The Republican Witnesses We Would Have Heard Today

While they still control the legislative agenda, Republicans on the House Education and the Workforce Committee planned to use their power to falsely claim that raising the minimum wage would somehow be bad for workers. To do so, they planned a hearing on the federal minimum wage titled “Mandating a $15 Minimum Wage: Consequences for Workers and Small Businesses,” with a full list of biased … Continue reading The Republican Witnesses We Would Have Heard Today »

“Save Our Vote” Campaign Keeps Initiative 77 Fight Alive

This summer, more than half of DC voters supported Initiative 77, which would eliminate the two-tiered wage system and increase the tipped minimum wage to match the rising non-tipped minimum wage at $15/hr. Almost six months later, activists are still working to see the will of voters go into effect. The “Save Our Vote” organizers, who are collecting signatures to overturn the DC City Council … Continue reading “Save Our Vote” Campaign Keeps Initiative 77 Fight Alive »

Ballot Initiative Restores Felon Voting Rights in Florida

While the Democrats winning the House in last month’s midterms means new checks and balances on the Trump admin’s efforts to turn federal coffers into the donor class’s piggyback, the result of a Florida ballot question is arguably the greatest win of 2018. Amendment 4, the ballot initiative that received 64% of the vote, will restore voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians with felony convictions … Continue reading Ballot Initiative Restores Felon Voting Rights in Florida »

Private Equity Firms Don’t Deserve a Tax Cut

This week, an expose by the Washington Post uncovered a pattern of worsening living conditions in a Pennsylvania nursing-home after its purchase by private equity giant Carlyle Group. Despite being owned by one of the richest private equity firms in the world, the nursing-home struggled financially, leading to elderly residents suffering bedsores, broken bones, infections, and unsanitary living conditions. This is the most recent example … Continue reading Private Equity Firms Don’t Deserve a Tax Cut »

Campaign Finance Investigation into Rep. Mia Love is Ongoing

With so many scandals taking place in Congress these days it’s hard to keep tabs on every instance of misconduct, but it’s important not to ignore the less salacious scandals like the ongoing campaign finance complaints against Utah Rep. Mia Love. Love, who is running for a third term, is being accused by the Alliance for a Better Utah of raising nearly $1.1 million for … Continue reading Campaign Finance Investigation into Rep. Mia Love is Ongoing »

Letting Larry Kudlow Dictate Economic Policy is “a Terrible Idea”

This morning, Trump’s top economic advisor Larry Kudlow called the federal minimum wage “a terrible idea.” The only thing terrible about the federal minimum wage is that it hasn’t been increased in almost a decade. Since its institution in 1938, the federal minimum wage has helped millions of Americans move into the middle class. In the decades since, business interests have fought every federal minimum … Continue reading Letting Larry Kudlow Dictate Economic Policy is “a Terrible Idea” »

Ending Felony Disenfranchisement in Florida is on the Ballot

Florida is being Forced to Reform its Voting Rights Restoration System

Throughout the 2016 election cycle, the media and politicians alike spoke of the forgotten voters, the Americans whose voices were not being heard and whose will was not being done in their state capitals and D.C. Via Trump’s election, many said the forgotten Americans had finally been heard, but this is not true. These Americans always had access to the ballot box, and used it. … Continue reading Ending Felony Disenfranchisement in Florida is on the Ballot »

Amazon Takes a Step in the Right Direction With $15/hr Minimum Wage

Today, Amazon announced it will increase its minimum wage to $15/hr for all full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary workers. Starting November 1, over 350,000 workers will see an increase in their paychecks due to the collective pressure put on Amazon to pay their employees a living wage.  This decision comes on the heels of months worth of articles and reports criticizing the $1 trillion company … Continue reading Amazon Takes a Step in the Right Direction With $15/hr Minimum Wage »

Stock Buybacks Instead of Employee Raises

Under the guise of improving and encouraging investments in our economy, federal legislation has made shareholders richer and richer. At the same time, the federal minimum wage and tipped-minimum wage have remained stagnant. The combination of these two policies has resulted in the weakening of American innovation. When Republicans lowered the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%, they did so under the promise that … Continue reading Stock Buybacks Instead of Employee Raises »

Tariffs are a Tax on the Middle and Working Classes

In his feud with yet another country, Trump has jeopardized the quality of life of millions of Americans already living paycheck to paycheck. His trade war with China will not end well, and it doesn’t appear to be wrapping up anytime soon. In the meantime, the working and middle class will suffer. For those who know little about trading and tariffs, Trump’s boisterous approach to … Continue reading Tariffs are a Tax on the Middle and Working Classes »

Democracy Under Siege in Wisconsin

For far too long, state and congressional districts have been mapped according to party lines. This may no longer be the case in Wisconsin. In 2016, a federal court in the state ruled that the Republican-crafted map was unconstitutional after Democrats received a majority of the statewide votes in 2012 and 2014, but just 39 out of 99 seats in the state legislature. For the … Continue reading Democracy Under Siege in Wisconsin »

New Jersey Might (Finally) Do Something About its Practice of Disenfranchisment

Whether it’s the monied bail system, the corruption of officers and prosecutors, or the financial interests of for-profit prisons, there are economic and institutional powers that require a consistent flow of offenders and non-offenders to be put behind bars and forever marred by the label “convict.” At the moment, a plurality of states disenfranchise citizens, sometimes for life, due to their criminal history. We would … Continue reading New Jersey Might (Finally) Do Something About its Practice of Disenfranchisment »

Tip Stealing: the Latest Attack on Low-wage Workers

The Department of Labor (DOL) recently proposed a new rule that would allow employers to take their workers’ tips, so long as they pay them the minimum wage. If finalized, this rule could cost workers $5.8 billion annually. For workers who rely on tips to make up the difference on their $2.13/hr wage, this would be an economic disaster. Women would be affected most, as … Continue reading Tip Stealing: the Latest Attack on Low-wage Workers »

By the Next International Women’s Day, We Could (and Should) Have Paid Family and Medical Leave

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the extraordinary achievements and everyday contributions of women across the world and throughout time. When given equal access to education and opportunities, women improve the world around them. Unfortunately, a number of obstacles disproportionately disadvantage women worldwide, and public policy in the U.S. is no exception, particularly given the absence of federally mandated paid family and medical leave. When … Continue reading By the Next International Women’s Day, We Could (and Should) Have Paid Family and Medical Leave »

Patriotic Millionaires in the Spotlight: Roberta Kaplan

On January 27, Patriotic Millionaire Roberta Kaplan was presented with the Gold Medal Award, the highest honor awarded by the New York State Bar Association. Kaplan is a civil rights lawyer who came to prominence for representing Edith Windsor in United States v. Windsor (2013). As counsel, Kaplan argued that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional. Her success in the case paved the … Continue reading Patriotic Millionaires in the Spotlight: Roberta Kaplan »

Patriotic Millionaires in the Spotlight: Roberta Kaplan

Despite not being nominated for any awards, the Time’s Up movement was the star of last night’s Golden Globe Awards. Men and women attending the ceremony wore black in solidarity with those working to end workplace harassment, and numerous actresses used their platforms to speak about the newly established legal defense fund. Before it’s formal launch, the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund had already raised … Continue reading Patriotic Millionaires in the Spotlight: Roberta Kaplan »

Republicans Passed a $1.5 trillion Payoff to Their Donors

After weeks of late night revisions and rushed votes, congressional Republicans have passed the final version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Here are a few of the most egregious aspects of the bill that made the final cut: The #CorkerKickback. This provision would allow income on real estate LLCs to be taxed at a lower rate. It was added during the reconciliation process, and … Continue reading Republicans Passed a $1.5 trillion Payoff to Their Donors »