Prog Blogs, Orgs & Alumni
Bank Slate
Betsy Devine
birch, finch, beech
Democracy for NH
Live Free or Die
Mike Caulfield
Miscellany Blue
Granite State Progress
Seacoast for Change
Still No Going Back
Susan the Bruce
Tomorrow's Progressives
Politicos & Punditry
The Burt Cohen Show
John Gregg
Krauss
Landrigan
Lawson
Pindell
Primary Monitor
Primary Wire
Scala
Schoenberg
Spiliotes
Welch
Campaigns, Et Alia.
Paul Hodes
Carol Shea-Porter
Ann McLane Kuster
John Lynch
Jennifer Daler
ActBlue Hampshire
NHDP
DCCC
DSCC
DNC
National
Balloon Juice
billmon
Congress Matters
DailyKos
Digby
Hold Fast
Eschaton
FiveThirtyEight
MyDD
The Next Hurrah
Open Left
Senate Guru
Swing State Project
Talking Points Memo
50 State Blog Network
Alabama
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
James Galbraith, son of that wise economist (and there sure aren't many of those around, or in history for that matter) John Kenneth Galbraith, and my favorite economist along with Krugman, has a good article up. I think the money quote is:
The clear and pressing priorities are energy and climate change. To address these challenges is a grand task, requiring decades of research, careful planning and many investments, if we are to pass on a livable planet and a decent living standard. Institutionally it will require new lending agencies to assure that the funds needed are available over the long term. And the work can provide jobs for millions, for many years.
I was not able to speak with Congressman Hodes when I called him yesterday to express my opinion that I believed the best option for health care reform was to pass the Senate bill intact. The intern I spoke to was very polite and understanding but not able to answer my questions. I think it is imperative we find out exactly where our Reps (Carol and Paul) stand right now.
(1) Are they inclined to support the Senate HCR bill? (If they oppose it, which is a legitimate stand, but not one I support, then what do they offer as an alternative?)
(2) Is the Nelson language really be enough to kill her or his vote? (Again, legitimate, but if they voted for the House bill then why would this be an issue?)
As Dean pointed out, having no HCR bill is not an option. Lives are literally in the balance. If the Democrats want to maintain a majority and have any credibility with the American people then they have no alternative but to pass reform. It really is that simple.
It should be pointed out that Ezra and others have raised the possibility of a new Plan B. They include some variation of the following.
1. Expand Medicare (Allow coverage and/or buy-in for those between 50-65)
2. Raise Medicaid to 200% of poverty line.
3. Bar pre-existing condition denials and policy rescission
4. Close the Medicare Part B donut hole
5. Surtax on wealthy to pay for it.
That seems to be a reasonable fall back position and something most Democrats would buy into. Unfortunately it would do nothing to start bringing down costs for health related services and insurance. But the good news would be that coverage would be significantly expanded without adding to the deficit.
(I've posted on this before, but it bears repeating. Carol Shea-Porter is a House leader on veterans' issues. - promoted by Dean Barker)
This is very good news:
The 2010 defense authorization bill contains provisions that would prohibit the use of uncovered pits to dispose of hazardous materials unless the Secretary of Defense sees no alternative disposal method. The provisions in the bill don't outright ban the use of uncovered pits, but seek to restrict their use and add oversight.
The Secretary of Defense, however, has to justify to lawmakers why there is no alternative to the use of open-air pits. Every six months, the secretary would be required to report to the congressional oversight committees on the status of the uncovered pits.
The provisions in the massive Pentagon policy bill are derived from stand-alone legislation introduced by Reps. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) and Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.) earlier this year. The provisions were included in the bill after months of negotiations and pressure from veterans groups.
Important legislation indeed, and it had strong backing from veteran groups including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).
I heard from a friend who was sitting in on a meetings regarding health care reform (they are not from NH, nor is the congressman they work for), that our Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter told a group of stubborn congressman who were unsure about supporting the bill, something to the effect of...
Look, we're all getting attacked back in our districts for supporting heath care reform, but that doesn't bother me. We need grow some guts and pass this bill because this is what people need.
Again, I'm paraphrasing and this is all hearsay, but it really made me proud to have such a bold congresswoman. Apparently it was a pretty heated meeeting and CSP really kicked some butt (and also changed a few minds).
