a Budget to Benefit the 1%


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The GOP Budget In One Chart

By         ThinkProgress War Room              on Apr 13, 2012 at 4:38 pm

A Budget to Benefit the 1 Percent

Tax Day is coming up on April 17, so it’s worth remember who will pay more in taxes under the Ryan-Romney Republican budget — the poorest Americans — and whose taxes will be cut in dramatic fashion — the very wealthiest Americans.

If the percentages aren’t shocking enough, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports that the Ryan-Romney budget would give each millionaire a $265,000 tax cut on top of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, which it of course also extends.

It should also be noted that Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) has promised to close trillions in unspecified tax loopholes, which would likely result in tax increases for millions more middle class Americans than are depicted in this chart.  We can’t say for sure, however, because Ryan refuses to name a single one of the loopholes he’d close.

IN ONE SENTENCE: Instead of ending Medicare in order to slash taxes on millionaires, it’s time to pass the Buffett Rule so millionaire start paying their fair share.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You May Have Missed

Gallup finds overwhelming public support for the Buffett Rule.

General election in a nutshell: President Obama wants to increase his own taxes, Mitt Romney wants to lower his own.

Ron Paul may finally get a chance to defeat the Federal Reserve after all.

For the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops, “religious liberty” means being able to discriminate against gay people.

American taxpayers are subsidizing dirty coal development to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars.

One result of the tough economy is more job diversity on television.

Bank of America proves how heartless they are. Again.

Why the Buffett Rule is more than just a gimmick.

A city the size of Chicago that doesn’t have a sewer system.

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Apr 12, 2012: Mitt Romney’s Pledge to the 1%

Why is Mitt Romney Making Pledges to a Washington Lobbyist? We’ve previously told you about the 1% Pledge — a pledge run by Washington superlobbyist Grover Norquist that the vast majority of Congressional Republicans have taken.  Instead of merely pledging to uphold the oath they take to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” these […]

Apr 11, 2012: GOP War on Women, Mitt Romney Edition

Equal Pay for Equal Work? Romney Will Have to Get Back to You Even as top party leaders, including Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, continue to denounce the GOP’s very real war on women as a “fiction” “manufactured” by Democrats and the media, Republicans continue to add more fuel to the fire. The Romney […]

Apr 10, 2012: Rick Santorum’s TOP TEN Attacks on Mitt Romney

The Primary Is Over, But These Attacks Will Live On Late this afternoon, Rick Santorum announced that he was suspending his campaign, effectively handing the Republican nomination over to Mitt Romney.  A top aide to the former Pennsylvania senator told reporters that Santorum and Romney agreed to meet in the near future, and Romney sent out […]

Apr 9, 2012: NEW VIDEO: President Reagan Backs the Buffett Rule

Even the Gipper Wanted Millionaires to Pay Their Fair Share Last fall, when President Obama debuted the Buffett Rule — the simple idea that millionaires and billionaires should pay at least the same tax rate as middle class workers — we climbed into the wayback machine and found a video of President Ronald Reagan decrying “crazy” […]

20 ways, 20 days, 20% less carbon… Union of Concerned Scientists


Union of Concerned Scientists: 20/20/20 - 20 ways. 20 days. 20% less carbon.

 

20 ways, 20 days, 20% less carbon.
Get cooler and smarter — and get a free sticker!

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Save money. Improve your health. And help save the planet while you’re at it.Sound like a get-rich quick scheme? It’s actually our practical guide to reducing global warming-causing carbon emissions—and your ticket to a cooler, smarter lifestyle.

Backed by two years of research and analysis, we’ve determined the best ways that anyone can combat global warming in their daily lives, from carbon-cutting newbies to experts.

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Just answer a handful of questions about you, your home, how you get around, and what you eat and buy. Our scientists have done the rest for you. Then we’ll send you a FREE sticker to broadcast how cool and smart you are so more people can join you in making their own changes.

