Rising poverty is a national tragedy and a brewing humanitarian crisis in America...
Which brings us to another edition of Taken to Task.
11/15/2011
The poverty figures released this week came after the U.S. Census Bureau adjusted the way in which it calculates poverty using the new Supplemental Poverty Measure. Instead of just tripling a family's minimum annual food budget, as previously, this new measure looks at how much families spend on food, shelter, clothing and utilities. You know, life's basic necessities.
Most groups saw their poverty rates increase using the new calculations, including married couples, whites, Asians, immigrants, homeowners with mortgages, those with private health insurance and the elderly. Poverty rates among those over 65 rose to 15.9% from the previously reported 9%. Poverty rates did, however, drop for Americans under the age of 18, African Americans, renters and people living in rural areas.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
stronger-than-anticipated revenue from capital gains taxes to build a surplus
Massachusetts has benefited from stronger-than-anticipated revenue from capital gains taxes to build a surplus of just more than 1 percent of its general fund budget. It used nearly three-quarters of the $460 million surplus to replenish the state's reserve fund, while directing other surplus money to cities and towns recovering from deadly tornadoes in June, state courts and to provide modest raises to social service workers.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/
Every Veteran should apply for VA health care..if you are eligible VA will get you an ID card
Which will get your discounts at many businesses including Home Depot, Lowes, and many
Other places especially around memorial Day and/or Veteran’s day
A 10 % discount on a new Fridge, lawn mower, BBQ grill etc can be worth it
If not near a VA Med Cen, Clinic, office etc, a local county vet service officer can help you fill out form or do it on-line
http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/
http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/DetermineEligibility.asp
Which will get your discounts at many businesses including Home Depot, Lowes, and many
Other places especially around memorial Day and/or Veteran’s day
A 10 % discount on a new Fridge, lawn mower, BBQ grill etc can be worth it
If not near a VA Med Cen, Clinic, office etc, a local county vet service officer can help you fill out form or do it on-line
http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/
http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/DetermineEligibility.asp
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
People are totally ready to get behind (Obama
After Obama's election, many Democrats said they falsely assumed that winning the White House would help them pass an agenda that would assist middle-class families. Instead, they were dismayed when Obama ditched a proposed "public option" for a government insurance plan from the health care overhaul and cringed when he cut a deal with Republicans to extend Bush-era tax cuts.
During the summer, the left argued that Obama gave up too much in spending cuts during the debt-ceiling fight and couldn't force Republicans to accept higher taxes on the wealthy in return.
"People are totally ready to get behind (Obama), but I think what they're not ready to give anybody is the benefit of the doubt that if we win an election and we all go home, things are going to change," said Andy Stern, the former president of the Service Employees International Union. "That was probably the theory of the Obama election and taking over the House by the Democrats and the Senate as well. I think it was a failed strategy."
So liberal organizations have tried to build a movement, holding hundreds of house meetings across the country and staging protests at town hall meetings held by Republican lawmakers — a tactic that tea party activists used to build opposition to Obama's health care plan.
Conference speakers said Obama's jobs bill could act as a turning point, a sign that the president is taking a more aggressive push to revive the economy and standing firm against deep cuts to Medicare and Social Security. The president has barnstormed the country, rallying support for the $447 billion plan for tax cuts and public works spending to stimulate the economy.
While the plan is unlikely to pass Congress in its entirety, the White House believes Obama's populist approach will build support among the public. And liberals think they've already moved the president.
"Why is the White House talking different? The White House is talking different because we are walking different," said Van Jones, a former Obama policy adviser who helped organize the conference.
Liberals took close note of Obama's discussion of deficit reduction measures and were pleased that he did not seek a gradual increase in the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67. Last summer, Obama had agreed to the age increase in negotiations with House Speaker John Boehner before the talks fell apart. Many Democrats objected to the age increases, arguing it would undercut their criticisms of a Republican plan that would overhaul Medicare.
On Social Security, Democrats have railed against plans by Republican presidential hopefuls to partially privatize the retirement system, letting younger workers divert part of their payroll taxes into a personal account to be invested outside of Social Security.
Obama does not face a primary challenge, and Republicans have little chance of picking up support from hard-core Democrats next year. But Obama needs liberals to knock on doors, staff phone banks and register voters — must-do jobs for any candidate's base. Dissatisfied liberals could also stay home on Election Day or refuse to donate money to Obama's campaign.
There are signs of an enthusiasm gap. A recent survey by Gallup found that 45 percent of Democrats said they were more enthusiastic about the 2012 presidential election than they had been in past elections, while 44 percent said they were less enthusiastic. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans, meanwhile, said they were more enthusiastic about 2012 than in past elections, and 30 percent were less enthusiastic.
Gallup said the enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans was the largest it has measured since 2000.
Many hope the American Dream movement can generate enthusiasm for Obama next year.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., told attendees at one session that many of her supporters appeared "beaten down" by the status of the economy and Obama's standing among voters but said liberals needed to bring energy to next year's election.
