Commentary: Time to get to work, Al!
MINNEAPOLIS - During the campaign, Minnesota’s newest U.S. Senator, Al Franken, said he would be an elected official in the tradition of the man who once held his seat, the late Paul Wellstone. It’s a commitment that American’s wage earners need him to keep. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Franken won last November’s election, concluding an extended election process – the longest in state history – and ending any hope that Republican Norm Coleman had of keeping the seat he won in 2002 after Wellstone’s death in a plane crash.
Pass fair and sensible Illinois budget, protestors say
CHICAGO – On July 1 over one million people across Illinois will lose access to social services as state lawmakers here scramble to approve a “doomsday” budget, which contains major cuts up to 50 percent that critics are calling unacceptable.
At White House Pride event, Obama vows to advance LGBT equality
In an unprecedented White House gathering of gay and lesbian leaders and activists on Monday, President Obama strongly affirmed his commitment to enacting equality legislation and overturning discriminatory laws and policies.
Demand grows for federal jobs program
A few days ago, retired auto worker, Frank Hammer, read a union-baiting article in the Dayton Daily News headlined “GM Now A Federal Jobs Program.”
Rosenberg commemoration debunks treason charges
The National Committee to Reopen the Rosenberg Case annual memorial meeting June 18, commemorating the 56th anniversary of the execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, featured calls for the exoneration of the couple, executed in 1953
Supreme Court rules against affirmative action
The Supreme Court today ruled that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn. were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, overturning a decision by high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. In a blow to affirmative action the court, in a 5-4 ruling, said New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam because no African Americans and only two Hispanic firefighters were likely to be made lieutenants or captains based on the results.
In California, budget drama grows
SACRAMENTO, Calif. ― Tension is reaching new heights this week in California’s budget drama, with the state set to issue IOUs if the legislature and governor fail to pass a measure within days. The last week has seen Democrats intensify their efforts to identify revenues to help balance proposed cuts, only to have Republicans including the governor reject their proposals.
Health reform? Women say it's about work, wages
As the battle to reform U.S. health care heats up, Cindy Pearson is staying focused. 'This push is our No. 1 priority now,' says Pearson, executive director of the Washington-based National Women's Health Network. 'It's an important time because Obama is voicing his concerns about health care and because both houses of Congress are developing legislative language on the issue that women's advocates will have a chance to discuss, review--and possibly change--before it comes up for a vote in the fall of 2009.'
Attorney General seeks review of cocaine sentencing laws
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told lawmakers that it was time to close the gap in prison sentences for crack and powder cocaine crimes, a disparity in sentencing that has had a large impact on the African-American community. For years drug reform advocates have pointed to the difference in sentencing for powder and crack cocaine as one glaring example of institutionalized racism in the criminal justice system.
Arizonas equal opportunity programs under threat
Arizona's equal opportunity programs are facing a renewed assault this week after the state legislature voted to place an anti-equal opportunity initiative onto the 2010 Arizona General Election ballot.
