The leaves have fallen from their branches and await their final rest upon winter’s calm. The Thanksgiving holiday weekend has arrived, the one holiday of the year when families gather simply to reflect on the good things in life. Then, as the clock strikes midnight, it is time to waken from our over-fed slumber, take toContinue reading “Job Gap Report: No Living Wages Make Walmart a Scrooge”
Category Archives: Ben Henry
The Myth of an Honest Living: When One Job Just Isn’t Enough
It is a basic American value: Hard work should earn you a paycheck that pays enough to survive. In this land of opportunity, an honest living should provide enough to make a living. However, as we find in our upcoming Job Gap Study — which calculates the living wage in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, andContinue reading “The Myth of an Honest Living: When One Job Just Isn’t Enough”
Keeping the Fox Out of the Health Care Henhouse
In March 2010, Congress passed historic health reform legislation. It is now up to state lawmakers to implement reform in our state, including passing legislation to establish new health insurance exchanges through which individuals and small businesses can buy health insurance.
How Money in Politics Affects the 99% … And How the 99% Is Fighting Back
Since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its Citizens United decision in 2010, we have witnessed an unprecedented degree of influence by corporate interests in setting public policy in America. “How Money in Politics Affects the 99% … And How the 99% Is Fighting Back” explores the profound impact money is having on decisions that affect allContinue reading “How Money in Politics Affects the 99% … And How the 99% Is Fighting Back”
Politicians Who Defend Bush Tax Cuts for Top 2% Have Explaining to Do
As members of Congress arrive home for their August recess, which starts this week, some of them have a lot of explaining to do about their recent votes on the Bush tax cuts. In particular, every senator and representative who stood in the way of ending special tax cuts for the richest 2 percent ofContinue reading “Politicians Who Defend Bush Tax Cuts for Top 2% Have Explaining to Do”
The State of Health Care Reform
Health care reform in the United States has come a long way. But much work remains. This series of papers by AJS Federal Issues Policy Director Bill Daley examines the state of health care reform in the U.S. and the role state-level policy-making will play as we move forward and implement the Affordable Care Act.
Corporate Interests Dominate List of Top Super Committee Donors
Four banks, two large corporations, a conservative political action committee (PAC), and a law firm serving corporate, industrial, and financial institutions dominate the list of top 10 campaign donors that contributed to members of the bipartisan congressional “Super Committee,” setting the stage for a historic revenue showdown. These entities contributed a total of $4.5 million,Continue reading “Corporate Interests Dominate List of Top Super Committee Donors”
Anti-Worker’s Rights Tour Comes Up Empty
Apparently, the pro-oil, anti-worker Running on Empty Tour has hit a roadblock: the Montana Organizing Project and its allies. The Americans for Prosperity — a Washington, D.C.-based, ultra conservative political action committee (PAC) — has launched a national tour calling for oil and gas companies to be able to operate and drill with no publicContinue reading “Anti-Worker’s Rights Tour Comes Up Empty”