Let soldiers vote
1| Pentagon should make sure all military votes are counted
The Details: Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Wayne Allard of Colorado are sponsors of the Military Voting Protection Act of 2008, which directs the Pentagon to do whatever is necessary to collect all absentee ballots cast by overseas members of the U.S. military and deliver those ballots to state elections officials. Less than half of all military absentee votes were counted in the 2006 elections, according to the Election Assistance Commission.
Lock ’em up, throw away the key
2| Protestors who smashed windows charged as felons
The Details: At least 135 of those protestors seen smashing windows and destroying other private and public property during demonstrations outside the Republican National Convention will be charged with felonies, according to St. Paul, Minn., officials. An additional 151 protestors face misdemeanor vandalism charges.
An award you don’t want to get
3| Brits to hand out Michael Moore Award for Anti-Americanism
The Details: Before you reach for that “Out of Iraq” protest sign, you should know the “award” is hosted by a rowdy bunch of British citizens organized as America in the World. They are determined to rebut anti-American myths commonly voiced in Britain and elsewhere overseas. Say something stupid about America, get yourself nominated.
Edwards hiding out till election
4| Former Democratic presidential hopeful avoiding cameras
The Details: Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards has cancelled all campaign appearances between now and Election Day because the two-time loser of Democratic presidential races doesn’t want to be a distraction from Barack Obama. Edwards admitted recently that a “trashy tabloid” story about his having an adulterous affair was in fact true.
Standing up for workers
5| Alliance for Worker Freedom creates YouTube channel
The Details: No, AWF isn’t a lefty labor group, it’s dedicated instead to helping individual workers protect their rights against rapacious labor union leaders and political organizers trying to force them to support political causes they don’t support. Check out the Web site, too, at workerfreedom.org.
That’s why it’s called public education
6| Lawmaker aims to ban textbook fees
The Details: Maryland House Majority Leader Kumar Barve, D-Montgomery, who represents the wealthiest school system in the state, will introduce a bill banning public schools from charging students extra for textbooks or other curriculum materials. Despite a $2 billion budget, Montgomery County Public Schools has been asking parents to shell out more than $200 for books and fees. State law requires schools to provide textbooks for all students.
Get out the scissors …
7] State agencies preparing for cuts
The Details: Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine ordered all state agency directors to start preparing for cuts of up to 15 percent in light of less-than-expected revenue from sales and payroll taxes. The governor urged state officials to make targeted cuts rather than across-the-board reductions to trim their budgets. Virginia faces a $1 billion shortfall even though state spending doubled in the last 10 years.
… or take a few days off
8| County workers may be furloughed
The Details: To deal with a possible $250 million budget shortfall, as many as 10,000 Montgomery County employees may be forced to take two days off — without pay — County Executive Ike Leggett announced. This is only fair, as payroll makes up the bulk of the Montgomery’s $5.9 billion budget and county employees have long enjoyed high salaries and generous benefits courtesy of county taxpayers.
Keep on truckin’
9| Loudoun cracks down on big rigs
The Details: Loudoun County plans to impose fines on commercial vehicles and trailers that are being parked overnight in residential neighborhoods. The targeted “eyesores” are vehicles that have more than two axles and weigh more than 3,000 pounds. Sterling Superintendent Eugene Delgaudio says the commercial vehicles create unnecessary traffic and safety hazards for drivers and pedestrians.
Turning the other cheek
10| Killers’ and victims’ moms grieve together
Details: Forgiving Mothers, a group founded by Marita Michael and Michelle Postell, met for tea last Sunday at the Willard Hotel to support other grieving families caught up in D.C.’s violent street culture. The two women’s lives changed forever in 2003 when Postell’s then-19-year-old son Erik shot and killed Michael’s 16-year-old son, Anacostia Senior High School football star Devin Fowlkes.
