tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59520322011-06-08T01:08:34.016-04:00Political Power for Young PeopleRTV Adminnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10251100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-12465626395928745382009-03-18T15:01:00.005-04:002009-03-18T15:20:37.254-04:00

President Obama has a lot on his plate these days: the ongoing economic crisis, banks run amok, health care reform efforts, two ongoing wars, and a host of other day-to-day issues that demand his attention. But, this week, he took time out to attend to a very pressing issue: March Madness.WhiteHouse.gov today posted President Obama's NCAA Tournament brackets. He obviously gave this some

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-65421621479829212602009-03-18T14:31:00.004-04:002009-03-18T14:44:40.842-04:00

I don't know about you, but reading the news lately just makes me keep thinking, 'Enough is enough!'While banks are getting billion dollar bailouts and their failed CEOs are rewarded with millions in pay and bonuses, the rest of us out here are facing job losses, unaffordable health care, and uncertainties about whether or not we can pay for college.We have to do something about it! I know it's

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-87057478091221019262009-03-18T14:10:00.002-04:002009-03-18T14:28:14.448-04:00

A.I.G. Chief Asks Bonus Recipients To Give Back Half"As the lucrative bonuses paid to employees of the American International Group fueled fresh outrage at the White House and on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, the embattled chief executive of A.I.G. said that he had asked some recipients to give at least half the money back.The chief executive, Edward M. Liddy, made the announcement during his

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-58263313280428002252009-03-17T15:43:00.005-04:002009-03-18T14:02:01.640-04:00

Our country's going through crazy hard times right now. Because of that, you've heard from us about how the government is taking action: to fix the economy, create jobs, and invest in renewable energy, higher education, and health care. But, there's still work to be done if we're going to get out of this mess. And we've got to pitch in.Millions of young people are already investing in their

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-91008013782732366662009-03-17T10:57:00.003-04:002009-03-17T11:30:21.043-04:00

Obama in Effort to Undo Bonuses at A.I.G."President Obama and his top economic advisers scrambled to calm a nationwide furor on Monday over bonuses paid at the American International Group, even as administration officials acknowledged they had known about the issue for months.One day after the economic advisers insisted that their hands had been tied by contracts requiring the payments, Mr.

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-18587094742933039462009-03-16T17:32:00.003-04:002009-03-16T17:39:38.091-04:00

Obama: AIG Bonuses an 'Outrage' to Taxpayers"President Obama today blasted the payment by insurance giant American International Group of millions of dollars in bonuses to traders who helped bring the company to the brink of ruin, calling the rewards an "outrage" that violates "fundamental values" and underscores the need for financial regulatory reform.In remarks following a meeting at the White

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-22669700958194668772009-03-13T14:20:00.002-04:002009-03-13T14:38:34.356-04:00

Happy Friday! We've got an exciting Featured Artist this week: Blu.Blu is at the forefront of progressive music scene of Los Angeles. Having dropped 3 full length projects under various disguises, Blu has fans salivating for his first solo album via Sire/Warner Brothers. Blu will be performing on March 28th at the Annual Paid Dues Festival in Los Angeles. If you’re in the LA area you can enter

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-16940838591036880912009-03-13T11:16:00.004-04:002009-03-13T14:15:25.015-04:00

Last night, Jon Stewart took CNBC host Jim Cramer to task for his network's role in the financial collapse. It's at times funny, frustrating, and disturbing. Check out the clips below and let us know what you think.Food for thought: what does it say about the current state of journalism when we rely on comedians to muckrake on our behalves?Part 1:.cc_box a:hover .cc_home{background:url('http://

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-57094751766728082512009-03-13T10:13:00.003-04:002009-03-13T10:59:51.304-04:00

Obama Defends Agenda as More Than Recession "President Obama rejected on Thursday criticism that he is trying to do too much at once by advancing ambitious plans on health care, energy and education at the same time that he is struggling with perhaps the worst economic crisis in generations.As many in both parties question his approach, Mr. Obama insisted that the only way to build a strong

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-66026006305068220862009-03-12T18:02:00.002-04:002009-03-12T18:13:03.180-04:00

Here's your chance to win a pair of tickets to the annual PAID DUES festival in Los Angeles on March 28th!The festival is brought to you by Guerilla Union and Rock the Vote artist Murs, with performances from Atmosphere, Tech N9ne, the Living Legends, Blu, B-Real, and more...Two Grand Prize winners will be chosen at random on Friday, March 20th and will be notified via e-mail. Rock the Vote is

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-57896467987548470382009-03-12T16:59:00.002-04:002009-03-12T17:26:13.822-04:00

Obama: Long-term investments cannot wait"Facing misgivings within his own party, President Barack Obama mounted a stout defense of the administration's economic blueprint Thursday, arguing that delay on health care, energy and education would make "recovery more fragile and our future less secure."The president's far-reaching plans faced skepticism from both Democrats and Republicans, as senators

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-47093736586638519432009-03-11T17:19:00.002-04:002009-03-11T18:15:50.398-04:00

Obama Signs Spending Bill as He Criticizes Earmarks"President Obama on Wednesday signed an “imperfect” spending bill packed with special projects in order to keep government running, but he vowed that it will be the last one and proposed ways to curb lawmakers from abusing the process in the future.Mr. Obama, trying to regain the high ground after withering criticism that he was betraying

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-36690409722837419032009-03-11T16:21:00.007-04:002009-03-11T16:59:22.794-04:00

Check out today's article in the New York Times on the problems millions of voters faced when they tried to cast their ballots on 11.04.08:Four million to five million voters did not cast a ballot in the 2008 presidential election because they encountered registration problems or failed to receive absentee ballots, which is roughly the same number of voters who encountered such problems in the

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-31649637339173734222009-03-10T11:53:00.002-04:002009-03-10T12:38:48.848-04:00

Obama: 'We've let our grades slip'"President Barack Obama on Tuesday embraced a new approach to public education that adds up to merit pay for the better teachers and longer days and school years for students.These proposals, which constitute the new president's vision of an education system that meets 21st century challenges, were sure to generate loud criticism, particularly from teachers'

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-81250479671614032642009-03-09T10:19:00.003-04:002009-03-09T10:32:57.567-04:00

U.S. Downturn Dragging World Into Recession"The world is falling into the first global recession since World War II as the crisis that started in the United States engulfs once-booming developing nations, confronting them with massive financial shortfalls that could turn back the clock on poverty reduction by years, the World Bank warned yesterday.The World Bank also cautioned that the cost of

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-69397230411405816512009-03-06T17:14:00.004-05:002009-03-06T17:34:51.787-05:00

It's Friday, which means it's Featured Artist time: this week, it's K'NANN!K’NAAN Warsame, whose sophomore album Troubadour was just released in February 2009, is creating his own musical path through reggae, funk, pop, soul and, above all, hip-hop. He successfully blends samples and live instrumentation for a sound that’s both rooted in traditional African melodies and the classic hip-hop

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-53579684601642653142009-03-06T10:54:00.002-05:002009-03-06T11:36:03.244-05:00

651,000 Jobs Reported Lost in February"Another 651,000 jobs were lost in February, adding to the millions of people who have been thrown out of work as the economic downturn deepens.In a stark measure of the recession’s toll, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday that the national unemployment rate surged to 8.1 percent last month, its highest in 25 years. The economy has now shed

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-445835143938967542009-03-05T14:43:00.003-05:002009-03-05T17:45:47.472-05:00

Obama starts big push for health care overhaul"President Barack Obama is signaling that he's open to compromise on overhauling the nation's health care system. Obama told participants at the end of a health summit that although he offered a plan during last year's campaign, he isn't wedded to that proposal. He told Republicans and Democrats, doctors and insurers — "I just want to figure out what

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-21145091216322822402009-03-05T12:35:00.000-05:002009-03-05T12:37:54.344-05:00

Gregory Rodriguez over at the L.A. Times wrote a column on Monday questioning the ability of the Millennial generation to cope with the country's ongoing recession:"...The millennial generation -- the computer-savvy, coddled and cocky children of the 1980s -- may find that the current financial crisis is their crucible. If they survive it.Variously dubbed "Generation Me," "Generation Y" or the "

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-69604391978413439292009-03-04T16:58:00.003-05:002009-03-04T18:01:25.898-05:00

Obama, Brown Laud Relations"British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday an "economic hurricane" has swept the world and U.S. leaders shouldn't view the crisis as limited to America's borders.In a formal address to a Joint Meeting of Congress, Brown said that protectionism ultimately makes every nation vulnerable because "a bad bank anywhere is a threat to good banks everywhere.""Treasury

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-75506043413725364322009-03-04T10:20:00.004-05:002009-03-04T10:57:28.674-05:00

A week after President Obama's address to Congress, the most memorable moment that has stuck with me from the speech was the president's forceful call to action on education. He pledged to support a quality education for every citizen, resulting in our country having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.Since then, there's been a lot of attention paid to the current

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-9302755029235317212009-03-03T17:46:00.002-05:002009-03-03T17:54:19.496-05:00

Obama Touts Investing With 'Long-Term Perspective'"President Obama, seeking to boost public confidence in his economic recovery plan and U.S. markets, suggested today that now is a good time for investors with "a long-term perspective" to buy stocks, and he vowed that the nation's financial mess "is going to get cleaned up."Speaking to reporters after an Oval Office meeting with visiting British

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-25533109366114964602009-03-02T11:40:00.002-05:002009-03-02T13:32:02.707-05:00

Dow Below 7,000 for the First Time Since 1997"Investor concerns about financial companies continued to erode the markets on Monday as the Dow Jones industrial average fell below 7,000 for first time since October 1997.The government on Monday morning agreed to provide another $30 billion to the insurance giant, American International Group, which also reported a $61.7 billion loss. On Friday,

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-239216649643597472009-02-27T15:08:00.004-05:002009-02-27T16:02:25.341-05:00

It's Friday and we've got another RTV Featured Artist for you to check out: Missy Higgins.Missy Higgins is an Australian native singer/songwriter and is extremely passionate about the environment. Missy will be a guest of Rock the Vote on a panel at this year’s Power Shift 09 Conference in Washington, D.C. Her songs have been used in Smallville, Grey’s Anatomy, the Hills, One Tree Hill, So You

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-25066021406992866632009-02-27T12:46:00.006-05:002009-02-27T15:47:34.830-05:00

And speaking of 2009 elections, there are a bunch of special congressional elections happening in the next few weeks. Live in these districts? Make sure to get out and vote!Upcoming special elections to watch:Illinois 5th - White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's former seat. The primary election will be held this Tuesday, March 3rd. The general election will be held April 7th. Visit the

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-54485231917052114312009-02-27T11:26:00.011-05:002009-02-27T12:41:39.732-05:00

Seems like the 2008 elections just happened - but 2009 contests are right around the corner, with more than 600 mayoral races in cities across the country and two huge gubernatorial contests in Virginia and New Jersey.And for our readers in Los Angeles, it's time to get to the polls next week! On Tuesday, March 3rd, voters in Los Angeles will go to the polls citywide. Will you get out and vote?

