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Our homes

11/17/2010 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

Mortgage lenders are recklessly foreclosing on homes. Some are even breaking the law.

Help protect your home, or your friends’ and family’s, with this simple tool:

Dear Barbara,

The big banks are at it again. First they targeted minority communities with subprime loans and other predatory lending schemes, helping to make Black Americans and Latinos 70% more likely than Whites to be in foreclosure.¹

Now we’re learning that the very same banks and mortgage lenders have been foreclosing on homes around the nation without verifying that they have the right to do so.²

The stories are horrifying: in Ohio, a bank foreclosed on a man after insisting for months that it didn’t hold his loan and refusing to accept his payments.³ In Florida, Bank of America tried to take a house away from a man who never even had a mortgage.⁴ The more we learn, the worse it gets.

If you’re a homeowner, one possible way to protect yourself from the banks’ bad behavior is to demand your note and make them prove they own your mortgage. A new online tool makes it easy. Check it out and please share this information with your friends and family. It could help to save your home or that of someone you love:

http://www.wheresthenote.com/colorofchange

The banks have been trying to write off their failure to properly verify ownership as a mere technicality. But it’s much more serious than that, and Attorneys General in all 50 states have banded together to investigate the illegal foreclosures, and several elected leaders have called for criminal charges to be filed against the banks.^5,6

You would think that it would be easy to produce the documents needed for the banks to verify ownership. But during the real estate boom, banks cut corners with paperwork in order to make as many loans as possible, and then sold the loans to other lenders in complicated financial maneuvers designed to maximize the banks’ profits.

Now it has come to light that banks have been paying “foreclosure mills” to take homes away as quickly as possible, before homeowners even realize that anything might be amiss. And it appears that these foreclosure mills are operating without actually following the law — foreclosing without the proper legal documentation.⁷ In some cases, notaries responsible for verifying the documents aren’t even reading them.⁸ And in other cases, the documents are just being fabricated — made up to cover the banks’ tracks.⁹ This is foreclosure fraud. It’s not legal, and it’s not right.

Given their role in creating the foreclosure crisis through predatory practices and deception, banks should be doing what they can to avoid foreclosures and keep people in their homes. This could be done by lowering interest rates, or better yet — reducing the principal to reflect the crash in housing prices. Foreclosures are only further devastating communities already hard hit by record unemployment.

But the banks seem uninterested. It appears that they would rather commit mortgage fraud to protect their bottom line. That’s why it’s up to us to make sure that they’re following the law to the letter. And if enough of us do so, we’ll help to create a new financial environment where banks are held more accountable to homeowners and the legal system. If you have a mortgage, protect yourself and your family by demanding your note, and please share this information with your friends and family. It takes just a moment:

http://www.wheresthenote.com/colorofchange

Thanks and Peace,

— James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Natasha, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
November 17th, 2010

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU — your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:

https://secure.colorofchange.org/contribute/

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

KTH: Sen. McCain and ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ (via Anderson Cooper 360)

11/17/2010 Nativegrl77

via Anderson Cooper 360

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress is in Sesson … read what happened -updates when needed

11/17/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes Today at 9:30amET

Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 11:00am with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. Of the majorities time, Senator Harkin will control 15 minutes, Senator Dodd will control 15 minutes, and Senator Mikulski will control 5 minutes.

As a reminder, on Wednesday, September 29, Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the following bills:
– S.3815, the Promoting National Gas and Electric Vehicles Act of 2010;
– S.3772, The Paycheck Fairness Act; and
– S.510, The FDA Food Safety and Modernization Act.

The first vote of the week will be on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.3815, the Promoting National Gas and Electric Vehicles Act of 2010.

At 11:00am, the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.3772, Paycheck Fairness Act.

If cloture is not invoked, the Senate would proceed immediately to a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S.510, the Food Safety bill.

If cloture is invoked on either of the motions to proceed, there would be up to 30 hours for debate on the motion.

Senators should expect up to 2 roll call votes to begin at 11:00am.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the Democratic caucus meeting.

