In my latest essay for Time Magazine’s IDEAS online, I write:
Sally Ride was the first American woman in outer space. Upon news of her death last week, media outlets and celebrities alike celebrated Ride as a hero. But under federal law, Ride’s domestic partner of 27 years will not receive death benefits or Social Security payments. Is that any way to treat a hero?
Even though the majority of Americans now support the right of same-sex couples to marry and more states are embracing marriage equality, 1,138 federal benefits including Social Security and family medical leave are still denied to same-sex couples even if they’re married because of the Defense of Marriage Act enacted in 1996. And while 60% of Fortune 500 companies offer domestic partnership benefits to employees— so unmarried same or opposite-sex partners qualify for health insurance, paid family leave and more — the federal government does not.
You can read the entire piece here, get outraged, and share it.
I have an op-ed in USA Today arguing that just as successful large corporations cary significant debt ratios to invest in future business opportunity, the federal government needs debt right now to invest in the future of our nation and entire economy.
I was on Fox and Friends this past weekend, defending the role of our federal government in coming to the aid of states facing natural disasters. Kind of one of those simple, no-brainer things our federalist system was created to do but… these days, when talking about tax dollars, helps to remind ourselves why our nation was founded in the first place.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4483487/california-under-the-weather/?playlist_id=87937
We need more progressive voices not just talking about the news, but using the
news to talk about progressive worldview — the core values and principles at
the heart of our national story.
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