tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17878759007549809602024-03-18T20:07:45.207-07:00Keystone Progress BlogTogether we are building PA's largest online activist network.
270,000 strong and growing!Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.comBlogger530125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-59380952922003833762012-08-01T10:42:00.002-07:002012-08-01T10:42:57.365-07:00Rep Mike Kelly compares contraceptive mandate to Pearl Harbor, 9/11<br />
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">PENNSYLVANIA – Today, August 1, 2012 Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly (R), an anti-women’s health representative compared this day on which health insurance companies are required to begin covering contraceptive services and preventative care benefits for women, to September 11 and Pearl Harbor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">"I know in your mind you can think of times when America was attacked. One is December 7th, that's Pearl Harbor day. The other is September 11th, and that's the day of the terrorist attack," Kelly said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. "I want you to remember August the 1st, 2012, the attack on our religious freedom. That is a day that will live in infamy, along with those other dates."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">But healthcare advocates and women’s rights advocates condemn this statement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">"Republicans are obsessed with undermining women's health," said Keystone Progress Executive Director Michael Morrill. "Today is a historic day for 2,121,806 Pennsylvania women who will now have access to birth control, diabetes screening, HIV tests and mammograms," continued Morrill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">As required by the Affordable Care Act for the first time ever, Pennsylvania women will be granted access to potentially life-saving tests and services, without having to worry about costs. No longer will Pennsylvania women be at the disposal of their insurance companies, but will instead be able to take control of their well-being and make decisions to keep them healthy, catch possibly serious conditions at an earlier state and protect themselves and their families from colossal medical bills.</span></div>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343698055466200264noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-87182264693127181332012-06-29T03:30:00.001-07:002012-06-29T03:31:06.014-07:00Supreme Court Ruling on Affordable Care Act Victory for Pennsylvania<br />
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Today’s Supreme Court ruling makes clear – from both Republican and Democratic Justices – that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">This
decision will ensure that people with pre-existing health conditions will have
the care they need, young adults will be able to stay on their parents’ health
plans, small businesses will receive tax health insurance credits, thousands of
Pennsylvanians will get rebates from their insurers this summer, and millions
will no longer have out-of-pocket costs for routine preventive care.</span></div>
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This is incredible news for Americans who can now rest assured that they can continue to get their health care benefits. Senior citizens remain safe from the donut hole. People still can’t be denied coverage because of preexisting conditions or be thrown at the mercy of insurance companies. Young adults can remain on their parents insurance until they’re 26.</div>
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The most hotly debated topic, the individual mandate means that people who can afford to purchase health insurance will no longer have their healthcare subsidized by taxpayers. In fact, the Urban Institute estimates that <span style="background-color: white;">if the ACA were in
effect today, 94 percent of the total population would not have to newly
purchase insurance or pay a fine. While a small number of people would be
affected by the individual responsibility requirement, the overall benefit to
the population would be large, in terms of reducing premiums and increasing
stability of insurance markets.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">It's also important to remember that because of the Affordable Care Act, millions people in Pennsylvania have benefited from the Affordable Care Act in the first two years. </span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">235,820 Pennsylvanians with
Medicare saved an average of $622 on Prescription drugs<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">1,509,076 Pennsylvanians received
at least one free preventative care benefit<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">4,582,000 Pennsylvanians no
longer have lifetime limits on their health plans<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">64,798 of Pennsylvania's young
adults are allowed to stay on their parent's health insurance <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">3,421,000 Pennsylvanians are now
protected by the Medical Loss Ratio rule of the ACA<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">4,567 Pennsylvanians with
pre-existing conditions now have health insurance<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Community Health Centers in Pennsylvania
have received over $26,800,000 to expand services to communities in need<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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Opponents of the Affordable Care Act need to hear this message loud and clear and stop their partisan attempts to take away health care from tens of millions of Americans by refighting the same political battles.</div>
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It is time for everyone to move forward from these partisan battles and focus on fully implementing the Affordable Care Act.</div>
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<u><br /></u></div>Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343698055466200264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-18415047195556279522012-05-30T08:26:00.004-07:002012-05-31T08:40:39.735-07:00View all blog postings at our new site- www.keystoneprogress.org<h4>
Our new interactive blog and website is now live at </h4>
<h2>
<a href="http://www.keystoneprogress.org/">www.keystoneprogress.org</a></h2>
All older posts will remain here. We'll try to republish important posts at the new site too.Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-48279696172053815702012-05-23T16:19:00.000-07:002012-05-23T16:19:31.311-07:00ALEC’s Legislative Agenda on Education<style>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On
American Legislative Exchange Council task forces, corporate lobbyists and
special interests vote as equals with elected representatives on templates to
change our laws, behind closed doors with no press or public allowed to see the
votes or deliberations. ALEC’s education legislation diverts taxpayers’ money
from American public school children to for-profit education corporations, strips
away the rights of teachers and their ability to negotiate strongly for small
class sizes and other practices that help children learn better, and gives more
tax breaks to rich corporations and individuals to pay private school tuition,
among other things that undermine America’s proud tradition of investing in our
future through investing in excellent public education for all of America’s
children. ALEC’s education task force has long been chaired by a private school
corporation. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Funding Private Schools and Private Profits with the Public’s Money </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Family Education Tax Credit Program</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” creates a tax credit for paying
private primary or secondary school tuition and fees. It would also create a tax
credit for corporations and individuals that give money to be used as
“scholarships” to pay tuition and fees at private schools. This also reduces
tax revenue for public services. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Parent Choice Scholarship Program
Act-Universal Eligibility</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">”
creates a voucher program to use taxpayer funds that would be spent on public
schools to subsidize private for-profit, religious, or other primary and
secondary schools. This program has no income limit for subsid and therefore
all students would be eligible. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/0/0f/2D15-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_ACCOUNTABILITY_ACT_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Parental Choice Scholarship
Accountability Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” helps
enable taxpayer money to be used to subsidize for-profit, religious, or other
private schools.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a3/2D2-Education_Enterprise_Zone_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Education Enterprise Zone Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” creates a voucher program to
subsidize private schools with taxpayer money. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/e/e7/2E3-Education_Accountability_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Education Accountability Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” allows a state to override the
elected school board, declare schools “educationally bankrupt,” and divert
funds to private schools. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tipping the Scales in Favor of Charter Schools Over Public School
Innovations </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9a/2D1-Charter_Schools_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Charter Schools Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” would allow the state to grant
charters to create and operate schools outside of traditional public schools, while
also exempting these charter schools from state laws that apply to public
schools. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/5/57/2D4-Next_Generation_Charter_Schools_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Next Generation Charter Schools Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” allows state taxpayers to subsidize
charter schools that compete with public schools, while exempting charter
schools from complying with many legal standards and requirements that govern public
schools. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Resolution Supporting Private
Scholarship Tax Credits</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” urges
more tax cuts for corporations and individuals to subsidize for-profit corporate
schools through funding “scholarships.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Advancing Other Controversial Proposals </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/4/4a/2D23-Virtual_Public_Schools_Act1_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Virtual Public Schools Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” requires virtual or online education
company courses to be recognized as public schools and require that such
companies receive the same per pupil funding as traditional schools that
provide classrooms, sports training facilities, lunch, and transportation,
resulting in windfall profits for online “schools.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.webcitation.org/5yGOUW6Ll"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Parent Trigger Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” would allow a small group of parents to close public school
for current and future students, and turn the school into a charter school or
require the state to use taxpayer dollars for vouchers to subsidize private
tuition. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/d/d0/2E10-Resolution_Supporting_the_Principles_of_No_Child_Left_Behind_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Resolution Supporting the Principles of
No Child Left Behind</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">”
supports the Bush Administration’s controversial effort of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>using expanded testing of limited
subjects as a way to claim public schools are failing and also to effectively limit
the teaching of important life skills and other educationally enriching topics
not subject to testing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/23/2E2-Common_Sense_in_Medicating_Students_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Common Sense in Medicating Students Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” prohibits any school personnel from even
recommending medication for any troubled child to parents, even if the school
has experts on staff experienced in making such non-binding recommendations. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Attacking Teachers and Undermining the Power to Negotiate to Help
Students</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a4/2F2-Great_Teachers_and_Leaders_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Great Teachers and Leaders Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” changes tenure rules for teachers and
allows tenure to be revoked based on limited measures of success without regard
to underlying conditions in the schools or environment. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/f/f9/2F6-Teacher_Choice_Compensation_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Teacher Choice Compensation Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” requires teachers to opt out of union
contracts in order to be eligible for performance-based salary stipends. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/8/80/2F4-Public_School_Employee_Union_Release_Time_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Public School Employee Union Release
Time Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">”
attempts to overturn negotiated agreements that allow for certain union activities
to be compensated. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/8/85/2F0-Alternative_Certification_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Alternative Certification Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">” attempts to allow students to be
taught by people who have no training in how to teach children and the
different ways kids learn at various ages and based on different learning
styles. This paves the way for for-profit schools to pay “teachers” less than
educators who are actually trained in teaching.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-75807291259833151852012-05-23T16:15:00.000-07:002012-05-23T16:15:15.689-07:00ALEC’s Legislative Agenda on Women and Children<style>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On American Legislative Exchange Council task forces,
corporate lobbyists and special interests vote as equals with elected
representatives on templates to change our laws, behind closed doors with no
press or public allowed to see the votes or deliberations. ALEC’s model
legislation harms women and families in numerous ways, including proposals that
would roll back no fault di<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>vorce laws, limit the
regulation of day care centers, make it more difficult for impoverished
children to receive the benefits of welfare, limit regulation of toxic and
hazardous substances that adversely affect children’s health even more so than
adults, bar lawsuits for injuries due to recalled drugs despite the spate of
recalls of medicine used by children and young adults, and, among other things,
outsource to for-profit companies the collection of child support.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Regulating Marriage and Child Care</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/3/31/5B3-Marriage_Contract_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Marriage Contract Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">” would roll back the clock by decades
to the era when a wife or husband had to prove fault, such as adultery or
impotence, in order to dissolve a marriage contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bill rejects the concept of “no-fault” divorce, which
allows incompatible spouses to dissolve a marriage without claiming the failure
was the other’s fault. The bill also specifies that a marriage contract is only
between a man and a woman. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9d/5A0-Neighborhood_Child_Care_Center_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Neighborhood Child Care Center Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">” exempts entities responsible for
providing day care for infants and children from complying with any state
regulations other than those regarding fire/safety and health/sanitation if the
day care center receives no state or federal funds; such provisions may put
more kids at risk of injury from untrained or poorly trained day care workers
or from other conditions that would otherwise have been regulated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Limiting Access to Family Benefits and Relief
Programs</span></b></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/f/f0/5Z5-Proof_of_Custody_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Proof of Custody Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">” requires that a parent have sole
custody to obtain benefits to help care for a child, unless both parents with
joint custody apply for benefits for the child. The bill echoes demands of an
anti-welfare men’s group, which claimed the bill would prevent welfare fraud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It denies access to welfare benefits to
children when parents have joint custody rights unless both parents apply for
benefits and are jointly eligible, without any exceptions for joint custody
situations where a parent is not providing required child support, is uncooperative,
or not themselves eligible for welfare benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/0/0f/5A1-Privatization_of_Child_Support_Enforcement_Services_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Privatization of Child Support
Enforcement Services</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">”
allows a state to privatize the administration, delivery, and/or management of
child support enforcement services, injecting a profit motive into the
management of child support with no compelling proof that outsourcing such
services to a monopoly business with no competition will improve child support
collection. </span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://heartland.org/sites/all/modules/custom/heartland_migration/files/pdfs/6399.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Study of Welfare Benefits of Families in the
AFDC Program Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">”
mandates a study to calculate the total value of benefits provided to poor
families, which are often single parent households. Included in the study would
be programs such as low-income energy assistance to prevent families from
freezing to death, school breakfast and lunch programs that help ensure that
children in poverty have nutrition essential to help them concentrate and learn
in school, Head Start programs that help prepare low income children for
school, and “Women, Infants, and Children” (WIC) benefits that help ensure that
babies born in poverty have access to nutrition. The likely aim of the study is
to make it easier for opponents of these programs to argue for their elimination.
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Endangering Children’s Health</span></b></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">ALEC
legislation such as </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the </span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/1/17/3F6-Voluntary_Childhood_Lead_Exposure_Control_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Voluntary Childhood Lead Exposure Control Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
the </span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/47/3G9-The_Private_Property_Protection_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Private Property Protection Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, the </span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/8/86/3K0-Groundwater_Protection_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Groundwater Protection Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, and the </span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9a/3J1-Resolution_to_Retain_State_Authority_over_Coal_Ash_as_Non-Hazardous_Waste_Exposed.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Resolution to Retain State Authority over Coal Ash as Non-Hazardous
Waste Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> impose disproportionate burdens on children and pregnant
women who are particularly vulnerable to environmental toxins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When these bills are enacted, the </span><a href="http://www.environment.ucla.edu/reportcard/article.asp?parentid=1700"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">resulting
increases</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> in pollution exposure and ingestion can lead to premature births,
birth defects, childhood asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and countless
other health problems.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Imposing in Women’s Health</span></b></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/1/11/5B5-Parental_Consent_For_Abortion_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Parental Consent For Abortion Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">” requires written parental consent for
a young woman under 18 to exercise her right preserve her privacy, control her
destiny, and terminate a pregnancy. If a young woman does not seek or is denied
parental consent, she would have to navigate the judicial system to petition a
court to waive the requirement. The bill also makes it a crime for a doctor to
perform an abortion at the young woman’s request, without parental consent or a
judicial override.</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alec.org/wp-content/uploads/State_Leg_Guide_to_Repealing_ObamaCare.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Guide to Repeal Obamacare</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">,” which would repeal the Affordable
Care Act (ACA), and numerous other ALEC “model” bills on Medicaid (i.e. “</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/28/5V5-Resolution_on_Federal_Medicaid_and_Welfare_Block_Grants_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Resolution on Federal Medicaid and
Welfare Block Grants</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">”) would
adversely affect women, including: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Insurance
companies will be free to charge women more than men and deny coverage to
children and adults with preexisting conditions. The ACA would stop this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Pregnant women in some states would no
longer receive full Medicaid benefits because some ALEC </span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/f/fd/5N0-Elimination_of_Non-Federally_Mandated_Benefits_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">provisions</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> would not allow states to provide more
benefits than the federal government minimally provides. Enacting such bills may
leave pregnant women without access to important medical attention during
pregnancy.</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ALEC’s “</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/3/3b/5S2-Drug_Liability_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Drug Liability Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">” and “</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/57/0G6-Punitive_Damages_Standards_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Punitive Damages Standards Act</span></a><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">”</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> adversely
impact women and children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Drug Liability Act bars American families from suing a drug company if medicine
kills or injures their child, spouse, or parent if the FDA approved the
drug—even though numerous dangerous drugs have been approved by the FDA only to
be recalled and many drugs are not adequately tested on sub-populations such as
children or women of different ages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Similarly, the limits on punitive damages act would limit the power of a
jury to punish a corporation whose actions or neglect were egregious, and by
limiting punitive damages to a multiple of compensatory damages would
undervalue to lives of children and women, who may have little or no projected
lost income to compensate but whose loss is enormously devastating.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Creating a “Commission on Men”</span></b></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/8/82/5P0-An_Act_Relating_to_the_Creation_and_Operation_of_the_Commission_on_Men_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Act relating to the creation and
operation of the Commission on Men</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">” would
create a new taxpayer-funded entity to promote “paternal influence” and male
family involvement, as well as examine some men’s health issues. The bill was
sought by men’s rights groups as a way to promote their political and
ideological agenda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pushing Laws That Favor Corporations and the Wealthiest over Working
Families</span></b></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ALEC promotes austere economic measures
that disadvantage working families while favoring rich corporations and
individuals: bills include the </span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/58/8H18-The_Capital_Gains_Tax_Elimination_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Capital
Gains Tax Elimination Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, </span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/52/8H14-Resolution_Urging_Congress_to_Permanently_Extend_the_Bush_Tax_Cuts_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Resolution
Urging Congress to Permanently Extend the Bush Tax Cuts</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
and<u> </u></span><a href="http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0685__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0685&Session=2012"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
memorial to the Congress of the United States, urging Congress to cut the
federal corporate tax rate</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. These and other bills make it harder
to raise revenue to provide needed public services for families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-14743826775068595682012-05-22T12:29:00.001-07:002012-05-22T12:40:30.809-07:00All PA Dems have now disaffiliated from ALEC<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The last Democratic
member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly with ties to ALEC has announced he
is no longer affiliated with them. This is the 18th announcement of
disaffiliation from ALEC by a PA legislator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, is behind the
efforts to pass bills that strip away union rights, scale back child labor
laws, attack the regulation power of environmental agencies, suppress voter
rights with strict identification requirements, eliminate the social safety
net, and privatize public services. ALEC is not just another public policy
organization, it is a corporate front group supporting some of the most radical
and dangerous legislation in the nation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The eighteen
legislators come from both major parties, with ten Democrats and eight
