Will Progressives Have to Fight for State’s Rights in 2017?

Will Progressives Have to Fight for State’s Rights in 2017?

It’s so predictable that it’s almost a joke: Republicans are against debt… unless there’s a Republican in the White House . Republicans are against foreign intervention…unless there’s a Republican in the White House. Republicans say they stand for state’s rights… Well, you can figure out where this is going. This morning, I read Justin Miller’s piece at the American Prospect about the “heartbeat” abortion bill that Republican legislators in Ohio are trying to pass. In its lame-duck rush to push through a controversial legislative package, the Republican-controlled Ohio Legislature made headlines by passing the “ heartbeat bill ,” an oppressive—and likely unconstitutional—anti-abortion measure that, if signed by Republican Governor John Kasich, would be the most restrictive law in the country. But there was another harsh measure in the mix that flew under the radar: a measure that would force Ohio localities to comply with state minimum-wage regulations that top out at $8.10 an hour. That minimum-wage measure is, of course, a giant middle finger to Cleveland workers’ attempts to get a $12 minimum wage on the ballot next year, and I think it’s a warning sign for all of us. Because the Fight for $15 has made such terrific strides in cities and states around the country—even in bright red states—it seems likely that Republicans at the state and federal level could very likely try to crack down on regional minimum wages in the year to come. Miller lists several recent attempts by state officials to preempt municipal attempts to ban plastic bags or provide paid sick leave, and it’s not hard to imagine a Republican Congress doing the same on a national level. Please bear in mind that this is speculation. And also bear in mind that it’s easier said than done: any politician will tell you that it’s about ten thousand times easier to stop something from becoming law than it is to take a right or privilege away from someone.
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Daily Clips: December 7, 2016

Daily Clips: December 7, 2016

TIME magazine names Donald Trump “Person of the Year” Predictable. Thomas Friedman finds optimism in Trump’s meeting with Gore As long as Trump is open to learning on the environment, we have to push our best and brightest through the doors of Trump Tower to constructively engage him. The more the better. I’m willing to be pleasantly surprised and supportive of any turns to the positive. But the minute his door closes to learning and evolving, man the barricades. American Prospect debuts their new feature, “Trickle Downers” What a beautiful sight! There will now be a devoted vertical on trickle-down economics, calling out tax cuts for the rich, deregulation for the powerful, and wage suppression for the 99%. Justin Miller kicks things off with his first ever ‘ Trickle Downer of the Week “: Steve Mnuchin. Experts on the left and right agree: Trump’s tax plan —which Mnuchin helped  craft—is a massive giveaway to the wealthiest 1 percent, leaving middle-class and low-income Americans with the crumbs. Sounds like trickle down to me. Tweet of the day At this moment 75 years ago, the United States of America comes under attack by the Empire of Japan. #PearlHarbor75 — USS Arizona (@USSArizona) December 7, 2016

Daily Clips: December 6, 2016

Daily Clips: December 6, 2016

Evidence still shows that minimum wage increases have no effect on employment EPI economist Ben Zipperer critiques a widely-cited paper by Jeffrey Clemens and Michael Wither, which claims that the national minimum wage increases from 2007 to 2009 led to substantial job losses in states that raised their minimum wages to meet the new national requirement. Zipperer argues that Clemens and Wither’s analysis fails to adequately account for the effects of the Great Recession. Ambush shootings of police officers reach highest total in decades So far this year, 20 law enforcement officers have died in planned assaults carried out by gunmen, according to two groups that track officer deaths. Angela Merkel calls for widespread ban on ‘full veil’ Islamic coverings What are you doing, Merkel? Don’t succumb to the worst impulses of the masses. US productivity is up Analysts expect companies to put more emphasis on increasing productivity as the labor market hits full employment and the pool of available qualified workers diminishes. Tweet of the day Asked about economic growth, Paul Ryan says cut regulations to spur growth in coal, paper mills, farming. Tomorrow's economy right there. — Modeled Behavior (@ModeledBehavior) December 5, 2016

