shareblue--2020-01-23--Trump claims he'll 'save' Social Security a day after threatening cuts

A day after announcing he would push for entitlement cuts later this year , Donald Trump reversed course and claimed that he alone would save Social Security from the Democrats .
`` Democrats are going to destroy your Social Security .
I have totally left it alone , as promised , and will save it ! ''
Trump tweeted on Thursday .
One day earlier , Trump told CNBC the exact opposite .
Asked if cuts to entitlement programs like Social Security , Medicare , and Medicaid were something he would consider , Trump said he would `` toward the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the right time we will take a look at that , '' he said .
`` You know that 's actually the easiest all things , if you look , because it 's such a low percentage . ''
Reminded that such a move would contradict his repeated campaign promises not to cut any of those programs , Trump dismissed the concerns as irrelevant because the economy is hot .
`` We also have assets that we never had .
I mean we never had growth like that .
We never had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different means over $ 10,000 per family , '' he argued .
`` African American , Asian American , Hispanics are doing so incredibly .
Best they 've ever done .
Black , best they 've ever done .
African American , the numbers are incredible . ''
As a 2016 candidate , Trump claimed that both the other Republican candidates and the Democratic opposition would destroy Medicare , Medicaid , and Social Security .
`` Every Republican wants to do a big number of Social Security .
They want to do it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it on Medicaid , '' Trump said in April 2015 speech , shortly before launching his White House bid .
`` And we ca n't do that .
And it 's not fair to the people that have been paying in for years . ''
Trump is currently facing down an impeachment trial and a tough reelection battle .
Several key state polls have shown him trailing his Democratic rivals , and his approval numbers have hovered in the low to mid 40s .
The House of Representatives last month impeached Trump on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obstruction of Congress , for his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rivals and his attempts to withhold evidence from lawmakers and block witness testimony on the matter .
Trump has maintained that the impeachment proceedings are a partisan hoax and blamed Democrats for wasting time rather than tackling issues that matter .
The House has in fact passed nearly 600 pieces of legislation and resolutions — some bipartisan — since taking control of the chamber last January .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A day after announcing he would push for entitlement cuts later this year, Donald Trump reversed course and claimed that he alone would save Social Security from the Democrats.
“Democrats are going to destroy your Social Security. I have totally left it alone, as promised, and will save it!” Trump tweeted on Thursday.
One day earlier, Trump told CNBC the exact opposite. Asked if cuts to entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid were something he would consider, Trump said he would “toward the end of the year.”
“At the right time we will take a look at that,” he said. “You know that’s actually the easiest all things, if you look, because it’s such a low percentage.”
Reminded that such a move would contradict his repeated campaign promises not to cut any of those programs, Trump dismissed the concerns as irrelevant because the economy is hot.
“We also have assets that we never had. I mean we never had growth like that. We never had a consumer that was taking in through different means over $10,000 per family,” he argued. “African American, Asian American, Hispanics are doing so incredibly. Best they’ve ever done. Black, best they’ve ever done. African American, the numbers are incredible.”
As a 2016 candidate, Trump claimed that both the other Republican candidates and the Democratic opposition would destroy Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
“Every Republican wants to do a big number of Social Security. They want to do it on Medicare, they want to do it on Medicaid,” Trump said in April 2015 speech, shortly before launching his White House bid. “And we can’t do that. And it’s not fair to the people that have been paying in for years.”
Trump is currently facing down an impeachment trial and a tough reelection battle. Several key state polls have shown him trailing his Democratic rivals, and his approval numbers have hovered in the low to mid 40s.
The House of Representatives last month impeached Trump on two charges, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, for his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rivals and his attempts to withhold evidence from lawmakers and block witness testimony on the matter. Trump has maintained that the impeachment proceedings are a partisan hoax and blamed Democrats for wasting time rather than tackling issues that matter.
The House has in fact passed nearly 600 pieces of legislation and resolutions — some bipartisan — since taking control of the chamber last January.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-23--GOP candidate: If you like birth control you should like Confederate statues

On Wednesday , North Carolina 's Republican Lt. Gov .
Dan Forest , who is currently running to be governor of the state , claimed progressives have a `` double standard '' for supporting Planned Parenthood but opposing statues that celebrate the Confederacy .
On the conservative talk radio `` Tyler Cralle Show , '' host Tyler Cralle compared Margaret Sanger , founder of Planned Parenthood , to Confederate soldiers .
Forest said supporting the work of Sanger , who changed women 's lives by helping to legalize birth control , represents `` a complete double standard that the left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audio first flagged by American Bridge , a progressive opposition research organization .
Wednesday 's comments follow claims Forest made over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend , in which he said `` the purpose of Planned Parenthood '' is `` to destroy the entire black race . ''
Politifact has rated such claims , which are frequently circulated by conservative groups and figures , as false .
Forest has a history of racist and insensitive remarks .
In June 2019 , Forest claimed diversity was a threat to America .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honoring Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx , who , among other things , used the racist slur `` tar baby '' on the floor of the House of Representatives .
In December , he falsely claimed immigrants attacked `` tens of thousands '' of children in North Carolina , and in January , he defended a racist voter suppression law by claiming opponents of the law were the real racists .
Following the 2017 murderous white nationalist rally in Charlottesville , Virginia , progressives have been more vocal about removing statues on public land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to defend the statues , Republicans have tried to equate Confederate symbols with Planned Parenthood , which provides reproductive and sexual health care , including birth control and abortion .
In an essay on Sanger , writer Imani Gandy said , `` it is simply untrue that Margaret Sanger wanted to exterminate the Black race .
This is a flat-out lie . ''
Gandy calls out anti-abortion activists for their attempt to `` infantilize Black women and strip them of their agency : They portray Margaret Sanger 's birth control agenda as something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than something in which Black women and much of the Black community as a whole enthusiastically participated . ''
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic spokesperson Susanna Birdsong said in a Wednesday response to Forest 's comments that her organization `` has a long-standing commitment to fighting for social justice and access to health care for all our patients no matter their income , no matter their zip code , no matter what . ''
She went on to add that `` Dr. King admired the work of Planned Parenthood and , in 1966 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work in partnership with Planned Parenthood Federation of America which was accepted by his wife , Coretta Scott King . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Wednesday, North Carolina’s Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who is currently running to be governor of the state, claimed progressives have a “double standard” for supporting Planned Parenthood but opposing statues that celebrate the Confederacy.
On the conservative talk radio “Tyler Cralle Show,” host Tyler Cralle compared Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, to Confederate soldiers. Forest said supporting the work of Sanger, who changed women’s lives by helping to legalize birth control, represents “a complete double standard that the left has on these things,” in audio first flagged by American Bridge, a progressive opposition research organization.
Wednesday’s comments follow claims Forest made over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, in which he said “the purpose of Planned Parenthood” is “to destroy the entire black race.” Politifact has rated such claims, which are frequently circulated by conservative groups and figures, as false.
Forest has a history of racist and insensitive remarks. In June 2019, Forest claimed diversity was a threat to America. He kicked off his campaign for governor by honoring Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx, who, among other things, used the racist slur “tar baby” on the floor of the House of Representatives.
In December, he falsely claimed immigrants attacked “tens of thousands” of children in North Carolina, and in January, he defended a racist voter suppression law by claiming opponents of the law were the real racists.
Following the 2017 murderous white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, progressives have been more vocal about removing statues on public land glorifying Confederate soldiers. In an effort to defend the statues, Republicans have tried to equate Confederate symbols with Planned Parenthood, which provides reproductive and sexual health care, including birth control and abortion.
In an essay on Sanger, writer Imani Gandy said, “it is simply untrue that Margaret Sanger wanted to exterminate the Black race. This is a flat-out lie.”
Gandy calls out anti-abortion activists for their attempt to “infantilize Black women and strip them of their agency: They portray Margaret Sanger’s birth control agenda as something that was done to Black women, rather than something in which Black women and much of the Black community as a whole enthusiastically participated.”
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic spokesperson Susanna Birdsong said in a Wednesday response to Forest’s comments that her organization “has a long-standing commitment to fighting for social justice and access to health care for all our patients no matter their income, no matter their zip code, no matter what.”
She went on to add that “Dr. King admired the work of Planned Parenthood and, in 1966, was given an award for his work in partnership with Planned Parenthood Federation of America which was accepted by his wife, Coretta Scott King.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-23--Lindsey Graham's own words haunt him at Trump impeachment trial

