JUSTICE — PENTAGON TRIES TO ADDRESS DADT SURVEY PRIVACY CONCERNS WITH ‘CERTIFICATE OF CONFIDENTIALITY’: After a copy of the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” survey was leaked last month, LGBT groups quickly condemned the survey’s questions — which ask servicemembers to speculate on the sexuality of their colleagues, as “derogatory and insulting.” At the time of the questionnaire’s release, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) warned gay and lesbian soldiers against participating, citing privacy concerns. “While the surveys are apparently designed to protect the individual’s privacy, there is no guarantee of privacy and DOD has not agreed to provide immunity to service members whose privacy may be inadvertently violated or who inadvertently outs himself or herself,” the group said. In an attempt to allay fears and encourage gay and lesbian soldiers to participate in the Pentagon’s survey, the Department of Defense is publicizing that the private company hired to administer the survey, Westat, has obtained a Certificate of Confidentiality from the Department of Health and Human Services. According to the certificate, Westat “cannot be forced (for example by court order or subpoena) to disclose information that may identify you in any federal, state, local, civil, criminal, legislative, administrative, or other proceeding.” According to the Pentagon, the certificate would apply retroactively to anyone who has already taken the questionnaire. And more importantly, individuals would be protected from forced disclosure of their sexual orientation. Since the surveys were sent out to servicemembers last month, only 10 percent of the 400,000 “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” surveys were completed as of July 27.
Daily Archives: 08/04/2010
SenateDemocrats’s Channel …youtube
Today Senate Democrats voted for passage of a bill that will prevent thousands of teachers from being laid off and provides Medicaid funding to states. “I think what this bill is a reminder of even when we’re going through these incredibly trying times, that it’s our obligation as a generation to make sure that we provide more opportunity, not less to our kids and grandkids,” said Sen. Michael Bennet.
Senate Republicans are pushing a job-killing agenda that includes opposition to tax cuts for small businesses, opposition to clean energy jobs, and protection for tax loopholes exploited by multinational corporations. More info and vote details at: http://democrats.senate.gov/gopjobkilling/
At a press conference in the U.S. Capitol today, Senate Democrats discussed the next steps for a clean energy bill. Republicans are blocking 700,000 clean energy jobs, but they’re protecting tax breaks for CEOs who ship American jobs overseas. “It’s a terrible disappointment,”said Reid. “But everyone should understand we are not giving up on energy.”
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wacky Wednesday &some News
Today millions of people are singing Happy Birthday to our 44th President, Barack H Obama on his 49th birthday. It is exciting and hopefully millions signed that virtual card… He will give the 2nd highest award available …Presidential Citizens Medal to Eureka’s Betty Chin
There are reports that the Deep Horizon BP well has been killed by the Static kill procedure and thus the Static Condition is now in full effect ..The fact is that President Obama and thad allen were the ones that got this Well dealt with asap…with clear and precise research and concise communication we can give super props to the Obama crew based on his advisors and science. Please do not think the Obama Admin is feeling this whole thing is done with he and his administration will be watching this for quite awhile. I do believe our President has to get into the mix of how people are getting or in most cases not getting their money and or how it is being dispersed.
And another note on President Obama, given the Mid-term Election season is in full effect I had to bring up that we are in a moment we have to continue …The slogan YES WE CAN …or Si Se Puede and i my own version … damn we have to. This is not the time for folks who wanted President Obama to take a hard left of all issues or legislation to stir up trouble by making comments on the airwaves. If anyone is even looking at the public response folks are saying this President lied to get into office and is now blah blah blah… though these clearly are talking points they seem to be loaded with a lot of ok yes i heard it on cable or the radio and they have to be right don’t they? NO and hell NO. If you believed McCain truly wanted Palin as his VP then you are a lost cause. 
The media on every level will tell the public as much BS as it can until they are told to stop and that includes people on the left. It cannot be lost on most people that this is the United States first Black President (bi-racial) and if that was not enough, he has a funny name and a father from Kenya, which Republicans have used in a much negative way but then we have people in Congress in both Chambers and possibly on both sides of the aisle that may not want to work with him. It is obvious that Republicans have made a choice to take not only a hard right but some of those Republicans who seemed honest, intelligent and so forth appear to be apart of the lemming family and following the teabaggers off the ledge. It would be great if folks did their homework and find out why he made moves toward the center or right because if you really cared the problem was as the months moved forward Republicans began to go further right. In addition, as Republicans continued to bait Democrats in Congress, which if the public would fing open their eyes, Republicans are not only voting against the President they are bringing the American people with them.
The notion that the No votes, the stalling or blocking of legislation in Congress only affects Democrats is not lost on me. It seems like the Political Party of No hopes people will agree that bringing the economy down even further is a good thing and if we Democrats fail to go to the voting booth they will bring us down and i predict a big fat fing depression is in our future. That is not a scare tactic it seems like a fact because solutions coming from right are far and few if any at all which is not only offensive it is truly un-American the failure of our system happened to all of us and should be dealt with on a bipartisanship way.
On Jan 20, 2009 we all became apart of history. It will be history that we all believed would bring change even though that change is slow, we can honestly be proud that we participated in. In addition, if you believe in moving into the 21st Century, believe in health care for all, if you believe, it is a right not a privilege that the overhaul is long overdue, will help most if not all of us, and is not as people are portraying it. The HCR bill is not just for the poor and financial 
reform will help everyone as well but we have more to do and that means climate change, immigration, clean energy, education and more.
