Monday Reads: Summer’s here and the Time is Right (wing)
Posted: July 1, 2013 Filed under: morning reads | Tags: Climate change, climate change denial, John Kasich, Ohio, Reproductive Rights, War on Women 69 CommentsGood Morning! And welcome to a week that may set global records for hot as hell!!!
The heat wave in the country isn’t the only item that convinces me that many folks want to bring hell straight to the US. Look what’s going on
in Ohio which hasn’t got the coverage of what’s going on in Texas but is equally if not more insidious.
Before signing a $62 billion, two-year budget into law tonight, Gov. John Kasich used his line-item veto pen to strike language seen as a barrier to progress on expanding Medicaid while talks continue on the broader expansion the governor has sought.
But he left intact all of the controversial provisions seen as restricting abortions as well as language allowing local government bodies to meet secretly behind closed doors in executive session when discussing economic incentive packages for businesses.
The governor left immediately after signing the budget without taking questions from reporters about his vetoes.
The budget promises a net $2.6 billion net tax cut, consisting chiefly of a 10 percent across-the-board income tax for all taxpayers over three years and a 50 percent cut on the first $250,000 earned by small businesses.
“I’m proud of the tax cuts because I think it’s another installment in Ohio’s comeback,” Mr. Kasich said.
But it also comes with some trade-offs, including a hike in the state sales tax from 5.5 cents on the dollar to 5.75 cents. The budget also draws the line on its subsidization of local property tax bills, saying the state will no longer pay the first 12.5 percent on any new levies that voters approve beginning with those on the ballot this November.
The budget also holds $717 million more over the next two years for K-12 schools, an 11 percent increase. It does not full make up, however, for the cuts schools suffered in the current budget, in part because of the expiration of one-time federal stimulus dollars.
Pro-choice advocates had placed all their hopes in stopping the abortion restrictions from taking place on Mr. Kasich, but Mr. Kasich allowed all of the provisions to stay.
Those provisions included language making it tougher for abortion clinics to get emergency care transfer agreements that they must have with a local hospital in order to keep their licenses by prohibiting publicly funded hospitals from entering into such arrangements.
A last-minute addition that requires a doctor to performing abortions to first perform an ultrasound to detect a fetal heartbeat and then offer to let the woman seeking an abortion hear or see that heartbeat. Failure to following this procedure could lead to criminal prosecution of the doctor.
The budget also places Planned Parenthood at the end of the line when it comes to distributing Ohio’s share of federal family planning funds.
the summers scorching weather is likely to set global records. Eight states are suffering.Forecasters called for more supercharged temperatures Sunday as a heat wave gripped the Southwest, leaving one man dead and another hospitalized in serious condition in heat-aggravated incidents in this sunbaked city.
Temperatures in Las Vegas shot up to 115 degrees on Saturday afternoon, two degrees short of a record, while Phoenix baked in 119 degrees. Large swaths of California sweltered under extreme heat warnings, which are expected to last into Tuesday night — and maybe even longer.
In Death Valley — known as the hottest place on Earth — temps reached 125, according to the National Weather Service. Death Valley’s record high of 134 degrees, set nearly a century ago on July 10, 1913, stands as the planet’s highest recorded temperature.
Las Vegas fire and rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said paramedics responded to a home without air conditioning and found an elderly man dead. He said while the man had medical issues, paramedics thought the heat worsened his condition.
Paramedics said another elderly man suffered a heat stroke when the air conditioner in his car went out for several hours while he was on a long road trip. He stopped in Las Vegas, called 911 and was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
Senate Democrats will try to resurrect a United Nations treaty on rights for the disabled that was rejected last year over GOP concerns it would imperil home-schooling.
The treaty fell five votes short of the necessary two-thirds majority in a 61-38 vote in December after former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.) led a charge that it would give unelected UN bureaucrats the power to challenge U.S. home-schooling.
Treaty supporters say those worries were unfounded, and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations panel hopes to win approval of the treaty, a Senate Democratic aide said.Menendez hopes to strike a deal on a way forward with the panel’s top Republican, Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, who voted against the treaty last year.
While last year’s vote took place after the presidential election, advocates believe the debate got tied up in election-year politics and that a revote this session could be successful.
