The Rick Smith Show

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show June 28, 2016

Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach joins Rick to discuss where things are with regard to the budget in Harrisburg as the deadline grows near and to talk about his plans following the recent SCOTUS decision on abortion rights

Abe Amoros, Pennsylvania Legislative Director for LIUNA joins Rick to report the latest information from the state capital as the budget deadline draws near and if there will be a budget on time this election year.  

William Danvers, Senior Fellow specializing in national security at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to discuss the recently released dueling Benghazi reports coming out of the House Select Committee and to talk about what effects the Brexit vote will have on the UK, the US, and globe.

David Rolf, President of SEIU 775 and International Vice President of SEIU joins Rick to talk about his new book title: “The Fight for $15: The Right Wage for a Working America” and to dispel business myths surrounding a living wage for workers.

Andy Lazris, author of Curing Medicare: One Doctor’s View of How Our Health Care System Is Failing the Elderly and How to Fix It joins Rick to discuss his latest work on how to deal with health care for an aging population in the 21st century and why he believes things have gone wrong.

Senator Leach on Budget Realities and SCOTUS Abortion Decision

Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach joins Rick to discuss where things are with regard to the budget in Harrisburg as the deadline grows near and to talk about his plans following the recent SCOTUS decision on abortion rights

Abe Amoros on Low Expectations on Budget & Unemployment Fix

Abe Amoros, Pennsylvania Legislative Director for LIUNA joins Rick to report the latest information from the state capital as the budget deadline draws near and if there will be a budget on time this election year.  

David Rolf talks Minimum Wage Reality

David Rolf, President of SEIU 775 and International Vice President of SEIU joins Rick to talk about his new book title: “The Fight for $15: The Right Wage for a Working America” and to dispel business myths surrounding a living wage for workers.

William Danvers on Benghazi and Brexit

William Danvers, Senior Fellow specializing in national security at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to discuss the recently released dueling Benghazi reports coming out of the House Select Committee and to talk about what effects the Brexit vote will have on the UK, the US, and globe.

Dr. Lazris talks Curing Medicare

Andy Lazris, author of Curing Medicare: One Doctor’s View of How Our Health Care System Is Failing the Elderly and How to Fix It joins Rick to discuss his latest work on how to deal with health care for an aging population in the 21st century and why he believes things have gone wrong.

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show Jun e 27, 2016

Selina Winchester, Associate Project Director for the Eastern Region Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates & PAC joins Rick to talk about today’s US Supreme Court decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt to strike down Texas' HB 2 and what this decision means for women across the nation.

Craig Harrington, Economic Policy Program Director at Media Matters for America join Rick to dispel the right wing horror stories and myths surrounding reasonable raises for minimum wage workers and discuss the economic realities of boosting the wage floor.

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chicken Press joins Rick to follow up on reports that the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) is taking a strike authorization vote for the fall of 2016 and what this action means in the face of stalled negotiations.

Jeanette Taylor, member of Journey For Justice (J4J) joins Rick to discuss the upcoming Save Our Schools Rally on July 8 in Washington, DC and explain why she believes education is the most important issues facing the working class. 

Jitu Brown, member of Journey For Justice (J4J) joins Rick to discuss the upcoming Save Our Schools Rally on July 8 in Washington, DC and explain why she believes education is the most important issues facing the working class.

Selina Winchester on SCOTUS Abortion Decision

Selina Winchester, Associate Project Director for the Eastern Region Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates & PAC joins Rick to talk about today’s US Supreme Court decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt to strike down Texas' HB 2 and what this decision means for women across the nation.

Craig Harrington Myth-Busting Minimum Wage

Craig Harrington, Economic Policy Program Director at Media Matters for America join Rick to dispel the right wing horror stories and myths surrounding reasonable raises for minimum wage workers and discuss the economic realities of boosting the wage floor.

Kevin Mahoney Raging for Strike Authorization

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chicken Press joins Rick to follow up on reports that the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) is taking a strike authorization vote for the fall of 2016 and what this action means in the face of stalled negotiations.

Jeanette Taylor Standing Up for Children

Jeanette Taylor, member of Journey For Justice (J4J) joins Rick to discuss the upcoming Save Our Schools Rally on July 8 in Washington, DC and explain why she believes education is the most important issues facing the working class.

Jitu Brown Marching for Education

Jitu Brown, member of Journey For Justice (J4J) joins Rick to discuss the upcoming Save Our Schools Rally on July 8 in Washington, DC and explain why she believes education is the most important issues facing the working class.

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show 6-24-2016

Dave Fillman, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 13 joins Rick to explain what’s going on in Harrisburg as the State’s Constitutionally mandated budget deadline draws near.  What is the latest on Republican lead attacks on pensions, education, and health and health services, and is a bad budget on time better than a good budget late?

Aseia Glover, member of the Fight for $15 and McDonald’s employee joins Rick to call on Democratic and Republican leaders to raise the commonwealth’s minimum wage.  It has been nearly a decade since the last minimum wage increase and the 1.3 million Pennsylvania’s who would be helped by an increase to $10.10 need it now.

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to explain the shocking Brexit vote that has the U.K. leaving the European Union.  What does it mean for the EU? The UK? And the US?

Terrance Heath, Online Producer at Campaign for America's Future joins Rick for the Wingnut Week in Review.  If the House of Representatives was created by our founding fathers as a forum for the passion of the masses to rage.  It surely lived up to its founding ideal.   

Jeff Faux, Founding President and Distinguished Fellow with the Economic Policy Institute joins Rick to describe the potential fallout and possible outcome in light of the shocking Brexit vote that has the U.K. leaving the European Union.  What does it mean for the EU? The UK? And the US?

Dave FIllman on Ideological PA Budget Fight

Dave Fillman, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 13 joins Rick to explain what’s going on in Harrisburg as the State’s Constitutionally mandated budget deadline draws near.  What is the latest on Republican lead attacks on pensions, education, and health and health services, and is a bad budget on time better than a good budget late?

Aseia Glover on $15 and a Union NOW

Aseia Glover, member of the Fight for $15 and McDonald’s employee joins Rick to call on Democratic and Republican leaders to raise the commonwealth’s minimum wage.  It has been nearly a decade since the last minimum wage increase and the 1.3 million Pennsylvania’s who would be helped by an increase to $10.10 need it now.

Matias Vernengo on London Burning over Brexit

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to explain the shocking Brexit vote that has the U.K. leaving the European Union.  What does it mean for the EU? The UK? And the US?

Terrance Heath talks Wingnut Week in Review

Terrance Heath, Online Producer at Campaign for America's Future joins Rick for the Wingnut Week in Review.  If the House of Representatives was created by our founding fathers as a forum for the passion of the masses to rage.  It surely lived up to its founding ideal.   

Jeff Faux talks Brexit Challenges

Jeff Faux, Founding President and Distinguished Fellow with the Economic Policy Institute joins Rick to describe the potential fallout and possible outcome in light of the shocking Brexit vote that has the U.K. leaving the European Union.  What does it mean for the EU? The UK? And the US?

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show 6-23-2016

Ken Mash, President of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) joins Rick to discuss the looming Pennsylvania budget deadline and what his organization expects the GOP led General Assembly has in store for higher education.

Sundrop Carter, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition joins Rick to talk about today’s US Supreme Court decision, or tied decision on the Obama Administrations immigration plan and what this decision means for immigrants and their children.

Tara Culp-Ressler, Senior Editor at ThinkProgress joins Rick to talk about Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s publicity stunt to “repeal and replace” Obamacare and to examine his leadership, or lack thereof. 

Dave Jamieson, Labor Reporter at The Huffington Post joins Rick to talk about sandwich chain Jimmy John’s dropping their controversial mandate that workers sign a lengthy “Non-Compete” agreement as a condition of employment and Hillary Clinton recently picking up the AFL-CIO’s endorsement.  Does this mean labor is falling in line behind her campaign? 

Ken Mash talks Fighting for Educational Opportunity

Ken Mash, President of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) joins Rick to discuss the looming Pennsylvania budget deadline and what his organization expects the GOP led General Assembly has in store for higher education.