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The GOP war on voting: Jim Crow on trial in Pennsylvania
August 2, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Closing arguments in the case of Jim Crow on trial in Pennsylvania began on Wednedsday. Lawyer: Pa. agrees, no evidence of fraud:
A lawyer for plaintiffs said the state's new voter identification law should be blocked from taking effect because as many as one million people lack proper identification and could be prevented from voting on Election Day, while a Commonwealth attorney said the law should stand because it places no special burdens on any class of people.
Vic Walczak, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, said not only will the law disenfranchise the petitioners that he represents, but the Commonwealth has agreed there is no evidence of in person voter fraud – the very basis on which the law was approved.
"There are registered voters who will be unable to vote under this law," said Walczak in his closing arguments on the final day of the weeklong hearing. "The Commonwealth has not assured us that every one of the petitioners can vote and that's the tip of the iceberg."
In testimony at trial, Witnesses say state isn't ready for voter ID rule:
PennDot offices throughout the state seem ill-equipped to handle the expected demands of voters seeking state-issued identification cards, according to witnesses Tuesday in Commonwealth Court.
In recent visits, the witnesses said they found long lines, short hours and misinformed clerks, all of which made obtaining voter identification cumbersome, and in some cases impossible, for those that don't have supporting documentation.
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"There is a burden associated with this law and a burden on a fundamental right is unconstitutional," said Marian Schneider, a lawyer with the Advancement Project, a civil rights group.
Four other witnesses from across the state – all of whom already have PennDot issued licenses – went to driver's license centers at the behest of voters' rights groups seeking to determine the difficulty in obtaining IDs.
All reported roadblocks such as limited or no public transportation to PennDot offices; limited hours when authorized employees were available; and clerks who said there was a $13.50 charge for the IDs, which, in fact, are to be issued free.
Lawyers are seeking an injunction ahead of the Nov. 6 election when the law passed by the Republican-controlled legislature is to take effect.
Commonwealth Court Judge Robert E. Simpson said he would issue his ruling the week of Aug. 13. Both sides have said they will appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.
UPDATE: Closing arguments in the trial over Pennsylvania’s voter ID law wrapped up Thursday.
9th Circuit Court enjoins Arizona abortion law from taking effect today
August 2, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel has issued an injunction against implementation of Arizona’s precedent-challenging “fetal pain” abortion ban, that was scheduled to take effect today. Appeals court blocks Arizona's 20-week abortion ban:
With the injunction in place, the restrictions in the Mother's Health and Safety Act (sic) cannot be enforced until the San Francisco-based appeals court hears the case, likely in late October or early November, and issues a ruling. A court decision could take weeks, if not months.
The law, which would make abortions illegal 20 weeks after a woman's last menstruation, is based on the concept of fetal pain. Arizona lawmakers this spring justified the abortion ban by citing evidence that they say proves fetuses feel pain at the 20th week after gestation.
The bill passed with strong Republican support, and Gov. Jan Brewer signed it into law, saying it "recognizes the precious life of the pre-born baby."
But the Center for Reproductive Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union sued on behalf of three abortion doctors in federal court, arguing the law is unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court, they argued, has established that abortions are illegal at the point a fetus becomes viable. That is generally between the 22nd and 24th weeks of pregnancy, according to medical experts and abortion clinics.
On Monday, conservative activist U.S. District Court Judge James Teilborg upheld the law, triggering the request for a preliminary injunction. For those of you unfamiliar with Judge Teilborg, Molly Redden at The New Republic explains in Angry at the Arizona Abortion Ruling? Blame Democrats Too.:
At first blush, the players who facilitated the ruling—the uncompromising, rightwing governor who signed the bill; the ultra-conservative general assembly members who shepherded it to passage; and the recalcitrant judge, who was moved by his personal passions to defy well-established abortion law—exhibit a familiar scenario: Conservative dominance of the courts has, once again, thwarted a cherished Democratic objective.