South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham 's words came back to bite him on Thursday , when House Democratic impeachment managers used Graham 's own words to make the case for Donald Trump 's impeachment .
Rep. Jerry Nadler , the chair of the House Judiciary Committee and one of the seven Democrats making the case for Trump 's impeachment , played a video of Graham explaining that a president need not commit crimes in order to be impeached .
Graham made the comments during the impeachment trial against former President Bill Clinton , who was accused of lying under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a high crime ?
How 'bout if an important person hurt somebody of low means ?
It 's not very scholarly , but I think it 's the truth , '' Graham said during that trial , for which he served as an impeachment manager making the case for Clinton 's removal from office .
I think that 's what they meant by high crimes ; does n't even have to be a crime .
It 's just when you start using your office and you 're acting in a way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high crime . ''
Trump and his defenders , including Graham , now say that Trump can not be removed from office because they claim abuse of power and obstruction of Congress are not crimes .
`` I mean show me something that is a crime .
If you could show me that , you know , Trump actually was engaging in a quid pro quo outside the phone call , that would be very disturbing , ” Graham said in December .
Graham , for his part , was not in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
MSNBC 's Garrett Haake said Graham was in fact the only senator who was not in the room when the clip played , adding that he may have known the clip was coming and `` did n't want to be in the room '' at the time. Reporters witnessed Graham leaving the chamber moments before Nadler rolled the old clip — a violation of Senate rules that require senators to remain at their desks while arguments are taking place .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham’s words came back to bite him on Thursday, when House Democratic impeachment managers used Graham’s own words to make the case for Donald Trump’s impeachment.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee and one of the seven Democrats making the case for Trump’s impeachment, played a video of Graham explaining that a president need not commit crimes in order to be impeached.
Graham made the comments during the impeachment trial against former President Bill Clinton, who was accused of lying under oath and obstructing justice.
“What’s a high crime? How ’bout if an important person hurt somebody of low means? It’s not very scholarly, but I think it’s the truth,” Graham said during that trial, for which he served as an impeachment manager making the case for Clinton’s removal from office.
I think that’s what they meant by high crimes; doesn’t even have to be a crime. It’s just when you start using your office and you’re acting in a way that hurts people, you’ve committed a high crime.”
Trump and his defenders, including Graham, now say that Trump cannot be removed from office because they claim abuse of power and obstruction of Congress are not crimes.
“I mean show me something that is a crime. If you could show me that, you know, Trump actually was engaging in a quid pro quo outside the phone call, that would be very disturbing,” Graham said in October.
Graham, for his part, was not in the Senate chamber when Nadler played the hypocritical comment.
MSNBC’s Garrett Haake said Graham was in fact the only senator who was not in the room when the clip played, adding that he may have known the clip was coming and “didn’t want to be in the room” at the time.
Reporters witnessed Graham leaving the chamber moments before Nadler rolled the old clip — a violation of Senate rules that require senators to remain at their desks while arguments are taking place.
This article has been corrected to note that Graham made his previous “quid pro quo” comments in October last year.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-23--GOP congressman demands lower drug costs after voting against lowering drug costs

On Tuesday , Rep. Tom Emmer ( R-MN ) encouraged House Democrats to focus on issues like lowering the cost of prescription drugs , apparently forgetting that he recently voted against legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs .
Emmer criticized the House Democrats ' `` need to simply impeach without addressing the things that are most important to Americans , '' on the Simon Conway Show .
`` Let 's deal with prescription drug costs .
Let 's deal with the things that are important to people today . ''
Emmer , the chair of the National Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how Republicans were going to take back the House majority after their historic losses in 2018 .
Emmer said the House Democrats ignoring prescription drug prices is `` gon na cost them '' in this year 's election .
The only issue : House Democrats passed a bill in December to lower the costs of prescription drugs .
Emmer and 190 of his Republican colleagues voted against it .
On Dec. 12 , 2019 , the House passed the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act which would help limit out-of-pocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hikes , and give the federal government the authority to negotiate the costs of some prescription drugs covered under Medicare .
Since the beginning of 2020 , the costs of more than 600 prescription drugs have increased , according to GoodRx .
The bill Emmer voted against would drive down the cost of some medications by as much as 96 % .
For example , the cost of arthritis drug Humira , which increased by more than 7 % , would drop by 81 % under the House-passed legislation , according to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee .
Premarin , a drug to fight breast cancer , would cost 96 % less per year under the House-passed legislation , according to the same analysis .
Contrary to Emmer 's comments , Democrats are well aware of the importance of health care and prescription drugs .
In a mid-January phone interview , Rep. Judy Chu ( D-CA ) said the price of prescription drugs `` is one of the top issues '' she hears about from her constituents .
For Rep. Kim Schrier ( D-WA ) , a medical doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As someone with Type 1 Diabetes , I have seen the cost of my insulin increase seven-fold in the last two decades , '' Schrier said in an email when asked about the cost of prescription drugs going up .
Unlike Emmer , both Chu and Schrier voted in favor of legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Tuesday, Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) encouraged House Democrats to focus on issues like lowering the cost of prescription drugs, apparently forgetting that he recently voted against legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs.
Emmer criticized the House Democrats’ “need to simply impeach without addressing the things that are most important to Americans,” on the Simon Conway Show. “Let’s deal with prescription drug costs. Let’s deal with the things that are important to people today.”
Emmer, the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, was answering a question about how Republicans were going to take back the House majority after their historic losses in 2018. Emmer said the House Democrats ignoring prescription drug prices is “gonna cost them” in this year’s election.
The only issue: House Democrats passed a bill in December to lower the costs of prescription drugs. Emmer and 190 of his Republican colleagues voted against it.
On Dec. 12, 2019, the House passed the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act which would help limit out-of-pocket costs, rein in prescription drug price hikes, and give the federal government the authority to negotiate the costs of some prescription drugs covered under Medicare.
Since the beginning of 2020, the costs of more than 600 prescription drugs have increased, according to GoodRx. The bill Emmer voted against would drive down the cost of some medications by as much as 96%.
For example, the cost of arthritis drug Humira, which increased by more than 7%, would drop by 81% under the House-passed legislation, according to an analysis by the House Ways and Means Committee. Premarin, a drug to fight breast cancer, would cost 96% less per year under the House-passed legislation, according to the same analysis.
Contrary to Emmer’s comments, Democrats are well aware of the importance of health care and prescription drugs.
In a mid-January phone interview, Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) said the price of prescription drugs “is one of the top issues” she hears about from her constituents.
For Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA), a medical doctor, the issue is personal.
“As someone with Type 1 Diabetes, I have seen the cost of my insulin increase seven-fold in the last two decades,” Schrier said in an email when asked about the cost of prescription drugs going up.
Unlike Emmer, both Chu and Schrier voted in favor of legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-23--Wisconsin GOP fights to keep unfair election maps

Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers ' plan to create a nonpartisan redistricting commission to draw Wisconsin 's electoral maps may put pressure on the Republicans who control the Legislature to consider an alternative plan , but it wo n't force them to do anything differently next year and GOP leaders made clear they wo n't change course .
The legal fight over Republican-drawn maps in Wisconsin in 2011 was one of the key gerrymandering cases that went to the U.S. Supreme Court .
The court refused to hear the lawsuit , resulting in the current maps remaining in place despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans .
The Supreme Court later ruled last year in similar cases out of North Carolina and Maryland , shutting the door in federal court on gerrymandering arguments by essentially saying that states are free to draw electoral borders as they please .
Evers was part of a Democratic sweep of statewide offices in 2018 and Democratic candidates received more total votes than Republican ones in Wisconsin 's U.S. House and state Assembly races that year .
But Republicans won five of the eight U.S. House seats and 64 of the 99 state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the election results showed that Wisconsin 's districts had one of the largest Republican tilts in the nation .
The `` efficiency gap '' analysis , which is intended to flag potential cases of gerrymandering , indicated that Democrats would have been expected to win at least one additional U.S. House seat and at least 15 additional state Assembly seats based on their average share of the vote in Wisconsin 's districts .
That would have been enough to give Democrats control of the state Assembly and an even partisan split in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those findings only increased the argument from Democrats that the maps were illegally drawn to benefit Republicans .
Democrats have tried in vain to have the Legislature change the redistricting process and create a nonpartisan commission .
Republicans show no signs of budging , dismissing the proposal Evers ' laid out in Wednesday 's State of the State speech as political trickery .
`` He can form whatever kind of fake , phony , partisan process he wants to create , but I have no doubt in the end we will do it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is to follow the constitution , '' Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said .
Under the state constitution , the Legislature is charged with redrawing the maps every decade the year after the census is completed .
The governor then has the power to approve the maps or veto them .
Republicans do n't currently have enough votes to override an Evers veto and increasing their majorities enough to get a supermajority is one of their goals for the 2020 election .
If they ca n't override a veto of the maps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the redistricting fight is expected to be settled in court .
Those who want a nonpartisan commission to draw the maps say the Evers plan would shed more light on the process and hopefully force Republicans to consider more balanced alternatives .
`` It gives the public something to measure any result the Legislature comes up with , '' said Sachin Chheda , chairman of the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition and director of the Fair Elections Project .
He is also a longtime Democratic strategist .
`` Do I think there 's some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good , '' Chheda said .
`` Sunlight is good and meaningful to this process . ''
The maps created by the commission would provide a contrast to whatever Republicans create and could be used as evidence for any legal challenges to the GOP-drawn boundaries , he said .
The plan drew praise from Eric Holder , the former U.S. attorney general who served under President Barack Obama and who now works to enact nonpartisan redistricting across the country .
`` The people of Wisconsin have the ability to make this fair proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain attempts at gerrymandering Republicans will engage in , '' he tweeted .
The next census begins in April and the Legislature will redraw the state 's maps next year , just as it did in 2011 .
Evers and Democrats point to public opinion polls to argue that the public is on their side .
A January 2019 Marquette University Law School poll that asked about redistricting showed that 72 % of respondents supported having a nonpartisan commission draw the maps .
Only 18 % thought the Legislature should draw them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the constitution to create a nonpartisan redistricting process .
But a current bill that would do so has five Republican co-sponsors , and Evers ' move will put pressure on more Republicans to sign on , Chheda said .
Still , Republican leaders were dismissive .
`` He will go through some kind of a Rube Goldberg process , we 're going to follow the constitution , '' Vos said .
`` Governor Evers , again , is trying to figure out a way to draw divisions in our state rather than bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table and working together . ''
Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald , who is running for Congress , had a similarly dim view of Evers ' plan .
`` What he proposed tonight is unconstitutional , '' Fitzgerald said .
`` I don ’ t know what he was thinking . ''

