Saturday, July 11, 2015
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Last-Minute Assault on Wages and Workers in Wisconsin Budget
Last-Minute Assault on Wages and Workers in Wisconsin Budget
"Now the wages of 116,000 construction workers are under attack. Republicans in the legislature had tried to repeal prevailing wage through stand-alone legislation earlier this year with fake studies and misleading spin, but could not get it passed until the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity turned up the heat with a radio ad blitz targeting Republicans who had their doubts.
The proposed changes will repeal prevailing wage requirements for all municipal, school district, and local sewerage district projects and remove the determination of prevailing wages for remaining state projects from the state agency that currently administers the program. Two Republican state senators and all the Democrats opposed the changes, but every other Senate Republican toed the anti-union line and the amendment passed 17-16."
"Now the wages of 116,000 construction workers are under attack. Republicans in the legislature had tried to repeal prevailing wage through stand-alone legislation earlier this year with fake studies and misleading spin, but could not get it passed until the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity turned up the heat with a radio ad blitz targeting Republicans who had their doubts.
The proposed changes will repeal prevailing wage requirements for all municipal, school district, and local sewerage district projects and remove the determination of prevailing wages for remaining state projects from the state agency that currently administers the program. Two Republican state senators and all the Democrats opposed the changes, but every other Senate Republican toed the anti-union line and the amendment passed 17-16."
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Wisconsin GOP Seeks To Eliminate Days Off For Workers Along With The Living Wage Law
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/07/08/wisconsin-gop-seeks-to-eliminate-days-off-for-workers-along-with-the-living-wage-law/
"Wisconsin Republicans are trying to crush workers across the state under their boot heel once and for all with a budget that would take away rest days and repeal the state’s living wage law.
The state of Wisconsin once stood as a proud pro-worker state with the strongest labor laws in the nation, thanks to the hard work of strong labor unions that fought for worker’s rights, but Governor Scott Walker and his Republican allies in the state legislature want to tear that legacy apart and bury it permanently, workers be damned."
"Wisconsin Republicans are trying to crush workers across the state under their boot heel once and for all with a budget that would take away rest days and repeal the state’s living wage law.
The state of Wisconsin once stood as a proud pro-worker state with the strongest labor laws in the nation, thanks to the hard work of strong labor unions that fought for worker’s rights, but Governor Scott Walker and his Republican allies in the state legislature want to tear that legacy apart and bury it permanently, workers be damned."
“More Nixonian than Nixon”: Scott Walker’s latest scandal lays bare his shady tactics
“More Nixonian than Nixon”: Scott Walker’s latest scandal lays bare his shady tactics
"When a stealth attempt by Wisconsin Republicans to gut the state’s open records law drew national criticism last weekend, Gov. Scott Walker announced he’d push the legislature to undo the sneaky changes.
“The intended policy goal of these changes was to provide a reasonable solution to protect constituents’ privacy and to encourage a deliberative process between elected officials and their staff in developing policy,” his office declared in a statement. “It was never intended to inhibit transparent government in any way.”
Now it comes out that Walker’s office was in the thick of drafting the changes. “Legislative leaders let us know that they were interested in making changes to the open records law,” his press secretary told state reporters in an email. “In response, our staff provided input regarding these proposed changes.”
If that sounds familiar, it should. Walker has used the same dodge before, backing away from a controversial idea after it triggered public outrage, and having it turn out that he was behind the move in the first place."
"When a stealth attempt by Wisconsin Republicans to gut the state’s open records law drew national criticism last weekend, Gov. Scott Walker announced he’d push the legislature to undo the sneaky changes.
“The intended policy goal of these changes was to provide a reasonable solution to protect constituents’ privacy and to encourage a deliberative process between elected officials and their staff in developing policy,” his office declared in a statement. “It was never intended to inhibit transparent government in any way.”
Now it comes out that Walker’s office was in the thick of drafting the changes. “Legislative leaders let us know that they were interested in making changes to the open records law,” his press secretary told state reporters in an email. “In response, our staff provided input regarding these proposed changes.”
If that sounds familiar, it should. Walker has used the same dodge before, backing away from a controversial idea after it triggered public outrage, and having it turn out that he was behind the move in the first place."
Scott Walker's Office Was Part of a Sneaky Effort to Keep His Records Private
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/07/scott-walker-wisconsin-open-records
"Late on Thursday night, before the start of the holiday weekend, Republican state legislators in Wisconsin slipped wording into a bill authorizing Gov. Scott Walker's proposed budget that would have blocked access to many public records. This includes records the Walker administration is currently fighting to keep secret, which concern a controversial proposal to rewrite key parts of the Wisconsin University system's charter. Reporters and the governor's Democratic critics immediately suspected this legislative maneuver was an attempt to shield Walker, who is about to announce his presidential bid next week, from greater scrutiny.
On Friday, as the controversy over the provision escalated, Walker at first avoided discussing it. But soon Republican lawmakers who had not been part of the committee that approved the language joined the chorus of critics. Knowing that he didn't even have the support of fellow Republicans, Walker issued a joint statement with top GOP lawmakers Saturday morning stating that the language would be pulled from the budget, at least for now.
Wisconsin Republicans won't say who was responsible for the public-records-blocking measure, but a number of Wisconsin journalists and critics of the governor believe the idea may have come directly from Walker's office."
"Late on Thursday night, before the start of the holiday weekend, Republican state legislators in Wisconsin slipped wording into a bill authorizing Gov. Scott Walker's proposed budget that would have blocked access to many public records. This includes records the Walker administration is currently fighting to keep secret, which concern a controversial proposal to rewrite key parts of the Wisconsin University system's charter. Reporters and the governor's Democratic critics immediately suspected this legislative maneuver was an attempt to shield Walker, who is about to announce his presidential bid next week, from greater scrutiny.
On Friday, as the controversy over the provision escalated, Walker at first avoided discussing it. But soon Republican lawmakers who had not been part of the committee that approved the language joined the chorus of critics. Knowing that he didn't even have the support of fellow Republicans, Walker issued a joint statement with top GOP lawmakers Saturday morning stating that the language would be pulled from the budget, at least for now.
Wisconsin Republicans won't say who was responsible for the public-records-blocking measure, but a number of Wisconsin journalists and critics of the governor believe the idea may have come directly from Walker's office."
