by A. Hill | news
Yet another Texas county has passed a law prohibiting abortion-seekers from traveling its roads. In doing so, experts say, the county has set itself up for years of lawsuits ahead. Here’s the full story.
An Emerging Trend
Image Credit: Shutterstock / rawf8
Earlier in 2023, Morton and Whiteface counties in Texas banned abortions within their borders.
Cities like Lubbock and Plainview did the same.
They Stand Alone
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Cookie Studio
But none of those counties or municipalities directly border a state that allows abortion.
That’s not the case for Cochran County, though.
Border Clash
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ground Picture
Cochran borders neighboring New Mexico, where abortion is still legal following the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Thou Shalt Not Pass
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Roman Samborskyi
And, not only did Cochran County ban abortion itself, it also banned travel within its borders by people who were trying to get to another state for an abortion.
Not Allowed to Help
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Pixel-Shot
The new ordinance does not apply directly to a woman seeking an abortion.
But anyone who’s trying to help her make a break for New Mexico could face legal issues.
They All Chimed In
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff
The new ban was adopted by county commissioners during their regular September meeting after hearing from several concerned citizens.
The Bible Tells Them So
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ground Picture
All those who spoke were in favor of the ban.
Many of them talked about how their Christian faith influenced that view.
Problems Ahead?
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kues
Even with strong support from the local residents, though, experts say the ban could be problematic for the county moving forward.
They Shielded Themselves
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff
Cochran County tried to build some protection into the new statute by adopting the private enforcement that’s part of the statewide abortion ban called the Heartbeat Act.
Anyone Can Blow the Whistle
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Roman Samborskyi
Private enforcement means that any citizen can file a suit against someone they suspect of trying to aid a woman in getting an abortion.
Tables Could Turn
Image Credit: Shutterstock / LightField Studios
But County Attorney Amanda Martin says constitutional protections could easily turn the tables and lead to women and their helpers suing the county.
Constitutional Protection
Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes
Charles Rhodes, a law professor at South Texas College, agrees. “The Supreme Court has given a lot of protection to the right to travel from state to state in a lot of prior decisions,” he says.
Ready for Battle
Image Credit: Shutterstock / insta_photos
Still, the county seems ready to take on all comers.
Plenty of Support
Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes
Pastor Mark Lee Dickson said that he had a former Texas solicitor general, Jonathan F. Mitchell, lined up to defend the county for free if needed.
Separation Concerns
Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes
County Clerk Lisa Smith had another legal concern, though, wondering if there would be a problem because the new law failed to separate church and state.
Is It a Myth?
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Tirachard Kumtanom
One of the commissioners shot back that “there is no separation of church and state.”
They’re Fighting Evil
Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes
And Dickson added his two cents, saying the county had a duty to fight society’s evils. He also says there’s no problem with professing their faith, even though he points out that there is no mention of religion in the new ordinance.
Enjoy the Ride
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Dean Drobot
The ease with which the abortion and travel ban passed in Cochran County might be the last bit of smooth road the area sees for quite a while.
A Legal Jericho?
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Roman Samborskyi
Both abortion rights advocates and pro-lifers may well turn the last stop before the New Mexico border into a legal battle royale.
More From Thrifty Guardian
Thousands of Children of Illegal Immigrants May Be Deported: US Supreme Court Decides Fate of “Dreamers”
Ramaswamy Would End “Birthright Citizenship”: Believes Illegal Immigrants Should Be Deported as a Family Unit
The post Texas Passed Abortion Travel Ban Sparking Legal Battle first appeared on Thrifty Guardian.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Rena Schild. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
by A. Hill | news
If the world held out any hope that Russia was content with conquering Ukraine, Vladimir Putin’s new military commander squashed them over the weekend. His advice was to buckle up for a long ride. Here is the full story.
It’s His War
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Frame Stock Footage
Lieutenant General Andrey Mordvichev has spent most of the Russia-Ukraine war commanding the Central Military District and Russian Central Grouping of Forces.