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ plan to create a nonpartisan redistricting commission to draw Wisconsin’s electoral maps may put pressure on the Republicans who control the Legislature to consider an alternative plan, but it won’t force them to do anything differently next year and GOP leaders made clear they won’t change course.
The legal fight over Republican-drawn maps in Wisconsin in 2011 was one of the key gerrymandering cases that went to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court refused to hear the lawsuit, resulting in the current maps remaining in place despite Democrats’ claim that they unfairly favor Republicans.
The Supreme Court later ruled last year in similar cases out of North Carolina and Maryland, shutting the door in federal court on gerrymandering arguments by essentially saying that states are free to draw electoral borders as they please.
Evers was part of a Democratic sweep of statewide offices in 2018 and Democratic candidates received more total votes than Republican ones in Wisconsin’s U.S. House and state Assembly races that year. But Republicans won five of the eight U.S. House seats and 64 of the 99 state Assembly seats.
An Associated Press analysis of the election results showed that Wisconsin’s districts had one of the largest Republican tilts in the nation. The “efficiency gap” analysis, which is intended to flag potential cases of gerrymandering, indicated that Democrats would have been expected to win at least one additional U.S. House seat and at least 15 additional state Assembly seats based on their average share of the vote in Wisconsin’s districts. That would have been enough to give Democrats control of the state Assembly and an even partisan split in the state’s congressional delegation.
Those findings only increased the argument from Democrats that the maps were illegally drawn to benefit Republicans.
Democrats have tried in vain to have the Legislature change the redistricting process and create a nonpartisan commission. Republicans show no signs of budging, dismissing the proposal Evers’ laid out in Wednesday’s State of the State speech as political trickery.
“He can form whatever kind of fake, phony, partisan process he wants to create, but I have no doubt in the end we will do it the way we have always have, which is to follow the constitution,” Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said.
Under the state constitution, the Legislature is charged with redrawing the maps every decade the year after the census is completed. The governor then has the power to approve the maps or veto them.
Republicans don’t currently have enough votes to override an Evers veto and increasing their majorities enough to get a supermajority is one of their goals for the 2020 election. If they can’t override a veto of the maps or reach a deal with Evers, the redistricting fight is expected to be settled in court.
Those who want a nonpartisan commission to draw the maps say the Evers plan would shed more light on the process and hopefully force Republicans to consider more balanced alternatives.
“It gives the public something to measure any result the Legislature comes up with,” said Sachin Chheda, chairman of the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition and director of the Fair Elections Project. He is also a longtime Democratic strategist.
“Do I think there’s some publicity value? Sure. Publicity is good,” Chheda said. “Sunlight is good and meaningful to this process.”
The maps created by the commission would provide a contrast to whatever Republicans create and could be used as evidence for any legal challenges to the GOP-drawn boundaries, he said.
The plan drew praise from Eric Holder, the former U.S. attorney general who served under President Barack Obama and who now works to enact nonpartisan redistricting across the country.
“The people of Wisconsin have the ability to make this fair proposal an effective one and blunt the absolutely certain attempts at gerrymandering Republicans will engage in,” he tweeted.
The next census begins in April and the Legislature will redraw the state’s maps next year, just as it did in 2011.
Evers and Democrats point to public opinion polls to argue that the public is on their side. A January 2019 Marquette University Law School poll that asked about redistricting showed that 72% of respondents supported having a nonpartisan commission draw the maps. Only 18% thought the Legislature should draw them.
Republicans have rejected past attempts to amend the constitution to create a nonpartisan redistricting process. But a current bill that would do so has five Republican co-sponsors, and Evers’ move will put pressure on more Republicans to sign on, Chheda said. Still, Republican leaders were dismissive.
“He will go through some kind of a Rube Goldberg process, we’re going to follow the constitution,” Vos said. “Governor Evers, again, is trying to figure out a way to draw divisions in our state rather than bring people together by actually sitting at a table and working together.”
Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who is running for Congress, had a similarly dim view of Evers’ plan.
“What he proposed tonight is unconstitutional,” Fitzgerald said. “I don’t know what he was thinking.”


shareblue--2020-01-23--Kentucky official pushes voter suppression bill that could help McConnell's campaign

Kentucky 's newly inaugurated secretary of state appeared to suggest this week that the real purpose of a strict voter ID law being rushed by the Legislature 's Republican majority was to impact the state 's 2020 U.S. Senate election .
Secretary of State Michael Adams ( R ) , who was sworn in earlier this month , testified before the state Legislature 's State & Local Government committee on Wednesday in favor of SB 2 , which would require most citizens to provide a government issued photo identification to vote .
Adams ' urged the Legislature to enact the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so it would be in operation this November .
`` I ’ m a little concerned about delaying it past [ November ] because functionally it would delay this until 2021 and then this is a 2022 bill , '' he said .
`` My problem with that , I think , is : If there is any election we should be concerned about ballot integrity , it ’ s this one , '' he continued .
`` This is obviously a high-profile election .
You ’ ve got a very competitive Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for essentially determining which party controls the Senate .
You ’ re going to see potentially foreign actors , you 're going to potentially see domestic actors messing with this election .
So to me , I think it ’ s better to have this going into effect for 2020 . ''
The bill later passed out of the committee on a party-line vote .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , who has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 1985 , is seeking a seventh six-year term this November .
Polling shows he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular senators and several Democrats are seeking the nomination to run against him .
Though Kentucky is a Republican-leaning state , Democratic Gov .
Andy Beshear defeated then-Gov .
Matt Bevin ( R ) last November .
Voter ID laws are a commonly used voter suppression tactic that make it more difficult for many people to exercise their right to vote and disproportionately harm Democrats and minorities .
Adams ' claim on Wednesday that such a law is urgently needed to prevent in-person impersonation vote fraud is also dubious .
Studies have shown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by lightning than to show up to the polls pretending to be another voter .
Most experts agree that in-person voter fraud is extremely rare .
It is unclear how a voter ID law would stop foreign meddling .
Adams admitted at Wednesday 's hearing that he has no personal knowledge of impersonation being a real problem in Kentucky .
The secretary of state 's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Adams ' reasoning .
A former election lawyer for numerous Republican politicians , Adams previously worked directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Bluegrass Committee leadership PAC , McConnell gave $ 2,000 — the state 's legal maximum — to Adams ' 2019 primary campaign and another $ 2,000 to his general election race .
In a statement , Kentucky Democratic Party spokeswoman Marisa McNee claimed that Adams ' testimony was proof he was pushing the ID law to help McConnell .
`` Under pressure , Secretary Adams revealed the true reason for this unnecessary bill — it ’ s a Moscow Mitch protection plan , ” McNee said , a reference to McConnell 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop Russian interference in U.S. elections .
`` Every Kentuckian should be concerned about this kind of outright politicization of the Office of the Secretary of State . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Kentucky’s newly inaugurated secretary of state appeared to suggest this week that the real purpose of a strict voter ID law being rushed by the Legislature’s Republican majority was to impact the state’s 2020 U.S. Senate election.
Secretary of State Michael Adams (R), who was sworn in earlier this month, testified before the state Legislature’s State & Local Government committee on Wednesday in favor of SB 2, which would require most citizens to provide a government issued photo identification to vote.
Adams’ urged the Legislature to enact the law soon and implement it immediately, so it would be in operation this November.
“I’m a little concerned about delaying it past [November] because functionally it would delay this until 2021 and then this is a 2022 bill,” he said.
“My problem with that, I think, is: If there is any election we should be concerned about ballot integrity, it’s this one,” he continued. “This is obviously a high-profile election. You’ve got a very competitive Senate seat, in a very competitive election for essentially determining which party controls the Senate. You’re going to see potentially foreign actors, you’re going to potentially see domestic actors messing with this election. So to me, I think it’s better to have this going into effect for 2020.”
The bill later passed out of the committee on a party-line vote.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 1985, is seeking a seventh six-year term this November. Polling shows he is one of the nation’s least popular senators and several Democrats are seeking the nomination to run against him.
Though Kentucky is a Republican-leaning state, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear defeated then-Gov. Matt Bevin (R) last November.
Voter ID laws are a commonly used voter suppression tactic that make it more difficult for many people to exercise their right to vote and disproportionately harm Democrats and minorities.
Adams’ claim on Wednesday that such a law is urgently needed to prevent in-person impersonation vote fraud is also dubious. Studies have shown Americans are more likely to be struck by lightning than to show up to the polls pretending to be another voter. Most experts agree that in-person voter fraud is extremely rare.
It is unclear how a voter ID law would stop foreign meddling. Adams admitted at Wednesday’s hearing that he has no personal knowledge of impersonation being a real problem in Kentucky.
The secretary of state’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Adams’ reasoning.
A former election lawyer for numerous Republican politicians, Adams previously worked directly for McConnell (R-KY). Through his Bluegrass Committee leadership PAC, McConnell gave $2,000 — the state’s legal maximum — to Adams’ 2019 primary campaign and another $2,000 to his general election race.
In a statement, Kentucky Democratic Party spokeswoman Marisa McNee claimed that Adams’ testimony was proof he was pushing the ID law to help McConnell.
“Under pressure, Secretary Adams revealed the true reason for this unnecessary bill — it’s a Moscow Mitch protection plan,” McNee said, a reference to McConnell’s repeated obstruction of election security legislation aimed to stop Russian interference in U.S. elections.
“Every Kentuckian should be concerned about this kind of outright politicization of the Office of the Secretary of State.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-23--This Senate candidate says he can win on abortion rights and gun reform — in Georgia