Scott Walker’s sleazy new low: The callous plot to get rid of Wisconsin’s living wage law
Scott Walker’s sleazy new low: The callous plot to get rid of Wisconsin’s living wage law
"It’s clear the college dropout doesn’t understand the history or the meaning of Independence Day, as he repeatedly uses it to shackle women and workers."
"It’s clear the college dropout doesn’t understand the history or the meaning of Independence Day, as he repeatedly uses it to shackle women and workers."
The battle over Scott Walker's records rages on—and gets stranger
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/06/1399672/-The-battle-over-Scott-Walker-s-records-rages-on-and-gets-stranger
"The background: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker got himself into some very hot water recently when he released in his latest budget effort a plan to erase the famous Wisconsin Idea from the University of Wisconsin System's mission statement as part of an effort to separate the university system from state government in a way that would allow the state to, of course, cut its funding. This proposal to gut one of the best things Wisconsin ever did went poorly, and went even worse when Walker claimed it was all some sort of unintentional mix-up, oops, only to have documents uncovered that showed Walker's office was in fact perfectly aware of the changes. This was quickly followed by lawsuits demanding the release of administration documents related to the change, since Walker seems to have been caught in (yet another) huge lie about what his office was or wasn't doing. Walker says nothing doing, because those count as "deliberative" and he shouldn't have to release documents from his administration showing how members of his administration deliberated on the changes.
Got that? Fast forward to this weekend, when the Republican-controlled legislature's Joint Finance Committee:
abruptly introduced and passed new exemptions to the open records law — including a broad provision that would explicitly create an exception for "deliberative materials." Such an exception would make it impossible for the public to see how state, local and school officials made their decisions. [...]
The public reaction was swift, with groups on the left and right decrying the attempt to stifle the public's access to government records. By Saturday, Walker and legislative leaders announced they were abandoning the plan, while continuing to evade saying who pushed for the idea in the first place."
"The background: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker got himself into some very hot water recently when he released in his latest budget effort a plan to erase the famous Wisconsin Idea from the University of Wisconsin System's mission statement as part of an effort to separate the university system from state government in a way that would allow the state to, of course, cut its funding. This proposal to gut one of the best things Wisconsin ever did went poorly, and went even worse when Walker claimed it was all some sort of unintentional mix-up, oops, only to have documents uncovered that showed Walker's office was in fact perfectly aware of the changes. This was quickly followed by lawsuits demanding the release of administration documents related to the change, since Walker seems to have been caught in (yet another) huge lie about what his office was or wasn't doing. Walker says nothing doing, because those count as "deliberative" and he shouldn't have to release documents from his administration showing how members of his administration deliberated on the changes.
Got that? Fast forward to this weekend, when the Republican-controlled legislature's Joint Finance Committee:
abruptly introduced and passed new exemptions to the open records law — including a broad provision that would explicitly create an exception for "deliberative materials." Such an exception would make it impossible for the public to see how state, local and school officials made their decisions. [...]
The public reaction was swift, with groups on the left and right decrying the attempt to stifle the public's access to government records. By Saturday, Walker and legislative leaders announced they were abandoning the plan, while continuing to evade saying who pushed for the idea in the first place."
Walker’s Attack on Open Records ‘More Than a Coincidence’
Walker’s Attack on Open Records ‘More Than a Coincidence’
"Facing an intense public backlash, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and top legislative leaders have backed down from an effort to impose controversial limits on the state’s open records law, including a provision to exempt records used during the “deliberative process” of drafting law or policy.
But a review by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism shows similarities between the proposed language, which was inserted into the budget by GOP lawmakers on Thursday, and that used by Walker and others in denying recent records requests."
"Facing an intense public backlash, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and top legislative leaders have backed down from an effort to impose controversial limits on the state’s open records law, including a provision to exempt records used during the “deliberative process” of drafting law or policy.
But a review by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism shows similarities between the proposed language, which was inserted into the budget by GOP lawmakers on Thursday, and that used by Walker and others in denying recent records requests."
Koch Brothers Are Ramping Up To Eliminate National Parks And Seize Federal Lands
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/07/08/koch-brothers-ramping-eliminate-national-parks-seize-federal-lands.html
"It is not enough for the Kochs to take Americans’ government, workplace protections, pensions, healthcare, safe roads, schools, and bridges to privatization and eventual ruin, they are jockeying even now to take over Americans’ public land with little to no outrage or push-back from the people."
"It is not enough for the Kochs to take Americans’ government, workplace protections, pensions, healthcare, safe roads, schools, and bridges to privatization and eventual ruin, they are jockeying even now to take over Americans’ public land with little to no outrage or push-back from the people."
Koch-backed group calls for end of national parks
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/06/1399603/-Koch-backed-group-calls-for-end-of-national-parks#
"It just kills the industry and its allies that there's any scrap of land that they can't get their hands, or more precisely their drilling rigs, on. National heritage, and clean air and water, be damned. This isn't about taking care of the parks that we do have. It's about stealing them."
"It just kills the industry and its allies that there's any scrap of land that they can't get their hands, or more precisely their drilling rigs, on. National heritage, and clean air and water, be damned. This isn't about taking care of the parks that we do have. It's about stealing them."
Republican Plan to Gut and Privatize Federal Highways
http://samuel-warde.com/2015/07/republican-plan-gut-privatize-federal-highways/
"It’s just another sleight of hand to shuffle money to corporate donors who will do little to fix things and everything to monetize it."
"It’s just another sleight of hand to shuffle money to corporate donors who will do little to fix things and everything to monetize it."
Fox News built a f**ked-up Frankenstein, dumb, angry and divorced from facts. Now Donald Trump will devour them
Fox News built a f**ked-up Frankenstein, dumb, angry and divorced from facts. Now Donald Trump will devour them
"Conservatism, as a practical political philosophy, is dead in this country. Sure, there are intelligent conservative voices in the whirlwind, but they’ve been overwhelmed by the xenophobic hysteria peddled by the likes of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh. These are the people who define conservatism today. These are the people who’ve poisoned the conservative brand, made it synonymous with backwardness and cultural isolation. And Fox News has been their most significant stage, the ultimate echo chamber.
As a consequence, conservatives (on the whole) are now dumber, angrier and more divorced from the facts. To the extent that Fox News has nurtured the idiocy Trump represents, they’re responsible for his political life – they made it possible. The bile spewed by Trump might as well be Fox News talking points; it’s the kind of garbage you hear every day on their programs. And because so many conservatives get their news from Fox, Republican policymakers are forced to parrot those arguments to voters. This plays well with the base, but it alienates most of the country – as it should."
"Conservatism, as a practical political philosophy, is dead in this country. Sure, there are intelligent conservative voices in the whirlwind, but they’ve been overwhelmed by the xenophobic hysteria peddled by the likes of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh. These are the people who define conservatism today. These are the people who’ve poisoned the conservative brand, made it synonymous with backwardness and cultural isolation. And Fox News has been their most significant stage, the ultimate echo chamber.
As a consequence, conservatives (on the whole) are now dumber, angrier and more divorced from the facts. To the extent that Fox News has nurtured the idiocy Trump represents, they’re responsible for his political life – they made it possible. The bile spewed by Trump might as well be Fox News talking points; it’s the kind of garbage you hear every day on their programs. And because so many conservatives get their news from Fox, Republican policymakers are forced to parrot those arguments to voters. This plays well with the base, but it alienates most of the country – as it should."
New Texas Textbooks, Slavery A ‘Side-Issue’ Of Civil War
http://samuel-warde.com/2015/07/new-texas-textbooks-slavery-side-issue-civil-war/
"For those that wonder why education needs national standards instead of state-by-state statutes, this would be why."
"For those that wonder why education needs national standards instead of state-by-state statutes, this would be why."
New Texas History Books are Going to Whitewash the Truth About the Civil War and the Confederacy
New Texas History Books are Going to Whitewash the Truth About the Civil War and the Confederacy
"they seem to care more about what they want to be real as opposed to actual reality."
"they seem to care more about what they want to be real as opposed to actual reality."
New Social Studies Textbooks In Texas Do Not Mention KKK Or Jim Crow Laws
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/07/06/new-social-studies-textbooks-in-texas-do-not-mention-kkk-or-jim-crow-laws/
"We saw it coming. We knew it was nearly inevitable. First, it was creationism in Biology textbooks. Then, it was the battle for Moses in the Social Studies textbooks, which included teaching right-wing political views as history. And finally, they’ve successfully done the impossible. The Washington Post is reporting that this fall, over five million public school students will be taught using social studies textbooks that do not so much as mention the Ku Klux Klan or Jim Crow laws. In fact, it is reported that the new Texas guidelines for American history “barely address racial segregation"."
"We saw it coming. We knew it was nearly inevitable. First, it was creationism in Biology textbooks. Then, it was the battle for Moses in the Social Studies textbooks, which included teaching right-wing political views as history. And finally, they’ve successfully done the impossible. The Washington Post is reporting that this fall, over five million public school students will be taught using social studies textbooks that do not so much as mention the Ku Klux Klan or Jim Crow laws. In fact, it is reported that the new Texas guidelines for American history “barely address racial segregation"."
Texas History Books To Minimize Slavery, Omit Jim Crow Laws And The KKK
Texas History Books To Minimize Slavery, Omit Jim Crow Laws And The KKK
"Five million public school students in Texas will begin using new social studies textbooks this fall based on state academic standards that barely address racial segregation. The state's guidelines for teaching American history also do not mention the Ku Klux Klan or Jim Crow laws."
"Five million public school students in Texas will begin using new social studies textbooks this fall based on state academic standards that barely address racial segregation. The state's guidelines for teaching American history also do not mention the Ku Klux Klan or Jim Crow laws."
Right-Wing Photshops A Picture Of Hillary In A Pathetic Attempt To Label Her A Racist (IMAGES)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/07/07/right-wing-photshops-a-picture-of-hillary-in-a-pathetic-attempt-to-label-her-a-racist-images/
"It took about two minutes to find out that the picture, taken in 1969, was photoshopped."
"It took about two minutes to find out that the picture, taken in 1969, was photoshopped."
Felon Dinesh D’Souza Spreads Fake Photo Of Hillary Clinton Posing By Confederate Flag
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/07/07/felon-dinesh-dsouza-spreads-fake-photo-hillary-clinton-posing-confederate-flag.html
"D’Souza’s film 2016: Obama’s America was splattered chock full of falsehoods about the president, so it certainly wouldn’t be beneath D’Souza to knowingly spread lies about Hillary Clinton."
"D’Souza’s film 2016: Obama’s America was splattered chock full of falsehoods about the president, so it certainly wouldn’t be beneath D’Souza to knowingly spread lies about Hillary Clinton."
Felon Dinesh D'Souza Spreads Fake Photo Of Hillary Clinton With Confederate Flag
Felon Dinesh D'Souza Spreads Fake Photo Of Hillary Clinton With Confederate Flag
"UPDATE: D'Souza did finally acknowledge that the picture was photoshopped, and decided to just attack Clinton for her looks in response instead. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones Dinesh."
"UPDATE: D'Souza did finally acknowledge that the picture was photoshopped, and decided to just attack Clinton for her looks in response instead. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones Dinesh."
Wisconsin Republicans And The Open Records Attack Everyone Saw Coming
Wisconsin Republicans And The Open Records Attack Everyone Saw Coming
"Faced with a swift and fierce backlash, Republicans Saturday abandoned a plan that would have gutted the state’s open records law."
"Faced with a swift and fierce backlash, Republicans Saturday abandoned a plan that would have gutted the state’s open records law."
Republicans Get Busted Trying to Take Down Hillary Clinton with Pure Lies
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/07/06/democrats-bust-republicans-press-phony-benghazi-emails.html
"Democrats busted Republicans for leaking yet another fake Benghazi email story to the press."
"Democrats busted Republicans for leaking yet another fake Benghazi email story to the press."
Scott Walker Tries To Use A Back Door To Get Rid Of Wisconsin’s Living Wage Law
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/07/06/3677107/scott-walker-uses-holiday-weekend-sneak-controversial-provisions-state-budget/
"Walker and Republican lawmakers have already been forced to retreat on one of them: a gutting of the state’s open records law that would have barred reporters and the public from accessing the documents that reveal how laws are written, including drafts and e-mails between state lawmakers.
But the other additions remain, including provisions that censor information about police shootings, scrap factory workers’ right to one day off per week, and completely eliminate the state’s 100-year-old definition of a “living wage,” which now says workers deserve pay that provides “minimum comfort, decency, physical and moral well-being.” This major change, which has received far less attention than the open records law rewrite, would strip the state’s Department of Workforce Development of the power to to investigate complaints that an employee is not being paid a living wage, and would replace “living wage” with “minimum wage” throughout Wisconsin’s laws."
"Walker and Republican lawmakers have already been forced to retreat on one of them: a gutting of the state’s open records law that would have barred reporters and the public from accessing the documents that reveal how laws are written, including drafts and e-mails between state lawmakers.
But the other additions remain, including provisions that censor information about police shootings, scrap factory workers’ right to one day off per week, and completely eliminate the state’s 100-year-old definition of a “living wage,” which now says workers deserve pay that provides “minimum comfort, decency, physical and moral well-being.” This major change, which has received far less attention than the open records law rewrite, would strip the state’s Department of Workforce Development of the power to to investigate complaints that an employee is not being paid a living wage, and would replace “living wage” with “minimum wage” throughout Wisconsin’s laws."
5 Despicable Right-Wing Moments This Week: Bill O’Reilly's Stupidest Statement Ever @alternet
5 Despicable Right-Wing Moments This Week: Bill O’Reilly's Stupidest Statement Ever @alternet
"4. Fox Newsian argues — with a straight face— that overtime pay actually hurts workers."
"4. Fox Newsian argues — with a straight face— that overtime pay actually hurts workers."
Fox News can’t bear the truth: Right-wing terror groups are America’s gravest threat
Fox News can’t bear the truth: Right-wing terror groups are America’s gravest threat
"Sadly, the church massacre in Charleston now ranks alongside a litany of homegrown radical attacks. They’re the type of attacks Fox News doesn’t want to focus on."
"Sadly, the church massacre in Charleston now ranks alongside a litany of homegrown radical attacks. They’re the type of attacks Fox News doesn’t want to focus on."
The GOP’s pathetic crybaby agenda: Trump, Scalia and the whiny, paranoid new face of the right
The GOP’s pathetic crybaby agenda: Trump, Scalia and the whiny, paranoid new face of the right
"Republicans have no agenda. America won't fall for culture/religion wars anymore. Petulance is all they have left"
"Republicans have no agenda. America won't fall for culture/religion wars anymore. Petulance is all they have left"
Special Prosecutors Seek To Indict Texas Attorney General For First Degree Felony Fraud
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/07/03/special-prosecutors-seek-indict-texas-attorney-general-degree-felony-fraud.html
"If Paxton is convicted of a first-degree felony, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison."
"If Paxton is convicted of a first-degree felony, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison."
Meet The Wisconsin Conservative Busted For Threatening To Kill President Obama (SCREENSHOTS)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/07/04/meet-the-wisconsin-conservative-busted-for-threatening-to-kill-president-obama-screenshots/
"a suggestion eerily similar to Tucker Carlson’s claim that the President does not deserve Secret Service protection"
"a suggestion eerily similar to Tucker Carlson’s claim that the President does not deserve Secret Service protection"
Saturday, July 4, 2015
As Walker Announces, WI GOP Moves to Gut Open Records Law
As Walker Announces, WI GOP Moves to Gut Open Records Law
"On the same day that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker announced his run for president, the Wisconsin GOP has proposed a virtual gutting of Wisconsin's open records law, long considered one of the best in the nation. The drastic changes were proposed in a last-minute, anonymous budget motion, with zero public input on the eve of a holiday weekend. The motion will be rolled into the state's massive budget bill and voted on in the coming weeks."
"On the same day that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker announced his run for president, the Wisconsin GOP has proposed a virtual gutting of Wisconsin's open records law, long considered one of the best in the nation. The drastic changes were proposed in a last-minute, anonymous budget motion, with zero public input on the eve of a holiday weekend. The motion will be rolled into the state's massive budget bill and voted on in the coming weeks."
The Obamas Show Their Awesomeness Again By Hosting A Girl Scout Campout On The WH Lawn (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/07/01/the-obamas-show-their-awesomeness-again-by-hosting-a-girl-scout-campout-on-the-wh-lawn-video/
"Fifty girls were given a fantastic experience, and once again the Obamas were shown to be the genuine, caring people that most sane Americans know that they are."
"Fifty girls were given a fantastic experience, and once again the Obamas were shown to be the genuine, caring people that most sane Americans know that they are."
Friday, July 3, 2015
The Tea Party Freak-Out Obscuring the Truth About Secret Right-Wing Money | Alternet
The Tea Party Freak-Out Obscuring the Truth About Secret Right-Wing Money | Alternet
"While liberal advocacy groups had pushed for rules on campaign financing and “dark money”—political contributions from undisclosed sources—conservatives manufactured a crisis to pressure IRS Commissioner John Koskinen into delaying a transparency rule that would apply to dark money in the 2016 election cycle."
"While liberal advocacy groups had pushed for rules on campaign financing and “dark money”—political contributions from undisclosed sources—conservatives manufactured a crisis to pressure IRS Commissioner John Koskinen into delaying a transparency rule that would apply to dark money in the 2016 election cycle."
Undeterred, Boehner Presses Forward With ACA Lawsuit Against Administration
Undeterred, Boehner Presses Forward With ACA Lawsuit Against Administration
"It will never end until we make them stop. Time to de-fund the billionaires behind the Murray litigation brigade."
"It will never end until we make them stop. Time to de-fund the billionaires behind the Murray litigation brigade."
Fox Yakker: Overtime Pay Is Just A 'Giveaway'
Fox Yakker: Overtime Pay Is Just A 'Giveaway'
"So that we're clear, let it be stated for the record that Fox News does not believe in overtime pay or a minimum wage because workers are just a bunch of leeches who are always wanting more.
Except Fox News also thinks people who don't work are leeches too, so I guess that means Fox News just prefers indentured servitude or something worse."
"So that we're clear, let it be stated for the record that Fox News does not believe in overtime pay or a minimum wage because workers are just a bunch of leeches who are always wanting more.
Except Fox News also thinks people who don't work are leeches too, so I guess that means Fox News just prefers indentured servitude or something worse."
Robert Reich: Something Good Finally Happened for Working Americans And Business Lobbies Are Freaking Out | Alternet
Robert Reich: Something Good Finally Happened for Working Americans And Business Lobbies Are Freaking Out | Alternet
"Finally, a bit of good news for hard-working Americans."
"Finally, a bit of good news for hard-working Americans."
Millions Of Workers Will Be Eligible For Overtime Pay -- Thanks, Obama!
Millions Of Workers Will Be Eligible For Overtime Pay -- Thanks, Obama!
"More good news for working people! President Obama announced plans to expand existing classifications of workers eligible for overtime pay."
"More good news for working people! President Obama announced plans to expand existing classifications of workers eligible for overtime pay."
What the New Proposed Overtime Rules Mean for Workers
What the New Proposed Overtime Rules Mean for Workers
"Overall, 3.1 million mothers and 3.2 million fathers will be guaranteed overtime pay under the new threshold, and 12.1 million children will benefit from their parents’ overtime coverage.
In 1975, the overtime salary threshold covered about 62 percent of all salaried workers–today, it only protects 8 percent. Had overtime kept pace with the 1975 level, it would be about $52,000 today adjusted for inflation, about equal to the U.S. median household income. The new salary threshold puts us back on track to reconnect workers’ wages with gains in productivity."
"Overall, 3.1 million mothers and 3.2 million fathers will be guaranteed overtime pay under the new threshold, and 12.1 million children will benefit from their parents’ overtime coverage.
In 1975, the overtime salary threshold covered about 62 percent of all salaried workers–today, it only protects 8 percent. Had overtime kept pace with the 1975 level, it would be about $52,000 today adjusted for inflation, about equal to the U.S. median household income. The new salary threshold puts us back on track to reconnect workers’ wages with gains in productivity."
Minnesota’s High Tax, High Wage, Union Economy Now #1 State To Do Business
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/minnesotas-high-tax-high-wage-union-economy-now-1-state-to-do-business/
"As Republican governors across the country destroy their economies and impoverish their own people, the states following liberal economic agendas are seeing their economies soar. CNBC recently declared Minnesota the best state for business in the nation, firmly debunking (again) trickle-down economics. Minnesota is known for it’s friendliness to organized labor, high wages, and high taxes- but opposite to everything the right wing would have you believe, Minnesota boasts a very low unemployment rate (3.8%) and high labor force participation (70.8%)."
"As Republican governors across the country destroy their economies and impoverish their own people, the states following liberal economic agendas are seeing their economies soar. CNBC recently declared Minnesota the best state for business in the nation, firmly debunking (again) trickle-down economics. Minnesota is known for it’s friendliness to organized labor, high wages, and high taxes- but opposite to everything the right wing would have you believe, Minnesota boasts a very low unemployment rate (3.8%) and high labor force participation (70.8%)."
Democratic Policies Make Minnesota America’s Top State For Business
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/06/27/democratic-policies-minnesota-americas-top-state-business.html
"An annual CNBC scorecard that rates each state on 60 measures of competitiveness finds that Democratic run Minnesota is the best state in the country for business in 2015. The same study found that while Republican-controlled states like Kansas and Arizona experienced sharp declines in their business competitiveness, Minnesota Democratic Governor Mark Dayton’s economic miracle has turned his state into the nation’s best state for businesses.
When Mark Dayton took office in 2011 he inherited a 6.2 billion dollar deficit from his Republican predecessor, Tim Pawlenty. Four years later, after passing a huge tax increase on wealthy Minnesotans, the state now has over a 2 billion dollar surplus, and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Dayton’s Minnesota is the antithesis of Sam Brownback’s failed supply-side experiment in Kansas and Scott Walker’s union busting disaster in Wisconsin.
While the CNBC study acknowledged that Minnesota’s business tax rates were relatively high, they found that other factors like a strong education system and a good quality of life, offset high taxes in making the state more business-friendly than many other states with lower corporate tax rates."
"An annual CNBC scorecard that rates each state on 60 measures of competitiveness finds that Democratic run Minnesota is the best state in the country for business in 2015. The same study found that while Republican-controlled states like Kansas and Arizona experienced sharp declines in their business competitiveness, Minnesota Democratic Governor Mark Dayton’s economic miracle has turned his state into the nation’s best state for businesses.
When Mark Dayton took office in 2011 he inherited a 6.2 billion dollar deficit from his Republican predecessor, Tim Pawlenty. Four years later, after passing a huge tax increase on wealthy Minnesotans, the state now has over a 2 billion dollar surplus, and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Dayton’s Minnesota is the antithesis of Sam Brownback’s failed supply-side experiment in Kansas and Scott Walker’s union busting disaster in Wisconsin.
While the CNBC study acknowledged that Minnesota’s business tax rates were relatively high, they found that other factors like a strong education system and a good quality of life, offset high taxes in making the state more business-friendly than many other states with lower corporate tax rates."
The Bernie Sanders Revolution Grows As 250,000 People Donate $15 Million To His Campaign
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/07/02/bernie-sanders-revolution-grows-250000-people-donate-15-million-campaign.html
"The Bernie Sanders presidential campaign announced that Sen. Sanders has raised $15 million from 250,000 Americans since April 30."
"The Bernie Sanders presidential campaign announced that Sen. Sanders has raised $15 million from 250,000 Americans since April 30."
As Sanders Draws 10,000 in Wisconsin, Support for 'Revolution' Doubles in Iowa
As Sanders Draws 10,000 in Wisconsin, Support for 'Revolution' Doubles in Iowa
"Speaking to largest crowd any campaign for president has yet seen, the field's most progressive candidate says "a grassroots movement of millions of people" must overcome power of "handful of wealthy campaign contributors"."
"Speaking to largest crowd any campaign for president has yet seen, the field's most progressive candidate says "a grassroots movement of millions of people" must overcome power of "handful of wealthy campaign contributors"."
Poll: Jeb! leads among Republicans, but Hillary crushes them all
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/01/1398282/-Poll-Jeb-leads-among-Republicans-but-Hillary-crushes-them-all
"It's an early poll and it's a national poll, which are two good reasons not to put too much stock in it as a sign of where the race will be in November 2016. But these results are not open to much question about where the race stands now."
"It's an early poll and it's a national poll, which are two good reasons not to put too much stock in it as a sign of where the race will be in November 2016. But these results are not open to much question about where the race stands now."
In Madison, Bernie Sanders Draws Largest Crowd Of 2015
In Madison, Bernie Sanders Draws Largest Crowd Of 2015
"Sanders has been attracting outsize crowds wherever he takes his unlikely presidential campaign. Five thousand came out for his kickoff rally in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont. Another 5,000 turned out in Denver, Colorado. In Minneapolis, a thousand listened from outside after the basketball arena where Sanders was speaking filled to capacity."
"Sanders has been attracting outsize crowds wherever he takes his unlikely presidential campaign. Five thousand came out for his kickoff rally in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont. Another 5,000 turned out in Denver, Colorado. In Minneapolis, a thousand listened from outside after the basketball arena where Sanders was speaking filled to capacity."
