American Banker
By Preeti Vissa

It’s hard to pin down precise numbers, but anecdotal reports in news outlets across the country suggest that hundreds of thousands of Americans responded to “National Transfer Day” campaign by switching their deposits from major banks to credit unions.

But did those consumers accomplish what the campaign’s supporters wanted — to vote with their dollars for institutions with more concern and responsibility for their communities?

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Politico Pro
By By Kim Hart

AT&T’s reported last-gasp effort to salvage its T-Mobile takeover isn’t likely to appease the Justice Department, another sign that the beleaguered $39 billion deal is on life support.

AT&T is preparing to offer DOJ to divest as much as 40 percent of T-Mobile USA’s assets, Bloomberg reported Friday. But such a concession would likely still fail to satisfy antitrust concerns, a person knowledgeable of the government’s position told POLITICO.

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Contact: Bruce Mirken, Greenlining Institute Media Relations Coordinator, 510-926-4022; 415-846-7758 (cell);

Stall Tactic With Regulators Would Be Damaging to All, Greenlining Institute Says

BERKELEY, CALIFORNA – Communities facing harm from AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile watched with concern over the Thanksgiving weekend as the company publicly sparred with the Federal Communications Commission over the implications of AT&T’s Thanksgiving morning withdrawal of its merger application, including whether the FCC can proceed with its administrative law case.

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Huffington Post
By Preeti Vissa

Why are top executives at government-backed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac getting millions in bonuses while struggling homeowners get little or no help?

I’ve written before about the need for principal reduction to help homeowners fighting to keep their homes. Not only would this aid millions of Americans caught in difficult circumstances they didn’t create, it would shore up the weak housing market and boost the whole economy. I’m hardly alone: a large collection of financial experts and officials, including California Attorney General Kamala Harris and a large group of members of Congress have called for principal reduction.

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Huffingtonpost
By Michael McAuliff

WASHINGTON — The nail barely thudded into the coffin of Congress’ failed super committee Monday before all sides launched a barrage of blame, signaling what may be a year-long showdown over fiscal responsibility and fairness amid the Occupy Wall Street movement.

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Contact: Bruce Mirken, Greenlining Institute Media Relations Coordinator, 510-926-4022; 415-846-7758 (cell)

Committee Members Who Refused to Accept Bad Deal Deserve Applause, Greenlining Institute Says

WASHINGTON – Instead of hand-wringing over the supposed “failure” of the congressional deficit committee, ordinary Americans should applaud committee members who refused to make a bad deal, policy experts at The Greenlining Institute said today.

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Contact: Bruce Mirken, Greenlining Institute Media Relations Coordinator, 510-926-4022; 415-846-7758 (cell)

Goal Could Be Achieved Without Cutting Vital Programs; “No Deal Better Than a Bad Deal,” Greenlining Institute Says

WASHINGTON – Deadlock among members of the congressional “super committee,” indicated in several recent news reports, may actually be the best possible outcome, policy experts at The Greenlining Institute said today.

The committee, tasked with finding $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions over the next decade, has reportedly considered substantial cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and other vital programs but relatively little in the way of new tax revenues.

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PR Group
By Dianne Anderson

Current or former homeowners who were duped by lenders, and now may be just barely hanging onto their sky-high mortgages, should watch for a letter soon to help them recoup some of their losses incurred at the hands of big banks and loan servicers.

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The Progressive
By Orson Aguilar

I wish all Americans could have seen firsthand the amazing crowd at the Occupy Oakland general strike Nov. 2. Contrary to media stereotypes, this was America — young, old, professional, working-class, black, white, Latino, Asian, gay, straight, lawyers, Ph.D.s, people who barely made it through high school, you name it — and they came for a purpose.

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Capitol Weekly
By Alisen Boada

There’s NOT an app for that – but there probably should be.

California has until 2014 to create a system for enrolling its 4.7 million uninsured and underinsured citizens who are eligible for new benefits under the federal Affordable Healthcare Act. The state’s powerful Health Benefit Exchange Board is working to create a web portal with some ambitious goals: allowing Californians to check their healthcare eligibility, compare cost options, and enroll in an insurance plan, all in real time over the Internet.

But there’s a problem.

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