Found on the Internets …
Millions Of Workers Will Get A Raise On New Years Day
On January 1, 20 states will raise their minimum wages, while one – New York – will increase its wage on Wednesday.
That means that all told, 3.1 million American workers will ring in the New Year with a pay raise.
Higher wages also put more money into low-wage workers’ pockets, alleviating poverty while boosting economic growth when they go out and spend it.
Illinois governor pardons 1800s abolitionists
Three Illinois abolitionists who were convicted for anti-slavery efforts in the 1800s were posthumously pardoned Wednesday by Gov. Pat Quinn. […]
Efforts to pardon the three were spearheaded by Quincy historians and Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, who filed petitions on their behalf last year as part of a special project. Among them was an Underground Railroad conductor – Dr. Richard Eells -whose Quincy home was declared by the U.S. National Park Service as one of the nation’s most important sites on the covert network that led escaped slaves to freedom and safety. […]
Illinois residents voted to abolish slavery in 1824. However, state and federal law prohibited the harboring or assisting of runaway slaves in free states.
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Maryland Governor Will Commute All Remaining Death Sentences To Life Without Parole
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) will commute all remaining death sentences for those in the state’s prison system to life without parole, he announced Wednesday. Maryland’s General Assembly repealed the state’s death penalty in 2013 for all future convictions.
In a statement, O’Malley said, “In a representative government, state executions make every citizen a party to a legalized killing as punishment.” He noted that the legality of executing the four remaining death row inmates was in question and argued that “leaving these death sentences in place does not serve the public good of the people of Maryland – present or future.”
Why House Republicans Aren’t Dumping Scalise Despite White Supremacist Flap
Scalise was elected to leadership in July for two key reasons. First, many Republicans wanted a southerner in the ranks – before him, every leader hailed from a state won twice by President Barack Obama. Second, after former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s stunning primary defeat in June, Republican leaders wanted an effective liaison to their restive right flank.
May the restive right flank give John Boehner indigestion.
From the Twittersphere (DL Hughley @RealDLHughley)
In a victory for civil rights, abortion rights, and LGBT equality groups, President Obama will not re-nominate former Georgia legislator Michael Boggs to a lifetime position on the federal bench. Boggs, who was nominated last December as part of a deal with Georgia’s two Republican senators, did not receive a confirmation vote in the Senate before it adjourned.
Boggs drew the opposition of civil rights legend and Georgia Rep. John Lewis (D) – as well as Rep. David Scott (D-GA), another member of the Congressional Black Caucus – for his record, including a vote to keep the Confederate battle emblem as part of the Georgia state flag.
Abortion rights advocates opposed his confirmation based on his support for granting “personhood” to fetuses, his backing of an expanded parental notification law, and his co-sponsorship of a “Choose Life” license plate that helped fund anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers. In his May confirmation hearing, Boggs said he regretted a vote to post personal information about abortion providers online, despite the history of clinic violence against doctors. […]
… he was nominated as part of a deal with Georgia’s Republican Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson to allow committee votes on six judges, four selected by the Republicans. Boggs was the only nominee not confirmed.
Good riddance. And thank you, Senate Democrats.
Editor’s Note: Feel free to share other news stories in the comments.
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