Daily Archives: 02/24/2012
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Media Matters for America – Fairness – Detroit & the Unemployed
How The Right Redefines “Fairness” To Push Tax Hikes On Poor People
The re-emerging right-wing myth that low-income Americans aren’t paying their “fair share” in taxes relies on flawed data: a report from the Heritage Foundation highlighting the fact that nearly half of Americans pay no federal income tax. In fact, while nearly half of Americans pay little to no federal income tax, nearly three-quarters pay other federal taxes, and nearly all pay state and local taxes; Americans who pay neither income nor payroll taxes are seniors, students, people with disabilities, and others who are not part of the working population.
Why The Right Is Wrong About Saving Detroit
An emerging myth being pushed by the right contends that federal spending to rescue GM and Chrysler was unnecessary, and that the companies instead should have gone through a “traditional” bankruptcy. In fact, economists at the time explained that frozen credit markets made private financing for a “traditional” bankruptcy impossible.
Economists Shoot Down WSJ’s Claim That Extending Unemployment Harms The Unemployed
The Wall Street Journal attacked a congressional deal to extend unemployment insurance, arguing that jobs are now “easier to find” and that additional benefits would delay workers’ re-entry into the workforce. But economists agree that at this point in the economic recovery, it is “vital” to extend unemployment insurance through the end of the year; moreover, without the extension, nearly 5 million jobless people could lose benefits by the end of the year.
Brent Bozell Now Making Up Oil Statistics
During a discussion of gasoline prices, frequent Fox News guest Brent Bozell claimed that U.S. oil production has fallen under President Obama. In reality, the opposite is true: after increasing every year since 2009, oil production is at an eight-year high; gas prices continue to rise because they are determined by a world market, not by U.S. production.
Have You Benefited from the Health Care Law? …Judy Waxman, National Women’s Law Center
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the Progress Report – Sandra Fluke
The Woman Republicans Tried to Silence Last Week Speaks Out
Remember this?
Well, Democrats held their own hearing on women’s health care — and they actually let a woman who believes in access to birth control testify. ThinkProgress Health Editor Igor Volsky has the details:
The committee invited just one witness, Sandra Fluke, the third year Georgetown Law student, who House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) dismissed as an “energized” “college student” who was not “appropriate and qualified” to testify before his committee.
Democrats received over 300,000 requests for women to testify on the issue, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said during today’s hearing, and the GOP’s male-only contraception hearing was widely spoofed in the press and on late-night comedy shows. Fluke herself responded to Issa’s snub in jest, noting, “Well, I will confirm that I was energized, yes” she said to laughter from the committee, “as you can see from the reaction behind me, many women in this country are energized about this issue.” “I’m an American woman who uses contraception, so let’s start right there. That makes me qualified to talk to my elected officials about my health care needs,” she added.
In her testimony, Fluke reiterated the story of her friend who was denied contraception coverage from Georgetown, despite technically qualifying for an exception that provided students who use birth control for health reasons with the benefit, and had to undergo invasive surgery. She also highlighted the confusion such policies cause, noting that while Catholic employers may claim that their insurance plans include loopholes for women who use birth control for non-reproductive purposes, beneficiaries still interpret the policy as a blanket exclusion of reproductive health benefits. One woman, for instance, did not seek medical treatment after being raped because she believed Georgetown did not provide coverage for women’s “sexual health care”:
FLUKE: One student told us that she knew birth control wasn’t covered, and she assumed that’s how Georgetown’s insurance handled all of women’s sexual healthcare, so when she was raped, she didn’t go to the doctor even to be examined or tested for sexually transmitted infections because she thought insurance wasn’t going to cover something like that, something that was related to a woman’s reproductive health.
You can watch the full hearing, including Fluke’s full testimony, here.
Evening Brief: Important Stories That You May Have Missed
After a massive outcry, the Virginia Senate killed a so-called “personhood” bill today. A watered-down version of the controversial vaginal probing bill is on the rocks, also following a massive outcry.
The audience at a Republican presidential debate last night booed loudly and repeatedly at the mere mention of birth control.
Lots of Mitt Romney’s endorsers disagree with Romney’s positions.
House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) tells Stephen Colbert that Super PACs are the first step towards a plutocracy.
Warren Buffett is a huge fan of the Buffett rule.
2010 VIDEO: Rick Santorum: President Obama is a drug dealer trying to get you hooked on entitlements
Rick Perry says Newt Gingrich can lower oil prices just by talking about it.
Catholic nuns file a brief supporting the Affordable Care Act.
A hundred religious leaders sign a letter defending President Obama’s faith after people on the right question it.
Other recent Progress Reports
Feb 22, 2012: New Romney Plan: Even More Tax Cuts For The Rich
Mitt Romney Doubles Down on Broken Economy Rigged for the Wealthy Few In an effort to revive his floundering campaign, Mitt Romney today unveiled an updated tax plan that includes even more budget-busting, inequality-increasing, non-job-creating tax cuts for the very wealthiest Americans. This updated tax plan panders to a right-wing base that is divorced from economic [...]
Feb 21, 2012: FIVE Facts About Gas Prices
As Gas Prices Rise, GOP Wants Even More Handouts to Big Oil Though oil demand is at its lowest since 1997, oil prices (and gas prices along with them) are once again on the rise. Analysts are projecting gas prices will top $4 a gallon nationally and perhaps reach record highs later this year. Despite relatively low [...]
