Tag: Restart 2021
Majority of US voters want government to invest more in healthcare, education, and fighting poverty
57% of the electorate thinks the government doesn’t spend enough on anti-poverty initiatives, while 56% want to see more investment in education and healthcare. by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Wednesday, February 24, 2021 Lawmakers…
‘It is not a budget item,’ Democrat Kyrsten Sinema falsely says as she joins Joe Manchin in opposing $15 wage
“She is incorrect. It has a budgetary impact, and it was verified by CBO. Let’s get it done now.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, February 12, 2021 Sen. Kyrsten Sinema on Friday joined fellow conservative…
More cash transfers, please and pronto
by Wade Rathke February 9, 2021 New Orleans Way back when the pandemic was over there, and then over here, and the shutdown of peoples’ lives and work began, can you remember in the first…
Why opening restaurants is exactly what the Coronavirus wants us to do
Governors continue to open indoor dining and other activities before vaccinations become widespread. Experts warn this could create superspreading playgrounds for dangerous variants and squander our best shot at getting the pandemic under control. by Caroline…
‘Giant first step’: After 14+ hours of votes, Senate approves Covid relief resolution
With Zero GOP Support “We have the opportunity to give hope to the American people and restore faith in our government by telling them that… we understand the pain that they are experiencing and we are…
Manchin backs fast track process for Covid-19 relief
‘Pressure Works. And He’s Going to Need a Lot More’ The West Virginia senator also said he opposes raising the federal minimum wage to $15, setting up a potential clash with Sen. Bernie Sanders and other…
As GOP Senators push smaller Covid-19 relief package, Dem leaders move to advance Biden’s bolder plan
“Congress must pursue a bold and robust course of action. It makes no sense to pinch pennies when so many Americans are struggling,” said the Senate majority leader. by Jessica Corbett, staff write Monday, February 1,…
‘How about a counter-argument based on fact?’: Warren tells CNBC host over two-cent Wealth Tax criticism
“The wealthiest in this country are paying less in taxes than everyone else,” said the Democratic senator. “If they added a two-cent wealth tax, they’d still be paying less than most of the people in this…
Unemployment dips in Arizona for December, but jobs are still tight
by Ethan Kispert, Cronkite News Phoenix, Az . As COVID-19 pummels away in Arizona, unemployment in the state dipped slightly in December, with the restaurant and entertainment industries continuing to take the hardest hits. The…
Biden withdraws Trump rule attacking Social Security Disability recipients
“Wonderful news,” said one activist. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, January 28, 2021 Social Security defenders on Thursday celebrated news that the Biden White House has withdrawn a regulation pushed by the Trump administration that,…
As White House floats skimpier relief bill in bid for GOP support, progressives warn going small would be ‘catastrophic’
“Congress should err on the side of offering generous relief to a larger pool of people, rather than too little.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, January 28, 2021 With the Biden White House reportedly weighing…
$1.1 trillion Billionaire wealth gain during pandemic could fully fund Biden relief plan for Working class
“We should tax these windfall gains to pay for recovery.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, January 26, 2021 The $1.1 trillion in wealth that America’s billionaires have collectively gained during ten months of pandemic and…
McConnell caves on filibuster after Democrats Manchin and Sinema reiterate opposition to scrapping ‘Jim Crow relic’
“McConnell engaged in the most blatant, ridiculous act of obstructionism imaginable, and instead of telling him that if he kept it up, they’d take that power from him, key Dems reassured him that they’d never take…
Budget Chair Sanders dares GOP to criticize him for using reconciliation to ‘protect ordinary people, not just the rich’
“If they want to criticize me for helping to feed children who are hungry or senior citizens in this country who are isolated and alone and don’t have enough food, they can criticize me.” by Jake…
Susan Collins, supporter of $1.5 trillion in tax cuts for the rich, claims $1,400 survival checks not ‘targeted’ enough
“Susan Collins didn’t care so much about the ‘rich people getting more than they need’ issue when it was massive upper income tax cuts on the table.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday, January 25, 2021…
“We’ve let the worst happen”: reflecting on 400,000 dead
A much-needed check-in with health care reporter Caroline Chen as we examine the toll COVID-19 has taken on the country and what to expect from a new president. by Logan Jaffe, ProPubica January 23, 2021 In…
Replacing lead service lines – perfect infrastructure project
by Wade Rathke January 22, 2021 New Orleans Recently, Social Policy was lucky enough to have fifty contributors offer ideas suggesting priorities for the new Biden administration. There were some amazing recommendations, and we’ll dig…
As Romney says Covid relief bill ‘not well-timed,’ Biden urged to abandon GOP outreach, move swiftly on relief package
“A Republican minority shouldn’t be allowed to hold the nation’s economic recovery and public health hostage.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, January 21 With Covid-19 killing thousands of people each day in the U.S. and…
Biden Inaugural confronts the Jan. 6 riot head-on, calls for an end to “this uncivil war”
It’s become a ProPublica tradition for our president, Richard Tofel, who wrote a book on President Kennedy’s inaugural address, to offer an instant analysis of suchspeeches. Here are his thoughts for today. If President Joe…
Memo details steps Biden can take to sidestep GOP obstruction, from reconciliation to shutting down the filibuster
“Biden was elected with a mandate to break gridlock and deliver results. He should use it.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, January 19 With Senate Republicans already indicating that they will attempt to block passage…
Yellen bolsters demand for Biden to enact bold FDR-style agenda,
‘Smartest Thing We Can Do Is Act Big’ “Instead of feel-good talk of unification,” said journalist John Nichols, “FDR called out the Wall Street speculators, the bankers, and their conservative apologists.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer…
With Senate majority reclaimed, progressives demand bold agenda from Biden
‘No More Excuses’ “A working majority in both houses of Congress means that any decision to court Republican votes will be made by choice.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Friday, January 8, 2021 With President Donald…
Sanders says ‘First order of business’ for Biden, new Democratic Congress must be Covid bill with $2,000 checks
The Vermont senator said Democrats have to be “bold in a way that we have not seen since FDR in the 1930s.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, January 8, 2021 Sen. Bernie Sanders late Thursday…
Progressive push for $2,000 checks in Georgia shows bold, universal policies winning strategy for Democrats
“In almost every respect, the campaigns that Warnock and Ossoff ran were closer to what progressives counseled than what moderates have counseled.” by Julia Conley, staff writer Wednesday, January 6, 2021 Rev. Raphael Warnock’s electoral victory…