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‘Choose Life’ license plates could be boon for faith-based pregnancy centers

By Mary Tuma | 01.26.11

Image by: Matt Mahurin“Choose Life” license plates are back. Pre-abortion sonograms are an official state emergency. The 2011 Texas legislative session presents great opportunities for anti-abortion advocates and faith-based crisis pregnancy resource centers, to which the state directs millions of dollars per year.

State of Union strikes chord with Dems, others skeptical

By Scot Kersgaard | 01.25.11 | The Colorado Independent

Image by Matt MahurinPresident Barack Obama delivered a rousing State of the Union speech tonight in front of wolves laying down with lambs. Colorado Senator Mark Udall, who called for the bipartisan seating arrangement, sat with Senator Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina. Most of Colorado’s delegation sat together, regardless of party, and the same More…

Another reason to doubt the ‘lazy unemployed’ meme

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By Ed Brayton | 01.20.11

Gallup has a webpage that tracks global unemployment numbers. Felix Salmon looks at the data and provides another argument for why the claim that unemployment benefits keeps people from taking jobs is false.

Private interests fund inaugurations in Florida, Michigan, Texas

By Patrick Brendel | 01.18.11 | The Texas Independent

Image by Matt MahurinTexas Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst aren’t the only state leaders in the U.S. to have private donors and corporate interests pick up the tab for their inauguration ceremony.

The Dallas Morning News‘ Wayne Slater reports that “Oil executives, beer distributors, lobbyists and big-dollar campaign donors

Florida judge rules federal health care reform unconstitutional

By Travis Pillow | 01.31.11 | 4:10 pm | The Florida Independent

A Florida judge has ruled that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, a victory for the 26 states that joined in a suit challenging the law in federal court. #


U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson ruled Monday that the “individual mandate” More…

UT professor wields nationwide support in call to rethink U.S.-Egyptian policy

By Mary Tuma | 01.31.11 | 4:09 pm

A University of Texas at Austin professor is generating national support for his call to the U.S. to reevaluate its stance on the dire situation in Egypt. Government professor Jason
Brownlee drafted a letter to President Obama yesterday urging the leader to rethink Middle East policy and stand More…

Ellmers, who opposed coverage of pre-existing conditions, to chair Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology

Position is key in implementing federal health care reform
By Aaron Sarver | 01.31.11 | 3:04 pm

Freshman Republican U.S. Rep Renee Ellmers (N.C.) will chair the Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology, which is part of the House Committee on Small Business. The position is instrumental in leading the implementation of federal health care reform, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

As a candidate More…

Pawlenty courting social conservatives in Iowa

By Tyler Kingkade | 01.31.11 | 2:00 pm | The Iowa Independent

Former two-term Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty was said to be on a short list of John McCain’s vice-presidential picks in 2008. Now, with another trip to Iowa planned for next month, Pawlenty says a decision on his own bid for the 2012 Republican nomination will come More…

Conyers says he will run again in 2012

By Todd Heywood | 01.31.11 | 12:53 pm | The Michigan Messenger

Congressman John Conyers says he is ready to run for re-election in 2012. The 81-year-old, 24-term Congressman acknowledged the plan for re-election in an interview with the Detroit News.

Conyers is the longest serving African-American in Congress, and is second only to Michigan Democratic Congressman John Dingell in being More…

Shuler, McIntyre back GOP bill that redefines rape in publicly-funded abortion cases

By Aaron Sarver | 01.31.11 | 12:04 pm | North Carolina Independent News

Democratic U.S. Reps. Heath Shuler and Mike McIntyre of North Carolina have joined 171 other members of Congress as co-sponsors of H.R. 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Federal law prohibits government funding of abortions except in some cases including incest and rape, but H.R. 3 seeks More…

Civil rights groups question new ICE detention facility in Karnes City

ICE officer for south/central Texas unaware of any lawsuits against GEO
By Julissa Trevino | 01.31.11 | 11:56 am | The Texas Independent

Southeast of San Antonio, plans are set for the construction of a new immigrant detention center — one that Immigration and Customs Enforcement calls its first civil detention facility, but civil rights groups are still concerned over where that leaves ICE’s promise to improve the detention system in the U.S. More…

Marco Rubio will not attend CPAC

By Luke Johnson | 01.31.11 | 10:41 am

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) will not be attending the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington next week, reports Alex Leary: