Center for Media and Democracy editor@prwatch.org
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Only 5,840 Actual Jobs from Walker's WEDC
This July marks the three-year anniversary of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Gov. Scott Walker's flagship economic development agency. WEDC has been mired in allegations of incompetence and skirting the law since 2012, but how has it performed when it comes to its top priority of creating jobs for the people of Wisconsin?
Pesticide and GMO Companies Spend Big in Hawaii
Hawai'i has become "ground zero" in the controversy over genetically modified (GMO) foods and crops. One local advocate says she's "never seen anything so divisive or high-stakes." With the seed crop industry (including conventional as well as GMO crops) reaping $146.3 million a year in sales resulting from its activities in Hawai'i, the out-of-state pesticide and GMO firms have brought substantial sums of corporate cash into the state's relatively small political arena.
Love Is in the Air as Wisconsin’s Gay Marriage Ban is Overturned
After Wisconsin federal court judge Barbara Crabb struck down the state's gay marriage ban as unconstitutional late on Friday, gay and lesbian couples dug out their birth certificates, called their friends and rushed down to the courthouse in Madison and Milwaukee to take their vows.
Democracy Movement Leads Push for Democracy Amendment
Since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 decision inCitizens United v FEC, American elections have been flooded with money: between the 2008 and 2012 elections, outside spending increased roughly 245 percent in presidential elections, 662 percent in House elections, and 1,338 percent in Senate elections.
New Report Documents How Privatization Steals Wages, Harms Communities
All across the country, public services are increasingly outsourced to private contractors in the name of efficiency and cost savings. But a new report from the non-profit research group In the Public Interest (ITPI) shows that outsourcing public services hurts middle and working class communities as well as workers.
Walmart Squeezes Organics
One of the most frequent questions I get about the food system is what to make of the fact that Walmart sells organic food. Is it good news or bad?
Who Is Behind the National Right to Work Committee and its Anti-Union Crusade?
As the U.S. Supreme Court's 2014 session comes to a close, one of the major cases left for a decision is Harris vs. Quinn, which could effect millions of public sector workers in the United States. The case originates in Illinois, where home health care workers have been successfully organized by public sector unions.
James Risen’s Fate Now Unclear
The Supreme Court just refused to hear an appeal by James Risen, The New York Times reporter who has asserted his reporter’s privilege not to testify about a source. As a result, he could be cited for contempt of court and then jailed.
To Tackle Climate Change an "All of the Above" Strategy Is Needed
President Barack Obama’s administration has done something no other has done: introduced federal rules limiting carbon emissions from the nation’s existing power plants. This is not a minor issue.
WI Club for Growth Tries to Bar GAB from Spending Money on Probe
Wisconsin Club for Growth has launched a new legal volley in its well-funded effort to thwart the state’s John Doe campaign finance probe. On Friday, WCFG and its director Eric O’Keefe filed suit against the Government Accountability Board (GAB) in the Republican stronghold of Waukesha County, claiming the board exceeded its authority by assisting prosecutors in the probe.
Surgeon General Nominee, Blocked by NRA, Goes Silent
Gun-rights groups rejoiced after they stalled President Obama's nominee for surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, because of his call for commonsense gun safety measures. Now, even after the killing spree at Isla Vista, his nomination is still likely doomed.
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Why Is the Wall Street Journal Livid that Scott Walker Wants a John Doe Settlement?
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's campaign is reportedly negotiating a settlement with prosecutors in the long-running "John Doe" criminal campaign finance probe -- and the Wall Street Journal editorial board, which for months has attacked prosecutors and portrayed the investigation as baseless, is livid.
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