Dems propose minimum 45 percent tax rate on income above $1 million - The Hill's Floor Action:
"Several House Democrats on Thursday introduced legislation that would impose a minimum 45 percent tax rate on taxable income above $1 million, and would set a 49 percent rate on income above $1 billion."
Saturday, April 27, 2013
COMPASSIONATE GOVERNMENT
Instapundit » Blog Archive »
"COMPASSIONATE GOVERNMENT: Reader David Craig emails:
My wife suffers from chronic pain as a result of a serious back injury, and while surgery helped, she still requires daily narcotic pain medication to manage her pain. Because of prescription drug abuse, the states and DEA have been changing regulations almost monthly for narcotic medications. In the past we could fill her prescriptions at midnight of the day written on the prescription, but now they can only be filled during “business hours,” you know, cause pain apparently only happens 8-5 Monday through Friday. This morning a new paperwork regulation required the pharmacist to spend more than 30 minutes filling one prescription for my wife. The pharmacist was as frustrated as my wife and her doctor, and the pharmacist told me it’s only going to get worse with more regulations.
My wife is not the criminal. Colorado and the DEA are forcing her to live in pain as they restrict her legal access to pain relief. No one should have to watch the person they love suffer in unimaginable pain just because of bureaucratic hurdles put in place to slow illegal drug use.I had to get that off my chest, and you were the only outlet that I had.
Yeah, all these hurdles mostly affect honest people. Junkies and dealers know how to get around them."
Holder Calls Amnesty a 'Civil Right'
Holder Calls Amnesty a 'Civil Right' | Amnesty | Fox Nation:
"During a April 24th speech to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Attorney General Eric Holder said that creating a "pathway to earned citizenship" was a "civil right.”
"Creating a pathway to earned citizenship for the 11 million unauthorized immigrants in this country is essential. The way we treat our friends and neighbors who are undocumented – by creating a mechanism for them to earn citizenship and move out of the shadows – transcends the issue of immigration status.
This is a matter of civil and human rights.
It is about who we are as a nation.
And it goes to the core of our treasured American principle of equal opportunity."
"During a April 24th speech to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Attorney General Eric Holder said that creating a "pathway to earned citizenship" was a "civil right.”
"Creating a pathway to earned citizenship for the 11 million unauthorized immigrants in this country is essential. The way we treat our friends and neighbors who are undocumented – by creating a mechanism for them to earn citizenship and move out of the shadows – transcends the issue of immigration status.
This is a matter of civil and human rights.
It is about who we are as a nation.
And it goes to the core of our treasured American principle of equal opportunity."
Nine Michigan cities sharing $4.5M in infrastructure grants
Nine Michigan cities sharing $4.5M in infrastructure grants | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
The Michigan Economic Development Corp. has announced that nine cities will share $4.5 million in Downtown Infrastructure Grant funds for public infrastructure improvements.
Gov. Rick Snyder touted the distribution, saying the funding would "help ensure the continued vitality of communities and strengthen our ability to attract and retain young professionals and small businesses."
The nine communities will provide a total of $3.4 million in matching funds for the projects, which will all be located in traditional downtowns.
The funding also requires that projects be completed within one year and will incorporate innovative design elements.
The communities chosen for awards are the cities of Croswell, Grand Haven, Hart, Imlay City, Iron River, South Haven, Tawas City and the villages of Fowlerville and Lyons.
Funding projects include:
Grand Haven: $711,449 for Washington Avenue linkage project. Match: $237,150.
Hart: $294,000 for streetscape and parking improvements. Match: $196,000.
DIG, a Community Development Block Grant program, provides public infrastructure improvement funding to projects located in a traditional downtown.
The program is intended for Michigan nonentitlement communities, specifically low- to moderate-income communities that do not receive funding directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Projects must benefit the entire community to be eligible for the funding.
The Michigan Economic Development Corp. has announced that nine cities will share $4.5 million in Downtown Infrastructure Grant funds for public infrastructure improvements.
Gov. Rick Snyder touted the distribution, saying the funding would "help ensure the continued vitality of communities and strengthen our ability to attract and retain young professionals and small businesses."
The nine communities will provide a total of $3.4 million in matching funds for the projects, which will all be located in traditional downtowns.
The funding also requires that projects be completed within one year and will incorporate innovative design elements.
The communities chosen for awards are the cities of Croswell, Grand Haven, Hart, Imlay City, Iron River, South Haven, Tawas City and the villages of Fowlerville and Lyons.
