WASHINGTON, DC — Green Party leaders called on President Obama to
cancel his call for offshore drilling in US waters off the Atlantic and Alaskan coasts, as the spreading British Petroleum oil spill threatens ecosystems and public health in the Gulf region. Greens also urged the President to hold BP and Halliburton liable for all
costs associated with the spill.

THE Maryland Delaware DC Press Association presented recently its annual awards for excellence in journalism. Jonetta Rose Barras received first place award for her local column published twice weekly in the Washington Examiner. “Mission Accomplished” was the column that drew the association’s recognition.

The judges said that while “acknowledging her support of the mayor,” barras “ sternly critiques his unchecked and almost totalitarian style of governing in concise and [point] to point prose.”

(Washington, DC) The Department of Education issued this week a new policy clarifying compliance with intercollegiate athletics and Title IX, the law that bars sex discrimination in federally-funded education. The Department’s “Intercollegiate Athletics Policy Clarification: The Three-Part Test—Part Three” revokes the policy issued in 2005 by the Bush Administration that weakened schools’ obligations under Title IX to provide equal athletic opportunities for women.
“The former policy was inherently flawed, and would, if followed, give schools a way to skirt the law,” said Marcia D. Greenberger, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center.

“While state and local governments are laying people off in order to balance their budgets it is essential for Congress to create public and private sector jobs in communities across America,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D CA), chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, as she applauded introduction of the Local Jobs for America Act by Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller.

Today the US Supreme Court lifted the floodgates and started dismantling century-old restrictions on corporate electoral activity in the name of the free speech rights of corporations meaning if you are a corporate person (aka a CEO or corporate official), you are now free to hit the corporate ATM and spend whatever of your shareholders’ money it takes to elect the candidates of your choice,” said Anna Burger, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer and Chair of the Change to Win labor federation, condemming the United States Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission:

Washington, DC � As the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission kicks off its first public hearing today, Americans for Financial Reform calls on big banks to not only justify their reckless behavior but also explain why they are working to kill real reforms that would keep them from doing it again.

Washington, D.C. � USAction today praised President Obama�s goal of a concrete end to the war in Afghanistan, coupled with political and military benchmarks for success, but expressed profound concern over plans to commit at least 30,000 new troops to the war effort.

�We support the fact that President Obama has a set exit strategy because the previous administration did not,� said USAction Program Director Alan Charney. �We are concerned that adding 30,000 troops to the Afghan war zone will make the goal of exiting Afghanistan within three years difficult to achieve. We firmly and resolutely oppose expansion of the war in Afghanistan.�

�A public option is essential to ensuring coverage of as many uninsured Americans as possible, as well as cost containment provisions to limit increased premiums for the 85 percent of Americans who currently have health insurance.”

News for the African American Community � 10.14.2009 � First Edition

Top News

President Obama on Passage of Senate Finance Committee Health Care Bill � �A Critical Milestone�
�Today we reached a critical milestone in our effort to reform our health care system. After many months of thoughtful deliberation, the fifth and final committee responsible for health care reform has passed a proposal that has both Democratic and Republican support. This effort was made possible by the tireless efforts of Chairman Max Baucus and the other members of the Senate Finance Committee. It’s a product of vigorous debate and difficult negotiations.� VIDEO/TEXT

We support health care reform that includes a robust public option like Medicare � a component of health care reform for which we are unwavering in our support. We want to strengthen and protect Medicare for our seniors and agree that Medicare services should not be reduced as a means of paying for this health care reform bill. While the proposed provisions for a robust public option will not be implemented until 2013, as early as 2010 many positive reforms will be enacted, such as prohibiting the abusive health insurance practice of rescinding existing coverage in order to avoid future costs, improving preventive care and coverage, making prescription drugs more affordable by eliminating the gaps in coverage and increasing funding for community health centers.