I was recently on a telephone call with Antron McKay-West, the president and founder of Upgrade Mississippi. He was describing the frustration people in his tiny hometown on the Mississippi Delta experienced trying to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Most families in the town still don’t have Internet in theirContinue reading “Racial Disparities in Health Care Access Magnified As More Gain Coverage”
Category Archives: featured
LeeAnn Hall: Moving From Rage to Reform
Police violence is a national problem, and everybody has a stake in solving it Another city has erupted in rage in response to a police killing. After a week of peaceful protests following the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, “Charm City” was in flames. The authorities declared a state of emergency and deployed theContinue reading “LeeAnn Hall: Moving From Rage to Reform”
Today in Montana: Big Win on Medicaid Expansion
Today, Montana Governor Steve Bullock signed SB 405 into law, making Montana the 29th state in the country to expand health coverage for low-income residents through Medicaid expansion. Thanks to this bill, up to 70,000 Montana residents who are currently uninsured will be eligible for quality, affordable health coverage for the first time. It’s aContinue reading “Today in Montana: Big Win on Medicaid Expansion”
Jay Johnson on Why We Need A National Movement at Populism 2015
Every speaker from throughout the country at Populism 2015 last weekend in Washington, D.C. was inspiring. Among them, Virginia Organizing Treasurer Jay Johnson especially nailed it, rallying the crowd during a Saturday plenary session. “We need a national movement like we’re trying to build here,” said Jay. “It needs to be grounded in and ownedContinue reading “Jay Johnson on Why We Need A National Movement at Populism 2015”
CHIP’s Two-Year Reprieve
This week, Congress passed legislation funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program for an additional two years. The bill passed with strong majorities and bipartisan support. There’s the good news in that legislative development: the bill included none of the attacks on CHIP – including provisions specifically targeting immigrant children – that had surfaced in previousContinue reading “CHIP’s Two-Year Reprieve”
“Breaking Barriers” Research Uncovers Disparities in Health Care Access
As more families get health insurance, it’s becoming clear that despite the many advances of the Affordable Care Act, we must do more to fundamentally change our health care system. The doors of quality health care are still closed to many people of color, families in rural communities, the poor, and those with language and culturalContinue reading ““Breaking Barriers” Research Uncovers Disparities in Health Care Access”
Household Debt Is a National Crisis
Years after Toni Potter’s husband passed away from pancreatic cancer, debt collectors in her state of Washington were still relentlessly hounding her about his hospital bills. Andrea Anderson, a young student in Oregon, has been saddled with $150,000 in college loans as she pursues her dream of becoming a social worker. She knows she’ll beContinue reading “Household Debt Is a National Crisis”
You Are Not a Loan – You Are Not Alone!
Debt isn’t a personal failing – it’s a national crisis. We are standing up for those burdened by debt that is threatening their future and ours: students, homeowners, the working poor, and those with serious illness and crushing medical debt. We are gathering the nation – inviting everyone to come together – and help usContinue reading “You Are Not a Loan – You Are Not Alone!”
Obama’s New Rules for Financial Advisors a Boost to Small Business
Who advises you about your retirement account? And more importantly how is he or she being compensated and by whom? On Monday, while representing Main Street Alliance, I found myself in the same room with President Obama and the Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez, as they unveiled some new rules that coming for those whoContinue reading “Obama’s New Rules for Financial Advisors a Boost to Small Business”
Clean Fuels Standard Strengthens Local Economies
Last night I teamed up with Washington Community Action Network Political Director Mauricio Ayon to testify at a Washington Department of Ecology hearing on the proposed Clean Fuels Standard, which would establish a requirement that oil refineries and distributors cut carbon pollution from gasoline and diesel by 10 percent over 10 years. Needless to say, thereContinue reading “Clean Fuels Standard Strengthens Local Economies”