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3/19/2013 - Hillary Clinton Officially Announces Support for Same-Sex Marriage
On Monday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton officially announced her support for same-sex marriage rights. In the past, Clinton has supported civil unions and domestic partnerships, but did go so far as to say that she supported marriage equality.
In a video by the Human Rights Campaign, Clinton spoke of her changed views: "America is at its best when we champion the freedom and dignity of every human being," she said, "Full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship. That includes marriage. That's why I support marriage for lesbian and gay couples. I support it personally and as a matter of policy and law."
Hillary Clinton's announcement comes after former President Bill Clinton published an op-ed urging the Supreme Court to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which Clinton signed into law in 1996. DOMA defines marriage as between one woman and one man in the eyes of the federal court and has been used to deny same-sex couples equal rights and benefits even if they are legally married in their state.
3/18/2013 - Ryan Budget Goes To Vote Tomorrow
The Ryan Budget is scheduled to be voted on by the House tomorrow. The House Republican's budget severely impacts domestic programs that women and people of color rely on while undoing major victories that occurred during the Obama Administration's first term.
The Ryan budget would repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which prohibits insurance companies from classifying being a woman as a pre-existing medical condition and eliminated co-pays for birth control. The Ryan budget would also turn Medicare into a voucher system that would leave seniors, particularly women, struggling to get coverage. In addition, the proposed budget would restructure the way Social Security Living Adjustments are determined, threatening the stability of seniors nationwide. Paul Ryan also seeks to undo sequester cuts to the Pentagon by instead transferring the cuts to already severely impacted domestic programs.
In addition, the Ryan budget isn't financially sound because it relies on savings from the Affordable Care Act while simultaneously repealing it. Wall Street reforms that aimed at keeping the wealthiest in check would also be repealed. And while the budget proposes to reduce the national debt in a 10 year span by cutting government spending, programs such as education and job skills training that can help create a strong workforce will be the victims of harsh cuts after already detrimental sequester cuts.
3/18/2013 - Steubenville Teenagers Found Guilty of Rape
The two teenagers accused of raping a sixteen year old girl from West Virginia were found guilty in juvenile court this past Sunday. The two star football players were both sentenced to one year in the state juvenile system for the sexual assault. One of the players must also serve an additional year for the distribution of a nude photograph of a minor. The State Department of Youth Services has the ability to keep the two young men in the juvenile system until they are 21. They must also be registered as sex offenders once they are released.
Because the accused are teenagers, they had a non-jury trial decided by a judge. Judge Thomas Lipps presided over the case and found them delinquent, which is the juvenile equivalent for guilty. Much of the evidence for the case came in the form of social media distributed by the defendants themselves as the victim did not remember the attack. Judge Lipps described the evidence as "profane and ugly" and a cautionary tale of teenagers with alcohol and "how you record things on social media that are so prevalent today."
The two football players were accused of raping a 16 year old classmate in August after she became intoxicated at a house party. Witnesses tweeted and posted video of the attack on social media sites, and the case went viral.
3/18/2013 - New GOP Study Shows Public Feels Republicans Are "Out of Touch"
On Monday, the Republican National Committee released the results of a new study intended to describe public opinion of the party. Commissioned by the party chairman, the study called the "Growth & Opportunity Project" [PDF] features suggestions on how to reform the party's image before the 2014 midterm elections and the 2016 presidential elections.
The study, which featured in-person interviews as well as thousands of online surveys, found that people consider the party to be "scary," "narrow-minded" and "out of touch," as well as the party of "stuffy old men." Then it details recommendations on how to gain more support such as increasing social media output, updating its technology and reframe its arguments to appeal to a women and minorities.
The study suggests [PDF] that the GOP take a more tolerant look at immigration to appeal to Latinos, establish a database of African-American leaders, and prepare for interviews with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to gain youth popularity. The study also suggests that the RNC must find a way to respond to the War on Women and highlight how the GOP supported the women's rights movement. Despite citing a study by the Center for American Progress that the number 2 issue for women voters was "a candidate who will fight for them," the study makes no mention of the party's stance towards birth control or abortion.
3/15/2013 - McCaskill Responds to Military Sexual Assault Hearings
During a hearing Wednesday before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, Senators criticized the military's handling of sexual assault cases, and called for serious reforms of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The Senators heard testimony from sexual assault survivors and advocates, and grilled military leadership on the fairness of the current system, which gives commanders the authority to dismiss jury verdicts and overturn sentences after a courts martial.
Following the hearing, Senator McCaskill announced that she will be introducing legislation to limit the power of commanders. "Giving military commanders with no legal experience the ability to completely nullify a jury's verdict without even requiring justification is against everything that be believe about justice in this country," said Senator McCaskill, a former prosecutor.
Senator McCaskill's move after the testimony of military sexual assault survivors during the hearing comes in response to a recent case at Aviano Air Base in Italy, where a Lieutenant Colonel who was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to a year in prison had his sentence overturned by a Lieutenant General without explanation.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has responded to the outcry over Franklin's actions by calling for a review of the UCMJ provisions that give commanders to override a court martial.
3/15/2013 - Senator Reverses Position on Same-Sex Marriage
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced on Thursday that he has changed his position on same-sex marriage and will now support marriage equality. The former staunch supporter of the Defense of Marriage Act credits his change in opinion to his son, Will, who came out to Portman as gay two years ago. Although economic issues will remain his office's number one focus, Senator Portman will no longer continue to vote against same-sex marriage.
The Senator spoke with reporters on Thursday for interviews and also did a televised interview with CNN. He published an op ed explaining his shift in position in The Columbus Dispatch. Portman described the life event which led to the new personal and political philosophy: "My son came to Jane, my wife, and I, told us that he was gay, and that it was not a choice, and that it's just part of who he is, and that's [sic] who he'd been that way for as long as he could remember."
When Will first came out, Portman looked to his church and also to former vice president Dick Cheney, whose daughter Mary is a lesbian, for guidance. Portman cited fatherhood, but also faith
as his ultimate reasons for making the radical policy switch. On Thursday, he told the Plain Dealer, "The overriding message of love and compassion that I take from the Bible, and certainly the Golden Rule, and the fact that I believe we are all created by our maker, that has all influenced me in terms of my change on this issue."
In his op-ed, he concluded, "I've thought a great deal about this issue, and like millions of Americans in recent years, I've changed my mind on the question of marriage for same-sex couples. As we strive as a nation to form a more perfect union, I believe all of our sons and daughters ought to have the same opportunity to experience the joy and stability of marriage."
Reuters adds that this is not revolutionary. The Republican party is becoming increasingly split on the issue of gay marriage because of growth in public acceptance of LGBTQ individuals in recent years.
3/15/2013 - ND Passes Six Week Abortion Ban
Today the North Dakota state Senate approved two bills that together would form the strictest abortion ban in the nation. Now they go to North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple (R) for his signature.
The state Senate voted to approve a measure that would ban abortion when a heartbeat is detected. With a transvaginal ultrasound, a heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks. The state Senate passed another bill that prohibits abortion even when a fetal abnormality is detected, including severe genetic defects. Both of these measures have already been approved by the state House.
It is uncertain if Governor Dalrymple, who has been against abortion in the past, will sign the bills into law.
3/14/2013 - Senate Democrats Announce Budget Proposal
In response to a budget proposed by House Republicans, Senate Democrats announced their own budget proposal for 2014.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, released a proposal that combines spending cuts with increased tax revenue, an aspect missing from Representative Paul Ryan's proposal. The Murray budget seeks to close tax loopholes for the wealthiest Americans without raising tax rates for the middle and lower class. In addition, the Murray budget would protect Medicaid and Medicare while expanding coverage in accordance with the Affordable Care Act.
In a statement released by the Senate budget Committee, members said "The Senate Budget is grounded in the understanding that our country's long-term fiscal and economic goals will only be met with policies that support a strong and growing middle class. And it keeps the promises we have made to our seniors, our families, and our communities. The American people are sick and tired of watching their government lurch from crisis to crisis. The Senate Budget offers a serious and credible path away from this gridlock and dysfunction and toward a long-term plan to create jobs, lay down a strong foundation for broad-based economic growth, replace sequestration, and tackle our deficit and debt responsibly and credibly."
