6 Things Americans Did Not Vote for in 2012

Tomorrow, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) will release the latest version of his infamous Republican budget plan — you know, the one that ends Medicare as we know it. As we await this plan, it’s worth considering a few things that voters did not choose in the 2012 election.

Paul Ryan: In selecting Ryan as his running mate, Mitt Romney put Ryan and his ideas front-and-center in the election. Voters said thanks but no thanks to Ryan and his radical ideas. Ryan even lost his hometown of Janesville, Wisconsin.
A Republican House of Representatives: President Obama was easily re-elected and Democrats expanded their majority in the Senate, so why are we stuck with a GOP-controlled House of Representatives? Gerrymandering. Democratic House candidates won more than a million more votes than Republican candidates, but districts drawn by Republicans for Republicans allowed the GOP to hold on to their majority. This isn’t even disputed by the Republicans. In fact, they brag about it.
The Middle Class Footing the Bill: The centerpiece of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan’s economic proposal was a tax plan that raised taxes on the poor and middle class in order to slash taxes for the wealthy. By contrast, President Obama proposed raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans. The GOP budget’s tax proposals is nearly identical to the Romney-Ryan plan rejected by voters in November.
Ending Medicare: Mitt Romney not only chose Paul Ryan, he wholeheartedly embraced Ryan’s controversial plan to end Medicare as we know it and replace it with a voucher system that stands to double seniors’ out-of-pocket health care costs. Romney and Ryan lost key states with senior-heavy populations, including Florida, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and New Hampshire.
Repealing Obamacare: Not only did voters not vote for the team that wanted to repeal Obamacare, Mitt Romney says that the president won because of Obamacare. Nevertheless, the GOP budget plan to be unveiled tomorrow will once again call for repealing Obamacare — except for its $716 BILLION in savings from Medicare. Despite demonizing the president for the cuts throughout the campaign, Ryan’s plan keeps those cuts in order to to pay for new tax breaks for the wealthy and special interests like Big Oil and Wall Street banks.
European-Style Austerity: Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan proposed unrealistic draconian spending cuts, while the president proposed investments that will create jobs now and grow the middle class and our economy over the long run. The American people rejected the former and gave an Electoral College landslide to the latter. Nevertheless, the GOP budget plan will feature the kind of unrealistic draconian spending cuts that will make it impossible to make investments in the middle class.The GOP plan will slow down the economy and kill hundreds of thousands of jobs. It’s the same kind of austerity that has led to shrinking economies and record-high unemployment in Europe. Austerity isn’t working there and it won’t work here.

BOTTOM LINE: Paul Ryan and his policies were soundly rejected by voters last November. Instead of doubling down on extreme and unpopular ideas like ending Medicare as we know it and raising taxes on the middle class in order to slash taxes on the wealthy, Republicans should come back to the table and agree to deal with our fiscal challenges in a responsible, balanced manner.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

Key senators reach agreement on path to earned citizenship.

After watering down Wall Street reform, former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) becomes bank lobbyist.

GOP senator takes credit for anti-rape law he voted against.

Awash in profits, corporations shift even more money to tax havens.

The ridiculously biased and incorrect text books approved under Bobby Jindal’s education reform.

GOP hypocrisy on including Obama policies in their budget exposed.

Top GOP strategist: GOP “doesn’t give equal opportunity to women.”

What Paul Ryan really means when he says “pro-growth tax reform.”

The good news about human nature: most people aren’t jerks.

~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

03/12/2013 Nativegrl77

Green Planet, Inc. Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of One Lot of “Night Bullet,” a Product Marketed as a Dietary Supplement to Support Male Sexual Performance, Due to Undeclared, Potentially Hazardous Active Ingredient

03/11/2013 05:48 PM EDT

Green Planet, Inc. is conducting a voluntary consumer recall of a product sold as a dietary supplement under the brand name of “Night Bullet,” found to contain trace amounts of an analogue of an FDA-approved drug. Finished product of Night Bullet was tested and found to contain trace amounts of an analogue of an FDA-approved drug.

Diggin’ Your Dog Recalls Strippin’ Chicks Pet Treats Due to Possible Salmonella Hazard

03/08/2013 04:45 PM EST

Diggin’ Your Dog™ announced today that they are voluntarily withdrawing one lot of its Strippin’ Chicks™ Pet Treats produced on 8-30-12 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The sample was obtained in Colorado and the company has accounted for its distribution in Colorado of this lot.

