Rookie?


 Washington State … Support Suzan DelBene
Great news! The Seattle Times weighed in with a big endorsement for the August 5 primary election:

U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Medina, spent her first term in Congress operating at a level beyond her rookie status. She deserves re-election to continue her work on behalf of the 1st District.” – Seattle Times Editorial Board

I’m humbled by the endorsement, and so proud of the grassroots campaign that has made our success possible. Thanks to you and your continued support, we’ve been able to make progress in this deeply divided Congress.

This endorsement, and the momentum it gives, comes at a critically important time. Midnight tomorrow marks the final reporting deadline of this race before the primary. This race is the most competitive congressional contest in the state and out-of-state interests have already targeted me for defeat – a strong showing before the final deadline will send the message that we are in it to win.

Please chip in to our campaign right now, and let’s keep the momentum going! Every dollar makes a big difference.

Thank you,

Suzan

BREAKING: Restrictiv​e abortion ban ~~ a repost


16 Republican lawmakers in Michigan — all men — introduced bills that would force women to have an invasive transvaginal ultrasound before an abortion, and would criminalize abortions as early as six weeks (before many women even know they’re pregnant).

If passed, these would be some of the most radical and restrictive abortion bans ever enacted.

Send an urgent $3 donation to EMILY’s List right now to help defeat radical anti-choice elected officials like the group pushing this dangerous legislation in Michigan.

These bills are so extreme that Right to Life Michigan, the leading anti-choice group in the state, won’t back the full package because they don’t think it will “stand constitutional muster.”

But that isn’t stopping the Republicans in Michigan. They don’t believe women should have the right to make their own health decisions and they’re going to do everything in their power to roll back the rights we’ve fought so hard to protect.

EMILY’s List is supporting seven pro-choice Democratic women running for office in Michigan, and electing them is the best thing we can do to stop this kind of legislation from getting passed — and getting copied in other states.

Donate $3 right now to help elect pro-choice champions — and to prove we won’t stand idle while extreme anti-choice elected officials try and roll the clock back 50 years on reproductive health.

Thanks for all you do,

Stephanie

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 7/17 ~~ the House


birthcontrol

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 9:30am on Thursday, July 17, 2014.

 

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of Calendar #438, S.2244, Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014. There will be up to 30 minutes for debate on the Coburn amendment #3549, 20 minutes on the Vitter amendment #3550, 10 minutes on the Flake amendment, and 30 minutes on the Tester amendment. Any remaining time until 12:30pm will be for general debate on the bill.

 

At 12:00pm, the Senate will proceed to a series of up to 5 votes (3 roll calls and 2 voice votes expected):

 

  1. Coburn #3549 (roll call on motion to waive Budget point of order expected (60-vote threshold))
  2. Vitter #3550 (voice vote expected)
  3. Flake #3551 (roll call vote expected at majority vote threshold)
  4. Tester #3552 (voice vote expected)
  5. Passage of S.2244, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014 (roll call vote expected–majority vote threshold)

 

We expect to reach an agreement to vote at 2:00pm tomorrow on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #849, the nomination of Julie E. Carnes, Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit at 2:00pm tomorrow.

The Senate has reached an agreement to vote at 2:00pm today on cloture on the Carnes nomination (GA Circuit) and then on confirmation of the Shear (Ass’t Sec of Defense) and Mader (Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management) nominations. At 5:30pm on Monday, July 21, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Carnes nomination. We expect voice votes on the Shear and Mader nominations.

 

Thursday, July 17, 2014

12:00 noon—5 votes (3 roll calls expected)

  1. Coburn #3549 (roll call on motion to waive Budget point of order expected (60-vote threshold))
  2. Vitter #3550 (voice vote expected)
  3. Flake #3551 (roll call vote expected at majority vote threshold)
  4. Tester #3552 (voice vote expected)
  5. Passage of S.2244:”>S.2244, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014 (roll call vote expected–majority vote threshold)

 

 

2:00pm—up to 3 votes (1 roll call expected)

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #849 Julie E. Carnes, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #709 David B. Shear, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #834 David Arthur Mader, of Virginia, to be Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget

 

 

Monday, July 21

5:30pm—1 roll call expected

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

 

As a reminder, last night Senator Reid also filed cloture on 3 district court nominations. We expect to process those on Tuesday, July 22 with cloture and confirmation votes. Senators will be notified when those votes are scheduled.

