Supreme Court shuts down Scott Walker: Today’s ultrasound decision is a big defeat for anti-choice warriors
"The GOP contender thinks forced ultrasounds are "cool," but the justices just dealt the movement a big setback"
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
The Republican Party Has Built its Foundation By Embracing the Worst Parts of Our Society
The Republican Party Has Built its Foundation By Embracing the Worst Parts of Our Society
"Looking at the Republican party, we see a group of people who build their ideologies upon:
Opposing the government.
Fear and paranoia.
Religious extremism.
Bigotry.
Sexism.
Intolerance.
And that’s just to name a few things."
"Looking at the Republican party, we see a group of people who build their ideologies upon:
Opposing the government.
Fear and paranoia.
Religious extremism.
Bigotry.
Sexism.
Intolerance.
And that’s just to name a few things."
Scott Walker’s Toxic Contempt for Women
http://www.progressive.org/news/2015/06/188176/scott-walker’s-toxic-contempt-women
"Former state Sen. Glenn Grothman, who once proposed defining single motherhood as a form of child abuse, strolled through the hearing room during one extended late-night session, saying he “just wanted to see what the weirdos look like.”
They look like your mother, your grandmother, your favorite teacher."
"Former state Sen. Glenn Grothman, who once proposed defining single motherhood as a form of child abuse, strolled through the hearing room during one extended late-night session, saying he “just wanted to see what the weirdos look like.”
They look like your mother, your grandmother, your favorite teacher."
California Republican Blames Drought Conditions on Abortion and Liberals
http://thedailybanter.com/2015/06/california-republican-blames-drought-conditions-on-abortion-and-liberals/
"Grove will go on with her career in public service with this kind of unmitigated nutbaggery informing her legislation as well as her votes. In the year 2015, there are way too many politicians mainstreaming this silliness in the name of oppressing women, the LGBT community or anyone else who Grover condemns as oogy. Being wrong on the issues is one thing, but selling that wrongness while suggesting one has special knowledge of God’s decision-making process is batsh*t crazy."
"Grove will go on with her career in public service with this kind of unmitigated nutbaggery informing her legislation as well as her votes. In the year 2015, there are way too many politicians mainstreaming this silliness in the name of oppressing women, the LGBT community or anyone else who Grover condemns as oogy. Being wrong on the issues is one thing, but selling that wrongness while suggesting one has special knowledge of God’s decision-making process is batsh*t crazy."
Why Do Republican Officials Keep Partnering With Christian-Nation Extremist David Lane? | Right Wing Watch
Why Do Republican Officials Keep Partnering With Christian-Nation Extremist David Lane? | Right Wing Watch
"All of Lane’s events are designed to promote conservative GOP candidates by introducing them to networks of politically engaged conservative pastors who are willing to turn their churches into GOTV operations on behalf of the right kind of right-wing candidate."
"All of Lane’s events are designed to promote conservative GOP candidates by introducing them to networks of politically engaged conservative pastors who are willing to turn their churches into GOTV operations on behalf of the right kind of right-wing candidate."
The Religious Right’s Full Page Denunciation of the United States Constitution
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/06/15/religious-rights-full-page-denunciation-united-states-constitution.html
"As theocracy arrives in North Carolina and Michigan, the Religious Right, going with its penchant for hyperbolic full-page ads in major newspapers, publicly announced last week that if forced to choose between Bible and Constitution, the Constitution will lose.
Then, almost as though begging us to laugh at them, they used their various propaganda organs like the Tea Party, The Catholic Beat, Christian Examiner, World Net Daily, and so forth, to announce how heroic and great they are for putting their unconstitutional AND unbiblical beliefs on full display."
"As theocracy arrives in North Carolina and Michigan, the Religious Right, going with its penchant for hyperbolic full-page ads in major newspapers, publicly announced last week that if forced to choose between Bible and Constitution, the Constitution will lose.
Then, almost as though begging us to laugh at them, they used their various propaganda organs like the Tea Party, The Catholic Beat, Christian Examiner, World Net Daily, and so forth, to announce how heroic and great they are for putting their unconstitutional AND unbiblical beliefs on full display."
The 5 Biggest Lies Conservative “Christians” Tell About Themselves
The 5 Biggest Lies Conservative “Christians” Tell About Themselves
"3. They care about the poor and income inequality: This one might be my favorite. Republicans are constantly trying to gut programs that help the most needy among us, while simultaneously painting them as “lazy moochers,” while also opposing raising the minimum wage – yet they’re unapologetic about their support for massive tax breaks for the richest among us. They’re literally trying to convince us that the “solution” to income inequality is more of the same policies that caused it to begin with. And what are those polices? The ones that make the rich even richer at the expense of everyone else."
"3. They care about the poor and income inequality: This one might be my favorite. Republicans are constantly trying to gut programs that help the most needy among us, while simultaneously painting them as “lazy moochers,” while also opposing raising the minimum wage – yet they’re unapologetic about their support for massive tax breaks for the richest among us. They’re literally trying to convince us that the “solution” to income inequality is more of the same policies that caused it to begin with. And what are those polices? The ones that make the rich even richer at the expense of everyone else."
GOP-Fox Pundit Finds Lying About Hillary Much Harder On CNN
GOP-Fox Pundit Finds Lying About Hillary Much Harder On CNN
"Hill got in the last word and Lisa Boothe was left looking like a shallow mouthpiece for the real hypocrites: the GOP."
"Hill got in the last word and Lisa Boothe was left looking like a shallow mouthpiece for the real hypocrites: the GOP."
Report: Fox Boss Roger Ailes Leaning Towards Scott Walker, Helped Edit Special Based On Anti-Clinton Book
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/06/12/report-fox-boss-roger-ailes-leaning-towards-sco/203983
"A report from New York magazine indicates that Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes is leaning towards Gov. Scott Walker for the Republican presidential nomination, while personally involving himself in the network's attacks on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton."
"A report from New York magazine indicates that Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes is leaning towards Gov. Scott Walker for the Republican presidential nomination, while personally involving himself in the network's attacks on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton."
Florida House rejects Medicaid expansion again, but passes sweet insurance deal for themselves
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/12/1392824/-Florida-House-rejects-Medicaid-expansion-again-but-passes-sweet-insurance-deal-for-themselves
"How low? Really low, as in "$8.34 a month for individual coverage and $30 a month for family coverage." That's for the high-level state employees, like Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, legislative staff and various management level state employees."
"How low? Really low, as in "$8.34 a month for individual coverage and $30 a month for family coverage." That's for the high-level state employees, like Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, legislative staff and various management level state employees."
Erick Erickson Defends ALEC, Attacks 11Alive For Investigating Secretive Group
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/06/12/erick-erickson-defends-alec-attacks-11alive-for/203985
"Following an investigation by Atlanta's 11Alive into the inner workings of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) -- the secretive organization that brings together corporate lobbyists and state legislators to draft model legislation businesses want to see passed - RedState editor-and-chief, Fox News contributor, and Atlanta-based radio host Erick Erickson gave an ALEC spokesman a platform to deflect questions raised by the report and used his own microphone to question the investigative reporter's character."
"Following an investigation by Atlanta's 11Alive into the inner workings of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) -- the secretive organization that brings together corporate lobbyists and state legislators to draft model legislation businesses want to see passed - RedState editor-and-chief, Fox News contributor, and Atlanta-based radio host Erick Erickson gave an ALEC spokesman a platform to deflect questions raised by the report and used his own microphone to question the investigative reporter's character."
