Congress

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Photos: Occupy the Capital on January 17, 2012

The Occupy movement takes on Congress in their own backyard.
The Occupy movement takes on Congress
By ANDREW MCFARLAND | January 20, 2012

The battle over internet piracy

The Internet is angry. Perhaps you've heard.
Rhode Island's congresional delegation splits over the issue burning up the netroots
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | January 20, 2012

In 2012, election year intrigue awaits

The new year is, of course, an election year. And while the presidential race will probably be less-than-dramatic in Rhode Island, there will be plenty of other intriguing fare for the political junkie.
Punditry Dept.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | December 30, 2011

Occupy the future

After barreling straight ahead for more than three months, Occupy is at its first fundamental turning point.
As it evolves, the movement is building on a network laid down in the encampments
By CHRIS FARAONE | December 30, 2011

Congress gives us all detention

The $662 billion military spending bill expected to go before both houses of Congress later this week includes controversial provisions allowing the US military to arrest and indefinitely detain, without trial, anyone suspected of terrorism-related crim
Rights watch
By DEIRDRE FULTON | December 16, 2011

Barney's Big Surprise

Long before The Sopranos and Jersey Shore introduced the nation to the ripe effusions of the New Jersey personality, voters in and around greater Boston had accepted Barney Frank as one of the more unusual players in the political game.
A working-class hero goes down kvetching. Plus, new hope in the fight against AIDS.
By EDITORIAL | December 02, 2011

Stop SOPA

The dinosaurs of the entertainment world ( i.e. , Hollywood movie studios and national music companies) have joined with the Business Software Alliance (which represents tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft, and Intel) to sponsor an insidious piece of l
Old-media corporate giants seek censorship through a web-based blacklist. Plus, #occupy brutality, and D.C. deadlock.
By EDITORIAL | November 25, 2011

Drawing a line

Remain calm. You've probably heard that a special commission has failed to reach bipartisan agreement on a plan to redraw the boundary between Maine's two congressional districts in order to make their populations as close to equal as possible. Don't p
Bipartisan agreement
By AL DIAMON | September 09, 2011

Political football

Sadly, the only upcoming event with the capacity to truly inspire hope for millions of Americans, the start of the 2011 NFL season, will be twice marred by our current political culture and media.
Balls, pucks and monster trucks
By RICK WORMWOOD | September 09, 2011

Does Obama have the cojones to win?

To make sense of this bizarre and dispiriting moment in American politics, here are the things one needs to appreciate.
This WTF moment
By EDITORIAL | July 29, 2011

Paid to play

A majority of respondents said being paid to convince elected officials how to vote is the world's least respectable occupation — except for actually being an elected official.
Everybody hates lobbyists
By AL DIAMON | July 29, 2011

the great depression and republican Bolsheviks

There is no mystery to the debt crisis. Plus: Scott Brown, and the Boston Foundation

Understanding the debate about raising the debt ceiling, and imagining the economic crisis that will follow if Congress fails to do so, is really very simple.
Republican Bolsheviks
By EDITORIAL | July 22, 2011

Cicilline on the hot seat

It's been a brutal couple of months for Providence mayor-turned-freshman Congressman David Cicilline.
But he's not cooked yet
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | April 29, 2011

Net neutrality has become the biggest free speech issue of the 21st century. Is it doomed to failure?

One morning last month, Senator Al Franken stood at the podium of a hotel in downtown Austin, looking out at some of the most innovative minds in the country gathered at this year's South by Southwest Interactive conference. "I know that many of you hav
Net loss
By CARLY CARIOLI | April 08, 2011

Rhode Island's ticking time bomb

This is a story about the pension crisis that's tearing apart Providence and Central Falls and just might lay waste to the whole goddamn state.
A fun, easy-to-understand guide to the pension crisis that could destroy everything you care about (or not)
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | March 25, 2011

Activist and friend hope for DREAM Act passage

Jessy Galvéz is kneeling at the altar of El Sinai Church in Portland, at an interfaith vigil supporting the DREAM Act.
Immigrant rights
By ANNE HOFFMAN | December 10, 2010

Republican congressional class drops out of Harvard

For most organizations, getting 26 members of Congress to show up at a soiree would be an impressive feat.
Too cool for school?
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | December 03, 2010

Ten Little Congressmen . . .

Each of Massachusetts's 10 congressmen — soon to be nine, following next year's redistricting — are looking at the House shakeup from their own career perspectives.
The outlook for each of Mass.'s Representatives
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | November 19, 2010

Over before it started

It's finished. The gubernatorial candidates can cancel all remaining campaign appearances.
Cancel the campaigns
By AL DIAMON | October 01, 2010

The most wonderful (not) time of year: P+J's endorsements

Yes, it's election time and, sad to say, all those ridiculous television ads that are designed to capture the "moron vote" (by far, the largest sector of the voting public) are in heavy rotation.
Plus, pushing for a free press at CCRI; remembering Nathan
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | September 10, 2010

Could Cicilline be in for a surprise on Tuesday?

With the Democratic primary for Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District seat in the home stretch, most observers say Providence Mayor David Cicilline is the man to beat. And there is much to recommend the view.
Primary wisdom
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | September 10, 2010

Don't be fooled ? the Google-Verizon plan would kill Net Neutrality

Want evidence that Google is just another avaricious, monopoly-minded corporate behemoth? Consider this: Google has retreated from its long-held support for net neutrality and teamed with Verizon to suggest that new laws allow Internet providers to favor
Evil
By EDITORIAL | August 13, 2010

Call 'em like I see 'em

I know there's a contingent of people among my readers who think I'm kind of a race-baiter or that I'm some high-and-mighty Black woman berating Whites for all evil that befalls folks of color.
Diverse-City
By SHAY STEWART-BOULEY | July 23, 2010

Can the Netroots triumph in Rhode island?

Stories of State Representative David Segal’s nascent, underdog run for Congress invariably make a nod to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. And rightly so.
On the Hustings
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | May 21, 2010

Might as well jump

Last Thursday, Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island — the last of his legendary clan in Congress — announced that he will not run for re-election.
Recent retirements of key democrats paints a picture of a powerful Republican rogue wave forming. So why are a number of high-profile Republicans leaving office too?
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | February 19, 2010

Photos: Most popular articles of 2009

The stories you couldn't not read this year
The year in martyrs, mortuaries, chupacabras, and pot-peddling soccer moms
By PHOENIX STAFF | December 18, 2009

Camelot: The Next Generation

Senator Ted Kennedy's months-long battle with brain cancer inspired endless commentary about the demise of Camelot.
Patrick Kennedy is a square peg in his family's historic round table
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | October 02, 2009

Kanye vs. Kongress

Kanye interrupts a joint session of Congress. Stolen from Oh! Ryan Kelley, who stole it from someone else.
By Charlie | September 14, 2009

Obama explained

If Obama's inaugural address set a new tone, his speech to Congress drew a new map.
He defined, he led, he inspired
By EDITORIAL | February 25, 2009

Congress's war on toys

Incredible, but true: until this past Friday, America was on a fast track to outlaw grandmothers selling children's sweaters for charity.
A new US law threatens to handcuff local indie artisans — and could render certain kids' products contraband
By LISSA HARRIS | February 04, 2009

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