what is going on in Congress -it’s in Session -lame duck


The Senate Convenes: 9:30amET on December 8, 2010

Following any Leader remarks, there will be a live quorum to resume the court of impeachment of Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr. Once a quorum is established, the Senate will proceed to a series of up to 5 roll call votes in relation to the impeachment motions and articles.

Motion that the Articles are improperly aggregated.
• Article I (improperly denied a motion to recuse based on a corrupt financial relationship)
Article II (alleges a pattern of corrupt conduct based on improper structuring of bail bonds)
Article III (intentionally made material false statements in a personal bankruptcy filing)
Article IV (knowingly made false statements to the Senate and FBI during his confirmation process)
Senators will be voting from their desks and they are encouraged to remain seated until all votes have been completed.
Upon conclusion of the court of impeachment, the Senate will recess subject to the call of the Chair in order to clear the chamber. Upon reconvening, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar #661, S.3991, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009, with the time until 12:30pm equally divided and controlled between the Leaders or their designees.

The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 3:30pm to allow for the Democratic caucus meeting.

At 3:30pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.3391. There will then be an additional 30 minutes of debate equally divided between the Leaders or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will proceed to a series of up to 4 roll call votes.

– Cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #662, S.3991, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009 (commonly known as Firefighters Collective Bargaining);
– Cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #655, S.3985, the Emergency Senior Citizens relief Act of 2010;
– Cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #663, S.3992, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2010 (DREAM Act); and
– Cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #641, H.R.847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010.

If cloture is invoked on a motion to proceed, there would then be up to 30 hours for debate.

If cloture fails on all 4 motions, there is a possibility that Senator Reid would reconsider the failed cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S.3454, DoD Authorization.

Votes:
260: Motion that notwithstanding Impeachment Rule 23, the Senate shall disaggregate the articles of impeachment by holding preliminary votes on individual allegations in the articles;
Not Agreed To: 0-94.

261: Article I (improperly denied a motion to recuse based on a corrupt financial relationship);
Guilty: 96-0

262: Article II (alleges a pattern of corrupt conduct based on improper structuring of bail bonds)
Guilty: 69-27

263: Article III (intentionally made material false statements in a personal bankruptcy filing);
Guilty: 88-8

264: Article IV (knowingly made false statements to the Senate and FBI during his confirmation process)
Guilty: 90-6

265: Reid motion that Judge Porteous be disqualified from holding office at any time in the future of the United States;
Agreed To: 94-2

266: Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S.3991, Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009;
Not Invoked: 55-43

267: Now voting on Cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #655, S.3985, the Emergency Senior Citizens relief Act of 2010;
Not Invoked: 53-45

Not Invoked: 53-45

Unanimous Consent:
Passed H.R.4994, Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010 (with a substitute amendment and an amendment to the title)

Passed H.R.4337, the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act (with a Bingaman substitute amendment)

Passed S.3167, the Census Oversight Efficiency and Management Reform Act (with a Carper amendment)

Passed S.3036, the National Alzheimer’s Project Act

Adopted S.Res.697, a resolution recognizing the 15th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords

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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00amET on December 8, 2010

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF DECEMBER 8, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION


. 9:18 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

9:17 P.M. –

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on December 15: himself for 5 min and Mr. Jones for 5 min.

9:10 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

H.R. 3353:

to provide for American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas to be treated as States for certain criminal justice programs

9:02 P.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

Considered as unfinished business.

9:01 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on a motion to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H.R. 5281:

to amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify and improve certain provisions relating to the removal of litigation against Federal officers or agencies to Federal courts, and for other purposes

9:00 P.M. –

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

On motion to to agree to the Senate amendments numbered 1 and 2, and that the House agree to the Senate amendment numbered 3 with an amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 216 – 198 (Roll no. 625).

8:34 P.M. –

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

7:45 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House continued with further debate on H.R. 5281.

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 4994 amended, and S. 3036.

H.R. 5281:

to amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify and improve certain provisions relating to the removal of litigation against Federal officers or agencies to Federal courts, and for other purposes

6:55 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the Senate amendments to H.R. 5281.

6:54 P.M. –

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1756, the House moved to agree to the Senate amendments numbered 1 and 2, and that the House agree to the Senate amendment numbered 3 with an amendment.

Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1756, the Chair recognized Mr. Conyers for a motion.

