February 3
1870
The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified and takes effect on March 30. It grants all citizens the right to vote regardless of race or color.
1893
Abigail Ashbrook of New Jersey refuses to pay taxes because she is denied the right to vote.
1964
In New York City, more than 450,000 students, mostly black and Puerto Rican and nearly half the citywide enrollment, boycotted the New York City schools to protest segregation.
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The Institute for Public Accuracy has a PDF critique of the State of the Union for public distribution
at: AccuracyPDF. Please spread the word about this to activists.
Institute for Public Accuracy
915 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045
(202) 347-0020 Accuracy IPA
___________________________________________________
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New Patriot Act Provision Creates Tighter Barrier to Officials at Public Events
By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos
Fox News, January 31, 2006
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183147,00.html
WASHINGTON — A new provision tucked into the Patriot Act bill now before Congress would allow
authorities to haul demonstrators at any “special event of national significance” away to jail on
felony charges if they are caught breaching a security perimeter.
Sen. Arlen Specter , R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sponsored the
measure, which would extend the authority of the Secret Service to allow agents to arrest people
who willingly or knowingly enter a restricted area at an event, even if the president or other official normally protected by the Secret Service
isn’t in attendance at the time.
The measure has civil libertarians protesting what they say is yet another power grab for the executive branch and one more loss for free speech.
“It’s definitely problematic and chilling,” said Lisa Graves, senior counsel for legislative strategy at the American Civil Liberties Union , which has written letters to the chairmen and
ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, pointing out that the provision wasn’t subject to hearings or open debate.
Some conservatives say they too are troubled by the measure.
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Many of the bills being debated this session in the Utah Legislature pertains to moral issues, such as (examples taken from articles in today’s papers):
Bill may stop SLC health insurance plan: It would prohibit government funds for unmarried partners
Gay club legislation text now available
House shows support for trooper crosses
Pre-marriage counseling may result in discount
I find it ironic that folks who oppose lifestyles different than theirs (for whatever reason) and want to impose laws that prohibit services for people whose lifestyles are different, advocate an administration in our country that wages aggressive wars on people around the world, that runs a terrorist training camp at Fort Benning, Georgia and refuses to abide by treaties between peoples-domestic or international. By what morals are these people living in these instances?
One more time:
While my tax dollars are being spent on squabbles over homosexuality vs. heterosexuality instead of focusing on legislation on issues of respect for diversity (which, by the way, our state touts in many advertising mediums…..) and on bills like seatbelt laws….our schools need more funding to meet state and federal mandates, people are going hungry, cold and homeless, teenagers are committing suicide and suffering from substance abuse, families are suffering due to parents having to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, and our environment continues to be placed at further risk by proposing expansions for accepting more toxic waste into our state.
***Legislating personal moral issues has no place in the business of our legislators.***
And then there is legislation introduced and being discussed such as this:
Group wants to build luxury hotel at ’02 Games site: Foundation seeking legislation to pave way for the luxury facility
Why are legislators spending their limited time on issues like this? What basic human need for our citizens will building a luxury hotel serve? I mean, really.
I can’t find the article I saw last week on an interview with Governor Huntsman but I remember an item in that interview where he called legislators on lacking focus on human needs. I would echo that sentiment and call upon our elected representatives to focus on issues that affect all Utahns, not the select few who benefit from bills that do not serve the interests of the many.
My 2 cents.
Yesterday our U.S. Congress members voted to extend the Patriot Act through early March.
“This extension keeps in place critical provisions that our law enforcement need to fight the war on terror,” House Speaker Dennis Hastert said after the vote. “In recent weeks, we have seen yet another taped message from Osama bin Laden, more evidence that the threat to American citizens continues. We must stay on the offensive fighting terrorism, and the Patriot Act helps us do that,” he added.
Bush called for lawmakers to extend the Act in his State of the Union Address: “I ask you to reauthorize the Patriot Act.”
Posted in Uncategorized
Yesterday’s Utah Legislative Report Summary
Articles in published in today’s Utah newspapers about the Yesterday’s Utah Legislature news:
Salt Lake Tribune
Legislature briefs
More Legislative Briefs
Possible Laundromat Sales Tax Ahead
Bill may stop SLC health insurance plan: It would prohibit government funds for unmarried partners
Gay club legislation text now available
Bill would weaken guv’s say on budget
Cities Target Ambulance Service Measure
House shows support for trooper crosses
Senator retreats on 17th: U.S. Constitution: Lawmaker gives up bid to change elections
Deseret News
Waste-disposal-override measure goes to House
Utah House urges study of N-power: HB46 to create focus on alternative energy sources
Duo want high school bar raised: Measure would waive test for high achievers
Toll roads partly private? UDOT may gain permission to shoulder costs with investors
SB80 set for hearing today before Senate committee
A law granting in-state tuition to undocumented students is legally sound
Proposed amendment fails :Proposed constitutional amendment aimed at restricting Utah courts’ ability to order the Legislature to spend money
Bill spotlights custody issue
Group wants to build luxury hotel at ’02 Games site: Foundation seeking legislation to pave way for the luxury facility
USTAR initiative gains early approval by Senate
Governor’s office calls measure a ‘power grab’
Lawmaker looks to stop abuse of tax system
Pre-marriage counseling may result in discount
Resolution calls for educating minors on tobacco
Februrary 2
Groundhog Day
1779
Anthony Benezet refuses to pay taxes to support Revolutionary War.
1931
The first of well over 400,000 Mexican-Americans, many US citizens living here as long as 40 years, are “repatriated” from the nation as Los Angeles Chicanos are deported to Mexico.
1932
First world disarmament convention opens, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Dat’s all folks! Copyright©2006 motannaed
Greens Respond to 2006 State of the Union Speech from George W. Bush on these issues:
STATE OF UNION~~IRAQ WAR & IMPEACHMENT~~HEALTH CARE~~ENERGY~~GLOBAL WARMING~~DEMOCRACY & LOCAL ISSUES~~GREEN PARTY
Video clips will be available later today.
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HEAL Utah has sent this out:
By a vote of 21-5, the state Senate this afternoon voted to pass Senate Bill 70. The bill will now move towards a final vote in the senate and, if passed again, go over to the House. As bad as it is when over two-thirds of our state senators vote to make it easier for nuclear and toxic waste dumps to expand or develop in Utah at the expense of our health, this fight is still far from over.
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Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 2006 legislature, envirocare, environment, politics, Utah
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 