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Pop quiz … by Brad Woodhouse

01/26/2012 Nativegrl77

Pop quiz. Which of the following excuses has Mitt used as he’s tried to release as little of his tax returns as possible?

A. I’m waiting until I’m elected president
B. My accountant isn’t available to release them
C. It’s not about my tax rate, it’s about the tax rate of the American people
D. “I want to make sure I beat Barack Obama”

If you guessed all of the above, you’re correct. Yesterday, Mitt dropped the excuses long enough to release one year’s worth. One year.

And he chose to release his tax returns on the same day President Obama gave the State of the Union and made the case for the Buffett Rule, which asks millionaires like Mitt to pay their fair share. The choice in this election couldn’t be clearer.

We think everyone should pay their fair share, including Mitt, and we don’t buy that one year of returns tells the whole story. It’s time for him to level with the American people.

Sign the petition to tell Mitt to release the rest of his tax returns.

http://my.democrats.org/No-More-Excuses

You see, Mitt doesn’t think there’s a problem with what he pays, despite the fact that his disclosure yesterday revealed a previously hidden Swiss bank account that was shut down in 2010 after an adviser reportedly realized it was politically problematic.

Between the old Swiss bank account, the Cayman Islands investments, and other tax-minimizing tactics, he paid just 13.9 percent on the $22 million he made in 2010 — about half the rate most middle-class Americans pay. And under the tax plan he’d put in place as president, he’d pay even less.

But here’s the thing: We still don’t know what tax rate he’s paid in past years, or if he’s used tax loopholes that are only for the very wealthy, because he won’t share any more of his returns.

When Mitt’s own father, George Romney, ran for president in 1967, he released 12 years of returns, saying “One year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show.”

American voters deserve to know how he makes his money, where he invests it, and the larger story that tells about his values.

Tell Mitt it’s time to step up and release the rest of his tax returns:

http://my.democrats.org/No-More-Excuses

Thanks,

Brad

Brad Woodhouse
Communications Director
Democratic National Committee

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A Kitchen Table Conversation with those Struggling to Find Work

01/26/2012 Nativegrl77

This month, while the Senate was in recess, I spent time traveling around the state listening to constituents talk about what matters most to them. Two weeks ago, I had the great honor of being hosted at the homes of two local families, one in Seattle and one in Marysville, for an opportunity to talk one on one with constituents around their kitchen table about the issues facing the unemployed. I heard from constituents like Natalie Simmons, a community college professor who talked about how critical unemployment insurance is for students in her job re-training program. Ms. Simmons has seen good students drop out of these training programs when their benefits ran out. I also heard from a constituent who relies on her unemployment insurance to pay for necessary health care treatment. It is stories like these that I take back to Washington, D.C. with me as I continue to fight to provide critical supports for middle class families through the end of the year. I will continue to stress the need to make sure unemployment benefits are continued for workers fighting to get back on the job in this tough economy.

“Jobless tell Murray of struggles getting by” – The Seattle Times

“Sen. Murray meets in Marysville with families to discuss aid for unemployed”
– The Seattle Times

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Fairchild First in Spokane

Two weeks ago, I joined Senator Cantwell, members of the Spokane community, and elected officials at Greater Spokane Incorporated to kickoff “ Fairchild First”, a statewide initiative to ensure that Fairchild Air Force Base becomes an early home to the next generation of aerial refueling tankers. I spoke about the important work that’s being done at Fairchild – both for the local community and for our nation’s national security. Fairchild has so much to offer the new fleet, and I look forward to continuing to engage the military throughout this process to ensure that Fairchild is considered.

“Campaign begins to land new tankers at Fairchild” – The Spokesman Review

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Roundtable with Local Superintendents in Yakima, Early Learning Programs in Bremerton

I traveled to Yakima to tour Adams Elementary School and host a roundtable discussion with superintendents and other education stakeholders on local challenges and to discuss my ongoing efforts to reform and reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to benefit schools throughout Washington state and nationwide. I will use the stories and suggestions I heard at Adams Elementary to bring local concerns to Washington, D.C, as I continue to work to reform the No Child Left Behind Act.

“Senator Patty Murray talks education reform with educators” – KAPP TV

“Sen. Murray in Yakima to talk with educators” – KNDO

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During the recess, I also traveled to Bremerton for a tour of Navel Avenue Early Learning Center, to host a second roundtable with educators, education advocates, and parents to highlight our state’s strong early learning programs and the recent Race to the Top grant award, which I fought for on behalf of early learning in the ESEA reauthorization.

