Scalia did what?!

By  ThinkProgress War Room

Surprise Move by Conservative Justice Boosts Voter Rights

We are down to the final two weeks of the Supreme Court’s term, which means all of the most important rulings of the term will come down over the next few days. The most hotly anticipated rulings in cases regarding marriage equality, the Voting Rights Act, and affirmative action in higher education are yet to come, but voting rights advocates received a pleasant surprise this morning from one of the High Court’s most conservative justices.

Writing for a seven-member majority, Justice Scalia threw out an Arizona law that required proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. (Federal law and the federal voter registration form at issue already requires voters to attest under penalty of perjury that they are citizens.) Scalia wrote that a federal law known as the Motor Voter law superseded Arizona’s desire to impose additional obstacles on those seeking to register and vote in federal elections.

As ThinkProgress’ Ian Millhiser outlines, the opinion rests upon a rather sweeping federal power to regulate elections:

The Constitution permits duly enacted federal laws to trump state law, a process known as “preemption.” Normally, however, courts should apply a presumption against preemption and assume that Congress did not intend to invalidate state law if the matter is uncertain. Scalia’s opinion holds that this presumption does not apply with respect to federal laws regulating federal elections, a holding which suggests Congress’ power to sweep away state election laws is quite sweeping.

As the Court points out, this broad view of the federal role in governing elections is consistent with the Constitution’s text, which provides that “[t]he times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations.” So a future Congress more supportive of voting rights has the power to sweep away voter ID laws and other methods of voter suppression that have recently popped up mostly in conservative states. By contrast, a future Congress more keen to voter suppression may have significant authority to impose its will on the nation, although this power would be checked by constitutional safeguards against many forms of voter suppression.

It’s also worth noting that the impact of the Arizona law has not been merely theoretical. According to the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, the group that originally filed suit against the law, in the two year period following the law’s enactment, more than 31,500 voter registration applications were rejected owing to lack of proof of citizenship. Because most people don’t carry proof of citizenship like a passport or birth certificate around with them, the law made voter registration drives in places like malls exceedingly difficult. And indeed, community voter registration dropped 44 percent in Maricopa County, Arizona’s most populous county.

To no one’s surprise, Tea Party darling Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has already promised that he will file an amendment to the immigration bill in order to once again allow states to disenfranchise people. This marks just the latest attempt by Cruz to torpedo the immigration bill with a poison pill amendment.

BOTTOM LINE: A lot of rulings are yet to come, including a very important case regarding the Voting Rights Act, but today’s ruling is good news for voters and further empowers Congress to do more to protect voting rights across the country.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

The Supreme Court also went after big pharma today.

Latest leaks are distracting from the real conversation about government surveillance.

A pragmatist won the Iranian election.

POLL: Americans oppose arming the Syrian rebels.

Birtherism is back in the halls of Congress.

Christian college expels lesbian, then demands she pay back financial aid.

The Florida governor’s latest attack on working families.

In many states, it’s harder to get an abortion than to buy a gun.

The GOP base is still obsessed with abortion.

Meals for Seniors and Head Start ~~~ End the Sequester

Sarasota – Meals on Wheels (Photo credit: roger4336)

Tonight, chances are a senior in your community will go to bed hungry.

Join the Fight to End Senior Hunger

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Send a message to Congress   and President Obama to find a way to
end sequestration now!

CARE2

 

10 Threats to the World’s Stunning Coral Reefs Coral reefs: stunning, diverse, found worldwide, and incredibly fragile, despite the fact that they look like they’re made from stone. These…

26 Lawmakers Live Off Food Stamps to Protest Republican Cuts                                     26 members of Congress will live off of a food stamp budget for a week to draw attention to House Republicans cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition… read more

5 Reasons Why Austerity Bites Today and Will Even More Tomorrow                                     Five reasons that austerity does not only bite but can inflict long-term damage to people’s pockets, their psyches, their livelihoods and lives. read more

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VIDEO: The tour begins

Last Friday, the No More Names bus tour left Newtown, CT to bring the personal stories of gun violence victims and survivors directly to the doorsteps of our elected leaders.  Please watch a brief video we made of the launch event in Newtown, then donate $33 or more to keep the No More Names bus going to key states.

More than 250 people attended Friday’s launch in Newtown, and more than 30 press outlets covered the event.¹ Our goal is to visit 25 states over the next 100 days.  We’ll be stopping in each state to read the names of more than 6,000 people who have been murdered with guns since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. At each stop on the tour we’ll confront members of Congress and make sure they know that every day they delay common sense gun reform, more names will be added to the thousands who’ve already been murdered with guns since Newtown. But to keep the tour going and reach key states across the country, we need donations from supporters like you. Your donation will go farther at the start of the tour — so please give $33 or more right now: https://donate.demandaction.org/donate/NMN_Donation1/ Thanks for all you do, Mark Glaze Mayors Against Illegal Guns
P.S. — The No More Names bus tour won’t reach all 25 states without your support,  Please give $33 or more today.
——— 1. Click here for press coverage of Friday’s event.

~~~ On this Day ~~~

1983 | 30 years ago Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space. Read More »

Top 10 Reasons We Need to Defeat Chris Christie :::::: repost

 

   By Staff writer on

Emily’slist.org

February 25, 2013

Speculation is already running rampant around the 2016 presidential race and we’ve barely had a chance to think about the upcoming 2014 midterm elections. But before those come to pass, there are a few big races in 2013 that you need to know about — including the race for governor in New Jersey. Chris Christie is running for reelection, and we don’t need to tell you that what happens in this race could have major implications for the 2016 Republican primary, not to mention the general election. This could be the year we stop Chris Christie in his tracks. He’s been a disaster as governor, especially for New Jersey women and their families.

Here are the top 10 reasons we need to defeat Chris Christie this November.

10. Chris Christie Vetoed Same-Sex Marriage:  With the tide in America turning against bigotry and discrimination, and in one of the most solidly blue states in the country, Christie vetoed a bill sent to him by both houses of the New Jersey legislature that would enshrine marriage equality into law.

9. Chris Christie Is No Friend to Workers:  Christie has built himself a reputation as one of the most anti-union governors in the country, referring to public school teachers as “thugs” and supporting a bill that would “destroy collective bargaining.”

8. Chris Christie Doesn’t Believe in Universal Pre-K:  Not only does Christie oppose government-funded preschool for every child in his state, he attacked his predecessor’s plan as “simply wrong” and called it “government babysit[ting].”

7. Chris Christie Misuses State Funds:  At a cost of $2,500 an hour, Christie used a state helicopter for personal travel. Probably not the use taxpayers had in mind.

6. Chris Christie Supports the Ryan Budget:  Paul Ryan’s proposed federal budget would end Medicare as we know it, but Christie joined ultraconservative governors like Texas’s Rick Perry, Mississippi’s Haley Barbour, and Virginia’s Bob McDonnell to tell Ryan that his budget was what “voters clearly asked for.”

5. Chris Christie Vetoed a Hike in the Minimum Wage: Just last month, Christie vetoed a bill passed by the legislature that would raise the minimum wage in New Jersey — a state with the third-highest cost of living in the nation — from $7.25 an hour to $8.50, and index it to the consumer price index so it grows with inflation. Christie proposed a smaller increase, phased in over more time, which would not be indexed.

4. Chris Christie Vetoed Equal Pay Legislation : Christie isn’t shy about much, and that includes the use of his veto pen. He vetoed three of four bills passed by the legislature designed to outlaw pay discrimination against women in the workplace and called them “senseless bureaucracy.”

3. Chris Christie Targeted Poor Families in His Budget:  It’s no surprise that Christie is a fan of Paul Ryan’s budget once you look at his own. His budget cut aid for tuition, for a center for abused children, for legal services, and for transitional aid to some of New Jersey’s neediest communities. When asked about the cuts, he said “I don’t care.”

2. Chris Christie Cut Funding to Family Planning Organizations:  Christie got out his veto pen again for a budget that would have given $7.5 million to family planning organizations in the state, including Planned Parenthood. He blocked attempts to restore the funding, even using a line-item veto specifically to target women’s health in New Jersey.

1. Chris Christie Is Proudly:  Anti-Choice Christie has declared himself against the side of women’s reproductive rights and on the side of those who would deny them, saying “I am pro-life.” We can’t trust Chris Christie, not in New Jersey, and certainly not in the White House. This November may be our best chance to stop his ambitions.

I saved people from fire. Now I have cancer

By Janette Neves Rivera and the Center for Environmental Health                                                 Oakland, California

Firefighter with breast cancer needs your help to stop dangerous chemicals in homes

I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer last year. The news was a really big shock considering I have no family history of the disease. It got even worse when the doctor told me the cancer is most likely related to my job and environment as a firefighter. Later I learned that most women with breast cancer have no family or other known risk factors.

