FPL News Reel: January 31, 2012
The FPL News Reel is a daily round-up of the top faith and politics stories in the news. You can sign up for the email version of the News Reel here and follow it on twitter at @FPLNewsreel
Challenging Racist Campaign Rhetoric
By Rev. Jennifer Butler — Huffington Post, Opinion
Leaders of both parties agree that the dignity of work is better than living on the dole, but the GOP tactic of pitting employment against the safety net is a false choice that promotes a cruel agenda.
Is compassionate conservatism dead?
By Amy Sullivan — USA Today, Opinion
Just three years after George W. Bush left the White House, compassionate conservatives are an endangered species. In the new Tea Party era, they’ve all but disappeared from Congress.
Florida Evangelicals a different breed of voter than brethren in Iowa, South Carolina
By John Sepulvado — CNN, Belief Blog
There are signs that Florida’s evangelical voters may be more forgiving of Romney’s past social liberalism than their Iowa and South Carolina brethren – and more willing to support a Mormon candidate.
A Harder Squeeze on the Poor
By New York Times, Editorial
House Republicans have hit upon a noxious scheme to help pay for an extension of the payroll tax cut: a tax increase on millions of poor working families.
Paul Ryan budget: Democrats await new proposal
By Jennifer Haberkorn — Politico
Democrats have had success in framing the original plan — under which traditional Medicare wasn’t an option — as “the end of Medicare as we know it.” They’re hoping to do the same this year when senior voters and Medicare will be important to the presidential and down-ticket races.
Working Poor: Almost Half Of U.S. Households Live One Crisis From The Bread Line
By Alexander Eichler — Huffington Post
What does it mean to be poor? If it means living at or below the poverty line, then 15 percent of Americans — some 46 million people — qualify. But if it means living with a decent income and hardly any savings — so that one piece of bad luck, one major financial blow, could land you in serious, lasting trouble — then it’s a much larger number. In fact, it’s almost half the country.
Missouri Faith Leaders Take On Predatory Lenders
By Jim Hill — Ethicsdaily.com
A coalition of community and faith groups is currently supporting an initiative petition to be placed on Missouri’s November ballot to cap the rate of predatory lending in our state at 36 percent.
General Withdraws From West Point Talk
By Erik Eckholm — New York Times
Plans for a talk at West Point by a retired general known for his harshly anti-Muslim remarks were abruptly canceled on Monday….
Farmers, immigrants unite against E-Verify
By Manuel Valdes — Associated Press
In Olympia, it’s not too often immigrant-advocacy groups and farmers are on the same side of a proposed bill. But the unlikely allies have teamed up in this session of the Legislature to push a measure aimed at stopping more cities and counties from adopting a federal program that checks an individual’s eligibility to work in the U.S.
