Key Obama Adviser: "There’s Never Been a Time When We’ve Taken Progressive Action and Regretted It" | Mother Jones

 

Key Obama Adviser: "There’s Never Been a Time When We’ve Taken Progressive Action and Regretted It"

—Inae Oh on Fri. March 13, 2015 5:33 PM PDT

Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Here to jump start your weekend is a "Quote of the Week," taken from Jonathan Chait's interview with longtime Obama adviser Dan Pfeiffer, who worked closely with president from the 2008 campaign until his resignation last week. Their conversation focused on the president's embrace of liberalism in the face of a staunch GOP-controlled Congress. Pfeiffer's choice quote:

Whenever we contemplate bold progressive action, whether that’s the president's endorsement of marriage equality, or coming out strong on power-plant rules to reduce current pollution, on immigration, on net neutrality, you get a lot of hemming and hawing in advance about what this is going to mean: Is this going to alienate people? Is this going to hurt the president's approval ratings? What will this mean in red states?

There's never been a time when we’ve taken progressive action and regretted it.

Key Obama Adviser: "There’s Never Been a Time When We’ve Taken Progressive Action and Regretted It" | Mother Jones

Rep. Tammy Duckworth Fundraising For Senate Bid: Report

 

Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) is reportedly raising money for a potential challenge to Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) in 2016.

In a fundraising letter obtained by The Chicago Sun-Times, Duckworth asked for $1,000 donations from supporters and said that she knew she could beat Kirk, a first term senator whose seat is considered vulnerable.

“In an instant I’ll become a lighting rod for the right and all the special interest money they can pour in the race. My gut tells me I can beat these guys,” Duckworth said in the letter, according to the Sun-Times.

Duckworth, the first female Iraq combat veteran to win a Congressional seat, has been considering a bid since January. Kirk has said he is unconcerned about a challenge from Duckworth.

Former Republican Rep. Joe Walsh (Ill.), who Duckworth defeated in 2012, is also considering challenging Kirk for the seat. The Sun-Times also reported that Democratic Reps Bill Foster, Robin Kelly and Cheri Bustos are considering running.

H/T Chicago Sun-Times

Rep. Tammy Duckworth Fundraising For Senate Bid: Report

BCJ Editorial: Pubic Safety Sales Tax

The editor supplies a history of the PSB sales tax and a summary of the legal and ethical issues.

Microsoft wants US suppliers to give employees paid time off

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft said Thursday that it will push its U.S. suppliers to give their employees paid time off — but that only applies for the staffers that do work for Microsoft.

Microsoft said it has about 2,000 U.S. suppliers, who provide services such as maintenance and security. The technology company does not know how many of its suppliers don't provide paid time off. It has heard from workers and media reports that some companies don't provide the benefit.

The announcement comes at a time when paid sick leave and income inequality have become hot topics. Earlier this year, President Barack Obama called on Congress to pass measures that would allow workers to earn up to seven days of paid leave.

Microsoft Corp. said suppliers with 50 or more employees will be asked to provide at least 15 days of paid time off for employees that mainly work with the Redmond, Washington, company. They can offer either 15 unrestricted paid days off or 10 days of paid vacation and five days of sick leave. Microsoft said it will give suppliers 12 months to make the changes.

A Microsoft spokeswoman said the rules will be written into future contracts and those that don't comply may be dropped as a supplier. She said the company did not discuss the issue with suppliers before the plan was announced Thursday.

Microsoft wants US suppliers to give employees paid time off

BCJ: VAC Again

This posting and the next three postings are from the Boone County Journal which is available free of cost at merchants across the county and on-line at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2015/Boone-County-News-03-27-15.pdf#page=1

 

 

 

 

 

BCJ: PSB Sales Tax