SOTU (Minimum Wage)

During the State of the Union Address, the president asked for congress to consider a higher minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.  This is an initiative that I strongly support.  Many people have claimed that a higher minimum wage would hurt small businesses, but there's actually not a lot of evidence to support that theory.  I also think tying the minimum wage to inflation is something both parties can agree on.  Even if we can't come together on increasing the minimum wage, let's agree that the minimum wage should be tied to inflation.  I also think even a modest increase in the minimum wage to $9 gradually is something that both parties can agree on.  Minimum wage increases also help small businesses indirectly since people will have more money to spend to buy their products.  Economists also agree that raising the minimum wage reduces poverty.  Instead of talking about something that reduces income inequality, let's actually do something that will have a lasting impact on people's lives.  Unfortunately, 40% of Americans also make less than what the minimum wage was worth in 1968.

Footnotes Obama stumps for minimum wage hike, Small businesses back minimum wage hike - CBS News, Abrams: Minimum wage hike aids small business - USA Today, 40% Of Americans Now Make Less Than 1968 Minimum Wage ...

The Legacy of Roe Vs. Wade

Yesterday January 22, 2014, was the 41st anniversary of the Roe Vs. Wade court decision that legalized abortion in America.  41 years later, people are still talking about turning back the clock for women's rights.  Many people who talk about overturning Roe Vs. Wade don't know the unintended consequences that will come.  We can all agree we should reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, reduce the number of abortions, and increase the number of healthy pregnancies.  Roe Vs. Wade also empowered women to make their own decisions about their reproductive health.  It's not about supporting abortion, it's about empowering people to make their own decisions without interference from the government.  Let's not turn back the clock on 41 years of progress for women's rights.

Footnotes Abortion: a polarizing, emotional debate 41 years after court ruling

Will Utah go completely Red?

On December 17, 2013, the lone Democratic Congressman in Utah Jim Matheson announced his retirement.  To most political pundits, it takes Utah's 4th congressional district out of contention for the Democrats.  In a certain respect that's true, however Democrats might still have a candidate who could make it competitive.  Former Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon has been as a potential candidate who could make it competitive.  After all he did get approximately 39.1% of the vote in the 4th district when he ran for governor in 2010.  Congressman Matheson was one of the Democrats I really admired because he was a Democrat in a red state and he also wasn't afraid to be independent of the Democrats.

Footnotes  Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) will retire - Washington Post, Bryan Schott's Political BS: Matheson's Exit Complicates Things on ..., Daily Kos: Thoughts on Jim Matheson's retirement from a UT-04 ...

Georgia Senate Race (Update)

It was just announced today that Michelle Nunn raised $1.6 Million in the final quarter of 2013.  I think that shows how viable a candidate she is even though Democrats haven't won statewide in Georgia for well... a while.  As I mentioned in the last entry about the senate race, changing demographics in Georgia will help Michelle Nunn and make Georgia into a purple state.  Recent polls back in August showed that Hillary Clinton would be competitive in Georgia during the 2016 presidential election.  I also mentioned before that since Michelle Nunn doesn't have a contested primary, I think she'll have the upper hand with whoever she'll face in the general election.

Footnotes- Michelle Nunn Pulls In $1.6 Million In Georgia Senate Bid,  Hillary competitive in Georgia

Health Care... is it here to stay?

As of January 1st, more than 2 Million people enrolled under the ACA.  The 2 Million people represents the people who enrolled under the private health insurance exchanges.  4 Million people have also signed up for the Medicaid expansion under the law.  In Kentucky, more than 116,000 have signed up insurance through the new law.  Provisions prohibiting Pre-Existing condition exclusions, bans on lifetime limits, and other provisions from the law went into effect on January 1st.  I sincerely believe this law will work if given the proper amount of time.  Many people believe this law was destined to fail from day one.  This law will succeed and it will accomplish what it sets out to do which is helping more Americans get access to health insurance.  In West Virginia, 83,000 people signed up for the Medicaid expansion.  That's a great thing since West Virginia is one of the poorest states in America.

Footnotes- More than 2 million enrolled under Obamacare, More than 2 million enrolled, 4 million to Medicaid, officials said, Health insurance enrollment in Kentucky exceeds 116000, Major health law changes begin in 2014, W.Va. tops in Medicaid expansion enrollment, America's Richest (and Poorest) States - Yahoo Finance

Georgia Senate Race

A couple days ago, there was an article published in the Washington Post talking about Michelle Nunn's U.S. Senate run.  The article talked about the efforts of the Democratic Party trying to win a statewide race in Georgia.  Michelle Nunn is absolutely capable of winning the senate race in Georgia.  In a poll by PPP back in August, it showed Michelle Nunn leading or tied with her potential Republican opponents.  Three of her potential Republican opponents have already made pretty embarrassing gaffes.  Congressman Paul Broun called evolution and the Big Bang Theory, "Lies Straight from the Pit of Hell".  Congressman Phil Gingrey said, "Todd Akin is partly right about legitimate rape."  Finally, Congressman Jack Kingston suggested children who receive reduced cost lunches should become school janitors.  In October, Michelle Nunn raised $1.7 Million for the three-month filing period.  It proves that even though Michelle Nunn has never run for office, she is definitely capable of winning this race in a historically Republican state.  The changing demographics also help Nunn in Georgia as well.  President Obama won 47% of vote in 2008 and he won 45% of the vote in 2012 even though he never really contested the state either time.  I think Georgia is one of the states Democrats will flip from Republicans to Democrats in the U.S. Senate race.

Footnotes- Michelle Nunn, Jason Carter hope to rechart the course of Georgia ... Nunn in close race for Chambliss’ open Senate seat, Rep. Paul Broun Says Evolution, Embryology, and Big Bang Theory ..., Rep. Phil Gingrey says Todd Akin 'partly right' about rape, Georgia Congressman Proposes That Poor Kids Sweep Schools For Their Lunch, Michelle Nunn raises $1.7 million - Washington Post, 

Statewide Sweep

Today, State Senator Mark Obenshain will concede the Virginia Attorney General's Race to Democrat Mark Herring.  That means for the time since 1969, Democrats will hold all 5 statewide offices in Virginia.  Currently the Governor-Elect is Democrat Terry McAuliffe, the Lieutenant Governor-Elect is Democrat Ralph Northam, and Democrat Mark Herring is now the Attorney General-Elect.  Democratic Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine currently represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate.

Footnotes- Obenshain to concede Virginia attorney general's race on Wednesday in Richmond, Terry McAuliffe elected in blow to Republicans - The Guardian, Ralph Northam wins race for Virginia lieutenant governor - The ..., Senator Mark Warner - U.S. Senate, Home | Tim Kaine | U.S. Senator for Virginia