Click here to view the embedded video.

Despite short notice, 75-100 people turned out, dramatically outnumbering the anti-reform forces who initially organized a protest. The pro-reform coalition wanted to send a message of support to legislators like Congressman Bob Etheridge, who

Photos from the rally are up at the Justice Center’s Facebook page.

Speeches from Adam Searing of the Health Access Coalition and James Andrews of AFL-CIO will be posted later today. For one indicative sound of the rally, here’s a popular chant: “Vote Yes, Fix this mess.”

Also, watch a video of Blake, a 12-year-old from Pittsboro, speak about the family reasons she supports health reform.

Update: here’s that speech by Adam Searing.

Health care rally to support Rep. Bob Etheridge’s strong stand on health care reform. Check out the photos on the Justice Center’s Facebook page.

Joan Alker from the Center for Children and Families explains the huge health benefits to families of expanding access to Medicaid.

Watuga Watch on Virgina Foxx and Tim D’Annunzio: “zero to 60 on the nut-job scale in just under three seconds.”

The Urban Institute releases a new short report – “The Biggest Losers, Health Edition: Who would be hurt the most by a failure to enact comprehensive reforms?”

Costs will continue to rise at an alarming rate in our health system if we can’t even stop using tests and treatments where we have years – yes, years – of strong evidence that they don’t work as intended.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had some pointed, but valuable advice for insurance companies in her address to the industry’s trade association this week.

You can choose to take the millions of dollars you have stored away for your next round of ads to kill meaningful reform, and use them to start giving Americans some relief from their skyrocketing premiums.

Wonder if BCBCNC is listening?

The final vote in the Senate was 62-36, with many conservatives saying the bill adds too much to the national debt.

Republican Senator Richard Burr said he’s not opposed to extending the benefits, but Americans must understand the danger of adding to the deficit.

Burr shares his thoughts with Chris Fitzsimon this weekend on “News & Views.”  For a preview of their radio interview, please click below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

CRL Applauds Bank of America’s Decision to Stop Abusive Debit Card Overdrafts

The Center for Responsible Lending commends Bank of America for its decision to stop charging overdraft fees on debit card purchases. With this change, Bank of America—which issues more debit cards than any other bank— joins another banking giant, Citibank, in practicing responsible debit card overdraft policies.

Most other large banks typically charge a $35 fee on an average debit card overdraft of only $17—an exorbitant cost for credit that the bank automatically repays itself only days later from the customer’s next deposit. As recently as 2004, the large majority of financial institutions denied debit card and ATM transactions and charged no fee when there was not enough money in the account. Today, overdraft fees on debit card and ATM transaction account for about half of all overdraft fees, which total nearly $24 billion annually

Bank of America’s decision will allow millions more Americans to use their debit cards without fear of being driven into high-cost debt. As the largest debit card issuer, Bank of America stands to lose the most in overdraft fees by stopping this unfair practice. Other banks should promptly follow suit.

CRL also urges the Federal Reserve, which has the authority to address overdraft fees, to limit the amount and number of these fees. Despite knowing for years of the problems these fees cause, the Fed recently issued a rule requiring only that banks get customers to sign a consent form authorizing the institution to charge unlimited fees on debit card transactions. Many banks are already engaged in scare campaigns to get customers to sign these forms.

The Fed’s failure to fully address overdraft abuses means that charging these high fees—which can add up to hundreds of dollars a day for a customer—remains a widespread practice throughout most of the industry.

Unfair financial practices in this and other areas underscore the need for Congress to enact an independent consumer financial protection agency charged with setting fair rules for all financial service providers.

For more information about debit card overdraft charges, please visit http://www.responsiblelending.org/overdraft-loans/research-analysis/why-debit-cards-are-dangerous.html”

RALEIGH (March 10, 2009) – More than one-half million North Carolina workers are unemployed and actively seeking work, according to data released today.

According to numbers from the state’s Employment Security Commission today, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for North Carolina climbed to 11.1% in January. The previous rate had been 10.9 percent in December. The new figures show that 502,533 able-bodied, unemployed workers actively seeking employment in North Carolina can’t find a job.

“With unemployment at such a high level, it is now more important than ever to maintain our critical public investments,” said Elaine Mejia, director of the NC Justice Center’s Budget & Tax Center. “Working families need support to weather the storm.”

The state economy actually saw 8,000 new jobs created in January – but the work force grew by 15,000 workers, meaning the number of unemployed workers actively seeking work crested one-half million.

State public investment programs, said Mejia, promote economic growth by preserving jobs as well as providing essential support for vulnerable populations in North Carolina. Though budgetary challenges loom in the coming session, legislators should keep this in mind.

“We’re seeing enrollment growth in both Medicaid and the community college system,” said Mejia. “This is likely to continue, since working families need these programs more than ever in an economic crisis. Gov. Perdue and state lawmakers should find a way to preserve these vital programs that help everyday North Carolinians, while building the foundation for economic recovery.

On a federal level, legislators must quickly move to create meaningful state fiscal relief and extend unemployment benefits for out-of-work Tar Heels, Mejia said.

“The numbers send a clear message that inaction will only deepen our economic crisis,” said Mejia. “To create jobs and boost the economy, state governments like North Carolina’s need federal fiscal relief.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Elaine Mejia, 919.856.2176; Jeff Shaw, Director of Communications, 919.863.2402 (office), 503.551.3615 (mobile).

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER: To get real-time regular updates from Justice Center staff, you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Get news releases, quick observations and be the first to know when a new report is out. Also see the Twitter list of Justice Center and NC Policy Watch staff.

On health care, progressives are rallying to convince Dennis Kucinich to vote for the health reform bill. Dennis: progressives want your legacy to be helping 10s of millions of Americans gets health insurance, not standing in the way of that.

To that end, you can attend a rally in Raleigh tomorrow or sign a petition.

The Families USA report is getting lots of press elsewhere in the country. As Adam Searing notes, it says we risk the loss of thousands of lives in North Carolina without comprehensive reform.

Fayetteville physician Eric Mansfield throws his hat into the political ring with a well-written op-ed for the Observer that cover critical issues like early childhood education and economic recovery.

Coalition organizes counter-protest to anti-reform event; health care experts available for comment

RALEIGH (March 11, 2010) – A coalition of groups fighting for quality, affordable health care in North Carolina will hold a pro-reform rally in front of Congressman Bob Etheridge’s office on Thursday, March 11.

Etheridge is a supporter of health reform. However, the well-funded opponents of health reform have called for an anti-health care rally in front of Congressman Bob Etheridge’s office beginning at 11 a.m

Pro-health care groups, including the NC Justice Center, are organizing an 11^th hour counter-rally, sending a message to legislative allies of health care in North Carolina and around the country.

Experts from the Justice Center’s Health Access Coalition will be available for media comment.

WHEN: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
WHERE: Meeting at the corner of Fayetteville St & East Davie St (Raleigh, NC) 300 Fayetteville St Raleigh, NC 27601

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Jeff Shaw, communications director, 919.836.2402 (office) 503.551.3615 (mobile), jeff@ncjustice.org

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER: To get real-time regular updates from Justice Center staff, you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Get news releases, quick observations and be the first to know when a new report is out. Also see the Twitter list of Justice Center and NC Policy Watch staff.