This week at progressive state blogs is designed specifically to focus attention on the writing and analysis of people focused on their home turf. Let me know via comments or Kosmail if you have a favorite state- or city-based blog you think I should be watching. Here is the October 8 edition. Inclusion of a blog post does not necessarily indicate my agreement with—or endorsement of—its contents.
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Pandora at Delaware Liberal writes—#WhyWomenDontReport:
Exhibit A:
A day after Jessica Leeds accused Donald Trump of sexual assault in a story reported by the New York Times, Fox Business anchor Lou Dobbs used his large audience on Twitter — roughly 797K followers — to advertise the woman’s New York address and telephone number.
Exhibit B:
“Take a look. You take a look. Look at her. Look at her words. You tell me what you think. I don’t think so. I don’t think so.” – Donald Trump
Exhibit C:
#WhyWomenDontReport (Amazing Twitter thread)
Donald Trump and Lou Dobbs are the prime examples of why women don’t report.
Chris Savage at Eclectablog of Michigan writes—Republicans set to pass law defining the burning of wood for energy as “carbon neutral”:
A new law called the Energy Policy Modernization Actis on the fast track to being sent to President Obama to sign into law. Inside this bill is a small provision that could have wide ranging impacts. An amendment introduced by Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski would designate the burning of wood and wood products for energy as “carbon neutral”. The specific part of the amendment, No. 3140, involved is actually just one sentence: “To support the key role that forests in the United States can play in addressing the energy needs of the United States, the Secretary, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall, consistent with their missions, jointly … reflect the carbon-neutrality of forest bioenergy and recognize biomass as a renewable energy source, provided the use of forest biomass for energy production does not cause conversion of forests to non-forest use.”
While wood is certainly a renewable energy source, burning it is anything but “carbon neutral”.
Last February, 65 scientists at the Woods Hole Research Center all called BS on this idea. They sent a letter to the 10 U.S. senators who are working on the Energy Policy Modernization Act. Here is an excerpt of what they had to say (emphasis mine):
This well-intentioned legislation, which claims to address climate change, would in fact promote deforestation in the U.S. and elsewhere and make climate change much worse.
The amendment would require all federal departments and agencies to promote consistent policies that “reflect the carbon neutrality of forest bioenergy and recognize biomass as a renewable energy source.” Mandating that there are no carbon dioxide emissions from burning wood from forests to produce energy does not make it so in fact.
Lara Mack at Appalachian Voices writes—Environmental justice in Buckingham County:
On Monday, September 26, the Buckingham County Planning Commission held a public hearing about the special use permit for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s 57,000-horsepower compressor station. Dominion Resources and Duke Energy’s joint project, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP), is proposed to carry fracked gas 600 miles from West Virginia, through Virginia, into North Carolina. The ACP’s three proposed compressor stations would run engines 24/7 to provide the pressure to push the gas through the pipeline. This permit would allow for huge industrial construction in an otherwise very rural and agricultural community and county. If approval for the construction of these compressor stations is denied, it would severely impact the viability of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project overall.
Dominion, the project’s lead developer, has already purchased the land for the Buckingham County compressor station from plantation-owner descendants in a largely black historic community called Union Hill. Over the last two years, Buckingham County has received much less media attention than other counties fighting the ACP. When we held a press conference before the public hearing, only one reporter attended from a local newspaper in a neighboring county.
This is an environmental racism and justice issue at the core. If built, this compressor station would be one of the largest in the country. Surrounding communities would be severely impacted by noise pollution, air pollution, and disruption of the community’s culture. Dominion is doing its best to take advantage of a historically marginalized, low-income, rural and isolated community by locating the compressor station in an area where people are less likely to have the resources to resist. Despite Dominion’s efforts, word is getting out about Buckingham’s fight. Friends and neighbors are rallying to support the effort against the compressor station and pipeline there.
