ARTICLES - HOT OFF THE FAGGOT

Jan Morgan Media


The Line in the Sand – Choose Which Side
The Line in the Sand – Choose Which Side There is a clear line in the sand, regardless our recognition of it, awareness of it, or willingness to deal with it. It is just there. Over time, we either move towards one side or the other. However, we must [...] ... READ MORE
Eric Holder: We Will Go After Gun Traffickers…Eric Holder: We Will Go After Gun Traffickers… Attorney General Eric Holder said today that the government will consider “imposing tough penalties on gun traffickers who help funnel weapons to dangerous criminals” while talking about gun control to U.S. mayors. ERIC ... READ MORE





 
  • Gun Safety Tip

  • So.. What Happens When There Are More Takers Than Givers
on No comments:

PA HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE REVIEW - Friday, Jan. 18, 2013


 
A state legislative update from
the PA House Democratic Caucus

THE LATEST...

House, Senate Democratic leaders ask new AG to reject Camelot contract

House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody and Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa have sent a letter to new Attorney General Kathleen Kane urging her to reject the contract recently finalized by Gov. Tom Corbett with Camelot Global Services PA to privately manage the Pennsylvania Lottery.

The House and Senate Democratic leaders have argued for months that the Corbett administration needs the legislature to pass an amendment to the lottery law for such a contract to be legal. Corbett did not announce the lottery privatization plan until after the legislature recessed last fall, and signed the contract with Camelot this week, before any the General Assembly had a chance to consider any legislation.

The letter to Kane also argues that the contract violates federal law, and that the administration has shown no compelling reason to sell off management of the very successful Pennsylvania Lottery. “It’s clear that there are serious issues with this [contract] regarding legal authority, fiscal responsibility, public accountability and transparency,” the letter states. “It is our firm belief that this contract is counter to state and federal law.”

DERMODY/COSTA LETTER TO ATTORNEY GENERAL KANE


Democratic lawmakers question Corbett lottery plan

State Rep. Steve Samuelson and other House Democrats highlight the variety of legal, fiscal and public accountability problems with Gov. Corbett's lottery privatization contract at a Capitol news conference. The contract, which makes changes to the lottery program set up under state law, was negotiated with a British firm with no legislative input or oversight from the legislature.House Democratic legislators said this week serious questions remain unanswered about Gov. Tom Corbett’s plan to outsource management of the Pennsylvania Lottery to a British firm for the next 20 to 30 years, including questions about the move’s potential impact on the state’s existing casinos.

“Pennsylvania has the most successful state lottery in the nation. It earned record profits last year and is on track to exceed that this year,” said Democratic Leader Frank Dermody. “It is certainly not broken, so why is the governor so intent on handing it over to a foreign corporation?

“Important details of this process were only made public in the last few days and troubling questions remain about whether lottery benefits that are dedicated to older Pennsylvanians will be preserved. Or will this pending contract mainly serve to enrich a British corporation that has done no previous work in Pennsylvania?” said Dermody, D-Allegheny.

READ MORE HERE


Parker, Philadelphia Delegation unveil tax relief package

STATE REP. CHERELLE PARKERThe Philadelphia Delegation of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, chaired by state Rep. Cherelle L. Parker, D-Phila., has announced a property tax relief package for Philadelphia homeowners.

"Last session, when the city began its efforts to implement the Actual Value Initiative, the General Assembly acted by delaying implementation of the plan for one year, passed legislation to include Philadelphia homeowners in the Homestead Exemption Act already afforded to all other Pennsylvania homeowners, and allowed the city to adjust school district property tax rates to prevent large, unintended tax increases for all property owners. We recognize the financial strain the new tax system may place on many city homeowners and homestead relief may not be enough," said Parker. "Therefore, the delegation is proposing common-sense legislation in an effort to provide relief to residents as they transition to the new rates under AVI."

"These measures are a result of an unprecedented collaborative effort between the City of Philadelphia and its state delegation. This tax relief package will provide the city with the flexibility to implement AVI in a fair and common-sense manner," said Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke.

READ MORE HERE


Nationally known climate scientist and lawmakers urge Pa. to address climate change

STATE REP. GREG VITALIA nationally known climate scientist, environmental groups and state lawmakers called on Gov. Tom Corbett and the General Assembly to take action on climate change, during a Capitol news conference organized by House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chairman Greg Vitali.

On the heels of the warmest year on record in the contiguous United States, Vitali and others said Pennsylvania must take action now because the state continues to be a significant source of greenhouse gasses.

"Pennsylvania emits about one percent of the world’s greenhouse gas, yet Gov. Tom Corbett has failed to even acknowledge the climate crisis," said Vitali, D-Delaware. "To avoid destabilizing the earth’s climate we must significantly increase our use of energy from renewable sources."

