By Rachel Goldfarb, originally published on Next New Deal
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Millennials Need to Turnout Every Day, Not Just Election Day (Huffington Post)
Joelle Gamble, National Director of the Roosevelt Institute | Campus Network, argues that young people want to be asked not just to show up to the polls, but to be engaged in the political process year-round.
The midterm election was the opposite of the kind of politics we value; there were no new ideas, endless fear-mongering, and blaming the other for the political challenges our country faces, not to mention increased restrictions on voting in many key states. As a result, voters between the ages of 18 to 29 voted at a very low rate on Nov. 4. With this kind of atmosphere roiling in our electoral process, it is no wonder we do not see voting as a meaningful avenue of participation, even though we should.
There was a bright spot in this past election. When big issues and big ideas were on the ballot, voters turned out in higher numbers. The Center for Civic Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement estimates a five-percentage point increase over the national youth turnout average in states with competitive ballot initiatives. When on the ballot at the state and local level, ideas including paid sick leave, minimum wage, and background checks, were a powerful motivator for participation.
Follow below the fold for more.
New York's Signature College Aid Program Turns 40, But Falls Short of Meeting Needs (Gotham Gazette)
Roosevelt Institute | Campus Network Leadership Director Kevin Stump proposes ways to update New York State's Tuition Assistance Program, which he argues is woefully out of date after 40 years.
Elizabeth Warren's Latest Wall Street Attack Was Her Boldest Yet (TNR)
David Dayen reports on Senator Warren's speech at yesterday's "Managing the Economy" conference, co-sponsored by the Roosevelt Institute. The senator directly attacked Wall Street's influence on financial policy.
Workers at Amazon Warehouses Won't Get Paid for Waiting in Security Lines (Bloomberg Businessweek)
Josh Eidelson reports on the Supreme Court's decision in Integrity Staffing Solutions, Inc. vs. Busk. The Court held that workers do not have to be paid for time spent waiting for security checks.
Congressional Leaders Hammer Out Deal to Allow Pension Plans to Cut Retiree Benefits (WaPo)
Michael A. Fletcher says retirees on the plans that will be permitted to make unprecedented cuts feel betrayed by this speedy congressional decision.
How Income Inequality Holds Back Economic Growth (AJAM)
A new report examines the significant link between income inequality and slowed economic growth, which cost the U.S. as much as 7 percent of GDP from 1990 to 2010, writes Ned Resnikoff.
New on Next New Deal
Let the Fed Lend Directly to Cities and States to Save Taxpayers Billions
Roosevelt Institute Fellow Saqib Bhatti suggests that allowing the Fed to make long-term loans to municipalities would protect cities from economic crises and promote fair and sustainable development.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 66: How Do We Make the Promise a Reality?
Ariel Smilowitz, Northeast Regional Policy Coordinator for the Campus Network, and Monika Johnson, a member of the Alumni Advisory Committee, call for an expanded approach to human rights, including non-state actors like corporations accepting responsibility.