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June 19, 2013
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Featured News

Rick Perry to Women Workers: 82 Cents on the Dollar Is Good Enough

Katherine Haenschen for Burnt Orange Report Posted Jun 18, 2013

Evidently Texas's business leaders council doesn't think women's work is worth the same as that of a man, or that women should be able to sue if they're discriminated against on the basis of sex. And not so surprisingly, Governor Perry agreed and vetoed the Lilly Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act earlier this week.


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GALLUP: Confidence in Congress at Lowest Level 'For Any Institution on Record'

BP for Green Mountain Daily
Jun 18, 2013

There seems to be a steady stream of polls that show just how much the American public distrusts Congress, and today there is another example. Gallup found that Americans' confidence in Congress as an institution is down to just 10 percent.


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Philadelphia Parents and Workers Launch Hunger Strike Against Mass School Firings

Sarah Lazare for Common Dreams
Jun 18, 2013

Philadelphia public school parents and workers launched a hunger strike on Monday to protest city plans to gut the public school system by shuttering 23 schools and canning nearly 4,000 school workers.


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TX Congressman: Masturbating Fetuses Prove Need for Abortion Ban

Adele M. Stan for RH Reality Check
Jun 18, 2013

As the House of Representatives gears up for Tuesday’s debate on HR 1797, a bill that would outlaw virtually all abortions 20 weeks post fertilization, Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) argued in favor of banning abortions even earlier in pregnancy because, he said, male fetuses that age were already, shall we say, spanking the monkey.


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How the National Security State is Really Welfare for the Rich

Zaid Jilani for The Daily Change
Jun 17, 2013

Since Glenn Greenwald’s blockbuster story on indiscriminate NSA spying on phone and Internet records, there has been appropriate outrage about American privacy and basic fourth amendment freedoms.


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Supreme Court Says States Cannot Require Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration

The AP for The Associated Press
Jun 17, 2013

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that states cannot on their own require would-be voters to prove they are U.S. citizens before using a federal registration system designed to make signing up easier.


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Bank of America Lied to Homeowners and Rewarded Foreclosures, Former Employees Say

Paul Kiel for ProPublica
Jun 17, 2013

Bank of America employees regularly lied to homeowners seeking loan modifications, denied their applications for made-up reasons, and were rewarded for sending homeowners to foreclosure, according to sworn statements by former bank employees.


The employee statements were filed late last week in federal court in Boston as part of a multi-state class action suit brought on behalf of homeowners who sought to avoid foreclosure through the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) but say they had their cases botched by Bank of America.


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Obama on LGBT Rights: 'We Know We're Not Done Yet'

Darlene Superville for The Associated Press
Jun 14, 2013

On Thursday, President Barack Obama marked Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month by calling on Congress to pass legislation banning workplace discrimination against gays, lesbians and others. "I want to sign that bill."


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OH Rep Turner on Sexual Assault: 'A Military Uniform Should Not Be a Get-Out-of-Jail Card'

Donna Cassata and Richard Lardner for The Associated Press
Jun 14, 2013

The House is heading toward passage of a sweeping defense bill that reflects the outrage among lawmakers over the growing number of sexual assaults in the military. The legislation is expected to be completed Friday and includes a measure requiring a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for a member of the armed services convicted, in a military court, of rape or sexual assault.


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US Drums of War Beat Louder in Syria

Jacob Chamberlain for Common Dreams
Jun 14, 2013

In a statement released Thursday evening, the Obama administration is claiming to have proof that Syrian president Bashir al-Assad has been using chemical weapons—crossing Obama's "red line" established to justify U.S. military action.


In the statement, the White House said the President is weighing his options in the coming weeks, which include direct U.S. military support to groups within the Syrian opposition.


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Editor's Column: Freedom of Too Much Information

Tina Dupuy for The Contributor
Jun 13, 2013

We are all celebrities now. Ever since we won Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2006, the same year we first found out about the National Security Administration spying on us, we’ve all become essentially public figures.


It’s the new equality: We are all stars!


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Outgrowing Its Representation: TX Latinos Have Plenty to Lose in Redistricting Fight

SaraChicaD for Burnt Orange Report
Jun 13, 2013

Latinos account for over 70 percent of Texas' population growth during the last decade and a special session legislative battle is being waged to redistrict the state's map. The line in the sand is a familiar one and its crossing could seriously effect the representation of the people of Texas for decades to come.


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Supreme Court Rules Human Genes Can't Be Patented

Jesse Holland for The Associated Press
Jun 13, 2013

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that companies cannot patent parts of naturally-occurring human genes, a decision with the potential to profoundly affect the emerging and lucrative medical and biotechnology industries. The decision is a win for women with genetic risk of breast and ovarian cancers, as well as geneticists and researchers who had criticized a Utah company's exclusive patent.