Matt Lieberman believes `` the time has arrived '' for Georgia to send a Democrat to the U.S. Senate — and he believes a campaign focused on gun safety and abortion rights will make that happen , despite the state 's traditional conservative bend .
Lieberman , an entrepreneur and son of former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman , is seeking to follow in his father 's footsteps .
The former teacher says he 's `` running as a fed up citizen of Georgia , '' to fill the seat of Republican Johnny Isakson .
Lieberman launched his campaign last October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would soon resign his post .
In December , Gov .
Brian Kemp named Republican donor Kelly Loeffler to fill the vacant seat for the interim period .
The 52-year-old entrepreneur may face a slog in Georgia , a southern state that solidly backed Donald Trump in 2016 and has n't elected a Democratic senator since the turn of the 21st century .
Lieberman 's campaign website is short on policy specifics , but he opened up during a wide-ranging telephone interview late last month .
He 's staking out a solidly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as fed up with the state 's Republican Party as he is .
Lieberman said his top legislative priority will be gun safety legislation , including a ban on military-style assault weapons like the AR-15 .
`` Outside of the military , civilians do n't need these kinds of weapons , '' he said .
He also favors a voluntary buyback program of assault-style weapons , but would oppose a mandatory buyback program that some gun safety advocates support .
`` Moving gun control forward , '' Lieberman said , `` is such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such an easy one . ''
He is specifically calling for universal background checks on all gun purchases , a position that has broad public support .
Three in 10 Georgians own a gun , and the state has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the nation , but Lieberman is still banking on gun safety as a winning message for his campaign .
`` It is heartbreaking to see ... mass killing on a regular basis , '' he said .
He lamented that parents do n't know when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that horrible day might be upon [ their ] family . ''
If advocates ' predictions are correct , that gamble may just work .
Joanna Belanger , political director of Giffords , a gun safety organization , said that gun safety will continue to play a major role in races across the country , including in more conservative-leaning states like Georgia .
`` The idea that gun safety is only something liberal elites care about is a surface myth , '' Belanger said during a phone interview .
She noted the growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is playing a major role in the changing politics of gun safety .
Belanger pointed to the success of Rep. Lucy McBath , a freshman Democrat representing an Atlanta suburb who made gun safety the centerpiece of her 2018 campaign .
McBath lost her son , Jordan , to gun violence in 2012 , which propelled her to become a gun safety advocate before running for Congress .
McBath 's victory `` has had an incredible effect in Georgia and especially the Atlanta suburbs '' when it comes to how elected officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belanger said .
Lieberman 's position on gun safety , by contrast , was influenced by his experience working in schools .
`` I was an educator , a teacher , and a principal for many years , '' he said .
`` I was the head of a school when the protocols around lockdown drills first started being implemented , and I dealt with kids and teachers and families around that initial trauma . ''
He added that while it is impossible to `` make the world perfect ... we can take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass shooting happen .
`` It 's inexcusable that we have n't done that yet , '' he said .
Lieberman also believes support for abortion rights can be a winning message in Georgia .
`` I wo n't vote to confirm any [ Supreme Court ] justice who I have any notion might vote to overturn Roe v. Wade , '' the landmark Supreme Court case legalizing abortion , he said over the phone last month .
He added that Republicans in Georgia had `` taken [ the party ] so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of step and out of sync with most Georgians . ''
An April 2019 poll by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found 70 % of Georgians opposed overturning Roe , while fewer than 1 in 5 ( 34 % ) supported that position .
The same poll showed a 21-point gap between those who think abortion should be legal in all or most cases ( 57 % ) and Georgians who think it should be illegal in all or most cases ( 36 % ) .
But the politics of abortion in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed a bill last summer that would effectively ban abortion at six weeks , which Lieberman said `` takes away a woman 's right to choose before she might even know she has a choice to make . ''
The law would make it a crime to obtain an abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy , punishable by up to 10 years in prison for both the doctor and person receiving the abortion .
In October 2019 , a federal judge blocked the law from taking effect .
Despite widespread support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of Georgians in favor of the six-week ban , with 48 % opposed .
Lieberman blamed that dichotomy on the idea that abortion and reproductive rights are `` morally difficult issues . ''
But , he insisted , as elected Republicans in Georgia go `` further and further to the right , '' voters will likely seek `` to restore balance in our government . ''
Lieberman is also betting on a drop in support for Trump in a state that backed him over Hillary Clinton by a 5-point margin in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morning Consult , Trump still maintains around 47 % support , though that figure constitutes a 20-point drop since he took office .
And he 's now facing a tough reelection battle , polling below most of his major Democratic opponents for president in the state .
Georgia will be home to two Senate races in 2020 , since the special election to replace Isakson coincides with the end of GOP Sen. David Perdue 's first term .
Due to Georgia election law , there will be no primary in the race to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will cast a ballot on Nov. 3 for any candidate who qualifies to be on the ballot .
As of this month , Lieberman is the only `` well-financed Democrat '' running for Isakson 's seat , according to the Journal-Constitution .
Several Democrats are vying to oust Perdue .
While other Democrats may still jump in the race to replace Isakson , Georgia Rep. Doug Collins , the top-ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee , is considering joining the race on the other side of the aisle , and Loeffler has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her own fortune in an attempt to keep her appointed seat .
If no candidate for Isakson 's seat wins a majority of the vote , a runoff election will be held on Jan. 5 , 2021 .
Lieberman said he believes demographic changes and the groundwork laid by Stacey Abrams , who narrowly lost her 2018 bid to be governor , will help propel him to victory .
In January , Lieberman announced that his campaign had raised $ 700,000 during the last three months of 2019 in hopes of turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned two Southern states blue in November in Kentucky and Virginia , '' he said in a fundraising press release .
`` Now , our people-powered campaign is going to do the same in Georgia . ''
Lieberman is hoping that a pledge to ban assault rifles and oppose Supreme Court nominees who threaten a woman 's right to choose will help him overcome the state 's recent history of electing Republicans , despite election prognosticators like the Cook Political Report rating the race as `` Likely Republican . ''
`` The usual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on the phone .
`` I 'm running as a change agent that just knows we could do so much better than we 're doing . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Matt Lieberman believes “the time has arrived” for Georgia to send a Democrat to the U.S. Senate — and he believes a campaign focused on gun safety and abortion rights will make that happen, despite the state’s traditional conservative bend.
Lieberman, an entrepreneur and son of former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, is seeking to follow in his father’s footsteps. The former teacher says he’s “running as a fed up citizen of Georgia,” to fill the seat of Republican Johnny Isakson.
Lieberman launched his campaign last October, about a month after Isakson announced he would soon resign his post. In December, Gov. Brian Kemp named Republican donor Kelly Loeffler to fill the vacant seat for the interim period.
The 52-year-old entrepreneur may face a slog in Georgia, a southern state that solidly backed Donald Trump in 2016 and hasn’t elected a Democratic senator since the turn of the 21st century.
Lieberman’s campaign website is short on policy specifics, but he opened up during a wide-ranging telephone interview late last month. He’s staking out a solidly left-of-center position, believing Georgia voters are as fed up with the state’s Republican Party as he is.
Lieberman said his top legislative priority will be gun safety legislation, including a ban on military-style assault weapons like the AR-15.
“Outside of the military, civilians don’t need these kinds of weapons,” he said. He also favors a voluntary buyback program of assault-style weapons, but would oppose a mandatory buyback program that some gun safety advocates support.
“Moving gun control forward,” Lieberman said, “is such a big one and frankly should be such an easy one.” He is specifically calling for universal background checks on all gun purchases, a position that has broad public support.
Three in 10 Georgians own a gun, and the state has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the nation, but Lieberman is still banking on gun safety as a winning message for his campaign.
“It is heartbreaking to see … mass killing on a regular basis,” he said. He lamented that parents don’t know when they send their kids to school “whether that horrible day might be upon [their] family.”
If advocates’ predictions are correct, that gamble may just work.
Joanna Belanger, political director of Giffords, a gun safety organization, said that gun safety will continue to play a major role in races across the country, including in more conservative-leaning states like Georgia.
“The idea that gun safety is only something liberal elites care about is a surface myth,” Belanger said during a phone interview. She noted the growth of the suburbs, especially in Georgia, is playing a major role in the changing politics of gun safety.
Belanger pointed to the success of Rep. Lucy McBath, a freshman Democrat representing an Atlanta suburb who made gun safety the centerpiece of her 2018 campaign. McBath lost her son, Jordan, to gun violence in 2012, which propelled her to become a gun safety advocate before running for Congress.
McBath’s victory “has had an incredible effect in Georgia and especially the Atlanta suburbs” when it comes to how elected officials handle the issue of gun safety, Belanger said.
Lieberman’s position on gun safety, by contrast, was influenced by his experience working in schools.
“I was an educator, a teacher, and a principal for many years,” he said. “I was the head of a school when the protocols around lockdown drills first started being implemented, and I dealt with kids and teachers and families around that initial trauma.”
He added that while it is impossible to “make the world perfect … we can take commonsense steps to minimize” how often mass shooting happen.
“It’s inexcusable that we haven’t done that yet,” he said.
Lieberman also believes support for abortion rights can be a winning message in Georgia.
“I won’t vote to confirm any [Supreme Court] justice who I have any notion might vote to overturn Roe v. Wade,” the landmark Supreme Court case legalizing abortion, he said over the phone last month.
He added that Republicans in Georgia had “taken [the party] so far to the right” and were “out of step and out of sync with most Georgians.”
An April 2019 poll by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found 70% of Georgians opposed overturning Roe, while fewer than 1 in 5 (34%) supported that position. The same poll showed a 21-point gap between those who think abortion should be legal in all or most cases (57%) and Georgians who think it should be illegal in all or most cases (36%).
But the politics of abortion in the state have been muddled. The Georgia Legislature passed a bill last summer that would effectively ban abortion at six weeks, which Lieberman said “takes away a woman’s right to choose before she might even know she has a choice to make.”
The law would make it a crime to obtain an abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy, punishable by up to 10 years in prison for both the doctor and person receiving the abortion. In October 2019, a federal judge blocked the law from taking effect.
Despite widespread support for Roe, polling showed at least 43% of Georgians in favor of the six-week ban, with 48% opposed.
Lieberman blamed that dichotomy on the idea that abortion and reproductive rights are “morally difficult issues.” But, he insisted, as elected Republicans in Georgia go “further and further to the right,” voters will likely seek “to restore balance in our government.”
Lieberman is also betting on a drop in support for Trump in a state that backed him over Hillary Clinton by a 5-point margin in 2016 can help him win. According to Morning Consult, Trump still maintains around 47% support, though that figure constitutes a 20-point drop since he took office. And he’s now facing a tough reelection battle, polling below most of his major Democratic opponents for president in the state.
Georgia will be home to two Senate races in 2020, since the special election to replace Isakson coincides with the end of GOP Sen. David Perdue’s first term. Due to Georgia election law, there will be no primary in the race to replace Isakson, but rather, voters will cast a ballot on Nov. 3 for any candidate who qualifies to be on the ballot.
As of this month, Lieberman is the only “well-financed Democrat” running for Isakson’s seat, according to the Journal-Constitution. Several Democrats are vying to oust Perdue.
While other Democrats may still jump in the race to replace Isakson, Georgia Rep. Doug Collins, the top-ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, is considering joining the race on the other side of the aisle, and Loeffler has already pledged to spend $20 million of her own fortune in an attempt to keep her appointed seat.
If no candidate for Isakson’s seat wins a majority of the vote, a runoff election will be held on Jan. 5, 2021.
Lieberman said he believes demographic changes and the groundwork laid by Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost her 2018 bid to be governor, will help propel him to victory.
In January, Lieberman announced that his campaign had raised $700,000 during the last three months of 2019 in hopes of turning the state blue.
“Democrats just turned two Southern states blue in November in Kentucky and Virginia,” he said in a fundraising press release. “Now, our people-powered campaign is going to do the same in Georgia.”
Lieberman is hoping that a pledge to ban assault rifles and oppose Supreme Court nominees who threaten a woman’s right to choose will help him overcome the state’s recent history of electing Republicans, despite election prognosticators like the Cook Political Report rating the race as “Likely Republican.”
“The usual suspects have failed us,” Lieberman said on the phone. “I’m running as a change agent that just knows we could do so much better than we’re doing.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-23--GOP senators complain trial doesn't have 'anything new' after blocking evidence

