Posted by Bob Lord
David Anderson, has an excellent op-ed in today's Times, Atoning For The Sins of Empire. The piece mainly is about how the supposedly benevolent British engaged repeatedly and systematically in torture during their reign. They are now starting to pay compensation to their victims and their descendants.
Anderson softly yet convincingly suggests that America will one day find itself in Britain's current position.
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
A quick review of the Arizona Legislature's web site: the House Appropriations Committee hearing that had been scheduled for 8: 00 a.m. this morning was cancelled. There are no senate committee agendas posted.
The House Committee of the Whole (COW) calendar does include the CAP "poison pill" strike everything amendment, SB 1069, providing for no warrant inspections of abortion clinics. . . apparently not quite dead yet. Rep. Eric Meyer's amendment to refer this to a study committee presumably is still in play. Hopefully the votes for Meyer's amendment are still there, if needed. See COW Calendar #1, and COW Calendar #2.
The House Third Read calendars do not appear to contain other controversial bills. See Third Reading Calendar #1 and Third Reading Calendar #2.
The Senate was scheduled for a live broadcast at 9:00 a.m. (regular session lasted only a few minutes) before returning to the special session. Caucus meeting will occur throughout the day. A motion was made to form a committee to inform the House that the Senate has completed its business and will sine die, but the motion failed this morning.
The House is scheduled for a live broadcast at 11:00 a.m. today.
Continue reading "Budget almost completed; sine die possible today" »
By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings
This week at the legislature started quietly - everybody knew stuff was happening, but it was all out of public view. No one knew when the stalemate over the state's budget was going to break, just that it was going to happen soon.
Turns out "soon" meant "Tuesday".
Some of Tuesday's events -
...The Republicans scheduled a House Appropriations Committee meeting for early Thursday (8 a.m., HHR1) to consider the House's version of a budget in the form of strike-everything amendments to the package of budget bills passed by the Senate.
...House Speaker Andy Tobin (R-Paulden) then adjourned the session of the House until Thursday, in an apparent attempt to gain an edge in the fight over the budget and Medicaid restoration.
...Arizona Governor Jan Brewer called them all into a special session to force the passage of a budget and Medicaid restoration.
...And the tea party types EXPLODED -
Antenori and Gould are former legislators; Biggs and Tobin should be.
Could you live on a $4.50/day food stamp allotment?
Rep. Jim McGovern, who has been leading the charge to stop billions of dollars of cuts to the food stamp program (SNAP), will begin a food stamp challenge tomorrow, June 13, to draw attention to the plight of the poor and hungry in America. Twenty Congressional leaders, staffers, and supporters have joined the challenge to live on $4.50/day for one week. Here is information from McGovern's website.
Starting on June 13th, 2013, I will be joining over 20 of my Congressional colleagues, staffers and Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services John Polanowicz for the 2013 National Food Stamp Challenge.
I will live on $4.50 a day for food for a week to bring attention to hunger and the $20 billion in cuts SNAP millions of Americans are facing. This is a conversation we need to have, and I hope this Challenge will help us continue the dialogue. Stay tuned to this page for updates from many of the participants!
And for more on my ongoing efforts to bring attention to hunger on the House floor, visit my #EndHungerNow page.
McGovern has given a series of speeches on ending hunger in America. Watch them here. Fifty million Americans are living with food insecurity. Now is not the time to cut billions from food stamps-- while adding billions to the Pentagon budget.
A list of Congressional Representatives taking the National Food Stamp Challenage is after the jump.
by David Safier
Arizona Republicans have balanced the budget on the backs of children over the past few years through draconian cuts to education funding, meaning our schools are desperately underfunded. I'm all for more money for schools. So I should support HB2399 which just passed the House. It allows school boards to double the amount of bonds they can float to help fund their schools. I have to admit, if I were in the legislature, I would have voted for HB2399 along with the Democrats and a few Republicans (it passed 31-26), but I hate the bill. It hastens the movement back toward inequitable funding of school districts, where communities with affluent families give their children well funded schools while children in poorer communities have schools that scrape by with the bare essentials.
In the bad old days, school districts were dependent on passing school levies which determined the amount of property taxes people paid to fund their schools. If a levy passed, the district had funds, and if the levy was substantial, the district was flush with cash. But if a levy didn't pass or it was minimal, the district was barely able to keep its school doors open. Districts in affluent areas usually spent far more per student than districts in poor areas. The rich folks loved to brag that they supported their kids, unlike the riffraff in poorer areas. Ironically, rich communities often paid lower property tax rates for their schools than poorer communities. When you have lots of million dollar homes, you don't have to charge much per thousand dollars of value to shower your schools with funding. In a poorer area where homes are worth far less (and lots of people are renters), you have to charge more per thousand dollars of value to end up with school funding that's barely adequate.
This gross funding inequity (Jonathan Kozol wrote a book on the subject titled "Savage Inequalities") changed in Arizona and elsewhere when funding was equalized. The state guaranteed all school districts would get more-or-less the same funding, using a formula that weighs a variety of factors -- types of students, transportation needs, etc. -- to raise or lower the amount given to each district. Ideally, that means all schools, in rich or poor areas, are funded at equitable levels.
Continue reading "A well-intentioned bad bill: raising bond limits for schools" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The San Francico Chronicle reports on today's action in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Judges grill Arizona lawyer over anti-abortion law:
Two federal appeals court judges expressed skepticism Wednesday about an Arizona law [HB 2800] that disqualified Planned Parenthood and other health providers that perform abortions from receiving public funds for other medical services.
Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judges Marsha Berzon and Jay Bybee grilled attorney Steven Aden during a hearing about the law. Aden, an attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom, argued that Arizona had a broad power to determine that Planned Parenthood, and other organizations targeted by the law, were not qualified Medicaid providers, allowing the state to withhold from them Medicaid funds.
According to the Medicaid statute, anybody eligible for medical assistance can get it from an organization or person "qualified to perform the service or services required."
Aden said since the Medicaid statute does not further define "qualified," the state should have broad powers to determine its meaning.
