Showing posts with label Immigration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Immigration. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Friday, December 24, 1909. US Court determining Armenian ethnicity.

The Federal Court in Boston ruled that Armenians were white, and therefore eligible for citizenship.  Some had been denied naturalization on the basis they were "Asiatic".

Japanese Protestant Christian Toyohiko Kagawa (賀川 豊彦) established a Christian mission and social welfare organization that still exists.

Last edition:

Thursday, December 23, 1909. USS Utah launched

2024 Election Post Mortem, Part 2. What's going on?

Well of course, it's hard to tell.


November 11, 2024

And indeed, there are already those, who pollyannish like insist that maybe this time Trump will be different, and not carry through with all his claims, promises, and threats.

I listed to all three weekend shows this week, and they're well worth listening to.  For the most part, with one exception, Democrats have realized that latching on to far left social issues sank them. Even Bernie Sanders seemed to agree.  The exception really seemed clueless.

A scary former Trump ambassador to Japan seemed, now in Congress for Tennessee, seems intent on cutting off all aid to Ukraine.

Susie Wiles will be Trump's chief of staff.

On that, there are already noting how that's "historic" as she's the first woman to be appointed to that role.  No it isn't.  Frankly, once Barrack Obama was elected President most of the claimed "firsts" are really meaningless.

Trump has apparently instructed Republicans in Congress to hold up Biden judicial nominees.

cont:

And now we know the "Border Czar" will be Tom Homan, who in a recent interview with 60 Minutes, supported deporting kids who were born and raised in the US to undocumented immigrants, stating: “Families can be deported together.”

Homan had stated at a Nation Conservatism conference: "Trump comes back in January, I'll be on his heels coming back, and I will run the biggest deportation force this country has ever seen. They ain't seen shit yet. Wait until 2025."

How charming.

cont:

Elise Stefanik has been chosen to be Ambassador to the United Nations.

November 12, 2024

Former Green Beret, Florida Republican Rep. Mike Waltz, a China hawk, will be National Security Advisor.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem will head the Department of Homeland Security

Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York will run the Environmental Protection Agency.  He's expected to go after environmental regulations, and be hostile to climate policy.

Somebody, or some group, is clearly advising Trump on these picks.  But who is it?  

Marco Rubio will be Secretary of State, a position that he undoubtedly will be unable to retain throughout a second Trump administration.

Russian television, which is presumed not to run items without Putin's permission, ran nude photos of Melania Trump.  This is interesting in that Trump has a weird relationship with Putin, and you have to wonder what the message was supposed to be.

Cont:

Tom Homan:

The illegal animals coming across the border... 31% of women that make their journey get raped by criminal cartels.

Children get raped. I've talked to little girls as young as nine that have been raped multiple times.

These cartels are animals. And that's why President Trump's gonna take 'em off the face of Earth.

[Trump] will use them full might of the United States Special Operations to take 'em out.

 Trump in fact asked about doing something of this nature in his prior term.

Cont:

John Ratcliffe will serve as CIA director.

November 13, 2024

Fox news commentator Pete Hegseth, a National Guard officer, has been chosen by Trump as Secretary of Defense.

Seems like a poor choice.  Maybe even a bit of a scary one.

Former Arkansas Governor and Baptist minister Mike Huckabee, a very strong supporter of Israel, perhaps even one that might be regarded as extreme on the point, has been chosen as Ambassador to the country.

This will not be good for peace in the Middle East.  Arab Americans who abstained from voting will no reap the fruits of that action, and they'll be bitter fruits.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have been appointed to something that will be called the Department of Efficiency.  I don't see this lasting.

These picks look a lot like what a lot of people expected, and feared.

Cont:

John Thune (R-S.D.) will be the next Senate Majority Leader.

Cont:  

Secretary of Defense putative nominee has apparently stated "I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles." Frankly, that's my view as well, and that view is widely shared within the military itself.  This is interesting, however, as this would normally probably be a disqualifying viewpoint.  We'll see if it had any impact on his chances of being confirmed.

We'll also see, of course, if he acts on his view.  A large number of the views Trump expressed in his 2016 campaign of this type never saw the light of day in his administration.

I actually have a long and very old draft of a post on women in combat I've never completed.  I ought to, but now I'm reluctant given that I don't want to be seen leaping on board the incoming administration's bandwagon.

Cont:

Trump has nominated Matt Gaetz to be Attorney General of the United States.

