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hue
hue's Journal
hue's Journal
July 1, 2014
Three Republican lawmakers landed on the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters’ “conservation dishonor roll” Monday for backing bills that are “grossly out of line with the conservation values of their constituents.” The list includes the author of Wisconsin's iron ore mining bill, Sen. Tom Tiffany of Hazelhurst.
“Tiffany was the lead author on nearly every divisive anti-conservation bill that was signed into law this session. That includes the open-pit mining bill and the wildly unpopular bills to strip local communities’ ability to enforce public health and safety protections,” said Anne Sayers, program director for the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters. “Sen. Tiffany makes a habit out of putting out-of-state polluters before the people of Wisconsin.”
The dishonor roll is one part of the 2013-2014 Conservation Scorecard that rates lawmakers and the entire Legislature for environmental stewardship during the most recent legislative session.
Tiffany was joined on the conservation dishonor roll by Sen. Frank Lasee, R-De Pere, and Sen. Neal Kedzie, R- Elkhorn, who announced his retirement earlier this month.
League of Conservation Voters lists Wisconsin Republicans on 'dishonor roll' (Cap Times)
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/jessica_vanegeren/league-of-conservation-voters-lists-wisconsin-republicans-on-dishonor-roll/article_6e0b9b5e-0141-11e4-9a92-001a4bcf887a.htmlThree Republican lawmakers landed on the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters’ “conservation dishonor roll” Monday for backing bills that are “grossly out of line with the conservation values of their constituents.” The list includes the author of Wisconsin's iron ore mining bill, Sen. Tom Tiffany of Hazelhurst.
“Tiffany was the lead author on nearly every divisive anti-conservation bill that was signed into law this session. That includes the open-pit mining bill and the wildly unpopular bills to strip local communities’ ability to enforce public health and safety protections,” said Anne Sayers, program director for the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters. “Sen. Tiffany makes a habit out of putting out-of-state polluters before the people of Wisconsin.”
The dishonor roll is one part of the 2013-2014 Conservation Scorecard that rates lawmakers and the entire Legislature for environmental stewardship during the most recent legislative session.
Tiffany was joined on the conservation dishonor roll by Sen. Frank Lasee, R-De Pere, and Sen. Neal Kedzie, R- Elkhorn, who announced his retirement earlier this month.
July 1, 2014
The government is failing to conduct key safety inspections on new oil and gas wells on federal and Native American land.
Johnson County, Wyoming, is the kind of remote, quiet Western community where life revolves around cattle—it was the site of an infamous 19th-century armed battle between cowboys and suspected cattle rustlers. The county ranks only 11th statewide for oil production, but it holds the No. 1 ranking nationwide for a more ignominious distinction: It has 249 new, high-risk oil and gas wells that the federal government has failed to inspect for compliance with safety and environmental standards.
Johnson County may have the most uninspected wells, but it's far from the only place where the problem exists. In fact, of all 3,486 oil and gas wells drilled on federal and Native American land from 2009 to 2012 that were identified by the Bureau of Land Management as high risk for pollution, 40 percent were not inspected at the most important stage of their development, according to records the BLM provided to Climate Desk.
"In a perfect world, we'd love to get to all those wells," said Steven Wells, chief of the BLM's Fluid Minerals Division. "Unfortunately we've been fighting an uphill battle. We hope that at some point we'll be able to catch up."
The map and chart below identify where these wells are located, by county:
There Are 1,401 Uninspected High-Risk Oil and Gas Wells. Here's Where They Are.
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/06/uninspected-oil-gas-wells-mapThe government is failing to conduct key safety inspections on new oil and gas wells on federal and Native American land.
Johnson County, Wyoming, is the kind of remote, quiet Western community where life revolves around cattle—it was the site of an infamous 19th-century armed battle between cowboys and suspected cattle rustlers. The county ranks only 11th statewide for oil production, but it holds the No. 1 ranking nationwide for a more ignominious distinction: It has 249 new, high-risk oil and gas wells that the federal government has failed to inspect for compliance with safety and environmental standards.
Johnson County may have the most uninspected wells, but it's far from the only place where the problem exists. In fact, of all 3,486 oil and gas wells drilled on federal and Native American land from 2009 to 2012 that were identified by the Bureau of Land Management as high risk for pollution, 40 percent were not inspected at the most important stage of their development, according to records the BLM provided to Climate Desk.
"In a perfect world, we'd love to get to all those wells," said Steven Wells, chief of the BLM's Fluid Minerals Division. "Unfortunately we've been fighting an uphill battle. We hope that at some point we'll be able to catch up."
The map and chart below identify where these wells are located, by county:
June 25, 2014
WASHINGTON -- An investigation targeting Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) for alleged illegal coordination with independent conservative groups during his 2012 recall election has been thrown into limbo by a lawsuit that could turn into the next big challenge to campaign finance limits.
The case has the potential to blow a hole in anti-coordination rules in Wisconsin and beyond -- a hole that would effectively wipe away campaign contribution limits by allowing candidates to control the unlimited and secret contributions raised by not-really-independent groups.
For the last few years, Wisconsin prosecutors have been looking into allegations that Walker and his aides illegally coordinated with a dozen groups, ranging from the Wisconsin Club for Growth to the Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity, to support both the governor's recall campaign and those of Republican state senators. After its offices were raided and documents seized by prosecutors, the Wisconsin Club for Growth sued, arguing that the investigation itself was a violation of its First Amendment rights to free speech and free association.
Moreover, the group contended it had not violated the state's anti-coordination law because the ads it ran in coordination with the Walker camp constituted issue advocacy, which the group claims is not covered by the anti-coordination rules. While the ads named specific candidates for office, the group said, they did not rise to the level of electoral activity because they didn't urge viewers to "vote for" or "vote against" anyone.
The Investigation Into Scott Walker Could Be Way, Way Bigger Than Scott Walker
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/25/scott-walker-campaign-finance_n_5527042.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592WASHINGTON -- An investigation targeting Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) for alleged illegal coordination with independent conservative groups during his 2012 recall election has been thrown into limbo by a lawsuit that could turn into the next big challenge to campaign finance limits.
The case has the potential to blow a hole in anti-coordination rules in Wisconsin and beyond -- a hole that would effectively wipe away campaign contribution limits by allowing candidates to control the unlimited and secret contributions raised by not-really-independent groups.
For the last few years, Wisconsin prosecutors have been looking into allegations that Walker and his aides illegally coordinated with a dozen groups, ranging from the Wisconsin Club for Growth to the Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity, to support both the governor's recall campaign and those of Republican state senators. After its offices were raided and documents seized by prosecutors, the Wisconsin Club for Growth sued, arguing that the investigation itself was a violation of its First Amendment rights to free speech and free association.
Moreover, the group contended it had not violated the state's anti-coordination law because the ads it ran in coordination with the Walker camp constituted issue advocacy, which the group claims is not covered by the anti-coordination rules. While the ads named specific candidates for office, the group said, they did not rise to the level of electoral activity because they didn't urge viewers to "vote for" or "vote against" anyone.
June 25, 2014
The monarch butterfly uses a magnetic compass to guide its extraordinary migration thousands of km across North America, scientists say.
Monarchs are known to possess a Sun compass but even on cloudy days they still keep flying south towards Mexico.
In a laboratory experiment, butterflies changed direction when the magnetic field around them was altered.
It suggests that like turtles and birds the insects have a geomagnetic compass, says a study in Nature Communications.
It raises concerns the butterflies may be disturbed by human-induced magnetic "noise" - which can apparently disrupt the European robin, a migratory bird.
Miracle migration
The North American monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus is famous for its epic journey from Canada to Mexico.
Every Autumn, despite never having flown more than a few hundred metres, millions of the insects set off across Lake Erie and head south for the warmer forests of the Michoacan mountains.
There they spend the winter - coating the trees in an amazing display which attracts thousands of tourists.
The ancient Mayans believed the butterflies were the souls of the dead, and the insect has become a symbol of North American trade and cooperation.
Butterflies use magnetic compass to fly across America
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-27909303The monarch butterfly uses a magnetic compass to guide its extraordinary migration thousands of km across North America, scientists say.
Monarchs are known to possess a Sun compass but even on cloudy days they still keep flying south towards Mexico.
In a laboratory experiment, butterflies changed direction when the magnetic field around them was altered.
It suggests that like turtles and birds the insects have a geomagnetic compass, says a study in Nature Communications.
It raises concerns the butterflies may be disturbed by human-induced magnetic "noise" - which can apparently disrupt the European robin, a migratory bird.
Miracle migration
The North American monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus is famous for its epic journey from Canada to Mexico.
Every Autumn, despite never having flown more than a few hundred metres, millions of the insects set off across Lake Erie and head south for the warmer forests of the Michoacan mountains.
There they spend the winter - coating the trees in an amazing display which attracts thousands of tourists.
The ancient Mayans believed the butterflies were the souls of the dead, and the insect has become a symbol of North American trade and cooperation.
June 24, 2014
Pennsylvania ex-prosecutor, wife, plead in adoption abuse case
Source: Reuters
June 23 (Reuters) - A former Pennsylvania prosecutor and his wife pleaded no contest on Monday to charges of endangering the welfare of two children they adopted from Ethiopia.
Douglas Barbour 34, and Kristen Barbour, 32, agreed to the plea in exchange for the dismissal of other criminal charges, including assault, during a court appearance in Pittsburgh.
