It began on Wall Street
and now has spread to hundreds of cities around the country. The Occupy Wall Street movement gives voice to the anger of families and small businesses struggling to make ends meet while the richest 1% cut corners, cut jobs and raise prices. Health care activists know that the health insurers are some of Wall Street’s greediest players.

HCAN‘s Ethan Rome has a new piece on the Huffington Post on the nationwide “Occupy” protests and the role of the health insurance companies in sabotaging
our economy:

“America’s families and small businesses are barely hanging on while
the Wall Street-run health insurance profit machines have been jacking
up rates and providing less care. That’s why it makes sense for Occupy
Wall Street protesters to occupy them as well.

Much has been said about the banks and credit card companies that are
headquartered on Wall Street. The health insurance companies’ relentless
pursuit of profit and callous disregard for people offers another
window into how big corporations have abused people and twisted the
economy to serve their own interests.

Health
insurance companies make excessive profits, hoard massive amounts of
cash, overcharge their customers and give their top executives obscene
paychecks.“

We’re
working to spread the word about Occupy Wall Street to fellow health
care activists. Act now and share Ethan’s piece with anyone who you
think needs to read more about health care and this important movement.

Our slogan from the health care reform fight is as true today as it was in 2009: “If the insurance companies win, we lose.”

Now is the time to spread the word.

In Solidarity,

Melinda Gibson

Health Care for America Now

P.S. You can read Ethan’s full post here.

P.P.S. Click here to find an Occupy Together event near you.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Coming to a store near you…rainforest destruction? Rolf Skar, Greenpeace

10/12/2011 Nativegrl77

Tell major U.S. retailers like Walmart and Kmart not to sell rainforest destruction by avoiding APP tissue products.

Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) has brought their Indonesian rainforest destruction to American shelves with their line of disposable paper products.

Take action and tell stores like Walmart and Kmart not to sell rainforest destuction by avoiding APP’s “Paseo” tissue products.

Walk into major U.S. retail stores and you may find a secret hiding on the shelves: rainforest destruction.

It could be there in plain sight, but Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) hopes you’ll never notice. The company — which is responsible for driving massive rainforest destruction in Indonesia — has begun stocking the shelves of U.S. stores with their own line of toilet paper and tissue products marketed under the brand name ‘Paseo’.

But these products aren’t like the others. Paseo products have no recycled content — they’re made of 100% virgin tree fiber. Worse, those trees come from pulpwood plantations that are eating into Indonesia’s rainforests and destroying the last Sumatran tiger habitat.

They’re wiping away rainforests for throw-away tissue.

APP has shown no signs of stopping. They’ll only change if they learn that rainforest destruction is bad for business. That is why Walmart, Kmart and other major retailers need to say “no” to selling Paseo tissue products until APP cleans up its act.

If 40,000 of us speak out in the next 72 hours we can really get their attention. Take action and tell major U.S. retailers like Walmart and Kmart: “Don’t sell rainforest destruction — don’t sell Paseo tissue products!”

APP says its Paseo products are ‘fully sustainable’ and ‘made in the USA.’ But what their packaging and advertising won’t tell you is that Paseo tissue products are made from wood fiber shipped from overseas linked to widespread rainforest destruction.

We need to put a stop to it, and fast.

With your help, we know it’s possible. Just last week, we announced that Mattel, the world’s largest toy maker, had agreed to drop business with forest destroyers like APP. Many other companies have done the same. Why? Because companies have heard from people like you that they can’t afford to look the other way when it comes to rainforest destruction.

Send a message right now to these retailers urging them to avoid business with notorious rainforest destroyer APP.

Asia Pulp & Paper needs the U.S. market to expand their business. So far they have shown no signs of stopping their destructive ways. But together we can change that.

For the forests,

Rolf Skar
Greenpeace Senior Forest Campaigner

P.S. To hit our goal of 40,000 signatures in the next 72 hours we are going to need everyone who cares about the future of our planet’s rainforests to speak up. Forward this message to anyone you know who wants to make sure the last 400 Sumatran tigers survive.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

From GALLUP.Com: Texas and Mass. Still at Health Coverage Extremes in U.S.

