Daily Archives: 09/12/2013

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Celebrating America’s Future


AmericasFuture

Only 6 Days left to get Early Bird Discount

On Nov. 6, join Sen. Elizabeth Warren and the Campaign for America’s Future to honor Margery Tabankin, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, and Leo Gerard in Washington, D.C.

Celebrating America’s Future:  2013 Awards Gala

                                                                    Campaign for America’s Future                                

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM (EST)

Washington, DC

As a friend of Campaign for America’s Future, we’d like to offer the opportunity to you buy tickets at a substantial discount.

Don’t miss your chance to honor our progressive heroes and be in the company of actiivists, labor organizers and policy makers who are the future of our movement. As usual, there will be surprise guests.

Don’t hesitate. There are only six days left for discount tickets. We can’t wait to see you there.

Click here to purchase early bird tickets.

Sincerely,


Roger Hickey
Co-Director, Campaign for America’s Future

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Paying customers left behind by Peter Pan Buses


                                      Click on Photo for more information

  By Cristina Moon
                                                Providence, Rhode Island

Earlier this summer, I waited in 90 degree heat for a Peter Pan bus from Providence, RI to New York, NY. Not only was the bus late, five passengers including myself were left behind because there weren’t any seats left on the bus — even though we had bought our tickets hours, if not days, in advance! The relief bus we were promised never showed, we were never guaranteed seats on the next scheduled bus, and nobody from Peter Pan ever contacted any of us to apologize, offer our money back or guarantee us a ride to New York.

I started this petition because it’s not just bad customer service to oversell buses — the practice exploits people who don’t have the resources to walk away and book another ride with a different bus company. Please sign my petition calling on Peter Pan to immediately stop overselling its buses and guarantee passengers a seat on the buses they’ve paid for. I know that if enough people in the northeast US make enough noise, Peter Pan will want to make the changes necessary to avoid damaging their brand.

Throughout my experience with Peter Pan, I was shocked at how the bus company disregarded the needs of passengers it had left stranded. The driver of the full bus told us that Dispatch was sending a relief bus, and that it would be there within 30 minutes. But the relief bus was canceled and nobody ever contacted us to let us know — even though there’s a Peter Pan representative inside Providence’s Kennedy Plaza bus station and I had been tweeting at Peter Pan since the moment we weren’t able to get on the original bus.

While I was fighting for a refund of my fare in the following weeks, Peter Pan’s customer service later told me that seating is “first come first serve” — but nowhere on any of the documentation I received from them (an email receipt or my actual ticket) is this stated.

Corporate practices like these harm and exploit the most vulnerable — people who don’t have the money or a smartphone to just walk away and choose another bus line. I want Peter Pan to stop this practice of overselling buses now, and guarantee their customers a seat on the buses they’ve paid for.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Small business and ACA
Calvin W. Goings Regional Administrator Calvin W. Goings

The Affordable Care Act, Part 3

The U.S. Small Business Administration is committed to educating small business owners about the facts surrounding the Affordable Care Act, so that you can make an informed decision about what makes sense for your business – including whether you choose to apply for a tax credit.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, small businesses are benefitting from improved accountability and affordability in the health insurance market. As you prepare for the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplaces to begin open enrollment on October 1, it is important that small businesses, who offer health insurance to their employees, remember that you may also be eligible for a tax credit. This can significantly offset the cost of providing insurance, by crediting a percentage of small business owners’ premium contributions.

Through 2013, to qualify for a small business tax credit of up to 35 percent (up to 25 percent for non-profits) of your premium contributions, you must meet all of the following criteria:

·         Have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees

·         Pay average annual wages below $50,000

·         And, contribute 50 percent or more toward your employees’ self-only health insurance premiums.

Beginning in January 2014, this tax credit increases to 50 percent (35 percent for non-profits) and will be available to small businesses who meet the criteria listed above and who purchase coverage through the new SHOP Marketplaces (also known as Exchanges). This enhanced credit can be claimed for any two consecutive taxable years beginning in 2014 (or beginning in a later year) through the SHOP.

To determine whether your small business or tax exempt organization qualifies for the credit, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers a helpful step-by-step guide. Visit http://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/ and search for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit. If you have additional questions about the tax credit, or need assistance completing the necessary forms, call the IRS Business Help Line at 1-800-829-4933.

Once you’ve determined that you qualify for the credit, your tax professional can help guide you through the necessary steps to claim the credit which include:

·         Carrying the credit back or forward to other tax years.

·         Obtaining a refundable credit if you are a tax-exempt employer. (Note this is a federal tax credit. You may also be eligible for additional health care tax credits from your state.)

