Monthly Archives: January 2011

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Call Sens. Cantwell and Murray: Jimmy would be proud


The Senate is getting ready to vote on a crucial reform to end the abuse of stalling tactics in Washington. So we need to make sure our senators hear right away how important this reform is to voters at home. Can you call Sens. Cantwell and Murray today and ask them to support rules reform and end the abuse of filibusters?

Senator Maria Cantwell
Phone: 202-224-3441

Senator Patty Murray
Phone: 202-224-2621


Remember when Jimmy Stewart takes the Senate floor in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington“ and refuses to cede it until he’s made his point? That’s how filibusters are supposed to work: A principled senator would stand up in the light of day to stop the majority from doing something bad.

These days, though, filibusters—the procedure that the minority party in the Senate uses to block a majority favored bill—don’t work that way. All it takes is one anonymous objection from a single senator to trigger a filibuster. In fact, in the 1960s, only 8% of all bills were blocked by a filibuster—but since 2006 that has ballooned to more than 70%.1

Now, Senators Tom Udall and Jeff Merkley are pushing for rule changes that would end the abuse of the filibuster. Those changes could come up for a vote as soon as this week. So we need to speak out right away to show how important this reform is to voters at home. Can you call Sens. Cantwell and Murray and ask them to support rules reform to end abuse of the filibuster?

Here’s where to call:

Senator Maria Cantwell
Phone: 202-224-3441

Senator Patty Murray
Phone: 202-224-2621

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSWA_2.FSWA_1&cp_id=1515&id=25709-9640874-OU6kWHx&t=3

This vote is not about ending the filibuster or crushing minority rights in government. It’s about returning our government to a more democratic and transparent process.

In the last two Congressional terms Democrats have had to overcome more than 275 filibusters—the most in history.2

Here’s what the New York Times says is on the table for rules reform:3

“No lazy filibusters. At least 10 senators would have to file a filibuster petition, and members would have to speak continuously on the floor to keep the filibuster going. To ensure the seriousness of the attempt, the requirements would grow each day: five senators would have to hold the floor for the first day, 10 the second day, etc. Those conducting the filibuster would thus have to make their case on camera. (A cloture vote of 60 senators would still be required to break the blockade.)

“Fewer bites of the apple. Republicans now routinely filibuster not only the final vote on a bill, but the initial motion to even debate it, as well as amendments and votes on conference committees. Breaking each of these filibusters adds days or weeks to every bill. The plan would limit filibusters to the actual passage of a bill.

“Minority amendments. Harry Reid, the majority leader, frequently prevents Republicans from offering amendments because he fears they will lead to more opportunities to filibuster. Republicans say they mount filibusters because they are precluded from offering amendments. This situation would be resolved by allowing a fixed number of amendments from each side on a bill, followed by a fixed amount of debate on each one.”

Please call Sens. Cantwell and Murray today and ask them to support rules reform to end abuse of the filibuster.

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Michael, Ilyse, Peter, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. “A nuclear Senate,” Los Angeles Times, December 28, 2010 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205631&id=25709-9640874-OU6kWHx&t=4

2. Reform and the Filibuster, New York Times, January 2, 2011 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205632&id=25709-9640874-OU6kWHx&t=5

3. Reform and the Filibuster, New York Times, January 2, 2011 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205632&id=25709-9640874-OU6kWHx&t=6

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wicked Wednesday &some News …


The New Republican members Congress, dang not even the old Republicans have talked about jobs, jobs, jobs seriously since the midterm elections placed them in the Majority in the House of Republicans.

So, is anyone else wondering when we all will be outraged enough to march on the Republican Tea Party because I sure am. The idea that there will be investigations of every nook and cranny especially if Obama had a hand in it sounds very expensive and though no cost estimates have been given spending money on trying to prove something or someone is guilty instead using that money to create jobs is outrageous.  There will be new rules coming from the Republican Tea Party to be listed and rumors that they will vote against raising the Debt Ceiling and we may default on and could cause all kinds of issues

