Politics
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While the debate in Congress over “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” continues, undocumented youth have continued to take bold steps, showing they are unafraid, unashamed and that they and their families belong in their new home, the United States.
Since the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, there has been no concrete legislation addressing the need for citizenship for people who, for whatever circumstance, have come to the United States to seek a better life for themselves and their family. Like any presidential candidate, Barack Obama campaign promised more than he could deliver when he promised Immigration Reform during his 2008 campaign.
Quite the opposite of supporting immigrant rights, during Obama’s tenure the United States has deported more people than any previous administration -- 1.7 million within six years. Our country averages over 1,000 deportations each day, including hundreds of deportations in Franklin County each year.
Obama again made Immigration Reform central to his 2012 presidential campaign.
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So what is a school system to do when faced with evidence that it has impermissibly and unlawfully altered data to make its performance seem good, when it was in fact bad? If it is Columbus City Schools, lawyer up, clam up, obfuscate and deny.
Audits and Investigations Uncover Fraud and Data Manipulation
After a year of damning report after damning report, CCS has yet to admit any serious problems. Board member Ramona Reyes says, “we need to act on facts and evidence. We need not rush to judgment with suspicions, but take firm action when violations are proven.“ The Board apparently never found any violations with former Superintendent Gene Harris, who retired at her leisure this past summer. The first damning report came from Auditor of the State of Ohio David Yost, and found that each of the ten middle schools tested improperly coded students as having withdrawn or transferred, which removed those records from the school and district report cards.Google Inc. is now aligned with the notorious ALEC.
Quietly, Google has joined ALEC -- the American Legislative Exchange Council -- the shadowy corporate alliance that pushes odious laws through state legislatures.
In the process, Google has signed onto an organization that promotes such regressive measures as tax cuts for tobacco companies, school privatization to help for-profit education firms, repeal of state taxes for the wealthy and opposition to renewable energy disliked by oil companies.
ALEC’s reactionary efforts -- thoroughly documented [1] by the Center for Media and Democracy -- are shameful assaults on democratic principles. And Google is now among the hundreds of companies in ALEC [2]. Many people who’ve admired Google are now wondering: how could this be?
Quietly, Google has joined ALEC -- the American Legislative Exchange Council -- the shadowy corporate alliance that pushes odious laws through state legislatures.
In the process, Google has signed onto an organization that promotes such regressive measures as tax cuts for tobacco companies, school privatization to help for-profit education firms, repeal of state taxes for the wealthy and opposition to renewable energy disliked by oil companies.
ALEC’s reactionary efforts -- thoroughly documented [1] by the Center for Media and Democracy -- are shameful assaults on democratic principles. And Google is now among the hundreds of companies in ALEC [2]. Many people who’ve admired Google are now wondering: how could this be?
National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden, from his asylum in Russia, accepted an award on Wednesday from a group of former U.S. intelligence officials expressing support for his decision to divulge secrets about the NSA's electronic surveillance of Americans and people around the globe.
The award, named in honor of the late CIA analyst Sam Adams, was presented to Snowden at a ceremony in Moscow by previous recipients of the award bestowed by the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence (SAAII). The presenters included former FBI agent Coleen Rowley, former NSA official Thomas Drake, and former Justice Department official Jesselyn Radack, now with the Government Accountability Project. (Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern also took part.)
The award, named in honor of the late CIA analyst Sam Adams, was presented to Snowden at a ceremony in Moscow by previous recipients of the award bestowed by the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence (SAAII). The presenters included former FBI agent Coleen Rowley, former NSA official Thomas Drake, and former Justice Department official Jesselyn Radack, now with the Government Accountability Project. (Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern also took part.)
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We are bringing you the top ten censored stories in this week’s Free Press, listed democratically in order of importance, according to the Project’s judges. These stories announced on October 1st are from the 2012-2013 news cycle. The Censored 2014 edition is co-edited by Mickey Huff and Andy Lee Roth and the project is based at Sonoma State University. This year’s volume of censored stories is entitled “Fearless Speech in Fateful Times.” The Free Press agrees.
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Despite the recommendation of an Expert Group to save 10 buildings of historic Poindexter Village, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) has been determined to leave no physical evidence of the housing authority that nurtured so many great African-American contributors to the development of Columbus. Voting unilaterally to tear down all 35 buildings, CMHA has reneged on what community activists believe was a promise to save at least a small portion of buildings that preservationists say are eligible for a place in the National Register of Historic Places.
“We see this as a lack of integrity and lack of good faith in CHMA’s own process. It disrespects the former residents, historic preservationists and the black community as a whole,” noted Reita Smith. Smith is a member of the Poindexter Village History Advisory Group (PVHAG) and the Coalition for the Responsible and Sustainable Development on the Near East Side. She is also a member of Ohio’s First Families having documented her family history back to the 1700’s.
The last year has been historic for the cannabis movement. A record number of statehouses have brought up legislation to legalize cannabis for medical and even recreational purposes. One person actively pushing for cannabis rights in Ohio is Toledo resident Kevin Spitler. He is hosting the first annual “Ohio Medical Marijuana Expo” this Saturday in Toledo. I sat down with Kevin and tried to get readers a better idea of what he is trying to accomplish with this first of its kind event here in Ohio.
M.R. First off Kevin, could I get a bit of background information on you for the readers?
K.S. 40 years old and an Ohio native, I migrated to Michigan in search of relief in 2009. I became more and more involved in helping people along the line of education and found several avenues to do this. After several endeavors Med Joint Community Compassion Center was created. Med Joint took the lead in community involvements as well as safe access, Community involvements like a food drive which dropped off over 10,000 pounds of food to a local food pantry. I am now involved with Ohio Rights Group in the effort to help legalize Medical Cannabis as well as Industrial Hemp.
The Free Press offers five of its own news stories that could be considered censored stories in central Ohio. Censored does not mean the news items did not have any press coverage at all. Here, censored describes underreported or misreported news items, due to reporter self-censorship or media bias.
1. Romney family tied to voting machine company used in Cincinnati for 2012 presidential election
“Vote counting company tied to Romney”
September 27, 2012
By Gerry Bello & Bob Fitrakis
“Will H.I.G.-owned e-voting machines give Romney the White House?”
October 12, 2012
By Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman
“Romney family and friends will help tabulate the vote count in Cincinnati: Hart Intercivic holds maintenance contracts on their own machines”
October 24, 2012
By Gerry Bello and Bob Fitrakis
(All from freepress.org)
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Editor’s Note: This testimony was given today at the Ohio Statehouse following the committee session. The bill was passed out of committee with minor changes, none addressing the issues raised in this testimony. It was then reported to the Ohio Senate where it was quickly passed as an emergency measure.
Comments of Bob Fitrakis, Ohio Green Party Co-Chair
State Government and Oversight and Reform Committee regarding SB 193
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Honorable Chairman and members of the Oversight and Reform Committee Usually reform is taken and oversight required when there is an actual problem. There is nothing wrong with the status quo regarding political parties in Ohio. State such as Florida, Vermont and Mississippi allow political parties on the ballot without petitions. They are not plagued by crowded ballots. Others like Idaho require a political party to file a petition, but once filed, the party remains as long it runs at least three candidates every even numbered state election year. South Carolina similarly requires a petition, but once a party is on the ballot it stays on if it runs just one candidate every four years.
Comments of Bob Fitrakis, Ohio Green Party Co-Chair
State Government and Oversight and Reform Committee regarding SB 193
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Honorable Chairman and members of the Oversight and Reform Committee Usually reform is taken and oversight required when there is an actual problem. There is nothing wrong with the status quo regarding political parties in Ohio. State such as Florida, Vermont and Mississippi allow political parties on the ballot without petitions. They are not plagued by crowded ballots. Others like Idaho require a political party to file a petition, but once filed, the party remains as long it runs at least three candidates every even numbered state election year. South Carolina similarly requires a petition, but once a party is on the ballot it stays on if it runs just one candidate every four years.
As the Republicans in Washington effectively draw everyone’s attention toward ‘recalcitrant’ and ‘unreasonable’ Democrats concerning a perceivable impasse over the Affordable Care Act, one story is going unreported in the mainstream media. At the end of the day, when the government reopens, Republicans will have won.
Of course, this Republican victory will have nothing whatever to do with the Affordable Care Act and their repeated attempts to defund and delay the legislation. Even most Republicans in the House of Representatives acknowledge that President Obama has neither the inclination nor the will to sign a bill that includes a delay of his signature piece of legislation. No, the Republican victory will have everything to do with money.
This hostage scenario, as conceived and carried out by the House Republicans, will come to an end when they vote on a ‘Clean CR,’ which only means a temporary government funding measure. When that happens it is crucial to remember that a certain amount of money has already been allocated in government spending. But let’s back up for a minute.
Of course, this Republican victory will have nothing whatever to do with the Affordable Care Act and their repeated attempts to defund and delay the legislation. Even most Republicans in the House of Representatives acknowledge that President Obama has neither the inclination nor the will to sign a bill that includes a delay of his signature piece of legislation. No, the Republican victory will have everything to do with money.
This hostage scenario, as conceived and carried out by the House Republicans, will come to an end when they vote on a ‘Clean CR,’ which only means a temporary government funding measure. When that happens it is crucial to remember that a certain amount of money has already been allocated in government spending. But let’s back up for a minute.