Republicans separating from ALEC. All legislators listed as being
affiliated with ALEC have documented ties, either publicly stating their prior
affiliation or from public documents (Right to Know Law documents, DOS campaign
finance reports, or PA Ethics filings).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The defections have come after Keystone Progress supporters sent tens of thousands of faxes, letters and emails to PA Senators and Representatives. An additional 45 legislators have told Keystone Progress that they have never been affiliated with ALEC.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Here are the 18. Thank them at <a href="http://www.justsaynotoalec.com/">www.justsaynotoalec.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Rep. Harhai, Ted (D) H58</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Rep. Harper, Kate (R) H61</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Rep. Keller, William (D) H184</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Rep. Kotik, Nick (D) H45</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Rep. Markosek, Joseph (D) H25</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Rep. Major, Sandra (R) H111</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Rep. Micozzie, Nicholas (R) H163</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Rep. Mustio, Mark (R) H44</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Rep. Readshaw, Harry (D) H36</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Rep. Petrarca, Joseph (D) H55</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Rep. Thomas, W. Curtis (D) H181</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Rep. Turzai, Mike (R) H28)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Sen. Boscola, Lisa (D) S18</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Sen. Corman, Jake (R) S34</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Sen. Greenleaf, Stewart (R) S12</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Sen. Pippy, John (R) S37</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Sen. Washington, Leanna (D) S4</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">· <span style="color: #222222;">Sen. Williams, Anthony (D) S8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Find out where your
legislators stands at <a href="http://www.justsaynotoalec.com/">www.justsaynotoalec.com</a>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-7536896578587130202012-05-22T12:12:00.004-07:002012-05-22T12:12:59.336-07:00PSEA President: Corbett plan is no solution for financially distressed schools<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13px;">(HARRISBURG, May 22, 2012) – A proposal backed by Gov. Tom Corbett to place Harrisburg bureaucrats in control of financially distressed districts will do nothing to address the financial situations facing these districts, according to the president of Pennsylvania’s largest school employee union.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><u></u><img align="left" alt="Eveready_sm.jpg" height="96" hspace="12" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=66dd1dfd22&view=att&th=137758f90aee9295&attid=0.2&disp=emb&zw&atsh=1" width="70" /></span><u></u></div>
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Mike Crossey, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, said that as implications of Gov. Corbett’s budget cuts continue to grow, along with the number of financially distressed school districts, legislators should be seeking real solutions for these struggling school districts and properly funding them.<u></u><u></u></div>
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He urged legislators to vote “no” on House Bill 1307, which now includes Gov. Corbett’s distressed school district proposal. The bill is expected to be voted out of the Senate Education Committee today.<u></u><u></u></div>
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“There is a serious funding crisis in a growing number of our schools,” Crossey said. “But this bill isn’t a solution. The problem was manufactured largely by state underfunding in the first place. This bill is a bureaucratic power grab masquerading as a fix, and it leaves these struggling schools guessing about how to balance their budgets and educate their students.”<u></u><u></u></div>
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Crossey pointed out that nearly $1 billion in state funding cuts have contributed significantly to the funding crisis in Pennsylvania’s schools. Across the state, the crisis is growing worse, as school districts deplete their reserve funds and continue to cut staff and programs that work for their students.<u></u><u></u></div>
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“If their state funding hadn’t been cut, these school districts wouldn’t be in crisis,” Crossey added. “Restoring these funding cuts is the solution. Putting state bureaucrats in charge isn’t.”<u></u><u></u></div>
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Initially, the distressed school district proposal would target the Chester Upland, Duquesne City, Harrisburg, and York City School Districts. However, in future years, the State Board of Education would be left with sole discretion to determine which districts are financially distressed. In these districts, state-appointed bureaucrats would be required to fashion response plans, and a state receiver could be put in place to run the districts if their budget crises continue. The bill would also allow these officials to cancel contracts, convert community schools into charter schools, and attack school employees’ collective bargaining rights.<u></u><u></u></div>
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“Some of our school districts are in financial crisis, and we need to find real solutions,” Crossey said. “This bill wouldn’t do anything to solve their problems. It would take away local decision-making and give local parents and taxpayers no voice in how to run their schools.”<u></u><u></u></div>
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Crossey pointed out that the need to restore state funding cuts to the public schools is urgent. “Sounding the Alarm,” a PSEA research report, points out that the financial viability of a significant number of school districts will be threatened by 2014. It shows that a combination of nearly $1 billion in cuts and a toxic mixture of bad state education laws is forcing dramatic cuts to student programs.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Learn more at <a href="http://www.psea.org/soundingthealarm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.psea.org/soundingthealarm</a>.<u></u><u></u></div>
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“In the next few weeks, legislators have an opportunity to address the school funding crisis,” Crossey said. “The way to do it is to craft a budget that invests in our students. We are looking forward to working with legislators to do just that.”<u></u><u></u></div>
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Crossey is a special education teacher in the Keystone Oaks School District. An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents approximately 187,000 future, active and retired teachers and school employees, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.<u></u><u></u></div>
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<br /></div>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-75968978445871733932012-05-22T08:40:00.000-07:002012-05-22T08:40:21.041-07:00Koch Operative Steered $55 Million To Front Groups Airing Ads Against Democrats; Ads Assailed Candidates Over Abortion, 9/11, Medicare<br />
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Posted by Lee Fang on 19 May, 2012</div>
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<img alt="" height="199" src="http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/ckoch-300x199.png" style="display: block; line-height: 13px; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none;" width="300" />Charles and David Koch, the billionaire owners of of Koch Industries, are known as big spenders when it comes to <a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlktdrk-gkuljhrkt-y/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">lobbying</a> and influencing <a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlktdrk-gkuljhrkt-j/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">public policy</a>. Now, a new document filed with the IRS reveals how the Koch political machine funneled over $54.5 million in previously undisclosed funds to a litany of front groups designed to smear Democrats.</div>
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The disclosure suggests that a very wide variety of Republican groups active in the last major election, from pro-life organizations that ran ads on abortion to shadowy fronts that aired partisan commercials with the infamous Ground Zero Mosque conspiracy, have been highly dependent on Koch money. The document also reveals that the Koch’s political network spent much more on electing the current Congress than previously known.</div>
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Sean Noble, a Republican consultant, was hired to help <a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlktdrk-gkuljhrkt-t/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">administer</a> the Koch war chest. According to Politico, Noble was part of a group of GOP operatives who met regularly with Karl Rove’s Super PAC to <a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlktdrk-gkuljhrkt-i/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">target 120</a> House of Representatives races in 2010. The close <a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlktdrk-gkuljhrkt-d/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">coordination</a> was <a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlktdrk-gkuljhrkt-h/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pivotal</a>in helping the Republican Party capture 63 seats in one of the biggest midterm election landslides in modern history.</div>
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<a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlktdrk-gkuljhrkt-k/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Koch Operative Steered $55 Million To Front Groups Airing Ads Against Democrats; Ads Assailed Candidates Over Abortion, 9/11, Medicare">Read the whole article at Republic Report →</a></div>
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</tbody></table>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-86109383615827986602012-05-22T05:42:00.000-07:002012-05-22T05:42:32.085-07:00Meet The Group Trying To Use Citizens United To Kill Montana’s Ban On Corporate Spending In Elections<br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Posted by Zaid Jilani on 21 May, 2012</span></div>
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<img alt="" height="109" src="http://cdn.republicreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screen-Shot-2012-05-21-at-9.51.45-AM-300x109.png" style="display: block; line-height: 13px; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none;" title="Screen Shot 2012-05-21 at 9.51.45 AM" width="300" />Last week, Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) submitted an amicus brief “ <a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlujhiy-gkuljhrkt-yd/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">urging the U.S. Supreme Court</a> to <a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlujhiy-gkuljhrkt-yh/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">let stand Montana’s century-old ban on corporate money</a> in political campaigns despite the court’s Citizens United ruling two years ago declaring unconstitutional a similar federal law sponsored by McCain.”</div>
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The challenge to Montana’s ban on corporate money comes from a shadowy group called American Tradition Partnership (ATP).</div>
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ATP is a group based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area that was launched in 2008 as a 501(c)4 lobbying group called Western Tradition Partnership. It was then renamed American Tradition Partnership. The <a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlujhiy-gkuljhrkt-yk/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">policy agenda listed on its website</a> runs the gamut of anti-environmental causes. It advocates for everything from curbing environmental lawsuits to winning tax holidays for energy producers.</div>
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<a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlujhiy-gkuljhrkt-yu/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Meet The Group Trying To Use Citizens United To Kill Montana’s Ban On Corporate Spending In Elections">Read the whole article at Republic report →</a></div>
</div>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-29055590867798733002012-05-22T05:32:00.002-07:002012-05-22T05:43:03.616-07:00Its Customers Are Decimated By Foreclosure, But Wells Fargo Lobbies Against Increased Oversight<br />
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Posted by Suzanne Merkelson on 20 May, 2012</div>
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<img alt="" height="190" src="http://cdn.republicreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/s-NORMAN-ROUSSEAU-large.jpg" style="display: block; line-height: 13px; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none;" title="s-NORMAN-ROUSSEAU-large" width="260" />Norman Rousseau, a Newbury Park, California resident, spent last Saturday trying to fix an old RV. His house was being foreclosed upon by Wells Fargo and he apparently wanted to make sure his family had somewhere to live. But Sunday mid-morning, he shot and killed himself, CBS Los Angeles <a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlkdxk-gkuljhrkt-y/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">reports</a>.</div>
