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Reform

Right And Left Join To Reform Criminal Justice System

New York Times | ADAM LIPTAK | Posted 11.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: Civil Liberties, Republican Party, Heritage Foundation, Conservatives, Liberals, Courts, Crime, Ronald Reagan, Nacdl, Reform, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Edward Meese Iii, Beyond Left and Right, Aclu, Libertarians, Judicial Reform, Politics News

WASHINGTON -- In the next several months, the Supreme Court will decide at least a half-dozen cases about the rights of people accused of crimes invol...

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Democrats Now "All In" On Healthcare Reform

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: Polls, Pot Committed, All In, 2010 Election, Dr Dean, Poker, Democratic, Reform, Obama, Majority, Democratic Party, Republican, Dean, Approval Ratings, Howard Dean, 2010, Expectations, Pre-Existing, Midterms, Health Care, Reid, President-Obama Barack-Obama, House, Democrat, Congress, Democrats, Election, Midterm Elections, Chris Weigant, Midterm, Health, Party, Health Care Reform, Political Capital, Harry Reid, Bill, Senate, Healthcare, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Let's look at the poker hand we've been dealt on health care reform. Democrats have now officially gone from "pot committed" to "all in." The stakes, to be blunt, have been raised until they are as high as they can go.

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Friday Talking Points [102] -- Harry Reid's Glacial Progress Grinds On

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.21.2009 | Politics

Read More: 60 Votes, Leadership, White House, Debate, Floor, Ron Paul, Reform, Alan Grayson, Gray Hair, Eric Holder, Sarah Palin, Conyers, Amendments, John Kerry, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Democratic Caucus, Health Care, Majority Leader, Reid, Reconciliation, John Conyers, Conference Committee, Grey Hair, Kerry, Olympia Snowe, Democrat, Robert Byrd, Congress, Democrats, Paul, Election, Holder, Byrd, Barack Obama, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Mddotw, Harry Reid, State of the Union, Eating, Longest, Senate, Bill, Healthcare, Pumas, President Obama, Cloture, Filibuster, Obama, Democratic, Media, Democratic Party, Friday Talking Points, Grayson, Lieberman, Pelosi, 2010, Baucus, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Midterms, Skinny, Ksm, House, Attorney General, Matt Osborne, Puma, Thin, Midterm, Chris Weigant, Palin, Sotu, Max Baucus, Joe Lieberman, Party Unity My Ass, Osborne, Politics News
Chris Weigant

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.

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Health Care Reform Struggle Will Not End This Year

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: Social Security, President Obama, Ronald Reagan, Compromise, Democratic, Obama, Reform, Ama, Republican, Reagan, Call to Action, 1935, Johnson, New Deal, Democrat, Congress, Conservative, Medicaid, Democrats, Barack Obama, Fdr, Socialized Medicine, Progressive, Chris Weigant, Health, Great Society, Medicare, Lbj, Republicans, Lyndon Johnson, Healthcare Reform, Third Rail, Senate, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Healthcare, Roosevelt, Politics News
Chris Weigant

No matter what healthcare bill passes, it is not going to remain static. It is going to be revisited again and again over the next few decades. That's how lawmaking works.

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Ryan Grim

Moneyed Interests Lining Up For Battle Over Accounting Standards

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 11.16.2009 | Politics

Read More: CFA Institute Centre for Financial Market Integrity, Tohmatsu, Council of Institutional Investors, Committee on Capital Markets Regulation, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness, Economy, Financial Services Roundtable, American Council for Capital Formation, Reform, National Association of Home Builders, Ernst and Young, Accf, Financial Executives International, Jim Turley, Center for Audit Quality, Commercial Mortgage Securities Association, Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council, National Multi Housing Council, Paul Volcker, Real Estate, Accounting, American Bankers Association, Sec, Aba, Calpers, Fasb, Financial Reform, Investment Company Institute, Institute of Management Accountants, US SEC, National Apartment Association, Grant Thornton Llp, Ed Perlmutter, Kpmg, Recession, Barney Frank, House Financial Services Committee, Deloitte Touche, Council of Federal Home Loan Banks, Perlmutter, Real Estate Roundtable, Banks, Emails, Politics News

In the midst of what was supposed to be a Congressional push for increased financial regulation and accountability, a powerful coalition of moneyed in...

