Wins third term as South Carolina Senator
Graham defeats Hutto to be elected to United States Senate from South Carolina for third time. He receives 54.3% of the votes.
I think the verdict is in. South Carolina voters think solving problems and working across party lines was not mutually exclusive to being conservative…Every election is a rebirth of democracy. I dedicate this night to all those who stand in harm’s way, making it possible for this nation to choose our leaders.
Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C. legalize marijuana
Voters in Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C. approve marijuana legalization. In Oregon, the law legalizes personal possession, manufacture and sale of marijuana for people 21 years of age and older, as well as create a commercial regulatory system for the production, distribution and sale of marijuana. Alaska’s law taxes and regulates the production, sale and use of marijuana, making the use legal for people over 21 years old. Washington, D.C.’s proposal allows for a person over 21 years old to possess up to two ounces of marijuana for personal use and grow up to six cannabis plants in their home. It also allows people to transfer up to one ounce of marijuana to another person, but not sell it. Drug Policy Alliance:
The pace of reform is accelerating, other states are sure to follow, and even Congress is poised to wake from its slumber.
Concedes defeat
Salmond concedes the referendum as the ‘democratic verdict of the people of Scotland’ in a speech at 6.15 a.m. UK time, seven minutes after the count becomes a mathematical certainty for the No vote:
Today of all days as we bring Scotland together, let us not dwell on the distance we have fallen short, let us dwell on the distance we have travelled and have confidence the movement is abroad in Scotland that will take this nation forward and we shall go forward as one nation.
He calls on pro-UK parties to deliver on their promises to devolve more powers to Scotland:
Scotland will expect these to be honoured in rapid course – as a reminder, we have been promised a second reading of a Scotland Bill by March 27 next year. Not just the 1.6 million Scots who voted for independence will demand that timetable is followed but all Scots who participated in this referendum will demand that timetable is followed.
YouGov poll: No 52%-48%
A survey by YouGov for The Times and The Sun finds that the Scottish public favor remaining in the UK by 52% compared with 48% who want independence. The numbers exclude undecided voters. YouGov says the reversal in the margin from its previous week’s Times poll – which showed Yes ahead for the first time, at 51%-49% – is due to Brown joining the debate:
Shortly before he stepped down as Prime Minister, Tony Blair warned David Cameron to beware ‘Gordon Brown’s great clunking fist.’ Cameron survived it, but Alex Salmond’s bid for Scottish independence may not. Since Brown entered the debate, the Yes bandwagon, which has been rolling so dramatically, has stalled. His warnings that independence would be bad for jobs and family finances have struck home.
YouGov’s three previous polls each showed Yes climbing in support, although Yes remains at a higher level than at any point up to late August.
Minnesota legalizes
Governor Dayton signs legislation that makes Minnesota the 22nd state to legalize medicinal marijuana. Minnesotans who are sick or in serious pain may use marijuana, although they may not smoke it. More specifically, they will still not be allowed to access cannabis in leaf form. The drug will be available by mid-2015 in pill and vapor form, as well as in oil form (which has proven especially successful in treating children with seizures). However, pot advocates say that the best and most beneficial way to consume the drug is in its natural form. Patients worry that by signing up for the medical marijuana program, they could be putting themselves at risk of falling into the grasp of police.
Re-elected president
Election results guarantee a second five-year term for Zuma, with the ANC gaining a 62.2% share of the vote according to the national election commission. Leading opposition, Democratic Alliance, has 22.2% of the vote, it’s best result ever; the party said it gained 1.1 million new voters, including 700,000 votes from black South Africans.
Mayoral endorsement video
Ferrell releases a video endorsing Garcetti in the Los Angeles mayoral election, joining other celebrity supporters like Salma Hayek and Moby:
You probably are thinking who cares what some strikingly handsome actor thinks? But I’m not just an actor. I’m also a native Los Angeleno, a father of three, and a business owner. And I want a city that is vibrant and healthy for my three sons and my four illegitimate children to grow up in. That’s why I’m voting for Eric Garcetti.
Wins Texas senate seat
Cruz wins the Texas senate seat by defeating Democratic challenger Paul Sadler. Cruz receives 58.25% of the vote to become the first Latino senator from Texas.
Representing Texas in the Senate will constitute a remarkable triumph not just for me, but for my family.
Obama support video
Ferrell releases a video urging people to head to the polls in support of Barack Obama. The film appears on the official Obama for America YouTube channel.
Wins recall election
Walker wins the recall election against Tom Barrett by about 7%.
Tonight we tell Wisconsin, we tell our country, and we tell people all across the globe that voters really do want leaders that stand up and make the tough decisions.
