Update(s): Unemployment, Minimum Wage, and Free Speech

Update:  Senate Passes Unemployment Extension, Boehner Still Balking 

Late last month I wrote about the Senate's decision to advance an extension of unemployment benefits.
http://whateyethynk-politics.blogspot.com/2014/03/quick-note-digest-gop-likes-money-as.html

On Monday, the full Senate voted on the extension, passing it by a vote of 59 to 38.  Fifty-one Democrats, six Republicans and two Independents voted in favor.  The bill would restore benefits retroactively to 2.7 million jobless Americans.  

A group of Senate Republicans are calling for House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to put aside partisan objections and "at least have that discussion."

Five House Republicans seem to agree with their Senate counterparts.   Led by Peter King (R-New York) and Frank LoBiondo (R-New Jersey) they have sent a letter urging Speaker Boehner to allow a vote on the bill as it stands.  

Other GOP Representatives have indicated that they would be in favor of allowing a vote, if they could add amendments.  Amendments that have been put forward include those to cut taxes, curb EPA regulations, undo the ACA personal mandate requirement, (never miss a chance at another anti-ACA vote!) and force the building of the XL Keystone pipeline.  All the suggestions are non-starters with Democrats and would have no chance in the Senate, so one has to wonder just how serious these Republicans are about a vote. 


Update:  Another State Votes to Raise the Minimum Wage
Also in the post linked in the above update, I wrote about Connecticut voting to raise the minimum wage and Paul Ryan's concern that this was a bad thing for the economy.

The Maryland General Assembly and the Minnesota State Legislature have both joined Connecticut in ignoring Mr. Ryan and his fellow Republicans' dire predictions of economic catastrophe if businesses are forced to pay their workers a living wage.

The Maryland General Assembly voted to raise the minimum wage in their state by increments that would top off at $10.10 in 2018.  Republicans in the Assembly called the rate extreme and "socialistic."

The Minnesota legislature reported that they had reach an agreement to raise their minimum wage from its current rate of $6.15/hour to $9.50/hour by 2016.


Update:  Court Tells Bobby Jindal, Freedom of Speech is for Everyone

In a post about Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal last month, I wrote of his fight to have billboards exposing his refusal to expand Medicaid for 242,000 of his state's poor taken down.  
http://whateyethynk-politics.blogspot.com/2014/03/quick-note-bobby-jindal-champion-of.html

Mr. Jindal, self-proclaimed protector of the First Amendment, supported Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson in December when he was suspended by A&E over his anti-gay rant. Mr. Jindal told the media  "The politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with.  This is a free country and everyone is entitled to express their views."

On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick sent a message to Mr. Jindal:  Judge Dick said MoveOn.org was exercising their rights guaranteed under the First Amendment.  "The State has failed to demonstrate a compelling reason to curtail MoveOn.org's political speech." A reminder for Mr. Jindal that intolerance can come back to bite you in the butt.