Votes:
249: Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.3772, Paycheck Fairness Act;
Not Invoked: 58-41

250: Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.510, FDA Food Satefy;
Invoked: 74-25

Unanimous Consent:
Passed S.1421, Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act

Adopted S.Res.681, a resolution designating the week of November 15 through 19, 2010, as “Global Entrepreneurship Week/USA

))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF NOVEMBER 17, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

7:20 P.M. –: SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
7:19 P.M. –: Mr. Burton of IN requested that Mr. Thompson of PA be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on November 18.

S. 3774:

to extend the deadline for Social Services Block Grant expenditures of supplemental funds appropriated following disasters occurring in 2008
7:18 P.M. –: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
7:04 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3774. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. McDermott moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H. Res. 1648:

supporting the goals and ideals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and the children in foster care awaiting families, celebrating children and families involved in adoption, recognizing current programs and efforts designed to promote adoption, and encouraging people in the United States to seek improved safety, permanency, and well-being for all children
7:03 P.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
6:43 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1648. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. McDermott moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Con. Res. 327:

to recognize and support the efforts of the USA Bid Committee to bring the 2018 or 2022 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup competition to the United States
6:42 P.M. –: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
6:36 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 327. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Watson moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H. Con. Res. 259:

recognizing the 500th anniversary of the birth of Italian architect Andrea Palladio
6:35 P.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
6:25 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 259. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Watson moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1672:

commemorating the Persian Gulf War and reaffirming the commitment of the United States towards Persian Gulf War veterans
6:24 P.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
6:23 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House concluded debate on H. Res. 1672. Mr. Arcuri filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 1721.

H. Res. 1672:

commemorating the Persian Gulf War and reaffirming the commitment of the United States towards Persian Gulf War veterans
6:02 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1672. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Watson moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H. Res. 1677:

condemning the Burmese regime’s undemocratic upcoming elections on November 7, 2010
6:00 P.M. –: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

H. Res. 1677:

condemning the Burmese regime’s undemocratic upcoming elections on November 7, 2010

5:48 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1677.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Watson moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

5:47 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

. H. Res. 1715:

congratulating Joe Paterno on his 400th win as Penn State Nittany Lions football head coach

5:45 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): (Roll No. 575).

5:37 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 5758:

to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2 Government Center in Fall River, Massachusetts, as the “Sergeant Robert Barrett Post Office Building”

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): (Roll No. 574).

5:30 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 3808:

to require any Federal or State court to recognize any notarization made by a notary public licensed by a State other than the State where the court is located when such notarization occurs in or affects interstate commerce

5:24 P.M. –

On motion to refer the bill and the accompanying veto message to the Committee on the Judiciary. Agreed to without objection.

On passage, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding Failed by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): (Roll No. 573).

Motion to refer the bill and accompanying veto message to the Committee on Judiciary.

5:14 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of passage of H.R. 3808 on reconsideration, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding, and on motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Con. Res. 332:

The title of this measure is not available

4:45 P.M. –

On agreeing to the resolution Roll Call 572 – Yea and Nay vote pending.

4:42 P.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

H.R. 3808:

4:41 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of the allotted debate time, the Chair announced that under the Constitution, the yeas and nays were ordered on the question of passage upon reconsideration, the objection of the President to the contrary notwithstanding. The Chair further announced that further proceedings on that question would be postponed until a time to be announced.

4:33 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the veto message from the President on H.R. 3808.

4:32 P.M. –

The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the veto message from the President on H.R. 3808.

4:31 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of November 17

10:28 A.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

H. Res. 1720:

Providing for the printing of a revised edition of the Rules and Manual of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Twelfth Congress

10:27 A.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

Mr. Ellison asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker’s table and consider.

Considered by unanimous consent.

S.J. Res. 40:

appointing the day for the convening of the first session of the One Hundred Twelfth Congress

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed without objection.

10:26 A.M. –

Mr. Ellison asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker’s table and consider.

Considered by unanimous consent.

DEBATE TIME LIMITATION – Mr. Ellison asked unanimous consent that debate on passing H.R. 3808, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding, be limited to 10 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary. Agreed to without objection.

10:03 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Quigley to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

10:02 A.M. –

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.

10:01 A.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Ed Pastor to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

10:00 A.M. –

The House convened, starting a new legislative day