My prediction is that even the Republican Senate won't be able to stomach that.

What a joke.

November 14, 2024

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State.

Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Security.

John Barrasso, Senate Whip.

Gaetz, who was the topic of an upcoming ethics investigation, has resigned from Congress.  

Cont:

When he (Gaetz) was accused of sleeping with an underage girl, there’s a reason why no one in the conference defended him. We all saw videos he was showing us on the House floor of girls he slept with & brag how he would crush ED medicine so he could go all night.

Sen. Mullin, R. Oklahoma.

Cont:

Republican Senator John Cornyn is going to ask the House Ethics Committee to release the findings of the Matt Gaetz investigation.

Cont:

And now RFK Jr. for Health and Human Services.

With this appointment and Gaetz, Heath May put it best.  "Another day, another dumb ass"

November 15, 2024

Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior.

This is again an interesting choice.  Only 3.9% of North Dakota is Federal land.  However, users of Federal land in the West might take some cautious optimism out of this as Western politicians, completely contrary to the views of those they serve, have taken on the land grabbing mindset illustrated  by Utah's effort to grab Federal lands in court, which has been sadly supported by Wyoming.

Cont:

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson regarding the House ethics investigation report for Gaetz:

I’m going to strongly request that the Ethics Committee not issue the report.

Cont:

Governor Gordon Commends Selection of Governor Doug Burgum for Secretary of the Interior 

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has issued a statement following the announcement from President Trump that North Dakota governor Doug Burgum will lead the Department of Interior.

“I congratulate my friend Doug Burgum and I commend President Trump for his selection of Governor Burgum as Secretary of the Interior. Since almost half of Wyoming’s surface land and 67% of its mineral resources are managed by the federal government, the Secretary of the Interior is integral to Wyoming’s economic well-being and future. It is good that we have a friend in that office.

Doug has a deep understanding of the importance of energy development while maintaining valuable wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities. He and I have worked together on these issues for the past six years. We see eye-to-eye on the importance of a domestically focused, all-of-the-above energy policy for public lands and minerals. I know personally his love of the outdoors. I am confident that under his leadership, future decisions regarding land management and wildlife issues in Wyoming will not utilize a top-down, DC-driven approach, but rather be made cooperatively, with local interests at the forefront. I look forward to working with him.”

-END-


November 16, 2024

Karoline Leavitt, age 27, as press secretary.

Cont: 

Chris Wright, CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, secretary of the Department of Energy.

November 18, 2024

Mitch McConnell has stated there will be no recess appointments.

November 19, 2024

Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce.

Cont:

Mehmet Oz to serve as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Truly, this is the most pathetic set of appointments, ever.

November 23, 2024

Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for Surgeon General.

Pam Bondi to replace Gaetz, who withdrew.

Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary.

Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon for Secretary of Labor.

Scott Turner, for the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

November 24, 2024

Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture.  She's a Texas A&M trained lawyer with an undergraduate in agricultural development.

Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration commissioner.

Rep. Dave Weldon, a Republican from Florida, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Russell Vought, a co-author of Project 2025, to lead the Office of Management and Budget.

December 2, 2024

Joe Biden pardoned Hunter Biden.

cont:

Trump proposes to replace the currently serving head of the FBI, whom he appointed in the first place with Kash Patel.

This is absurd.

December 9, 2024

Trump was interviewed on Meet The Press (I guess a longer transcript of the interview is elsewhere on NBC).

While presented with a very flat aspect, Trump interestingly basically stuck with his promises, putting in some plausible deniability between himself and carrying them out.  In other words, if his political enemies are prosecuted, that's the decision of other people, he'd have it, not him.  He also left room for failure if things don't go as he promised.

He didn't back down from mass deportations, and in fact double downed on them, save for the "Dreamers", for whom he expressed a desire to find a solution.  It's pretty clear that support for Ukraine is going to be decreased.

December 10, 2024

Sen. Lummis will be on the "DOGE Caucus".

December 11, 2024

Sigh . . . 


Kimberly Guilfoyle Is Appointed Ambassador to Greece.

cont:

FBI Director Christopher Wray is going to resign at the end of the current administration.

Kerri Lake as head of Voice of America.

