Consumers shop in a Target store on September 28, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Posted in Analysis Wealth

As executives hike prices, US corporations rake in biggest profits since 1950

“Prices are high,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown, “because corporations are raising them—so they can keep paying themselves with ever-larger executive bonuses and stock buybacks.” by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams November 30, 2021 New data released by…

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Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) hobnobs with attendees of a May 17, 2019 event hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc)
Posted in Dark Money News Politics

While roadblocking Party agenda, Sinema absconds to Europe for fundraising

“She might as well start fundraising for McConnell at this point.” by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams Thursday, October 14, 2021 With President Joe Biden’s popular legislative agenda hanging in the balance largely due to her obstruction,…

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It's cannot be described as a labor shortage, explains Reich, when "many American workers are now engaged in the equivalent of a general strike." (Photo: Shutterstock)
Posted in Columns Jobs Robert Reich Workers

This isn’t a labor shortage—It’s a strike by workers kicked in the face by low wages for too long

A lot of those now out of work simply don’t want to return to backbreaking, low-wage shit jobs. Why should they? by Robert Reich October 10, 2021 The U.S. added just 194,000 jobs in September, down…

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) arrives at the U.S. Capitol for a vote on May 18, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Posted in News Restart 2021

‘We had a deal’: Warren joins Sanders and house progressives in fight for Biden’s agenda

“The agreement from the beginning was that all the pieces would move together,” said the Massachusetts Democrat. “I don’t want to see that deal broken.” by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams Wednesday, September 29, 2021 Sen. Elizabeth…

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Posted in Analysis Unemployment

Biden faces backlash over ‘shameful’ capitulation to GOP governors as they end unemployment lifelines

“You only take back the lifeline when people aren’t drowning,” said Claire Guzdar of the Groundwork Collaborative. by Jake Johnson, Staff Writer June 5, 2021 Biden administration officials publicly signaled Friday that they have no intention…

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https://www.commondreams.org/
Posted in Analysis Arizona Restart 2021 Unemployment insurance

GOP Governors’ termination of jobless aid could cost local economies over $12 billion

“If states proceed with their plans to end these critical programs, they will be ripping the rug out from under millions of Americans and further hindering our economic recovery.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, June…

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Posted in News Restart 2021 Unemployment

Anger grows as GOP Governors cut off jobless benefits

‘Attempting to Starve People Back to Work’ Meanwhile, the Biden administration is under fire for claiming it is powerless to prevent states from ending the $300 weekly unemployment boost. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, May…

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks during the confirmation hearing for Secretary of Energy nominee Jennifer Granholm on January 27, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Graeme Jennings—Pool/Getty Images)
Posted in Arizona News Unemployment insurance

Sanders urges Labor Secretary to protect jobless benefits as GOP governors race to cut them off

Az Gov. Ducey moves to cut fed unemployment help The Vermont senator warned that many workers “will be forced into poverty” if Republican leaders are permitted to end emergency unemployment benefits. by Jake Johnson, staff writer…

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A new report finds that 51 of the nation's 100 biggest low-wage employers manipulated their rules to boost executive pay while offering their workers few safeguards against the pandemic and resulting economic meltdown.(Image: Institute for Policy Studies)
Posted in Analysis Bailout 2020 Wealth

Corporations rigged rules to boost pandemic pay of CEOs

“By inflating executive compensation while their workers struggled during a pandemic, corporate boards have strengthened the case for tax penalties on huge CEO-worker pay gaps.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, May 11, 2021   Dozens…

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Derrick Davis, a member of West Virginia New Jobs Coalition, hangs up signage during a community gathering and job fair on April 8, 2021 in Charleston, West Virginia. (Photo: Emilee Chinn/Getty Images for Green New Deal Network)
Posted in Jobs News Restart 2021

As hiring undershoots expectations, Biden urged to go big with $10 trillion jobs plan

“Millions of people are out of work, and the unemployment rate is rising. The real risk isn’t doing too much—it’s doing too little.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer May 7, 2021   Analysts expected Friday’s April…

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Posted in Columns Wade Rathke

3/11 Pandemic Anniversary

by Wade Rathke March 11, 2021 New Orleans    9/11 has been a date fixed on the mental calendar of Americans for what will be twenty years this September of 2021. It is worth wondering whether…

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Posted in News Payroll Taxes Unemployment insurance

Millions set to receive surprise tax bills for pandemic jobless benefits

‘We Should Be Taxing the Rich, Not the Unemployed’ Democrats are facing pressure to act fast to stave off an “easily avoidable political disaster.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer March 2, 2021   With tax season…

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Posted in Analysis Politics Republicans Restart 2021

CBO warns employment won’t recover until 2024, GOP offers 3-month extension of jobless aid

‘Inhumane’ “Workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own shouldn’t be constantly worrying that they are going to lose their income overnight.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday, February 1, 2021 As…

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Posted in News Restart 2021

‘We have got to act now’: As GOP introduces weak relief bill, Sanders says dems already have enough votes to pass stronger package

“We made promises to the American people. We’re going to keep those promises.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Monday, February 1, 2021 Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont on Sunday told ABC host Martha Raddatz that there…

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Posted in Analysis Politics

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…

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Posted in COVID Reboot 2021 News

‘One more check Is not enough’: Ilhan Omar calls on Biden to back recurring direct payments

“We need to provide those struggling and left behind with consistent reliable cash payments during this Covid-19 crisis.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, January 22 Warning that one additional check is nowhere near sufficient to…

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Posted in Analysis COVID Reboot 2021

Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief plan: $400 unemployment boost, $1,400 checks, and billions in additional aid

“Congress should immediately move to pass President-elect Biden’s plan,” said Claire Guzdar of the Groundwork Collaborative. “And we can’t stop there.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Thursday, January 14 With less than a week until he…

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Posted in Biden Administration Government News Politics

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…

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Posted in News Restart 2021

Sanders urges Americans to call their senators and demand vote on $2,000 checks

‘A Matter of Life and Death’ “We need $2,000 stimulus checks, not $740,000,000,000 for the Pentagon and private ‘defense’ contractors,” said advocacy group CodePink. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Wednesday, December 30, 2020 Sen. Bernie Sanders…

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Posted in Evictions News Unemployment

Sanders slams Trump’s intransigence as millions lose unemployment lifeline

‘Unbelievably Cruel’ “People are losing their extended unemployment benefits,” said the senator from Vermont. “They’re going to be evicted from their apartments because the eviction moratorium is ending.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Sunday, December 27,…

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Posted in News Restart 2021 Safety Net Unemployment

‘Yes, exactly,’ say progressives after Pence warns Democrats will ‘make rich poorer and poor more comfortable’

“You have to be all sorts of twisted to think ‘making poor people more comfortable’ is a bad thing.” by Julia Conley, staff writer Wednesday, December 23, 2020 The grassroots organization People for Bernie on Tuesday…

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Posted in Bailout 2020 Columns Wade Rathke

Christmas Comes to Congress

by Wade Rathke December 22, 2020 Pearl River    Ahhh…it’s the end of the year when sugarplums are dancing in dreams of Congressional representatives in both houses and on all sides of the aisle. It may…

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Posted in News Restart 2021

Congress passes Covid relief bill: billions in gifts for the wealthy, $600 checks for working class

“You’re getting a one-time $600 check to survive a pandemic, but hey, at least lobbyists can get their three-martini lunches delivered.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, December 22, 2020 In late-night votes just hours after…

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Posted in Analysis Restart 2021

Watered-down Covid relief deal

‘A slap in the face for people suffering across the country’ “Congress must pass this bill to address the immediate need, but let’s be clear: this should be considered a down payment at best.” by Kenny…

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