Politics

Politics May 24, 2017

Issa schedules 1-hour sham town hall

This round-up written by Doug Porter, Ocean Beach alternative press legend, and first appeared May 24 at San Diego Free Press. For more, visit http://sandiegofreepress.org/2017/05/darrell-issas-exclusive-town-hall-set-for-june-3. UPDATED: A fun trip through the mind of Issa’s press flack… By Doug Porter Nobody has ever accused Darrell Issa of being stupid. After initially promising a town hall for constituents on May 31st, the 49th District Congressman has announced a one-hour…

Politics May 4, 2017

Hunter imperils Israel, Jordan, US soldiers

I am not sure Mr. Hunter would trust Jordan’s regime to keep his $600-flight-riding pet rabbit, let alone deadly American drones. — Mudar Zahran  Recently, Rep. Duncan Hunter, (R-50th District) relaunched congressional pressure on the White House to sell deadly drones to Jordan. Hunter has been lobbying for this deal for almost two years now. He wants Jordan to obtain Reaper and Predator drones. Obama’s administration…

Health, Health & Fitness, Politics May 3, 2017

Blue Shield CEO says GOP’s ‘flawed’ health bill would harm sicker consumers

The chief executive of Blue Shield of California, the largest insurer on the state’s insurance marketplace, issued a blunt critique of the Republican health care bill, saying it would once more lock Americans with preexisting conditions out of affordable coverage. In an interview with California Healthline on Wednesday, Paul Markovich said the GOP’s American Health Care Act is “flawed” and “could return us to a…

Escondido, Immigration, Politics May 3, 2017

Sessions wrongly tags Escondido

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions tags Escondido wrongly for immigrant crimes. Escondido last week entered the national dialogue over immigrant rights and Donald Trump’s big, bad border wall, but in an unexpected, and counterfactual way. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions highlighted Escondido to illustrate how jurisdictions that limit cooperation with immigration authorities jeopardize public safety. The only problem was Sessions got everything wrong. Speaking at…

Health, Politics May 1, 2017

Hunter vamping vaping legislation

Fighting a campaign finance criminal investigation, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-50th District) still has time, apparently, to battle for a vice he loves: Vaping. Hunter introduced legislation Thursday to roll back current regulations treating electronic cigarettes the same as tobacco products. Titled the Cigarette Smoking Reduction & Electronic Vapor Alternatives Act, HR 2194, Hunter’s ode to vaping, would undo the Obama administration’s “Deeming Rule” that put…

Arts, Politics April 23, 2017

Capitol painting won’t prevail on appeal

A controversial painting that made headlines earlier this year is now the subject of a lawsuit in a federal court in Washington, D.C., but constitutional experts predict the plaintiff’s free speech arguments are doomed. The case hinges on whether an art competition held by members of Congress qualifies as “government speech,” which has less protection under the First Amendment. The legal feud has roiled emotions in Washington…

Arts, Politics April 18, 2017

Judge rejects effort to reinstall painting taken down by Hunter at U.S. Capitol

A federal judge has rejected efforts to reinstall a painting in the Capitol that some lawmakers and police groups found offensive because it depicts police officers with animal heads. David Pulphus, a student artist from Missouri, and Rep. William Clay, his Democratic congressman, had sued Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers for removing the painting in January. They sought a preliminary injunction to have the…

Health, Health & Fitness, Politics April 6, 2017

Universal health care California-style

While Washington Fiddles… As the nation’s Republican leaders huddle to reconsider their plans to “repeal and replace” the nation’s health law, advocates for universal health coverage press on in California, armed with renewed political will and a new set of proposals. Organized labor and two lawmakers are leading the charge for a single, government-financed program for everyone in the state. Another legislator wants to create…

Politics, Weather April 4, 2017

Hunter denies, Issa waffles on climate

Within moments of Donald Trump’s inauguration, the White House web page on climate change was purged. On March 28, Trump ordered the dismantling of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which was designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Many members of Congress, as well, continue to be climate change skeptics or deniers. The Stopping EPA Overreach Act (H.R.637) introduced in January, with 121…

Politics March 21, 2017

California Congress members face quandary over Republican health plan (Issa flip-flops)

With the House expected to vote this week on the American Health Care Act, the GOP leadership’s first swipe at repealing the nation’s landmark health care law, California’s 14 congressional Republicans find themselves in a delicate position. Seven of them represent districts that voted for Hillary Clinton, and many of their constituents could lose coverage under the GOP health plan. Since the Republican bill was introduced…