Republicans in key swing states are considering bills or ways to change how a state’s electoral votes are allocated. For the GOP who lost the presidential race with people of color, women and young adults, one might think they would re-think their strategy. And they have re-thought the strategy—just not in the way I was thinking. The states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia considered bills to restructure the electoral votes from their states, in favor of Republican candidates. Sometimes non-fiction is stranger than fiction. Some Republicans particularly from swing states have introduced or are considering bills to change the winner take all electoral votes to a proportionate system. This would mean that a state’s voters could cast more votes for one candidate but another candidate could receive more electoral votes. Under the present system, a winner of a state takes all of the electoral votes of the state. The GOP, who attempted to disenfranchise millions of black … [Read more...] about The GOP’s Latest Bills to Win the Next Election
Archives for January 2013
Four Year Anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Act
On January 29, 2009, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act became the first bill signed into law by President Barack Obama. The Lilly Ledbetter Act extended the statute of limitations for women and men to file claims of employment discrimination—even years later. But in order to bridge the gender pay gap—where women on average in this country earn 77 cents for every dollar that a man earns with the same education and for doing the same job, we must go beyond Lilly Ledbetter. African American women earn 64 cents for every dollar a man earns. Latino women earn 56 cents to the dollar a man earns. These figures are for women in all jobs and educational levels. The disparity in pay begins for college educated women immediately after graduation. Post graduate women fare no better than their less educated counter parts. “The Paycheck Fairness Act would help erase this harmful wage gap by ensuring that employers provide equal pay for those doing the same work,” said American Association of … [Read more...] about Four Year Anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Act
Gun Control Debate Heats Up This Week
On Saturday, January 26, marchers in support of gun control came from across the country, including first responders and grieving parents from Newtown, Connecticut, to march quietly from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial to protest gun violence. On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin hearings on the proposed gun bills. The title of the hearing is "What Should America Do About Guns?" Among those expected to testify are Mark Kelly, husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords supporting gun control and in the opposing corner, National Rifle Association Chief Executive, Wayne LaPierre. Among other witnesses at the hearing will be James Johnson, chief of police for Baltimore County, Md., and chairman of the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence. The march and the hearing on Wednesday are among the first of many events on the gun issue plaguing our country. As of January 25, there are now over 25 proposed gun bills in the House and … [Read more...] about Gun Control Debate Heats Up This Week
Happy 40th Birthday Roe v. Wade
Each January marks the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, giving women the right to choose an abortion. Every year, both Pro Choice and Pro Life groups gather to support their respective views. This year is no different. The 40th annual Pro-Life March for Life is scheduled for January 25. A majority of Americans support a woman’s right to an abortion. 70% of Americans now say they support a woman’s right to an abortion in a poll taken this month. On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court held in a 7-2 decision that a right of privacy existed under the due process clause of the 14th amendment of the Constitution to a woman’s right to an abortion. Forty years later, Pro-life forces are still arguing that the Supreme Court got it wrong and want to reverse it. In recent years, it is clear that many GOP controlled state legislatures want to limit access to an abortion and thereby dilute a woman’s right to choose. The Republican controlled Congress and many state legislators have focused on … [Read more...] about Happy 40th Birthday Roe v. Wade
A Second Act for the Voter Empowerment Act
On January 23, 2013, Rep. James Clyburn (D.SC) along with Representatives John Lewis (D.GA), Marcia Fudge (D.OH) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D. MD) along with others re-introduced and consolidated several bills and named them the Voter Empowerment Act. The Voter Empowerment Act contains three main parts: improving access to the ballot, protecting integrity and ensuring accountability. More than a dozen states passed laws making it more difficult for citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote, in the past several years. Rep. Clyburn says: “The right to vote should be the birthright of every American…. We urgently need to update our federal laws to safeguard the sacred right of American citizens to vote.” Coincidently on the same day that the Voter Empowerment bill was introduced, the 24th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1964. The 24th amendment abolished the practice of poll taxes. On February 3, 1870 black men were given the right to vote, … [Read more...] about A Second Act for the Voter Empowerment Act
What Women Lawmakers Want in a 2nd Obama Term
Women voted overwhelmingly in the 2012 election for President Obama—with 55 percent casting their vote for the president compared to men, who went for Mitt Romney by 52 percent. As the second Obama term begins, many issues affecting women and their families must be addressed and some old battles must be fought again. Women lawmakers across the country are meeting to discuss these issues and strategies to address them. As varied as women are in this country, there is no one size fits all approach, but speaking to a diverse women’s caucus is one way to get an idea of what women lawmakers in his own party expect from President Obama and legislators in the U.S. House and Senate. I had an opportunity to speak with members of the Maryland Women’s Caucus at the State House in Annapolis—a follow-up to my pre-election discussion with some of their members at last year's Democratic National Convention. Please click here to read the full article from the Women's Media Center on what … [Read more...] about What Women Lawmakers Want in a 2nd Obama Term