The treaty would extend the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act to people with disabilities around the world, including Americans living abroad, according to advocates.
“We believe very much there is a path forward for victory,” said Marca Bristo, president of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities. “If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be putting in this effort.”
Opponents have long warned that it may come back up. Last month, the Home School Legal Defense Association jumped the gun and sent out an action alert to its members warning – inaccurately – that Menendez’s panel had scheduled a hearing for June 4.
“Thank you for joining us in this battle to protect our children and our children’s future,” wrote association president J. Michael Smith. “You defeated this treaty last year. Standing together, we can defeat this treaty once again.”
The treaty’s path to ratification remains a challenging one.
One thing is certain about the bevy of legislation targeting women being introduced by conservative men. Women are mad and they aren’t taking it anymore. One female lawmaker in Ohio has introduced bill that would regulate men’s reproductive health.
According to the Dayton Daily News, State Senator Nina Turner introduced SB 307, which requires men to visit a sex therapist, undergo a cardiac stress test, and get their sexual partner to sign a notarized affidavit confirming impotency in order to get a prescription for Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs. The bill also requires men who take the drugs to be continually “tested for heart problems, receive counseling about possible side effects and receive information about “pursuing celibacy as a viable lifestyle choice.””
The bill is a response to the Republican effort to pass House Bill 125, which would ban abortion if the fetus has a heartbeat, which is about six weeks after conception. Turner, an opponent of the bill, says if Republicans are allowed to legislate women’s health, men’s health should also be regulated. “I certainly want to stand up for men’s health and take this seriously and legislate it the same way mostly men say they want to legislate a woman’s womb,” Turner said.
peej
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Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Liked the music Dak. And I agree with you, the right wing is all hot and bothered with what happened last week. I just wish the women’s rights mini victory in Texas was not drowned out by the DOMA decision. (Not that I am complaining about the SCOTUS decision) but like you said in yesterday’s post, time ran out before Rachel Maddow could get to the woman issue.
Bob Dole was the one who pushed for the UN disability vote thing? I don’t remember that, it is too early and I guess I am not awake yet…
Hey check this out: 20-week abortion ban too soon: Our view it’s an op/ed in US Today.
Yay for USA today!
Fetuses cannot feel pain until at least the 28th week.
Like these nuts care about science and fact. They lie continually about stuff if it justifies their ends.
But they can jerk off at the 20th? /snark
This is horrible: Arizona Wildfire 2013: 19 Firefighters Die While Battling Yarnell Hill Blaze (VIDEO/PHOTOS)
Pat Johnson@ I DON’T RECOGNIZE US ANYMORE | The Widdershins
That’s a great post by Pat!
That was good!
Wow, things are also heating up in Egypt: Biggest Demonstrations in Egyptian History: Millions Demand President Morsi Step Down | Informed Comment
And hundreds of women are being sexually assaulted in Tahrir Square again. It kind of hard to cheer for me to cheer for that.
Oh I know…and then you have this, a woman giving birth to a little girl. ‘Newborn of revolution’: Woman gives birth at gigantic Tahrir Square protest — RT News
Wow.
Long life, happiness, and civil rights to Tamarod … and her people.
Not. Dead. Yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XI32rAE3fs
We are actually having flash flooding here. Climate change comes in many different forms.
Take care, Beata.
Hope you stay above the flood line, Beata.
Here in usual rainy cool Seattle (yeah, even in June) it’s hot. High 80s and supposed to hit 91 today. Don’t laugh, all you folks from the south. I can’t think well when the temp goes much over 78. Supposed to cool off in a coupla days, thank the deities.
Soledad O’Brien joins Al Jazeera America
OK, that means I will have to pay attention to Al Jazeera now. Soledad is fantastic!
This is sad:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2013/jul/01/cirque-soleil-performer-dies-fall
Charles Pierce smacks down MTP for inviting Ralph Reed to pontificate on gay marriage.
I still don’t know why Reed isn’t in jail.
Indeed. One of life’s great mysteries.
He answered the phone call? That would be my guess.
That’s why he was on the show. Only Dog knows why he isn’t in jail.
Pierce had this bit from Glenn Smith, a long time activist, and it speaks for me as well. We are an ATM for the Democrats and they suck millions out, putting nothing back in. That has to change and now’s a good time for it.
Exactly, they have been busy filling up my email too. They need to find out what’s really happening, and stop asking for my last dime.
Waiting to hear more on Texas today.
I’ll pass on anything I hear. Should be large protests.
May the ghost of Ann Richards kick Governor Goodhair where he has bad hair!!!
lol! Molly Ivins will give him a kick too.
ah, back in the day when Texas wasn’t all filled up with nutters in their government
http://youtu.be/oA13SGDaoTO
The party of jerky whites-only people is at it again:
Who Needs Hispanic Votes?
Maybe not Republicans. How demographic math may convince GOP House members that it’s smarter to double down on white voters than back immigration reform.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/06/immigration_reform_and_house_republicans_the_gop_may_not_need_hispanic_votes.html
RCP’s “genius?” Sean Trende started that line. Maybe he really hates them since he used to pimp polls for Princess Dumbass of the Northwoods.
Nah, I think it’s a form of white blindered racism to assume that many more white voters would have anything to do with them.
BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking 2m
US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has applied to Russia for political asylum, Russian officials say http://bbc.in/12BUd18
because, you know, Russia has such a more morally superior country that never spies on any one
Huh? I think this means he should stop sharing secrets with everyone else 🙂
Putin wants them all to himself, but I seems as if Snowden has already handed them over to Wikileaks. Der Spiegel published stuff yesterday. I don’t know if Snowden is in control anymore.
He is not in control………..when you don’t have a passport…….guess what.
Now RT says he didn’t apply for asylum in Russia.
This is becoming a boring soap opera.
The next Texas Senate Second Called Session starts at 2:00 PM CDT.
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/bin/live.php
Senator Davis was anticipating that the 20 week abortion crap would be reintroduced.
Protests today begin at Noon on South steps of the Capital. Should get bigger later in the day.
I’m having trouble loading UTube, but a tweet on the page says: recess until Tuesday, July 9th at 11am. Any confirmation? The last bit I got was a point of inquiry over the Senate clock running about 2 minutes too slow and what was the official time?
It got to be hot outside for all those protesters.
The Tribune feed, Senate Info Channel says the second called session adjourned until July 9 but there is a Finance Cmte hearing on July 2nd. I don’t know what they’re doing?
They are probably hoping everyone will go home for the 4th and not come back. I don’t know, could they change their mind and complete the session in the middle of the night?
Sure but people are watching them.
From the Texas Democratic Party …
Thanks Ralph, I figured they were up to no good!
Here’s the deal, committee hearings were where the People’s Filibuster delayed the House long enough for Davis’ filibuster in the Senate.
TPM: Texas Legislature Recessed, Anti-Abortion Bill Will Get Public Hearings
Some good pictures from the protest. 1000s of people showed up to Stand with Wendy, again.
http://www.mystatesman.com/gallery/news/national/second-special-session-starts-070113/gCBmy/#3601774
Little bit of democracy for your Monday afternoon.
https://www.rebelmouse.com/Texasabortiondebate/little_bit_of_democracy_for_yo-191041578.html
Those are great pics!
If I didn’t say it before, I agree with you about Kirk Watson. He dd a great job of dribbling and passing the ball-West wasn’t bad either.
They all did a really good job IMHO.
Sounds like a fine plan.
HuffPo: Texas Women: Stop Having Sex With Men Who Vote Against Your Best Interests
Lysistrata — still appropriate.
Democrats seem to have the high ground with the public.
Texas Tribune: How Public Opinion Fueled Senate’s Abortion Fight
Also, in accordance with current medical evidence, they need testing and treatment for diabetes, impaired insulin, dyslipidemia, and be placed on a supervised, intensive physical conditioning program.
sounds like they should get the state’s permission every time they want to have sex.
Charles Pierce on Ohio.
John Kasich’s Atrocious Budget
Nina Turner is running for secretary of state…………….yay.
Yey!
Whereas here in the good ol’ USA, it’s profit-oriented with third-party insurers.
Glad to read that my state legislator-critters passed this:
You can’t swing a cat in this town without hitting a musician. 🙂 Heat didn’t stop them but the larger rallys are supposed to be later today.
Texas Tribune: Abortion Rights Activists Descend on Capitol
NYMag; Can Wendy Davis Help the Democrats Crack Texas?