February 20, 2009 The Pump Handle

President Obama’s visit to Canada has several bloggers thinking about tar sands: Ian Austen at Green Inc. gives an overview of our two countries’ positions on this dirty source of oil. Kate Sheppard at Gristmill explores how Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper are explaining their approach to tar sands. Several bloggers at NRDC’s Switchboard […]

February 20, 2009 The Pump Handle 1Comment

by revere, cross-posted from Effect Measure Nothing like a massive food contamination outbreak from a plant in your state to concentrate the minds of state legislators (more here and links therein). Especially when an important industry is involved. We’re talking Georgia peanuts, of course. Peanuts employ an estimated 50,000 workers in Georgia, accounting for some […]

February 19, 2009 The Pump Handle

Yesterday, the New York Times published an article by Cara Buckley on young adults who lack health insurance. Although they’re often referred to as “young invincibles,” most of the people profiled in the article don’t actually think they won’t need medical care. They don’t have insurance because they can’t afford it. The article highlights an […]

February 19, 2009 The Pump Handle

DC-area readers, mark your calendars: Alison Bass, an award-winning journalist and Pulitzer Prize nominee, will be here at George Washington University on Wednesday, March 18th, to speak about why the system of drug research and development in the United States is seriously flawed and what reforms are needed. Wednesday, March 18, 4:30pm GWU-SPHHS Health Policy […]

February 18, 2009 The Pump Handle 2Comment

Last week, Salon.com published a disturbing in-depth series, called “Coming Home,” about the tragic consequences of the Army’s inability to provide adequate care to soldiers returning from Iraq. Focusing on just one base – Fort Carson, Colorado – they found the following: Salon put together a sample of 25 suicides, prescription overdoses and murders among […]

February 18, 2009 The Pump Handle

Our regular readers may already be familiar with Susanne Rust and Meg Kissinger, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporters who investigate the stories behind chemicals used in consumer products. Their series “Chemical Fallout” includes articles on bisphenol A and flame retardants, and in-depth looks at how EPA and FDA are (or aren’t) regulating the many chemicals we […]

February 17, 2009 The Pump Handle

The Associated Press reports that Senators Byron Dorgan and Evan Bayh are still not satisfied with what the Department of Defense’s response to illnesses among National Guard troops who were exposed to hexavalent chromium at the Qarmat Ali water plant near Basra, Iraq. The Senators seek updates on efforts to communicate with potentially exposed National […]

February 17, 2009 The Pump Handle

by revere, cross-posted from Effect Measure The plant in Blakely, Georgia that was the apparent source of the salmonella peanut butter outbreak didn’t make peanut butter for retail consumption. It made bulk peanut butter and peanut butter paste which became an ingredient in many other products. The number of products is now around 2000, the […]

February 16, 2009 The Pump Handle

When the U.S. Senate reconvenes on Tuesday, February 24th, I’ve learned that they will move ahead with a vote on the nomination of Hilda Solis to serve as 25th Secretary of Labor.   This confirmation vote will take place 35 days following President Obama’s inauguration.  If Mrs. Solis can secure the confirmation of our Asst. Secretaries for MSHA […]

February 13, 2009 The Pump Handle

Bloggers help us stay up to date on the stimulus package’s latest permutation: Kate Sheppard at Gristmill gives us the rundown on funding for green priorities Scientists & Engineers for America Action Fund compiles the numbers on science funding Jake Young at Pure Pedantry warns of pitfalls when science funding takes this form Keith Johnson […]