As Budget Battle Climaxes, Civil Rights Groups Tally Potential Damage

As House Republicans and the White House traded harsh words today over the stalled effort to pass last year’s budget, civil rights leaders chimed in to point out how much people of color are losing in the budget battle. In a morning conference call, heads of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the National Urban League, among other groups, called the GOP’s budget proposal an attack on future generations.

CBO: Seniors Would Pay Much More For Medicare Under Ryan Plan

Seniors and the disabled would pay sharply more for their Medicare coverage under a new plan by House Republicans aimed at curbing the nation’s growing deficit, a Congressional Budget Office analysis shows.

Understanding Rep. Ryan's Plan For Medicare

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., left many details to Congress when he unveiled Tuesday his plan to make major changes to Medicare as part of a fiscal 2012 budget resolution. He says his overall objective is to convert Medicare into a premium support program for which the government will spend a specific amount for beneficiaries' care, a fundamental shift from the current fee-for-service program. Backers of premium support say it is similar to the health insurance program for federal workers but others say it may not meet seniors’ needs. Insurers are eager for the additional business but wonder if payments will be adequate to cover the cost of care. Here is a guide to some of the issues and questions raised by Ryan's plan, which faces enormous political hurdles given expected Democratic opposition.

Mister Cee’s Arrest Should Spark Talk of Sex Work, Not Hysteria

Speculation continues to swirl around the blogosphere in response to popular Hot 97 DJ personality Mister Cee’s arrest on public lewdness charges after allegedly being caught in a sex act with a transgender woman. The married 44-year-old DJ, who’s legal name is Calvin Lebrun, made his mark as producer of Notorious B.I.G’s debut album “Ready to Die” and has long been a staple of New York’s influential hip-hop scene. He was arrested last Wednesday after police reportedly caught him in the act with a 20-year-old transgender woman.

Washington, DC office for the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) opens to begin preparations for world’s largest HIV/AIDS-related gathering

Local office to work with DC-area community and across the U.S. to engage diverse audiences

21 March 2011 (Washington, DC) — Marking another key milestone in the lead up to the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012), the conference’s local office is open and actively engaged in outreach activities and logistical preparations for the biennial conference expected to convene more than 20,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries. AIDS 2012 will be held in Washington, DC from 22 to 27 July 2012 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The conference website, www.aids2012.org, is also live.