December 13, 2024

Mitch McConnell about indications that there may be Trump Admin vaccine dipshittery, on the polio vaccine:

Like millions of families before them, my parents knew the pain and fear of watching their child struggle with the life-altering diagnosis of polio. From the age of two, normal life without paralysis was only possible for me because of the miraculous combination of modern medicine and a mother’s love. But for millions who came after me, the real miracle was the saving power of the polio vaccine…

The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives and held out the promise of eradicating a terrible disease. Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed — they’re dangerous. Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming Administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts.

Frankly, messing with childhood police vaccines is criminal at an epic level. 

December 21, 2024

Congressman Hageman will chair the Article One Task Force which has as its mission going after regulatory agencies in favor of Congress, based on the conservative concept that regulatory agencies have usurped Congress.

December 24, 2024

Wyoming Senator Lummis is joining the newly formed U.S. Senate caucus led by Kansas Republican Dr. Roger Marshall that will work to promote legislation in line with the agenda of Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who is widely regarded as a gadfly.

Last edition:

2024 Election Post Mortem, Part I. What the heck happened?

Saturday, December 21, 2024

The 2025 Wyoming Legislative Session, Part 2. Early bills

Pre filed bills so far.  Keep in mind that these are the ones that have made it through the last legislature.  The new one hasn't been sworn in yet..

HB0002Hunting license application fees increase.TravelBill Number Assigned
HB0003Animal abuse-predatory animals.TravelBill Number Assigned
HB0004Snowmobile registration and user fees.TravelBill Number Assigned
HB0005Fishing outfitters and guides-registration of fishing boats.TravelBill Number Assigned
HB0006Advance health care directives-dementia.Larsen, LBill Number Assigned
HB0007K-12 post secondary education options.HarshmanBill Number Assigned
HB0008School finance-average daily membership.HarshmanBill Number Assigned
HB0009Young entrepreneurs-limiting license requirements.HarshmanBill Number Assigned
HB0010Limited mining operations-amendments.MineralsBill Number Assigned
HB0011Manufacturing sales and use tax exemption-amendments.MineralsBill Number Assigned
HB0012Industrial production equipment-deferral.MineralsBill Number Assigned
HB0013Integrated test center-governance.MineralsBill Number Assigned
HB0014Solid waste municipal cease and transfer funding.MineralsBill Number Assigned
HB0015Limited mining operations-bonding amendments.MineralsBill Number Assigned
HB0016Used nuclear fuel storage-amendments.MineralsBill Number Assigned
HB0017Career technical education equipment grants amendments.EducationBill Number Assigned
HB0018Career technical education funding.EducationBill Number Assigned
HB0019Social media-parental consent for minors required.HarshmanBill Number Assigned
HB0020K-12 school facility leasing.Sel Sch FacBill Number Assigned
HB0021School finance-routine maintenance worker calculation.Sel Sch FacBill Number Assigned
HB0022Water and wastewater operator-emergency response.Campbell, EBill Number Assigned
HB0023Surrender driver's license-repeal.TransportationBill Number Assigned
HB0024Alternative fuel tax-electricity amendments.TransportationBill Number Assigned
HB0025Vehicle accident reporting-amendments.TransportationBill Number Assigned
HB0026Highway safety-child restraints.TransportationBill Number Assigned
HB0027Disabled parking windshield placards-revisions.TransportationBill Number Assigned
HB0028Commercial driver's licenses-revisions.TransportationBill Number Assigned
HB0029Severance tax distribution-highway fund.TransportationBill Number Assigned
HB0030Driver's licenses and IDs-revisions.TransportationBill Number Assigned
HB0031School safety and security.PendergraftBill Number Assigned
HB0032What is a Woman Act.LienBill Number Assigned
HB0033Vehicle sales and use tax distribution-highway fund.TransportationBill Number Assigned
HB0034Department of transportation-efficiency study.TransportationBill Number Assigned
HB0035Vacancies in elected office.HarshmanBill Number Assigned
HB0036Hathaway scholarship-amendments.HarshmanBill Number Assigned
HB0037Expulsion for possession of a deadly weapon.HarshmanBill Number Assigned
HB0038Ad valorem taxation-payment and credit of penalties.RevenueBill Number Assigned
HB0039Property tax refund program-revisions.RevenueBill Number Assigned
HB0040Sales and use tax revisions.RevenueBill Number Assigned
HB0041Environmental quality-irrevocable letters of credit.LawleyBill Number Assigned
HB0042Regulation of surgical abortions.LawleyBill Number Assigned
HB0043Age verification for websites with harmful material.LawleyBill Number Assigned
HB0044Loren "Teense" Willford Memorial Highway.DavisBill Number Assigned
HB0045Removing otters as protected animals.ByronBill Number Assigned
HB0046Homeschool freedom act.StrockBill Number Assigned
HB0047Secretary of state-expedited filings.BlockChain/TechnologyBill Number Assigned
HB0048Department of family services-confidentiality amendments.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
HB0049Treatment courts-amendments.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
HB0050Disclosure of sensitive information-law enforcement.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
HB0051Municipal courts-maximum penalties.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
HB0052State's right of appeal in criminal cases.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
HB0053Governmental claims-negligent investigations.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
HB0054Chancery court judges-district and circuit court assistance.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
HB0055Court automation fee-amendments.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
HB0056Cities and towns notice for zoning changes-amendments.FilerBill Number Assigned
HJ0001Amending Wyoming's act of admission for earnings.Cap Fin & InvBill Number Assigned
SF0002Hunting licenses-weighted bonus points system.TravelBill Number Assigned
SF0003Mule and whitetail deer-separate hunting seasons.TravelBill Number Assigned
SF0004State park peace officers-definition and scope of authority.TravelBill Number Assigned
SF0005School district vehicles-flashing lights authorized.CooperBill Number Assigned
SF0006Residential property-removal of unlawful occupant.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
SF0007Protection order amendments.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
SF0008Protection orders-effective during appeal or review.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
SF0009Restoration of rights amendments.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
SF0010Settlement agreements for minors-parental authorization.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
SF0011Use of fraudulent documents to wrongfully possess property.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
SF0012Permanent protection orders.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
SF0013Reading assessment and intervention amendments.EducationBill Number Assigned
SF0014Wyoming imagination library program.EducationBill Number Assigned
SF0015Oil and gas conservation commission-regulation of pits.MineralsBill Number Assigned
SF0016Industrial siting-tribal notification.MineralsBill Number Assigned
SF0017Carbon dioxide-enhanced oil recovery stimulus.MineralsBill Number Assigned
SF0018Enhanced oil recovery-severance tax exemption.MineralsBill Number Assigned
SF0019Impact assistance payments-maximum percentages and review.MineralsBill Number Assigned
SF0020Oil and gas bonding-options and bonding pools.MineralsBill Number Assigned
SF0021Ban on cell phone use in schools.SchulerBill Number Assigned
SF0022Ground for termination of parental rights-guardianship.SchulerBill Number Assigned
SF0023Handicap placards-health care providers' approval.LaborBill Number Assigned
SF0024Special license plates for multipurpose vehicles.BarlowBill Number Assigned
SF0025Electronic lien and title system.TransportationBill Number Assigned
SF0026Protection of military equipment.TransportationBill Number Assigned
SF0027Wyoming national guard member referral-amendments.TransportationBill Number Assigned
SF0028ROTC endowment program.TransportationBill Number Assigned
SF0029Firearm hold agreement-limited liability.TransportationBill Number Assigned
SF0030Wyoming's investment in veteran's mental health.TransportationBill Number Assigned
SF0031Boards and commissions veteran ex officio members.TransportationBill Number Assigned
SF0032Unpaved roads speed limits-amendments.TransportationBill Number Assigned
SF0033Noncitizen driver's license and ID card-revisions.TransportationBill Number Assigned
SF0034School finance-routine and major maintenance calculations.Sel Sch FacBill Number Assigned
SF0035Governmental claims-maximum liability amounts.JudiciaryBill Number Assigned
SF0036Music therapy-use of title.LaborBill Number Assigned
SF0037Enhanced concealed carry in school zones.CooperBill Number Assigned
SF0038Performance compensation-investment performance amendment.AppropriationsBill Number Assigned
SF0039Automatic transfer of automobile title upon death.OlsenBill Number Assigned
SF0040Zoning protest petition-amendments.AppropriationsBill Number Assigned
SF0041Federal acts-legal actions authorized.AgricultureBill Number Assigned
SF0042Resort hotel liquor licenses.GierauBill Number Assigned
SF0043Temporary water use agreements amendments.AgricultureBill Number Assigned
SF0044Fairness in sports-intercollegiate athletics.SchulerBill Number Assigned
SF0045Wyoming state guard-amendments.Laursen, DBill Number Assigned
A freshman legislature is introducing a bill that will ban sanctuary towns and counties in Wyoming, of which there are none.