S. 3998:

to extend the Child Safety Pilot Program

6:51 P.M. –

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 401 – 2 (Roll No. 624).

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

6:44 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business is on motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings were postponed.

H. Res. 1756:

providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to the bill ( H.R. 5281) to amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify and improve certain provisions relating to the removal of litigation against Federal officers or agencies to Federal courts, and for other purposes

6:43 P.M. –

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 211 – 208 (Roll no. 623).

6:34 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 3082:

making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes

6:33 P.M. –

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

On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 212 – 206 (Roll no. 622).

6:05 P.M. –

The previous question was ordered without objection.

H. Res. 1756:

providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to the bill ( H.R. 5281) to amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify and improve certain provisions relating to the removal of litigation against Federal officers or agencies to Federal courts, and for other purposes

6:03 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair put the question on adoption of the resolution and voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the resolution until a time to be announced.

The previous question was ordered without objection.

5:26 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1756

5:24 P.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

5:22 P.M. –

Mr. Polis (CO) filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 1756.

H.R. 3082:

making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendment with an amendment to H.R. 3082, the Chair announced that further proceedings would be postponed.

4:18 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendment with an amendment to H.R. 3082.

4:17 P.M. –

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1755, the House moved to agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment.

H. Res. 1746:

recognizing and supporting the efforts of Welcome Back Veterans to augment the services provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans’ Affairs in providing timely and world-class care for veterans and members of the Armed Forces suffering from PTSD and related psychiatric disorders

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 recorded vote (2/3 required): 409 – 0 (Roll no. 621).

4:09 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 4501:

to require certain return policies from businesses that purchase precious metals from consumers and solicit such transactions through an Internet website

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 324 – 81 (Roll no. 620).

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

4:02 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

4:01 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Res. 1755:

providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill ( H.R. 3082) making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 207 – 206 (Roll no. 619).

3:28 P.M. –

The previous question was ordered without objection.

2:58 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1755

Considered as privileged matter.

2:57 P.M. –

Mr. McGovern filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 1755.

H. Res. 1704:

honoring the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon

2:56 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 recorded vote (2/3 required): 359 – 44, 5 Present (Roll no. 618).

2:49 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1402:

recognizing the 50th anniversary of the National Council for International Visitors, and expressing support for designation of February 16, 2011, as “Citizen Diplomacy Day”

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 recorded vote (2/3 required): 394 – 13, 1 Present (Roll no. 617).

2:41 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 6495:

to improve compliance with mine safety and health laws, empower miners to raise safety concerns, prevent future mine tragedies, and for other purposes

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 214 – 193 (Roll no. 616).

2:33 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1752:

waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules

2:32 P.M. –

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 215 – 194 (Roll no. 615).

2:02 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of H.Res. 1752 and motions to suspend the rules, all of which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings has been postponed.

H.R. 6495:

to improve compliance with mine safety and health laws, empower miners to raise safety concerns, prevent future mine tragedies, and for other purposes

2:01 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.

1:28 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6495.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Miller, George moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

S. 3817:

to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978, and the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988 to reauthorize the Acts, and for other purposes

1:27 P.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

1:06 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3817.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Sablan moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 5012:

to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch to establish a weekend and holiday feeding program to provide nutritious food to at-risk school children on weekends and during extended school holidays during the school year

1:05 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 pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

12:52 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5012.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Sablan moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

12:51 P.M. –

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

H. Res. 1752:

waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules

12:49 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair put the question on adoption of the resolution and voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the resolution until a time to be announced.

The previous question was ordered without objection.

12:34 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1752

12:33 P.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 1531:

expressing support for designation of 2011 as “World Veterinary Year” to bring attention to and show appreciation for the veterinary profession on its 250th anniversary

12:31 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 recorded vote (2/3 required): 406 – 0 (Roll no. 614).

12:23 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1540:

supporting the goal of eradicating illicit marijuana cultivation on Federal lands and calling on the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to develop a coordinated strategy to permanently dismantle Mexican drug trafficking organizations operating on Federal lands

12:22 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 the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 400 – 4 (Roll no. 613).

12:14 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1717:

congratulating imprisoned Chinese democracy advocate Liu Xiaobo on the award of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize

12:13 P.M. –

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 – 1 (Roll no. 612).

