Contraception’s Bang for the Buck
JUNEAU, AK—Opposition to abortion rights has been the political hallmark of Alaska State Senator Fred Dyson (R-Eagle River). He is also, as these ironies invariably go, opposed to expanding contraceptive access. “By and large, sexual activity is recreation,” the senator intoned today during floor debate on SB49. “The state shouldn’t finance other people’s recreation.” Does the senator favor elimination of all state parks? What of the Department of Fish & Game—some of which relates to subsistence, but which also serves recreational endeavors? Is he aware that it is public, state-financed roads taking us to our state’s ski resorts, or does he imagine…
GOP Official Ms. Fires
FAIRBANKS, AK — A far-right elected official on the borough assembly has demanded Ms. Magazine be pulled from the shelves of a local grocery store. Lance Roberts does not like the publication’s support for the reproductive rights of women, and demanded the Fairbanks Co-op Market pull the magazine from its shelves so that other shoppers couldn’t make up their own minds on the matter. The store has complied with the politician’s demand, and in his newsletter a gloating Roberts is doing a little end zone dance: The Co-op Market had some left-wing political magazines they were selling, and at that time they…
Wendy Davis Officially Running for Governor
The only bad news in this story is that she’s not running for Governor of Alaska. State Senator Wendy Davis of filibuster fame has officially announced that she’s running for Governor of the second largest state in America. At her announcement she defined what her campaign would be all about from CBS News: “We’re here because we want to fight for Texas jobs and help Texas companies grow,” Sen. Davis added. “We’re here because we want every child, no matter where they start in Texas, to receive a world-class education to take them anywhere they want to go, so that…
Watch: TX Filibuster – Sen. Wendy Davis fighting to the end
Please consider contributing to the amazing Texas Tribune that provided coverage and streaming video from the floor of the Texas Senate. Donate here. Update: The Day After. So it seems that Gov. Rick Perry is going to call yet another ‘special session’ – from the Dallas Morning News. Gov. Rick Perry is calling lawmakers back immediately for another special session to deal with abortion issues, and also to consider transportation funding and new sentencing guidelines for 17-year-olds convicted of capital crimes. Unlike the last 30-day special session, Perry is not waiting 16 days before adding abortion to the agenda. It…
Akin Just Saying What GOP Thinks
I’m getting really tired of the pile-on of Missouri Congressman Todd Akin. He isn’t being treated fairly, and I think it should stop. During an interview Mr. Akin answered a question regarding his views on abortion. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” The idea of ladies having a Venomous Venus Flytrap-like apparatus that slams shut when there’s an unwanted intruder sounds awesome. It’s not true. Last year 32,000 American women were impregnated after being raped. “Legitimately.” OK, women — we’re kind of mysterious. Most guys didn’t watch those…