Feb 17, 2012: VICTORY: MSNBC Dumps Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan’s TEN Most Outrageous Statements Sometimes victory comes quickly and sometimes it takes longer. In the case of Pat Buchanan, there’s been literally years of organizing by progressives — including like Color of Change, Credo, and Media Matters – to draw attention to and hold him accountable for his racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic statements. Here’s the rundown on his [...]
Feb 16, 2012: No Women Allowed
Sorry, ‘Gals’ This morning, Republicans held a hearing on women’s health care. Here’s the panel they brought in to discuss birth control: And then Foster Friess, Rick Santorum’s money man, went on MSNBC this afternoon and gave some unsolicited advice on contraception to “the gals.” Check out his shocking comments: Foster Friess: I get such a chuckle [...]
The Climate Reality Project
Do you think schools should teach our children that climate change isn’t real?
Of course not. But the Heartland Institute, an organization known for giving a microphone to climate science deniers, now wants to bring this false message into America‘s classrooms.
As its President and CEO just admitted, Heartland is writing a “global warming curriculum” that would say climate science isn’t settled. Heartland would like to create the appearance of a scientific debate where there is none by having our teachers claim we just don’t know if humans are changing our climate.
Fortunately, one brave high school student is asking the Heartland Institute to stop. And I hope you will too.
Tell the Heartland Institute to cease and desist its plan to bring fake science into our schools. And watch our eye-opening video to learn more.
As you know, the science behind climate change is not controversial — it is reality. It is the height of irresponsibility to urge our schools to teach something known to be untrue — just as it is wrong to teach our children that gravity is not real or nicotine is not addictive.
As its own budget documents reveal, the Heartland Institute is funded by oil and coal companies with a financial interest in denying climate science. But I think you’ll agree this industry-funded propaganda has no place in our schools.
Corey Husic is a high school student who knows there is no place for a climate denial curriculum in school. He and many others are asking that Heartland immediately “cease and desist” its plan to bring climate denial into our schools. And today, I invite you to sign this petition as well.
Scientists know that climate change is happening, and we are beginning to see the impacts with our own eyes. This debate is a distraction. Deniers are trying to prevent us from engaging in a much more fruitful discussion over what we can do to solve the climate crisis.
We’ve created a short video to help you learn more about this urgent issue. I encourage you to watch this video now, and sign the petition to keep climate reality in America’s science classrooms.
Tell the Heartland Institute to end its plans for a climate denial curriculum. And watch our video to learn more.
http://forms.climaterealityproject.org/heartlandinstitute
Thanks for all you do,
Maggie L. Fox President and CEO The Climate Reality Project
Tell Congress: Don’t cut off our clean air …Union of Concerned Scientists
Tell Congress: Don’t Cut Off Our Clean Air
As you know, last December, the Obama administration finalized historic standards to limit the amount of mercury and other toxic pollutants that power plants can spew into the environment. And now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is on the verge of releasing draft standards that will reduce global warming emissions from power plants.
Both of these standards, which will protect our health and the environment, wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the life-saving Clean Air Act.
Unfortunately, this landmark piece of legislation and its health standards are under attack. Fossil fuel lobbyists and their allies in Congress are spreading false claims about the impacts of these standards on our economy. But protecting our health and the environment is the fiscally responsible thing to do.
The total value of the net benefits provided to Americans by the Clean Air Act since its inception is a staggering $51 trillion and counting.
Nevertheless, Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) has introduced legislation that will revoke the historic mercury and air toxics standard, and other members of Congress have announced their plans to block the EPA from reducing global warming emissions under the Clean Air Act.
The Clean Air Act has a 40-year track record of cutting dangerous pollution—all while providing a net economic benefit to the country. The historic mercury and air toxics standard and soon to be released draft standards that will reduce carbon from power plants will save lives and contribute to a much-needed transition to a clean energy economy.
Tell your members of Congress to stop attacking mercury and carbon standards—and stop cutting off our clean air.
Take Action Now!
Sincerely, 
Chrissy Elles Outreach Associate UCS Climate & Energy Program
P.S. Want to expose and challenge attacks on science, help reduce global warming emissions, and advance smart, practical clean energy and transportation solutions?
a message from Harry Reid
Republicans in the House seem intent on turning the legislative process into a sham. While the American people are focused on their economic security, the Republicans who control the lower chamber persist in pushing a social agenda that has nothing to do with jobs or the economy.
Meanwhile, despite significant obstruction from Republicans in the Senate, we’re getting real work done. We reached an agreement on a plan to extend the payroll tax credit for working families — and keep unemployment benefits in place so that struggling Americans can make ends meet while they look for work. We also came together to pass the Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act so that our air traffic control system can continue functioning and we can improve aviation infrastructure nationwide.
Make no mistake: We have a lot more work to do if we’re going to keep this economy moving in the right direction. But leaders in Washington have a choice. They can join Senate Democrats in laying the foundation for a revival of the American middle class, or they can join House Republicans in playing petty partisan games designed to divide and distract.
The real work of legislating is hard and unglamorous. It’s not about showboating or showing up the other side. It’s about coming together to get results.
I’m proud of the recent successes we’ve had in the Senate. And I’m always grateful to you for the support that makes our work possible. Thank you for standing with me. And please stay involved as we continue our fight for working families in Nevada and across the country.
Sincerely,
Harry