Did you know that couches and other common household items including many children’s products contain harmful flame retardant chemicals? I didn’t have any idea about this health hazard until I started doing some research. The Chicago Tribune has extensively reported on flame retardants and about how these chemicals “migrate out of products into household dust ingested by people, especially young children.” They also reveal that there are studies showing “some flame retardants can make smoke from fires even more toxic.” Numerous scientific studies have shown that many flame retardant chemicals can cause cancer, reproductive difficulties, developmental problems and other serious health issues.

I found out that firefighters are at such high risk from dangerous chemicals that women firefighters in my city are diagnosed with breast cancer at 6 times the rate of other women.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has the power to help put an end to unnecessary flame retardants in furniture and other everyday products. But instead of taking strong action, they may be moving to obstruct vital health protections. Please sign my petition to show them that people like us matter! The Commission has a July 1 deadline for comments, and this is our best chance to have a real impact on this public health issue.

I know that my children are proud of the work I do, and I strive to be a good role model for them. But I never expected that giving back in this way would expose me to cancer-causing flame retardant chemicals that are threatening my life and  the future I’m trying to build for my family.

Fire safety experts are on record testifying that these dangerous flame retardant chemicals do not even effectively prevent fires in furniture and many other products, but huge chemical companies are behind efforts to keep their products in household items despite what’s happening to people like me.

As I have traveled through my cancer journey, I have asked myself, how I can be a catalyst for change? I want my story to help bring about change and slow the rate of cancer and exposure to toxins, not just for firefighters but for our children. The chemical industry is well-funded so I decided to work with the Center for Environmental Health on this campaign because I believe our health is the most important gift we have for ourselves and our families.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has until July 1 to hear from you on their current comment period. Please sign to ask that they prioritize public safety over chemical companies’ bottom lines. Tell them to put a stop to dangerous flame retardant chemicals.

Voting is a Right NOT a Privilege : Save Section5

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” -George Santayana

 

On March 7, 1965, hundreds of brave unarmed nonviolent women and men dared to March for African Americans right to vote. The fact is that less than 1% of eligible Blacks voted or registered to vote. People organized a Peaceful Protest March from Selma to the state capitol in Montgomery. However, as those protesters crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge to Montgomery. The police, riding horses ready for violence engaged in excessive use of force, which included brutally beating protesters, sprayed gas at them while journalists and photographers witnessed.

The brutal reaction by the police was not only caught on tape it forced then President Johnson, who was once against civil rights programs as a Senator to call on Congress for equal voting rights for all on March 15. The Voting Act of 1965 was signed into law on August 6; is a landmark piece of national legislation in the United States that outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the U.S.

That awful day that started out peacefully quickly descended into a March of death for the right to vote called Bloody Sunday.

Now, 48 years later, a new “Jim Crow” era has emerged with a major step backward in the fight for civil and voting rights. There are conservative states targeting not only African Americans but also Senior citizens, first time voters, early voting, Students, low income, and the undocumented though Republicans call them (illegals). In addition, people without birth certificates were limited or completely denied access to the voting booth because their old state ID failed to meet new voter ID regulations and treated like possible( illegals). It is the 21st Century; we should be on a progressive path toward equality for all not one that will re-engage folks in the act of racism or exclusion leading to suppressing participation in the election process. This year, new stricter voter ID legislation is pending in thirty-one states. This includes, voter ID proposals in thirteen states with proposals to strengthen existing voter ID laws in ten states, and eight states that will amend the new voter ID laws passed in 2011. We need to push back all attempts to suppress the right to Vote.

With so much at stake, it is time to stop sitting on the sidelines. If we are going to succeed, Conservative lawmakers NEED to hear our Voices.

We cannot let the naysayers turn back the clock on Voting Rights or the next generation.

Thank You for Taking Action

Chris Christie … a temperament not meant for a President of the free world

the Senate S.744,Border Sec.,Econ Op,Immigration~~~~ CONGRESS ~~~~ the House HR1151,HR1896

The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Tuesday, June 18, 2013.

• Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for one hour with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
• Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.
• The time until 12:30pm and the time from 2:15pm until 3:00pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
• The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
• At approximately 3:00pm, there will be up to 4 roll call vote in relation to the following, in the following order:
  • Thune amendment #1197 (permanent resident status after border completion);
  •  Landrieu amendment #1222 (citizenship for internationally adopted children);
  • Vitter amendment #1228 (US-VISIT system); and
  • Tester amendment #1198 (Border Oversight Task Force to include tribal government officials).
• All amendments will require 60 affirmative votes. There will be two minutes equally divided between the votes and all after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration.
• Senator Leahy, the manager of S.744, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill, has encouraged senators to file their amendments by this Thursday, June 20.
• As a reminder, at 3:00pm today there will be a series of up to 4 roll call votes on the following amendments to S.744, Comprehensive Immigration Reform:- Thune amendment #1197 (permanent resident status after border completion);

  - Landrieu amendment #1222 (citizenship for internationally adopted children);

  - Vitter amendment #1228 (US-VISIT system); and

  - Tester amendment #1198 (Border Oversight Task Force to include tribal government officials).

  The first vote in this series will be a 15 minute vote and the remaining will be 10 minute votes.

• Each amendment is subject to a 60-affirmative vote threshold.

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June 2013

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
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9	10	11	12	13	14	15
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23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30

Last Floor Action:6/17/13
9:46:30 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on June 18, 2013.

10:00:56 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:01:19 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Ted Poe to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:01:26 A.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
10:47:52 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:28 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of June 18.
12:00:30 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Bradley Hales, Reformation Lutheran Church, Culpepper, Virginia
12:01:54 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:01:56 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Bonamici to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:03:54 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
12:34:37 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on June 18, 2013, at 9:48 a.m., stating that that body had passed S. 330.
12:35:04 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
12:35:40 P.M.	H.R. 1896	Mr. Reichert moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1896 — “To amend part D of title IV of the Social Security Act to ensure that the United States can comply fully with the obligations of the Hague Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, and for other purposes.”
12:35:57 P.M.	H.R. 1896	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:35:58 P.M.	H.R. 1896	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1896.
12:48:58 P.M.	H.R. 1896	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
12:50:00 P.M.	H.R. 475	Mr. Gerlach moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 475 — “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include vaccines against seasonal influenza within the definition of taxable vaccines.”
12:50:08 P.M.	H.R. 475	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:50:10 P.M.	H.R. 475	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 475.
1:00:43 P.M.	H.R. 475	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
1:00:46 P.M.	H.R. 475	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:01:10 P.M.	H.R. 1151	Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1151 — “To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the triennial International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly, and for other purposes.”
1:01:24 P.M.	H.R. 1151	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:01:26 P.M.	H.R. 1151	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1151.
1:16:41 P.M.	H.R. 1151	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
1:16:54 P.M.	H. Res. 266	By the direction of the Committee on Rules, Ms. Foxx called up H. Res. 266 and asked for its immediate consideration.
1:21:56 P.M.	H. Res. 266	POINT OF ORDER – Ms. Edwards raised a point of order against the provisions of H. Res. 266 on the grounds that they violated the Congressional Budget Act. The Chair announced that the necessary threshold had been met and the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the point of order at the end of which the Chair will put the question on consideration of the resolution.
1:36:04 P.M.	H. Res. 266	On question of consideration of the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
1:36:06 P.M.	H. Res. 266	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 266 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1947) to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1797) to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect pain-capable unborn children in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.”
1:36:17 P.M.	H. Res. 266	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 266.

3:09:16 P.M.	H. Res. 266	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll no. 248).
3:18:11 P.M.	H. Res. 266	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll no. 249).
3:18:12 P.M.	H. Res. 266	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:18:16 P.M.	H.R. 1151	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1151 — “To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the triennial International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly, and for other purposes.”
3:18:43 P.M.	H.R. 1151	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Roll Call 250 – 2/3 Yea and Nay vote pending.

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