9/21/21
SLUG: SPEAKER PELOSI PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY ACT PRESS CONFERENCE
[[ANC]]
IN A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD EARLIER TODAY (ON TUESDAY) HOUSE DEMOCRATS INTRODUCED A NEW BILL CALLED THE PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY ACT.
[[VO]]
AFTER YEARS OF CRITICIZING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR ABUSES OF POWER, THE ACT AIMS TO REINFORCE CHECKS AND BALANCES, ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND FEND OFF FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN U-S ELECTIONS.
IF PASSED, THE NEW LAW WOULD BAN PRESIDENTS FROM ISSUING SELF-PARDONS AND RETALIATING AGAINST WHISTLE BLOWERS.
[[SOT- NANCY PELOSI / SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE]]
“WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RESTORING ETHICS IN THE RULE OF LAW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ESTABLISHING KEY SAFE GUARDS.”
[[VO]]
CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF, WHO IS THE LEAD SPONSOR, HOPES IT WILL RECEIVE A FLOOR VOTE THIS FALL.
[[END]]
9/21/21
SLUG: VP KAMALA HARRIS MEETS WITH UK PRIME MINISTER
[[ANC]]
VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS MET WITH U-K PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON EARLIER TODAY (TUESDAY) FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PERSON SINCE BEING ELECTED.
[[VO]]
THE TWO TALKED ABOUT THE COUNTRIES’ SHARED PRIOIRITIES – SUCH AS THE HANDLING OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
HARRIS DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF UPHOLDING DEMOCRACTIC VALUES AROUND THE WORLD.
JOHNSON THANKED THE U-S MILITARY FOR THE KABUL AIRLIFT AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR THE NEW COVID-19 TRAVEL RULES.
[[END]]
9/28/21
SLUG: REFORMING TOXIC CONSERVATORSHIPS SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING
[[ANC]]
IN A SHOW OF BIPARTISANSHIP, SENATORS TED CRUZ AND RICHARD BLUMENTHAL HELD A JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING TODAY (TUESDAY) ON REFORMING TOXIC CONSERVATORSHIPS.
[[VO]]
THE ISSUE GAINED TRACTION WITH THE RECENT LEGAL BATTLE TO END BRITNEY SPEARS’S CONTROVERSIAL COURT-ORDERED GUARDIANSHIP.
THESE ARRANGEMENTS GIVE A GUARDIAN AUTHORITY TO CONTROL THE FINANCIAL AFFAIRS AND DAILY LIVES OF ANOTHER PERSON DUE TO PHYSICAL OR MENTAL LIMITATIONS.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 1.3 MILLION AMERICANS ARE LIVING UNDER COURT-APPOINTED GUARDIANSHIPS, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY.
THE HEARING LOOKED AT WAYS TO PREVENT AGAINST ABUSIVE CONSERVATORSHIPS.
[[SOT – RICHARD BLUMENTHAL / SENATOR D-CT]]
“WE MUST FIGHT FOR REFORMS IN THESE LEGAL STRAIGHT JACKETS… ARRANGEMENTS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY ABUSIVE AND CERTAINLY A DISSERVICE TO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDER THEM.”
[[ANC]]
THE CONSERVATOR CASE OF BRITNEY SPEARS HAS A HEARING IN COURT TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 29). IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE PRESIDING JUDGE WILL MAKE A RULING ON ALL OF THE PETITIONS OF THE CASE.
[[END]]
9/30/21
SLUG: SENATE HEARING ON FACEBOOK AND CHILD SAFETY
[[ANC]]
SENATORS PROPOSED NEW REGULATIONS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY (THURSDAY) DURING A SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON FACEBOOK AND CHILDREN SAFETY.
[[VO]]
THE BILL WOULD APPLY TO USERS UNDER 16.
AND IT WOULD BAN WOULD WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS DAMAGING WEBSITE FEATURES TO CHILDREN LIKE FOLLOWER COUNTS, AUTOPLAY AND PUSH ALERT.
IT WOULD ALSO LIMIT ADVERTISING AND COMMERCIAL CONTENT AND PROHIBIT THE AMPLIFICATION OF CONTENT CONSIDERED HARMFUL AND VIOLENT.
FACEBOOK IS CURRENTLY UNDER FIRE AFTER A WHISTLEBLOWER RELEASED REPORTS SHOWING THE COMPANY KNEW ABOUT THE HARMFUL AFFECTS INSTAGRAM HAS ON YOUNG USERS’ MENTAL HEALTH AND BODY IMAGE.
[[SOT -SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL / (D) CONNECTICUT]]
“FACEBOOK HAS SHOWN US ONCE AGAIN THAT IT IS INCAPABLE OF HOLDING ITSELF ACCOUNTABLE.”