Diggin’ Your Dog Recalls Strippin’ Chicks Pet Treats Distributed in Colorado and Nevada Due to Possible Salmonella Hazard

03/08/2013 04:45 PM EST

Diggin’ Your Dog announced today that they are voluntarily withdrawing one lot of its Strippin’ Chicks Pet Treats produced on 8-30-12 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The sample was obtained in Colorado and the company has accounted for its distribution in Colorado of this lot.

Premium Edge, Diamond Naturals and 4health Dry Cat Food Formulas Voluntarily Recalled Due to Possibility of Low Levels of Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

03/11/2013 10:21 AM EDT

Diamond Pet Foods is voluntarily recalling limited production codes of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat Formula dry cat food, Premium Edge Senior Cat Hairball Management Formula dry cat food, Premium Edge Kitten Formula dry cat food, Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula dry cat food and 4health All Life Stages Cat Formula dry cat food. Tests conducted by the company indicated the products might have a low level of thiamine (Vitamin B1).

Black History

CONGRESS: Republicans :::::: The Vatican vote rules :::::: Democrats

03/12/2013 Nativegrl77

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The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 12:30pm with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Majority controlling the first 30 minutes and the Republicans controlling the second 30 minutes.
The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:30pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
Chairwoman Mikulski and Ranking Member Shelby are expected to make their opening statements around 11:00am on H.R.933, the continuing appropriations bill.
We expect to begin consideration of the bill following the recess for the caucus meetings.

Prior to the caucus recess, Senator Reid moved to proceed to H.R.933, Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013.

We expect to adopt the motion to proceed this afternoon. Once we begin consideration of the bill, Senator Mikulski plans to offer a substitute amendment that includes separate divisions for the Fiscal Year 2013 Agriculture; Commerce, Justice and Science; Defense; Homeland Security; and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Acts.

The Senate stands in recess until 2:30pm.

We have been unable to reach an agreement to begin consideration of H.R.933, Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013. As a result of this impasse, Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion. We will continue to work to adopt the motion to proceed tomorrow. If we are unable to adopt the motion, the cloture vote would occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Thursday.

The Senate is in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no roll call votes tonight.

No ROLL CALL VOTES

No LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

.Last Floor Action:
8:10:14 P.M. – The House adjourned. The
next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 13, 2013.

12:00:19 P.M.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

12:00:28 P.M.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Jackie Walorski to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

12:00:52 P.M.

12:00:19 P.M.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

12:00:28 P.M.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Jackie Walorski to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

12:00:52 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.

12:18:16 P.M.

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

2:00:41 P.M.

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 12.

2:00:50 P.M.

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.

2:02:17 P.M.

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

2:02:22 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mrs. Beatty to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

2:02:56 P.M.

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

2:15:24 P.M.

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II 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 March 12, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. stating that that body had passed S. 166 and that the Senate had agreed to H. Con. Res. 14 and H. Con. Res. 20 without amendment. The message also stated that the Senate had made appointments to the Senate National Security Working Group and the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress.

2:16:08 P.M.

The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification that the national emergency with respect to Iran shall continue beyond March 15, 2013. – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs andordered to be printed (H. Doc. 113-15).

2:17:53 P.M.

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for approximately 5:00 P.M. today.

5:00:00 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 12.
5:01:47 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
5:02:00 P.M.	H.R. 749	Mr. Luetkemeyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 749 — “To amend the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to provide an exception to the annual privacy notice requirement.”
5:02:27 P.M.	H.R. 749	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:02:29 P.M.	H.R. 749	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 749.
5:12:19 P.M.	H.R. 749	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
5:12:25 P.M.	H.R. 749	<aMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:12:47 P.M.	H.R. 1035	Mr. Luetkemeyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1035 — “To require a study of voluntary community-based flood insurance options and how such options could be incorporated into the national flood insurance program, and for other purposes.”
5:13:36 P.M.	H.R. 1035	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:13:38 P.M.	H.R. 1035	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1035.
5:20:40 P.M.	H.R. 1035	At 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.
5:21:11 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.
6:30:00 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 12.
6:32:08 P.M.		Mr. Bishop (UT) filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 107.
6:32:53 P.M.		The House received a communication from The Honorable Mike Rogers (MI). Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Chairman Rogers notified the House that the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence had been served with a criminal trial subpoena for documents, issued by the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and that after consolation with the Office of General Counsel, the Committee had determined under Rule VIII that the documents sought are not “material and relevant,” and that the subpoena is not “consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.”
6:33:15 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on motions to suspend the rules which were debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:33:39 P.M.	H.R. 1035	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1035 — “To require a study of voluntary community-based flood insurance options and how such options could be incorporated into the national flood insurance program, and for other purposes.”
6:56:24 P.M.	H.R. 1035	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 397 – 17 (Roll no. 63).
6:56:25 P.M.	H.R. 1035	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:56:54 P.M.		The House received a communication from The Honorable Ted Poe. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Congressman Poe notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena, issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, purporting to require certain responses to a questionnaire in connection with a civil case and that after consolation with the Office of General Counsel, he had determined under Rule VIII that the subpoena sought information that is not “material and relevant,” and not “consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.”
6:59:56 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
8:10:05 P.M.		Mr. Garamendi moved that the House do now adjourn.
8:10:13 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
8:10:14 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 13, 2013.

