Monthly Archives: June 2012

~ my 2cents ...

Be a Seed for Change


I needed a place to sound off. To increase awareness on some issues we should all know and care about, start a dialogue, get people to sign a petition(s), offer and post some info from folks who know, challenge the people who think they know. I feel we should Question not only their comments, views, and reviews but be a part of a community who believe in action not lip service, my 2cents or more.

It’s time for a change … & contrary to what is going on now… I still have the Audacity for HOPE and CHANGE

I am a MOM first, earned my BA in English Lit, Activist, and Advocate for my children and my family. I am an ex-track rat, ex-cheerleader, ex-gymnast, and a lover of dance: free/ballet 10yrs or more of dance training, contemporary/lyrical, and jazz.   In other words, I am competitive. I come from a fishing based family, love talking, food, gorgeous men & movies, not necessarily in that order; my pet fishy détente loves word games I have a great love of books, words, and music –Oye Como VA

I support Obama because he represents the bold and drastic changes we need NOW in Washington, DC … he believes in action, not the lip service we’ve gotten from the last administration… he knows and understands we need to pay attention to our environment, that we need to narrow the gap between the haves and have none, better health-care. Last, our future is our children and that means better educational opportunities…

Americans should demand nothing less than … Equal rights for everyone in all its forms.

The change Americans believed in 2008 … is now one we must all take part in and fight for so, look for, sign, and or comment on Petitions available. Use the petitions to voice your opinion, tell me what YOU think, support, or push Congress for… “We the People” GOTV for Barack H. Obama 2012

My Blog: Point/CounterPoint… named after the Novel written in the 1920′s

Yet, Reflects our 21st-century society … characters in Politics and Pop culture who denounce the dangers of sacrificing humanity for intellectualism while expressing concerns about the staggering progress of science and technology.

Who also condemn opinions on class and the reactions of people as the barriers break down comparing where the various possibilities and relationships collide or cross paths while looking with judgmental eyes at the dichotomy between reason and passion.

The push and pull of social values … Point/CounterPoint .

Issues: equality /immigration/ civil rights; civil liberties / privacy; peace & social justice; foreign policy / human rights/security; economic fairness / security; environment / conservation; smart energy policy; public infrastructure / transportation; good government / ethics; electoral reform; affordable health care; education Registered to Vote: Yes

Leave me a message …

Black History

CONGRESS: the Republican led House – the Senate debates&votes on S.3240,Farm bill – Joint Res.disaproval of EPA’s Mercury Air and Toxics Standards


the Senate Convenes: 9:30amET June 20, 2012

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
  • Following the remarks of the two Leaders, the Republican Leader will be recognized to make a motion to proceed to S.J.Res.37, a joint resolution of disapproval regarding EPA’s Mercury Air and Toxics Standards.  The time until 11:30am will be equally divided controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Republicans controlling the first 15 minutes and the Majority controlling the second 15 minutes.
  • At 11:30am, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to S.J.Res.37.  If the motion to proceed is not successful (which is what is expected), the Senate will resume consideration of S.3240, the Farm bill and resume voting on the remaining amendments in order to the bill.
  • Senators should expect several roll call votes beginning at 11:30am on Wednesday.

When the Senate convened this morning, Senator Reid moved to proceed to S.1940, a bill to amend the National Flood Insurance Act, and filed cloture on the motion. The Leaders have been working on a consent agreement on amendments and they will continue to do so in the coming days. If an agreement cannot be reached, the cloture vote would occur Friday morning.

Senator McConnell moved to proceed to S.J.Res.37, a joint resolution of disapproval regarding EPA’s Mercury Air and Toxics Standards. At approximately 11:30am the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to proceed to the joint resolution of disapproval. If the motion is defeated as we expect it to be, we will resume consideration of the Farm bill and immediately proceed to a long series of votes in relation to the remaining amendments and motions in order as well as passage of the bill.

The vote on the motion to proceed to the joint resolution of disapproval will be a 15 minute vote and all others 10 minute votes. There will be 2 minutes for debate between each vote. Senators are encouraged to remain on or near the floor throughout the day.

