The Rick Smith Show

July 13 Ed Leavy talks Labor History

Ed Leavy stops by the show's table to talk Labor History at the AFT #Teach15

July 13 Zeph Capo President of the Houston Federation of Teachers

Zeph Capo President of the Houston Federation of Teachers joins Rick to talk about educational issues in Houston TX and what teachers need to do to reclaim their profession. 

#ConfederateTakeDown Is Political Opportunism at it's Finest

Irwin Aronson, Local Labor Attorney and show regular joins Rick to talk about the continued attacks on teachers and taxpayers and examine what Jeb Bush world looks like for workers.

#PABudget: Rick Talks To His Conservative Senator Who Claims Teachers Are Harassing Him

Pennsylvania State Senator John Eichelberger joins Rick to talk about his allegations of harassment by teachers as he runs around town.

#ConfederateFlag: Should the Flag Be Considered the "American Swastika?"

Isaiah J. Poole, Director of Online Communications at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to talk about the Confederate Flag dropping in SC, what’s going on in Greece and the recently proposed Check Schumer-Rob Portman transportation tax.

#Walker2016: Wisconsin Representatives Load Budget With 11th Hour Provisions Protecting Walker and Attacking Workers

Robert Kraig, Executive Director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin joins Rick ahead of Monday’s expected announcement by Wisconsin Governor Scott Wagner to enter the GOP Presidential race to talk about Walker’s accomplishments in WI. 

The Rick Smith Show - 7/10/2015

Irwin Aronson, Local Labor Attorney and show regular joins Rick to talk about the continued attacks on teachers and taxpayers and examine what Jeb Bush world looks like for workers.

Robert Kraig, Executive Director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin joins Rick ahead of Monday’s expected announcement by Wisconsin Governor Scott Wagner to enter the GOP Presidential race to talk about Walker’s accomplishments in WI. 

Isaiah J. Poole, Director of Online Communications at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to talk about the Confederate Flag dropping in SC, what’s going on in Greece and the recently proposed Check Schumer-Rob Portman transportation tax.

Pennsylvania State Senator John Eichelberger joins Rick to talk about his allegations of harassment by teachers as he runs around town. 

#PABudget: Is Gerrymandering and Polarization Responsible for Budget Stalemate?

G. Terry Madonna, Director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College gives his take on the budget fight in Pennsylvania and what the polling says about the Republican budget bill.      

#PaBudget: Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa Wonders When Republicans Will Vote on Tom Wolf's Big Boy Budget?

PA State Senator Jay Costa joins Rick to talk about what’s going on in the PA Senate and what to expect in the coming days and weeks.

#PAbudget: Representative Pashinski Explains What is Happening with the Budget Stalemate

State Rep Eddie Day Pashinski, joins Rick to talk about what’s going on in the PA Senate and what to expect in the coming days and weeks.

Will Wisconsin Follow Suit After Florida Was Forced to Redraw Gerrymandered Political Maps?

Former Wisconsin State Rep. Brett Hulsey joins Rick to talk about the WI Democrats finally suing over the 2011 gerrymandering and what the GOP majority has done the state. 

The Rick Smith Show - 7/9/2015

G. Terry Madonna, Director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College gives his take on the budget fight in Pennsylvania and what the polling says about the Republican budget bill.        

PA State Senator Jay Costa joins Rick to talk about what’s going on in the PA Senate and what to expect in the coming days and weeks.

State Rep Eddie Day Pashinski, joins Rick to talk about what’s going on in the PA Senate and what to expect in the coming days and weeks.

Former Wisconsin State Rep. Brett Hulsey joins Rick to talk about the WI Democrats finally suing over the 2011 gerrymandering and what the GOP majority has done the state. 

#Pabudget: Time Running Out On Pension Deform Veto. Will Governor Wolf Veto At the Last Minute?

Bill Dando, Legislative Director for AFSCME Council 13 joins Rick to talk about the latest news on the Pennsylvania budget and where things are with the pension deform passed by republicans as they hit the exits for vacation.

What Democracy? Pennsylvania Democracy Gets Poor Grades on Access to the Ballot Box & Representation

Lauren Harmon, Voting Campaign Manager at CAP Action and co-author of the report, The Health of State Democracies joins Rick to talk about the report and see how the home state is doing.

Is The #ChinaMeltdown More of a Crash or a Continual Decline From Previous Years?

Nick Bunker, Policy Analyst at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth joins Rick to talk about what’s going on in China.  Are we seeing the China breaking?

#WorkerWednesday: Worker Independent News Talks Greek Crisis, Union Solidarity and Bernie Sanders

Frank Emspak, Executive Producer at Worker’s Independent News Service joins Rick to talk about the labor news of the day.

The Rick Smith Show - 7/8/2015

Bill Dando, Legislative Director for AFSCME Council 13 joins Rick to talk about the latest news on the Pennsylvania budget and where things are with the pension deform passed by republicans as they hit the exits for vacation.

Nick Bunker, Policy Analyst at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth joins Rick to talk about what’s going on in China.  Are we seeing the China breaking?

Lauren Harmon, Voting Campaign Manager at CAP Action and co-author of the report, The Health of State Democracies joins Rick to talk about the report and see how the home state is doing.

Frank Emspak, Executive Producer at Worker’s Independent News Service joins Rick to talk about the labor news of the day.

#PaBudget: Will Governor Wolf Issue His Fourth Veto of the Week or Let Pension Reform Quietly Become Law?

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO joins Rick to talk about where things are with regard to the Pennsylvania budget and other bills passed by republican leaders on their way to the beach for vacation.

#Trump2016: Donald Trump Uses Twitter to Attack Jeb Bush's Wife and Mexican Immigrants

Kristian Ramos, Director of Communications and Outreach for Media Matters' Hispanic Media Project joins Rick to discuss media coverage around The Donald’s (Trump) comments about immigrants being rapists and drug dealers.  

EPI Economist Explains the Importance of President Obama's Overtime Rules and How They Can Benefit You

Ross Eisenbrey, Vice President of the Economic Policy Institute joins Rick to talk about President Obama’s recent directive to the Department of Labor to fix the abusive management loophole and give workers back their overtime protection.  Let your voice be heard on this issue by commenting here.