Senate Republicans emerged from the first full day of arguments in the impeachment trial against Donald Trump with complaints that they did n't learn anything new that made them believe Trump deserves to be removed from office .
The GOP complaints come after Republicans blocked nearly a dozen attempts by Democrats to introduce evidence Trump himself blocked from view during the House 's impeachment inquiry .
Democrats sought to ensure that the Senate trial would include interviews with key witnesses Trump blocked from testifying — such as former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from multiple government agencies that Trump blocked from view .
`` We 've just come out listening to , what , six hours of testimony , and I didn ’ t hear anything new , '' Sen. John Barrasso ( R-WY ) told reporters Wednesday evening , according to Politico .
Barrasso is one of the 53 Republican senators who voted to block new witness testimony and new documentary evidence .
Sens .
Pat Toomey ( R-PA ) also told Politico he `` did n't hear anything new , '' as did Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , `` So far we have n't learned anything new . ''
The impeachment trial rules , which were crafted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and passed with only GOP votes , do not allow for witness testimony or new documentary evidence to be presented until after the House impeachment managers make their case .
And even then , Democrats would have to convince four GOP senators to vote to subpoena witnesses or evidence .
That 's a hard task , given Republicans have so far voted in lock-step with McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum control and quick acquittal of Trump .
The most likely Republican senators to buck their party and vote for witnesses and evidence to be heard are Sens .
Susan Collins of Maine , Lisa Murkowski of Alaska , and Mitt Romney of Utah .
However , those three Senators all voted against Democrats ' attempts to call witnesses .
And Democrats would still need to find one more Republican vote , even if all three of those GOP senators vote in favor of hearing new witness testimony and reviewing new documents .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation .

Senate Republicans emerged from the first full day of arguments in the impeachment trial against Donald Trump with complaints that they didn’t learn anything new that made them believe Trump deserves to be removed from office.
The GOP complaints come after Republicans blocked nearly a dozen attempts by Democrats to introduce evidence Trump himself blocked from view during the House’s impeachment inquiry.
Democrats sought to ensure that the Senate trial would include interviews with key witnesses Trump blocked from testifying — such as former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney — as well as documents from multiple government agencies that Trump blocked from view.
“We’ve just come out listening to, what, six hours of testimony, and I didn’t hear anything new,” Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) told reporters Wednesday evening, according to Politico. Barrasso is one of the 53 Republican senators who voted to block new witness testimony and new documentary evidence.
Sens. Pat Toomey (R-PA) also told Politico he “didn’t hear anything new,” as did Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who said, “So far we haven’t learned anything new.”
The impeachment trial rules, which were crafted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and passed with only GOP votes, do not allow for witness testimony or new documentary evidence to be presented until after the House impeachment managers make their case.
And even then, Democrats would have to convince four GOP senators to vote to subpoena witnesses or evidence. That’s a hard task, given Republicans have so far voted in lock-step with McConnell’s rules, which were intended for maximum control and quick acquittal of Trump.
The most likely Republican senators to buck their party and vote for witnesses and evidence to be heard are Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah. However, those three Senators all voted against Democrats’ attempts to call witnesses.
And Democrats would still need to find one more Republican vote, even if all three of those GOP senators vote in favor of hearing new witness testimony and reviewing new documents.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-23--Another member of the Trump team attacks teen activist Greta Thunberg