·         Using Form 8941, Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums, to calculate the credit. It’s also important to know that eligible small employers can claim the credit and still take a business expense deduction for the remainder of their premium contributions.

The Affordable Care Act allows small employers to offer health coverage in a way that makes sense for their business and works for their bottom line, and the SBA is committed to leveraging our resources and federal partnerships to connect you with the facts and resources you need to understand the law.

To learn more, visit www.sba.gov/healthcare.
Black History

~~ the Senate ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House


capitol33

The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Thursday, September 12, 2013. Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business for one hour with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1392, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act.

Senator Vitter proposed two unanimous consent requests and Senator Wyden objected to both.

Request to call up several amendments and vote on Vitter amendment and side-by-side

Senator Vitter asked unanimous consent that the amendments listed below be made pending:

That on Tuesday, September 17, at a time to be determined jointly by the Majority and Minority Leaders, there be 60 minutes for debate equally divided between Senators Wyden and Vitter. That the only amendment in order to the Vitter amendment be one offered by the Majority Leader or his designee, both subject to debate under the time limit on the Vitter amendment. That no points of order be in order to these two amendments. That upon the expiration of the debate time the Senate proceed to vote on the Vitter amendment and any pending amendments, with the amendment and any amendments to it be subject to a 60-vote threshold to be agreed to.

Senator Wyden objected.

Senator Vitter later said he would add Blumenthal amendment #1878 (commercial building energy code study) to the list.

Request to vote on Vitter bill with no amendments in order

Senator Vitter asked unanimous consent to withdraw the Vitter amendment #1866 (this doesn’t make sense because the amendment isn’t pending) and that on Wednesday, September 25 at 3:00pm, the Senate discharge the relevant committees from consideration of his bill (didn’t specify bill number), the no exemption for Washington from Obamacare Act, and proceed to consideration of that bill, and that without any intervening motions or debate, the Senate proceed to 60 minutes of debate on that bill, evenly divided and controlled by the Majority Leader and Senator Vitter, and that the bill not be subject to any amendments or motions to commit, and that after debate has expired, the bill be read a third time, and the Senate immediately vote on final passage, and that the motion to reconsider be made and laid upon the table.

Senator Wyden objected.

Senator Franken asked unanimous consent to call up  Franken amendment #1855 (energy information for commercial buildings).

Senator Vitter objected.

Senator Sanders asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up Sanders amendment #1915 (State residential building energy efficiency upgrades loan pilot program).

Senator Vitter reserved his right to object and asked unanimous consent that the amendments listed below be made pending:

That on Tuesday, September 17, at a time to be determined jointly by the Majority and Minority Leaders, there be 60 minutes for debate equally divided between Senators Wyden and Vitter. That the only amendment in order to the Vitter amendment be one offered by the Majority Leader or his designee, both subject to debate under the time limit on the Vitter amendment. That no points of order be in order to these two amendments. That upon the expiration of the debate time the Senate proceed to vote on the Vitter amendment and any pending amendments, with the amendment and any amendments to it be subject to a 60-vote threshold to be agreed to.

Senator Wyden objected.

Senator Vitter then asked consent to vote on his bill next week with no amendments or motions in order.

Senator Wyden objected.

Finally, Senator Vitter objected to Senator Sanders’ original request.

Request to vote on Vitter bill with no amendments in order

Senator Vitter asked unanimous consent to withdraw the Vitter amendment #1866 (this doesn’t make sense because the amendment isn’t pending) and that on Wednesday, September 25 at 3:00pm, the Senate discharge the relevant committees from consideration of his bill (didn’t specify bill number), the no exemption for Washington from Obamacare Act, and proceed to consideration of that bill, and that without any intervening motions or debate, the Senate proceed to 60 minutes of debate on that bill, evenly divided and controlled by the Majority Leader and Senator Vitter, and that the bill not be subject to any amendments or motions to commit, and that after debate has expired, the bill be read a third time, and the Senate immediately vote on final passage, and that the motion to reconsider be made and laid upon the table.

Senator Gillibrand asked consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up Gillibrand amendment #1860 (disaster relief/emergency assistance for energy efficiency products). Senator Vitter also objected to calling up her amendment and asked consent to call up a series of amendments, and vote on his health care amendment and an alternative. Senator Wyden objected to his request. He then  asked the same consent he’s asked several times today to vote on his bill with no amendments in order. Senator Wyden objected to this request. Finally, Senator Vitter objected to Gillibrand’s original request.

The Senate is in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

No LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #219, the nomination of Victoria Nuland, of VA, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (European and Eurasian Affairs).

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September 2013
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House Floor Activities Legislative Day of September 12, 2013

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