It’s Friday, which means we’re in a really good mood so the Roundup is full of optimism today. There are plenty of opportunities to get out of the house this weekend, so don’t miss out (the A/C will be there when you get home). Appleseed is showing 9500 Liberty tonight. And Ribfest opens in Lincoln. Heck, even the office vegetarian is going. Here’s your Roundup:
Procrastinate on Your College Term Paper, Not Your State’s Future: We’ll admit, we’re as prone to procrastination as the next person. But when it comes to millions of dollars for low-income Nebraskans, there’s just no excuse. Kudos to State Senator Jeremy Nordquist for putting pressure on this. View Here
You’re Making Us Blush: New Nebraska Network gave us some major props Wednesday, and we’d just like to say, well… the feeling’s mutual. And if Kyle and or any of the other wonderful citizens over at New Nebraska ever stops blogging our hearts will be broken into a thousand tiny pieces. View Here
Big Red May Change Colors: We recommend skipping to the section titled “It’s the geography, stupid.” The new NBC poll reveals that the GOP might be turning into a regional party. And you thought Huskers just bled red. View Here
Tooting our own Horn: Politico Pulse has an update on food safety legislation that we’ve pushed to Senators Nelson and Johanns. In fact, they both cosponsored the bill after we dropped off petitions and info packets to their offices. Here’s the excerpt since there isn’t a full article:
BPA LEFT OUT OF FOOD SAFETY DEAL – The six senators negotiating the food safety legislation have reached a bipartisan deal and hope to take it up when the Senate returns in mid-September. Sen. Feinstein’s ban on BPA was not included in the bill’s manager’s amendment. But she said she plans to offer an amendment to ban the product in baby bottles, sippy cups, baby food and infant formula. The text and CBO analysis are expected to be released soon.
–“I’m very optimistic on this,” Sandra Eskin, who directs the Pew Health Group’s Food Safety Campaign, tells PULSE. “It is clearly feasible.” Eskin chalks the bill’s lack of movement, so far, up to bad timing: passed out of committee back in November, it has been sidelined by health reform and financial regulation. “We’ve done multiple polls that show widespread support,” says Eskin.
Thursday, August 12th
Tomorrow Nebraska Appleseed is sponsoring a movie called 9500 Liberty at the Westminster Church in Lincoln. It’s a documentary about an immigration law in a Virginia town and its widespread ramifications. It’s showing Friday so make a date night out of it. More info in our events section. Here’s your roundup:
I had a dream…: That our state leaders were actually leading on health care reform. Then I woke up to a nightmare. The Commonwealth Fund posts an extensive report on what states are doing and need to do to implement reform. The report places responsibility squarely on governors’ shoulders. Which begs the question: where is Dave Heineman’s plan? View Here
Will Somebody give the Youth Vote some Credit?: Even the NY Times is showing signs of the doldrums when discussing midterms and the youth vote. But as we’ve recently heard around the office, “Youth voters are not unicorns. They just need education about the basics of voting — just like older people need education on how to use Facebook.” Don’t forget that we’re sponsoring a Trick or Vote campaign. View Here
Fortenberry Talks Immigration in Fremont: In perhaps the most sensitive setting, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry breached the topic of immigration at his townhall in Fremont. Apparently Fortenberry’s jumping on the GOP bandwagon that wants to “fix” the 14th Amendment. Just curious congressman, when did your ancestors come to this country? View Here
Blue Jays go Green: Creighton University is installing solar panels, and wind turbines are in the works. It’s all part of a new energy technology major that will be available Fall 2011. It’s nice to see that the always hip Jesuits are jumping on the green energy bandwagon. View Here
Wednesday, August 11th
Our eyebrows are singed from all the political heat going around. We’re wondering if the heat index reaching 120 yesterday has anything to do with flared tensions. Expect last year’s August Recess (with the crazy townhalls and death panel hysteria) to look like a cake walk compared to this year.