Some interesting bills:

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0019

 

 

Social media-parental consent for minors required.

 

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Harshman, Lawley, Washut and Wharff and Senator(s) Barlow and Olsen

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to trade and commerce; requiring parental consent for minors under age eighteen (18) to use a social media platform; providing definitions; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.

 

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

 

Section 1.  W.S. 4032101 and 4032102 are created to read:

 

CHAPTER 32

SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION

 

4032101.  Definitions.

 

(a)  As used in this chapter:

 

(i)  "Account holder" means a person who has or who creates or opens an account or profile to use a social media platform;

 

(ii)  "Minor" means a person who is a resident of Wyoming, who is under the age of eighteen (18) and who is not married or has not become emancipated as provided in W.S. 141201 through 141206;

 

(iii)  "Social media company" means a person that is an interactive computer service that provides a social media platform for use;

 

(iv)  "Social media platform" means an online forum that a social media company makes available for an account holder to create a profile, upload posts, view the posts of other account holders or interact with other  account holders or users.

 

4032102.  Social media platforms; parental consent required; remedies.

 

(a)  No social media company shall allow a minor to be an account holder on the social media company's social media platform unless the social media company obtains the express consent of the minor's parent or guardian.

 

(b)  Each social media company shall deny access to its social media platform for each account holder who fails to meet the verification requirements specified in subsection (a) of this section until the social media company receives the express parental or guardian consent required under subsection (a) of this section.

 

(c)  The attorney general shall promulgate all rules for:

 

(i)  The process by which a social media company can obtain parental consent for a minor seeking to open or create an account and be an account holder on a social media platform;

 

(ii)  The method by which a parent or guardian of a minor can provide consent for a minor to open or create an account and be an account holder on a social media platform;

 

(iii)  The methods by which social media companies shall verify the authenticity of the parental or guardian consent provided for a minor to open or create an account and be an account holder on a social media platform;

 

(iv)  The methods by which a social media company shall allow parents or guardians to revoke or withdraw consent previously given for a minor to open or create an account and be an account holder on a social media platform and for parents or guardians to revoke or withdraw nonconsent previously expressed and thereafter consent for a minor to open or create an account and be an account holder on a social media platform.

 

(d)  The attorney general may pursue any remedy authorized under the Wyoming Consumer Protection Act against a social media company that fails to comply with this article.

 

Section 2.  The attorney general shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this act.

 

Section 3.

 

(a)  Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

 

(b)  Section 1 of this act is effective July 1, 2025.


SENATE FILE NO. SF0021

 

 

Ban on cell phone use in schools.

 

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Schuler and Representative(s) Brown, L, Clouston and Larson, JT

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to education; requiring school districts to adopt policies prohibiting students from using cell phones and smart watches in schools as specified; providing exceptions; providing a definition; specifying applicability; and providing for effective dates.

 

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

 

Section 1.  W.S. 213110(a) by creating a new paragraph (xliv) is amended to read:

 

213110.  Duties of boards of trustees.

 

(a)  The board of trustees in each school district shall:  

 

(xliv)  Adopt policies to prohibit students from using cellular telephones and smart watches during instructional time. For purposes of this paragraph, "smart watch" means a wearable computing device that closely resembles a wristwatch or other time keeping device with the capacity to act in place of or as an extension of a person's cellular telephone. "Smart watch" does not include a wearable device that can only tell time, monitor a person's health information or track a person's location. Policies adopted under this paragraph shall not prohibit students from using cellular telephones and smart watches under any of the following circumstances:

 

(A)  In the case of an emergency or in response to a perceived threat of danger;

 

(B)  When an employee of the school district authorizes a student to use a cellular telephone or a smart watch;

 

(C)  When using a cellular telephone or a smart watch is included in a student's individualized education plan or plan developed under section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended;

 

(D)  When a health care provider determines that the use of a cellular telephone or a smart watch is necessary to manage a student's health care.

 

Section 2.  Not later than July 1, 2025, each school district board of trustees shall establish policies in accordance with this act.

 

Section 3.

 

(a)  Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2025.

 

(b)  Sections 2 and 3 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

 

(END)


December 21, 2024

Chuck Gray is backing proof residency and ballot box banning efforts again this session.

It's ironic in the Trumpiest state in the union the paranoia about people illegally casting votes remains.  If they are doing that, they'd be ironically illegally voting, for the most part, for Trump.

Last edition: