Florida’s Minimum Wage Is Not a Living Wage

There isn’t a single state in the country where an individual can afford a modest one-bedroom apartment at fair market rent on the current minimum wage. Not one. This shouldn’t be a surprise considering the increased cost of living over the years (inflation rates have jumped to 7.75% this year alone) and the stagnant federal minimum wage (which hasn’t been raised since 2009). But what … Continue reading Florida’s Minimum Wage Is Not a Living Wage »

Don’t Trust Billionaire Philanthropy

As we come to the end of the year, we enter a time when people, full of holiday spirit, are giving more than ever. This goes for billionaires as well. But unlike the donations of regular Americans, billionaires aren’t dropping a few dollars into a donation bucket at the grocery store or giving to their local soup kitchen. Billionaires donate millions, but their generosity always … Continue reading Don’t Trust Billionaire Philanthropy »

The Fight for Union Rights Is Heating Up

Just a few hours ago, the Senate sided with billionaire rail owners over rail unions in their ongoing contract dispute. After urging from President Biden, Congress passed a bill that legally forces rail unions to accept an agreement that many of them have voted against, saying it is inadequate and does not provide enough paid sick leave. This is a massive blow to the tens of thousands … Continue reading The Fight for Union Rights Is Heating Up »

Billionaire Campaign Spending is Out of Control

American billionaires spent $880 million on the midterm elections by the end of October, with the final total spent likely approaching an astronomical $1 billion. That’s a game-changing amount of money, and with the lion’s share of it going to Republican candidates and groups, the billionaires were confident they would be able to get their money’s worth. Fortunately for most regular Americans, a “red wave” was largely … Continue reading Billionaire Campaign Spending is Out of Control »

Republicans Are Campaigning on Protecting Wealthy Tax Criminals

When Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) over the summer, they were expecting it to be a major factor in their favor in the upcoming midterm elections. They probably weren’t expecting that Republicans would also see the IRA as an opportunity to help win elections. In recent weeks, Republican candidates for the House and Senate have spent millions on ads targeting the IRA, in which they single out … Continue reading Republicans Are Campaigning on Protecting Wealthy Tax Criminals »

Reframing the Inflation Debate

The federal government is making a huge mistake in its fight against inflation. We’ve talked a lot about inflation recently, and how important it is for the government to help working people provide for themselves and their families as prices continue to rise. But we haven’t talked much about the one thing the federal government is actually doing to fight inflation – raising interest rates … Continue reading Reframing the Inflation Debate »

A Republican Congress Would Serve The Rich

Republicans have been busy in recent months cooking up plans for exactly what they want to accomplish if they retake Congress in the upcoming elections. It should come as no surprise that those plans are exactly what we’ve come to expect from the GOP for decades – tax breaks for the rich elite, crumbs for regular Americans, and the slashing of benefits and social services … Continue reading A Republican Congress Would Serve The Rich »

Fighting Inequality at the State Level

We talk a lot about the American economy and the effect that decisions made by the federal government have on the lives and well-being of Americans all across the country. Because of that, it can be easy at times to think of the fight for economic justice as a purely national issue, something that just happens in Washington or in Congress and the White House. … Continue reading Fighting Inequality at the State Level »

America Should Reward Workers, Not the Rich

In the days following Labor Day, a time to celebrate all that American workers have done for the prosperity of our nation, the undue power that the rich hold over our country has become all the more glaring. The ultra-rich would have you believe otherwise, but it’s important to remember that our nation is great because of the contributions of everyday, hardworking Americans – not … Continue reading America Should Reward Workers, Not the Rich »

There Is No Planet B

After what seems like a summer-long heatwave, more and more Americans are looking to Congress and the White House for answers. While the Republican party has used misinformation and obstruction to hide the causes of climate change, Americans are suffering. Approximately 5 million people die every year due to the effects of climate change, with a projected 250,000 additional deaths per year from 2030 to … Continue reading There Is No Planet B »

The IRA – Fact vs. Fiction

It’s been just over 48 hours since President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law, and Republican pundits and lawmakers are already making it Target #1 in their efforts to take back Congress this November. Despite the fact that the IRA is a fantastic piece of legislation that makes our climate, healthcare system, and tax code better, conservatives want the American people to … Continue reading The IRA – Fact vs. Fiction »

Sinema’s Defense of Carried Interest is Indefensible

After endless negotiations to get Senator Joe Manchin on board with a compromised reconciliation package, the Inflation Reduction Act is now in peril thanks to Arizona Senator (and notorious corporate shill) Kyrsten Sinema. As Democrats scramble to finalize details of the bill, reports indicate that Sinema is demanding Democrats strip provisions that would limit the scope of the carried interest loophole, which allows wealthy private … Continue reading Sinema’s Defense of Carried Interest is Indefensible »

The Economy is Bad. Congress Needs to Fix It

It’s been a big week for economic news. From drama in Congress over the Build Back Better negotiations to continued economic strife affecting working Americans to new tax benefits offered to the rich, our economy is steadily moving in further favor of the wealthy, and the federal government appears ill-equipped to rise to the occasion. This week, we’ll look into how our current economy, policies, … Continue reading The Economy is Bad. Congress Needs to Fix It »

Understanding the Ableist Subminimum Wage During Disability Pride Month

Although many do not realize it, pride doesn’t end in June–it rolls right into July with Disability Pride month! With more than 61 million Americans living with a disability, and many more likely to develop some form of disability throughout their life, this month is desperately needed. Unfortunately, this significant minority is often overlooked by society and grossly discriminated against in the labor field. Workers … Continue reading Understanding the Ableist Subminimum Wage During Disability Pride Month »

For Juneteenth, Let’s Abolish the Subminimum Tipped Wage

Unsplash | Dan Smedley

This Sunday, the country will commemorate the end of slavery in America by celebrating its newest federal holiday, Juneteenth. This is an important day for Black communities across America to gather and celebrate, but it’s also a moment to reflect on how far we still have to go. Black Americans still have significantly less wealth than white Americans, earn less income, and are held back … Continue reading For Juneteenth, Let’s Abolish the Subminimum Tipped Wage »

Don’t Fall for Deficit Fear-Mongering

When we hear talk in Congress of investing in infrastructure or funding social services, the proposals always go hand in hand with squawking from deficit hawks. Republicans and even conservative Democrats (including notoriously recalcitrant Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia) fret about how spending money on improving our country will bring ruin by contributing to the national debt.  They’re wrong. The truth is that fears … Continue reading Don’t Fall for Deficit Fear-Mongering »

The Supreme Court is Wrong on Campaign Finance

If recent years have taught us anything, it’s that our democracy is fragile and needs to be protected. But earlier this week, the Supreme Court did the opposite. The Court ruled on Monday in a case involving Texas Senator Ted Cruz that campaign donors should be allowed to replenish political candidates’ personal wealth after election campaigns have concluded. This decision effectively opens politicians up to … Continue reading The Supreme Court is Wrong on Campaign Finance »

Facing Inflation, Congress Must Raise the Minimum Wage

Nearly everyone is feeling the effects of inflation these days. With an 8.5% inflation rate over the last year, prices are rising in almost every sector of our economy, and millions of American families are having a harder time affording the essentials. While this is a widespread crisis, it’s one that is particularly devastating for our nation’s low-wage workers. The federal minimum wage currently sits … Continue reading Facing Inflation, Congress Must Raise the Minimum Wage »