All posts by Nativegrl77

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The GOP Sugar Daddies of 2016

05/24/2016 Nativegrl77

Terrance Heath

The GOP Sugar Daddies of 2016

… why are there so many GOP candidates? We have the billionaire GOP sugar daddies of 2016 to thank for that. Since Citizens United opened the door to super PACs, which can collect unlimited donations from individuals and corporations, an influx of new Republican donors and bundlers has driven a money boom on the right … For the right-wing sugar daddies, candidates come cheap, but the long-term payoff can be huge … The GOP candidates … all seem to be saying the same thing, because they are all appealing to the same set of billionaires who all want the same things.

Hillary, Bernie Tout Donor Bases

Hillary Clinton leads in women donors. W. Post:“The $47.5 million Hillary Rodham Clinton raised during her first two and half months as a presidential candidate this year was boosted by a predominantly female donor base, her campaign said Wednesday. Of the more the 250,000 contributors who donated to Clinton, 61 percent are women. That puts her on track to outstrip the presidential high-water mark set by President Obama in 2012…”

Bernie Sanders buoyed by small donors. W. Post:“The Sanders campaign reported to the FEC Wednesday that it raised nearly $10.5 million in small contributions, and an additional $3 million in donations of more than $200 each…”

Martin O’Malley struggles to call attention to his policy proposals. Bloomberg:“…yet O’Malley is leading the battle of ideas in his field. He’s the first candidate to release detailed policy proposals on key issues like climate change (he proposes to phase out fossil fuels by 2050), immigration (he advocates the most far-reaching executive actions any candidate has suggested to help undocumented people, whom he calls “New Americans”), cracking down on Wall Street (he’d break up big banks and tightening regulations) and making college debt-free for students.”

House Passes Short-Term Transportation Bill

House passes bill keeping highway trust fund alive for five months. USA Today:“The five-month patch through Dec. 18 passed 312-119. Many Democrats opposed the GOP bill in part because they want a long-term measure and also because it did not include any language to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank … Senate Republicans, meanwhile, are trying to come up with a counter measure, an $80 billion bill that would provide funds for several years. The Senate bill is also expected to include a provision to renew the Export-Import Bank…”

Sen. Jim Inhofe predicts Senate will pass longer-term measure. The Hill:“He added that based on conversations he’s had with House lawmakers, he believes they’ll ‘be very excited over there that we’re going to have, and have the funding for, a six-year bill.’”

Senate Dems resist paying for highways with pension cuts. Politico:“Senate negotiators are mulling about a dozen different potential ways to pay for a long-term bill that, if taken together, could provide nearly $80 billion — enough to keep highway projects running for at least five years. But the biggest revenue raiser — a change to the federal employee retirement plan that would bring in about $30 billion — is a nonstarter for Democrats … Taking the retirement pay-for out of the equation [leaves] a good chunk of money and could fund at least a three-year bill…”

Sen. Ted Cruz threatens filibuster over inclusion of Ex-Im. The Hill:“‘I’m willing to use any and all procedural tools to stop this corporate welfare and this corruption from being propagated,’ Cruz said…”

Obama To Visit Prison

Obama visits Oklahoma’s El Reno prison today to push sentencing reform. NYT:“In becoming the first sitting president to visit a federal prison, Mr. Obama will showcase an emerging bipartisan drive to overhaul America’s criminal justice system in a way none of his predecessors have tried … he has embarked on a new effort to reduce sentences for nonviolent offenders, to make it easier for former convicts to re-enter society and to revamp prison life by easing overcrowding, cracking down on inmate rape and limiting solitary confinement.”

El Reno has been testing reforms. Time:“… it offers both an evidence-based residential drug abuse treatment program and a critical reentry program known as Federal Prison Industries that helps inmates prepare for life on the outside. Inside, according to an inmate handbook, inmates have access to educational and vocational training programs from GED and associate’s degree courses to business management and welding training.”

Bill Clinton admits his crime bill was too harsh. NYT:“He agreed that the law he enacted in 1994 played a significant part in warping sentencing standards and leading to an era of mass incarceration. ‘I signed a bill that made the problem worse,’ Mr. Clinton said. ‘And I want to admit it.’