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Trickle-down’s middle-class massacre: Failure of conservative economics should discredit these bankrupt ideas forever
Trickle-down’s middle-class massacre: Failure of conservative economics should discredit these bankrupt ideas forever
"the trickle-down worldview has impacted policymaking for more than three decades. Not only is trickle-down still lodged firmly in place, but since the Great Recession, adherents of supply side have doubled down on their policies. The rhetoric supply-siders use may be shifting to be more supportive of the middle class, but their policies have gotten more extreme.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney ran against Obama in 2012 by proposing tax cuts for the wealthy that were far larger than the cuts enacted by President George W. Bush. The budget proposal by the House Republicans in 2013 would have provided bigger tax cuts to the wealthy than even the Romney plan. Further, these federal proposals for additional tax cuts for the rich would likely have required tax increases on the middle class, according to a number of analyses. Similarly, Republican governors like North Carolina’s Pat McCrory, Kansas’s Sam Brownback, Wisconsin’s Scott Walker, and New Jersey’s Chris Christie have recently proposed policies that cut taxes for businesses and the wealthy, but raise them on the middle class. In contrast, supply-side proposals of the past cut taxes most dramatically for the wealthy, but still reduced taxes for most everyone.
That supply-side supporters have become even more dogmatic in the aftermath of the Great Recession is not particularly surprising. American history shows that proponents of the dominant theory often do not admit the error of their ways, but rather become even more strident as evidence mounts that their logic has failed."
"the trickle-down worldview has impacted policymaking for more than three decades. Not only is trickle-down still lodged firmly in place, but since the Great Recession, adherents of supply side have doubled down on their policies. The rhetoric supply-siders use may be shifting to be more supportive of the middle class, but their policies have gotten more extreme.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney ran against Obama in 2012 by proposing tax cuts for the wealthy that were far larger than the cuts enacted by President George W. Bush. The budget proposal by the House Republicans in 2013 would have provided bigger tax cuts to the wealthy than even the Romney plan. Further, these federal proposals for additional tax cuts for the rich would likely have required tax increases on the middle class, according to a number of analyses. Similarly, Republican governors like North Carolina’s Pat McCrory, Kansas’s Sam Brownback, Wisconsin’s Scott Walker, and New Jersey’s Chris Christie have recently proposed policies that cut taxes for businesses and the wealthy, but raise them on the middle class. In contrast, supply-side proposals of the past cut taxes most dramatically for the wealthy, but still reduced taxes for most everyone.
That supply-side supporters have become even more dogmatic in the aftermath of the Great Recession is not particularly surprising. American history shows that proponents of the dominant theory often do not admit the error of their ways, but rather become even more strident as evidence mounts that their logic has failed."
Marco Rubio And Five Members Of Congress Voted For Florida's 'Scarlet Letter' Adoption Bill
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/11/florida-adoption-bill_n_7565046.html
"Sen. Marco Rubio (R) was among the Florida state legislators who voted for the so-called "Scarlet Letter" law in 2001 that required single mothers to publish their sexual histories in the newspaper in order to place their babies up for adoption."
"Sen. Marco Rubio (R) was among the Florida state legislators who voted for the so-called "Scarlet Letter" law in 2001 that required single mothers to publish their sexual histories in the newspaper in order to place their babies up for adoption."
Walker, Abele Want To Build Arena On The Backs Of The Poor
Walker, Abele Want To Build Arena On The Backs Of The Poor
"Scott Walker, as he usually does, caved in to the wealthy special interests, and came up with a cockamamie scheme on how he would borrow money to pay for the state's share - almost the same amount he cut from higher education - and the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County would chip in the rest."
"Scott Walker, as he usually does, caved in to the wealthy special interests, and came up with a cockamamie scheme on how he would borrow money to pay for the state's share - almost the same amount he cut from higher education - and the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County would chip in the rest."
Kansas Governor Begs Legislature To Fix His Tax Mess
Kansas Governor Begs Legislature To Fix His Tax Mess
"Governor Brownback. You rolled around in the Koch mud, and now you're stuck in it."
"Governor Brownback. You rolled around in the Koch mud, and now you're stuck in it."
Killing Medicare on back burner as Paul Ryan pushes 'tax reform'
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/10/1392061/-Killing-Medicare-on-back-burner-as-Paul-Ryan-pushes-tax-reform
"A key problem Republicans face with any new Paul Ryan plan is that voters know a little too much about the last Paul Ryan plan, and don't like what they know. Sure, this time it will include big promises of tax cuts (bigger for rich people than for you, but Republicans will have a talking point to obscure that), but you can confidently expect Democrats to remind voters—correctly!—that this is a plan coming from a guy whose end game is privatizing Medicare and Social Security."
"A key problem Republicans face with any new Paul Ryan plan is that voters know a little too much about the last Paul Ryan plan, and don't like what they know. Sure, this time it will include big promises of tax cuts (bigger for rich people than for you, but Republicans will have a talking point to obscure that), but you can confidently expect Democrats to remind voters—correctly!—that this is a plan coming from a guy whose end game is privatizing Medicare and Social Security."
Watch: Paul Ryan’s Obamacare Hypocrisy Gets DESTROYED In Two Minutes
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/watch-paul-ryans-obamacare-hypocrisy-gets-destroyed-in-two-minutes/
"The Republican House has made it their number one priority to deny healthcare to millions of Americans"
"The Republican House has made it their number one priority to deny healthcare to millions of Americans"
The high price of being uninsured in for-profit America
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/12/1391895/-The-high-price-of-being-uninsured-in-for-profit-America
"Most of these hospitals are in red states that didn't take Medicaid expansion and where subsidies for health insurance purchased through Obamacare are jeopardized by the lawsuit the Supreme Court will decide by the end of the month. Which means that a lot of these hospitals are in states that already still have high uninsured rates. Rates that will increase if the Supreme Court rules against the administration and the Republican Congress refuses to act. But hey, that's just more profit to Community Health Systems, which operates 25 of the hospitals on the list, and Hospital Corporation of America, which has 14 of the others. Republicans will say that's just how it works in the world's greatest healthcare system."
"Most of these hospitals are in red states that didn't take Medicaid expansion and where subsidies for health insurance purchased through Obamacare are jeopardized by the lawsuit the Supreme Court will decide by the end of the month. Which means that a lot of these hospitals are in states that already still have high uninsured rates. Rates that will increase if the Supreme Court rules against the administration and the Republican Congress refuses to act. But hey, that's just more profit to Community Health Systems, which operates 25 of the hospitals on the list, and Hospital Corporation of America, which has 14 of the others. Republicans will say that's just how it works in the world's greatest healthcare system."
Unease growing in red states over Supreme Court Obamacare decision
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/09/1391861/-Unease-growing-in-red-states-over-Supreme-Court-Obamacare-nbsp-decision#
"Gwinnett County, Georgia, is one of those places in deep-red America where there's a growing sense of doom about what the Supreme Court might do in a few weeks to Obamacare, when it decides King v. Burwell. About one in eight residents of the county gets insurance through Obamacare. They got that insurance on the federal exchange, because the state's Republican leadership refused to establish one for the state."
"Gwinnett County, Georgia, is one of those places in deep-red America where there's a growing sense of doom about what the Supreme Court might do in a few weeks to Obamacare, when it decides King v. Burwell. About one in eight residents of the county gets insurance through Obamacare. They got that insurance on the federal exchange, because the state's Republican leadership refused to establish one for the state."
PERRspectives: New School Voucher Laws Put Public Education in Peril
PERRspectives: New School Voucher Laws Put Public Education in Peril
"The result won't just be a massive taxpayer subsidy for more affluent families that regardless would have chosen private schools for their children. As the recent record shows, voucher programs don't just strangle funding for public schools, they provide life-saving cash injections into some dubious academies that would otherwise fail.
