Jordan Klepper discovers a chemical spill in West Virginia that led some conservatives to inexplicably begin supporting regulation of the chemical industry
Monthly Archives: May 2014
3 Major companies divest from private prisons !
We need better research tools to take on the private prison industry.
Please donate $20 to help us win more divestment victories:
Three companies—Scopia Capital, DSM, and Amica Mutual Insurance —have divested nearly $60 million from leading private prison companies CCA and GEO Group after ColorOfChange members like you urged executives to reconsider the moral, financial, and political risks of investing in for-profit prisons.1 This is the first time any corporations have publicly confirmed divestment and condemned the industry.
It’s a huge deal — and is great leverage to convince other companies to do the right thing and divest. But we need more precise information to keep winning. Key details on companies that support private prisons are buried in complicated financial documents that could take months to go through —time we don’t have. There are a number of programs that would give us the intel we need, but we can’t afford a subscription without your help.
Private prisons are one of the pre-eminent civil rights concerns of our time. The despicable profit motive of these companies leads to some of the most abusive and inhumane conditions in the country, which disproportionately harms Black and brown communities due to the discriminatory policies of the failed War on Drugs.2 Equipped with a strong lobbying arm, CCA and GEO Group push hard for criminal justice policy and lucrative contracts that allow them to turn a profit while torturing our families.
The unprecedented leadership of these three corporations sets a new national standard: private prisons are an unacceptable investment. We can now leverage this standard to move companies that remain invested to divest, but we need the most accurate data to move forward. For months, our small staff has been working hard to gather the most up-to-date information on what companies help to keep this industry alive, and then hold them accountable. So far, we have reached out to more than 150 companies and remain in conversation with dozens of executives about ending their support. Help us take this campaign to the next level.
Help give us the power and independence we need to win the movement to end private prisons.
Thanks and Peace,
–Rashad, Matt, Aimée, Lyla and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
May 9th, 2014
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Here Are The Answers For Their Benghazi Questions
Some other things I’ve read this week: Jane Mayer on Ronald Reagan’s Benghazi, Simon Maloy on David Gregory botching an interview with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Felix Salmon on the importance of journalism aimed at readers, Ned Resnikoff on the global implications of climate change, and Jordan Sargent on John Oliver’s new show. John Whitehouse Twitter: @existentialfish
Questions, Answered.
Where was President Obama that night? Why wasn’t more done militarily? These are a few of the legitimate questions about Benghazi — but conservatives are covering up that they’ve already been answered. Here are the answers to those questions and more: http://mm4a.org/1isFy0l Related: Why are conservatives pushing Benghazi? Because they’re using it to fundraise: http://mm4a.org/1hxcwxe
Obamacare Is Working
Two pieces of news deflated conservative fearmongering about Obamacare this week. A new poll showed a dramatic decrease in the number of uninsured Americans in 2014: http://mm4a.org/1fJXl8ARelated: Additionally, insurance companies reported that Obamacare enrollees are paying their premiums: http://mm4a.org/1uBipSV
CBS Has A Credibility Problem
A report raised new questions about 60 Minutes‘ Benghazi story and subsequent review, including that Lara Logan reportedly consulted with a Republican Senator, which was never disclosed. Media Matters founder David Brock has asked CBS to reopen their review: http://mm4a.org/1kGeai6Related: News veterans including a former network news president have also asked CBS to reopen their review: http://mm4a.org/1njhbKy Here are the open questions that CBS still has to answer: http://mm4a.org/1urIML8
FEATURED VIDEO
Chuck Todd did not mince words, saying that the Benghazi select committee “looks like nothing more than a partisan stunt.” http://mm4a.org/1hx9E3g
ABORTION IN AMERICA
One woman filmed herself having an abortion to debunk anti-choice stereotypes. Hannah Groch-Begley explains what we can learn from the experience compared to how conservative media portray abortion: http://mm4a.org/1mDebcx
IMAGE OF THE WEEK
Neil deGrasse Tyson On Climate Change
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the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 5/12 ~~ the House
The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, May 12, 2014. 
Brown V Board of Education 60 yrs
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
On Wednesday, May 7th, cloture was filed on S.2282, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competiveness Act.
As a result, the filing deadline for all second degree amendments is 4:30pm Monday.
At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and there will be up to 3 roll call votes:
– Confirmation of Executive Calendar #690 Robin S. Rosenbaum, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit
– Confirmation of Executive Calendar #560, Steven Croley, of Michigan, to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy and
– Motion to invoke cloture on S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014.
