For the first time ever, divers have uncovered the wreckage of an African slave trade ship that sunk with slaves on board. Lonnie Bunch, Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, where the artifacts will be displayed, was interviewed by MSNBC’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” on the morning of June 11, 2015. Click on the weblink to view the interview. http://www.msnbc.com/newsnation/watch/sunken-slave-ship-artifacts-to-be-displayed-462336579653 |
“More than five years ago, I said that while I was not the first President to take up this cause, I was determined to be the last. And now it’s up to all of us — the citizens in this room and across the country — to continue to help make the right to health care a reality for all Americans.”
Just one part of the big group that showed up Monday evening at the North Carolina General Assembly.
Sarah Green, Everytown for Gun Safety
by CAP Action War Room Posted on June 10, 2015 at 6:16 pm
Yesterday, three George W. Bush-appointed judges on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with anti-abortion lawmakers in Texas to uphold sweeping restrictions that will cause abortion clinics across the state to close. The case, Whole Woman’s Health v. Cole, is a big blow to Texas abortion providers who hoped to fight against a law passed by Texas lawmakers that will shut down all but eight of the state’s abortion clinics.
The law in question—HB 2—requires clinicians who provide abortions to have admitting privileges in a nearby hospital and requires clinics to comply with a list of prohibitively expensive and completely unnecessary architectural and other requirements. The legal question at issue in the case was whether these restrictions place “undue burden” on women seeking abortion services. These restrictions would force hundreds of thousands of women to travel more than 150 miles to the nearest clinic but the 5th Circuit did not find that burden “undue.”
Here are three key takeaways from this case:
Politicians, not clinicians, are behind these restrictions: Anti-abortion lawmakers have pushed these laws through the legislature under the guise of making abortions safer for women despite the fact that there is little evidence to support that claim. In fact, a federal judge determined that there is “no rational relationship” between the restrictions included in HB 2 and improved patient outcomes.
The decision will cause almost all abortion clinics in Texas to close: In August 2013, before HB2 took effect, Texas had 40 licensed abortion clinics. If the law takes full effect, only eight clinics will remain open. What that means is 900,000 reproduction-age women will have to travel more than 150 miles to the nearest clinic.
If the case goes to the Supreme Court, it could undo Roe v. Wade: This case is almost guaranteed to be heard by the Supreme Court next fall. And if the Court were to side with the ideologically-charged 5th Circuit’s ruling many other states would have broad discretion to further restrict access to abortion. In the event that the Supreme Court does uphold the 5th Circuit decision, it could effectively destroy what little remains of Roe v. Wade protections.
Rather than working to pass sweeping abortion restrictions under the guise of protecting women’s health, lawmakers should focus on real ways to improve women’s abortion access. This report from the Center for American Progress cites expanding those who provide abortion services as a meaningful way to expand abortion access.
BOTTOM LINE: Texas’s law expanding abortion restrictions has already had a visibly detrimental impact on the state, and the 5th Circuit’s decision to uphold the restrictions could have far-reaching consequences. If this case goes to the Supreme Court and is another to fall victim to the ideology of the Roberts Court, it could mean the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
My top priority as President is making sure more hardworking Americans have a chance to get ahead. That’s why we have to make sure the United States — and not countries like China — is the one writing this century’s rules for the world’s economy.
Trade has an important role to play in supporting good-paying, middle-class jobs in the United States. Unfortunately, past trade deals haven’t always lived up to the hype. That’s why I’ve made it clear that I won’t sign any agreement that doesn’t put American workers first.
But we also should recognize that 95 percent of our potential customers live outside our borders. Exports support more than 11 million jobs — and exporters tend to pay their workers higher wages. Failing to seize new opportunities would be devastating not just for our businesses, but for our workers too.
That’s why my Administration is currently negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership — so we can benefit from trade that is not just free, but also fair.
We have the chance to open up more markets to goods and services backed by three proud words: Made in America. For the sake of our businesses, and American workers, it’s an opportunity we need to take.
But beyond greater access to the world’s fastest-growing region, the agreement will establish enforceable commitments to protect labor, environmental, and other crucial standards that Americans hold dear.
Right now, China wants to write the rules for commerce in Asia. If it succeeds, our competitors would be free to ignore basic environmental and labor standards, giving them an unfair advantage over American workers.
We can’t let that happen. We should write the rules, and level the playing field for our middle class. The first step is for Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority.
Watch the video, and then pass it along.
After years of shipping jobs overseas, our manufacturing sector is creating jobs at a pace not seen since the 1990s. Rather than outsourcing, more companies are insourcing and bringing jobs back home. Today, more than half of manufacturing executives have said they’re looking at bringing jobs back from China.
Let’s give them one more reason to get it done, by giving me the tools I need to grow our economy, boost exports for our businesses, and give more hardworking middle-class families a chance to get ahead.
Thanks,
President Barack Obama
Be a Seed for Change 
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