In Georgia, the state's $2,500 tax credit for donations to "nonprofit scholarship groups" to help poor and needy children turned into something else altogether. As the New York Times reported in 2012, "Most of the private schools are religious" and "nearly a quarter of the participating schools in Georgia require families to make a profession of religious faith, according to their Web sites." In the first year of Governor Bobby Jindal's voucher program in Louisiana, almost half of students attended private schools with a D or F rating. As the New Orleans Times Picayune detailed in November 2014, the voucher students performed poorly"
"The result won't just be a massive taxpayer subsidy for more affluent families that regardless would have chosen private schools for their children. As the recent record shows, voucher programs don't just strangle funding for public schools, they provide life-saving cash injections into some dubious academies that would otherwise fail.
In Georgia, the state's $2,500 tax credit for donations to "nonprofit scholarship groups" to help poor and needy children turned into something else altogether. As the New York Times reported in 2012, "Most of the private schools are religious" and "nearly a quarter of the participating schools in Georgia require families to make a profession of religious faith, according to their Web sites." In the first year of Governor Bobby Jindal's voucher program in Louisiana, almost half of students attended private schools with a D or F rating. As the New Orleans Times Picayune detailed in November 2014, the voucher students performed poorly"
It’s official: Louisiana public schools are using the Book of Genesis in high school science classes
It’s official: Louisiana public schools are using the Book of Genesis in high school science classes
"Louisianans can now get a 19th Century education to accompany their 19th century economy"
"Louisianans can now get a 19th Century education to accompany their 19th century economy"
Friday, June 12, 2015
Montana Republican Uses the Story of Noah’s Ark to Justify Why Americans Don’t Need Social Security
Montana Republican Uses the Story of Noah’s Ark to Justify Why Americans Don’t Need Social Security
"Once upon a time these sort of wackos could easily be ignored because nobody was really paying attention to them, let alone electing them to public office. But since the rise of the tea party, these crazy people now have a voice."
"Once upon a time these sort of wackos could easily be ignored because nobody was really paying attention to them, let alone electing them to public office. But since the rise of the tea party, these crazy people now have a voice."
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Sam Brownback guts Kansas even more: This is life under America’s worst Republican governor
Sam Brownback guts Kansas even more: This is life under America’s worst Republican governor
"Brownback’s well-paid tax consultant, the legendary economist Laffer, promised Kansans that the cuts would pay for themselves in supercharged economic growth. At the time, a report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy showed that Laffer had things backward: over the previous decade, economic output per person had grown significantly faster in the nine states levying a “high rate” income tax than it had grown in the nine states with no income tax at all. Without the promised faster growth, there was simply no way that cutting taxes could bring in more revenue, they would only bring in mountains of debt, as Reagan had done nationally when he first took Laffer’s advice in 1981.
As Brownback’s tax-cutting fantasies predictable failed last year, there was a wave of hope that the state might change direction, by voting Brownback out. In March, a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities warned that “Kansas is a cautionary tale, not a model,” explaining that “As other states recover from the recent recession and turn toward the future, Kansas’ huge tax cuts have left that state’s schools and other public services stuck in the recession, and declining further — a serious threat to the state’s long-term economic vitality.
Meanwhile, promises of immediate economic improvement have utterly failed to materialize.” The damage was inescapable—in March, the State Supreme Court ruled, in Gannon vs. State of Kansas, that under Brownback (in part resulting from his tax cuts) state school funding cuts had violated the state constitution."
"Brownback’s well-paid tax consultant, the legendary economist Laffer, promised Kansans that the cuts would pay for themselves in supercharged economic growth. At the time, a report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy showed that Laffer had things backward: over the previous decade, economic output per person had grown significantly faster in the nine states levying a “high rate” income tax than it had grown in the nine states with no income tax at all. Without the promised faster growth, there was simply no way that cutting taxes could bring in more revenue, they would only bring in mountains of debt, as Reagan had done nationally when he first took Laffer’s advice in 1981.
As Brownback’s tax-cutting fantasies predictable failed last year, there was a wave of hope that the state might change direction, by voting Brownback out. In March, a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities warned that “Kansas is a cautionary tale, not a model,” explaining that “As other states recover from the recent recession and turn toward the future, Kansas’ huge tax cuts have left that state’s schools and other public services stuck in the recession, and declining further — a serious threat to the state’s long-term economic vitality.
Meanwhile, promises of immediate economic improvement have utterly failed to materialize.” The damage was inescapable—in March, the State Supreme Court ruled, in Gannon vs. State of Kansas, that under Brownback (in part resulting from his tax cuts) state school funding cuts had violated the state constitution."
Senate Republicans Just Literally Voted Against Clean Water
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/06/11/senate-republicans-just-literally-voted-against-clean-water/
"Pro-pollution Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works committee voted 11-9 Wednesday to pass a bill that undermines the administration’s recently announced protections against polluting our nation’s waterways.
In a straight party-line vote, Republicans once again displayed their wanton disregard for what Americans want: Clean water."
"Pro-pollution Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works committee voted 11-9 Wednesday to pass a bill that undermines the administration’s recently announced protections against polluting our nation’s waterways.
In a straight party-line vote, Republicans once again displayed their wanton disregard for what Americans want: Clean water."
Billionaire Republican to Montana: Old people should be more like Noah and build arks until they die
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/10/1392152/-Billionaire-Republican-to-Montana-Old-people-should-be-more-like-Noah-and-build-arks-until-they-die#
"A billionaire claiming the "concept of retirement is not biblical"? What could possibly go wrong?"
"A billionaire claiming the "concept of retirement is not biblical"? What could possibly go wrong?"
8 Ways the Supreme Court Has Been Destroying American Democracy | Alternet
8 Ways the Supreme Court Has Been Destroying American Democracy | Alternet
"Most people have little idea how badly the U.S. Supreme Court has damaged American democracy.
It’s not just watching a handful of billionaires drive the Republicans’ 2016 presidential contest from the inside out, as a result of the Court’s Citizens United ruling in 2010 and others that followed. There’s been a long line of anti-democratic rulings going back decades that have narrowed who can—and cannot—participate in politics, from citizens to candidates to parties and reformers."
"Most people have little idea how badly the U.S. Supreme Court has damaged American democracy.
It’s not just watching a handful of billionaires drive the Republicans’ 2016 presidential contest from the inside out, as a result of the Court’s Citizens United ruling in 2010 and others that followed. There’s been a long line of anti-democratic rulings going back decades that have narrowed who can—and cannot—participate in politics, from citizens to candidates to parties and reformers."
House Republicans sneak net neutrality attack into appropriations bill
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/10/1392153/-House-Republicans-sneak-net-neutrality-attack-into-appropriations-bill
"They're putting this provision deep inside a spending bill where it's going to be hard to carve out, attempting to do it as stealthily as possible. That could be because they don't want the public to know that they're doing it, because they're aware that the public overwhelmingly supports net neutrality. That includes conservative Republicans, 83 percent of whom support the concepts behind net neutrality."
"They're putting this provision deep inside a spending bill where it's going to be hard to carve out, attempting to do it as stealthily as possible. That could be because they don't want the public to know that they're doing it, because they're aware that the public overwhelmingly supports net neutrality. That includes conservative Republicans, 83 percent of whom support the concepts behind net neutrality."
Kansas Governor Declares War On The State Court System
http://samuel-warde.com/2015/06/kansas-governor-declares-war-kansas-courts/
"He even imported Arthur Laffer, the man who invented “trickle-down” economics, to sell it to the suckers, I mean citizens. The story line was that in eliminating taxes for 200,000 businesses and slashing the tax rates for the wealthy, businesses would flock to Kansas, creating jobs and more disposable income. Thus they would make up the difference in sales taxes. While all this was transpiring, Kansas would keep the budget balanced by cutting unnecessary expenditures in areas like social services, infrastructure, highways and education.
