Sorry, Dan Snyder.
The District of Columbia has been attempting to woo back a certain NFL franchise by proposing a shiny new stadium on their old stomping grounds, the spot where Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium stands today. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, however, has told them that's not going to fly. And yes, it's at least in part
because of their name.
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell told D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser this spring that the National Park Service, which owns the land beneath Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, was unlikely to accommodate construction of a new stadium for the [Washington Redacteds] unless the team changes its name.
Jewell oversees both national park land and America’s trust and treaty relationships with Native American tribes.
Since joining the Obama administration two years ago, Jewell has repeatedly echoed the president’s concern that the name is offensive to Native Americans. Last fall she called the name a “relic of the past” that should be changed.
Team owner Dan Snyder and supporters may or may not find more support in the next administration. In the meantime, however, a deal to bring the franchise back to the District looks dead, or at least severely concussed.
Blast from the Past. At Daily Kos on this date in 2014—What will the Kochs do with Hobby Lobby decision?
Some 14,000 people work for Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Woods, the two companies who brought this suit. But those are by far not the only employees whose healthcare choices can now be limited by the beliefs of their employers. For one thing, there are still 46 pending challenges to the contraceptive mandate in the law out there.
A total of 71 companies brought those cases, but Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Woods got to the U.S. Supreme Court first. Even if all those cases are now dismissed as being settled by Hobby Lobby, there are 71 companies that want to take away healthcare choices from their employees. That ranges from Trijicon, "a military contractor specializing in optics equipment for weapons," to Joe Holland, "a born-again Christian who owns a local car dealership," and "is taking on the contraceptive mandate in court even while publicly touting his company's support for women." Here's a surprising one to go on boycott lists: "Eden Foods, the Michigan-based organic food company."
Don't worry, many pundits are saying—this is a "narrow" ruling. (Note: Perhaps only people who have uteruses should be allowed to weigh in on whether and how this is really "narrow.") It only applies to "closely held" corporations, so really you won't have tons of employers claiming this exemption. Closely held, though, doesn't necessarily mean "small."
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On
today's Kagro in the Morning show: Voice recovered, we're back at the
KITM microphone, talking iPhone pistol grips and Ted Cruz.
Armando calls in to talk about TRUMP vs. Jeb! vs. all the other also-rans, and how there’s no there, there in the latest Hillary “bombshell”. They also talk Crass Dick Harpootlian, how support of the Supreme Court will be a litmus test for both parties in ’16, and ISIS cake bakers. David answers listener questions on the “voting down of conference reports”, “Senatorial holds” and whether the Gop plans to fight Obamacare by eliminating the filibuster.
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