Now that Congress is set to go back to work, health care reform needs a real jump start.
If you are tired of watching the president’s agenda get stalled by the politics of inaction fueled by right-wing teabagging zealots, there’s plenty you can do.
More specifically, there are 50 Ways You Can Help Obama — outlined in a new book by ProgressNow Nevada’s national organization.
Progress Now founder Michael Huttner has written a book about how you can help.
50 Ways You Can Help Obama
The late senator, Edward Kennedy praised the book before his death last week.
“In 50 Ways You Can Help Obama Change America, Michael Huttner and Jason Salzman have given us a practical handbook on how every American can do something for our country. This book should be required reading for anyone interested in making a difference and helping President Obama get our nation back on track.” — Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
ProgressNow Nevada will get some of the proceeds from the sale of the book to help cover technology expenses. But, any of you who share your ideas about how to change the country have a chance to win a grand prize trip for two to Hawaii for a private tour of the hospital where President Obama was born, followed by an opportunity to take part in a community service project there on MLK Day of Service, January 18, 2010.
Send in your stories by September 30. The winners will be announced on November 4, 2009 - one year to the day that Obama gave his memorable victory speech in Chicago.
Visit www.50WaysYouCanHelpObama.com or join us on Facebook at Help Obama Change America as we highlight with the national media what people are doing to help take advantage of an appetite for change unlike anything we’ve seen in our lifetimes.
50 Ways You Can Help Obama
August 31st, 2009Reid supports the public option
August 28th, 2009During his tele-townhall today, Sen. Harry Reid once again affirmed his support for a public option as part of the health reform bill in Congress.
He also said his 60 votes are only “on paper,” and now with Sen. Kennedy’s death, “bipartisanship” is a must.
Cars vs. People…
August 27th, 2009Sometimes I just don’t get it.
On Tuesday, Rep. Dean Heller told the Carson City Rotary Club just how he feels about health care reform, essentially saying it’s not as important as creating jobs.
I happen to know more than a few people who would launch small businesses and hire folks if only they could afford providing them with health benefits.
But that logic aside, let’s look at another key point in the health care debate. Is it a right or a privilege.
Banker John Guedry, who sucked in $400 million in TARP money and is now challenging Dina Titus for the 3rd Congressional District told Jon Ralston he thought health care was a privilege, not a right.
Guedry on Face to Face
Heller on Tuesday said the answer to health care problems is tort reform and letting people buy health insurance across state lines.
Heller in Nevada Appeal
“You can go anywhere and get your car insurance,” Heller told the Rotary. “Any health care reform should include that.”
So, riddle me this.
Why is it mandatory to buy car insurance and not mandatory to buy health insurance.
Mr. Race Car Driver undoubtedly enjoys the best of both, what for all the risk racing places on autos, and for all the wonderful benefits he enjoys as a congressman.
Both Heller and Guedry may have the right to their backwards views on health reform, but it’d be a privilege for the rest of us to keep those ideas out of public policy.
Aw, Shoot!
August 26th, 2009You know we’re getting into the political cycle full-bore when Harry Reid comes to the grand opening of the Las Vegas shooting park armed with something more powerful than the antique .22 rifle and yarns about shootin’ critters for stew.
Second Amendment Harry came to the event Tuesday with a letter from Wayne LaPierre calling him good for gun owners.
Shootin\' from the hip
Wow. An NRA endorsement 14 months out?
Bullseye.
Reaffirm Your Opposition
August 19th, 2009The Southern Nevada Water Authority Board will meet Thursday at 9 a.m. in Las Vegas to “reaffirm” the board’s commitment to the multi-billion dollar pipeline project.
So, this is as good a time as any to reaffirm our opposition to the water grab as both a financial boondoggle and an environmental disaster.
So, if you’re in the mood to do some old-school phone calling, here are the numbers you need to tell the board members how you feel.
