GOP bullies pollution opponents with “blatant attempt at intimidation”
Opponents of 'Clear Skies' Bill Examined
The chairman of a Senate committee that oversees environmental issues has directed two national organizations that oppose President Bush's major clean-air initiative to turn over their financial and tax records to the Senate.
Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), who heads the Environment and Public Works Committee, asked for the documents 10 days after a representative of the two groups criticized Bush's "Clear Skies" proposal before a Senate subcommittee. Inhofe is the leading sponsor of the administration bill, which is deadlocked in his panel.
The executive director of the two organizations, which represent state and local air pollution control agencies and officials, charged that the request was an attempt to intimidate critics of the measure.
Democratic senators on Inhofe's committee also were dismayed by his action, but declined to say so publicly because they were in the midst of sensitive negotiations with the chairman on the legislation, staffers said.
The committee's majority staff director, Andrew Wheeler, said the request for the groups' documents did not stem from their criticism of the legislation. He said the panel wanted to determine whether the groups represented only regulators' views or whether they also were subsidized by outside interests, including environmentalists or foundations.
The funding, Wheeler said, "goes to who they're speaking for."
William Becker, the executive director of both groups — the State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators, which represents 48 state air pollution control agencies, and the Assn. of Local Air Pollution Control Officials, which represents more than 165 local agencies — said they received no money from environmental activists or other private interests.
The administration has proposed the "Clear Skies" initiative as part of its effort to overhaul the way the Clean Air Act forces power plants to cut emissions.
The measure would set new emission standards for three major pollutants and introduce a market-based approach favored by industry. Proponents say it would reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury emissions by 70%. Opponents say reductions could be achieved faster through tighter restrictions or other approaches, including existing Clean Air Act regulations.
Inhofe delayed a vote on the bill this week after he determined that he did not have the numbers to send it to the full Senate. The panel's 18 members are split, largely along party lines.
On Jan. 26, John Paul, an environmental regulator from Ohio, testified on behalf of both pollution control organizations. He told the Senate subcommittee that "Clear Skies" "fails on every one of our associations' core principals," was "far too lenient" on polluters and would undermine "states' abilities to protect air quality."
After the testimony, several senators sent a letter to Paul with follow-up questions; Inhofe included a request for financial statements, membership lists and tax returns for the last six years for both groups. Paul is the vice president and incoming president of the local air pollution group. Inhofe's request was first disclosed by Cox News Service on Friday.
......Rep. Henry A. Waxman of Los Angeles, the senior Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee, said: "There is not even any subtlety about this. This is a blatant attempt at intimidation and bullying so that experts will be afraid to speak out about a bill that rolls back air pollution protections for all Americans."
Race to hate at Daytona
As Orcinus points out, white supremacist groups are becoming much bolder in their outreach and recruitment efforts. Billboards, pamphlets, and airplane advertising are just the beginning, unless their message of hate is met with a stronger message of tolerance.
In an attempt to reach out to NASCAR fans, local white supremacists say they have hired a plane to fly over Daytona International Speedway today, trailing a banner that reads "Love Your Race."
Todd Weingart, head of the Tampa Bay unit of the National Alliance, a West Virginia group with neo-Nazi roots, said that dozens of volunteers will hand out pro-white fliers and CDs at the Daytona 500, which is expected to draw 200,000 spectators in the stands and millions of TV viewers.
"We feel that we definitely have an audience within the NASCAR racing circle," Weingart said. "They're mostly white people that go to these things, and we feel it is a good opportunity to get our message out."
Federal regulations forbid aircraft from flying near or over the speedway during the race, so Weingart said the plane with the banner will end its flights an hour before the race begins.
Born in the South, NASCAR has struggled with an image of racial insensitivity. Ramsey Poston, a spokesman for NASCAR, said the popular racing organization, whose fans sometimes wave Confederate flags, is remaking itself in the image of an increasingly diverse America.
......The National Alliance, too, seems to be trying to change its image, at least locally. On its Web site, the group advocates the creation of all-white "racially-clean" communities, accuses Jews of controling the media and refers to multiculturalism as a "sickness." Yet Weingart denied that it is a neo-Nazi or white-supremacist group, calling it instead "an educational organization."
