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via Douglas Belkin and Caroline Porter, The Wall Street Journal Wisconsin voters headed to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker in a bitter dispute over his efforts to curb unions that could affect the presidential race and influence policy toward organized labor nationwide. More than $60 million has flooded … Continue reading
via MSNBC A federal appeals court has ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act, a law that denies a host of federal benefits to same-sex married couples, is unconstitutional. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston ruled Thursday that the act known as DoMA, which defines marriage as a union between a man … Continue reading
via Sophia Tareen, The Huffington Post More than two dozen gay and lesbian couples filed lawsuits Wednesday arguing that it’s unconstitutional for Illinois to deny them the right to marry, a move advocates hope will lead to legalized same-sex marriage in the state. The two lawsuits – backed by the American Civil Liberties Union of … Continue reading
via Ruth Marcus, The Washington Post President Obama is walking a tightrope on same-sex marriage, teetering between his stated view that marriage is the province of the states and his legal position that refusal to recognize same-sex marriage can violate the Constitution. In his interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts, the president emphasized the traditional state … Continue reading
Emanuel hails weekend as a ‘milestone’ for city via Kristen Mack, Rick Pearson, and Bob Secter Once again, the whole world was watching. But Chicago didn’t devolve into 1968 redux. It wasn’t the combustible World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle, either. By that barometer, Chicago’s turn as host of the NATO summit could be declared … Continue reading
via Zachary Bernstein, ThinkProgress The Missouri House passed a “conscience bill” yesterday to allow health care workers to deny health care to women. Under the law, medical professionals cannot be fired or discriminated against for refusing to provide contraception or perform abortions if it conflicted with their personal views, while employers do not have to … Continue reading
via Ed Pilkington, The Guardian Democratic politicians in Virginia are weighing up their options in the wake of the general assembly’s vote to block the appointment of the state’s first openly gay judge. Senior Democrats expressed their dismay and outrage at the vote in the House of Delegates to reject a prominent local prosecutor, Tracy … Continue reading
via Erika Niedowski, The Huffington Post Rhode Island’s governor on Monday declared that the state will recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, giving gay couples the same rights as heterosexual ones when it comes to health insurance and a slew of other benefits. The order signed by Gov. Lincoln Chafee in a Statehouse ceremony directs state … Continue reading
via Fran Spielman, Chicago Sun-Times Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday offered Chicago area residents a new and compelling reason to welcome a NATO summit many are dreading as a giant inconvenience: a place in world history. No matter what happens with the thousands of demonstrators on the streets of Chicago outside McCormick Place, serious foreign … Continue reading
Think the DNC should be moved out of North Carolina? Sign the petition here. via George E. Condon Jr., National Journal Democrats who already were queasy about the site of their national convention could be excused after Tuesday’s election in North Carolina if they asked, “Tell me again just why we’re going to Charlotte this … Continue reading
via CNN North Carolina voters will pass a referendum that constutionally bans same-sex marriage, CNN projects. Amendment 1 alters North Carolina’s constitution to say that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.” via CNN
via Trudy Ring, The Advocate The New York Assembly keeps approving the bill, for the latest time on Monday, while the Senate lets it stall. The New York State Assembly today passed a bill banning discrimination based on gender identity and expression, but its prospects in the Senate are uncertain. This is the fifth time … Continue reading
via Dan Harrie, The Salt Lake Tribune Come Tuesday, Utah will become the only state in the nation with a law requiring a woman to wait 72 hours for an abortion. “For some people that may be a point of celebration,” said Planned Parenthood of Utah Director Karrie Galloway. “For others it may be a … Continue reading
via John Celock, The Huffington Post Kansas lawmakers are gearing up for a possible fight over an abortion bill Friday, two days after the state Senate passed a bill allowing health-care professionals to withhold drugs and treatment that could cause an abortion. The GOP-controlled state Senate passed a bill Wednesday that allows doctors and pharmacists … Continue reading
via Sharon Young, The Huffington Post A bill legalizing marijuana for medical purposes has passed the Connecticut Senate. The state joins 16 others and the District of Columbia in enacting such legislation. State senators voted 21-to-13 in favor of the measure early Saturday, after nearly 10 hours of debate dominated by bill opponent Republican Sen. … Continue reading
via The Huffington Post The wife of a North Carolina state senator reportedly told poll workers during early voting Monday that an amendment sponsored by her husband was intended partially to protect the Caucasian race. Jodie Brunstetter is the wife of state Sen. Peter Brunstetter (R), a supporter of Amendment 1, which would change North … Continue reading
via The Huffington Post A controversial bill in Tennessee meant to restrict public school discussion of sexuality and LGBT issues is set to die without a vote after the key GOP sponsor announced on Monday that he simply wouldn’t bring it up. “With that assurance and the opposition of some people who didn’t want to … Continue reading
via Amanda Terkel, The Huffington Post Three female Democratic leaders in Wisconsin are demanding an explanation from Gov. Scott Walker (R) of why he repealed a law that made it easier for victims of wage discrimination to have their day in court. “We are writing today to request a written answer to a simple question … Continue reading
via Nick Wing, The Huffington Post A bill in Missouri meant to eliminate any mention of sexual orientation in the state’s public schools advanced to committee on Thursday after a first reading. The brief wording of HB 2051 gets right to the point: Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no instruction, material, or extracurricular … Continue reading
via Paul Elias, The Huffington Post A measure to abolish California’s death penalty qualified for the November ballot on Monday. If it passes, the 725 California inmates now on Death Row will have their sentences converted to life in prison without the possibility of parole. It would also make life without parole the harshest penalty … Continue reading
via E.J. Dionne Jr., The New York Times We are about to have the worst presidential campaign money can buy. The Supreme Court’s dreadful Citizens United decision and a somnolent Federal Election Commission will allow hundreds of millions of dollars from a small number of very wealthy people and interests to inundate our airwaves with … Continue reading
via Julie Hubbard, The Tennessean Tennessee’s elementary and middle school teachers could face more pressure not to talk about homosexuality with their students next year after the so-called Don’t Say Gay bill cleared a House education committee Tuesday. Some Republican leaders have questioned the need for House Bill 229, which prevents the teaching of alternative … Continue reading
via Mike Sacks, The Huffington Post On Wednesday morning, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in the federal government’s challenge to the Grand Canyon state’s controversial anti-immigration law, S.B. 1070. The case, Arizona v. United States, will not only be the Court’s second politically-charged blockbuster in as many months, but also a rematch between … Continue reading
via Mick Dumke, Bleader, Chicago Reader While a number of aldermen and Mayor Rahm Emanuel were discussing the possibility of decriminalizing marijuana Wednesday, First Ward alderman Joe Moreno went a step further, becoming one of the few Chicago city officials to openly argue that the real solution is legalization. “Legalize it, control it, and tax … Continue reading
via Andrew Maloney, Chicago Sun-Times Despite a push by gay lawmakers, the effort to legalize gay marriage in Illinois is unlikely to get off the ground this year, the chief sponsor of a marriage proposal said. State Rep. Greg Harris (D–Chicago) told the Chicago Sun-Times that reeling in Medicaid and pensions programs as well as … Continue reading
The Brandt Standard 