closed cases represent de facto wins for employers."
"Former investigators interviewed for this article say that budget cuts over the past decade have impeded their ability to perform meaningful investigations. They paint a stark picture of weakened enforcement divisions, lacking both necessary staff and funding, that regularly close claims of wage theft that appear legitimate. Such closed cases represent de facto wins for employers."
Boehner Caught Red-Handed On Sequester Fib
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