Repeals Equal Pay Enforcement Act
Walker signs a bill repealing the 2009 Equal Pay Enforcement Act which allowed workers to sue employers for wage discrimination in the cheaper and more accessible state courts rather than in federal court. Senator Grothman argues the act was hurting businesses who had to defend themselves from false accusations of discrimination:
It’s an underreported problem, but a huge number of discrimination claims are baseless. Most of them are filed by fired employees, and really today almost anybody is a protected class. As a result many companies are forced to pay fired employees to go away [and it has] raised the cost of doing business in the state to intolerable levels.
Senator Sinicki, who co-authored the act, opposes its repeal:
This whole session has been anti-woman and anti-middle class, and this fits right in with that agenda.
More than 1 million recall signatures filed
Democrats file more than one million signatures for the recall effort against Walker. Vice-chairman of United Wisconsin:
It is beyond legal challenge. The collection of more than one million signatures represents a crystal-clear indication of how strong the appetite is to stop the damage and turmoil that Scott Walker has brought to Wisconsin.
Endorses Romney for President
In an article for the Daily Beast written in the form of a letter to Ted Forstmann, Ferguson endorses Mitt Romney for President:
In Europe these days, the answer to fiscal crisis is to put a technocrat in charge. But I think you’d agree with me, dear Ted, that what the U.S. government really needs is a private-equity guy in the White House.
Recall effort begins
United Wisconsin files a petition to recall Walker and begins their campaign of collecting the 540,208 signatures necessary to trigger the election recall. Walker:
We’re going to be judged, whether it’s in 2012 or 2014, on what we’re doing on jobs and reform. I don’t think it changes what I focus on day to day.
Syrian, Lebanon relations restored
Assad issues a presidential decree ordering the establishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon and announcing the opening of an embassy-level diplomatic mission in Beirut. Following the announcement, the Lebanese Foreign Minister says he will visit damascus to finalize the agreement
Tomorrow I will be in Damascus to meet with my colleague [Syrian Foreign] Minister Walid Moallem…to finalize the necessary measures to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries…My visit will be a crown to the excellent relations between the two countries,
Signs concealed-carry bill
Walker signs a bill allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons after going through training, passing a background check and obtaining a permit. The bill also bans guns from certain locations and allows private businesses to ban guns on their premises.
By signing concealed carry into law today we are making Wisconsin safer for all responsible, law abiding citizens.
Signs budget
Walker signs a two-year $66 billion budget that cuts almost $800 million from public schools, expands taxpayer support for private voucher schools, cuts taxes for businesses, and keeps property taxes the same, helping to eliminate a $3 billion deficit without raising taxes. It is estimated the state’s main account will have a $300 million surplus by June 2013. Walker uses his power to veto fifty items in the budget.
Our balanced budget makes tough choices while also providing a path to prosperity for our state and our people. Through honest budgeting, we are providing an alternative to the reckless tricks and gimmicks of the past. To move forward together, we are acknowledging that we have to make sacrifices to protect the next generation by decreasing the serious debt that they would otherwise inherit.
Assembly Minority Leader Barca criticizes Walker’s budget and vetoes as helping businesses but hurting the poor and middle class.
His vetoes don’t change the fact that his budget serves corporate special interests at the expense of Wisconsin’s small businesses and middle class. Time and again, Gov. Walker has gone out of his way to limit public scrutiny of his extreme agenda and it comes as no surprise that the governor used many of his vetoes to take away public accountability and further consolidate power in his administration.
Signs voter photo ID law
Walker signs a bill requiring voters to show a photo ID at the polls.
To me, something as important as a vote is important whether it’s one case, one hundred cases or one hundred thousand cases. Making sure we have legislation that protects the integrity for an open, fair and honest election in every single case is important.
US imposes sanctions
Washington freezes the U.S. assets of Assad and six other senior officials for human rights abuses. The sanctions also bar American individuals and companies from dealing with the officials, which include the vice president, the prime minister, the interior minister, the defence minister, the head of military intelligence and the director of the political security directorate. US Treasury spokesperson:
The actions the administration has taken today send an unequivocal message to President Assad, the Syrian leadership, and regime insiders that they will be held accountable for the ongoing violence and repression in Syria…President al-Assad and his regime must immediately end the use of violence, answer the calls of the Syrian people for a more representative government, and embark upon the path of meaningful democratic reform,
Voids paid sick leave ordinance
Walker signs a bill voiding Milwaukee’s paid sick leave ordinance which was passed by a popular referendum. The ordinance required large businesses to provide nine days and small businesses five days of paid sick leave per year. The ordinance has been challenged in the courts and has never gone into effect.
This law removes another barrier in the road to creating 250,000 private sector jobs by 2015. Patchwork government mandates stifle job creation and economic opportunity. This law gives employers the flexibility they need to put people back to work and that makes Wisconsin a more attractive place to do business.