Below The Fold: The news that do not make the headlines but are important. By PL Hade
- Schumer says Senate will vote on S1 – the voting bill – on the week of June 21 (For the People Act)2.
- It is now our job to be certain that every Independent voter in NJ knows that the GOP refused to support the Capitol Police and Democracy. Please plaster this all over your Social Media on Tuesday.
- Senate GOP refuse to back the Capitol Police
- Senate Republicans exercised their first legislative filibuster of the Biden presidency on Friday to block debate on a bill that would establish a 9/11-style commission to investigate the January 6 attack on the US Capitol building. The commission’s investigation would have made it possible to attempt to see that this never happens again and that the Capitol Police had the resources to both stay safe and keep those working at the Capitol safe.
- Nine Republicans skipped vote: ⁃Blackburn ⁃Blunt ⁃Braun ⁃Burr ⁃Inhofe ⁃Rounds ⁃Risch ⁃Shelby ⁃Toomey
- Two Dems skipped vote: – Murray – Sinema
- The night before the vote a GOP Representative was telling audiences that the second amendment was in the Constitution so that citizens could overthrow the government if necessary.
- Matt Gaetz said “We have a Second Amendment in this country, and I think we have an obligation to use it,” https://www.businessinsider.com/matt-gaetz-says-american…
- Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a scholar in authoritarianism, pointed out that the threat to US democracy has an element most countries whose democracies died didn’t have – we have heavily armed citizens.
- The GOP in New Jersey is urging people to call school boards and demand that there be no masks in schools in fall. Since elementary school children will not be vaccinated by then that’s simply dangerous. BUT we need to call and tell our local officials we want masks continued for unvaccinated children because it looks like the GOP is going to make this a mission.
- Hospitalizations for #COVID19 has spiked up 72% in just 8 days, according to latest UK government data. The UK is at 57% vaccinated.
- Covid cases up 64% at US colleges. https://www.nytimes.com/…/us/college-covid-tracker.html
- The Republican Study Committee, representing 75% the House GOP, not only wants to end Medicare as we know it, the RSC’s members put their plan in writing — a gift for Dems. https://www.msnbc.com/…/what-makes-republican-study…
- NJ is not immune to the “forensic audit” insanity.
- Kevin Thomas of Vernon is sending around the cut and paste “This is the email for the office of the New Jersey Attorney General everyone needs to send him an email demanding a full forensic audit of the 2020 election. It only takes a couple minutes ocs@njoag.gov”
- The important point is that it is a cut and paste and is apparently being sent to people and posted on right wing blogs. Keep an eye out for it in your Social.
- Primaries:GOP Governor
- Jack Ciattarelli, Raised 5,376,472. Spent 4,367,249
- Brian Levine, Former Mayor of Franklin Township. Did not qualify for matching state funds.
- Philip Rizzo, Pastor. Did not qualify for matching state funds and,
- Hirsh Singh — The Trump candidate. (“Trump is the greatest president ever.”) Raised $475,454 Spent 456,591 Refused a second debate because the hosts insisted that he either show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid19 test.
- Dems: Murphy is running unopposed.
- Covid19
- 597,627 Americans have died of Covid19
- 23,515 New Jerseyans have died of Covid19
- 4,181,192 New Jerseyans have been fully vaccinated.
- 12 hospital confirmed deaths on Thursday
- 379 confirmed new positives
- Rate of Transmission 0.80