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

12:07 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 5987:

to ensure that seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who receive Social Security and certain other Federal benefits receive a one-time $250 payment in the event that no cost-of-living adjustment is payable in 2011

12:06 P.M. –

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 254 – 153 (Roll no. 611).

11:32 A.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

11:31 A.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINSESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings has been postponed.

H.R. 4501:

to require certain return policies from businesses that purchase precious metals from consumers and solicit such transactions through an Internet website

11:30 A.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.

11:23 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4501.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Weiner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 5470:

to exclude an external power supply for certain security or life safety alarms and surveillance system components from the application of certain energy efficiency standards under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act

11:22 A.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

11:16 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5470.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H. Res. 1746:

recognizing and supporting the efforts of Welcome Back Veterans to augment the services provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans’ Affairs in providing timely and world-class care for veterans and members of the Armed Forces suffering from PTSD and related psychiatric disorders

11:15 A.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Donnelly (IN) objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.

11:05 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1746.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Donnelly (IN) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

S. 3789:

to limit access to social security account numbers

11:04 A.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

10:53 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3789.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H.R. 5987:

to ensure that seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who receive Social Security and certain other Federal benefits receive a one-time $250 payment in the event that no cost-of-living adjustment is payable in 2011

10:51 A.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.

10:29 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5987.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Pomeroy moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

10:27 A.M. –

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

10:05 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House continued with further one minute speeches.

10:04 A.M. –

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed S. 3199, S. 3984, H.R. 2480, and H.R. 6184.

10:02 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. Kagen to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

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

10:01 A.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by Lieutenant Christilene Whalen, Chaplain Corps, United States Navy, Patuxent River, Maryland

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.

Call Now: Congress set to make critical renewable energy decision


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Union of Concerned Scientists
Call Today!
Please call your senators and representative IMMEDIATELY and ask them to support a final tax bill that includes the extension of the renewable energy tax credit program.

Call Your Legislators Today to Extend the Renewable Energy Tax Credits

You’ve probably heard that Congress is currently working on a bipartisan effort to extend tax breaks for U.S. families and businesses. Included in that process is the renewable energy tax credit program, which is set to expire this December. This grant program has been critical to the growth of the renewable energy sector and has supported the development of thousands of clean energy jobs over the past two years.

If this program is renewed, the wind industry alone is poised to create 20,000 new jobs in 2011. If Congress allows it to expire, Americans will be laid off, while we lose the clean energy manufacturing race with China.

Decisions on these critical clean energy tax credits could happen in the next day or so. Please call your senators and representative IMMEDIATELY and ask them to support a final tax bill that includes the extension of the renewable energy tax credit program.
Click here to find your legislators’ phone numbers, talking points for your call, and an easy form you can use to report back to us. Any information you provide will help us in our efforts.

Take Action Today!

Sincerely,
Megan Rising
Megan Rising
National Field Organizer
UCS Climate and Energy Program

PASS The Dream Act …do it for Gaby


Reform Immigration FOR America Share This Message:
Do it for Gaby
A vote on the DREAM Act: this week
This week, Congress will vote on the DREAM Act & decide the future of millions of America’s youth.
Gaby Pacheco is one of those millions. Use our click-to-call tool below to make a phone call and listen to Gaby’s story. After you listen, we will connect you to your Senator to tell them the pass the DREAM Act. 

Click here to hear Gaby’s story & call Congress

It’s important to remind Congress (and ourselves) that this fight is not about an abstract policy debate. This fight is about the lives of DREAM youth across the country. This is about Gaby and the millions like her.

Do it for Gaby.

Thank you,
Marissa Graciosa
Reform Immigration FOR America

We’re fighting to fix our broken immigration system, but we can’t win without you!
contribute $30 today to sponsor 80 faxes and 100 calls to Congress.

Does Monsanto tell you what to eat?


CREDO Action | more than a network. a movement.
Fix our broken food system. 

Stop Big Food.
sign up 

Urge the Department of Justice and Department of Agriculture to break up the agribusiness giants. 

 

take action

Note: Along with our allies, CREDO has gathered over 240,000 comments against consolidation in the food industry. Our friends at Food Democracy Now! are delivering them at a special meeting with the USDA this week. As consumers, we have a vested interest in the future of our food system. Can you help us get to 250,000?

