#LivetheWage … it’s a Challenge


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Join Leaders And Advocates Taking The #LiveTheWage Challenge And Live On A Minimum Wage Budget For A Week

July 24th marks 5 years since the last federal minimum wage increase and America can’t wait any longer.

While corporate profits and CEO salaries skyrocket, the minimum wage remains stuck at $7.25 an hour, well below the poverty line for a family of three. We need to raise the minimum wage so that workers have more money to support themselves and their families. More money for workers means more customers for businesses. More customers means more jobs and a stronger economy for everyone.

It’s time for action.

This July, join the national movement to raise the minimum wage by taking the Live the Wage Challenge.

The Live the Wage Challenge asks elected officials, community leaders, advocates and everyday citizens to walk in the shoes of a person who earns minimum wage by living on a minimum wage budget—$77—for one week. Your weekly budget of $77 represents the weekly wages of a full-time worker making the federal minimum wage, minus average taxes and average housing expenses. Your weekly budget includes all your meals, groceries, transportation, and recreational spending. (It does not include long-term and inflexible expenses like loan, car, mortgage, or rent payments, child care, health care, etc.)

Obviously, $77 is not a lot of money. The truth is that you may simply run out of money and go over budget. That’s OK: the Challenge is not easy, and it’s not supposed to be. Workers who make the minimum wage have little, if any, leeway in how they spend their money each month. The Challenge gives a glimpse into just how little the minimum wage provides. It is not enough to live on—much less enough to invest back into the community. Whatever happens — good or bad — by sharing our experiences you will help highlight the critical need to raise the federal minimum wage.

Visit Livethewage.com to learn more about the challenge and read the stories of minimum wage workers and the struggles they face. The Challenge starts on the anniversary and goes for one week: from Thursday, July 24th until Wednesday, July 30th. Invite your friends, your neighbors, your congregation, your co-workers to join. And if you take part, be sure to chronicle the whole experience on social media using the hashtag #LiveTheWage. The more participants share their experiences with others, the bigger the impact we’ll have on the national conversation around the minimum wage.

BOTTOM LINE: Take part in the Live the Wage challenge by walking in the shoes of a minimum wage worker and living on just $77 for a week. We can keep the momentum going to raise the minimum wage – and keep the pressure on legislators who are saying no.

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the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 7/22 ~~ the House


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The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, July 22, 2014.

 

Following any leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 10:45am, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each and with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders, or their designees.

 

At 10:45am, the Senate will proceed to a series of 3 votes on the following motions:

 

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #851, Andre Birotte, Jr., of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #852, Robin L. Rosenberg, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida
  3. Cloture on Executive Calendar #854, John W. deGravelles, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana

 

Following the cloture vote on the deGravelles nomination, the time until 12:30pm will be equally divided and controlled in the usual form.

 

The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

 

If cloture is invoked on any of the nominations, at 2:15pm, there will be a series of up to 3 roll call votes on the nominations.

 

2:15pm—up to 3 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #851, Andre Birotte, Jr., of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #852, Robin L. Rosenberg, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #854, John W. deGravelles, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana

10:47am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #851, Andre Birotte, Jr., of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California;

Invoked: 56-43

 

The next votes will be 10 minute votes.

 

Next:

1.  Cloture on Executive Calendar #852, Robin L. Rosenberg, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida; and

2.  Cloture on Executive Calendar #854, John W. deGravelles, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana

11:16am The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #852, Robin L. Rosenberg, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida

Invoked: 58-42.

 

11:33am The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #854, John W. deGravelles, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana.

Invoked: 57-39

 

Next:

2:15pm—3 roll call votes

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #851, Andre Birotte, Jr., of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #852, Robin L. Rosenberg, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #854, John W. deGravelles, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana

 

2:17pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #851, Andre Birotte, Jr., of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California;

Confirmed:100-0

The next votes will be 10 minute votes.

Next:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #852, Robin L. Rosenberg, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #854, John W. deGravelles, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana

2:41pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #852, Robin L. Rosenberg, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida;

Confirmed: 100-0

2:59pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #854, John W. deGravelles, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana;

Confirmed: 100-0

 

The Senate reached an agreement to vote on confirmation of the Clark, Schapiro, and Creedon nominations following the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S.2569, Bring Jobs Home Act. We expect these 3 nominations to be confirmed by voice votes. As a result, we expect 1 roll call vote and 3 voice votes to begin at approximately 11:00am tomorrow, Wednesday, July 22.

11:00am—1 roll call vote expected:

  1. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2569, Bring Jobs Home Act (roll call vote);
  2. Executive Calendar #802 Julia Akins Clark, of Maryland, to be General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority for a term of five years (voice vote expected);
  3. Executive Calendar #786 Andrew H. Schapiro, of Illinois, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Czech Republic (voice vote expected); and
  4. Executive Calendar #599 Madelyn R. Creedon, of Indiana, to be Principal Deputy Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration (voice vote expected)

This evening, Senator Reid filed cloture on Executive Calendar #929, Pamela Harris, of Maryland, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit. The cloture vote is expected to occur at a time to be determined on Thursday, July 24.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #851, Andre Birotte, Jr., of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Invoked 56-43
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #852, Robin L. Rosenberg, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida; Invoked 58-42
  3. Cloture on Executive Calendar #854, John W. deGravelles, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana; Invoked 57-39
  4. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #851, Andre Birotte, Jr., of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Confirmed 100-0
  5. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #852, Robin L. Rosenberg, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida; Confirmed 100-0
  6. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #854, John W. deGravelles, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana; Confirmed 100-0

 

Legislative Business

Adopted S.Res.510, congratulating the Newport Jazz Festival on its 60th anniversary

Began the Rule 14 process to place H.R.4719, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend and expand the charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory, on the Legislative Calendar of Business

 

Executive Business

Filed cloture on Executive Calendar #929, Pamela Harris, of Maryland, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit.