The 11:30am vote sequence is as follows:

– Motion to proceed to S.J.Res.37, a joint resolution disapproving a rule promulgated by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency relating to emission standards for certain steam generating units

– Manchin #2345 (dietary study) (possible voice vote);

– DeMint #2273 (broadband);

– Merkley #2382 (organic crop insurance);

– Coburn #2289 (MAP);

– Schumer #2427 (acer);

– Coburn #2293 (Limit Millionaires);

–  Stabenow #2453 (NAP);

– Kerry #2454 (North Korea);

– Kyl #2354 (North Korea);

– Udall(CO) #2295 (bark beetle);

– Lee #2313 (Forest Legacy);

– Warner #2457 (rural broadband);

– Lee #2314 (CSP/CRP cut);

– Wyden #2442 (microloans);

– Boozman #2355 (Ag research, law info) (possible voice vote);

– Wyden #2388 (farm to school);

– Boozman #2360 (TEFAP)

– Leahy #2204 (rural development);

– Toomey #2226 (energy title);

– Nelson(NE) #2242 (rural housing) (possible voice vote);

– Toomey #2433 (sugar);        

– Klobuchar #2299 (transportation study) (possible voice vote);

– Lee Motion to Recommit (FY 2008 levels);

– Carper #2287 (poultry feed research) (possible voice vote);

– Johnson(WI) Motion to Recommit (Nutrition/Agriculture titles);

– Sanders #2254 (biomass);

– Chambliss #2438 (conservation crop insurance);

– Thune #2437 (crop insurance);

– Durbin-Coburn #2439 (crop insurance);

– Chambliss #2340 (sugar);

– Chambliss #2432 (FMPP);

– Ayotte #2195 (GAO crop insurance fraud report) (possible voice vote);

                                    – Blunt #2246 (veterans) (possible voice vote);

– Moran #2403 (food aid);

                                    – Moran #2443 (beginning farmers) (possible voice vote);

– Vitter #2363 (pets) (possible voice vote);

                                    – Toomey #2247 (paperwork) (60-vote threshold);

– Sanders #2310 (genetically engineered food) (60-vote threshold);

– Coburn #2214 (convention funding) (60-vote threshold);

– Boxer #2456 (aerial inspections) (60-vote threshold);

– Johanns #2372 (aerial inspections) (60-vote threshold);

– Murray # 2455(sequestration) (60-vote threshold);

– McCain #2162 (Sequestration report – DoD) (60-vote threshold);

– Rubio #2166 (RAISE Act) (60-vote threshold);

– Bennet-Crapo amendment #2202 (improve agricultural land easements) (expect voice vote); and

– Passage of S.3240, as amended.

11:30am The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to S.J.Res.37, a joint resolution disapproving EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards; Not Agreed To: 46-56

12:03 om The Senate began a roll call vote on Merkley amendment #2382 (organic crop insurance); Agreed To: 63-36

12:24pm The Senate began a roll call vote on DeMint amendment #2273 (broadband); Not Agreed To:44-55

12:45pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Coburn amendment #2289 (MAP); Not Agreed To: 30-69

1:04pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Coburn #2293 (limit millionaires); Agreed To: 63-36

1:30pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Kerry-Lugar amendment #2454 (North Korea); Agreed to: 59-40

1:49pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Kyl amendment #2345 (North Korea); Not Agreed to: 43-56

2:09pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Udall (CO) amendment #2295 (bark beetle); Agreed To: 77-22

2:31pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Lee amendment #2313 (repeal Forest Legacy Program); Not Agreed To: 21-77

2:55pm The Senate began a roll call vote on on Lee amendment  #2314 (CSP/CRP cut); Not Agreed To: 15-84

3:27pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Boozman #2360, as modified (TEFAP); Not Agreed To: 35-63-1 voting present

3:46pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Toomey amendment #2226 (energy title); Not Agreed to: 36-63

The following amendments have been considered to S.3240, the Farm bill:

4:08pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Toomey amendment #2433 (sugar); Not Agreed to: 46-53

4:28pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Lee motion to recommit (FY2008 levels); Not Agreed to: 29-70

4:52pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Johnson (WI) motion to recommit (nutritution/agriculture titles); Not Agreed to: 40-59

5:14pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Vitter amendment #2363, as modified (animal fighting); Agreed to: 88-11

5:35pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Chambliss amendment #2438 (conservation crop insurance); Agreed to: 52-47

5:59pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Thune amendment #2437 (crop insurance); not agreed to: 44-55

6:22pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Durbin amendment #2439 (crop insurance); Agreed To: 66-33

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      McConnell motion to proceed to S.J.Res.37, a joint resolution of disapproval regarding EPA’s Mercury Air and Toxics Standards; not agreed to: 46-53

2)      DeMint amendment #2273 (broadband) to S.3240, the Farm bill; Not Agreed To: 20-79

