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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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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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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 »

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It’s growing season again – time to go out in search of farm markets and farm stands to purchase yummy local ingredients for your table. Besides treating your tasebuds to the freshest best tasting foods, supporting local farms and farmers keeps your food dollars in your community. And that is exactly what the Local Farms, […]

Posted on May 30th, 2012 by Debby
Filed under: Agriculture, Buy Local, Farm to School, Farm-to-School, Farms & Farmers, House of Representatives, Rural Issues, Rural Urban Partnerships, Senate, Uncategorized | No Comments »

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By Miryam Ehrlich Williamson     Here are some of the bills filed since January 5 by members of the new House majority. They’re here to show you, as if you didn’t already know, where their heads are. (This is not meant as snark, honestly.) H.R. 1 – Reserved for the Speaker. By tradition H.R. 1 is […]

Posted on January 12th, 2011 by Miryam Ehrlich Williamson
Filed under: House of Representatives | 4 Comments »

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By Miryam Ehrlich Williamson  When the 112th Congress convenes on Wednesday, January 5, both the House of Representatives and the Senate have the opportunity to set new procedural rules for the session. Following established custom, as the first order of business each chamber will vote on its operating rules for the next two years. An […]

Posted on January 3rd, 2011 by Miryam Ehrlich Williamson
Filed under: House of Representatives, Legislative Branch | No Comments »

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By Miryam Ehrlich Williamson House Republicans today announced their picks for committee chairs for the 112th Congress, which begins in January. Frank D. Lucas (OK-3) got the nod to chair the Agriculture Committee. In the 111th Congress, Lucas was the ranking member on the committee, the title given the senior member of the minority party. […]

Posted on December 8th, 2010 by Miryam Ehrlich Williamson
Filed under: Agriculture, House of Representatives | No Comments »

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By Miryam Ehrlich Williamson As the saying goes, Sometimes you can’t win for losing. That seems to be the theme of 2010 in the U.S., for all but the one percent of Americans whose income this year will be equal to that of the bottom 50 percent. Congressional Democrats can point to a couple of […]

Posted on December 3rd, 2010 by Miryam Ehrlich Williamson
Filed under: House of Representatives, Politics and Political Issues, Senate, US Congress | 1 Comment »