Following the fight in Wisconsin, I found this tidbit on Maine’s own Tea Partier-in-Chief stunningly bad policy and politics.
From the Kennebec Morning Sentinel:
Under Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed budget, teachers and other state employees will be required to increase their contributions to the pension system, from 7.65 percent of their salary to 9.65 percent.One public employee currently paying 7.65 percent, however, won’t see an increase.
The governor has exempted himself.
While public employees and teachers face this increase, as well as a raise in the retirement age, a freeze on cost-of-living adjustments for current retirees and a 2 percent cap on future cost of living increases, LePage’s personal contribution rate to the retirement system will remain the same, which means he’ll be paying $21,420 over four years.
Mike Tipping goes on to also explain that after serving as governor, LePage will receive a pension that a teacher would have to work 25 years to earn. Tipping has more details and background at Maine Politics.
Sec. Clinton: It Gets Better
A fantastic message from a fantastic leader. I’m so impressed she took the time to tape such an important message. Leaders like Sec. Clinton help me to believe that tomorrow will be better.
Return to Blogging
Apologies for a several week absence, especially a few very important weeks for efforts to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I’m going to try to start writing more regularly, so please check back.
Violent Fallout from the Politicization of the NYC Mosque
A muslim taxi driver in New York City was stabbed by a passenger after being asked, and answering yes, to whether or not he was a muslim. If anyone is surprised with this in the wake of the politicization of the mosque blocks away from Ground Zero. As far as I’m concerned, this is in part the responsibility of people like Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin. From ABC News:
A New York City cab driver was attacked Tuesday evening just after 6 p.m. by a passenger who asked him if he was Muslim, says the NYPD. A spokesman for a New York City cabbie group blamed the attack on the proposed construction of an Islamic center near Ground Zero, the site of the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack, but police said they were not aware of any link.
According to police, passenger Michael Enright, a 21-year-old from Brewster, New York, hailed a taxi at 24th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan driven by Ahmed Sharif, a resident of Queens.
Fmr. Bush Campaign Manager and RNC Chairman Mehlman Comes Out
Ken Mehlman, former chairman of the Republican Naitonal Committee and President Bush’s 2004 campaign manager has come out of the closet today.
“It’s taken me 43 years to get comfortable with this part of my life,” said Mehlman, now an executive vice-president with the New York City-based private equity firm, KKR. “Everybody has their own path to travel, their own journey, and for me, over the past few months, I’ve told my family, friends, former colleagues, and current colleagues, and they’ve been wonderful and supportive. The process has been something that’s made me a happier and better person. It’s something I wish I had done years ago…
…Mehlman’s leadership positions in the GOP came at a time when the party was stepping up its anti-gay activities — such as the distribution in West Virginia in 2006 of literature linking homosexuality to atheism, or the less-than-subtle, coded language in the party’s platform (“Attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country…”). Mehlman said at the time that he could not, as an individual Republican, go against the party consensus. He was aware that Karl Rove, President Bush’s chief strategic adviser, had been working with Republicans to make sure that anti-gay initiatives and referenda would appear on November ballots in 2004 and 2006 to help Republicans.
Mehlman acknowledges that if he had publicly declared his sexuality sooner, he might have played a role in keeping the party from pushing an anti-gay agenda.
“It’s a legitimate question and one I understand,” Mehlman said. “I can’t change the fact that I wasn’t in this place personally when I was in politics, and I genuinely regret that. It was very hard, personally.” He asks of those who doubt his sincerity: “If they can’t offer support, at least offer understanding.”
More at The Atlantic
Marriage Equality: Why State-by-State Equality Isn’t Enough
A must watch video reminding us of just one reason why marriage equality at the state level isn’t full equality and why so many cannot afford to wait until marriage equality is politically convenient. I can’t embed it properly here, so check it out at AMERICAblog Gay.
Comedy Central on Mosques and Mexican Marriage Equality
A solid night on Comedy Central last night.
- First Jon Stewart nails the issue of the NYC Mosque
“Should we build Catholic Churches next to playgrounds?”
- Then Colbert speaks on marriage equality in Mexico (and he tweeted: “Why does Mexico need gay marriage? We already have a gay Mexico– Spain.”).
Both are below. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Vodpod videos no longer available.
The Colbert Report
Vodpod videos no longer available.