March 2013
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3/20/13 — H.R.933, the Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, as amended; Passed: 73-26

The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:00am on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will resume consideration of S.Con.Res.8, a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2014, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2013, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2015 through 2023.
When the Senate convenes on Thursday, there will be 34 hours remaining for debate on the budget resolution, equally divided and controlled between the Chair and Ranking Member of the Budget Committee.

The Senate has resumed consideration of S.Con.Res.8, the Budget resolution. Senator Reid reiterated his intention that the Senate will be in session until we complete the Budget resolution and that could mean being in session all night Friday night or whatever it takes. Senators should plan accordingly.

Senator Sessions made a motion to recommit S.Con.Res.8 back to the Committee on the Budget with instructions to report back no later than March 22, 2013 with such changes as may be necessary to achieve unified budget balance by Fiscal Year 2023.

Motions to recommit are debatable for up to 1 hour, equally divided, and are amendable in two degrees. Each amendment to a motion is debatable for 1 hour each and equally divided. It would take consent to return to the resolution side of the amendment tree to offer amendments to the resolution.

When a vote time is set, another message will be sent.

At 3:45pm today, there will be up to 60 minutes of debate equally divided between Senators Klobuchar and Coats, or their designees, for a report on the economic goals and policy under section 305(b) of the Congressional Budget Act.

We believe to be close to locking in an agreement that would result in a series of up to 5 roll call votes in the 8pm range tonight. When an agreement is reached and vote time is set, I will send another message.

Up to 5 votes around 8pm tonight:

– Sessions motion to recommit (budget balance by 2023)

– Murray #433 (Paul Ryan Budget)

– Hatch #297 (medical device repeal)

– Stabenow #432 (vouchers)

– Grassley #156 (reserve fund-tax reform)

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in a series of 5 votes at 8:10pm tonight, 6 votes at 11am tomorrow, and provides for the commencement of the so-called vote-a-rama around 3pm tomorrow. All votes after the first vote tonight will be 10 minutes in duration with 2 minutes for debate equally divided between each vote. No amendments are in order to the amendments or motion in this agreement prior to the votes in relation to the amendment. Following the votes tonight, the remainder of tonight’s session will be for debate only on the Budget resolution.

Up to 5 votes at 8:10pm tonight:

– Sessions motion to recommit (budget balance by 2023)

– Murray #433 (Paul Ryan Budget)

– Hatch #297 (medical device repeal)

– Stabenow #432 (vouchers)

– Grassley #156 (reserve fund-tax reform)

Up to 6 votes at 11am tomorrow:

– Mikulski #431 (equal pay)

– Ayotte #158 (prohibits budget with revenue increase while unemployment is above 5.5%)

– Cruz #202 (reserve fund to repeal PPACA and Education reconciliation)

– Murray #439 (side by side to Crapo PPACA)

– Crapo #222 (reserve fund re: repeal tax increase under PPACA for low and middle income Americans)

– Shaheen #438 (women’s health)

2 hours for debate

Vote-a-rama!

– Democratic amendment

– Republican alternative to Shaheen (women’s health)

Text of the agreement is as follows:

Leader: I ask unanimous consent that the pending motion be set aside and the following amendments to S.Con.Res.8 be called up:

– Murray #433;

– Hatch #297;

– Stabenow #432;

– Grassley #156;

– Mikulski #431;

– Ayotte #158;

– Cruz #202;

– Murray #439;

– Crapo #222; and

– Shaheen #438.

That the time until 8:10pm be equally divided between the two managers, or their designees, prior to votes in relation to the Sessions motion and the first four amendments listed; that all after the first vote this evening be 10 minute votes; that there be two minutes equally divided in the usual form prior to each vote; that no amendments be in order to the motion or any of the amendments prior to the votes in relation to these items; that following the votes this evening, the remainder of today’s session be for debate only on the concurrent resolution; further, that when the Senate convenes at 9am on Friday, March 22^nd, the Senate resume consideration of S.Con.Res.8 with the time until 11am equally divided between the two managers, or their designees; that at 11am, the Senate proceed to votes in relation to the remaining amendments listed above; that there be two minutes equally divided prior to each vote and all after the first vote in this sequence be ten minute votes; that upon disposition of the last amendment listed, there be two hours equally divided between the two managers, or their designees, remaining on the concurrent resolution; finally, the next amendment in order be an amendment from the Majority side to be followed by a Republican alternative to Shaheen #438.

8:10pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Sessions motion to recommit (budget balance by 2023)

Not Agreed to: 46-53

8:52pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Hatch amendment #297 (medical device repeal)

Agreed to: 79-20

9:10pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Stabenow amendment #432 (Medicare vouchers);

Agreed To: 96-3

9:28pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Grassley amendment #156 (reserve fund-tax reform).

Not Agreed To: 45-54

This will be the last vote of the night. The next votes will occur at 11am tomorrow.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

– Sessions motion to recommit (budget balance by 2023); Not Agreed To: 46-53

– Murray #433 (Paul Ryan Budget); Not Agreed To: 40-59

– Hatch #297 (medical device repeal); Agreed To: 79-20

– Stabenow #432 (vouchers); Agreed To: 96-3

– Grassley #156 (strikes tax reconciliation/establishes reserve fund-tax reform); Not Agreed To: 45-54

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.88, a resolution providing for Members on the part of the Senate of the Joint Committee on Printing and the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library.

Adopted S.Res.89, Designating March 25, 2013, as “National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day”

Adopted H.Con.Res.18, authorizing the use of the Capital Grounds for the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service-May 15, 2013.

Adopted H.Con.Res.19, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby-June 15, 2013.

Passed S.540, to designate the air route control center located in Nashua, New Hampshire, as the “Patricia Clark Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center”.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013. (Reid)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

——————————————————————————————————

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on March 21, 2013.

9:00:24 A.M.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

9:00:28 A.M.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Jeff Miller to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

9:00:45 A.M.

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

9:02:25 A.M.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Speaker announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Olson demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Speaker announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Olson objected to the voice vote and made a point of no quorum and the Speaker announced that further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the approval of the Journal would be postponed until later in the legislative day. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.

9:03:01 A.M.

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

9:03:32 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 March 20, 2013 at 8:22 p.m. stating that that body had passed H.R. 933 with amendments.

9:03:51 A.M.

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.

9:19:52 A.M.

ORDER OF PROCEDURE – Mr. Rogers (KY) asked unanimous consent that the Speaker may postpone further proceedings on the motion to concur in the Senate amendments to H.R. 933 as though under clause 8(a)(1)(A) of rule 20. Agreed to without objection.

9:20:10 A.M.

H.R. 933

Pursuant to a previous special order the House moved to agree to the Senate amendments.

9:20:57 A.M.

H.R. 933

DEBATE – Pursuant to a previous special order, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on the Senate amendments to H.R. 933.

9:50:46 A.M.

H.R. 933

The previous question was ordered pursuant to a previous special order.

9:51:00 A.M.

H.R. 933

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Senate amendments to H.R. 933, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the Senate amendments and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Lowey requested the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until later in the legislative day.

9:54:54 A.M.

H. Con. Res. 25

Considered as unfinished business. H. Con. Res. 25 — “Establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2014 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2015 through 2023.”

9:55:25 A.M.

H. Con. Res. 25

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

9:55:43 A.M.

H. Con. Res. 25

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with further debate on H. Con. Res. 25.

10:10:52 A.M.

H. Con. Res. 25

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H. Con. Res. 25.

10:11:34 A.M.

H. Con. Res. 25

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

10:44:34 A.M.

H. Con. Res. 25

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 221 – 207 (Roll no. 88). 10Rs voted against the Ryan Budget

10:44:34 A.M.

H. Con. Res. 25

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

10:44:46 A.M.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the motion to concur in the Senate amendments to H.R. 933.

10:54:37 A.M.

H.R. 933

On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 318 – 109 (Roll no. 89).

10:54:38 A.M.

H.R. 933

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

10:55:15 A.M.

On approving the Journal Agreed to by voice vote.

10:56:06 A.M.

Mr. Westmoreland asked unanimous consent That when the House adjourns on Thursday, March 21, 2013, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 25, 2013. Agreed to without objection.

10:58:29 A.M.

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission – Pursuant to section 4(c) of H. Res. 5, 113th Congress the Speaker appointed the following member of the House to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission: Mr. Wolf.

11:00:54 A.M.

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

11:14:20 A.M.

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

1:27:06 P.M.		Mr. King (IA) moved that the House do now adjourn.
1:27:17 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
1:27:38 P.M.		The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 25, 2013.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

President Obama and Women’s History Month

03/20/2013 Nativegrl77

President Obama delivers remarks at a Women’s History Month reception at the White House. March 18, 2013.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

U.S. Capitol Rally – Black Communities for Immigrant Justice : Wednesday 3/20

03/20/2013 Nativegrl77

Please join The Black Institute, Churches United to Save and Heal, and the Black Immigration Network for a historic rally and congressional briefing on Black Immigration.

Transportation to and from Washington provided.

Please reserve your seat TODAY. Click the flyer to go to the event page.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Wreckless

03/20/2013 Nativegrl77

By ThinkProgress War Room

The Heavy Toll of the Iraq War

Today is one anniversary that is definitely not cause for celebration. Ten years ago today, President George W. Bush made the fateful decision to launch the unnecessary Iraq War.

The consequences of this decision have been overwhelming. A new report estimates that the Iraq War will end up costing American taxpayers at least $2.2 TRILLION, but perhaps as much as $4 TRILLION with interest since Bush put the war on the national credit card at the same he slashed taxes on the wealthy.

(Incidentally, $4 TRILLION is the total amount of deficit reduction that President Obama is seeking, including about $2 TRILLION in the current round of negotiations in order to replace the sequester and stabilize our long-term debt.)

The bill for the war may be large, but the human cost of the Iraq War is even more staggering. It’s estimated that 200,000 people, civilians and soldiers alike, were killed as a result of the war. A million other Iraqis were displaced by the conflict.

These topline figures are just the beginning. Our ThinkProgress colleagues outline five ways the U.S. is worse off because of the Iraq War:

1. The debt

At the start of the war, the Bush administration predicted that it would cost around $50-60 billion in total. They were wrong by more than a factor of ten, sending the U.S.’ debt soaring, a condition that has yet to be rectified. According to a recent study, the war is set to have cost the U.S $2.2 trillion, though that number may reach up to $4 trillion thanks to interest payments on the loans taken out to finance the conflict. Of that staggering amount, at least $10 billion of it was completely wasted in rebuilding efforts.

2. The physical and psychological strain on U.S. troops.

The soldiers charged with fighting the war were stretched to their limits, put through multiple tours, with increasing length of time overseas as the war stretched on and shrinking downtime in between each. All-told, over 4,000 U.S. troops died during the country’s time in Iraq, with another 31,000 wounded in action. In the aftermath, the cost of providing medical care to veterans has doubled, adding to the difficulties faced by those who served. Up to 35 percent of Iraq War veterans will suffer from PTSD according to a 2009 study, while the suicide rate among veterans has jumped to 22 per day.

3. The forgotten war in Afghanistan.

Even worse, the war in Iraq caused the U.S. to take its eye off the ball in Afghanistan. Rather than following through, the Bush administration allowed the country to stagnate, prompting a Taliban resurgence beginning in 2004. As the West focused almost exclusively on Iraq, Taliban fighters imported tactics seen in Iraq to great effect, keeping the Afghan government weak and U.S.-led NATO forces on their heels. The result: the United States is still attempting to tamp down on Taliban momentum today.

4. The opportunity costs.

Aside from missed opportunities in Afghanistan, the Iraq War-effort was all-consuming, pulling resources from all other areas of U.S. defense policy. Relationships with key allies were allowed to grow stale and U.S. prestige around the world plummeted. Fighting in Iraq was realized to be a diversion from combating al Qaeda, drawing funding that could have gone towards a litany of other efforts to effectively counter terrorism.

5. The strengthening of Iran and al Qaeda.

The power vacuum left after the fall of Saddam and the lack of adequate U.S. forces left room for U.S. adversaries to fill the void. Counter to what some still believe, Al Qaeda had no presence in Iraq prior to 2003. Instead, it was only in the post-Saddam climate that they gained a foothold in the form of Al Qaeda in Iraq. The group continues to carry out attacks against civilians to this day, keeping the Iraqi government on edge.

In the end, it was not the United States that gained the most strategically from invading Iraq, but the Shiite-dominated Islamic Republic of Iran. In removing Saddam Hussein’s predominantly Sunni regime from power, the U.S. opened the door to a greater Iranian influence in the region. That influence has been seen playing out counter to U.S. interests in situations such as allowing Iranian planes bearing weapons for Syria to cross Iraqi airspace.

Given that we know now that the war was launched on false premises and have witnessed what has happened since, you’d think the architects of the war would at least admit they wrong or express some regret. You’d be wrong.

Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld took to Twitter today to pat himself on back:

“10 yrs ago began the long, difficult work of liberating 25 mil Iraqis. All who played a role in history deserve our respect & appreciation.”

Richard Perle argued in an opinion piece earlier this week that it was still right to have removed Saddam Hussein, even though he had no Weapons of Mass Destruction. Top war architect Paul Wolfowitz acknowledged that things “spiraled out of control,” but blamed others and argued that things would’ve been different if the war had been prosecuted his way (it was, incidentally).

Astonishingly, the American Enterprise Institute’s Danielle Pletka even went so far this week as to argue that the mess in Iraq is really President Obama’s fault. This view was echoed yesterday by Fouad Ajami, a conservative intellectual close to Wolfowitz and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who also criticized Obama for ending “an honorable war.”

It appears that the American people are smarter, or at least more honest, than the neocons who led us into perhaps the worst foreign policy blunder in American history. Polls out this week show that a majority of Americans believe the Iraq War was not worth fighting.

Check out our complete timeline of the Iraq War. For more on the true costs of the Iraq War, please see our updated Iraq War Ledger.