3)      Merkley amendment #2382 (organic crop insurance); Agreed To: 63-36

4)      Coburn amendment #2289 (MAP); Not Agreed To: 30-69

5)      Coburn amendment #2293 (limit millionaires); Agreed To: 63-36

6)      Kerry amendment #2454 (North Korea); Agreed To: 59-40

7)      Kyl amendment #2354 (North Korea); Not Agreed To: 43-56

8)      Udall (CO) amendment #2295 (bark beetle); Agreed To: 77-22

9)      Lee amendment #2313 (Forest Legacy); Not Agreed To: 21-77

10)  Lee amendment #2314 (CSP/CRP cut); Not Agreed To: 15-84

11)  Boozman amendment #2350 (TEFAP); Not Agreed To: 35-63-1

12)  Toomey amendment #2226 (energy title); Not Agreed To: 36-63

13)  Toomey amendment #2433 (sugar); Not Agreed To: 46-53

14)  Lee motion to recommit (FY 2008); Not Agreed To: 29-70

15)  Johnson (WI) motion to recommit (nutrition/agriculture titles); Not Agreed To: 40-59

16)  Vitter amendment #2363 (pets), as modified (60-vote threshold); Agreed To: 88-11

17)  Chambliss amendment #2438 (conservation crop insurance); Agreed To: 52-47

18)  Thune amendment #2437 (crop insurance); Not Agreed To: 44-55

19)  Durbin-Coburn amendment #2439 (crop insurance); Agreed To 66-33

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.500, a resolution celebrating the accomplishments of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, and recognizing the need to continue pursuing the goal of equal educational opportunities for all women and girls.

Adopted S.Res.501, supporting Men’s Health Week.

Adopted S.Res.502, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the signing of the First Morrill Act.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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

House Floor Activities                 Legislative Day of June 20, 2012

Last Floor Action:                     10:12:02 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

WhiteHouse Expert answers questions on REFINANCING


Jun 19, 2012 by

James Parrott, Senior Advisor for the National Economic Council, answers your questions on President Obama’s  around the country to refinance their mortgages and save hundreds of dollars each month. It will cut through the red tape will be good for families, good for communities, and good for the country at large

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Help Close the Pregnancy Loophole …Emily J. Martin, National Women’s Law Center


National Women's Law Center
 
 
     
                  Help Close the Pregnancy Loophole  
     
 

 
     
                  Tell your Representative to co-sponsor the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to ensure that pregnant women are treated fairly on the job.  
     
  Call (202) 224-3121 today!  
     

Yes it’s true: In 2012, getting pregnant can still cost you your job.
Thanks to a gap opened between discrimination laws and disability laws by court decisions, some employers are refusing to accommodate even simple requests that help workers maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Here are three startling examples of women who, thanks to the pregnancy loophole, were fired for doing what was best for their pregnancies:

  • A retail sales associate in Salina, Kansas was fired for drinking water while working because it violated store policy.
  • A nursing home activities director in Valparaiso, Indiana lost her job because she could no longer lift heavy tables, an activity that took up less than 10 minutes of her workday and with which her coworkers routinely volunteered to assist.
  • A pregnant truck driver in Tennessee was instructed by her obstetrician not to lift more than 20 pounds and sought light duty work. Her employer terminated her, as it made such modifications only to those injured on the job.

Sounds crazy, right? Unfortunately, thousands of pregnant women are forced to choose between losing their jobs (or taking unpaid leave) and endangering their pregnancies, when just a few small workplace accommodations are usually all that’s needed.
To close this egregious pregnancy loophole, Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was introduced today in the House of Representatives by Reps. Nadler (D-NY) and a number of his colleagues. To give this bill a solid start, we need as many Representatives to co-sponsor this bill as possible.
Will you take 3 minutes to call your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act? Calling is easy to do.

  1. Call (202) 224-3121.
  2. Tell the operator who answers the phone the name of your Representative. (Not sure? Look it up here.)
  3. Once you are connected to the office of your Representative, tell the staff person who answers:
    • Your name, that you are a constituent from (city, state).
    • I am calling to ask you to co-sponsor the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. It’s time to close the pregnancy loophole and ensure that pregnant women are treated fairly on the job.
    • Thank you.
  4. Hang up and ask your friends or co-workers to make a call as well.

Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
 
Emily J. Martin   Emily J. Martin Vice President and General Counsel National Women’s Law Center     

P.S. Want to learn more? Read the Op-Ed in The New York Times that inspired this bill. And check out a fact sheet on the bill from the National Women’s Law Center.