Reminder: LD 28 St. Patrick’s Day Annual Fundraiser this Sunday
March 24, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Thanks to the Arizona Democratic Party scheduling a Special State Committee Meeting at the same date and time as the originally scheduled event, LD 28 rescheduled its Annual St. Patrick's Day Fundraiser to Sunday, March 25. This is the must-attend annual campaign kickoff event in Pima County for candidates running for office … Read more
Carmona on Maddow Demonstrates a Key Reason to Nominate Him
March 23, 2012
Posted by Michael Bryan
Richard Carmona went on the Maddow Show to stand up for women's reproductive health privacy rights. BlueMeanie also posted on this appearance.
Carmona's iron-clad credibility on health issues and his national stature allows him excellent access to media to counter the GOP's War on Women in Arizona. It's a powerful argument for his nomination given the record of the GOP's likely nominee, Jeff Flake, on these issues.
See the video below the fold…
ObamaCares, not Obamacare
March 23, 2012
By Michael Bryan The Republicans are masters of neuro-linguistic programming, mostly because they are much more disciplined in their communication strategy. That stupid "Democrat" versus "Democratic" thing really annoys me, and it works: I see that 'mistake' being made in the press all the time now. So, the GOP's messaging strategy has been to label … Read more
Second Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
March 23, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
From Megan Slack at the White House blog, The Affordable Care Act at Two Years:
Two years ago today, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, giving hardworking, middle-class families the health care security they deserve. Health reform requires that insurance plans cover preventive services to help people stay healthy, prohibits insurance companies from dropping your coverage if you get sick, billing you into bankruptcy because of annual or lifetime limits placed on care, and discriminating against children with pre-existing conditions.
By 2014 when the law is fully implemented, people will be able to purchase private insurance coverage through new state-based markets called exchanges, which will offer a way to get insurance that isn’t provided by—or tied to—an employer. Americans will have the security of knowing they don't have to worry about losing or finding coverage if they're laid off, change jobs, or are self-employed. And further patient protections will take effect: insurers won’t be able to deny care to anyone based on a pre-existing condition, or limit the amount of care they’ll cover over a person’s lifetime.
Goldwater Institute opposed to constitutional free speech – except for corporations
March 23, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Goldwatwer Institute, a cheerleader for Citizens United v. FEC and its "corporate personhood" that allows corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money in campaigns without any public disclosure of the campaign contributors, filed a lawsuit to oppose the constitutional free speech of others. The Arizona Republic reports Judge tosses lawsuit opposing public-campaign finance … Read more
GOP war on the unemployed advances in House committee
March 23, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
What part of "unemployment insurance" (UI) does this tool Sen. Steve Smith (R-Maricopa) not understand? It is an insurance benefit earned during the period an employee was gainfully employed. It is not "welfare." The premium is paid by the employer. An employee is entitled to receive unemployment insurance benefits under the law when an employee loses his or her job through no fault of their own.
In Arizona there are only two reasons why an employee may be denied unemployment insurance benefits: (1) a voluntary resignation, or (2) discharge for "misconduct" in connection with the work (this can include alcohol intoxication or the failure to pass or refusal to take a drug test at work).
Sen. Steve Smith wants to treat all unemployed persons who have lost their job through no fault of their own as criminal suspects and to demonize the unemployed as lazy ne'er-do-wells who just sit around the house getting high all day.
Smith wants to condition the receipt of unemployment insurance benefits, which the unemployed are entitled to receive under the law, on the failure to pass or refusal to take a drug test. And he wants to add insult to the injury of losing your job by making you pay for the privilege of taking the drug test. Drug test for jobless advances in Arizona House:
If you're out of work, Arizona lawmakers want to make you take a drug test before you get an unemployment check.
And the unemployed worker would have to pay for it.
Arizona state Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, said he wrote Senate Bill 1495 to ensure people who get unemployment benefits are deserving. He doesn't consider anyone who uses drugs fit for assistance.
"If you are so fortunate to live in a nation to get an unemployment check … when you're down on your luck, the very least you should be able to do is prove you're of sound mind and body to earn — earn — that benefit," Smith told members of the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday.
Once again for this slow-witted tool, it is "unemployment insurance" which was earned during the period the employee was gainfully employed. The employee is entitled to receive the unemployment insurance benefits under the law for qualifying quarters of work previously performed. It is not "welfare," you condescending asshole!
And how about we change your formulation for those who want to serve in the Arizona legislature: "at the very least they should be able to prove that they are of sound mind and body to serve in the legislature," because I have serious doubts about you, Mr. Smith.
Let's subject members of the Arizona legislature to the same drug testing that you want to impose on the unemployed as a condition of receiving unemployment insurance benefits which they are entitled to receive. It's a question of fairness. You pee in the cup first, asshole!
And I have long called for mental competency exams for anyone who wants to serve in the Arizona legislature. I have serious doubts about you, Mr. Smith.
Reminder: ADP Dessert in the Desert Reception
March 23, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Event announcement from the Arizona Democratic Party:
House Minority Leader Chad Campbell interview on Countdown with Keith Olbermann
March 23, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
House Minority Leader Representative Chad Campbell (D-District 14) was a guest on Countdown with Keith Olbermann.
Campbell denounced state Rep. Terri Proud’s (R-District 26) email suggesting that women seeking an abortion should be forced to watch another woman undergo the procedure first. “The party that supposedly is the one promoting small government has taken government overreach to a whole new level here in Arizona. They’re invading people’s bedrooms. They’re invading the relationship between a doctor and a patient. And they really don’t see any limit in terms of how big they can make government and how intrusive they can make government for the people of the state,” Campbell says.
Video below the fold.
