Roe turns 40…pretty beaten up–January 22

MoonHowler

birthday cake

Yahoo.com:

 Most Americans remain opposed to overturning the controversial Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which 40 years ago legalized abortion at least in the first three months of pregnancy, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The poll by the Pew Research Center found that 63 percent of Americans believe that Roe v. Wade should not be completely overturned, compared to 29 percent who believe it should be. These opinions have changed little from surveys conducted in 2003 and 1992, Pew reported.

While many of the social issues have changed over the years,  American opinions really haven’t changed all that much.  Accessibility to abortion has certainly gotten tighter.  4 states are down to having one clinic left and if anti-choice activists have their way, there will be no abortion services in Mississippi, South Dakota, Arkansas, or North Dakota.  Clinic directors and doctors are often stalked.  In no other business would this kind of behavior be legally allowed.

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VA Senate: While the cat’s away the mice become rats–Rat Bastards that is

MoonHowler

rats4

This cat just happened to be Senator Henry Marsh, who attended the Inauguration in D.C.  The rats had been plotting this one for a long time, as you will see.  The mice didn’t take long to metamorphose into rats.

Washingtonpost.com

 

RICHMOND — Senate Republicans pushed a re-drawn state political map past flabbergasted Democrats on Monday, pulling off what would amount to a mid-decade redistricting of Senate lines if the plan gets approval from the House and governor and stands up to anticipated legal challenges.

The bill, approved 20 to 19, would revamp the Senate map to concentrate minority voters in a new Southside district and would change most, if not all, existing district lines. Democrats, still scrambling Monday night to figure out the impact, said they thought that the new map would make at least five districts held by Democrats heavily Republican. The map puts two sitting senators, R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) and Emmett W. Hanger Jr. (R-Augusta), into a single district.Read More

State Republicans refuse to address voting issues

MoonHowler

Washingtonpost.com:

The state Senate approved a bill Monday allowing Virginians age 65 and older to vote by absentee ballot without having to provide an excuse.

Currently, Virginians are allowed to vote absentee only if they cannot get to the polls on Election Day for certain reasons, such as military service or jury duty. Last week, a Senate panel killed a bill that would have allowed any registered voter to vote absentee, but it approved a measure to allow seniors to do so.

On Monday, the Senate voted 28-9 for that bill, sponsored by Sen. John Miller (D-Newport News) and Sen. Jeffrey L. McWaters (R-Virginia Beach). All of those opposed were Republicans.

Why can’t anyone vote absentee?   Don’t get me wrong.  I am glad the vintage folks can vote absentee.  Usually it required bending of the truth.  But everyone should be able to without lying.  It would save the state money in the first place.  How many people would opt to vote absentee if given the choice?

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