Month: October 2017

This week in the GOP’s war on the civil rights of women and LGBTQ

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The House on Tuesday approved a bill banning most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, advancing a key GOP priority for the third time in the past four years — this time, with a supportive Republican president in the White House. The purpose of the bill is to create a direct legal challenge to Roe v. Wade, which provides for access to abortion in the first 24 weeks.  With Trump’s backing, House approves ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy:

The bill, known as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, is not expected to emerge from the Senate, where most Democrats and a handful of moderate Republicans can block its consideration. But antiabortion activists are calling President Trump’s endorsement of the bill a significant advance for their movement.

The White House said in a statement released Monday that the administration “strongly supports” the legislation “and applauds the House of Representatives for continuing its efforts to secure critical pro-life protections.”

The bill provides for abortions after 20 weeks gestation only when they are necessary to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. Under the bill, abortions performed during that period could be carried out “only in the manner which, in reasonable medical judgment, provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive” — note, not the life of the mother — and would require a second physician trained in neonatal resuscitation to be present.

How Arizona’s congressional delegation voted:

Stricter Abortion Ban: The House on Oct. 3 voted, 237-189, to outlaw abortions after 20 weeks of fertilization on the belief that the fetus can feel pain by then. This repudiates Roe v. Wade’s ruling that abortion is legal up to viability that occurs at about 24 weeks or later. A yes vote was to pass HR 36

Voting yes: Martha McSally, R-2, Paul Gosar, R-4, Andy Biggs, R-5, David Schweikert, R-6, Trent Franks, R-8

Voting no: Tom O’Halleran, D-1, Raul Grijalva, D-3, Ruben Gallego, D-7, Kyrsten Sinema, D-9

Women’s Health Exemption: The House on Oct. 3 defeated, 181-246, a bid by Democrats to add an overall woman’s health exemption to HR 36 to go with exemptions already in the bill in cases of incest or rape or to save the mother’s life. A yes vote was to permit abortions after 20 weeks if necessary to protect the mother’s health.

Voting Yes: O’Halleran, Grijalva, Gallego, Sinema

Voting No: McSally, Gosar, Biggs, Schweikert, Franks

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Sorry, Thucydidees is not Okay

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This is a short one. Our friend, John Huppenthal, has taken to commenting under a pseudonym again. This time, Thucydidees, an intentional misspelling of Thucydides. I’ve made an executive decision here, at least for purposes of my posts. If John wants to comment using a pseudonym, he can do so, but it has to be … Read more

U.S. loses jobs for the first time in 7 years in September

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Steve Benen has the monthly jobs report for September. U.S. lost jobs last month for the first time in 7 years:

The job numbers were worse than anyone expected. While projections showed the U.S. economy adding about 80,000 jobs in September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this morning that the economy actually lost 33,000 jobs in September.

September jobs

It’s important to emphasize that these totals were heavily affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, which depressed hiring. See, How Hurricanes Skewed September’s Job Numbers. [It’s also important to note that these numbers will be revised in future jobs reports, so the consecutive monthly gains streak could very well still be alive.] That said, the new job numbers still fell short of low expectations. What’s more, the combined job totals from July and August were revised down, and that can’t be attributed to hurricanes.

This is the first time the U.S. economy has lost jobs since September 2010 – seven years ago. It interrupts the longest streak on record of consecutive months in which the economy added jobs [This could change next month after revisions].

Here’s another chart, this one showing monthly job losses/gains in just the private sector since the start of the Great Recession.

September Private

Economist Jared Bernstein explains, Thanks to Harvey and Irma, payrolls fell last month, but underlying job market remains strong:

Payrolls contracted by 33,000 last month due to the impacts of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The unemployment rate, which BLS tells us was not affected by the storms, fell to 4.2 percent, its lowest rate in over 16 years, and it fell for “good reasons” last month, i.e., not because discouraged workers left the labor force. In fact, the closely watched labor force participation rate rose to 63.1 percent, its highest level since March of 2014.

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Barrio Hollywood hosts 2nd annual art show

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Pat’s Diner, by artist Lisa Kanouse, courtesy of Barrio Hollywood Neighborhood Assn.

BARRIO HOLLYWOOD HOSTS ART SHOW (press release)

“The Barrio Hollywood Neighborhood Association (BHNA) has partnered with El Rio Neighborhood Association to present its second annual art show, “Artistas del Barrio Hollywood” on October 7, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Over 15 artists along with several performance artists will participate in the show which is at the El Rio Neighborhood Center.

The art show will open with a blessing by the 4 Winds Drum Group whose members hail from the Tohono O’odham Nation.  During the show there will be “intimate concerts” with musicians Raymond Armstrong, Michael Dues and Robert Ongley.  Pia Mogollon  will be performing her “living statue” routine during the show and blending in with the art work.

Ray Armstrong, BHNA Art Director said,

“Last year I had the pleasure to put on BHNA first art show.  We had over 18 artists and volunteers for this wonderful event.  That experience showed me that it’s important communities have a venue for local artisans where there work can be experienced by a wide variety of people.  This year our show is even better as we are including performing artists.”

The art show will be on October 7, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the El Rio Neighborhood Center and is free to the public.    The Center is located at 1390 W. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ

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The madness of King Donald

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Last week we learned that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in direct contact with North Korea in an effort to prevent the U.S. from stumbling into a renewed Korean war and possible nuclear conflict. Tillerson: U.S. is in direct contact with North Korea, is ‘probing’ talks:

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States is in direct contact with North Korea and is looking into whether Kim Jong Un is open to talks.

The comment, made during a brief trip to China, was the first time the Trump administration acknowledged direct communication with Pyongyang.

“We are probing, so stay tuned,” he said.

“We ask, ‘Would you like to talk?’ We have lines of communications to Pyongyang. We’re not in a dark situation, a blackout. We have a couple, three, channels open to Pyongyang; we can talk to them; we do talk to them,” he said.

After publication of this Washington Post report, our always insecure egomaniacal Twitter-troll-in-chief took to the Twitter machine to undercut his Secretary of State. Trump tells Tillerson to quit “wasting his time” on North Korea:

The president’s latest tweets, a day after Secretary of State Tillerson confirmed the U.S. is in contact with North Korea.

Screen Shot 2017-10-05 at 2.03.40 PM

This is a pretty cavalier way to announce a foreign policy move with potentially massive implications.

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