"We have to set people's hair on fire about what America would look like if Republicans get their way," she said.
© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Additional Links:
During the summer, the left argued that Obama gave up too much in spending cuts during the debt-ceiling fight and couldn't force Republicans to accept higher taxes on the wealthy in return.
"People are totally ready to get behind (Obama), but I think what they're not ready to give anybody is the benefit of the doubt that if we win an election and we all go home, things are going to change," said Andy Stern, the former president of the Service Employees International Union. "That was probably the theory of the Obama election and taking over the House by the Democrats and the Senate as well. I think it was a failed strategy."
So liberal organizations have tried to build a movement, holding hundreds of house meetings across the country and staging protests at town hall meetings held by Republican lawmakers — a tactic that tea party activists used to build opposition to Obama's health care plan.
Conference speakers said Obama's jobs bill could act as a turning point, a sign that the president is taking a more aggressive push to revive the economy and standing firm against deep cuts to Medicare and Social Security. The president has barnstormed the country, rallying support for the $447 billion plan for tax cuts and public works spending to stimulate the economy.
While the plan is unlikely to pass Congress in its entirety, the White House believes Obama's populist approach will build support among the public. And liberals think they've already moved the president.
"Why is the White House talking different? The White House is talking different because we are walking different," said Van Jones, a former Obama policy adviser who helped organize the conference.
Liberals took close note of Obama's discussion of deficit reduction measures and were pleased that he did not seek a gradual increase in the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67. Last summer, Obama had agreed to the age increase in negotiations with House Speaker John Boehner before the talks fell apart. Many Democrats objected to the age increases, arguing it would undercut their criticisms of a Republican plan that would overhaul Medicare.
On Social Security, Democrats have railed against plans by Republican presidential hopefuls to partially privatize the retirement system, letting younger workers divert part of their payroll taxes into a personal account to be invested outside of Social Security.
Obama does not face a primary challenge, and Republicans have little chance of picking up support from hard-core Democrats next year. But Obama needs liberals to knock on doors, staff phone banks and register voters — must-do jobs for any candidate's base. Dissatisfied liberals could also stay home on Election Day or refuse to donate money to Obama's campaign.
There are signs of an enthusiasm gap. A recent survey by Gallup found that 45 percent of Democrats said they were more enthusiastic about the 2012 presidential election than they had been in past elections, while 44 percent said they were less enthusiastic. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans, meanwhile, said they were more enthusiastic about 2012 than in past elections, and 30 percent were less enthusiastic.
Gallup said the enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans was the largest it has measured since 2000.
Many hope the American Dream movement can generate enthusiasm for Obama next year.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., told attendees at one session that many of her supporters appeared "beaten down" by the status of the economy and Obama's standing among voters but said liberals needed to bring energy to next year's election.
"We have to set people's hair on fire about what America would look like if Republicans get their way," she said.
© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Additional Links:
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Markey, Delegation: Massachusetts Earns $56 Million to Aid Homeless
Jan 19, 2011:
BOSTON – Representative Edward J. Markey (d-Malden), along with Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown, and Representatives John Olver, Jim McGovern, Niki Tsongas, and Richard Neal, today announced that Massachusetts will receive $56,550,634 to provide housing and services to the homeless throughout the state.
The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program, will provide transitional, rental, and permanent housing as well as a host of services to help homeless individuals and families move towards self-sufficiency and permanent housing.
BOSTON – Representative Edward J. Markey (d-Malden), along with Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown, and Representatives John Olver, Jim McGovern, Niki Tsongas, and Richard Neal, today announced that Massachusetts will receive $56,550,634 to provide housing and services to the homeless throughout the state.
The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program, will provide transitional, rental, and permanent housing as well as a host of services to help homeless individuals and families move towards self-sufficiency and permanent housing.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid cuts on the table
Obama offered to put Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid cuts on the table in exchange for a tax hike of roughly $100 billion per year over 10 years. Meanwhile, government spending would be cut by roughly three times that amount. It's no small irony that the party's dogmatic opposition to tax increases is costing the GOP its best opportunity to roll back social programs it has long targeted.
Visit to the Malden Senior Commuity Center
U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey, Malden Mayor Richard C. Howard, and Middlesex County District Attorney Gerard t. Leone Jr. addressed the crowd at the Malden Senior Center, according to a statement by Leone's office.
"Our seniors are the most deserving population and we have an obligation to help combat those crimes that specifically target them," said Leone in a statement. According to his office, instances of elder abuse has risen 15 percent in the last two years.
Markey committed his support to programs that members of the "greatest generation" now depend on, he said.
"After working to build this nation, we owe it to them to fight for the programs on which they rely -- Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security," the Malden Democrat said in a statement.
"Our seniors are the most deserving population and we have an obligation to help combat those crimes that specifically target them," said Leone in a statement. According to his office, instances of elder abuse has risen 15 percent in the last two years.
Markey committed his support to programs that members of the "greatest generation" now depend on, he said.
"After working to build this nation, we owe it to them to fight for the programs on which they rely -- Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security," the Malden Democrat said in a statement.
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