rssPosts by Eartha Jane Melzer
VIDEO: Supercommittee at war over tax breaks for big oil
The Congressional deficit reduction “supercommittee” that has been charged with finding $1.5 trillion in budget savings by Thanksgiving could save billions by eliminating tax breaks and subsidies for oil and gas companies, which advocacy groups from across the ideological spectrum support, but energy companies are battling to keep their good deals.
Greenpeace charges Dow Chemical with espionage
In a civil suit filed in DC Superior Court this month, Greenpeace is charging Dow Chemical with trespassing, tapping their phones, hacking into their computer systems and infiltrating their organization.
Madonna’s brother homeless and cold in MIchigan
Anthony Ciccone, brother of pop star Madonna, is living on the bitter cold streets of Traverse City, MI–a place the homeless flock to because of the city’s exceptional network of services for people on the street.
Majority of Americans support Occupy movement
A majority of Americans — and almost a third of Republicans — agree with the aims of the Occupy Wall St. movement, according to polls taken over the last ten days.
Alex Altman of TIME’s Swampland blog writes:
Keystone XL will be of little benefit to U.S. economy, say critics
Supporters of the Keystone XL pipeline claim that the project will be a rich source of jobs, but critics say their numbers don’t add up and any boost in jobs will be temporary.
Watchdogs call for greater transparency in corporate political spending
Last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission granted corporations and unions the right to directly and expressly back political candidates, and triggered an enormous new wave of political spending. Now watchdog groups are trying to find ways to make sure voters can see who is funding which candidates.
U.S. PIRG, National Taxpayers Union suggest cuts for supercommittee
Unlikely allies — the National Taxpayers Union and U.S. Public Interest Research Group — have united to show the Congressional supercommittee where it can cut a trillion dollars in federal spending.
Outsourcing government services costs more
When the federal government pays contractors to take over work done by public employees it ends up paying more than twice as much, according to a new study by the Project on Government Oversight.
Report: Keystone XL oil will go overseas, pipeline won’t enhance U.S. energy security
The primary beneficiary of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline is a company that wants to refine tar sands oil into diesel and ship it to Europe while avoiding taxes, according to a new report by Oil Change International.
Obama halts EPA smog rules
In capitulation to business interests that objected to the proposed rules, President Obama has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency not to tighten ozone regulations.