For the 2014 fiscal year, tax collections came in $333 million short of expectations. The Kansas legislature had cut $150 million in those “unnecessary expenditures,” but total collections were down $700 million from the previous year. The state had to raid the reserve fund to the tune of $320 million to balance the books.
In May, Moody lowered Kansas’ credit rating from Aa1 to Aa2, citing sluggish recovery and risky tax plan. In August, Standard and Poor’s followed suit by lowering Kansas’ bond rating from AA+ to AA, citing the state’s unbalanced budget caused by the 2012 tax cuts.
This year is even worse. Even wiping out that $380 million remaining in the reserve fund, Kansas is coming up $279 million short. According to the Kansas constitution, the books must be balanced and they’ve got less than three weeks to do it. The bell tolls at midnight, June 30.
Oh, and next year the shortfall is expected to be in the neighborhood of $800 million and the reserve fund cupboard is bare!"
"He even imported Arthur Laffer, the man who invented “trickle-down” economics, to sell it to the suckers, I mean citizens. The story line was that in eliminating taxes for 200,000 businesses and slashing the tax rates for the wealthy, businesses would flock to Kansas, creating jobs and more disposable income. Thus they would make up the difference in sales taxes. While all this was transpiring, Kansas would keep the budget balanced by cutting unnecessary expenditures in areas like social services, infrastructure, highways and education.
For the 2014 fiscal year, tax collections came in $333 million short of expectations. The Kansas legislature had cut $150 million in those “unnecessary expenditures,” but total collections were down $700 million from the previous year. The state had to raid the reserve fund to the tune of $320 million to balance the books.
In May, Moody lowered Kansas’ credit rating from Aa1 to Aa2, citing sluggish recovery and risky tax plan. In August, Standard and Poor’s followed suit by lowering Kansas’ bond rating from AA+ to AA, citing the state’s unbalanced budget caused by the 2012 tax cuts.
This year is even worse. Even wiping out that $380 million remaining in the reserve fund, Kansas is coming up $279 million short. According to the Kansas constitution, the books must be balanced and they’ve got less than three weeks to do it. The bell tolls at midnight, June 30.
Oh, and next year the shortfall is expected to be in the neighborhood of $800 million and the reserve fund cupboard is bare!"
House GOP would fund Amtrak crash investigations, but not crash avoidance
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/10/1392042/-House-GOP-would-fund-Amtrak-crash-investigations-but-not-crash-avoidance
"House Republicans offered a master class in the Republican agenda Tuesday, cutting Amtrak funding while showing that their safety priorities are on the side of appearances, not actual safety"
"House Republicans offered a master class in the Republican agenda Tuesday, cutting Amtrak funding while showing that their safety priorities are on the side of appearances, not actual safety"
Budget Cuts In Illinois Could Leave Hundreds Of Thousands Without Kidney Dialysis
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/06/05/3666733/medicaid-cuts-will-affect-kidney-dialysis-patients/
"If Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s proposal to cut Medicaid dollars comes to fruition, kidney dialysis patients in 40 percent of the state’s treatment centers will no longer receive the proper care they often receive."
"If Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s proposal to cut Medicaid dollars comes to fruition, kidney dialysis patients in 40 percent of the state’s treatment centers will no longer receive the proper care they often receive."
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Thanks To The Obama Administration, Millions Will See Their Wages Raised Because Of Overtime
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/06/08/thanks-to-the-obama-administration-millions-will-see-their-wages-raised-because-of-overtime/
"Once again, President Obama is doing what Congress can’t do because of Republican obstructionism. Thanks to the Obama Administration, the Labor Department will soon be raising the current overtime threshold from $23,660 to as much as $52,000 which will extend time and a half overtime pay to millions of hard-working American employees. Currently, those who make under $23,660 are eligible to receive overtime pay. That accounts for approximately 12 percent of the working population. With the new law, which will place the eligibility at the median American income, up to 1o million Americans will see a raise – one that they have earned."
"Once again, President Obama is doing what Congress can’t do because of Republican obstructionism. Thanks to the Obama Administration, the Labor Department will soon be raising the current overtime threshold from $23,660 to as much as $52,000 which will extend time and a half overtime pay to millions of hard-working American employees. Currently, those who make under $23,660 are eligible to receive overtime pay. That accounts for approximately 12 percent of the working population. With the new law, which will place the eligibility at the median American income, up to 1o million Americans will see a raise – one that they have earned."
One Governor’s Audacious, Unprecedented Effort To Use Personal Wealth To Re-Create The Legislature
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2015/06/10/3665526/illinois-wealthy-governor-breaking-new-ground-money-politics/
"Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) may be pushing campaign finance and political spending into uncharted waters as he asserts himself in the first major battle of his tenure. Hanging over the legislature’s otherwise ordinary political wrangling to avert a budget catastrophe is a mammoth war chest, which the state’s governor has begun to deploy in an effort to re-create the legislature into one more sympathetic to his controversial agenda.
Rauner is a very rich man who carries with him the backing of a still-wealthier network of friends and supporters. These networks, which helped him raise a record sum in his initial run for office, are now funneling millions into his campaign fund and a pair of super PACs. Experts are calling this development an unprecedented use of money in politics, while raising concerns that the state of Illinois is flirting with plutocracy."
"Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) may be pushing campaign finance and political spending into uncharted waters as he asserts himself in the first major battle of his tenure. Hanging over the legislature’s otherwise ordinary political wrangling to avert a budget catastrophe is a mammoth war chest, which the state’s governor has begun to deploy in an effort to re-create the legislature into one more sympathetic to his controversial agenda.
Rauner is a very rich man who carries with him the backing of a still-wealthier network of friends and supporters. These networks, which helped him raise a record sum in his initial run for office, are now funneling millions into his campaign fund and a pair of super PACs. Experts are calling this development an unprecedented use of money in politics, while raising concerns that the state of Illinois is flirting with plutocracy."
Obama proposes overtime rule hiking wages for millions
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/08/1391597/-Obama-proposes-overtime-rule-hiking-wages-for-millions
"Republicans want none of that, of course, believing that employers should be able to squeeze every bit of work out of their employees—without paying them adequately for it—as possible."
"Republicans want none of that, of course, believing that employers should be able to squeeze every bit of work out of their employees—without paying them adequately for it—as possible."
Christie Officials Hid Wall Street Fees From NJ Officials
Christie Officials Hid Wall Street Fees From NJ Officials
"Earlier this year, IBTimes reported that the Christie administration had quietly changed how pension fees were reported. Amid a pay-to-play investigation and general scrutiny of Christie officials delivering pension deals to politically connected financial firms, the governor’s State Investment Council specifically classified $335 million of payments to financial firms as “performance allocations,” allowing the Christie administration to assert that the state paid just $265 million in fees that year."
"Earlier this year, IBTimes reported that the Christie administration had quietly changed how pension fees were reported. Amid a pay-to-play investigation and general scrutiny of Christie officials delivering pension deals to politically connected financial firms, the governor’s State Investment Council specifically classified $335 million of payments to financial firms as “performance allocations,” allowing the Christie administration to assert that the state paid just $265 million in fees that year."
Here’s How Bobby Jindal Could Go To Prison Instead Of The White House
Here’s How Bobby Jindal Could Go To Prison Instead Of The White House
"Rick Perry became the first candidate with an indictment to officially kick off his campaign last week, and now Bobby Jindal, who is expected to announce his candidacy on June 24th, could be indicted for misuse of public funds."
"Rick Perry became the first candidate with an indictment to officially kick off his campaign last week, and now Bobby Jindal, who is expected to announce his candidacy on June 24th, could be indicted for misuse of public funds."
