The following was recently written by Donald Cohen and distributed through the Economic Analysis Research Network…

Saturday, August 14 is the75th Anniversary of the Social Security Act.  At the time, the Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, other businesses and Republican politicians claimed that Social Security would be the “end of democracy” and a “job killer.”   They were crying wolf. Social Security continues to help millions escape poverty. Here’s the facts: http://www.cbpp.org/research/?fa=topic&id=38.

Read below for Cry Wolf quotes from the Social Security Debate in 1935.

FDR on Social Security, May, 1935

“A few timid people, who fear progress, will try to give you new and strange names for what we are doing. Sometimes they will call it “Fascism”, sometimes “Communism”, sometimes “Regimentation”, sometimes “Socialism”. But, in so doing, they are trying to make very complex and theoretical something that is really very simple and very practical.  I believe in practical explanations and in practical policies. I believe that what we are doing today is a necessary fulfillment of what Americans have always been doing — a fulfillment of old and tested American ideals.” Read the rest of this entry »

• Linda Mills: Criminal Justice Consultant to the Department of Corrections’ Prisoner Re-entry Task Force

• Representative Jerry Madden: Member of the Texas House of Representativeswho led a successful reform of the criminal justice system in Texas

• Judge Roger Warren: President Emeritus of the National Center for State Courts presenting on evidenced-based sentencing practices

The following are some of the reasons why the board of directors of Alaska Center for Public Policy believe Ballot Measure 1 is poor public policy.

Business Owners:

• Prohibits any Alaskan who has a government contract larger than $500 from participating in the political process. The ban extends to the citizen’s ‘immediate family’, including “any spouse, child, spouse’s child, son/daughter-in-law, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, step brother/sister, step-parent, parent-in-law, brother/sister-in-law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, and domestic partner.”

• Would not apply to large multi-national corporations whose contracting offices are out-of-state.

Non-Profits:

• Board members of non-profits who receive city or state funds would be prohibited from advocating for their non-profit and making contributions to certain candidates for office.

Communities:

• Outlaws municipal-funded lobbying which is how our local government communicates our needs to the Legislature in Juneau. Read the rest of this entry »

Recession, not overpaid public sector employees to blame for state and local budget woes

Income Gaps Between Very Rich and Everyone Else More Than Tripled In Last Three Decades, New Data Show

By Arloc Sherman and Chad Stone

“The gaps in after-tax income between the richest 1 percent of Americans and the middle and poorest fifths of the country more than tripled between 1979 and 2007 (the period for which these data are available), according to data the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued last week. Taken together with prior research, the new data suggest greater income concentration at the top of the income scale than at any time since 1928.” Read the rest of this entry »

2008 Nobel Prize winner for economics Paul Krugman, who has authored 20 books and more than 200 papers on the subject, offered an enlightening viewpoint on another aspect of spoon-fed fear in The New York Times in February.

In a sudden hysteria that could be likened to swine flu on many levels, Washington now has a chorus of hand-wringing-fear-filled politicos belting out a song of despair. And it now appears this choir has warbling voices from all corners of political ideology.

This unlikely acapella emanates from a bizarre belief that there is no time like the present to lower budget deficits. While I am no Krugman (who is?) a simple checkbook balancing approach and a look into the past while analyzing the present could reel in these Nervous Nellies if they just take the time to stop and think.

Checkbook: If my wife Karen and I are out of a job and private sector jobs are stymied, where can we hope to find relief? As bad as the budget deficit choir hates to admit it; government. But if government stops creating jobs by cutting spending through deficit reductions, well, I think you get the picture: How Now Brown Cow? Read the rest of this entry »

Nearly 7,000 low income children in Alaska can’t get a free or reduced price meal at school because their schools do not offer the breakfast program. Why not? The federal reimbursement for breakfast is simply too low to make it economically feasible for most schools.

Over the last three legislative sessions, Food Bank of Alaska, the Alaska Food Coalition, and the Alaska School Nutrition Association have partnered to request state support for school breakfast and lunch.  The Alaska State Legislature is currently considering legislation (SB 213) which provides state funding to supplement federal dollars received for school meals served to students who qualify for free or reduced price meals.  To view SB 213 follow the link to: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=SB%20213&session=26

The bill was passed through the Senate Education Committee and has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee.  We need your help to keep SB 213 moving through the legislative process in Juneau. Read the rest of this entry »

Rep. Beth Kerttula and Sen. Menard pose with Matt and Sue, the office marmots. Both legislators are eagerly awaiting the historic first Alaska Marmot Day.

Alaskans and their young state will officially celebrate the newest tradition to be established in the Last Frontier February 2nd. Alaska Marmot Day pays homage to our very own marmot, an iconic creature that populates so many regions of Alaska.

[Excerpted from Senator Menard's newsletter]

SB 101, Student Questionnaires and Surveys (sponsor Senator_Bettye_Davis@legis.state.ak.us) is scheduled for a hearing in the House Health and Social Services Committee on Tuesday, February 2nd. This bill allows for passive parental consent for students taking the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS.)

ACTION NEEDED:

PLEASE Contact House H&SS Committee members before the 3 p.m. hearing on Tuesday. Testify in favor of the bill from you local Legislative Information Office at the hearing on Tuesday. To find your office: http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/misc/lios.php Read the rest of this entry »