http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/after-the-amtrak-crash-its-time-to-get-serious-about-transportation-infrastructure
"We do know that, for decades now, the United States has been allowing its public infrastructure to decay. In 2013, the American Society of Civil Engineers issued a report saying that it would take roughly $3.6 trillion worth of repairs and retrofitting merely to return the nation’s roads, railways, and airports to a safe and durable state. For example, about one in nine bridges in the U.S. were structurally deficient, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
And that’s just transportation infrastructure. Many of America’s schools, sewage systems, and parks could do with an upgrade, too. A couple of years ago, a survey by the World Economic Forum ranked the United States twenty-fifth globally in overall quality of infrastructure, behind such nations as Spain, Oman, and South Korea."
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Koch Republicans Ignore Dead and Injured Americans And Vote To Cut Amtrak’s Budget
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/05/13/koch-republicans-ignore-dead-injured-americans-vote-cut-amtraks-budget.html
"House Republicans have outdone themselves on tone deafness. The Koch controlled Republican House majority has never been sensitive to the wants and needs of ordinary Americans. Gerrymandering has turned screwing over the bulk of the population into a profitable strategy for House Republicans."
"House Republicans have outdone themselves on tone deafness. The Koch controlled Republican House majority has never been sensitive to the wants and needs of ordinary Americans. Gerrymandering has turned screwing over the bulk of the population into a profitable strategy for House Republicans."
Fox News Worries Over Crumbling Infrastructure After Years Of Hyping Roadblocks To More Investment
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/05/13/fox-news-worries-over-crumbling-infrastructure/203637
"The vast system of public infrastructure in the United States -- ranging from roads and park trails to canals and ports -- is currently graded as D+, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) most recent report card for America's infrastructure, and would need an investment of $3.6 trillion by 2020 to improve.
One in ten bridges in the U.S. are structurally deficient, and states have been forced to convert roads to gravel due to a lack of sufficient funding for repairs. Nearly 14,000 dams are considered high-hazard, meaning failure of the dam would likely cause the loss of life.
But public investment in infrastructure has fallen to its lowest level since World War II, according to analysis from the Financial Times, which attributes the record-low public investments to Republicans blocking President Obama's push for more spending on infrastructure."
"The vast system of public infrastructure in the United States -- ranging from roads and park trails to canals and ports -- is currently graded as D+, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) most recent report card for America's infrastructure, and would need an investment of $3.6 trillion by 2020 to improve.
One in ten bridges in the U.S. are structurally deficient, and states have been forced to convert roads to gravel due to a lack of sufficient funding for repairs. Nearly 14,000 dams are considered high-hazard, meaning failure of the dam would likely cause the loss of life.
But public investment in infrastructure has fallen to its lowest level since World War II, according to analysis from the Financial Times, which attributes the record-low public investments to Republicans blocking President Obama's push for more spending on infrastructure."
Why the Rich Don't Care About Jobs for the Rest of Us
Why the Rich Don't Care About Jobs for the Rest of Us
"There is also hard evidence that cutting taxes on the rich fails to stimulate job creation, and that raising taxes on the rich has the opposite, beneficial effect. The facts come from Kansas and Minnesota. Despite early optimism by trickle-down adherents, tax cuts in Kansas have been disastrous, leading to revenue losses, cutbacks in education and health care, and sluggish job growth. In Minnesota, on the other hand, tax increases on the rich have led to higher wages, low unemployment, and rapid business growth."
"There is also hard evidence that cutting taxes on the rich fails to stimulate job creation, and that raising taxes on the rich has the opposite, beneficial effect. The facts come from Kansas and Minnesota. Despite early optimism by trickle-down adherents, tax cuts in Kansas have been disastrous, leading to revenue losses, cutbacks in education and health care, and sluggish job growth. In Minnesota, on the other hand, tax increases on the rich have led to higher wages, low unemployment, and rapid business growth."
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
President Obama Brilliantly Goes After Fox News For Always Blaming And Shaming The Poor (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/05/12/president-obama-brilliantly-goes-after-fox-news-for-always-blaming-and-shaming-the-poor-video/
"The poor aren’t the problem. The overall fiscal policies and politics at the top are the problem. Policy is currently, and has been since 1981, written to favor the wealthy. This is why wages have stagnated as the top keeps getting richer and richer, the poor becomes poorer and need more assistance, and the Middle Class is getting squeezed dry."
"The poor aren’t the problem. The overall fiscal policies and politics at the top are the problem. Policy is currently, and has been since 1981, written to favor the wealthy. This is why wages have stagnated as the top keeps getting richer and richer, the poor becomes poorer and need more assistance, and the Middle Class is getting squeezed dry."
John Stewart Rips Fox, Scarborough For Whining About President Obama's Truth-Telling On Demonizing The Poor
John Stewart Rips Fox, Scarborough For Whining About President Obama's Truth-Telling On Demonizing The Poor
"Of course the response over at Faux "news" was to throw a fit, and to deny reality and pretend that they don't spend every single week doing exactly that."
"Of course the response over at Faux "news" was to throw a fit, and to deny reality and pretend that they don't spend every single week doing exactly that."
"The Rich Suffered More": The Worst Of Fox News' Poor-Shaming
http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/05/13/the-rich-suffered-more-the-worst-of-fox-news-po/203640
"Fox News is outraged that President Obama called out the network's horrible record on covering poverty"
"Fox News is outraged that President Obama called out the network's horrible record on covering poverty"
Groups Add to Evidence in "Whistleblower" Tax Fraud Claim Against ALEC
Groups Add to Evidence in "Whistleblower" Tax Fraud Claim Against ALEC
"The new trove of documents includes statements by 20 corporations that admit that they joined and maintained membership in ALEC to influence legislation and gain access to lawmakers. The corporate admissions included in the complaint are from Yelp, Pfizer, AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Honeywell, Yahoo, eBay, Eli Lilly, Duke Energy, Altria, American Electric Power, Anheuser-Busch, BP, Chevron, Cox Communications, CSX Corporation, ExxonMobil, Overstock, and Peabody Energy. Several of those companies no longer are part of ALEC.
The new filing also includes the recent finding of the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board that "ALEC’s primary purpose is the passage of state legislation in the various states and that all of its wide-ranging activities are in support of this primary purpose"."
"The new trove of documents includes statements by 20 corporations that admit that they joined and maintained membership in ALEC to influence legislation and gain access to lawmakers. The corporate admissions included in the complaint are from Yelp, Pfizer, AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Honeywell, Yahoo, eBay, Eli Lilly, Duke Energy, Altria, American Electric Power, Anheuser-Busch, BP, Chevron, Cox Communications, CSX Corporation, ExxonMobil, Overstock, and Peabody Energy. Several of those companies no longer are part of ALEC.
The new filing also includes the recent finding of the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board that "ALEC’s primary purpose is the passage of state legislation in the various states and that all of its wide-ranging activities are in support of this primary purpose"."
President Obama Hits Fox News With a Direct Shot for Constantly Trying to Vilify Poor People
President Obama Hits Fox News With a Direct Shot for Constantly Trying to Vilify Poor People
"But what many Republicans – and conservatives in general – love to do is simply blanket most of the poor as lazy moochers who simply don’t want to work. That’s an absolute lie. In fact, most welfare recipients are children or the elderly and a lot are people who have jobs, but simply don’t make enough to support their families.
It goes back to a desperate need in this country to raise the minimum wage… another issue most Republicans strongly oppose. It’s like I’ve said before, GOP policies are literally making many of the problems they whine and complain about worse."
"But what many Republicans – and conservatives in general – love to do is simply blanket most of the poor as lazy moochers who simply don’t want to work. That’s an absolute lie. In fact, most welfare recipients are children or the elderly and a lot are people who have jobs, but simply don’t make enough to support their families.
It goes back to a desperate need in this country to raise the minimum wage… another issue most Republicans strongly oppose. It’s like I’ve said before, GOP policies are literally making many of the problems they whine and complain about worse."
ALEC’s big lie: Scott Walker’s pseudo-science, austerity without end, and the truth about right-wing governors and the economy
ALEC’s big lie: Scott Walker’s pseudo-science, austerity without end, and the truth about right-wing governors and the economy
"The failure of GOP ideology on the state level deserves further scrutiny as well, particularly with so many governors and ex-governors in the race. The 2012 study “Selling Snake Oil To The States,” which demolished the tax-slashing prescription package offered by ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council) and right-wing economist Arthur Laffer, helps to define the parameters of GOP state-level economic policy."
"The failure of GOP ideology on the state level deserves further scrutiny as well, particularly with so many governors and ex-governors in the race. The 2012 study “Selling Snake Oil To The States,” which demolished the tax-slashing prescription package offered by ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council) and right-wing economist Arthur Laffer, helps to define the parameters of GOP state-level economic policy."
The Destruction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-destruction-of-the-wisconsin-supreme-court?intcid=mod-most-popular
"all of the Wisconsin justices look a lot like politicians, in particular the conservatives, who came to the bench with the support of powerful and aggressive political groups. Those justices’ integrity is compromised, as plainly as if they had personally solicited every dollar that helped elect them—and that helped drag the standing of their court so low."
"all of the Wisconsin justices look a lot like politicians, in particular the conservatives, who came to the bench with the support of powerful and aggressive political groups. Those justices’ integrity is compromised, as plainly as if they had personally solicited every dollar that helped elect them—and that helped drag the standing of their court so low."
ALEC Exposed
http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed
"Through the corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council, global corporations and state politicians vote behind closed doors to try to rewrite state laws that govern your rights. These so-called "model bills" reach into almost every area of American life and often directly benefit huge corporations."
"Through the corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council, global corporations and state politicians vote behind closed doors to try to rewrite state laws that govern your rights. These so-called "model bills" reach into almost every area of American life and often directly benefit huge corporations."
Monday, May 11, 2015
Looting Louisiana: How the Jindal administration is helping Big Oil rip off a cash-strapped state
http://www.southernstudies.org/2015/05/looting-louisiana-how-the-jindal-administration-is.html
"Louisiana is in the throes of a budget crisis, with the state facing a $1.6 billion deficit for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1.
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) has proposed cutting more than $200 million from higher education, leading Louisiana State University to begin drafting paperwork for what is essentially a form of academic bankruptcy. State leaders are also considering cutting health care services for the poor, elderly and disabled. Meanwhile, Moody's Investors Service and Standard and Poor's have said they may lower the state's credit rating if it doesn't come up with a solution.
As the state grapples with how to respond to the shortfall, new details have emerged about a scheme that has helped bring it to this desperate point."
"Louisiana is in the throes of a budget crisis, with the state facing a $1.6 billion deficit for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1.
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) has proposed cutting more than $200 million from higher education, leading Louisiana State University to begin drafting paperwork for what is essentially a form of academic bankruptcy. State leaders are also considering cutting health care services for the poor, elderly and disabled. Meanwhile, Moody's Investors Service and Standard and Poor's have said they may lower the state's credit rating if it doesn't come up with a solution.
As the state grapples with how to respond to the shortfall, new details have emerged about a scheme that has helped bring it to this desperate point."
Presidential Hopeful Scott Walker’s Higher Education Deficit
http://inthesetimes.com/article/17905/scott-walkers-higher-education-deficit
"No doubt because he did not finish college himself— yet has managed to become a presidential hopeful with extravagant support from the government-loathing Koch machine—Walker seems determined to decimate public higher education in his state."
"No doubt because he did not finish college himself— yet has managed to become a presidential hopeful with extravagant support from the government-loathing Koch machine—Walker seems determined to decimate public higher education in his state."
12 Ways the GOP Would Destroy the Country If They Controlled Washington After 2016 | Alternet
12 Ways the GOP Would Destroy the Country If They Controlled Washington After 2016 | Alternet
"6. Cut public school programs and funds. The GOP does not believe education is an investment in America’s future. Spending on education would fall to its lowest level in 15 years, with 46,000 additional children losing access to Head Start, more layoffs of special education teachers and those who work with disadvantaged youths, the House Budget Committee Democrats said. Similarly, adult job training would be cut, as well as funding for medical and scientific research grants."
"6. Cut public school programs and funds. The GOP does not believe education is an investment in America’s future. Spending on education would fall to its lowest level in 15 years, with 46,000 additional children losing access to Head Start, more layoffs of special education teachers and those who work with disadvantaged youths, the House Budget Committee Democrats said. Similarly, adult job training would be cut, as well as funding for medical and scientific research grants."
Scott Walker Gave Corporations Cash To Create Jobs, Forgot To Check If They Created Jobs
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/05/08/3656838/scott-walkers-jobs-agency-violating-state-law-audit-finds/
"The job creation agency founded by Governor Scott Walker has been routinely violating its own rules and state law, according to a damning report released Friday by Wisconsin’s non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau.
Walker set up the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation in 2011 in order to give taxpayer dollars to private corporations to help them create jobs for Wisconsin workers. But a new audit of more than 100 grants from the agency found that the WEDC failed to follow up on whether the companies were actually using the funds to create and retain jobs.
The group also gave loans and tax credits to companies that did not meet its requirements, and did not even attempt to fact-check claims by the companies about the number of jobs they created. Additionally, the agency forgave, wrote off or deferred more than $4 million in loan payments that the corporations were supposed to pay back to the state."
"The job creation agency founded by Governor Scott Walker has been routinely violating its own rules and state law, according to a damning report released Friday by Wisconsin’s non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau.
Walker set up the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation in 2011 in order to give taxpayer dollars to private corporations to help them create jobs for Wisconsin workers. But a new audit of more than 100 grants from the agency found that the WEDC failed to follow up on whether the companies were actually using the funds to create and retain jobs.
The group also gave loans and tax credits to companies that did not meet its requirements, and did not even attempt to fact-check claims by the companies about the number of jobs they created. Additionally, the agency forgave, wrote off or deferred more than $4 million in loan payments that the corporations were supposed to pay back to the state."
Scott Walker’s Corporate Tax Breaks Come Back To Haunt Him
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/05/07/3655893/scott-walkers-corporate-tax-breaks-come-back-haunt/
"It’s a question lawmakers in many states are asking right now, as deep tax cuts passed by Republican governors have led to ballooning deficits and similar plans to raid public university funding.
In Kansas, Governor Sam Brownback’s tax cutting overhaul left the state coffers so low that public school districts will close down early this year.
In Louisiana, Governor Bobby Jindal — another likely candidate for president in 2016 — has chosen to preserve corporate tax breaks and cut the budget of the Louisiana State University system so deeply that the schools are exploring bankruptcy. Students and their supporters have descended on the Capitol to protest the proposed cuts, which seems to have moved some state lawmakers. On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a budget that got rid of more than $200 million in corporate tax breaks — but Jindal has vowed to block the move with his veto pen.
And in Illinois, Governor Bruce Rauner’s budget that seeks to cut both income and corporate taxes and funding for the state’s universities is running into trouble this week. The Civic Federation, a budget watchdog, officially came out against the plan this week, calling it “unrealistic” and “unachievable.” In the state House of Representatives, the budget failed to get a single “yes” vote.
Despite these examples, Republican governors’ enthusiasm for slashing taxes, particularly corporate and income taxes, continues apace."
"It’s a question lawmakers in many states are asking right now, as deep tax cuts passed by Republican governors have led to ballooning deficits and similar plans to raid public university funding.
In Kansas, Governor Sam Brownback’s tax cutting overhaul left the state coffers so low that public school districts will close down early this year.
In Louisiana, Governor Bobby Jindal — another likely candidate for president in 2016 — has chosen to preserve corporate tax breaks and cut the budget of the Louisiana State University system so deeply that the schools are exploring bankruptcy. Students and their supporters have descended on the Capitol to protest the proposed cuts, which seems to have moved some state lawmakers. On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a budget that got rid of more than $200 million in corporate tax breaks — but Jindal has vowed to block the move with his veto pen.
And in Illinois, Governor Bruce Rauner’s budget that seeks to cut both income and corporate taxes and funding for the state’s universities is running into trouble this week. The Civic Federation, a budget watchdog, officially came out against the plan this week, calling it “unrealistic” and “unachievable.” In the state House of Representatives, the budget failed to get a single “yes” vote.
Despite these examples, Republican governors’ enthusiasm for slashing taxes, particularly corporate and income taxes, continues apace."
7 Senate Democrats Team Up On Bill To Expose The Koch Brothers’ Political Ads
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/05/08/7-senate-democrats-team-bill-expose-koch-brothers-political-ads.html
"Republicans oppose any form of dark money disclosure because even the slightest disclosure could topple their house of cards."
"Republicans oppose any form of dark money disclosure because even the slightest disclosure could topple their house of cards."
Why The FEC Won’t Crack Down On Campaign Finance Violations In 2016
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/05/06/3655397/fec-already-throwing-towel-enforcing-campaign-finance-law-2016/
"Meanwhile, the possible electoral shenanigans are already piling up.
In January, the FEC accused GOP operative Karl Rove’s organization Crossroads GPS of violating its tax-exempt “social welfare” status by spending millions of dollars to support conservative candidates. The agency took no action against Crossroads GPS, meaning the group is still allowed to shield the identity of its donors.
Similar complaints have been made about Americans for Job Security, the American Action Network, and the American Future Fund, but the agency’s Republican members have blocked investigations into their activities."
"Meanwhile, the possible electoral shenanigans are already piling up.
In January, the FEC accused GOP operative Karl Rove’s organization Crossroads GPS of violating its tax-exempt “social welfare” status by spending millions of dollars to support conservative candidates. The agency took no action against Crossroads GPS, meaning the group is still allowed to shield the identity of its donors.
Similar complaints have been made about Americans for Job Security, the American Action Network, and the American Future Fund, but the agency’s Republican members have blocked investigations into their activities."
Scott Walker Wrecks Wisconsin And Proves That Tax Cuts For The Rich Don’t Work
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/05/06/scott-walkers-crazy-republican-math-home-roost-wi-gop-wrestle-revenue.html
"Any reasonable person can see that tax cuts for the rich do not create jobs and do create deficits, but there are also studies that prove it. In fact, long term studies show that Republican governors are associated with lower growth rates."
