Media
People
Whether shining his eye on the rightwing media in Outfoxed, on corporate greed in Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, or on corrupt politicians in The Big Buy: Tom DeLay's Stolen Congress, Robert Greenwald uses the art of film to tell stories about way our society is being taken over by corporate greed.
The Latest
Growing-Economy
Session Roundup: HI, VT, NE, FL
Today, we take a look at advances and setbacks in the recently concluded legislative sessions in Hawaii, Vermont, Nebraska, and Florida. Highlights include landmark election reform legislation, solid progress on environmental policy, and more setbacks for anti-immigrant proposals.
We also highlight the continued progress of a precedent-setting health insurance pooling bill in Connecticut and take a look at the most recent research from national policy groups.
Growing-Economy
Averting Layoffs and Revitalizing the Manufacturing Economy: Lessons from the Great Lakes States
As the country enters into a recession and suffers increasing job losses, the Great Lakes Region is facing a particularly acute crisis. Literally millions of decent-paying manufacturing jobs have disappeared from the region in recent years. How regional political leaders are responding to that crisis provides lessons for state policymakers across the country.
On April 17th, government officials, labor leaders, and policy organization staff came together in Cleveland for the Great Lakes Regional Economic Revitalization Summit to share insights on what their states are doing to avert layoffs and revitalize their economies.
Increasing-Democracy
Supreme Court Upholds Indiana Photo ID Law, Undermines Voting Rights
In a blow to voting rights, Indiana's strict voter ID law, which requires government-issued photo identification every time a person votes, has been upheld by the United States Supreme Court. This deeply disappointing decision will undoubtedly give new momentum to efforts to expand voter ID laws in many states (Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, and possibly Illinois appear likely to pass new voter ID laws in the immediate future). However, progressive legislators and advocates can take the offense in broadening the debate over the real sources of fraud and intimidation in our elections.
Strengthening-Communities
Climate Justice: Promoting Equity in Dealing with Climate Change
Too often, the impact that policies and measures have on low-income and marginalized communities is considered only as an after thought, if at all. Climate change policies are no exception.
While everyone will be impacted by the effect of climate change, the impacts will be distributed unequally. For example, temperatures are expected to increase across the country resulting in higher cooling costs, which more greatly affects poorer households. But the impacts go beyond just increased cooling costs. Higher temperatures will have a greater effect on those with poorer health and lack of access to hospitals and health care. People of color and low-income communities face more health care disparities, including less routine care and unequal access to quality care. As a result, these communities will doubly suffer from the effects of climate change.
While there is no doubt that aggressive, comprehensive action must be taken, the impact these policies have on lower-income communities and communities of color must be considered from the beginning, especially in a time of recession when family budgets are most strained. This Dispatch lays out the issues facing climate change policies and how states can implement smart, equitable changes.
Strengthening-Communities
Toxic Toys Update: States Pushing Forward with Bold, Comprehensive Legislation
Since our last Dispatch on toxic toys, several states have moved comprehensive legislation against toxics in children's toys and products.
Washington state passed the nation's toughest regulation, which not only reduces the allowable lead level to 40 parts per million (ppm), but also limits phthalates and cadmium in children's toys and products. Despite heavy pressure from industry lobbyists, Governor Gregoire signed the bill and stated, "We in Washington are not going to wait to protect our children. The toys that pose a danger to our children are not welcomed here in Washington State."
Just last week, the Maine legislature passed a toxic toys bill that would continually test toys and products and require the use of safer alternatives when available. The bill also allows the state to participate in an interstate clearinghouse to share information on toxics and promote safer chemical use. California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont all have comprehensive bills active, while other states still have plans to introduce legislation. In all, an astounding twenty-nine states introduced some sort of legislation to address the toxic toy problem.
Moreover, several large companies are voluntarily removing toxics for children's toys and products. On the heels of a draft report from the National Toxicology Program that raised concerns about the safety of bisphenol-A (BPA), Toys "R" Us is dropping baby bottles made with the toxin. This news follows the Food and Drug Administration's admission that they relied on two studies sponsored by the plastic industry lobby on determining acceptable BPA levels. Of the two studies used in the FDA's analysis, one has been found to be deeply flawed and the other has not been published, nor have the results of the study been made public. Canada declared BPA a toxic chemical in the last few days and Nalgene, makers of plastic water bottles, is phasing out production of water bottles containing BPA.
On the phthalates front, retail giants Target and Wal-Mart have begun voluntary efforts to remove phthalates from their products. They are joined by Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Nike and Apple. The writing is on the wall. If Wal-Mart is removing phthalates, there is no reason why states shouldn't ban the toxin and ensure our children are free from exposure to toxic toys and products.
Increasing-Democracy
State Session Roundups: MD, WV, IN, GA, KY & ID
As additional sessions finish up around the country, state legislatures have ended up accomplishing radically different amounts in the same sessions.
-
Maryland made progress on a number of fronts.
-
West Virginia made only small incremental gains.
-
Indiana focused overwhelmingly on its controversial property tax reform.
-
Georgia and Kentucky largely deadlocked in legislative rancor.
-
And Idaho accomplished relatively little at all.
Some states accomplished some impressive gains, while others, as this Dispatch will outline, ended in stalemate or gave into special interest pleading and killed important legislation.
