Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Congressman Steve Cohen toured the Beltline area of the Jacob’s Ladder Community Development Center Corporation project. He visited the Jacob’s Ladder teen center, community garden, and domestic abuse/ transition shelter.

Congressman Steve Cohen has introduced a bill to make student loan debt dischargeable under bankruptcy law, and his work was featured in The New York Times.

Excerpt:

If you run up big credit card bills buying a new home theater system and can’t pay it off after a few years, bankruptcy judges can get rid of the debt. They may even erase loans from a casino.

But if you borrow money to get an education and can’t afford the loan payments after a few years of underemployment, that’s another matter entirely. It’s nearly impossible to get rid of the debt in bankruptcy court, even if it’s a private loan from for-profit lenders like Citibank or the student loan specialist Sallie Mae.

This part of the bankruptcy law is little known outside education circles, but ever since it went into effect in 2005, it’s inspired shock and often rage among young adults who got in over their heads. Today, they find themselves in the same category as people who can’t discharge child support payments or criminal fines…

…“People don’t like to go through bankruptcy,” said Representative Steve Cohen, Democrat of Tennessee, who introduced the House bill that would change the rules. “It’s not like going to get a milkshake.”

Read the rest at The New York Times website!

Congressman Steve Cohen and Cohen for Congress volunteers and interns joined with the Orange Mound Civic Organization and Clean Memphis for the Orange Mound Cleanup.

Congressman Cohen, Democratic Shelby County Sheriff Candidate Randy Wade, several ministers, businesses, volunteers, the Community Enhancement Ground Crew, the Orange Mound Development Corporation, and Airways Lamar Business Association to comb the streets collecting trash and litter.

In case you missed it, here are some photographs from the Orange Mound Cleanup.

In case you couldn’t make it, here is some of what you missed:

In the News:

• Rep. Cohen Holds Headquarters Rally, Calls Herenton “Coward” (Memphis Flyer)
• Cohen Says Herenton Coward; Congressman lashes out at former mayor for ditching debate (WREG)
• Stressing unity, Cohen kicks off campaign for re-election (Commercial Appeal)

The Sierra Club has issued its 2010 Endorsements List, and their choice for Tennessee’s 9th District Congressional seat is Congressman Steve Cohen.

Congressman Cohen has long enjoyed the support of the Sierra Club, having won their endorsement in 2008 and once making the “Green List” for having the most environmentally friendly voting record in the Tennessee State Senate.

The Sierra Club is the oldest and largest environmental group in the United States. Its 1.3 million members work to promote responsible legislation designed to protect and preserve our planet’s ecosystem.

Click here to read Sierra Club’s full list of endorsements.

From the NJDC:

Since his 2006 election in Tennessee’s 9th District (Memphis), Representative Steve Cohen has championed Democratic issues such as raising the minimum wage, guaranteeing greater access to medical care for children, and lowering Medicare drug prices. Cohen has introduced groundbreaking legislation including a bill calling upon the House of Representatives to apologize for its role in allowing slavery and segregation. He also introduced legislation calling for an examination of racial disparity in the criminal justice system, as well as a bill to prohibit the use of credit checks in pre-employment screening.

Cohen’s work has been recognized by numerous organization including the NAACP, the League of Conservation Voters, and NARAL. Because of his style, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to Cohen as “the conscience of the freshman class” in 2008.

Cohen’s Memphis district is one of the most solid Democratic districts in the country. He won his last election with 88% of the vote. So, why would such a popular member of congress be concerned about his reelection?

Click here to read the rest at the NJDC site.

Environment America has issued its annual Scorecard and rated Congressman Steve Cohen’s Congressional Voting Record at 100%.

Environment America is a federation of state-based, citizen-funded environmental advocacy organizations operating in twenty-eight states and Washington, D.C. Their Scorecard is based on key votes such as the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, and the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act.

Congressman Cohen’s 100% voting record was the highest score received by any member of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation.

You can read the Environment America scorecard by clicking here.

Americans for Democratic Action have issued their Scorecard rating the top members of the House of Representatives and Senate. Congressman Steve Cohen’s voting record gave him a 100% score.

The scorecard was based on key votes on issues such as the Paycheck Equality Bill, the Troubled Assets Relief Program, and the Health Care Reform Bill.

Founded in 1947, Americans for Democratic Action were the first group to rate members of the United States Congress on their voting records.

Click here to read the ADA Congressional Scorecard.