This week at 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. Here is the April 15 edition. Inclusion of a blog post does not necessarily indicate my agreement with—or endorsement of—its contents.
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DocHoc at Blue Oklahoma writes—Oklahoma Faces Budget Problems Once Again:
So here we are once again in a state budget mess as time begins to wind down in the legislative session and, faced with a $878 million budget shortfall for next fiscal year, lawmakers and stakeholders have starting offering up proposals. [...]
On one side of the proposals, a small group of legislators and their supporters are suggesting the state raise the oil and gas production tax back to its historic level of 7 percent and increase income taxes on the wealthiest Oklahomans. This could put a dent in the shortfall
On another side, there are proposals to tax more services and raise taxes on cigarettes and fuel, which would help the financial situation somewhat and could lead to teacher raises but would hardly solve the problem. Some people see these as regressive taxes, as well, because people with less income pay more of a percentage of their income for the essentials of life. One can argue whether cigarettes are “essential,” of course.
Then there’s The Oklahoman editorial board, which recently warned “ . . . if lawmakers raise taxes on oil and gas production and cause curtailment of drilling, they could quickly turn the current state recovery back into a recession.”
Chuck Sheketoff at Blue Oregon writes—This May Day, think of not just flowers, but of how Oregon’s economy can do better for its workers:
May Day, for some Americans, is a celebration of spring’s arrival, replete with bright flowers and maypoles. But for many around the world, May 1st is International Worker’s Day. It commemorates the deaths of protestors fighting for an eight-hour workday in Chicago’s Haymarket Square in 1886.
So today is a good day to ask: How is Oregon’s economy doing for workers?
Oregon’s economy is strong. As the Oregon Center for Public Policy’s latest publication shows, Oregon had the nation’s second-fastest growing economy from 2001 to 2015, on a per-capita basis. Only oil-rich North Dakota expanded faster over that period. In that time, Oregon’s economy grew at nearly triple the rate of the national economy. Today, Oregon’s unemployment rate stands at a historic low.
And yet, all is not well for Oregonians. Poverty remains at a higher level than before the Great Recession. In recent years, Oregon has seen a rise in the share of families living in poverty despite having at least one working parent, as well as a sharp increase in the number of families struggling to put food on the table. Economic growth has disproportionately flowed to the very top, as the incomes of the richest of the rich have rebounded to near record highs.
There are ways lawmakers in Oregon can make the economy work better for everyone.
Matthew Brian Hersh at Blue Jersey writes—No Fear in the Shadow of Lady Liberty:
Like a lot of Blue Jersey readers, I’ve been going to a lot of protests lately. And while every day is a day worthy of protest under this administration, something about today was extra special.
I arrived at the Here to Stay rally at Liberty State Park in Jersey City expecting charged up crowds and calls to action. And while there was plenty of that, the mood at this glorious International Workers’ Day event was absolutely ebullient.
Perhaps it was the comforting presence of the dozens of allies in attendance who have been leading on this issue for years. Perhaps it was fact that mainstream politicos were using it simply as another campaign stop, celebrating sanctuary and fair and welcoming policies rather than hedging on the issue.
But the real reason it was ebullient was because despite Jersey City comprising the Hudson County Correctional Facility, where deputized facility officers function as ICE representatives and are authorized to issue immigration detainers, the second largest city in New Jersey is a self-declared “sanctuary city.” People understand that they are part of a national movement and there is comfort and power in numbers.
Or, as Marge Piercy writes in the Low Road:
“Two people can support each other…a dozen make a demonstration…a hundred fill a hall… it starts when you do it again, even after they said no, it starts when you say we, and each day you mean one more.”
Sally Jo Sorensen at Bluestem Prairie writes—A feature not a bug: what's up with MN Seventh Congressional District GOP social media?
As most of Minnesota knows by now, the Minnesota 7th Congressional District Republican Party's Facebook page has been scrubbed of a Facebook post that was thoroughly offensive about Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison.
