Being A-Holes to Transgender People Cost North Carolina $3 Billion Plus

I’m old enough to remember when “conservative” meant sober, frugal, thoughtful and cautious. Now it means “piss money away with reckless abandon, as long as it gets your dick hard by being a-holes to the right groups.”
About a year after North Carolina Republicans passed the anti-LGBT law known as HB2, the Associated Press has calculated that the law will cost the state $3.76 billion in lost business over 12 years. The AP calculated the loss by looking at projects that were canceled or moved to another state because of the law using public records requests and interviews. The number reached "is likely an underestimation of the law's true costs," (per the AP).
March 28, 2017 Open Thread

March 28, 2017 Open Thread

Police scramble to find cause of rash of heroin overdoses; No cause yet in large Wilmington fire; Ospreys arrive back in Delaware; State ESSA plan nears completion, concerns about 5-star rating system linger; Goal of Newark Train station is to connect Philly-to-DC

Pushy Bastards Step Up Into Leadership Positions

You've read El Som's take on Erik Raser-Schramm. It is an unvarnished good. But check this out, and connect the dots. Recently Mike Matthews was elected to lead the large and influential DSEA. I've also heard that a long time friend of DL is going to chair the New Castle County Democratic Party. Taken alone all of these are positive developments for people who want progressive voices to be heard. But viewed as a whole, it is safe to say that we are on the cusp of some exciting times for Democrats. Exciting times, really, for anyone who is interested in effective advocacy and governance. To paraphrase the stirring words of John F Kennedy, let the word go forth that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, so it is time to kick some ass and see what we are really made of.

Putting Pressure on Coons and Carper to Support the Democratic Filibuster of the Gorsuch nomination

Here is where this stands. Bluedelaware and DelawareLiberal are working together to bring groups like Delaware United, Network Delaware, Progressive Democrats for Delaware, and Democrats in Kent and Sussex Counties together to commit to a two-part action. Part 1 is a rally to deliver a petition to Coons and Carper prior to the cloture vote, and Part 2 is to commit to turning up on Carper and Coons' doorstep (flashmob style) if they vote to close debate and thereby break the filibuster. If you are a member of an organization please get in touch with me about joining this effort. If you are an individual, please sign the petition and be ready to go if need be.
March 27, 2017 Open Thread

March 27, 2017 Open Thread

4 dead in one day from heroin in Delaware; Man, 30, is 13th fatally shot in Wilmington this year; 1 business destroyed, others damaged after massive fire on Market Street in Wilmington; It's a homecoming for Christina's new Superintendent; Delaware jobless rate ticks up again for February

Erik Raser-Schramm to Run for Chair of Del Dems

It is clearly a big upgrade. Raser-Schramm brings a lot of energy and the proven ability to win elections. I hope it also means that the Democratic brand comes into sharper focus. For too long Democratic politicians have used LGBTQ friendliness as a fig leaf to cover their Republican, trickle down economic sensibilities. It is time that being a Democrat means more that being someone who is comfortable using gays as window dressing.
March 25, 2017 Open Thread

March 25, 2017 Open Thread

The frontline of child abuse in Delaware; $15.5 million bridge project awarded, will close Del. 141; Two 23-year-old men shot in Wilmington, police say; Marijuana legalization bill announced by Delaware state Senator Margaret Rose-Henry