Exclusive Video Of The Historic 10,000+ Crowd At Bernie Sanders Madison Rally
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/07/01/exclusive-video-historic-10000-crowd-bernie-sanders-madison-rally.html
"Sanders received 13,000 RSVPs for his event, and he nearly doubled the previous high for any 2016 presidential candidate."
"Sanders received 13,000 RSVPs for his event, and he nearly doubled the previous high for any 2016 presidential candidate."
Kansas Issues $840 Million Debt Certificate To Cover Brownback’s Trickle Down Catastrophe
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/06/30/kansas-issues-840-debt-certificate-cover-brownbacks-trickle-catastrophe.html
"It was a mystery why Kansas voters re-elected Sam Brownback and a Republican-dominated legislature when everyone of the state’s residents were aware that the state’s financial catastrophe was due to Brownback’s failed trickle down ‘experiment.’ Still, Brownback knew that all he had to do to guarantee he would get four more years to completely decimate the state’s economy was drag out that tired old fetus to bring out the religious right vote. Maybe it will take resident’s seeing their state in bankruptcy, their roads crumbling before their eyes, and schools, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies closing down before they come to their questionable senses."
"It was a mystery why Kansas voters re-elected Sam Brownback and a Republican-dominated legislature when everyone of the state’s residents were aware that the state’s financial catastrophe was due to Brownback’s failed trickle down ‘experiment.’ Still, Brownback knew that all he had to do to guarantee he would get four more years to completely decimate the state’s economy was drag out that tired old fetus to bring out the religious right vote. Maybe it will take resident’s seeing their state in bankruptcy, their roads crumbling before their eyes, and schools, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies closing down before they come to their questionable senses."
Thursday, July 2, 2015
America’s worst governors want to be president: Jindal, Walker, Christie — can Sam Brownback be far behind
America’s worst governors want to be president: Jindal, Walker, Christie — can Sam Brownback be far behind
"when one looks at the GOP governors this cycle, it’s starting to look more and more like a “most hated governors” club, with men like Scott Walker, Chris Christie and Bobby Jindal all polling as losers in their home states—the exact opposite of what governors are supposed to bring to the table as White House candidates.
Not only are they viewed negatively by home-state voters, all would lose their home states to Hillary Clinton in the general. Christie trailed her by 23 percent in New Jersey back in May. Walker trailed her by 12 percent in Wisconsin in April. Even in deep red Louisiana, Clinton lead Jindal 44.5 to 42 percent in a recent poll, just as she had throughout most polls in the 2014 election cycle.
Give Bernie Sanders another month or two, and he’ll be beating them all, too."
"when one looks at the GOP governors this cycle, it’s starting to look more and more like a “most hated governors” club, with men like Scott Walker, Chris Christie and Bobby Jindal all polling as losers in their home states—the exact opposite of what governors are supposed to bring to the table as White House candidates.
Not only are they viewed negatively by home-state voters, all would lose their home states to Hillary Clinton in the general. Christie trailed her by 23 percent in New Jersey back in May. Walker trailed her by 12 percent in Wisconsin in April. Even in deep red Louisiana, Clinton lead Jindal 44.5 to 42 percent in a recent poll, just as she had throughout most polls in the 2014 election cycle.
Give Bernie Sanders another month or two, and he’ll be beating them all, too."
The Rise of Violent Right-Wing Extremism, Explained
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/06/right-wing-extremism-explainer-charleston-mass-shooting-terrorism
"Researchers at the US Department of Homeland Security, New America Foundation, Southern Poverty Law Center, University of Maryland, and the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point have all compiled data on right-wing extremist violence using varying criteria over different periods of time, most of them going back to the mid 1990s, when the Oklahoma City bombing riveted attention on the problem."
"Researchers at the US Department of Homeland Security, New America Foundation, Southern Poverty Law Center, University of Maryland, and the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point have all compiled data on right-wing extremist violence using varying criteria over different periods of time, most of them going back to the mid 1990s, when the Oklahoma City bombing riveted attention on the problem."
Bigoted Texas Attorney General Could Be Facing Life in Prison on First-Degree Felony Charges
Bigoted Texas Attorney General Could Be Facing Life in Prison on First-Degree Felony Charges
"new information discovered by Texas Rangers might saddle him with a first-degree felony charge linked to securities fraud, which potentially carries with it a sentence of life in prison."
"new information discovered by Texas Rangers might saddle him with a first-degree felony charge linked to securities fraud, which potentially carries with it a sentence of life in prison."
The Casual, Idiotic Racism of Modern American Conservatism | Alternet
The Casual, Idiotic Racism of Modern American Conservatism | Alternet
"this kind of historical mis-remembering is virtually a requirement for being a modern conservative in the United States."
"this kind of historical mis-remembering is virtually a requirement for being a modern conservative in the United States."
Governor Chris Christie Wants To Be President. Here’s How He Hurt New Jersey.
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/06/30/3616056/christie-announcement/
"New Jersey’s economy has taken a hit since Christie assumed office. The current 6.5 percent unemployment rate in New Jersey is worse than the national average and the state’s long-term unemployed rate is worse than 48 states. In his five years in the governor’s mansion, the state’s credit rating fell nine times, making it the second worst among the states."
"New Jersey’s economy has taken a hit since Christie assumed office. The current 6.5 percent unemployment rate in New Jersey is worse than the national average and the state’s long-term unemployed rate is worse than 48 states. In his five years in the governor’s mansion, the state’s credit rating fell nine times, making it the second worst among the states."
Let Me Address the Republicans Who Think They Can Ignore Our Supreme Court on Marriage Equality
Let Me Address the Republicans Who Think They Can Ignore Our Supreme Court on Marriage Equality
"They didn’t “ignore religion” because this case really had nothing to do with the First Amendment. What they did was rule that under the Fourteenth Amendment, these bans on same-sex marriage were discriminatory and denied millions of Americans their Constitutional right to equal protections under our laws. While that’s simplified a bit, it’s essentially a summary of how it went down. Bans on same-sex marriage violated the Constitution and were therefore overturned – the end. Except, sadly, it’s not. What Republicans are going to do now is desperately try anything they think might possibly prevent gay Americans from getting married. But when it’s all said and done, like I said earlier, they don’t have a leg to stand on here. Outside of passing a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage (which is never going to happen), anything they try to do between now and whenever they finally realized they’ve lost will be pointless.
The bottom line is - they lost.
