March 10, 2010
Burr and Hagan split on Jobless Aid
The U.S. Senate approved a $138 billion measure Wednesday that would extend unemployment benefits for the long term jobless and help states pay for Medicare. The bill now heads to the House for a vote.
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:
What the heck?! Consumer advocates praise B of A
Hey, whatever it took to get some responsible behavior from one of the nation’s giant and often predatory banks, we’ll take it. Here’s the Center for Responsible Lending on today’s announcement by Bank of America that it would no longer charge automatic overdraft fees on its debit cards:
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 …
MEDIA RELEASE: New joblessness numbers: North Carolina has more than 500,000 workers actively seeking jobs.
Analyst: Federal and state lawmakers must maintain public investments, which boost the economy and support workers
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 …
Lunch Links
Health care is still the central issue of the day, unless you count how many copies of a certain video a certain someone has, and how that differs from how many he told the judge about.
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 …
MEDIA ADVISORY: Pro-health care rally in Raleigh tomorrow, Thursday, March 11
MEDIA ADVISORY: Pro-health care rally in Raleigh tomorrow, Thursday, March 11
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 11th hour counter-rally, sending a message to legislative allies of health care in North Carolina and around the country.
Experts from the …
Improving legal circumstances for those with no legal status
For Edwin Aly Ramirez of Greensboro, his first thought after being arrested on immigration charges was that he would never see his wife and three children again. Mr. Ramirez was asked about his status and arrested after he had gone to court to help translate for a friend. ”I thought I would never get to meet my newborn,” he said.
That is the fear — and the daily reality — of 12 million people living in this country. They work in your office, clean your house, go to your school, and tomorrow, they might be gone.
Undocumented immigrants do not have the same right to due process and a fair trial afforded U.S. citizens. If immigrants cannot post bond …
Now, he quits??
The Charlotte O
reports this morning that Republican consultant/on and off Pope Civitaser Jack Hawke has “parted ways” with Congressional candidate Tim “Christ’s War” D’Annunzio. According to the article, Hawke was apparently unhappy that D’Annunzio was blogging at all hours:
“I don’t think any candidate should get up at 3 or 4 in the morning, sit down in front of a computer and pour your heart out. It’s just not a smart thing to do.”
Just a couple of questions, Jack: Now, you quit!? Why were you ever trying to help this poor fellow in the first place? Does this mean that you have been okay up until now with his bizarre ravings? Was it …
New Report: How Health Reform will Help NC
Want to know exactly how national health reform will help North Carolinians? Justice Center national partner Families USA has put together a great report on the gaps in NC’s health system – like discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions – and pairs that with exactly how national reform will address those problems. See: Health Coverage in North Carolina: How Will Health Reform Help?
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Previous Posts
- Lunch links
- Margiotta continues to push New Jersey model, confrontation
- Top of the morning
- Video – one minute at today’s health rally in Raleigh
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