Congress

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Photos: Occupy the Capital on January 17, 2012

The Occupy movement takes on Congress
The Occupy movement takes on Congress in their own backyard.
By ANDREW MCFARLAND | January 18, 2012

The battle over internet piracy

Rhode Island's congresional delegation splits over the issue burning up the netroots
The Internet is angry. Perhaps you've heard.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | January 18, 2012

In 2012, election year intrigue awaits

Punditry Dept.
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.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | December 28, 2011

Occupy the future

As it evolves, the movement is building on a network laid down in the encampments
After barreling straight ahead for more than three months, Occupy is at its first fundamental turning point.
By CHRIS FARAONE | December 28, 2011

Congress gives us all detention

Rights watch
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 crimes, including American citizens.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | December 14, 2011

Barney's Big Surprise

A working-class hero goes down kvetching. Plus, new hope in the fight against AIDS.
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.
By EDITORIAL | November 30, 2011

Stop SOPA

Old-media corporate giants seek censorship through a web-based blacklist. Plus, #occupy brutality, and D.C. deadlock.
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 legislation called the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).
By EDITORIAL | November 22, 2011

Drawing a line

Bipartisan agreement
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 panic.
By AL DIAMON | September 07, 2011

Political football

Balls, pucks and monster trucks
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.
By RICK WORMWOOD | September 07, 2011

Does Obama have the cojones to win?

This WTF moment
To make sense of this bizarre and dispiriting moment in American politics, here are the things one needs to appreciate.
By EDITORIAL | July 27, 2011

Paid to play

Everybody hates lobbyists
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.
By AL DIAMON | July 27, 2011

the great depression and republican Bolsheviks

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

Republican Bolsheviks
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.
By EDITORIAL | July 20, 2011

Cicilline on the hot seat

But he's not cooked yet
It's been a brutal couple of months for Providence mayor-turned-freshman Congressman David Cicilline.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | April 27, 2011

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

Net loss
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 have heard people talk about net neutrality before," he said, "but I want to take just a moment to explain it, because part of the strategy being used to destroy net neutrality is to confuse Americans about what the term even means."
By CARLY CARIOLI | April 11, 2011

Rhode Island's ticking time bomb

A fun, easy-to-understand guide to the pension crisis that could destroy everything you care about (or not)
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.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | March 23, 2011

Activist and friend hope for DREAM Act passage

Immigrant rights
Jessy Galvéz is kneeling at the altar of El Sinai Church in Portland, at an interfaith vigil supporting the DREAM Act.
By ANNE HOFFMAN | December 08, 2010

Republican congressional class drops out of Harvard

Too cool for school?
For most organizations, getting 26 members of Congress to show up at a soiree would be an impressive feat.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | December 01, 2010

Ten Little Congressmen . . .

The outlook for each of Mass.'s Representatives
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.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | November 17, 2010

Over before it started

Cancel the campaigns
It's finished. The gubernatorial candidates can cancel all remaining campaign appearances.
By AL DIAMON | September 29, 2010

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

Plus, pushing for a free press at CCRI; remembering Nathan
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.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | September 08, 2010

Could Cicilline be in for a surprise on Tuesday?

Primary wisdom
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.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | September 10, 2010

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

Evil
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 some Web services over others.
By EDITORIAL | August 14, 2010

Call 'em like I see 'em

Diverse-City
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.
By SHAY STEWART-BOULEY | July 21, 2010

Can the Netroots triumph in Rhode island?

On the Hustings
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.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | May 19, 2010

Might as well jump

Recent retirements of key democrats paint a picture of a powerful Republican rogue wave forming. So why are high-profile Republicans jumping ship too?
Last Thursday, Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island — the last of his legendary clan in Congress — announced that he will not run for re-election.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | February 22, 2010

Most popular articles of 2009

The year in martyrs, mortuaries, chupacabras, and pot-peddling soccer moms
The stories you couldn't not read this year
By PHOENIX STAFF | December 22, 2009

Camelot: The Next Generation

Patrick Kennedy is a square peg in his family's historic round table
Senator Ted Kennedy's months-long battle with brain cancer inspired endless commentary about the demise of Camelot.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | October 01, 2009

By | January 01, 0001

Obama explained

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

Congress's war on toys

A new US law threatens to handcuff local indie artisans — and could render certain kids' products contraband
Incredible, but true: until this past Friday, America was on a fast track to outlaw grandmothers selling children's sweaters for charity.
By LISSA HARRIS | February 09, 2009