Proponents of the public option are fighting back. After some pretty bad press during the August recess, the public option remains on the negotiating table. But its position is quite precarious, with many policymakers backing away from the public option -- citing opposition among the American public. Yet, public opinion...

Last night, as I watched President Obama address a joint-session of Congress, I couldn't help but think back twenty years ago to another joint-session that I was lucky enough to attend -- standing against the back wall with my fellow U.S. Congressional pages. That night, union leader Lech...

It has been merely twelve days since Mark Sanford's disastrously-rambling press conference in which he admits to an on-going affair, not to mention leaving the country secretly without letting others know where he was going. Now 69 percent of South Carolina's citizens want him to resign. And more...

After more than a decade of academic, media, and popular analysis, the failure of the Clintons' 1993 health care proposal is still best captured by this old Harry and Louise ad in which a white middle-class couple sit down at their kitchen table "sometime in the future" and lament the...

Like anyone following the President's policy proposals, I have heard touted the benefits of electronic medical records and am aware that stimulus funds are dedicated to getting these systems in place. Yet, I was still a bit surprised this week when I visited my doctor's office and learned that they...

A year ago today, along with other Texas Democrats, I participated in our unique primacaucus process. After voting in the primary that morning, I gathered with many of my neighbors in our church-based voting location to caucus for one of the two leading candidates for the Democratic Presidential nomination....

With another report of a senior administration official charged with failure to properly pay taxes, I feel the need to state the following very obvious point. The hopes and promises of a progressive agenda rest on American's collective willingness to pay taxes to support the enactment of the proposed...

Before rushing off to the orientation for ACORN's Day of Service in Houston Neighborhoods, I wanted to post this article from this morning's Houston Chronicle [print edition only], in which I explain why I am giving up my general cynical take on small symbolic actions and embracing this...

Like cities across the country, Houston is abuzz over the inauguration of our new president. The race was close here: Obama beat out McCain by 19,000 votes out of more than million cast in Harris County. But, this weekend, I am hearing much more talk of inauguration parties than complaints...

As Obama gets to work brokering a deal for his stimulus package, bipartisan agreement actually seems possible. This optimism stems from Obama's recent indication that his proposal will include a greater reliance on the tax system as a means of delivering needed aid.

Described as a move to...

This morning's Washington Times published an article by Christina Bellatoni entitled, Poverty off Political Radar, in which she argues that the issue of poverty has lost ground on the national agenda as a result of Edward's highly-publicized affair. Although the article focuses on Edwards himself and calls for...

Pushing forward their Of the People, By the People approach to governing (or at least transitioning), the Obama team is now providing another venue for public involvement in their plans for health care reform. As stated on their website, "Health care is a top priority for President-elect Obama, and...

In his first month as President-elect, Barack Obama has remained silent on the issue of poverty. Across more than 30 public statements since election night, Obama has made no direct references to the plight of the poor (defined as use of the term: poor, poverty, or low-income).

This year as we go around the table expressing thanks for friends, family, health, and home, I anticipate smirks (if not boos) when I add: "But, mostly I'm thankful for big government."

Yes, big government is usually just the bad guy who takes our money, constrains our options, and basically...

Despite the recent electoral results instituting a new era of unified party control in Washington, bipartisanship is in the air. On Sunday's Meet the Press, Valerie Jarrett a long-time advisor to President-elect Obama and co-chair of his transition team reminded us that "throughout the campaign, President-elect Obama has talked about...