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The Rousseau family has been engaged in a battle with Wells Fargo since January 2011, when Norman and his wife filed a lawsuit agains the bank. The Huffington Post summarizes:</div>
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The trouble started when the Rousseaus refinanced their mortgage, finding out much later that their interest rate actually increased after they did so, the <a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlkdxk-gkuljhrkt-j/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">lawsuit states</a>. On top of that, the lawsuit claims that the couple was convinced to roll their credit card debt into the loan, ostensibly prolonging and increasing that debt as well, according to Chris Gardas, the attorney representing the Rousseau family.</div>
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<a href="http://mailer.bilden.co/t/r-l-hlkdxk-gkuljhrkt-t/" style="color: #507aa5; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Its Customers Are Decimated By Foreclosure, But Wells Fargo Lobbies Against Increased Oversight">Read the whole story at Republic Report →</a></div>
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</tbody></table>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-3605105714361663162012-05-22T04:16:00.001-07:002012-05-22T04:16:45.241-07:00Protesters: Deep Education Cuts Put Future of PA Public Schools at Stake<br />
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Public News Service-PA<br /><a href="http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/26546-1" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.publicnewsservice.<wbr></wbr>org/index.php?/content/<wbr></wbr>article/26546-1</a><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
(05/21/12) PHILADELPHIA - Saying the future of public schools in Pennsylvania is at stake, thousands of protesters are expected in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Allentown this week, railing against education cuts proposed by Governor Tom Corbett.<br /><br />Recently, the Philadelphia school system announced it would close 40 schools next year and expects to lose 40 percent of its current enrollment in the next five years.<br /><br />Gabe Morgan is Pennsylvania State Director for 32BJ SEIU, which represents school employees ranging from aides to bus drivers to maintenance workers. He says they chose Philadelphia for the rally over concerns that what's happening there could become commonplace in the Commonwealth.<br /><br />"In Philadelphia, what we're seeing is really the first attempt to privatize a major public school system, and turn it into essentially a pass-through for money that would then go to some affiliated collection of charter schools."<br /><br />Morgan says he also has major concerns about legislation making its way through Harrisburg that would place distressed schools under state control. He says there, too, Philadelphia schools serve as an example.<br /><br />"Philadelphia has been under state control for the past ten years, and that's how it's gotten to the situation that it's in."<br /><br />Morgan says while Governor Corbett claims the state doesn't have enough money to write bigger checks for public schools, he's turning his back on a potential revenue source that could bring in billions of dollars to the state.<br /><br />"In Pennsylvania, our governor and Legislature have chosen not to significantly tax the world's largest natural gas supply. Instead they'd rather balance the budget by dismantling the public school system."<br /><br />Governor Corbett has defended the cuts, saying they reflect money the state doesn't have. Morgan says not only do kids suffer when education budgets are slashed, but so do school employees who end up pink-slipped because their positions can no longer be funded.<br /></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-89630740260355094162012-05-19T04:40:00.000-07:002012-05-19T07:58:57.419-07:0016th PA Legislator Quits ALEC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mMo0NvF8ES-cCeZnhxJBwvkRQtsrWhaKYZoeNjbLp0VQbYHKZgyht4Lp2FC_iowFFNS1jFdFfetAPS8ttHcFOZJJTmyxQ9NMRVrXqMMkgAudxyuKuesaT3e9cDBZEujejpHecs0c6Jr-/s1600/alec+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mMo0NvF8ES-cCeZnhxJBwvkRQtsrWhaKYZoeNjbLp0VQbYHKZgyht4Lp2FC_iowFFNS1jFdFfetAPS8ttHcFOZJJTmyxQ9NMRVrXqMMkgAudxyuKuesaT3e9cDBZEujejpHecs0c6Jr-/s1600/alec+1.png" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The grassroots efforts of Keystone Progress continue to pay huge dividends in PA. We're now at 16 legislators who have quit ALEC.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The latest- Republican State Senator Stewart Greenleaf (R, 12, Bucks, Montgomery). Greenleaf has served on ALEC's Criminal Justice Task Force ( <a href="http://elliottgreenleaf.com/sjg.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://elliottgreenleaf.com/<wbr></wbr>sjg.html</a> ).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Greenleaf wrote to Keystone Progress, saying "I have a membership with ALEC but because of concerns that have raised by my constituents I will not be renewing it."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Greenleaf is the 7th PA Republican to quit ALEC. Overall, 60 legislators have told Keystone Progress that they are not members of ALEC. KP has letters, emails or voice messages from all 60 to verify their disaffiliation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">You can help us get more legislators to quit, or see the entire list at<a href="http://www.justsaynotoalec.com/"> wwwJustSayNoToALEC.com </a></span></div>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-42745370213763095112012-05-18T12:59:00.000-07:002012-05-18T12:59:47.227-07:00ALEC’s Legislative Agenda on Guns<br />
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<span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 26.0pt;">ALEC’s Legislative Agenda on
Guns<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On American Legislative Exchange Council
task forces, corporate lobbyists and special interests vote as equals with
elected representatives on templates to change our laws, behind closed doors
with no press or public allowed to see the votes or deliberations. Members of
ALEC’s Public Safety and Elections Task Force were in charge of writing,
adopting, or voting on all bills involving guns. Corporate members of the task
force have included the National Rifle Association (NRA), Wal-Mart, Reed
Elsevier, the American Bail Coalition, Koch Industries, the Heartland
Institute, and Corrections Corporation of America. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2012, in the wake of the controversy
over Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, an NRA bill ALEC ratified as a model to
push for states across the country to adopt, the Public Safety and Elections
Task Force was disbanded by ALEC. In addition to the “Stand Your Ground” bill,
other ALEC model legislation on guns includes proposals that oppose efforts to
restrict the sale of “cop killer” bullets and assault weapons, a bill opposing
waiting periods for gun sales, and a bill to force universities to allow students
to carry guns on campus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Supporting
“Stand Your Ground,” “Shoot First,” or “Kill at Will” Laws<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
“</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/7e/7J2-Castle_Doctrine_Act_Exposed.PDF"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Castle Doctrine
Act</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">”
expands traditional self-defense rights to create a roving right to stand and
shoot if threatened in public places and creates a legal presumption that a shooter
acted lawfully, making it difficult to obtain a conviction for killing an
unarmed person. Florida's controversial law was crafted by the NRA, which took
the bill to a closed door ALEC meeting and urged that it become a national
model, which is why the bill, also known as the “Stand Your Ground” or “Kill at
Will” law, is an ALEC “model” that has been adopted in whole or in part in over
two dozen states. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Opposing
Restrictions on Assault Weapons and “Cop Killer” Guns and Bullets<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“<a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/0/00/7J11-Resolution_on_Semicopy_Exposed.pdf">Resolution
on Semi-Automatic Firearms</a>” expresses opposition to proposals by local,
state, and federal governments to restrict the sale of semi-automatic weapons,
known as assault weapons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
“</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/0/08/7J7-Defense_of_Free_Market_and_Public_Safety_Resolution_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Defense of Free
Market and Public Safety Resolution</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">” opposes efforts by law enforcement to use their
purchasing power to buy law enforcement weapons only from gun manufacturers
that improve gun safety to protect kids and whose dealers are not notorious for
selling crime guns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At ALEC’s Public Safety and Elections
Task Force <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/05/11512/cmd-special-report-alecs-gun-agenda-flourished-koch-industries-board-other-koch-f">2011
meeting in Arizona</a>, the NRA obtained unanimous support from ALEC’s
corporate and lawmaker members for a proposal to expressly bar cities from
banning machine guns. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Infringing on Local Law Enforcement’s Public Safety
Efforts<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
“<a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/1/15/7J5-Consistency_in_Firearms_Regulation_Act_Exposed.pdf">Consistency
in Firearms Regulation Act</a>” would prohibit local city or county governments
from enacting firearm regulations designed to protect public safety and suing
gun manufacturers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
“<a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a2/7J4-Concealed_Carry_True_Reciprocity_Act_Exposed.pdf">Concealed
Carry True Reciprocity Act</a>”<sup> </sup>allows two states to recognize each
other’s concealed carry permits<sup> </sup>and the “<a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/98/7J3-Concealed_Carry_Outright_Recognition_Act_Exposed.pdf">Concealed
Carry Outright Recognition Act</a>” requires a state to recognize a concealed
carry permit or license from another state without requiring reciprocal action
by that state. Traditionally, law enforcement groups have opposed legislation
to allow permits or otherwise authorize the concealment of firearms and have
urged governors to veto such statutes as well.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In 2012, legislators in <a href="http://www.nraila.org/legislation/state-legislation/2012/03/kansas-senate-committee-to-hold-hearing-on-concealed-carry-recognition-reform-legislation.aspx">Kansas</a>,
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/85472333/Who-is-Writing-Maine-s-Laws">Maine</a>,
and <a href="http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_414a824d-a1ca-5b0c-bb9d-cdae4ce44eab.html">Wyoming</a>
have introduced bills which would make their states recognize concealed carry
permits from every other state and which share language with ALEC’s model
Concealed Carry Outright Recognition Act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“<a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/0/09/7J8-Emergency_Powers_Firearm_Owner_Protection_Act_Exposed.pdf">Emergency
Powers Firearm Owner Protection Act</a>” amends emergency powers laws to
prohibit the seizure or confiscation of firearms during a declared state of
emergency. Under this act, a police officer who does so would be held
criminally and civilly liable. The Center for Media and Democracy <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/05/11512/cmd-special-report-alecs-gun-agenda-flourished-koch-industries-board-other-koch-f">reports</a>
this bill was introduced in 2006, just a few months after stories arose that
some guns were seized by Hurricane Katrina emergency responders in order to
restore public order. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“<a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/3/37/7J10-Resolution_On_Firearms_Purchase_Waiting_Periods_Exposed.pdf">Resolution
on Firearms Purchase Waiting Periods</a>” opposes any federal, state, or local
government body imposing waiting periods during a sale of a gun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
“<a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/7J1-Campus_Personal_Protection_Act_Exposed.pdf">Campus
Personal Protection Act</a>” would force universities to allow students to
possess guns on campus. In 2011 alone, <a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/1483/p/salsa/web/press_release/public/?press_release_KEY=421.">23
states introduced</a> some form of legislation that would have forced colleges to
allow students and/or faculty to carry guns on campus. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pushing
Firearm Programs for Children <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“<a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/4/43/7J9-Resolution_on_Child_Firearms_Safety_Exposed.pdf">Resolution
on Child Firearms Safety</a>” and “<a href="http://alecexposed.org/w/images/4/43/7J13-Youth_Firearm_Safety_Resolution_Exposed.pdf">Youth
Firearm Safety Resolution</a>” endorses NRA programs on gun safety, and
recommends that schools adopt the NRA programs to teach children how to handle
guns, using an Eagle puppet that makes the NRA seem warm and fuzzy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-1948986830248515112012-05-18T11:12:00.000-07:002012-05-18T11:12:01.781-07:00Try not to cry after watching this video...It's from Australia, but it could be PA. <a href="http://keystoneprogress.pnstate.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=833"> Join us.</a><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_TBd-UCwVAY" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://keystoneprogress.pnstate.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=833">Take action here.</a>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-31447051122992167032012-05-18T09:47:00.001-07:002012-05-18T09:47:20.984-07:00ALEC’s Polluter Agenda<br />
