Dodd to the Rescue

Staff / Truthdig Dec 19, 2007 Sen. Chris Dodd just put his money where his mouth has been in the presidential campaign, filibustering a nasty bit of legislation the Senate tried to push through before the Christmas break. Here he tells MSNBC why giving retroactive immunity to the telecom companies for spying on Americans is a bad thing. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

When Barbarians Take Hostages

David Sirota / Truthdig Dec 14, 2007 Henry Kravis is the king of private equity, the Wall Street sector that buys and bleeds companies. He and his ilk, to preserve their huge tax advantages, are making sure that millions of Americans won't get a fair deal. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Our Offspring Fontanel

Will Durst / Truthdig Oct 17, 2007 Oooh. He's clever. And obviously knows exactly what he's doing. This is all a setup, people. Has to be. Yes, I'm talking about George Bush's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Who but a total stoned horned ogre would do that? Maybe an ogre with something up his sleeve, eh? Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Barney Frank Pleads for Realistic Expectations and Practical Activism

Staff / Truthdig Oct 13, 2007 Though he referred specifically to the gay non-discrimination bill, Rep. Barney Frank made an impassioned plea for realism among activists that could be applied to the war, the environment or any other major issue of the day. He warned that imperfect legislation can help millions of people, unless "ideologically committed single-issue groups" are given a veto. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush: Protect America, or at Least Its Telecom Companies

Staff / Truthdig Oct 11, 2007 First we had "Operation Iraqi Freedom." Then came the Patriot Act. And now, President Bush has co-opted another vague term that's hard to argue with, emptied it of its intended significance, and altered it to mean "let big telecom companies that aided the administration in its dubious wiretapping activities off the hook." Yes, folks, this latest round of rhetorical gymnastics has brought us "the Protect America Act." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Congress Tries to Close Blackwater Loophole

Staff / Truthdig Oct 5, 2007 The House voted 389 to 30 to pass a bill that would make private contractors working for the U.S. government in Iraq subject to United States law. It's the second time Congress has attempted to apply some sense to the legal vacuum created by the Bush administration and its Coalition Provisional Authority, which pushed through what amounts to blanket immunity for mercenaries. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Ignoring the Other Victims of 9/11

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Sep 11, 2007 When the National Guard helicoptered her husband, Mark, to Staten Island to work as a wireless technician setting up a communications network for thousands of emergency workers who were descending upon Lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, Jeanmarie DeBiase did not know this would begin the unraveling. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The Unflappable Speaker

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Aug 2, 2007 Nancy Pelosi doesn't have the demeanor of someone who leads a Congress suffering from the worst public disapproval in contemporary polling history. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

States Revolt Against ID Law

Staff / Truthdig Feb 4, 2007 The Real ID Act of 2005 requires all states to meet a national standard for identification cards and participate in a shared database, but some have objected, citing privacy and budget concerns. Maine has led the charge of about a dozen states that may pass laws objecting to and opting out of the federal mandate. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Minimum-Wage Boost Stalled in Senate

Staff / Truthdig Jan 25, 2007 The first minimum-wage increase in 10 years took a hit in the Senate Wednesday, failing to get the 60 votes necessary to end debate. Republicans have been fighting to include tax cuts for businesses, and will probably succeed unless the Dems can get six more defections. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pelosi Wants Energy Independence Laws by July 4th

Staff / Truthdig Jan 19, 2007 A day before the House voted to end subsidies to the oil industry, Nancy Pelosi announced the formation of a committee on energy independence and global warming. The speaker set a deadline of July 4th for "a package of legislation to truly declare our energy independence." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Congress Mass-Produces Antiwar Legislation

Staff / Truthdig Jan 18, 2007 Daily Kos has an excellent rundown of the 11 antiwar bills bursting forth from both houses of Congress. Some legislation is tougher than the rest, but the sheer number of proposals seems to indicate that the legislative branch is bending to the will of the people. It's a good day for democracy. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )