I believe President Obama’s proposed tax hikes — including the massive “bank tax” — are a prescription for economic calamity. But I do understand that the “tax the rich” frenzy finds resonance with many Americans. Throughout history, banks — and bankers, in particular — have been identified with the worst elements of societal greed. They
Continue Reading >>>

By Josh Silver, CEO This week, climate blogs including DeSmogBlog and ThinkProgress Green uncovered a leaked documentprecious to public interest advocates: a confidential memo and fundraising plan from the “conservative” Heartland Institute that lists its corporate donors, as well as the group’s strategic plans. Heartland is one of many so-called “conservative” think tanks that “promote[s] free-market solutions to social and economic
Continue Reading >>>

Last week, Republic Report inaugurated our weekly feature, Sell Out Of The Week, a series on political leaders who have sold out the public interest in favor of greedy corporate interests. A year ago this week, at the height of the Arab Spring democratic revolt across the Middle East, protesters calling for better economic conditions
Continue Reading >>>

This week’s Washington Post series on earmarks concretizes what we all essentially knew: they’re still at it. “A U.S. senator from South Dakota helped add millions to a Pentagon program his wife evaluated as a contract employee. A Washington congressman boosted the budget of an environmental group that his son ran as executive director. A
Continue Reading >>>

Today, Republic Report inaugurates a regular feature: Sell Out Of The Week. Our weekly feature will highlight lobbyists, politicians, and political operatives who have betrayed their values, and betrayed the public interest in pursuit of special interest money. Although we had a lobbyist in mind for our first week of this series, President Obama’s decision
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 >>>