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<span style="font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 26.0pt;">ALEC’s Polluter Agenda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">On
American Legislative Exchange Council task forces, corporate lobbyists and
special interests vote as equals with elected representatives on templates to
change our laws, behind closed doors with no press or public allowed to see the
votes or deliberations. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC
legislation benefits corporate profits at the expense of our environment and
our health by making it easier for polluters to spoil our water and our air and
by pushing climate change denial. ALEC proposals would destroy environmental
regulations and health safeguards, eliminate clean energy competition, allow
drilling on protected lands, and curtail recycling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Repealing
Pollution Protections <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/50/3B0-ALEC_Resolution_in_Opposition_to_EPA_Regulation_of_Greenhouse_Gases_from_Mobile_Sources_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Resolution in Opposition to EPA’s
Regulation of Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">” opposes a Supreme Court decision
that allowed the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases as
pollutants. The resolution dismisses climate change concerns through misleading
rhetoric. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35-day_mailing_eea_stfs.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Resolution in Support of the
Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">” supports the REINS Act,
legislation that would give Congress the authority to block the enforcement of
numerous federal protections, including clean air and water laws, safeguards
for mine workers, rules that prohibit the sale of tobacco to children, and even
protection from discrimination. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/49/3C0-ALEC_State_Withdrawal_from_Regional_Climate_Initiatives_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">State Withdrawal from Regional
Climate Initiatives</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">”
would pull states out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or the Western
Climate Initiative, programs to cut greenhouse gases and carbon-dioxide
emissions. It also uses language that
denies that climate change is occurring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/d4/3C1-Climate_Accountability_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Climate Accountability Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">” creates hurdles for state
agencies attempting to regulate carbon gases by imposing cost assessments on
carbon regulation, without any parallel accounting required of corporations
whose actions are contributing to the climate changes underway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/0/0c/3C3-Resolution_in_Opposition_of_Carbon_Dioxide_Emission_Standards_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Resolution in Opposition of
Carbon Dioxide Emission Standards</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">”
opposes environmental protections on carbon dioxide emissions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/f/f0/3C2-Conditioning_Regulation_of_Non-Pollutant_Emissions_on_Science_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Conditioning Regulation of
Non-Pollutant Emissions on Science Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">”
would impose new burdens on state regulatory efforts by creating a complex
process the state must go through before passing new environmental protection
regulations. The act would keep a state from responding quickly to public
health issues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35-day_mailing_eea_stfs.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Intrastate Coal and Use Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">” would prevent the EPA from
overruling state permits for coal mining and prevent federal regulation of dirty
coal products, like coal ash, if all the coal operations are conducted within
the borders of a single state.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35-day_mailing_eea_stfs.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Electricity Freedom Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">” is an attack on states with
plans requiring companies to get a certain percentage of their electricity from
renewable sources, undermining support for cleaner energy development.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Opposing
Public Health Safeguards <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/1/17/3F6-Voluntary_Childhood_Lead_Exposure_Control_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Voluntary Childhood Lead Exposure
Control Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">”
gives legal protection to corporations against victims of lead poisoning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/3/37/3H2-Environmental_Priorities_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Environmental Priorities Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">” requires that state environmental
protections be approved by a corporate-backed panel where there is no
representative from a public interest environmental group. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/8/8a/3G6-Resolution_Supporting_the_Private_Ownership_of_Property_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Resolution Supporting the Private
Ownership of Property</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">”
expresses opposition to public interest regulations that protect public health
or the environment such as pollution emission limits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/e/ea/3H3-Environmental_Services_Public-Private_Partnership_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Environmental Services
Public-Private Partnership Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">”
privatizes public water and sewage services and would prohibit local
governments from requiring contractors to meet labor standards. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/2/28/3J0-Resolution_on_Packaging_and_the_Municipal_Solid_Waste_Stream_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Resolution on Packaging and the
Municipal Solid Waste Stream</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">”
expresses opposition to waste reduction and mandated recycling laws. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9a/3J1-Resolution_to_Retain_State_Authority_over_Coal_Ash_as_Non-Hazardous_Waste_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Resolution to Retain State
Authority over Coal Ash as Non-Hazardous Waste</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">” opposes federal regulation of
coal combustion waste (known as coal ash) as hazardous, although coal ash
contains large quantities of toxic metals, including mercury and arsenic, that
can get in our water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Blocking
Conservation <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/aa/3G0-Eminent_Domain_Authority_for_Federal_Lands_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Eminent Domain Authority for
Federal Lands Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">”
would authorize state governments to open federal public land -- such as
national parks and protected wilderness areas -- for oil, gas, and coal
exploration. It would reverse the U.S.
Supreme Court’s constitutional interpretation that Congress has broader power
to enact laws to manage federal land than states in <i>Kleppe v. New Mexico </i>(1976). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/b/b0/3G5-Regulatory_Costs_Fairness_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Regulatory Costs Fairness Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">” and “</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/47/3G9-The_Private_Property_Protection_Act_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Private Property Protection
Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">” make
taxpayers liable to land owners, including corporations, that claim their
property value is diminished by government regulations, including laws that
protect neighbors from polluters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Criminalizing
Environmental Protection <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALEC’s
“</span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/0/01/3D0-Environmental_Corrupt_Organizations_-_Preventative_Legislation_and_Neutralization_%28ECO-PLAN%29_Exposed.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Environmental Corrupt
Organizations - Preventative Legislation and Neutralization (ECO-PLAN) Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">” criminalizes environmental
activism and gives the government the power to defund and shut down alleged
“eco-terrorist” activities, but does not provide a definition of “animal and
ecological terrorism.” This bill potentially gives law enforcement broad
discretion to silence critics of environmentally hazardous corporate activities
and business practices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-45339874091304742982012-05-17T03:58:00.000-07:002012-05-17T03:58:10.612-07:00Gas Price Bill Could Come With High Costs Away From The Pump<br />
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />Public News Service-PA<br /><a href="http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/26495-1" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.publicnewsservice.<wbr></wbr>org/index.php?/content/<wbr></wbr>article/26495-1</a><br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
(05/17/12) HARRISBURG, Penn. - Supporters say it could save Pennsylvanians money at the pump, but health advocates are waving a red flag. They caution that a gas-price bill scheduled to be debated by a U.S. House committee today comes with a far higher price tag: human health.<br /><br />The Gasoline Regulations Act(H.B. 4471) would put a panel in place that could reduce Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on greenhouse gas and sulfur emissions from refineries. Ultimately, it could lower air-quality standards for ozone.<br /><br />Peter Iwanowicz, head of the American Lung Association Healthy Air Campaign, says his group surveyed likely voters in Pennsylvania about the issue.<br /><br />"We specifically asked whether the EPA should tighten standards to provide cleaner-burning gasoline, and 60 percent of likely voters want stronger standards there."<br /><br />Iwanowicz says oil producers see the legislation as another chance to increase production and record high profits.<br /><br />"Big oil has been looking for over two decades to inject the feasibility and cost test into this process. They've been turned back by EPA; they've been turned back by Congress; they've been turned back, in fact, by a Supreme Court decision."<br /><br />Factors to consider rise above a cheaper gallon of gas, he adds.<br /><br />"Air pollution makes people sick; it cuts lives short. The last thing we need right now, particularly in Pennsylvania, is a roll-back in clean air protection or blocking of EPA setting new standards to protect public health."<br /><br />Kentucky Congressman Ed Whitfield, a co-sponsor of the bill, calls it a reality check on the impact federal regulations can have at the pump. Iwanowicz says a more accurate description of the measure is "a wish list for Big Oil."<br /></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-56644980046415769072012-05-16T11:02:00.000-07:002012-05-16T11:02:26.077-07:00Report: States with Stronger Alcohol Controls Have Lower Alcohol-Related Traffic Death Rates<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;"><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=t66mIP7onNM69yBf9IaJr2oLehAkVMSr" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="The Road Less Traveled: States That More Tightly Control the Sale and Distribution of Alcohol Have Lower Alcohol-Related Fatalities" border="1" hspace="10" src="http://keystoneresearch.org/sites/default/files/Report-Cover-Web.jpg" /></a>HARRISBURG,
PA (May 15, 2012) — States that more heavily control the sale and
distribution of alcohol have lower alcohol-related traffic deaths than
states that take a more hands off approach, according to a Keystone
Research Center <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=JEIIbyApwt2MS5kcGy77aGoLehAkVMSr" target="_blank">policy brief</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">These
findings differ from those of economists John Pulito and Antony Davies,
PhD, whose research was published by two “free market think
tanks”—Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Foundation and George Mason
University’s Mercatus Center. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">The
reason that KRC’s brief reaches different conclusions is simple: The
Pulito-Davies research omitted two variables that are critical to
explaining differences in alcohol-related traffic fatality rates among
the states — average vehicle miles traveled and average per capita
income. When you include those factors, Pennsylvania has an estimated 58
fewer alcohol-related traffic deaths among adults each year than it
would have if the state had no controls over the distribution of
alcohol.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">In <em>The
Road Less Traveled: States That More Tightly Control the Sale and
Distribution of Alcohol Have Lower Alcohol-Related Fatalities</em>, Keystone aims to set the record straight for policymakers and others who have cited the Pulito-Davies research.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">“What
impact will privatization have on the safety of our roads and highways?
