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What’s the easiest way to tell if any major government “reform” plan is a sham? If it isn’t rolled out with members of both parties at the microphone touting bipartisanship you probably need to be worried. We saw it with the GOP’s failed “repeal and replace” health care reform bills and now we are seeing […]

Posted on November 2nd, 2017 by Rural Outlook
Filed under: A Better Deal, Economy, Politics and Political Issues, Rural Issues, Taxes, Uncategorized, US Congress | No Comments »

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Shockingly, the Republicans in Congress are giving serious consideration to taking money away from American retirees to help pay for tax cuts for the rich and corporations. Speaker Paul Ryan and his henchman in this scheme, House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX), want to take money away from retirees by significantly limiting the amount […]

Posted on October 28th, 2017 by Rural Outlook
Filed under: A Better Deal, Economy, Health Care, POTUS, Taxes, US Congress | No Comments »

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Rural America took a real hard kick in the seat of the pants when the GOP House leadership went behind closed doors a couple of months ago to concoct a tax cut plan for the wealthiest Americans disguised as “health insurance reform.” Under that scheme millions of Americans would lose coverage altogether, most of us […]

Posted on June 16th, 2017 by Rural Outlook
Filed under: Elections, Health Care, Insurance Reform, Religion and Spirituality, Senate, Taxes, Uncategorized | No Comments »

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You don’t need to look further than your internet browser to find the answer to whether the Confederate battle flag is a remnant of racism. The evidence points to it being a vile reminder of all the injustices of slavery. In 1863, William T. Thompson, the editor of the Savannah Morning News, proposed a design […]

Posted on July 16th, 2015 by Debby
Filed under: American Civil War, History, House of Representatives, House of Representatives, Obama, US Congress | No Comments »

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Putting the fat back into America’s food policy is a loud and clear priority for the new majority in Congress this year.  First Lady Michelle Obama launched the “Let’s Move” initiative in February 9, 2010.  A widely acclaimed first step to taking on childhood obesity, the First lady hasn’t been shy about wielding her considerable […]

Posted on January 2nd, 2015 by Debby
Filed under: Childhood obesity, Farm-to-School, FDA, Food, Nutrition, US Congress, USDA | No Comments »

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WASHINGTON (Jan. 28, 2014) – The National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson, under direction from the NFU Board of Directors, sent a letter today to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House John Boehner calling for the 2014 Farm Bill to be called up and voted on this week. “Farm bill […]

Posted on January 28th, 2014 by Debby
Filed under: Agriculture, Farm Bill 2012, Farms & Farmers, House of Representatives, Rural Issues, Senate | No Comments »

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National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson agrees. WASHINGTON (Oct. 17, 2013) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement today, after the end of the U.S. federal government shutdown: “Last night’s action by Congress ended a shutdown of our government and will return agencies back to normal operating status. This is […]

Posted on October 17th, 2013 by Debby
Filed under: Agriculture, Economy, Farm Bill 2012, Farms & Farmers, Federal Budget, POTUS, Rural Issues, US Congress | No Comments »

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The title of this essay is that of a song I remember from bygone days. Frank Sinatra used to sing it. Listening to Barack Obama and John Kerry give their rationale for attacking Syria, gave me an ear worm – the song keeps running around in my brain and I’m sick of hearing it. The […]

Posted on September 6th, 2013 by Miryam Ehrlich Williamson
Filed under: Foreign Policy, House of Representatives, National Security, Obama, Uncategorized | No Comments »

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Growing up in Massachusetts means a special kind of connection to the Fourth of July. Along with Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July is one of two holidays all Americans can claim as our own. Both were born in Massachusetts: Thanksgiving in Plymouth around a communal dining table and the American Revolution, which started with the […]

Posted on July 4th, 2013 by Debby
Filed under: Agriculture, Childhood Hunger, Farm Bill 2012, Farms & Farmers, Food, House of Representatives, House of Representatives, Nutrition, Public Option, Rural Urban Partnerships, US Congress | No Comments »

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The old rural-urban alliance that married farm and nutrition programs failed to get a Farm Bill through the House this afternoon. The bill lost 195-234, with food stamps apparently the main issue. The House seemed ready to pass the bill this afternoon “after the Agriculture Committee leadership agreed to a sweeping en bloc amendment Wednesday […]

Posted on June 20th, 2013 by Debby
Filed under: Agriculture, Childhood Hunger, Economy, Farm Bill 2012, Food, House of Representatives, Nutrition | No Comments »