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Monthly archive

June 2016

Annual Human Trafficking Report Released to Little Commotion, Year After Malaysia-TPP Manipulation Scandal

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The State Department on Thursday released an influential but embattled annual paper on human trafficking. The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report this year has thus far brought fewer points of contention than it eventually did in 2015. Notable changes in the latest report include an upgrade for Thailand and a downgrade for Myanmar. Thailand was moved to “tier 2” after its government promised to reform laws and crack down on forced labor in the seafood industry. Myanmar was moved to “tier 3” because of its…

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Report: Average Workplace Safety Fine Less Than Cost of Funeral For Dead Worker

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A report released on Thursday asserts that American workers face increased risks on the job because the federal government isn’t cracking down hard enough on employers who skirt safety regulations. More than 30,000 employees have died at work since President Obama took office in 2009, according to the study released by the non-profit Center for Progressive Reform (CPR). The group blamed the high number of deaths on the low cost of non-compliance, finding the median Occupational Safety and Health Administration penalty imposed on employers to be…

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Senate Approves of Puerto Rico Debt Technocracy Bill

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Legislation that would allow the government of Puerto Rico to restructure its debt cleared the final major hurdle before a critical deadline later this week. The bill passed a cloture motion in the Senate on Wednesday, by a 68-32 vote. The maneuver means the legislation, now, can not be delayed indefinitely. Though most Democrats voted for it, some blasted the legislation for creating an unelected board to oversee public finances on the island—a development that will likely encourage harsh austerity measures, with technocrats unaccountable to…

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Ted Cruz-Sponsored Islamophobia Targets Fellow Lawmakers

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At a Senate hearing convened on Tuesday by former GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a witness accused two Members of Congress of having connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. The charges were leveled against Reps. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Andre Carson (D-Ind.), the only two Muslims serving in the House. First reported by the Huffington Post, Chris Gaubatz—a so-called national security consultant—testified that the lawmakers had spoken at a convention in 2008 sponsored by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). He claimed that…

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US-Backed March on ISIL Strongholds Could Soon Begin

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A top official leading the US war against the Islamic State (ISIL) said efforts to seize the fundamentalist group’s de facto capital is gaining momentum. Brett McGurk, the special US envoy to the counter-ISIL coalition, claimed on Tuesday that the ongoing assault on Manbij, in Northeastern Syria, bodes well for the campaign. McGurk said the US-backed forces will orient themselves afterward toward Raqqa, ISIL’s main stronghold, if successful. He also noted that the forces are primarily composed of Syrian Arabs, with only a minority of…

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No Do-Over for Friedrichs–Supreme Court Won’t Hear Attack on Labor Unions Again

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The Supreme Court rejected a request to reconsider a pro-labor decision it made earlier this year. Justices on Tuesday denied a petition for rehearing in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. In March, the court failed to rule in favor of the plaintiff, who had been challenging mandatory “agency fee” rules. The regulations force public sector workers in California to help finance collective bargaining, even if they aren’t union members. More than twenty states have similar laws, to prevent non-union workers from reaping the benefits of…

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From the Editors’ Desk: A New Radio Show

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Readers, we wanted to inform you of a change taking place this week over at The District Sentinel. We are starting a radio show called “Unanimous Dissent.” It will be broadcast Monday through Friday and recorded out of the Radio Sputnik studios in Washington, DC. The first two episodes are available online and can be listened to here, or downloaded on iTunes through the District Sentinel Radio channel.  We will be continuing to run The Sentinel just as before, publishing stories throughout the week. Our show will discuss…

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Wyden Standing Athwart FBI, Spy Hawks

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An annual intelligence policy bill is being held up in the Senate over a provision it contains that would allow the government to monitor more online interactions without a warrant. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) placed a hold on the intelligence authorization bill Monday evening, preventing the upper chamber from passing the legislation by unanimous consent. He suggested that Senators were exploiting the mass shooting in Orlando earlier this month to jam through an expansion of surveillance powers. “The American people want policies that protect their…

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National Park Service Waived Rules, Allowed Corporate Donor to Fly Drones in Shenandoah

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A watchdog is accusing federal environmental stewards of granting preferential treatment to a corporate fundraiser. Japanese carmaker Subaru was given special permission last year to shutdown parts of Shenandoah National Park, the group says, to shoot an advertisement using unmanned aerial vehicles—activities that are prohibited by the US National Park Service (NPS). Records obtained by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) show that an exemption was granted to Subaru after the company became a sponsor of the upcoming NPS Centennial celebrations. The festivities are set…

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Texas Abortion Law Fails SCOTUS Test

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The Supreme Court decided in a 5-3 vote on Monday to strike down a Texas law that imposed strict regulations on abortion clinics. Justice Breyer, writing for the majority, said the 2013 legislation, HB2, violated the Bill of Rights by failing the “undue burden” test. The precedent had been delivered in an opinion written in 1992 by Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy, a Reagan-appointee, again voted on Monday to uphold access to abortion. The other conservative justices on the bench dissented in unison. “We conclude that neither of…

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Days After Brexit Volatility, Jack Lew Warns Senate About Looming Puerto Rico Default

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Treasury Secretary Jack Lew urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to advance legislation required to avoid an immediate deepening of the financial crisis in Puerto Rico. Lew told McConnell on Monday that “the Senate should take up the matter immediately,” noting the island has $2 billion in debt payments due Friday. “In the event of default, and if creditor lawsuits are successful, a judge could immediately order Puerto Rico to pay creditors over essential services such as health, education, and public safety,” Lew warned.…

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