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Graphics

Rob Tornoe for The Contributor
about 22 hours ago
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Elections

More Mainstream VA Republicans Side With Sanity/McAuliffe in Fear of Cuccinelli

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lowkell for Blue Virginia
about 21 hours ago
More Mainstream VA Republicans Side With Sanity/McAuliffe in Fear of Cuccinelli
It's fascinating to watch the old-school Virginia Republicans — mainstream, moderate, pragmatic — throw their support to Democratic candidate for governor Terry McAuliffe, not to Tea Partier Ken Cuccinelli. And it's a trend that will probably continue, as the Republican ticket fights off charges of corruption and craziness.
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Re-Defining Rape and Abortion Likely to Define Colorado Congressional Race

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Jason Salzman for Colorado Pols
June 17, 2013 - 2:50pm
Re-Defining Rape and Abortion Likely to Define Colorado Congressional Race
Abortion issues have played a key role in recent campaigns at all levels in Colorado, on the campaign trail and in political advertising, and they are likely to take center stage in this race, as U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman and challenger Andrew Romanoff fight for the critical votes of women in Colorado’s Sixth Congressional District.
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Redistricting Common Sense: Voting Maps Made by Voters, Not Politicians

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Brian Leubitz for Calitics
June 17, 2013 - 11:24am
Redistricting Common Sense: Voting Maps Made by Voters, Not Politicians
California's redistricting commission wasn't the most popular idea when it was first introduced, but its apparent success seems to have made it a populist idea — and a potential model for other states.
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Inside Washington

White House Threatens to Veto Extremist Legislation on Abortion and Food Stamp Cuts

Mary Clare Jalonick for The Associated Press
about 17 hours ago
White House Threatens to Veto Extremist Legislation on Abortion and Food Stamp Cuts
The White House is threatening to veto the House version of two incredibly controversial legislative pushes: the $100-billion-per-year farm bill and a measure to ban all abortions after 20 weeks.
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Obama Chooses High-Powered Lawyer to Reopen Office of Guantanamo Closure

The AP for The Associated Press
June 17, 2013 - 2:10pm
Obama Chooses High-Powered Lawyer to Reopen Office of Guantanamo Closure
President Barack Obama has chosen a high-powered Washington lawyer with extensive experience in all three branches of the government (and both sides of the aisle) to be the State Department's special envoy for closing down the military-run prison at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.
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Military

Now on Trial at Guantanamo Bay: Spiral Notebooks

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Cora Currier for ProPublica
June 17, 2013 - 11:56am
Now on Trial at Guantanamo Bay: Spiral Notebooks
At Guantanamo Bay, trials of alleged terrorists can turn into an arduous process overflowing with motion specifics, legal ambiguities, numerous delays and seemingly more questions than answers. While the alleged architect of the U.S.S. Cole bombing is in court, one observer witnesses days of proceedings that focus on spiral notebooks, smoke detectors and the Catch-22 of classified information.
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Chemical Weapons Experts Not Sold on US Claim in Syria

Jacob Chamberlain for Common Dreams
June 17, 2013 - 8:10am
Chemical Weapons Experts Not Sold on US Claim in Syria
There is still a major lack of solid evidence showing that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against rebel forces, chemical weapons experts warned on Friday, saying "they’ve yet to see the telltale signs of a sarin gas attack." The White House claimed Thursday that they have evidence of chemical weapons attacks by the Syrian government, including the use of sarin, but has not yet published their evidence.
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Humor

Did Shia LaBeouf Warn Us About NSA Spying in 2008?

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Sam Seder for Sam Seder
June 14, 2013 - 8:00am
Did Shia LaBeouf Warn Us About NSA Spying in 2008?
An appearance by Shia LaBeouf on the Tonight Show from 2008 is making the 'rounds on the web this week. Is Shia LaBeouf the original NSA whistleblower? The clip where he talks about his interaction with an FBI agent on the set of his movie Eagle Eye sure makes it look that way...
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Editor's Contribution

Editor's Column: Freedom of Too Much Information

Tina Dupuy for The Contributor
June 13, 2013 - 2:50pm
Editor's Column: Freedom of Too Much Information
We are all celebrities now. Ever since we won Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2006, the same year we first found out about the National Security Administration spying on us, we’ve all become essentially public figures.
It’s the new equality: We are all stars!
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Editor's Column: Bachmann's Retirement Delivers a Death Blow to the 1850s

Tina Dupuy for The Contributor
May 30, 2013 - 12:41pm
Editor's Column: Bachmann's Retirement Delivers a Death Blow to the 1850s
I attended a tea party event hosted by Congresswoman Michele Bachmann the day before the Republican National Convention in Florida last year. I observed the following: Wearing a tri-corner hat in proximity to the Caribbean makes you look like a pirate.
Which pretty much sums up the tea party crowd: historically inaccurate, attached to the Republican Party and welcomed by Michele Bachmann.
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Immigration

TX Republicans For Immigration Reform Before They Were Against It

Jason Stanford for Cagle Cartoons
June 11, 2013 - 1:50am
TX Republicans For Immigration Reform Before They Were Against It
Cornyn and Cruz are not only staking out their opposition in anticipation of the month-long debate, but new territory as well. Both Texas senators were for comprehensive immigration reform before they were against it.
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Environment

Who Is Fracking With California?

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Mike G for DeSmogBlog
7 minutes ago
Who Is Fracking With California?
California is the newest battleground state in the fracking fight that continues in states like Pennsylvania and New York. Why? The short answer is the Monterey Shale — a massive oil deposit that is trapped in the shale formations underneath Los Angeles and most of California's Central Coast and Central Valley regions. Should it matter that it's also where the majority of Southern California's water comes from?
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Fracking Puts Squeeze on Drought-Stricken Farmers

Garance Burke for The Associated Press
June 17, 2013 - 1:31pm
Fracking Puts Squeeze on Drought-Stricken Farmers
The latest domestic energy boom is sweeping through some of the nation's driest pockets, drawing millions of gallons of water to unlock oil and gas reserves from beneath the Earth's surface.
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Civil Rights

Newsweek Cover From 1970: Is Privacy Dead?

The Contributor Staff for The Contributor
about 19 hours ago
Newsweek Cover From 1970: Is Privacy Dead?
Since the revelations of NSA snooping, we're all a bit on edge about privacy in these digital times. But back in 1970, the writers at Newsweek were already worrying about the effects technology and mass communication would have on our private lives. If only they could have been as insightful about the business model of printed news magazines.
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Hoover, McCain, Huntsman Sisters for Freedom to Marry

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The Seattle Lesbian for The Seattle Lesbian
about 19 hours ago
Hoover, McCain, Huntsman Sisters for Freedom to Marry
“With landmark Supreme Court rulings on marriage expected to be released any day now, it’s more urgent than ever to showcase the powerful voices of conservatives who support marriage for same-sex couples,” the campaign manager of Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry said. “[We now boast] 65 accomplished leaders in Republican and right-of-center circles who are diverse in their geography, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, and more."
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NYC's First Transgender Public Office Holder?

Jennifer Peltz for The Associated Press
about 19 hours ago
NYC's First Transgender Public Office Holder?
Mel Wymore is a typical city council candidate in many ways, campaigning as a community board appointee, ex-PTA chair and founder of a roster of local organizations. But Wymore's community-leader resume has an unusual feature: He built much of it while he was a woman.
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The Erosion of Your Online Privacy, Now in Chart Form

Chaz Bolte for The Contributor
about 20 hours ago
The Erosion of Your Online Privacy, Now in Chart Form
A series of charts curated by Mother Jones shows the extent to which companies like Facebook and Google are caving in to the government's requests for user data.
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Economy

Appellate for Division: Christie Administration Stopped from Seizing Affordable Housing Trust Funds

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Andrew Todd F. Kunka for Blue Jersey
about 17 hours ago
Appellate for Division: Christie Administration Stopped from Seizing Affordable Housing Trust Funds
Earlier in June, the New Jersey Appellate Division created a process the Council on Affordable Housing must follow before the Christie Administration can seize up to $165 million dollars in affordable housing trust funds needed to recover from Hurricane Sandy. Over the past few months, plans to build over 3,000 homes for victims of Sandy — people with special needs and working families — have been in limbo due to the Christie administration's aggressive and unlawful attempt to take this money.
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Boehner’s New Debt Limit Ransom: Cuts On Top Of Sequester

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Bill Scher for United SteelWorkers
June 17, 2013 - 1:15pm
Boehner’s New Debt Limit Ransom: Cuts On Top Of Sequester
With the House Republican caucus still squabbling over what ransom they should demand for an increase in the debt limit, Speaker John Boehner issued his own threat this weekend: Cuts greater than the essential increase.
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Health Care

Praising Arizona: MO Medicaid 'Reformers' Make Jan Brewer Look Like the People's Champ

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WillyK for Show Me Progress
June 14, 2013 - 4:00pm
Praising Arizona: MO Medicaid 'Reformers' Make Jan Brewer Look Like the People's Champ
Both Missouri houses have appointed panels to prepare Medicaid "reform" legislation for the 2014 session. Sadly, the so-called reforms could be almost as bad as going without Medicaid entirely.
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Low-Wage Workers Could Face Fines If Insurance Guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act Isn't 'Affordable' Enough

Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar for The Associated Press
June 14, 2013 - 12:00pm
Low-Wage Workers Could Face Fines If Insurance Guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act Isn't 'Affordable' Enough
It's called the Affordable Care Act, but President Barack Obama's health care law may turn out to be unaffordable for many low-wage workers, including employees at big chain restaurants, retail stores and hotels.
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Labor

Rob Tornoe for The Contributor
about 21 hours ago
To all the wage slaves out there...
View Comments

Federal Judge Issues Crucial Pro-Worker Ruling in 'Black Swan' Unpaid Internship Case

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Blair Hickman and Jeremy B. Merrill for ProPublica
June 14, 2013 - 2:50pm
Federal Judge Issues Crucial Pro-Worker Ruling in 'Black Swan' Unpaid Internship Case
A judge has ruled that Fox Searchlight Pictures violated U.S. and New York minimum wage laws by not paying two production interns for work done on the set of the movie “Black Swan.” It is the first major ruling on the illegality of unpaid internships in recent years, challenging a rise in corporate reliance on uncompensated workers.
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