"Any reasonable person can see that tax cuts for the rich do not create jobs and do create deficits, but there are also studies that prove it. In fact, long term studies show that Republican governors are associated with lower growth rates."
It’s Official: The Conservative Love Affair with Austerity Economics is Literally Killing the Country
http://aattp.org/its-official-the-conservative-love-affair-with-austerity-economics-is-literally-killing-the-country/
"And that’s part of the rub. Economists from a number of universities like the University of Chicago, MIT, and USC, conducted research to try to find out why children die at a rate exponentially higher than European children.
The answer, in retrospect, is pretty obvious: the obscene rate of income disparity, all of which stems directly from Reagan’s Voodoo Economics in the 1980s."
"And that’s part of the rub. Economists from a number of universities like the University of Chicago, MIT, and USC, conducted research to try to find out why children die at a rate exponentially higher than European children.
The answer, in retrospect, is pretty obvious: the obscene rate of income disparity, all of which stems directly from Reagan’s Voodoo Economics in the 1980s."
Corruption is Legal in America: Study Confirms The Rich Have A Stranglehold On U.S. Government Policy
http://samuel-warde.com/2015/05/corruption-is-legal-in-america-rich-control-government-policy/
"In the last 5 years alone, the 200 most politically active companies in the US spent $5.8 billion influencing our government with lobbying and campaign contributions.
Those same companies got $4.4 trillion in taxpayer support — earning a return of 750 times their investment."
"In the last 5 years alone, the 200 most politically active companies in the US spent $5.8 billion influencing our government with lobbying and campaign contributions.
Those same companies got $4.4 trillion in taxpayer support — earning a return of 750 times their investment."
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Chris Christie’s fresh humiliation: The new scandal that could finally put the kibosh on his presidential hopes
Chris Christie’s fresh humiliation: The new scandal that could finally put the kibosh on his presidential hopes
"In recent years, Christie’s officials have shifted more of the retirement savings of teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public workers into the hands of private financial firms. That has substantially increased the management fees paid by taxpayers to those firms. Indeed, while Christie says the pension system cannot afford to maintain current retirement benefits, pension fees paid to financial firms have quadrupled to $600 million a year — or $1.5 billion in total since he took office in 2010."
"In recent years, Christie’s officials have shifted more of the retirement savings of teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public workers into the hands of private financial firms. That has substantially increased the management fees paid by taxpayers to those firms. Indeed, while Christie says the pension system cannot afford to maintain current retirement benefits, pension fees paid to financial firms have quadrupled to $600 million a year — or $1.5 billion in total since he took office in 2010."
FL Gov. Rick Scott Used His Mother's Death To Manipulate Feds On Medicaid
FL Gov. Rick Scott Is A Lying Sack Of Sh*t
"That's a page right out of the Karl Rove playbook, by the way. Just today, he advised Republicans to stop trying to repeal Obamacare until after the 2016 elections. Why should they telegraph their intentions to take health care away from millions who need it, after all?"
"That's a page right out of the Karl Rove playbook, by the way. Just today, he advised Republicans to stop trying to repeal Obamacare until after the 2016 elections. Why should they telegraph their intentions to take health care away from millions who need it, after all?"
North Carolina To Teachers: No Free Speech For You!
North Carolina To Teachers: No Free Speech For You!
"now, under Senate Bill 480, their support for public education could earn them a Class 1 misdemeanor, because supporting public education is being considered a political view. That’s the equivalent of simple assault, or robbing a vending machine. Just wearing a red shirt in the classroom to say you support education."
"now, under Senate Bill 480, their support for public education could earn them a Class 1 misdemeanor, because supporting public education is being considered a political view. That’s the equivalent of simple assault, or robbing a vending machine. Just wearing a red shirt in the classroom to say you support education."
Carly Fiorina Blames The Pay Gap On The Things That Actually Help Close It
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/05/05/3655280/fiorina-wage-gap/
"Unlike many of the other potential Republican contenders, Fiorina believes “women don’t always get compensated fairly and that we can do more.” But what she suggests is getting rid of seniority systems “that reward employees for time in grade, not for merit, performance or hard work.” She sees the main culprits of these systems as “[u]nions, government bureaucracies.”
Yet women who belong to a union and/or work for a government bureaucracy are the best off when it comes to equal pay. The wage gap for unionized women is 40 percent smaller for non-unionized women — they make nearly 90 percent of what their male peers do, not parity but much closer. Perhaps more importantly, the wage gap has been shrinking among unionized workers, while the overall gap hasn’t budged in a decade."
"Unlike many of the other potential Republican contenders, Fiorina believes “women don’t always get compensated fairly and that we can do more.” But what she suggests is getting rid of seniority systems “that reward employees for time in grade, not for merit, performance or hard work.” She sees the main culprits of these systems as “[u]nions, government bureaucracies.”
Yet women who belong to a union and/or work for a government bureaucracy are the best off when it comes to equal pay. The wage gap for unionized women is 40 percent smaller for non-unionized women — they make nearly 90 percent of what their male peers do, not parity but much closer. Perhaps more importantly, the wage gap has been shrinking among unionized workers, while the overall gap hasn’t budged in a decade."
Jon Stewart decimates newly minted GOP candidates one by one
Jon Stewart decimates newly minted GOP candidates one by one
"Much like the beginning of "Big Brother," the GOP race looks a lot like a bunch of crazy people who won't win"
"Much like the beginning of "Big Brother," the GOP race looks a lot like a bunch of crazy people who won't win"
When Scammy For-Profit Colleges Need A Hand, They Turn To The Republican Party
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/05/05/3655138/corinthian-bankruptcy-crossroads-gps/
"At the same time Corinthian Colleges, Inc. was luring ambitious people into overpriced classes for underpowered degrees, the now-bankrupt company was also funding one of the most prominent secret-donor organizations on the Republican side of the election-influencing industry.