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Big Pharma Raises Prices 10% Even As It Promises To Cut Nation's Drug Costs

New York Times | DUFF WILSON | Posted 11.15.2009 | Business

Read More: Big Pharma, Health Care Bill, Merck, Public Option, Singulair, Senate Health Care Bill, Prescription Drugs, Reform, Pharmaceutical Makers, Drug Makers, Costs, House, Drug Prices, Drugmakers, Inflation, Consumer Price Index, Health Insurance, Health Care Reform, Aarp, Medicare, Health Care, Wall Street, Prices, House Health Care Bill, Wholesale Drug Prices, Business News

Even as drug makers promise to support Washington's health care overhaul by shaving $8 billion a year off the nation's drug costs after the legislatio...

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Africa's Seat at the Table

President Abdoulaye Wade | Posted 11.05.2009 | World

Read More: G-20 Summit, Governance, President Barack Obama, Malaria, Reform, G-20, Accra Speech, World Bank, g20, Senegal, Food Shortage, Robert Zoellick, Senegal President, United Nations General Assembly, Aids, President Abdoulaye Wade, World News
President Abdoulaye Wade

Battling global warming, the economic crisis, food and energy shortages, and AIDS and malaria requires co-partners, not post-colonial relationships.

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The Secrets To Goldman Sachs' Success: Contrary Bets, Predatory Lending, Government Connections, Offshore Tax Havens

McClatchy | Greg Gordon | Posted 11.01.2009 | Business

Read More: Foreclosures, Paulson, Regulation, Recession, Obama, Reform, Lloyd Blankfein, Mortgage Related Swaps, Mortgages, Goldman Sachs, Aig, Mississippi, Bailout, Predatory Lending, Securities Act of 1933, Blankfein, Hank Paulson, Foreclosure, Housing Crisis, Goldman Sachs Mortgage, Real Estate, Wall Street, Tax Havens, Housing Market, Blue Chips, Calpers, Derivatives, Moody's, Offshore, Tim Geithner, High Yield Bonds, Hedges, Barack Obama, Nyse, Cayman Islands, Banks, Sec, Subprime Mortgage, Economy, Business News

WASHINGTON -- In 2006 and 2007, Goldman Sachs Group peddled more than $40 billion in securities backed by at least 200,000 risky home mortgages, but n...

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Supreme Court To Hear Case About Excessive Pay; Parallels Seen In Executive Compensation

Washington Post | Robert Barnes and Steven Mufson | Posted 10.31.2009 | Business

Read More: John C. Bogle, Regulation, Reform, Obama, Investors, Mutual Funds, White House, Bailout, Sotomayor, Jones vs. Harris, Jones vs. Harris Associates, Wall Street, Excessive Pay, Vanguard Group, Kenneth Feinberg, Financial Reform, Compensation, Pay Czar, Nfl, Index Funds, Barack Obama, Corporations, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court, Jones v. Harris Associates, Bonuses, Ken Feinberg, Apeals Court, Executive Pay, Business News

The Supreme Court this week will hear a case that raises bedrock questions about the ability of the market to set "reasonable" corporate compensation,...

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Media's Credibility (Not Public Option) Is What Is Dead

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.28.2009 | Media

Read More: Democrat, Committee, Public Option, House, Msm, Congress, Reform, Media, Democrats, Mainstream Media, Democratic, Baucus, Chris Weigant, Health, Public Option Is Dead, Harry Reid, Max Baucus, Health Care, Senate, Healthcare, Reid, Bill, Media News
Chris Weigant

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.

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Wall Street Follies: The Next Act

New York Times | GRETCHEN MORGENSON | Posted 10.25.2009 | Politics

Read More: House Financial Services Committee, Bailout, House Agriculture Committee, Obama Adminstration, Financial Reforms, Federal Reserve, Wall Street, Ag Committee, Derivatives, Economy, Financial Reform, Obama, Reform, The Fed, Consumer Protection Bill, White House, Financial Services Committee, Glass-Steagall, Politics News

It certainly sounded good. Hoping, perhaps, to persuade a dubious public that curbing reckless business practices is indeed a Washington priority, t...

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Arianna Discusses Public's Bailout Anger On BBC's Newsnight

Huff TV | Posted 10.25.2009 | Home

Read More: JP Morgan Chase, White House, Hank Paulson, Economy, Chase, Regulation, Larry Summers, Obama, Reform, Barack Obama, Recession, Goldman Saks, Bailout, Henry Paulson, Glass-Steagall Act, Home News
Huff TV

Arianna recently appeared on BBC's Newsnight to discuss the economic crisis, the lack of reform, and the effects of the bailout on American society an...