Sticky Wicket: Ben Nelson told the LJS that he supports extending the Bush tax cuts. We’d be open to extending them for the middle class, but the top 2%… not so much (sorry if we’ve hurt your feelings, Mr. Buffett). We’d also like to point out that these tax cuts are one of the reasons we have a huge deficit — something we know concerns every member of the NE delegation. View Here
Election Returns: The twittersphere was abuzz with returns from last night’s primaries in Colorado, Georgia, Connecticut, and Minnesota. In each state the GOP nominated (or gave overnight leads) to candidates suffering from scandal, gaffes, or gaping vulnerabilities. The national GOP is definitely worried since their mainstream candidates mostly lost. Count on electrifying midterm elections this year. View Here
Fire Power: Omaha’s Mayor Suttle isn’t just getting his feet held to the flames, he’s being thrown into the whole fire. Things have gotten ugly in the Big O since the Mayor released his new budget for the year and proposed contracts with the police union and fire department. Joe Jordan posts highlights from last night’s city council meeting. View Here
Trying to Blend In: Several governors around the country who vowed that they wouldn’t accept a cent from federal stimulus money are singing a different tune. Turns out, some of these governors who are struggling to keep state jobless benefits afloat are now quietly lining up to accept the aid. Wait… I think I know that guy in paragraph six! Those Jackie O shades and headscarf aren’t fooling anyone. View Here
Tuesday, August 10th
Today’s Roundup runs the gamut from the pipeline, to net neutrality, to the 14th Amendment. It may be August Recess (well at least for the Senate), but politics is creating more news as November elections get closer. The House votes on FMAP today (we’re expecting the 3 Amigos to vote “No”). While we wait for the results, here’s your Roundup:
Johanns Doesn’t Like Like TransCanada: Johanns, gives us a glimmer of hope that he will do the right thing for Nebraska when it comes the pipeline. In a new interview with Nebraska Watchdog, the senator is concerned with TransCanada’s request for a thinner pipe. But then he says the pipeline should still move forward through the Ogalalla Aquifer. Some good points to press him on at townhalls. View Here
Google Changes Motto to “Don’t be Evil… kinda”: Chances are when you came to our site, your service provider sent it to your computer as fast as it sends Facebook, The New York Times, and your grandma’s blog. But Google’s newest pact with Verizon would end future net neutrality on wireless signals (aka, the future of the internet). To learn what net neutrality is, what Google and Verizon are up to, and how to stop it, check out this HuffPost article. View Here
GOP Finally Denounces Lincoln: Apparently more and more Republicans are less than pleased with the work of Honest Abe and the Reconstruction. If Abe, Grant, and all those other mutton-chopped Repubs could have just skipped the 14th Amendment then the GOP could have the spotless legacy they deserve. No this isn’t a joke, and the number of Repubs expressing public concern is growing. View Here
Public Employees and Pensions: Omaha’s been embroiled in fights over the last few weeks about city contracts with police and fireman and the large pension plans those contain. Turns out, Omaha isn’t alone in arguing (or screaming) over this issue. The New Republic mulls all this over and leaves you to draw the conclusions. View Here
Nelson’s Op-Ed: The McCook Gazette has published an op-ed from Ben Nelson about Wall Street Reform. The Senator’s hometown newspaper ran the piece yesterday. Definitely peruse the bullet points for a quick list of what reform will do. View Here
Pork fun this weekend in Lincoln: View Here
Monday, August 9th
Good Monday morning pardners. It’s National Health Care Center Week (a much better celebration than Clown Week if you ask us) which coincides nicely with HHS announcing that it will make $250 million available later this week to fund 350 new community health centers. Helping people access quality health care is definitely something to be celebrated.
Of FDR and Immigration: Arthur I. Zygielbaum writes a great op-ed for the OWH about fear and immigration. He cites some great stats about crime and illegal immigration, appealing to reason rather than emotion. A tactic we always applaud. View Here
Amigos say “No” to Teachers: The OWH reports that Terry, Fortenberry, and Smith have all tentatively said they will vote “No” on FMAP legislation this week. The bill would help Nebraska keep 1,000 teachers employed and help pay for Medicaid. Terry seems to think it would raise taxes. Apparently his staffers haven’t told him it’s totally paid for. View Here
Reid cuts Johanns off at the Pass: The Johanns camp has been all riled up about his legislation that would amend the section in health care reform that covers small businesses and 1099s. Johanns’s amendment would cut revenue sources and offset those costs by pillaging other portions of the health care law. Politico reports that Democrats are offering their own alternative that wouldn’t gut revenue for health care and would still be more small business friendly. View Here
Slate Debunks the Tea Party: Whether you love them or love to hate them (and yes, you can probably place us in the latter category), the Tea Party isn’t going away any time soon. So Slate takes on and corrects several myths about the Tea Party including its inception, its leaders, and its future. View Here
Anti-Biz President leads Pro-Biz Recovery: Obama’s been painted as anti-business. And with Americans still feeling the squeeze of unemployment, it’s easy to use that brush. Leave it to Ezra Klein to attack over-simplifications and explain economics, business, and recovery to us in a way that doesn’t put you to sleep. View Here