Bobby Jindal Remains Grover Norquist’s Puppet Governor Despite Louisiana Budget Mess
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/06/09/bobby-jindal-remains-grover-norquists-puppet-governor-louisiana-budget-mess.html
"The fact that Republican state lawmakers in Louisiana feel that they have to beg for Norquist’s permission as they consider legislation is troubling in its own right, but Jindal is so thoroughly bought that he doesn’t even question Norquist’s decrees."
"The fact that Republican state lawmakers in Louisiana feel that they have to beg for Norquist’s permission as they consider legislation is troubling in its own right, but Jindal is so thoroughly bought that he doesn’t even question Norquist’s decrees."
Magical Mystery Tour of American Austerity: How One State Is Destroying Democracy and Poisoning Its People | Alternet
Magical Mystery Tour of American Austerity: How One State Is Destroying Democracy and Poisoning Its People | Alternet
"Something is rotten in the state of Michigan.
One city neglected to inform its residents that its water supply was laced with cancerous chemicals. Another dissolved its public school district and replaced it with a charter school system, only to witness the for-profit management company it hired flee the scene after determining it couldn’t turn a profit. Numerous cities and school districts in the state are now run by single, state-appointed technocrats, as permitted under an emergency financial manager law pushed through by Rick Snyder, Michigan’s austerity-promoting governor. This legislation not only strips residents of their local voting rights, but gives Snyder’s appointee the power to do just about anything, including dissolving the city itself -- all (no matter how disastrous) in the name of “fiscal responsibility"."
"Something is rotten in the state of Michigan.
One city neglected to inform its residents that its water supply was laced with cancerous chemicals. Another dissolved its public school district and replaced it with a charter school system, only to witness the for-profit management company it hired flee the scene after determining it couldn’t turn a profit. Numerous cities and school districts in the state are now run by single, state-appointed technocrats, as permitted under an emergency financial manager law pushed through by Rick Snyder, Michigan’s austerity-promoting governor. This legislation not only strips residents of their local voting rights, but gives Snyder’s appointee the power to do just about anything, including dissolving the city itself -- all (no matter how disastrous) in the name of “fiscal responsibility"."
These Republicans Are Pushing Their Own Version Of ‘Sharia Law’ For Public Schools
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/06/09/these-republicans-are-pushing-their-own-version-of-sharia-law-for-public-schools/
"Republicans in Idaho are working very hard at violating the United States Constitution. For all the whining about the potential implementation of Sharia Law in the United States, with some states even writing legislation to ban it, the GOP in Idaho is pushing their own version of religious law.
Sharia Law, of course, is the practice of law and life through the teachings of the Qu’ran. What these Idaho Republicans want to establish is policy that would require public schools to use the Christian Bible as a science and law textbook."
"Republicans in Idaho are working very hard at violating the United States Constitution. For all the whining about the potential implementation of Sharia Law in the United States, with some states even writing legislation to ban it, the GOP in Idaho is pushing their own version of religious law.
Sharia Law, of course, is the practice of law and life through the teachings of the Qu’ran. What these Idaho Republicans want to establish is policy that would require public schools to use the Christian Bible as a science and law textbook."
Idaho Republicans: Public schools should use the Bible as a science and law textbook
Idaho Republicans: Public schools should use the Bible as a science and law textbook
"Concluding that theocracy is the rightful law of the land, Arnzen’s bill would see the Bible stand on academic par with textbooks in the state’s biology and government classrooms."
"Concluding that theocracy is the rightful law of the land, Arnzen’s bill would see the Bible stand on academic par with textbooks in the state’s biology and government classrooms."
Montana Republican: Why Should Americans Retire? Noah Never Did And He Was 600 Years Old
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/06/09/montana-republican-why-should-americans-retire-noah-never-did-and-he-was-600-years-old/
"A Montana multi-millionaire who is planning a gubernatorial run against Democratic incumbent Steve Bullock in 2016 is looking to the Bible to shape his political policies in ways that would make Rick Santorum say “take it down a notch"."
"A Montana multi-millionaire who is planning a gubernatorial run against Democratic incumbent Steve Bullock in 2016 is looking to the Bible to shape his political policies in ways that would make Rick Santorum say “take it down a notch"."
Fox News is covering for the Duggars: With shifty language and half-truths, Fox chooses the side of a molester
Fox News is covering for the Duggars: With shifty language and half-truths, Fox chooses the side of a molester
"We now live in a nation where the conservative cable news network is spinning in support of a confessed child molester, as well as the people who tried to hide his actions. Fox News Channel has always been an egregious source for misinformation and GOP talking points. We all know this. It’s also been a powerful backstop whenever a Republican candidate commits one of many unforced errors — blurting out a ludicrous rape remark, or worse. However, in the past week, Fox News has crossed the zero-barrier between spinning for the GOP and into the realm of manufacturing phraseology and excuses for a Christian television family caught up in a sexual abuse scandal."
"We now live in a nation where the conservative cable news network is spinning in support of a confessed child molester, as well as the people who tried to hide his actions. Fox News Channel has always been an egregious source for misinformation and GOP talking points. We all know this. It’s also been a powerful backstop whenever a Republican candidate commits one of many unforced errors — blurting out a ludicrous rape remark, or worse. However, in the past week, Fox News has crossed the zero-barrier between spinning for the GOP and into the realm of manufacturing phraseology and excuses for a Christian television family caught up in a sexual abuse scandal."
Florida Republicans May Have Just Signed Death Warrants For Almost A Million Of The State’s Working Poor
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/06/07/floridamedicaidexpansion/
"They have continually denied people the comfort of health insurance in a state with the second highest number of uninsured citizens, but this time they didn’t just hurt the poor, they hurt hospitals too."
"They have continually denied people the comfort of health insurance in a state with the second highest number of uninsured citizens, but this time they didn’t just hurt the poor, they hurt hospitals too."
PERRspectives: The Supreme Irony of King v. Burwell
PERRspectives: The Supreme Irony of King v. Burwell
"But merely tallying up the ranks of the uninsured understates the magnitude of the health care horror story in Red State America. In its 2014 state health care scorecard, the Commonwealth Fund measured performance in providing health care access, prevention and treatment, avoidable hospital use, equity across income levels, and healthy lives for residents. Again, all of the top 10 performing states voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, 9 of the 10 cellar-dwellers backed Republican Mitt Romney. Texas, which then Governor and 2016 White House hopeful Rick Perry claimed in 2010 had the best health care system in the nation, is ranked a moribund 44th."
"But merely tallying up the ranks of the uninsured understates the magnitude of the health care horror story in Red State America. In its 2014 state health care scorecard, the Commonwealth Fund measured performance in providing health care access, prevention and treatment, avoidable hospital use, equity across income levels, and healthy lives for residents. Again, all of the top 10 performing states voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, 9 of the 10 cellar-dwellers backed Republican Mitt Romney. Texas, which then Governor and 2016 White House hopeful Rick Perry claimed in 2010 had the best health care system in the nation, is ranked a moribund 44th."
The States That Thwarted Obamacare Have Left Poor People In The Dark About The Law
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/06/09/3667713/obamacare-navigators-states/
"Anti-Obamacare politicians have rarely been candid about the fact that, on a practical level, their opposition to the law translates into fewer people getting access to health care. But, when it comes to state-level restrictions on education and enrollment campaigns, there certainly appears to be a correlation. Previous studies have found that patients are less likely to get accurate information about Obamacare in states where the governor opposes the law."
"Anti-Obamacare politicians have rarely been candid about the fact that, on a practical level, their opposition to the law translates into fewer people getting access to health care. But, when it comes to state-level restrictions on education and enrollment campaigns, there certainly appears to be a correlation. Previous studies have found that patients are less likely to get accurate information about Obamacare in states where the governor opposes the law."
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Jeb Bush Thinks Women Should Be Publicly Shamed For Single Motherhood
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/06/09/jeb-bush-thinks-women-should-be-publicly-shamed-for-single-motherhood/
"If any women were thinking about voting for Jeb Bush, they will probably want to change their minds after reading this.
Republican presidential wannabe Jeb Bush would love it if women voted for him. The only problem is that women would be voting against their own best interests if they did because they would find themselves living under Bush’s biblical belief that women should be publicly shamed for being unmarried mothers."
"If any women were thinking about voting for Jeb Bush, they will probably want to change their minds after reading this.
Republican presidential wannabe Jeb Bush would love it if women voted for him. The only problem is that women would be voting against their own best interests if they did because they would find themselves living under Bush’s biblical belief that women should be publicly shamed for being unmarried mothers."
Our Stupid House Of Representatives Goes After Migratory Birds
Our Stupid House Of Representatives Goes After Migratory Birds
"You might wonder why Rep. Duncan felt led to launch an all-out offensive on migratory birds, which include the American Bald Eagle, that iconic symbol of liberty. It was all about the oil companies. From his Congressional website, explaining his "All of the Above Approach to Energy:"
Reduces the fines for energy producers whose operations accidentally kill non-endangered migratory birds.
Evidently Duncan felt that didn't go far enough, so he just gutted protections for all migratory birds, whether or not they are endangered.
Your idiot Congress at work."
"You might wonder why Rep. Duncan felt led to launch an all-out offensive on migratory birds, which include the American Bald Eagle, that iconic symbol of liberty. It was all about the oil companies. From his Congressional website, explaining his "All of the Above Approach to Energy:"
Reduces the fines for energy producers whose operations accidentally kill non-endangered migratory birds.
Evidently Duncan felt that didn't go far enough, so he just gutted protections for all migratory birds, whether or not they are endangered.
Your idiot Congress at work."
Walker, WI Republicans Want To End Watchdog Agencies
Walker, WI Republicans Want To End Watchdog Agencies
"The latest target for these goons is the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB), whose job is to make sure that the taxpayers money is being well-spent. It was the LAB who found the waste, the fraud and the pay for play being committed by Walker and is supposed job creations agency, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)."
"The latest target for these goons is the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB), whose job is to make sure that the taxpayers money is being well-spent. It was the LAB who found the waste, the fraud and the pay for play being committed by Walker and is supposed job creations agency, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)."
Somebody Forgot To Tell Bush, Cruz And Rubio The GM Bailout Worked
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/07/2016-gm-bailout_n_7523248.html
"By nearly all accounts, the 2009 rescue package saved a vital U.S. industry and, just maybe, the economic fortunes for an entire region."
"By nearly all accounts, the 2009 rescue package saved a vital U.S. industry and, just maybe, the economic fortunes for an entire region."
Dear Gov. Brownback: When You Find Yourself In A Hole, Stop Digging
Dear Gov. Brownback: When You Find Yourself In A Hole, Stop Digging
"We all know supply-side economics don't work, but for a certain class of the politically connected (stink tankers, ambitious staffers, lobbyists, and Republican politicians), tax cuts are the snake oil they must continue to sell. Kansas is a textbook example of a state in crisis, and the Republican governor and legislators are tying themselves in knots to find ways to increase revenue that won't affect their Koch patrons."
"We all know supply-side economics don't work, but for a certain class of the politically connected (stink tankers, ambitious staffers, lobbyists, and Republican politicians), tax cuts are the snake oil they must continue to sell. Kansas is a textbook example of a state in crisis, and the Republican governor and legislators are tying themselves in knots to find ways to increase revenue that won't affect their Koch patrons."
The United States Of Koch?
http://samuel-warde.com/2015/06/the-united-states-of-koch/
"To make this country good for business, in the minds of people like the Koch brothers, you have to gut any laws protecting workers, bust what’s left of unions, make certain you have an uneducated and fearful population that is easily manipulated by cloaking whatever it is you’re selling either in religious or patriotic rhetoric. It’s what was done in Kansas to re-elect a man who spit on the citizens of Kansas and it’s what Scott Walker has done in Wisconsin.
Now the Koch brothers mean to take it national."
"To make this country good for business, in the minds of people like the Koch brothers, you have to gut any laws protecting workers, bust what’s left of unions, make certain you have an uneducated and fearful population that is easily manipulated by cloaking whatever it is you’re selling either in religious or patriotic rhetoric. It’s what was done in Kansas to re-elect a man who spit on the citizens of Kansas and it’s what Scott Walker has done in Wisconsin.
Now the Koch brothers mean to take it national."
Walker's Wisconsin: Dead Last For New Businesses
Walker's Wisconsin: Dead Last For New Businesses
"Since Scott Walker became the governor of Wisconsin, he's been boasting about how he was making Wisconsin business friendly which would lead to all sorts of great jobs. He's now traveling the country using this claim as a major talking point.
The reality is, of course, very different"
"Since Scott Walker became the governor of Wisconsin, he's been boasting about how he was making Wisconsin business friendly which would lead to all sorts of great jobs. He's now traveling the country using this claim as a major talking point.
The reality is, of course, very different"
Kansas Dictator Sam Brownback Orders State Supreme Court To Obey Illegal Law…Or Else
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/06/09/kansas-brownback-supreme-court-defund/
"Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has signed a law declaring that the state judiciary branch will lose all funding if the state Supreme Court strikes down a law he favors."
"Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has signed a law declaring that the state judiciary branch will lose all funding if the state Supreme Court strikes down a law he favors."
Gov. Sam Brownback Will Eliminate Kansas’ Judiciary If It Fails To Rule In His Favor
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/06/09/brownback-eliminate-kansas-judiciary-fails-rule-favor.html
"Brownback is daring the Kansas Supreme Court to rule according to the Kansas Constitution and declare the Brownback “administrative law” unconstitutional."
"Brownback is daring the Kansas Supreme Court to rule according to the Kansas Constitution and declare the Brownback “administrative law” unconstitutional."
Fox News Host Embarrassed After Lie About President Obama Gets Fact-Checked
Fox News Host Embarrassed After Lie About President Obama Gets Fact-Checked
"Carlson’s statement most assuredly played right into the hands of conservatives, which was the point. There’s just one problem - it’s an absolute lie."
"Carlson’s statement most assuredly played right into the hands of conservatives, which was the point. There’s just one problem - it’s an absolute lie."
Lousiana Pols Ask Grover Norquist's Permission To Hike Taxes
Lousiana Pols Ask Grover Norquist's Permission To Hike Taxes
"Lawmakers are struggling with Norquist's restrictions as they enter the final four days of 2015 budget negotiations. They have to send the spending plan to Jindal's desk by Thursday evening.
The governor has threatened to veto any budget plan or tax bills that don't meet Norquist's "no tax" requirements."
"Lawmakers are struggling with Norquist's restrictions as they enter the final four days of 2015 budget negotiations. They have to send the spending plan to Jindal's desk by Thursday evening.
The governor has threatened to veto any budget plan or tax bills that don't meet Norquist's "no tax" requirements."
How A Right-Wing Political Machine Is Dismantling Higher Education in North Carolina | The Nation
How A Right-Wing Political Machine Is Dismantling Higher Education in North Carolina | The Nation
"What began as isolated ideological attacks is looking more and more like a wholesale gutting of the state’s public colleges."
"What began as isolated ideological attacks is looking more and more like a wholesale gutting of the state’s public colleges."