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Friday Talking Points [99] -- Misdirection

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.26.2009 | Politics

Read More: White House, Pentagon, Troops, Medicare for All, Rumor Mongering, Guantanamo, Monopoly, Reform, Alan Grayson, Dscc, Pentagon Budget, Roger Ailes, Nixonian, Charles Schumer, President, Magic, Military, Bailout, Emanuel, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Ailes, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Reid, Public Option, Olympia Snowe, Democrat, Congress, Playing the Victim, Close Gitmo Now, Rumor, Stage Magic, Democrats, Barack Obama, Rage Against the Machine, Executive Compensation, Calls, Schumer, Mddotw, Rahm Emanuel, Wasted, Health, Weiner, Harry Reid, Nixon, Healthcare, Senate, Orchestra Pit Theory, President Obama, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Fox, Obama, Democratic, Media, Grayson, Friday Talking Points, Republican, Pelosi, Snowe, Enemy, Organizing for America, Misdirect, Guantanamo Bay, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Orchestra Pit, Victim, Robust Public Option, Anthony Weiner, Trigger, Trust Busting, House, Tom Morello, Victim Card, War, Ad, Opt Out, 1000 Hours, Defense Appropriations, Enemy of America, Misdirection, Wall Street, Chris Weigant, Health Insurance, Health Insurers, 300000, Fox News, Medicare, Chuck Schumer, Executive Pay, Torture, Morello, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The real head-scratcher for serious media-watchers right now is what the "war" between the White House and Fox News was meant to distract us from this week. The "war" itself is laughable, for a number of reasons.

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Want Healthcare Reform? Pick Up The Phone.

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.25.2009 | Politics

Read More: President Obama, Senator, Obama, Reform, Democratic Party, Telephone, Pelosi, Call to Action, Switchboards, 2010, Nancy Pelosi, Health Care, Re-Elected, Reid, House, Contact, Congressmen, Democrat, Congress, Call, Democrats, Representative, Organizing for America, Barack Obama, Election, Pick Up the Phone, Congressman, Elections, Self Interest, Chris Weigant, Phone, Health, Hcr, Blue Dogs, Harry Reid, Healthcare Reform, Senate, Healthcare, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Yesterday, over 300,000 people picked up the phone and called Congress demanding health care reform this year. The phones ringing off the hook certainly did not go unnoticed by Congress.

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Dems Go After Antitrust Exemption For Insurers

AP | DAVID ESPO | Posted 10.22.2009 | Politics

Read More: Insurance Industry, Antitrust, Reform, Obama, Politics News

WASHINGTON — Democrats launched a drive at both ends of the Capitol on Wednesday to strip the insurance industry of its decades-old exemption fr...

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Medicare Part D Creators Now Working For Lobbyists With Billions At Stake

ProPublica | Olga Pierce | Posted 10.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: House Means Ways Committee, Gop, White House, Breaux, Lobbyists, Don Nickles, Obama, Tarplin Downs Young, Tarplin, John Breaux, House Ways and Means Committee, Baucus, Billy Tauzin, Raissa Downs, Breaux Lott Leadership, Downs & Young, Part D, Michelle Easton, John McManus, Lobbying, Medicare Part D, Phrma, Reform, Democrats, Insurance Industry, Drug Industry, Health Care Industry, Max Baucus, Medicare, Health Care Reform, Thomas Scully, Healthcare Reform, Politics News

Four years ago, a group of lawmakers and aides crafted Medicare Part D, the prescription drug program for seniors that has produced billions of dollar...

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CBO Health Care Estimates: Washington Post Profiles Agency That Estimates Health Care Bills' Costs

Washington Post | Lori Montgomery | Posted 10.19.2009 | Home

Read More: Health Care Bill, Insurance Companies, Phil Ellis, CBO Numbers, Public Option, House, Cbo, Reform, CBO Estimates, CBO Costs, Negotiations, Health Insurance Companies, Single-Payer, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Health Care, Senate, Home News

Phil Ellis may be the most powerful guy you've never heard of in the health-care debate. A senior analyst with the Congressional Budget Office, Ellis ...

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Small Group Now Leads Closed-Door Health Care Reform Negotiations

Washington Post | Perry Bacon Jr. | Posted 10.18.2009 | Politics

Read More: Baucus, Public Option, Nancy Pelosi, John D. Rockefeller, Pelosi, C-Span, White House, Obama, Reform, Max Baucus, Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid, Schumer, Negotiations, Bills, John Boehner, Health Care Reform, Anthony Weiner, Dodd, Chris Dodd, Health Care, Snowe, Politics News

Three senators are working on the bill behind closed doors. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) sits at the head of a wooden table at hi...

