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From Bad to Worse

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GOP’s August Woes Continue

From birther eruptions to lonely diatribes against immigration reform to doubling down on their anti-science climate denialism, things are just not going very well out there for Republicans this August.

Here’s the latest news on Republicans’ long, hot August:
•GOP can’t turn off the climate science crazy: Salon’s Brian Beutler writes, “Going into August recess, GOP leaders were really hoping its members of Congress wouldn’t yield to a shared tendency to talk about climate science…To no one’s surprise, though, that’s a bit like hoping the scorpion won’t sting the frog. Already this month, several House Republicans have given in to their nature.”
•GOP Congressman calls for government shutdown unless Congress ‘defunds Obamacare this year’:
During a town hall meeting in a tony suburb outside Sacramento on Tuesday, McClintock brought up the upcoming continuing resolution, which is necessary to keep government open but which many conservatives are targeting as a venue for another showdown over Obamacare. McClintock told the audience that he will vote against the continuing resolution — and thus for a government shutdown — unless the bill “defunds Obamacare this year.”
•Rand Paul: ‘I don’t think there is any particular evidence’ of black voters being prevented from voting: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), a tea party senator with a long history of opposition to civil rights laws, told an audience in Louisville, Kentucky on Wednesday that there is no evidence of black voters being excluded from the franchise.
•GOP Congressman argues against multiculturalism: ‘There’s only one race here, it’s the American race’: Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) took a strong stand against multiculturalism at a town hall meeting, arguing that immigrants need to shed their culture, become “the American race,” and if they’re unwilling to do so, “reevaluate” whether they want to be in this country in the first place. Fielding questions about immigration reform, McClintock told the audience on Tuesday evening that he worries current generations of immigrants aren’t assimilating like in the past but instead retaining the culture from their native land. “There’s only one race here, it’s the American race,” he implored to constituents.
•Rep. Steve King says Latino immigrants are from a ‘violent civilization,’ will bring ‘more violence’ to America:
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) launched a vicious tirade against individuals from Latin America, claiming that the population gets more violent as one moves further south in Latin America
•Huge crowd turns out to pressure House GOP leader to back pathway to earned citizenship: A crowd of at least 1,000 people turned out today at a town hall meeting in the district of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the third-ranking GOP leader in the House of Representatives.
•Almost nobody shows up at Steve King’s anti-immigration reform “rally”: Rep. Steve King (R-IA) held a rally on Monday to oppose the immigration reform effort taking place on Capitol Hill, but no one, it seems, felt like going.
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CREDIT: Politico’s @seungminkim

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For Ethan …


Joanna,

Earlier this week, I called on Governor O’Malley to open a full investigation and inquiry into how we can prevent another death like that of Ethan Saylor.

Ethan Saylor was a 26-year old man with Down Syndrome. Last winter he was accidentally killed while being arrested by three deputies, attempting to remove him from a movie theater for watching a film for a second time without paying. Ethan never posed a serious threat to those around him, and eyewitness accounts clearly demonstrate that the altercation could have been avoided.

Ethan’s death was both tragic and unnecessary. And it was a wake up call.  At every level, our public servants must be looking out for our most vulnerable citizens and treat all Marylanders with respect and dignity. Join me in calling on Governor O’Malley to launch a statewide audit of existing policies and a review of best practice models that will inform new protocols and statewide standards to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.

We cannot change the outcome for Ethan and his family, but we can change state and local policies to avoid future senseless tragedy.

If you agree, please add your name next to mine in calling on Governor O’Malley to launch a full investigation to protect the thousands of Marylanders with intellectual and other disabilities.

Let’s honor Ethan by protecting thousands more just like him.

Sincerely,

Heather

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Young adults without insurance


Policy and Action from Consumer Reports

In six weeks, getting older may get a bit easierYoung adults historically are the biggest group of uninsured Americans. If you fall in this group, or know someone how does, we want to hear your story. It will help us make sure the new insurance marketplaces debuting Oct. 1 work for you.

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In about six weeks, health reform will unveil one of its biggest improvements for Americans in need of health insurance.

And if you’re a young adult who doesn’t have coverage – either because you are too old to be on your parents’ policy, your job doesn’t offer insurance, you’re in school, or you just think insurance is a drag – we want to specifically hear from you.

Are you a young adult without insurance? Share your story and help us make sure this new change works for you.

Starting Oct. 1, Americans without coverage can now find health insurance policies offered in their state in one spot on the Internet – and compare them by price and types of coverage. These online ‘marketplaces’ will also spell out who can get financial assistance to pay for their insurance, and how to get that help.

Why are we interested in hearing specifically from people age 19 to 29? Because this group historically is uninsured at higher rates than any other age group. Most don’t have access to insurance – they’re part-time workers, self-employed, or trying to find that first steady job with benefits.

Obamacare already helped 3 million young adults get coverage by requiring insurance companies let their parents keep them on their policies until age 26. Now, the marketplaces should help millions more find coverage and help those struggling pay for it.

If you are young and uninsured, or know someone who is, we need to hear about it. The reasons why you can’t get insurance will help us track whether the law meets your needs.

Even if you don’t fit this age group, you probably have a son or granddaughter who does. Please forward this email to anyone you know who is young and uninsured so we can hear from them.

Sincerely, Blake Hutson, Consumers Union Policy and Action from Consumer Reports

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Have you had enough of lawmakers attacking reproductive rights?


National Women's Law Center
Just in the last few months we’ve seen countless attempts to restrict women’s reproductive health care. Opponents have tacked anti-abortion provisions onto unrelated bills and passed restrictions in special secret, last-minute sessions. They’ve mocked pro-choice protesters by handing them cookies. And they continue to tell women we don’t know what’s best when it comes to our own reproductive health care.
I’ve had enough. Have you?
This August, we’re declaring 31 Days of Unity. It’s a time to come together, join our voices, and tell lawmakers we will not stand for more attacks on our reproductive rights.
This year, despite all the attacks, we’ve seen support for women’s health care grow. There have been inspirational filibusters, rallies across the nation, and unprecedented activism — proving that when our community stands together, we have the power to enact change.
Will you add your voice?
Every day this August, reproductive rights, health, and justice groups across the nation are uniting to call on lawmakers to stop the attacks on equal access to safe, legal, affordable reproductive health care for all women. Together, we know we can make our voices loud enough to be heard.
Raise your voice! Tell lawmakers to end the attacks on reproductive health care.
Summer may be coming to an end, but unless we speak up, attacks on reproductive health care will continue. Demand that your representatives in Congress and in the states defend women’s reproductive health care.
Thank you for all you do.
Sincerely,
Judy Waxman Judy Waxman Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights National Women’s Law Center

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