Daily Archives: 04/23/2012

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Join Environmentalists for Obama


Earth Day.

A big day for the environment — but to protect our air, land, and water, we have to make every single day count between now and November 6th.

President Obama knows we don’t have to sacrifice clean air and clean water to create jobs and grow our economy. But time and again, we’ve seen that our opponents are willing to play politics with the health of our natural resources — and the American people — just to protect the bottom line of their special-interest allies.
If it was up to them, we’d have no EPA working to protect our kids from harmful air pollution or make sure our water is safe to drink — polluters would once again have a free pass. And I probably don’t need to remind you of their views on climate change.

So, as we pause to appreciate our planet, say you’re standing with the only candidate in this race who’s fighting for it:

Join Environmentalists for Obama.


This community will help spread the word about the President’s record on the environment and what’s at stake in this election.
President Obama has already taken historic  steps to clean up our air and water, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and bring ecosystems like the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, and Florida Everglades back to life.

 This is what that kind of change looks like:
 — Setting the first-ever national standards on mercury and other forms of toxic air pollution from power plants, which will prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths, 4,700 heart attacks, and 130,000 asthma attacks every year when fully implemented

— Developing fuel efficiency standards that will nearly double fuel economy for cars and light trucks by 2025

— and save families thousands of dollars at the pump and save our country millions of barrels of oil

— Establishing safeguards to cut interstate soot and smog-forming pollution from power plants by more than 50 percent and improve air quality for more than 75 percent of Americans

— Investing more in clean energy than ever before — and putting us on track to double our use of renewable sources by the end of the year

— Signing one of the largest expansions of wilderness protections in a generation, setting aside more than 2 million acres of land

All of that is on the line — along with the chance to keep going.
We simply can’t afford a White House that is skeptical about the human impact on climate change and continues to give Big Oil taxpayer giveaways at a time of record profits.
It’s on us to make sure that doesn’t happen — right now, President Obama needs you to have his back.
If you’re ready to fight alongside him, join Environmentalists for Obama today:
Thanks,
James
James Kvaal National Policy Director Obama for America
P.S. — Check out a special Earth Day message from President Obama here.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

ALEC legislators in the state of Washington – Time for the Boeing Company to DUMP ALEC association


ALEC legislators in the state of Washington

Posted on April 8, 2012 by | By Dora

Naming and Shaming

I was reading this article, Don’t Just Pressure ALEC’s Corporate Sponsors, Name and Shame ALEC Legislators in the Nation and decided that it absolutely makes sense. Here is what John Nichols had to say:

What’s happening with ALEC is good. But not good enough.

Pressured by a coalition of civil rights, clean government and religious groups to quit their memberships in the American Legislative Exchange Council, multinational corporations are indeed exiting ALEC. Now, it’s time to demand that the 2,000 legislators who have joined ALEC do the same.

Coca-Cola quit ALEC Wednesday. PepsiCo revealed the same day that it had quietly decided to let its membership lapse. Intuit Inc. confirmed that it is exiting ALEC. And Kraft Foods has announced that: “Our membership in ALEC expires this spring and for a number of reasons, including limited resources, we have made the decision not to renew.”

Translation: Kraft — like other corporations that produce consumer products and, thus, must appeal to the great mass of Americans — no longer wants to be associated with a shadowy group that links corporations and legislators in order to advance extreme (and extremely unpopular) agendas.

Nichols continues:

…But just as the challenges to the corporate sponsors of ALEC are essential, so too are challenges to the legislators who maintain membership in the groups.These legislators are not thinking for themselves. They are taking their cues from an inside-the-beltway, corporate-sponsored group that effectively demands that they dismiss the will of their constituents in favor of the demands of those corporations. It’s a dangerous calculus for democracy. And it is time to start asking legislators why they are answering to multinational corporations rather than hometown voters.

The Maine’s Majority movement has asked legislators in that state to give up their American Legislative Exchange Council memberships, “Given what we now know about ALEC and its detrimental effect on Maine’s public policy, there’s no excuse for Maine legislators to continue their involvement in the organization,” says Maine’s Majority executive director Chris Korzen. “The fact that Coke, Pepsi and Kraft have left ALEC speaks volumes to how toxic the group has become. It’s time for Maine’s ALEC members to follow suit.”

Maine Majority is naming and shaming Maine legislators who are allied with ALEC — identifying “known ALEC members” and urging them to “terminate their ALEC memberships.”

To follow is the list of State Representatives who, according to ALEC Exposed, are members of ALEC.

First verify that they are members of ALEC and if they are, ask them to severe all ties with that organization.

First up, Representative Jan Angel, 26th District, Port Orchard, Republican

Committees: Education, Transportation, Rules and Local Government.

Representative Matt Shea, 4th District, Spokane Valley, Republican

Committees: Labor & Workforce Development, Judiciary,Transportation and Leadership

Representative Troy Kelley, 28th District, Fircrest, University Place, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Tillicum, Dupont and West Tacoma, Democrat

Committees: Joint Legislative Audit and Review, Business and Financial Services, Health Care and Wellness, Rules, Technology, Energy and Communications

Representative Charles R. Ross, 14th District, parts of Yakima County, Republican

Committees: Public Safety and Elections Task Force Member

Representative Barbara Bailey , 10th District, Island County and portions of Skagit and Snohomish counties, including the cities of La Conner, Oak Harbor, and Stanwood, Republican

Committees: Health and Human Services Task Force Member

Representative Joe Schmick, 9th District, Colfax, Republican

Committees: Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member

Representative Kevin W. Van De Wege, 24th District, Sequim, Democrat

Committee: Education Task Force Member

Representative Kevin Parker, 6th District, Spokane, Republican

Education Task Force Member

Representative Mike Armstrong, 12th District, Chelan and Wenatchee, Republican

Committees: Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force and Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Member

Representative Bill Hinkle, 13th District, Cle Elum, Republican

Committees: Health Care and Wellness, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Ways and Means

Tomorrow the State Senate.

Dora

Black History

Congress: the Republican led House passes HR1021,Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeships Extension Act of 2011 – the Senate considers S.1925,S.JRes.36,NLRB,Judicial nominees and S.1789


the Senate Convenes at 12:00pmET April 23, 2012

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.
  • At 2:00pm, the Republican Leader or his designee will be recognized to make a motion to proceed to S.J.Res.36, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to representation election procedures with 2 hours of debate, equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
  • At 4:00pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.
  • At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #528, the nomination of Brian C. Wimes, of MO, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri with 30 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 Wimes nomination.
  • On Thursday, the Senate reached an agreement to complete action on S.1789, the Postal Reform bill.  The Majority Leader announced that the time from 12:00pm-2:00pm, 4:00pm-5:00pm and the time following the vote on Monday evening will be for Senators to debate their amendments to the Postal Reform bill.

5:31pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #528, the nomination of Brian Wimes, of MO, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri; Confirmed: 92-1

The following amendments are pending to S.1789, the Postal Reform bill:

The following amendments to S.1789 have been considered:

ROLL CALL VOTE

1)      Confirmation of the nomination of Brian C. Wimes, of MO, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri; Confirmed: 92-1

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.2327, a bill to prohibit direct foreign assistance to the Government of Egypt until the President makes certain certifications related to treatment of nongovernmental organization workers, and for other purposes. (Paul)

Began the Rule 14 process of S.2338, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012. (Hutchison, Grassley and Cornyn)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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House Floor Activities                

Legislative Day of April 23, 2012  

-The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on April 24, 2012.11:03:39 A.M. -The House received a communication from Eric With, District Director, Office of Congressman Michael C. Burgess. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. With notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena issued by the 362nd Judicial District Court in Denton, Texas, for testimony in a criminal case and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he had determined that compliance with the subpoena was consistent with the precedents and privileges of the House.11:03:02 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 April 23, 2012 at 9:15 a.m., stating that that body had passed H.R. 1021 with an amendment.11:02:10 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.11:02:06 A.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal.  Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.11:01:03 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.11:00:34 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable John Abney Culberson to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.11:00:24 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on April 24, 2012.