“Senator Patty Murray talks education reform with educators” – KAPP TV

“Sen. Murray in Yakima to talk with educators” – KNDO

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Hearing from Veterans in Yakima

While I was in Yakima, I also had the opportunity to host a roundtable discussion with local veterans. It was a great chance to hear firsthand stories and concerns from our nation’s heroes. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I will continue to work on behalf of these brave men and women, to make sure they are getting the care they deserve after serving our country.

“U.S. Sen. Patty Murray visits Yakima veterans, educators” – Yakima Herald

“Senator Patty Murray listens to veterans’ concerns” – KAPP TV

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Toys R Us: Does Your Cotton Come From Child Laborers?

01/26/2012 Nativegrl77

Hi Carmen,Toys ‘R’ Us is a kid’s playground. But sadly, it could be enabling the government of Uzbekistan to strip the childhoods of its kids by making them pick the cottonthat makes it into toys and clothes.Tell Toys ‘R’ Us to only use responsibly sourced cotton »

Uzbekistan is the third largest cotton exporter in the world. But instead of using machinery to harvest the cotton, the government forces tens of thousands of children to leave school for the cotton fields every year. For their back-breaking labor they get a pittance of pay while the government pockets most of the profits.

More than 70 of the world’s largest retail and apparel brands have taken a stand against child and slave labor by enacting policies to prohibit the use of Uzbekistan cotton in their products. But Toys ‘R’ Us not only has no such policy, it hasn’t even addressed the issue.

One child shouldn’t have to suffer factory work so another can get a teddy bear or a new outfit. Urge Toys ‘R’ Us to ban suppliers from sourcing Uzbek cotton to help end child labor »

Thanks for taking action!Emily V.
Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team

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The President Said It. Now, Tell Congress to Do It … Joan Entmacher, National Women’s Law Center

01/26/2012 Nativegrl77

Tell Congress: Make Millionaires and Corporations Pay Their Fair Share

In his State of the Union address, President Obama emphasized a vital point: that unfair, and even counter-productive, tax breaks for corporations and the very wealthy shortchange needed investments for women and their families.

Instead of showering tax breaks on the wealthy, the oil and gas industry and on corporations that ship American jobs overseas, Congress needs to:

Protect vital programs: Women and their families depend on federal programs to protect their health, get quality child care, attend college, and meet their basic needs during difficult times and as they age. We need to protect vital programs like Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, child care, Head Start, and Food Stamps (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

Create jobs: Unemployment remains painfully high, and while job growth has started to pick up, millions of women and men are still struggling to find jobs. We must extend federal emergency unemployment benefits to help people who are hurting now and invest in programs that put women and men back to work.

Middle-class and low-income families have already sacrificed enough. Budget deals have already scheduled $2 trillion in cuts to federal programs over the next decade that are important to everyday Americans. But they don’t touch a penny of the tax breaks enjoyed by millionaire CEOs and booming industries like Big Oil. Congress should close tax loopholes and require millionaires, billionaires and large corporations to contribute to getting our economy back on track.

Tell your Members of Congress to make millionaires and corporations pay their fair share, to protect vital programs and to create jobs for the millions of struggling Americans who need them.

Thank you for your help today, and for everything you do to help women and their families.

Sincerely,

Joan Entmacher
Vice President, Family Economic Security
National Women’s Law Center

Black History

Congress: Republican led House back 1/27 – the Senate debates/votes on HJ.Res.98,joint resolution to disapproval of the President’s authority

01/26/2012 Nativegrl77

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/hub.1326407570.html

The Senate Convened at 9:30am ET January 26, 2012

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will begin consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar #294, H.J.Res.98, a joint resolution relating to the disapproval of the President’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit with the time until 12:00pm equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

At 9:55am, the Senate began consideration of the motion to proceed to H.J.Res.98, a joint resolution relating to the disapproval of the President’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit, with the time until 12 noon equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. At 12:00 noon, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on adoption of the motion to proceed.

11:57am The Senate began a roll call vote on the McConnell motion to proceed to H.J.Res.98, a joint resolution relating to the disapproval of the President’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit

At 12:00pm, the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to H.J.Res.98 (majority threshold).

During Thursday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to Calendar #301, S.2038, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act.

By unanimous consent, the roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2038 will be at 5:30pm on Monday, January 30, 2012.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) On the McConnell motion to proceed to H.J.Res.98, a joint resolution relating to the disapproval of the President’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit; Not Agreed to: 44-52

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed S.3800, Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2012 (through February 17, 2012).

Passed S.3801, Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2012.

Passed S.2039, a bill to allow a state or local government to construct levees on certain properties otherwise designated as open space lands with a Boxer substitute amendment.

Adopted S.Res.355, honoring the memory of Special Agent Jared Francom of the Ogden, Utah Police Department.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on January 27, 2012.