04/27/15 UNITE FOR MARRIAGE VIGIL The U.S. Supreme Court will hear four marriage equality cases on Tuesday, April 28. These cases will likely end in a nationwide ruling on the freedom to marry. The Unite for Marriage coalition is working with local leaders across the country to organize candlelight vigils leading up to oral arguments. Campaign for Southern Equality is proud to be hosting this vigil in Asheville, and providing … Continue reading →
By Chris Fitzsimon McCrory bristles at Obama’s reminder about education cuts Governor Pat McCrory wasn’t happy that President Obama mentioned North Carolina’s woeful education funding on his visit to Charlotte this week. Obama, in town to sell his economic policies and equal pay proposal, told a town hall crowd that “this used to be a state in which the promise of education was understood at the state level.” That prompted … Continue reading →
“Social Security Works! explains how and why expanding Social Security is the solution to our nation’s retirement income crisis.” —Richard L. Trumka, president, AFL-CIO “Altman and Kingson cut through the fog of calculated confusion and outright lies abut Social Security.” —David Cay Johnston, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author “It is about time that facts, not propaganda, influence public debate about Social Security. . . . Millennials as well as aging … Continue reading →
The North Carolina Senior Democrats will convene in Clemmons at the Village Inn on May 1 & 2 for their 37th annual convention. The Friday evening dinner features Gene Nichol, former Director of the UNC Poverty Center with entertainment by Mary Tate Graham Moon, president of Insight Out and nationally known speaker. President, Matilda Phillips, a Winston Salem resident, invites interested individuals to make reservations for the Friday event. Checks … Continue reading →
GOP Presidential Candidates Discuss Slashing Social Security, Medicare if Elected This week two likely Republican presidential contenders, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and current New Jersey GovernorChris Christie, proposed plans to cut seniors’ earned benefits. Governor Bush proposed raising the retirement age and citedRonald Reagan’s policies as a model for preserving Social Security. Governor Christie proposed significant cuts to earned Social Security benefits – and to take away Medicare … Continue reading →
From Social Security Works We need to know where everyone stands. Have you felt the shift within the Democratic Party? Not long ago, in fact as recently as 2013, many Democrats including President Obama indicated a willingness to cut Social Security benefits. But things are changing quickly in Washington. Just before Congress left on their holiday recess, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joined forces with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) to introduce … Continue reading →
Journal editorial board Senior citizens, a bedrock of our country, deserve our respect and support. But local governments nationwide are facing a big challenge: meeting, with limited money, the needs of this growing population of senior taxpayers. A situation in Davie County underscores the problem. Davie must balance meeting the needs of seniors with a full plate of other items, most notably, the costs of building a new high school. … Continue reading →
Cutting income taxes, reducing dollars for core public services is a losing strategy for NC Yesterday we released analysis of the Senate’s proposal to pursue more income tax cuts. As we reflect on the positive role of taxes in our communities and economy, the continued approach of cutting income taxes and reducing the availability of dollars for core public services is a losing strategy for North Carolina. Our research finds … Continue reading →
For years, Duke Energy’s Asheville coal plant has been emitting unsafe levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a lung irritant that triggers asthma attacks and airway constrictions. The WNC Regional Air Quality Agency is proposing a new pollution permit that keeps the same inadequate requirements. Tell the Agency that Duke Energy’s Asheville coal plant must meet federal standards to protect the public’s health. We want clean air in Western North Carolina … Continue reading →
Regardless of what the CATO Institute (formerly the Koch Brothers Foundation) and the Heritage Foundation say: Social Security is Fully Affordable In 2015 Social Security was 4.94% of GDP. In 2035 it will be 6.16% of GDP (all boomers over age 71). In 2085 it will be 6.08% of GDP. Source: Social Security Actuaries 2014 Comparing Apples to Apples Many nations spend much more than the United States on … Continue reading →