#senate bill 884

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Trudy Ring at The Advocate:

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a defense spending bill that includes a provision denying insurance coverage for gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members. The National Defense Authorization Act, providing for $884 billion in military spending for fiscal year 2025, passed Wednesday on a vote of 281 to 140, with 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans voting against it.

The controversial provision in the act would prohibit coverage under the TriCare insurance plan of any medical intervention for “gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization” for anyone under age 18. That would mean an end to care for any military families using TriCare as their health insurance. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a far-right, anti-LGBTQ+ Republican, had backed this section of the bill. The bill now goes to the Senate, which has a narrow Democratic majority. However, it is still expected to pass there, Breaking Defense reports. President Joe Biden has pledged to veto any anti-trans legislation. Civil rights groups and Democratic politicians quickly condemned the House's action. “Military servicemembers and their families wake up every day and sacrifice more than most of us will ever understand," said a statement from Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson. "Those families protect our right to live freely and with dignity — they deserve that same right, and the freedom to access the care their children need. Today, politicians in the House betrayed our nation’s promise to those who serve. Not since the ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ passed almost 30 years ago has an anti-LGBTQ+ policy been enshrined into federal law. For the thousands of families impacted, this isn’t about politics. It’s about young people who deserve our support. Those who have courageously stepped up to serve this country should never have their families used as bargaining chips. Now, the Senate has the opportunity to reject this and any bill that includes these dangerous anti-trans, anti-military family provisions, and remember the fundamental promise of our democracy: that everyone deserves dignity, respect, and the right to healthcare.”

81 cowardly Democrats voted to deny Tricare insurance coverage for gender-affirming care for trans children of service members in the NDAA that passed 281-140. Shame on them!

This will go to the Senate, and we hope to have that provision removed there.

See Also:

LGBTQ Nation: House passes NDAA bill restricting military families from getting trans healthcare

AP, via HuffPost: House Approves $895B Defense Bill With Military Pay Raise, Ban On Transgender Care For Minors

[eastcountytoday]

Sen. Dodd Legislation Helps Schools in Emergency Power Shutoffs

Sen. Dodd Legislation Helps Schools in Emergency Power Shutoffs

SACRAMENTO –Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced legislation that would help schools recover funding and instructional time lost by wildfire-related power shutoffs from Pacific Gas & Electric Co and other utilities.

“Educating our children is priority one, so communities stricken by PG&E’s poorly executed power outages shouldn’t be forced to endure losses to their school budgets,” Sen. Dodd said.…

[lakeconews]

Governor signs McGuire bill to expedite undergrounding of PG&E lines

Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire’s bill, SB 884, that will safeguard communities and save lives by expediting the undergrounding of electric utility lines in California’s highest fire risk zones, was signed into law on Thursday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

[todayinsharknews]

The measure (SB 884), filed Friday by Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, would make it a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida to trade or offer for sale shark fins or shark tails.

[drunkwingtip]

Vote NO on Lifetime Refugee Ban

So much of my community, the community I love, is comprised by families who sought asylum in this country, especially by boat. The fact that the Australian Senate will be debating a bill to enact a Lifetime Ban on refugees who have tried to seek asylum by boat is beyond the pale of cold racist xenophobia usually exhibited by this country.

While the thought of jumping on the phone and sending emails to contact politicians can be nerve-wracking as hell (I sure feel that way), I really encourage Australians to put pressure on the Senators who are still undecided on this bill to VOTE NO.

Senator Derryn Hinch (02) 6277 3168 1300 498 035 Senator.Hinch@aph.gov.au

Senator David Leyonhjelm (02) 6277 3054 1300 884 092 Senator.Leyonhjelm@aph.gov.au

Senator Jacqui Lambie (02) 6277 3063 (03) 6431 2233 Senator.Lambie@aph.gov.au

Senator Skye Kakoschke-Moore (02) 6277 3178 (08) 8232 0440 Senator.Kakoschke-Moore@aph.gov.au

Senator Stirling Griff (02) 6277 3713 1300 556 115 Senator.Griff@aph.gov.au

Senator Nick Xenophon (02) 6277 3713 1300 556 115 nickxenophon.com.au

Script suggestion:

“Hi my name is …(name, if comfortable disclosing).. and I am calling from …(location)… I would like to express my concern and discontent with the proposal of imposing a lifetime ban on refugees. This goes against the Refugee Convention and International Law. It also goes against our humanity and morality as we should be assisting those in need of protection. Please vote NO to this proposal or you will lose my vote”

Contact details and script is from: http://riserefugee.org/blockthebillcampaign/  Check out the RISE website for more information. Resistance begins at home.