[[VO]]
THE FACEBOOK GLOBAL HEAD OF SAFETY SAYS THE COMPANY HAS PRACTICES IN PLACE REGARDING THESE ISSUES AND IS DEVELOPING MORE POLICIES.
SENATOR RICHARD BLUMENTHAL SAYS THE FACEBOOK WHISTLEBLOWER WILL TESTIFY IN A SENATE HEARING NEXT WEEK.
[[END]]
10/8/21
SLUG: VP KAMALA HARRIS CHILDCARE ROUNDTABLE
[[ANC]] VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS GOES ON THE ROAD.. TRYING TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT’S BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN.
[[VO]] IN NEW JERSEY.. HARRIS HIGHLIGHTED THE PRESIDENT’S PROPOSALS TO EXPAND CHILD CARE AND UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN.
THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE LACK OF CHILD-CARE OPTIONS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR FAMILIES AND A DRAG ON THE ECONOMY.
[[SOT]] “AND LET’S BE VERY CLEAR, A WORKING PERSON CANNOT GO TO WORK IF THEY HAVE CHILDREN AND IF THERE IS NO ONE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN. IT IS THAT BASIC”
[[VO]]
THE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS 2 MILLION WOMEN HAVE LEFT THE WORK FORCE SINCE THE PANDEMIC.. AND ONE REASON WAS THE LACK OF CHILD CARE. DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS ARE STILL TRYING TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THE SIZE AND COST OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN.
[[END]]
11/1/2021
SLUG: UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN VIRGINIA, OHIO AND NEW JERSEY
[[ANC]] VOTERS IN VIRGINIA, OHIO, AND NEW JERSEY ARE GEARING UP TO CAST BALLOTS IN THEIR GENERAL ELECTIONS ON TUESDAY.
[[VO]]
IN VIRGINIA, DEMOCRAT AND FORMER GOVERNOR TERRY MCAULIFFE (MCAWLIF) IS RUNNING TO GET HIS OLD JOB BACK AGAINST REPUBLICAN GLENN YOUNGKIN.
THE RACE HAS GARNERED NATIONAL ATTENTION WITH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA STUMPING FOR MCAULIFFE.
NEW JERSEY IS HOLDING THEIR GUBERNATORIAL RACE WITH INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY FACING REPUBLICAN JACK CIATTARELLI (SHATARELLI). THE STATE IS ALSO VOTING ON STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY SEATS.
OHIO IS HOLDING ELECTIONS TO FILL TWO U-S CONGRESSIONAL SEATS. ONE IN THE 11TH DISTRICT TO FILL HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) MARCIA FUDGE’S OLD SEAT. AND ANOTHER IN THE 15TH DISTRICT TO FILL FORMER REPRESENTATIVE STEVE STIVERS’ SEAT.
[[END]]
11/4/2021
Slug: Jon Stewart Military Toxic Exposures Legislation
[[ANC]]
JON STEWART WAS BACK ON CAPITOL HILL THURSDAY, THIS TIME TO FIGHT FOR VETERANS WHO WERE EXPOSED TO TOXIC CHEMICALS DURING THEIR MILITARY SERVICE.
[[VO]]
ON HIS NEW TV SHOW.. THE PROBLEM WITH JOHN STEWART…THE COMEDIAN HIGHLIGHTED THE MILITARY’S USE OF BURN PITS TO DISPOSE OF EVERYTHING FROM PLASTICS TO VEHICLES.
THE FIRES HAVE EXPOSED SERVICE PERSONNEL TO TOXIC CHEMICALS LINKED TO LUNG DISEASES, COLON CANCER AND OTHER ILLNESSES
STEWART STOOD THURSDAY WITH NEW YORK SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND .. WHO IS SPONSORING LEGISLATION TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS (VA) TO FORMER SERVICE MEMBERS WHO WERE EXPOSED.
THE BILL WOULD END THE CURRENT REQUIREMENT THAT VETERANS PROVE THEIR ILLNESSES WERE CAUSED BY THE BURN PITS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE SPECIALIZED CARE.
[[SOT- JON STEWART / COMEDIAN, TALK SHOW HOST]]
“THE JOB NOW IS NOT TO FIGURE OUT WHY WE DID IT, THE JOB NOW IS TO CLEAN UP THE CONSEQUENCES THAT THEY FACED FOR THAT NEGLIGENCE.”
[[VO]]
THE VA ESTIMATES THAT 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO BURN PITS. STEWART PREVIOUSLY LOBBIED CONGRESS TO REPLENISH THE VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND FOR PEOPLE EXPOSED TO TOXINS WHEN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER COLLAPSED ON 9/11.
[[END]]
Georgena Mierow 