Southwestern Oregon’s public services are rotting away or shutting down due to voter unwillingness to pay dues to keep them running. The New York Times looks at the collapse of the commons in an often-ignored area of the Pacific Northwest.
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Washington state ranks nearly last in new tax-transparency index
“Ranked second from the bottom in a new report, the state’s tax system makes it tough for taxpayers to find out just how much they’re coughing up to the government. Oregon’s system ranks as the most transparent of all,” writes The Seattle Times’ Gene Balk.
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U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene lambastes Trumpcare in blistering House floor speech
Suzan DelBene lambastes Trumpcare in blistering House floor speech TRANSCRIPT: If Republicans crafted legislation that lived up to the promise of ‘insurance for everybody,’ they’d
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Dave Reichert is undecided on Trumpcare bill — Call his office and tell him to vote NO
A spokesperson for Dave Reichert has told The Seattle Times’ Jim Brunner he is not yet committed to voting for the Trumpcare bill being pushed
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Watch Pramila Jayapal and Suzan DelBene denounce Trumpcare bill in the House Budget Committee
U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene and Pramila Jayapal have been forcefully speaking out against the House Republicans’ extremely destructive Trumpcare bill as it has speedily made
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Bernie Sanders fires back at Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein for “dangerous moments” comment
I have to say, I find it a little beyond comprehension that Lloyd Blankfein would lecture our campaign about “dangerous moments” after Wall Street received
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As oil money disappears, Alaska mulls first income tax in thirty-five years
Drill, baby, drill. For years, that silly slogan has been a part of the Republican lexicon. But now, with global oil prices tumbling due to excess supply (caused in part by the North American oil boom), fossil fuel-dependent Alaska finds itself in a huge fiscal morass. Independent Governor Bill Walker, a former Republican, has proposed reinstituting a state income tax to ensure that the state can continue to provide public services to its citizens.
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Washington State ranks second in the nation for corporate subsidies
Washington State ranks second in the nation for corporate subsidies Seattle Times columnist Jon Talton discusses data from the Good Jobs First initiative, which shows
LaunchThe crazies and the con man
To understand Mr. Ryan’s role in our political-media ecosystem, you need to know two things. First, the modern Republican Party is a post-policy enterprise, which
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Initiative profiteer Tim Eyman has become part of the Washington State Republican Party’s brand
I was so tired of partisan politics. It was all Tim Eyman and no new taxes… That’s not me. I’m interested in community building. —
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The Blackmail Caucus, also known as the Republican Party
John Boehner was a terrible, very bad, no good speaker of the House. Under his leadership, Republicans pursued an unprecedented strategy of scorched-earth obstructionism, which
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John Boehner to CBS: There won’t be another federal government shutdown on my watch
CBS’ JOHN DICKERSON: Four days, the government runs out of money. Is there going to be a shutdown? JOHN BOEHNER: No. The Senate is expected
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DFA’s Charles Chamberlain: White House promises on TPP as empty as Nike’s commitment to American jobs
The only thing weaker than sweatshop-king Nike’s empty promises is the White House’s willingness to hype them as a victory in its push for a
LaunchPaul Krugman: Economics and elections
Bad things will happen to good ideas, and vice versa. So be it. Elections determine who has the power, not who has the truth. —
LaunchRepublican priorities: Cripple Medicare, spend more money waging war
Republican priorities: Cripple Medicare, spend more money waging war Budgets are moral documents that speak to a nation’s priorities, and it’s pretty clear what Republicans
LaunchBarack Obama finally understands political polarization. Does Hillary Clinton?
Most of what political pundits focus on day-to-day is meaningless. Obama can’t get Republican cooperation by calling Boehner on the phone more often, or playing
LaunchRift widens in Republican Party between defense hawks and Norquist acolytes
This is a war within the Republican Party… You can shade it any way you want, but this is war. — Senator Lindsey Graham, speaking
LaunchBarack Obama has won when he’s embraced bold progressive ideas, former White House adviser says
There’s never been a time when we’ve taken progressive action and regretted it. — Former White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer, speaking to New York Magazine’s
LaunchRepublicans deeply divided as budget bills pile up
We really don’t have 218 votes to determine a bathroom break over here on our side… So how are we going to get 218 votes
LaunchThrough it all, Nancy Pelosi keeps sway over House Democrats
Through it all, Nancy Pelosi keeps sway over House Democrats The New York Times files a fresh profile of House Democratic chief Nancy Pelosi, who
LaunchSheldon Whitehouse predicts Republican attempts to force President Obama to allow TransCanada to build Keystone XL will fail
If Senator Hoeven wants to play more hostage politics with the Keystone pipeline that simply revives the two big failures of their disastrous first two
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