Only thing I care about today is the Voting Rights Act

should not be singled out anymore. Based on what we saw in PA, OH and other states in 2012, times do indeed change and the VRA should be expanded to all 50 states.

Has more than JUST those nine states. If you take a deeper dive - there are Counties within states (outside of those nine) that have restrictions as well as Cities within Counties. The Bronx is on that list. I have it at home.


It 'details' these 9 states in the case but has a far reaching impact on the entire country just focusing on the 9.




ETA - Justice Department Civil Rights Section has a complete list - It's Bronx County
http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/sec_5/covered.php

the VRA nDOES apply to all 50 states ... and if A, OH and FL keep it up, they could very well find themselves added to the list of states that must seek the Pre-clearance part, that is what is being litigated.

read the mother jones article about the majority's reasoning in this case.

i don't imagine he also asked him if *legislatures* *and *election officials* in the south had a demonstrated history of greater racism....

Scalia attributed the repeated renewal of Section 5 to a “perpetuation of racial entitlement.” He said, “Whenever a society adopts racial entitlements, it is very difficult to get out of them through the normal political processes.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who asked many questions in defense of the law, appeared taken aback by Scalia’s insinuation. In the final moments of oral argument, she asked Bert Rein, the lawyer for the challengers, if he agrees.

“Do you think think Section 5 was voted for because it was a racial entitlement?” she asked. When he ducked the question, she asked it again. He did not endorse Scalia’s sentiment.

The Reagan-appointed jurist said lawmakers keep reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act out of fear of political repercussions. In a sarcastic tone, he described it as odd that congressional renewal has passed with growing margins over the years in spite of the fact that racism is widely acknowledged to have become less severe in the covered jurisdictions since 1965.

Shocking! It can't be that because of the very type of legislation he's whining about, racism and other ills are actually becoming LESSENED??!

What. An. Asshole.

Whoops! Forgot the link http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/02/scalia-attacks-congress-for-renewing-voting-rights-act.php

he'd be fine with black Americans not having the protection of that law. He actually thinks he's different and this shit would never reach high enough to touch him.

some of which has come up today already in the discussions.

Scalia is a travesty, I'm not sure several others are not far behind.

I wonder if Clarence Thomas even has a thought.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/civil-rights-leaders-outraged-over-scalia-racial-entitlement-172338534--election.html

Lewis has to write the legislation. It doesn't have to pass - but he's got to be the voice and face on this.

He has credibility. He paid his dues to be the 'expert on the issue' with a cracked head.