The Latest Election-Rigging Attempt by the GOP

From Think Progress: 

Last winter, shortly after President Obama won his second term in office, many Republicans rallied behind a pair of election-rigging plans designed to make it virtually impossible for a Democrat to win White House again. Though the two plans differ in important ways, the crux of both plans is to rig the Electoral College by requiring blue states to award a significant portion of their electoral votes to Republican presidential candidates — all while ensuring that red states will award 100 percent of their electoral votes to the Republican as well. Though these election-rigging plans appeared dead after a wave of Republican officials came out against them, one of them has just returned to life in California.

On November 22, a man named Hal Nickle filed a proposed ballot initiative in California which would change the way that state allocates electoral votes to ensure that a large chunk of California’s 55 electors go to the GOP, even though Californians consistently prefer Democratic candidates to Republicans. Rather than allocating all of California’s electoral votes to the winner of the state as a whole, as nearly all states currently award their votes, the election-rigging initiative would allocate the states votes proportionally according to the percentage of votes won by each candidate. Thus, if this plan had been in effect in 2012, Mitt Romney would have received 37.12 percent of California’s electors — adding 20 to his overall total.

The trick behind this proposal is that if would only change the law in California, while leaving red states free to award all of their electors to the Republican...

Counter: perhaps Democrats should try this in Texas, Louisiana, and other reliably red states. it would be interesting to see the GOP try to wiggle their way around saying it is okay to do this in blue states but not red states (because you know they would try to rationalize that "logic").

California Raises Its Minimum Wage

States, Localities, & Voters Raising the Minimum Wage

From Think Progress:

After a bill to raise California’s minimum wage to $9 per hour as of July 2014 and then $10 by January 2016 was approved by both houses of the California state legislature on Thursday, it now heads to Gov. Jerry Brown’s (D) desk for signature. Brown voiced his support earlier in the week in a press release, saying, “This legislation is overdue and will help families that are struggling in this harsh economy.”

Other places have recently raised their minimum wages. Voters in Albuquerque, NM raised the wage from $7.50 to $8.50 an hour on election night last year, which will automatically keep pace with the cost of living. Two other cities in California also raised the wage, with Long Beach increasing it to $13 an hour as well as guaranteeing hotel workers five paid sick days a year. When voters are asked to vote on whether to raise the minimum wage, they almost always approve it with substantial majorities, as was the case in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, and Ohio in past years. Eighty percent of Americans support a national raise to $10.10 an hour, including two-thirds of Republicans.

Marriage News Watch: August 19, 2013

Marriage News Watch: July 22, 2013

Plaintiffs React to Prop 8 Ruling

Final Countdown to the Supreme Court's Prop. 8 Decision

Obama Admin. to File Anti-Prop. 8 Amicus Brief

From NBC News:

Administration officials say the Justice Department will urge the U.S. Supreme Court to allow same-sex marriage to resume in California, wading into the protracted legal battle over Proposition 8 and giving gay-rights advocates a new court ally.

After first suggesting it would not get involved, the Obama administration will file a friend-of-the-court brief late today in support of the two gay couples who launched the fight over the issue four years ago, the officials said. Today is the last day for filing briefs in support of the couples' position.

The administration last year signaled it might stay on the sidelines. In May, when President Obama first said that "same-sex couples should be able to get married," he added that it was not a matter for the federal government.

Marriage News Watch: November 19, 2012

More Voter Fraud By The GOP

From the Examiner:

According to a report by The Press-Enterprise in California, Republican registration in Riverside county increased by nearly 35,000 voters, overtaking the advantage once held by Democrats. The newspaper contacted 350 random registered voters, with 30 of them telling their story of having their party changed without their consent or knowledge. The party affiliation change seems to have happened when workers gathered signatures by doing door knocking and standing outside stores asking people to sign petitions against animal cruelty, lower gas prices and other causes.

California Watch reports that Democrats have filed a complaint with the county registrar of voters, presenting affidavits from over 130 voters who had their party affiliation switched from Democrat to Republican. A spokesman for the Democratic Party, Steve Mavigilo, is blaming the Golden State Voter Participation Project, a Republican registration group. The top donor for the Golden State Voter Participation Project is Republican activist, Charles Munger Jr, who gave over $240,000 to the project over the first six months of the year.

"Reparative Therapy" Officially Banned in CA (for minors)

From Queerty:

On Saturday, Gov. Jerry Brown of California signed Senate Bill 1172, which officially bans so-called “ex-gay” therapy for minors.

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Reparative therapy—an umbrella term for various methods that often incorporate prayer or designate a childhood incident as a “root” for homosexuality—have been soundly condemned by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association and almost every other professional therapeutic group in America. (Adults can still seek such treatment, but do so with informed consent, not as the helpless victims of their parents or guardians)

“Governor Brown has reaffirmed what medical and mental health organizations have made clear: Efforts to change minors’ sexual orientation are not therapy, they are the relics of prejudice and abuse that have inflicted untold harm on young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Californians,” said Clarissa Filgioun, Equality California board president.

Marriage News Watch: September 10, 2012

The Wrap-Up: June 28, 2012

Former first lady Laura Bush and former vice-president Dick Cheney are being called out, but not by the left.

Congressional Republicans are coming up with lots of "reasons" to impeach President Obama.

Bryan Fischer, leader of the conservative, Christian group American Family Association thinks that we should let poor sick people die. I think he needs to reconsider his religion, since he has zero understanding of the Bible.

The U.S. may cut aid to Uganda because of the African nation's crackdown on the gay community.

The president of Exodus International takes about a half step towards being more progressive, admitting that homosexuality can NOT be cured (although the rest of us knew this ages ago). Half a step is better than nothing.

Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) along with about 36 other representatives will today be launching a congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus. It's that this is necessary, but good that kids will (hopefully) be protected.

Selena Gomez and Justin Beiber were on the House of Representatives? Wait for the explanation...

A committee in the California state assembly has approved a bill banning "reparative therapy."

And lastly, Republicans with delusions of grandeur. It must have been hard to narrow this down to just five, but these five are pretty big ones (especially the final one on this list).

NOTE: The Supreme Court will handing down their ruling on the Affordable Care Act (I believe) at or before 2 PM Eastern.

The Wrap-Up; April 25, 2012

Yesterday was primary day in several states, but no one really cares at this point, so let's move on.

Missouri teachers are speaking out against the state's proposed "Don't Say Gay" bill.

Pat Robertson has done the unthinkable: he has condemned anti-gay bullying. The end of the world is indeed nigh.

With less than two weeks until North Carolinians vote on Amendment one (although early voting has already begun), opponents of this over-reaching legislation can defeat it if they can educate the public.

Has anyone else noticed that Rick Santorum hasn't endorsed Mitt Romney?

The latest Gallup poll has some good news for President Obama.

What is the big secret about Social Security? It is NOT going broke (even though the media is painting a different picture).

 Senate Democrats may be shutting down the chance of the Keystone Pipeline from coming to fruition any time soon.

 Setting himself apart from many Christian leaders, Joel Osteen has his own particular stance on Mitt Romney's religion.

The California legislature is taking some strong steps against ex-gay "therapy."

And lastly, some notes on a single-payer health care system.

Marriage News Watch: March 12, 2012

The Wrap-Up: March 12, 2012

This weekend saw a pair of Caucuses take place, but the overall picture of the GOP nomination looks pretty much the same.

How does Newt Gingrich plan on staying in the race? One word: Twitter.

One of the primary groups behind Minnesota's campaign to constitutionally ban marriage equality is under investigation.

Unlike most people in the sports world, whether coaches, players, commentators, etc., Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban knows how to make an ACTUAL apology after saying something somewhat homophobic. 

Save California (a certified hate-group) has begun its campaign to overturn SB48, the bill passed which mandates the teaching of the contribution the LGBT community has made to society. After all, having kids know that the guy who wrote Fanfare for the Common Man (Aaron Copland) was gay would ruin the country...

The Pope took some time out of his busy pedophile protecting schedule to denounce marriage equality. Seriously, this guy needs to adjust his priorities.

At a Pennsylvania school, a flippant remark goes out of control, "telephone" style.

There are some great polling numbers in the fight against North Carolina's Amendment One (the attempt to ban marriage equality constitutionally). I'm cautiously optimistic because remember, it always comes down to turnout.

And lastly, with so many southern primaries on the horizon, Mitt Romney's serial-pandering reaches new depths.

The Wrap-Up: March 1, 2012

Finally, the Virginia state legislature gets something right.

This is probably not the best thing to be happening to House Republicans going into a national election, but they brought upon themselves...again. Yet another reason Eric Cantor can't be trusted.

The fight against Super PAC's in the wake of Citizens United is being taken to the SEC.

Baptists are rallying against North Carolina's amendment to ban marriage equality.

It looks like all of those anti-woman statements may have cost Rick Santorum in Michigan. Time for a course correction.

Some very good news out of California on marriage. Sure it's about three years too late, but better late than never (I guess).

A funny thing happened to the place where NASCAR was founded...

And lastly, a message from the creator of the Gay Marines Facebook page where the kiss seen 'round the world was posted:

Marriage News Watch: January 2, 2012

The Wrap-Up: December 19, 2011

Saturday night saw another GOP presidential debate, which means more factual inaccuracies (I'm looking at you Michele Bachmann).

This report on the failing health of Etta James makes me sad. I decided a long time ago that "At Last" will be playing at my wedding reception. Again, about that so-called defense of marriage thingy...

It's pretty amazing that an anti-bullying measure, which also protects based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, was passed in West Virginia of all places...and here is how it happened.

A bi-national couple's deportation case has been dropped by the Immigration & Customs Enforcement. Of course, if DoMA were repealed (or never existed), these types of cases would not be necessary. Christmas just got a lot better for these guys.

Elizabeth Warren

Another GOP family values, anti-gay politician gets caught. This happens so much that it's really news when it DOESN'T happen.

Here is yet another dose of GOP family values hypocrisy. When will they learn? Honestly... P.S. I swear I'm taking joy in this. It's actually rather sad when you think of these people's families and such.

I have been supporting Elizabeth Warren (in case you haven't noticed) because of her work on financial reform but wondered where she stood on LGBT issues. She answered that question.

That gay soldier who was booed at the Tea Party debate is getting a much better response from his comrades. Seriously, I wouldn't mess with a guy with biceps like that even if he was a million miles away.

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

A California gay rights group has gotten the go ahead to start collecting signatures to repeal Proposition 8. The clock is now ticking...

Further proving that there is hope in the next generation, even young Republicans are on-board with LGBT equality, including marriage equality.

Also in evolving views, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who originally voted FOR DoMA, is now supporting the Respect for Marriage Act (which would repeal DoMA).

And lastly, "Absolutely Fabulous" takes on the Kardashians.

Marriage News Watch: December 12, 2011