Saturday, August 1, 2015

In light of this comment, I'd like Scott Walker to answer 2 questions



As quoted in Scott Walker: Constitutional amendment on gay marriage is not a top priority.  (Washington Post, 7/31/2015)

Question #1:  Do you support H.R. 2802, the First Amendment Defense Act?

Background.  This bill does the following:
Prohibits the federal government from taking discriminatory action against a person on the basis that such person believes or acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that: (1) marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, or (2) sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage.

In other words, it legalizes discrimination against same-sex couples.

H.R. 2802 has 145 co-sponsors, all of them Republicans.


Question #2:  Do you support H.R. 1968, the Restrain the Judges on Marriage Act of 2015?

Background.  This bill does the following:
Amends the federal judicial code to deny federal courts jurisdiction to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation, or the validity under the Constitution, of: (1) any type of marriage, (2) the provision of the Defense of Marriage Act declaring that no state shall be required to give effect to any marriage between persons of the same sex under the laws of any other state, or (3) this Act.

Prohibits federal funds from being used for: (1) litigation in federal courts on such questions, or (2) enforcement of federal court orders or judgments on such questions.
The company Scott Walker keeps.  The bill is sponsored by Rep. Steve King (R-IA), whose Freedom Summit Walker attended in January 2015.

H.R. 1968 has 10 co-sponsors.

Diane Hendricks adds a zero on her latest check to Scott Walker


Three billionaires, including Chicago Cubs owners, top donor list for Scott Walker super PAC.  (Wisconsin State Journal, (7/31/2015)
Diane Hendricks, who owns Beloit-based ABC Supply, also gave $5 million. Together, the Ricketts’ and Hendricks’ contributions account for half of the $20 million raised by Unintimidated PAC in its first quarter in existence — a haul that put Walker’s super PAC in the top tier among Republican presidential contenders.

Just in case you missed it the other day.


Here's a 'fluffed-up' version of the video I shared the other day.




Related posts:
Dear Scott Walker: Regarding the company you keep, I think it's time for all of us to watch this Diane Hendricks video once again
The company he keeps: Scott Walker is one of 9 Presidential candidates attending the July 18th Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa.  (7/14/2015)
The company he keeps: Scott Walker receives high praise from Rep. Tom Cole, R-OK.  (5/19/2015)
The company he keeps: Scott Walker to pal around with Steve King in Iowa on January 24.  (1/9/2015)
Getting to know Scott Walker by the company he keeps.  (2/20/2014)

A statistical look at Wisconsin public library collections: physical units (part 1)


In a previous post, I noted that annual circulation of physical units at Wisconsin's public libraries has decreased 12% since its peak (record) year of 65,608,341 in 2009.

And there are a number of reasons why this decline is taking place.

Ebooks have changed how books are produced, marketed, and read, although the many predictions of print's demise are certainly off the mark.

The Internet has changed how content is delivered and advertising budgets are determined, which has has had a huge negative impact on newsstand circulation of magazines.   Not to mention newspaper subscriptions.  (Although this household remains committed to print.)

Streaming of music now accounts for more revenue than sales of physical units.  (I can't remember that last time I purchased a music CD.  My main source of music is Spotify.)  As for movies, Netflix counts 65,000,000 streaming members vs. 5,300,000 DVD subscribers.

What about the facts that Wisconsin public library print collections are shrinking and less money is available for the purchase of materials?

The number of print and serial volumes in print in Wisconsin public libraries peaked in 2006.  The preliminary figures for 2014 show a decline of 1,277,844, a decline of 6.3%.

Caveat:  Wondering about the impact of this statement on page 9 of the Wisconsin public library annual report instructions for 2014.  "Serial back files in print" are no longer reported.


The number of book and serial volumes added peaked at 1,562,327 in 2008.  Six years later, according to the preliminary figures, volumes added declined by nearly 20%, a drop of 301,652.  That translates into few items on the new book shelves, which was always a significant generator of circulation in the public libraries where I worked.


Perhaps it all comes down to money.

The total amount expended by Wisconsin public libraries for print materials peaked in 2009.  The 2014 preliminary dollar figure reflects a 8.6% decline in buying power.  (Inflation is not taken into consideration here.)

Total Wisconsin public library operating expenditures increased by 17.6% since 2004.


Related post:
Wisconsin Public Library annual circulation (1990-2014), programs and program attendance (1991-2014).  (7/31/2015)

Meet the Members of the Republican Study Committee: Mick Mulvaney (R-SC, 5th District)


The Republican Study Committee


As found in U.S. House candidate Tom Adams comes out for same-sex marriage.  (Charleston City Paper, 8/15/2014)

Mulvaney was re-elected to the House with 60.6% of the vote.
 
The cumulative tally



The Republican Study Committee membership
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
 Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
 Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina


Meet the Members of the Republican Study Committee: Trey Gowdy (R-SC, 4th District)


The Republican Study Committee


 
The cumulative tally



The Republican Study Committee membership
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
 Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
 Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina


Meet the Members of the Republican Study Committee: Jeff Duncan (R-SC, 3rd District)


The Republican Study Committee

The Republican Study Committee membership
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
 Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
 Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina