April 28, 2008

On Monday, April 28, the Supreme Court rejected a constitutional challenge to Indiana's law (Crawford v. Marion County Elections Board) requiring voters to show a government-issued photo identification before they may cast a ballot. Crawford plaintiffs argued that Indiana's strict photo ID requirements disproportionately disenfranchise minority voters. Full release

This morning, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling upholding Indiana's undemocratic and restrictive voter identification law. The Supreme Court acknowledged that "The record contains no evidence of any such [impersonation] fraud actually occurring in Indiana at any time in its history," and acknowledged the law's burden on the elderly, low-income voters and other classes of voters covering hundreds of thousands of Indiana citizens. Yet this Court, ignoring the realities of life for the less affluent and powerful of the state's citizens, shrugged off these burdens and found that the law should stand. [New Republic Blog, 4/28/08] Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision today on Indiana's voter identification case: "The Supreme Court's decision is disappointing. The Court's decision today places obstacles to the fundamental rights of American citizens -- especially the poor, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities -- to participate in the electoral process. Requiring American citizens pay for underlying documents needed for an identification card and travel to distant motor vehicle locations for processing hinders -- and diminishes -- their right to vote." Full release

On the same day the Democratic National Committee released a new ad highlighting John McCain's commitment to continuing President Bush's failed strategy in Iraq, McCain traveled to Miami Children's Hospital to explain why he is promising four more years of the Bush health care agenda. While the number of Americans lacking health care insurance has climbed to 47 million on President Bush's watch, John McCain's health care plan would do nothing to reduce the ranks of the uninsured and nothing to ensure that cancer survivors and people with other pre-existing medical conditions can get health insurance. McCain even supported President Bush's decision to veto health care for 10 million American children, including the 330,000 poor children in Florida who have no health insurance. Full release

Congressional Quarterly Inc., the nation's premier provider of news and analysis on Congress, politics and public policy, today announced a new report on how the Democrats' protracted fight for the presidential nomination has the potential to bolster the GOP's efforts to regain congressional seats. Full release

"This is a disgraceful decision by a court that has no credibility on election issues. The court has shown once again that it does not respect voters," said Mary G. Wilson, president of the League of Women Voters of the United States. Full release

The international focus of Equality Forum 2008 is Gays and Lesbians in the Muslim World. Equality Forum presents the largest annual national and international GLBT civil rights forum. Equality Forum 2008 (April 28-May 4) in Philadelphia has 34 panels, 14 parties and 15 special events.
Full release.

A reception at the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada marks the midway point in a six city tour organized by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) to highlight efforts to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The tour, which takes SLDN executive director Aubrey Sarvis from San Diego to Palm Springs before making stops in Las Vegas, Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, is an initiative aimed at educating Americans on the effort to lift the ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service personnel. Full release.

Today Senator John Kerry held a hearing to examine the impact of employers who fail to abide by lawful hiring practices and hear what steps Massachusetts has taken to address the underground economy. When employees are paid off the books or misclassified as a "contract employee," companies are able to avoid paying certain employment taxes and benefits. As small businesses and labor leaders testified, this puts firms that play by the rules at a competitive disadvantage and results in tens of millions of dollars in unpaid income taxes and worker benefits in Massachusetts. Full release

The following was released today by the Republican National Committee: Obama: "I mean this has been, I guess, four years ago. ... I just don't have a recollection of the event. As I said, I was in the middle of running a U.S. Senate race. So, you know, I was speaking all the time, probably six, seven, eight times a day." (John McCormick, "Obama Doesn't Deny But Can't Recall Attending Rezko Party Cited In Trial," Los Angeles Times' "Top Of The Ticket" Blog, latimesblogs.latimes.com, 4/27/08) Full release

Amid surging food prices, child malnutrition, violent unrest and the prospect of prolonged food shortages, one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations has announced a potential 1.5 million drop in the number of people receiving its food assistance. Full release.

There is evidence to suggest that during this election year, the Republicans are backing Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee in order to seal the Presidential spot for John McCain.
Full release

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