[peaflesh61-blog]

Republican Gerrymandering Has Basically Destroyed Representative Democracy in Wisconsin

Photo Illustration/Getty Images

What purpose do elections have if results like these are allowed to stand?

Early on Wednesday morning, after working through the night as the end of the lame-duck session approaches, the Wisconsin state legislature passed a set of bills that will sharply limit the ability of incoming Democratic governor Tony Evers and attorney general Josh Kaul to do the jobs that the people of Wisconsin chose them to do. The legislature did this because it is controlled by Republicans, and as much as Republicans profess to love this country and cherish the freedoms that come with living in it, one thing they cannot abide is the notion that Americans might exercise those freedoms in order to elect people that Republicans do not like.

In the state senate, the margins were close: 17-16 on SB 884, which transfers powers of the attorney general to the legislature, and 18-15 on SB 886, which requires that the Department of Health obtain legislative permission before moving to expand Medicaid under Obamacare. But in the assembly, they were not: 56-27 in favor of SB 884, and 59-32 in favor of SB 886. This discrepancy arises because there might be no one better at gerrymandering their state to preserve minority rule than Badger State Republicans.

In 2010, after Republicans won the governorship and control of the state legislature, they set about the task of drawing new legislative district boundaries to ensure that they'd never cede that control again. This graphic from University of Wisconsin political science professor Barry Burden, which depicts the vote share of every newly-elected assemblymember in 2018, shows just how successful they were at that task. As he notes, it is a breathtakingly skillful display of anti-democratic maneuvering that might merit more appreciation if it weren't such galling evidence of moral bankruptcy.

Comparing this year's results with those from previous elections provides an even more startling perspective on the GOP's efficiency. As noted by the Washington Post's Philip Bump, in 2016, Republican candidates won 161,000 more votes than their Democratic counterparts, which yielded a 29-person GOP advantage in the assembly. This seems intuitive enough: Get more votes, get more seats at the table. In 2018, however, Democrats received 205,000 more votes than Republicans, which yielded a 27-person advantage. For Republicans.

The key to a successful gerrymander is making it election-proof: drawing the lines to ensure that, no matter what constituents want or how they choose to vote, their ballots will be tallied in a way that preserves the power of the gerrymanderers. In 2016, when Trump took Wisconsin and Ron Johnson won his Senate re-election bid, Republicans came away with a healthy majority in the assembly. In the 2018 wave election, when senator Tammy Baldwin handily beat a Republican challenger and voters ushered Scott Walker into retirement, it was almost the exact same result.

Democrats have spent years raising hell about this unsavory arrangement, but so far, they have little to show for their efforts. In 2016, a federal court in Wisconsin found that the map ran afoul of the constitutional guarantee of equal protection, and ordered the legislature to draw a new one. The state appealed, however, and in June, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Gill v. Whitford, punting on the substance of the challenge and remanding it to the district court to determine whether the plaintiffs have standing to bring suit. Should it ever return to the Supreme Court, the recent replacement of Anthony Kennedy, who had indicated his disapproval of partisan gerrymandering, with Republican justice Brett Kavanaugh does not bode well for the case's future.

The most vexing obstacle for anti-gerrymandering activists is that the Court's "one-person, one-vote" rule requires that legislative districts be of approximately equal population size—but that, as a matter of constitutional law, it prescribes nothing about the party preferences of those who live in them. The justices' role, they say, is to resolve legal questions, not political disputes. "Because there are yet no agreed upon substantive principles of fairness in districting," Justice Kennedy wrote in 2004's Vieth v. Jubelirer, "we have no basis on which to define clear, manageable, and politically neutral standards for measuring the particular burden a given partisan classification imposes on representational rights." What's happening in Madison, however, is pretty compelling evidence that the Court needs to find a way to resolve this problem before representative democracy in Wisconsin functionally ceases to exist.

