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Congress has a plan to change the Internet forever. A bill they’re debating right now would give the government power to shut down whole websites, and even let corporations say which websites should be shut down. That means a huge corporation could have any website even suspected of violating a copyright shut down — no questions asked. The government could then completely block all access to sites as big as Facebook or YouTube if one person posts one thing on those websites that corporations don’t want online. Most major entertainment companies have come out in support of the bill, but despite swirling rumors, the huge video-gaming company Electronic Arts (EA) has yet to take an official stance. However, EA is part of the Entertainment Software Association, one of the big corporate lobbyists for the bill to censor the Internet — meaning that if EA came out against the bill, that would be a serious blow to the people trying to get it passed. Shashank Kasturirangan is a student at NYU who’s a huge fan of gaming — including EA’s games — but he can’t believe that EA would want to mess with the Internet. Shashank started a petition on Change.org calling on Electronic Arts to stop lobbying for Congress’s plan to censor the Internet and come out against the bill. Click here to add your name to his petition. The Internet censorship bill is particularly dangerous, according to advocates, because it would enable the government to set up the same type of tools to block online content that are used in repressive regimes around the world, like China, Iran, and Syria. For the first time, corporations and the government would be able to say what’s acceptable to put on the Internet. While some companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter have come out against the bill, big movie studios, record companies, and their corporate lobbyists like the Entertainment Software Association are pushing Congress hard to pass Internet censorship. Electronic Arts has millions of customers around the world playing video games like Madden 2012, The Sims, and Scrabble, and they care deeply about what the public thinks about their company. If enough people call on EA to oppose the plan to censor the Internet, they will be forced to come out against the bill. And if EA backs off, other companies that haven’t yet taken a position will certainly think twice before supporting Congress’s plan to censor the Internet. Thanks for being a change-maker, – Jess and the Change.org team |
Daily Archives: 01/13/2012
AFL – CIO … Is Newt Gingrich right?
| “You have to ask the question: Is capitalism really about the ability of a handful of rich people to manipulate the lives of thousands of people and walk off with the money, or is that in fact a little bit of a flawed system?” —Newt GingrichHere are words you won’t hear from me very often: I agree with Newt Gingrich.As Mr. Gingrich recently pointed out, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney “looted” companies, leaving behind “broken families and broken neighborhoods.” That’s not the kind of capitalism that built America.If you agree that job creation is a critical part of capitalism—and that unions are a critical voice to stop job-killers like Mitt Romney from taking over our democracy—then sign our petition. While I agree with Mr. Gingrich’s point about the kind of capitalism that works for working people, it’s unfortunate that both Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Romney are on the wrong side of most issues that matter to working people. For example, they are both on record in support of so-called “right to work” legislation, like the bill that’s being considered in Indiana. This misnamed bill has nothing to do with “rights”—and it has terrible consequences for people’s work. If “right to work” passes, Indiana’s unions no longer will stand between corporate raiders like Mitt Romney and many of the workers they like to fire to boost short-term profits. And it will become much harder for everyday workers to improve their wages, benefits and retirement security. America wants to work—and it is politics as usual, not economic obstacles, standing in the way of putting people back to work. With your help, while the federal government is stalled and caught up in an election-year circus, we’ll focus on a job-creating agenda in statehouses around the country. Our priorities include:
Thank you for all the work you do. In Solidarity, Richard L. Trumka |
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Congress: pro forma ? or just a cover for vacay … ask your Republican member of Congresss
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 11:00am
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 9:30am
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 12:00pm
Friday, December 30, 2011 at 11:00am
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 12:00pm, during which the 2nd Session of the 112th Congress will convene
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 11:00am
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 11:00am
Friday, January 13, 2012 at 12:00pm
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 10:15am
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 2:00pm
When the Senate adjourns on Friday, January 20th, it will adjourn until Monday, January 23rd at 2:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #438, John M. Gerrard, of Nebraska, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska with up to 90 minutes of debate, 60 minutes equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley, or their designees and 30 minutes under the control of Senator Sessions or his designee.
Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Gerrard nomination.
As a reminder to all Senators, cloture was filed on the Reid motion to proceed to Calendar #70, S.968, a bill to prevent online threats to economic creativity and theft of intellectual property and for other purposes on Saturday, December 17th. By unanimous consent, this roll call vote will be at 2:15pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.
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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JANUARY 13, 2012
112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION
-The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to pursuant to section 4(c) of H. Res. 493.
The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on January 17, 2012.11:05:32 A.M
. -ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CHAIR – Pursuant to section 4(a) of H. Res. 493, 112th Congress, the Chair announced that no organizational or legislative business will be conducted on this day.11:05:08 A.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 a message from the Secretary of the Senate on January 3, 2012 at 1:02 p.m. stating that that body insisted on its amendments to H.R. 3630 and agreed to a conference asked by the House.11:04:41 A.M. -The House received a communication from Patrick Hirsch, Director, House Recording Studio. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House, Mr. Hirsch notified the House that he had received a subpoena for testimony issued by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in connection with a misdemeanor case now pending before that court and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he had determined that he would comply with the subpoena to the extent that it is consistent with Rule VIII.11:04:08 A.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 a message from the Secretary of the Senate on January 3, 2012 at 1:02 p.m. stating that pursuant to the order of December 23, 2011, that body had appointed conferees for H.R. 3630.11:03:24 A.M. -The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting certification that the debt subject to limit is within $100,000,000,000 of the limit in 31 U.S.C. 3101(b) and that further borrowing would be required to meet existing commitments. – referred to the Committee onWays and Means and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-81). Doc. 112-81).11:03:05 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Moran to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.11:02:43 A.M. -JOURNAL APPROVED – The Chair announced that pursuant to section 4(b) of H. Res. 493, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.11:01:45 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.11:01:25 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.11:00:00 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
Be a Seed for Change 
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