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin became the latest Trump administration figure to attack climate activist Greta Thunberg on Thursday , dismissing her view on fossil fuel divestment as uneducated .
`` Is she the chief economist or who is she ?
I ’ m confused , '' Mnuchin said of the 17-year-old Swede , at the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland , before telling reporters that he was only joking .
`` After she goes and studies economics in college she can come back and explain that to us , '' he added .
Mnuchin also falsely claimed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean water , '' which the administration has repeatedly undermined .
Thunberg later appeared to respond to Mnuchin 's jab , tweeting Thursday morning , `` My gap year ends in August , but it does n't take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5° carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments don ’ t add up . ''
In recent months , Trump and his team have repeatedly attacked Thunberg , who was named Time magazine 's Person of the Year for 2019 , besting Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son , Donald Trump Jr. , a frequent surrogate for and defender of his father , dismissed Thunberg 's selection , tweeting in December , `` Time leaves out the Hong Kong protesters fighting for their lives and freedoms to push a teen being used as a marketing gimmick .
How dare you ? ''
`` So ridiculous , '' the elder Trump said the magazine 's choice .
`` Greta must work on her Anger Management problem , then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend !
Chill Greta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the elder Trump 's comments by changing her Twitter bio to describe herself as a `` teenager working on her anger management problem .
Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend . ''
First lady Melania Trump , who has denounced online bullying and criticized attempts to bring up 13-year-old son Barron in political discussion , received public criticism for not speaking out against the attacks .
Asked about the first lady 's silence , White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham put out a statement suggesting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she is `` an activist who travels the globe giving speeches . ''
Trump also used the Davos forum to attack Thunberg himself this week , calling her `` very angry '' while claiming not to know `` anything about her '' in a Wall Street Journal interview .
In public remarks on Wednesday , Trump explicitly noted , `` she beat me out on Time magazine . ''
Trump 's media allies have also gone after Thunberg in recent weeks .
Radio shock-jock Rush Limbaugh suggested Democrats believed Thunberg was `` not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the autism spectrum '' and were exploiting that for political gain .
Fox News host Laura Ingraham has also mocked Thunberg 's autism , likening her to a villain from the 1984 horror film `` Children of the Corn . ''
The network issued a rare public apology after Daily Wire podcast host Michael Knowles said in a Fox News appearance that Thunberg is a `` mentally ill Swedish child . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin became the latest Trump administration figure to attack climate activist Greta Thunberg on Thursday, dismissing her view on fossil fuel divestment as uneducated.
“Is she the chief economist or who is she? I’m confused,” Mnuchin said of the 17-year-old Swede, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, before telling reporters that he was only joking.
“After she goes and studies economics in college she can come back and explain that to us,” he added.
Mnuchin also falsely claimed that Trump believes in “clear air and clean water,” which the administration has repeatedly undermined.
Thunberg later appeared to respond to Mnuchin’s jab, tweeting Thursday morning, “My gap year ends in August, but it doesn’t take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5° carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments don’t add up.”
In recent months, Trump and his team have repeatedly attacked Thunberg, who was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2019, besting Trump for the honor.
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., a frequent surrogate for and defender of his father, dismissed Thunberg’s selection, tweeting in December, “Time leaves out the Hong Kong protesters fighting for their lives and freedoms to push a teen being used as a marketing gimmick. How dare you?”
“So ridiculous,” the elder Trump said the magazine’s choice. “Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!”
Thunberg humorously responded to the elder Trump’s comments by changing her Twitter bio to describe herself as a “teenager working on her anger management problem. Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend.”
First lady Melania Trump, who has denounced online bullying and criticized attempts to bring up 13-year-old son Barron in political discussion, received public criticism for not speaking out against the attacks. Asked about the first lady’s silence, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham put out a statement suggesting that Thunberg was fair game for mockery because she is “an activist who travels the globe giving speeches.”
Trump also used the Davos forum to attack Thunberg himself this week, calling her “very angry” while claiming not to know “anything about her” in a Wall Street Journal interview.
In public remarks on Wednesday, Trump explicitly noted, “she beat me out on Time magazine.”
Trump’s media allies have also gone after Thunberg in recent weeks.
Radio shock-jock Rush Limbaugh suggested Democrats believed Thunberg was “not well” because she is “in the autism spectrum” and were exploiting that for political gain.
Fox News host Laura Ingraham has also mocked Thunberg’s autism, likening her to a villain from the 1984 horror film “Children of the Corn.”
The network issued a rare public apology after Daily Wire podcast host Michael Knowles said in a Fox News appearance that Thunberg is a “mentally ill Swedish child.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-24--This week in wins: Political activism skyrocketing among high schoolers

High School Democrats of America is seeing a huge increase in membership just months before the 2020 election .
On the state level , progressives saw victories in red states like Utah , where `` conversion therapy '' is no longer allowed , as well as blue states like Connecticut , where the governor is working to rein in health care costs .
Plus , Wisconsin 's governor is helping the state 's struggling dairy farmers .
Read on to catch up on this week 's wins .
Since the 2016 election , high schools around the country have seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , '' the Boston Globe reported on Sunday .
Most of the excitement is on the progressive side , with the membership in the High School Democrats of America doubling over the past year .
The Republican Party 's alternative , National Teen Age Republicans , has been less active , according to the Globe .
`` To see students self-organizing now is really exciting , '' John Della Volpe , a researcher studying youth engagement in politics at Harvard 's Kennedy School , told the outlet .
In the 2018 midterm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 to 29 increased in all 42 states where data is available , according to researchers at Tufts ' Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement ( CIRCLE ) .
CIRCLE 's research shows young voters preferred Democratic House candidates by a 35-point margin , a gap the group says helped Democrats win back the House majority .
On Thursday , Wisconsin 's Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers unveiled an action plan to help the state 's struggling dairy farmers .
The order calls on the state Legislature to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package of bills to support farmers and rural communities across the state , according to a statement from Evers ' office .
`` We 're known as America 's Dairyland , but unfortunately , as too many families across our state know firsthand , our state continues to face challenges that we must work quickly to address , '' Evers said in the statement .
`` We need to be better partners for our farmers , agricultural industries , and rural communities . ''
In 2018 , a record number of Wisconsin dairy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in large part because of Donald Trump 's trade war with China .
Evers ' legislative package includes increasing access to mental health services to rural communities and connecting farmers more closely to universities , hospitals , and local businesses .
Evers also created through executive order a Blue Ribbon Commission on Rural Prosperity .
Utah this week became the 19th state in the country to outlaw harmful , anti-LGBTQ `` conversion therapy '' for children in the state , the Associated Press reported Wednesday .
`` This measure will truly save lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lead sponsor of the bill , told the AP .
`` Conversion therapy '' attempts to convince people to change their sexual orientation or gender identity .
The American Psychological Association has stated that `` conversion therapy '' is not based in science and can have harmful impacts on the mental health of subjects .
A ban on `` conversion therapy '' passed the Virginia Senate this week as well .
The Utah measure became law after lawmakers worked with the influential Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints , or Mormon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the AP reported .
Ned Lamont , Connecticut 's Democratic governor , signed two executive orders to make health care in the state more affordable , the Connecticut Mirror reported Wednesday .
One of the orders increases transparency of medical costs from hospitals and insurance companies , which Lamont hopes will pressure companies to keep costs down .
Such transparency `` has slowed down the rate of increase dramatically in Massachusetts , '' Lamont said .
`` We hope to do the same right here . ''
A state official told the Mirror @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have increased by 77 % over the past 15 years , which is `` unsustainable for everyone in Connecticut . ''
The Virginia House of Delegates on Wednesday passed an omnibus bill that will loosen abortion restrictions in the state , the Washington Post reported .
The bill eliminates waiting periods for abortions , gets rid of rules that made some clinics ineligible to provide abortions , and expands the categories of health care professions that can perform the procedure , the Post reported .
The bill is `` just one step in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan ( D-Richmond ) said at a Wednesday morning news conference .
The legislation passed the House about a week after the Virginia Legislature became the 38th state to approve the Equal Rights Amendment .
Democrats , who passed the bill out of a committee on a party-line vote , regained control of both the state House and Senate in the November 2019 election .
'Gay panic ' is no longer a legal defense for murder in New Jersey Homicide defendants are not allowed to claim panic over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in courts , thanks to a new measure signed into law on Tuesday .
Democratic Gov .
Phil Murphy said the law provides `` full equality for all our residents , '' NBC 4 New York reported .
The `` gay panic '' defense goes back to at least 1954 , when a Florida man claimed a gay man 's advances caused him to panic and shoot him , NBC 4 reported .
`` Gay and trans panic defenses are rooted in homophobia and abhorrent excuses that should never be used to justify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement provided to NBC 4 .
New Jersey is the ninth state in the nation to outlaw the `` gay panic '' defense .
Check back next week for more good news .

