AltWeeklies Wire
Inside Chicago's Shadow Budgetnew

The Daley administration commands an off-the-books kitty of taxpayer money equivalent to a sixth of the official city budget. Now we've got documents that show what they want to do with it.
Chicago Reader |
Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke |
11-02-2009 |
Politics
Lessons from California's Political and Economic Disasternew

The tax revolts that started here under Gov. Ronald Reagan and continued to sweep the country and the world under President Reagan never abated. But now that California is showing signs of being the country's first failed state, it has become a cautionary tale for that anti-government ideology.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Steven T. Jones and Tim Redmond |
10-21-2009 |
Politics
Pacific Pride Foundation is One of Many California Orgs Reeling from $52M in AIDS Funding Cutsnew
With a stroke of his pen, Governor Schwarzenegger slashed $52 million from critical AIDS services funding through the state's Office of AIDS. That shoves California back to pre-1985 levels of funding, essentially the dark ages of HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Penny Patterson |
08-10-2009 |
Politics
Mayor Daley: Mr. Big Spendernew

As the city faced a gaping budget deficit, the Daley administration closed out Chicago's oldest and fattest slush fund by spending every last cent in it -- and then some.
Chicago Reader |
Ben Joravsky |
08-10-2009 |
Politics
State Budget Debacle: California Descendingnew
Some experts predict the state budget will quickly become unbalanced again, thanks to a persistently bad economy. But that didn't stop self-congratulations and posturing by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Democratic majority leaders Karen Bass and Darrell Steinberg, and Republican minority leaders Dennis Hollingsworth and Sam Blakeslee, the so-called "big five" who worked out this latest budget.
L.A. Weekly |
Jill Stewart |
07-31-2009 |
Politics
About That Maddening Healthcare Debatenew
If the idea of thinking about the ongoing push for health-care reform gives you a headache, you are not alone. Before this thing is over, Washington will set some sort of record for expending the maximum amount of hot air for a minimum sort of result.
Boston Phoenix |
Staff |
07-23-2009 |
Commentary
How Arnold Schwarzenegger Is Using the Budget Crisis to Wreck California's Futurenew
Schwarzenegger sees himself as a man with bold, sometimes even liberal ideas who is forced to propose massive budget cuts as a result of a broken government and a deadlocked legislature. The reality the governor is attempting to hide is much different.
Random Lengths News |
Robert Cruickshank |
07-18-2009 |
Commentary
California is in the Worst Mess in its History ... Who Will Save the Golden State?new
California's economy looks like it's driving off a cliff. But we've already crashed over the railing and are now free falling towards certain doom.
Monterey County Weekly |
Jessica Lyons |
07-16-2009 |
Politics
A Few Thoughts On Health Carenew
Let's face it. National health care is no more socialist than say your local elementary school is socialist. Or for that matter no more socialist than our streets, highways, bridges, post offices, sewers or hydroelectric damns are socialist.
Random Lengths News |
James Preston Allen |
07-05-2009 |
Commentary
Smoking: Whose Choice Is It?new
Smoking is a well-known health risk. But the state should not be allowed to interfere with our free will, particularly as it pertains to the personal choice to smoke.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Ethan Cabral |
05-26-2009 |
Commentary
How Progressives Can Change San Francisco and the Worldnew
Now that we have all this energy, where should we direct it? How, on an individual level, can we support the Obama administration in making real change? We'd like to add to the discussion by highlighting some local groups, causes, and nonprofits who could use year-round help.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Molly Freedenberg |
01-21-2009 |
Commentary
Why Don't the People of D.C. Have a Voice in Congress?new
D.C. Vote's Eugene Dewitt Kinlow and Ilir Zherka traveled to Jackson June 2, to talk with Mississippi voters about the issue.
Jackson Free Press |
Adam Lynch |
06-12-2008 |
Politics