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
They just can't help themselves. Despite GOP attempts to 'rebrand" after the 2012 election, their Tea Party radical extremists keep shooting off their mouths pursuing their misogynist war on women. Arizona's right-wing anti-abortion zealot, Rep. Trent Franks, was channeling Todd Akin (legitimate rape) in a committee hearing today. Rep. Trent Franks: Rate of pregnancies from rape ‘very low’:
Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), whose measure banning abortions after 20 weeks was being considered in the House Judiciary Committee, argued against a Democratic amendment to make exceptions for rape and incest by suggesting that pregnancy from rape is rare.
“Before, when my friends on the left side of the aisle here tried to make rape and incest the subject — because, you know, the incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low,” Franks said.
* * *
Democrats on the committee, including Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), responded by pointing to similar comments made by then-Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) in his 2012 Senate campaign. Akin suggested that the female body can prevent pregnancy from occurring after a “legitimate rape” — a claim that is not backed up by scientific research and for which Akin apologized.
During the Bush II Era, excessive deficit spending was no big deal for Republicans. Congressional Republicans like Mitch McConnell, Jon Kyl, John McCain, Jeff Flake, Lindsay Graham, and even current “budget hawk” Paul Ryan “spent money like drunken sailors”– particularly when the spending benefited the 1% (remember the tax cuts we couldn’t afford?) or corporations (two wars, Medicare Advantage, off-shoring jobs, more tax cuts, privatization, etc.)
But as soon as a Democratic President occupied the White House, the siren song became: We must tighten our belts and live within our means! Cut government jobs…er… spending! Cut Social Security… er… “entitlements”!
This austerity screed intensified after the Democratic “shellacking” in 2010 when Teapublicans took control of the House of Representatives and the budget, and Senate Teapublicans began playing games with people’s lives by filibustering everything. (No wonder Congress has a 16% approval rating.)
For the past few months, Congress has been weighing the pros and cons of budget cuts and pork barrel projects. Food stamps and schools lunches are on the chopping block, while the Congress considers passing the National Defense Authorization Act of 2014, which authorizes $640 billion more in defense spending than the Pentagon asked for. (This action was passed by the House Armed Services committee last week; the full vote in the House of Representatives is scheduled for today– Wednesday, June 12.) More details about Pentegon pork after the jump.
Continue reading "Misplaced Congressional Priorities: Pork for the Pentagon but Not for Children" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
There is very little that Governor Jan Brewer and I have ever agreed upon during her long political career. But I have to grudgingly admire her latest tactical move and give her props to call a special session to pass her budget over the Tea Party minority obstructionists. This is exactly what I would have done. Well played. Gov. Jan Brewer calls lawmakers into surprise special session:
Fed up with weeks of debate and delay on her top
legislative priority, Gov. Jan Brewer called lawmakers into an
unprecedented special session late Tuesday, bypassing the leadership of
her own party to push through Medicaid expansion and the 2014 budget.
The governor’s surprise move comes after House Speaker Andy Tobin, R-Paulden, adjourned until Thursday, stalling efforts by a bipartisan House coalition to pass Brewer’s 2014 budget and Medicaid expansion.
Many legislators were on their way home when Brewer called key lawmakers to a meeting in her offices, where the special session plans were organized. They agreed to unseat the speaker and Senate president, if necessary, to get Medicaid expansion and the budget passed.
Brewer issued a special session proclamation at 5 p.m., and by then Democrats and the expansion-friendly Republicans were already gathering on the House floor.
Proclamation for Special Session Governor Brewer Calls Special Session for Budget-Related Matters
Continue reading "Let's roll! (the leadership): Governor Brewer calls special session" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Time once again for The Farley Report from Senator Steve Farley (D-LD 9):
When I started writing this afternoon, here was my opening:
"I'm afraid this Report isn't nearly as exciting as I had hoped it would be last week. Most of the action looks to happen tomorrow and Thursday -- I will update you as events unfold on my Facebook page, so check there to see the latest until I wrap it up next Tuesday in next week's Report."
How quickly things change.
I left a meeting about the TPT simplification bill in the Governor's tower at 4:30 and returned to the Senate to discover an email saying something about floor action at 5:00. Which was very strange since we had adjourned for the day around 2pm.
When 5pm rolled around we discovered that the Governor decided she had had enough. Here is her tweet from a few minutes later:
"It's time to complete the people's business. No more delays. No more stall tactics. No more games. #SpecialSession #AZMedicaid"
At 7:15pm we President Biggs gaveled us into Special Session, but no other Medicaid opponents were on the floor. We first-read the Governor's budget bills and Medicaid expansion, then adjourned for the evening.
These budget bills are basically the Senate budget with a few changes for the better, including removal of the sunset date for the Medicaid restoration, and the restoration of the Department of Housing.
The plan as it exists now is for us to come in tomorrow (regular session floor at 10:30 am, special session at 11am), second read the bills, debate in Committee of the Whole, then third read and send to the Governor for signature after midnight on tomorrow night/Thursday morning. Stay tuned.
Posted by Bob Lord
A: It doesn't matter. Either way it's short-sighted and wrong.
It's not always clear what drives politicians to ditch their own principles when voting or taking a position on an issue. It often is fear of political repurcussions. That's what the apologists typically refer to when they defend a wandering pol. "just think how he/she would have been attacked if he'd voted for that bill!" If anyone questions a rep's "independent" or "bi-partisan" votes, the apologists are quick to explain how these are "tough districts." Translation: You can't stick to your principles if you represent a tough district. What hogwash. Fear-based decision making doesn't play. Never has. Never will.
Continue reading "Q: Is It Fear or Expedience That Separates Politician From Principle?" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The "Gang of Eight" comprehensivie immigration reform bill is finally being debated in the U.S. Senate today. I love the caption Ed Kilgore at the Political Animal Blog gave his post on the subject, Slouching Towards Bethlehem (a reference to W. B. Yeats' poem Second Coming: "And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"):
Mitch McConnell signaled early on that there would be no leadership-backed filibuster against initial consideration of the bill, in part because quite a few GOP senators who will likely vote against the final product also want to claim they support immigration reform generally, and/or hold out hope the bill will be amended (i.e., gutted) to incorporate their views.
In fact, the "Gang of Eight" comprehensive immigration reform bill passed its first cloture vote tests today: the motion to proceed to a vote on whether to proceed to a floor debate passed 82-15, and the subsequent motion to proceed to a floor debate passed 84-15. (This is the Senate people). Now the real debate begins.
Continue reading "Comprehensive immigration reform bill advances to debate in U.S. Senate" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The Justice Department announced on Monday that it will allow the most popular morning after pill, Plan B, to be available over the counter to women of all ages, dropping its appeal of a federal court order. Obama Administration To End Age Restrictions On Plan B:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement that it
has “asked the manufacturer of Plan B One-Step to submit a supplemental
application seeking approval of the one-pill product to be made
available O.T.C. without any such restrictions” and “intends to approve
it promptly.” Generic versions may also be eventually approved. The
morning after pill prevents conception “if taken within 72 hours after sexual intercourse.”
The decision comes after a federal judge in April ordered the FDA to lift restrictions on the morning-after pill. The administration responded to the ruling by lowering the age restriction from 17 to 15, sparking the ire of health groups and district Judge Edward Korman, who, in a series of contemptuous opinions, called the administration’s defiance an insult to the intelligence of women” and “a charade” meant to stall his original order. Last week, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the administration to make two-pill versions of emergency contraception immediately available over the counter to women of all ages.
Continue reading "Obama administration agrees to comply with federal court order re: Plan B" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Arizona's anti-abortion zealot, Rep. Trent Franks, who fancies himself the "Mayor" of Washington, D.C. by trying to impose his anti-abortion crusade on the District, has convinced the GOP leadership (sic) in the House to give him a purely symbolic vote on his 20 week abortion ban bill -- the same bill that has already been struck down by federal courts, and Arizona's version of the bill is being heard on appeal by a panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday.
How's that GOP rebranding working out for ya? The GOP's war on women continues unabated.
Steve Benen reports, House GOP eyes more anti-abortion votes:
House Republicans' laser-like focus on job creation -- which is to say, they've passed zero jobs bills in three years -- is poised to take yet another detour.
The House will vote next week on a bill banning abortions across the country after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Doug Heye, deputy chief of staff to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., confirmed to CQ Roll Call that the chamber is on track to consider legislation next week that would ban all abortions after the 20-week threshold -- the point at which some medical professionals believe a fetus can begin to feel pain.
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Today marks the 50th Anniversary of a momentous day in the Civil Rights movement. On June 11, 1963, the U.S. government enforced the court order of the U.S. District Court in Alabama to desegregate the University of Alabama (a federalism lesson our Birthers-Birchers-Secessionists in Arizona who put "nullification, interposition and secession" measures on the Arizona ballot have forgotten). Governor George Wallace stood in the schoolhouse door to block Deputy U.S. Attorney Nicholas Katzenbach from enforcing the court's order (see news video below).
Katzenbach called President John F. Kennedy, who immediately issued a proclamation to federalize the Alabama National Guard to enforce the order of the U.S. District Court. At about 3:40 p.m., Governor Wallace finally stood aside, and Vivian Malone and James Hood entered the building and enrolled at the University of Alabama.
That evening, President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation on the moral question of civil rights. America, “for all its hopes and all its boasts,” observed Kennedy, “will not be fully free until all its citizens are free.” "The time has come for this nation to fulfill its promise."
Later that evening, civil rights leader Medgar Evers was assasinated in front of his home, marking the first in a series of assassinations that would claim the lives of President Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Continue reading "50th Anniversary of a momentous day in the Civil Rights movement" »
by David Safier
More than 40 progressive leaders from a wide range of professions have signed onto An Education Declaration to Rebuild America, a statement of educational principles that point to a different direction than the drill-test-and-underfund tactics of the conservative "education reform" movement. By itself, it's a small step in the right direction, but it signals the growing strength of progressive educators at a time when the public is growing skeptical of the endless high-stakes testing and shallow evaluation of our students, teachers and schools.
Here's the declaration and the people who've signed on.
An Education Declaration to Rebuild America
Americans have long looked to our public schools to provide opportunities for individual advancement, promote social mobility and share democratic values. We have built great universities, helped bring children out of factories and into classrooms, held open the college door for returning veterans, fought racial segregation and struggled to support and empower students with special needs. We believe good schools are essential to democracy and prosperity — and that it is our collective responsibility to educate all children, not just a fortunate few.
Over the past three decades, however, we have witnessed a betrayal of those ideals. Following the 1983 report A Nation at Risk, policymakers on all sides have pursued an education agenda that imposes top-down standards and punitive high-stakes testing while ignoring the supports students need to thrive and achieve. This approach – along with years of drastic financial cutbacks — are turning public schools into uncreative, joyless institutions. Educators are being stripped of their dignity and autonomy, leading many to leave the profession. Neighborhood schools are being closed for arbitrary reasons. Parent and community voices are being shut out of the debate. And children, most importantly, are being systemically deprived of opportunities to learn.
As a nation we have failed to rectify glaring inequities in access to educational opportunities and resources. By focusing solely on the achievement gap, we have neglected the opportunity gap that creates it, and have allowed the resegregation of our schools and communities by class and race. The inevitable result, highlighted in the Federal Equity and Excellence Commission’s recent report, For Each and Every Child, is an inequitable system that hits disadvantaged students, families, and communities the hardest.
Continue reading "A Declaration in answer to the conservative "education reform" movement" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Announcement from the Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona:
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Announcement from the Arizona Theater Company:
Marriage Equality Play “8” Coming to Tucson
Written by Dustin Lance Black
Produced by Arizona Theater Company
Directed by Matthew Wiener
Executive Producer Fred DuVal
Temple of Music and Art
June 25th at 7:30pm
Uncover the truth about marriage for gay and lesbian Americans. "8"—a new play by Academy-award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk, J. Edgar)—demystifies the debate around marriage equality by chronicling the landmark trial of Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Hollingsworth v. Perry). Learn about the historical context of marriage from expert testimony. See the human cost of discrimination. Uncover the arguments used to justify bans on marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Using the actual court transcripts from the landmark federal trial of California's Prop. 8 and first-hand interviews, "8" shows both sides of the debate in a moving 90-minute play reading.
