- A tight-knit group of well-funded right-wing groups, including the Koch Brothers, are behind the high-profile Janus case now before the U.S. Supreme Court, which depending on how the court rules, could be a major set back for public sector union rights. (“The two faces of Janus,” In These Times, Feb. 22, 2018)
- In its ongoing assault on immigration the Trump administration is drafting new rules that would prevent immigrants from settling in the U.S., or receiving a green card if they or their family members have received benefits from a wide array of federal, state, and local social programs—even if the benefits were for an immigrant’s U.S. born citizen children. According to the American Prospect, visa applications could be rejected if an immigrant’s family applied for health insurance subsidies through the Affordable Care Act or enrolled their children in federal government programs like Head Start or CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program. (“Trump: Make Immigrants’ Use of Public Health Benefits a Deportable Offense,” American Prospect, Feb. 14, 2018)
- Former Save the Children chief executive Justin Forsyth resigned from a top post at the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF over complaints of inappropriate behavior toward female staffers. The BBC reports a number of incidents occurred at Save the Children, in 2015, when Forsyth was accused of sending inappropriate text messages and comments on what young female staff were wearing. He said he “apologized unreservedly” to the three workers at the time. (“Charity Boss Justin Forsyth Resigns from UNICEF,” BBC, Feb. 22, 2018; “Ex-Save the Children Boss Justin Forsyth Apologises Over Texts,” BBC, Feb. 21, 2018)
Subscribe to our Weekly Summary