But as Bluestem readers know, the offensive clodhopping rhetoric wasn't the first time Seventh District Republicans were deservedly scolded for oafish racism and religious smears.
Moreover, a couple of other recent digs at Representative Collin Peterson have been wiped from the page.
CD7's most recent "uffda" moment [...]
Mike Mullen has more fun in Minnesota Republicans call Keith Ellison 'Muslim Goat Humper':
Never underestimate the 7th Congressional District Republicans. On Monday, a post on the official Facebook page of that unit of the Republican Party of Minnesota tried going after DFL U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, who represents the area, by connecting him to DFL U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, who represents Minneapolis.
By Monday night, the newly elected Republican Party of Minnesota chairwoman, Jennifer Carnahan, was forced to call out the hateful chuckleheads on her side, calling the post "repugnant hate speech," and saying whoever published it should resign immediately.
Only a couple weeks ago, conservative activists in the 7th CD held a "celebrate President Trump" rally, where more than one speaker -- including Rep. Tim Miller, R-Prinsburg, a challenger for Peterson's seat -- said they were engaged in "war" with the other side. This offensive Facebook post credits conservative provocateur asshole (and recent Minnesota-visitor) David Horowitz for saying we are "in a war." . . .
Delaware Dem at Blue Delaware writes—Democrats Win No Matter The AHCA Vote Outcome:
“House Democrats think they’ve finally found their path back to power: Republicans voting to repeal Obamacare,” Politico reports. “Democrats don’t actually want the law repealed. Under their dream scenario, House GOP leaders would muscle through their controversial health care bill only to watch it die a long, painful death in the Senate, where it has already received a lukewarm reception from Republicans. Obamacare would stay intact while the House Republicans who voted to gut the law have a big shiny target on their back heading into the 2018 midterms.”
As once and future Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday, I want them to vote and I want that vote to be tatooed onto the forehead of every House Republican for this few epochs. If I were to have sympathy for Republicans, and I don’t, I would realize that they face a terrible quandary. But it is a quandary entirely of their own making, and Karma is a bitch or a bastard. They can vote yes and pass this bill that is dead in the Senate because it removes 1) the guarantee of coverage for preexisting conditions, 2) the ban against lifetime and illness coverage caps and 3) the essential and required benefits provisions that every policy had to provide. But if they do that they will lose their next general election race in 2018. Or they chose option B, which is not voting yes on a bill you and your party have promised your base you would do for the last eight years, which will either 1) guarantee a primary race that you will lose and/or 2) depress your base turnout such that you lose the general election.
So if you are a Democrat or a liberal that is upset that a vote is happening today, don’t be. There is nothing but upside for us politically.
jconway at Blue Mass Group writes—Three 2016 Post Mortem Facts To Come Together On:
Misogyny Played a Major Role
Bernie supporters have to acknowledge that misogyny played a major role in Sec. Clinton’s defeat. Having Bill’s accusers absolve Trump of the Billy Bush tape is a massive example of misogyny in the mainstream media that was endemic throughout the campaign. We can point to numerous examples in her career where it hurt her or forced her to do things male candidates would never have been asked to do. And while I do think economic discontent was a key driver of the dramatic Rust Belt swings of Obama voters to Trump, the fact that she was a woman also played a major role in losing these voters. And that’s not her fault but theirs.
It’s also a key reason why so many Clinton supporters are still upset. This was a historic possibility, and to lose when everyone thought she would win, and to lose it to someone as loathsome to women as Donald Trump really hurts. I have friends and relatives who are assault survivors and this loss actually revived their trauma in a visceral way that Bernie losing to Kasich would not have. We have to acknowledge that hurt and empathize with it instead of dismissing it. And we have to pledge that our vision for a working class party is completely inclusive with feminism and womens rights and call out misogyny wherever we see it-especially on our own side or from our own leaders.
Class Played a Major Role
We have to come together on this. For too long the Democratic Party has been out of touch with it’s working class roots and this is wrong. We have to recommit to organizing workers, standing with labor, and going out into the communities dislocated by globalization and feeling their pain and giving them real hope and change. This is not a Bernie v Clinton issue to me. Her agenda would’ve done far more to help working class voters than Donald Trump’s. Donald Trump’s actual governance is doing far more to hurt working class voters than any of his populist rhetoric, and maybe even more than actual conservatives who ran against him in the primary.
Yet current polling is showing that this isn’t coming across. I think acknowledging that Democrats have a real problem communicating our values to working class voters is the first step to overcoming this trust deficit.
scharrison at Blue NC writes—Pragmatism with a conscience: An operating guide for the Democratic Party:
The 2016 Presidential Election cycle produced many "disruptive" changes across the political spectrum, resulting in a categorically unqualified President and a fractured and bitter Democratic Party. These issues are not in dispute, and trying to minimize the importance of the latter will do nothing to heal those wounds. For a very brief period of time, it seemed like the blame game was over, that Democrats were beginning to come together and move forward in unity. But that may have simply been the eye of the storm. There is still a huge amount of animus directed towards "Establishment" Democrats, and the list of people who fall into that category is growing, instead of shrinking. And the more we scrabble around trying to find a magic issue or policy position that will please a super-majority of the voting population, the more damage we can do, if we're not careful. So I thought it would be constructive to develop a good "rule of thumb" for people to follow while searching for the Holy Grail of electoral success. Stealing from Hippocrates, that rule is "Do No Harm." Follow me below if you're intrigued:
On the economic front, which many of our "sages" have pegged as the most likely area that inroads can be made into the rural vote, the middle-class white vote, and other areas Republicans have generally dominated, there are virtually countless theories on how the lives of those people can be financially improved. Infrastructure projects are a great idea, for those who can physically perform the work. But while that's good in the Macro, I'm not so sure about the Micro. If you knock on the average person's door and tell them you've got a shovel with their name on it, I'm thinking you should be ready to run, not shake hands. That doesn't mean we shouldn't pursue infrastructure improvement as a policy position, it just means you can't reduce it to a sales pitch and expect great results.
The truth is, our economy is consumer-based. Deeply. More money in their pockets is what most of those currently "R" voters are concerned about, and the GOP has been wildly successful in blaming Democrats for their tax burden. But the reality is much different, right? Tax cuts for the wealthy have shifted that burden down, and stifled economic growth via austerity. Rural economic programs are a ghost of their former selves, while corporate agriculture entities have gobbled up that money in subsidies. These are the things that need to be revealed to rural folks, so they understand just how misled they have become. Unfortunately, there are some Conservative Democrats that are just as confused as these voters, who believe cutting taxes and government spending will (somehow) help these people. And that is where the "Do No Harm" comes into play for our Party. [...]
lowkell at Blue Virginia writes—Gov. McAuliffe Urges President Trump to Honor the Paris Climate Agreement:
Good, although Gov. McAuliffe needs to come out against things that contribute to global warming, specifically new fossil fuel infrastructure – natural gas pipelines, offshore drilling, etc. If you support that stuff, and if you don’t stand up to Dominion Power as it blocks/delays the transition to clean energy and distributed power in Virginia, you’re simply NOT serious about addressing global warming. No matter how many letters you sign. [...]
Governor McAuliffe and 11 fellow governors have sent a letter to President Trump urging him to continue America’s legacy of leadership in the fight against climate change by honoring the international Paris Climate Agreement.
“As both the Chair of the National Governors Association and the Chief Executive of the Commonwealth, I have seen firsthand the devastating and costly consequences of climate change both within Virginia and across the country,” said Governor McAuliffe. “National leadership on this issue is imperative to preserve our national security, our economy, and our way of life. I urge the President to honor the Paris Climate Agreement and keep our nation on track to meet the achievable goals it set.”
In addition to highlighting the costs of walking away from the agreement, the governors cited the successes they have seen from state-level efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [...]