They were arrested in 2012 on suspicion of starving their 5-year-old adopted son and mistreating their 13-month-old daughter, both of whom were adopted from Ethiopia.
The boy was 10 pounds (4.5 kg) underweight and found to have skin lesions from being left in urine-soaked clothing, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, citing doctors and the criminal complaint. The girl had head trauma and other physical ailments, the complaint said.
The Barbours also had two biological children at home.
Douglas Barbour, who was a deputy state attorney general at the time of his arrest, resigned from the post last year. He is likely to face probation at his sentencing on September 15 for two misdemeanor counts of child endangerment, prosecutors said.
Read more: http://af.reuters.com/article/idAFL2N0P41O620140623
June 23, 2014
Submitted by Jud Lounsbury on Mon, 06/23/2014 - 1:06pm
RoJo Tries to Help:Claims "Prosecutors Facing Greater Legal Liability" Than Scott Walker (Uppity WI)
http://www.uppitywis.org/blogarticle/rojo-tries-help-claims-prosecutors-facing-greater-legal-liabilitSubmitted by Jud Lounsbury on Mon, 06/23/2014 - 1:06pm
You heard that right, folks. U.S. Senator Ron Johnson is claiming that because of engaging in a "political witchhunt" against Walker, prosecutors will face a "greater legal liability than Scott Walker." (see below)
June 23, 2014
Duffy Questions Bergdahl Release in Foreign Affairs Hearing
Published on June 19, 2014 Rep Sean Duffy; a mindless disgrace!!
June 23, 2014
The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have cost us between $4 and $6 trillion dollars, but that is not the true cost of war. The true cost of war is counted by the dead and wounded, 6,640 U.S. service members who were killed and 50,540 who were wounded through Feb. 5, 2013. Of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines deployed, 103,792 were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 253,330 service members were diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) of some kind. A total of 1,715 service members received wounds that required amputations and 1,493 lost an arm or leg.
The cost of war includes those whose lives will never be the same whether they have visible wounds or not. Horrific scenes will haunt the dreams of the young men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan for the rest of their lives. Suicides, alcoholism and drug abuse will take even more of those who served. The costs of war are counted in broken marriages, domestic abuse, and homelessness. The costs of war will be counted for more than just the generation that served...
Sen. Johnson said that he couldn’t support the bill because of its cost—$35 billion the first two years and $50 billion per year after that, according to a preliminary estimate by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
This is the same Sen. Johnson who said in a recent MSNBC interview that the current crisis in Iraq was caused because President Obama was not forceful enough about keeping troops in the country when the war ended. I am sure he would have found the money for that. I wonder if Senator Johnson would whine about the costs of the VA if just one of his three children had spent a year or more in some godforsaken hellhole like Afghanistan or Iraq.
GOP Sen. Ron Johnson: It costs too much to fund the VA
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/06/22/1307971/-GOP-Sen-Ron-Johnson-It-costs-too-much-to-fund-the-VA?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos%29&utm_content=Netvibes#The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have cost us between $4 and $6 trillion dollars, but that is not the true cost of war. The true cost of war is counted by the dead and wounded, 6,640 U.S. service members who were killed and 50,540 who were wounded through Feb. 5, 2013. Of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines deployed, 103,792 were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 253,330 service members were diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) of some kind. A total of 1,715 service members received wounds that required amputations and 1,493 lost an arm or leg.
The cost of war includes those whose lives will never be the same whether they have visible wounds or not. Horrific scenes will haunt the dreams of the young men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan for the rest of their lives. Suicides, alcoholism and drug abuse will take even more of those who served. The costs of war are counted in broken marriages, domestic abuse, and homelessness. The costs of war will be counted for more than just the generation that served...
Sen. Johnson said that he couldn’t support the bill because of its cost—$35 billion the first two years and $50 billion per year after that, according to a preliminary estimate by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
This is the same Sen. Johnson who said in a recent MSNBC interview that the current crisis in Iraq was caused because President Obama was not forceful enough about keeping troops in the country when the war ended. I am sure he would have found the money for that. I wonder if Senator Johnson would whine about the costs of the VA if just one of his three children had spent a year or more in some godforsaken hellhole like Afghanistan or Iraq.
June 23, 2014
WTMJ-TV Gives Walker Air Time Tonight, None To Burke
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2014/06/wtmj-tv-gives-walker-air-time-tonight.htmlWMTJ-TV had a 10 o'clock piece on the gubernatorial campaign tonight with Walker appearing twice to defend himself against Doe case allegations and to deny that he would run personal, attack ads against opponent Mary Burke - - but Burke was not interviewed.
"Pretty blatant, adding to the perception that Journal Broadcast Group - - created of Right Wisconsin and daily right-wing talk shows - - is WGOP."
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