Senator Nelson Fudging the Line between Church and State

Senator Ben Nelson recently stated that he will not offer his amendment to the Senate health bill, which purports to add language similar to the Stupak-Pitts amendment of the House bill, until the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has had time to review and comment on it. Such an action is troubling on a number of levels.

First, he was elected to serve the people of this country who represent a diverse set of religious beliefs. Singling out one religious body over others sends a message of bias of one belief over another. Second, consulting a religious group, regardless of sect, on proposed legislation goes against the separation of church and state that lawmakers are bound to uphold. Third,

The Consumer Financial Protection Agency: Wall Street Reform

On December 5, 2009, President Obama visited Allentown, PA to talk about jobs and the economy.  Allentown has been hit hard by the economic down turn with a 9.3 percent unemployment rate (Oct 2009).  At the end of his message, President Obama took impromptu questions from the audience.  There were a number of small business owners in the audience and the burning question was what is the administration going to do about ensuring our financial and lending institutions will (1) begin granting loans again to small businesses; and (2) what is the administration doing to ensure that we do not go down this path again; what checks and balances are being put in place?

Race and Hate-Bait Outrage of the Week

Outrage Of The Week – Birther Ad

You just can’t make this stuff up. In 2007, Republican House Leader John Boehner called on Democratic Leaders to condemn “character assassinations.” But when the right-wing fringe’s ‘birther’ movement recently ran a disgusting full page ad using pictures of chimpanzees to question the origin of President Obama’s birth, Boehner’s response? Silence.

Check it out and send your message to Republican Leader Boehner demanding he denounce these disgusting attacks.

And let us not forget Alaska’s former governor, Sarah Palin, who is joining in on the hateful rhetoric by the birther ad movement.  Check out the interview.

What Happened to S.1488 COBRA Extension Act of 2009?

What will happen to the estimated 7 million jobless workers and their dependents on the stroke of midnight December 31, 2009 when the current COBRA extension expires?  Will we have a health care bill in place by then to protect these workers and their dependents?

Was it signed into law?  Did I miss something? A quick search brought up a bill S1488 the COBRA Extension Act of 2009.  Essentially, the bill, if signed into law, would extend COBRA for 24 months or until December 31, 2010, instead of 18 months that is set to expire at the end of the month. 

Can We Resolve Conflict With Dialog?

Can we resolve the Conflict with Al Qaeda through dialog instead of war?  Can we sit down and have a conversation with al-Qaeda top militants and find some common ground?  Can we walk away from the present conflict under the assumption that this is not a war that is being waged in my backyard, and, therefore, I am not somebody else’s brother’s keeper?  Is the only way to resolution through hunting down and killing this enemy?

A lot of questions are being asked right now.  Many of us are tired of being at war – we’ve been at it for eight years and have had enough.  We want to fix things in our own backyard.  I feel the same way about health care sometimes.  I jumped on the health care advocacy stage because the economy is so bad and it is clear that we must do all we can to ensure reform takes place now.  But there are days when I am battle-weary; when I would rather be out with my grandchildren doing something fun.  There are nights when I would much rather be sitting in a theater somewhere