Economy and Jobs

Republicans insist the Democrats’ claim of a “war on women” is simply a fairytale. Yet every week the GOP pushes another anti-woman policy that proves that this fairytale is reality. This week, my Senate GOP colleagues blocked the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that would have ensured women earn equal pay for equal work. Sounds simple enough, but not to my Republican friends who managed to use every manner of double-speak to justify opposing this bill. This was not the first time we have seen th... Read more

By Rep. Gwen S. Moore (D-Wis.) The news of unexpected losses at JP Morgan should provide renewed support for a Dodd-Frank provision that strikes at the heart of the problem of “too big to fail”. When my Financial Services Committee colleagues and I were debating Wall Street Reform, one of our top priorities was to provide a workable system for allowing interconnected financial firms to fail—without dragging the rest of the economy into a downward spiral. Title II of Dodd-Frank accomplishes that... Read more

By Peter Schroeder A provision from the Wall Street reform law intended to force companies to disclose if their products are made using minerals from conflict-stricken areas of Africa was painted by critics as missing the mark and burdensome Thursday. While the House Financial Services Committee is typically occupied with manners closer to Wall Street, a subcommittee hearing delved into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where violent militias use the mining of key minerals found in a wide... Read more

By Mark Schoeff Jr. May 6, 2012 Democrats are joining Republicans in putting pressure on the Securities and Exchange Commission not to tighten regulations governing money market funds. In a move similar to the bipartisan opposition to a pending Labor Department regulation that would expand fiduciary-duty requirements for retirement plans, Democrats have added their voices — and signatures — to what initially looked like familiar Republican and industry skepticism of a regulatory proposal. Last ... Read more

By Ann-Elise Henzl A Milwaukee health clinic for the uninsured and underinsured received welcome news Thursday. Federal officials traveled to town to award the clinic $5 million As WUWM’s Ann-Elise Henzl reports, the money comes from a fund President Obama’s health care reform law created.The announcement took place at the Lisbon Avenue Health Center near 35th and North. “This is one of five grants that are being awarded to community health centers across Wisconsin this week, totaling some $16 ... Read more

On Thursday, May 3, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-4) will host a press conference urging her Republican colleagues to stop the potential doubling of student loan rates on July 1st of this year. Read more

By Kathleen Hunter U.S. Senate Democrats are urging lawmakers in the Republican-led House to quickly pass legislation reauthorizing assistance to victims of domestic violence. Fifteen Senate Republicans joined all of the chamber’s Democrats yesterday to pass a renewal of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act by a vote of 68-31. Democrats cast the bill, which would authorize $660 million through 2016 for domestic violence shelters and police training, as a test of Republicans’ attitudes toward wome... Read more

By Susan DavisWASHINGTON – The U.S. House approved, on a mostly party-line (215-195) vote, a $5.9 billion bill to maintain low interest rates for Stafford student loans, paying for it by slashing funds for a provision of President Obama's health care law. Thirty Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, while 13 Democrats voted for it. The legislation was fueled by politics after President Obama this week traveled to three college campuses in battleground states attacking Republicans for payi... Read more

Hilary Rosen's 'stay at home' mum jibe has led to recognition that all mothers are entitled to welfare for their work - a worthy US import Selma Jamesguardian.co.uk, Wednesday 25 April 2012 08.04 EDT The costs of childcare mean many women can't afford to work. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the GuardianYou can't predict when a breakthrough will come your way, and from what quarter. For 40 years some of us have been campaigning to convince governments that carers, beginning with mothers, are margi... Read more

By Dominique Paul NothEditor, Milwaukee Labor PressPosted April 24. 2012 Co-workers at his union (United Steel Workers) saw giant mining parts crush Jeff Smith to death before their eyes last September at Bucyrus (now Caterpillar) where Smith, 30, had worked as a material handler since 2008. USW members will remember Jeff as part of the annual Workers Memorial Day ceremonies at noon Saturday, April 28. Also speaking at Zeidler Union Square Park between 3rd and 4th on Michigan St. will be US Rep... Read more