Read the full letter here.
BP at Green Mountain Daily of Vermont writes—Congress votes on budget bill, but marches on its stomach:
President Trump failed to get much of what he had demanded from the Congressional bill. The Mexican border wall won’t get a bit of the funding he spelled out in his own budget “outline.” So the army of hundreds of private contractors waiting to bid and cash-in on it will have to wait to build Donald’s dream wall.
Another kick in the White House budget priorities is that funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts survived. Not only did it survive, but in fact the NEA will get an increase! And for Big Bird and other PBS fans, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (PBS funding mechanism) appropriation was not zeroed out as Trump dreamed, but will be level-funded for this period.
So Trump didn’t get much of what he wanted but Rollcall.com reports that issues both the House of Representatives and Senate have with their dining service vendors made it into the omnibus spending bill.
The House found the room in the massive spending bill to make known their complaints about the variety of food served in their cafeterias. “There is concern with continued food service issues surrounding lack of food variety, consistent quality of service, and management challenges with the food services provider,” appropriators drafting the omnibus spending agreement said in an accompanying report.
The current House food service vendor is the catering giant Sodexo, operating large dining halls, along with offering Dunkin’ Donuts and Subway. The spending bill’s report signals a potential interest in more chains.
Juanita Jean Herownself at Juanita Jean’s of Texas writes—So If I’m Just a Little Bad, I’ll Just Get a Headache, Not a Heart Attack?
Congressvarmint Mo Brooks, Republican of you know where, went on the electric teevee with Jake Trapper and blamed pre-existing conditions on people who don’t live good.
“My understanding is that (the new proposal) will allow insurance companies to require people who have higher health care costs to contribute more to the insurance pool. That helps offset all these costs, thereby reducing the cost to those people who lead good lives, they’re healthy, they’ve done the things to keep their bodies healthy. And right now, those are the people — who’ve done things the right way — that are seeing their costs skyrocketing.”
I’m just wondering, how bad do you have to be to get yourself a pre-existing condition? “Yeah, Mo, there I was sitting on the porch doing not one damn bad thing and then all a sudden my genes just kicked in and I caught myself a bad case of multiple sclerosis.”
So now at least we know the secrets of Lou Gehrig and his disease. I guess he wasn’t as healthy or as good as we thought, huh?
How about Jimmy Kimmel’s infant son with a heart condition? Was that kid smoking in the womb? Seems like they should have stopped that.
And every woman with breast cancer needs to be asked, “What have you been doing with those breasts?”
Sean Kitchen at Raging Chicken Press of Pennsylvania writes—#PAGov: Scott Wagner’s Wikipedia Page Updated to Reflect His “Irrational Fear of Video Cameras” & Views on Climate Change:
Pennsylvania’s wannabe Tony Soprano and leading Republican gubernatorial contender, Senator Scott Wagner, may want to call the cyber police to bully the troll who vandalized his Wikipedia page. Major changes have appeared on the Senator’s Wikipedia page since he made a couple of high profile gaffes over the past month.
D.C. DeWitt at Plunderbund of Ohio writes—Former Congressman Rails Against Gerrymandering And Money In Politics:
Former U.S. Congressman Zack Space didn’t go full Bulworth last week speaking to Athens County Democrats, but he did deliver one of the most candid assessments of the major threats facing American democracy I’ve seen in a public speech.
The two biggest threats to democracy, Space said, are gerrymandered U.S. congressional districts and the undue influence of campaign donations and moneyed interests.
He said that these things have combined to undermine citizens’ faith in the institutions and systems behind the American constitutional republic.
“People have lost faith. They have lost faith in the Democratic Party. They have lost faith in the Republican Party. They have lost faith in politics. And they have lost faith in democracy in this country,” Space said.
Space, from Dover in eastern Ohio, represented Ohio’s 18th U.S. Congressional District from 2007 to 2011. He said he is currently considering a run for state auditor in 2018.