The Ryan budget would repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which prohibits insurance companies from classifying being a woman as a pre-existing medical condition and eliminated co-pays for birth control. The Ryan budget would also turn Medicare into a voucher system that would leave seniors, particularly women, struggling to get coverage. In addition, the proposed budget would restructure the way Social Security Living Adjustments are determined, threatening the stability of seniors nationwide. Paul Ryan also seeks to undo sequester cuts to the Pentagon by instead transferring the cuts to already severely impacted domestic programs.
President Obama is set to release his own budget proposal next month.
3/14/2013 - Steubenville Trial Begins
Yesterday, both sides made opening statements in the case of two high school football players accused of raping a 16 year old classmate in Steubenville, Ohio. The judge will continue to hear arguments and witness testimonies today in a non-jury trial. Prosecutor Marianne Hemmeter has argued that the victim was too intoxicated to consent, while the defense argues she was still in control of her actions.
The two football players are accused of raping a 16 year old classmate in August after she became intoxicated at a house party. Witnesses tweeted and posted video of the attack on social media sites, and the case went viral. If convicted, the two football players could face being held in juvenile detention until they turn 21 and would be required to register as sex offenders upon their release.
3/13/2013 - Ryan Budget Attacks Affordable Care Act, Medicare, And Domestic Programs
Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI), Chair of the House Budget Committee, released a 2013 budget yesterday that attacks multiple advances made since President Obama first took office in 2009.
The Ryan budget would repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which prohibits insurance companies from classifying being a woman as a pre-existing medical condition and eliminated co-pays for birth control. The Ryan budget would also turn Medicare into a voucher system that would leave seniors, particularly women, struggling to get coverage. In addition, the proposed budget would restructure the way Social Security Living Adjustments are determined, threatening the stability of seniors nationwide. Paul Ryan also seeks to undo sequester cuts to the Pentagon by instead transferring the cuts to already severely impacted domestic programs.
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued a statement in response to the Ryan budget. She said, "this proposal is an exercise in contradictions. Republicans repeal the Affordable Care Act while counting on the law's savings to balance their budget. They claim to protect Medicare while devising a plan to end it for future generations. They promise opportunity for all Americans while hurting working families and protecting special interests. Put simply, the Republican budget pledges to balance our books without taking a balanced approach to deficit reduction."
The White House also released a statement in opposition to the Ryan budget. The statement said, "while the House Republican budget aims to reduce the deficit, the math just doesn't add up. Deficit reduction that asks nothing from the wealthiest Americans has serious consequences for the middle class. By choosing to give the wealthiest Americans a new tax cut, this budget as written will either fail to achieve any meaningful deficit reduction, raise taxes on middle class families by more than $2,000 - or both. By choosing not to ask for a single dime of deficit reduction from closing tax loopholes for the wealthy and well-connected, this budget identifies deep cuts to investments like education and research - investments critical to creating jobs and growing the middle class. And to save money, this budget would turn Medicare into a voucher program - undercutting the guaranteed benefits that seniors have earned and forcing them to pay thousands more out of their own pockets. We've tried this top-down approach before. The President still believes it is the wrong course for America."
3/13/2013 - Senate Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military Begins Today
Today Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, convened a hearing to investigate sexual assault in the military. The hearing includes testimony from individuals who have been victims of rape and sexual assault while serving, and is the first Senate hearing to examine sexual assault in the military in almost a decade.
This hearing comes on the heels of yet another tragic example of the military's failure to protect victims and hold perpetrators of sexual assault accountable. Earlier this month, a Lieutenant General at Aviano Air Base, Craig Franklin, overturned the aggravated sexual assault conviction of Lieutenant Colonel James Wilkerson, who had been sentenced to a year in military prison and a dismissal from the Air Force by a jury of his peers.
The overriding theme of both the Senate hearing and a press conference held yesterday by Congresswoman Jackie Speier has been the issue of command interference in sexual assault investigations and prosecutions. Currently, the military justice system allows commanders unilateral discretion over all cases--including the ability to shut an investigation down at any stage in the process without explanation. Congresswoman Speier announced that she will introduce a new bill, the "Military Judicial Reform Act," that would strip military commanders of the unilateral power to overturn convictions or lessen sentences handed down by judges and juries at courts martial.
3/12/2013 - AZ Ban on Mexican American Studies Ruled Constitutional
On Friday a federal judge ruled that a 2010 law banning Mexican American studies in Tuscon, Arizona, is constitutional.
Federal Judge Wallace Tashima of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appealsdetermined that the plaintiffs failed to prove that the law was too broad or violated student first amendment rights. Only one part of the law was struck down - a clause that prohibited courses "designed primarily for peoples of a particular ethnic group."
Judge Tashima warned that the law did border on discrimination by saying, "This single-minded focus on terminating the MAS (Mexican-American Studies) program, along with Horne's decision not to issue findings against other ethnic studies programs, is at least suggestive of discriminatory intent." But he continued, "Although some aspects of the record may be viewed to spark suspicion that the Latino population has been improperly targeted, on the whole, the evidence indicates that Defendants targeted the MAS program, not Latino students, teachers or community members who participated in the program."
Richard Martinez, the plaintiff's lawyer, has already announced that he plans to appeal the decision. Martinez told the Huffington Post "This case is not over. It's not only important to Arizona, but to the country as a whole that this statute be addressed."
Passed in May 2010, the law bans classes that "promote the overthrow of the United States government," "promote resentment toward a race or class of people," "are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group," or "advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals."
3/12/2013 - VA Public Hearing on TRAP Laws
Over 50 individuals gathered yesterday in Alexandria, Virginia to speak on strict TRAP regulation signed by Governor McDonnell.
In a meeting room that was filled to standing room only, pro-choice activists argued to reject harsh regulations that could force abortion providers in Virginia to meet the building codes of new hospitals or face closure.
Among Virginia residents, state Senator Barbara Favola addressed the room "The costs associated with meeting the building requirements of the proposed TRAP regulations will be so prohibitive --clinics will be forced to close. Women in many parts of the State will be denied access to basic primary and preventive care. Women will also be denied access to safe and affordable abortions, forcing many to seek back alley procedures that could physically harm them for a lifetime. If we care about improved health outcomes for women and children and if we care about lowering abortion rates, then women need access to the entire range of reproductive health services offered by these centers."
3/11/2013 - Suspect in New Delhi Rape and Murder Case Dies in Jail
One of the six suspects in the brutal gang rape and murder of a 23 year-old New Delhi student was found dead early this morning. The suspect, Ram Singh, who was accused of driving the bus in which the attacks occurred, was discovered dead in his cell at Tihar Jail around 5:30AM.
The jail claims that Singh committed suicide. Sunil Gupta, the spokesman for Tihar Jail, said , "He hanged himself [from] the ceiling with his own clothes." Singh's family, however, insist that the suspect showed no signs of suicidal behavior and are alleging that there must have been foul play.
On December 16th, the physiotherapy student was tortured and raped by a group of six men who were armed with a metal bar on a private bus in New Delhi. The woman was raped for nearly an hour before a metal rod was pushed inside her, critically damaging her internal organs. The victim was flown to Singapore for medical treatment where she died of her injuries in late December.
The incident has sparked protests across India, where a woman is estimated to be raped every twenty minutes, with Delhi being labeled the "rape capital" of the country, according to the Associated Press. Huge protests and demonstrations have voiced anger regarding the treatment of women in India and calling for tougher laws on violence against women.
3/11/2013 - SD Law Extending Waiting Periods for Abortion Signed
Last Friday, South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) signed into law a measure that will extend the time women seeking an abortion must wait before having the procedure. The bill passed the state House in early February and passed the state Senate last week. The law excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from being included in the already-mandated 72 hour waiting period. This will greatly extend the time a woman would have to wait for her procedure and push her further into her pregnancy.
In 2011, South Dakota enacted a law that requires that women undergo a 72 hour waiting period and mandatory counseling from a crisis pregnancy center (CPC) before obtaining an abortion. Despite legal challenges and an injunction, the waiting period provision was not overturned. South Dakota currently has the longest waiting period in the country. The requirement that women seeking counseling from a crisis pregnancy center before having an abortion is still being contested in court.
3/11/2013 - New SD Law Allows Staff to Carry Guns in Schools
South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard signed a bill into law on Friday that will allow staff to carry guns in schools in an effort to provide extra security against school shootings. South Dakota is the first state to incorporate the National Rifle Association's proposed solution to school shootings into state law. The rationale behind the new law is that a teacher or hired guard with a weapon can put an end to a massacre before it begins. In all other states, bills allowing staff to carry guns in schools have stalled.