America’s supermarket bounty is deceiving. Of those hundreds of brands on grocery store shelves, the vast majority are owned by a handful of industrial food companies like Kraft, Conagra and General Mills.

This concentration of power in the hands of a few large corporations is repeated in all sectors of the food system — from Monsanto’s stranglehold on seeds, to Dean Foods and Dairy Farmers of America‘s control over our milk, to Smithfield, JBS and Cargill’s near total dominance of meat processing. But there was nothing inevitable about this kind of corporate control of our food. Decades of deregulation and governmental inattention to industrial consolidation brought us our broken food system, one that features non-stop food safety recalls, an obesity epidemic and the hollowing out of rural America as family farmers are forced to sell out to corporate interests.

It’s time to stop letting Big Food control what we eat. Urge the Obama administration to fix our broken food system.

The Departments of Justice and Agriculture have convened a set of “workshops” over the last few months to discuss potential antitrust practices by the agribusiness giants who control of the food industry. Family farmers were finally able to air some of their grievances against the abusive practices by large food corporations. Though only a baby step, these workshops represented one of the first admissions from the US government that its past policies have weakened, rather than strengthened, our food system.

Please sign the letter thanking Holder and Vilsack for the workshops and demanding they follow up with real action on antitrust enforcement. The era of Big Food must come to an end.

Thank you for working to break up the food monopoly.

Adam Klaus, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

Don’t Let GOP Censor the Smithsonian


I urge you to end the hostile rhetoric and respect America’s standards of honoring free speech and creative expression. As the leaders of incoming majority of the House of Representatives in the coming year, your job should be to work with the Senate and the White House to advance policies which will help Americans, not to chase political straw men at the behest of the Far Right. 

sign the petition

Incoming House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor have thrown the weight of government into efforts by the Religious Right to shut down an acclaimed art exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. The Hide/Seek exhibit explores evolving expressions of sexuality in art. The Religious Right — in this instance led by the always-hysterical Bill Donohue and his fringe Catholic League — and its allies in Congress have been quick to try to whip their base into a fervor over themes they didn’t even try to understand before condemning as “anti-Christian.”

Cantor ludicrously said the exhibit is an intentional attempt to offend Christians during the Christmas season. And Boehner, Cantor and other right-wing leaders have attacked the exhibit as a questionable use of taxpayer money, even though Smithsonian exhibits — including this one — are privately funded. They are now threatening to go after Smithsonian public funding and even to launch investigations into Smithsonian exhibits.

Tell the House Republican Leadership to stay out of the censorship game and to keep their hands off Smithsonian funding.

After you sign the petition to Reps. Boehner and Cantor, you’ll be asked to call the National Portrait Gallery and urge administrators there to stand strong against the Right in defense of free expression.

The Gallery was quick to cave on one piece of the Hide/Seek exhibit which was singled out by the Right: a video which included an 11-second segment depicting a Crucifix with ants crawling on it, a statement about the suffering of AIDS victims at the time the video was produced. The video, by the artist David Wojnarowicz, who himself died of AIDS in 1992, had been on display for a month without a single complaint from any museum attendees. The only complaints the Portrait Gallery received about the video or any parts of the exhibit were from Religious Right activists from around the country who had not actually seen the art. In a twist of sad irony, these activists were successful in getting the video taken down exactly one day before World AIDS Day. Hide/Seek is a courageous exhibit, but it’s an outrage that the Portrait Gallery would not show equal courage in defending the exhibit in its entirety against right-wing censorship.

We need to speak up to make sure that there are no more capitulations by the Smithsonian, and to make sure that Republican congressional leaders don’t get away with their ridiculous political pandering to the radical Religious Right.

Please add your voice to the growing chorus of Americans who are speaking out against this latest right-wing attack.

Reps. Boehner and Cantor, along with virtually ever other congressional Republican leader, are working hard to block all business on Capitol Hill… holding the country hostage by insisting that no much-needed measures be passed until the Bush tax cuts are extended for the richest 2% of Americans… and all the while attacking the president for not doing enough to create jobs. Yet THIS is how they want to spend their time and taxpayer dollars — kowtowing to right-wing zealots like Bill Donohue by attacking the arts and investigating museums.

Shame on them.

Sincerely,

Michael B. Keegan signature

Michael Keegan, President