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Frank Rich: Goldman Can Spare You A Dime

New York Times | FRANK RICH | Posted 10.17.2009 | Business

Read More: Timothy Geithner, Larry Summers, Economy, Barney Frank, Jobless, Regulation, Obama, Reform, Lloyd Blankfein, Frank Rich, Unemployment Rate, Goldman Sachs, White House, Jobless Rate, Bailout, Treasury, Blankfein, Wall Street, Health Care, Greed, Sec, Depression, Senate Finance Committee, Derivatives, Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, Goldman, Recession, Financial Services Committee, Health Care Reform, Bonuses, House Financial Services Committee, Business News

As leader of the Wall Street pack, Goldman declared surging profits, keeping it on track to dispense a record $23 billion in bonuses for 2009. But mos...

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Goodbye/Hello 14 "Burning The Ships "

Patt Cottingham | Posted 10.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: Citizens, Buring Ships, Constitution, Dysfunction, Lobbyists, Hernando Cortez, Courage, Washington, Reform, Democrats, No Retreat, Committment, Republican, Politics News
Patt Cottingham

In 1519 the Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez anchored his 11 ships off the Yucatan Peninsula. Thousands of miles of ocean separated him from Spa...

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Mayor Bloomberg's Record on Schools Key Issue in Campaign: "Portfolio" Approach is Central Feature

Thomas W. Carroll | Posted 10.15.2009 | New York

Read More: Portfolio, Foundation for Education Reform & Accountability, Education, Mayor Bloomberg, Diane Ravitch, Tom Vander Ark, Jim Shelton, Reform, Schools, Campaign, Paul T. Hill, New York, New York City Department of Education, Charter Schools, Bill Thompson, Education Reform, New York News
Thomas W. Carroll

Under Bloomberg and mayoral control (vs. how it was run under Bill Thompson under the old board of education), the public school system is viewed as a "portfolio" rather than as a centrally run monolith.

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Halftime At The Healthcare Reform Superbowl

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.15.2009 | Politics

Read More: 60 Votes, Win One for the Gipper, White House, Kennedy, Chris Dodd, Democratic, Reform, Alan Grayson, Football Metaphor, Grayson, Halftime, Snowe, Pelosi, Edward Kennedy, Win One for the Skipper, Baucus, Nancy Pelosi, Budget Reconciliation, Health Care, Reid, Reconciliation, Conference Committee, House, Football, Cheerleader, Olympia Snowe, 50 Votes, Democrat, Congress, Democrats, Floor Vote, Teddy Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Steny Hoyer, Coach, Chris Weigant, Sailing, Health, Corporate Whore, Max Baucus, Harry Reid, Superbowl, Dodd, Hoyer, Pep Talk, Healthcare, Senate, Politics News
Chris Weigant

A football locker room. Hundreds of Democrats are sitting on benches, to hear Coach's halftime pep talk in the Health Care Reform Superbowl. Some appear exhausted, some appear battered.

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Democratic Health Care Plan Fails, Feeds Fat Cat Insurance Lobby

Ray Hanania | Posted 10.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, Lobby, Senator Max Baucus, President Obama, Public Option, Insurance, Re-Election, Campaign Cash Contributions, Reform, Republicans, Democrats, Healthcare, Inside DC, Politics News
Ray Hanania

So let me get this straight. President Barack Obama makes a clarion call to reform healthcare so that the 30 million Americans (not including the 12 m...

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Immigration Rally: Immigration Reform Advocates Gather At Capitol Hill

The New York Times | Ian Urbina | Posted 10.13.2009 | Politics

Read More: Immigration Reform, Capitol Hill, Illegal Immigration, Reform Immigration for America, Immigration, Immigrants, Immigration Bill, National Capital Immigration Coalition, Hispanic Caucus, Overhaul, Obama, Reform, Immigration Law, Politics News

Thousands of immigrants came to Capitol Hill on Tuesday for a day of lobbying and an afternoon rally calling for comprehensive immigration reform. Th...

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Cadillac Tax: Congress Is Split On Reform Effort To Tax Costly Health Care Plans

New York Times | DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and ROBERT PEAR | Posted 10.13.2009 | Politics

Read More: Gop, White House, Cadillac Tax, Senate Finance Committee, House, Charles Rangel, Cbo, Afl-Cio, Obama, Reform, Democrats, Health Care Bill, Health Care Tax, Pelosi, Rangel, Nancy Pelosi, Public Option, Baucus Bill, Health Care Reform, Tax, Republicans, Health Care, Senate, Politics News

A proposed tax on high-cost, or "Cadillac," health insurance plans has touched off a fierce clash between the Senate and the House as they wrestle ove...

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