Obama: Families in urgent need of health reform
Families are in desperate need of health reform, President Obama said in remarks at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, July 20. In his statement, after meeting with the hospital's administrators, doctors and nurses, the president also warned against Republican obstructionism on health reform.
Roger Rader: 1929-2009
TACOMA, Washington – Roger Rader’s family and friends gathered in the front yard of the family house here July 18 to remember his irascible personality but also his unwavering, lifelong fight for trade union rights, civil rights and socialism.
Obama takes lead on health reform
Pushing back against Republican opposition to health reform, President Obama this week launched a national campaign for urgent passage of health reform proposals in Congress.
Cost of health reform becomes new battleground
Opponents of real health care reform are now zeroing in on how it will be financed. They are arguing that universal health coverage, especially a public plan, is too expensive or, if they can’t block a public option, that it should be paid for by working class Americans through a tax on their existing health coverage. In other words, anything but the plan approved by two House committees, which would tax the rich.
Fight for the Cuban Five goes on
The dust has settled following the announcement June 15 that the U.S. Supreme Court had refused to review the case of the imprisoned Cuban Five. A storm of outrage exploded, followed by expressions of international solidarity. The question looms as to what remains for Gerardo, René, Tony, Ramón and Fernando.
Womens concerns often missing in health care debate
Soaring health care costs and eroding benefits are seriously impeding Americans’ ability to get needed health care, with women particularly affected, a recent Commonwealth Fund study found.
Homelessness increases among families
The number of homeless families who spend some time in a shelter increased by 9 percent from 2007 to 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) annual report on homelessness. The report, released last week, also showed significant increases in homelessness in suburban and rural areas.
Texas unemployment offices break down
Unprecedented unemployment and political posturing by Governor Rick Perry have forced the Texas Workforce Commmission into a complete breakdown. There were warnings from the Texas AFL-CIO more than a month ago, but the corporate media reported on July 15 that tens of thousands of jobless Texans will not get their check and tens of thousands of telephone calls for help are going unanswered. Reporter Robert T. Garrett of the Dallas Morning News estimated that 82,000 unlucky Texans won't get the federal 13-week extension of benefits when their state benefits expire, and 150,000 telephone calls couldn't get through in one day, July 13.
COMMENTARY Affirmative action and disregard of evidence
The five reactionary Supreme Court judges ignored evidence and ruled to let stand the results of a 2003 firefighter promotion test, even though no African Americans were promoted, and despite the fact that second-generation fire fighters, mostly white, had test material that the others did not possess.
COMMENTARY Public options for a dual economy
The egregious economic crimes perpetrated by U.S. finance capital have compelled new positive change in the balance of forces in our country.