Shelby Steuart at Better Georgia writes—Georgia schools vs. Black Lives Matter:
In the wake of many high-profile police shootings involving black victims and white officers, many high school and college students are holding non-violent protests including sitting or kneeling during the National Anthem at sporting events. Inspired by 49ers player Colin Kaepernick who started kneeling in protest in August to protest police shootings, many high school and college athletes, have joined to show their support.
Although some schools, including a high school in Kentucky, have supported their students and athletes, Georgia is not. In Georgia, over the past few weeks, schools have frequently taken action against students demonstrating as a part of Black Lives Matter or in general against police shootings.
Last week, it came out that Cobb County Schools Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said at a meeting in September if football players took a knee during the National Anthem, “their asses would be benched.” According to AJC, several people confirmed Ragsdale’s comment but won’t go on the record, out of fear of retaliation.
This is only the most recent targeting of students demonstrating against violence or representing the Black Lives Matter campaign. In Gwinnett, more than 850 students held a “sick out” to protest their administration’s late response to a white student’s use of racial slurs on social media. Gwinnett students also had a sit-in protest during the Pledge of Allegiance.
Don Pogreba at Intelligent Discontent of Montana writes—Does Congressman Zinke Even Live in Montana or is He California Dreamin’?
The truth is that there is a fair amount of evidence that Congressman Zinke doesn’t live here in Montana.
In July 2016, a Montana reporter asked if it would be possible to film Zinke in his Whitefish home, and was told that Zinke no longer has a residence in Whitefish. I don’t understand how someone can claim to live in Montana without a place of residence here, especially given that the Congress seems to work less than 150 days a year.
On his FEC filings, Congressman Zinke lists his Montana residence as 409 West Second Street in Whitefish, the same address he listed during his time in the Montana Legislature. After years of struggle with the Whitefish City Council, the address at 409 West Second Street was approved for use as a bed and breakfast named the Snowfrog Inn, which has a web page saying that it will be “opening soon.” The address is still 409 West Second Street. [...]
So where does he live? The evidence suggests that it could very well be Santa Barbara, California.
On July 20, the Santa Barbara Independent reported that Congressman Zinke held a fundraiser in his home for a GOP Congressional candidate. Here’s how they described it:
Zinke is married to Lolita Hand, who grew up in Santa Barbara and now resides part-time in Hope Ranch. Zinke allowed Republican congressional candidate Justin Fareed — now facing off against Democrat Salud Carbajal — to use his home for a campaign fundraiser earlier this year.
Rosi Etfhim at Blue Jersey writes—NJ5: Rep. Scott Garrett makes Roll Call’s “10 Most Vulnerable” List:
Scott Garrett’s name appears for the fist time on Roll Call’s “10 Most Vulnerable” House incumbents, which currently is 100% Republican.
This week, Scott Garrett tried to put some distance between himself and Donald Trump, just another GOP establishment name in the stampede away from the Party’s nominee. It apparently took until last Friday’s surfacing of the 2005 video showing Trump as the “pussy-grabbing” vulgarian he is. Which is funny. Things that clearly did not disturb Scott Garrett include: Trump’s birtherism, racist chatter on Muslims, Mexicans, discrimination against black people as a real estate titan and an employer, pandering to white supremacists. And I could go on, and so could you. But I guess women aren’t a minority group, so it looks like Garrett – every bit as backward as Trump – is just playing the numbers. Too little, too late, I’d say. The Tea Party has kept this guy in office long past his sale date. But since he took a stand within his own party, refusing to help Republicans elect gay people to office, things fall apart up in Garrett Land. And a moderate, well-funded, skillful and Clinton-connected Democrat, Josh Gottheimer, is poised to #TakeThe5th.
DocHoc at Blue Oklahoma writes—EPA Suggests Limited Disposal Well Moratorium For Oklahoma:
The federal government has recommended Oklahoma issue a moratorium on oil and gas disposal wells in the state’s most seismically active areas, but it’s unlikely the state will act on it.
Local media outlets in the last few days have reported on an Energy Wire story written by Mike Soraghan that contains information obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The story notes that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in an annual review, recommended the Oklahoma Corporation Commission consider the moratorium. Many environmental advocates for years have called for complete or limited moratoriums on disposal wells, which scientists confirmed are triggering earthquakes along Oklahoma’s previously dormant fault lines. The moratorium for now, according to media reports, is recommended essentially for north-central and northwest Oklahoma. For the record, I’ve been among those calling for a complete moratorium.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process in which water laced with toxic chemicals is injected underground in rock formations to create fissures that then release oil and gas. The water is later injected by high pressure underground into what are known as wastewater injection or disposal wells, which have made Oklahoma one of the most seismically active places on the planet, according to scientists and data.
It’s important to note that the massive amount of water needed in fracking operations requires injection wells. Some industry officials have discussed recycling the water, but disposal wells are the most cost-effective way to deal with the water at this time. The point is that fracking here in Oklahoma can’t exist without injection wells. It’s all about fracking.
Sally Jo Sorensen at Bluestem Prairie of Minnesota writes—MN01 nominee who called women senators "bimbos in tennis shoes" stands by Trump:
Headlines may read as does that at Minnesota Public Radio, Growing group of MN Republicans withdrawing support from Trump, but Jim Hagedorn, repeat Republican candidate for Minnesota's First Congressional District, is standing by his man.
We're not sure who's left to bake the cookies. [...]
Hagedorn gained national attention during his unsuccessful 2014 bid against incumbent Democratic congressman Tim Walz following the publication of Tim Murphy's article in Mother Jones, House Candidate Called Female Senators "Undeserving Bimbos in Tennis Shoes";Jim Hagedorn's old blog, "Mr. Conservative," is a ticking time bomb.
Hagedorn later issued a non-apology apology, Murphy reported.
Minnesota's First Congressional District, which stretches across the bottom part of the state from the South Dakota to Wisconsin borders, with the Iowa border at its feet, is not considered competitive by any national handicapper.
Cory Heidelberg at Dakota Free Press writes—Belfrage Agrees: RL 19’s Restricting Voter Rights and Targeting Independents “Troubling”:
KELO Radio’s Greg Belfrage agrees with me that Referred Law 19 is bad policy. In our interview yesterday, I listed the three main disadvantages of the Legislature’s bad election reform bill: forcing candidates to circulate and submit petitions earlier, requiring Republicans and Democrats to collect more petition signatures, and taking away registered party members’ right to sign petitions for independents. Belfrage focused on the independent issue:
Belfrage: I agree with you that the third there especially is troubling. when you’re saying that independents can only—if you’re an independent candidate… under 19, you would only be able to get petition signatures then from registered independents. You couldn’t have Democrats or Republicans who say yeah, I’d support you…. For many independents, that’s kind of the nature of their campaign is they raw broad support.
CAH: Absolutely. That is fundamentally—that’s the heart of what being an independent is. An independent isn’t a party member who has an independent party structure to organize and help them get signatures. An independent by definition says hey, I don’t care what party you belong to. I represent everyone, I’m not beholden to one party or one platform. I represent all people…. So it just makes sense that when they seek the nomination, they ought to be able to speak to every voter.
Belfrage: …You articulated the three reasons why you think it is of concern. With #3, for me, I share your worries. Why shouldn’t an independent who’s going to run be able to get the signatures of registered voters, period? [The Greg Belfrage Show, live broadcast, archived online, 2016.10.11].
Remember, Belfrage is a conservative radio talk show host talking to a liberal Democratic blogger. The typical partisan shouter would expect fireworks; instead, there we are on live radio, having a reasonable, respectful discussion and finding common ground in support of basic rights of petition and association.
RL 19’s restriction on independent candidates resonates best with the voters I’ve spoken to. The petition deadline and signature thresholds make running for office more difficult, but the new independents-for-independents-only requirement flatly takes away a right enjoyed by over 420,000 voters. Taking away that right is also unconstitutional (as I explained in March 2015, when Referred Law 19 was still just Senate Bill 69).
