Three Rhode Island bloggers have joined forces to provide gavel-to-gavel coverage of the first 100 hours of the new, Democratic-controlled Congress, with special a focus on the actions of Rhode Island’s all-Democratic delegation.
The coverage, which is expected to last a few weeks, is being posted on the Web log of Matt Jerzyk, Kiersten Marek and Pat Crowley – left-leaning bloggers who RIFuture.org, Kmareka.com and Pat-Crowley.org, respectively.
Seifert Systems Invests in Energy Efficiency to Strengthen Operations
For manufacturers, energy is more than just another operating expense. It plays a critical role…
Learn More
Since Jan. 4, when the 110th Congress was sworn in, the Rhode Island bloggers have been providing updates, analysis and opinion about a handful of reforms they expect to be initiated in Congress.
A month before the Nov. 6 election, Nancy Pelosi, the new Speaker of the House, had outlined a legislative agenda she promised to pursue in the first 100 hours of the House session if Democrats gained a majority.
Pelosi said the new Congress would move to reform lobbying rules, implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, increase the minimum wage to $7.25, halve the interest rates on college loans, allow the government to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, increase federal dollars for stem-cell research and reduce subsidies to big oil companies.
Crowley, 33, a local organizer for the National Education Association who pens a Web log mostly on labor issues, made headlines during the November election by attending several press events – held by former U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee – while wearing a President
Bush mask and a flight suit and holding a sign that read “Mission Accomplished.”
He said he’d contacted Jerzyk and Marek soon after the general election to propose a collaborative effort to hold Pelosi and other Democrats to their election rhetoric.
Jerzyk, 29, is a Roger Williams University law student who authors RIFuture, the most widely read political blog in the state. Jerzyk is also the political director of the Rhode Island Young Democrats.
Marek, 38, is a clinical social worker who launched her blog about politics, social issues and the environment a year ago.
Crowley and Jerzyk had met professionally, but neither had ever met Marek. Mostly, the three were familiar with one another’s writing and political leanings through their Web logs, Crowley said.
Jerzyk’s, Crowley’s and Marek’s blogs now all feature a link called “Countdown to Change,” where posts from all three can be found, in chronological order. The posts include interviews with each member of Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation, Jerzyk said, as well as updates on and analysis of the seven bills promised by Pelosi.
Crowley said his Web site also would provide links to activism and research opportunities, along with form-letter e-mails for those wishing to urge Rhode Island’s delegation and