Funding projects include:
Grand Haven: $711,449 for Washington Avenue linkage project. Match: $237,150.
Hart: $294,000 for streetscape and parking improvements. Match: $196,000.
DIG, a Community Development Block Grant program, provides public infrastructure improvement funding to projects located in a traditional downtown.
The program is intended for Michigan nonentitlement communities, specifically low- to moderate-income communities that do not receive funding directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Projects must benefit the entire community to be eligible for the funding.
House debate on road fixes takes nasty turn
House debate on road fixes takes nasty turn | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
After Republicans and Gov. Rick Snyder passed right-to-work laws in December's lame-duck session, Democrats want assurances the GOP won't repeal the state's prevailing wage law, which requires union-level wages on public works jobs.
"We're not going to negotiate with terrorists who threaten all kinds of evil things," House Minority Leader Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills, told Gongwer News Service on Thursday.
......Schmidt called on Greimel to apologize, but the Democratic leader didn't back down Friday.
...."I think that the extortionary tactics of Speaker Bolger can be compared to terrorists," Greimel said. "Obviously to say we won't negotiate with terrorists is a little glib, but … we're not going to cave into threats."
After Republicans and Gov. Rick Snyder passed right-to-work laws in December's lame-duck session, Democrats want assurances the GOP won't repeal the state's prevailing wage law, which requires union-level wages on public works jobs.
"We're not going to negotiate with terrorists who threaten all kinds of evil things," House Minority Leader Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills, told Gongwer News Service on Thursday.
......Schmidt called on Greimel to apologize, but the Democratic leader didn't back down Friday.
...."I think that the extortionary tactics of Speaker Bolger can be compared to terrorists," Greimel said. "Obviously to say we won't negotiate with terrorists is a little glib, but … we're not going to cave into threats."
Smugglers still cashing in on Michigan can refund
Smugglers still cashing in on Michigan can refund | Fox News:
"Michigan lawmakers want to crack down on can and bottle smugglers they say are scamming Michigan for undeserved recycling refunds, corrupting a generous 10-cent per container payback policy once infamously portrayed in a "Seinfeld" episode and which beverage officials now claim costs the state millions of dollars annually.
"Seinfeld" characters Kramer and Newman failed miserably in their comedic attempt to cash in on the refund, when they loaded a mail truck full of cans and bottles in New York and attempted to drive them to Michigan. But lawmakers say it's a serious problem, especially in border counties, and they want to toughen penalties on people who try to return unmarked, out-of-state cans and bottles for refunds."
"Michigan lawmakers want to crack down on can and bottle smugglers they say are scamming Michigan for undeserved recycling refunds, corrupting a generous 10-cent per container payback policy once infamously portrayed in a "Seinfeld" episode and which beverage officials now claim costs the state millions of dollars annually.
"Seinfeld" characters Kramer and Newman failed miserably in their comedic attempt to cash in on the refund, when they loaded a mail truck full of cans and bottles in New York and attempted to drive them to Michigan. But lawmakers say it's a serious problem, especially in border counties, and they want to toughen penalties on people who try to return unmarked, out-of-state cans and bottles for refunds."
Friday, April 26, 2013
Prom dress prices giving families taffeta shock
Prom dress prices giving families taffeta shock - Business on NBCNews.com:
"Overall spending on U.S. prom events is forecast to rise to an average of $1,139 per family in 2013, up 5 percent over last year - and higher than the 1.5 percent rate of inflation in the United States - according to Visa Inc's third annual survey of prom spending."
"Overall spending on U.S. prom events is forecast to rise to an average of $1,139 per family in 2013, up 5 percent over last year - and higher than the 1.5 percent rate of inflation in the United States - according to Visa Inc's third annual survey of prom spending."
Snyder, lawmakers differ on saving for later
Snyder, lawmakers differ on saving for later | Lansing State Journal | lansingstatejournal.com:
"By declining to tuck away more money, legislators could use it to pay for other priorities instead. Michigan’s tax incentives for the film industry might be preserved, for instance, and some health care-related spending could go up even if lawmakers reject Medicaid expansion and the initial savings that come with it."
"By declining to tuck away more money, legislators could use it to pay for other priorities instead. Michigan’s tax incentives for the film industry might be preserved, for instance, and some health care-related spending could go up even if lawmakers reject Medicaid expansion and the initial savings that come with it."
Environmental group slams Samsung for leap in profits
Environmental group slams Samsung for leap in profits- The Inquirer:
"ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP Friends of the Earth has slammed Samsung's leap in first quarter profits due to the unsustainable materials it uses in smartphone production.
Samsung admitted this week that it uses tin in manufacturing its products, a material that Friends of the Earth alleged is sourced in ways that damage tropical forests, kill coral and disrupt communities in Indonesia."
"ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP Friends of the Earth has slammed Samsung's leap in first quarter profits due to the unsustainable materials it uses in smartphone production.
Samsung admitted this week that it uses tin in manufacturing its products, a material that Friends of the Earth alleged is sourced in ways that damage tropical forests, kill coral and disrupt communities in Indonesia."
Debate on Michigan's proposed no-fault auto insurance bill brings large crowd to Capitol
Debate on Michigan's proposed no-fault auto insurance bill brings large crowd to Capitol | MLive.com:
"House Bill 4612 would cap Michigan's unlimited personal injury protection coverage at $1 million, limit what medical providers charge insurers for auto-related injuries and create an authority to combat insurance fraud.
The legislation, announced by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder last week, would require auto insurance premiums to be lowered by at least $150 per vehicle in the first year, with hopes for larger savings later.
Actual savings would amount to $125 after consumers pay a new $25 per-premium assessment to fund a Medicaid shortfall that the bill creates."
"House Bill 4612 would cap Michigan's unlimited personal injury protection coverage at $1 million, limit what medical providers charge insurers for auto-related injuries and create an authority to combat insurance fraud.
The legislation, announced by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder last week, would require auto insurance premiums to be lowered by at least $150 per vehicle in the first year, with hopes for larger savings later.
Actual savings would amount to $125 after consumers pay a new $25 per-premium assessment to fund a Medicaid shortfall that the bill creates."
‘Breitbart is smiling’: NYT vindicates Andrew Breitbart with major story on Pigford scandal
‘Breitbart is smiling’: NYT vindicates Andrew Breitbart with major story on Pigford scandal | Twitchy:
"Smiling, indeed.
The late Andrew Breitbart and his team worked tirelessly to expose the fraud and abuse of the Pigford settlements scandal, the injustice to black farmers and the media malpractice in addressing the story. For his efforts, he was smeared, mocked and trashed as a liar.
Today he is vindicated by a New York Times story on page A1.
The compensation effort sprang from a desire to redress what the government and a federal judge agreed was a painful legacy of bias against African-Americans by the Agriculture Department.
But an examination by The New York Times shows that it became a runaway train, driven by racial politics, pressure from influential members of Congress and law firms that stand to gain more than $130 million in fees.
In the past five years, it has grown to encompass a second group of African-Americans as well as Hispanic, female and Native American farmers.
In all, more than 90,000 people have filed claims. The total cost could top $4.4 billion.
It’s rare that we suggest this about a New York Times article, but read the whole thing."
"Smiling, indeed.
The late Andrew Breitbart and his team worked tirelessly to expose the fraud and abuse of the Pigford settlements scandal, the injustice to black farmers and the media malpractice in addressing the story. For his efforts, he was smeared, mocked and trashed as a liar.
Today he is vindicated by a New York Times story on page A1.
The compensation effort sprang from a desire to redress what the government and a federal judge agreed was a painful legacy of bias against African-Americans by the Agriculture Department.
But an examination by The New York Times shows that it became a runaway train, driven by racial politics, pressure from influential members of Congress and law firms that stand to gain more than $130 million in fees.
In the past five years, it has grown to encompass a second group of African-Americans as well as Hispanic, female and Native American farmers.
In all, more than 90,000 people have filed claims. The total cost could top $4.4 billion.
It’s rare that we suggest this about a New York Times article, but read the whole thing."
Muskegon voters face election for mayor, two at-large commissioners as filing deadline is May 14
Muskegon voters face election for mayor, two at-large commissioners as filing deadline is May 14 | MLive.com:
“I’m not going to run again,” Wierengo told MLive and The Muskegon Chronicle.
“I think it is important that young members get involved on the commission and people come to serve the city with different ideas.
However, I think It is important that we have women representation on the commission.”
The two at-large seats are among the seven on the commission – the mayor and four commissioners elected from four wards across the city.
The ward commissioners will be half-way through their four-year terms when those elected in November take office Jan. 1.
In the two at-large commission seats, only Demario L. Phillips, 23, of 1394 Ranson St. is the only candidate to file petitions but he has more signatures to gather before being placed on the ballot, Cummings said.
Phillips had announced to run for mayor in 2012 but changed his mind and is pursuing a commission seat.
Two candidates have not filed but have publicly announced their interest in running for the at-large commission seats.
They are Joshua EldenBrady, a Muskegon attorney who ran unsuccessfully for the Muskegon County Board of Commissioners last year, and Dan Rinsema-Sybenga, the director of business and industrial training for Muskegon Community College.
College’s husky dog logo promotes rape, says student
College’s husky dog logo promotes rape, says student | The Daily Caller:
"In an open letter to UC President Susan Herbst, self-described feminist student Carolyn Luby wrote that the redesigned team logo will intimidate women and empower rape culture.
UConn basketball coach Geno Auriemma said the logo “is looking right through you and saying, ‘Do not mess with me.’
This is a streamlined, fighting dog, and I cannot wait for it to be on our uniforms and court.”
"In an open letter to UC President Susan Herbst, self-described feminist student Carolyn Luby wrote that the redesigned team logo will intimidate women and empower rape culture.
UConn basketball coach Geno Auriemma said the logo “is looking right through you and saying, ‘Do not mess with me.’
This is a streamlined, fighting dog, and I cannot wait for it to be on our uniforms and court.”
Street violence strains Muskegon Heights police resources Thursday
Street violence strains Muskegon Heights police resources Thursday | MLive.com:
"Shots were fired on Rotterdam Street and a mob began forming on Baker Street shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday, said Muskegon Heights Police Chief Lynne Gill.
Aware of what was happening on the streets, Muskegon Heights Charter School Academy System Director Alena Zachery-Ross said she checked with police on whether it was safe to release students for the day. She said she was told it was safe.
Gill said a detective responded to the report of shots fired on Rotterdam because he had no patrol officers available. Gill himself broke up the mob on Baker Street.
The incidents occurred just days before Saturday’s march to promote peace and unity in the city."
"Shots were fired on Rotterdam Street and a mob began forming on Baker Street shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday, said Muskegon Heights Police Chief Lynne Gill.
Aware of what was happening on the streets, Muskegon Heights Charter School Academy System Director Alena Zachery-Ross said she checked with police on whether it was safe to release students for the day. She said she was told it was safe.
Gill said a detective responded to the report of shots fired on Rotterdam because he had no patrol officers available. Gill himself broke up the mob on Baker Street.
The incidents occurred just days before Saturday’s march to promote peace and unity in the city."
Buena Vista Township Clerk apologizes for using racial slur
Buena Vista Township Clerk apologizes for using racial slur : News : miNBCnews.com
BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP -- The Buena Vista Township clerk is in hot water after using a racial slur to describe the township supervisor. Now, Gloria Platko is apologizing and defending herself.
Buena Vista Township residents are calling for the resignation of Gloria Platko. The township clerk says she's sorry for offending residents but she has no plans to step down.
Gloria Platko is apologizing for what she calls, “a slip of the tongue.”
“I'm sorry to my five other board members and I’m entirely sorry to this entire community,” says Platko.
Platko was recorded calling township supervisor Dwayne Parker the n-word. Platko says that doesn't make her racist.
“I’ve eaten Thanksgiving dinner with black friends at their house. So I’m far from prejudiced. You need to go interview some of the black people who have supported me for the last four or five years,” says Platko.
Supporters of Platko were very difficulty to find after they heard of the recording.
“It was used in a harmful way when she said it so she should be punished,” says Bethany McMillon, a Buena Vista Township resident.
“She’s real lucky she's still over there because people don't play with the n-word anymore,” says Pam Henley, a Buena Vista Township resident.
But Platko says she's not going anywhere because she was baited.
“Why didn't he ever tape any of the other phone conversations?” says Platko.
Township supervisor Dwayne Parker did not return our phone calls. Platko says she'll continue serving the people of Buena Vista and next time she'll choose her words more carefully.
“Yea, I probably should've used a word like ignoramus or something like that but I didn't and I’m sorry for the word I used,” says Platko.
As far as any disciplinary action, our calls to the township manager were not returned. Gloria Platko says using a racial slur won't happen again.
Connie Ballard · Top Commenter · Registered Nurse at Covenant HealthCare
Connie Ballard · Top Commenter · Registered Nurse at Covenant HealthCare
I'm sorry but everyone has to right to free speech....plus if I'm correct secretly recording a phone call and making it public is ILLEGAL!!!!!!! This was not a public conversation...so she has the right to her opinion in private. I feel the guy who SECRETLY recorded this should be disciplined!
Gee.
There seems to be one word missing from this article..........
Could it be "democrat"?
Ted Nugent rips Pure Michigan ad campaign
Ted Nugent rips Pure Michigan ad campaign | Lansing State Journal | lansingstatejournal.com:
"Michigan-born rocker Ted Nugent ripped the Pure Michigan tourism advertising campaign during a radio appearance this morning, saying his home state is becoming “a suburb of Illinois and San Francisco” due to liberalism and political correctness.
“The Pure Michigan campaign basically is a facade,” Nugent said during a telephone interview from Texas on the Lansing-based syndicated program, Michigan’s Big Show starring Michael Patrick Shiels.
Outdoors activities such as hunting, fishing and trapping are Michigan’s biggest tourist draw, said Nugent.
“How dare the Pure Michigan campaign not mention any of that because some hash bash hippie in charge of Michigan’s promotional campaigns is afraid to put a dead salmon or a dead grouse or a dead deer on the tourist brochure but will put para-gliding and tulip festivals on that brochure when no one is going to come to Michigan to go hang gliding or to go to the tulip festival.”
click for full audio:http://michigansbigshow.blogspot.com/
"Michigan-born rocker Ted Nugent ripped the Pure Michigan tourism advertising campaign during a radio appearance this morning, saying his home state is becoming “a suburb of Illinois and San Francisco” due to liberalism and political correctness.
“The Pure Michigan campaign basically is a facade,” Nugent said during a telephone interview from Texas on the Lansing-based syndicated program, Michigan’s Big Show starring Michael Patrick Shiels.
Outdoors activities such as hunting, fishing and trapping are Michigan’s biggest tourist draw, said Nugent.
“How dare the Pure Michigan campaign not mention any of that because some hash bash hippie in charge of Michigan’s promotional campaigns is afraid to put a dead salmon or a dead grouse or a dead deer on the tourist brochure but will put para-gliding and tulip festivals on that brochure when no one is going to come to Michigan to go hang gliding or to go to the tulip festival.”
click for full audio:http://michigansbigshow.blogspot.com/
CALIF. BILL WOULD LET NON-CITIZENS SERVE ON JURIES
News from The Associated Press:
"Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski, D-Fremont, said his bill, AB1401, would help California widen the pool of prospective jurors and help integrate immigrants into the community."
"Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski, D-Fremont, said his bill, AB1401, would help California widen the pool of prospective jurors and help integrate immigrants into the community."
Stonewalling
Stonewalling:
"Thu, 25 Apr 2013
The Massachusetts Governor's office has refused to respond to Boston Herald requests for details of Marathon Bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s government benefits, citing the dead terror mastermind’s right to privacy.
Howie asked the question does a dead terrorist have a right to privacy."
"Thu, 25 Apr 2013
The Massachusetts Governor's office has refused to respond to Boston Herald requests for details of Marathon Bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s government benefits, citing the dead terror mastermind’s right to privacy.
Howie asked the question does a dead terrorist have a right to privacy."
Retired military leaders call for more investment in Michigan early education programs
Retired military leaders call for more investment in Michigan early education programs | MLive.com:
"Michigan's high-quality preschool has helped more young people be able to serve their country in whatever way they so choose," Cutler said in a statement included in a Mission: Readiness report.
The group says the Department of Defense estimates 75 percent of American youth are unable to serve in the military.
The three main reasons: Inadequate education, lack of physical fitness and criminal records."
"Michigan's high-quality preschool has helped more young people be able to serve their country in whatever way they so choose," Cutler said in a statement included in a Mission: Readiness report.
The group says the Department of Defense estimates 75 percent of American youth are unable to serve in the military.
The three main reasons: Inadequate education, lack of physical fitness and criminal records."
See what the Pere Marquette Park beach bar could become with plans from two developers
See what the Pere Marquette Park beach bar could become with plans from two developers | MLive.com
Both proposals suggest a redevelopment of the beach bar building at 1601 Beach St. but go in different directions. Both are hoping to have a business open yet this summer. One business developer is well-known and the other is becoming active in the Muskegon market.
The city of Muskegon has received two proposals for redevelopment of the former CJs on the Beach property at Pere Marquette Park on Lake Michigan.
EnlargeThe popular beach bar has struggled over the years to sustain a viable business in that location.CJs on the Beach closed gallery (4 photos)
Jon Rooks’ Parkland Muskegon Inc. suggests a two-phase redevelopment of the property that would include renovating the existing structure to create the Beach House Waterfront Grille, a bar and restaurant, along with an events and wedding center in the remainder of the building.