Fox News Now Just Reads RNC Talking Points On Air (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/06/05/fox-news-now-just-reads-rnc-talking-points-on-air-video/
"Fox host Steve Doocy has given up trying to play a journalist on TV. He just flat-out reads scripted Republican National Committee talking points."
"Fox host Steve Doocy has given up trying to play a journalist on TV. He just flat-out reads scripted Republican National Committee talking points."
They really are the party of stupid: The real story behind Scott Walker’s war on higher education
They really are the party of stupid: The real story behind Scott Walker’s war on higher education
"At the turn of the last century, the “Wisconsin Experiment” led the nation as a way to develop government policies that would promote the greatest good for the most people. Gov. Robert La Follette brought together government officials, university professors and business leaders to hash out intelligent state policies.
Today there is another Wisconsin Experiment underway. This one, though, is designed to tear apart that broad civic vision and replace it with an oligarchy."
"At the turn of the last century, the “Wisconsin Experiment” led the nation as a way to develop government policies that would promote the greatest good for the most people. Gov. Robert La Follette brought together government officials, university professors and business leaders to hash out intelligent state policies.
Today there is another Wisconsin Experiment underway. This one, though, is designed to tear apart that broad civic vision and replace it with an oligarchy."
How Big Business Invented the Theology of 'Christian Libertarianism' and the Gospel of Free Markets | Alternet
How Big Business Invented the Theology of 'Christian Libertarianism' and the Gospel of Free Markets | Alternet
"Over the second half of the 1940s, corporate leaders lavishly funded new organizations of ministers who would make their case for them."
"Over the second half of the 1940s, corporate leaders lavishly funded new organizations of ministers who would make their case for them."
The GOP’s demented family values: From the Duggars to David Vitter, again and again, the social conservatives have horrifying hypocrisy problems
The GOP’s demented family values: From the Duggars to David Vitter, again and again, the social conservatives have horrifying hypocrisy problems
"We ought to view the Republican Party as a case study in overcompensation. It appears the majority of their members moralize in proportion to their sinfulness. Even more annoying, when busted, their response is always to double down on their false convictions. Their hypocrisy and moral failures feel routine at this point. This is unfortunate for a couple of reasons. For one, the public becomes desensitized to this sort of thing, which means the hypocrites are able to survive their scandals."
"We ought to view the Republican Party as a case study in overcompensation. It appears the majority of their members moralize in proportion to their sinfulness. Even more annoying, when busted, their response is always to double down on their false convictions. Their hypocrisy and moral failures feel routine at this point. This is unfortunate for a couple of reasons. For one, the public becomes desensitized to this sort of thing, which means the hypocrites are able to survive their scandals."
Rick Perry Tries to Sound Intelligent About Wall Street – Fails Miserably (Video)
Rick Perry Tries to Sound Intelligent About Wall Street – Fails Miserably (Video)
"the former Texas governor came away looking like a complete imbecile after trying to bash the Dodd-Frank banking regulations while simultaneously calling for – you guessed it – banking regulations."
"the former Texas governor came away looking like a complete imbecile after trying to bash the Dodd-Frank banking regulations while simultaneously calling for – you guessed it – banking regulations."
Federal Judges Throw Out Virginia GOP’s Totally-Not-Racist ‘Redistricting’ Map (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/06/06/federal-judges-throw-out-virginia-gops-totally-not-racist-redistricting-map-video/
"when you try to shove all the black people who will never vote for you into a single district to lessen their influence — like the GOP did in the state of Virginia — you’ve crossed a line. While there’s some leeway for moving voters around based on which party they vote for, it’s still technically illegal to to corral people into a single district based on their race."
"when you try to shove all the black people who will never vote for you into a single district to lessen their influence — like the GOP did in the state of Virginia — you’ve crossed a line. While there’s some leeway for moving voters around based on which party they vote for, it’s still technically illegal to to corral people into a single district based on their race."
John Boehner Once Again Forced to Hang Head in Shame and Admit President Obama’s Been a Success
John Boehner Once Again Forced to Hang Head in Shame and Admit President Obama’s Been a Success
"It must absolutely pain Boehner to have to hang his head in shame every month and basically admit that the economy is doing well under President Obama. Especially considering that for years all he did was fear-monger and lie to the American people about how practically everything this president has done – from raising taxes on the rich to the Affordable Care Act – was going to destroy the economy and cost us millions of jobs. And none of that has turned out to be true."
"It must absolutely pain Boehner to have to hang his head in shame every month and basically admit that the economy is doing well under President Obama. Especially considering that for years all he did was fear-monger and lie to the American people about how practically everything this president has done – from raising taxes on the rich to the Affordable Care Act – was going to destroy the economy and cost us millions of jobs. And none of that has turned out to be true."
George Will's Wife Works For Scott Walker
George Will's Wife Works For Scott Walker
"Will has not only received a cash prize from the Bradley Foundation but he also sits on their board.
The Bradley Foundation is one of the major dark money funders for Walker and for the shady groups that do Walker's dirty work, like trying to derail the John Doe investigations into Walker's illegal politicking.
But wait! There's more! There's always more.
The CEO and President of the Bradley Foundation is Michael Grebe, Wisconsin's Money Badger. Grebe is the guy that directed the foundation's money to Will, Walker and the various front groups. Grebe also was the chair of each of Walker's gubernatorial campaigns.
But never let it be said that Walker doesn't take care of them that take care of him. Continuing his long tradition of pay for play and cronyism, not only has Walker the Weasel passed all the policies Grebe wanted, but appointed Grebe's son to the Wisconsin University Board of Regents.
Once Wisconsin is finally able to rid itself of Walker and his ilk, it will take decades to get the stench of corruption out of the air."
"Will has not only received a cash prize from the Bradley Foundation but he also sits on their board.
The Bradley Foundation is one of the major dark money funders for Walker and for the shady groups that do Walker's dirty work, like trying to derail the John Doe investigations into Walker's illegal politicking.
But wait! There's more! There's always more.
The CEO and President of the Bradley Foundation is Michael Grebe, Wisconsin's Money Badger. Grebe is the guy that directed the foundation's money to Will, Walker and the various front groups. Grebe also was the chair of each of Walker's gubernatorial campaigns.
But never let it be said that Walker doesn't take care of them that take care of him. Continuing his long tradition of pay for play and cronyism, not only has Walker the Weasel passed all the policies Grebe wanted, but appointed Grebe's son to the Wisconsin University Board of Regents.
Once Wisconsin is finally able to rid itself of Walker and his ilk, it will take decades to get the stench of corruption out of the air."
A glimpse behind the curtain of how Koch-funded corporate front groups manipulate the news you read
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/05/1390905/-A-glimpse-behind-the-curtain-of-how-Koch-funded-corporate-front-groups-manipulate-the-news-you-read?detail=facebook_sf
"corporate front groups were disseminating the pro-Big Business propaganda to slant the news we read but this is a bit of a rare glimpse behind the curtain as to how it is sometimes done. In many cases, they actually pay for bloggers and professional "trolls" to write for them, submit letters to the editor and op-eds to newspapers, downrate articles on sites like Reddit, and give bad reviews to liberal books on places like Amazon.com while uprating pro-business books. In this case, they are fishing for free exposure from bloggers, apparently without checking first to see if the bloggers actually agree with their corporatist agenda."
"corporate front groups were disseminating the pro-Big Business propaganda to slant the news we read but this is a bit of a rare glimpse behind the curtain as to how it is sometimes done. In many cases, they actually pay for bloggers and professional "trolls" to write for them, submit letters to the editor and op-eds to newspapers, downrate articles on sites like Reddit, and give bad reviews to liberal books on places like Amazon.com while uprating pro-business books. In this case, they are fishing for free exposure from bloggers, apparently without checking first to see if the bloggers actually agree with their corporatist agenda."