Senator Cruz asked unanimous consent to discharge the Rules and Administration committee from further consideration of S.Res.225, A resolution to express the sense of the Senate that Congress should establish a joint select committee to investigate and report on the attack on the United States diplomatic facility and American personnel in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012, and the Senate then take up and adopt the resolution and preamble. Senator Menendez objected.
Senator Menendez asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass Calendar #257, S.1386, a bill to provide for enhanced embassy security. Senator Cruz objected.
5:33pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #690 Robin S. Rosenbaum, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit;
Confirmed: 91-0
The next votes will be 10 minute votes.
Next:
– Confirmation of Executive Calendar #560, Steven Croley, of Michigan, to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy (possible voice vote); and
– Motion to invoke cloture on S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014.
Executive Calendar #560, Steven Croley, of Michigan, to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy, was confirmed by voice vote
6:09pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on cloture on S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014;
Not Invoked: 55-36
This will be the last vote of the day.
Prior to the cloture vote, Senator McConnell asked unanimous consent that all filed amendments be in order to S.2262. Senator Reid objected.
Senator Reid renewed his offer to have a freestanding vote on a freestanding Keystone pipeline bill.
Senator McConnell then asked consent that the only amendments in order to S.2262 be 5 Republican amendments related to energy policy. Senator Reid objected
Cloture on S.2262, was not invoked 55-36. Senator Reid changed his vote to no (for procedural reasons) and entered a motion to reconsider the failed cloture vote at a later time.
Following the vote, Senator Landrieu asked unanimous consent that with respect to S.2262, the pending motion to commit and amendments be withdrawn, with the exception of the substitute amendment; that at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate resume consideration of S.2262, that the substitute amendment be agreed to; that there be no other amendments, points of order or motions in order to the bill other than budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive; that there be up to 3 hours of debate on the bill equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended; that if the bill is passed, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar #371, S.2280 at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader, but no later than Thursday, May 22, 2014; that there be no amendments, points of order or motions in order to the bill other than budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive; that there be up to 3 hours of debate on the bill equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill; that the bill be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold.
If the Landrieu request were to be agreed to, there would be a vote on passage of S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014, and if S.2262 is passed, a vote on passage of S.2280, a bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, prior to Thursday, May 22, 2014.
Senator Flake asked that the Landrieu request be modified and that all filed amendments be in order to S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014. Senator Boxer objected to the modification. Senator Flake then objected to the original Landrieu request.
This evening Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations:
Executive Calendar #664, Steven Paul Logan, of Arizona, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona;
Executive Calendar #665, John Joseph Tuchi, of Arizona, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona; and
Executive Calendar #666, Diane J. Humetewa, of Arizona, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona.
As a reminder, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to H.R.3474, the legislative vehicle for the Tax Extenders legislation. That cloture vote will occur at 11:10am tomorrow, May 13. If cloture is invoked on the motion to proceed, there would be up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate prior to a vote on adoption of the motion. The cloture vote on the Logan nomination would occur upon disposition of the motion to proceed. If cloture is invoked, each district judge nomination is subject to up to 2 hours of debate equally divided.
WRAP UP
Roll Call Votes
1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #690 Robin S. Rosenbaum, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit; Confirmed: 91-0
2) Motion to invoke cloture on S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014; Not Invoked: 55-36
No Additional Legislative items
Additional Executive items
Confirmed Executive Calendar #560, Steven Croley, of Michigan, to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy by voice vote.
=============================================
Last Floor Action:5/9
2:07:55 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.
The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on May 13, 2014.
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Save Money, Save Energy: Take the 20% Challenge!
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Every year, we as Americans spend almost half a trillion dollars powering our homes and our cars—making up about half of our country’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
Some of this energy use is necessary. But a lot of it is not! By making simple and easy lifestyle changes, we can save energy, protect the environment and put money back in our pockets.
That’s why Earth Day Network has teamed up with WattzOn to introduce an easy, new energy-saving tool. Sign up today for our free EnergyCenter tool to find out how you can save energy and money!
The EnergyCenter will identify areas where you can save energy, show you exactly how to make these easy lifestyle changes, and help calculate your impact. These small changes can cut your energy consumption by 20%!
Sign up for the EnergyCenter today to start reducing your energy use, saving money, and helping the environment.
As a special reward, ten new members who register by midnight May 7 will be selected to receive a $50 gift certificate for organic, non-GMO basics grown at family-run farms.
-The Earth Day Network Team
Be a Seed for Change 
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