10/12/2011 Nativegrl77

Texas residents continue to be the most likely in the United States to lack health coverage, with 27.2% reporting being uninsured in the first half of 2011. At the other end of the spectrum is Massachusetts, where 5.3% of adults are uninsured.

www.GALLUP.com

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

a message from Ben Betz, People For the American Way

10/12/2011 Nativegrl77

This is outrageous. A corporate-backed right-wing group fighting to dismantle workers’ rights in Ohio hijacked the words and image of a great-grandmother who had filmed an ad for our allies, distorting her message and making it look like she supported their position against workers.

http://youtu.be/Fua8XliZk1Q

Cincinnati resident Marlene Quinn had filmed a TV ad for our friends at the “No on Issue 2” campaign — the campaign to repeal Senate Bill 5, Ohio’s version of the Wisconsin bill that stripped public workers of their collective bargaining rights. In the ad, she told the story of her grandson and great-granddaughter’s rescue by firefighters, and rightly made the case that passage of Issue 2 on the ballot this November, affirming SB 5, would lead to less firefighters there to protect Ohioans.

In a shockingly underhanded move, a leading right-wing group in the fight, Building a Better Ohio, stole the footage of Marlene for its own ad, and presented it in a way that made it look like Marlene was for Issue 2!

Ten Ohio TV stations have already pulled the ad and we’re going to keep the pressure on the rest until do too. Help us by joining our petition to Ohio TV stations now.

www.pfaw.org

In an email for our allies at the No on 2 campaign, Marlene said of the Right’s ad:

“It’s insulting to the brave firefighters who saved the life of my great-granddaughter. I’m outraged they are using my face and my words to push their harmful agenda. They certainly did not ask my permission. I feel violated.”

Watch a side-by-side video comparison of the two ads and sign our petition now.

We hope you’ll speak out against the Right’s latest dirty tactic, and then engage others to do the same.

Thank you for all your support and activism to fight the Right’s dirty tricks.

— Ben Betz, Online Strategy Manager

Black History

Congress: – the Republican led House strikes down EPA regulations that might keep your child safe – the Senate …debates/votes on trade agreements

10/12/2011 Nativegrl77

the Senate Convened at 10:00amET October, 12, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will begin consideration of
H.R.3080, United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, H.R.
3079, United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act and,
H.R.3078, United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act,
en bloc.
There will be 12 hours of debate, equally divided and controlled between the
two Leaders or their designees. Of the Majority time, Senator Baucus will
control 20 minutes, Senator Brown (OH) will control 1 hour and Senator Sanders
will control 1 hour. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will
proceed to vote on passage of the bills in the following order:
- H.R.3080, United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
- H.R. 3079, United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation
  Act and
- H.R.3078, United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation
  Act.
The Senate will recess from 12:30pm to 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus
meetings.
The Senate expects to complete action on the Free Trade Agreements during
Wednesday’s session.

By unanimous consent, all but 15 minutes of debate time has been yielded back
with respect to the Free Trade Agreements.

Therefore, at approximately 7:20pm today, the Senate will conduct 3 roll call
votes in relation to the following:

H.R.3080, United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act,
H.R. 3079, United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation
Act, and
H.R.3078, United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation
Act.

VOTES

7:17pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R.3080, the US-Korea
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; Passed: 83-15

7:46pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R.3079, the US-Panama
Trade Agreement Implementation Act; Passed: 77-22

8:05pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R.3078, the US-Colombia
Trade Agreement Implementation Act; Passed: 66-33

LEGISLATIVE
ITEMS

Discharged Banking and Adopted S.Res.270, supporting the goals and ideals of
“National Life Insurance Awareness Month”.

Adopted S.Res.292, designating the week beginning October 16^th as
“National Character Counts Week”.

No EXECUTIVE
ITEMS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF OCTOBER 12, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

-SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.6:47:09 P.M.

-H.R. 2250Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2250 as unfinished business.6:46:58 P.M.

-H.R. 2250On motion to rise Agreed to by voice vote.6:46:46 P.M.

-H.R. 2250Mr. Whitfield moved to rise.6:45:21 P.M. -H.R. 2250POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Cohen amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Cohen demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.6:38:46 P.M.

-H.R. 2250DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 419, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Cohen (TN) amendment No. 22 under the five-minute rule.6:38:22 P.M.

-H.R. 2250An amendment, offered by Mr. Cohen, numbered 22 printed in the Congressional Record to take into account the potential reductions in the number of illness-related absences from work due to respiratory or other illnesses when the EPA is setting compliance deadlines.6:37:30 P.M.