I do not believe that parents with kids in college would say they are poor and now days most families have two or more children in college at the same time. Unfortunately, the first year at college is usually filled a whole lot of illnesses because they do not sleep, eat, or drink enough water and then there are other reasons. I say that because i remember what it was like and living in dorms can be fun but not always. We all know college is not cheap so those who say HCR is only for the poor are just wrong. This Bill will benefit everyone … and more… get informed
As a woman, we can now look forward to less discrimination because of HCR and you do not have to be poor to benefit … can i just say that again, women will NOT be discriminated against anymore. It would be naïve to believe some doctors and or hospitals will not try but the law is there to refer to now and covers All Americans not just some. I believe that Bart Stupak and the pro-lifers don’t understand that every part of a woman’s health is subject to being penalized and that includes abortion, which, is not a choice but a situation that is always possible and is apart of healthcare. It is bad enough that among other ridiculous laws that need to be voted on The Hyde law must be voted on every year; here is hoping people who truly want smaller government will also stop trying to control women
We need to move swiftly forward to deal with education, energy, more jobs, comprehensive immigration and more.
Other News …
**Parts of SB1070 has been over turned
**Reports are that Tom Brokaw will moderate the Brown/Whitman debate
**Reports are that Republicans plan to repeal, replace and restart the status quo and Bush governing ways if in control and reports are that is due to 2Wars, 2tax cuts
**Reports are that 3/4 of the oil has evaporated that the oil was crude oil and organic so microbes and evaporation took care of it and while the relief wells are being worked on the procedure of Static Condition is now in full effect
**There is a Free Clinic scheduled to be held August 31st/Sept 1 to remember Katrina but donations are needed so go to freeclinic.com
**Call Tacoma Macy’s to tell them you will boycott -due to unfair hiring practices
**MO. passed legislation that will challenge the new health care law –
**Prop 8 decision is due today sometime mid-afternoon
**
C-SPAN …
Admiral Allen Daily Oil Spill Update
Discussion On The Health Care Savings Account
C‑SPAN’s Washington Journal continues with its week-long series looking at issues arising from the new health care law. This morning, Michael Cannon of the Cato Institute takes a look at how individual health savings accounts are impacted by the recent changes to health coverage.
Tomorrow, the Washington Journal will explore Medicare Part D and on Friday, two state Attorney Generals will share their views on how the health care law affects their state.
During the summer, the Washington Journal will look at issues in the news, covering various topics from financial reform to politics.
Cato InstituteStatic Kill Working; Senate Holds Joint Hearing on Oil Dispersants
“Static kill,” the latest attempt to permanently plug the blown-out well in the Gulf, began yesterday. BP engineers are pumping heavy drilling mud into the well in an attempt to force the oil back underground. National Incident Commander Thad Allen said yesterday that the entire process could take anywhere from 33-61 hours, but reminded the public that “the relief wells are the answer.” Allen will join others today at the daily White House briefing to provide an update on the “static kill” procedure.
The Senate Environment Committee and a Senate Oversight Subcommittee are holding a joint hearing to discuss the use of oil dispersants and to gain a better understanding of the known long-term effects on the regional environment. Congressional investigators are accusing the Coast Guard of giving BP too much leeway to use chemical dispersants to break up the oil on the surface. Thad Allen said that federal regulators did not ignore environmental guidelines and decisions to use more dispersants were made on a case-by-case basis.
The EPA released a study earlier this week showing that dispersants used to break up oil are no more toxic to aquatic life than oil alone.
Hearing on Dispersants: C-SPAN at 10am ET WH briefing: c-span.org at 1pm ET Allen Briefing: From Yesterday (courtesy KHOU)
Reuters: Dispersants No More Toxic than Oil Times Picayune Oil Spill Coverage The Guardian: The Static Kill ExplainedSenate Continues Debate on Kagan Nomination
Some Republican and Democrats clashed on their opinion of Solicitor General Elena Kagan during the first day debate on her nomination to be the next Supreme Court Associate Justice. Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Sen. Sessions (R-AL) maintained that Kagan would not be able to keep her political views from the bench, nor would she be a judge “committed to restraint.” Read More »
Meanwhile, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) defended Kagan and said she “will do her best to consider every case impartially, modestly, with commitment to principle and in accordance with law.”
Senate members will pick up the Kagan nomination debate today after finishing work on other legislative business. A final vote will likely take place on Thursday. If confirmed, she would replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens and become the fourth female Justice in the Supreme Court’s history.
So far, Nebraska Democratic Senator Ben Nelson is the only Democrat who has announced their opposition to Kagan. Conversely, Republican Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and Judd Gregg (R-NH), have announced their support for the nominee.
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So what happens now on Climate Change?
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts.
The Senate has abandoned the climate change bill. Want to know what this means about the future of climate and energy issues?
Thankfully, there’s a way to get answers on the tough questions. Center for American Progress experts are at your service.
Daniel J. Weiss, an expert on energy and climate policy, is taking questions through Facebook on the oil disaster response bill and other climate and energy issues.
To ask Dan a question, just go to CAP’s Facebook page and click the “Like” button at the top. Then post your question on our wall. Your question might be chosen for Dan’s next “Ask the Expert” video.
Make sure to get your questions in now ― the deadline is this Thursday. Next week, we’ll post the new video with Dan’s answers on Facebook.
And keep an eye on CAP’s Facebook page to see when our next “Ask the Expert” video is coming up so you can get your questions in!
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Humanitarian Alert: Pakistan floods displace thousands
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