Dean Heller: GOP's man for the jobless - Burgess Everett - POLITICO.com

No State Income Tax - check.

2007 Housing Bubble - check.

High Unemployment - check.

Dean Heller: GOP's man for the jobless - Burgess Everett - POLITICO.com: "Every morning when Dean Heller walks into his office, he tracks these Nevada commodities on a bulletin board in his reception area: silver, gold, copper, wheat, milk — and jobs. 


That last subject has weighed heavily on the GOP senator’s mind since long-term jobless aid expired. In fact, it has turned Heller into something of a Republican “pit bull” — as one Senate colleague dubbed him — in a dogged crusade since December to restore benefits to Nevada, where the unemployment rate remains third-worst in the nation."

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Obamacare deadline spurs enrollment flood

Holy cow!  Great numbers but don't fret people just pay the $95 fine!  That's way cheaper than the cost of regular health care, and you get the bronze plan anyway.  That's a winning hand!
Obamacare deadline spurs enrollment flood: "What a difference six months makes to Obamacare.

A massive flood of health insurance shoppers deluged the government-run exchanges over the weekend and into Monday, rushing to beat the midnight enrollment deadline under the Affordable Care Act.

The influx of up to 1.5 million visitors by noon on the federal HealthCare.gov exchange led to a brief lag in its ability to handle new applications at midday, but that was quickly resolved."



#GetCovered
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Protest Against Police Shootings Turns Violent | Here & Now

Protest Against Police Shootings Turns Violent | Here & Now: "There’s no word on if there have been any arrests after police clashed with protesters in Albuquerque, N.M.

Demonstrators on Sunday were protesting police involvement in 37 shootings since 2010.

Twenty-three of them were fatal."

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Morning Plum: The incredible shrinking Obamacare sob story

Morning Plum: The incredible shrinking Obamacare sob story: "Another day, another Obamacare “victim” ad from Americans for Prosperity shown to be a pack of nonsense.

Today Post fact checker Glenn Kessler takes apart yet another AFP spot, which is targeting multiple Senate Dems, that claims “millions” have ”lost their health insurance” and “are paying more and getting less.” Kessler pillories these ”sweeping” assertions that ”lack context or offer a misleading picture.”

But the broader picture is worth appreciating, too. If you survey AFP spots over time, you’ll see that as they have come under scrutiny, the Obamacare victim tales have gradually withered away and disappeared. A rundown:

– The AFP ad that initially got the most attention featured Michigan cancer victim Julie Boonstra suggesting that under Obamacare, she lost her old plan and her new one was “unaffordable.” It was subsequently revealed that she will actually save money."

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Man in suit tied to Va. Beach bank robbery, attempt | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Man in suit tied to Va. Beach bank robbery, attempt | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com: "Police say a man may have tried to rob one bank, then robbed another within 45 minutes this morning on Shore Drive.

 The first robbery was reported shortly before 10 a.m. at the BB&T at 2993 Shore Drive. In that incident, the man wore a pinstripe suit. He walked into the bank, implied he had a weapon and went behind the counter, according to a police spokesman. Before the man could get any money, he turned and left. "



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Norfolk police: No suspects in weekend shootings | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Norfolk police: No suspects in weekend shootings | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com: "Police have no suspects or motives in a series of weekend shootings that left one woman dead and three men and two children wounded.

"The most common denominator in the incidents that involved gunshot victims this weekend is, 'there is no suspect or motive information,' " wrote police spokeswoman Karen Parker-Chesson in a news release Monday."



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EU imposes sanctions on Russian, Ukrainian officials after Crimea referendum | EurActiv

EU imposes sanctions on Russian, Ukrainian officials after Crimea referendum | EurActiv: "European ministers agreed on Monday to impose sanctions against 21 officials from Russia and Ukraine, including travel bans and asset freezes.

The measures come after Sunday's controversial referendum in Crimea, when 96% of voters backed leaving Ukraine and joining Russia, according to Crimean officials."



