Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 32 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 7/13/13

Thom Hartmann on the News: Warren Resusciatates Glass Steagall, Reid Considers Nuclear

By       (Page 1 of 2 pages)   2 comments
Message Thom Hartmann
Become a Fan
  (139 fans)

Thom Hartmann here -- on the news...

You need to know this. Senator Elizabeth Warren wants to make banking boring again. 

Yesterday, the freshman senator introduced the 21st Century Glass Steagall Act, which would break up the big banks, and rebuild the wall between traditional banking and Wall Street gambling. In a statement, Senator Warren said, "Despite the progress we've made since 2008, the biggest banks continue to threaten the economy." Senators John McCain and Maria Cantwell, the pair who attempted a similar bill back in 2009, joined Senator Warren as she introduced her new legislation. Of course, taking on the "too-big-to-fail" banks won't be an easy challenge. Previous attempts to reign in bank size and power were met with huge resistance from the banksters, who railed against proposals to break up the banks. 

Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, said the so-called "universal banking system" is the "most important" model there is. He argued that banks "can't be competitive if [they] can't provide all those services to [their] customers." And, JPMorgan's CEO Jamie Dimon has even tried to make the case that "too-big-to-fail" banks are a good thing. Last year, he told the New Yorker magazine, "There are huge benefits to size" and "that's what capitalism is." But, Senator Elizabeth Warren isn't buying any of their talking points. 

Since the day she was elected, Senator Warren has worked hard to hold banksters accountable for wrecking our economy, and proposed rules to prevent it from happening again. When she introduced the 21st Century Glass Steagall Act yesterday, she said, "The four biggest banks are now 30% larger than they were just five years ago, and they have continued to engage in dangerous, high-risk practices that could once again put our economy at risk." We know the banksters won't give up their power easily, but Senator Elizabeth Warren isn't backing down without a fight.

In screwed news... On Thursday, Republicans in the House of Representatives put huge corporate farms ahead of hungry Americans. Breaking 30 years of legislative tradition, GOP lawmakers stripped the food stamp program out of the farm bill, and voted on the remainder of the legislation. The debate on the House floor became intense, as Democrats delayed the vote for hours and called Republicans callous and cruel. 

Representative Rosa DeLauro said, "A vote for this bill is a vote to end nutrition in America." Congressman Steny Hoyer said Republicans, "cannot help themselves from turning nonpartisan, bipartisan legislation into 'my way or the highway'." Despite the harsh words from Democrats, Republicans chalked it up as a win. GOP Congressman Marlin Stutzman said, "We wanted separation, and we got it. You've got to take these wins when you can get them." The House will supposedly consider food stamp legislation in a separate vote, but it faces the same Tea Party Republicans that called for huge cuts to the program to begin with. Millions of Americans are watching closely, and hoping that House Republicans won't cut off the food assistance they rely on.

In the best of the rest of the news...

More than 100 economists have signed on to a petition calling on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage. Only days ago, the Chicago Fed estimated that raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.00 an hour would boost our economy by nearly $50 billion dollars in one year. But, these 100 economists say that that raise isn't enough. They all support Congressman Alan Grayson's plan, the "Catching Up to 1968 Act of 2013," which proposes raising the minimum wage to $10.50 an hour. Representative Grayson introduced the bill this week, and issued a statement saying, "Right now, hardworking Americans are barely able to keep roofs over their heads and provide food for their children. No person working forty hours a week should be living below the poverty line."

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Well Said 2   News 2   Must Read 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Thom Hartmann Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Thom Hartmann is a Project Censored Award-winning New York Times best-selling author, and host of a nationally syndicated daily progressive talk program on the Air America Radio Network, live noon-3 PM ET. www.thomhartmann.com His most recent books are "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight," "Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights," "We The People," "What Would Jefferson Do?," "Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

S&P Blames Republicans, Mainstream Media Fails to Report It

Globalization Is Killing The Globe: Return to Local Economies

The Uncanny, Frightening Ways That Trump's America Mirrors Hitler's Germany

The Great Tax Con Job

The Truth about the Trust Fund-- Destroying Social Security to Destroy the Two Party System

The Deciding Moment: The Theft of Human Right

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend