Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Short Attention Span Musing - hypocrisy and heartlessness edition

First, for the Christians out there, I should probably cite the relevant section of the Bible

From BibleGateway.com, Matthew 7:12 (New International Version) -

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

In other words, don't lie, don't hold others to higher standards that you are prepared to meet yourself, and don't be evil.


Speaking of lying.....from ABCNews -

Tennessee GOP congressman was 'mistaken' on college degree

Tennessee U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles says he was “mistaken” when he said he graduated with an international relations degree after a local news outlet raised questions over whether the Republican had embellished his education.

Ogles said this week he wasn't made aware of the mistake until he requested his transcript from Middle Tennessee State University to verify his degree.

“When I pulled my transcript to verify, I realized I was mistaken. My degree is in Liberal Studies. I apologize for my misstatement," Ogles said in a statement released Sunday.

Earlier this month, Nashville-based WTVF-TV reported that Ogles has also called himself an “economist" even though he only took one community college economics course. The station then raised questions over Ogles' claims that he has law enforcement experience and handled “international sex crimes.”

Speaking of higher standards...from the website of the AZ House Democrats -

House Democratic Leader Andrés Cano issued the following statement today after Democratic members with bills ready for a floor vote were told they must obtain signatures from at least 16 of 31 Republican members in order for their bills to get a full vote. In protest, Democrats voted no on all bills moving through the chamber throughout the afternoon.


"Democrats in this Chamber have had enough. Today a number of our bills cleared Committee of the Whole debate -- meaning they should be put on the board of truth to see if they have support from a majority of this body – but now we find that the goal posts have been moved yet again.


Our members did the hard work, getting stakeholders on board, gaining bi-partisan support to get these bills through committee. But apparently, a new and completely arbitrary rule has been imposed upon Democratic members.


That rule, which is written nowhere because it's completely antithetical to representative government, is that our members must get at least 16 Republican signatures on one of these green sheets – a majority of the majority – or else their bill will not be on third read.

That means if all 29 members of our caucus support one of our colleague's bills, but only 15 of 31 Republicans like the idea, then it's dead. A bill with a literal Super Majority plus four extra votes, will not move out of this chamber!


For example, one of the bills debated today has our full caucus support plus 12 Republican signatures. Over and over, this member was told by Republican on this floor 'I'll be the 16th signature, come to me when you have 15 signatures.'


That is wrong. That is not the process. Any bi partisan Democratic idea, no matter how valid, no matter how important to the future of our state, can be stopped because in this chamber the tail wags the dog.


We will not be taken for granted. Until this process is once again deliberative and representative, I vote no."


So unless a majority of Republicans in the AZ House support something, House R leadership deems it dead.

Wonder how loud their screams will be if/when their rule is applied TO them rather than BY them.


Speaking heartless and evil...from Politico (emphasis added by me)-

Why one state’s plan to unwind a Covid-era Medicaid rule is raising red flags

President Joe Biden is giving states a year to check whether millions of low-income Americans are still eligible to receive health insurance through their government’s Medicaid program.

Arkansas is planning to do it in half that time.

GOP Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former President Donald Trump’s press secretary, is pushing to remove people from “government dependency,” and this month her Medicaid agency started sending letters to tens of thousands of Medicaid recipients asking for proof of income and a host of other details to show they are still eligible for the insurance program.


She should probably forego her contempt for her constituents and tell that to the AR Senate.

From a press release dated 6/2/2021 -

American Rescue Plan to Send Billions in Federal Aid to Arkansas

State and local governments are preparing to receive a large infusion of federal aid, under the American Rescue Plan of 2021. Schools and universities in Arkansas also are receiving federal funds.

The amount of federal funding is unprecedented. State government will get $1.57 billion. The 75 counties in Arkansas will get $586 million. Arkansas cities will get about $425 million. Each city’s allocation will depend on its population. Arkansas schools are set to receive $1.25 billion. Universities and colleges will receive $363 million.

USASpending.gov has data how much different states receive from the federal government.


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