Monday, June 8, 2015
PERRspectives: Obama Has Created Six Times as Many Jobs as Bush
PERRspectives: Obama Has Created Six Times as Many Jobs as Bush
"Back on January 9, 2009, the reliably Republican Wall Street Journal published a helpful analysis titled, "Bush on Jobs: The Worst Track Record on Record." Last week, Bill McBride of Calculated Risk provided an updated analysis to show just how dismal. Some of the highlights:
During Dubya's two terms in office, the U.S. economy created just 1.3 million new jobs. So far, six times more--7.7 million jobs--have been added 28 months into President Obama's second term.
The private sector actually lost 463,000 jobs under George W. Bush. In contrast, Obama has presided over 63 straight months of private sector job creation, 8.3 million in all.
Under small government Republican George W. Bush, the public sector at all levels grew by 1.7 million workers. In contrast, federal, state and local governments have shed 638,000 jobs since Barack Obama first took the oath of office.
Let that settle in for a moment. Barack Obama wasn't only facing the greatest financial collapse since the Great Depression. The Obama recovery alone in modern American history was undermined by the overall contraction of government at all levels. The mythmaking of Kevin McCarthy aside, Obama's expansion would have been more robust if Republicans on Capitol Hill and in state and local governments hadn't stood in his way. DC Republicans didn't just block Obama initiatives like the American Jobs Act and infrastructure investment that could have boosted employment when unemployment was mired at 9 percent and strangle job creation and consumer confidence with their debt ceiling hostage-taking. The destructive austerity policies of state and local governments created an "anti-stimulus," with layoffs of public sector workers and cuts to spending that only served to undermine the gains from the stimulus. By May 2013, the Hamilton Institute estimated those austerity policies cost 2.2 American million jobs and resulted in the slowest recovery since World War II. In April 2012, the Economic Policy Institute explained why:
The current recovery is the only one that has seen public-sector losses over its first 31 months...If public-sector employment had grown since June 2009 by the average amount it grew in the three previous recoveries (2.8 percent) instead of shrinking by 2.5 percent, there would be 1.2 million more public-sector jobs in the U.S. economy today. In addition, these extra public-sector jobs would have helped preserve about 500,000 private-sector jobs.
To put it another way, "Democrats saved the economy; Republicans tried to kill it." And as the job numbers continue to show, Barack Obama is just the latest to show the economy almost always does better when a Democrat is in the White House. Compared to Jeb Bush's brother, about six times better."
"Back on January 9, 2009, the reliably Republican Wall Street Journal published a helpful analysis titled, "Bush on Jobs: The Worst Track Record on Record." Last week, Bill McBride of Calculated Risk provided an updated analysis to show just how dismal. Some of the highlights:
During Dubya's two terms in office, the U.S. economy created just 1.3 million new jobs. So far, six times more--7.7 million jobs--have been added 28 months into President Obama's second term.
The private sector actually lost 463,000 jobs under George W. Bush. In contrast, Obama has presided over 63 straight months of private sector job creation, 8.3 million in all.
Under small government Republican George W. Bush, the public sector at all levels grew by 1.7 million workers. In contrast, federal, state and local governments have shed 638,000 jobs since Barack Obama first took the oath of office.
Let that settle in for a moment. Barack Obama wasn't only facing the greatest financial collapse since the Great Depression. The Obama recovery alone in modern American history was undermined by the overall contraction of government at all levels. The mythmaking of Kevin McCarthy aside, Obama's expansion would have been more robust if Republicans on Capitol Hill and in state and local governments hadn't stood in his way. DC Republicans didn't just block Obama initiatives like the American Jobs Act and infrastructure investment that could have boosted employment when unemployment was mired at 9 percent and strangle job creation and consumer confidence with their debt ceiling hostage-taking. The destructive austerity policies of state and local governments created an "anti-stimulus," with layoffs of public sector workers and cuts to spending that only served to undermine the gains from the stimulus. By May 2013, the Hamilton Institute estimated those austerity policies cost 2.2 American million jobs and resulted in the slowest recovery since World War II. In April 2012, the Economic Policy Institute explained why:
The current recovery is the only one that has seen public-sector losses over its first 31 months...If public-sector employment had grown since June 2009 by the average amount it grew in the three previous recoveries (2.8 percent) instead of shrinking by 2.5 percent, there would be 1.2 million more public-sector jobs in the U.S. economy today. In addition, these extra public-sector jobs would have helped preserve about 500,000 private-sector jobs.
To put it another way, "Democrats saved the economy; Republicans tried to kill it." And as the job numbers continue to show, Barack Obama is just the latest to show the economy almost always does better when a Democrat is in the White House. Compared to Jeb Bush's brother, about six times better."
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Watch: A Nobel Economist Debunks Trickle-Down Reaganomics In Four Minutes
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/watch-a-nobel-economist-debunks-trickle-down-reaganomics-in-four-minutes/
"In this video, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz lays out a damning indictment of Ronald Reagan’s deregulation and sweeping tax cuts that have resulted in the worst income inequality in the developed world and have been holding America back for the past thirty years. He definitively debunks the delusional “trickle-down” theory of income transfer and bemoans the fact that social mobility in America has been crippled by the concentration of wealth in the top 1%, preventing hard-working Americans from moving upwards in society or improving their lots in life.”The same market forces, the same forces of technological globalization are at work in the same way in advanced countries. It’s not the economic forces. It’s our policies"." (Reposted)
"In this video, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz lays out a damning indictment of Ronald Reagan’s deregulation and sweeping tax cuts that have resulted in the worst income inequality in the developed world and have been holding America back for the past thirty years. He definitively debunks the delusional “trickle-down” theory of income transfer and bemoans the fact that social mobility in America has been crippled by the concentration of wealth in the top 1%, preventing hard-working Americans from moving upwards in society or improving their lots in life.”The same market forces, the same forces of technological globalization are at work in the same way in advanced countries. It’s not the economic forces. It’s our policies"." (Reposted)
Understanding Amtrak and the Importance of Passenger Rail in the United States
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/report/2015/06/04/114298/understanding-amtrak-and-the-importance-of-passenger-rail-in-the-united-states/
"Amtrak is a national asset that will not be able to continue to provide reliable service or expand to meet future population growth and travel demand without additional investment. This is especially true in the Northeast, where approximately one out of every three jobs in the region is within 5 miles of a passenger rail station. Over the next four decades, the region is expected to grow by more than 30 percent, adding approximately 15 million new residents. Without improved passenger and commuter rail service, this growth will lead to crippling congestion that hampers U.S. economic performance."
"Amtrak is a national asset that will not be able to continue to provide reliable service or expand to meet future population growth and travel demand without additional investment. This is especially true in the Northeast, where approximately one out of every three jobs in the region is within 5 miles of a passenger rail station. Over the next four decades, the region is expected to grow by more than 30 percent, adding approximately 15 million new residents. Without improved passenger and commuter rail service, this growth will lead to crippling congestion that hampers U.S. economic performance."
The Agenda to Raise America’s Pay | Economic Policy Institute
The Agenda to Raise America’s Pay | Economic Policy Institute
"Over the same period that most workers’ wages have stagnated, economy-wide productivity has risen by 64 percent. In short, the potential has existed for adequate, widespread wage growth over the last three-and-a-half decades—but these economic gains have not trickled down to the vast majority."
"Over the same period that most workers’ wages have stagnated, economy-wide productivity has risen by 64 percent. In short, the potential has existed for adequate, widespread wage growth over the last three-and-a-half decades—but these economic gains have not trickled down to the vast majority."
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