Paul Krugman: Republicans don't understand economics of the shutdown

Rebels Without a Clue

By PAUL KRUGMAN

Published: September 29, 2013 1085 Comments

This may be the way the world ends — not with a bang but with a temper tantrum.

O.K., a temporary government shutdown — which became almost inevitable after Sunday’s House vote to provide government funding only on unacceptable conditions — wouldn’t be the end of the world. But a U.S. government default, which will happen unless Congress raises the debt ceiling soon, might cause financial catastrophe. Unfortunately, many Republicans either don’t understand this or don’t care.

Let’s talk first about the economics.

After the government shutdowns of 1995 and 1996 many observers READ MORE

GET COVERED ILLINOIS! CNN: good article on Obamacare Open Enrollment

Thanks to all who attended the Women and Minorities Outreach event on Obamacare September 23rd about the upcoming Open Enrollment starting Oct 1.

Giovanni Gomez of the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace Team from Governor Quinn's Office speaks to the people attending the September 23 event.

Watch for Governor Quinn's "Get Covered Illinois" roll-out over the next week as well.

Obamacare open enrollment: Here's everything you need to know

By Jen Christensen, CNN

updated 6:27 PM EDT, Thu September 26, 2013

(CNN) -- Amy Braun-Gross is counting the hours until October 1.

It's not her birthday nor her anniversary.

October 1 is the day that marks the first time ever she will be allowed to buy health insurance.

Like more than 48 million other Americans, the Wisconsin stay-at-home mom does not have insurance to pay for doctor bills if she gets sick. It's particularly disconcerting when she thinks about her husband, Chris, who runs a tree-cutting business. Being an arborist is physically demanding. He has fallen out of trees.

Oct. 1 -- March 31 open enrollment for health insurance marketplaces. 

Dec. 14 -- buy your plan through the exchange by this date if you want it to start by January 1, 2014 

Jan. 1, 2014 -- all legal residents and U.S. citizens must have qualifying health coverage 

Oct. 15- Dec. 7, 2014 --the next Open Enrollment Period for the marketplaces.

48 million Americans without health insurance

"You know something as simple as a sprained ankle, none of that is covered right now, none of it," Braun-Gross said. "To add the cost of that to the debt we already have, we'd basically be up a creek."

Braun-Gross and her husband have tried to get insurance before, but they don't qualify. They both work hard, and they're college educated. But because of some pre-existing conditions, including Braun-Gross' weight, insurance companies haven't wanted their business.

Obamacare will change all that. The law forbids insurance companies from rejecting people like Braun-Gross because of theirpre-existing conditions. To make that affordable, though, one of the most controversial parts of the Affordable Care Act is about to go into effect.

Health care timeline

By 2014 every American, READ MORE

Voting Age Requirements lowered

Voting Age Requirements changed

 Illinois House Bill 226 amends Illinois Election Code 10 ILCS 5/3-6 adding in part: “a person who is 17 years old on the date of a primary election and who is otherwise qualified to vote is qualified to vote at that primary, including voting an absentee grace period or early voting ballot with respect to that primary, if that person will be 18 years old on (by) the date of the immediately following general election,” This change goes into effect on January 1, 2014. If you have any questions regarding this change, please contact Jessica Sierakowski at the DuPage Election Commission, 630-407-5606.

INEQUALITY FOR ALL opens Tonight.

Problems viewing this email? Click to read it on the web. We've been eagerly anticipating the release of INEQUALITY FOR ALL, and we are thrilled to announce that this powerful documentary is opening in theaters nationally this Friday, September 27. INEQUALITY FOR ALL follows Robert Reich – professor, best-selling author, and Clinton cabinet member - as he demonstrates how the widening income gap has a devastating impact on the American economy. The Sundance award-winning film explores a passionate argument on behalf of the middle class. Reich helps to explain how the massive consolidation of wealth by a precious few threatens the viability of the American workforce and the foundation of democracy itself. Please watch and share the trailer below to help spread to word.   Thanks, The Rebuild the Dream Team P.S. Find where INEQUALITY FOR ALL is playing at a theater near you. Rebuild the Dream http://www.rebuildthedream.com/ This is a message from Rebuild the Dream, sent on behalf of Rebuild the Dream Innovation Fund. Rebuild the Dream is fighting for an economy that works for everyone -- especially young people facing too few jobs, too much debt, and threats to survival from guns to climate change. You can follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook. Was this email forwarded to you? Click here to add yourself to Rebuild the Dream's email list. If you don't want to receive emails from us anymore, you can remove yourself from our list by clicking here. We're sorry to see you go, and we'll miss you!

Time to switch

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DuPage Dems,
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If you sign up between now and September 25th, CREDO will give you 50% off your data plan for two years AND give you a contract buyout credit for up to $350 per line.*
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Thanks for being a bold progressive.
-- Forrest Brown, PCCC Senior Organizer

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Join the tens of thousands of activists who’ve become CREDO members. The math is simple: The more people who join CREDO, the harder we can fight for change. Just in 2012, working through the CREDO SuperPAC, we defeated five of the worst Tea Party Republicans in Congress. And we launched more than 500 campaigns on issues like marriage equality, the environment and human rights. We’ve also grown our powerhouse CREDO Action network to more than 3 million activists, and our donations to progressive nonprofit groups now stand at $75 million since 1985—more than $2.8 million in 2012 alone. Can you say that about your phone company? 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Want to support our work? PCCC's Draft Warren campaign was named The Nation's "Most Valuable Campaign of 2011" and Ed Schultz called us "The top progressive group in the country"! And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in $3 here.

Paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee PAC (www.BoldProgressives.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions to the PCCC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

If you missed Monday Night's Affordable Care Forum, 2 more are available. Tonight and tomorrow.

Health Insurance Exchange Educational Forum

Wednesday, September 25, 7:30pm

Indian Prairie Library, 401 Plainfield Rd, Darien

 

Starting on October 1, people will be able to sign up for health insurance through the Health Insurance Exchange. Come find out the most up to date information that is available. Our speaker is Jillian Phillips, the Chicagoland Organizer for Campaign for Better Health Care (CBHC). CBHC is a consumer advocacy group that has been fighting for consumer protections and quality, affordable health care for all for almost 25 years here in Illinois. For the next 6 months, Jillian and many others will be working tirelessly as In-Person Counselors to assist individuals, families and small employers in the process of learning about, choosing and enrolling in new health coverage options through the Affordable Care Act. She has a straightforward, candid presentation style. Her number one priority is to share accurate, non-biased, helpful information about the health care reform law with families and small businesses.




The ABCs of the ACA (Affordable Healthcare Act or Obamacare) on Thursday, 9/26 at the Arcada Theater (105 Main St.) St. Charles, IL at 6:30pm.
The evening includes speakers led by Lt. Governor Sheila Simon and healthcare professionals, a screening of the movie, Sicko, by Michael Moore followed by a Q & A moderated discussion.

Purpose: To inform the community on the next phase of the Affordable Healthcare Act that goes into effect on October 1.

Who should attend: Everyone, particularly women, the unemployed or employed without health insurance, single parents, college students, families who are struggling, seniors, veterans, and small businesses.

Sponsored by: Kane County Women in Government, The Arcada Theater and VNA Health Care.

This event is free but if you could visit the Arcada's open bar and purchase a drink or popcorn, that would be much appreciated. Make it a date-night!

Oh SNAP, how can I feed my family now? Some tips for a tight food budget. Part 2

More tips to make your food budget go farther.

Freeze cheese that starts going bad. Defrosted cheese tastes better melted. Remember to buy bulk chunks and shred at home to save money.

Substitute yogurt for cream and sour cream in recipes. Buy large sizes and measure out smaller servings to reduce cost and excess packaging.

Cut and freeze fruit bought on sale or before it goes bad. Use later for baking and smoothies.

Buy in bulk and stock up during sales. Avoid kitschy individual serving packs which are very expensive.

Buy raw nuts and toast at home for a delicious snack and to add to oatmeal and sitr-fries to bulk up protein and nutrition.

Whole or cut-up bone-in chicken can save money. Buy family sized packs on sale and freeze. Bake extra and use for salads and sandwiches and entrees for the rest of the week.

Before veggies go bad, freeze them or make soup.

Stock up on less perishable veggies like potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, squash, melons and sweet potatoes.

For more info, go to ewg.org/goodfood

Oh SNAP, how can I feed my family now? Some tips for a tight food budget. Part 1

Excerpted from the article “Good Food on  Tight Budget” by Kathleen Barnes in Natural Awakenings magazine.

Many folks have been hurt in the economic downtown and many families have seen reductions in the amount of food dollars they have to live a nutritious life. The Environmental Working Group has an online publication with the same title as this article and Nutritionist Dawn Undurraga has some suggestions on how you can eat healthy, high-nutrient,  low-pesticide, natural foods on fewer dollars.