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-43078471805926060212009-02-27T11:00:00.004-05:002009-02-27T11:11:01.344-05:00

Economy suffering 'maximum recession stress'"The economy contracted at a staggering 6.2 percent pace at the end of 2008, the worst showing in a quarter-century, as consumers and businesses ratcheted back spending, plunging the country deeper into recession.The Commerce Department report released Friday showed the economy sinking much faster than the 3.8 percent annualized drop for the

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-56603603408717428222009-02-26T13:39:00.007-05:002009-02-26T13:59:42.507-05:00

We're excited to announce the launch of Rock the Vote Radio, a new program bringing you the latest news and politics with commentary from a rotating panel of young adults.In a weekly roundtable discussion, our panelists will tackle the economy, foreign affairs, social issues, the news media, and more. For our first show, Rock the Vote Radio commentators Marcus Skelton, Andrew Thomaides, Jessica

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-26260527592490628942009-02-26T13:13:00.002-05:002009-02-26T13:24:28.764-05:00

Obama Plans Major Shifts in Spending"President Obama’s new budget blueprint estimates a stunning deficit of $1.75 trillion for the current fiscal year, which began five months ago, then lays out a wrenching change of course as he seeks to finance his own priorities while stanching the flow of red ink.By redirecting enormous streams of deficit spending toward programs like health care, education

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-61579928096830463252009-02-25T12:50:00.015-05:002009-02-25T17:02:30.785-05:00

Last night, Barack Obama delivered his first remarks as President to a joint session of Congress. In a State of the Union-style address, the President laid out his plans on a series of major issues, primarily focused on the economy - energy, jobs, education, health care, and more. President Obama highlighted several actions already taken by Congress this year - passage of the economic recovery

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-51132138555382083592009-02-25T11:38:00.003-05:002009-02-25T11:58:08.323-05:00

Obama Vows, ‘We Will Rebuild’ and ‘Recover’"President Obama urged the nation on Tuesday to see the economic crisis as reason to raise its ambitions, calling for expensive new efforts to address energy, health care and education even as he warned that government bailouts have not come to an end.In his first address to a joint session of Congress, Mr. Obama mixed an acknowledgment of the depth of

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-83496049053987667682009-02-24T13:00:00.016-05:002009-02-24T14:37:07.477-05:00

You know how most years the President gives a State of the Union speech? Every member of Congress is there, plus all the Supreme Court justices and cabinet secretaries (except one - he or she gets to hide out somewhere secret. Just in case.)Well, usually there's no State of the Union in an inauguration year - which makes sense, because it's hard to fully comment of the state of the union just a

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-34758997555223376292009-02-24T09:15:00.003-05:002009-02-24T09:34:18.223-05:00

Obama pitching a broad economic case"Barreling ahead on a mammoth agenda, Barack Obama is ready to offer a detailed sketch of the first year of his presidency, casting the nation's bleeding economy as a tangle of tough, neglected problems.In a prime-time speech from the House of Representatives, Obama will make his case Tuesday that much more has to be done to turn around the economy — a message

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-77247239411145787252009-02-23T11:42:00.004-05:002009-02-23T12:31:54.716-05:00

If you're anything like me, you've had a hard time wrapping your mind around the current Wall Street/credit crunch mess. Sub-prime mortgages? Leveraging? Huh?Which is why I've got to recommend this video: The Crisis of Credit Visualized. Compiled as part of his thesis work at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, Jonathan Jarvis uses graphics and plain talk to explain the

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-26034721045249170862009-02-23T10:13:00.003-05:002009-02-23T10:35:17.835-05:00

Governors, Obama to discuss stimulus plan"After an evening of black tie grandeur at the White House, governors planned to return Monday morning for a business meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss how to spend the economic stimulus money soon flowing to their states.Concluding a three-day winter meeting of the National Governors Association devoted largely to a discussion of the stimulus

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-43170599720710067042009-02-20T12:10:00.001-05:002009-02-20T12:14:30.066-05:00

Rock the Vote artists Strong Army Steady have released a video in honor of Black History Month called "Black History." The video was directed by the Image Addikts.Check it out:

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-36766418061737685592009-02-20T11:16:00.002-05:002009-02-20T12:05:10.699-05:00

Obama: Stimulus money must be spent wisely"Invoking his own name-and-shame policy, President Barack Obama warned the nation's mayors Friday that he will "call them out" if they waste the money from his massive economic stimulus plan."Clinton Addresses North Korea Succession"When Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned Thursday that a succession battle in North Korea could complicate

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-70550903242927193532009-02-19T11:32:00.007-05:002009-02-19T13:28:54.409-05:00

Our friends at Netroots Nation have passed along a special offer for students interested in attending their 2009 conference: for just $50, you can participate in four days of insightful panels, training sessions, and networking opportunities at the netroots event of the year.The 2009 Netroots Nation Conference will be held in Pittsburgh, PA on August 13-16, 2009.The fourth annual gathering of the

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-57947148329817830822009-02-19T10:55:00.002-05:002009-02-19T11:16:18.825-05:00

Obama Hoping to Reinforce U.S. Trade Relationship With Canada"President Barack Obama will leave today for Canada -- his first foreign trip as president -- where he is expected to discuss trade and the environment with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.A top Obama aide said this week that the president's main message to Harper will be to reassure Canadians that the United States intends to maintain a

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-68989778879005733662009-02-18T16:37:00.002-05:002009-02-18T16:51:16.634-05:00

Obama unveils $75B mortgage relief plan"Seeking to tackle “a crisis unlike any we’ve ever known,” President Barack Obama unveiled an ambitious $75 billion plan Wednesday to keep as many as 9 million Americans from losing their homes to foreclosure.Announcing the plan in Arizona — a state especially hard hit by the housing crunch — Obama said that turning around the battered economy requires

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-79932642236765553902009-02-17T15:36:00.001-05:002009-02-17T15:38:46.894-05:00

President Obama just signed into law the economic recovery plan, the biggest and boldest investment in America’s economy we’ve seen in 40 years.Seriously, this is a big deal. Our economy is in freefall – we lost 3.6 million jobs in the past year – and a major fix is needed, now.President Obama’s plan will inject billions of dollars into the economy, a move leading economists say is desperately

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-79545825956683242332009-02-17T11:52:00.005-05:002009-02-17T13:31:53.446-05:00

Thomas Friedman had a great op-ed this weekend in the New York Times: "Yes, They Could. So They Did." In it, he recounts his experience meeting two young American women in New Delhi that are working to create solutions to the global warming crisis through tenacity and innovation.Friedman encountered Caroline Howe and Alexis Ringwald when they offered to drive him around New Dehli in a plug-in

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-40391260169695693362009-02-17T10:41:00.003-05:002009-02-17T11:38:21.844-05:00

Obama poised to sign stimulus into law"President Barack Obama is ready to sign into law the most sweeping economic package in decades, a rescue plan meant to reinvigorate job creation, consumer spending and public optimism. Add the bill to an ever-growing deficit.Capping the biggest victory of his month-old administration, Obama will sign the economic legislation Tuesday in Denver."Calif. budget

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-20360880600254077142009-02-13T10:51:00.004-05:002009-02-13T11:00:32.363-05:00

Rock the Vote and Jason Mraz are partnering up to bring you this new Limited Edition “Fond Of Change” Tee just in time for President’s Day! Pre-order yours now before they sell out.Keeping green in mind, this is a super soft 100% Organic Cotton Tee printed with Waterbased inks and environmentally friendly solvents. And, best of all, 50% of proceeds will go directly to Rock the Vote to help

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-47336704323261905252009-02-13T10:30:00.000-05:002009-02-13T11:27:12.673-05:00

We're excited to announce our latest Featured Artist, Jason Mraz! Check out his Featured Artist profile and take a listen to some of the tracks from Jason's latest hit release, "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things." These include: "Make It Mine," "I'm Yours," and "Lucky," featuring Colbie Caillat.

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-48457751225330208822009-02-13T10:25:00.001-05:002009-02-13T12:32:12.627-05:00

Congress readies final vote on stimulus bill"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Friday that Congress is nearly finished with a massive, $790 billion economic stimulus plan giving President Barack Obama a big victory — but not everything he wanted.The Nevada Democrat said as debate resumed that the Senate would likely vote on the package of spending and tax cuts later in the day and that both

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-79983991387468099652009-02-12T15:45:00.005-05:002009-02-12T17:01:48.002-05:00

Today marks the 200th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's birth. To celebrate the occasion, we're bringing you ten fascinating facts on Abraham Lincoln, compiled by MSN/Encarta:10. Lincoln was the first president to be assassinatedOn April 14, 1865, in Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., actor John Wilkes Booth shot United States president Abraham Lincoln in the head. The president died

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-51431441602934932582009-02-12T14:45:00.004-05:002009-02-12T15:30:46.743-05:00

Obama urges Americans to follow Lincoln"President Barack Obama called on Americans Thursday to follow Abraham Lincoln's example of showing generosity to political opponents and valuing national unity — above all else.At a ceremony in the stately Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol marking the 16th president's 200th birthday, Obama said he felt "a special gratitude" to the historical giant, who in many

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-357243648204718862009-02-12T13:56:00.004-05:002009-02-12T15:07:02.823-05:00

Check out an interesting open letter, from over at the Huffington Post, by Negar Razavi, a young Iranian-American, to the leaders of the United States and Iran."I write to you as an Iranian, as an American, as a young person, and most importantly, as an advocate for dialogue between Iran and the United States...."You have both publicly stated your support for U.S.-Iran dialogue, and your

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-9891624283590546842009-02-11T13:35:00.002-05:002009-02-11T13:44:13.132-05:00

Agreement in Congress Appears Near on Stimulus"Congressional negotiators appeared on Wednesday to be near an agreement on an economic stimulus plan of just under $800 billion, and the pace of the talks suggested that the final legislation could be passed by the Senate and House and on President Obama’s desk by the end of the week."Top bankers face grilling by dubious Congress"Eight leaders of the