They’re Driving the Battle
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Nuk2013
Those are boots-on-the ground units that have been embedded in Ukraine and are charged with moving the war effort forward.
Putin Has Bigger Plans
Image Credit: Shutterstock / ID1974
So when Russian president Vladimir Putin recently promoted Mordvichev to the position of Colonel-General, the move heightened fears that the dictator had bigger plans in mind.
Everyone Is Suspicious
Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, world leaders and news pundits have expressed doubts over his true intentions.
No One Believes Him
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Luis Molinero
While Putin has repeatedly said that his main objective is to reunite Russia by bringing Ukraine back into the fold, many observers think he has broader ambitions.
Henchmen Stir the Pot
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Seneline
And in the many months since the invasion began, several Russian leaders and mouthpieces have only added to those concerns. Calling for attacks on other European countries or even America, Putin’s lackeys have continued to stir the pot.
Itchy Trigger Fingers
Image Credit: Shutterstock / ESB Professional
It’s no secret, either, that tensions are high between Russia and NATO.
He Has Teeth
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ground Picture
Shortly after his promotion, Mordichev sat down for an interview, and it’s clear that his new position is not just some figurehead move.
No End in Sight
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Cast Of Thousands
When asked about how long the war might drag on, the new general said that Russia had no specific time frame in mind.
They Have Options
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Yeti studio
He also said it’s not really possible to timebox their efforts because there are other options on the table.
He’s Eyeing the Rest of Europe
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Luis Molinero
“If we are talking about Eastern Europe, which we will have to, of course then it will be longer,” Mordichev, hinting that Russia has its eyes on other countries besides Ukraine.
Ukraine a Stepping Stone
Image Credit: Shutterstock / CravenA
When the interviewer asked him point blank if Ukraine was indeed just a stepping stone, Mordichev didn’t mince words.
Only the Beginning
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Bumble Dee
“Yes, absolutely. It is only the beginning,” the new general said. He also promised that the war “will not stop here.”
Sticking Up for the Boss
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Studio Romantic
Whether or not this is just more bluster from another Putin mouthpiece remains to be seen. After all, any employee with a new promotion under his belt is likely to feel some kinship with his boss.
Spouting the Company Line
Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes
So maybe Mordichev is just spouting the company line so that Putin himself can maintain a shred of diplomacy while puffing Russia’s nationalistic chest.
Russia May Fail
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Anatoliy Karlyuk
And maybe Russia doesn’t have much real hope of expanding beyond Ukraine. A victory over their initial target is no sure thing at this point, after all.
The World Should Be Nervous
Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes
But just the fact that Putin seems to be aligning his leaders for something – anything – beyond the war in Ukraine should be enough to make the rest of the world at least a little nervous.
More From Thrifty Guardian
Thousands of Children of Illegal Immigrants May Be Deported: US Supreme Court Decides Fate of “Dreamers”
Ramaswamy Would End “Birthright Citizenship”: Believes Illegal Immigrants Should Be Deported as a Family Unit
The post Putin’s New Military Commander Signals Long War Ahead first appeared on Thrifty Guardian.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Asatur Yesayants. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
by A. Hill | news
Voters in Wisconsin have elected a liberal judge, and Republicans are not happy about it. Here’s what’s happening.
They Redrew the Maps
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Jaroslav Francisko
The results of the 2010 U.S. census – and the redistricting that followed – gave unscrupulous state lawmakers the chance they needed to cement single-party rule.
Republicans Took Wisconsin
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Bennian
Republicans rode a red wave to power in Wisconsin, picking up several new state assembly seats in the midterm elections.
They Took Gerrymandering to a New Level
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Denis—S
Then, as a part of Project REDMAP, the conservatives used their newfound power to severely gerrymander the state’s voting districts in their favor.
Their goal was to ensure that they would remain in power no matter who the state’s voters cast their ballots for.
Boxing In Democrats
Image Credit: Shutterstock / vesperstock
The first order of business was to make sure that as many Democrat voters as possible fit within the large Milwaukee and Madison districts.
A Playground for Conservatives
Image Credit: Shutterstock / sitthiphong
That left the rest of the state as a playground for Republicans. And the results have proved their plan was effective.
Wisconsin’s democracy is now in shambles, receiving ratings on par with third-world countries like Jordan, Bahrain, or even the Congo.
Democrats Lost
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Krakenimages.com
In the 2018 midterm elections, for example, Democrats picked up 53% of the popular vote for assembly seats.
But they only gained one seat, which left Republicans with a whopping 63 of the total 99 seats – a near-supermajority.
An Everlasting Moat
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Drop of Light
It looked like the state’s Republican congress had built a moat around itself that might last forever.
Liberal Judge Changed Everything
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff
But then left-leaning Janet Protasiewicz was voted into a vacant seat on the state’s supreme court.
She entered stage left when conservative Patience D. Roggensack retired after 20 years on the bench.
Civil Rights Groups Seized the Day
Image Credit: Shutterstock / nampix
As Protasiewicz prepared to be sworn in, a civil rights group filed a lawsuit with the Wisconsin Supreme Court to challenge the electoral map drawn up by Republicans.
The Press Wanted Answers
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sharomka
In response, the press ran to Protasiewicz and asked her how she would vote on the case.
She Wasn’t Shy
Image Credit: Shutterstock / sebra
While the new high-court justice said she wouldn’t comment on the filing specifically, she laid her cards on the table.
“The Maps Are Wrong”
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Maples Images
“I can’t tell you what I would do on a particular case, but I can tell you my values, and the maps are wrong,” she said.
A Dagger to Conservatives
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ground Picture
That gave Republicans in the assembly heartburn because Protasiewicz’s election tilts the high court toward the left, four judges to three.
Republicans Have a Plan
Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes
So those representatives started planning right away, and they have some options for how to stop Protasiewicz from foiling their domination.
They Want to Impeach Her
Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes
The most obvious ploy for Republicans is to bring impeachment proceedings against Protasiewicz on the grounds that she is not impartial.
She’s already given her two cents on the case, after all.
No Need to Be Extreme
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Cast Of Thousands
And, while Republicans might struggle to get the votes they need to actually remove Protasiewicz from office in the Senate, they may not need that extreme a victory.
They Can Ice Her
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Raisa Kanareva
In Wisconsin, justices who are being impeached are not allowed to rule on any cases until the impeachment has been concluded.
If the assembly votes to impeach Protasiewicz, then the Republican-led senate could just choose not to proceed with a trial.
They’d be icing Protasiewicz, essentially.
An Even Playing Field?
Image Credit: Shutterstock / stock_photo_world
Then the Supreme Court would hear the gerrymandering case with just six justices in place, splitting the right-left votes, at least on the surface.
Governor Won’t Stand For It
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Andrei Porzhezhinskii
One more wrinkle to all this is that Governor Tony Evers vowed to do whatever he can to stop Republicans from interfering with the court case.
Not Over by a Long Shot
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Cheri Alguire
Whatever the outcome, the gerrymandering fiasco in Wisconsin just highlights the deep divide in the state and the country at large.
You can just about bet there’s plenty more to come.
More From Thrifty Guardian
Thousands of Children of Illegal Immigrants May Be Deported: US Supreme Court Decides Fate of “Dreamers”
Ramaswamy Would End “Birthright Citizenship”: Believes Illegal Immigrants Should Be Deported as a Family Unit
The post Wisconsin Voters Change the Game: Liberal Judge’s Win Challenges GOP first appeared on Thrifty Guardian.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / sirtravelalot. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
by A. Hill | news
The Republicans have proposed a new budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and it’s causing some concerns. Here’s the full story.
They Need a Plan
Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes
With just days before the federal government faces a shutdown, members of the House of Representatives were working all hours trying to come up with a plan.
Shutdown Looming?
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ground Picture
The issue is that the Republicans and Democrats haven’t been able to agree on a budget for the new fiscal year.
And without a budget, there’s no choice but to shut things down.
Meeting in the Middle
Image Credit: Shutterstock / G-Stock Studio
But while some are trying to reach some sort of interim agreement to keep the wheels on, others are drawing a line in the sand.
Arrington Has Big Plans
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Pormezz
That’s the case for House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington, who proposed a budget for 2024 that he says would reduce spending by about $4 trillion over ten years.
Hidden Dangers
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Dean Drobot
That may sound good and very responsible, but not everyone is buying the viability of Arrington’s plan.
And some say the proposal comes with plenty of hidden dangers.
Criticism of Plan
Image Credit: Shutterstock / ViDI Studio
In an opinion piece for Common Dreams, a website dedicated to progressive issues, Sharon Parrott of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities takes aim at Arrington’s proposal.
Same Problems
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Red Fox studio
The overarching problem that Parrott sees is one that critics have cited for decades when it comes to conservative fiscal policies.
Big Cuts to Social Programs
Image Credit: Shutterstock / ElenaR
According to Parrott’s take on the numbers, Arrington’s budget would cut about $1.9 trillion from the Medicaid program.
It would also slice billions of dollars out of assistance programs that help people get food and other life necessities.
The cuts would threaten millions of Americans with poverty.
Tax Cuts at the Top
Image Credit: Shutterstock / William Potter
At the same time, Arrington’s budget would extend the 2017 tax cuts championed by Donald Trump and aimed at keeping more money in the pockets of high-earning Americans, further widening the gap between the richest among us and those struggling to get by.
Even More Tax Cuts at the Top
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Atstock Productions
Those cuts are set to expire, but they’d stick around under Arrington’s plan.
They’d have some company, too, in the form of additional cuts for the upper tax brackets.
Salary-Sized Savings
Image Credit: Shutterstock / StockerThings
By Parrott’s estimation, the top 1% of earners would save about $41,000 each under Arrington’s proposal.
Balancing the Budget
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Roman Samborskyi
The $4 trillion that Arrington wants to save over the next decade would all be aimed at reducing the budget deficit.
In fact, says the budget chair, the cuts needed to get there would achieve a balanced budget.
She’s Not a Fan
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Roman Samborskyi
But Parrott takes issue with both that goal and the means laid out to get there.
Balanced Budget Doesn’t Matter
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Lomb
A balanced budget at the federal level doesn’t mean much, says Parrott, if the average American is suffering or if the poorest Americans can’t meet their basic needs.
Math Magic at Play
Image Credit: Shutterstock / xalien
And she also points out that Arrington’s final tally of $4 trillion has some hopeful math involved in it.
Specifically, says Parrott, about $3 trillion is based on projected economic growth.
The Plan Might Not Work
Image Credit: Shutterstock / PR Image Factory
If that fiscal expansion doesn’t come to pass, then neither will the balanced budget, says Parrott.
The Rift
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Maxx-Studio
In the end, it seems that Arrington’s proposed budget and Parrott’s analysis of that plan are a reflection of the ongoing battle in Washington.
No Hope in Sight
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ljupco Smokovski
And if neither side budges, shutdowns are an inevitable consequence.
More From Thrifty Guardian
Thousands of Children of Illegal Immigrants May Be Deported: US Supreme Court Decides Fate of “Dreamers”
Ramaswamy Would End “Birthright Citizenship”: Believes Illegal Immigrants Should Be Deported as a Family Unit
The post Balancing the Budget or Widening Wealth Gap? – Republican Social Cuts and Tax Breaks Face Scrutiny first appeared on Thrifty Guardian.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Andrey Burmakin. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
by A. Hill | news
A federal judge has ruled that Texas governor Greg Abbott violated federal laws in his fight to keep migrants out. Here is the full story.
Texas Takes on Biden
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Oscar Ivan Lopez
Texas has been locked in a feud with President Joe Biden over conflicting immigration policies almost from the moment he took office.
Biden Wants a Gentle Approach
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ben Von Klemperer
The Biden administration has consistently argued for diplomatic relations with Mexico and humane treatment of immigrants who come over the border illegally.
Texas Wants Barriers
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Matthew Troke
Biden has continued to slap down every effort Texas has made to build barriers to immigration, whether they be of the physical or red tape variety.
Abbott Gets Creative
Image Credit: Shutterstock / stock_photo_world
But that hasn’t stopped Texas Governor Greg Abbott from getting creative in his attempts to stop the flow of Mexicans over the border and into his state.
A Huge Water Weenie
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Krakenimages.com
One of Abbott’s most recent attempts to stop immigrants was the construction of a huge floating barrier in the middle of the Rio Grande.
They Can’t Get Across
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Mihai_Andritoiu
Resembling a huge necklace of giant orange balls strung together, the barrier makes it difficult for people to cross the river undetected.
It is also equipped with serrated blades that could maim and injure people who try to get past it.
Couldn’t Miss It
Image Credit: Shutterstock / ShotPrime Studio
But it didn’t take long for the device to be noticed – the 1000-foot barrier that also is reported to impede any crafts that might be trying to move along the water.
Texas Broke the Law
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Jirapong Manustrong
The Justice Department quickly filed a civil suit claiming that the barrier violated the Rivers and Harbors Act.
That law requires states to secure federal permission to obstruct a large waterway.
Law Enforcement Wanted It Gone
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Pickadook
The Justice Department also wanted immediate action, so they filed a separate motion seeking an injunction to remove the barrier while a more formal court case can play out.
Texas Has to Take Action
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Studio Romantic
On September 6, federal judge David Ezra granted that injunction and ordered the state to remove the barrier.
Judge Turns on Abbott
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Denis—S
But Ezra didn’t just issue a simple injunction. Instead, he explained that Abbott and the state actually did violate federal law by installing the barrier in the first place.
A Danger to Humans
Image Credit: Shutterstock / robertindiana
The judge also agreed with the Justice Department that the barrier was a danger to humans and posed an injury risk for immigrants who tried to get around or over it.
Even Reagan Couldn’t Save Him
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Krakenimages.com
The real slap in the face to Abbott in all this is that Ezra was appointed to his position by Ronald Reagan.
But if the governor thought his case was a slam dunk because of those Republican ties, he was sadly disappointed.
Texas Is Doomed
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Asier Romero
In fact, Ezra painted a dim picture for the future of the barrier, saying that the Justice Department was likely to win its court case against Texas.
They’re Flat Wrong
Image Credit: Shutterstock / maruco
Abbott and his minions violated federal law, the judge said, and there’s not really any way around that.
Latest in a Long Battle
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Krakenimages.com
The barrier and the legal action that followed are the latest developments in the never-ending immigration tussle between Abbott and Biden.
Passing the Buck
Image Credit: Shutterstock / photofilippo66
Texas has infamously bussed more than 30,000 Mexican immigrants to Democrat-controlled cities in the past 18 months.
A Child Died
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kzenon
This summer, a 3-year-old child on a bus headed for Chicago became the first death associated with the program.
Safe for Now
Image Credit: Shutterstock / sitthiphong
Now, with the barrier on its way out of the Rio Grande, they will be no further victims of this device.
More From Thrifty Guardian
Thousands of Children of Illegal Immigrants May Be Deported: US Supreme Court Decides Fate of “Dreamers”
Ramaswamy Would End “Birthright Citizenship”: Believes Illegal Immigrants Should Be Deported as a Family Unit
The post The Battle Over Immigration: Texas Pushes for Physical and Bureaucratic Barriers, Judge Rules It Unlawful first appeared on Thrifty Guardian.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / stock_photo_world. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