 

 

 

 

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Last Floor Action:
6:31:08 P.M. – The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 22.

Last Floor Action:7/22
4:20:15 P.M. -H.R. 4802
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4802.

Last Floor Action:7/18
11:03:12 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on July 22, 2014.

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5-year-old with Terminal Cancer Just Wants Some Mail. Let’s Overflow his P.O. box…


Kindness Blog's avatarKindness Blog

Danny Nickerson is 5 years old, but not for long. He’s very excited to become a big 6-year-old this Friday. As happy as this birthday will be, however, it will be hard, too.

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Danny has a virtually unbeatable cancer. Doctors have told his family that less than 10 percent of kids diagnosed with his type live longer than 18 months.

So the upcoming celebration will be an emotional day filled with far more highs and lows than a typical 6-year-old’s birthday. And what is he hoping to get for this extraordinary birthday?

Cards.

He loves getting mail.

His mom says,

“He can recognize his name now. When he saw his name on the package from magical fairies on Easter, he was so happy.”

Since Easter, though, packages have slowed down. But now, for his birthday, it’s time to make sure he gets all the cards he could possibly want to read.

View original post 128 more words

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 7/21 ~~ the House


capitolphonelines

Republicans tell Women, Hobby Lobby is not just a Corporation but People too & MORE important than their Health Care CHOICES  56-43

The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, July 21, 2014.

Following any leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 5:30pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each and with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders, or their designees.

At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and vote on confirmation of the following nominations:

  1. Executive Calendar #849 Julie E. Carnes, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit
  2. Executive Calendar #789, Michael Anderson Lawson, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as Representative of the United States of America on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization
  3. Executive Calendar #537 Eunice S. Reddick, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Niger

 

We expect a roll call vote on the Carnes nomination and voice votes on the Lawson and Reddick nominations.

5:31pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #849 Julie E. Carnes, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit;

Confirmed: 94-0

 

Next—voice votes expected:

 

  1. Executive Calendar #789, Michael Anderson Lawson, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as Representative of the United States of America on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization
  2. Executive Calendar #537 Eunice S. Reddick, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Niger

The Senate confirmed the following nominations by voice votes:

–          Executive Calendar #789, Michael Anderson Lawson, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as Representative of the United States of America on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization

–          Executive Calendar #537 Eunice S. Reddick, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Niger

There will be no further roll call votes today.

Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #453, S.2569, the Bring Jobs Home Act. The cloture vote is expected to occur Wednesday morning. Another message will be sent when the vote is scheduled.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #849 Julie E. Carnes, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit

 

Legislative Business

Adopted S.Res.509Honoring the extraordinary and courageous life of Mattie Stepanek

 

Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #453, S.2569, the Bring Jobs Home Act.

 

Executive Business

 

The Senate confirmed the following nominations by voice votes:

–        Executive Calendar #789, Michael Anderson Lawson, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as Representative of the United States of America on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization; and

–        Executive Calendar #537 Eunice S. Reddick, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Niger.

============================================

Last Floor Action: 7/18
11:03:12 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on July 22, 2014.

 

Bosses vs birth control


This week on “The Good Fight” podcast: an inside account of the Supreme Court’s hearings on the case that could give corporate CEOs the right to deny birth control coverage to their employees.

Irin Carmon, the brilliant reporter for MSNBC.com, was there in the courtroom as the justices hashed out Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius—and then walked across the street to our studio in D.C. to tell us exactly how it went down.

Her story made me laugh, it made my blood boil a little bit … and it made me very excited about sharing this episode. If you’ve ever benefited from birth control yourself, you’ll definitely want to hear it: Click here to open the podcast on iTunes (and be sure to subscribe)!

Or you can listen on our website, via the Stitcher app for Android or iOS, or via RSS.

 

Guess how many justices were distinctly unenthusiastic about corporations getting to impose religious views on their employees’ birth control decisions?

Here’s a hint: There are three women on the Supreme Court.

You’ll hear what it’s like to sit inside the court during a historic case, and you’ll learn about what’s at stake. Plus, in this episode, you’ll hear updates on progressive fights from coast to coast in “The Good Fight’s Win Report.” If you’ve never listened to “The Good Fight,” this is a great place to start—this one’s short, sweet, and full of positive energy.

Click to hear the podcast on iTunes! And if you like it … subscribe!

Or check it out on the “The Good Fight” website.

If it seems to you like your CEO’s religious freedom shouldn’t affect what you can do with your own body, you’re not alone. In fact, one of the many great provisions in the Affordable Care Act is based on exactly that idea. It’s now under attack, like so many of the rights and freedoms that we’ve fought for over the years. And to fight back, the first step is knowing what’s happening. The second step? Spreading the word.

Thanks for all you do!

–Ben Wikler

P.S. New to podcasts? Welcome! A podcast is a prerecorded radio show, distributed through the Internet. You can listen on your computer on our website or through iTunes, or on your phone (through iTunes for iPhones, or Stitcher for Androids).

We launched “The Good Fight” in partnership with MoveOn a few months ago to tell the inside stories of fights that matter, and inspire people to get involved. If you like the program, please subscribe, post a review, and drop us an email at show@thegoodfight.fm.