The company still owes money to Crossroads GPS, according to a bankruptcy filing that lists every person and organization to which Corinthian is indebted. The list also includes a variety of D.C.-area heavy hitters like the American Enterprise Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce"
"At the same time Corinthian Colleges, Inc. was luring ambitious people into overpriced classes for underpowered degrees, the now-bankrupt company was also funding one of the most prominent secret-donor organizations on the Republican side of the election-influencing industry.
The company still owes money to Crossroads GPS, according to a bankruptcy filing that lists every person and organization to which Corinthian is indebted. The list also includes a variety of D.C.-area heavy hitters like the American Enterprise Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce"
Stingy Franchisees Pretend The Government Will Ruin Their Business
Stingy Franchisees Pretend The Government Will Ruin Their Business
"Always on the wrong side of every issue, the Washington Free Beacon is taking the side of franchise owners who wish to skim money from the paychecks of their minimum wage-earning employees."
"Always on the wrong side of every issue, the Washington Free Beacon is taking the side of franchise owners who wish to skim money from the paychecks of their minimum wage-earning employees."
Christie Vetoes Anti-Corruption Law
Christie Vetoes Anti-Corruption Law
"The bipartisan legislation on Chris Christie's desk on Monday was designed to stop New Jersey public officials from delivering lucrative pension deals to their campaign contributors. Gov. Christie vetoed the bill -- at the same time his administration faces a new investigation into New Jersey pension fees paid to financial firms, some of whose executives made contributions to Republican groups backing Christie. The legislation also would have required the pension system to fully disclose all Wall Street fees, a provision Christie said would be "disadvantageous"."
"The bipartisan legislation on Chris Christie's desk on Monday was designed to stop New Jersey public officials from delivering lucrative pension deals to their campaign contributors. Gov. Christie vetoed the bill -- at the same time his administration faces a new investigation into New Jersey pension fees paid to financial firms, some of whose executives made contributions to Republican groups backing Christie. The legislation also would have required the pension system to fully disclose all Wall Street fees, a provision Christie said would be "disadvantageous"."
The Bridgegate outrage that nobody is talking about
The Bridgegate outrage that nobody is talking about
"Whether it was unwitting, in concert, or a mix of both, the fact that political appointees could manipulate the PAPD for four days in a row needs to be looked at by somebody in law enforcement. From its original creation in 1921, the Port Authority was supposed to transcend partisan and provincial politics; now it is entirely captive to it."
"Whether it was unwitting, in concert, or a mix of both, the fact that political appointees could manipulate the PAPD for four days in a row needs to be looked at by somebody in law enforcement. From its original creation in 1921, the Port Authority was supposed to transcend partisan and provincial politics; now it is entirely captive to it."
Taxpayers Subsidize Restaurant Pay
http://inequality.org/taxpayers-subsidize-restaurant-industry/
"Because they have the largest workforce, DineEquity puts the heaviest burden on taxpayers, with employees relying on $450 million in public assistance per year, according to ROC estimates."
"Because they have the largest workforce, DineEquity puts the heaviest burden on taxpayers, with employees relying on $450 million in public assistance per year, according to ROC estimates."
Thursday, May 7, 2015
The ludicrous myth of Republican fiscal responsibility: A history lesson for the modern GOP
The ludicrous myth of Republican fiscal responsibility: A history lesson for the modern GOP
"Over the past three decades, the Republican party has followed a familiar strategy — get elected to executive office by preaching fiscal responsibility, make a complete mess of things fiscally, and then, when a Democrat comes in to clean up the mess, blame them endlessly for not fixing it fast enough. We see this currently, with the insipid Republican candidates blaming President Obama for our current debt level, despite the fact that Republican policies, like cutting taxes for the wealthy and putting two wars on the credit card made it all possible."
"Over the past three decades, the Republican party has followed a familiar strategy — get elected to executive office by preaching fiscal responsibility, make a complete mess of things fiscally, and then, when a Democrat comes in to clean up the mess, blame them endlessly for not fixing it fast enough. We see this currently, with the insipid Republican candidates blaming President Obama for our current debt level, despite the fact that Republican policies, like cutting taxes for the wealthy and putting two wars on the credit card made it all possible."
Republican presidents flunk the economy: 11 reasons why America does worse under the GOP
Republican presidents flunk the economy: 11 reasons why America does worse under the GOP
"The difference between conservative and progressive governance is simple: one benefits a small elite while the other promotes widespread prosperity."
"The difference between conservative and progressive governance is simple: one benefits a small elite while the other promotes widespread prosperity."
Our Ayn Randian Dystopia: The Five-Step Process to Privatize Everything | Alternet
Our Ayn Randian Dystopia: The Five-Step Process to Privatize Everything | Alternet
"Education: A private system that pays a charter CEO 350 times more per student than the corresponding public school chancellor.
Health Care: The most expensive system in the developed world, with the price of common surgeries anywhere from three to ten times higher than in much of Europe, and with 43 percent of sick Americans skipping doctor's visits and/or medication purchases in 2011 because of excessive costs. Medicare, on the other hand, which is largely without the profit motive and the competing sources of billing, is efficiently run, for all eligible Americans.
Banking: Thanks to private banks, interest claims one out of every three dollars that we spend, and by the time we retire with a 401(k), nearly half of our money is lost to the banks. But the public bank of North Dakota (BND) had an equity return of 23.4% before the state's oil boom. The normally privatization-mindedWall Street Journal admits that the BND "is more profitable than Goldman Sachs Group Inc., has a better credit rating than J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and hasn’t seen profit growth drop since 2003"."
"Education: A private system that pays a charter CEO 350 times more per student than the corresponding public school chancellor.
Health Care: The most expensive system in the developed world, with the price of common surgeries anywhere from three to ten times higher than in much of Europe, and with 43 percent of sick Americans skipping doctor's visits and/or medication purchases in 2011 because of excessive costs. Medicare, on the other hand, which is largely without the profit motive and the competing sources of billing, is efficiently run, for all eligible Americans.
Banking: Thanks to private banks, interest claims one out of every three dollars that we spend, and by the time we retire with a 401(k), nearly half of our money is lost to the banks. But the public bank of North Dakota (BND) had an equity return of 23.4% before the state's oil boom. The normally privatization-mindedWall Street Journal admits that the BND "is more profitable than Goldman Sachs Group Inc., has a better credit rating than J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and hasn’t seen profit growth drop since 2003"."
Watch: Bernie Sanders Blows Lid Off the Corporate Media’s Biggest Secret
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/watch-bernie-sanders-blows-lid-off-the-corporate-medias-biggest-secret/
"In this clip, Bernie Sanders is interviewed by Bill Moyers and exposes the corporate media’s dirty secret: that they waste the American people’s time with gossip and distractions while doing the corporations bidding and avoiding the most important conversations facing America: shrinking wages, jobs being shipped overseas, rising socioeconomic inequality, etc."
"In this clip, Bernie Sanders is interviewed by Bill Moyers and exposes the corporate media’s dirty secret: that they waste the American people’s time with gossip and distractions while doing the corporations bidding and avoiding the most important conversations facing America: shrinking wages, jobs being shipped overseas, rising socioeconomic inequality, etc."
This Is Who Gives Money To Bernie Sanders – And How Much
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/05/03/this-is-who-gives-money-to-bernie-sanders-and-how-much/
"And there you have. One candidate, the progressive, gets his money from small town American organizations and associations of workers while the others get their money from Goldman Sachs, Koch Industries, Bank of America, and so forth. So next time you hear someone say all politicians are the same, show them this."
"And there you have. One candidate, the progressive, gets his money from small town American organizations and associations of workers while the others get their money from Goldman Sachs, Koch Industries, Bank of America, and so forth. So next time you hear someone say all politicians are the same, show them this."
75 Ways Socialism Has Improved America
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/29/1078852/-75-Ways-Socialism-Has-Improved-America
"1. The Military/Defense - The United States military is the largest and most funded socialist program in the world. It operates thanks to our taxpayer dollars and protects the country as a whole. From the richest citizens to the homeless who sleep under the bridge. We are all protected by our military whether we pay taxes or not. This is complete socialism."
"1. The Military/Defense - The United States military is the largest and most funded socialist program in the world. It operates thanks to our taxpayer dollars and protects the country as a whole. From the richest citizens to the homeless who sleep under the bridge. We are all protected by our military whether we pay taxes or not. This is complete socialism."
Why Everyone – Including Middle Class Republicans – Needs To Listen To Bernie Sanders
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/05/03/why-everyone-including-middle-class-republicans-needs-to-listen-to-bernie-sanders/
"Open your eyes to the very corrupt and powerful war the world of big business and the oligarchy are waging on the United States (and your wallet)."
"Open your eyes to the very corrupt and powerful war the world of big business and the oligarchy are waging on the United States (and your wallet)."
Bernie Sanders Unloads On The Kochs While Refusing To Play The Media’s Smear Hillary Game
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/05/03/bernie-sanders-unloads-kochs-refusing-play-medias-smear-hillary-game.html
"The movement is growing against the Citizens United enabled Koch brothers. The American people will not yield to a hostile billionaire takeover."
"The movement is growing against the Citizens United enabled Koch brothers. The American people will not yield to a hostile billionaire takeover."
Cavuto And Crew Attack Bernie Sanders As A 'Kook'
Cavuto And Crew Attack Bernie Sanders As A 'Kook'
"Look for more of this whether it's from Fox or the rest of our corporate media. They'll make fun of him, but you won't hear many specifics about his policy proposals, because they're popular, and they know it."
"Look for more of this whether it's from Fox or the rest of our corporate media. They'll make fun of him, but you won't hear many specifics about his policy proposals, because they're popular, and they know it."
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Bobby Jindal Wants To Slash Funding For Education, Duck Dynasty Will Keep Tax Breaks
Bobby Jindal Wants To Slash Funding For Education, Duck Dynasty Will Keep Tax Breaks
"In defense of Kansas, their budget gap is only $800 million, which is half of what Louisiana is currently looking at. So how are these states planning to attract businesses if they can’t provide them with educated workers or infrastructure that doesn’t look like it will collapse during the next strong wind storm? The answer is that they aren’t. Governors like Bobby Jindal and Sam Brownback don’t care about actually taking care of their constituents, they care about appealing to the religious right with laws that promote bigotry and making sure their corporate friends pay as little in taxes as possible, all while shifting the burden of the taxes that are paid off onto the very people who voted for them as they run their states into the ground financially. At least with a $415,000 per episode tax break, we’ve finally found out why those Robertson boys put up with Bobby Jindal and his sad, sad attempts to be a Louisiana good ‘ol boy."
"In defense of Kansas, their budget gap is only $800 million, which is half of what Louisiana is currently looking at. So how are these states planning to attract businesses if they can’t provide them with educated workers or infrastructure that doesn’t look like it will collapse during the next strong wind storm? The answer is that they aren’t. Governors like Bobby Jindal and Sam Brownback don’t care about actually taking care of their constituents, they care about appealing to the religious right with laws that promote bigotry and making sure their corporate friends pay as little in taxes as possible, all while shifting the burden of the taxes that are paid off onto the very people who voted for them as they run their states into the ground financially. At least with a $415,000 per episode tax break, we’ve finally found out why those Robertson boys put up with Bobby Jindal and his sad, sad attempts to be a Louisiana good ‘ol boy."
Bridget Kelly Asks For Donations From The Public She Helped Screw
Bridget Kelly Asks For Donations From The Public She Helped Screw
"The political operative who wrote New Jersey’s new state slogan, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” is ready to be rewarded for her work.
“This fund will aid in ensuring truth and justice prevails,” reads the appeal for money by Bridget Anne Kelly at the website of her new legal defense fund, which takes credit cards—“$25 minimum donation”—but warns that refunds are out of the question.
Kelly, former deputy chief of staff to Governor Chris Christie, joined the New Jersey Indicted Public Officials Hall of Infamy on Friday along with another former member of Christie’s inner circle, Bill Baroni."
"The political operative who wrote New Jersey’s new state slogan, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” is ready to be rewarded for her work.