Linda Lyon at Blogging for Arizona writes—Government vs. Commercial:
During his first inaugural address, President Ronald Reagan said “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” Grover Norquist, of the “no new taxes pledge”, doubled down on this line of thinking with his goal to “to get [government] down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.” This GOP focus on government as the problem helps explain why those out to kill district schools refer to them as “government” schools. After all, “government” is the problem so how can “government” schools be any kind of solution for America’s students?
Yet the truth is that there are great district schools, great charter schools, great private schools and yes, even top-notch home schools. Of course, there are bad examples of all these options. Each option is just one of the tools in our country’s educational tool kit. The most useful tool in the tool kit by far however, (as proven by the 94.3% of American students who use it), is our system of public district schools. Charter schools have been around for twenty-five years, yet the overwhelming “school choice” for American families is still district schools. There is a place for other school choice options, but it shouldn’t be first place. Not in terms of taxpayer funding and not in terms of our nation’s focus.
Most families didn’t make this choice because they had no other options. Rather, they chose to send their children to district schools because those are the schools in their communities, those are the schools that offer a more diverse experience with a wider array of extracurricular programs and, those are the schools that are locally governed and therefore provide recourse when it is needed. The “haters” can refer to these choice schools as “government” schools, but that doesn’t change the fact that for the vast majority of American students, they work. Our community public schools helped make America great and, they continue to be integral in keeping it that way.
For those who insist on referring to our district schools as “government” schools, I say “sticks and stones…”. Don’t be surprised though when I refer charter and private schools as “commercial” schools.
desmoinesdem at Bleeding Heartland of Iowa writes—How many more Iowa GOP women will find their voice on Donald Trump?
Melissa Gesing reached her limit this week. Four days after a 2005 video showed Donald Trump telling a reporter he could "do anything" to women, two days after Trump insistedin the second presidential debate that those comments were merely "locker room talk," Gesing stepped down as president of the Iowa Federation of Republican Women. In herOctober 11 resignation letter, she described her move as a "last resort," saying she can’t "look at myself in the mirror each morning if I do not take a stand against the racism, sexism, and hate that Donald J. Trump continues to promote." She explained her decision at greater length in a blog post called "Ending this bad and unhealthy relationship."
So far, no other woman in the top echelon of Iowa Republican politics has jumped ship. The Iowa Federation of Republican Women named a new president today and restated its support for the Trump-Pence ticket.
But how long can that last, with more women coming forward every day to say Trumpkissed or groped them without consent, and used his position of power to walk in on women or underage girls undressed?
Of course, women are not and should not be the only people disgusted by the latest Trump revelations. But the new reports triggered deep loathing for many women who have been subjected to leering, unwanted touching, and sexual assault. Those traumatic memories have inspired innumerable real-life and social media conversations since last Friday.
Ellyn Fortino at Progress Illinois writes—UNO Charter School Teachers Rally For A 'Fair Contract' As Potential Strike Looms:
With a potential strike looming, unionized Chicago teachers at the UNO Charter School Network (UCSN) rallied with their allies Thursday afternoon in their push for a "fair contract."
They picketed outside the charter network's downtown headquarters, 209 W. Jackson Boulevard, with signs that read: "We don't want to strike but we're ready" and "We will fight for a fair contract."
"Our students are all low income, and (UCSN has) offices down here in this fancy building, and they're not willing to make cuts at the top" to improve the quality of education for students, said Erica Stewart.
Stewart is a 5th grade teacher at UNO Sandra Cisneros Charter School and the spokesperson for United Educators of UNO (UEU). The union represents 532 teachers and support staff across UCSN's 15 Chicago campuses.
"We're picketing in hopes to get (UCSN's) attention and send a loud message that we are willing to strike, and we need them to cut fat from the top to make better quality education for the students," Stewart said.