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.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Not on my campus

03/11/2013 Nativegrl77

A horribly abusive private prison company wants to put its name on a stadium on my college campus — Florida Atlantic University. I don’t think my school should help a notorious company whitewash its name.

Sign Gonzalo’s Petition

Gonzalo Vizcardo via Change.org

The private prison company the GEO Group has been found to run some of the most disgusting prisons in America. One judge called a GEO prison a “cesspool of unconstitutional and inhuman acts and conditions” — places where children were placed in solitary confinement, guards sexually assaulted inmates, and prisoners regularly attempted suicide.

The GEO Group makes $1 billion a year running private prisons like these — and now they want to spend some of that money to put their name on a stadium on my college campus, Florida Atlantic University.

This is not okay with me. I’m a student at FAU, and I will not see my university help a notorious prison corporation whitewash its name on the side of the tallest and most prominent building on my campus, which can be seen from the highly-trafficked I-95 highway and from the many office buildings and residential neighborhoods near my university.

I started a petition on Change.org calling on FAU’s President and Board of Trustees to reverse their deal with the GEO Group to license naming rights for a stadium on campus — will you click here to sign?

Private prisons are hugely problematic, because they run prisons based on profits, not what’s best for prisoners or for society. For example, an NPR investigation in 2011 found that GEO Group prisons have far fewer guards than government-run prisons. Prisoners have even died waiting for medical attention.

In fact, the GEO Group’s prisons are so bad that the state of Mississippi kicked them out of the state entirely, as did Australia in 2003. I don’t want their name on my university’s stadium if an entire state and country kicked them out.

Students and professors on campus are angry — we’ve staged protests at the university president’s office, and she’s even agreed to meet with us this Friday. I know that if enough people sign my petition, she and the Board of Trustees will see that giving the GEO Group good PR isn’t worth all the bad PR they’ll get for making this deal.

Click here to sign my petition calling on FAU’s President and Board of Trustees to reverse their deal with the GEO Group to put their name on the side of a stadium on campus.

Thank you,

Gonzalo Vizcardo Lake Worth, Florida

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Toxic Democracy

03/11/2013 Nativegrl77

Corporations don’t have a vote.
But when Chevron dumped $2.5 million into a super PAC devoted solely to running negative ads against environmentally-friendly congressional candidates, it exercised the kind of influence over our political system that few voters could ever dream of having.For Chevron, it was a business investment, an investment in congressional hard-liners who refuse to cut corporate welfare subsidies and ignore the overwhelming scientific evidence that suggests we are heading towards catastrophic climate change. Members who side with Chevron and Big Oil on such issues demonstrate by their actions that they would rather prop up the companies’ short-sighted, record-breaking profits than leave their grandchildren a livable planet.Chevron must be held accountable.

Demand that Chevron keep its corporate profits out of We the People’s politics.

Why is Greenpeace involved? Because this sort of corporate meddling in elections is toxic to our democracy, and impedes our ability to pass any kind of comprehensive environmental legislation— including legislation to tackle climate change.

In Chevron’s case, it also appears to be illegal, according to a 90-page complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission by Public Citizen, with Greenpeace’s support.¹

Despite the Supreme Court’s abominable Citizens United ruling, Chevron’s political spending seems to have violated the law because Chevron is a federal contractor. Chevron has received government contracts worth more than $44 million since 2000. The Citizens United ruling didn’t eliminate the laws against bribery in federal contracting, which prohibit contractors like Chevron from directly or indirectly supporting candidates for elected office. Allowing Chevron to get away with this apparent violation would create a self-perpetuating cycle of corruption, in which corporations spend their money to elect candidates, who then reward the corporations with government contracts and other favors, which in turn generate more revenue to be spent on still more candidates— actively destroying our environment in the process.

Help Greenpeace & Public Citizen break the cycle and tell Chevron to keep its corrupting cash out of our democracy.

Thanks for all you do, Your friends at Greenpeace

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¹ http://www.citizen.org/chevron-fec-complaint-super-connected-report-update