“This fund will aid in ensuring truth and justice prevails,” reads the appeal for money by Bridget Anne Kelly at the website of her new legal defense fund, which takes credit cards—“$25 minimum donation”—but warns that refunds are out of the question.
Kelly, former deputy chief of staff to Governor Chris Christie, joined the New Jersey Indicted Public Officials Hall of Infamy on Friday along with another former member of Christie’s inner circle, Bill Baroni."
John Boehner Busted By Fact-Checkers For Lying About The Amount Of Money In American Politics
John Boehner Busted By Fact-Checkers For Lying About The Amount Of Money In American Politics
"Whoever is trying to make it easier for more money – especially “dark money” (all the money donated by sources that do not have to be revealed) – to get into politics should never be trusted."
"Whoever is trying to make it easier for more money – especially “dark money” (all the money donated by sources that do not have to be revealed) – to get into politics should never be trusted."
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Carly Fiorina Attacks Elizabeth Warren While Lying About Net Neutrality
Carly Fiorina Attacks Elizabeth Warren While Lying About Net Neutrality
"Here's the right's supposed answer to Hillary Clinton lying to the National Review's John Fund about net neutrality and who supported it on the eve of her big announcement that she's going to add her name to the list of passengers in the GOP 2016 clown car."
"Here's the right's supposed answer to Hillary Clinton lying to the National Review's John Fund about net neutrality and who supported it on the eve of her big announcement that she's going to add her name to the list of passengers in the GOP 2016 clown car."
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Water Industry Launches Attack on Water Democracy, Promotes Privatization | Alternet
Water Industry Launches Attack on Water Democracy, Promotes Privatization | Alternet
"What’s not so transparent is how the water industry lobbies to secure their interests. Comprised of large U.S. water companies and the U.S. subsidiaries of multinational corporations like Suez, the NAWC has been a member of the controversial American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), alongside Koch Industries and ExxonMobil. ALEC works to ensure that state legislation is modeled to support its industry-friendly policy goals, including deregulation and privatization. One of its bolder resolutions has been one to dissolve the Environmental Protection Agency. ALEC has even backed restrictions on voting.
Some companies, such as Amazon, Coca-Cola and more recently, Google, have backed out of ALEC because of its reactionary agenda. But in 2012 NAWC publicly defended its membership in ALEC, and, as journalist Sarah Pavlus noted, it’s not the industry’s only dubious association: American Water’s Pennsylvania subsidiary and Aqua America have partnered with the oil and gas industry on a lobbying effort to expand fracking (water companies sell the industry water used in fracking operations, and also recognize that the treatment of wastewater from fracking is a lucrative business opportunity.)
Instead of promoting private involvement in municipal water systems in the form of public private partnerships, the federal government should adequately fund water infrastructure projects."
"What’s not so transparent is how the water industry lobbies to secure their interests. Comprised of large U.S. water companies and the U.S. subsidiaries of multinational corporations like Suez, the NAWC has been a member of the controversial American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), alongside Koch Industries and ExxonMobil. ALEC works to ensure that state legislation is modeled to support its industry-friendly policy goals, including deregulation and privatization. One of its bolder resolutions has been one to dissolve the Environmental Protection Agency. ALEC has even backed restrictions on voting.
Some companies, such as Amazon, Coca-Cola and more recently, Google, have backed out of ALEC because of its reactionary agenda. But in 2012 NAWC publicly defended its membership in ALEC, and, as journalist Sarah Pavlus noted, it’s not the industry’s only dubious association: American Water’s Pennsylvania subsidiary and Aqua America have partnered with the oil and gas industry on a lobbying effort to expand fracking (water companies sell the industry water used in fracking operations, and also recognize that the treatment of wastewater from fracking is a lucrative business opportunity.)
Instead of promoting private involvement in municipal water systems in the form of public private partnerships, the federal government should adequately fund water infrastructure projects."
Friday, May 1, 2015
GOP House Leaders Create ‘Action Group’ To Seize And Sell America’s Public Lands
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/05/01/3653883/gop-action-group-seize-public-lands/
"Thanks to support from the Koch-backed American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and front groups for the oil industry’s PR giant, Richard Berman, as well as increasing lobbying by the Utah-based American Lands Council, these proposals have now gained prominence at the national level."
"Thanks to support from the Koch-backed American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and front groups for the oil industry’s PR giant, Richard Berman, as well as increasing lobbying by the Utah-based American Lands Council, these proposals have now gained prominence at the national level."
The Murray-Scott Minimum-Wage Bill: A Win-Win for Working Families and Taxpayers
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/poverty/news/2015/04/30/111808/the-murray-scott-minimum-wage-bill-a-win-win-for-working-families-and-taxpayers/
"America’s current minimum wage is a poverty wage: Many full-time workers who receive minimum-wage salaries live at or near the federal poverty level. This means that many must turn to public assistance such as food assistance and Medicaid in order to make ends meet. By allowing businesses to pay poverty-level wages, lawmakers have relieved low-wage employers of their legal responsibility to adequately compensate their workers—leaving American taxpayers to foot the bill instead. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, recently estimated that low wages cost U.S. taxpayers a whopping $152.8 billion each year. Yet for workers who cannot make ends meet on paltry pay, public assistance programs are critical to survival."
"America’s current minimum wage is a poverty wage: Many full-time workers who receive minimum-wage salaries live at or near the federal poverty level. This means that many must turn to public assistance such as food assistance and Medicaid in order to make ends meet. By allowing businesses to pay poverty-level wages, lawmakers have relieved low-wage employers of their legal responsibility to adequately compensate their workers—leaving American taxpayers to foot the bill instead. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, recently estimated that low wages cost U.S. taxpayers a whopping $152.8 billion each year. Yet for workers who cannot make ends meet on paltry pay, public assistance programs are critical to survival."
Republicans Are Now Trying To Pass Obamacare Extension To Save Their Own Asses
Republicans Are Now Trying To Pass Obamacare Extension To Save Their Own Asses
"It is astonishing how stupid Republicans treat conservative voters - yet their voters seem to eat it right up. Republicans couldn’t be any more transparent about what they’re trying to do, but conservative voters couldn’t seem to care less. Clearly Republicans know the law is working and they also know millions of Americans are going to finally see just how valuable “Obamacare” has been if the GOP finally gets its way. If they didn’t fear that, and they truly believed this law was one of the worst things to ever happen to this country, Senate Republicans wouldn’t be pathetically trying to pass an extension to the very subsidies they want struck down just to save their political asses in 2016."
