by Bruce VailWith a key deadline looming early next month, pension activists in the Teamsters union are turning up the heat to head off government action that will slash the incomes of hundreds of thousands of union retirees who receive benefits from the Central States Pension Fund, and set a dangerous precedent for millions more. The retired union members are concentrated on… Read more »
by Bryce CovertRep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) has some priorities for her role as one of the members of a conference committee working to hash out a budget deal between the House and Senate. “Not to cut anymore out of SNAP,” the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps, she told ThinkProgress. “Not to block grant it. Not to block grant… Read more »
by Jesse BraggAround the globe, people’s access to water is being threatened every day by one of the most powerful institutions on the globe—the World Bank. Under the guise of development, the World Bank and its investment arm, the International Finance Corporation, invest hundreds of millions in water privatization schemes that reduce access to water, increase costs and have… Read more »
by Emma BrownA Milwaukee Public Schools teacher’s aide was arrested for physical abuse of a child Wednesday after he allegedly slammed a 14-year-old student to the floor and held him there, Milwaukee police said. Police are continuing to investigate the incident, which happened around 10:50 a.m. at the city’s Bay View High. It was captured in a video, published by CBS 58,… Read more »
by Michele FioreMILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee County District Attorney's office is considering charges against the teacher's aide seen on camera allegedly slamming a student to the floor. In the meantime, video showing that fight at Bay View High School has gone viral. Facebook video of the incident has already been shared thousands of times and had 384,000… Read more »
by Doug SchneiderGREEN BAY - Gov. Scott Walker touted a jobs program Wednesday as a chance for Wisconsinites "to live their piece of the American dream," even as critics say the governor needs to relax the program's eligibility limits in communities with high jobless rates. "We're providing job-training for people who previously needed assistance from the… Read more »
by Sara JeromeA key congressional leader is sounding alarm bells about the repercussions of public-private partnerships in the water sector. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-WI, the top Democrat on the House monetary policy subcommittee, is concerned with the World Bank’s endorsement of public-private partnerships in water service. In particular, she is questioning a 1997 deal that… Read more »
by Katy Daigle and Teresa Cerojano Manila - In a bustling, densely populated corner of Manila, fruit vendor Coring Gutierrez reads $35 due from her latest water bill, more than triple what her family of six paid 15 years ago. “As long as we get water,” she sighs, reflecting the relief many of the Philippine capital region's nearly 12 million residents feel about… Read more »
by Ogechi EkeanyanwuThe Environmental Rights Organisation/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has asked Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos state governor, to publicly shun the public private partnership (PPP) water scheme “promoted” by the World Bank. In a statement, Akinbode Oluwafemi, ERA/FoEN’s deputy director, described the world bank’s privatisation initiative… Read more »
by Ben Ezeamalu A United States lawmaker has raised concerns over the World Bank’s role in funding and promoting water privatization across the world. Gwen Moore (Representative, Wisconsin) in a letter to the World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, stated that the Bank’s lending arm, the International Finance Corporation, had not adequately monitored the… Read more »