Board chair Shari Buck, North Las Vegas Mayor: (702) 633-1007
Duncan McCoy, Boulder City Council Member: (702) 293-3063
Lois Tarkanian, Las Vegas City Council Member: (702) 229-6405
Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commissioner: (702) 455-3500
Susan Brager, Clark County Commissioner: (702) 455-3500
Tom Collins, Clark County Commissioner: (702) 455-3500
Steve Kirk, Henderson City Council Member: (702) 267-2085
The Idiot Czar
August 17th, 2009Floundering without any loyal staff members, Jim Gibbons now wants to take over all three branches of state government and destroy them as only his ineptness can.
It was Gibbons, you’ll remember who rose to power political ages ago with a ballot initiative designed to reign in the Legislature and keep tax increases out of the Supreme Court’s hands.
Now he’s back to claiming executive idiocy by targeting the Legislature’s interim finance committee — a panel that for four decades has been used to try to balance Nevada’s backassward way of regulating changes in the economy in the 20 months the Legislature is actually not in session over two years.
Since the Interim Finance Committee blocked Gibbo’s proposed “stimulus czar” position and gave it to Democratic controller Kim Wallin, Gibbo has been a one-man wrecking ball hoping to take out any Democrats, anyone associated with the elected controller and, now, it seems the IFC itself. Commie IFC
Gibbons is doing his best Wizard of Oz move, pulling levers to destroy all forms of government in hopes that nobody is paying attention to the lonely man behind the curtain.
It’s well enough that Gibbons chooses to exert executive privilege in making an appointment that is only necessary because he demoted the staff member once assigned to handle the stimulus. And since he’s gotten rid of so many chiefs of staff; communication team members; lawyers and liaisons to the rest of state government, it’s only fitting that Gibbons thinks he can go everything alone.
Nothing screams irrelevant and unelectable like this man on a mission. Too bad we all have to live through it for 16 more months.
Judicious Act by Judge Cadish
July 30th, 2009District Attorney David Roger’s staff failed to win a death sentence for a man widely seen responsible for three murders. So, when the jury deadlocked, Judge Elissa Cadish did precisely what Nevada law says she can.
RJ on Nunnery trial
She sentenced Eugene Nunnery, 29, to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In case you’re new to Nevada — that means no parole.
But Roger wanted taxpayers to front at least another $100,000 to retry Nunnery and get that death sentence so Nunnery can sit in the most expensive prison in the state for years until he finally gives up his legal fight and lets the government end his boredom.
Cadish should be commended for discharging her duty honorably and completely within the letter of the law.
Roger can pout all he wants. But the bottom line is that if he really wants Nunnery to get pumped full of chemicals some decades from now, he has another chance.
Nunnery’s facing another death penalty case next year. If Roger and his team can get this one right, Nunnery can go sit on Death Row.
But Cadish did the honorable thing by not bowing to prosecutorial pressure and by doing exactly what she was appointed to do.
Now if only Roger would do what voters have asked him to do — properly prosecute the bad guys — we’d all feel safer.
Small Biz vs. Wealthy
July 28th, 2009Congresswoman Dina Titus has told several reporters that she does not want to enact health care reform on the backs of those in her district making more than $350,000.
To me, that’s like saying she favors 10 percent over the vast majority of people in her district.
To some who have talked to her more recently, they say she’s very concerned about small businesses.
Let’s be even more clear about that biz thing.
The “small” biz would have to clear $350,000 in profits — that’s after paying employees and other overhead and deducting any health care expenses.
And if you ask me, that 350K ain’t chump change.
Titus is said to favor the “millionaire” tax to pay for health care. That’s certainly taxing the wealthy.
But the vast, vast majority of people I know in the third district don’t have household income or “small” business profits greater than $350,000.
So her concern is laudable, but from where I sit, a bit laughable.
Titus will be attacked whether she supports health care reform or whether she doesn’t. I think she should support it and watch how many of the rest of us who earn well under $350,000 would be there for her next November.
Visits to Las Vegas
July 28th, 2009Sen. Harry Reid is now pushing people to come back to Las Vegas for business trips.
Although many Nevadans think Barack Obama and Reid have not tried to get folks to come here during the current economic depression, Reid is now leading the way to open up the travel gates to McCarran.
Reid fights 'destination discrimination'
Maybe that will help fill up hotel rooms and taxis again.
