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Thom's blog
SCOTUS neuters the Voting Rights Act
Our nation's highest court has struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. In a 5-to-4 ruling delivered by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court ruled that the formula used to decide what states are subject to voting law pre-clearance is unconstitutional. Under the Voting Rights Act, certain states with a history of racial discrimination in voting are required to seek and obtain approval from the Department of Justice, or a three judge panel in D.C., before making any changes to their voting laws.
In 2006, Congress overwhelmingly reauthorized the 1965 Voting Rights Act by huge majorities in the House and the Senate, and President Bush signed the legislation within one week. Despite the fact that Congress had numerous hearings, and compiled thousands of pages of documents while reconsidering the Voting Rights Act, the Court determined that the formula Congress enacted to decide which states would be covered by preclearance was no longer constitutional.
The opinion stated that “coverage today is based on decades-old data and eradicated practices.” Chief Justice Roberts wrote, “Congress – if it is to divide the States – must identify those jurisdictions to be singled out on a basis that makes sense in light of current conditions. It cannot rely on the past.” The Court complained that Congress could have acted to update the formula, but did not.
Justice Ginsburg wrote a dissenting opinion that Justices Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan joined. She quoted Dr. Martin Luther King writing, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. History has proved King right. Although circumstances in Alabama have changed, serious concerns remain.” Because of today's ruling, it will be much more difficult to ensure that those “serious concerns” do not block minority voters from the polls.
-Thom
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 9pm... Snowden - Which Side are You On? (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Need to Know: Snowden - Which Side are You On?- Michael Ratner, Center for Constitutional Rights 
Daily Take: It's Time to Regulate the Supreme Court...
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Monday's Daily Stack 
Hour One: What is loyalty?
Quote: "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter" - Thomas Jefferson.
Hour Three: Zimmerman trial coverage- Debbie Hines, Legal Speaks
Article: " 4th Amendment". " The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
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Tuesday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
Hour One: Were Voting Rights Just Sent to the Back of the Bus?- Joe Madison, The Joe Madison Show
The Big Picture- Nate Sweet, The Big Picture producer
Hour Two: Did Obama just Approve the Keystone Pipeline? Did he also ask for the end of Oil Subsidies?- Mike Papantonio, Attorney / Host-Ring of Fire Radio
Hour Three: Can Congress PLEASE regulate the Supreme Court
And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program...your media support group for "we the people"...
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Wednesday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
We'll have the latest news & information you need to know to win the watercooler wars...
Plus, all eyes are on the Supreme Court as the right of marriage equality hangs in the balance...
Plus, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program...your media support group for "we the people"...
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Thom's Poll
Are you surprised by the Voting Rights Act ruling?
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