U.S.
Progressive Caucus backs public health insurance plan
April 8, 2009While one of the AFL-CIO’s key health care reform principles—a public health insurance option—has been vigorously attacked by the private insurance industry, it received important backing last week from the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC). The CPC...
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Opinion: Arts Advocacy Day testimony from Linda Ronstadt
April 8, 2009Special to the Mercury News Editor's note: The following is the full testimony Linda Ronstadt is delivering today to a Congressional subcommittee as part of Arts Advocacy Day. Ronstadt, a Grammy-award winning singer, is artistic director...
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Big victories for marriage equality in Vermont, Iowa
April 8, 2009Same-sex couples and gay rights activists nationwide are celebrating after major victories today in Vermont and last week in Iowa, two states that are paving the way in allowing gay couples to marry. Lawmakers in Vermont...
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Shoe-repairman, veteran, bobbin boy, Communist: 93 years with a twinkle in his eye
April 8, 2009PROVIDENCE, R.I. — John Hovan has been reading this newspaper, and its predecessors going back to the Daily Worker, since the early 1930s — in the depths of the Great Depression. It’s been a key to...
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Peace groups hail Obamas vow to abolish nukes
April 8, 2009Leaders of the struggle for nuclear disarmament hailed President Obama’s speech April 5 in Prague, committing the United States to work for the total abolition of nuclear weapons, the first American president ever to make that...
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