50-State Blog Network

2011 Bills Complete

October 10, 2011 by Calitics

Gov. Brown vetoes high percentage of bills.

by Brian Leubitz

Every year, legislators from each house get a certain number of bills they can carry. It varies from year to year, depending on leadership, but can vary from as little as 10 to well more than double that number.  Every year, legislators basically go shopping for bill ideas. Some of them come in through the normal constituent relationships. Others from lobbyists of sponsoring organizations, and well, various other sources.

The interesting part of this is that legislators typically want to get their total up to the line.  Whether that is to make it appear that they have a lot of accomplishments, or to look busy is a matter of perspective.  However, every year we get a slew of bills at the end of session, many very important. Others, well, less so.

Gov. Brown prefers a less is more approach, and when it has come to vetoing bills that have come across his desk during this bill frenzy, it has shown.

From mid-September to late Sunday night, Brown signed 466 bills and vetoed 97, his office said.

Brown's veto rate for the year overall was slightly lower, at about 14 percent. In the first year of his third term, Brown signed 760 bills, vetoed 128 and allowed one bill to become law without his signature, his office said.

Big $$$ for Administrative Services: There's Something Wrong With This Picture

October 10, 2011 by Left in Alabama

Republicans love to talk about belt-tightening, cutting fat, making government smaller, leaner, more like the "free" market and so on.  However, while the Republicans running Alabama's state government have been busy cutting state budgets and laying off employees, their zeal for austerity has limits ... and paying private companies MORE for "administrative services" is fine and dandy.

While the state continues to trim its budget, the money it pays for companies to administer services has risen dramatically. During the recently concluded fiscal year, Alabama paid a private company $617,983.71, more than some state departments received in the 2011 budget, to run several state boards.

...

State spending on administrative services increased from $19.6 million in fiscal year 2008 to $28 million in FY 2011, a nearly 43 percent increase at a time when falling state revenue has led to cutbacks and layoffs at many agencies.

Occupy Wall Street: "Panic of the Plutocrats" Shows Just How Rigged the System Is - Against the 99%

October 10, 2011 by Left in Alabama

Paul Krugman's column in today's New York Times is a must-read. The Panic of the Plutocrats is growing. Perhaps they sense that their gravy train may soon be derailed.

The G.O.P. presidential candidates have weighed in, with Mitt Romney accusing the protesters of waging “class warfare,” while Herman Cain calls them “anti-American.” My favorite, however, is Senator Rand Paul, who for some reason worries that the protesters will start seizing iPads, because they believe rich people don’t deserve to have them. 
[...]
The way to understand all of this is to realize that it’s part of a broader syndrome, in which wealthy Americans who benefit hugely from a system rigged in their favor react with hysteria to anyone who points out just how rigged the system is.

The Equal Rights Amendment: Why Bill Cotterell needs to be wrong in 2012

October 9, 2011 by Kenneth

Last spring, I addressed a group of Democrats in North Florida as part of a commemorative program to mark National Women’s History Month. The theme for 2011 was “our history is our strength”.   At that point, I still entertained hope the Florida Legislature might actually ratify the ERA in 2011.

Yes, 2011 – the same year that the Florida Legislature was busy passing over a dozen anti-choice bills and also the year that the word “uterus” was banned from the lexicon on the House floor.

The theme for 2012 will be “Women’s Education – Women’s Empowerment” and the 2012 legislative session will be concluding in this redistricting year just as National Women’s History Month begins. I want to be able to give a talk next March about Florida ratified the ERA during the 2012 legislative session.

Last year, Senator Nan Rich and Representative Evan Jenne filed concurrent legislation calling for ERA ratification.

10/16: Fundraiser for Evelyn Madrid Erhard for Congress in NM-2

October 9, 2011 by Democracy for N...

From Madrid Erhard for Congress:

Evelyn Madrid Erhard for Congress Fundraiser
Democrat for New Mexico CD-2



Sunday, October 16
Delia Narvaez Home
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
1435 Grover Dr., Las Cruces, NM
BBQ (and Mexican food donated by Roberto’s of Las Cruces)

Directions: West on Avenida de Mesilla to Roberts Dr.; left (south) on Roberts to Grover Dr.; right on Grover Dr. The suggested donation is $30.00 and an RSVP is appreciated by calling: Maury Castro, ph. or (cell) or email maurycastro33 [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Sunday Gardening Open Thread: Got Tomatoes?

October 9, 2011 by Left in Alabama

It's October and summertime gardens are finally beginning to wind down -- but it's not too late to plant some cool season crops like turnips and mustard greens.  However, until we actually have a frost, warm season favorites like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant will continue producing, especially given the nice warm days we've had this month. 

Right-wingers don't seem to understand that concept since they declared tomato season over in an attempt to spin away the bad smell of Alabama produce rotting in the field. 

The is from State House Speaker Mike Hubbard's (R) communications director , declaring . 

10/12: Join Rep. Heinrich's Live Telephone Town Hall on Jobs and Manufacturing

October 8, 2011 by Democracy for N...

From Congressman Martin Heinrich:
We’ve always been proud to be a country that makes things. Our manufacturing tradition has long been a source of both pride and good-paying jobs. Now, at a time when millions are still out of work, it’s our responsibility to build on that tradition to create jobs, strengthen middle class opportunity, and secure our nation’s leading place in the world economy.

Earlier this year, I launched a “Make It In America” tour. I’ve been traveling across central New Mexico meeting with employees and touring small businesses and high-tech manufacturing companies. I’m highlighting how encouraging innovation, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship is creating new jobs at home and growing our economy.

Occupy Huntsville Coming Online

October 8, 2011 by Left in Alabama

 

Occupy Huntsville is coming online now.

There is a fantastic group there, and they will do us all proud. Sign up to be a part of it and catch the latest updates for meetings and rallies!  Everybody (that's every. body.) IS important. You DO count, and you CAN make a difference.

We are the 99%. We are tired of The Best Government Money Can Buy. We will NOT be silent :)

REMINDER: Potluck in Brother Bryan (formerly Magnolia) Park in BIRMINGHAM tomorrow. 

Sunday, 9 Oct. 1:00 pm. Hope to see you there! :)

 

Latin@ Events This Weekend in NYC : Celia Cruz in the Bronx, Latino Rock at #OccupyWallStreet

October 7, 2011 by Vivirlatino

Here are a few events of interest this weekend happening  in various parts of NYC including the Bronx and down at #OccupyWallStreet. If you want to see your event listed here please email info [at] vivirlatino [dot] com Sunday, October 9th Friends of Woodlawn is proud to present Azucar! Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Celia Cruz with The [...]