Samantha Cook

Samantha Cook worked as a reporter at Remapping Debate in 2012 to 2013. She graduated from New York University in 2012 with a B.A. with a major in journalism and sociology and a minor in Spanish.

No vote on gun control? No votes on judicial nominees? Filibuster reform coming?

Original Reporting | By Samantha Cook, By Meade Klingensmith | Legislation, Open government

How have recent developments affected the views of Senators on filibuster reform? Where do they stand now? They certainly have thought about the issue, haven't they? Well, it's really hard to get them to put their cards on the table. More

Democrats hide when asked about ending high-income loophole to assure Social Security’s future

Original Reporting | By Samantha Cook | Social Security, Taxes

Narrowing or eliminating the exclusion of earnings above $113,700 from Social Security taxation may or may not be a good idea, but it is surely a matter central to the public policy choices to be made, and is a matter of significant public interest. Nevertheless, most Democratic and Independent Senators questioned would not state their position on the issue. More

When Democrats sang a different tune

Readable Research | By Samantha Cook | Budget deficit, Politics, Taxes

25 Democratic and Independent Senators voted to continue Bush tax cuts for 99.3 percent of households. What did they say when those cuts were enacted? More

Environmental groups whistling past the graveyard?

Original Reporting | By Heather Rogers, By Samantha Cook | Environment

In the face of gains by proponents of fossil fuels, some groups are in denial, and others are hunkering down. Only a few are exploring new strategies to go on the offensive to change the now-dominant media and political formula that environmental health and sustainability must take a back seat to job creation and economic growth. More