The clock is ticking on student loan interest rates. The rates for federally-backed student Stafford loans will double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1. And what has Congress done to help these already struggling students? Absolutely nothing. Student debt now totals $1 trillion, and Congress is still deadlocked when it comes to preventing an increase in the interest rate on student loans.
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You may have heard that Republicans are forcing (even more) cuts in programs like Meals On Wheels. Big deal, another “budget cut” to reduce the dreaded “government spending.” But what does all of this this mean to actual, real people? Read this because what really happens to real people isn’t pretty. Let’s see if you [...]
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For an estimated 4 million people, including about 210,000 schoolchildren, the farm bill the House is scheduled to start debating today could mean they will be going hungry a lot more often. That has promoted organizations such as Half in 10 and the Food Research and Action Center to organize a National Call-In Day to [...]
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The Farm Bill that is expected to pass the U.S. House this week explains income inequality in America. The Republican-sponsored proposal slashes food stamps for poor children and pads farm subsidies for wealthy agri-businessmen. This comes just a week after Senate Republicans refused to protect the poorest students from doubled college loan interest rates because [...]
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What kind of society abandons its own young? What kind of society allows the generations in power to favor themselves over those who follow them, and then lets them claim they’re doing it out of selflessness? Look around you. This weekend we reviewed nine ways an extreme-right right social agenda has harmed the millennial generation. [...]
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A new CNN/ORC International poll released today reveals that Democrats may be in trouble during the 2014 midterm elections. Amid political controversies, an anemic economy and high unemployment, President Obama’s approval rating dropped eight percentage points in a single month. Standing now at only 45 percent, this is the president’s lowest approval rating in more [...]
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Texas Governor Rick Perry is on a “job-poaching” trip to New York. Let’s say he “attracts” some businesses to move to his low-wage, low-tax state. That means good-paying jobs in one part of our country become low-paying jobs in another and business taxes that supported good schools in one part of our country don’t support [...]
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You would think that this poll showing "Americans' confidence in Congress is not only at its lowest point on record, but also is the worst Gallup has ever found for any institution it has measured since 1973" would be so embarrassing to those on Capital Hill that they would take immediate steps to change the situation.
You would be especially justified in thinking that it would change congressional behavior on the federal budget. Although the poll doesn't say it, there's no doubt in my mind that the constant and highly publicized "I'm-gonna-hold-my-breath-till-I'm-blue-in-the-face" fights over the deficit, debt ceiling, and annual budget resolution haves been the biggest factors in this totally failing grade for the House and Senate.
But it won't. Particularly when it comes to the budget it's not likely to change congressional behavior at all.
There are two reasons.
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Let's place private corporations with government contracts under surveillance — to make sure no one is getting rich off our tax dollars.
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