Monthly Archives: March 2012

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Wisconsin update – almost there … Nick Passanante, Democracy for America


Wisconsin has been the front line in the War on Working Families for over a year now.

Right-wing Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was the first governor in the country to launch an attack on unions and middle class families last year. Republican governors across the country — in Indiana, Florida and Ohio — soon followed his lead.

This summer, we have the chance to end the War on Working Families in Wisconsin and recall Scott Walker. There are three Democrats running in the primary to beat Scott Walker and polls show all three are beating Walker or polling inside the margin of error.

We have the momentum in Wisconsin. We’re almost there in raising the money we need to win, but we still need to raise $27,683 by the end of the month to fully fund our Wisconsin recall campaign.

Can you chip in $10 to the DFA Wisconsin recall campaign right now?

We’re not just recalling Walker, either — we have the opportunity to recall four of his right-wing cronies in the State Senate, too.

These are the same right-wingers who voted lockstep on Walker’s agenda to smash unions and middle class families, defund Planned Parenthood and pass a harsh new voter ID law disenfranchising students, the elderly and the poor.

We can end the War on Working Families in Wisconsin and send a message to Republicans everywhere — attack working families and you will lose. But we can’t do it without your support.

We can beat right-wing Gov. Scott Walker and take back the Wisconsin State Senate with your help — Please contribute $10 to the DFA Wisconsin recall campaign now.

Thank you for everything you do.

-Nick

Nick Passanante, Deputy Political Director
Democracy for America

P.S. These recall elections are set to happen this summer. The State Senate recalls are happening as early as May, so we need the resources to start building our campaign now. Please contribute $10 today.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Polar Bear Cubs Won’t Stand a Chance …Dan Howells, Greenpeace


It’s getting harder for a polar bear mother and her cubs to survive in the Arctic.

Each day she has to travel farther and farther for food as the sea ice she relies on to hunt rapidly disappears because of global warming. Each day brings her hungry cubs closer to starvation. And now she has to deal with the prospect of an oil spill.

Oil giant Shell is heading her way right now to drill the very first wells in the pristine waters off the coast of Alaska this summer. If the company finds what it is looking for the Arctic oil rush will be on — and a spill won’t be far behind. This polar bear mother and her cubs won’t stand a chance.

Donate now and help us raise $35,000 by midnight March 30th to save this polar bear mother and her cubs from Arctic drilling. We need just 50 donors from WA to make this happen.

Greenpeace plans to mobilize millions of people around the world in 2012 to save the Arctic by using creative campaigning. It’s all hands on deck. We know that it’s the only way to get the attention of policy makers and put a stop Arctic drilling.

Our goal is to permanently ban oil drilling and industrial fishing in the Arctic and to establish the area around the North Pole as a ‘global commons.’ It may seem ambitious, but we’ve done it before. In 1991, a Greenpeace campaign much like this one helped establish Antarctica as a world park and off limits to commercial extraction.

We can do it, but not without your support.

This polar bear mother needs our help now. Please make an urgent donation by our midnight March 30th deadline to help save her cubs from starvation and protect our planet. Just 50 gifts from WA will ensure that we reach our goal to raise $35,000 by Saturday.

Last year alone Shell admitted to causing 207 ‘significant’ spills worldwide in places like Nigeria and Britain’s North Sea. Any one of those would be an even greater disaster in the harsh waters of the Arctic and for the polar bear mother trying to feed her cubs.

Carmen, this is your chance to be part of history. This drilling is happening in our backyard and to stop it we are going to need massive support in this country. Greenpeace doesn’t take a dime from corporations or governments. All we care about is doing what is necessary to save the Arctic. But our plans and the polar bears that call the Arctic home all depend on your support.

Please make a donation today to help save this polar bear mother and her cubs and ensure that we reach our goal to raise $35,000 by March 30th.

For the Arctic,

Dan Howells
Greenpeace USA Deputy Campaign Director

P.S. We need just 50 supporters from WA to reach our goal. Please make your donation to save polar bears by midnight March 30th on our secure website or by calling 1-800-722-6995. Thank you!

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Real solutions to high gas prices … Union of Concerned Scientists


Union of Concerned Scientists

If you’ve filled up your gas tank recently, you don’t need the newspapers to tell you gas prices are on the rise. But oil and gas prices are in the news, and politicians are grabbing headlines with plans that they claim will bring immediate relief at the pump. But these plans always fall short while real, long-term solutions are often missing from the conversation.

There is no “silver bullet” solution to high gas prices, but there are practical steps we can take to begin the transition from our oil-based transportation system. As a driver, you can take simple steps to cut down on your fill-ups, if you haven’t already. As a citizen, you can push for a plan to cut projected U.S. oil use in half in 20 years. These steps will help insulate us all from even higher prices as we scrape increasingly expensive and dirty oil from the bottom of the barrel.

Oil companies are working hard to maintain the status quo because they are profiting more than ever at the expense of the American public. We must push back and demand a transportation system that works for us—one that is powered by less oil and more American innovation through the development of electric cars, advanced biofuels, and better transportation options.

The Obama administration has taken action to cut U.S. oil use by moving forward with strong new fuel efficiency and global warming emissions standards. This is an important piece of the puzzle, but we can and must do more. We need a combination of smart federal policies and private sector innovation to expand consumer transportation choices and cut U.S. oil use in half in 20 years—and the Union of Concerned Scientists has a plan to do just that.

You can help get the story of real solutions out—submit a letter to the editor of your local paper today showing how we can cut our oil use through a national oil savings plan and how that will help your bottom line.

Take Action Today!

Sincerely,
Rachel Cohen
Rachel Cohen
National Field Organizer
UCS Clean Vehicles Program

Black History

Congress: the Republican led House – the Senate Calendar: S.2204,Repeal of Big Oil Tax & S.1789,Postal Reform bill


the Senate Convenes at 2:00pmET March 26, 2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:30pm.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of Calendar Order #337, S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act with the time until 5:30pm equally divided and controlled between the Leaders or their designees.
  • As a reminder to all Senators, on Thursday, March 22nd, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act and on the motion to proceed to Calendar Order #296, S.1789, the Postal Reform bill.
  • At approximately 5:30pm on Monday, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2204. If cloture is not invoked, there will be a second roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1789, the Postal Reform Bill.

At 5:30pm today, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Executive Calendar #337, S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Subsidies Act. If cloture is invoked, there will be up to 30 hours for debate prior to a vote on the motion to proceed. (We expect cloture to be invoked).

 If cloture is not invoked, the Senate would proceed immediately to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Legislative Executive Calendar #296, S.1789, the Postal Reform bill.

:30pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act; Invoked: 92-4

Cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act, was invoked 92-4. There will now be up to 30 hours for debate on the motion, however, we may be able to yield back some of the post cloture time and begin consideration of the bill tomorrow afternoon. There will be no further roll call votes tonight.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act; Invoked: 92-4

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Began the Rule 14 process of S.2237, the Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act. (Reid)

Completed the Rule 14 process of H.R.5, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011. (Republican request)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.2230, Paying a Fair Share Act. (Whitehouse)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.2231, Small Business Lending Enhancement Act. (Udall CO)

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed all nominations placed on the Secretary’s desk in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy and the following Executive Calendar items:

AIR FORCE

Executive Calendar #615 to be Brigadier General — Col. Peter R. Masciola

Executive Calendar #616 to be Major General — Brig. Gen. Mark A. Ediger

Executive Calendar #617 to be General—Lt. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger

Executive Calendar #618 to be Brigadier General—

Colonel Ondra L. Berry

Colonel Allen D. Bolton

Colonel William D. Cobetto

Colonel Wade A. Lillegard

Colonel Thad L. Myers

Executive Calendar #619 to be Major General—

Brigadier General Steven A. Cray

Brigadier General William J. Crisler, Jr.

Brigadier General Jon F. Fago

Brigadier General Michael A. Loh

Brigadier General Eric W. Vollmecke

Executive Calendar #620 to be Major General—

Brigadier General David W. Allvin

Brigadier General Howard B. Baker

Brigadier General Thomas W. Bergeson

Brigadier General Charles Q. Brown, Jr.

Brigadier General Darryl W. Burke

Brigadier General Richard M. Clark

Brigadier General Dwyer L. Dennis

Brigadier General Mark C. Dillon

Brigadier General Carlton D. Everhart, II

Brigadier General Samuel A. R. Greaves

Brigadier General Morris E. Haase

Brigadier General Garrett Harencak

Brigadier General Paul T. Johnson

Brigadier General Randy A. Kee

Brigadier General Jim H. Keffer

Brigadier General Michael J. Kingsley

Brigadier General Jeffrey G. Lofgren

Brigadier General James K. McLaughlin

Brigadier General Kurt F. Neubauer

Brigadier General John F. Newell, III

Brigadier General Craig S. Olson

Brigadier General John N. T. Shanahan

Brigadier General Michael S. Stough

Brigadier General Scott D. West

Brigadier General Kenneth S. Wilsbach

Executive Calendar #621 to be Brigadier General—

Colonel Steven M. Balser

Colonel Mark H. Berry

Colonel Walter A. Bryan, Jr.

Colonel Gregory S. Champagne

Colonel Sean T. Collins

Colonel John L. D’Errico

Colonel Dawne L. Deskins

Colonel Scott A. Dold

Colonel Gary L. Ebben

Colonel Kenneth L. Gammon

Colonel Bruce R. Guerdan

Colonel Leonard W. Isabelle, Jr.

Colonel Clifford W. Latta, Jr.

Colonel Paul C. Maas, Jr.

