Daily Archives: 09/19/2012

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Elizabeth Warren for Senate : Massachusetts


Sep 18, 2012 by    

http://www.elizabethwarren.com

Like a lot of you, I came up in a family that worked hard and I’ve spent years fighting for working people.

I wasn’t looking to run for office but I see how Washington‘s rigged for the big guys:  oil companies, billionaires, and I can’t stand by. My fight’s for our families, for a level playing field. Scott Brown‘s not a bad guy, he doesn’t always vote the wrong way. But too often, on things that really matter, he’s not with you. With almost a quarter of a million people out of work in Massachusetts, Scott Brown voted against three of President Obama’s jobs bills. He voted against making millionaires pay the same tax rate as working families. And he voted to give more than 20 billion dollars in subsidies to the big oil companies. Kids are drowning in student loans, roads need repair, the deficit is sky high, and Scott Brown’s voting for giveaways to big oil? I wouldn’t do that. I’m Elizabeth Warren and I approve this message. I’d be in there fighting for you, not some of the time — all of the time.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

a message from Stephanie Cutter


Truth Team

Yesterday, a leaked video from a closed-door fundraiser showed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney telling a room full of big-money donors that Americans who don’t support him think they’re “victims” who don’t “take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”

So rarely over the course of this campaign have we gotten to hear Mitt Romney say what he believes in such a revealing, unfiltered manner. This is one of those moments. It’s important that we make sure that the people in our lives who are just tuning into this election know what disdain and contempt Romney has for half of the citizens of this nation he wants to lead. Take a look at the items in this tipsheet, and then share them with others.

#1 What Americans think of Romney’s comments
The secret video shows that Romney believes nearly half of all Americans won’t take responsibility for their own lives and don’t pay taxes. Watch this video of Americans listening and reacting to Romney’s shocking comments, and make sure others do too

#2 Who Romney is writing off?
It’s worth taking a second to look at some of the people who make up the nearly half of the country that Romney has so much disdain for. Who exactly are these people that Romney rips for not paying income taxes? The overwhelming majority are seniors, students, people with disabilities, or working families. They pay payroll taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, and more. Those working families include U.S. soldiers in combat, receptionists, firefighters, and clergy, just to name a few. Certainly, those folks aren’t short on personal responsibility. Read this blog post highlighting some of the Americans that Romney has written off, and share it with others:

 

#3 Romney’s responsibility map
Romney has said that “my job is not to worry about” the people who don’t support him. But America needs a president who will stand up for all Americans, not just the half of the country who agrees with him. Take a look at this graphic about Romney’s idea of “responsibility” and post it to your Facebook wall.

Thanks,

Stephanie

 

Black History

CONGRESS: the Republican led House : Scheduled to do only about 8days of work prior to Election2012 : the Senate led by Dems


the Senate Convened at 10:00amET September 19, 2012

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
  • Following the remarks of the two Leaders, the Senate will resume consideration of S.3457, the Veterans Jobs Corps Act. The time until 12:00pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.  It is in order for Senator McConnell or his designee to raise a budget point of order against the substitute amendment #2789.  If a budget point of order is raised, the Majority Leader, or his designee, will be recognized for a motion to waive the applicable budget points of order.  At 12:00pm, there will be a roll call voteon the motion to waive the budget act with respect to the substitute amendment.
  • Following the roll call vote, the Majority Leader will be recognized.  Following his remarks, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
  • At 2:15pm, there will be an additional roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.J.Res.117, the Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 2013.

12:01pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to waive the Budget Act
with respect to the Murray substitute amendment #2789 to S.3457, the Veterans Jobs Corps Act: Not
Waived: 58-40

2:16pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the
motion to proceed to H.J.Res.114, the Continuing Resolution

2:16pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.J.Res.117, Continuing Resolution: Invoked: 76-22

This afternoon Senator Hatch asked unanimous consent the Finance Committee be discharged from further consideration of S.J.Res.50; that there be 2 hours for debate on the motion to proceed to the joint resolution of disapproval prior to a vote on adoption of the motion to proceed.

Senator Cardin objected to the request.

S.J.Res.50: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of Family Assistance of the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to waiver and expenditure authority under section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.1315) with respect to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass Calendar #504, S.3525, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 (Tester).  Senator Kyl objected to Senator Reid’s request.

The unofficial transcript of their remarks is below.

16:50:32 NSP} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT, WE’RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH ALL THE

ISSUES WE HAVE. THERE ARE A FEW OF THEM, NOT TOO MANY, BUT A

FEW. BUT I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE — WE CAN FINISH ALL

OF OUR WORK TOMORROW. IF WE DON’T FINISH IT TOMORROW, WE’RE NOT

GOING ANYPLACE. WE’RE STAYING HERE UNTIL

TUESDAY, PROBABLY 3:00, 3:30 BECAUSE WE HAVE YOM KIPPUR ON

WEDNESDAY, BUT WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK HERE ON THURSDAY. WE HAVE

TO FINISH OUR WORK. SO THAT MEANS IF WE CAN’T WORK THINGS OUT,

WE’RE GOING TO BE HERE FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY. I KNOW THAT WE

TALK ABOUT THIS ONCE IN A WHILE AND USUALLY WE’RE ABLE TO WORK

THINGS OUT, AND I’M GLAD THAT WE ARE, BUT JUST IN CASE WE

CAN’T, NO ONE SHOULD THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CATCH

AN AIRPLANE OUT OF HERE TOMORROW — I MEAN FRIDAY, I’M SORRY.