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-68181435622888086262009-02-10T16:08:00.001-05:002009-02-10T17:38:14.959-05:00

The U.S. Senate just passed their version of the economic recovery plan by a vote of 61-37.We need a plan to fix our economy – now – and this vote is an important step forward. Unfortunately, the Senate bill is a mixed bag. It cuts funding from state education and health care programs, and would save or create 500,000 fewer jobs than the House bill.A timid plan isn't what we need – the latest

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-40633916748853923682009-02-10T13:26:00.010-05:002009-02-10T17:44:01.171-05:00

You probably know someone that's recently lost a job. Or maybe you're the one looking for work. Either way, you should check out New American Media's article "Gen Y's Jobless Aren't Crying in Their Martinis, They're Networking Online," and read about some of the ways other young people are coping with the unemployment crisis.Those looking to network, find job hunting tips, and develop new skills

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-44394326169358231312009-02-10T12:58:00.003-05:002009-02-10T13:16:52.762-05:00

Senate passes $838 billion stimulus bill"President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan has passed the Senate and is on its way to difficult House-Senate negotiations.Just three Republicans helped pass the plan on a 61-37 vote and they're already signaling they'll play hardball to preserve more than $108 billion in spending cuts made last week in Senate dealmaking. Obama wants to restore cuts in

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-50784430634684246802009-02-09T15:37:00.003-05:002009-02-09T15:56:43.402-05:00

The latest news on the economic recovery plan that we've been covering here is that the Senate will vote on it tomorrow afternoon.Before that happens, though, President Obama is taking his case to the people for the strongest plan possible - earlier today he was at a town hall meeting in Elkhart, IN. Tonight, he's holding his first White House press conference.Make sure to tune in and check out

Kat Barrnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-76340246091306792672009-02-09T13:00:00.003-05:002009-02-09T17:10:43.284-05:00

Economic stimulus bill moves to Senate vote"The U.S. Senate lined up to advance the $827 billion economic stimulus legislation backed by the White House on Monday, and the Democratic leader vowed to deliver a bill to President Barack Obama's desk within days."Obama Stumps for Stimulus in a City Hit Hard by Downturn"President Obama took his case for an $800 billion economic recovery package to one

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-52202393322653701592009-02-06T17:35:00.000-05:002009-02-06T17:38:13.555-05:00

Looking for a quick and easy way to stay up-to-date on the latest Congressional happenings? Check out Tweet Congress, which let's you track the tweets from all of the Senators and Representatives using Twitter.And there's a lot of action to be found. Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill has been updating nonstop on the Senate negotiations over the economic recovery package. And freshman

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-33305002054977461272009-02-06T17:28:00.003-05:002009-02-06T17:33:19.766-05:00

Jobless rate hits 7.6 percent as layoffs mount"Recession-battered employers eliminated 598,000 jobs in January, the most since the end of 1974, and catapulted the unemployment rate to 7.6 percent.The grim figures were further proof that the nation's job climate is deteriorating at an alarming clip with no end in sight."Panel to Advise Obama on Economy"Saying that he wanted to leave no stone

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-32358643006861465982009-02-06T16:00:00.000-05:002009-02-06T17:26:00.765-05:00

Another sucker punch on the job front today: according to new Labor Department estimates, 598,000 jobs were lost in January. Just in January! That's the worst job loss in one month since 1974. The unemployment rate is now up to 7.6%, with no sign of decreasing any time soon.As bad as these numbers are, they just confirm what we've known for a long time: the economy sucks. We all have friends that

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-45407962111383698302009-02-06T13:00:00.002-05:002009-02-06T15:19:40.969-05:00

So, President Obama just announced a $500,000 pay cap for executives at companies being propped up by taxpayer (a.k.a., your) money from last fall's bailout bill.Makes sense to hold companies to certain reasonable standards when its public money that they're spending, right?Apparently they disagree. Check out some of the Wall Street reaction to Obama's order:“That is pretty draconian — $500,000

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-34719290649510226342009-02-05T14:51:00.003-05:002009-02-05T15:09:48.557-05:00

Centrists in Senate Push to Cut Billions From Stimulus"Anxious over the ballooning size of the proposed economic stimulus package, now at more than $900 billion, lawmakers in both parties were working Thursday on a last-minute plan to strip tens of billions of dollars from the bill.Meanwhile, President Obama was said to be considering an address to the nation on Monday to promote the package.The

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-54810055423128148052009-02-05T10:24:00.003-05:002009-02-05T10:34:37.452-05:00

Today is the National Teach-In on Global Warming, with events happening in cities and on campuses across the country. Find an event near you.The Teach-In's not a one-day event only, though - organizers are holding weekly teach-ins and mobilizing around a 100 days of action to stop global warming. Check out the call schedule and the experts involved, from Jessy Tolkan and Billy Parish of the

Kat Barrnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-11895341384695685352009-02-04T16:58:00.000-05:002009-02-04T16:58:53.983-05:00

In the past 24 hours, over 3,600 of you have emailed or called your Senators to demand immediate action to save our failing economy.From what I hear, some in the Senate are starting to get the message we're sick and tired of watching our jobs disappear.Problem is, I also hear that opponents of many of the most important programs - for green jobs, student aid, and job creation - are flooding the

Kat Barrnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-70280894053099619532009-02-04T16:35:00.010-05:002009-02-04T17:51:38.442-05:00

Check out Newsweek's new series The District, a hilarious (and yet somehow informative) take-off on The City and The Hills. Complete with overly earnest voice-overs, awkward pauses, and a perfect pop soundtrack, Barack, Joe, and Michelle could give Whitney, Jay, and Olivia a run for their money any time.Take a look:

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-64987660560334094242009-02-04T16:15:00.002-05:002009-02-04T16:34:04.787-05:00

Obama Calls for ‘Common Sense’ on Executive Pay"President Obama announced on Wednesday a salary cap of $500,000 for top executives at companies that receive the largest amounts of money under the $700 billion federal bailout, calling the step an expression not only of fairness but of “basic common sense.”“We all need to take responsibility,” the president said, in discussing the compensation

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-180335832775662092009-02-03T17:49:00.003-05:002009-02-03T17:56:13.190-05:00

Daschle withdraws as health secretary nominee"Former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle on Tuesday withdrew his nomination to oversee the Health and Human Services Department, citing controversies over his taxes and his ties to the health care industry — and telling NBC News that a New York Times editorial also played a role.His withdrawal came just a few hours after another Obama nominee,

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-4028282921440904962009-02-02T18:35:00.003-05:002009-02-02T18:38:07.685-05:00

Check out this cool video from YES! , a nonprofit founded by two teenagers that works with young changemakers worldwide. The video, "This is Our Time: Young Voices from the Inauguration," was shot last week and features dozens of young people talking about what the moment means to them and the need to take advantage of this opportunity to mobilize around the change we want to see in the world.

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-60042564634740278962009-02-02T18:20:00.001-05:002009-02-02T18:32:23.458-05:00

Lost in the attention surrounding President Obama's $825 billion economic recovery package, another piece of a legislation was introduced last week that you should be aware of: the Serve America Act.The bill is designed to expand national volunteer opportunities dramatically - from the current level of 75,000 to 250,000 positions. It also encourages people to engage in a lifetime of service, with

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-3111281156426157352009-02-02T17:27:00.002-05:002009-02-02T17:50:36.468-05:00

Obama: Differences shouldn't delay stimulus"President Barack Obama said Monday that "very modest differences" over a massive package to revive the economy should not delay its swift passage, a fresh appeal to Congress as the nation dealt with another dose of dire financial news.Obama teamed up with Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, the Republican vice chairman of the National Governors Association, as he

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-67343769905477641882009-01-30T11:00:00.003-05:002009-01-30T11:02:07.534-05:00

I posted yesterday on the economic stimulus Congress is debating right now; today I saw a couple great articles - from The Nation and Future Majority - about job training, education, green jobs, and young people - all of which are big parts of the bill - that I wanted to pass along.Tons of young people are out of jobs and, as both articles talk about, that's not for lack of want or need - it's a

Kat Barrnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-43742070340776199852009-01-30T10:37:00.003-05:002009-01-30T11:08:35.140-05:00

Economy shrank at fastest clip since '82"The economy shrank at a 3.8 percent pace at the end of 2008, the worst showing in a quarter-century, as the deepening recession forced consumers and businesses to throttle back spending.Although the initial result was better than economists expected, the figure is likely to be revised even lower in the months ahead and some believe the economy is

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-55115768642560954642009-01-30T09:00:00.000-05:002009-01-30T10:20:00.403-05:00

We're always keeping our ear to the ground for the best and brightest youth activists from across the country - which is why you need to check out this profile in The Nation on Alex Aronson, the youth vote director for the Oregon Bus Project.The Bus Project, one of a network of state-based groups called the Bus Federation, is committed to getting young people involved in the political process

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-48170361294853392802009-01-29T17:08:00.007-05:002009-01-29T19:03:22.444-05:00

Obama Signs First Piece of Legislation Into Law"President Obama this morning signed a law that expands the time frame in which workers can sue for discrimination they have experienced based on gender, race, national origin or religion.The legislation -- the first Obama has signed since becoming president nine days ago -- makes clear that workers may bring a lawsuit for up to six months after they

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-60786260168980342992009-01-29T14:00:00.000-05:002009-01-29T14:09:13.993-05:00

Congress and the new White House are getting to work on our country's critical issues - and so are we. They're moving fast - we've already seen action on children's health care and anti-discrimination laws - and we're right in the thick of it.As a start, Rock the Vote is diving into the debate over how to fix our failing economy (see more below); over the next few months, we'll be taking action

Kat Barrnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-66370224725423364502009-01-28T15:32:00.012-05:002009-01-29T11:01:30.334-05:00

Hot off their performance at RTV's Inauguration bash on January 20th, Michael Franti & Spearhead is RTV's latest featured artist.Check out their Featured Artist profile and listen to their latest track, a tribute to the new president - "Barack Obama."

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-43720294131619658242009-01-28T15:09:00.002-05:002009-01-28T15:30:24.972-05:00

Stimulus Plan Would Provide Flood of Aid to Education"The economic stimulus plan that Congress has scheduled for a vote on Wednesday would shower the nation’s school districts, child care centers and university campuses with $150 billion in new federal spending, a vast two-year investment that would more than double the Department of Education’s current budget.The proposed emergency expenditures

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-15408792894011171212009-01-27T18:30:00.001-05:002009-01-27T19:24:21.772-05:00

You may have heard about the arguments going back and forth about whether or not President Obama gets to keep his BlackBerry and e-mail while president. Seems crazy in 2009 to cut the President off from the forms of communication that we're all so accustomed to, but both Clinton and Bush did it - it's standard.Obama objected, though. After expressing a desire to keep his beloved smartphone and

francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736899176183230775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-51817114731820669982009-01-27T17:30:00.003-05:002009-01-27T17:59:43.962-05:00

Obama Visits Capitol to Press Republicans on Stimulus Plan"President Obama spent more than two hours in closed-door meetings with Congressional Republicans on Tuesday afternoon, outlining his economic stimulus plan and fielding an array of critical questions, before he urged legislators to “put politics aside and do the American people’s business right now.”“The statistics every day underscore

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-13718196666116686782009-01-27T16:00:00.001-05:002009-01-27T16:28:45.210-05:00

Hi RTV Readers!I'm Francesca, and I’ve just joined the RTV team as a blogger. I’m a public relations/public policy senior at Boston University, and I’m studying in D.C. for the semester. I’ve worked for political campaigns, government offices, non-profit organizations, and even in the oldest public high school in the country. I read the New York Times and Us Weekly - I enjoy them equally. And,

francescahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00736899176183230775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-37389880386225139182009-01-27T12:12:00.008-05:002009-01-28T17:13:11.411-05:00

Last week, with thousands of young people from here in D.C. and visiting from around the country, Rock the Vote celebrated the year of the young voter and the inauguration of our 44th president with two hot shows at the 9:30 Club.On Monday, Rock the Vote joined with several artists that played an integral role in RTV's 2008 campaign for the hottest show in town - Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow,

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-86676231314217105192009-01-27T11:49:00.001-05:002009-01-27T11:54:24.727-05:00

The Monday before inauguration, RTV and Rolling Stone partnered up for a pre-Inauguration reception at the Gibson Guitar Showroom in D.C. to celebrate the artists and celebrities who supported Rock the Vote this year and contributed to the record turnout among young voters on Election Day.Rock the Vote Executive Director, Heather Smith, kicked off the party with a recap of RTV's 2008 successes,

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-30700819638263657892009-01-26T15:29:00.003-05:002009-01-26T15:45:29.563-05:00

Obama moves to let states cap car emissions"Plunging into energy and climate change policies, President Barack Obama on Monday moved to give states a freer hand in curbing greenhouse gas emissions from cars, and to enact tighter fuel-efficiency standards that could remake the auto industry.Obama stressed that his goal is to work with carmakers on key administration goals: energy independence and

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-52434861378911748012009-01-23T17:17:00.003-05:002009-01-23T18:16:57.496-05:00

Paterson Announces Choice of Gillibrand for Senate Seat"Representative Kirsten E. Gillibrand, a little-known 42-year-old upstate congresswoman selected to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the United States Senate, said Friday afternoon that she would focus on passing legislation that would provide financial relief and create jobs for New Yorkers."Obama sees stimulus package by

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-62658471648505103002009-01-23T12:35:00.010-05:002009-01-26T18:03:13.140-05:00

Check out this new UCLA survey, which confirms something we've known for a long time: young people are more politically involved today than at any point in the last several decades.With the 2008 election in full swing, 89.5% of incoming college freshman reported frequently or occasionally discussing politics within the last year. More students also said that keeping up to date with political

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-74710877257933525992009-01-22T17:17:00.002-05:002009-01-22T18:15:12.552-05:00

Obama Orders Secret Prisons and Detention Camps Closed"Saying that “our ideals give us the strength and moral high ground” to combat terrorism, President Obama signed executive orders Thursday ending the Central Intelligence Agency’s secret overseas prisons, banning coercive interrogation methods and closing the Guantánamo Bay detention camp within a year."Committee approves Geithner for

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-22276142533056369472009-01-21T16:03:00.005-05:002009-01-23T10:42:33.141-05:00

Attention undergrads! Have you helped run a campaign for student government at your school? Are you an activist in your community or for a particular cause? Have you covered politics for a student newspaper, blog, or radio/TV/internet show? Did you work or volunteer in a 2008 campaign? You could win a $10,000 scholarship for grad school!Our friends over at the Graduate School of Political

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-9119325333377507162009-01-21T15:39:00.003-05:002009-01-21T15:53:33.794-05:00

Obama's Agenda: the Middle East, Economy and Ethics"President Obama launched immediately into the grim reality of his new job today, placing calls to the leaders of Middle Eastern countries and preparing for his first presidential briefings on the economy and Iraq this afternoon.He later signed a series of executive orders to implement new ethics rules for his administration in keeping with a

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-17983013663464481632009-01-21T14:53:00.010-05:002009-01-23T10:27:14.112-05:00

Millions of people across the country tuned in Tuesday to see Barack Obama become our new President and hear what he had to say.The President's inaugural speech is often one of the most anticipated moments of the swearing-in ceremony. Speeches over the years have produced some of the most famous quotes in our history:"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." - Franklin Delano Roosevelt,

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-74113957801048773922009-01-21T14:22:00.006-05:002009-01-21T16:25:13.323-05:00

On Monday morning, the Rock the Vote staff kicked off the National Day of Service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by building disaster recovery kits at N Street Village, a women's shelter here in D.C., with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. The recovery kits included practical essentials for victims of fires and natural disasters, like first aid kits, paper and pens, and candles.Also in attendance?