Under the new law, in school districts that allow it, staff members could come to school armed if they pass a training course. Teachers who are uncomfortable with carrying a gun would not be forced to carry or purchase a gun. Governor Deaguaard said he doubted many school districts would elect to have an armed staff, but that giving them the option was important.
"People will see it's reasonable, it's safer than they think, it's proactive and it's preventive." said the bill's sponsor, Representative Scott Craig (R). He also told the BBC the law is a boon to poor rural areas of the state, which typically lack the funds to hire a fully staffed police force. Representative Karla Drenner (D), who is opposed to the new law, told reporters that the bill was just an attempt to strengthen gun control laws after the Newtown, Connecticut, massacre, and was concerned how a gun might escalate conflicts between teachers and angry students.
Various school board officials also question that guns in the hands of civilians would decrease school violence. Wade Pogany, Executive Director of the Associated School Boards of South Dakota, said the decision was too rash. "If firearms are the best option that we have, I'll stand down. But let's not come into a heated, emotional debate about this and say this is the answer. This is premature," he said.
3/8/2013 - Idaho "Fetal Pain" Bill Struck Down By Federal Court
On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that an Idaho law banning abortion after 20 weeks is unconstitutional because it places an undue burden on a woman seeking to terminate a pregnancy before viability.
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill wrote in his opinion, "the Idaho Legislature's enactment of the [fetal pain law] in light of this opinion is compelling evidence of the legislature's 'improper purpose' in enacting it." He also wrote, "the state's clear disregard of this controlling Supreme Court precedent and its apparent determination to define viability in a manner specifically and repeatedly condemned by the Supreme Court evinces an intent to place an insurmountable obstacle in the path of women seeking non-therapeutic abortions of a nonviable fetus at and after 20 weeks' gestation."
In delivering his decision the judge said, "the purpose of the [law's] categorical ban is to protect the fetus - not the mother. In essence, [the law] embodies a legislative judgment equating viability with 20 weeks' gestational age, which the Supreme Court expressly forbids."
The ban, based on the notion that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks gestation, was only one part of the anti-abortion law that was overturned. Judge Winmill also struck down two additional provisions. One required that an abortion be performed by a physician in a staffed clinic, which all but eliminated access to medical abortions, and the other required any second trimester abortion to be performed in a hospital and could have potentially criminalized a woman seeking a second trimester abortion.
In his decision, Judge Winmill wrote "Historically, abortion statutes sought to protect pregnant females from third parties providing dangerous abortions. As a result, most states' abortion laws traditionally criminalized the behavior of third parties to protect the health of pregnant women - they did not punish women for obtaining an abortion. By punishing women, Idaho's abortion statute is therefore unusual."
Judge Winmill's decision marks the first time a fetal pain bill has been overturned in federal court.
3/8/2013 - Today is International Women's Day
Today marks over a century of honoring women on International Women's Day. What grew out of protests over unsafe working conditions for female factory workers nationwide has now become an international day of recognition of women and girls around the world and the struggles they still face.
As the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and Girls continues into next week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon issued a statement urging governments to focus on violence against women this International Women's Day. He said "Look around at the women you are with. Think of those you cherish in your families and your communities, and understand that there is a statistical likelihood that many of them have suffered violence in their lifetime. ...One young woman was gang-raped to death. Another committed suicide out of a sense of shame that should have been attached to the perpetrators. Young teens were shot at close range for daring to seek an education. These atrocities, which rightly sparked global outrage, were part of a much larger problem that pervades virtually every society and every realm of life."
3/7/2013 - AR Legislature Passes Toughest Abortion Ban in the US
Yesterday, the Arkansas state legislature voted to override Governor Beebe's veto of the Human Heartbeat Protection Act, which bans abortion after a heartbeat can be detected with a standard ultrasound (usually 12 weeks). While the bill does include exemptions for rape, incest, severe fetal abnormality, and to save the life of the mother, the bill is the strictest abortion ban in the United States.