Mario Draghi and Europe’s Central Bank are failing to do their job
August 2, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Last week, analysts waxed optimistic about the crisis in Europe after Mario Draghi, the continent’s powerful central banker, said he’d do “whatever it takes” to save the euro from collapse. That was then, this is now. Brad Pliumer writes at Ezra Klein's WonkBlog, Did Germany just stop Draghi from bailing out Europe?: … Read more
Ben Bernanke and the Fed are failing to do their job
August 2, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The fundamentals of the economy remain anemic: unemployment is still above 8 percent, GDP growth in 2Q of 2012 slowed to 1.5 percent, and a host of indicators suggest that the recovery has weakened as a result of the global economic slowdown in Asia and Europe, and the end of federal stimulus … Read more
Obama campaign ad: ‘Stretch’
August 2, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The Obama campaign is out with a new ad today, "Stretch." From the description:
You work hard, stretch every penny, but chances are you pay a higher tax rate than him: Mitt Romney made $20 million dollars in 2010, but paid only 14% in taxes—probably less than you.
Now he has a plan that will give millionaires another tax break and raises taxes on middle class families by up to $2000 dollars a year. Mitt Romney's middle class tax increase: he pays less, you pay more.
Video below the fold.
It would be great if there were more of this
August 2, 2012
by
by David Safier I had a long phone conversation with someone from another state about an education concern we have in common. I sensed early we probably didn't agree on political issues, so I stayed away from political topics, as did she. We had a very enjoyable, informative conversation which was valuable for both of … Read more
District 3 Senate Democrats Citizens Clean Elections Debate
August 2, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The District 3 Senate Democratic candidates held their Citizens Clean Elections debate on July 24. It took CCEC awhile to post the debate video below the fold. Here is the debate coverage from the Arizona Daily Star, Democrats in Arizona's District 3 Senate race focus on education, jobs, health care, and a profile of the candidates from the Tucson Weekly. A Family Affair | Tucson Weekly.
New laws going into effect
August 2, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
If you need more incentive to get out and vote in the primary election, the Arizona Democratic Party provides this helpful reminder about the new laws going into effect on August 2, 2012:
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Starting tomorrow, Arizonans will be subject to laws passed by the Tea Party Legislature and signed by Governor Brewer. Rooted in extreme ideology and pandering to special interests, these laws do nothing to solve the many real problems that Arizonans face every day. Some of the worst include:
- SB1365 free exercise of religion (Sen. Yarbrough): Allows state-licensed professionals (medical, legal, etc.) to avoid discipline for unprofessional conduct as long as it is based on “religious beliefs.”
- HB2036 abortion; procedures; informed consent (Rep. Yee): Prohibits abortions knowingly performed after a gestational age of 20 weeks, with exception for medical emergencies.
- HB2563 biblical influence; schools; electives (Rep. Proud): Allows public schools to offer bible classes as an elective, but does not allow the teaching of texts from other religions.
- HB2625 insurers; healthcare coverage; religious beliefs (Rep. Lesko): Allows employers who assert a religious motivation in their articles of incorporation to deny contraception coverage for their employees.
- HB2664 Credit card agreements (Rep. Dial): Subjects Arizonans to deceptive debt collection practices by out of state collectors.
- HB 2503 exemptions from punitive damages (Sen. Yee): Exempts corporations from punitive damage lawsuits if their product caused harm but was produced according to government standards.
- HB 2800 public funding; family planning, prohibition (Rep. Olson): Designed to deny public funds going to medical facilities that provide family planning services including non-federally qualified abortions. Currently being contested in court, this bill’s goal is to financially cripple vital women’s healthcare services provided by Planned Parenthood.
– MORE –
- HB 2571 state personnel system (Rep. Olson): Creates a system of cronyism in Arizona government. Allows the governor to hire and fire many of our most important agency heads, hindering a director’s ability to effectively and professionally manage his or her agency. It also strips state workers of important appeal rights for discipline and firing, which will only serve as cover for managerial incompetence and misconduct.
- HCR2004 state sovereignty (Rep. Crandell): Places a proposition on this November’s ballot for Arizona voters to decide whether to amend the state Constitution to assert the rights of sovereignty over the land and resources of the state.
Written into this year’s budget, which was created behind closed doors and without input from Democratic legislators or the public, were:
- $440 million in tax cuts for corporations and the rich, more money to private prisons.
- Commits more money to private prisons while removing from statute language requiring comparison of private and state-runs prisons in such areas as cost savings and quality.
- The $50 million sweep from the national foreclosure settlement.
