On Monday, the working-class political organizing group People’s Action held its first annual convention, entitled Rise Up 2017, featuring Senator Bernie Sanders. At a time when record numbers of progressives seem to be running for office, scores of activists proclaimed their candidacies on stage. Following a brassy opening-a marching band played “When the Saints Go […]
Blog: TAPPED
Posted inEnergy and the Environment
What States and Cities Can Do To Fight Climate Change
Today, the Prospect is posting Ben Adler’s long-form piece, which also appears in the spring issue of our print magazine, on how states and cities are moving ahead on policies that limit climate change, and what they’re doing to counter the Trump administration’s policies that will make climate change even more severe. As Ben points […]
Posted inWorking in America
DC Paid Leave Coming (Slowly)
Earlier this month Washington, D.C.’s new paid leave law, considered one of the most generous in the United States, went into effect. As The Washington Post reports: The D.C. law provides for up to eight weeks of paid time off to new parents, six weeks to workers caring for ailing family members and two weeks […]
Posted inEducation in America
A Close Look at Education Reform in Washington, D.C.
Today, The American Prospect published a feature story by Rachel Cohen on D.C. school reform. The District of Columbia has been cast as one of the nation’s most successful examples of education reform. Over the last decade, the city has significantly expanded charter schooling and implemented a new teacher evaluation system based in part on […]
Posted inEducation in America
Why D.C.’s First Charter Union Election Was Called Off
In February, I reported on the first public union campaign at a charter school in Washington, D.C. Teachers at Paul Public Charter School wanted to form their own local-the District of Columbia Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff (DC ACTS)-which would be affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers. Seventy-one percent of Paul’s staff signed […]
Posted inHealth and Social Policy
Congress Determined To Keep Private Sector In Vets’ Heath Care
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill mulling legislation to extend a program that lets veterans seek health care in the private sector have revived their longstanding complaints about long wait times for care at the Veterans Health Administration facilities. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin and Dr. Baligh Yehia, the agency’s assistant under secretary, appeared before the House […]
Posted inEconomic Policy
Wisconsin Progressive Giant Ed Garvey’s Vital Message
When Wisconsin progressive Ed Garvey succumbed to a long illness February 22 at age 76, Senator Bernie Sanders hailed him as “one of the smartest, funniest, and most decent people I have ever known.” It was a fitting tribute to the humanity of Garvey, whose passion for economic democracy and social justice had made him […]
Posted inLaw and Justice
Supreme Court: Defendant’s Race Cannot Inform Sentencing
In October, we covered Buck v. Davis, a death penalty case that was being argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. On Wednesday, February 22, the Court ruled in favor of convicted murderer and condemned prisoner Duane Buck and sent his case back to the appeals court. Procedurally, the case was a complicated mess, but it […]
Posted inEconomic Policy
GOP Pushes to Repeal Regulations on Prepaid-Card Companies
Republican legislators have moved to repeal a rule constraining prepaid–debit card companies before the rule can take effect, marking the latest effort in their recent campaign of widespread deregulation. Seven GOP senators-led by David Perdue of Georgia-and four representatives-led by Tom Graves, also of Georgia-filed identical resolutions in the Senate and House of Representatives last […]
Posted inLaw and Justice
A Price Confirmation Would Continue Obstruction of Gun Violence Research
The prospects for reinvigorating gun violence research could become even more remote. Federal funding for studies into gun violence and gun-related deaths has effectively been frozen for the last two decades, a worrying trend that looks to continue under a Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress, especially if the Senate confirms Representative Tom Price, President […]