Raw cabbage is a fantastic option with its cruciferous qualities and low price. It is a great addition to soups, salads and stir-fries.

Also priced well for their high nutritional value are carrots, bananas, pears in season, watermelon and frozen broccoli each at less than 30 cents a serving. (Bananas and pears customarily endure fewer pesticide applications than apples and are slightly cheaper.)

Best animal protein: Roasted turkey; next is chicken. Roast at the beginning of the week and use for future meals as well.

A serving of oatmeal is half the cost of sugary cereals and keeps you from having the blood sugar crash in mid morning.

Queso blanco a mild, soft, white cheese common in Latino cooking is both less expensive and less processed than many other cheeses.

Try some new recipes with these foods this week and write to us to let us know what  delicious, nutritious, inexpensive fare you created.

Tammy Duckworth speaks on behalf of SNAP recipients in the House

Tammy Duckworth's response on Cuts to the SNAP Program

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Dear Neighbors,  

Rep. Tammy Duckworth speaks on the House floor in opposition of SNAP cuts

This week, the House of Representatives passed a $39 billion dollar cut to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), by a vote of 217-210.
 
The $39 billion in cuts would slash benefits to as many as 6 million Americans, including 170,000 Veterans. The average benefit for SNAP is only $4.50 a day - just $1.50 a meal. As someone who benefitted from food stamps when I was a teenager, I know how important this safety net can be.
 
In our district the poverty rate rose from 5.3% in 2000 to 9.2% in 2011. Additionally, 22,241 of our neighbors in the 8^thDistrict currently use the SNAP program.
 
We need to be finding ways to reduce poverty in our communities, not cutting programs like SNAP that work.
 
Out of all of the people that use the SNAP program, 76% of households include a child, elderly person, or person with disabilities. These families cannot afford the uncertainty that comes from not knowing where their next meal will come from.
 
This benefit is the difference between a child going to bed hungry or having the energy to focus on school. It is the safety net that allows low-income seniors to be able to both eat and afford medication.
 
Food pantries and other nonprofits, like the Greater Chicago Food Depository, had a record number of pantry visits in their last fiscal year, with 5.5 million visits in Cook County alone. Despite their efforts, charitable organizations cannot make up the gap created by a cut in SNAP.
 
Earlier this week, I gave a one minute speech on the House floor regarding these cuts. You can watch that statement here.
 
I hope you will consider how important this program is to our community and our families.
 

Sincerely,

ABCs of ACA at the Arcada Theater 9/26

The ABCs of the ACA (Affordable Healthcare Act or Obamacare) on Thursday, 9/26 at the Arcada Theater (105 Main St.) St. Charles, IL at 6:30pm.
The evening includes speakers led by Lt. Governor Sheila Simon and healthcare professionals, a screening of the movie, Sicko, by Michael Moore followed by a Q & A moderated discussion. 

Purpose: To inform the community on the next phase of the Affordable Healthcare Act that goes into effect on October 1. 

Who should attend: Everyone, particularly women, the unemployed or employed without health insurance, single parents, college students, families who are struggling, seniors, veterans, and small businesses.

Sponsored by: Kane County Women in Government, The Arcada Theater and VNA Health Care.

This event is free but if you could visit the Arcada's open bar and purchase a drink or popcorn, that would be much appreciated. Make it a date-night!

Hope to see you there!

Nadia Daley
Founder
KC Women in Gov@gmail.com

Local Lighthouse tidbits: Quinn, Cronin and Rail Improvements.

Did you try the muffins yet? If you do leave a comment on the blog!

Local News: Tire Wheel or Rail Improvements For All

 

SANDY’S LIGHTHOUSE EDITION

 

Todays column is really not a opinion piece but more an informative piece. No matter what mode of transportation you use there is improvements continuing on. So if you have not heard this is what will be happening in your area. 

 

The city’s makeover and rebranding of the Bloomingdale Trail may have kicked off last week, but the Northwest Side’s nearly three-mile stretch of elevated, abandoned train tracks now named “The 606” has been used by hikers, bikers and more for over a decade. Until the city completes the $54 million project to turn the tracks into an elevated park, with five ground level parks serving as access points, it remains illegal trespassing to clamber up there. After Tuesday’s groundbreaking, the park won’t be done until fall 2014. But that hasn’t stopped many of Chicago’s outdoors enthusiasts from discovering the open space and using it year round...

http://www.suntimes.com/news/22214631-418/bloomingdale-trail-off-limits-illegal-under-construction-and-enjoyed-by-many.html

 