 

Tuesday, July 22—up to 6 roll call votes at times to be determined on cloture and confirmation of the following nominations:

–        Executive Calendar #851, Andre Birotte, Jr., of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California

–        Executive Calendar #852, Robin L. Rosenberg, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida

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

12:03pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Crapo motion to waive the Budget point of order with respect to Coburn #3549 (recoupment up to 10 years);
Not Waived: 48-49 (corrected)
The next votes will be 10 minute votes.
Next:
  1. Vitter #3550 (voice vote expected)
  2. Flake #3551 (roll call vote expected at majority vote threshold)
  3. Tester #3552 (voice vote expected)
  4. Passage of S.2244:”>S.2244, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014 (roll call vote expected at majority vote threshold)

2:00pm—up to 3 votes (1 roll call expected)

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #849 Julie E. Carnes, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #709 David B. Shear, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense (voice vote expected)
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #834 David Arthur Mader, of Virginia, to be Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget (voice vote expected)

The Vitter #3550 was agreed to by voice vote

12:36pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the Flake #3551;

Agreed To: 97-0

The Tester amendment #3552 was agreed to by voice vote.

12:51pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on passage of S.2244, Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014, as amended;

Passed: 93-4

The previously scheduled cloture vote on the Carnes will now begin at 1:45pm.

 

1:45pm—1 roll call vote and 2 voice votes expected:

 

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #849 Julie E. Carnes, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #709 David B. Shear, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense (expect voice vote)
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #834 David Arthur Mader, of Virginia, to be Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget (expect voice vote)

Senator Paul asked unanimous consent to take up and pass S.2265, the Stand with Israel Act of 2014.

 

Senator Corker objected.

1:52pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #849 Julie E. Carnes, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit;

Invoked: 68-23

Next–voice votes expected:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #709 David B. Shear, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense (voice vote expected)
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #834 David Arthur Mader, of Virginia, to be Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget (voice vote expected)

The Senate confirmed the following nominations by voice votes:

 

Executive Calendar #709 David B. Shear, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense (voice vote expected)

Calendar #834 David Arthur Mader, of Virginia, to be Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget (voice vote expected)

The next vote is expected to occur at 5:30pm on Monday, July 21. That vote will be on confirmation of the Carnes nomination

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

Last Floor Action:7/16
9:01:34 A.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES –  7/17

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

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

and … It’s Only Tuesday!


By

And The Crazy Things Conservatives Have Said This Week Are Piling Up

Is it just us, or does this week seem to already have a particularly large number of right-wing conservatives saying crazy things? Here are six of the most unfortunate:

1. Todd Akin Says He And Joe McCarthy Were Both Victims Of The Liberal Media. Remember Todd Akin? The failed Missouri Senate candidate has recently re-emerged in the public sphere to defend his claim in 2012 that women who were victims of “legitimate rape” could not get pregnant. In a phone interview with St. Louis Dispatch, the former congressman compared himself sympathetically to Sen. Joe McCarthy (R-WI), who spearheaded the infamous Communist witch hunt in the 1950s.

2. Rupert Murdoch Says Climate Change Should Be Approached With Great Skepticism. The chairman and CEO of News Corporation — one of the world’s largest media conglomerates, which includes Fox News and The Wall Street Journal — reflected candidly on climate change in a wide-ranging interview Sunday, saying he thought it should be approached with great skepticism. “At the moment the north pole is melting but the south pole is getting bigger,” he said. “Things are happening. How much of it are we doing, with emissions and so on? As far as Australia goes? Nothing in the overall picture.” Murdoch went on to argue that “we shouldn’t be building windmills and all that rubbish.”

3. Congresswoman Urges GOP To Bring Policy Discussion ‘Down To A Woman’s Level’. Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) is a second-term Congresswoman and chair of the Republican Women’s Policy Committee. In a panel on women and the Republican Party, she suggested that the best way for the party to appeal to women is to talk down to them. “Men do tend to talk about things on a much higher level,” Ellmers said. “Many of my male colleagues, when they go to the House floor, you know, they’ve got some pie chart or graph behind them and they’re talking about trillions of dollars and how, you know, the debt is awful and, you know, we all agree with that.” But, she went on to say, “We need our male colleagues to understand that if you can bring it down to a woman’s level and what everything that she is balancing in her life — that’s the way to go.”

4. Congressional Candidate: Most Energy Problems ‘Are Caused By Environmentalists’. George Cicotte, a Republican candidate for Washington’s fourth congressional district, said at a candidate forum Saturday that if environmentalists hadn’t “stopped nuclear in its tracks” in the 1970s, there would be a lot less greenhouse gas pollution today. “Really, when we talk about energy problems, most of the energy problems are caused by environmentalists,” he said. “Wind energy? I’ll be honest — give me a break.”

5. GOP Congressman: Kids At Border “Gang Members” From Culture Of “Rape”. A Florida Republican congressman called undocumented immigrant children at the border not children at all but gang affiliated persons from a culture of thievery, murder, and violence.
“A lot of these children … quote-unquote … ya know, the first caller mentioned it, ya know, they’re gang members. They’re gang affiliated,” Florida Republican Rep. Rich Nugent said on WOCA radio Monday.

6. TX GOP Lawmaker: Teens He Saw At U.S. Border Looked Like ‘Threat’. The Republican chairman of the House Homeland Security went on “Fox News Sunday” this morning and told host Brit Hume that many of the teenagers he saw at the United States-Mexican border facilities looked like a “threat.” Representative Michael McCaul (TX) said that “it’s very heart-wrenching as a father to see that — mothers with their babies.” He then added, “I also saw some 17-year-olds that I thought looked more like a threat.” McCaul did acknowledge that these teenagers were “caught in the middle, between [administration] policy and what the drug traffickers are doing in Central America.”

SMH.

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 7/16 ~~ the House


WethePeople

Republicans tell women Hobby Lobby is more important 56-43

The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Wednesday, July 16, 2014.

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and resume consideration of the White nomination until 10:15am. Senators Grassley, Cornyn, and Shaheen will control 10 minutes each of that time and Senator McCaskill will control any remaining time.

 At 10:15am, there will be a cloture vote on Executive Calendar #850, the nomination of Ronnie L. White, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri

 If cloture is invoked, at 12:20pm the Senate will vote on confirmation of the White nomination.

 Upon disposition of the White nomination, the Senate will resume Legislative Session and the motion to proceed to Calendar #459, S.2578, Protect Women’s Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014. The time until 2:10pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders, or their designees, with each side controlling 5 minutes of the final 10 minutes.

 At 2:10pm, the Senate proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2578, Protect Women’s Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014.

10:15am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Calendar #850, the nomination of Ronnie L. White, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Invoked: 54-43

Cloture was invoked on the White nomination by a vote of 54-43. As a result, at 12:20pm the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination.

 

At 2:10pm, the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2578, Protect Women’s Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014.

12:21pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #850, the nomination of Ronnie L. White, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri;

Confirmed: 53-44

Next:

At 2:10pm, the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2578, Protect Women’s Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014.

 

2:09pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on S.2578, Protect Women’s Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014;

Not invoked: 57-43

Cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to S.2578, Protect Women’s Health From Corporate Interference Act, by a vote of 56-43. Senator Reid changed his vote to no (for procedural reasons) and entered a motion to reconsider the failed cloture vote at a later time. The Senate continues to debate the motion to proceed.

The order with respect to the TRIA legislation has been modified as outlined below. The new agreement reduces the debate time and schedules the votes to begin at 12:00 noon tomorrow, Thursday, July 17.

At 12:00 noon tomorrow, there will be up to 5 votes in relation to the TRIA bill. We anticipate 3 roll call votes (Coburn and Flake amendments and on passage of the bill) and 2 voice votes (Vitter and Tester amendments). We also expect to lock in an agreement to vote in relation to a Circuit judge nomination at 2:00pm tomorrow.

The modification of the agreement is as follows:

Following Leader remarks on Thursday, July 17th, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of S.2244 as provided under the previous order; that the debate time with respect to the bill and consideration of the amendments in order to the bill be modified as follows:

Coburn #3549 – 30 minutes equally divided;

Vitter #3550 – 20 minutes equally divided;

Flake #3551 – 10 minutes equally divided; and

Tester #3552 – 30 minutes equally divided.

Further, that any remaining time until 12 noon be equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees; that at noon, the Senate proceed to votes in relation to the amendments as provided under the previous order; that upon disposition of the Tester amendment, the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended; further, that there be two minutes equally divided prior to each vote and all after the first vote be ten minute votes; with all other provisions of the previous order remaining in effect.

This evening, Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations:

 

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

–        Executive Calendar #851, Andre Birotte, Jr., of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California

–        Executive Calendar #852, Robin L. Rosenberg, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida

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

 

We expect to reach an agreement to vote at 2:00pm tomorrow, Thursday, July 17 on the motion to invoke cloture on the Carnes nomination. Another message will be sent once that agreement is reached.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

  1. Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #850, the nomination of Ronnie L. White, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri; Invoked: 54-43
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #850, the nomination of Ronnie L. White, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri; Confirmed: 53-44
  3. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2578, Protect Women’s Health From Corporate Interference Act; Not Invoked: 56-43

 

Legislative Business

S.Res.503, designating September 2014 as “National Child Awareness Month” to promote awareness of charities benefitting children and youth-serving organizations throughout the United States and recognizing efforts made by those charities and organizations on behalf of children and youth as critical contributions to the future of the United States

 

S.Res.504, directing the Senate Legal Counsel to appear as amicus curiae in the name of the Senate in Menachem Binyamin Zivotofsky, By His Parents and Guardians, Ari Z. and Naomi Siegman Zivotofsky v. John Kerry, Secretary of State (S.Ct.).

 

Passed by voice vote Calendar #450, H.R.3212, Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013

 

Passed Calendar #458, Passed H.R.1528, Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act of 2014

 

 

 *******************************************************************

Last Floor Action:
9:59:35 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on July 16, 2014.

********************************************************************************