READ MORE HERE


House Democrats push investment in transportation

House Democratic leaders have introduced legislation to help Pennsylvania establish a long-term, comprehensive and sustainable plan for funding the maintenance and improvement of the commonwealth’s crumbling roads, bridges and transit systems.

While Pennsylvanians waited for the governor to lead in the transportation crisis, House Democratic leaders reintroduced a package of bills modeled after the recommendations made by Gov. Tom Corbett’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission in August 2011. The governor has yet to act on those recommendations.

"As we begin a new, two-year legislative session, we remain hopeful that Governor Corbett finally will show some leadership on this issue that is of paramount importance to Pennsylvania residents, motorists, workers and businesses," said Democratic Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny. "This is a public safety crisis, but it’s also an economic crisis. A modern, reliable transportation system is critical to creating and sustaining thousands of jobs and to enabling businesses to remain competitive and successful."

READ MORE HERE

          

Jan. 18, 2013

HOUSE DEMOCRATS
IN THE NEWS

Kane takes oath as state AG

PA Senate hearing to discuss impact of closing SCI-Cresson

Corbett says decision on PA Lottery is imminent

SCI-Cresson faces reality of closing

House Democrats say too many questions about deal remain unanswered

PA Legislature unlikely to follow NY in enacting weapons ban

Hunger-Free PA honors Rep. Haluska for his years of service

PA lawmakers have different reactions to lottery contract

House Democrats blast Corbett's lottery deal

Camelot Global Service changed headquarters site

PA deal sparks clashes between Democrats, Corbett

Corbett defends PA Lottery privatization contract

City of Harrisburg needs help from state to fix sinkholes

SCI-Cresson inmate transfers begin in advance of facility's closure

Philadelphia's PA House delegation to introduce legislation on city tax reform

Rep. Conklin questions speedy decision to privatize PA lottery

Possible reuse of SCI-Cresson facility considered

Lancaster County leaders set goals for 2013

-------------

Follow the House Democratic Caucus on Social Media:

PA House Democrats on Facebook

PA House Democrats on Twitter

PA House Democrats YouTube channel
 
 
PA House of Representatives Democratic Caucus
PO Box 202250 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2250
on No comments:

The Last Resistance

on No comments:

Holder urges mayors to pressure Congress on guns

Attorney General Eric Holder, flanked by Houston, Texas Mayor Annise Parker, left, and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John Pistole, speaks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors 81st winter meeting in Washington, Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Attorney General Eric Holder, flanked by Houston, Texas Mayor Annise Parker, left, and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John Pistole, speaks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors 81st winter meeting in Washington, Friday, Jan. 18, 2013. / AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
Attorney General Eric Holder urged the nation's mayors today to pressure Congress to move forward on gun control legislation President Obama recently proposed.

"Some have said that these changes will require 'tough' votes by members of Congress," Holder said at the U.S. Conference of Mayors event in Washington, D.C. " Public service is never easy, and there come times when those of us who are in elected or appointed positions must put the interests of those we are privileged to serve above that which might be politically expedient or professionally safe. This is one of those times."

Play Video

Holder: Time for "common sense" steps on gun violence

Holder said it is "essential" that Congress pass bans on high-capacity magazines and on assault weapons. He also said Congress should pass new laws requiring universal background checks for gun purchasers and placing tougher penalties on gun traffickers. "It means taking action to ensure that, while our Second Amendment rights are upheld, we have the means to prosecute effectively those who use firearms to commit acts of violence," he said.

A new CBS News/New York Times poll released Thursday found that most Americans favor the president's proposals.
Holder was perhaps talking to a captive audience. Several of the mayors in attendance met with Vice President Joe Biden yesterday on the issue of gun violence. And 800 mayors have already joined New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's new group, Demand a Plan, pushing Congress to act.
Holder broadened the context of gun violence from the mass shootings of Newtown and Aurora to the daily violence that "plague[s] our cities and towns every day."

"This unspeakable tragedy, and the individual tragedies that take place on your streets all too often and all too often unnoticed, stand as stark reminders of our shared responsibility to address not just the epidemic of gun-related crimes, and the ongoing need for vigorous enforcement of our laws - but also the underlying conditions that give rise to gun violence," Holder said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-34222_162-57564739-10391739/holder-urges-mayors-to-pressure-congress-on-guns/#postComments

on No comments:

5th Amendment: Supreme Court To Consider If Silence Can Be Evidence Of Guilt


Post image for Supreme Court To Consider If Silence Can Be Evidence Of Guilt (Reuters) – The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider whether a suspect’s refusal to answer police questions prior to being arrested and read his rights can be introduced as evidence of guilt at his subsequent murder trial.

Without comment, the court agreed to hear the appeal of Genovevo Salinas, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison for the December 1992 deaths of two brothers in Houston.

Salinas voluntarily answered police questions for about an hour, but he became silent when asked whether shotgun shells found at the crime scene would match a gun found at his home. An officer testified that Salinas demonstrated signs of deception.

