This week in progressive state blogs is designed specifically to focus attention on the writing and analysis of people focused on their home turf. Let me know via comments or Kosmail if you have a favorite state- or city-based blog you think I should be watching.
Inclusion of a diary does not necessarily indicate my agreement or endorsement of its contents.
At the Dakota Free Press, caheidelberger writes—Cost of Denying Gay Couple Marriage License: $44,000:
How much might it cost your county government to follow Attorney General Marty Jackley’s bogus advice and let county employees discriminate against gay couples based on personal religious beliefs? $44,000:
Attorneys for a gay couple who sued a Texas county clerk who denied them a marriage license on religious grounds have announced they’ve reached a settlement of the lawsuit.
In a statement, attorneys for Jim Cato and Joe Stapleton said Monday that they’ve settled their federal lawsuit against Hood County Clerk Katie Lang for what they’ve spent in attorneys’ fees — almost $44,000 [“Texas Gay Couple Settles Suit over Marriage License Denial,” NBCDFW.com, 2015.08.17].
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Actually, $43,872.10, says the press release from the happy couple’s lawyers. Had Hood County not settled, the plaintiffs’ lawyers say the county could have faced half a million dollars in damages and legal fees.
As JT Eberhard writes, balky county employees standing for the non-existent right to use a state job to impose personal religious beliefs on others face two choices: settle for $44K and issue the marriage license, or go to court, lose half a million in taxpayer dollars, and issue the license.
There are more excerpts below the orange gerrymander.
At Plunderbund of Ohio, John Michael Spinelli writes—Gov. Kasich Hits 33 Months In A Row Of Below Average Job Growth:
It’s probably too much to ask elite national reporters to dig into job statistics to learn just what a poor job creator Gov. John Kasich has been, when Ohio media has largely failed to do it. Plunderbund, of course, has built its reputation on letting the facts speak for themselves.
New estimates of Ohio employment for July 2015 were released today by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. For the 33rd month in a row, the figures show Ohio isn’t the miracle Gov. Kasich thinks it is, as experts crunch the numbers in a new report available on the internet.
Arguably the best job statistic researcher and analyst in Ohio, George Zeller said Friday that the new July 2015 data show that Ohio, under Gov. John Kasich, is still recovering from both the 2000s recession and the 2007 “Great Recession”. Ohio’s growth, he says, “remains too slow and is well below the USA national average.”
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The Orange Juice Blog of California,
Diane Goldstein writes—
Time to End Policing for Profit in the Golden State – call Daly, Wagner & Chang today!:
In April of this year I watched the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Need to Reform Asset Forfeiture. There was notable testimony presented that highlighted the many abuses of a program run amok. For those that are not aware of the history of policing for profit, it started during the height of the drug war hysteria of the 1980’s. The well-intentioned program was intended to target the profit motive that has long fueled drug trafficking organizations (DTO).
Yet the architect of the program, John Yoder, had this to say about it in a Washington Post article last year:
“Over time, however, the tactic has turned into an evil itself, with the corruption it engendered among government and law enforcement coming to clearly outweigh any benefits.” |
At the hearing it was the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) that represented the police voice and publicly stated that law enforcement agencies have come to rely on civil asset forfeiture as the federal government has reduced assistance to state and local law enforcement. This statement is the crux of the matter, and is the issue that our legislators and our government officials must fix in order to prevent the conflict of interest that arises when police and prosecutors have a budgetary stake in forfeited property and are able to circumvent legislative oversight as required by California law.
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Bleeding Heartland of Iowa,
desmoinesdem writes—
Jeb's super-PAC can raise more than $100 million but can't use Photoshop properly:
The Right to Rise super-PAC supporting Jeb Bush for president had raised $103 million as of June 30, about two-thirds as much as the main super-PAC backing Mitt Romney raised during the entire 2012 election cycle.
With so much money at their disposal, the super-PAC's leaders should have been able to buy a higher-quality product than the first Right to Rise direct mail piece, which hit Iowa mailboxes late this week.
I've enclosed below pictures an acquaintance posted on Facebook, adding that her 8-year-old asked, "What does 'Why Jeb?' mean? And why does that man have two different hands?" [...]
A closer look at Bush's hands shows that the left hand belongs to an African-American. The right hand looks odd too, coming from the wrist toward the hip at an unnatural angle. Its fingers cast shadows that don't seem to fit with the rest of the picture. [...]
Other acquaintances who are experienced Photoshop users have been discussing more subtle problems with this mailer, such as unnatural shading in some areas. One of them realized that the background is a stock image.
Why wouldn't the super-PAC use some other picture of Bush? The flip side featured a decent shot of the candidate.
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Delaware Liberal,
Delaware Dem writes—
On Bernie Sanders and being a realist Progressive:
I like Bernie Sanders. I like most of his ideas. I like his role in keeping the Overton Window on the left side of the spectrum. I like that his presence in the race is making Hillary even more progressive and liberal than she already is. I like that his presence is making her bolder (i.e. her student debt plan revealed earlier this week. Cautious triangulating Hillary would never had introduced that).
But Bernie does not look the part. As much as you want to scoff at this notion, choosing a President is a lot about visuals and stagecraft. And that is why Donald Trump is not going to win. His bombast is not what Americans picture in their Presidents.
You know what Kavips says is true. You know that is how our media functions. In a perfect world that purist progressives operate in, that doesn’t matter. I am not a purist and I have long ago realized this is no perfect world. And I want to win. That means I can’t vote for Bernie Sanders.
But, I will donate to Bernie Sanders. Why?
Because his continued presence in the race makes our party and Hillary Clinton more progressive. It makes our Democratic message more progressive.
Here is interesting question for purists to contemplate: Would you rather elect Bernie Sanders with a toned down, moderated platform or Hillary Clinton with a progressive platform? Because you know, if Bernie is the nominee, there will be some moderating going on so that he can appeal to the general electorate.
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Louisiana Voice,
tomaswell writes—
Be proud Louisiana! We’re Number 42 in the nation while Alabama is Number One (in the Ashley Madison rankings):
A national ranking in which Louisiana can take pride in finding itself 10th from the bottom.
As an added bonus, all those rabid LSU fans can be more than a little smug in the knowledge that Alabama is number one.
If you’re a bit confused, if up seems down, if day appears as night, don’t fret.
We’re talking about the latest ranking in per capital expenditures and Alabama is at the top of the list and Louisiana is way down there at number 42.
But that’s not a bad thing. Just ask Josh Duggar. The oldest of the TV reality show 19 Kids and Counting and a former employee of the Family Research Council headed up by Bobby Jindal pal Tony Perkins. Josh is the one, you may remember, who was outed several months ago for having molested his little sisters, a sin attributed to the actions of a young boy.
But he’s no longer a young boy and now he’s been outed again. This time, it has been learned that he has been an active client of that Ashley Madison internet services that guarantees you an extra-marital affair or your money back. Of course, he’s back out there making public apologies all over again.
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Bluestem Prairie of Minnesota,
Sally Jo Sorensen writes—
Union's Director of Public Affairs & Public Policy says AFSCME opposes re-opening private prison:
In an email sent to Bluestem Prairie on Thursday in reaction to our post Swift Co hires Goff Public to work on reopening CCA private prison to solve state's inmate binge, Jennifer Munt, AFSCME Council 5's Director of Public Affairs & Public Policy, sent the following statement:
AFSCME will fight this with every tool at our disposal. Private corporations shouldn't profit from human incarceration. Corrections is a core function of government. |
This statement sets the stage for a battle between Swift County's lobbyists and Representative Tim Miller, who campaigned on reopening the 1700-bed private prison, which Correction Corporation of America closed in 2010.
AFSCME Council 5 is considered a close ally to Governor Mark Dayton, as its October 2009 endorsement of the maverick candidate--who did not seek DFL endorsement at the party's 2010 convention--gave the veteran political leader's campaign a boost.
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Blue Jersey,
Dan Benson writes—
#Science Policy Friday: Small Step for Solar Paves Way for Greener Grid:
You or maybe a neighbor in town has installed solar, and you've seen or heard about how the power company's meter "runs backward" when the solar panels are powering the home. That means that the homeowner is receiving a retail rate for the power they are generating, making the payback for solar much quicker for the homeowner. The technical term for this is "Net Metering."
Net metering is the system that allows people who generate their own electricity using solar panels to feed excess energy back into the grid, sometimes referred to as "nega-watt" energy. Net metering encourages residential and commercial solar growth and may allow a utility company to avoid costly investments in new transmission and distribution of grid electricity.
Under the current New Jersey law, utilities do not have to offer net metering when generating capacity by net-metered customers equals 2.5% of the state's peak demand for electricity, and as NJ Spotlight reports, a threshold we are already above. But on August 10th, the governor signed legislation (A-3838/S-2420) sponsored by Assemblymen John F. McKeon, Tim Eustace, Reed Gusciora and myself. The new law expands the state's net-metering capacity threshold to 2.9% of total annual kilowatt-hours sold in state. More importantly, this means that the crucial pro-consumer pro-environment and pro-renewable energy job policy of net metering will continue unabated as solar continues its growth in the Garden State.
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Bold Nebraska,
Jane Kleeb writes—
Lancaster County Wind Zoning Update: Time to Diversify Energy:
Last night, I attended the Lancaster County Planning Commission meeting where the proposed wind zoning ordinance was discussed in great detail.
The Commission narrowly passed the zoning ordinance on a 5-4 split, increasing the sound levels the turbines can run at and clarifying the setbacks for dwellings from an installed turbine. The split vote on the board is a good indication on where the community is also–everyone who spoke either for or against the ordinance made it clear they supported wind and clean energy. The devil, as they say, is always in the details. [...]
The next step for the wind ordinance is approval, denial or modification by the Lancaster County Board. A date for the public hearing at the County Board has not been published yet but we anticipate it happening in September.
Local concerns over sound levels, setbacks of turbines from homes and property lines and decommissioning of turbines after 20+ years were discussed in great detail. The landowners in the community spent a tremendous amount of their time researching and attending working group sessions and various meetings on the wind ordinance. Those hours represent our democracy at its best.
The Stop Hallam Wind landowners did not achieve everything they believe should be in the ordinance, but they moved the conversation to places it simply would have never gone without them all standing up together.
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BlueNC,
scharrison writes—
Main Street Dem opposes municipal broadband:
Rep. Michael Wray co-authors a propaganda-laced op-ed:
The Federal Communications Commission, in Washington, D.C., recently voted to overturn a North Carolina law that set limits on municipal broadband networks. We’ll leave the question about whether the FCC’s action was constitutional to the legal scholars.
But even if the FCC action is legal, that doesn’t make it right. That’s why we support U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis’ legislation to stop the FCC from overturning North Carolina’s law.
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As you can see, not only is this op-ed riddled with industry talking points, this "Democrat" is actively promoting Thom Tillis' Senatorial activities. On top of that, he uses the hardships General Assembly Republicans have foisted on municipalities as a lever to discourage muni broadband. [...]
Over half of the things he lists as potential "cuts" that would result from investing in a broadband system are things that have been historically funded by the state, not local governments. But Wray and his co-author are counting on the ignorance of readers to not catch that little misinformation dance.
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Blue Virginia,
lowkell writes—
Video: Conservative Commentator Michael Gerson Compares Trump to UKIP, National Front:
Gerson: "What Trump is appealing to has more of a feel of European right-wing politics, ok, UKIP or the National Front -- highly nationalistic, resentment of foreigners, we've been betrayed by our leaders. There's some deep and disturbing things that are being appealed to here..."
Gerson also predicts that Trump "could damage the Republican Party for decades to come" with his immigrant/Latino bashing. On another note, Gerson rips Trump wannabe Scott Walker as "not thoughtful," "not prepared," and "not playing in the big leagues."
For his part, Mark Shields notes that Trump is appealing to an extremely angry Republican electorate, a "mean-spiritedness in the electorate he's appealing to...anti-immigrant...[a position which is] devastating the Republican Party in the long run."
Finally, Shields raises a great point that's well worth quoting: "What [Bush and Rubio] risk [by not condemning Trump strongly now] is that what Trump is doing and saying becomes so odious and so offensive that it almost will be seen as a moral surrender on your part, ultimately in the general election, that you didn't stand up to him...that's a real risk that anybody runs by not confronting him at this point."
The problem, of course, is that large swaths of the Republican primary electorate really IS xenophobic, ultra-nationalist, etc., etc. And that's the truly horrifying part of all this...
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Blogging While Blue of Georgia,
bloggingwhileblue writes—
Remembering Julian Bond:
As many of you may know, I am a visiting professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas Austin. I have had the pleasure of hosting Julian Bond twice at the University. Once this February as the keynote speaker for the annual Barbara Jordan Forum at the LBJ School and last year at the Civil Rights Summit lecture in April.
Shirley Franklin, “His life’s work and writings serve as a blueprint for all who seek social justice and equality for all Americans and peace in the world. His sharp intellect and unflinching courage in the face of obstacles and ridicule inspire each of us to stand up, speak up and act up for the principles of democracy and justice.
Julian was an inspired teacher, committed human rights activist and a courageous spokesperson for peace, equality and justice for people of color, for women, for LGBT community, for immigrants and for all Americans and people around the world.”
One of the students, Virginia Cumberbatch introduced Julian Bond at the Barbara Jordan Forum this year and her remarks are included here as well as an interview that I conducted this week honoring Bond on the Boston NPR program, Here and Now.