Daily Clips: December 5, 2016

Daily Clips: December 5, 2016

Seattle’s job data shows the world didn’t end when we raised the minimum wage How to help working people, from the NYT Editorial Board Worker pay has lagged for a very long time. The Obama-era reforms help to make up lost ground. If Mr. Trump wishes to act in the interest of all working people, he will preserve those reforms. Paul Ryan on Trump tweeting lies: “Who cares?” Sandy Hook Promise release chilling gun prevention PSA Tweet of the day We need to move past identity politics pic.twitter.com/eeId1jCsiB — Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) December 5, 2016

Daily Clips: December 2, 2016

Daily Clips: December 2, 2016

Oregon claims success in attempt to expand voting access The Oregon law — the first “automatic voter registration” policy to be tested in an election — is notable for a subtle innovation: It is opt-out, not opt-in. Rather than ask eligible residents to take an action like checking a box to register to vote, residents are automatically registered when they apply for, renew or replace a drivers’ license, ID card or permit at the state Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division. Jobless rate fell to a nine-year low of 4.6 percent as the U.S. added 178,000 jobs in November Keith Ellison and the struggle for the Democratic Party Rising inequality means Estonia is ditching its flat tax Tweet of the day New CEA analysis finds State minimum wage increases since 2013 led to substantial wage gains for low-wage workers w. no impact on employment pic.twitter.com/XNlNklJXAe — Jason Furman (@CEAChair) December 2, 2016  

How We Won the Fight for $15, and What Progressives Can Do Next

How We Won the Fight for $15, and What Progressives Can Do Next

Four years ago this week, fast food workers in New York City took to the streets to demand a $15-an-hour minimum wage. A little over three years ago, the city of SeaTac approved a $15 minimum wage for workers serving Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. And in the intervening years, cities across the country (including Seattle, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and New York City and states including California, Oregon, and Arizona) have approved minimum wage increases that will put them well above the federal minimum of $7.50 per hour. None of that is new to you. It’s fact. It’s history. But we can’t afford to let these substantial victories become something that we take for granted. The truth is, it’s already difficult to remember now how far-fetched the Fight for $15 seemed at the time, but literally every part of the political establishment was dead set against it: business owners, newspaper editorial boards, and elected leaders on the right and the left. Here’s one example of the change that’s taken place over the last four years: The editorial board at the Seattle Times fought tooth and nail against raising the minimum wage for years, threatening apocalypse after apocalypse if the wage in SeaTac or Seattle was increased. But just five months after their last anti-wage editorial, bucking decades of tradition, the same editorial board endorsed an initiative to raise Washington state’s minimum wage to $13.50 . (Perhaps part of the reason why the Times changed its tune was that those apocalypses — apocalypsii? — that they promised never arrived.) This was an unprecedented endorsement in the history of the Times, a watershed moment for minimum wage advocates, and it turned out to be a significant precursor to a historic moment, too. On election day this year, four states voted to raise their own minimum wage. Some might consider the blue states of Washington ($13.50) and Colorado ($12) to be easy wins, but Maine, which split its
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Daily Clips: December 1, 2016

Daily Clips: December 1, 2016

Democrats, skip the civil war A panicky abandonment of their core commitments is the last thing Democrats need. Far better advice comes from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who urges the party to re-engage with rural and small-town voters . So says EJ Dionne and I think he’s right, but I think in order to “re-engage with rural and small-town voters” they need to abandon their obsession with incrementalist, market-friendly policies. They need to “re-engage” by promoting a vision that isn’t so piecemeal. And that will require a dramatic shake up in the Democratic Party. Many of Trump’s supporters don’t think he’ll fix America Trump’s supporters don’t necessarily expect the world to get better. However, they are a lot happier about the United States than they were on November 7. Change was enough, it appears—at least for now. Donald Trump and the Indiana Carrier factory, explained Trump’s willingness to roll up his sleeves and get involved in the problems of one American community indicates an obsessive focus on boosting the fortunes of working-class Midwesterners — even as his administration’s big-picture policy focus remains on deregulating Wall Street, enacting an enormous tax cut for rich people, and slashing spending on assistance to the poor. Tweet of the day A tragedy in 4 acts pic.twitter.com/wwdmbXltGl — THE Bradley Geiser (@therealbradg) November 30, 2016