Freddie Stubbs
Freddie Stubbs's JournalLabor Department backs off new limits on child labor on farms
Source: Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Under heavy pressure from farm groups, the Obama administration said Thursday it would drop an unpopular plan to prevent children from doing hazardous work on farms owned by anyone other than their parents.
The Labor Department said it is withdrawing proposed rules that would ban children younger than 16 from using most power-driven farm equipment, including tractors. The rules also would prevent those younger than 18 from working in feed lots, grain bins and stockyards.
While labor officials said their goal was to reduce the fatality rate for child farm workers, the proposal had become a popular political target for Republicans who called it an impractical, heavy-handed regulation that ignored the reality of small farms.
"It's good the Labor Department rethought the ridiculous regulations it was going to stick on farmers and their families," said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. "To even propose such regulations defies common sense, and shows a real lack of understanding as to how the family farm works."
Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/labor-department-backs-off-new-limits-on-child-labor-on/article_ccccc16d-99b9-59d1-a68b-9df6a3e06537.html
Thank goodness. This is the kind of foolishness that can deny the President the ability to win Iowa again.
Union has ‘deep concerns’ over Democrat Gloria Romero Roses’ ties to former employer Read more here
Source: The Miami Herald
When Democrat Gloria Romero Roses runs for Congress this fall, her biggest opponent may not be incumbent Republican Rep. David Rivera, but her own résumé.
For nearly three years, Roses worked for a Hollywood-based condo management company that fought a nasty battle against one of the Democratic Party’s biggest contributors: the Service Employees International Union.
Roses headed the employee relations department and later became director of communications and community relations for The Continental Group, which manages condo properties across South Florida. Beginning in 2004, a local SEIU chapter tried unsuccessfully to unionize Continental’s condo workers, mostly in Miami Beach. The union accused the company of interfering with the union effort.
Roses, however, said she backs unions — and that Continental merely “engaged in an open dialogue” with its workers. The company pointed out to employees that it paid a salary higher than the industry average, she said, and provided workers with health benefits and a 401(k) retirement plan.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/23/2765392/democratic-congressional-challenger.html#storylink=cpy
Susan Sarandon: The government tapped my phone
Source: CBS News
Actress Susan Sarandon says her phone has been tapped by the government, and that she was recently denied security clearance to visit the White House but does not know why.
The actress made the comments during a Q&A session with filmmaker Michael Moore on Sunday at a Tribeca Film Festival event in New York.
"I've gotten my [FBI] file twice," Sarandon said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I know my phone was tapped. If they're not surveilling you, then everyone else has cameras on phones." She added, "I was denied security clearance to go to the White House [next week], and I don't know why."
Moore, who's made films including "Fahrenheit 9/11," "Sicko" and "Capitalism: A Love Story," also chimed in: "I never think about it. It would unwind me. I assume everything I'm saying in an email or saying on the telephone is being looked at."
Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-57419139-10391698/susan-sarandon-the-government-tapped-my-phone/
Manchin on the Fence About Obama Vote
Source: National Journal
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who has done more than any other Democrat up for reelection this year to distance himself from President Obama, said he does not know if he will vote for Obama or presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney in November.
“I’ll look at the options,” Manchin said this week. The last three years “have made it pretty rough” for his state, he said.
That stance is at odds with almost every other Democrat who is up for reelection this year or is from a state that Romney is likely to win. And it’s an indication of the unique effort Manchin has made to establish his independence from Obama and other Democrats. The senator has regularly used floor speeches and closely watched votes to, as he puts it, “respectfully” highlight differences with Obama, especially on environmental issues. He said Obama has never called him or sought a one-on-one conversation.
Manchin said his own vote will depend on how his constituents view the contest.
Read more: http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/manchin-on-the-fence-about-obama-vote-20120419
President Obama lost WV 56%-43% in 2008. It's no surprise that Manchin is terrified of being linked to the President.
Amanda Clayton, Michigan lottery winner, arraigned on welfare fraud charges
Source: Associated Press
LINCOLN PARK, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan lottery winner was charged with fraud Tuesday for collecting food stamps and public health insurance despite pocketing a $735,000 jackpot.
Amanda Clayton, 25, was silent during a brief court hearing after spending a night in jail. A not-guilty plea was entered, and her lawyer vowed to fight the charges.
Lottery winners collecting welfare benefits have embarrassed Michigan officials. Clayton is the second person in the state caught with food stamps despite newly minted wealth, and Gov. Rick Snyder last week signed a law requiring the lottery to notify the Human Services Department when someone wins at least $1,000.
