Monthly Archives: March 2013

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

State Legislatur​es Gone Wild, Cont.

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By ThinkProgress War Room

7 Terrible State Bills

Recently, we discussed some of the terrible bills floating around out there in state legislatures. Here’s another look at some of the worst proposals, including a couple that were signed into law this week:

  • NORTH DAKOTA: The state’s Republican governor signed a trifecta of terrible anti-abortion bills, which are likely to have the effect of banning abortion in the state. One bill unconstitutionally bans abortion after just six weeks, which is before many women even know they’re pregnant. An even more insidious bill takes up the anti-abortion movement’s favorite new tactic: drastic overregulation of abortion clinics to all but guarantee that they will have to close. These so-called TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers) laws are also moving in North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, and Virginia.
  • KANSAS: A new bill will allow the state to quarantine HIV positive individuals, something Kansas actually banned back in 1988.
  • INDIANA: An anti-abortion bill was going to mandate forced ultrasounds before a woman is provided with the abortion pill. Lawmakers explain that they are dropping the controversial provision in order to focus on their real goal: regulating abortion clinics out of existence.
  • VIRGINIA: Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) signed a bill that will mandate that Virginians present photo identification when they vote, which will disproportionately impact young people, minorities, and the elderly.
  • KENTUCKY: The legislature passed a so-called “religious freedom” bill that allows individuals to ignore laws based on the vague notion of “sincerely held religious beliefs,” opening the door to discrimination against LGBT people, among other problems. Gov. Steve Beshear (D) vetoed the bill, but unfortunately his veto was overridden yesterday.
  • PENNSYLVANIA: Top Republicans in the state have yet to abandon a GOP plan to rig steal the White House by rigging the distribution of the state’s Electoral College votes. Republicans in Virginia, Florida, Wisconsin, and other states dropped the idea, but Pennsylvania Republicans are keeping it on the table.
  • ARKANSAS: In addition to its race to the bottom on abortion, Arkansas is considering some highly regressive tax changes. As part of an effort meant to stimulate growth, an Arkansas legislative committee passed two tax cuts that will largely benefit the rich and then rejected one that would benefit the working poor. A recent study found that state-level tax cuts don’t promote job growth.

Another week, another set of terrible proposals moving out in state legislatures.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) attacks Sasha and Malia Obama.

It looks like the Defense of Marriage Act’s days are numbered.

Another day, another misleading attack on Obamacare.

Chief Justice says gays are already too powerful to receive equal protection.

Universal background checks gain momentum.

After spending millions in taxpayer funds to defend DOMA, House Republicans go quiet.

Getting rid of DOMA will boost the economy.

No, there wasn’t really a backlash to Roe v. Wade.

Top conservative says marriage equality will lead to flood of immigrant polygamists.

~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)


03/27/2013
The Gift Shop at Buffalo Trace Distillery today voluntarily recalled all non-expired products listed below due to mislabeling and undeclared allergens. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat, soy, anchovy, and/or milk, run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)


03/26/2013 10:46 PM EDT
Pallimed Solutions, Inc. of Woburn, MA, doing business as Pallimed Pharmacy, is voluntarily recalling all sterile compound products dispensed since January 1, 2013 to the user level. The recall resulted from a recent inspection conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy where visible particulates (filaments) were observed in vials of sterile compounded products: TRIMIX, BIMIX (Lot 02252013@3), ALPROSTADIL, DMSO 50 PERCENT – IRRIGATION (Lot 03122013@19), and BACTERIOSTATIC WATER FOR INJECTION (Lot 01072013@28).
03/26/2013 10:08 PM EDT
La Preferida, Inc. is voluntarily recalling 4,734 cases (56,808 cans) of La Preferida Whole Pinto Beans 29 oz. (Water & Salt). Can Code: PINTO LP, BEST BY 01/03/2015, “Time” 3003. The manufacturer’s preliminary inspection indicates 420 cans may not have been fully processed, which could result in product contamination by spoilage organisms or by pathogens, which could lead to illness if consumed.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Marriage Equality


By  ThinkProgress War Room

All Eyes on the Supreme Court

As we discussed yesterday, this week the Supreme Court  is hearing oral arguments in two historic marriage equality cases. Today, the High Court heard arguments about California’s Proposition 8. Thousands of supporters of equality turned out to make their voices heard.

Here’s a few snaps of today’s action outside the Supreme Court:

There were plenty of colorful signs at today’s rally. Here’s a few of our favorites:

You can check out many, many more here.

In addition to being outside the Court, ThinkProgress Justice Editor and constitutional analyst Ian Millhiser was inside the room this morning. You should definitely check out his full analysis of today’s argument.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

Justice Scalia’s embarrassingly intolerant attitude toward gays.

In other Supreme Court news, the police can’t bring drug-sniffing dogs to your door.

On Fox News, Amanda Knox got twice as much attention today as marriage equality.

Ten Democratic senators who still say no to marriage equality.

North Dakota essentially banned abortion today, but it has even bigger threats to access waiting in the wings.

Six Democratic senators on the fence about universal background checks.

Study: refusing to expand Medicaid could leave 200,000 low-income veterans uninsured.

Organizing for Action is pushing for public financing of political campaigns in New York state.

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Wednesday ~~~ sliding into Spring


Sandhill CraneKanadakraniche

The weather is just as mad as what is going on the basketball court and the floor of Congress No.

Unless you are living under a rock,  the countdown to March Madness … the NCAA Championships began without Kentucky now, after all the latest results folks must have lost some dollars. I could be wrong.. Psyched about the tournament until the sad news that Gonzaga lost by six points to a ninth ranked team… Ugh!  Anyway, Gonzaga still is a #1 seed in the eyes of Washington State though you have to admit that #9 Wichita State pulled out their three-pointers on back-to-back-to-back possessions over a three-minute span that shocked and awed the Zags out of the Big Dance the Sweet16 … the Final 4.  The sad facts from NBC are that Gonzaga becomes the third No. 1 seed in the past four years to lose in the Round of 32 and the first No. 1 seed to be eliminated from this 2013 NCAA tournament. In addition, that comes after perhaps the shakiest performance by a No. 1 seed in the Round of 64, when No. 16-seed Southern ran the Bulldogs to the wire Thursday evening. I am no expert but this could have some impact on future teams chosen to rank.  The Big Dance started without Kentucky and then found several top ranked teams floundering, so who knows what the Final 4 has in store and will folks watch with teams like Oklahoma State, UNLV, WI, NM, KS and #2Georgetown falling or could this be one of the most exciting Final4’s yet because it’s anyone’s game to lose ….

Let us not even get into the profanity that seemed to be thrown around freely on court this year.

Calling March mad because of college basketball is an established thing, but considering the madness in the political air lately  the behavior from Republican members of Congress will probably make us all go beyond mad if they keep voting to repeal, eliminate, and replace all things public service only to privatize it all.

The end of March is here while the NCAA madness is not over  and Congress with plenty of work to do has skipped out of town until April  …  who isn’t mad about that.