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ONE

Source: https://www.gq.com/story/republican-gerrymandering-wisconsin

[ustribunenews-blog]

Democrat Senator, 2nd Class Chris Coons propose new legislation S.884 in the Senate

Democrat Senator, 2nd Class Chris Coons propose new legislation S.884 in the Senate

A bill to authorize a grant program that strengthens the capacity of community development financial institutions through alignment with national service participants.

Democratic Senator Chris Coons from the state of DE, along with just one cosponsor, introduced bill S.884 on Mar 26, 2019.

There are currently no amendments. So far none of the bill’s cosponsors has withdrawn their support.

Read…

[news247worldpress-blog]

Theresa May: Gareth Southgate and the @England boys have done a fantastic job, and I wish them all the very best of luck tonight. #ENGCRO #ThreeLions #WorldCup2018 0:11 176 replies 125 retweets 608 likes Reply 176 Retweet 125 Like 608 Direct message Jeremy Corbyn ‏ Verified account @jeremycorbyn 38m38 minutes ago More England’s diverse group of footballers have been a credit to the nation during this #WorldCup. And it’s great that they’ve supported @SRTRC_England. Wishing them the best of luck against Croatia #ShowRacismtheRedCard #ENGCRO 60 replies 284 retweets 902 likes Reply 60 Retweet 284 Like 902 Direct message 🌵ArizonaKat🌵 liked TRUMP News 24/7 ‏ @MichaelDelauzon 6h6 hours ago More TRUMP News 24/7 Retweeted Fox News Everyone should watch this. You can hear the NATO guys sphincter slam shut!TRUMP News 24/7 added, 2:00 Fox News Verified account @FoxNews .@POTUS on NATO defense spending: “It’s very unfair to our country, it’s very unfair to our taxpayer. And I think that these countries have to step it up not over a 10 year period— they have to step it up immediately.” 5 replies 60 retweets 113 likes Reply 5 Retweet 60 Like 113 Direct message Donald Trump Jr. liked Ivanka Trump ‏ Verified account @IvankaTrump 2h2 hours ago More Ivanka Trump Retweeted Fox News Read my OpEd on Paid Family Leave in advance of today’s Senate Finance hearings: #PFLIvanka Trump added, Fox News Verified account @FoxNews OPINION: @IvankaTrump: Paid family leave is an investment in America’s families — It deserves bipartisan support https://fxn.ws/2N7KdMF 798 replies 1,013 retweets 4,336 likes Reply 798 Retweet 1.0K Like 4.3K Direct message Secretary Pompeo ‏ Verified account @SecPompeo 33m33 minutes ago More .@NATO is the most successful alliance in history. All #NATO allies have committed to extending this success through increased defense spending, deterrence and defense, and fighting terrorism. Weakness provokes; strength and cohesion protects. This remains our bedrock belief. Ambassador Sondland, US Mission to the EU, US Embassy Brussels and US Mission to NATO 245 replies 379 retweets 884 likes Reply 245 Retweet 379 Like 884 Direct message 🌵ArizonaKat🌵 liked The White House ‏ Verified account @WhiteHouse 7h7 hours ago More President Trump met with the Secretary General of NATO this morning. Check @realDonaldTrump to see the message he delivered. 443 replies 815 retweets 3,653 likes Reply 443 Retweet 815 Like 3.7K Direct message 🌵ArizonaKat🌵 liked Tony Shaffer ‏ Verified account @T_S_P_O_O_K_Y 54m54 minutes ago More Tony Shaffer Retweeted Mollie People who were involved in the Fusion GPS issue simply need to go to jail…Tony Shaffer added, Mollie Verified account @MZHemingway FBI agent Peter Strzok wrote that Fusion GPS’ Glenn Simpson gave him a copy of the dossier. Simpson told Senate Judiciary Committee that he never communicated with FBI. 32 replies 361 retweets 622 likes Reply 32 Retweet 361 Like 622 Direct message President of Russia ‏ Verified account @KremlinRussia_E 3h3 hours ago More Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia paid homage to Saint Sergius and Saint Herman, founders of the Valaam Monastery https://bit.ly/2uakhsJ 22 replies 104 retweets 305 likes Reply 22 Retweet 104 Like 305 Direct message Ted Cruz ‏ Verified account @tedcruz 43m43 minutes ago More US Senate candidate, TX Ted Cruz Retweeted Stephen King Limousine liberal @StephenKing preaching socialism (but not his millions!) to Texas is pretty scary, kinda like Carrie riding Cujo, chopping through a door with an ax and saying “heeeeeeeeere’s……..Johnny!”Ted Cruz added, Stephen King Verified account @StephenKing Hey, Texas! I suppose you’re going to re-elect Ted Cruz, but I hope you don’t. Beto O’Rourke is mega-cool. Smart, too. Also, jeez, do we have to look at Ted for another six years? The mind reels. 