by Jessica Pieklo
Care2 make a difference

Pennsylvania Voters Don’t Need ID to Go to the Polls – For Now

In a highly anticipated ruling, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Robert E. Simpson Jr. ruled the state cannot enforce its restrictive voter ID requirement until after the November presidential election.

The ruling is a qualified win for voting rights advocates. The ruling strikes two provisions of the law that would have required voters without sufficient identification to show their IDs within six days of voting or appear before the county board of elections. State poll workers will still be allowed to asked voters for photo identification, but voters who are unable to produce ID that matches the bill’s requirements will still be allowed to cast a ballot, and the state will still be allowed to educate voters about the new ID requirement.

The ruling applies only to the election this November. A trial on the merits of the law will be scheduled later in the year, said Simpson.

The next great task will be for civil rights groups to educate poll workers and citizens to prevent possible harassment at the polls and make sure the law is not wrongly enforced at the expense of voting rights.

This was Simpson’s second look at the law. He had previously refused to block the voter ID law despite his “sympathy” for those “burdened by the voter ID requirement.” Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court overturned that ruling and ordered Simpson to issue an injunction blocking the law from going into effect unless the state could prove it was providing “liberal access” to photo identification and that there would “be no voter disenfranchisement” on Election Day.

This latest ruling makes Pennsylvania the eleventh state to have either a state or federal court block a voter suppression law passed by Republicans since the 2010 election. It’s a sign our system of checks and balances is working and that the courts are doing their job to protect fundamental rights from legislative interference. But given the veracity with which Republicans have pushed these laws, and given the number of states with measures on the ballot in November, a victory like the one in Pennsylvania should simply give us a second to catch our breath and re-group, because the battle to secure voting rights for everyone is far from finished.

Judge Wont Block PA Voter ID Bill, Appeal Imminent

Pennsylvania Voter ID Trial Starts Under Federal Scrutiny

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a message from Alan Grayson

10/03/2012 Nativegrl77

We’re Back On The Air – Thanks To You

Three People and a Guitar.

We told you on Sunday that we were off the air, thanks to the fact that the Koch Brothers and Karl Rove had pushed the cost of TV ads in Orlando sky-high. And we said that we would take all of the contributions that we received through close of business yesterday, and use that money to put our uplifting, inspirational positive ad back on TV.

Well, 1000+ of us answered the call, and that ad went back up on the air this morning.

If you are one of those 1000+ supporters who contributed, thank you. If you are not, then you can alleviate the desperate guilt and shame that you must feel by contributing right now. You will soon feel better. And after Nov. 6, so will America.

Here is today’s miscellany:

(1) The winner of the Green Day autographed guitar is Judith Wilson. If you are disappointed that you didn’t win the Green Day guitar, all I can say is that my younger daughter is even more disappointed than you are, and she didn’t win it, either. Thanks again to Howie Klein, former Warner Reprise Records exec and current Blue America PAC leader, who provided the guitar from his incredible personal collection. We wanted to make the presentation of the guitar as special as the guitar itself, so we invited Democratic House Assistant Leader Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) to present the guitar to Judith during Clyburn’s visit to Orlando, last Friday.

(2) Dennis Kucinich wants to continue to do good after he leaves Congress in January. He has founded an organization called Kucinich Action, which will function as a political action committee. Kucinich Action is deciding which candidates to support. Naturally, I hope that I’m one of them. If you have a moment, please click here, and ask Kucinich Action to support yours truly.

(3) Good news and bad news about our campaign. The good news is that our poll last week shows us with a nice lead. The bad news is that a right-wing Super PAC that attacks House Democratic candidates has reserved almost $1 million in TV time in Orlando for the last two weeks in October. So . . . we need your help.

(4) A reminder to those who find themselves with more time than money these days – please sign up for our virtual phone bank. It helps you to make calls to voters in our district. We need your help on this, like, now.

