Happy Earth Day, RI from Sheldon Whitehouse
Happy Earth Day, Rhode Island … to celebrate: enjoy some outside time. Or, if you’re stuck in front of a machine all day, at least enjoy this great piece by our own Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: I’m working with Rep. Henry Waxman and other colleagues in Congress to draft legislation to put a price on carbon. [...]
RI Supports Fred Ross Sr. For Presidential Medal
Google may be taking flack from the conservative blogoshpere for honoring Cesar Chavez on Easter, but no such criticism from this site for Rhode Island’s congressional delegation’s collective decision to support the man who mentored Chavez. All four members of the delegation have signed onto letters asking President Obama to award Fred Ross Sr. a [...]
Whitehouse’s Week That Was In Washington DC
It was a busy political week here in the Ocean State, and it was for those who represent us inside the beltway, as well … off-shore drilling, climate change, carbon pollution, the debate on how to control gun violence, the budget process and much more… Senator Sheldon Whitehouse managed to stay involved in all of [...]
Delegation Supports Think Progress’ Wish List
Rhode Island’s entire congressional delegation supports Think Progress‘ new wish list of progressive policy proposals to get passed. Gone from the list is the Violence Against Women Act, which Obama signed into law yesterday … thanks Sens. Reed and Whitehouse and Congressmen Cicilline and Langevin, for supporting it! Here’s the newly revised list, in case [...]
Sheldon at Drinking Liberally Wednesday
Join us in welcoming Senator Sheldon Whitehouse to Drinking Liberally on Wednesday, October 24th from 7-9PM. Whether he’s fighting for the Buffet Rule, campaign finance reform, or reminding us that corporations aren’t people, Senator Whitehouse is always fighting liberally! What: DL with Sen Whitehouse! When: October 24th 7-9PM Where: Wild Colonial, 250 South Water St. [...]
Senate to Vote on Whitehouse’s DISCLOSE Bill Today
Today at about 5:30, the U.S. Senate is set to vote on Sheldon Whitehouse’s DISCLOSE bill, which would require SuperPACs and other outside organizations to stand behind the negative ads they sponsor. Whitehouse is expected to speak on the legislation at around midnight. “We’re doing what we call the midnight vigil,” said Rhode Island’s junior [...]
Netroots Nation: A Review
Preparing for my Netroots panel discussion on revitalizing local political blogs, I was corrected by moderator Andrew Villeneuve of the Northwest Progressive Institute when I introduced myself as having come to the blogosphere from the mainstream media. “You mean the traditional media,” he interrupted. “We are the mainstream media.” While it’s a debatable claim, it [...]
Whitehouse Says Buffett Rule Will Be Back
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse has said all along that it would likely take several votes before Democrats could break the hold that Wall Street special interests hold over their republican counterparts and such seems like the fate for the Buffet Rule, which was successfully filibustered Monday on its first vote on the Senate floor. “I’ll keep [...]
Whitehouse’s Buffett Rule Up for Senate Vote Today
After a solid week of Democrats making Sheldon Whitehouse’s Buffett Rule bill the biggest legislative priority in the country, the Senate today will take up the proposal. Seems as if the efforts may pay off as a new Gallup Poll shows that 60 percent of Americans support it. Today’s vote is a motion to proceed [...]
RI Progress Report: Buffett Rule, New Baykeeper, Ahlquist
As the Senate takes up the Buffett Rule on Monday, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, and reportedly Sen. Jack Reed too, will be rallying for his bill today. Whitehouse, who is sponsoring the high-profile legislation that would ensure millionaires pay at least 30 percent tax on their income, will meet activists, union members and other Rhode Islanders [...]
The Buffett Rule: Your Straight Deal on Taxes
Back in 1985, President Ronald Reagan said: “We’re going to close the unproductive tax loopholes that have allowed some of the truly wealthy to avoid paying their fair share.” Almost three decades later, we’re still hearing about ultra-high income earners like Warren Buffett paying a lower tax rate than his secretary. According to the IRS, [...]
Wall St. Will Fight Buffett Rule, Whitehouse Says
Wall Street lobbyists and associated special interest groups will be the biggest obstacle to passage of the Buffett Rule bill when the Senate takes it up in one week, said the legislation’s prime sponsor, Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. “I think Wall Street is going to be in on this with all of its energy,” [...]
Whitehouse On SCOTUS: ‘Corporate Activism’
Following President Obama’s lead, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse chided the Supreme Court saying some of its members have become more interested in activism than jurisprudence. “If you can’t tell the difference between health care and broccoli there’s a real problem,” he said this morning at RIC, referencing Justice Antonin Scalia’s line of questioning as the court [...]
Lt. Gov, Whitehouse to Talk Obamacare To Commission
Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts will update the Rhode Island Health Care Exchange Commission on what a Supreme Court decision on President Obama’s universal health care plan could mean for the Ocean State. And her special guest at the meeting with be Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. “We’ll definitely have a brief discussion about it,” she said. “I’m [...]
RI Senators Advocate for Middle Class
Both of Rhode Island’s senators will be here in the Ocean State today and advocating for bills that would benefit the middle class. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, as we reported on Saturday, will be in Cranston for a roundtable discussion on his Buffett Rule bill. And Sen. Jack Reed will be at URI, with school president [...]
Obama Plugs Whitehouse’s ‘Buffett Rule’ Bill
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s “Buffett Rule” bill got a big boost today as President Obama, long a fan of the proposal, focused his weekly address on the legislation that would prevent millionaires from shielding their earnings from income taxes. “Now, some people call this class warfare,” Obama said. “But I think asking a billionaire to pay [...]
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