This is a critical question for policymakers to answer, and they should
have the facts,” said Mark Price, PhD, Keystone labor economist and
co-author of the policy brief.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">The
Keystone policy brief also reinforces the findings of a task force of
public health experts appointed by the director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In April, the Task Force on
Community Preventive Services published a piece in the peer-reviewed <i>American Journal of Preventive Medicine</i>
finding that alcohol privatization contributes to increases in alcohol
consumption, creating a greater risk of alcohol abuse and its associated
social costs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">“It
is not surprising that the Keystone Research Center found that state
control of alcohol distribution is associated with fewer alcohol-related
fatalities,” said Task Force member Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH, a professor
at the University of Pennsylvania. “This is in line with the Task
Force's conclusion that retail alcohol privatization increases the risk
of excess consumption of alcohol and associated risks. It is also in
keeping with a larger body of research that has found negative social
impacts from privatization of alcohol distribution.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">Dr.
Glanz is the George A. Weiss University Professor, Professor of
Epidemiology and Nursing, and Director of the Center for Health Behavior
Research at Penn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">In
the policy brief, Keystone researchers provide an overview of the Task
Force’s findings, then reproduce the analysis done by Pulito and Davies
except for adding in two omitted variables — vehicle miles traveled and
per capita income. KRC found:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;"><strong>Among adults (age 20 and older):</strong>
Heavy control states (those that maintain control over the sale of at
least two types of alcohol at the retail level and at least one type at
the wholesale level — a group that includes Pennsylvania) have lower
alcohol-related traffic fatality rates among adults each year than
states that have no such controls. Pennsylvania has an estimated 58
fewer alcohol-related traffic deaths among adults each year than it
would have if the state had no controls over the distribution of
alcohol.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;"><strong>Among youth (ages 15-19):</strong>
There was no difference found in fatality rates for alcohol-related car
accidents for youth ages 15 to 19 based on the degree of state control
over the distribution and sale of alcohol.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;"><strong>Among children (under age 15):</strong>
There are lower fatality rates for alcohol-related car accidents for
children under the age of 15 in states with heavy control over alcohol
sales and distribution. (Pulito and Davies did not examine this group.)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">Including
vehicle miles traveled and per capita income is important, since
control states tend to be ones in which people drive further and have
lower incomes. Driving more increases the likelihood of fatal traffic
accidents, while lower incomes mean people are less likely to be driving
in newer cars with strong safety features.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">“The
Pulito-Davies research has been used repeatedly to muddy the waters
regarding the negative social impacts of alcohol privatization,” said
Stephen Herzenberg, PhD, economist and executive director of the
Keystone Research Center. “It’s important that policymakers have
accurate data on the significant impact of alcohol privatization.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;"><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=p2LE6UIBwI0SjsmB3gOgKmoLehAkVMSr" target="_blank">Read the full policy brief</a></span><br />
<hr />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;"><i>The
Keystone Research Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research
organization that promotes a more prosperous and equitable Pennsylvania
economy. Learn more: <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=A9ntu2ApxvEYr3i26%2F2ou2oLehAkVMSr" target="_blank">www.keystoneresearch.org</a>.</i></span>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-88173936414219972092012-05-16T02:39:00.000-07:002012-05-16T02:39:13.619-07:00Senator Mark Warner, Leading Democratic Critic of Volcker Rule, Invests With J.P. Morgan Unit Likely Affected By Volcker Rule<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Read entire article at <a href="http://www.republicreport.org/2012/mark-warner-volcker/">Republic Report</a></span></span></h1>
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By <a href="http://www.republicreport.org/author/lee-fang/" rel="author" style="color: #505050; text-decoration: none;" title="Posts by Lee Fang">Lee Fang</a> posted May 15th 2012 at 10:45AM</div>
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<img alt="" class="alignright" height="300" src="http://cdn.republicreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/warner-200x300.jpg" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 25px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="200" />In March, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) led members from both parties in introducing legislation to <a href="http://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=7a3f28c9-3660-476b-80d9-8ae88f17b659" style="color: #507aa5; text-decoration: none;">delay</a>the implementation of the Volcker Rule, a new regulation to limit risky trading by big banks. He was joined by<b> Pat Toomey </b>(R-PA), one of the biggest proponents of financial deregulation in the Senate. The legislation may come back to haunt Warner, who has cultivated close financial ties with J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.</div>
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Until the news last week, revealing that J.P. Morgan lost at least <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-10/volcker-rule-proponents-say-jpmorgan-loss-bolsters-case.html" style="color: #507aa5; text-decoration: none;">$2 billion</a> due to a synthetic credit securities trading scheme, the bank had been leading an impressive lobbying campaign to weaken financial reform. The bank’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, and his legions of K Street lobbyists (over <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientlbs.php?id=D000000103&year=2012" style="color: #507aa5; text-decoration: none;">48 registered</a>lobbyists), had worked to chisel away at the Volcker Rule. The measure, scheduled for implementation this summer, would have <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-10/volcker-rule-proponents-say-jpmorgan-loss-bolsters-case.html" style="color: #507aa5; text-decoration: none;">applied</a> to the type of trading that resulted in the loses for the bank.</div>
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An analyst with Guggenheim Securities recently <a href="http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-04-19/economy/31366131_1_regulators-delay-volcker-rule-broader-financial-system" style="color: #507aa5; text-decoration: none;">observed</a> that a delay in the Volcker Rule would be a very positive step for big banks like J.P. Morgan.</div>
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Just as J.P. Morgan’s lobbying now faces <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/12/business/jpmorgan-chase-fought-rule-on-risky-trading.html" style="color: #507aa5; text-decoration: none;">new scrutiny</a>, Warner’s ties to the investment bank should be placed under the microscope. The Huffington Post <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/16/jpmorgan-fills-mark-warren-campaign-chest_n_877136.html" style="color: #507aa5; text-decoration: none;">noted</a> that in the first three months of last year, the senator had received over a quarter of his donations from the bank, which had organized a fundraiser in his honor. But the ties between Warner and J.P. Morgan run deep. A Republic Report review of Warner’s personal finance disclosures reveal that the Virginia senator keeps a large amount of his money invested with Dimon’s bank. Most surprising is the fact that Warner is among the elite group of investors with money in Highbridge Capital, a J.P. Morgan-owned hedge fund that might be affected by the Volcker Rule.</div>
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Some highlights from the Warner <a href="http://pfds.opensecrets.org/N00002097_2010.pdf" style="color: #507aa5; text-decoration: none;">disclosure</a>:</div>
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Warner invests up to $5,015,000 in J.P. Morgan’s Strategic IncomeOpportunities Fund<br />Warner invests up to $5,015,000 in J.P. Morgan’s Asia Equity Fund<br />Warner invests up to $600,000 in J.P. Morgan’s Tax Free Bond Fund<br />Warner invests up to $250,000 in J.P. Morgan’s Tax Free Reserve Sweep Fund<br />Warner invests up to $1,000,000 in J.P. Morgan’s U.S. Equity Fund<br />Warner invests up to $5,000,000 in J.P. Morgan’s Highbridge Capital<br />Warner invests up to $5,000,000 in J.P. Morgan’s Highbridge Quantitative Commodities</div>
</blockquote>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-15098183895315704432012-05-15T08:18:00.000-07:002012-05-18T13:02:07.829-07:0014 PA Legislators flee from corporate front group ALEC<br />
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<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.justsaynotoalec.com/">Take Action at www.JustSayNoToALEC.com</a></i></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Huge exodus from American Legislative Exchange Council is largest in nation</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">HARRISBURG, PA — <strike>Fourteen</strike> <b>Fifteen </b>Pennsylvania legislators with ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have publicly stated that they are no longer affiliated with the controversial corporate front group.<sup>1 </sup>They join dozens of legislators across the country who are fleeing ALEC in response to public pressure from constituents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15px;">ALEC is behind the efforts to pass bills that strip away union rights, scale back child labor laws, attack the regulation power of environmental agencies, suppress voter rights with strict identification requirements, eliminate the social safety net, and privatize public services. ALEC is not just another public policy organization, it is a corporate front group supporting some of the most radical and dangerous legislation in the nation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The fourteen legislators come from both major parties, with eight Democrats and six Republicans separating from ALEC. All legislators listed as being affiliated with ALEC have documented ties, either publicly stating their prior affiliation or from public documents (Right to Know Law documents, DOS campaign finance reports, or PA Ethics filings).<sup>2</sup></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“We are thrilled that so many Pennsylvania legislators have decided to quit ALEC,” said Keystone Progress executive director Michael Morrill. “They have courageously decided to stand with the people instead of the corporate lobbyists.