Colonel Edward P. Maxwell

Colonel David M. McMinn

Colonel Thomas C. Patton

Colonel Braden K. Sakai

Colonel Janet I. Sessums

Colonel Peter J. Siana

Colonel Jeffrey M. Silver

Colonel James K. Vogel

Colonel Sallie K. Worcester

Executive Calendar #622 to be Lieutenant General — Lt. Gen. Clyde D. Moore, II

Executive Calendar #623 to be Brigadier General — Col. Douglas D. Delozier

ARMY

Executive Calendar #625 to be Major General — Brig. Gen. Michael X. Garrett

Executive Calendar #626 to be Major General—

Brigadier General Robert P. Ashley, Jr.

Brigadier General Jeffrey L. Bailey

Brigadier General Jeffrey N. Colt

Brigadier General Kenneth R. Dahl

Brigadier General Gordon B. Davis, Jr.

Brigadier General Joseph P. DiSalvo

Brigadier General Robert M. Dyess, Jr.

Brigadier General Karen E. Dyson

Brigadier General Paul E. Funk, II

Brigadier General Harold J. Greene

Brigadier General William C. Hix

Brigadier General Stephen R. Lyons

Brigadier General Herbert R. McMaster, Jr.

Brigadier General John M. Murray

Brigadier General Richard P. Mustion

Brigadier General Michael K. Nagata

Brigadier General Bryan R. Owens

Brigadier General James F. Pasquarette

Brigadier General Lawarren V. Patterson

Brigadier General Aundre F. Piggee

Brigadier General Ross E. Ridge

Brigadier General John G. Rossi

Brigadier General Thomas C. Seamands

Brigadier General Michael H. Shields

Brigadier General Leslie C. Smith

Brigadier General John Uberti

Brigadier General Bryan G. Watson

Brigadier General Darrell K. Williams

Executive Calendar #627 to be Major General — Brig. Gen. Craig A. Bugno

Executive Calendar #628 to be Lieutenant General — Maj. Gen. David D. Halverson

 ———————————————————————————————————————

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 26, 2012

 112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

.-The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 27, 2012.8:45:02 P.M. -On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.8:45:00 P.M. -Mr. Reed moved that the House do now adjourn.7:18:51 P.M. -SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.7:10:35 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.7:09:42 P.M. -Mr. Webster filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 595.7:09:34 P.M. -On approving the Journal Agreed to by recorded vote: 310 – 80, 4 Present (Roll no. 129).7:02:28 P.M. -H.R. 2682Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.7:02:27 P.M. -H.R. 2682On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 – 24 (Roll no. 128).6:55:21 P.M. -H.R. 2682Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2682 — “To provide end user exemptions from certain provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and for other purposes.”6:55:08 P.M. -H.R. 2779Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:55:07 P.M. -H.R. 2779On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 357 – 36 (Roll no. 127).6:30:32 P.M. -H.R. 2779Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2779 — “To exempt inter-affiliate swaps from certain regulatory requirements put in place by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.”6:30:31 P.M. -UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules, and on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal, all of which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.6:30:30 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 26.4:00:29 P.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.3:59:59 P.M. -H.R. 4014Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.3:59:57 P.M. -H.R. 4014On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.3:50:44 P.M. -H.R. 4014DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4014.3:50:42 P.M. -H.R. 4014Considered under suspension of the rules.3:50:29 P.M. -H.R. 4014Mrs. Biggert moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 4014 — “To amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act with respect to information provided to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.”3:50:16 P.M. -H.R. 3298At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mrs. Biggert objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.3:40:53 P.M. -H.R. 3298DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3298.3:40:51 P.M. -H.R. 3298Considered under suspension of the rules.3:40:27 P.M. -H.R. 3298Mrs. Biggert moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 3298 — “To establish the position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for other purposes.”3:39:41 P.M. -H.R. 2682At 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.3:20:30 P.M. -H.R. 2682DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2682.3:20:29 P.M. -H.R. 2682Considered under suspension of the rules.3:20:15 P.M. -H.R. 2682Mr. Garrett moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2682 — “To provide end user exemptions from certain provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and for other purposes.”3:20:04 P.M. -H.R. 2779At 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.3:01:59 P.M. -H.R. 2779DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2779.3:01:57 P.M. -H.R. 2779Considered under suspension of the rules.3:01:38 P.M. -H.R. 2779Mr. Garrett moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2779 — “To exempt inter-affiliate swaps from certain regulatory requirements put in place by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.”3:01:24 P.M. -The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. today.3:00:00 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 26.2:15:00 P.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 P.M. today.2:13:18 P.M. -The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification to add the Republic of South Sudan to the list of beneficiary developing countries under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program – referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-95).2:11:44 P.M. -The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification of his intention to suspend designation of Argentina as a beneficiary developing country under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program – referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-94).2:03:34 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.2:02:42 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Sablan to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.2:02:00 P.M. -POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Sablan demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Sablan objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.2:00:23 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.2:00:11 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 26.12:08:45 P.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.12:01:17 P.M. -MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.12:00:35 P.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Jeff Denham to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.12:00:16 P.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.