Tag: Al Franken

The health care debate affects all of us

As I’ve traveled across Minnesota in recent months, Minnesotans have made it clear to me just how important health care is to them, their families, and their communities. They want to know that when they are sick or injured they can get the care they need.

Because health care is so important, most Minnesotans understand what’s at stake as they’ve watched congressional Republicans continue (the) push to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a plant that will rip health coverage from 23 million people, raise health costs, gut Medicaid and eliminate nationwide protections for people with re-existing conditions.

I have had meetings in large and small Minnesota communities during which I’ve heard parents tearfully describe their struggle to get care for family members with chronic health conditions and their anxiety about the financial and emotional burden of supporting an elderly loved one in a nursing home.  They are worried about what the Republican plan would mean to them. Continue reading “The health care debate affects all of us”

Al Franken Comes Out and Says What Most Americans Really Think of Trumpcare

The following article by Alexandra Rosenmann was posted on the AlterNet website May 30, 2017:

The Minnesota senator calls on his Republican colleagues to kill an “awful bill.”

While they review the much-maligned American Health Care Act, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) issued a stern warning to his Republican colleagues in the Senate.

“I don’t think the Republicans can do this themselves, and they shouldn’t,” he said in a “CBS This Morning” interview May 30. “What came out of the House is just dreadful.” Continue reading “Al Franken Comes Out and Says What Most Americans Really Think of Trumpcare”

Klobuchar Joins St. Louis Park’s Peggy Flanagan In ‘Powwow For Hope’

The following article by William Bornhoft was posted on the St. Louis Park Patch website May 12, 2017:

Earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar joined Sen. Al Franken, St. Louis Park State Rep. Peggy Flanagan, and tribal leaders for the American Indian Cancer Foundation‘s 6th Annual Powwow for Hope. “Proud to stand with Minnesota’s Native community and stand up for strong investments in cancer research,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “All Americans are counting on us to continue pressing for better prevention, better treatment, and ultimately a cure.”

Amy Klobuchar

✔@amyklobuchar

Joined tribes from around Midwest for . Need to keep investing in cancer research for patients & families.

View the post here.

Al Franken may be the perfect senator for the Trump era — a deadly serious funnyman

The following article by Karen Tumulty was posted on the Washington Post website March 18, 2017:

It was a half-hour before one of the sparsely attended committee hearings that take place almost every day on Capitol Hill — in this case, a session on energy infrastructure so dry it would not merit even the presence of a C-SPAN camera.

But in Al Franken’s suite of offices in the Hart Senate Office Building, the man still known best as one of the early stars of “Saturday Night Live” was going through an intense rehearsal with four aides. Continue reading “Al Franken may be the perfect senator for the Trump era — a deadly serious funnyman”

Sen. Franken Assails Effort by New FCC Chair to Cut Off Broadband Help for Low-Income Families, Veterans, Seniors

Senator and Colleagues Say Move will Deprive Americans of Ability to Communicate, Look for Work, Complete Schoolwork, Access Vital information

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) assailed a decision by the new Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that could make it harder for low-income Americans to access affordable broadband internet services.

In a letter, Sen. Franken, along with several Senate colleagues, pressed Chairman Ajit Pai to reverse his decision to stop nine broadband providers from being part of the federal Lifeline program. For decades the program has helped millions of low-income families, military veterans, and elderly Americans afford basic phone service. In 2016, the program was modernized and began to offer support for broadband use in Minnesota and across the country.

Last week, Chairman Pai, who was elevated recently to the commission’s chairmanship by President Trump, informed nine broadband providers that they can no longer provide a $9.25-per-month subsidy to qualified customers. The decision could mean that some needy families will lose the broadband services they need to communicate, access health care information, search for jobs, or complete school assignments. Continue reading “Sen. Franken Assails Effort by New FCC Chair to Cut Off Broadband Help for Low-Income Families, Veterans, Seniors”

Al Franken to Maher: GOP senators privately express ‘great concern’ about Trump’s temperament

The following article by Aaron Blake was posted on the Washington Post website February 11, 2017:

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) said Friday night that his Republican Senate colleagues privately express “great concern” about President Trump’s temperament, and he joked about the GOP eventually impeaching Trump.

Appearing on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” Maher asked Franken what Republicans really say behind closed doors. Continue reading “Al Franken to Maher: GOP senators privately express ‘great concern’ about Trump’s temperament”