Category Archives: THE POOR

“House Committee OKs massive cuts to food stamps in farm bill” Reply

Politics, Congress, economic justice, THE POOR, POVERTY, WOMEN'S RIGHTS, 2014 ELECTION, FAMILY, Human Interest, SPENDING CUTS • Tags: , , , , , , ,

NBC NEWS

By Ned Resnikoff

The Republican-controlled House Agriculture Committee on Thursday approved a version of the 2013 farm bill that cuts more than $20 billion in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over 10 years.

A handful of House Democrats have vowed to oppose the legislation until some of the SNAP funding is restored, as George Zornick reported in The Nation.

“The $20.5 billion cut in SNAP is a poison pill,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., at a Thursday press conference. “It means that we shouldn’t be supporting the farm bill.”

Farm bills are sprawling pieces of legislation that regulate, fund, and subsidize a variety of  programs related to farming, agriculture, and food production. In addition to cutting food stamps, this particular bill would cut a certain kind of farming subsidy call direct payments. The bill is expected to reach the House floor for a full vote in June.

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“Terry Winckler Raw Sewage and a Raw Deal in Rochelle, GA” Reply

BLACKS, Bullying, GEORGIA, Housing, Human Interest, JUSTICE IN GOVERNANCE, Politics, PostAday, RACISM, SCANDAL, THE POOR • Tags: , , , , , , ,

THE EARTHJUSTICE BLOG

When the town’s toilets flush, guess what ends up in African-American yards

Nine residents of Rochelle, GA are suing their city government for discharging the city's raw sewage onto their properties

Nine residents of Rochelle, GA are suing their city government for discharging the city’s raw sewage onto their properties

Alisa Coe and Bradley Marshall—attorneys in our Florida office—took off on a two-hour drive last month and ended up 60 years away in the rural Georgia town of Rochelle, where black people live on one side of a railroad track and whites on the other.

You’ve heard of this place if you pay attention to news; last weekend the national media was reporting on the local high school’s first interracial prom … ever.

But even as the media focused on the prom, Alisa and Bradley faced up to the town’s mayor and chief of police, who bullied the two attorneys as they investigated claims that the city’s sewer system routinely dumps raw sewage into the streets and yards of the black community (but not the white community). The mayor used his car to block the attorneys’ car when they drove into a black neighborhood, and then screamed and threatened them with arrest. The chief of police pulled up with his lights flashing and told the duo to call him before coming back to Rochelle.

Those fellas obviously didn’t know who they were messing with.

Alisa and Bradley are members of a legal team led by managing attorney David Guest, who is famous in Florida for such things as ignoring alligators as he wades through the Everglades investigating environmental offenses. The whole team’s infused with that spirit.

FULL  ARTICLE

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“Here’s the form to apply for Obamacare coverage”

Barack Obama, BUSINESS, Healthcare, OBAMACARE, Politics, PostAday, The Disabled, THE POOR • Tags: , , , , ,

CNN MONEY

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Starting in October, Americans without access to affordable health care coverage through their jobs will be able to shop for insurance for themselves and their families through state-run exchanges.

This week, the government unveiled the forms shoppers will fill out to apply for coverage through Obamacare. The government won’t start accepting and processing those applications until later this year.

The form for individuals is a scant three pages — a big improvement from the 21-page draft version circulated earlier this year. The revised application, unveiled Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), asks individuals for little more than their personal information, Social Security number, citizenship, job and income details, and current health coverage. Income, citizenship status and other information will be verified by other federal agencies, according to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the HHS unit that is coordinating the process.

Those applying for family coverage will need to fill out an 11-page application that delves into additional details.

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“Thousands Pack St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ Inaugural Mass”

EDUCATION, FAITH, FAMILY, Latinos, Politics, PostAday, POVERTY, THE POOR • Tags: , , , , , , ,

 ABC NEWS

VATICAN CITY, March 19, 2013
emblem of the Papacy: Triple tiara and keys Fr...

emblem of the Papacy: Triple tiara and keys Français : emblème pontifical Italiano: emblema del Papato Português: Emblema papal. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hundreds of thousands of people filled St. Peter’s Square to welcome Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, to celebrate his inaugural mass in front of numerous heads of state from around the world.

Pope Francis rode around the square in an open-air jeep as he waved and kissed babies along the way. The pope exited the jeep at one point to bless a man who was in a wheelchair.

Speaking at his inaugural mass, Francis reflected on St. Joseph’s responsibilities in protecting Jesus and Mary, and said that responsibility extends to the pope himself.

“He is in touch with his surroundings,” Francis said. “He can make truly wise decisions. In him, dear friends, we learn how to respond to God‘s call. Gladly and willingly.   FULL STORY

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Rachel Maddow Introduces the New Pope Francis

FAITH, FAMILY, JESUS CHRIST, Latinos, Politics, POVERTY, Religion, ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE POOR • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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