Politics
Legislator Who Stood Up to Sexism in '73 Sees Some Progress: "People just watched us like we were from outer space"
It was the spring of 1973, and 34-year-old Thompson had just started her first term in the Texas House of Representatives. Earlier that day, she was walking into a popular lunch place near the Capitol in Austin when Democratic state Rep. C.C. 'Kit' Cooke saw her and said loudly, for everyone to hear, "Oh, here comes my beautiful black mistress." She was infuriated. That same afternoon, Thompson, a Democrat, stepped onto the House floor to tell her mostly white, male colleagues she would not tolerate racist or sexist insults. more »
Protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Oil and Gas Development in This Area Would Permanently and Irreversibly Disrupt the Ecological Integrity of the Refuge
"We are a trusted resource for lawmakers when it comes to Refuge System issues, and our successful advocacy record speaks to our effectiveness on Capitol Hill. We partner with Friends groups in all 50 states, volunteers across the Refuge System, private businesses, and other conservation groups to make the most impact we can. The threat to the Arctic Refuge is more real than it has ever been. The Arctic Refuge belongs to all Americans, and this shared resource must not be irreversibly tarnished so that a select few can earn a quick profit. The Refuge Association has been fighting to defend the Arctic Refuge for decades and we have no intention of backing down now." more »
From FactCheck.org: Trump Nixed Gun-Control Rule: The Obama administration estimated that the reporting requirement would cover "approximately 75,000 people each year who have a documented mental health issue"
Q: Did President Donald Trump repeal a rule that aims to block some people with mental disorders from buying guns? A: Yes. The Social Security Administration is no longer required to submit the names of certain mentally disabled beneficiaries to a federal agency that conducts gun background checks. The Obama administration estimated that the reporting requirement would cover "approximately 75,000 people each year who have a documented mental health issue, receive disability benefits, and are unable to manage those benefits because of their mental impairment, or who have been found by a state or federal court to be legally incompetent." more »
GAO Study: Voters With Disabilities; Observations on Polling Place Accessibility and Related Federal Guidance
GAO examined a nongeneralizable sample of 178 polling places during early in-person voting and on Election Day 2016. At these polling places, GAO examined a number of features outside and inside the voting area. Outside the voting area, GAO was able to examine features at all 178 polling places and found that 60 percent (107) had one or more potential impediments. The most common were steep ramps located outside buildings, lack of signs indicating accessible paths, and poor parking or path surfaces. more »