Ms. Butlers Participation in Government Final Paper Spring 2011

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) , which prescribes standards for the basic minimum wage and overtime pay, affects most private and public employment. It requires employers to pay covered employees who are not otherwise exempt at least the federal minimum wage and overtime pay of one-and-one-half-times the regular rate of pay. For nonagricultural operations, it restricts the hours that children under age 16 can work and forbids the employment of children under age 18 in certain jobs deemed too dangerous. For agricultural operations, it prohibits the employment of children under age 16 during school hours and in certain jobs deemed too dangerous. The Act is administered by the Employment Standards Administration's Wage and Hour Division within the U.S. Department of Labor.

Currently, only the first $90,000 of a person's salary is subject to the payroll tax. Business correspondent Paul Solman looks into the option of raising the cap to help solve Social Security's future financial problems.

Although the Social Security system is now running surpluses of income over outgo, its board of trustees projects that its trust funds would be depleted in 2041 and only 73% of its benefits would be payable then with incoming receipts. The trustees project that on average the system's cost would be 14% higher than its income over the next 75 years; by 2080 it would be 50% higher. The primary reason is demographic: the post-World War II baby boomers will begin retiring in less than a decade and life expectancy is rising. By 2025 the number of people age 65 and older is predicted to grow by 74%. In contrast, the number of workers supporting the system would grow by 14%

Social Security Reform, answers to key questions. A booklet put out by the United State Government

Many Members of Congress see continued tension between "free speech" decisions of the Supreme Court, which protect flag desecration as expressive conduct under the First Amendment, and the symbolic importance of the United States flag. Consequently, every Congress that has convened since those decisions were issued has considered proposals that would permit punishment of those who engage in flag desecration. The 106th Congress narrowly failed to send a constitutional amendment to allow punishment of flag desecration to the States. In the 107th Congress, one such proposal was passed by the House. In the 108th Congress, the House Judiciary Committee has favorably reported a proposed constitutional amendment to allow punishment of flag desecration on a vote of 18-13.

Free expression and the right to dissent are among the core principles which the American flag represents. The First Amendment must be protected most when it comes to unpopular speech. Failure to do so fails the very notion of freedom of expression. Our democracy is strong because we tolerate all peaceful forms of expression, no matter how uncomfortable they make us feel, or how much we disagree. If we take away the right to dissent - no matter how unpopular - what freedom will be sacrificed next?

"Symbolic expression" is a phrase often used to describe expression that is mixed with elements of conduct. The Supreme Court has made clear in a series of cases that symbolic expression (or expressive conduct) may be protected by the First Amendment. Several of these cases have been highly controversial--perhaps none more so than Texas vs Johnson (1990) reversing the conviction of a man who expressed his strong displeasure with U. S. policy by burning an American flag.

The Washington Post highlights the government Health Care Reform Bill

Health Reform in Action Health reform makes health care more affordable, holds insurers more accountable, expands coverage to all Americans and makes our health system sustainable.

At least 49 states and the Virgin Islands have created or proposed ways to track, provide oversight, and distribute information relating to federal stimulus funds. Governors have created new entities, state agencies are documenting projects, and legislatures are forming commissions or committees to oversee the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The following provides a brief summary of actions that states are proposing or taking to provide oversight and transparency of ARRA. Also included are state websites that will provide information on implementation and spending of funds from ARRA

Explains the act and how to benefit from it.

The economic stimulus plan is one President Obama's main weapons to jump-start the economy and prevent a much deeper and longer recession; the current downturn started in December 2007 making it already one of the longest since the Great Depression, and it has caused the largest number of job losses in the history of the US in a single year (in absolute, but not - yet - relative numbers). Through a combination of tax cuts, direct investments in a variety of sectors including infrastructure, energy, science and education and help to the unemployed and to the states, Congress and the President are looking to alleviate if not stop the decline in economic activity. As of August 2009, the economy has lost 6.9 million jobs, which have been shed across all sectors of the economy except for government and healthcare.

The $787 billion economic stimulus package was approved by Congress in February, 2009. The plan was to jumpstart economic growth, and save between 900,000-2.3 million jobs.

Affirmative action is the nation's most ambitious attempt to redress its long history of racial and sexual discrimination. But these days it seems to incite, rather than ease, the nation's internal divisions. An increasingly assertive opposition movement argues that the battle to guarantee equal rights for all citizens has been fought and won - and that favoring members of one group over another simply goes against the American grain.

A comprehensive site that offers history, challenges and where we are today in the long tumultuous battle for affirmative action.

the set of public policies and initiatives designed to help eliminate past and present discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, is under attack.

Censorship, the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are "offensive," happens whenever some people succeed in imposing their personal political or moral values on others. Censorship can be carried out by the government as well as private pressure groups. Censorship by the government is unconstitutional.

A collection of video's, photos, and letters highlighting the history of censorship and the fight that ensue to guarantee freedom of expression in all forms

Welcome to the home page for the MIT Student Association for Freedom of Expression (SAFE). We work to organize support for freedom of speech and other forms of freedom of expression.

The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) is an alliance of more than 50 national non-profit organizations, including literary, artistic, religious, educational, professional, labor, and civil liberties groups. NCAC's mission is to promote freedom of thought, inquiry and expression and oppose censorship in all its forms.