MomsRising Push For Guaranteed Sick Days In Private Sector

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service

MomsRising, a grassroots advocacy group, assembled on Capitol Hill Wednesday to plead Congress support a Health Families Act that would increase the number of paid sick days workers in the private sector can earn.

Donna Norton is the Campaign Director for MomsRising and she said that their campaign is determined to raise awareness for the importance paid sick days have on the public’s health.

“Forty percent of American private sector workers have no paid sick days,” said Norton. “That means millions of parents are forced to go to work when they are sick or when their kids are sick.. and it’s a hazard for all of public health.”

Norton said organizations have begun movements pleading employers for paid sick days as well. According to Norton, MomsRising and other parents around the nation are not fighting for something impossible. This is evident in San Francisco, where an ordinance was passed mandating that employers guarantee a minimum number of paid sick days for their staff.

“We would like to have paid sick days guaranteed for all workers,” Norton said.

Education Secretary Says Future For Education Is Bright

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced Tuesday that 19 states remain as finalists for the $3.4 billion that are available in the second round of funding for the “Race to the Top” competition. 

“Race to the Top” is a competition aimed at bolstering the education system with funding, specifically targeting schools in low-income neighborhoods.

“We have 2,000 high schools that account for half of America’s drop outs [and] those 2000 high schools also produce 75% of drop outs from our nation’s minority community,” said Duncan in a speech at the National Press Club.

Duncan said that the competition is meant to increase funding to low-income schools in order to provide them with an opportunity to host well-educated and qualified teachers.

“We’re putting $4 billion dollars behind the bottom 5% of the schools,” Duncan said. “If it takes $10,000 or $15,000 or $20,000 to get a great science teacher to work in an under served community or a disadvantage community or Indian reservation, do it.”

According to Duncan, the 19 finalists in the reform are those with the boldest plans for the future. Together, with parents around the nation, teachers can change and improve educational opportunities for today’s students and future generations. 

“Every state that applied will benefit from this process of collaboratively creating a comprehensive education reform agenda,” said Duncan.

Study Shows Early Stages In Reducing Emisisons Can Begin Without Congress

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service

The World Resources Institute (WRI) recently conducted a study that revealed certain federal agencies can take the initial steps towards reducing green house gas emissions before Congress passes any form of energy reform.

President Barack Obama promised the world at the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference the United States was committed to reducing green house gas emissions 17% lower than 2005 levels by 2020. The statement, considered bold by some, demands regulatory tools in any approach, this according findings in a new study conducted by the World Resources Institute (WRI).

“The main finding in our study is that existing tools that are available to federal agencies in the US can get us part of the way to the point we need to be on green house gas emissions,” said Franz Litz, senior fellow at WRI.

The study revealed findings that would ultimately lead to the reduction of green house gas emissions without immendiate action from Congress. Experts said that the Envirnonmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation and the Department of Energy can jump start initiatives on their own.

“We say that if they act aggressively, beginning right away, that they could reduce the emissions collectively by 14% below 2005 levels by 2020, which is only three percent short of what the Obama administration committed to,” said Litz. 

Jennifer Morgan, director of WRI’s Climate and Energy Program, said that countries around the world are watching and waiting for the U.S. to make progress in regulating emissions. Experts said countries, investors and companies all want to know when and where to invest money towards .

“Other countries have been asking us…what are the other options if the U.S. does not, in the end, pass legislation, how far can they get?” Morgan said. “They want to know what role America is going to play in the clean energy race in the future.”

Senate Will Temporarily Shelve Big Energy Bill

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), alongside Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and White House energy chief Carol Browner, announced that he will introduce a slimmed-down energy package next week.

Reid said that while Kerry and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) continue to look for support for their bill from utilities and other lawmakers, he will bring forth a series of measures involving oil spill response provisions and moderate energy proposals aimed at attracting bipartisan support.

While the announcement is being viewed as a setback to many who support climate legislation, Kerry said he remains optimistic. He compared the situation to healthcare reform, a landmark bill that took years to pass.

“This is not going to take that long,” promised Kerry. “It is not going to take close to that long.”

Kerry, however, admitted that getting Republicans to support his bill could take “months.”

In the meantime, Kerry said he supports efforts in the Senate to crack down on the oil industry. 

Pelosi Has No Regrets Over Passing Climate Bill

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) discussed the importance of investing in renewable energy during her weekly news conference. Pelosi said the oil spill in the Gulf along with a push to pass energy legislation in the Senate has convinced her that passing the America’s Clean Energy and Security Act was the right thing to do.

“It was absolutely essential for us, from a national security standpoint, to reduce our dependence on foreign oil…to reduce the emissions of fossil fields into the air…and be number one on the new green technology,” she said. “We staked down a bold position, one that was a consensus within our caucus, one that received some Republican votes. We are very proud of it.”

Pelosi also slammed Senate Republicans for delaying passage of a bill to extend unemployment benefits to millions of jobless Americans.

“It shouldn’t have been so hard,” she lamented. “Republicans in the Senate have stood in the way of so many initiatives, including unemployment insurance, until now.”

The House is expcted to finally pass the bill later today.