Not only that, but the argument that marriage is a “religious institution” in this country doesn’t really make any sense. Those who oppose same-sex marriage are basing their definition of marriage on Christianity, right? So, then shouldn’t they oppose the right for anyone who’s not a Christian to get married? After all, when two atheists marry, are they taking a “vow before God” or before the state government? When two Muslims marry, they’re not abiding by the Christian definition of marriage either. A church ceremony is basically just for show as any couple can go down to a Justice of the Peace and get married whenever they want – without any ties to religion whatsoever. When it comes to the legal definition of marriage in this country, religion essentially plays no part. But even when you step outside of the political nonsense behind all of this, the truth is the overwhelming majority of Americans support same-sex marriage. The most recent Gallup poll on the issue showed an all-time high of 60 percent in support of marriage equality."
"They didn’t “ignore religion” because this case really had nothing to do with the First Amendment. What they did was rule that under the Fourteenth Amendment, these bans on same-sex marriage were discriminatory and denied millions of Americans their Constitutional right to equal protections under our laws. While that’s simplified a bit, it’s essentially a summary of how it went down. Bans on same-sex marriage violated the Constitution and were therefore overturned – the end. Except, sadly, it’s not. What Republicans are going to do now is desperately try anything they think might possibly prevent gay Americans from getting married. But when it’s all said and done, like I said earlier, they don’t have a leg to stand on here. Outside of passing a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage (which is never going to happen), anything they try to do between now and whenever they finally realized they’ve lost will be pointless.
The bottom line is - they lost.
Not only that, but the argument that marriage is a “religious institution” in this country doesn’t really make any sense. Those who oppose same-sex marriage are basing their definition of marriage on Christianity, right? So, then shouldn’t they oppose the right for anyone who’s not a Christian to get married? After all, when two atheists marry, are they taking a “vow before God” or before the state government? When two Muslims marry, they’re not abiding by the Christian definition of marriage either. A church ceremony is basically just for show as any couple can go down to a Justice of the Peace and get married whenever they want – without any ties to religion whatsoever. When it comes to the legal definition of marriage in this country, religion essentially plays no part. But even when you step outside of the political nonsense behind all of this, the truth is the overwhelming majority of Americans support same-sex marriage. The most recent Gallup poll on the issue showed an all-time high of 60 percent in support of marriage equality."
John Oliver celebrates 5 years of conservatives wrongly predicting “the end of Obamacare” with epic video montage
John Oliver celebrates 5 years of conservatives wrongly predicting “the end of Obamacare” with epic video montage
"On Sunday’s “Last Week Tonight,” John Oliver used the historic moment to take a look back at all of the conservative naysayers through the last five years who wrongly predicted that “the end of ObamaCare” was just around the corner."
"On Sunday’s “Last Week Tonight,” John Oliver used the historic moment to take a look back at all of the conservative naysayers through the last five years who wrongly predicted that “the end of ObamaCare” was just around the corner."
Supreme Court Kicks Republicans In The Gut By Giving People The Power To Stop Election Rigging
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/06/29/redistricting-case-supreme-court-gave-stop-gerrymandering.html
"The background of this case begins with a ballot measure in 2000. Fifty percent of the people in Arizona voted to remove redistricting power from the legislature and to establish the AIRC. The reason was simple: Arizonians were frustrated with a rigged electoral map. Initially, the AIRC didn’t do a very good job of drawing the electoral map. As noted by Miriam Wasser, Republicans had a super majority by the end of the decade because ”the number of registered Democrats was not reflected in the election results – somewhat comparable to how a presidential candidate who wins the popular vote but loses the Electoral College loses the entire election.”
After the 2010 census, a new AIRC was elected, and they chose a different set of mapping consultants. The Koch controlled Republicans were angry because they believed the new consultants were “too Democratic” in other words, fair.
In 2012, the Koch Republican controlled legislature filed a suit claiming Proposition 106 (the ballot measure to establish the AIRC) was an unconstitutional power grab by the people of Arizona. When, in February 2014, a three-judge panel ruled that the AIRC was constitutional, the Koch Republican controlled legislature appealed to the Supreme Court."
"The background of this case begins with a ballot measure in 2000. Fifty percent of the people in Arizona voted to remove redistricting power from the legislature and to establish the AIRC. The reason was simple: Arizonians were frustrated with a rigged electoral map. Initially, the AIRC didn’t do a very good job of drawing the electoral map. As noted by Miriam Wasser, Republicans had a super majority by the end of the decade because ”the number of registered Democrats was not reflected in the election results – somewhat comparable to how a presidential candidate who wins the popular vote but loses the Electoral College loses the entire election.”
After the 2010 census, a new AIRC was elected, and they chose a different set of mapping consultants. The Koch controlled Republicans were angry because they believed the new consultants were “too Democratic” in other words, fair.
In 2012, the Koch Republican controlled legislature filed a suit claiming Proposition 106 (the ballot measure to establish the AIRC) was an unconstitutional power grab by the people of Arizona. When, in February 2014, a three-judge panel ruled that the AIRC was constitutional, the Koch Republican controlled legislature appealed to the Supreme Court."
William Rivers Pitt | Arizona, the Supreme Court and the End of Gerrymandering
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/31663-arizona-the-supreme-court-and-the-end-of-gerrymandering
"Fifteen years ago, back in the year 2000, voters in the state of Arizona approved a ballot measure to appoint an independent commission to decide how the state's congressional districts would be re-drawn, taking that process out of the hands of the state legislature, which at the time was GOP-controlled. They did not like that.
"Gerrymander" - Verb - To manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor one party or class.
That's precisely what Arizona voters were tired of: the manipulation of district lines by partisan politicians who sought to protect elected officials who spread the butter on their side of the bread. When you have a moment, take a look at some of the grotesquely contorted district maps across the country.
Texas is a wonderful example. These districts look like Tetris pieces that were gnawed on by an angry dog ... but there is method to the seeming madness. Draw the lines just so, full in the knowledge of who votes how and where, and you can construct a congressional district that may as well have a moat along with high walls with archers standing post. Utterly unassailable in any election. In the process, you can "redistrict out" any elected officials you deem unsavory. Dennis Kucinich lost his Ohio seat in exactly this fashion. It is an old story too often repeated."
"Fifteen years ago, back in the year 2000, voters in the state of Arizona approved a ballot measure to appoint an independent commission to decide how the state's congressional districts would be re-drawn, taking that process out of the hands of the state legislature, which at the time was GOP-controlled. They did not like that.
"Gerrymander" - Verb - To manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor one party or class.