High School Democrats of America is seeing a huge increase in membership just months before the 2020 election. On the state level, progressives saw victories in red states like Utah, where “conversion therapy” is no longer allowed, as well as blue states like Connecticut, where the governor is working to rein in health care costs. Plus, Wisconsin’s governor is helping the state’s struggling dairy farmers.
Read on to catch up on this week’s wins.
Since the 2016 election, high schools around the country have seen “an explosion of activism by young people,” the Boston Globe reported on Sunday. Most of the excitement is on the progressive side, with the membership in the High School Democrats of America doubling over the past year.
The Republican Party’s alternative, National Teen Age Republicans, has been less active, according to the Globe.
“To see students self-organizing now is really exciting,” John Della Volpe, a researcher studying youth engagement in politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School, told the outlet.
In the 2018 midterm election, voter participation by voters aged 18 to 29 increased in all 42 states where data is available, according to researchers at Tufts’ Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). CIRCLE’s research shows young voters preferred Democratic House candidates by a 35-point margin, a gap the group says helped Democrats win back the House majority.
On Thursday, Wisconsin’s Democratic Gov. Tony Evers unveiled an action plan to help the state’s struggling dairy farmers. The order calls on the state Legislature to meet in a special session to consider a package of bills to support farmers and rural communities across the state, according to a statement from Evers’ office.
“We’re known as America’s Dairyland, but unfortunately, as too many families across our state know firsthand, our state continues to face challenges that we must work quickly to address,” Evers said in the statement. “We need to be better partners for our farmers, agricultural industries, and rural communities.”
In 2018, a record number of Wisconsin dairy farms — 818 — shut down, in large part because of Donald Trump’s trade war with China.
Evers’ legislative package includes increasing access to mental health services to rural communities and connecting farmers more closely to universities, hospitals, and local businesses. Evers also created through executive order a Blue Ribbon Commission on Rural Prosperity.
Utah this week became the 19th state in the country to outlaw harmful, anti-LGBTQ “conversion therapy” for children in the state, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
“This measure will truly save lives,” state Rep. Craig Hall, the lead sponsor of the bill, told the AP.
“Conversion therapy” attempts to convince people to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. The American Psychological Association has stated that “conversion therapy” is not based in science and can have harmful impacts on the mental health of subjects.
A ban on “conversion therapy” passed the Virginia Senate this week as well.
The Utah measure became law after lawmakers worked with the influential Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or Mormon Church, to support the idea, the AP reported.
Ned Lamont, Connecticut’s Democratic governor, signed two executive orders to make health care in the state more affordable, the Connecticut Mirror reported Wednesday. One of the orders increases transparency of medical costs from hospitals and insurance companies, which Lamont hopes will pressure companies to keep costs down.
Such transparency “has slowed down the rate of increase dramatically in Massachusetts,” Lamont said. “We hope to do the same right here.”
A similar measure in Massachusetts helped that state save $5 billion, WFSB reported.
A state official told the Mirror that health care costs in the state have increased by 77% over the past 15 years, which is “unsustainable for everyone in Connecticut.”
The Virginia House of Delegates on Wednesday passed an omnibus bill that will loosen abortion restrictions in the state, the Washington Post reported.
The bill eliminates waiting periods for abortions, gets rid of rules that made some clinics ineligible to provide abortions, and expands the categories of health care professions that can perform the procedure, the Post reported.
The bill is “just one step in unraveling decades of anti-woman legislation,” state Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan (D-Richmond) said at a Wednesday morning news conference.
The legislation passed the House about a week after the Virginia Legislature became the 38th state to approve the Equal Rights Amendment. Democrats, who passed the bill out of a committee on a party-line vote, regained control of both the state House and Senate in the November 2019 election.
Homicide defendants are not allowed to claim panic over a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity in courts, thanks to a new measure signed into law on Tuesday. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said the law provides “full equality for all our residents,” NBC 4 New York reported.
The “gay panic” defense goes back to at least 1954, when a Florida man claimed a gay man’s advances caused him to panic and shoot him, NBC 4 reported.
“Gay and trans panic defenses are rooted in homophobia and abhorrent excuses that should never be used to justify violence against vulnerable populations,” Murphy said in a statement provided to NBC 4.
New Jersey is the ninth state in the nation to outlaw the “gay panic” defense.
Check back next week for more good news.


shareblue--2020-01-24--Trump threatens to punish California for supporting abortion rights

The Trump administration on Friday threatened California with a potential loss of federal health care funds over the state 's requirement that insurance plans cover abortions .
The announcement , timed to coincide with the anti-abortion March for Life in the nation 's capital , came hours before Donald Trump was scheduled to address the marchers in person , becoming the first president to do so .
Religious conservatives are a core element of Trump 's political coalition , and his administration has gone out of its way to deliver on their demands .
The federal Health and Human Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notice of violation , '' giving California 30 days to comply with a federal law known as the Weldon amendment .
That law bars federal health care funding from being provided to states or entities that practice `` discrimination '' against a health care organization on the basis that it `` does not provide , pay for , provide coverage of , or refer for abortions . ''
The head of the HHS Office for Civil Rights , Roger Severino , said California is violating that restriction by requiring insurance plans to cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Californians had abortion-free plans prior to the state 's requirements and have now lost that option .
The federal government has received complaints from an order of nuns — the Missionary Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit — as well as Skyline Wesleyan Church near San Diego .
`` If states receive federal funds ... they can not discriminate against a health plan that declines to cover abortions , '' said Severino .
California 's Democratic governor , Gavin Newsom , alluded to the political overtones of the announcement and the Republican administration 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in denying that the state is doing anything wrong .
`` Despite a federal opinion four years ago confirming California 's compliance with the Weldon amendment , the Trump administration would rather rile up its base to score cheap political points and risk access to care for millions than do what 's right , '' Newsom said in a statement .
`` California will continue to protect a woman 's right to choose , and we wo n't back down from defending reproductive freedom for everybody . ''
Severino did not specify which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds amounting to tens of billions of dollars might be in jeopardy for California .
That could include money for community health centers , Medicaid health insurance for low-income people , and basic public health activities like educating parents about vaccines .
`` Our goal is to seek compliance , and we are going to give them 30 days , so we do not have to cross that bridge , '' said Severino .
Other states could also face federal actions .
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra , a Democrat , also was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing changes . ''
`` Women 's health should never be dangled as bait for the sake of political grandstanding .
Today , Donald Trump is using the official levers of government to advance his political agenda , '' Becerra said in a statement .
`` In California , we will continue to protect our families ' access to healthcare , including women 's constitutional right to abortion . ''
Federal law has long barred the use of taxpayer money to pay for abortions , except in cases of rape , incest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman .
That bipartisan consensus could change if a Democrat wins the White House in November , since the Democratic candidates have pledged to take a more assertive stance on abortion rights .
The HHS civil rights office headed by Severino has traditionally mainly handled complaints about privacy violations .
Under Trump , it added a new division to handle cases of alleged discrimination on the basis of religious or moral scruples .
But a federal judge in New York last year blocked a Trump administration rule that could have opened the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to refuse to participate in abortions and other procedures because of religious or moral objections .
U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer said the administration 's claim that there has been a significant increase in complaints about health care industry workers being forced to violate their conscience was `` flatly untrue . ''

The Trump administration on Friday threatened California with a potential loss of federal health care funds over the state’s requirement that insurance plans cover abortions.
The announcement, timed to coincide with the anti-abortion March for Life in the nation’s capital, came hours before Donald Trump was scheduled to address the marchers in person, becoming the first president to do so. Religious conservatives are a core element of Trump’s political coalition, and his administration has gone out of its way to deliver on their demands.
The federal Health and Human Services Department said it is issuing a “notice of violation,” giving California 30 days to comply with a federal law known as the Weldon amendment. That law bars federal health care funding from being provided to states or entities that practice “discrimination” against a health care organization on the basis that it “does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.”
The head of the HHS Office for Civil Rights, Roger Severino, said California is violating that restriction by requiring insurance plans to cover abortions. According to Severino, 28,000 Californians had abortion-free plans prior to the state’s requirements and have now lost that option. The federal government has received complaints from an order of nuns — the Missionary Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit — as well as Skyline Wesleyan Church near San Diego.
“If states receive federal funds … they cannot discriminate against a health plan that declines to cover abortions,” said Severino.
California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, alluded to the political overtones of the announcement and the Republican administration’s ongoing feud with California on numerous issues in denying that the state is doing anything wrong.
“Despite a federal opinion four years ago confirming California’s compliance with the Weldon amendment, the Trump administration would rather rile up its base to score cheap political points and risk access to care for millions than do what’s right,” Newsom said in a statement. “California will continue to protect a woman’s right to choose, and we won’t back down from defending reproductive freedom for everybody.”
Severino did not specify which of many streams of federal health care funds amounting to tens of billions of dollars might be in jeopardy for California. That could include money for community health centers, Medicaid health insurance for low-income people, and basic public health activities like educating parents about vaccines.
“Our goal is to seek compliance, and we are going to give them 30 days, so we do not have to cross that bridge,” said Severino. Other states could also face federal actions.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, also was defiant, however, declaring that “nothing changes.”
“Women’s health should never be dangled as bait for the sake of political grandstanding. Today, Donald Trump is using the official levers of government to advance his political agenda,” Becerra said in a statement. “In California, we will continue to protect our families’ access to healthcare, including women’s constitutional right to abortion.”
Federal law has long barred the use of taxpayer money to pay for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the woman. That bipartisan consensus could change if a Democrat wins the White House in November, since the Democratic candidates have pledged to take a more assertive stance on abortion rights.
The HHS civil rights office headed by Severino has traditionally mainly handled complaints about privacy violations. Under Trump, it added a new division to handle cases of alleged discrimination on the basis of religious or moral scruples.
But a federal judge in New York last year blocked a Trump administration rule that could have opened the way for more clinicians and health care workers to refuse to participate in abortions and other procedures because of religious or moral objections.
U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer said the administration’s claim that there has been a significant increase in complaints about health care industry workers being forced to violate their conscience was “flatly untrue.”


