Tonight, President Obama will address Congress and the nation when he gives his State of the Union address. His speech will lay out his vision for the next year, but he may not address the issues most important to you.

Good news: This year, Change.org members have an opportunity to ask President Obama our own questions, courtesy of YouTube.

On Thursday, President Obama will give a national interview on YouTube, and instead of letting the White House press corps have all the fun, you can ask your own questions. Concerned about health care? Focused on the environment? How about education, the economy, or foreign policy? This is your chance to spotlight the issue closest to your heart.

Upload a video with your question today at:

http://www.youtube.com/askobama

Community voting will help determine which questions get asked. Here are a few tips to increase the chances that your question will be chosen:

Your video should be no longer than twenty seconds, and you should ask your question as directly as possible.

Speak clearly and try to film in a place with minimal background noise. Try to keep the camera as still as possible.

Feel free to be creative (use props, charts, etc.) to help your question stand out.

An interesting backdrop may help reinforce your message –– for example, if you’re asking a question about education, you could be inside a classroom, or if you want to talk about the environment, find your favorite place outdoors.

The deadline to submit your question is Wednesday night at midnight Eastern Time. So get cracking, and we hope to see your question on President Obama’s national webcast!

Click here to submit your question via YouTube today:

http://www.youtube.com/askobama

Thanks for asking the questions that matter,

Patrick and the Change.org Team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Defend Health Care Victory

01/25/2011 Nativegrl77

On the House Floor Tuesday, I described a new drinking game. Every time the Republicans say something that’s just not true, take a swig.

The problem is, we’d all end up in the hospital in about 15 minutes.

All kidding aside, Republicans made good on their promise to repeal health care, but in the process they laid bare a political strategy that is frankly insulting to you and all Americans.

Make stuff up.

The “We Don’t Mean It” strategy: defending parts of the bill they are repealing.

Boogeymen: “Socialized medicine! Government takeover!”

This is the best they can do?

Nearly every Dem voted against the cynical Republican stunt, but that won’t stop them from trying again.

I need your immediate support to preserve our health care victory. Republicans depend on the corporate special interests, but I depend on you.

Click here http://www.anthonyweiner.com/ to rush $5 or more to my campaign. It’s the only way I can stay in this fight to defend our health care.

A majority of Americans support the bill, and even more will come to our side when they understand the facts, find out the “We don’t mean it” strategy is a lie, and discover the Republican health care boogeyman isn’t real.

What Americans really want is to implement and improve this law. I’m relying on you to give me the resources I need to lead that charge.

Click here http://www.anthonyweiner.com/ to rush $5 or more to my campaign. It’s the only way I can stay in this fight to defend our health care.

Anthony

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Help Fill a Stadium: AFL – CIO 2/5

01/25/2011 Nativegrl77

When the NFL Players Association (NFLPA)—the AFL-CIO union that represents all professional football players, past and present—suggested a plan for the labor movement to fill a football stadium with unemployed workers, members of the military and children, I got really excited and pledged our support right away.

What could be better than giving the gift of football to folks who may not be able to afford to go to a game while times are tough?

We’d like your help to fill a football stadium with unemployed workers, members of the military and children for the NFLPA Texas vs. The Nation game.

This very special game attracts hundreds of NFL scouts and personnel. It features draft-eligible college seniors who are poised to be our next professional players.

Each ticket to the game costs $10 to buy. But the NFLPA has generously agreed to match 100 percent of our donations. Thanks to this match, every $10 you donate will buy TWO tickets for unemployed workers, military veterans and children.

Please pitch in $10, $20 or $40—and give the gift of two, four or eight football tickets to unemployed workers, members of the armed services and children.

If you can make it to San Antonio, for the game, you also can buy tickets to attend the game yourself.

This is going to be a great game featuring the football stars of tomorrow. Top college seniors with ties to the state of Texas will take on top seniors from across the nation. The five-year-old all-star game is making its debut in San Antonio this year, after previous games in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

We’ve been talking to local nonprofits—and they’re really excited about your support. Military bases are already on board, too. But we need you. If the union movement is going to fill the stadium in San Antonio, it’s going to take thousands of small donations.

It takes only 30 seconds of your time and as little as $10 to help.

Please donate a ticket or two—and have your donation doubled—so San Antonio football fans who are unemployed, and others who can’t afford to come, can attend.

The AFL-CIO and the NFLPA are hosting a special football game in San Antonio. Can you make a small donation to help fill the stadium with unemployed workers, military veterans and children? Click on link below …

http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=3KsQnNNHbmQ8TPTZyJhYTH2Wytbgu75H

Donate a ticket for just $10 and the NFLPA will match that donation—so you’ll make it possible for TWO unemployed workers, military members or children to attend the game.

If you can make it to the game in San Antonio on Feb. 5, even better. Learn more and buy tickets. http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=TTP2MZFya3nsSUuWKUeP3H2Wytbgu75H

In solidarity,

Manny Herrmann

Online Mobilization Coordinator, AFL-CIO

P.S. If you’re interested in attending the game yourself, click here to learn more and click here to buy a ticket

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Congress – both Chambers back in Session … observe total hrs spent in the Republican led House of Representatives

01/25/2011 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes at 10:00amET January 25, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

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

Roll call votes are possible during Tuesday’s session. Senators will be notified when any votes scheduled.

The Senate is in recess until 8:30pm.

Senators are asked to gather in the Senate chamber at 8:30pm and at 8:40pm proceed as a body to the Hall of the House of Representative for President Obama’s State of the Union address.

Upon dissolution of the joint session, the Senate will adjourn until 9:30am on Wednesday, January 26.

Unanimous Consent:

Adopted H.Con.Res.10 >> http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:H.Con.Res.10 : providing for a joint session of Congress to receive a message from the President.

Adopted S.Con.Res3 >> http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:S.Con.Res3 :concurrent resolution honoring the service and sacrifice of Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta, a native of Hiawatha, Iowa, and the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.

———————————————————————————-

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JANUARY 25, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

8:36 P.M. –

JOINT SESSION – The House convened in Joint Session with the Senate for the purpose of receiving an address from the President of the United States on the subject of the state of the Union.

8:35 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of January 25.

2:33 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 8:35 P.M. today for the purpose of receiving in a joint session with the Senate the President of the United States.

2:31 P.M. –

The House received a communication from Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader. Pursuant to Section 114(b) of the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development Act (2 U.S.C. 1103), Ms. Pelosi appointed the Honorable Terri A. Sewell of Alabama to the Board of Trustees for the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development for a term of six years

2:30 P.M. –

Ms. Foxx filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 54.

H. Res. 49:

providing Capitol-flown flags for recipients of the Medal of Honor

2:29 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): 424 – 0 (Roll no. 21).

2:22 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

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

H. Res. 38:

to reduce spending through a transition to non-security spending at fiscal year 2008 levels

2:21 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 agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 256 – 165 (Roll no. 20).

2:13 P.M. –

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 184 – 242, 1 Present (Roll no. 19).

1:49 P.M. –

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

1:48 P.M. –

Mr. Bishop (NY) moved to recommit with instructions to Rules.

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

12:42 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 38.

Rule provides for consideration of H. Res. 38 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The resolution provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Rules shall be considered as adopted. All points of order against consideration of the resolution are waived.

12:41 P.M. –

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 43.

H.R. 366:

to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and for other purposes

12:39 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.

12:35 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 366.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Graves (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H. Res. 53:

electing certain Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives

12:33 P.M. –

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 49:

providing Capitol-flown flags for recipients of the Medal of Honor

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.

12:18 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 49.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

12:17 P.M. –

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

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on January 25, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. stating that that body had agreed to H.Con.Res. 10 without amendment.

12:03 P.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.

H. Res. 52:

electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives

12:02 P.M. –

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

Considered as privileged matter.

12:01 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Poe of TX 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.

12:00 P.M. –

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

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of January 25.

10:33 A.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

10:01 A.M. –

MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

10:00 A.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Tom McClintock to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.