Tag Archives: republicans

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A better tomorrow means less Tea in Congress

07/11/2013 Nativegrl77

In March of 2010, a Gallup Poll report stated that if a vote from We the People for Congress were taken right now it would result in 47% voting for Democrats and 44% Republicans. My response, if this is true, organizers definitely need to get prepared for November 2010. That the numbers were this close because the Democrats have not gone big bold and progressive as most of us want. Well, we all know what happened and granted the process of changing policy and or making better laws are not easy or pleasant but it should not be the reason for changing your attitude or your vote solely for hating the process. The bills that are being considered or waiting in the Senate, could improve the lives of the many rather than a select few and we need to get beyond the status quo Republicans seem to have claimed as the best way to gain back Congress. I don’t know about you but what I hear and see just makes it clear that Republicans like Speaker Boehner and Senator Mitch McConnell do not represent America… period. We need Senator Reid to find the will not only be tough but remember this is not just a historic moment for everyone it is the opportunity to move America into the 21st Century. The people spoke in 2008 and again in 2012 with 53% voting for Barack Obama for a 2nd term. Now, it’s time for Congress to stop acting out earn their pay and do the right thing.

The fact is while Congress ignores passing legislation the Sequester is moving into the living rooms of families all over the country … invisible to those on tv from commentary reporters or journos offering entertainment judgments advice as well as conservative politicians who we call public servants seemingly acting extreme … are bad actors

The Media continues to speculate or re-enforce the negative and mocking President Obama’s so-called improbable agenda of climate change, immigration overhaul as well as stating that Democrats are wavering on a vote that could quite possibly bring all that is Democratic down. It is at this moment that the Democratic Party should be willing to create change that has been needed for quite some time and like the President has stated…

My question for you voters is … if not now when, because we may never get this chance for a long time if ever.

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a message from Gov.Jay Inslee

07/03/2013 Nativegrl77

I’m happy to report that Sunday I was able to sign a new operating budget for the state of Washington and avert a partial government shutdown.

It is unfortunate it took this long to reach a budget agreement, but I am pleased that we delivered on many of the key principles you and I fought for during my campaign.

We made our budget priorities clear: funding education, protecting vital services, and closing tax loopholes. We didn’t get everything we wanted — that’s the nature of negotiation. But, with your help, we stayed strong, and I am pleased that we were able to pass a budget that delivers $1 billion in education funding and protects vital programs for Washington’s kids and seniors.

Will you help spread the word about this accomplishment by clicking here to share this graphic on Facebook?

The budget I signed Sunday is a down payment on our commitment to fulfilling our legal and moral duty to fund education for our children — but it is clearly only the beginning.

What this budget is not is a vehicle for irresponsible, bad policy — like devastating cuts to essential services for our most vulnerable neighbors, or dramatic anti-labor, anti-environment, and anti-consumer policy initiatives.

I’m proud of that — and you should be, too — because if you and I hadn’t held the line, that’s exactly what it would have been.

Along with these key wins on the budget, I’m pleased that the Medicare expansion made possible by Obamacare is going to increase access for Washingtonians and create jobs.

Help spread the word by clicking here to share our graphic with your friends on Facebook now.

Unfortunately, it’s also clear we have a lot of work to do.

I am disappointed we were not able to reach an agreement with senate Republicans to close a number of unnecessary tax loopholes. This year’s improved revenue forecast helped us meet our short-term goals, and made clear that we did need to find new revenue, but I remain committed to securing a long-term education funding strategy by fixing these loopholes in upcoming sessions.

I’m also disappointed that senate Republicans refused to bring to a vote to pass a much-needed transportation package.

Our transportation infrastructure is the lifeblood of our economy, and continuing to ignore it is not an option.

But today I want to thank you again for standing by us, making your voice heard, and keeping up the fight for the working Washington we’re building together.

We’re going to need you again in the weeks and months to come, and I’m proud to have you by my side.

Let’s go get ’em.

Very truly yours,

Jay Inslee Governor

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A Texas-Sized Attack on Women

06/25/2013 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

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The GOP’s War on Women Marches On

Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) called a special session of the Texas legislature to deal with redistricting (Texas’ redistricting plan was thrown out for violating the Voting Rights Act), but then subsequently added abortion to the agenda after Senate Democrats thwarted efforts to pass new restrictions during the legislature’s regular session.

The GOP’s assault on abortion rights includes measures similar to what we’ve seen in dozens of other states, including:

An unconstitutional ban on all abortions after 20 weeks with no exceptions for rape or incest.
Burdensome and unnecessary regulations that will have the effect of closing 37 of the states’s 42 abortion clinics.
A ban on medication abortions (abortions that use an abortion pill) via telemedicine.

In just the latest example of outrageous comments about rape and women’s bodies, the measure’s sponsor, Rep. Jody Laubenberg (R), bizarrely suggested that rape kits are a form of abortion. “In the emergency room they have what’s called rape kits where a woman can get cleaned out,” said Laubenberg.

The measure will leave women in rural Texas with almost no health care options. Some would have to drive 600 miles or more each way simply to consult with an abortion provider, meaning any procedure could take several days including transit time.

The session is over Tuesday at midnight and the Texas GOP is now trying to do everything it can to pass its sweeping attack on women’s rights before the deadline. Last night, hundreds of protesters flooded the Texas State Capitol as House Democrats tried unsuccessfully to block the bill, which was ultimately passed around 3:00 a.m.

Normally bills have to wait 24 hours after passage before they can be taken up the other chamber, but Senate Republicans sought to take advantage of the absence of one Democrat who was attending her father’s funeral to try and get around the limit and pass the bill immediately. While it appears that procedural maneuver will not be successful, a single Democrat will still have to filibuster the bill for the entirety of the remaining hours of the session in order to stop it from passing.

A poll out last week found that a majority of Texans oppose the bill and a whopping 80 percent of Texans don’t even think the legislature should be dealing with the issue during its special session.

We’ll keep you up to date as this story develops, but it’s clear that the GOP has no intention of halting their efforts to outlaw abortion nor their apparently endless series of insulting and offensive comments about rape.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

The Supreme Court’s stunning attack on workers’ rights.

Affirmative action survived its latest trip before the Supreme Court.

George Zimmerman’s lawyer begins murder trial with a knock knock joke.

Miami is doomed.

Justice Alito would like Justin Ginsburg to keep her opinions to herself.

Why you shouldn’t be surprised that the National Zoo lost a red panda.

Obama administration kicks off campaign to enroll millions using new health care marketplaces.

Immigration reform bill clears major hurdle, likely to pass the Senate by week’s end.

The Roberts Court almost always rules in favor of the nation’s top corporate lobbying group.

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Border Overkill

06/17/2013 Nativegrl77

By ThinkProgress War Room

The Border is Already Secure

Republican senators like Chuck Grassley (IA) and John Cornyn (TX) have been offering various amendments to the immigration bill they claim are necessary to secure the border, but their real purpose is try and kill the bill by placing impossible roadblocks on the pathway to earned citizenship.

The truth is that the border is already as secure as it’s ever been and the immigration bill is already slated to invest billions more to make additional improvements. In fact, the border has already met the border security targets included in the failed 2007 immigration reform bill.

Check out this infographic to see why the border is already secure and we don’t need any poison pill amendments from Republicans to make sure it stays that way.