On fliers the group plans to distribute today, a blonde, white-skinned woman is pictured beneath the words LOVE YOUR RACE. But as Weingart, a 27-year-old, who lives in St. Petersburg, spoke of how African-Americans are "more criminal" than whites," bashed interracial marriage and advocated ending U.S. support for Israel, it was clear that the group's core message had not changed.
Art Teitelbaum, southern area director for the Anti-Defamation League, calls the National Alliance "one of the most dangerous extremist groups in the U.S." He said the group, whose philosophy is thought to have inspired Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, is using NASCAR to garner publicity for "their own disgusting purposes."
"One cannot discount the potential for violence when dealing with groups like the National Alliance," Teitelbaum said. "I can assure you that law enforcement and track security is working very hard to ensure the safety of all those who are attending the Daytona 500."
Read Orcinus. Browse the archives. Check out the essays on patriot groups and fascism. Don’t underestimate the power of hate.
Also see the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Tolerance.org
WMNF’s new building not for everyone
From the SP Times, we’re reminded that today marks the official start of broadcasting from WMNF’s new building.
Starting today, WMNF officially switches its signal - not to mention its studios, news center and nearly 50,000 CDs and 20,000 LPs - to a brand new, $2.2-million building next door.
And from my inbox, an email from Connie Burton, which reminds us that some longtime volunteers will never see the inside of the new broadcast studios.
To: Whom It May Concern
From: Connie BurtonMonday night I went before the Personnel Committee to
appeal the cancellation of Straight Talk. First I was
told I must appear alone. Then Sandy Thompson received
an email from Personnel Committee chair David Roosa
that she could stand with me as she has been producer
of the show for the last 3-4 years. When we arrived at
the station, she was not allowed into the meeting.At the start of the meeting, Roosa announced that they
wanted to record the meeting. I agreed on the
stipulation that I receive a copy of the recording. On
the following day I received a signed letter via fax
from Roosa stating that the Personnel Committee
upholds the station's cancellation of Straight Talk
and again promising me an audio copy of the
proceedings of the meeting. Along with that letter
were approximately 20 pages of email correspondences
amongst station management and between Lorie and
Sandy. These documents were presented after I left, so
I was not allowed to respond to them.Today, I was told by Roosa that he was instructed by
"HR" (whoever that is) that he cannot give me the copy
of the recording of the meeting as promised. This is
absolutely treacherous and despicable. What are they
trying to hide? Their McCarthyite tactics? Rather than
hearing my grievance, the Committee grilled me on my
political views. "Are you paid by the African People's
Socialist Party?" "Do you adhere to the philosophy of
Yeshitelism?" "Are you a centralist?" I kept replying
"I'm here to talk about Straight Talk". No wonder they
didn't want any witnesses.Also on today, I went into WMNF and requested several
items from the public file, which all radio stations
are required to maintain. According to FCC rules, "The
station must make its public inspection file available
at its main studio at any time during regular business
hours. You may request copies of materials in the file
by visiting the station in person." Several of the
items I requested are specifically mentioned in the
FCC rules as mandatory items in the public file. Vicki
refused to give me access or copies of any of the
items requested.The behavior of WMNF in these matters is shameful and
criminal.Connie Burton
White
Men
Nepotism
Favoritism
Litterer gets burned
The 20-year-old San Francisco resident was rolling across the upper deck of the Bay Bridge at 10:40 a.m., smoking a cigarette. When he got to Harrison Street, he rolled down the window of his white 2004 Ford Expedition SUV and tossed out the butt.
Instead of bounding along the pavement, however, the still-lit cigarette blew back in and set the interior of his $30,000 SUV ablaze.
Black smoke filled the vehicle. Fish pulled over to the far left-hand lane about 100 feet from the Harrison Street exit and leaped from the Expedition, but instead of putting the SUV in park, he left it in neutral.
The flaming Expedition rolled driverless into a guard rail by the exit, where it crashed to a stop and burned to the frame.
Help the ALA help you
The American Library Association is fighting for your right to read whatever the fuck you want. Right now, the FBI can come along and secretly browse through your library record without a warrant or probable cause that a crime has or will be committed. The ALA wants to put a stop to these fishing expeditions.
Reading about terrorists and bomb-making?
The FBI may want to know.
The Patriot Act, adopted after 9/11, gives the agency easier access to once-protected library records.
Under the law, the government doesn't need proof that you're a terrorist or suspected of any crime to search library records, officials with the American Library Association said.
With the statute up for review at the end of this year, the ALA's office for Intellectual Freedom is renewing its push to restore the privacy of bookstore and library records.
Judith Krug, director of the ALA's office for Intellectual Freedom, has been traveling the country, gathering signatures to urge a change in the law.
"It's nobody's business but yours what you read," Krug told a group of librarians and civil liberty proponents during an appearance at the Stetson Law Center in Tampa Thursday. "FBI agents can come to the library and invade our circulation records."
The Patriot Act also puts a gag order on booksellers and librarians, making it illegal to reveal that records have been searched, Krug said.
Because of the gag order, nobody knows how many times the FBI has raided library records nationwide, she said.
Jeb! seeks power to “fix” elections
Katherine Harris helped to throw the 2000 election to George W Bush. She was both Florida’s secretary of state, in charge of statewide elections, and Bush’s Florida campaign manager.
Her successor, Glenda Hood, made many decisions last year that could be seen as partisan, including her blind support for a fatally flawed felon purge list that would have unfairly excluded black Democrats from voting rolls while ignoring Hispanic felons who tend to vote Republican.
Now, as noted yesterday, Jeb! wants to vest even more power in the office of Secretary of State, because if his minions lack the power to fix an election, then democracy suffers.
Ever since November, state officials have been crowing about how well Florida ran its presidential election.
Popular early voting, healthy turnout and only a handful of official complaints seemed a testament to voting changes lawmakers passed after the 2000 presidential election debacle.
So it came as a shock to legislative leaders and county elections supervisors when Gov. Jeb Bush unveiled a sweeping proposal Wednesday that concentrated power over how counties run elections in the hands of Secretary of State Glenda Hood.
"I have seen very good policy die because of a flawed process and an unwillingness or inability to get a buy-in from all the stakeholders," Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said Thursday. "I think that will hurt the secretary of state in the Legislature when she goes to try to accomplish this objective."
The bill would give Hood the final word in interpreting state and federal elections law, as well as voter rolls.
It also would grant her the authority to seek fines and criminal charges against county supervisors of election who fail to follow her interpretation of elections law.
The measure is supposed to be a response to a federal law that requires, among other things, a statewide voter database and uniformity in voting.
But critics say it goes far beyond the federal law.
Faced with legislative leaders' concerns and a near mutiny among some county elections supervisors, Bush said Thursday he's willing to compromise on a bill that preserves the role of county supervisors as caretaker of the voting rolls.
His real priority is to give the secretary of state some recourse when they fail to do it, Bush said.
"I kind of like the idea that supervisors should be responsible for maintaining the list. The problem is when they ignore their responsibility," Bush said.
"There needs to be a means ... for the secretary of state, who is the chief elections officer, to be able to have the wherewithal to sanction and, if necessary, take charge," he said.
Bush didn't name specific supervisors who he says failed in their duties, but last year he criticized several who refused during the last election to purge voters whose names appeared on a state list of felons, who can't vote in Florida unless they've had their civil rights restored.
The state ultimately scrapped the list, which turned out to be flawed.
......Curtis Gans, director of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate in Washington, D.C., said he would support a central official being the final word on elections laws and procedures in some states - but not Florida.
The state has a history of political contamination in its highest elections office, he said, making it unwise to designate that office as the final arbiter on laws and procedures.
"There have been a lot of interpretations by Katherine Harris and her successor that have been partisan interpretations," Gans said, referring to Hood's predecessor, now in Congress. "(But) if the secretary of state were isolated from politics, that would be fine."
Sen. Nan Rich echoed those concerns.