"It is astonishing how stupid Republicans treat conservative voters - yet their voters seem to eat it right up. Republicans couldn’t be any more transparent about what they’re trying to do, but conservative voters couldn’t seem to care less. Clearly Republicans know the law is working and they also know millions of Americans are going to finally see just how valuable “Obamacare” has been if the GOP finally gets its way. If they didn’t fear that, and they truly believed this law was one of the worst things to ever happen to this country, Senate Republicans wouldn’t be pathetically trying to pass an extension to the very subsidies they want struck down just to save their political asses in 2016."
It’s Time to Raise the Minimum Wage | Economic Policy Institute
It’s Time to Raise the Minimum Wage | Economic Policy Institute
"The minimum wage in 2014 was 24 percent below its 1968 level despite the fact that U.S. productivity more than doubled over that period and low-wage workers now have much more experience and education than they did back then.1 Now is the time to address this historic weakness in the minimum wage by raising it and lifting the earnings of low-wage workers.
Across the country, there is overwhelming momentum in favor of raising wages for our nation’s lowest-wage workers. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia, as well as 21 cities and counties, set their minimum wages above the inadequate federal rate of $7.25. The Fight for $15 campaign has galvanized workers across the country to demand the kind of living wages that they are entitled to receive. As a result of their actions, cities such as Seattle and San Francisco have raised their minimum wages to $15, and some of the nation’s largest employers have raised wages even in the absence of federal action.
On Election Day in November 2014, in Arkansas, Alaska, South Dakota, and Nebraska, voters by very wide margins approved ballot initiatives to raise their state minimum wages. And a national poll released in January 2015 showed that 75 percent of Americans—representing all demographics—support raising the federal minimum wage to over $12 per hour.2 These facts demonstrate that a substantial increase in the minimum wage is needed and enjoys overwhelming support across political lines."
"The minimum wage in 2014 was 24 percent below its 1968 level despite the fact that U.S. productivity more than doubled over that period and low-wage workers now have much more experience and education than they did back then.1 Now is the time to address this historic weakness in the minimum wage by raising it and lifting the earnings of low-wage workers.
Across the country, there is overwhelming momentum in favor of raising wages for our nation’s lowest-wage workers. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia, as well as 21 cities and counties, set their minimum wages above the inadequate federal rate of $7.25. The Fight for $15 campaign has galvanized workers across the country to demand the kind of living wages that they are entitled to receive. As a result of their actions, cities such as Seattle and San Francisco have raised their minimum wages to $15, and some of the nation’s largest employers have raised wages even in the absence of federal action.
On Election Day in November 2014, in Arkansas, Alaska, South Dakota, and Nebraska, voters by very wide margins approved ballot initiatives to raise their state minimum wages. And a national poll released in January 2015 showed that 75 percent of Americans—representing all demographics—support raising the federal minimum wage to over $12 per hour.2 These facts demonstrate that a substantial increase in the minimum wage is needed and enjoys overwhelming support across political lines."
Bernie Sanders Torpedos Republicans By Revealing GOP Budget Kills 2.3 Million Jobs
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/04/27/bernie-sanders-torpedos-republicans-revealing-gop-budget-kills-2-3-million-jobs.html
"Sen. Sanders was put in the top Democratic seat on the Budget Committee for this exact reason. Sanders is exposing the things that Republicans don’t want to talk about. He is revealing the ugly truth behind the GOP’s economic ideology, and in the process, he is destroying any potential support for their economic ideas outside of the Republican Party."
"Sen. Sanders was put in the top Democratic seat on the Budget Committee for this exact reason. Sanders is exposing the things that Republicans don’t want to talk about. He is revealing the ugly truth behind the GOP’s economic ideology, and in the process, he is destroying any potential support for their economic ideas outside of the Republican Party."
Wage Crushers' Prevailing Wage Claims Are Nonsense
Wage Crushers' Prevailing Wage Claims Are Nonsense
"Now that the Wisconsin GOP and its allies have rammed though an American Legislative Exchange Council "right to work" (RTW) bill, the same cast of characters is back pushing another ALEC model: repeal of the state’s prevailing wage laws. These laws require public construction projects to support local wage standards instead of undercutting them."
"Now that the Wisconsin GOP and its allies have rammed though an American Legislative Exchange Council "right to work" (RTW) bill, the same cast of characters is back pushing another ALEC model: repeal of the state’s prevailing wage laws. These laws require public construction projects to support local wage standards instead of undercutting them."
Wall Street owns our cities: The secret pension travesty threatening American workers
Wall Street owns our cities: The secret pension travesty threatening American workers
"Public officials are overseeing this massive payout to Wall Street at the very moment many of those same officials are demanding big cuts to retirees’ promised pension benefits."
"Public officials are overseeing this massive payout to Wall Street at the very moment many of those same officials are demanding big cuts to retirees’ promised pension benefits."
The GOP’s demonic alliance: How the religious right & big business are dumbing down America
The GOP’s demonic alliance: How the religious right & big business are dumbing down America
"Indeed, anti-intellectualism has quite a storied history here in America — from evangelical preachers of the 19th century like Billy Sunday saying “college graduates are going as fast as they can straight to hell,” to Joseph McCarthy smearing every left-wing intellectual he could find. When it comes to alienating and demonizing thinking individuals, Christian’s and conservatives have always lead the way. And in the modern Republican party, anti-intellectualism has long been a common theme."
"Indeed, anti-intellectualism has quite a storied history here in America — from evangelical preachers of the 19th century like Billy Sunday saying “college graduates are going as fast as they can straight to hell,” to Joseph McCarthy smearing every left-wing intellectual he could find. When it comes to alienating and demonizing thinking individuals, Christian’s and conservatives have always lead the way. And in the modern Republican party, anti-intellectualism has long been a common theme."
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