Clayton is charged with failing to inform the state that her income had changed as a result of the lottery prize and a job. She won a $1 million jackpot on a game show, "Make Me Rich!" and chose a $735,000 lump sum, before taxes, last September.
Read more: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/04/amanda-clayton-michigan-lottery-winner-arraigned-on-welfare-fraud-charges-75002.html
Dem chief: Kucinich a 'narcissist'
Source: Politico
In the ongoing saga over Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich's next act, Washington state Democratic Party chair Dwight Pelz makes clear where he stands on the question of whether the liberal congressman should move west and run for Congress.
Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times has the story:
The possibility of a Kucinich run here "horrified" state Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz, who has repeatedly discouraged the idea.
"Dennis Kucinich has to decide what his legacy is going to be. Will he be remembered as a principled member of Congress or the narcissist who lost two Congressional races in two states the same year?" Pelz said.
Read more: Link to source
Obama aides say Rosen shows president will take on friends
Source: The Hill
Senior Obama aides say the president's criticism of Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen's comments shows he's willing to stand up to his friends, unlike Mitt Romney.
The argument from the aides is an effort to find a bright spot in the controversy over Rosen, who said Ann Romney had "never worked a day in her life." Rosen apologized for the comments on Thursday.
Doing damage control, White House adviser David Plouffe and Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod made separate appearances Thursday night to contrast Obama’s public response to Rosen to Romney’s response to controversial comments made by conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh.
“I think we have an obligation in politics and public life, when someone, even friends, say things that are inappropriate, to say so. In fact, in certain ways, when your friends say it, there is more of an obligation to do so,” Axelrod said on CNN.
Read more: http://thehill.com/video/campaign/221369-obama-aides-on-rosen-controversy-obama-willing-to-stand-up-to-his-friends-unlike-romney
Top Dems distance themselves from Hilary Rosen. DNC: she doesn't work for us
Source: Miami Herald
Republicans are jumping all over Democrat Hilary Rosen for saying last night on CNN that Mitt Romney's wife, Ann Romney, has never worked. Conservatives say that amounts to an attack on stay-at-home-moms.
Obama's campaign and advisers quickly distanced themselves from Rosen. President Obama's campaign manager said she should apologize. No way, says Rosen.
Now the Democratic National Committee is as well, saying that she doesn't work for them -- despite a Wall Street Journal report saying last month that she was a DNC advisor to Chairwoman and Broward Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
"She's not an adviser to the DNC - the DNC's contract for media services is exclusively with Anita Dunn," said spokesman Brad Woodhouse via email. Asked about the journal article, Woodhouse said "I don't have any idea what the wsj's source for that is - our contract is exclusively with Anita Dunn."
Read more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/04/top-dems-distance-themselves-from-hilary-rosen-dnc-she-doesnt-work-for-us.html
Auditor General Jack Wagner and Pa. Young Democrats Endorse Tim Holden
Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner visited Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties on Tuesday in support of incumbent Rep. Tim Holden who faces Matt Cartwright in the Democratic primary.
The event, a formal endorsement for Holden in his campaign against challenger Matt Cartwright, consisted of two media stops. The pair first stopped at the Lackawanna County Courthouse Square in Scranton at noon and then proceeded to the Wilkes-Barre Public Square.
“I am thrilled to have the endorsement of my good friend, Jack Wagner,” said Congressman Holden in a press release April 9. “His career in public service is one of great distinction, and I am honored that he is supporting me in this election.”
In an interview with The Scranton Times-Tribune, Wagner discussed Holden’s character.
more: http://www.politicspa.com/auditor-general-jack-wagner-and-pa-young-democrats-endorse-tim-holden/33918/
Keith Olbermann Countersued By Current TV
Source: TMZ
Current TV has filed a countersuit in its war with Keith Olbermann ... claiming the "Countdown" host got his walking papers, in part, because he BARELY showed up to work.
In the docs, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Current TV claims Olbermann missed 19 out of 41 work days in January and February in his attempt to "sabotage" the network.
Current also claims Olbermann once smashed a glass mug on the set. Earlier this week, an email emerged in which a Current employee detailed the incident ... voicing concerns that other employees could've slipped on the water or could have been cut by the shards.
As we previously reported, Olbermann filed his lawsuit against the network yesterday ... demanding between $50 mil and $70 mil in unpaid compensation.
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2012/04/06/keith-olbermann-countersued-by-current-tv/#.T386h5nOy-0
It looks like this is going to get ugly.
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