The Rick Smith Show

#PABudget: Public School Teachers Take to the Capitol to Demand Fair Funding for School Children

Pennsylvania State Rep. James Roebuck joins Rick to talk about the latest GOP budget that some are calling Tom Corbett’s fifth budget and the weekend shenanigans that led Democrats to walk out of the house chamber.

#SCOTUS: NO! Justice John Roberts is not Taking a Left Turn, Especially in EPA Ruling

Ian Millhiser, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to talk about the latest Supreme Court decisions on the EPA and the Arizona gerrymandering case.

#SCOTUS: The Usage of the Main Lethal Injection Drug is Still Constituional, but What about the Dissenting Opinion?

Diann Rust-Tierney, Executive Director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty joins Rick to talk about today’s decision by the Supreme Court on the use of a lethal injection drug and the minority opinion that the death penalty is unconstitutional.  

#SCOTUS: Listen to How the Right Wing Media Freaked Out Over the ACA and Same Sex Marriage Decisions

Sergio Munoz, Deputy Research Director Media Matters joins Rick to discuss the media coverage of the recent SCOTUS decision on the Affordable Care Act and Same Sex Marriage.

The Rick Smith Show - 6/29/2015

Pennsylvania State Rep. James Roebuck joins Rick to talk about the latest GOP budget that some are calling Tom Corbett’s fifth budget and the weekend shenanigans that led Democrats to walk out of the house chamber.

Sergio Munoz, Deputy Research Director Media Matters joins Rick to discuss the media coverage of the recent SCOTUS decision on the Affordable Care Act and Same Sex Marriage.

Diann Rust-Tierney, Executive Director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty joins Rick to talk about today’s decision by the Supreme Court on the use of a lethal injection drug and the minority opinion that the death penalty is unconstitutional.   

Ian Millhiser, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to talk about the latest Supreme Court decisions on the EPA and the Arizona gerrymandering case.

Eric Epstein on the Confederate Flag and Kathleen Kane's likely indictment

Eric Epstein, Co-Founder and reporter at Rock the Capital joins Rick to wrap up the week in Harrisburg as the GOP lead legislature appeared more interested in distraction than governance. 

Isaiah Poole talk Our Future looking up for a more perfect union

Isaiah Poole, On-line editor at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to wrap up an interesting week in the United States Supreme Court as they decided onObamacare and Same Sex marriage. 

Jon Shelton talks Taft-Hartley and the destruction of work in America

Jon Shelton, Assistant Professor of Democracy and Justice Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay joins Rick to discuss the disastrous effects of the passage and veto override of the 1947 Taft-Hartley law and what workers need to do today to stop the destruction.

June 26 PA State Rep. Patrick Harkins on PA GOP Nonsense

State Representative Patrick Harkins joins Rick to talk about the GOP shenanigans surrounding the budget and the he and his Democratic colleagues are working to accomplish in spite of the distractions. 

#TakeDownTheFlag: New Neighbor Raises the Confederate Flag, Neighbors Block it Off by Building 12 Foot Fence

Dave Jamieson, Huffington Post reporter joins Rick to talk about the recent tragic mass murder in South Carolina and the political reaction in its aftermath. 

#SCOTUS: Will Millions Lose Their Healthcare Coverage Because of 1 Line in the ACA?

Ian Millhiser, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to discuss the potential disastrous ramifications of the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision in the King v. Burwell case.

#PaBudget: Pennsylvania GOP Preparing to Spray Some Corbett Goo Into Budget Talks

Stephen Herzenberg, Executive Director of the Keystone Research Center joins Rick to discuss the pension disaster reportedly being pursued by the PA GOP leadership and what it means for workers and taxpayers.

#StopFastTrack: Which Pennsylvnia Republican Was 1 of 2 R's to Vote Against TPA & What Can You Do to Kill it?

Mike Strausbaugh, USW congressional coordinator for the 4th Congressional District joins Rick to discuss the senate’s passage of the TPA and what it means for workers.

The Rick Smith Show - 6/23/2015

Stephen Herzenberg, Executive Director of the Keystone Research Center joins Rick to discuss the pension disaster reportedly being pursued by the PA GOP leadership and what it means for workers and taxpayers.

Mike Strausbaugh, USW congressional coordinator for the 4th Congressional District joins Rick to discuss the senate’s passage of the TPA and what it means for workers.

Ian Millhiser, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to discuss the potential disastrous ramifications of the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision in the King v. Burwell case.

Dave Jamieson, Huffington Post reporter joins Rick to talk about the recent tragic mass murder in South Carolina and the political reaction in its aftermath. 

Should Right Wing Groups Be Allowed to Use State Government to Intimidate Employees?

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chicken Press joins Rick to talk workers security in their homes and privacy in their lives in light of an aggressive push by a right wing groups of extremists attempting to silence him and intimidate his family.

#PaBudget: Pennsylvania Conservatives Make Final Push to Damage Collective Bargaining

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO joins Rick to talk about the coming week of attacks on worker’s rights, their pensions, and privatization of the state’s Wine and Spirit shops.

Is Amazon "The Place" to Get an Amazing Job?

Jessica Bruder, Author/Journalist joins Rick to discuss whether the jobs at Amazon warehouses are worth the investment of tax dollars.

#StopFastTrack: Will the #GOP Give President Obama His Fast Track Authority?

Scott N. Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing joins Rick to discuss manufacturing issues around the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Agreement.

The Rick Smith Show - 6/22/2015

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO joins Rick to talk about the coming week of attacks on worker’s rights, their pensions, and privatization of the state’s Wine and Spirit shops.

Scott N. Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing joins Rick to discuss manufacturing issues around the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Agreement.

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chicken Press joins Rick to talk workers security in their homes and privacy in their lives in light of an aggressive push by a right wing groups of extremists attempting to silence him and intimidate his family.

Jessica Bruder, Author/Journalist joins Rick to discuss whether the jobs at Amazon warehouses are worth the investment of tax dollars.

#Jeb2016: Jeb Bush Wants to Privatize Social Security 11 Years after George Failed To Do So

Lacy Crawford Jr., Communications Director for Social Security Works joins Rick to talk about Jeb!’s belief that Social Security should be privatized.