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Washington: If You Drive a Modern Car, This is the Easiest Way to Try to Cut Your Insurance Rate in Half

05/24/2016 Nativegrl77

New policy for cars running headlights all day

This is an evaluation image and is Copyright Rosie Piter. Do not publish without acquiring a license. Image number: 0071-1006-2115-1412. http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_pages/0071-1006-2115-1412.html

This is the trick your auto insurer does not want you to know. If your car has anti-lock brakes, day-time running lights, or air bags — you qualify for a discount. If you qualify for 2 or 3 of these discounts, the savings are extremely high. Also, there is a select group of insurers that will give a discount for zero DUIs.

Our rule to find the lowest rate is simple. To get the biggest savings, compare rates from our vast network of agents (in your area).

During April — 15,453 U.S. drivers have trusted this to get extreme insurance discounts
By finding the right insurer, the average driver may save hundreds of dollars a year
Consumer Fed has warned that 45% of major insurers unfairly hike up loyal customers’ rates just to maximize profits – insurers call it “price optimization.” — Compare below and keep your insurer honest.

Get discounts in your zipcode from licensed insurers

67% of respondents that shopped in the past year said they obtained quotes online. And, most shoppers got 2-3 quotes.

(ComScore Auto Insurance Shopping Report)

1 Select all that your vehicle(s) has:

Anti-lock brakes

Airbags

Day-time running lights
2 Select all that apply to you, the driver:

Accident-free (3+ years)

No DUIs
3 What is your zipcode?

There is a way to outsmart your auto insurer — and cut your rate by as much as hundreds of dollars a year.

That’s what many of our readers have done so far. Here’s exactly how you can drastically lower your rates as well…

Have you seen any of the recent car insurance commercials? Specifically, the ones that claim that if you switch to them, they’ll save you an astonishing $500.00 or more – every year.

Well, if they all claim to save you that much… are those savings really possible with every insurer? Absolutely not! Every insurer is different. They each give different savings depending on unique factors.

For example, any insurer may give you a discount on the following:

If you haven’t been in a car accident in the last 3 years
If you are over 25 years of age
If you drive less than 40 miles per day
If your car has air bags
Even if you haven’t had a DUI, many insurers give you a discount for something that simple.

The fact is: auto insurers give different discounts depending on your situation.

Now, how do you know exactly which insurer will give you the best rate and discounts you need? There’s one way to find them. It’s by comparing many of their rates quickly.

That’s why our car insurance comparison has become so popular. First, answer 4 questions above. You’ll confirm this after clicking “See Your Discounts.”

Next, complete just two easy steps – this will take about 60 seconds.

Select your primary driving vehicle. Vehicles that have safety devices (such as an alarm or airbags) – often get big discounts on their premium.

Last step is to just complete the contact page. Then, you’ll get free quotes from multiple insurers in your area. This way, you can pick the policy and rate that best fits you. In this case, those $500 or so savings may actually be possible.

Enter your vehicle details and zipcode, to try it.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Think Progress … Electric Car Batteries … crucial to a Clean Energy Future

05/24/2016 Nativegrl77

Used electric car batteries could prove critical to building a sustainable future. And, dealing with white parents and teachers is a unique challenge for the very few school principles of color.

Why Used Electric Car Batteries Could Be Crucial To A Clean Energy Future

Battery costs are plummeting to levels that make EVs a truly disruptive technology, as we’ve explained. That’s why electric vehicle (EV) sales are exploding world-wide, and why Tesla broke every record for pre-sales with its affordable ($35,000), 200+ mile range Model 3 last month…(read more)

The Latest Strategy To Prevent Women From Getting A Safe Abortion

What It’s Like To Be A Principal Of Color Dealing With White Parents

In a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood in northwest D.C., a parent attending a school meeting is angry that her child doesn’t have enough time to play at recess. She berates the school principal — a black woman nearly a foot shorter than she is — in front of the other parents, pointing a finger no more than two inches away from her face and shouting, “How do you expect to keep your job?”…(read more)

Meet The Man Sarah Palin Is Supporting To Replace Paul Ryan

	‘Suspected Terrorist’ Kicked Off Plane Actually A Professor Working On A Math Equation
A flight was delayed for more than two hours on Thursday after an Italian Ivy league professor’s math equation was mistaken by a passenger as a terrorist threat…(read more)