(5) On Sunday, we are having our last moneybomb of his election cycle – “30 Days to Victory.” When you decide whether to participate, please remember one thing – this is virtually the only campaign in America, in either party, that is fueled by contributions from people like you. Not the special interests, not the lobbyists, not the billionaires, not the multinational corporations. People like you. And because of that, when we win on Nov. 6, I will owe nothing to anyone but the voters. Thanks to you.

Courage,

Alan Grayson

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

President Obama’s Proclamation and

10/02/2012 Nativegrl77

Your Daily Snapshot for Tuesday, October 2, 2012

The White House Goes Pink

The White House was illuminated pink last night to mark the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During October, President Obama wrote in a Presidential Proclamation, “we honor those we have lost, lend our strength to those who carry on the fight, and pledge to educate ourselves and our loved ones about this tragic disease.”
Learn more about Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Tourists have their picture taken in front of the White House, Oct. 1, 2012. The North Portico of the White House is illuminated pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

Just Released: President Obama to Establish César E. Chávez National Monument

10/02/2012 Nativegrl77

Monday, October 1, 2012

Buenas tardes,

On October 8th, 2012, President Obama will travel to Keene, California to announce the establishment of the César E. Chávez National Monument.

Cesar E. Chavez’ grave site and Memorial Garden at the National Chavez Center. (Photo courtesy of the National Chavez Center)

See the full press release below.

As always, please share with your networks and please send any supportive statements to Latino@who.eop.gov!

Julie Chavez Rodriguez Associate Director White House | Office of Public Engagement

Read the Full Press Release

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2012

President Obama to Establish César E. Chávez National Monument

On October 8th, 2012, President Obama will travel to Keene, California to announce the establishment of the César E. Chávez National Monument. Years in the making, the monument – which will be designated under the Antiquities Act – will be established on the property known as Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz (Our Lady Queen of Peace), or La Paz. The La Paz property is recognized worldwide for its historic link to civil rights icon César Estrada Chávez and the farm worker movement. The site served as the national headquarters of the United Farm Workers (UFW) as well as the home and workplace of César Chávez and his family from the early 1970’s until Chávez’ death in 1993, and includes his grave site which will also be part of the monument.

“César Chávez gave a voice to poor and disenfranchised workers everywhere,” said President Obama. “La Paz was at the center of some of the most significant civil rights moments in our nation’s history, and by designating it a national monument, Chávez’ legacy will be preserved and shared to inspire generations to come.” From this rural headquarters in the Tehachapi Mountains of Kern County, California, Chávez played a central role in achieving basic worker protections for hundreds of thousands of farmworkers across the country, from provisions ensuring drinking water was provided to workers in the fields, to steps that helped limit workers’ exposure to dangerous pesticides, to helping to establish basic minimum wages and health care access for farm workers.

The National Chávez Center, in consultation with the United Farm Workers of America, the César Chávez Foundation and members of César Chávez’s family, offered to donate certain properties at La Paz to the federal government for the purpose of establishing a national monument commemorating César E. Chávez and the farmworker movement. This designation will represent the culmination of a process that has been underway for several years.

The César E. Chávez National Monument will encompass property that includes a Visitors’ Center containing César Chávez’s office as well as the UFW legal aid offices, the home of César and Helen Chávez, the Chávez Memorial Garden containing Chavez’s grave site, and additional buildings and structures at the La Paz campus.

The monument, which will be managed by the National Park Service in consultation with the National Chávez Center and the César Chávez Foundation, will be the fourth National Monument designated by President Obama using the Antiquities Act. He previously designated Fort Monroe National Monument in Virginia, a former Army post integral to the history of slavery, the Civil War, and the U.S. military; Fort Ord National Monument in California, a former military base that is a world-class destination for outdoor recreation; and Chimney Rock, which is located in the San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado, and offers a spectacular landscape rich in history and Native American culture. First exercised by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 to designate Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, the authority of the Antiquities Act has been used by 16 presidents since 1906 to protect unique natural and historic features in America, such as the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and Colorado’s Canyons of the Ancients.

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Spanish Translation

El Presidente Obama establecerá el Monumento Nacional a César E. Chávez

El día 8 de octubre de 2012, el Presidente Obama viajará a Keene, California, para anunciar el establecimiento del Monumento Nacional a César E. Chávez. Este monumento, que lleva varios años en proyecto y será designado bajo la Ley de Antigüedades, se establecerá en la propiedad conocida como Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz, o La Paz. La propiedad de La Paz está reconocida en todo el mundo por su conexión histórica con el ícono de los derechos civiles César Estrada Chávez y el movimiento de los trabajadores agrícolas. Este lugar ha sido la sede nacional de la Unión de Trabajadores Agrícolas (UFW, por sus siglas en inglés) así como la casa y centro de trabajo de César Chávez y su familia desde principios de la década de 1970 hasta el fallecimiento de Chávez en 1993, e incluye su tumba, que también será parte del monumento.

El Presidente Obama comentó que, “César Chávez les dio una voz a los trabajadores pobres y despojados en todas partes. La Paz fue el punto de partida de algunos de los movimientos de derechos civiles más significativos en la historia de nuestra nación y, al designársele como monumento nacional, se preservará y se compartirá el legado de Chávez para inspirar a las generaciones futuras”.

Desde esta sede rural en las Montañas Tehachapi del Condado Kern en California, Chávez desempeñó una función clave para lograr las protecciones básicas para cientos de miles de trabajadores agrícolas en todo el país, desde disposiciones que garantizaban que se les proporcionara agua potable a los trabajadores en los campos, hasta medidas que ayudaron a limitar la exposición de los trabajadores a pesticidas nocivos, hasta ayudar a establecer los salarios mínimos básicos y acceso a cuidado médico para los trabajadores agrícolas.

El Centro Nacional Chávez, en consulta con la Unión de Trabajadores Agrícolas de América, la Fundación César Chávez y miembros de la familia de César Chávez, ofreció donar ciertas propiedades en La Paz al gobierno federal con el fin de establecer un monumento nacional para conmemorar a César E. Chávez y el movimiento de los trabajadores agrícolas. Esa designación representará la culminación de un proceso que lleva varios años en movimiento.

El Monumento Nacional César E. Chávez comprenderá propiedad que incluye un centro de visitantes que contiene la oficina de César Chávez así como las oficinas de ayuda legal de UFW, la casa de César y Helen Chávez, el Jardín Conmemorativo Chávez que contiene la tumba de Chavez, y otros edificios y estructuras en el recinto de La Paz.

El monumento, que estará bajo la administración del Servicio Nacional de Parques, en consulta con el Centro Nacional Chávez y la Fundación César Chávez, será el cuarto monumento nacional designado por el Presidente Obama bajo la Ley de Antigüedades. Él designó previamente el Monumento Nacional Fort Monroe en Virginia, una antigua posta del ejército que fue integral a la historia de la esclavitud, la Guerra Civil, y las Fuerzas Armadas de EE.UU.; el Monumento Nacional Fort Ord en California, una antigua base militar que es un destino de clase mundial para recreación al aire libre; y Chimney Rock, que está ubicado en el Bosque Nacional de San Juan en el suroeste de Colorado, y ofrece un panorama espectacular repleto de historia y de cultura americana nativa. La autoridad de la Ley de Antigüedades, que fue ejercida por primera vez por el Presidente Theodore Roosevelt en 1906 para designar el Monumento Nacional de Devils Tower en Wyoming, ha sido usada por 16 presidentes desde entonces para proteger las características naturales e históricas exclusivas en EE.UU., tales como el Gran Cañón, la Estatua de la Libertad, y el monumento Canyons of the Ancients en Colorado.

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