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This is the list of PA legislators with ties to ALEC who are now saying they are not members:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Harhai, Ted (D) H58</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Harper, Kate (R) H61</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Keller, William (D) H184</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Kotik, Nick (D) H45</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Markosek, Joseph (D) H25</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Major, Sandra (R) H111</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Micozzie, Nicholas (R) H163</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Mustio, Mark (R) H44</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Readshaw, Harry (D) H36</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Rep. Petrarca, Joseph (D) H55</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Turzai, Mike (R) H28)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Boscola, Lisa (D) S18</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Pippy, John (R) S37</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Washington, Leanna (D) S4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Williams, Anthony (D) S8</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Anthony Williams, who has used state funding for ALEC<sup>3</sup>, vociferously protested being identified with ALEC. “As a staunch advocate for school choice, I’m often invited to attend and speak at myriad events, locally and nationally, held by those who share my beliefs and those who vigorously oppose them. I make no apologies for my views on choice, because a broad set of educational options is among the best hopes students have to attain the skills needed to be productive and competitive in a global, 21st century society. However, I’ve never sought membership in the American Legislative Exchange Council nor have I ever been a member,” said Williams. “Lastly, ALEC does not represent my values or beliefs.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Williams’ inclusion is based on information obtained from Right to Know Law requests filed by Keystone Progress with both the House and Senate.</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">3</sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Thirty other legislators, with no prior ties to ALEC, have also publicly stated that they are not affiliated.<sup>1</sup></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Fifty-one legislators are known to be members of ALEC.<sup>2</sup> There may be other PA members, but because ALEC does not publish its membership list it is impossible to know the entire list with certainty.(</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Members in </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">bold red</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">newly listed from new RTKL information<sup>3</sup>)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Adolph, William R 165</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Baker, Matthew R 68</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Barrar, Stephen R 160</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. John Bear</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(R, 97,Lancaster)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Boback, Karen R 117</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Boyd, Scott R 43</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Clymer, Paul R 145</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Cox, Jim R 129</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Day, Gary R 187</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Delozier, Sheryl R 88</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Evans, John R 5</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Gabler, Matt R 75</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Geist, Richard R 79</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Gingrich, Mauree R 101</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Godshall, Robert R 53</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Grell, Glen R 87</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Grove, Seth R 196</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Hahn, Marcia R 138</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Harhart, Julie</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> (R, 183, Lehigh, Northampton)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Helm, Susan R 104</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Tim Hennessey</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(R, 26, Chester)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Hess, Dick R 78</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Hutchinson, Scott R 64</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Killion, Thomas R 168</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Knowles, Jerry R 124</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Marsico, Ron R 105</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Metcalfe, Daryl R 12</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Miller, Ron R 93</span><br />
<strike><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Joseph Petrarca</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(<b><span style="color: #0070c0;">D</span></b>, 55, Armstrong, Westmoreland)</span></strike><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Pickett, Tina R 110</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Rapp, Kathy R 65</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Saylor, Stan R 94</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Schroder, Curt R 155</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Smith, Sam</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(R, 66, Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Stephens, Todd R 151</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Stern, Jerry R 80</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Stevenson, Richard R 8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Taylor, John R 177</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. W. Curtis Thomas</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(<b><span style="color: #0070c0;">D</span></b>, 181, Philadelphia)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Toepel, Marcy R 147</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Toohil, Tarah R 116</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Argall, David </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(R, 29,<b> </b>Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Monroe, Schuylkill)<b><span style="color: red;"></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Lisa Baker</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(R, 20, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Browne, Patrick</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> (R, 16, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Corman, Jacob</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> (R, 34, Centre, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Union)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Earll, Jane</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(R, 49, Erie)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Eichelberger, John</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(R, 30, Bedford, Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon, Mifflin)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Greenleaf, Stewart R 12</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. McIlhinney,Charles R 10</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Piccola, Jeffrey R 15</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sen. Robbins, Robert D. R 50</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The <strike>14</strike> <b>15</b> PA legislators disaffiliating from ALEC is the largest number from any state, with 12 Texas legislators the second largest group.<sup>4 </sup></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.justsaynotoalec.com/">Take Action at www.JustSayNoToALEC.com</a></i></span></div>
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<i><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">1</span></sup></i><a href="http://www.justsaynotoalec.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">www.justsaynotoalec.com</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> Website maintained by Keystone Progress<br /><sup>2</sup>ALEC membership summarized here</span></i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b><a href="http://tinyurl.com/PaALECmembers" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">http://tinyurl.com/<wbr></wbr>PaALECmembers</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><br />3</span></sup></i><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Right to Know Law information obtained by Keystone Progress from PA Senate. </span></i><a href="http://www.scribd.com/collections/3614031/PA-ALEC-FILES" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">http://www.scribd.com/<wbr></wbr>collections/3614031/PA-ALEC-<wbr></wbr>FILES</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><br /><sup>4</sup>ALEC Exposed, </span></i><a href="http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Legislators_Who_Have_Cut_Ties_to_ALEC" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">http://sourcewatch.org/index.<wbr></wbr>php?title=Legislators_Who_<wbr></wbr>Have_Cut_Ties_to_ALEC</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Keystone Progress is Pennsylvania’s largest online progressive organization, with over 270,000 subscribers. KP uses the Internet and new media to organize online at the state and local level; and utilizes cutting-edge earned media strategies to promote a progressive agenda and counter right-wing misinformation. </span></i></div>
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</tbody></table>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-8943059577573727712012-05-14T11:10:00.000-07:002012-05-14T11:10:17.060-07:00Get the Facts on Women and the Affordable Care Act<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALkVRGELfD8CnvGfH7Z0DHh6PTYRr4BKUT1O5QdBpXiMXuEhhHyG8mjZnmpE9h5L_gGyq2FoVhZnOf53RtJ94yFFJ0ELx_K_Ez3ajcQ2A4K-nlSJEqUevIlqjW0ZFj9O65hu5Mz2u30j-/s1600/page0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALkVRGELfD8CnvGfH7Z0DHh6PTYRr4BKUT1O5QdBpXiMXuEhhHyG8mjZnmpE9h5L_gGyq2FoVhZnOf53RtJ94yFFJ0ELx_K_Ez3ajcQ2A4K-nlSJEqUevIlqjW0ZFj9O65hu5Mz2u30j-/s640/page0001.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<br />Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343698055466200264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-12078634719384074812012-05-10T12:26:00.000-07:002012-05-10T12:26:02.842-07:00Documents reveal taxpayer dollars spent on controversial corporate lobbying group<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Internal Senate and House records show hundreds
of thousands of dollars spent on cheesecake lollipops; junkets to Orlando,
Las Vegas, Monterrey; membership dues and direct support donated to the
lobbying group, the American Legislative Exchange Council</i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">(HARRISBURG, PA)—</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Pennsylvania
taxpayers have spent at least a quarter of a million dollars to support the
controversial corporate lobbying group the American Legislative Exchange
Council (ALEC), according to documents obtained this week by Keystone Progress. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">According to the documents:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">The</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">House of
Representatives reported spending $234, 775.04<sup>1</sup></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">on
ALEC from 1/1/00 through 5/2/12.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13.5pt;">The</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Senate’s spending was
$76,042.35<sup>1</sup></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13.5pt;">from 7/1/04 through 4/30/12.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Included
in the spending was $3,000 for cheesecake lollipops, $3,600 for crabcakes made
to order; junkets to Orlando, Las Vegas, Monterrey and other cities; dues for
their legislators’ membership in ALEC; and at least $50,000<sup>1</sup></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">paid
directly from the General Assembly to ALEC.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
top five spenders of taxpayer dollars for ALEC are:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">1. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Sen.
