Chris Weigant, 11.21.2009
Author, Political Commentator, and Blogger (ChrisWeigant.com)
Harry Reid thinks he's got enough votes, but then this is the reason why the vote keeps getting pushed back -- because he's obviously still scrambling for the final few votes before he moves ahead.
The Media Consortium, 11.13.2009
Network of Leading Progressive Independent Journalism Organizations
By Raquel Brown, Media Consortium Blogger
For weeks, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) has opposed climate change legislation. In the Environment and Public Wor...
Melinda Gopher, 11.13.2009
Ojibwe Native, Political rights activist
This weeks historic meeting between the Obama administration and Indian Country should have been a national celebration. Instead, it was a staid, meaningless political affair.
Lee Stranahan, 11.11.2009
Filmmaker, Writer, Photographer
Do you remember how Joe Pesci got killed in Martin Scorcese's film Goodfellas? Pesci was told he was finally going to get what he'd always wanted and ...
David A. Love, 11.09.2009
Writer and human rights advocate based in Philadelphia
Often, people will look at a high-profile example of corruption, and conclude that the egregious act is an exception to the rule. In reality, it might be the tip of the iceberg.
The Media Consortium, 11.06.2009
Network of Leading Progressive Independent Journalism Organizations
By Raquel Brown, Media Consortium Blogger
Senate Democrats in the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) finally squelched Republican boycotts ...
Gillian Caldwell, 11.06.2009
Campaign Director for 1Sky
In the past week, a drama unfolded around the Senate EPW Committee hearings for the new Senate bill on climate and clean energy jobs. Declarations! Boycott threats! Power plays!
Paul Loeb, 11.03.2009
Author of 'Soul of a Citizen'
As the health care fight approaches its end game, there's now a way for us, as ordinary citizens, to exercise power, and create enough of a potential cost to deter conservatives standing in the way.
The Media Consortium, 10.30.2009
Network of Leading Progressive Independent Journalism Organizations
By Raquel Brown, Media Consortium Blogger
This week the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held three hearings on the Kerry-Boxer clean en...
Steven Hill, 10.30.2009
Director, Political Reform Program, New America Foundation
Private, nonprofit health care cooperatives, properly designed, actually could offer quite a lot to both the left and the right, as well as to anyone who is interested in expanding health care coverage.
Chris Weigant, 10.28.2009
Author, Political Commentator, and Blogger (ChrisWeigant.com)
The media has been pushing the "public option is dead" theme for so long, it's no wonder they're so astonished by yesterday's news that a public option will be included in the Senate bill.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, 10.22.2009
Political Analyst and Social Issues Commentator
The public option epitaph was written months ago during the more than two dozen secret meetings that Obama and his aides had with the insurance industry and pharmaceutical bigwigs.
James Sanders, 10.21.2009
Journalist, author, stylist
Are the Democrats missing the big picture? If they are, heaven help the sick. Until common ground is found, those millions of American citizens that are sick and without health insurance might not be able to hold on.
Bill Scher, 10.21.2009
OurFuture.org, LiberalOasis.com, WHMP, author of “Wait! Don’t Move To Canada!”
Two polls in two days found widespread opposition to the insurance tax, and broad support for an income surtax on the wealthiest households. It's pretty clear where the political center is.
Peter Dreier, 10.20.2009
Peter Dreier is E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics at Occidental College
Whoever picked the name "Humana" for the health insurance giant had a great sense of humor. Had the marketing genius in charge of picking a name for the corporation been more honest, he would have called it "Profita."
Zack Cooper, 10.20.2009
Health Economist, London School of Economics
The only way to go from sickness care to health promotion is with both tougher regulation of insurance companies and a meaningful mandate for individuals to buy health insurance.
Roger Hickey, 10.19.2009
Co-Director of the Campaign for America's Future
Suddenly, all Democratic politicians, even the most conservative, are realizing that their voters will blame them, not the health insurance companies, if the policies the voters are required to buy are too expensive.
Rep. Joe Sestak, 10.18.2009
U.S. Senate Candidate, 31 Year Navy Veteran
The health care reform bill passed by the Senate Finance Committee reinforces health insurance monopolies, does not provide access to affordable care for all Americans, and does not present a full accounting of its costs.
Chris Weigant, 10.18.2009
Author, Political Commentator, and Blogger (ChrisWeigant.com)
I have to admit before I begin that I don't watch cable television "news" during the day, because I consider it largely to be a waste of my valuable t...
Paul Loeb, 10.16.2009
Author of 'Soul of a Citizen'
Forcing Senators like Nelson, Baucus, and Lincoln to respond to the American public, through a petition, would be the right thing politically as well as morally.
Michael J. Wilson, 10.16.2009
National director of Americans for Democratic Action
The Finance Committee has opted to save money by leaving 25 million Americans out of health care. Without a public option, nothing will stop premiums from rising, requiring taxpayers to foot the bill.