Continue reading "Marriage Equality Play '8' Coming to Tucson" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
After Monday's dog and pony show in the House Appropriations Committee, the action moves to the House floor today.
The Committee of the Whole (COW) calendar lists the following bills to be debated today:
Bill Number Short Title
SB1057 AHCCCS; ambulance services; rates
*SB1069 CPS; psychological assessments and services
(s/e: abortion clinics; regulations; inspections)
SB1337 schools; CPR training
SB1375 behavioral health services; dependent children
*Pending Rules and Caucus
The Arizona Republic reports, Medicaid showdown today?:
The Arizona House could consider Medicaid expansion as early as today, less than 24 hours after Republicans in a key committee defeated Gov. Jan Brewer’s top legislative priority.
Leaders of a bipartisan coalition backing expansion of the health-care program for the poor met late Monday to plot their options for bringing the measure to a vote.
A floor debate today offers the group its first opportunity to attach it to another bill. But some supporters favored waiting until at least Wednesday to give House Speaker Andy Tobin, who opposes Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan, an opportunity to bring forward the budget bills rather than see the coalition go around him.
A House vote on the issue, which has driven a wedge through the state’s GOP, would clear the way for consideration of the rest of the fiscal 2014 budget and adjournment of the legislative session.
by David Safier
Pre-monsoon storm clouds are hovering over the 11 courses forming the proposed TUSD Multicultural Curriculum. According to the right wing Arizona Daily Independent, which I trust about as far as I can throw a pixel, the AZ Department of Ed has qualms about the curricula (h/t to David Morales for pointing to the piece). The article is so random, I can't pull much genuine information from it, but I would be surprised if Huppenthal Inc. doesn't do everything in its power to quash any reasonable attempts at multicultural education, especially if it's happening in Tucson. We'll undoubtedly be hearing more about this soon.
Then this morning, Dylan Smith of the Tucson Sentinel, commenting on my FB post about the curriculum, wrote, "TUSD staff have canned the ninth-grade course, at least for the time being." No details yet.
This is shaping up to be quite a battle, as expected.
In related news, the TUSD Board voted to look at one finalist for the Superintendent job, Ector County (Odessa, Texas) interim superintendent H.T. Sanchez. He's a young man of 38, and it looks like he has some experience that could come in handy in the upcoming multicultural battles. The progressive three, Adelita Grijalva, Cam Juarez and Kristel Foster, voted to make Sanchez the lone finalist. Mark Stegeman and Michael Hicks wanted more applicants to come to town for an interview. We may soon find out what the post-Pedicone era will be like, whether TUSD will display more backbone than it has shown recently.
Sanchez will participate in a public forum at Catalina Magnet High Wednesday, 7-9pm.
Posted by Bob Lord
I caught a little bit of the Randi Rhodes show while driving last week. She was all over the upcoming George Zimmerman trial, and dead sure that George Zimmerman was gulity. She was armed with all sorts of logical arguments. Rhodes can be as off the charts wrong as Limbaugh or Hannity, but in this case her basic logic wasn't bad.
And if an omniscient being told me I had to bet one way or the other, I'd bet Zimmerman is guilty, that he killed Trayvon Martin in cold blood, not in self defense.
But that's not what the upcoming criminal trial is all about. In the trial, the issue will be whether the State proves its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
And when the cops screw up, reasonable doubt is almost baked in the cake.
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
When Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) announced a special election last week to fill the U.S. Senate seat of deceased Senator Frank Lautenberg, I pointed out that "While the GOP senate nominee might benefit from running with Christie on the same ballot, there is a risk that the GOP nominee might be a Tea Party crazy whom Christie would have to distance himself from..."
That was prophetic. The New Jersey GOP is going with a Tea Party / Koch brothers tool as their "Great White Hope" against what most political observers believe will be Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Talking Points Memo reports, Tea Party Fave Is The GOP’s Great Senate Hope In Jersey:
The deadline for candidates to file for the special election to fill the Senate seat formerly occupied by the late Frank Lautenberg passed at 4 p.m. Monday. As the deadline approached, Steve Lonegan remained the only well-known Republican who has declared his intention to enter the race. Lonegan is a former mayor with a colorful history who, most recently, has been leading a local activist group funded by the Koch Brothers.
* * *
Lonegan made a name for himself in the political realm as the mayor of the small town of Bogota, N.J., a position he held for three terms from 1995 until 2007.
* * *
[His] last campaign included a major controversy over Lonegan’s plan to close the local public high school. One of Lonegan’s strategies involved printing his own newspaper in the town and using it to aggressively attack his rivals.
In 2006, Lonegan received national attention when he called for a boycott after a local McDonald’s put up a billboard with a Spanish-language advertisement for iced coffee. Lonegan described the billboard as “divisive” and argued it sent the message that immigrants should not learn English.
Continue reading "Gov. Chris Christie's scheme gets complicated" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
A week ago Sunday, Rep. Darrell "Grand Theft Auto" Issa referred to selectively edited transcripts of interviews with IRS employees in the Cincinnati office to insinuate that the "targeting" of Tea Party groups by the IRS was "ordered from Washington." CNN host shoots down Issa’s claim that IRS ‘rogue’ agents were ‘ordered from Washington’:
House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) on Sunday was unable to produce evidence to back up his claim that so-called “rogue” agents at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) were “directly being ordered from Washington” to target tea party groups.
* * *
CNN host Candy Crowley pointed out that Issa’s committee had provided transcripts of an interview with one IRS agent who was asked if the practice of scrutinizing conservative groups had been ordered by Washington, and the agent replied, “I believe so.”
“It’s totally not definitive,” Crowley observed.
“Well, that one isn’t,” Issa admitted.
* * *
“This is a problem that was coordinated in all likelihood right out of Washington headquarters,” he insisted. “And we’re getting to proving it.”
“But as yet, you don’t have the direct link,” Crowley noted.
Issa has refused to make the full transcripts publicly available (and the Democrats on the committee have been precluded from release).
This past Sunday, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Elijah Cummings (D-MD), was Candy Crowley's guest. Cummings said that the so-called scandal involving the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) targeting of tea party groups was "solved," but Committee Chairman Darrell Issa has refused to release the testimony of a "conservative Republican" IRS manager because it indicated that the White House was not involved. Cummings Calls Issa's IRS Bluff: 'I'll Release' Transcripts Clearing White House if He Doesn't:
Rep. Cummings explained to Crowley that he had "begged" Issa to release the full transcripts.
"He's the chairman of the committee, we're not in power," the Maryland Democrat pointed out. "If he does not release them, I will. Period."
"I'm willing to come on your show next week with the chairman, with the transcripts, if he agrees to do that," he added. "But if he doesn't, I'll release them by the end of the week."
by David Safier
This is a fascinating idea: a typeface to make it easier for people with dyslexia to read. It's designed by a Dutch company, and its developer has dyslexia, so his design is based both on research and personal experience.
For any skeptics out there, dyslexia isn't some "My dog ate my homework" excuse for lazy kids who don't want to read. The term refers to a number of visual and brain-related traits that can rotate or reverse letters and can make it difficult to follow a line of text across a page. Along with reading, writing can be incredibly difficult, especially spelling. There's no intelligence component involved. Incredibly intelligent and gifted people can be dyslexic. It's really only a problem in a society where literacy is mandatory. Many people with dyslexia have other spatial gifts that make them especially adept at tasks that don't demand an easy facility with reading and writing.
Apparently this new font, called the Dyslexie typeface, is one of a number of attempts to make reading easier for people who tend to transpose and rotate letters. It hasn't been tested carefully, and based on what I know about reading difficulties, it only deals with part of the problem. But if it can help even a little, the wonderful world of computers can make it an easy, inexpensive tool. All you need to do is take a word-processed text, Select it and Change the font. What would be incredibly cumbersome when dealing with words on paper is just a few mouse clicks away in the digital world.
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
There is an overflow crowd of interested persons wanting to testify today at the Arizona House Appropriations Committee today on the Senate Health and Welfare Budget, SB 1492, which includes Governor Jan Brewer''s Medicaid (AHCCCS) restoration/expansion plan.
As you might expect, the JLBC, AHCCCS, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations, and hospital associations are testifying in favor of the appropriations bill. The Valley Interfaith Council also testifiend in favor of the bill.
Opposing the bill are the Goldwater Institute, Tea Party types and the so-called "Christian" Right anti-abortion extremists who turned out for the CAP "poison pill" amendment.
It does not appear that any minds are being changed. This hearing is going on longer than I have time to follow.
You can watch the committee hearing here. Click to visit ACTV.
UPDATE: SB 1492 FAILED to pass on the same party-line 7-4 vote in committee.
Howard Fischer reports House panel rejects Brewer's plan to expand Medicaid:
With all Republicans opposed, a House panel voted Monday to reject the proposal by Gov. Jan Brewer to use federal dollars to expand the state's Medicaid program.
* * *
But Monday's 7-4 vote against SB 1492 by the Appropriations Committee could prove largely meaningless.
At least seven Republicans in the 60-member House are expected to support expansion. That, combined with the backing of 24 Democrats, should provide enough support to have the issue resurrected when it goes to the full House, likely later this week.
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Please join the Office of Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva for and informative event on immigration reform in conjunction with Nuns on the Bus:
NETWORK's Nuns on the Bus Is Coming to Tucson
to Support Commonsense Immigration Reform
We need immigration policies that reflect
our values, not our fears.
Also, learn how immigration affects the lives of Native Americans,
specifically the Pascua Yaqui and Tohono O’Odham Nations.
Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva & Nuns On the Bus
Public Forum on Comprehensive Immigration Reform
and Native Nations
Tuesday, June 11, 6 PM
Pascua Yaqui Nation, Albert D. Garcia Justice Center
7777 S. Camino Huivisim, Bldg C
This year, they are traveling across the United States – 6,500 miles over 15 states – 53 events in 40 cities – standing with immigrants, faith-filled activists, and Catholic Sisters who serve immigrant communities.
For More Information on This Event:
Contact Ruben Reyes, (520) 622-6788, ruben.reyes@mail.house.gov
For More Information on NETWORK’s Nuns on the Bus: www.nunsonthebus.org
NETWORK’s Nuns on the Bus is a campaign of NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby which was founded by 47 Catholic Sisters more than 40 years ago. www.networklobby.org
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The Arizona House Appropriations Committee began its hearing today with the eleventh hour "strike everything amendment" to SB 1069 for the benefit of the Mullah Cathi Herrod and her Christian Taliban at the Center for Arizona Policy (CAP) to allow the
Arizona Department of Health Services to conduct unannounced
inspections of abortion clinics, in violation of a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Tucson Women’s Clinic v. Eden (2004) which does not allow surprise inspections without an administrative warrant. The strike-everything amendment would also require AHCCCS to conduct financial audits of Medicaid providers to ensure that the money isn’t being co-mingled.
Sen. Nancy Barto (R-Phoenix) briefly testified in support of the amendment, citing convicted Dr. Kermit Gosnell as a reason for this untimely amendment, and a secretly recorded video by the anti-abortion organization Live Action, between a pregnant woman and a doctor and counselor at the Family Planning Associates Medical Group at a Phoenix abortion clinic.
Bryan Howard, CEO of Planned Parenthood, testified against the "strike everything amendment" on the basis of language restricting Medicaid funds -- it is unnecessary (unannounced inspections are already provided by law) and illegal under the 2004 9th Circuit decision. It is also unconstitutional under the 4th Amendment.
Howard cited the recent U.S. Supreme Court denial of cert from an Indiana case in which the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a law that prevents Medicaid recipients from being reimbursed for health services at Planned Parenthood because some of its clinics offer abortions.
Continue reading "CAP 'poison pill' amendment approved by House Appropriations Committee" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
And the suspense continues to build . . .
It was a slow day at the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday. The Court has scheduled an additional day for opinions on Thursday, something the Court is likely to repeat again next week as it clears its backlog of opinions.
There were three opinions today, Oxford Health Plan v. Sutter, 12-135 (an arbitration case), Peugh v. United States, 12-62 (criminal sentencing guidelines and the application of the ex post facto clause), and Horne v. Department of Agriculture, 12-123 (a procedural question to allow a takings claim to proceed in court). A big yawn for the nonlawyer.
No affirmative action, no voting rights, no same-sex marriage, no gene patenting today. Maybe Thursday the Court will throw us a bone.
Posted by Bob Lord
I'm reminded of that old Britney Spears song "Oops, I did it again" or perhaps Ronald Reagan's "there they go again."
Last week, prior to passing a Republican-backed Homeland Security funding bill, the House voted on an amendment proposed by immigrant hater Steve King of Iowa to remove protections for children of illegal immigrants, previously authorized by President Obama.
Our three freshmen, Barber, Sinema and Kirkpatrick voted no. Only three Democrats voted yes, but the amendment passed.
OK, makes sense so far.
Then the amended bill was put to a vote.
And our three freshmen voted for it, immigrant bashing provisions and all. The overwhelming majority of Democrats voted no, but 25, including our three freshmen, joined Steve King and his friends.
I can just hear them touting their "independence" and their "bi-partisanship" now.
Pardon me while I gag.
So, I wonder, if asked about this vote by their base, will they explain how they voted against it before they voted for it?
by Will Greene
This is frankly a shocking email that was forwarded to me from an anonymous source. What you are looking at is correspondence to a solar installation company from an individual who had previously been interested in purchasing or leasing solar energy.
This is the hardest proof I have seen to date of an Arizona
utility deliberately dissuading a customer from going solar and therefore
choking out a “competitor” and killing commerce in the process. The customer is situated in Salt River Project’s
territory meaning SRP is apparently the utility involved.
Posted by Bob Lord
Our two (??) most active conservative commenters both are the type who use screen names havng nothing to do with their real names. They go by NidanGoju and Thuccydides. Each of those is a mouthful, so I'll just call them Thucky and Dang.
It's possible Thucky and Dang actually are one person with a split persoality. I don't think I've ever seen both comment to the same post. And Thucky became a frequent commenter about the same time Dang slowed down. But they're a bit different in their approach, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Dang is a more of a counter-puncher, always having some ludicrous argument to challenge what seems should be a given. Thucky is more the smug type, supremely confident in the knowledge he's obtained from memorizing conservative talking points. He reminds me of the old Will Rogers line about Herbert Hoover: "It's not what he doesn't know that troubles me, it's what he knows for sure that just ain't so."
And what Thucky knows seems to know for sure these days is that the primary cause of today's inequality is that "welfare is too comfortable." Sorry, Thucky, it just ain't so, for a gazillion reasons, most of which are intuitively obvious.
Continue reading "Dear Thucky and Dang, It's Really Not The Welfare" »
Posted by Bob Lord
A few weeks back I wrote on what I thought was an abysmal Real Time performance by Bill Maher. He had stereotyped Muslims in an indefensible way and had gone after Chris Christie in a way that was both over the line and unfunny.
Friday night, however, he did a lot to restore his credibility. In "New Rules," he laid out succinctly, persuasively and humorously why those who claim Ronald Reagan wouldn't fit in with today's Republican party are wrong and how Reagan indeed wrote the playbook for today's Tea Party.
It's vintage Maher. You can find a clip here. Enjoy.
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The Washington Post is reporting Edward Snowden identified as source of NSA leaks:
Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old system administrator and former undercover CIA employee, unmasked himself Sunday as the principal source of recent Washington Post and Guardian disclosures about top-secret NSA programs, denouncing what he described as systematic surveillance of innocent citizens and saying in an interview, “it’s important to send a message to government that people will not be intimidated.”
* * *
Snowden, whose full name is Edward Joseph Snowden, said he understands the risks of disclosing the information, but that he felt it was the right thing to do.
“I intend to ask for asylum from any countries that believe in free speech and oppose the victimization of global privacy,” Snowden told the Post. The Guardian was the first to publicly identify Snowden. Both media organizations made his name public with his consent.
“I’m not going to hide,” Snowden said Sunday afternoon. “Allowing the U.S. government to intimidate its people with threats of retaliation for revealing wrongdoing is contrary to the public interest.”
“I’m not going to hide” and “I intend to ask for asylum" are contradictory statements, Mr. Snowden. True courage means turning yourself in to stand trial in the U.S.
by David Safier
Drafts of the proposed curriculum for TUSD's new multicultural courses for high schools have been released, covering courses for grades 9, 11 and 12. You can find links to the 11 draft documents on Three Sonorans.
This is complex, controversial material which I haven't looked at in the depth it deserves or discussed with others, so what you'll read here are preliminary thoughts. I reserve my Emersonian right ("A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines") to change my mind on any of these issues without notice.
My sense is, the curricula for the 11 courses -- or at least 10 of the 11 courses -- are good starting points for teachers. They combine prescriptive elements -- topics to be covered and objectives to be met -- with lots of examples of ways teachers can achieve the curricula's goals. Teachers for any of these courses have lots of latitude in the materials and approaches they use within the general guidelines. It's easy to overlook the teachers' latitude because most of the "Explanations and Examples" under each broad subject heading begin with the phrase, "Students will." People who aren't familiar with school jargon might mistakenly think that's a mandate that teachers must have students perform all the tasks on the list. In fact, the "Students will" phrasing is one I began seeing in the 1970's under the heading of "behavioral objectives." The purpose is to describe what students will do and what they will learn rather than stating a lofty, abstract goal. Each of the examples says to teachers, "Here's what the students will do if you choose to use this approach." No teacher could possibly go through the whole cafeteria menu of "Students will" examples for each course, nor would anyone want to.
I also don't get the sense that teachers are limited to teaching only the items mentioned in the curricula. Since all the courses are to be taught from a multicultural viewpoint or from a Mexican-American or African-American viewpoint (the U.S. History and U.S. Government courses have 3 separate curricula, one for each viewpoint), those are the aspects of the courses that are emphasized in the curricula. It's safe to assume a social studies teacher knows how to teach a standard U.S. History or Government course, so these curricula give teachers guidelines for infusing the courses with a specific viewpoint. If there's any question, the State Standards and the Common Core Standards are listed side-by-side with the Explanations and Examples.
Continue reading "Thoughts about the proposed TUSD Multicultural Curriculum" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Kathleen Geier at the Political Animal blog gets it exactly right in this post. “The sequester will help the economy”: another right-wing fairy tale debunks itself:
Remember all those fearless predictions by the usual grinning idiots on the right about how the sequester was going to work miracles for the economy? Well guess what? That never happened.
I know, I know. I’m still reeling from the shock.
The sequester took effect on March 1, so we now have three months’ worth of jobs data that have been released in its aftermath. The results have been underwhelming, to say the least. As Brad DeLong observed this week, we are still in a depressed economy. And as Ed Kilgore noted yesterday, the latest monthly jobs report was thoroughly mediocre.
I particularly wanted to highlight the point the New York Times’ Annie Lowrey made: that the report shows that the sequester is already, specifically beginning to have a negative impact on employment. Yesterday’s report shows that the federal workforce, which has suffered cutbacks due to the sequester, is shrinking at a dramatically accelerated rate:
Federal employment had been on a downward trend since the start of 2011, with the government shedding about 3,000 or 4,000 positions a month through February. Then sequestration hit on March 1. And in the last three months, the federal work force has shrunk by about 45,000 positions, including 14,000 in May alone.
Continue reading "The sequester has a negative impact on employment" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has a choice to make: Deny funding to crazy Uncle Joe Arpaio's appeal of a federal judge’s ruling that his office engaged in racial profiling, or concede that the supervisors condone his racial profiling. Sheriff Joe Arpaio appeal funding questioned:
[T]he Board of Supervisors refused to take a public stance on the issue last week, with the majority of supervisors saying the issue is not so black-and-white, and there are outstanding questions over legalities and logistics of the appeals process.
U.S. District Judge Murray Snow issued a ruling late last month that the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office engaged in racial profiling against Latinos. In his 142-page ruling on Melendres vs. Arpaio, Snow outlined the constitutional violations sheriff’s deputies committed when they targeted Latino drivers and detained them on the side of the road longer than other drivers.
Arpaio’s attorney, Tim Casey, denied Snow’s findings and said he would appeal the ruling.
Casey said the sheriff should determine how the case moves forward as the elected official named in the lawsuit.
“It is my understanding that, because this case does not involve a claim for money damages and only involves a claim for declaratory and injunctive relief that relate to the operations of MCSO, that the elected sheriff as policymaker for MCSO and its operations determines whether to appeal,” Casey said.
Continue reading "The state of Maricopa needs to end this litigation" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The Tucson City Council is holding a public hearing on Plan Tucson (City of Tucson Genral Plan 2013) on Tuesday, June 11, at 5:30 p.m., at Tucson City Hall (item is #9 on the Mayor & Council agenda). For more information see CITY OF TUCSON GENERAL PLAN 2013 website.
This public hearing is a last opportunity for anyone interested to provide comments on the public participation process and/or the overall document prior to the Mayor and Council making a decision as to whether the Plan should be adopted and put on the ballot for this November's General Election.
The Final Plan Tucson Draft, which is now available for review, reflects staff recommendations for revisions approved by the Planning Commission at the February 27, 2013 meeting. The recommendations for revisions were based largely on more than 800 comments provided by approximately 100 commenters representing agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the general public.
To take a look at the Final Draft, see:
Entire Document [PDF, 199 pages]
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The new school year begins in mid-August for most Tucson area school districts, and this school supplies giveaway is the kind of positive community activism this community should encourage.
Please make a $25 contribution at School Supply Giveaway (www.wepay.com) on Facebook.
In response to the offensive and irresponsible
effort to give away free shotguns in Tucson neighborhoods (see link
below for more info), we have launched an initiative to give away school
supplies, books, sports equipment, and school clothes to children in
the neighborhoods targeted by the free shotgun giveaway. From there, we
will expand our efforts, across Tucson.
The Tucson community has experienced traumatic acts of violence, most
notably the January 8, 2011 Safeway shooting. We have also witnessed
similar acts of violence take place, across the country. At this time
of healing and reflection, we do not need such grossly irresponsible
actions as giving away free shotguns. Instead, the majority of
Tucsonans want an adult conversation on gun safety and responsible gun
ownership. Most importantly, what we want is an end to this horrific
violence.
Therefore, we decided to launch this program to make a positive impact
in our community. It's this type of effort that will result in a
vibrant and healthy Tucson community.
We've set out an initial goal of $12,000, to match the amount raised by
the the gun giveaway. We would love to surpass this amount, however, to
show the nation and the world what type of community we have, here in
Tucson!
Please donate, today! Your contributions will help Tucson children, and will make a powerful statement. Thank you!!
To donate items or for any questions, please contact Sal Baldenegro at sbaldenegro@gmail.com or 520.270.3095
(Please note that donations are not tax-deductible, at this time. A 501(c)(3) application is currently pending.)
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Announcement from the Democratic Women In Action:
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Announcement from the Pinal County Democratic Party:
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Announcement from the Pima County Democratic Party:
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Event announcement from the Saguaro Eastside Democrats:
SAGUARO EASTSIDE DEMOCRATS
present
2nd ANNUAL MINIATURE GOLF TOURNAMENT
SATURDAY, JULY 20, 8-10 AM
at
GOLF N’ STUFF, 6503 E. TANQUE VERDE Rd.
Tickets $20 / $25 at the door
Children under 12 $5
Must be accompanied by an adult – No drop-offs!
Tickets include one round 18 holes of miniature golf, continental breakfast
and awards trophies!!!
For tickets send your check made payable to Saguaro Eastside Democrats to: Saguaro Eastside Democrats, c/o Pima County Democratic Party, PO Box 40211, Tucson AZ 85717.