The Weston Democrat and vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections said Hood's office has become an extension of Bush's office, and that the close association threatens the integrity of the state's voting procedures.
"There's not a pretense, even. It seems that the governor's office and the secretary of state are becoming one and that's wrong," Rich said.
Jeb! plan would enable state sponsored fraud
Jeb! has been steaming ever since last year when severe flaws were exposed in his felon scrub list, forcing the Secretary of State to make its use optional. Most local elections supervisors opted not to use the list, which contained tons of black democrats, but almost no Hispanic voters whatsoever.
Well, here's Jeb!'s plan to eliminate those pesky problems in the future.
Reacting to Florida's persistent voting complications, Gov. Jeb Bush wants to change election law to centralize more authority in the executive branch.
Gone would be the right of locally elected supervisors to interpret election law in a way different from the secretary of state.
Partisan poll watchers could keep challenging voters they suspect to be ineligible, but the voters would lose any recourse except to cast provisional ballots.
The secretary of state also would have increased authority to decide the manner in which names do and do not appear on the voting rolls, according to legislation proposed by the governor's office.
In other words, the very people who tried unsuccessfully to unfairly disenfranchise black Democrats while ignoring GOP Hispanics are to be given the power to force honest local officials to aid and abet them in the future.
Compassionless conservatism
W just loves beating up on the poor and powerless.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Bush administration wants to eliminate a program that provides education and training to a large migrant farmworker population.
Ending the National Farmworkers Job Program would save $76.2 million, according to the administration's 2006 budget plan. The administration argues that the program is ineffective and repetitive, that one-stop career centers for migrants do the job.
David Strauss, executive director of the Washington- based Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, said Congress stepped in to save the program in past years.
Farmworkers learn English and obtain a high school equivalency diploma and job training through the program. Without these services, advocates say, they would lose the opportunity to join mainstream America and move away from poverty-level existence.
Schiavo’s parents fall in with bad crowd
Terri Schiavo needs to die. Judges have repeatedly found that she made her wishes clear to her husband and that he has every right to remove her feeding tube and put an end to all of this pathetic madness.
Her parents, the Schindlers, are now being used as tools by the religious right, no doubt destined to become the next great martyrs done in by “activist judges” and hateful leftists. One thing I’ll never understand about these self proclaimed religious types: if the great reward of heaven is truly awaiting, then why the fuck are they so damn scared of death?
With legal options dwindling, the woman's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, turned to the founder of the antiabortion group Operation Rescue, Randall Terry. He announced a plan to again lobby Gov. Jeb Bush to intervene and also picket the home and workplace of Schiavo's husband, Michael, who wants to stop his wife's feedings as early as Tuesday so she can die.
GOP wants minimum wage optional for employers
I alluded to the sweetheart deal that WalMart got from the Bush administration a few days ago.
NathanNewman has been covering the WalMart mess well, and it turns out that he’s also all over the Florida minimum wage fight - a fight to make the voter mandated $6 something per hour Florida minimum wage optional for employers. (Click through for the whole story and his links)
Last fall, Florida voters overwhelmingly (72%) approved a constitutional amendment increasing the minimum wage by a buck and mandating that any employers breaking the law pay double damages plus legal fees when they violate the law.
Now the Florida GOP state House leaders want to let violators of the law escape those double damages if they give the money back within 15 days of being notified by employees of the intent to sue.
The Florida Republican leaders claim this provision fits within the intent of the Amendment. Since I drafted the damn thing, I think I can say with some authority that their bill completely violates the constitutional amendment. Read the amendment for yourself, but the basic problem with this 15-day notice is the same as the Wal-Mart deal: Employers will have every incentive to violate the law recklessly. Even if they are caught underpaying a few employees, they can simply pay back the wages owed with no fine, while pocketing the profit from underpaying the many workers who will inevitably never challenge the employer’s illegal activity.
But then that's the point of these "notice" provisions-- to gut minimum wage laws and discourage enforcement. These rightwing politicians hate working class people and support corporate criminality. They are soft on crime when the criminals wear a nice three-piece suit.