MR. PRESIDENT, I’LL BE VERY QUICK. I KNOW THAT THE ASSISTANT

LEADER FOR THE MINORITY IS HERE, AND I DON’T WANT TO TAKE A LOT

OF TIME OF HIS. THE SENATOR FROM MONTANA, SENATOR TEFER –

TESTER, HAS ASSEMBLED A BROAD PACKAGE OF LEGISLATION THAT IS

BIPARTISAN IN NATURE TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF SPORTSMEN

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. HE HAS WORKED WITH THESE GROUPS AND I

HAVE BEEN IN MEETINGS WITH HIM WHERE HE HAS TRIED TO GET THE

DEMOCRATIC SENATORS TO BACK OFF AND LET THIS PACKAGE GO FORWARD

AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME ADJUSTMENTS MADE BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS

THAT REPUBLICANS HAD AND DEMOCRATS HAD. SO I APPRECIATE VERY

MUCH HIS WORK. WHAT HIS BILL DOES, IT COMBINES ABOUT 20 BILLS

THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE SPORTSMEN COMMUNITIES AROUND THIS

COUNTRY. THEY WOULD FOSTER HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH

VOLUNTARY PROGRAMS. MORE THAN 50 NATIONAL GROUPS SUPPORT THIS.

THESE ARE SPORTSMEN AND CONSERVATION GROUPS. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE

OF LEADERSHIP THAT IS IMPORTANT IN THIS BODY, THAT WORK ON

SOMETHING THAT BRINGS TOGETHER A DISPARATE GROUP OF BILLS AND

ARE BIPARTISAN IN NATURE AND TRY TO MOVE FORWARD. WE OUGHT TO

PASS THIS PACKAGE TODAY. MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT

THAT THE SENATE PROCEED TO CALENDAR NUMBER 504, S.3525, THE

SPORTSMAN ACT OF 2012, THAT IT BE READ A THIRD TIME, PASSED,

THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID ON THE TABLE WITH NO

INTERVENING ACTION OR DEBATE AND ANY STATEMENTS RELATED TO THIS

MATTER BE PLACED IN THE RECORD AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE AS IF

GIVEN.

{16:53:03 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE AN OBJECTION?

{16:53:05 NSP} (MR. KYL) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. KYL: MR. PRESIDENT, RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT.

{16:53:09 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.

{16:53:11 NSP} (MR. KYL) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. KYL: I HAD ASKED THE DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY LEADER IF I

REQUESTED AN AMENDMENT TO HIS REQUEST TO ADD A PIECE OF

LEGISLATION THAT HE AND I BOTH SUPPORT, WHETHER HE WOULD HAVE

TO OBJECT TO THAT, AND I PRESUME HIS ANSWER IS THAT HE WOULD

HAVE TO OBJECT, AND AS A RESULT, RATHER THAN DOING THAT AND

FORCING HIM TO OBJECT, I’LL SIMPLY POSE MY OBJECTION AT THIS

TIME.

{16:53:36 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD.

This evening Senator Reid asked consent to vote on passage of S.3576 (Paul Foreign Aid bill), with a 60-vote threshold; S.J.Res.41 (Iran Containment), and H.J.Res.117 (CR), with a 60-vote threshold. Senator Kyl objected on behalf of Senator McCain.

Senator Reid then asked consent to go to conference on a bill extending the 2001, 2003, and 2009 tax cuts for 98% of Americans and 97% of all small businesses (H.R.8/S.3412). Senator Kyl asked Senator Reid to modify his request to take up and pass H.R.8, extends all of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. Senator Reid declined to modify his request and Senator Kyl objected to the Leader’s request.

Senator Reid then asked consent to pass H.R.9, as amended by S.3521, the Family and Business Tax Cut Certainty Act of 2012. Senator Kyl asked Senator Reid to modify his request to add the text of H.R.8 to the Leader’s request. Senator Reid declined to modify his request and Senator Kyl objected to Senator Reid’s request.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Murray substitute amendment #2789 to S.3457, the Veterans Jobs Corps Act: Not Waived: 58-40

2)      Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.J.Res.117, Continuing Resolution: Invoked: 76-22

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.562, designating the week beginning September 10, 2012 and ending on September 14, 2012 as “National Health Information Technology Week” to recognize the value of health information technology in improving health quality.

Adopted S.Res.563, Designating December 3, 2012, as “National Phenylketonuria Awareness Day”.

Adopted S.Res.564, designating the month of October 2012 as “National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month”.

Adopted S.Res.565, expressing support for the designation of October 20, 2012, as the “National Day on Writing”.

Adopted S.Res.566, designating September 29, 2012, as “National Estuaries Day”.

Adopted S.Res.567, Honoring the life and career of George Hickman.

Adopted S.Res.568, designating the week of September 16, 2012, as “National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week”.

Adopted S.Res.569, Designating the week beginning October 21, 2012, as “National Character Counts Week”.

Adopted S.Res.570, Designating November 8, 2012, as “National Parents as Teachers Day”.

Discharged the Foreign Relations Committee and adopted S.Res.557, a resolution honoring the contributions of Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari as Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and in promoting the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Tibetan people.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.3576, Limitation on Foreign Assistance. (Paul)

Completed the Rule 14 process of H.R.5949, the FISA Amendments Extension Act.  (Republican request)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

————————————————————————————————–

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on September 19, 2012.

http://www.houselive.gov/

House hearings …below

10:00 am Hearing: Examining the Role of Rwanda in the DRC InsurgencyCommittee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights
11:00 am Hearing: Trade Adjustment Assistance for U.S. Firms: Evaluating Program Effectiveness and RecommendationsCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee
2:30 pm Hearing: The Economic Impact of Ending or Reducing Funding for the American Community Survey and other Government StatisticsJoint Economic Committee: