Health Rights Organizing Project Plans Next Steps Toward Equitable Health Care

Nearly a year after the passage of health care reform, the Alliance for a Just Society convened members of its Health Rights Organizing Project, a national collaboration of grassroots community organizations working on health care, to reflect on that victory and to develop next steps in the long march towards an equitable health care system.Continue reading “Health Rights Organizing Project Plans Next Steps Toward Equitable Health Care”

Money in Politics: Politicians For Hire

Part of our series of articles exploring the influence of corporate money over our political system. What do protesting teachers in Wisconsin, families facing foreclosure, and community leaders fighting state budget cuts have in common? Well, as the chant now heard ‘round the country goes: “We Are One.” And we are watching to see whichContinue reading “Money in Politics: Politicians For Hire”

Montanans Demonstrate Unity Against State Budget Cuts

Over 400 Montanans from across the state, all the way from Ashland to Missoula, converged on the State Capitol in Helena on Monday, February 21, for the first annual Citizens Day at the Capitol, hosted by Alliance for a Just Society affiliate the Montana Organizing Project. Since the state legislative session began in January, MontanaContinue reading “Montanans Demonstrate Unity Against State Budget Cuts”

Building the Native Movement: Training and Empowerment in Billings, Montana

From defending treaty obligations such as water rights and access to basic health care, to fighting institutional racism in schools and state legislation, to fighting the effects of colonialism in our food systems that are literally killing Indian people, there is no shortage of work to be done in Indian Country. Across Indian Country, NativeContinue reading “Building the Native Movement: Training and Empowerment in Billings, Montana”

Community Health Care Clinics Under Attack

Community clinics are an indispensable component of the health care infrastructure in the United States. They are widely regarded as a cost-effective way to provide basic care, saving the health care system billions of dollars every year. Clinics serve over 20 million people in America, and one out of three people in poverty rely onContinue reading “Community Health Care Clinics Under Attack”

Money in Politics: The Best Tax Break Half a Million Dollars Can Buy

The first in a series of articles exploring the influence of corporate money over our political system. When Microsoft filed pay disclosures with the Securities and Exchange Commission last year, it reported a $670,000 bonus for company CEO Steve Ballmer. But the company didn’t mention how Ballmer spent the bulk of that check – onContinue reading “Money in Politics: The Best Tax Break Half a Million Dollars Can Buy”

Conservative Judicial Activism Must Strengthen Health Care Implementation

On Monday, January 31st, a second federal court ruled against the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A Florida judge opined that the individual responsibility provision was unconstitutional and therefore made the entire Act invalid. The White House and reform supporters were quick to point out that two other courts and numerous judicial scholars hold a contraryContinue reading “Conservative Judicial Activism Must Strengthen Health Care Implementation”

Oregon Action Hosts Community Forum on Oregon State Bank Proposals

On Tuesday, January 25th, in Medford, Oregon, tucked into the hills of the Southern Cascade mountains, 28 people came together to discuss a radical concept: a bank that works to pool the resources of the community rather than to extract it and send it to Wall Street investors. Their interest was piqued by the twoContinue reading “Oregon Action Hosts Community Forum on Oregon State Bank Proposals”

On the State of the Union: Where Are We Going? A National Mystery

After watching the President’s State of the Union Address, I must confess that I am puzzled. I have no idea where our country is going.

Main Street Alliance Leader Testifies Against Rollback of Federal Health Law

On January 18, New Jersey Main Street Alliance leader Odette Cohen, a pediatrician and owner of Son Light Pediatrics in Willingboro, NJ jumped on a train down to Washington, DC to testify at a hearing on the proposed rollback of the Affordable Care Act. “The health care law throws a series of lifelines to smallContinue reading “Main Street Alliance Leader Testifies Against Rollback of Federal Health Law”