Governor Beebe vetoed the bill on Monday believing arguing that it was unconstitutional. In a statement, Governor Beebe said "In short, because it would impose a ban on a woman's right to choose an elective, nontherapeutic abortion well before viability, Senate Bill 134 blatantly contradicts the United States Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court. When I was sworn in as governor I took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend both the Arkansas Constitution and the Constitution of the United States. I take that oath seriously." The Arkansas state Senate voted 20-14 to override Beebe's veto on Tuesday, and the House agreed in a vote of 56-33.
Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in a statement "We are deeply disappointed that the Arkansas Legislature voted to impose the most restrictive ban on safe and legal abortion in the country. The majority of Arkansans - and the majority of Americans - don't want politicians involved in a woman's personal medical decisions about her pregnancy. Gov. Beebe rightfully vetoed this legislation, and the Legislature would have been wise to let the veto stand as this bill is clearly unconstitutional. People in Arkansas and across America know that abortion is a deeply personal and often complex decision for a woman to make. This extreme legislation would insert politics into women's personal medical decisions."
Rita Sklar, director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas told reporters, "It sets Arkansas back several decades in the eyes of the nation and the world. It shows an utter disregard for women and their ability to make important personal decisions about their own reproductive health." ACLU is expected to challenge the ban in court, along with the Center for Reproductive Rights.
3/7/2013 - President Obama to Sign VAWA Today
President Obama will sign the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) into law today. The ceremony will take place at Interior Department.
After over 500 days without congressional reauthorization, the House approved an inclusive, bipartisan VAWA as passed by the Senate on February 28. The reauthorization includes expanded protections for students, LGBT individuals, immigrants, and Native Americans. Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority, said "The House passed by a wide margin (286-138) the strong, bipartisan Senate version of VAWA which was supported by the Feminist Majority and scores of women's rights, civil rights, labor, and domestic violence and sexual assault groups and organizations. ... Women's groups and their allies acted as one and created a massive grassroots lobbying campaign to pass a strong VAWA despite the Republican House leadership opposition. We cannot forget that 138 Republicans and no Democrats voted against final passage of the real VAWA. Nor can we forget those that voted to roll back full protections of VAWA for college students, immigrants, the LGBT community, and Native Americans as well as to weaken of the Office of Violence Against Women."
With VAWA just hours away from being signed into law, the Justice Department has released statistics that violence against women decreased by more than 60% from 1994, when VAWA was first enacted, to 2005. Figures remain unchanged since 2005. Smeal told reporters that this in large part is a result of VAWA and proves why it is necessary. Smeal said that now "everybody knows that rape and sexual assault are crimes and will be treated as such."
"We have a ways to go," she added. "It is clear there is still too much violence and too many are fearful to report it."
3/6/2013 - Lieutenant General Overturns Service Member's Rape Conviction
On Monday, Lieutenant General Craig Franklin overturned the rape conviction of an air force service member who was found guilty by a jury. Franklin claims there was not sufficient evidence that the woman had been raped.
The Air Force fighter pilot was convicted in November for aggravated sexual assault by a jury of four colonels and a lieutenant colonel. He was dismissed from the Air Force and sentenced to one year in prison. Lieutenant General Franklin overturned the jury conviction using "convening authority" - an absolute power of a singe military supervisor to dismiss a jury decision.
The Lieutenant General's decision has warranted outrage from members of Congress. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) said "The military needs to understand that this could be a tipping point. I question whether, after this incident, there's any chance a woman assaulted in that unit would ever say a word. ... There's a culture issue that's going to have to be addressed here. And what this decision did - all it did was underline and put an exclamation point behind the notion that if you are sexually assaulted in the military - good luck." In a letter to the Air Force Secretary and chief of staff she said "His decision shows ignorance, at best, and malfeasance, at worst. I strongly urge you to undertake an immediate review of his conduct and consider removing him from his leadership position."
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel saying "This is a travesty of justice... At a time when the military has unequivocally stated that there is zero tolerance for sexual assault, this is not the message it should be sending to our service men and women, and to our nation."
3/6/2013 - AR Senate Overrides Governor's Veto of Abortion Bill
The Arkansas Senate voted to override Governor Mike Beebe's (D) veto of the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act yesterday. The override passed the Senate in a twenty to fourteen vote. All fourteen Arkansas Democratic Senators voted against the override. In a letter issued after Beebe's veto on Monday, Beebe said the bill twenty to fourteen vote"blatantly contradicts" the Constitution.