-H.R. 2250The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.6:37:14 P.M.

-H.R. 2250Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2250 — “To provide additional time for the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to issue achievable standards for industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers, process heaters, and incinerators, and for other purposes.”6:34:44 P.M. -Mr. Smith (TX) asked unanimous consent That when the House adjourns on Wednesday, October 12, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 13, 2011 for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.6:34:43 P.M.

-H.R. 2944Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:34:42 P.M.

-H.R. 2944On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.6:34:20 P.M.

-H.R. 2944Mr. Smith (TX) asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.6:32:56 P.M. -H.R. 2433Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:32:55 P.M.

-H.R. 2433On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 – 6 (Roll no. 785).6:26:21 P.M. -H.R. 2433Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2433 — “To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws relating to the employment and training of veterans, and for other purposes.”6:26:13 P.M.

-H.R. 2832Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:26:12 P.M.

-H.R. 2832On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 307 – 122 (Roll no. 784).6:16:32 P.M.

-H.R. 2832Considered as unfinished business.6:16:15 P.M.

-H.R. 3080Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:16:14 P.M.

-H.R. 3080On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 278 – 151 (Roll no. 783).6:09:34 P.M. -H.R. 3080Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3080 — “To implement the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement.”6:09:33 P.M.

-H.R. 3079Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:09:32 P.M.

-H.R. 3079On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 300 – 129 (Roll no. 782).6:02:55 P.M.

-H.R. 3079Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3079 — “To implement the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement.”6:02:55 P.M.

-H.R. 3078Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:02:54 P.M.

-H.R. 3078On passage Passed by recorded vote: 262 – 167 (Roll no. 781).5:56:49 P.M.

-H.R. 3078On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 192 – 236 (Roll no. 780).5:30:36 P.M.

-H.R. 3078The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.5:21:45 P.M.

-H.R. 3078DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Levin motion to recommit with instructions, pending reservation of a point of order. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House with amendments to add the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act as the new title to the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act. Subsequently, the reservation of a point of order was withdrawn.5:21:31 P.M.

-H.R. 3078Mr. Levin moved to recommit with instructions to Ways and Means.5:21:14 P.M.

-H.R. 3078Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3078 — “To implement the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.”5:20:00 P.M.

-H.R. 2832POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on concuring in the Senenat amendment to H.R. 2832, the Chair put the question on passage, and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. McDermott demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2332 pursuant to clause 8(a)(1)(A) of rule 20.4:42:16 P.M.

-H.R. 2832DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 425, the House proceeded with further debate on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2832.4:41:02 P.M

. -H.R. 3080POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 3080, the Chair put the question on passage, and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Levin demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of passage until a time to be announced.4:40:39 P.M.

-H.R. 3080The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.3:17:36 P.M.

-H.R. 3080DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 425, the House proceeded with further debate on H.R. 3080.3:17:23 P.M.

-H.R. 3080Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3080 — “To implement the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement.”3:17:03 P.M.

-H.R. 3079POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 3079, the Chair put the question on passage, and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed Mr. Brady (TX) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of passage until a time to be announced.3:16:28 P.M.

-H.R. 3079The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.2:03:22 P.M.

-H.R. 3079DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 425, the House proceeded with further debate on H.R. 3079.2:03:07 P.M.

-H.R. 3079Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3079 — “To implement the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement.”2:02:47 P.M.

-H.R. 3078Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule 19, further proceedings on H.R. 3078 were postponed.2:02:37 P.M.

-H.R. 3078The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.1:32:29 P.M.

-H.R. 3078DEBATE – The House resumed debate on H.R. 3078.1:31:36 P.M. -Ms. Foxx filed reports from the Committee on Rules, H. Res. 430 and H. Res. 431.12:38:52 P.M. -H.R. 3078DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 425, the House proceeded with further debate on H.R. 3078.12:38:40 P.M.

-H.R. 3078Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3078 — “To implement the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.”12:37:35 P.M.

-The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on October 12, 2011 at 9:11 a.m.: That the Senate passed S. 1619.12:03:23 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.12:02:59 P.M.

-PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Forbes to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.12:02:56 P.M.

-The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.12:01:17 P.M.

-Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.12:00:06 P.M.

-The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of October 12.11:14:57 A.M.

-The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.10:00:44 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.10:00:24 A.M.

-The Speaker designated the Honorable Kenny Marchant to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.10:00:09 A.M

. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.