The Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it will take up a case that challenges President Barack Obama’s executive actions that deferred the deportation of 5 million undocumented immigrants. News coverage of this development naturally was dominated by the two words that are sure to make any news story go viral: “procedural battle.” Okay, perhaps suchContinue reading “Instead of Building Walls, Build an Economy That Works for All”
Category Archives: Ben Henry
Price-Gouging AIDS & Cancer Patients? By-Product of a Broken System
Martin Shkreli wants you to swallow his bitter pill — and to thank him for making you pay $750 for it. For 62 years, the drug Daraprim has been the standard method to treat parasitic infections that are particularly life-threatening to AIDS and cancer patients. It was relatively affordable — though low-income patients might take issue with calling an $18 pill “affordable” —Continue reading “Price-Gouging AIDS & Cancer Patients? By-Product of a Broken System”
Questions Fly Over $400 Million Donation. But They’re the Wrong Questions
Last week, author Malcolm Gladwell stirred up the 1% hornet’s nest by sarcastically calling out a hedge fund manager, John Paulson, for his $400 million donation to Harvard University. The billionaire’s donation to the richest university in the world will benefit the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Upon hearing the news, Gladwell, the New Yorker writer and “Tipping Point” author,Continue reading “Questions Fly Over $400 Million Donation. But They’re the Wrong Questions”
Beating Cancer Is One Thing; Beating Medical Debt Is Another
It was a dreary Wednesday afternoon, about a year-and-a-half ago. I was rehearsing in Seattle for an upcoming performance with my rock band, Theory of Change. I was working out some parts with the saxophonist, and things were sounding good. Then, I got the call that would change my life.
Fair Revenue a Must in Budget Deal
In Washington state, the Legislature is in special session, negotiating a budget deal. The state desperately needs funding for our schools, as the state Supreme Court has ruled that the Legislature is failing our children.
Clean Fuels Standard Strengthens Local Economies
Last night I teamed up with Washington Community Action Network Political Director Mauricio Ayon to testify at a Washington Department of Ecology hearing on the proposed Clean Fuels Standard, which would establish a requirement that oil refineries and distributors cut carbon pollution from gasoline and diesel by 10 percent over 10 years. Needless to say, thereContinue reading “Clean Fuels Standard Strengthens Local Economies”
The Road to Prosperity
Giving Idaho Immigrants the Chance to Apply for a Driver’s License Cultivates a Future of Shared Opportunity and Success to the Benefit of All Idahoans Read: The Road to Prosperity This report was produced by Julie Chinitz, Ben Henry, Fernando Mejia and Sheley Secrest of the Alliance for a Just Society, and Krista Bustamante, AnaContinue reading “The Road to Prosperity”
Low-Wage Job Growth a Major Factor in Income Inequality. Patience is Not the Answer.
In response to the New York Times’ Jan. 27 Upshot piece, “Gains From Economic Recovery Still Limited to Top One Percent,” we appreciate the effort to report on the historic, staggering and blatant income inequality that has taken hold of America. This piece made some excellent points around the continuing inequality crisis. However, we have an answerContinue reading “Low-Wage Job Growth a Major Factor in Income Inequality. Patience is Not the Answer.”
Low Wage Nation
Low Wage Nation: Nearly half of new jobs don’t pay enough to make ends meet January 2015 By Ben Henry and Allyson Fredericksen Click Here for the Full Report Click Here for State Fact Sheets
Testimony: A Living Wage Is about Family Prosperity
Yesterday I got the chance to testify to the Washington state House Labor and Workforce Development Committee. Our living wage research findings set a standard, that mere survival is not an adequate measure of a healthy society, and not an expectation we should be striving to set. It’s about a living wage that positions familiesContinue reading “Testimony: A Living Wage Is about Family Prosperity”