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-65640349968358644372009-01-21T14:06:00.008-05:002009-01-21T16:04:54.981-05:00

The 44th President of the United States of America: Barack Obama.Yesterday, almost 2 million people descended on Washington, D.C. to witness the historic Inauguration of our country's first African-American president. In the coming days, we'll bring you full coverage of Inauguration Weekend, including the ceremony itself and all of RTV's events. Stay tuned!

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-75731039307651471252009-01-18T20:39:00.004-05:002009-01-18T22:38:36.702-05:00

A few weeks back we sent a brief survey out to Rock the Vote members to get your input on our 2009 plans. If you haven't responded yet you can still contribute your thoughts.We've received thousands of responses so far and the results were both surprising and encouraging. When broadly asked what areas you were interested in, more than half (58%) said they wanted to get involved in issue advocacy.

Chris Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07870792048487734037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-85955773563164469452009-01-16T16:44:00.002-05:002009-01-16T17:01:52.114-05:00

Under 30? Looking for a job? You're not alone"With the unemployment rate skyrocketing, employees under 30 have the most reason for worry. Joblessness is far higher among younger people than for those later in their careers.For workers under 29, the unemployment rate jumped to more than 11 percent in December, compared with under 9 percent a year ago, according to Labor Department figures. That is

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-50558217737941162752009-01-15T17:57:00.005-05:002009-01-21T16:00:41.069-05:00

Like we mentioned last month, Change.gov, the official website of the President-elect's transition team, has been soliciting feedback on the issues the new Administration should tackle first. Visitors to the site's Citizen's Briefing Book can read people's ideas and "vote up" or "vote down" specific proposals.So we wanted to draw your attention to a matter that is very near and dear to Rock the

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-83080558013082363662009-01-15T17:25:00.002-05:002009-01-15T17:48:02.766-05:00

Democrats in House Unveil $825 Billion Stimulus Bill"House Democrats on Thursday unveiled an $825 billion economic recovery package, an expansive combination of spending and tax cuts that aims to put millions of unemployed Americans back to work and begin fulfilling President-elect Barack Obama’s ambitious agenda.The package, developed by Congressional Democrats in partnership with Mr. Obama,

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-75939521721169018602009-01-14T17:37:00.004-05:002009-01-14T18:05:25.545-05:00

We're excited to announce the RTV and ck one Inaugural Party on Tuesday, January 20th at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. Doors open at 8:00PM, and the show kicks off at 9:00PM.We've got an absolutely fantastic lineup planned for Tuesday night, including performances by:Michael Franti and SpearheadTalib KweliThe Dresden DollsThe Honey Brothers featuring Adrian Grenier, Andrew Vladeck, Ari Gold,

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-86411582597290576972009-01-14T17:08:00.003-05:002009-01-14T17:27:16.562-05:00

House votes to expand health care for children"The House voted Wednesday to expand government-sponsored health care to 4 million more children of working families, making a down payment on President-elect Obama's promise to provide universal health care to all Americans who want it.The bill, passed by an overwhelming 289 to 139 vote, would increase federal taxes on cigarettes by 61 cents to a

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-14241706602595368832009-01-13T16:57:00.005-05:002009-01-13T17:24:43.346-05:00

We're excited to announce an addition to our already stellar Inauguration line-up: an intimate Inaugural after party with Adrian Grenier and his band, the Honey Brothers, at the Red & the Black in Washington, D.C. Doors open at 8:00PM on Tuesday, January 20th, and the show kicks off at midnight.Tickets are only $15! Get yours here. Password: VOTEFor a full listing of events, visit our

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-66591305626120740232009-01-13T12:59:00.004-05:002009-01-13T17:21:47.161-05:00

Passionate for the planet? Join our friends at the Energy Action Coalition for the PowerShift '09 conference, a national youth summit committed to solving the climate crisis now. It's being held in Washington, D.C. from February 27th to March 2nd.Conference attendees will:Push the new Administration and Congress to pass bold, comprehensive, and just national climate legislation before entering

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-45700177316292415802009-01-13T10:39:00.002-05:002009-01-13T11:41:02.926-05:00

Clinton vows 'smart power' as top diplomat"Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton vowed Tuesday to renew U.S. leadership through a "smart power" mix of diplomacy and defense.Addressing her Senate confirmation hearing, Clinton also promised to push for stronger U.S. alliances around the globe."We must build a world with more partners and fewer adversaries," said the woman that

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-56576913359088828192009-01-12T12:44:00.002-05:002009-01-12T13:52:22.719-05:00

Bush Asks Congress to Release Remaining $350B in Bailout Money"At the request of President-elect Barack Obama, the Bush administration asked Congress today to release the second half of the $700 billion financial rescue package, the White House said."In Final News Conference, Bush Strikes Elegiac Tone"A sentimental and occasionally defiant President Bush held his final news conference on Monday,

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952032.post-11421393755033021352009-01-09T18:09:00.007-05:002009-01-09T22:20:22.840-05:00

Today, Rock the Vote unveiled the first of our 2009 Inauguration festivities - check them out now here, and keep checking back all through next week for the latest.We have a wide range of activities planned, from National Day of Service activities in communities across the country to an all-ages concert with Beastie Boys and Sheryl Crow at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. (tix go on sale 10 a.m.

Justinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090472904397871406noreply@blogger.com1