Motley Moose – Archive

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In Wisconsin, the state whose progressive forebears championed labor rights, a move is afoot to “allow” workers to work 7 days a week.

This is being touted by the Republicans as a “win-win”: businesses don’t have to hire more workers, just add hours! And workers can make more money! What could possibly go wrong? Businesses would never coerce workers into working more hours, they lurves their workers!!!

In 1938, President Roosevelt signed into law the Fair Labor Standards Act:

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (abbreviated as FLSA; also referred to as the Wages and Hours Bill) is a federal statute of the United States. The FLSA introduced a maximum 44-hour seven-day workweek, established a national minimum wage, guaranteed “time-and-a-half” for overtime in certain jobs, and prohibited most employment of minors in “oppressive child labor”, a term that is defined in the statute. It applies to employees engaged in interstate commerce or employed by an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, unless the employer can claim an exemption from coverage.

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West Virginia doesn't need clean water, because regulation ties the hands of business.

— Chris Dashiell (@cdashiell) January 11, 2014

West Virginia Declares State Of Emergency After Coal Chemical Contaminates Drinking Water

Residents of nine counties in West Virginia have been told not to use or drink their water after a chemical used by the coal industry spilled into the Elk River on Thursday. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency as more than 100,000 customers, or 300,000 people, are without safe drinking water.

“Don’t make baby formula,” said West Virginia American Water Company president Jeff McIntyre. “Don’t brush your teeth. Don’t shower. Toilet flushing only.”

The chemical, 4-Methylcyclohexane Methanol (MCHM), is used to wash coal of impurities and spilled from a tank at Freedom Industries into the river. While the amount of MCHM that spilled wasn’t immediately known, West Virginia American Water has been conducting water quality testing every hour. According to Laura Jordan, a spokesperson with the water company, they believe the chemical is leaking at ground level and “there is a possibility this leak has been going on for sometime before it was discovered Thursday,” WSAZ reported.

First, why on earth was a chemical capable of doing that much damage within a 100 miles of a water source much less in a tank next to the river?

Second, no one knows how long it has been leaking? Do you just wait for people to get sick and die before you “look into it”?

Third, “Freedom Industries”? Hello, fake name alert!! Good luck trying to find these guys to pay for cleanup.

In America, the costs of free enterprise run amok are always borne by the citizens. When will we finally say “that cost is too high”?

That last question, by the way, is addressed to everyone in America, not just West Virginians.  

From the White House – Weekly Address

In this week’s address, President Obama calls 2014 a year of action, which should start with Congress quickly passing emergency unemployment insurance for the 1.3 million Americans who lost this vital lifeline as they fight to find jobs and make ends meet.

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  Make sure you let your peeps

  know where to find you!  

  Make sure you let your peeps

  know where to find you!  

UPDATE: Tuesday, January 7th – Remarks by the President on the Importance of Extending Emergency Unemployment Insurance

From the transcript:

You heard Katherine’s story.  And she’s far more eloquent than I could ever be.  She wrote me last month to say, “Please let those who think I am sitting at home enjoying being unemployed know that I would much rather be working.”  And I had a chance to talk to Katherine, and I think it’s pretty clear that that’s the case.  Katherine went on to say, “I have applied to everything for which I am possibly qualified to no avail.  I have worked hard all my life, paid taxes, voted, engaged in political discussion, and made the ultimate sacrifice:  My two sons serve in the U.S. military.  Job loss is devastating, and if I could fix it myself, I would.  I challenge any lawmaker to live without an income.”  That’s what Katherine said.  It’s hard.  (Applause.)

So when we’ve got the mom of two of our troops, who is working hard out there, but is having to wear a coat inside the house, we’ve got a problem.  And it’s one that can be fixed.  

Found on the Internets …

The Cruel …

Democrats Make Last-Ditch Push To Bring Back Unemployment Benefits

When Congress returns from the holiday recess this week, Democrats will kick off the new session with a last-ditch push to renew emergency unemployment benefits that expired on Dec. 28.

But despite their cautious optimism, they face a tough slog as most Republicans have little desire to extend the benefits, which have already lapsed for some 1.3 million Americans who have been out of work for at least 26 weeks, and will expire for more in the coming months.

Senate Democrats have set up a test vote on Monday to extend unemployment compensation for three months. The bill is sponsored by Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Dean Heller (R-NV). Sixty senators are required to break an expected filibuster and it’s not clear there are that many votes.

Poverty Rate Would Be Nearly Twice As High Without Government Programs

Ron Johnson Suing To Cut Health Care Subsidies For Congress, Staff

Wisconsin Lawmaker Wants To Take Away Workers’ Weekends

… and the Bat Guano Crazy Unusual.

Gay Marriage Opponents Call For Uprising In Utah

The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association on Saturday organized a meeting in Highland, Utah to call for an uprising and to express their opposition to same-sex marriage in Utah, Fox 13 Now Salt Lake City reported.

“The people of Utah have rights, too, not just the homosexuals. The homosexuals are shoving their agenda down our throats,” Former Graham County, Ariz., Sheriff Richard Mack said at the meeting.[…]

“State sovereignty supercedes what this judge did,” Mack said. “The Governor needs to get some courage and grip.”

Josh Marshall: Trestin Meachum Watch

Yesterday I told you about Trestin Meacham, an idealistic young Utahan who is putting himself forth as the Gandhi of hating gay people, now two weeks into a hunger strike meant to compel Utah to “nullify” federal court decisions that allow gay marriage in the state. He’s even live-tweeting his fast. […]

It turns out Meacham isn’t just some young doofus upset about gay people. Or at least that’s not all he is. Back in 2012 he was a candidate for Utah state senate from the far-right US Taxpayers Party.

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