Parkland’s second phase would be a new $4 million to $6 million boutique, extended-stay hotel adjacent to the beach bar or on property across Beach Street in the park’s famed “Ovals.” The Pere Marquette businesses would be operated in tandem with Parkland’s downtown Shoreline Inn and Conference Center and Lake House Restaurant, according to the proposal presented the city this week.
The second proposal was submitted by Michael Kordecki of McGraft Park LLC of Matthews, N.C. Kordecki is formerly of Muskegon and has recently purchased the Noble Building at 500 West Western Ave., which is the planned home of the new Pigeon Hill Brewing Co., a proposed microbrewery for downtown Muskegon.
Kordecki by mid-July would create a sandwich and ice cream shop with a rental shop for beach activity items, such as paddle boards and bicycles. In either 2014 or 2015, Kordecki proposes renovating the beach bar building into a restaurant, lounge and entertainment center. The idea is to have the businesses be an activity center for the Pere Marquette beach.
The city has owned the land under the former CJs on the Beach, but earlier this year also obtained the building in a court settlement with the former beach bar owners. CJs on the Beach closed after the 2011 summer season and was unable to reopen last summer due to financial problems. The business finally lost its building to the city.
The Muskegon City Commission authorized “requests for proposals” for developers and business owners to suggest future uses of the popular beach location with stunning Lake Michigan sunset views of the Muskegon Lighthouse.
Washington State Bans ‘Penmanship,’ ‘Freshman,’ As Sexist
Washington State Bans ‘Penmanship,’ ‘Freshman,’ As Sexist:
Washington state's governor signed into law on Monday the final piece of a six-year effort to rewrite state laws using gender-neutral vocabulary, replacing terms such as "fisherman" and "freshman" with "fisher" and "first-year student."
Lawmakers have passed a series of bills since 2007 to root out gender bias from Washington statutes, though a 1983 state mandate required that all laws be written in gender-neutral terms unless a specification of gender was intended.
"This was a much larger effort than I had envisioned.
Mankind means man and woman," said Democrat state Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles of Seattle.
The new gender-neutral references, for example, include "journey-level plumber
" instead of "journeyman plumber," "handwriting" in place of "penmanship," and "signal operator" for "signalman."
"There's no good reason for keeping our legal terms anachronistic and with words that do not respect our current contemporary times," Kohl-Welles, the 475-page bill's sponsor, told Reuters.
Several words, however, aren't easy to replace, said Kyle Thiessen, the state's code reviser, who heads up the 40-staff Washington Code Reviser's Office agency.
The state likely won't change the words "airmen" and "seaman," for example, because of objections by the state's Washington Military Department, he said.
Civil engineering terms such as "man hole" and "man lock," also will not be changed because no common-sense substitutes could easily be found, Thiessen said.
Washington state's governor signed into law on Monday the final piece of a six-year effort to rewrite state laws using gender-neutral vocabulary, replacing terms such as "fisherman" and "freshman" with "fisher" and "first-year student."
Lawmakers have passed a series of bills since 2007 to root out gender bias from Washington statutes, though a 1983 state mandate required that all laws be written in gender-neutral terms unless a specification of gender was intended.
"This was a much larger effort than I had envisioned.
Mankind means man and woman," said Democrat state Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles of Seattle.
The new gender-neutral references, for example, include "journey-level plumber
" instead of "journeyman plumber," "handwriting" in place of "penmanship," and "signal operator" for "signalman.""There's no good reason for keeping our legal terms anachronistic and with words that do not respect our current contemporary times," Kohl-Welles, the 475-page bill's sponsor, told Reuters.
Several words, however, aren't easy
to replace, said Kyle Thiessen, the state's code reviser, who heads up the 40-staff Washington Code Reviser's Office agency.The state likely won't change the words "airmen" and "seaman," for example, because of objections by the state's Washington Military Department, he said.
Civil engineering terms such as "man hole" and "man lock," also will not be changed because no common-sense substitutes could easily
be found, Thiessen said.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Record Number of Households on Food Stamps-- 1 out of Every 5
Record Number of Households on Food Stamps-- 1 out of Every 5 | CNS News:
"As CNSNews.com previously reported, food stamp rolls in America recently surpassed the population of Spain.
A record number 47,692,896 Americans are now enrolled in the program and the cost of food stamp fraud has more than doubled in just three years."
"As CNSNews.com previously reported, food stamp rolls in America recently surpassed the population of Spain.
A record number 47,692,896 Americans are now enrolled in the program and the cost of food stamp fraud has more than doubled in just three years."
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