Nationalized health care from states...

Nationalized health care from states... that’s the first step that Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) wants in the path towards nationalized health care.

In his May 29th newsletter Senator Sanders mentions his legislation for states to create universal health care pilot programs. The Senator said, “The quickest route toward a national health care program will be when individual states go forward and demonstrate that universal and non-profit health care works."

The newsletter says the Senator’s legislation allows five states to be picked for the five-year-long pilot program. The states would receive grants to pay for the program.

SOURCE:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:13:./temp/~bdcioi:@@@L&summ2=m&|/bss/|

Green Party, Libertarians, and Constitution Party team-up...

Green Party, Libertarians, and Constitution Party team-up... The Green Party sent out a news release saying the three major third parties are teaming-up to file a federal lawsuit to challenge discriminatory provisions and enforcement of ballot access laws.

The news release says, "The Green Party of Pennsylvania is party to a lawsuit that was filed recently by the Center for Competitive Democracy."

The lawsuit challenges rules that force candidates to pay litigation costs and fees to private parties who challenge their nomination petitions. The release says, "these fees have amounted to more $80,000 for the crime of doing no more than trying to run for public office."

The news release pointed to 2006 Green Party Senatorial candidate Carl Romanelli. The release says Romanelli submitted more than 100,000 signatures to get on the ballot, “The Democratic Party challenged the signatures, and after a 7-week battle, chipped away at the Green Party signatures with technicality after technicality.” Romanelli was off the ballot and fined $80,000 in court costs. "You shouldn't have to risk house and home to run for office in Pennsylvania," said Hillary Kane, Chair of the Green Party of Pennsylvania. The release continued, “similar scenario left Independent candidate Ralph Nader… with more than $80,000 in fees from their 2004 Presidential run.”

SOURCE:

http://www.gp.org/press/pr-state.php?ID=220

http://www.gpofpa.org

http://www.gp.cofm

Republicans and Democrats are to blame...

Republicans and Democrats are to blame... for ban on Gay Marriage in California according to the California Green Party. In a news release the California Green Party called it a "sad day (when) a state moves backward instead of forward towards justice and equality.”

That was the reaction after Proposition Eight in California was upheld. The Green Party, which has supported same-sex marriages since its inception.

The news release quoted Green Party member Alex Walker saying Republicans got the measure on the ballot but, “Democrats let Prop. 8 win because, as is often the case, they lacked the guts to fight for unpopular minorities."

Starlene Rankin, the Lavender Green Caucus co-chair said, "The decision goes against our country's core values of liberty and justice and it will be overturned.” Rankin said Greens are planning for a new vote on the gay marriage issue.

SOURCE:

http://gp.org/press/pr-state.php?ID=217

GM will fail...

GM will fail... that's the take from Wayne Allyn Root. The 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential Candidate says there is no reason to expect General Motors will be successful.

Root writes, "Government loses money at virtually everything it does and touches." Root pointed to Social Security, Medicare, and Education.

He then highlights the train systems. “Government took over Amtrak in the same way it took over GM, promising a quick return to profitability,” Root wrote. He continued, “Amtrak bleeds losses every year for the U.S. taxpayer. In 1970 when Amtrak was founded, $300 million was approved by Congress to run it. The government predicted profitability within 5 years. That was 39 years and over $30 billion dollars in losses ago! “

What Root calls his “clincher” argument is prostitution. Root points to the well known and profitable Mustang Ranch brothel in Nevada. Root wirtes, “(the Ranch’s owner) was indicted for tax evasion, escaped to Brazil, and is still today a fugitive from justice. The U.S. government took over the Mustang Ranch. The most successful and profitable brothel in America went bankrupt in one year under government management. That ladies and gentleman, no matter how you feel about brothels, tells you all you need to know about the ability of government to run a business.”

SOURCE:

http://www.rootforamerica.com/blog/

Fixing gender and ethnic imbalances...

Fixing gender and ethnic imbalances... that is what Independent Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders calls Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court.

In statement posted on his Congressional website Sanders said, “I very much appreciate that President Obama is attempting to address the gender and ethnic imbalance that currently exists in the highest court in our land.”

Senator Sanders continued to say he is very interested to hear Sotomayor’s take on, “privacy rights and how, in these times of international tension, we can preserve our civil liberties and constitutional rights while we defend our nation against those who would do us harm.”

Sanders also wants to hear her views on worker’s rights.

SOURCE:

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=313570

She’s Impressive...

She’s Impressive... is the take from Independent Democrat Senator Joe Lieberman (CT) on Sonia Sotomayor.

Senator Lieberman said in a statement on his congressional website, “President Obama made an impressive choice by nominating Judge Sotomayor for the position of Associate Justice for the Supreme Court.” The statement also said, “Judge Sotomayor’s career represents the best of the American dream and she possesses distinguished and superior legal credentials.”

Senator Lieberman then said he hoped for a bi-partisan and fair confirmation process.

SOURCE:

http://lieberman.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=313552

She deserves a fair shake...

She deserves a fair shake... says the National Libertarian Party. Shortly after President Obama announced the nomination of federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, the Libertarian Party said she deserves a fair shake.

But, that fair shake will include some hard questions from Libertarians. Libertarian National Committee Chairman William Redpath described Sotomayor as, “an activist for his personal cuses over a rational interpreter of law.”

The Libertarians call into question Sotomayor’s ruling in the Ricci v. DeStafano case. That is the case where the New Haven, Conn. fire department was sued over racial discrimination claims. White Firefighters sued after a promotion exam should have led to the promotion of the firefighters due to better performance than black firefighters. The city threw out the results of the exam, Sotomayor agreed with the city.

But, Sotomayor’s rulings thrown. “It is troubling that Obama, who won the highest elected office in the world without racial preferences, would nominate someone who openly admits the government should racially discriminate against its own citizens to serve the needs of political correctness,” said in the statement Redpath.

It continued, “Libertarians believe… Public employers should treat all citizens of all colors, races and ethnicities with equal respect and value and Sotomayor’s radical rulings are a jarring departure from that principle.”

SOURCE:

http://www.lp.org/news/press-releases/libertarians-blast-sotomayor-pick