Ballistics testing later matched the gun to the casings left at the murder scene.

Salinas was charged in 1993 but evaded arrest until his capture in 2007.

His first trial ended in a mistrial. At his second trial, Texas was able to introduce evidence of his silence in the police station, over his lawyer’s objections.

Salinas’ lawyer argued that his client deserved a Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination, even though he had not been under arrest or read his rights under the landmark 1966 decision Miranda v. Arizona.


Last April, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the conviction but noted that federal appeals courts are split as to whether "pre-arrest, pre-Miranda silence is admissible as substantive evidence of guilt."

Texas opposed the appeal, saying that the protection against compulsory self-incrimination is irrelevant when a suspect is under no compulsion to speak, as Salinas was because he was not under arrest and was speaking voluntarily. It also said that any error was harmless.

A decision is expected by the end of June.

The decision is Salinas v. Texas, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 12-246.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel and Terry Baynes in New York; Editing by Eric Beech)
Related posts:
  1. 5 Most Unlibertarian Supreme Court Rulings Still Standing
  2. Obamacare on ‘Fast Track’ Back to Supreme Court
  3. Supreme Court asked to strike down NDAA’s indefinite detention clause
  4. Supreme Court Opens Door To A New Obamacare Challenge
  5. Florida Supreme Court Strikes Down Law That Banned Loud Music From Cars
on No comments:

Godfather Politics

on No comments:

Breaking News from Western Journalism

The Western Center for Journalism
 
 
Jan 18, 2013 11:53 am | Floyd Brown



Jan 18, 2013 11:17 am | NewsEditor



Jan 18, 2013 11:09 am | Kirsten Smith
Ignoring the bully fringe only empowers them; when will we learn? The Tea Party is splintering off into two parts. Not surprisingly, the mainstream media is not promoting this; they are especially fond of parading the most fringe to represent… Continue to Post

Jan 18, 2013 10:55 am | Breaking News
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is flexing his political muscle to give abortion advocates their biggest state victory in 40 years since Roe v. Wade: a sweeping expansion of abortion law that, if enforced, could put Catholic hospitals and many… Continue to Post

Jan 18, 2013 10:41 am | B. Christopher Agee
With far too many veterans facing unemployment, talking heads have long lamented the dearth of opportunity in America for its heroic servicemen and women. Respected conservative talk show host Don Smith is putting actions behind his words with the creation… Continue to Post

Jan 18, 2013 10:40 am | capblack
Denounced by liberal icon Jesse Jackson as the “suburban wing of the Democratic Party, ” the Democratic Leadership Council ( DLC ) was created in 1985 to (shhh!) woo White voters away from Republicans. Its enviable zenith was electing Bill… Continue to Post

Jan 18, 2013 10:37 am | Breaking News

Obama with Biden


Jan 18, 2013 10:26 am | capblack
The Chinese action star (who is a multi-millionaire thanks to capitalism) recently called the United States (where his fortune was made!) the “most corrupt country in the world”! Hmm, compared to China, Earth’s largest totalitarian regime, we’re not doing too… Continue to Post

Jan 18, 2013 10:24 am | Breaking News
We rarely agree with the New York Times, but the killing of Americans without a trial is a dangerous precedent. Even if Obama is using this unconstitutional power to kill terrorists, it must be stopped. PRESIDENT OBAMA has refused to… Continue to Post

Jan 18, 2013 10:22 am | NewsEditor



Jan 18, 2013 10:03 am | Breaking News
The Walton family in Bentonville, Arkansas still own the majority of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. The company has grown to become the largest retailer in the world with almost 9,000 locations and 2.2 million employees (1.4 million here in the US).… Continue to Post

Jan 18, 2013 10:00 am | jimmy nunua
Why do the constitutional, true Americans of the Right allow the left to demonize and humiliate them? When and where did the term “assault weapon” come to be? It appears that it started quite a while ago by Hitler speaking… Continue to Post

Jan 18, 2013 09:52 am | NewsEditor



Jan 18, 2013 09:47 am | Floyd Brown



Jan 18, 2013 09:45 am | Breaking News
The bloody three-day hostage standoff at a Sahara natural gas plant took a dramatic turn Friday as Algeria’s state news service reported that nearly 100 of the 132 foreign workers kidnapped by Islamic militants had been freed. That number of… Continue to Post

Jan 18, 2013 09:36 am | NewsEditor



Jan 18, 2013 09:36 am | Kirsten Smith



Jan 18, 2013 09:05 am | Breaking News
After back-to-back presidential losses, Republicans in key states want to change the rules to make it easier for them to win. From Wisconsin to Pennsylvania, GOP officials who control legislatures in states that supported President Barack Obama are considering changing… Continue to Post

Jan 17, 2013 06:30 pm | Cagle Cartoons

Jan 17, 2013 05:24 pm | Cagle Cartoons
on No comments:

Big Health Report

on No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)