369 replies 432 retweets 1,509 likes Reply 369 Retweet 432 Like 1.5K Direct message Oana Lungescu ‏ Verified account @NATOpress 6h6 hours ago More Read #NATO SG @jensstoltenberg’s full remarks to the meeting w/ President Donald Trump @POTUS : https://bit.ly/2unPDv4 #NATOSummit 0 replies 20 retweets 21 likes Reply Retweet 20 Like 21 Direct message Maria Bartiromo and 🌵ArizonaKat🌵 liked Rep. Jim Jordan ‏ Verified account @Jim_Jordan 13h13 hours ago More Lisa Page ignores congressional subpoena, once again showing the double standard. One set of rules for regular Americans, a different set for the Swamp! 7,653 replies 13,675 retweets 30,500 likes Reply 7.7K Retweet 14K Like 31K Direct message AntiCorruptionDigest ‏ @anti_digest 6h6 hours ago More Anti-Corruption Daily Newsletter for 07/11/2018 – http://eepurl.com/dAN5lP 0 replies 1 retweet 0 likes Reply Retweet 1 Like Direct message Donald J. Trump ‏ Verified account @realDonaldTrump 2h2 hours ago More I am in Brussels, but always thinking about our farmers. Soy beans fell 50% from 2012 to my election. Farmers have done poorly for 15 years. Other countries’ trade barriers and tariffs have been destroying their businesses. I will open… 3,972 replies 6,474 retweets 26,973 likes Reply 4.0K Retweet 6.5K Like 27K Direct message Show this thread Ari Fleischer ‏ Verified account @AriFleischer 2h2 hours ago More If Europe (and its defenders in the US media) don’t like the way Trump is treating them on NATO, they have only themselves to blame. For decades they ignored our “polite” presidents. Their decades-long habit of making empty promises gave rise to Trump. The bill is due. 384 replies 1,941 retweets 4,884 likes Reply 384 Retweet 1.9K Like 4.9K Direct message Chris Hayes liked ☭amanda rose☭ ‏ @argoats Jul 10 More don’t 👏🏻call 👏🏻yourself👏🏻 a👏🏻 male 👏🏻feminist 👏🏻if 👏🏻u 👏🏻haven’t 👏🏻abandoned👏🏻 your 👏🏻cod👏🏻 fishing 👏🏻expedition 👏🏻to 👏🏻prevent 👏🏻women👏🏻 from 👏🏻being👏🏻 burned 👏🏻at 👏🏻the👏🏻 stake 96 replies 2,819 retweets 11,092 likes Reply 96 Retweet 2.8K Like 11K Direct message Show this thread ACSEL – HubDigital ‏ @AcselDigital 7h7 hours ago More L’Acsel & les beaux jours : la Grande enquête du Numérique, le Cybersecurity Cocktail et le cycle #ReinventWork… – https://mailchi.mp/acsel/quoideneufenmars-1245465 …Translate Tweet 0 replies 0 retweets 3 likes Reply Retweet Like 3 Direct message Paul Ryan ‏ Verified account @SpeakerRyan 36m36 minutes ago More Paul Ryan Retweeted House Republicans It’s been two years since @HouseGOP offered the people a positive, unified agenda, a #BetterWay. We’re delivering on our promises, and the American people are #BetterOffNow. Watch live →Paul Ryan added, House Republicans Verified account @HouseGOP We’re LIVE to deliver the latest on our work this week in the House. Tune in now → https://www.pscp.tv/w/bhYFZjE4NTQwNTV8MXZPeHdWUVJSWkxKQryNcF7AIxQV_tRrVcExN9n96cK4CDR2naraXlKjBppT … 236 replies 28 retweets 91 likes Reply 236 Retweet 28 Like 91 Direct message Oana Lungescu ‏ Verified account @NATOpress 5h5 hours ago More We cannot take the transatlantic bond for granted, we must work every day to keep it strong – SG @jensstoltenberg #NATOEngages #NATOSummit 1 reply 12 retweets 18 likes Reply 1 Retweet 12 Like 18 Direct message Ivanka Trump liked Ronna McDaniel ‏ Verified account @GOPChairwoman 28m28 minutes ago More Thank you @IvankaTrump for your commitment to fighting for working families! 32 replies 35 retweets 94 likes Reply 32 Retweet 35 Like 94 Direct message Guy Verhofstadt ‏ Verified account @guyverhofstadt 2h2 hours ago More The only answer the Europeans can give at the #NATOSummit is to launch a European Defence Community which will also be a solid European Pillar within the Alliance. Europe should not be completely dependent on someone who is as reckless as Donald Trump. 135 replies 296 retweets 807 likes Reply 135 Retweet 296 Like 807 Direct message Donald Trump Jr. liked Fox News ‏ Verified account @FoxNews 7h7 hours ago More .@POTUS: “It certainly doesn’t seem to make sense that [Germany pays] billions of dollars to Russia and now we have to defend them against Russia.” 241 replies 1,048 retweets 3,551 likes Reply 241 Retweet 1.0K Like 3.6K Direct message David A. Clarke, Jr. ‏ @SheriffClarke 8h8 hours ago More “Lisa Page, the former anti-Trump FBI lawyer WHO WAS BRIEFLY part OF SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT MUELLER ’S TEAM, will not attend a Congressional hearing for which she had been subpoenaed…” How did she end up originally part of Mueller’s team? THE FIX WAS IN. 285 replies 1,788 retweets 3,950 likes Reply 285 Retweet 1.8K Like 4.0K Direct message 🌵ArizonaKat🌵 liked TRUMP News 24/7 ‏ @MichaelDelauzon 1h1 hour ago More FLOTUS moments ago arriving at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, an elite music academy in Waterloo to participate in the spousal program, which includes a tour, concert & fashion exhibition featuring local designers ❤️ 8 replies 104 retweets 222 likes Reply 8 Retweet 104 Like 222 Direct message NBC News ‏ Verified account @NBCNews 42m42 minutes ago More “I’m telling the truth … To think that I would not stand up for my athletes is ridiculous,” Rep. Jordan says Wednesday in response to allegations that he knew of sexual abuse by Ohio State team doctor. https://nbcnews.to/2J2zDUD 262 replies 55 retweets 72 likes Reply 262 Retweet 55 Like 72 Direct message Oana Lungescu ‏ Verified account @NATOpress 7h7 hours ago More We have many issues to discuss, incl defence spending. We all agree we have to do more. The good news is that Allies have started to invest more in defence – #NATO SG @jensstoltenberg #NATOSummit 0 replies 12 retweets 19 likes Reply Retweet 12 Like 19 Direct message CBS News ‏ Verified account @CBSNews 3h3 hours ago More “Germany is totally controlled by Russia”: President Trump took a few jabs at Germany during a combative breakfast kicking off a NATO summit in Brussels. https://cbsn.ws/2L6VpbC 438 replies 237 retweets 376 likes Reply 438 Retweet 237 Like 376 Direct message Forbes liked Kim Kardashian West ‏ Verified account @KimKardashian 1h1 hour ago More CONGRATS ⁦@KylieJenner⁩ 🔥🔥🔥 491 replies 7,340 retweets 47,668 likes Reply 491 Retweet 7.3K Like 48K Direct message Laura Ingraham ‏ Verified account @IngrahamAngle 3h3 hours ago More America elected @realDonaldTrump bc they were tired of being played for fools by govt elites at home and abroad. This isn’t 1975. Our alliances will only remain strong if they are based on honesty & transparency. 545 replies 2,144 retweets 8,298 likes Reply 545 Retweet 2.1K Like 8.3K Direct message Oana Lungescu ‏ Verified account @NATOpress 7h7 hours ago More [LIVE] #NATO SG @jensstoltenberg meets w/ President Donald Trump @POTUS @realDonaldTrump at the start of the #NATOSummit: https://bit.ly/2An2mQ5 0 replies 26 retweets 26 likes Reply Retweet 26 Like 26 Direct message 🌵ArizonaKat🌵 liked Ari Fleischer ‏ Verified account @AriFleischer 3h3 hours ago More NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JENS STOLTENBERG: “NATO Allies has to invest more in defense, and that’s not exactly what they’re doing.” The head of NATO said that this morning. He knows it. Europe knows it. Everyone knows it. NATO nations need to increase their defense spending. 119 replies 702 retweets 1,779 likes Reply 119 Retweet 702 Like 1.8K Direct message Maria Bartiromo liked Byron York ‏ Verified account @ByronYork 3h3 hours ago More Could be love between NYT and Avenatti: ‘Blatant blue eyes…9 percent body fat…cheeks and chin Cubist in their geometry…his face, steely and composed…’ 147 replies 105 retweets 372 likes Reply 147 Retweet 105 Like 372 Direct message ABC News ‏ Verified account @ABC 6h6 hours ago More “Germany is totally controlled by Russia”: Pres. Trump issues blistering attacks on Germany at NATO breakfast. https://abcn.ws/2N77sqa 585 replies 409 retweets 654 likes Reply 585 Retweet 409 Like 654 Direct message Oana Lungescu ‏ Verified account @NATOpress 3h3 hours ago More The #NATOSummit Opening Ceremony is about to start 0 replies 15 retweets 18 likes Reply Retweet 15 Like 18 Direct message Pope Francis ‏ Verified account @Pontifex 3h3 hours ago More Europe rediscovers hope when the human person is at the heart of its institutions. St Benedict, pray for us! 233 replies 2,349 retweets 12,679 likes Reply 233 Retweet 2.3K Like 13K Direct message 🌵ArizonaKat🌵 liked TRUMP News 24/7 ‏ @MichaelDelauzon 1h1 hour ago More FLOTUS along with other leaders spouses get a tour of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo ❤️ 0 replies 24 retweets 56 likes Reply Retweet 24 Like 56 Direct message Metropolitan Police ‏ Verified account @metpoliceuk 3h3 hours ago More Man jailed for #Regentstreet moped robbery http://news.met.police.uk/news/regent-street-moped-robber-jailed-314003 … 26 replies 35 retweets 87 likes Reply 26 Retweet 35 Like 87 Direct message Jeremy Corbyn for PM ‏ @JeremyCorbyn4PM 4h4 hours ago More We are ready for a Labour government under @jeremycorbyn ▼ 4 replies 32 retweets 49 likes Reply 4 Retweet 32 Like 49 Direct message David Burke ‏ @ConservativeTht 52m52 minutes ago More I’m hearing rumblings that Brett Cavanaugh isn’t the “perfect” candidate. NEWSFLASH: There is no “perfect” Supreme Court candidate. These are human beings. But compared to the alternate scenario: Hillary Clinton nominating a 6th Liberal Justice, Judge Cavanaugh is dream come true 5 replies 39 retweets 57 likes Reply 5 Retweet 39 Like 57 Direct message Oana Lungescu liked Rose Gottemoeller ‏ Verified account @Gottemoeller 4h4 hours ago More Super way to start the day, opening #NATOEngages. We’re bringing together leaders & experts from around the world, young and old, to discuss our key security challenges. Follow #NATOEngages or visit http://nato-engages.org for the latest info. WIIS Brussels, German Marshall Fund and Atlantic Council 2 replies 29 retweets 59 likes Reply 2 Retweet 29 Like 59 Direct message Oana Lungescu ‏ Verified account @NATOpress 5h5 hours ago More VIDEO #NATO SG @jensstoltenberg wraps up #NATOengages session with @barbarastarrcnn just now talking about unity despite the differences. #NATOSummit 0 replies 11 retweets 21 likes Reply Retweet 11 Like 21 Direct message Donald J. Trump ‏ Verified account @realDonaldTrump 2h2 hours ago More …things up, better than ever before, but it can’t go too quickly. I am fighting for a level playing field for our farmers, and will win! 4,254 replies 5,073 retweets 23,868 likes Reply 4.3K Retweet 5.1K Like 24K Direct message Show this thread Oana Lungescu ‏ Verified account @NATOpress 7h7 hours ago More After years of cuts in defence budgets, Allies are now adding billions, & last year we saw the biggest increase in defence spending in a generation – #NATO SG @jensstoltenberg #NATOSummit 0 replies 10 retweets 14 likes Reply Retweet 10 Like 14 Direct message Laura Ingraham liked Brit Hume ‏ Verified account @brithume 49m49 minutes ago More Brit Hume Retweeted Bill Kristol I suppose you can also be pro-tax cuts, pro deregulation, pro-defense increases, pro gun rights, pro-life and anti-Trump. But at some point, it begins to seem ridiculous.Brit Hume added, Bill Kristol Verified account @BillKristol You can be pro-Kavanaugh and anti-Trump. Show this thread 382 replies 1,102 retweets 3,754 likes Reply 382 Retweet 1.1K Like 3.8K Direct message Oana Lungescu ‏ Verified account @NATOpress 5h5 hours ago More The #EU cannot replace #NATO when it comes to the defence of Europe, but European efforts on defence can strengthen NATO – @jensstoltenberg answers question from audience at #NATOengages. #NATOSummit 1 reply 20 retweets 30 likes Reply 1 Retweet 20 Like 30 Direct message Oana Lungescu ‏ Verified account @NATOpress 3h3 hours ago More Getting ready for the opening ceremony at #NATOSummit: Allied foreign and defence ministers making their way through the agora. 0 replies 14 retweets 17 likes Reply Retweet 14 Like 17 Direct message Oana Lungescu ‏ Verified account @NATOpress 6h6 hours ago More Our #NATOSummit comes at a time when we face unprecedented security challenges as well as some serious differences between Allies. But I’m confident that at this Summit we’ll deliver – SG @jensstoltenberg 0 replies 8 retweets 15 likes Reply Retweet 8 Like 15 Direct message Fox News ‏ Verified account @FoxNews 25m25 minutes ago More .@POTUS: “We have a tremendous relationship with Germany.” 132 replies 117 retweets 358 likes Reply 132 Retweet 117 Like 358 Direct message Who to follow · Refresh · View all Trey GowdyVerified account @TGowdySC Follow Follow @TGowdySC Oprah WinfreyVerified account @Oprah Follow Follow @Oprah Ray DalioVerified account @RayDalio Follow Follow @RayDalio Find people you know Import your contacts from Gmail Connect other address books © 2018 TwitterAboutHelp CenterTermsPrivacy policyCookiesAds infoBrandBlogStatusAppsJobsMarketingBusinessesDevelopers Source: Twitter

