Teachers Take Union Dues to Supreme Court By Allie Bidwell
A group of California public schoolteachers petitioned the Supreme Court on Monday to hear a challenge to change laws requiring teachers to pay union dues even though they may disagree with union positions. If this continues to the Supreme Court this could change the way unions operate throughout the country. The lawsuit is aimed at the California Teachers Association and Christian Educators Association International. The ten plaintiffs claim that California's "agency shop" law is unconstitutional and violates their First Amendment rights because they force them to pay union dues regardless if they are a member. Teachers in California pay almost $1,000 annually in union dues.
If this case wins in favor of the plaintiffs there could be drastic changes to the way unions operate in the U.S. "Agency shop" union laws would be considered unconstitutional, so teachers who do not support the union can save their money. I think that teachers have a right to decide whether or not they participate in union activities and programs. Also, they should not have to pay almost $1,000 every year for something that they do not believe in. I hope that this case continues to the Supreme Court and the teachers petition is heard.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Obama's very long to-do list
Obama's 2015 State of the Union to-do list By Rebecca Kaplan
In 2014, President Obama told Congress that if they do not do their part he will exercise his executive power. In his 2015 address, there was no such threat. Most of his proposals however, require Congress to act. His to-do list included exercising the veto power because Congress is now in Republican hands. It also covers curing disease with the help of the human genome. This means that he hopes to launch an initiative to help cure diseases like cancer and diabetes with treatments that are based on a person's genetic makeup. Other topics on his to-do list are a call for net neutrality, and balancing civil liberties with aggressive surveillance methods. He needs Congress' help on a few items on his list one of which requires them to overhaul the tax code so that he can implement his plan to make child care more available and affordable. A few other items, are for Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act, for them to increase the minimum wage, and infrastructure. In regards to education, Obama needs Congress to support his plan for two free years of community college and the reduction of student loan payments.
All of Obama's plans are large and vast plans that need the approval or support of Congress. Their support however is very unlikely because he no longer has Democratic support in both houses or in either house for that matter. Obama has a hard road ahead of him, but most of his plans will benefit the country if implemented. I think that Obama has too long of a to-do list which he most definitely will not complete in this year or in the rest of his presidency. Also his list will not be completed because of the lack of support in Congress. Some of his items are interesting such as the humane genome project because it does not seem like something a president would support, but it will benefit the country. Overall I think Obama's State of the Union address consisted of great ideas and plans, but sadly without the support of Congress most of it will be just talk.
In 2014, President Obama told Congress that if they do not do their part he will exercise his executive power. In his 2015 address, there was no such threat. Most of his proposals however, require Congress to act. His to-do list included exercising the veto power because Congress is now in Republican hands. It also covers curing disease with the help of the human genome. This means that he hopes to launch an initiative to help cure diseases like cancer and diabetes with treatments that are based on a person's genetic makeup. Other topics on his to-do list are a call for net neutrality, and balancing civil liberties with aggressive surveillance methods. He needs Congress' help on a few items on his list one of which requires them to overhaul the tax code so that he can implement his plan to make child care more available and affordable. A few other items, are for Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act, for them to increase the minimum wage, and infrastructure. In regards to education, Obama needs Congress to support his plan for two free years of community college and the reduction of student loan payments.
All of Obama's plans are large and vast plans that need the approval or support of Congress. Their support however is very unlikely because he no longer has Democratic support in both houses or in either house for that matter. Obama has a hard road ahead of him, but most of his plans will benefit the country if implemented. I think that Obama has too long of a to-do list which he most definitely will not complete in this year or in the rest of his presidency. Also his list will not be completed because of the lack of support in Congress. Some of his items are interesting such as the humane genome project because it does not seem like something a president would support, but it will benefit the country. Overall I think Obama's State of the Union address consisted of great ideas and plans, but sadly without the support of Congress most of it will be just talk.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Immigration Battle
President Obama allies bank on immigration backfire By Seung Min Kim
Republicans voted to extend the Department of Homeland Security's funding through February in an attempt to try to defer the fight against Obama's executive order until their party had a majority in both houses. Obama's allies are eager for a fight because they believe it will be good politics for them and bad for the GOP. It will be bad politics for the republicans because their attempts to overturn Obama's executive order will make them seem hostile to immigrants and Latinos. Despite the bad politics, Republicans hope that the temporary shut down of DHS will cause a change to Obama's executive order. On February 27, the ending day of funding, most of the department's employees will continue to work. This is because their jobs are essential or they are not funded appropriated by Capitol Hill. During the shutdown in October 2013, DHS employees continued to work despite the shutdown because their jobs are "necessary for the preservation of the safety of human life or the protection of property” and their paychecks were withheld until after the shutdown. Therefore Republicans hopes that the lack of pay to employees could cause a change to the executive order. The wildcard in the attempt to overturn Obama's immigration plan is the lawsuit filed by 24 states. There will be a hearing on January 9th.
The Republicans attempts to overturn the executive order will only cause a lack of paychecks for DHS employees, and won't change the Obama administration's minds. Also, I agree with the article in that the strong efforts to overturn the order will only create bad politics for the Republicans. Overall I think the cut of funding after February for DHS is not a good idea because that department is an essential part of our country's functions. The Republicans should have found a better way to deal with the situation.
Republicans voted to extend the Department of Homeland Security's funding through February in an attempt to try to defer the fight against Obama's executive order until their party had a majority in both houses. Obama's allies are eager for a fight because they believe it will be good politics for them and bad for the GOP. It will be bad politics for the republicans because their attempts to overturn Obama's executive order will make them seem hostile to immigrants and Latinos. Despite the bad politics, Republicans hope that the temporary shut down of DHS will cause a change to Obama's executive order. On February 27, the ending day of funding, most of the department's employees will continue to work. This is because their jobs are essential or they are not funded appropriated by Capitol Hill. During the shutdown in October 2013, DHS employees continued to work despite the shutdown because their jobs are "necessary for the preservation of the safety of human life or the protection of property” and their paychecks were withheld until after the shutdown. Therefore Republicans hopes that the lack of pay to employees could cause a change to the executive order. The wildcard in the attempt to overturn Obama's immigration plan is the lawsuit filed by 24 states. There will be a hearing on January 9th.
The Republicans attempts to overturn the executive order will only cause a lack of paychecks for DHS employees, and won't change the Obama administration's minds. Also, I agree with the article in that the strong efforts to overturn the order will only create bad politics for the Republicans. Overall I think the cut of funding after February for DHS is not a good idea because that department is an essential part of our country's functions. The Republicans should have found a better way to deal with the situation.
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