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Native Alaskans Still Reeling 25 Years After Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill | Here & Now

Native Alaskans Still Reeling 25 Years After Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill | Here & Now: "Twenty-five years ago today, an Exxon tanker carrying 53 million gallons of oil through a channel in Alaska’s Prince William Sound struck a reef and spilled about 11 million gallons of crude oil into the environment.

 The oil spill killed thousands of animals in the pristine environment, devastated the salmon and herring fisheries and profoundly affected the way of life for native Alaskans in the area."



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Marine Corps Women Combat Positions - Business Insider

Marine Corps Women Combat Positions - Business Insider: "According to the Marine Corps Times, these lines of integration are:

Expanding the effort to include female Marines in previously closed non-infantry combat units.
Allowing female Marines, after graduating from recruit training, to volunteer for more military occupational speciality training schools before moving onto their assigned MOSs.
The establishment of a ground combat element experimental task force. A quarter of this force will be composed of women, and it will be used to study the physical, social, and psychological impact of having integrated infantry.
The opening of 11 more specialties to female Marines, rendering only 20 of the Corps' 335 primary MOSs closed to women."



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9 Huge Government Conspiracies That Actually Happened

 

1. The U.S. Department of the Treasury poisoned alcohol during Prohibition — and people died.

 

2. The U.S. Public Health Service lied about treating black men with syphilis for more than 40 years.

3. More than 100 million Americans received a polio vaccine contaminated with a potentially cancer-causing virus.

 

4. Parts of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, which led to U.S. intervention in Vietnam, never happened.

5. Military leaders reportedly planned terrorist attacks in the U.S. to drum up support for a war against Cuba.

6. The government tested the effects of LSD on unwitting U.S. and Canadian citizens.

 

7. In 1974, the CIA secretly resurfaced a sunken Soviet submarine with three nuclear-armed ballistic missiles.

8. The U.S. government sold weapons to Iran, violating an embargo, and used the money to support Nicaraguan militants.

YouTube/guyjohn59

"Nayirah"

9. A public relations firm organized congressional testimony that propelled U.S. involvement in the Persian Gulf War.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/true-government-conspiracies-2013-12#ixzz2wn4DKKai

Conservatives Can't Stop Making Nazi References | Blog | Media Matters for America

Conservatives Can't Stop Making Nazi References | Blog | Media Matters for America: "Four years ago, Fox News chairman Roger Ailes accused the management of National Public Radio of having "a kind of Nazi attitude" for firing commentator Juan Williams. Former Fox host Glenn Beck frequently immersed himself in offensive Hitler rhetoric during Obama's first years in office, while the then-burgeoning Tea Party movement did the same. And so did Rush Limbaugh, who obsessed over Obama-Nazi comparisons in 2009: "Adolf Hitler, like Barack Obama, also ruled by dictate.""



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Peter Schiff Vs. Mark Dow - Business Insider

Peter Schiff Vs. Mark Dow - Business Insider: "Here's some fun Friday morning viewing!

Gold guy Peter Schiff and economist/investor/hedge fund manager Mark Dow (author of the Behavioral Macro blog) squared off about inflation and gold.

Obviously Schiff did his thing about how the economy is a sham and gold will soar. But Dow calmly dismantled him, pointing out how reality says the exact opposite of what Schiff is claiming it says. Good times."



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Nobody's Laughing At Obama's Sanctions Today

Morning Markets March 21 - Business Insider: "When President Obama first launched sanctions against a handful of Putin "cronies," the markets laughed at how weak they were.
Nobody's laughing at Obama's sanctions now.

The Russian stock market is tanking today"



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Who Controls the Kochs' Political Network? - Business Insider

Who Controls the Kochs' Political Network? - Business Insider: "Libertarian billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch were among the first to grasp the political potential of social welfare groups and trade associations — nonprofits that can spend money to influence elections but don’t have to name their donors.

 The Kochs and their allies have built up a complex network of such organizations, which spent more than $383 million in the run-up to the 2012 election alone."



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Obama: Signed order for authority to impose sanctions on segments of Russian economy

Obama: Signed order for authority to impose sanctions on segments of Russian economy:



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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News

Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News:



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Toyota admits misleading regulators, pays $1.2-billion federal fine - latimes.com

Toyota admits misleading regulators, pays $1.2-billion federal fine - latimes.com: "the Japanese automaker admitted that it misled U.S. consumers by concealing and making deceptive statements about two safety issues affecting its vehicles, each of which caused a type of unintended acceleration."



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Toyota Expected to Settle Justice Dept. Investigation - NYTimes.com

Toyota Expected to Settle Justice Dept. Investigation - NYTimes.com: "Toyota is poised to pay more than $1 billion to settle a criminal investigation into disclosures around the sudden acceleration of its vehicles, a steep fine that caps a multiyear inquiry and provides a template for the authorities pursuing a similar case against General Motors."



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Boehner’s claim that health-care law has resulted in a ‘net loss’ of people with health insurance

Boehner’s claim that health-care law has resulted in a ‘net loss’ of people with health insurance:

We readily concede that there are problems with the data on health-care sign-ups, many of which were first detailed here at The Fact Checker. But Boehner’s math is absurdly simplistic if he is trying to claim that the number of people with health insurance is now lower because of Obamacare.

That’s because the 6 million figure for “lost” insurance and the 4 million for healthcare.gov sign-ups are apples and oranges. They cannot be compared.

A large percentage of the people whose old plans were canceled were automatically moved to new plans offered by the same insurance companies. These people may not be happy with their new coverage — and may have appeared in an ad sponsored by Americans for Prosperity — but they got a plan without going through healthcare.gov. (Here’s an example of such a letter, courtesy of our colleagues at PolitiFact.)

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Obamacare enrollment tops 5 million amid surge in sign-ups - latimes.com

Obamacare enrollment tops 5 million amid surge in sign-ups - latimes.com: " More than 5 million people have now signed up for health insurance on marketplaces created by President Obama’s healthcare law, thanks to a surge in enrollment over the last two weeks, the Obama administration announced Monday.

 The quickening pace of sign-ups confirms that many Americans are using the new marketplaces as a March 31 deadline approaches for getting coverage this year.

 The latest figures indicate that roughly 1 million people enrolled during the last two weeks, surpassing the total for all of February."



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After Bailout, Ireland Still Faces Challenges | Here & Now

After Bailout, Ireland Still Faces Challenges | Here & Now: "Ireland is the first eurozone country to emerge from a bailout, but it will take decades to repay the $90 billion rescue package and the country still faces economic challenges.

 Overall unemployment is more than 10 percent, youth unemployment tops 25 percent and young people are leaving Ireland by the thousands to find work."



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President Obama issues new executive order on Ukraine

President Obama issues new executive order on Ukraine: "Russian paramilitaries stand guard outside of a Ukrainian military base in the town of Perevevalne near the Crimean city of Simferopol on March 11, 2014 in Perevevalne, Ukraine."



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Crimea Vote Leads To More US Sanctions - Business Insider

Crimea Vote Leads To More US Sanctions - Business Insider: "Obama Just Announced Sanctions Against 7 Russian 'Cronies'"



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Obama Calls Putin After Crimea Referendum - Business Insider

Obama Calls Putin After Crimea Referendum - Business Insider: "U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin Sunday evening, a tense call on which Obama promised further "costs" for a referendum in Crimea the U.S. and international community will never recognize."



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Former New Hampshire GOP Chair Saves $1,000 A Month With Obamacare

This is kinda neat without regard to the ACA!

Former New Hampshire GOP Chair Saves $1,000 A Month With Obamacare: " The former chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party will save $1,000 a month in premiums for his family's health care package after signing up for a new policy through the Obamacare exchange.

But Fergus Cullen said the savings aren't enough to turn him into a supporter of the new health care law. He said he anticipates higher out-of-pocket costs with his new Anthem-administered plan, and he's frustrated by what he sees as a lack of information about coverage options. His old plan, which was pricey but covered what he needed, was cancelled by his insurer because it didn't meet Obamacare regulations."



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Wisconsin Cuts Back On Cancer Program For Low-Income Women, Blaming Obamacare

Wisconsin Cuts Back On Cancer Program For Low-Income Women, Blaming Obamacare: "Wisconsin is in the midst of dramatically restructuring a health care program for low-income women, attributing the move to the Affordable Care Act. The changes have taken women's health advocates by surprise, and they are now trying to convince the state that setting a six-month timeline to dramatically alter the program is unnecessary and could leave many women without services for breast and cervical cancer."



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Erika Wigstrom Murder Charge: Louisiana Mother Poisoned Son Who Had Down Syndrome, Police Say

Erika Wigstrom Murder Charge: Louisiana Mother Poisoned Son Who Had Down Syndrome, Police Say: "A Louisiana woman has been arrested on a charge of first-degree murder after police say she injected alcohol-based hand sanitizer into the feeding tube of her 17-month-old son, who had Down syndrome."



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High-speed chase stems from Tuesday car theft

GTA - Colorado!

High-speed chase stems from Tuesday car theft: "A wild high-speed car chase across Northern Colorado that left a trooper injured, three people carjacked, and a child kidnapped stemmed from a case of auto theft in Englewood, Colo. on Tuesday.

Ryan Stone, the suspect in the car chase, was wanted for allegedly stealing a Ford F-350 pickup truck from Englewood."



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Here's 1 More Map That Should Outrage Southerners

Here's 1 More Map That Should Outrage Southerners: "The South is struggling in many ways. Poverty rates are high, economic mobility is low, health care is often unaffordable and obesity is rampant. And a new study released Wednesday on drug use for attention disorders shines light on yet another startling contrast between southern states and the rest of the country.

 The map below, which is part of a comprehensive report from Express Scripts, a pharmaceutical management company, shows where prescription drug use for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is most prominent in the U.S. And, well, you'll see:"



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15 Caribbean Nations Are Suing Europe Over Slavery - Business Insider

15 Caribbean Nations Are Suing Europe Over Slavery - Business Insider: "“Repatriation to Africa has long been a central belief of Rastafari, a melding of Old Testament teachings and Pan-Africanism whose followers have long pushed for reparations.”"



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Makers of Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Maserati Find It's Never Been Easier to Sell Six-Figure 'Supercars' - Businessweek

Lamborghini Huracan

Maserati Alfieri

Ferrari California T

Makers of Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Maserati Find It's Never Been Easier to Sell Six-Figure 'Supercars' - Businessweek: "Why all the überexpensive machines? They’re selling almost as fast as they drive. Supercars have taken off with U.S. buyers in the past three years, as a bullish stock market and surging home prices drove household net worth to a record high."
...
The market for six-figure sports cars crashed in 2009, which is hardly surprising. More notable, however, is the speed with which it got back on track after a global economic crash. As soon as the Masters of the Universe realized the world wasn’t descending into anarchy, they started showing up at swanky dealerships again. In 2010, the sector zipped right by the market for more proletariat cars and never looked back.


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Republicans derail Senate veterans bill - Juana Summers - POLITICO.com

Really!

Republicans derail Senate veterans bill - Juana Summers - POLITICO.com: "Senate Republicans on Thursday derailed a sweeping $21 billion bill that would have expanded medical, educational and other benefits for veterans — in another chapter of the ongoing feud over amendments, spending and new sanctions on Iran. 


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) moved Wednesday night to cut off debate on the bill and blocked consideration of amendments, including one on Iran sanctions demanded by Republicans. And on Thursday, Democrats came up four votes short of the 60 needed to keep the bill moving forward on a procedural budget vote, 56-41."



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Rand Paul: Ted Nugent Should Apologize - Business Insider

Rand Paul: Ted Nugent Should Apologize - Business Insider: "Rand Paul Blasts Ted Nugent, And Says He Should Apologize For Calling Obama A 'Subhuman Mongrel'"



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Impact Of Cutting Extended Unemployment Benefits - Business Insider

Impact Of Cutting Extended Unemployment Benefits - Business Insider: "The cutoff in extended unemployment benefits by Congress wasn't just vile, it explains much of the economic weakness so far this year."

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AP Exclusive: Va. executive mansion in disarray - The Washington Post

AP Exclusive: Va. executive mansion in disarray - The Washington Post: "The National Governors Association convention was fast approaching, promising an important stage for her politically ascendant husband. Organizers were pressing Gov. Bob McDonnell for details on his wife’s part of the agenda, and he felt she was being distracted.

A series of emails from late 2011 to early 2012, obtained by The Associated Press, show that nearly halfway into Bob McDonnell’s term, his wife was struggling with the position into which she’d been thrust."



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The Swedish Neo-Nazis 'Volunteers' of Kiev - The Daily Beast

The Swedish Neo-Nazis 'Volunteers' of Kiev - The Daily Beast: "In early February, Fredrik Hagberg stood at the rostrum in Kiev’s City Hall, offering fraternal and comradely greetings from Sweden to the sweaty, bruised, and exhausted Ukrainian insurrectionists scattered throughout. The place was festooned with flags—some celtic crosses, a stray Confederate banner, a standard for the political party Svoboda, whose members essentially controlled the building—reflecting the dubious politics of its occupiers."

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General to admit guilt on 3 counts; denies assault | Army Times | armytimes.com

General to admit guilt on 3 counts; denies assault | Army Times | armytimes.com: "A U.S. Army general accused of sexual assault was set to plead guilty to three lesser charges Thursday in a move that his lawyer says will strengthen his position going into trial."



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Climate Change's Latest Casualty Could Be Chipotle's Guacamole, Salsa - The Wire

Climate Change's Latest Casualty Could Be Chipotle's Guacamole, Salsa - The Wire: "Bad news for upscale fast food and avocado lovers: Chipotle may stop offering guacamole and some of its salsas due to the increased cost of the ingredients. Chipotle blamed climate change for what is basically a living nightmare for us all.

In its annual report, brought to our attention by Think Progress, Chipotle warns:"



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Wal-Mart Says ‘Looking’ at Support of Minimum Wage Raise - Bloomberg

An increase in the Minimum wage helps their bottom line.

Also, we wouldn't have to subsidize their low wage employees.

Wal-Mart Says ‘Looking’ at Support of Minimum Wage Raise - Bloomberg: "Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), the largest private employer in the U.S., said it’s looking at supporting an increase in the federal minimum wage, breaking with business and industry groups that oppose such a measure.

Wal-Mart is weighing the impact of additional payroll costs against possibly attracting more consumer dollars to its stores, David Tovar, a company spokesman, said today in a telephone interview. Increasing the minimum wage means that some of the 140 million people who shop at the chain weekly would “now have additional income,” Tovar said."



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When the Minimum Wage Goes Up, the Menu Price Also Rises - Businessweek

Duh!

When the Minimum Wage Goes Up, the Menu Price Also Rises - Businessweek: "Supporters of a higher minimum wage applauded Gap’s (GAP) decision last week to increase hourly pay. While Lynn Albright, vice president of the company’s Old Navy brand, told CNN that higher prices won’t be needed if costs can be lowered by, for instance, reducing staff turnover, the effects of such decisions often trickle down to customers."



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Congressional Leaders Want To Move Quickly On Economic Aid To Ukraine

President Obama

Senator McCain 

Majority Leader Eric Cantor said the GOP-led House.

Congressional Leaders Want To Move Quickly On Economic Aid To Ukraine: "nate and House leaders said Monday they would begin to work on a way to provide economic assistance to Ukraine as the country deals with the escalating Russian invasion of the Crimea region.

 Majority Leader Eric Cantor said the GOP-led House would begin work to provide economic aid to Ukraine and they would try to move a package “as quickly as possible.”"



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GOP Congressman Thinks Putin Is Being "Demonized" In The U.S

What!!

GOP Congressman Thinks Putin Is Being "Demonized" In The U.S: "California Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher said he doesn’t support Russia taking military action in Ukraine, but “that doesn’t mean Putin and pro-Russia forces in Ukraine are in the wrong.”"

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American Airlines cancels bereavement fare program after merger with US Airways - NY Daily News

I've had to use this before!

American Airlines cancels bereavement fare program after merger with US Airways - NY Daily News: "American Airlines has ended its policy of extending special fares to passengers who must book a last-minute flight because of a relative's death.

The move brings American in line with the policy at merger partner US Airways, which does not offer bereavement fares."



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Federal Judge Strikes Down Texas’ Ban on Same-Sex Marriage - NYTimes.com

Federal Judge Strikes Down Texas’ Ban on Same-Sex Marriage - NYTimes.com: "A federal judge in Texas struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage on Wednesday, ruling that the laws restricting marriage to a man and a woman violated the United States Constitution and handing gay-rights advocates a major legal victory in one of the nation’s biggest and most conservative states.

The judge wrote that the amendment to the state Constitution that Texas voters approved in 2005 defining marriage as between a man and a woman — and two similar laws passed in 1997 and 2003 — denied gay couples the right to marry and demeaned their dignity “for no legitimate reason.”"



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Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill on Refusal of Service to Gays - NYTimes.com

Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill on Refusal of Service to Gays - NYTimes.com: "nding a day that cast a glaring national spotlight on Arizona, Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, vetoed a bill on Wednesday that would have given business owners the right to refuse service to gay men, lesbians and other people on religious grounds.

Her action came amid mounting pressure from Arizona business leaders, who said the bill would be a financial disaster for the state and would harm its reputation. Prominent members of the Republican establishment, including Mitt Romney and Gov. Rick Scott of Florida, also sided with the bill’s opponents, who argued that the measure would have allowed people to use religion as a fig leaf for prejudice."



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Mike Rogers: Putin Outsmarting Obama On Ukraine - Business Insider

Mike Rogers: Putin Outsmarting Obama On Ukraine - Business Insider: "Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, criticized the U.S.'s response to Russian aggression in the Crimea region of Ukraine, suggesting that President Barack Obama was being outsmarted by Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
"Putin is playing chess, and I think we are playing marbles — and I don't think it's even close," Rogers said on "Fox News Sunday."

"They've been running circles around us.""



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US Says It Could Give Kiev As Much Help As It Needs - Business Insider

US Says It Could Give Kiev As Much Help As It Needs - Business Insider: " The United States signaled on Sunday that it and its partners could give as much financial support as Ukraine needs to get the crisis-hit country's economy back on track."



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Britain Warns Russia Of 'Significant Costs' Over Ukraine - Business Insider

Britain Warns Russia Of 'Significant Costs' Over Ukraine - Business Insider: "British Prime Minister David Cameron warned President Vladimir Putin on Sunday that Russia would pay significant costs unless the Kremlin changed course on Ukraine."



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Florida restaurant chain adds Obamacare surcharge to meal bills | Reuters

Florida restaurant chain adds Obamacare surcharge to meal bills | Reuters: " Diners at a Florida restaurant chain are being asked to pay a health insurance surcharge on their meal tabs to cover the cost for business owners of the Obama administration's new healthcare program.

Customers at eight Gator's Dockside restaurants dotted around central and north Florida are finding a 1 percent surcharge on their bills listed as "ACA," the letters standing for the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare."



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