We know from a front-page New York Times story that Mitt Romney thinks the world of for-profit colleges, especially one school whose executives have contributed money to the Romney campaign and Super PAC. But a key for-profit college trade group, APSCU, probably just ensured it will also enjoy warm relations in the event of a
Continue Reading >>>

Last August, two teenagers handling a large grain auger had their legs severed while working at the Zaloudek Grain Co. in Oklahoma. The Department of Labor has proposed rules that might have prevented this tragedy. The rules, designed to curb dangerous child labor in agriculture, were finally unveiled after a long delay. The labor changes
Continue Reading >>>

Wealthy private equity managers pay a lower tax rate than many middle income Americans because of the “carried interest” tax loophole. With the revelation that Mitt Romney, through his investments in private equity firm Bain Capital, receives a windfall profit every year that benefits from the loophole, Wall Street lobbyists are stepping up the campaign
Continue Reading >>>

Most child labor was prohibited in 1938, but there are a few exceptions for certain industries where children are still allowed to work. One of the biggest loopholes is the agricultural industry. The Department of Labor recently issued new proposed regulations restricting child labor on farms, regulations which are drawing intense opposition from politicians and
Continue Reading >>>

Hi, everyone. I’m new to blogging, so this is an exciting experiment for me. I’ll be posting more serious pieces next week. But, for now, I just want to say how honored I am to join Nick Penniman, Josh Silver, and the gang at United Republic in the vital effort to effect real reform in Washington. It is a
Continue Reading >>>

Though President Obama lashed out at the influence of lobbyists in his State to the Union address, a current advisor to his campaign and administration, former White House communication director Anita Dunn, runs one of fastest growing corporate “public affairs” firms in Washington DC. Dunn left her post as a public servant in late 2009
Continue Reading >>>

  The Washington Post Company seems on the verge of turning its flagship newspaper into a brochure for the company’s controversial, taxpayer-funded for-profit college division, Kaplan. The latest participant in this process is one of the world’s most accomplished men, Bill Gates. At a time when veterans groups, state attorneys general, and others are seeking reforms
Continue Reading >>>

In a classic case of a special interest carving out an exemption for itself in the law, large online retailers like Amazon.com have for years avoided charging the same state sales taxes that brick-and-mortar stores are required to levy. This “Amazon Loophole” has denied states much-needed revenue. As one example, in 2011 alone, Wisconsin lost
Continue Reading >>>