It's been a banner week for Republicans across the nation, as they rolled up their sleeves and got down to the business of passing legislation that affects the day-to-day lives of millions of Americans.
Like in Minnesota, where state Senate Republicans are trying to repeal school integration laws, because as Sen. Dan Hall (R) put it:
I watched Minneapolis get destroyed, so I not only didn’t want my kids in the school system. I took them out of Minneapolis because they ruined our neighborhoods with integration and [de]segregation.
And up in Maine, Republicans were busy trying to get rid of those repressive child labor laws:
LD 1346 suggests several significant changes to Maine’s child labor law, most notably a 180-day period during which workers under age 20 would earn $5.25 an hour.
... also would eliminate the maximum number of hours a minor over 16 can work during school days.
Colorado Republicans killed a civil unions bill, calling it a "will of the people" decision, although the opposition focused on the will of the bigoted homophobes:
One man repeatedly quoted the bible to say that homosexuality was an abomination and that scripture dictated that gay people be put to death. Another said gay people were imposing an HIV tax on straight people.
Out west, Idaho House Republicans decided that it was more important to smack down House Democrats than to pass a bill to provide access to early intervention services to children with special needs.
What’s telling is that the bill flew through the Senate 27-8 three weeks earlier, when it was sponsored by Republican Sen. Tim Corder. But in the House, where the bill was sponsored by Democratic Rep. Phylis King, the bill lost 52-12.
Florida Governor Rick Scott also went after those with special needs, ordering:
... deep cuts Thursday to programs that serve tens of thousands of residents with Down syndrome,cerebral palsy, autism and other developmental disabilities ... to immediately roll back payments to group homes and social workers by 15 percent — an amount providers say could put them out of business and threaten their clients' safety.
And what about the big boy Republicans in Washington? They were busy passing a law that nullified the Senate and the presidency. Good times.
Of course Republicans had to deal with outrageous behavior from our side too. Granted, Democrats didn't try to return to the days of Jim Crow, play cutthroat politics with the differently abled, accept testimony from people who want to kill gays, or vote to trash the Constitution, but a Democrat from Florida did publicly utter the "u" word. That's right. Rep. Scott Randolph said ... uterus. And Florida Republicans weren't going to stand for it:
They told Democrats that Randolph is not to discuss body parts on the House floor.
House GOP spokeswoman Katie Betta: "... the Speaker believes it is important for all Members to be mindful of and respectful to visitors and guests, particularly the young pages and messengers who are seated in the chamber during debates.
Which, all in all, makes it a very fair and balanced week in outrage.