Iowa House Republicans introduce the "free agent" idea to public employee...
This evening at 6:00 CST there will be a discussion in Des Moines of House File 525, the changes proposed to Iowa's Public Employees collective bargaining law. While the major points are summarized...
View ArticleMaine Diary: Greed and the Village
In my last diary about Maine, I made some observations about Portland--Maine's largest city--and the people who live in it when all the tourists and summer folk are long gone and the deepest winter...
View ArticleFunnel Week in IA ...
ended last Friday March 4. Bills that did not make it through a successful committee vote will not be considered this legislative cycle. A public hearing on an anti-Collective Bargaining measure HF...
View ArticleCheating on standardized tests. What are the real questions we should be asking?
The big news of the week in papers across the country is cheating on standardized tests. None of this is new, heck Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner made millions exposing cheating in Chicago. The...
View ArticleMaine, Florida, and Kentucky: Cannabis/MMJ Updates
For those who are interested in reading a few blurbs and updates. Call it an overnight news digest for cannabis, if you will. Kentucky makes several reforms to its sentencing laws...very good news....
View ArticleThe anointed ascendancy of Rahm Emanuel
With Jody Weis’ departure and Terry Hillard’s appointment as interim Chicago Police Superintendent all eyes are on Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel and his plan of action. The daily grind begins. Yet,...
View ArticleIllinois considers minimum wage increase... to $8.75/hr
My home state of Illinois is considering another increase of the minimum wage, and the bill's name is IL SB1565. The current minimum wage in the state is $8.25/hour, and a proposal will make it...
View ArticleEducation reform symposium in my minivan.
I spent the day Monday at an education reform symposium in Novi, Michigan hosted by the Michigan Education Association, the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice, and the National...
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Gov Rick Snyder Sellout? Prefabricated Corporate Michigan (Government)...
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and the Snyder Team/Policy are about to become the first totally irrelevant 'Republican' Administration in Michigan history. Armed and on the march with prewritten...
View ArticleBands to Rock for Trains? All aboard!
Most of us here are aware (some, to judge by their screen names, obsessively so) that supporting passenger rail and the ultimate goal of a national high-speed rail network are very progressive values,...
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Union busting: Kasich vs. the people's chorus 3/8 (photo diary)
Ohio Gov. John Kasich gave his State of the State speech at the Ohio Statehouse this afternoon and a few thousand firefighters, teachers and friends showed up to voice their opinion. Here's a group...
View ArticleMichigan Governor Seeks Emergency Powers
The governor of Michigan is trying to force through the legislature a bill that would establish emergency rule, LITERALLY. Gov. Snyder is seeking emergency powers that would enable him to 1)...
View ArticleMcCotter (MI-11) to Finally Appear in Public
Well, miracle of miracles... Sort of anyway... It looks like Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-Livonia) might actually appear in public - right here in Michigan. The North Oakland Republican Club's...
View ArticleBREAKING - Illinois to Abolish Death Penalty
The Associated Press is reporting that Illinois governor Pat Quinn will sign legislation abolishing the death penalty. The AP's source are two Illinois state legislators: State Rep. Karen Yarbrough...
View ArticleRALLY PHOTOS - Michigan GOP pulling a Stealth-Walker move to damage unions
I won't try to steal jocava's thunder by reiterating the information in their Rec Listed diary. Go there for the details and to give that fine diary the Recommend and tip it deserves. I do want to...
View ArticleThe Great Governor Giveaway
The Great Governor Giveaway Corporations are feeling good lately. It’s not often that you can get a Republican Governor to do your dirty work, take the flak, and manipulate their minion-like...
View ArticleSebelius and HHS Bow Down Before the MEGA Health Insurance Company.
I'm not making this up. There really is a MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company. And yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services granted a waiver to Maine's individual insurance market --...
View ArticleIllinois Gov signed Democrat sponsored Repeal of ILL Death Penalty
All night long many of us emailed, bantered and reviewed how to place upon DK - issues germane in our quest for justice. But that effort and works near and dear to our heart (and life savings) is...
View ArticleState Legislation Against Solitary Confinement - CO, ME, TX
Just got off a conference call with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), where among many agenda items was legislative movement against solitary confinement in some state...
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Update On Action at Boehner’s Ohio Office
A grassroots effort to put Speaker Boehner squarely in the heat of a hot national spotlight for his decision to move forward with the defense of the unconstitutional law, Defense of Marriage Act....
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