You may be surprised how quickly a few easy changes can add up. Here’s just one tidbit: if everyone in the United States simply switched from incandescent lightbulbs to CFLs or LEDs, it’d be the equivalent of closing 12 coal-fired power plants for good.

Learn more and geek out on the data with our infographic of a cooler smarter United States.

What have you got to lose? CARBON, of course! Thanks for doing your part to create a low-carbon country.

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Suzanne Shaw
Co-author of Cooler Smarter: Practical Steps for Low-Carbon Living

Congress:the Republican led House – Tell members of Congress the Buffett/Reagan Rule is about Fair Share – the Senate


the Senate Convenes at 2:00pmET April 16, 2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act.
  • As a reminder to all Senators, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act on Thursday, March 29th.
  • At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #460, Stephanie Dawn Thacker, of WV, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit with up to 60 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.
  • Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), there will be a roll call vote on confirmation of the Thacker nomination. There will then be a 2nd roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act.
  • If the House does not adopt S.Con.Res.38, the adjournment resolution, the Senate will also meet on the following dates at the following times in pro forma sessions only, with no business conducted

The Senate will recess from 3:30-4:30pm for a members only briefing on national security issues.

5:31pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Stephanie Dawn Thacker, of WV, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; Confirmed: 91-3

6:06pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act

6:06pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act; Not Invoked: 51-45

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Confirmation of the nomination of Stephanie Dawn Thacker, of West Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; Confirmed: 91-3

2) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act; Not Invoked: 51-45

No LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

2012 Calendar – 112th Congress, Second Session

ConveneJanuary 23, 2012 (Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday January 16)

4 weeks

February 20 – 24 State Work Period (Presidents’ Day February 20)

5 weeks

March 5- NO VOTE (Monday)

March 12 – NO VOTE (Monday)

March 19 – NO VOTE (Monday)

April 2 – April 13 State Work Period (Passover April 6-7; Good Friday April 6; Easter April 8)

2 weeks

April 30 – May 4 State Work Period

3 weeks

May 28 – June 1 State Work Period (Memorial Day May 28)

4 weeks

July 2 – July 6 State Work Period (Independence Day July 4)

4 weeks

August 6 – September 7 State Work Period (Labor Day September 3)

Target adjournment – TBD

—————————————————————————————————————————–

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF APRIL 16, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

-The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.5:10:26 P.M. -H.R. 2453At 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.4:58:29 P.M. -H.R. 2453DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2453.4:58:27 P.M. -H.R. 2453Considered under suspension of the rules.4:58:18 P.M. -H.R. 2453Mr. Luetkemeyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2453 — “To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of Mark Twain.”4:57:50 P.M. -H.R. 4040At 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.4:38:16 P.M. -H.R. 4040DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4040.4:38:14 P.M. -H.R. 4040Considered under suspension of the rules.4:38:03 P.M. -H.R. 4040Mr. Luetkemeyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 4040 — “To provide for the award of a gold medal on behalf of Congress to Jack Nicklaus in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship in golf.”4:37:37 P.M. -H.R. 1815At 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.4:19:46 P.M. -H.R. 1815DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1815.4:19:45 P.M. -H.R. 1815Considered under suspension of the rules.4:19:00 P.M. -H.R. 1815Mr. Luetkemeyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1815 — “To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lena Horne in recognition of her achievements and contributions to American culture and the civil rights movement.”4:18:37 P.M. -H.R. 3001At 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.4:01:53 P.M. -H.R. 3001DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3001.4:01:51 P.M. -H.R. 3001Considered under suspension of the rules.4:01:20 P.M. -H.R. 3001Mr. Luetkemeyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 3001 — “To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Raoul Wallenberg, in recognition of his achievements and heroic actions during the Holocaust.”4:00:57 P.M. -The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. today.4:00:50 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 16.2:10:06 P.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 4:00 P.M. today.2:02:32 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.2:02:09 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Kinzinger of IL to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.2:02:05 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.2:00:39 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.2:00:29 P.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.2:00:16 P.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.