What does a state’s secretary of state do? Most run elections, a once-routine job facing increasing scrutiny

By John J. Martin, University of Virginia. Published 2-29-2024 by The Conversation They may be the most important government officials you can’t name. Their decisions have the potential to alter election results. Scholars have referred to them as the “guardians of the democratic process.” Who are these unknown, but essential, officials? State secretaries of state.

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Arizona GOP Bill Would Let Legislators Overrule Voters in Presidential Elections

“This is a full sound-the-alarm moment for American democracy,” said one critic. By Jessica Corbett. Published 1-30-2024 by Common Dreams Just months away from a potential rematch between Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican former President Donald Trump, democracy defenders are sounding the alarm about an Arizona bill recently introduced by a GOP state […]

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‘We Teach, We Vote!’: 10,000 Teachers Rise Up Against Republican Legislature in Deep Red South Carolina

“For too long we have allowed our schools to go underfunded while taking the blame for the host of issues that come with that.” By Julia Conley, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published 5-1-2019 Demanding an end to austerity measures that have kept classrooms overcrowded and educators underpaid, about 10,000 teachers, students, and supporters staged […]

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Outcry Kills Anti-Protest Law in Arizona, But Troubling Trend Continues Nationwide

Rash of anti-protest laws and effort to dismiss demonstrators as ‘paid agitators’ are ‘standard operating procedure for movement opponents,’ says expert By Lauren McCauley, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published 2-28-2017 An Arizona bill that sought to prosecute protest organizers like racketeers is officially dead after widespread outcry forced state lawmakers to put that effort to rest, […]

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Arizona Bill Would Ban Discussion of Social Justice, Solidarity in Schools

State lawmaker proposes legislation that would ban classes and extracurricular activities that “promote” social justice or solidarity By Nika Knight, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published 1-13-2017 Arizona state representative Bob Thorpe, a Republican, has just proposed a bill that would ban any school courses or extracurricular activities that “promote” any kind of “social justice” or “solidarity” […]

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Money vs Local Laws – Texas Style

On Friday, the Texas House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation that would override local efforts to regulate a wide variety of oil and gas activities. House Bill 40 – widely known as the “Denton fracking bill” – preempts regulation of oil and gas operations by municipalities. The bill is widely seen as a response to the vote in Denton last […]

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The Evidence Grows – But What’s the Rush?

On May 12, a new subcommittee met for the first time in the Texas House of Representatives. Named the Seismic Activity Subcommittee, the first day was spent listening to testimony from local leaders, scientists and the Texas Railroad Commission about recent seismic activity and the possible links between that activity and the oil and gas industry.  […]

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Fracking Creates Quakes, NOT Cheaper Pump Prices!

At the end of April, scientists met with the Seismological Society of America to discuss induced earthquakes. Among their main areas of conclusion, Aljazeera reports, “Research… suggests that the biggest wells contribute about 85 percent of the pressure changes that can lead to earthquakes. With more information, industry could theoretically adjust fracking technology to avoid inducing […]

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USGS: Injection Wells = Earthquakes

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook the ground near Prague, Oklahoma in 2011, accompanied by 2 other quakes registering magnitudes greater than 5.0. It was felt in 17 states. In fact, the central United States has seen an 11-fold increase in earthquakes in the past four years alone, according to Geology, a widely accepted scientific journal. […]

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The Town in Search of Truth

In our previous post, When Science And Politics Collide, Corporations Win,” we talked about Azle, Texas experiencing an alarming increase in earthquake activity following fracking operations near the community. Since that report, the good citizens of Azle and their determined mayor, Alan Brundrett, are not sitting idly by, waiting for the ground to shake. They […]

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