Senate Bill 134, or the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act, includes exemptions for rape, incest, life of the mother and severe fetal abnormalities. If the Arkansas House also overrides the veto, it will be the most restrictive abortion ban in the country. A simple majority is needed in both the state Senate and state House to override the governor's veto.
Last week, the Arkansas Senate voted to override Governor Beebe's veto of a bill that bans abortion at twenty weeks. The Senate voted 19 to 14 in favor of overriding the veto following a House vote approving the veto override by 53 to 28 last Wednesday. The passage of the bill makes Arkansas the tenth state to outlaw abortions after 20 weeks. Beebe vetoed the bill on claims that it was also unconstitutional.
3/6/2013 - Lawmakers Seek Limits on Contraceptive Coverage
Fourteen Republican members of the House of Representatives reintroduced a bill on Tuesday that would exempt unwilling employers from a requirement that their employee health insurance plans include contraceptive coverage. They are also trying to get the language included in the Continuing Resolution to extend funding for operation of the federal government. The bill's cosponsors said in a letter, "Nothing short of a full exemption for both nonprofit and for-profit entities will satisfy the demands of the Constitution and common sense."
A broad coalition of women's groups led by Planned Parenthood released their own letter (see PDF) in response to the move. The letter concluded, "Including language in a continuing resolution or omnibus appropriations measure to restrict women's access to birth control would be bad policy and is contrary to our shared goals of improving women's health. We respectfully urge you to reject efforts to politicize the appropriations process for the remainder of fiscal year 2013 and oppose riders that are harmful to women's health."
The Department of Health and Human Services released proposed rules in January to operationalize that health insurance coverage under the ACA must provide birth control without co-pays or deductibles. Under the proposed rules, employees who work at religiously affiliated institutions such as hospitals and universities/colleges will be covered seamlessly by the insurance provider or plan administrator. The sole exception within the proposed rules is narrowly construed to only houses of worship that object and can deny coverage to their employees.
3/5/2013 - AR Governor Vetoes 12 Week Abortion Ban
Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe (D) vetoed a bill that would have banned abortion after a heart beat was detected with a standard ultrasound - usually around 12 weeks - on Monday.
In a statement, Governor Beebe said "In short, because it would impose a ban on a woman's right to choose an elective, nontherapeutic abortion well before viability, Senate Bill 134 blatantly contradicts the United States Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court. When I was sworn in as governor I took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend both the Arkansas Constitution and the Constitution of the United States. I take that oath seriously."
Senate Bill 134, or the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act, includes exemptions for rape, incest, life of the mother and severe fetal abnormalities. Despite that, if the state legislature overrides Beebe's veto and the bill becomes law, it will be the most restrictive abortion ban in the country. A simple majority is needed in both the state Senate and state House to override the governor's veto. A vote to override the veto is expected to go before the legislature this week.
Last week, the Arkansas Senate voted to override Governor Beebe's veto of a bill that bans abortion at twenty weeks. The Senate voted 19 to 14 in favor of overriding the veto following a House approving the veto override by 53 to 28 on Wednesday. The passage of the bill makes Arkansas the tenth state to outlaw abortions after 20 weeks. Beebe vetoed the bill on claims that it was also unconstitutional.
3/5/2013 - Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 Announced
Today Senator Tom Harken (D-IA) and Representative George Miller (D-CA) announced they will introduce the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013. The legislation would increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour. In addition, the bill would also raise the minimum wage for tipped employees from $2.13 today to 70% of non-tipped minimum wage.
Harkin told the Huffington Post "When you see what's happened to CEO salaries and compensation since the 1970s, and what's happened to the minimum wage, it's just startling... We can't continue on this way. We need a higher minimum wage." Miller echoed similar sentiments "People do see the minimum wage as a matter of justice for people who don't have the ability to bargain for decent wages... And that's all this is - it's a minimum wage. Nobody's walking away from here rich."
During his State of the Union speech in February, President Obama argued in favor of raising the minimum wage, though only to $9.00 an hour compared to Harken-Miller's $10.10. But in a USA Today/Pew Research Center poll, 71% of American supported the President's proposal for an increase in minimum wage.