shareblue--2020-01-24--Trump to give Super Bowl interview to loyal defender Sean Hannity

Fox announced on Friday that Donald Trump is scheduled to be interviewed before the Super Bowl by Fox News host Sean Hannity , one of his biggest fans and supporters .
The network said the interview will take place at the White House and cover `` an array of topics . ''
Trump sat down last year with CBS News ' Margaret Brennan and made a series of outlandish claims , including suggesting migrants were invading the country , claiming he 'knocked out ' ISIS almost completely , and dismissing concerns about ISIS ' return by saying the U.S. military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump skipped a Super Bowl interview in 2018 , when it ran on NBC , but in 2017 he agreed to be interviewed by then-Fox Host Bill O'Reilly in 2017 , the last time Fox broadcasted the game .
Now , Trump is back in the safety zone of his preferred television network — and a friendly interviewer .
Hannity often devotes considerable airtime on his nightly prime-time show to extolling the virtues of Trump 's presidency despite ongoing scandals and poor approval ratings .
Hannity has also spent hundreds of hours attacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for reporting on Trump 's missteps .
Trump recently complained that Hannity has n't won a Pulitzer Prize for his work on the network .
Hannity has been described as Trump 's `` West Wing adviser '' and `` shadow chief of staff '' for his closeness to the administration .
A report from last year said the two men speak to each other on the telephone `` virtually every night . ''
Hannity even appeared with Trump on stage at a campaign rally before the 2018 midterm elections and attacked media covering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` fake news . ''
That closeness led to Hannity 's name coming up during the House investigation of Trump that led to his impeachment .
Former U.S .
Ambassador to the Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch testified that as part of the Trump administration 's efforts to remove her from her position , Hannity was attacking her on his show , echoing smears from Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani .
After Yovanovitch testified before Congress , Hannity called her a `` self-important very narcissistic diplomat snowflake . ''
Hannity also found himself involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclosed that lawyer Michael Cohen had him as a client .
Cohen for years worked as Trump 's personal lawyer and orchestrated payoffs to porn star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about her affair with Trump before the 2016 election .
Trump should n't have much to worry about for this Super Bowl interview , which follows close on the heels of his impeachment trial .
Published with permission of The American Independent .

Fox announced on Friday that Donald Trump is scheduled to be interviewed before the Super Bowl by Fox News host Sean Hannity, one of his biggest fans and supporters. The network said the interview will take place at the White House and cover “an array of topics.”
Trump sat down last year with CBS News’ Margaret Brennan and made a series of outlandish claims, including suggesting migrants were invading the country, claiming he ‘knocked out’ ISIS almost completely, and dismissing concerns about ISIS’ return by saying the U.S. military had “very fast airplanes.”
Trump skipped a Super Bowl interview in 2018, when it ran on NBC, but in 2017 he agreed to be interviewed by then-Fox Host Bill O’Reilly in 2017, the last time Fox broadcasted the game.
Now, Trump is back in the safety zone of his preferred television network — and a friendly interviewer. Hannity often devotes considerable airtime on his nightly prime-time show to extolling the virtues of Trump’s presidency despite ongoing scandals and poor approval ratings. Hannity has also spent hundreds of hours attacking Trump’s political rivals and news outlets for reporting on Trump’s missteps.
Trump recently complained that Hannity hasn’t won a Pulitzer Prize for his work on the network.
Hannity has been described as Trump’s “West Wing adviser” and “shadow chief of staff” for his closeness to the administration. A report from last year said the two men speak to each other on the telephone “virtually every night.”
Hannity even appeared with Trump on stage at a campaign rally before the 2018 midterm elections and attacked media covering the event using Trump’s term, “fake news.”
That closeness led to Hannity’s name coming up during the House investigation of Trump that led to his impeachment. Former U.S. Ambassador to the Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch testified that as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to remove her from her position, Hannity was attacking her on his show, echoing smears from Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
After Yovanovitch testified before Congress, Hannity called her a “self-important very narcissistic diplomat snowflake.”
Hannity also found himself involved in another Trump-related scandal when it was disclosed that lawyer Michael Cohen had him as a client. Cohen for years worked as Trump’s personal lawyer and orchestrated payoffs to porn star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about her affair with Trump before the 2016 election.
Trump shouldn’t have much to worry about for this Super Bowl interview, which follows close on the heels of his impeachment trial.
Published with permission of The American Independent.


shareblue--2020-01-24--Tennessee governor signs bill that would let adoption agencies discriminate

Tennessee has become the latest state to assure continued taxpayer funding of faith-based foster care and adoption agencies even if those organizations exclude LGBT families and others based on religious beliefs .
Republican Gov .
Bill Lee signed the bill Friday without fanfare or an official announcement , making it the first law to be implemented in Tennessee this year .
Previously , Lee said he endorsed the law because he believed defending religious liberty `` is very important . ''
The Republican has often cited his Christian faith throughout his first term as governor .
However , under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee are n't expected to change .
Some faith-based agencies had already not allowed gay couples to adopt .
But the measure now provides legal protections to agencies that do so .
Those protections have sparked criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee , which has raised legal concerns surrounding the proposal because it authorized the use of a `` religious test to participate in a government program . ''
The Campaign for Southern Equality issued a statement asking Lee to `` deeply and prayerfully consider the damage and harm of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colossal disservice to the many children in Tennessee waiting to be adopted by safe and loving families . ''
A handful of states to date have enacted similar legislation including Kansas , Oklahoma , Texas , Alabama , South Dakota , North Dakota , Virginia , Mississippi and Michigan .
But Michigan agreed in settling an ACLU lawsuit to no longer turn away LGBT couples or individuals because of religious objections .
Earlier this month , state Sen. Paul Rose — the bill 's sponsor — conceded during a floor debate that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary , pointing out that President Donald Trump ’ s administration is currently proposing a rule that would impose the same protections .
Yet he said he advanced the idea because there was no guarantee Trump would be reelected later this year .
Trump ’ s proposal would rescind an Obama-era rule that prevented foster care agencies from receiving federal funds if they discriminated against families based on sexual orientation and gender identity .

Tennessee has become the latest state to assure continued taxpayer funding of faith-based foster care and adoption agencies even if those organizations exclude LGBT families and others based on religious beliefs.
Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed the bill Friday without fanfare or an official announcement, making it the first law to be implemented in Tennessee this year.
Previously, Lee said he endorsed the law because he believed defending religious liberty “is very important.” The Republican has often cited his Christian faith throughout his first term as governor.
However, under the new law, current adoption practices in Tennessee aren’t expected to change. Some faith-based agencies had already not allowed gay couples to adopt. But the measure now provides legal protections to agencies that do so.
Those protections have sparked criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, which has raised legal concerns surrounding the proposal because it authorized the use of a “religious test to participate in a government program.”
The Campaign for Southern Equality issued a statement asking Lee to “deeply and prayerfully consider the damage and harm of this bill, which could do a colossal disservice to the many children in Tennessee waiting to be adopted by safe and loving families.”
A handful of states to date have enacted similar legislation including Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, South Dakota, North Dakota, Virginia, Mississippi and Michigan. But Michigan agreed in settling an ACLU lawsuit to no longer turn away LGBT couples or individuals because of religious objections.
Earlier this month, state Sen. Paul Rose — the bill’s sponsor — conceded during a floor debate that he didn’t think the bill was necessary, pointing out that President Donald Trump’s administration is currently proposing a rule that would impose the same protections. Yet he said he advanced the idea because there was no guarantee Trump would be reelected later this year.
Trump’s proposal would rescind an Obama-era rule that prevented foster care agencies from receiving federal funds if they discriminated against families based on sexual orientation and gender identity.