[gregorycpeters]

Bill requiring public vote on Astrodome proposal passes Texas Senate

A bill that would prevent Harris County from moving forward with its $105 million Astrodome repurposing plan without voter approval passed the Texas Senate on March 29. State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston filed Senate Bill 884, dubbed by Whitmire’s office as the “Harris County Taxpayer Protection Act,” would require Harris County to obtain voter approval for any improvement or redevelopment to the facility costing $10 million or more in county revenue. The bill must pass the Texas House of Representatives and be signed by the governor to become law.

http://ift.tt/2o6AJG7

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Trudy Ring at The Advocate:

The U.S. Senate has passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a provision denying insurance coverage for gender-affirming care for transgender youth under the military’s TriCare plan, primarily affecting children of service members. The bill, considered a must-pass piece of legislation, passed the Senate Wednesday by a vote of 85-14, with several Democrats voting against it. Those voting no included Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, and Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. The act says that under TriCare, “medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization may not be provided to a child under the age of 18.” Medical experts say these treatments, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, don’t usually result in sterilization, but LGBTQ+ advocates say those who added this provision intended to ban coverage for all care and that an incoming Donald Trump administration will undoubtedly enforce it this way. Genital surgery is almost never performed on minors. Baldwin led an effort to amend the bill to remove the anti-trans language, which was added to the House version through a push by anti-LGBTQ+ Speaker Mike Johnson. The Senate approved the House version and did not add Baldwin’s amendment — it never even came to a vote. It authorizes $884 billion in defense spending for fiscal year 2025; there is another $11 billion in defense funding not covered by the NDAA, bringing the total to $895 billion.

This is so sad and heartbreaking: Majority of Senate Democrats voted to betray trans kids by voting for the NDAA that includes a provision denying gender-affirming care insurance under Tricare for trans youth.