That's precisely what Arizona voters were tired of: the manipulation of district lines by partisan politicians who sought to protect elected officials who spread the butter on their side of the bread. When you have a moment, take a look at some of the grotesquely contorted district maps across the country.
Texas is a wonderful example. These districts look like Tetris pieces that were gnawed on by an angry dog ... but there is method to the seeming madness. Draw the lines just so, full in the knowledge of who votes how and where, and you can construct a congressional district that may as well have a moat along with high walls with archers standing post. Utterly unassailable in any election. In the process, you can "redistrict out" any elected officials you deem unsavory. Dennis Kucinich lost his Ohio seat in exactly this fashion. It is an old story too often repeated."
Chris Christie’s genius scheme to broaden GOP’s base: Attack voting rights!
Chris Christie’s genius scheme to broaden GOP’s base: Attack voting rights!
"Lectures about democracy are a bit rich coming from a man who has taken every available opportunity to quash accountable government — including by waging an estimated 23 court fights to keep state documents sealed. But such rhetoric is now standard GOP fare, despite an abundance of evidence indicating that the “voter fraud” epidemic is a myth — and plenty more evidence that Republican voter suppression measures have disenfranchised legitimate voters, many of them racial and ethnic minorities. These are the tactics of an overwhelmingly white party concerned not with democracy, but with self-perpetuation. And Christie, who once seemed like the figure who could broaden the GOP’s base, has now joined their lot."
"Lectures about democracy are a bit rich coming from a man who has taken every available opportunity to quash accountable government — including by waging an estimated 23 court fights to keep state documents sealed. But such rhetoric is now standard GOP fare, despite an abundance of evidence indicating that the “voter fraud” epidemic is a myth — and plenty more evidence that Republican voter suppression measures have disenfranchised legitimate voters, many of them racial and ethnic minorities. These are the tactics of an overwhelmingly white party concerned not with democracy, but with self-perpetuation. And Christie, who once seemed like the figure who could broaden the GOP’s base, has now joined their lot."
Victory for Democracy as Court Sides with Voters over 'Self-Dealing Legislators'
Victory for Democracy as Court Sides with Voters over 'Self-Dealing Legislators'
"The case, Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, challenged a state constitutional amendment adopted in 2000 by Arizona voters, which created a politically neutral commission drawing new boundaries for the state’s congressional districts every 10 years. Before the amendment, the state legislature, as in many states, had been responsible for setting and adjusting district lines."
"The case, Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, challenged a state constitutional amendment adopted in 2000 by Arizona voters, which created a politically neutral commission drawing new boundaries for the state’s congressional districts every 10 years. Before the amendment, the state legislature, as in many states, had been responsible for setting and adjusting district lines."
As Record Settlement Announced Over BP Gulf Oil Disaster, Lesson Is Clear: Clean Energy Now
As Record Settlement Announced Over BP Gulf Oil Disaster, Lesson Is Clear: Clean Energy Now
"BP and the Justice Department announced Thursday the agreement of an $18.7 billion settlement over federal, state, and local claims stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico."
"BP and the Justice Department announced Thursday the agreement of an $18.7 billion settlement over federal, state, and local claims stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico."
The oceans are in serious trouble, and there’s only one way to save them
The oceans are in serious trouble, and there’s only one way to save them
"The world’s oceans are in trouble. And when it comes to saving them, there’s only one choice to be made: either we significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions, or we don’t."
"The world’s oceans are in trouble. And when it comes to saving them, there’s only one choice to be made: either we significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions, or we don’t."
Obama Administration Takes A Big Step Forward On Marijuana Research
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/06/23/3672972/obama-admin-loosens-mj-research-restrictions/
"In April, NIDA acknowledged the findings of a St. George’s University of London study that found a reduction in tumors in mice exposed to the combination of cannabinoids, saying that future studies may lead to new medications. Domestically, science has challenged what some consider archaic reasoning for maintaining marijuana’s Schedule I status. An Emory University study conducted at the beginning of the year found that marijuana didn’t significantly affect lung function, supporting the findings of research conducted years earlier."
"In April, NIDA acknowledged the findings of a St. George’s University of London study that found a reduction in tumors in mice exposed to the combination of cannabinoids, saying that future studies may lead to new medications. Domestically, science has challenged what some consider archaic reasoning for maintaining marijuana’s Schedule I status. An Emory University study conducted at the beginning of the year found that marijuana didn’t significantly affect lung function, supporting the findings of research conducted years earlier."
Marijuana Is Now Legal in Oregon | Alternet
Marijuana Is Now Legal in Oregon | Alternet
"The Measure 91 marijuana legalization initiative approved by Oregon voters last November went into effect as of 12:01 a.m Pacific Time today."
"The Measure 91 marijuana legalization initiative approved by Oregon voters last November went into effect as of 12:01 a.m Pacific Time today."
Congressman Tries To Quietly Preserve Coal Loophole
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/06/30/3675364/coal-royalty-loophole-zinke/
"Before leaving Washington D.C. last week for a 4th of July break, a Montana Congressman quietly proposed a budget rider that would allow some of the world’s biggest coal companies to continue to dodge royalty payments owed to U.S. taxpayers."
"Before leaving Washington D.C. last week for a 4th of July break, a Montana Congressman quietly proposed a budget rider that would allow some of the world’s biggest coal companies to continue to dodge royalty payments owed to U.S. taxpayers."
The Supreme Court Just Delivered A Victory To Coal Plants That Want To Emit Unlimited Mercury
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/06/29/3673866/supreme-court-epa-mercury-pollution/
"Power plants will continue to be able to emit unlimited mercury, arsenic, and other pollutants"
"Power plants will continue to be able to emit unlimited mercury, arsenic, and other pollutants"
Big Texas Oil and Gas Torpedo a Small City's Effort to Ban Fracking — Bye Bye Local Democracy | Alternet
Big Texas Oil and Gas Torpedo a Small City's Effort to Ban Fracking — Bye Bye Local Democracy | Alternet
"Nullifying local efforts to ban fracking across the state, the law was backed by ALEC (The American Legislative Exchange Council), a nonprofit organization of conservative state legislators and private sector representatives that uses corporate contributions to draft and sell prepackaged conservative bills to state legislatures across the nation."
"Nullifying local efforts to ban fracking across the state, the law was backed by ALEC (The American Legislative Exchange Council), a nonprofit organization of conservative state legislators and private sector representatives that uses corporate contributions to draft and sell prepackaged conservative bills to state legislatures across the nation."
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