John Pippy (R, Allegheny, Washington) $12,901.70</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">2. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Rep.
Ron Marsico (R, Dauphin) $9,920.10</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">3. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Rep.
Joseph Petrarca (D, Armstrong, Westmoreland) $5,108.43</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">4. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Rep.
John Taylor (R, Philadelphia) $3,975.50</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">5. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Rep.
Stephen Barrar (R, Chester, Delaware) $3,264.80</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Keystone
Progress filed Right to Know Law requests with the Pennsylvania House and
Senate</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">last week asking for financial records and correspondence
between legislators and ALEC. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">While the correspondence request was
denied, both chambers released their financial records.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">“It is
beyond belief that legislators are spending taxpayer money to hobnob with
corporate lobbyists in Las Vegas and Orlando, while cutting funding for
education, healthcare and the environment,” said Michael Morrill, Executive
Director of Keystone Progress. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">“We think the legislators should give
the money back and sever their ties with this corporate front group.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">ALEC has been under
intense criticism for its role in writing, and lobbying for, controversial
legislation</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">that strips away union rights, scales
back child labor laws, attacks the regulation power of environmental agencies,
suppresses voter rights with strict identification requirements, eliminates the
social safety net, and privatizes public services.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Through
ALEC, behind closed doors, corporations hand state legislators the changes to
the law they desire that directly benefit their bottom line. Along with
legislators, corporations have membership in ALEC. Corporations fund almost all
of ALEC's operations. Participating legislators, overwhelmingly conservative
Republicans, then bring those proposals home and introduce them in statehouses
across the land as their own brilliant ideas and important public policy
innovations—without disclosing that corporations crafted and voted on the
bills. ALEC boasts that it has over 1,000 of these bills introduced by
legislative members every year, with one in every five of them enacted into
law. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">At least
52 PA legislators are members of ALEC.<sup>2</sup></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">There
have been numerous PA bills have been ghost written by corporate lobbyists and
submitted verbatim by PA legislators.<sup>3</sup></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">In the past few d<a href="" name="13738163ddfaba4b_137380a583608dd5_13709884a724ceac_13709546b325af6d_137094"></a>ays, dozens of legislators
around the country and major corporate sponsors of ALEC have indicated they
will not renew their memberships to the controversial corporate front group.
Twelve PA former members of ALEC have severed ties in the past few days.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;">All documents can be</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/my_document_collections/3614031" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">viewed here</span></a>.</span>
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<i><sup><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1</span></sup></i><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Both
the Senate and House documents report an expenditure of $50,000 paid directly
ALEC. It is unclear if this is
one payment of $50,000 authorized by both chambers or two payments totaling
$100,000.</span></i></div>
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<sup>3</sup>”Behind Closed Doors: The American Legislative Exchange Council
and Pennsylvania Legislation” </span></i><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/61454054/Pennsylvania-ALEC-Report" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.scribd.com/doc/<wbr></wbr>61454054/Pennsylvania-ALEC-<wbr></wbr>Report</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
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<i><span style="background: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9.0pt;">Keystone Progress is Pennsylvania’s largest online
progressive organization, with over 270,000 subscribers. KP uses the Internet
and new media to organize online at the state and local level; and utilizes
cutting-edge earned media strategies to promote a progressive agenda and
counter right-wing misinformation.<span> </span></span></i></div>
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</tbody></table>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-41123744168664053872012-05-09T15:14:00.004-07:002012-05-09T15:14:47.918-07:00Pittsburgh Opera Director of Development: Rescind the Tom and Susan Corbett Lifetime Achievement Award.<section>
Tom Corbett has slashed the budget for education and the arts since
taking office while simultaneously making corporate tax cuts of $800
million .<br />
<br />
Pittsburgh Opera's press release on the award, however, states
"Governor Corbett will be honored for his early work as a teacher as
well as his long-standing protection of the public interest as
Pennsylvania Attorney General. Additionally, as Governor, he has
recognized the economic, educational, and social value of the arts. Mrs.
Corbett has been an accomplished producer and presenter of arts
programs through the years, and, as First Lady, has championed greater
participation in the arts in her role as Chair of the Pennsylvania
Council on the Arts."<br />
<br />
Pittsburgh Opera officials may not be aware that Corbett's first two
budgets were extremely damaging to the arts and education in
Pennsylvania, cutting funding to the arts 10%, 10% to basic education
funding, and funding to higher education 45% since taking office.<br />
<br />
It is a slap in the face to all who appreciate the vital role the
arts and education play in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in the
Pittsburgh region. Pittsburgh Opera's recognition of the Governor's
destructive actions is embarrassing to the Pittsburgh community.<br />
<br />
Sign the change.org petition here: <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/pittsburgh-opera-director-of-development-rescind-the-tom-and-susan-corbett-lifetime-achievement-award">http://www.change.org/petitions/pittsburgh-opera-director-of-development-rescind-the-tom-and-susan-corbett-lifetime-achievement-award </a><br />
</section>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-47221498817985830002012-05-07T11:58:00.003-07:002012-05-07T11:58:59.793-07:00Video: Health care reform helps PA familiesNew video from PA House Video. <a href="http://keystoneprogress.pnstate.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=14001">Show your support for the Affordable Care Act by clicking here.</a><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OzM23FxTY-w" width="480"></iframe>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-44142039746128102292012-05-07T04:45:00.001-07:002012-05-07T04:45:27.320-07:00Fighting Cyber-Terrorism: Attack on Civil Liberities?<br />
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />Public News Service-PA<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
(05/07/12) HARRISBURG, Pa. - A bill before Congress aimed at enhancing cyber-security could leave individuals' personal information exposed to government and corporate misuse, according to Internet freedom advocates. The bill, called CISPA, is in a way a successor to SOPA and PIPA, the anti-piracy measures that were shot down in January after an outcry over censorship concerns. The issue here is privacy.<br /><br />Rainey Reitman, activism director for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, says that if CISPA is passed ...<br /><br />"Companies can intercept the communications of everyday Internet users; they can spy on your personal emails, on your instant messages, your text messages, and share that information directly with the government."<br /><br />Some large companies like Microsoft, IBM and Facebook are in favor of CISPA in part because it would let the government inform companies about cyber-threats more expeditiously. Facebook says it has no intention of sharing sensitive personal information with the government.<br /><br />Reitman says Facebook's promise isn't enough.<br /><br />"That is something that Facebook has said it doesn't intend to do. However, I think that's small comfort for those of us who actually have data that is being held by Facebook."<br /><br />Reitman acknowledges there are threats to America's cyber-security, but she says CISPA has flaws when it comes to civil liberties.<br /><br />"We don't want hackers getting ahold of Social Security numbers, but we also have to remember that we don't want data to go to the United States government. We have a structure in place that means that if the government wants to get access to certain information, they have to go to a court and get a court order."<br /><br />Reitman says the House version of CISPA now heads to the Senate where it could be taken up by the third week of May.<br /><br />The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act is HR 3523.<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/26279-1" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Click here to view this story on the Public News Service RSS site and access an audio version of this and other stories: http://www.publicnewsservice.<wbr></wbr>org/index.php?/content/<wbr></wbr>article/26279-1</a></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1787875900754980960.post-25509077946140519592012-05-05T05:44:00.002-07:002012-05-05T05:44:57.304-07:00Partial victory for Student "Guestworkers"<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">On May 2, 2012, the U.S. State Department released new rules for the J-1 visa Summer Work Travel program. Below is a statement on the new rules by Saket Soni, Executive Director of the <a href="http://guestworkeralliance.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">National Guestworker Alliance</a> (NGA):</i><br />
<i><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /></i><br />
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
"In August 2011, 400 students occupied the Hershey's factory to expose how the chocolate giant hijacked a cultural exchange program to turn hundreds of permanent, local, living-wage jobs into sub-minimum wage, temporary jobs. Today Secretary Cinton has vindicated the student guestworkers by pushing back against Hershey's and hundreds of corporations like it.<br />
<br />
"We fully expect the corporate lobby to fight against these rules, because they are a step toward the protections that all workers need in America.<br />
<br />
"Every time workers have stood up for basic dignity -- and every time the Obama administration has taken steps to support them -- corporations have fought them. Businesses have grown used to a profit formula based on shifting the nature of work in the U.S. from permanent to temporary, from stable to precarious. Increasingly, they do that by eroding wages and conditions for U.S. workers, and treating guestworkers, including cultural exchange students, as the ultimate source of cheap, exploitable labor.<br />
<br />
"These rules don't include every protection that student guestworkers need, but they are a clear step toward ending the exploitation that Hershey's exemplified. Guestworkers will be organizing all across the U.S. this summer -- in the summer work travel program, the H-2B guestworker program, and beyond -- to defend decent work and dignified conditions for all."</div>Keystone Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788645438098954570noreply@blogger.com1