The Association of Young Americans provides non-partisan public policy information through this website, along with public forums, to foster debate among young Americans.
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Check out the article about AYA in the Legal Intelligencer YL and our mention in the Philadelphia Bar Association's YLD blog.
Also, see our Letters to the Editor in the 12/11/06 Shreveport Times, and the Nov. 7, 2006 and Dec. 9, 2005 editions of the Christian Science Monitor!
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The Latest
7/21/08 - British Warning to Iran
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had strong words for Iran regarding its nuclear program. Mr. Brown was quoted by the BBC as stating "To those who are enemies of progress we say: we condemn anti-Semitism and persecution in all its forms. To those who believe that threatening statements fall upon indifferent ears we say in one voice - it is totally abhorrent for the president of Iran to call for Israel to be wiped from the map of the world. Our country will continue to lead, with the US and our European partners in our determination to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapons programme. We stand ready to lead in taking firmer sanctions and will ask the whole international community to join us."
Share your thoughts on the situation with Iran in our Forums.
7/17/08 - Gore: carbon-free electricty in 10 years
In a speech today in Washington, D.C. former Vice-President Al Gore issued a challenge: "Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years." In his speech Gore stated, "Of course the greatest obstacle to meeting the challenge of 100 percent renewable electricity in 10 years may be the deep dysfunction of our politics and our self-governing system as it exists today. In recent years, our politics has tended toward incremental proposals made up of small policies designed to avoid offending special interests, alternating with occasional baby steps in the right direction. Our democracy has become sclerotic at a time when these crises require boldness." A full text of the speech is available here.
7/15/08 - Medicare Bill - UPDATE
Following up on our 7-7-08 post, the Congress passed, by veto-proof majorities, a bill that blocked a 10% decrease in Meicare reimbursements to physicians. The Christian Science Monitor quoted White House spokesman Tony Fratto as saying "There's unquestionably a bigger-picture issue here: Congress refuses to look at ways to rein in costs to the Medicare program, and any single effort to do so they choose to turn into partisan fight. The Democrats will try to paint [Republicans] as people who want to cut health costs for seniors, so people trying to reform the program are left in this very dangerous situation."
The article went on to note the opposing positions on the bill:
"'Without a legislative fix, many doctors currently in the Medicare system would probably opt out of it, say lawmakers who backed the bill. "The California Medical Association tells me that if those mandated cuts [in physician fees] took place, we could lose 60 percent of doctors who currently take Medicare patients,' says Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) of California.
"But critics say that view ignores a longer-term entitlement crisis. 'Congress is preventing what would otherwise be a significant reduction in fees paid to Medicare to go into effect, but it in no way solves the fundamental problem of Medicare in general or the very significant problem of how we reimburse physicians and the perverse incentives of the current system,' says Gail Wilensky, a senior fellow at Project Hope in Bethesda, Md., and former chair of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission from 1997 to 2001."
Share your thoughts on healthcare and the national budget in our Forums.
7/14/08 - AYA in Chicago EVENT!
The Chicago chapter of Association of Young Americans invites you to join us as we enjoy an evening with Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke on Wednesday, July 30 from 5:30-7:30pm. Justice Burke will be sharing her professional journey through the justice system, her experience being a young, politically-involved citizen, her thoughts on America's political future (pending the upcoming presidential election and its potential impact on legislation), and plenty of time for questions and discussion at the end.
A native Chicagoan, Justice Burke began her judicial career in 1987 when she was named the first woman to serve on the Illinois Court of Claims. She received her undergraduate degree from DePaul University and went on to earn her law degree at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Justice Burke has always been active in the Chicagoland community, especially championing the rights of children and those with physical and mental disabilities. She founded the Chicago Special Olympics in 1968, and was director of the organization which went on to create what is now the international Special Olympics. Her husband, Edward Burke, is the Alderman of the 14th ward in Chicago. A member of dozens of professional association and boards and the recipient of many prestigious awards (including an honorary doctorate degree), Justice Anne Burke exemplifies active citizenship and commitment to justice.
You do not want to miss this very special opportunity.
July 30, 2008
5:30-7:30pm
University of Chicago-Business School's Gleacher Center, second floor
(In front of NBC tower, Behind 401 N. Michigan Ave)
View more prior blog entries
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The Association of Young Americans is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
