via David McCumber, San Francisco Chronicle Take your choice. Hurricane Sandy is an advantage for: — President Obama, because it blunts Mitt Romney’s perceived momentum. — Romney, because it suppresses early voting. — Obama, because it allows him to look presidential. — Romney, because it puts Obama on the hot seat. — Obama, because it reminds people that Romney wanted … Continue reading
via David Ariosio, CNN A federal appeals court in New York on Thursday became the nation’s second to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, finding that the Clinton-era law’s denial of federal benefits to married same-sex couples is unconstitutional. The divisive act, which was passed in 1996, bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages and … Continue reading
via Michael Cooper, The New York Times How well the new health care law succeeds in covering millions of the poorest Americans will depend largely on undecided governors of both parties, who gathered here this weekend and spoke of the challenges of weighing the law’s costs and benefits in a highly charged political atmosphere and … Continue reading
via The Huffington Post A coalition of groups supporting immigrants has recruited teams of volunteers to help push programs they hope will add thousands of new U.S. citizens to the voter rolls in several states in time for the November presidential election. The national push comes after Democratic President Barack Obama has failed to deliver … Continue reading
via Shannon Young, The Huffington Post After years of failed attempts to repeal the death penalty, Connecticut lawmakers in both the House and the Senate have passed legislation that abolishes the punishment for all future cases. As expected, members of the House voted 86-62 in favor of the bill after a floor debate that lasted … Continue reading
via Gail Collins, The New York Times The debate over the shooting death of Trayvon Martin seems to be devolving into an argument about the right to wear hoodies, but it really does not appear to be a promising development. Congress, which never draws any serious conclusions from terrible tragedies involving gunplay, did have time … Continue reading
via Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune New Hampshire House Bill 1659 is titled the “Women’s Right to Know Act,” but a more accurate title would be the “Activists’ Right to Lie to Women Act.” The measure, now moving through the Granite State Legislature, requires that at least 24 hours before undergoing a medical abortion, a woman … Continue reading
via Norma Love, The Huffington Post New Hampshire lawmakers on Wednesday rejected a bill that would have made their state legislature the first one to repeal a gay marriage law, handing gay-rights supporters a key victory in the Northeast, where same-sex marriage is prevalent. The state House voted 211-116 to kill the measure, ending a … Continue reading
via Kim Severson, The New York Times Fed by antagonism toward President Obama, resentment toward changing racial demographics and the economic rift between rich and poor, the number of so-called hate groups and antigovernment organizations in the nation has continued to grow, according to a report released Wednesday by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The … Continue reading
via Sam Stein, The Huffington Post The hairstylist who refused to cut New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez’s hair out of anger toward her opposition to same-sex marriage says that it was another governor’s rigidity on the issue that inspired his bout of non-violent protest. Antonio Darden, an openly gay 46-year-old Santa Fe resident, said he … Continue reading
via Angela Delli Santi, The Huffington Post The New Jersey Assembly on Thursday passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriages, setting the stage for an expected veto by Gov. Chris Christie. The 41-33 vote sends the bill to Christie’s desk. The Republican governor who opposes gay marriage had promised “very swift action” if the bill passed … Continue reading
via Gay Marriage Watch 42% of Americans live in 21 states with various forms of IA, MA, NH, NY, VT, WA); civil union (DE, HI, IL, NJ, RI); or domestic partnership (CA, CT, DC, CO, MD, ME, NV, NM, OR, WI). Since 1993, all American states have taken positions on marriage equality. Each state allows … Continue reading
via Geoff Mulvihill, The Huffington Post New Jersey lawmakers gave their blessing to legalizing gay marriage for the first time Monday as the state Senate passed a bill that would allow nuptials for same-sex couples, despite Gov. Chris Christie’s insistence that he will veto such legislation. The Senate’s 24-16 vote sends the bill to the … Continue reading
via CNN Ten states are being granted waivers to free them from some requirements of the No Child Left Behind education reform law, with President Barack Obama explaining Thursday that the move aims to “combine greater freedom with greater accountability.” Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Tennessee will no longer … Continue reading
via CNN California’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage violates the U.S. Constitution, a federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled Tuesday. The decision by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to be appealed, to either the full court or to the U.S. Supreme Court. But supporters of same-sex … Continue reading
via The Huffington Post Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) said Thursday that he was offering gay marriage advocates the “bargain of their life” by working to have the issue of equal marriage rights decided through a referendum rather than supporting a bill in the state legislature that would legalize them. “I’ve called upon every Republican in … Continue reading
via Nick Visser, The Advocate Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said she wishes she had supported gay marriage years ago in a new interview with XM Satellite Radio’s Michelangelo Signorile. She also criticized New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s recent assertion that marriage equality be put on the ballot, rather than have state legislators decide the issue. … Continue reading
via Rachel La Corte, The Huffington Post The Washington state Senate is set to take a crucial vote Wednesday on a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill has narrow support in the Senate, but is expected to pass because supporters have secured 25 “yes” votes – the minimum required for approval. Five senators, two … Continue reading
via Dave Crary, The Huffington Post With a flurry of coast-to-coast developments this week, same-sex marriage is back in the political spotlight and likely to remain there through Election Day as a half-dozen states face potentially wrenching votes on the issue. In Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, bills to legalize same-sex marriage have high-powered support … Continue reading
via Christina Boyle, NY Daily News Same-sex pairs in Hawaii and Delaware began the new year as officially recognized couples as historic laws allowing civil unions in the two states took effect. The long-awaited moment brings the number of states that grant civil unions or marriages to gay and lesbian couples to 11, in addition … Continue reading
Don’t Quit, 99%. Get Louder. Occupy Every Street. United States Alabama Occupy Auburn Occupy Birmingham Occupy Huntsville Occupy Mobile Occupy Tuscaloosa Alaska Occupy Alaska Occupy Anchorage Arizona Occupy Arizona Occupy Flagstaff Occupy Phoenix Occupy Prescott Occupy Sedona Occupy Tempe Occupy Tucson Occupy Yuma Arkansas Occupy Arkansas Occupy Fayetteville Occupy Little Rock California Occupy Arcata Occupy … Continue reading
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced Tuesday that he would not seek the Republican presidential nomination, saying that while he thought seriously about entering the presidential race, “now is not my time.” Christie said he made his final decision last night and told those closest to him this morning. He said he went to the … Continue reading
Chris Christie’s political advisers are working to determine whether they could move fast enough to set up effective political operations in Iowa and New Hampshire in the wake of a relentless courtship aimed at persuading Mr. Christie, the governor of New Jersey, to plunge into the race for the Republican presidential nomination, according to operatives … Continue reading
Simi Valley, California — When Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey took the lectern at the Reagan library here on Tuesday night, he initially stuck to his script, a mostly dry speech that took a few swipes at President Obama. But when Mr. Christie moved to answer questions from the audience, he let loose, moving … Continue reading
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will not run for the GOP presidential nomination in the next election cycle, Fox News reported on Tuesday. The big name Republican has vehemently denied he could vie for the White House in 2012 in recent months amid buzz that he could jump into the race. The Star Ledger reports … Continue reading