Memory Lane Memory Lane
This week's episode: Mysterious billionaire Mace Gilmore looks back and finds the future wanting.
May 12, 2008 / Feature / Gary Phillips
Invasions of Privacy Invasions of Privacy
Two weeks ago, I asked a Burger King spokeswoman whether the company had hired a private investigative firm to infiltrate the non-violent Student/Farmworker Alliance (SFA) or Coal...
May 11, 2008 / Katrina vanden Heuvel
Friday Capitol Letter Friday Capitol Letter
In the House....On Thursday, members approved a housing package that would expand Federal Housing Administration-backed mortgage guarantees by $300 billion, as well as offer first-time home buyers a $7,500 tax credit. CBO reports the proposal would cost $2.7 billion and assist 500,000 homeowners. Members also backed a $15-billion program to assist with the state purchase of foreclosed homes; only the tax-credit proposal has the votes to override Bush's threatened vetos.
This week, House leadership planned to attach Sen. Webb's GI bill to the pending war supplemental, but Blue Dogs -- arguing it would violate "pay-go" -- scuttled the deal, and the scheduled vote was pulled. Apart from veterans' benefits, a $15.6 billion extension of unemployment benefits was the second-biggest domestic item that had been slated for inclusion. Bush has maintained any such spending will trigger his veto.Also this week, in attempt to fix one of the U.S. terror blacklist's more conspicuous oversights, members voted to eliminate Nelson Mandela's name from the rolls. The House further adopted a proposal to begin manufacturing cheaper copper-plated steel pennies and steel nickels, a move expected to save $100 million a year.
In the Senate...Attempts to fund and overhaul the U.S. aviation system thudded to a halt over procedural squabbles and GOP opposition to non-aviation provisions in the bill, including an amendment that would have granted New York the $1.7 billion remainder of Bush's pledged September 11th recovery aid. Also this week, despite appeals by senators from Louisiana and Mississippi, lawmakers voted 73-19 against adding wind coverage to the federal program that provides flood insurance. While post-Katrina, private insurer managed to dodge claims by arguing damages resulted from flooding and not wind, the GAO raised sharp concerns about the proposal's fiscal impact. Senate members also passed a resolution demanding that the Burmese junta lift restrictions on foreign aid.
After months of frustrated anticipation, House and Senate negotiators delivered a $300-billion, disappointing deal on the farm bill. The current bill's incarnation still permits couples with joint incomes of up to $2.5 million to qualify for subsidies. Meanwhile, despite spiraling food prices, negotiators spurned Bush's appeal to allow 25% of U.S. food aid to go towards the purchase of local food supplies. (Currently, aid must be purchased primarily from U.S. producers and shipped overseas--creating overhead costs that absorb 65% of food-aid expenditures.) It remains unclear if Bush plans to exercise his threatened veto.
May 9, 2008 / Chris Hayes
Making Med Schools More Diverse Making Med Schools More Diverse
America needs more minority doctors--and the government can help make it happen.
May 9, 2008 / The Nation
Two Wrongs Two Wrongs
Legislation and regulation designed to prevent another Virginia Tech shooting virtually eliminates many student rights.
May 9, 2008 / The Nation
Death in Darfur Death in Darfur
Jen Marlowe In Darfur, even the schools are not safe, as I learned following a recent tragedy that cost six children their lives.
May 9, 2008 / Feature / Jen Marlowe
Federal Reserve Freakout Federal Reserve Freakout
The Fed scrambles for solutions to the mortgage meltdown--but saving prudent homeowners also involves bailing out a huge number of wealthy speculators. What good is that?
May 9, 2008 / Column / Nicholas von Hoffman
Cluster Bombs Kill Kids Cluster Bombs Kill Kids
More than 100 governments, including virtually all major NATO allies, will gather in Dublin, Ireland to negotiate a global treaty banning cluster bombs on May 19. One important co...
May 9, 2008 / Peter Rothberg
This Brave Nation: Coming Soon This Brave Nation: Coming Soon
Take a sneak peek at the new documentary series from the Brave New Foundation and The Nation.
May 8, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Brave Nation
The Empire Strikes Barack The Empire Strikes Barack
Can the entire narrative of the last few months of the Democratic nomination fight be found in the second Star Wars film?
May 8, 2008 / Humanitainment