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December 2, 2010 9:58 pm | By Jen Herrick
DADT hearing concludes, service chiefs testify tomorrow
On November 30, the Pentagon released its Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell report, including: • Report of the Comprehensive Review of the Issues Associated with a Repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" • Support Plan for Implementation. • WESTAT Survey…
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December 2, 2010 9:30 pm | By Jen Herrick
Action Alert: A House vote on the DREAM Act is expected tomorrow morning
A House vote on the DREAM Act is expected tomorrow morning. Call 866-967-6018 now to be connected to your Representative.To assist you in your call, here is the action alert from the National Immigration Forum.The DREAM Act is moving closer…
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December 2, 2010 8:43 pm | By Jen Herrick
Illinois sends civil union bill to Governor Quinn
In a 61-52 vote on November 30, the Illinois House approved the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act. The Senate followed suit on December 1 with a 32-24 vote. The bill would make civil unions available to Illinoisans as…
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December 2, 2010 3:47 pm | By Brian
Right Wing Escalates Drive to Censor and Investigate the Smithsonian
Even after successfully demanding that the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery censor part of its “Hide/Seek” exhibit, congressional Republicans and conservative commentators have continued their attacks on the Smithsonian. House Republican leaders John Boehner and Eric Cantor joined right wing extremists…
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December 1, 2010 6:00 pm | By Brian
Desperate GOP Now Attacks DADT Report
With top leaders of the military and the majority of Americans all calling for the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the Right is desperately trying to find ways to maintain the ban on gays from serving openly. After months…
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December 1, 2010 5:58 pm | By Drew Courtney
GOP Leaders Get Back to Basics: Art Censorship!
In case you were thinking it’s been too long since we’ve had some good, old fashioned censorship from Republican leaders, worry no longer. House Speaker-designate John Boehner (R-Ohio) and incoming Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) on Tuesday called for the…
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November 30, 2010 8:56 pm | By Brian
Will Republicans Stay True to Their Word on the DADT Report?
Opposition to the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell has ranged from subtle and outright homophobia to claims that the House, in passing repeal, was “dissing the troops.” Many Republican senators who voted to stop the repeal of Don’t Ask…
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November 30, 2010 7:30 pm | By Miranda Blue
Where are the Women in the Federal Courts?
An ally just sent along this graph showing the progress of women in the federal judiciary over the past 10 years. What’s alarming about it is that, in terms of numbers, there has been very little progress at all:President Obama’s…
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November 30, 2010 6:10 pm | By
Putting the “Lame” in Lame Duck
Republicans continue to make the case that they are the ones who serious about fixing the economy, shrinking the deficit and putting Americans back to work. This, as they gear up for endless witch hunts that will be make the…
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November 29, 2010 10:29 pm | By Miranda Blue
The Majority of Americans Want to End Discrimination in the Military. The Tea Party Doesn’t. Who’s the GOP Listening to?
A new Pew Research survey confirms, again, that a large majority of Americans support repealing the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy and allowing gay and lesbian Americans to serve openly in the military: As the Pentagon prepares to release its…
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November 29, 2010 7:17 pm | By Paul Gordon
At the Supreme Court, a New Threat to Workers
Tuesday morning, with Justice Sotomayor recused, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in CIGNA v. Amara, a case that will test the Court's pro-corporate leanings, in this case, whether it will become harder for employees to hold their employers…
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November 23, 2010 8:47 pm | By Paul Gordon
Republican Judges Against Republican Obstruction
Add another set of voices to the growing chorus of Americans fed up with Republican leaders' unprecedented obstruction of judicial nominations: Federal judges nominated by Republican presidents. According to ThinkProgress: [Last] week, seven Republican-appointed federal judges co-signed a letter warning…
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November 23, 2010 7:40 pm | By Brian
Groundswell of Support for Overturning ‘Citizens United’ Continues
The latest polling on the Citizens United decision reflects the growing public support for overturning the Roberts Court’s ruling. According to a new Public Policy Polling analysis, 46% of Americans agreed that “Congress should consider drastic measures such as a…
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November 22, 2010 11:43 pm | By Jen Herrick
Just as Shepard’s legacy lives on, our work continues
On October 7, 1998, Aaron Kreifels found Matthew Shepard clinging to life in a field outside Laramie, Wyoming. Unfortunately, Shepard lost that battle five days later. What resulted was a rallying cry for the LGBT equality movement. One of the…
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November 22, 2010 11:24 pm | By Paul Gordon
AT&T’s Political Pitch to the Roberts Court
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion, where the cell phone company is asking the Supreme Court to demolish class-action suits and cripple state consumer protection laws. This case threatens to be one…
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November 22, 2010 8:56 pm | By Brian
Empowered GOP Seeks to Sink Immigrant Rights
The Republican Party’s virulently anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies are far from mere political tactics, as GOP members of Congress usher in a radical agenda to rollback the rights of immigrants and their families. Iowa Rep. Steve King, who has appeared…
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November 22, 2010 5:58 pm | By Jen Herrick
Standing together for schools that are safe and free of discrimination
Last Thursday I attended a press conference convened on Capitol Hill in support of the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Nondiscrimination Act. It was a diverse mix of speakers. Representatives Linda Sánchez and Jared Polis and Senators Robert…
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November 19, 2010 9:25 pm | By Brian
Editorial Boards From Across the Country Call on Senate to Pass DISCLOSE Act
Even though Republican obstructionism has upheld passage of the DISCLOSE Act in the US Senate twice before, the need to pass the bill has grown more urgent following the midterm election which experienced an onslaught of campaign ads funded by…
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November 19, 2010 4:00 pm | By Jen Herrick
Paycheck Fairness Act defeated, but we shouldn’t be
There’s no denying the fact that it was frustrating to see the Paycheck Fairness Act defeated in a 58-41 vote – 2 votes shy of overcoming a procedural hurdle that has stopped the bill itself from coming to the floor.Valerie…
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November 18, 2010 11:41 pm | By Peter Montgomery
Bipartisan Agreement Breaks Out at Hearing on Faith Based Initiatives
At today’s hearing before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, there was one item on which witnesses and Members of Congress from across partisan and ideological divides agreed: the Obama administration is ducking…