ALG's Daily Grind - Fixing our corruptible election system

June 18, 2013

Fixing our corruptible election system

U.S. Supreme Court struck down an attempt by Arizona to at least ensure that only legal citizens of the United States were registering to vote by requiring basic proof of eligibility to be provided with a registration. 

Cartoon: What a tool

Obama vs. the Constitution.

IMF's Lagarde recommends U.S. 'repeal the sequester'

International Monetary Fund Director Christine Lagarde has called on Congress to "repeal the sequester" because she says "the effect of the sequester and deficit reduction more generally are already affecting the economy."

Gruber: Can the world afford higher interest rates?

Because government debt is too large, "central banks can't afford to turn off the stimulus tap. If there are any signs of rising bond yields, these banks will print more money to buy bonds and keep the yields down. In other words, you shouldn't expect less stimulus going forward, but more."

NH Senate Democrats - 13-11

Dear Friend:  
 
This year, New Hampshire Senate Democrats have been working with Governor Hassan  -- standing up for New Hampshire families and beginning to restore the damage done to our state over the past two years.  
 
Join with the Senate Democratic Caucus today and help us continue this fight with a contribution of $50, $25, or $15 today:
 
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/12426?refcode=directory
 
Senate Democrats have accomplished so much already this year, but on important votes, we have too often come up on the losing side of a 13-11 vote:

 

• Repealing legislation requiring a mugshot-like photo ID to vote

• Diverting public funds to private, religious schools

• Restoring our state’s minimum wage

• Taking a vote to commemorate the 40^th Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade

• Urging Congress to overturn Citizens United

• Expanding Medicaid to insure more than 50,000 low-income citizens

 
Last fall, we came up just 609 votes short of winning the majority in the Senate.  We cannot let that happen again.  It is critically important we elect 13 Democratic Senators in 2014 and need your help today with $50, $25, or $15. 
 
New Hampshire Senate Democrats, with your support, will keep New Hampshire moving forward.  
 
Sincerely,
Sylvia Larsen
Senate Democratic Leader
 
P.S. – Senate Democrats are having our next fundraiser 4-6:30, tomorrow, June 19, at the Barley House in Concord and I hope to see you there!  Email abarbagllo@nhdp.org for more information. 

NHDP - NH Senate Republicans Lurch to the Far Right of Tea Party Governor Jan Brewer

Concord – Yesterday, radically conservative Tea Party Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona signed Medicaid Expansion into law after the state’s Republican majority legislature voted for expansion.  Sadly, in New Hampshire Senate Republicans are blocking expansion and refusing to acknowledge the improved health and economic security it would being for 58,000 Granite State workers and taxpayers.
 
“Even radical Tea Party hero Arizona Governor Jan Brewer could put her ideology aside and work to expand Medicaid to improve insurance coverage and strengthen economic security for working families,” said New Hampshire Democratic Party Communications Director Harrell Kirstein.  “If New Hampshire Senate Republicans lurch any further to the right, they will slide right off the eastern seaboard and into the Atlantic Ocean.”

ALG urges food stamp transparency in $80 billion a year program

June 18, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement in support of an amendment by Rep. Tom Marino being considered by the House Rules Committee today that would require the Department of Agriculture to publish a detailed record online of all retail sales in the $80 billion a year food stamp program:

"Rep.Tom Marino deserves thanks from taxpayers across the nation as he tries to bring transparency to the food stamp program through an amendment to the Farm Bill that is being considered in the House of Representatives.

"Marino's amendment would require the USDA Secretary to publish SNAP (food stamp) sales online in a searchable, comparable format that would enable the public to learn what items are purchased with SNAP benefits, where they are purchased, and the cost of those items.

"Food stamps comprise more than 2 percent of our nation's $3.6 trillion budget with almost 50 million people using them, costing $82 billion in 2013 alone. In fact, the program is so large that fully 80 percent of the $939 billion so-called Farm bill is actually designated food stamp spending. 

"With so much taxpayer money being spent on a program that is exempt from sequesters, or other discretionary budget cuts, creating transparency in how the program is used will help identify reforms that will save millions of dollars in future federal government spending.

"Americans for Limited Government urges the House of Representatives to consider and pass the Marino amendment. The American people deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent."

To view online: http://getliberty.org/alg-urges-food-stamp-transparency-in-80-billion-a-year-program/

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703) 383-0880 ext. 103 or at media@algnews.org  

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Americans for Limited Government is a non-partisan, nationwide network committed to advancing free market reforms, private property rights and core American liberties. For more information on ALG please call us at 703-383-0880 or visit our website at www.GetLiberty.org.

MPP - NH Gov. to Sign Medical Marijuana Bill

House and Senate negotiators reached a compromise today on a measure that will allow patients with serious illnesses to obtain and use medical marijuana; full legislature expected to give final approval next week

CONCORD – New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan announced Tuesday that she intends to sign a bill that will allow state residents with serious illnesses, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and HIV/AIDS, to obtain and use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it. The governor's press release is available at http://www.governor.nh.gov/media/news/2013/pr-2013-06-18-medical-marijuana.htm

"We applaud state lawmakers for coming together to ensure the passage of this important legislation, and we are pleased to hear Gov. Hassan intends to sign it into law," said Matt Simon, a New Hampshire-based legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project. "This commonsense legislation will make New Hampshire a safer and healthier place not just for medical marijuana patients, but for all of us."

Gov. Hassan's announcement was released after House and Senate negotiators reached a compromise on the bill earlier in the day. The full House and Senate are expected to sign off on the committee of conference agreement next week. It will then be transmitted to the governor for her signature.

H.B. 573, sponsored by State Rep. Donna Schlachman (D-Exeter), will allow residents with certain debilitating illnesses to use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it. Patients will be able obtain marijuana through one of four non-profit, state-licensed alternative treatment centers.

The bill initially approved by the House allowed patients to grow up to three mature marijuana plants in their homes and to raise a defense in court if they are arrested before patient ID cards are available, but the Senate removed the provisions at the behest of Gov. Hassan. The amended bill also contained errors that would have rendered the policy unworkable. House and Senate negotiators arrived at a compromise that included the Senate's removal of the home-growing and affirmative defense provisions, but corrected the potentially fatal flaws in the bill. 

"It is unfortunate that the measure will not provide immediate protection to those currently seeking relief from medical marijuana, but in time it will ensure seriously ill people will be able to do so without fear of arrest," Simon said. "The law will also provide patients with safe and reliable access to medical marijuana so that they no longer need to resort to the underground market."

Eighteen states and Washington, D.C. allow patients with qualifying conditions to use medical marijuana with recommendations from their physicians. The Illinois Legislature approved similar legislation in May and is now awaiting the governor's signature.

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The Marijuana Policy Project, the nation’s largest marijuana-policy-reform organization, has been responsible for changing most state-level marijuana laws since 2000. For more information, visit http://www.marijuanapolicy.org.