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin admonished a county board member Tuesday for canceling public transit committee meetings and not discussing several "pressing" issues, including the Metra scandal. That Democratic board member fired back by accusing Cronin, a Republican, of "political bullying." The public rebuke of Elizabeth Chaplin, who chairs the public transit committee, came after she criticized the process Cronin used to pick Naperville resident John Zediker for the Metra board.  http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130910/news/709109704/

 

Drivers on the Jane Addams Tollway (I-90) between the Elgin toll plaza and the Kennedy Expressway can expect lots of night life as the agency preps for the second part of a major project. The tollway is widening the Jane Addams and commenced this spring with the eastbound lanes between the Elgin Toll Plaza and Rockford.   http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130909/news/709099646/

POSEN – Governor Pat Quinn today kicked off construction of a new ramp connecting northbound Interstate 57 to the northbound Tri-State Tollway (I-294). The Governor was joined by local elected officials and labor representatives to sign the first steel girder for the new I-294/I-57 ramp, which is part of the $254 million first phase of an interchange project that is supporting thousands of jobs over two years. The project supports Governor Quinn’s agenda to create jobs and build a 21st century infrastructure that will drive Illinois’ economy forward. www.illinois.gov   I would like to thank Paul Sjordal for allowing me to use pieces from his newsletter. If you would like to receive a copy of Paul’s newsletter you can contact him at psjordal@yahoo.com; and The Illinois Governors office for their daily e-News Summaries so I am able to pass on important information. To receive their newsletter go to http://www.illinois.gov

Have you heard the rumor about Chairman Peickert?

He's gone Gluten-free!!

Sandy's Lighthouse cooks up something yummy just for him !

Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Muffins Recipe

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ cup milk, at room temperature
Zest of 1 lemon, finely grated
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1 ounce Crunchies freeze dried blueberries½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray and standard muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray and line the muffin cups with paper liners.

Stir the lemon juice into the milk and let set for about 5 minutes. The milk may look a little curdled but this is ok.

In a small bowl, mix the lemon jest with 1 tablespoon of sugar until fully blended. It is easiest to do this with your fingers as the lemon jest may be moist and tends to clump. Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.

In the bowl of an electric mixer preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and remaining cup of sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Turn mixer to low and add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until each egg is fully incorporated, scrapping down the sides of the bowl with each addition. Add the vanilla and mix well. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture and lemon milk mixture to the creamed butter starting with 1/3 of the flour mixture, then half the lemon milk mixture, half the remaining flour mixture, the rest of the lemon milk mixture and the rest of the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Remove bowl from mixer and scrap the sides and bottom of the bowl well with a large spatula. Gently fold in the blueberries. Divide evenly between the prepared muffin cups, filling the cups almost to the top. Top the batter with the lemon jest sugar mixture. Bake for 30 – 35 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes in the pan before removing. Serve warm.

Servings:

A gluten free recipe that makes 12 muffins

Alan Grayson attends Syria Vigil. Hope for a new way lives.

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Rep. Alan Grayson attended our Syria vigil. Click to stay in the loop with our Syria activism.

DuPage County,
Public pressure worked. President Barack Obama addressed the nation last week and said he'll delay a congressional vote on bombing Syria in order to pursue diplomacy.
In the last week, over 73,000 PCCC members took action on this issue -- flooding Congress with phone calls, attending over 100 local vigils, and generating dozens of media stories from the Washington Post to MSNBC.
Last night brought great news, but this fight is nowhere close to over.
Politico reports, "A powerful group of senators is quietly drafting a new proposal" to give the White House power now to drop bombs later if this specific diplomatic option does not work.
We must continue pressuring Congress to let diplomacy work and oppose bombing Syria. Click here to stay in the loop with our Syria activism.
(Or, opt out of Syria emails here.)
Giving the White House a blank check to drop bombs and end diplomacy is a bad idea.
War must be a last resort -- not a second resort. And the last few days proved that new diplomatic options can be found and pursued.
For now, will of the public prevailed -- and together, we impacted history.
Click here to stay in the loop with our Syria activism. (Or, opt out here.)
Thanks for being a bold progressive.
-- Amanda Johnson, PCCC Campaign Director

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Like the PCCC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Want to support our work? PCCC's Draft Warren campaign was named The Nation's "Most Valuable Campaign of 2011" and Politico called us "The Energizer Bunny of the Left"! And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in $3 here.

Paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee PAC (www.BoldProgressives.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions to the PCCC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

Presenting the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace Forum 9/23 7-9 pmRSVP now