Or pay online at
https://secure.actblue.com/page/summerminigolf
For more information please contact Jan Kalthoff (520) 885-9005
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
If you missed "Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption" in Tucson on Saturday, The Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation has several more opportunities. http://www.azadvocacy.org/forums-a-events/upcoming-event-details
WHAT: Join Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation to expose how lobbyists and Big Money buy favor with officials at the our expense. We begin with a special showing of Bill Moyers’ United States of ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), exposing how Big Money uses campaign cash and freebies to buy access to OUR tax dollars for greater profit at the expense of jobs and voter priorities. We then highlight important bills being voted on by the legislature and Congress on Clean Elections, other political anti-corruption/conflict of interests bills, voting rights and election administration. Learn more about our March 18, 2013 U.S. Supreme Court hearing to defend every eligible citizen’s right to register to vote without the barriers Arizona politicians keep in place.
|
Jun 18, 2013
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption | AFSCME Local 2384 | Phoenix |
|
Jun 21, 2013
02:00 PM |
Exposing Arizona's Political Corrupton | Joyner-Green Valley Library | Green Valley |
|
Jul 10, 2013
06:00 PM - 08:00 PM |
Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption | Gourmet House of Hong Kong | Phoenix |
|
Jul 18, 2013
06:15 PM - 08:00 PM |
Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption | SEIU Arizona | Mesa |
|
Jul 30, 2013
11:30 AM - 01:00 PM |
Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption | Starfire Golf Club | Scottsdale |
|
Aug 06, 2013
06:00 PM - 06:30 PM |
Exposing Arizona's Political Corruption | Via Linda Senior Center | Scottsdale |
|
Oct 14, 2013
07:00 PM |
Exposing Arizona’s Political Corruption | Sun Lakes Country Club | Sun Lakes |
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Nuns On The Bus Tour for comprehensive immigration reform is coming to Arizona. Go to Nuns on the Bus - Network for more tour information and to RSVP.
| Date | Type of Visit | Place | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 11, 2013 (10:00 AM) | Voices from Annunciation House |
Casa Vides 325 Leon St, El Paso, TX 79901 |
RSVP | ||
| Jun 11, 2013 (Noon) | Lobby Visit |
Office of Congressman Steve Pearce 570 N Telshor Blvd, Las Cruces, NM 88011 |
RSVP | ||
| Jun 11, 2013 (6:00 PM) | Event Sponsored by Rep. Grijalva's Office |
Albert D. Garcia Justice Center/Building C, Pascua Yaqui Nation 7777 S Camino Huivism, Tucson, AZ 85746 |
RSVP | ||
| Jun 12, 2013 (9:30 AM) | Kino Border Initiative Event |
On the Border West Street and International Street, Nogales, AZ |
RSVP | ||
| Jun 12, 2013 (3:00 PM) | Lobby Visit |
Offices of Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake 2200 and 2201 E Camelback Rd (meet at the corner of 22nd St & Camelback Rd.), Phoenix, AZ 85016 |
RSVP | ||
| Jun 12, 2013 (6:00 PM) | Friendraiser |
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Sonntag Pavillion 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85013 |
RSVP |
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Announcement from the Democrats of the Red Rocks in Sedona:
Continue reading "State of The State, A Democratic Perspective - Today" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The Political Calendar is posted on Sundays. Please send us notice of your political events prior to the Sunday before your event (7 days would be most helpful). See the calendar icon in the right-hand column of the blog page for easy access to the calendar.
Political Calendar For The Week of June 9, 2013:
Sunday, June 9, 3:00 p.m.: Democrats of the Red Rocks present State of The State, a Democratic Perspective, at the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, Hwy. 179 and Meadowlark Drive, Sedona (just South of Chapel Road roundabout). State Sen. Katie Hobbs, and Reps. Martin Quezada, Jamescita Peshlakai, and Stephanie Mach will participate. Mike Cosantino and Steve Williamson will moderate. Light refreshments will be served. For more information please contact (928) 203-5858.
Monday, June 10, Noon: Democrats of Greater Tucson luncheon, Dragon's View Restaurant (400 N. Bonita, South of St. Mary's Road between the Freeway and Grande Avenue, turn South at Furr's Cafeteria), buffet lunch costs $8.50. Featured speaker is Eric Holler, Program Manager, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, on “What the Colorado River Basin Study says about Tucson's future” Next Week: Michelle Steinberg, Director of Public Policy, Arizona Planned Parenthood on “What has the Arizona Legislature done with our reproductive rights?”
Continue reading "Political Calendar: Week of June 9, 2013" »
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
by Will Greene
The debate swirling around Navajo Generating Station in Page, AZ has followed a predictable script. The 40-year-old power plant represents the West’s largest single source of greenhouse gasses and air pollution. Grassroots Navajo organizations, environmental groups, and many members of the public are making the case that now is the time for a transition to renewable energy at the site, with the station’s lease expiring in 2019.
The Navajo Nation government, utility-backed groups, and coal interests are focusing on the jobs that would be lost should the station be shut or phased down.
With public hearings set for late July, the future of energy in Arizona is being decided before our eyes. As the largest coal plant in the West, the fate of NGS could be a bellwether for the fate of coal in Arizona and the West in general, and indicate whether renewable energy will break into the mainstream or remain a relative curiosity.
As with any decision holding this much magnitude for Arizona’s economy and environment, it is essential that the haze of talking points is cut through and reality brought forth.
Continue reading "Utility Attack on Corp Comm Candidate Unfounded" »
Several weeks ago, after the US intelligence agencies found the Boston Marathon bombers in a matter of days, I posted this story: Who Is Homeland Security Watching? Off-the-grid Fertilizer Plant vs On-the-Grid Citizenry.
When I said that the federal government was watching “real people, not corporate people,” I had no idea how prophetic that statement was. In the few short weeks since that story, there has been one revelation about government spying on American citizens and news organizations after another.
Gov’t Obtains Wide AP Phone Records in Probe
First we learned that the feds obtained months worth of telephone records from Associated Press (AP) reporters. AP called this “a ‘massive and unprecedented intrusion’ into how news organizations gather the news.”
US gov’t collecting huge number of phone records
Although there was a huge media uproar over the AP story when it broke, it pales in comparison to what we learned this week. Senator Diane Feinstein, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, confirmed that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been collecting cell phone records for millions of Americans on a regular basis for years. This ongoing surveillance of American citizens began during the warrantless wiretapping program initiated under President George Bush’s reign. Verizon, Sprint, and At&T have complied with court orders to provide customer data. Verizon alone has 121 million customers. More details and links after the jump.
Continue reading "Federal Gov’t Spying on Citizens: Big Brother Really Is Watching" »
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