I am outraged that these people want to repeal and or privatize health care let alone what Republicans call Obamacare, which stands to save elder people, those with children under the age of 26 can stay on their parents health care while in College and if you have a pre-existing condition and you are a woman  …we are considered a pre-existing condition.  Though we all know the Senate will not repeal the new health care law the fact is repealing it would leave a lot of women with diseases at risk.  I hope everyone is listening to what the Republican Tea Party is saying but unlikely to carry out … Lindsey Graham stated that if President Obama comes our way we will compromise? why would people vote for these people.  John Boehner said, “That he is going to do whatever it takes to see that as he calls it Obamacare never gets implemented. I want everyone to watch listen and be aware that Mitt Romney created and implemented Universal Health Care in his own state of Massachusetts while telling Americans that we do not deserve it with a vote of no on the floor of Congress and while he has not said much watch to see if he has the courage to say repeal Obamacare when it is actually based on what his constituents have.  While Republican Tea Party members of Congress try to repeal our new health care law Paul Ryan wants to Privatize Social Security, Medicare and Darryl Issa along with Michele Bachmann will start investigating everything in sight especially if it is related to Obama because like the old Congress …the Republicans of 111th had a goal – to ruin his Presidency and the new 112th Republican Congress will try but as Margaret Mead said …

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

It is time for the Democratic Party to Unite if not to protect everything that was accomplished over the last two years …to protect Americans from the hands of a Political Party, Republican Tea members that have a family values platform that will force their ideologies on the rest of us telling us what we can do or not.   I want to know if anyone else thinks that is big Government at play.

Other News …

**President Obama signs the 9/11 healthcare bill

**Chris Christie still defending his vacation plans

**Flooding in Austrlia

**Cuomo plans to freeze state worker pay for a yr

**Debt limit fight is a sure thing

**Republican Tea Party promise to cut and investigate

**Seahawks win playoff bid

**Zsa zsa has to have a leg amputation

**Issa reveals his hit list -wikileaks, Afghanistan, fannie mae/freddie mac, FDA, President Obama, Financial crisis inquiry commission, the New Black Panther group?,

**Packers stay in the game and gain playoff berth

**Kent company recalls sprouts

**Tribal police,FBI and investigate shooting on Swinomish Reservation

CSPAN …

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CONGRESS: House GOP Ushers In Corporate Takeover


Today, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)   will accept the House Speaker’s gavel from Democratic Party leader Nancy Pelosi (CA), marking the start of the 112th Congress and at least two years of Republican rule in the lower chamber. But while the GOP campaigned on a promise to govern on behalf of the American people, the reality is that not only did a top lobbyist  help write the Party’s campaign pledge, but its agenda will also be heavily influenced by big corporate interests — and it starts at the top. Long before Republicans won control of the House last November, Boehner invited “senior Republican lobbyists and top officials from several large trade groups” to his office to discuss “their suggestions for a new GOP agenda.” As the New York Times reported last September, “that sort of alliance” with top corporate lobbyists “is business as usual” for Boehner, who “maintains especially tight ties with a circle of lobbyists and former aides representing some of the nation’s biggest businesses, including Goldman Sachs, Google, Citigroup, R. J. Reynolds, MillerCoors and UPS.” And the big business lobbyist tentacles stretch beyond Boehner throughout the power centers of his Party, representing a new corporate takeover of the House.

THE CORPORATE CHAIRMEN:  Just after the GOP won control of the House in last November’s midterms, the Center for Public integrity  released a report examining the likely incoming chairmen of various House committees and found that they “have deep ties to the business community or the industries they will soon oversee.” For example, incoming committee and subcommittee chairs Reps. Bill Young (FL), Howard McKeon (CA), John Mica (FL), Doc Hastings (WA), and Spencer Bachus (AL) all have either received substantial contributions from the industries that their committees oversee, or have former staff members lobbying for those same businesses. Bachus, the new Financial Services Committee chairman, even said last month that the government’s role isn’t to protect consumers but to “serve the banks.”   Now, House Republicans are  turning to their business allies for advice on regulations. Incoming Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) wrote to 150 trade associations, companies and think tanks asking them to identify which government regulations interfere with business the most. “In fiscal year 2010, federal agencies promulgated 43 major new regulations,” the California congressman wrote. “As a trade organization comprised of members that must comply with the regulatory state, I ask for your assistance in identifying existing and proposed regulations that have negatively impacted job growth in your members’ industry.”

INCOMING CORPORATE STAFFERS:  The Washington Post  reported last month that many of the incoming GOP members of Congress, several of whom had “won with strong support from the anti-establishment tea party movement,” have “hired registered lobbyists as senior aides.” At least 13 incoming GOP freshmen, including  eight new House members, have hired industry lobbyists from the country’s biggest lobbying firms, as well as insiders who previously advocated on behalf of U.S. corporate giants such American Electric Power, Duke Energy, and 3M, the nation’s largest banks, and Koch Industries, the conglomerate owned by right-wing philanthropists Charles and David Koch. Moreover, Republicans aren’t even trying to hide it. “I don’t share the disdain for lobbyists that seems to be often in the public venue,” said Rep. John Campbell (R-CA) last month  defending the new hires. “You want someone with experience,” he said.

BUSINESS AS USUAL:  Incoming freshmen aren’t the only ones turning to K Street for help running the new GOP-led House. Boehner   announced last month that “he hired the medical device industry’s chief lobbyist as his policy director,” a move Sunlight Foundation spokesperson Bill Allison called “business as usual,” adding that the new staffer, Brett Loper, is “in a much better position to help his old employer” — the Advanced Medical Technology Association. New Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK)  announced last month that he hired a U.S. Chamber of Commerce lobbyist who helped water down new Wall Street regulations last year as a senior staffer to oversee the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The Chamber led the fight last year to defeat Wall Street reform efforts and this particular lobbyist, Ryan McKee, made clear at the time what her intentions were. “We’re fundamentally  trying to kill this,” she said. It appears the nation’s largest banking trade association — the American Bankers Association (ABA) — is excited about its prospects in the 112th Congress. “We had been disappointed with a number of legislative outcomes with the past Congress, and so  we look forward to better outcomes with this Congress,” an ABA spokesperson said after the GOP midterm victories.

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Hold Republicans accountable for their health care repeal vote.


 

CREDO Action | more than a network. a movement.
Make Republicans own their opposition to popular health care reforms.

Tell Dems: Use the repeal vote to send a strong message.
Take action!
Clicking the text below will add your name to this petition to your Democratic Representative.

The health care repeal vote is an important opportunity to frame Republican extremism and opposition to popular health care reforms.

Please fight this repeal effort and force Republicans to go on the record against reforms that help millions of Americans.

Click to sign.

Click here to add your name

In a tip of the hat to radical Tea Party extremists who helped elect them, Republicans in the House will vote next Wednesday to repeal President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

This symbolic vote has virtually zero chance of success, as it is unlikely to pass in the Senate. And even if it does, there’s no way Republicans could overcome Obama’s veto.

House Democrats should use this opportunity to send a strong message.

Click here to automatically sign the petition asking your representative to fight the health care repeal effort and force Republicans to publicly oppose popular reform provisions.

If Dems fight back fiercely against this inane repeal vote, they can force Republicans to publicly oppose the bill’s broadly popular reforms. Republicans who support repeal should be forced to vote in favor of denying insurance to children with pre-existing conditions or expanding health care coverage for young adults.

Republicans are already trying to shut down debate, and prevent Democrats from offering amendments to protect popular provisions of the bill. Republicans used such amendments successfully when they were in the minority, and now Democrats should follow suit and do everything they can to force Republicans to take painful votes.

At CREDO, we worked hard for a stronger health care bill and fought to the end for the public option. Our position has always been in favor of single payer health care and our members were deeply disappointed when Democrats caved on the public option, essentially compromising on a position which was already a compromise.

But repealing the bill won’t do anything to make it stronger — in fact it will reverse provisions that help tens of millions of Americans get affordable health insurance. And it will actually increase the size of the deficit.

If Dems fight back, they can seize the opportunity they failed to embrace before — clearly and powerfully framing this issue, as, in the words of Rep. Anthony Weiner:

“Republicans are against a lot of things, but they are for kicking young Americans off their parents’ insurance plans, for reinstating copayments for preventive measures like cancer screenings, and for denying children coverage based on preexisting conditions.”1

If Republicans want shine a spotlight on their rejection of these popular health care reforms in order to pledge allegiance to Tea Party extremism (to say nothing of Big Pharma and the health insurance giants who would profit from repeal), that’s their problem — or it will be, if we make sure our Democratic representatives stand up and fight back against the health care repeal vote next Wednesday.

Click here to automatically sign the petition asking your representative to fight the health care repeal effort and force Republicans to publicly oppose popular reform provisions.

Thank you for fighting for affordable health care.

Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

1 The Washington Post, January, 3, 2011