Like many others, I'm not worried about the so-called fiscal “cliff,” and the ravages to the economy that are likely to occur if Congress doesn't do something about it before the end of the year. That's because a lot of the impact can be cushioned in the short run by Executive Branch manipulations while negotiations continue to go on. But if measures aren't taken to reverse the contractionary effect of the sequestration-induced changes, we're looking at deficit cuts of $487 Billion over 9 months of the fiscal year. Read below the fold...
The American Health Security Act of 2011 would provide federal guidelines and strong minimum standards for states to establish and administer single-payer health care programs.
Bernie Sanders appeared on Dylan Ratigan's show yesterday talking about Elizabeth Warren's appointment. Towards the end of his interview, he said a few words about his opposition to extending the Bush Tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. His proposal was to end the tax breaks the high income people, take the $700 Billion freed up, spend $350 Billion on sorely needed infrastructure projects, creating millions of jobs over a 10 year period and taking the other $350 million in savings and applying it to deficit reduction. Read below the fold...
Today, in what could only be described as a pleasant surprise, the U.S. Senate passed an amendment proposed by one of my personal favorites, Senator Bernie Sanders, ordering a one-time audit of the Federal Reserve. And it passed with a vote of 96-0. That’s just good’r than grits.
But wait, before you get too darn excited, I should tell ya’ that Sen. Sanders unfortunately had to revise the amendment from its original form. He had proposed a complete audit of all the Fed’s historical records.
The amendment that finally passed, however, only requires the Fed hand over records pertaining to its actions since the financial collapse in September 2008. Better than nothin’ I suppose. Read below the fold...
MONTPELIER – Hundreds of Vermonters filled the Statehouse Tuesday for a public forum on health care reform, with a vast majority urging lawmakers to adopt a single-payer system.
Bernie Sanders' appearance on The Ed Show, was a sad one for me to see, because he tried to explain his joining the Democrats in voting for cloture on the Senate's health care reform bill in two ways. Read below the fold...
The Mobilization for Health Care for All, about which we have blogged several times, is having another Day of Action for single-payer this Thursday, December 10th, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. I hope some regular D&S blog visitors can participate in these sit-ins! Here is the Mobilization's press release:
We are making the point that health care is a human right—that means everyone should have access to health care.
CHICAGO--(ENEWSPF)--December 3, 2009. Challenging head-on the powerful private insurance and pharmaceutical industries, Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced an amendment to the Senate health reform bill Wednesday that would replace the bulk of the Senate bill’s language with provisions establishing a single-payer, Medicare-for-All program.
Bernie Sanders has used a bit of Senate finesse to block the renomination of Ben Bernanke to head the Federal Reserve. Chris Bowers over at Closed Left explains what's happening, but what it all boils down to is that Sanders has managed to hold up the renomination of one of Bush's creatures to a hugely important office. Obama and Wall Street want Bernanke to stay and keep fucking up the economy. Sanders is looking like one of the only senators willing to go on record and try to stop this from happening. Read below the fold...
I am in DC, where Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced an amendment to the coverage section of the Senate HELP Committee's draft health reform bill. The amendment would provide funding to up to 2 states a year to establish state-based single payer systems, if the states apply to do so.
Challenging head-on the powerful private insurance and pharmaceutical industries, Vermont’s Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a single-payer health reform bill, the American Health Security Act of 2009, in the U.S. Senate Wednesday. The bill is the first to directly take on the powerful lobbies blocking universal health reform in the Senate since Sen. Paul Wellstone’s tragic death.
