Month: September 2013

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Washington Post reports, Senate panel passes resolution authorizing strike on Syria (paragraphs have been reordered):

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution
Wednesday granting President Obama limited authority to launch a
military strike on Syria in response to its reported use of chemical
weapons against civilians.

Acting hours after Obama, during a visit to Sweden, said the
credibility of Congress and the international community was also at
stake, the committee voted 10 to 7, with one member voting “present,” to
approve using force against the government of Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad.

* * *

The senators voting in favor of the resolution were Menendez, McCain,
ranking member Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Benjamin
L. Cardin (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.),
Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Timothy M. Kaine (D-Va.) and Jeff Flake
(R-Ariz.).

Voting against were Paul and Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.),
Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio
(R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). Sen. Edward
J. Markey (D-Mass.) voted “present.”

* * *

The committee approved a McCain amendment aimed at strengthening the moderate rebel groups fighting Assad.

* * *

The resolution now goes to the full Senate. The House is
separately considering a similar resolution.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I mentioned in passing in Tucson City Council Election Preview that the Virginia-based ballot initiative activist Paul Jacob, and his Liberty Initiative Fund, according to his website, is supporting a group called Cincinnati for Pension Reform, which launched a
petition drive hoping to gather the 7,443 voter signatures required to
place a pension reform charter amendment on this November’s city ballot.

The Tea Party-backed amendment that would semi-privatize
Cincinnati’s ailing pension system gathered enough signatures earn a
place on the November ballot. German Lopez for the City Beat blog at the
Cincinnati Enquirer on August 12 wrote, Pension Amendment Earns Spot on November Ballot:

City officials acknowledge the issues with the current pension
system, but they claim the tea party-backed amendment would exacerbate
cost problems and reduce payments to future city retirees.

“Under the guise of ‘reform,’ a well-financed out-of-state group is
pushing an amendment that spells economic disaster for the future city
retirees and the city’s budget,” Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls said in a
statement. “Current and future retirees need an income they can live on.
This amendment is a budget-buster for retirees and the city.”

City Council condemned the amendment in a resolution unanimously passed on Aug. 7.

Posted by Bob Lord On Saturday, in Conservative Think Tanks: Taxpayer Subsidized Mendacity?, I made the following observation regarding the Cato Institute "study" on welfare benefits and its author, Michael Tanner: Tanner knows well that when his study is reported in the conservative press, it will be to promote the view that we have too … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Press release from the Pima County Democratic Party (reminder: you must schedule an appointment to donate blood):

PROOF PIMA COUNTY DEMOCRATS ARE RED-BLOODED AMERICANS

TUCSON – The Pima County Democratic Party bleeds blue but on Friday,
September 13 Party officials, staffers, supporters and volunteers will
roll up their sleeves to give blood for the American Red Cross Arizona
Blood Services Region. The first person scheduled to provide a pint is
Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild.

The Red Cross Bloodmobile will set up
shop to accept donations outside PCDP Headquarters at 4639 E. First
Street from Noon to 5 p.m. All participants will receive a FREE "eco
bag," (a shopping bag made from recycled material) while supplies last.
As always, the Red Cross will provide cookies and juice for anyone who
donates but if that’s not enough, a planned potluck meal should provide
plenty of sustenance.

"We are a community-based organization,
we take pride in advocating for others,” said Party Outreach Director
Emily Verdugo. “Donating blood is no different. We are asking the
community, our elected leaders, and even our staff to donate blood. We
just never know whose life we could be saving with just one blood
donation."