Monthly Archives: December 2014

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Jon Soltz, VoteVets.org


VoteVets.org

Every year during the holiday season, volunteers lay wreaths in front of the headstones of fallen heroes laid to rest at Arlington National and cemeteries across the country.

The effort is traditionally funded by individual contributions — each wreath cost about $15 to make and ship to its final destination before volunteers place them.

Last year, VoteVets’ supporters stepped up and helped us write a $15,000 check to Wreaths Across America when we heard they were about 35,000 wreaths short.

This year, we’d like to double that gift.

Contribute $15 today — the cost of a single wreath — and we will write a check to Wreaths Across America from the entire VoteVets community.

There’s a story of sacrifice and loss beneath each headstone in Arlington and veterans’ cemeteries across the country. Let’s remind the families visiting them this holiday season that their loved ones will never be forgotten.

All the best,

Jon Soltz
Iraq War Veteran & Chairman
VoteVets.org

Black History

the Senate ~~~ CONGRESS 12/08 ~~~ the House


capitolsnowclosed

The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, December 8, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 5:30pm.

5:30pm—Up to 3 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1082, Jeffery Martin Baran, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2018;
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1083, Lauren McGarity McFerran, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2019; and
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #552, Ellen Dudley Williams – to be Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Department of Energy.

Senator Tester asked unanimous consent to take up and pass Calendar #334, S.1352, Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act. Senator Lee asked that an amendment to strike Hawaiian Homes Commission reauthorization (section 503) be agreed to. Senator Tester objected to the modification and Senator Lee objected to the original request.

5:32pm The Senate began a 15minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #1082, Jeffery Martin Baran, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2018

Confirmed: 52-40

Next:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1083, Lauren McGarity McFerran, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2019; and
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #552, Ellen Dudley Williams – to be Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Department of Energy. (likely voice vote)

5:58pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #1083, Lauren McGarity McFerran, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2019. The will be the last vote of the day. The Williams nomination will be confirmed by voice vote.

Wrap up for Monday, December 8, 2014

Roll Call Votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1082, Jeffery Martin Baran, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2018; Confirmed: 52-40.
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1083, Lauren McGarity McFerran, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2019; Confirmed: 54-40.

 

Legislative Business

Passed Calendar #605, S.2520, Freedom Of Information Act

Passed Calendar #564, S.2521, Federal Information Security Modernization Act, with Carper-Coburn substitute amendment

Passed the following postal naming bills, en bloc:

  • R. 4939, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2551 Galena Avenue in Simi Valley, California, as the “Neil Havens Post Office
  • R. 1707, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 302 East Green Street in Champaign, Illinois, as the “James R. Burgess Jr. Post Office Building”
  • R. 78 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4110 Almeda Road in Houston, Texas, as the “George Thomas ‘Mickey’ Leland Post Office Building”.
  • R. 2112 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 787 State Route 17M in Monroe, New York, as the “National Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency NCS Officer Gregg David Wenzel Memorial Post Office”.
  • R. 2223 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 Elm Avenue in Munising, Michigan, as the “Elizabeth L. Kinnunen Post Office Building”.
  • R. 2678 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 10360 Southwest 186th Street in Miami, Florida, as the “Larcenia J. Bullard Post Office Building”.
  • R. 3534 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 113 West Michigan Avenue in Jackson, Michigan, as the “Officer James Bonneau Memorial Post Office”.
  • R. 5030 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 13500 SW 250 Street in Princeton, Florida, as the “Corporal Christian A. Guzman Rivera Post Office Building”.

Passed Calendar #401, S.2142, Venezuela Sanctions

Passed H.R.1281, Newborn Screenings Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2013, with Paul amendment

Began the Rule 14 process to place on the Legislative Calendar of Business H.R.5759 and H.R.5771.

 

Executive Business

The Senate confirmed the following nominations by voice votes:

  1. Executive Calendar #552, Ellen Dudley Williams – to be Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Department of Energy

 

 

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Last Floor Action:
5:56:51 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on December 9, 2014.

Last Floor Action:
12:32:54 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess.

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

Last Floor Action:
5:34:51 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on December 8, 2014.

12:00:15 P.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:22 P.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Bradley Byrne to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:46 P.M. MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
12:32:13 P.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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on December 8, 2014 at 10:37 a.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 2366, H.R. 4812, H.R. 5108, H.R. 5462, H.R. 5739, H. Con. Res. 120, H.J. Res. 105, S. 1447, S. 1683, and S.J. Res. 45. Appointments: Katherine Tobin of VA, United States-China Economic Security Review Commission; Tom Girardi of CA, Library of Congress Trust Fund Board.
12:32:54 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

2:00:29 P.M. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 8.
2:00:34 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Lt. Cmdr. Robert Burns, Chaplain, United States Navy Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps Plantation, Florida.
2:01:47 P.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
2:01:51 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mrs. Napolitano to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:02:18 P.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:07:00 P.M. H.R. 3979 ENGROSSMENT CORRECTION – Mr. Hastings (WA) asked unanimous consent that in the engrossment of the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3979 pursuant to H. Res. 770, the Clerk be directed to make a correction as follows: In sec. 3050 of the House amendment, strike “2013” and insert “2014”. Agreed to without objection.
2:08:03 P.M. H.R. 5781 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 770. H.R. 5781 — “To provide short-term water supplies to drought-stricken California.”
2:08:08 P.M. H.R. 5781 Resolution provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 3979; consideration of the bill H.R. 5759; and consideration of the bill H.R. 5781.
2:08:19 P.M. H.R. 5781 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 770, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 5781.
3:12:48 P.M. H.R. 5781 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
3:13:23 P.M. H.R. 5781 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair announced that, pursuant to clause 1(c), rule XIX, further proceedings on H.R. 5781 would be postponed.
3:14:01 P.M. The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
3:14:07 P.M. H.R. 5385 Mr. Meadows moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5385 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 55 Grasso Plaza in St. Louis, Missouri, as the “Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson Post Office”.”
3:14:17 P.M. H.R. 5385 Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:14:20 P.M. H.R. 5385 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5385.
3:21:50 P.M. H.R. 5385 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
3:21:52 P.M. H.R. 5385 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:22:19 P.M. H.R. 5794 Mr. Meadows moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5794 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16105 Swingley Ridge Road in Chesterfield, Missouri, as the “Sgt. Zachary M. Fisher Post Office”.”
3:22:37 P.M. H.R. 5794 Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:22:39 P.M. H.R. 5794 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5794.
3:29:18 P.M. H.R. 5794 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
3:29:20 P.M. H.R. 5794 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:30:01 P.M. H.R. 4030 Mr. Meadows moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 4030 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 18640 NW 2nd Avenue in Miami, Florida, as the “Father Richard Marquess-Barry Post Office Building”.”
3:30:04 P.M. H.R. 4030 Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:30:06 P.M. H.R. 4030 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4030.
3:35:41 P.M. H.R. 4030 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
3:35:43 P.M. H.R. 4030 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:36:08 P.M. H.R. 5562 Mr. Meadows moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5562 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 801 West Ocean Avenue in Lompoc, California, as the “Federal Correctional Officer Scott J. Williams Memorial Post Office Building”.”
3:36:24 P.M. H.R. 5562 Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:36:26 P.M. H.R. 5562 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5562.
3:41:27 P.M. H.R. 5562 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
3:41:29 P.M. H.R. 5562 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:42:02 P.M. H.R. 5687 Mr. Meadows moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5687 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 East Market Street in Long Beach, California, as the “Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office”.”
3:42:12 P.M. H.R. 5687 Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:42:24 P.M. H.R. 5687 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5687.
3:48:32 P.M. H.R. 5687 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
3:48:34 P.M. H.R. 5687 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:49:30 P.M. H.R. 579 Mr. Petri moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 579 — “To designate the United States courthouse located at 501 East Court Street in Jackson, Mississippi, as the “R. Jess Brown United States Courthouse”.”
3:49:44 P.M. H.R. 579 Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:49:47 P.M. H.R. 579 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 579.
3:58:45 P.M. H.R. 579 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
3:58:47 P.M. H.R. 579 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:59:24 P.M. H.R. 4926 Mr. Petri moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4926 — “To designate the “James L. Oberstar Memorial Highway” and the “James L. Oberstar National Scenic Byway” in the State of Minnesota.”
3:59:43 P.M. H.R. 4926 Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:59:46 P.M. H.R. 4926 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4926.
4:16:53 P.M. H.R. 4926 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
4:16:56 P.M. H.R. 4926 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:16:59 P.M. H.R. 4926 The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
4:17:20 P.M. H.R. 5146 Mr. Petri moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5146 — “To designate the United States courthouse located at 700 Grant Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the “Joseph F. Weis Jr. United States Courthouse”.”
4:17:50 P.M. H.R. 5146 Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:17:54 P.M. H.R. 5146 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5146.
4:24:10 P.M. H.R. 5146 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:24:13 P.M. H.R. 5146 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:25:02 P.M. H.R. 2901 Mr. Poe (TX) asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
4:25:09 P.M. H.R. 2901 Considered by unanimous consent. H.R. 2901 — “To strengthen implementation of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 by improving the capacity of the United States Government to implement, leverage, and monitor and evaluate programs to provide first-time or improved access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene to the world’s poorest on an equitable and sustainable basis, and for other purposes.”
4:25:29 P.M. H.R. 2901 An amendment, in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Poe (TX), Amendment inserts a complete new text.
4:25:39 P.M. H.R. 2901 On agreeing to the Poe (TX) amendment; Agreed to without objection.
4:25:51 P.M. H.R. 2901 On passage Passed without objection.
4:25:57 P.M. H.R. 2901 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:25:59 P.M. H.R. 2901 The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
4:26:35 P.M. S. 1434 Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 1434 — “To designate the Junction City Community-Based Outpatient Clinic located at 715 Southwind Drive, Junction City, Kansas, as the Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.”
4:26:48 P.M. S. 1434 Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:26:51 P.M. S. 1434 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1434.
4:32:07 P.M. S. 1434 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:32:10 P.M. S. 1434 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:33:11 P.M. S. 229 Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 229 — “To designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 3900 Woodland Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the “Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center”.”
4:33:48 P.M. S. 229 Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:33:54 P.M. S. 229 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 229.
4:44:44 P.M. S. 229 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:44:47 P.M. S. 229 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:45:05 P.M. S. 2921 Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 2921 — “To designate the community based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 310 Home Boulevard in Galesburg, Illinois, as the “Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic”.”
4:45:17 P.M. S. 2921 Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:45:19 P.M. S. 2921 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2921.

4:55:04 P.M. S. 2921 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:55:07 P.M. S. 2921 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:57:55 P.M. SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
5:56:31 P.M. Mr. Rohrabacher moved that the House do now adjourn.
5:56:50 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
5:56:51 P.M. The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on December 9, 2014

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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Progressiv​e Breakfast: We Can’t Breathe


MORNING MESSAGE

Isaiah J. Poole

We Can’t BreatheThere is more to this chant – the haunting last words of Eric Garner before he died at the hands of New York City police that were echoed in demonstrations around the country Wednesday night – than a protest against the epidemic of police brutality against black men. We need to recognize the smog of a heritage of racial discrimination that permeates our institutions and inhibits the ability of all of us to breathe.

Democrats split over bill to keep government open. The Hill:“Some Democrats are signaling support for the Republican proposal, viewing it as the best chance to secure long-term funding for most government functions while the Democrats still control the Senate. Others are calling for a united Democratic opposition … to highlight Republican divisions and to protest spending levels they deem too low. And still others are warning that a core element of the GOP’s spending strategy — a short-term funding extension for the Homeland Security Department (DHS) — threatens national security in an era of heightened terrorist threats.”

But Boehner may need Democratic votes. Bloomberg:“…Boehner needs Democratic votes because at least 20 members of his party are ready to reject a plan to keep most of the government operating through September 2015 … House leaders are considering a revision that would move up a fight over immigration funding to shortly after Congress reconvenes in January, said a Republican aide familiar with the plan. Democrats want to cut from the spending bill at least 70 Republican-sponsored provisions that would poke holes in President Barack Obama’s policies on the environment, health care and other matters, said Representative Jim Moran, a Virginia Democrat.”

House will vote separately on negating Obama’s immigration action. The Hill:“[White House spokesperson] Josh Earnest said the legislation would ‘exacerbate flaws in our broken immigration system’ and distract ‘limited enforcement resources’ from targeting criminals for deportation. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has said he would allow a vote on the bill Thursday, which bars the president from exempting ‘categories of persons unlawfully present in the United States’ from deportation.”

“Meaningless show vote”grumbles Sen. Ted Cruz.

Obama talks trade and tax reform with corporate leaders. NYT:“…Obama said he believed there was a narrow path to overhaul the tax code in the next Congress. But he said the effort faced significant obstacles because the White House wanted to focus just on corporate taxes, while Republicans insisted on overhauling both corporate and individual taxes … Mr. Obama also stressed his determination to complete negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership … Selling the pact at home, he said, will be just as important as negotiating it, and he was clearly seeking allies among the business executives.”

Also talks infrastructure needs. Bloomberg:“…Obama recalled the gleaming new infrastructure he saw when he traveled to China last month for a meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders. ‘One thing I will say is if they need to build some stuff, they can build it,’ Obama told the CEOs today. ‘And over time, that wears away our advantage competitively. It’s embarrassing.’”

But Obama’s congressional outreach mainly focusing on Democrats. W. Post:“…White House officials are looking to Hill Democrats as a defense against Republican efforts to undo key elements of Obama’s legislative legacy … The president’s ability to sustain the vetoes he is likely to issue will depend on whether he is able to mend relations with congressional Democrats…”

Rep. Paul Ryan prepares tax package. Politico:“…the Wisconsin Republican said he’s going to use his new perch in the House to pursue what he calls ‘phase one’ of tax reform — focusing only on the business Tax Code — while understanding that he’s not going to get it all while President Barack Obama is in office. But that doesn’t mean he’s giving up on the big ideas he’s pitching to shape the Republican Party’s agenda for 2016.”

House approves narrow tax break extension. USA Today:“The Senate and White House have signaled they will not oppose the plan … The one-year, retroactive fix will allow millions of businesses and individuals to claim the breaks on their 2014 tax returns, but the fate of the package next year, known as tax extenders, is uncertain after President Obama cut short bipartisan negotiations for a long-term deal with a veto threat … The short-term fix mainly benefits businesses, but it also includes a mix of tax breaks benefiting a number of special interests including teachers, commuters and Puerto Rican rum producers … Some Democrats are unhappy the package leaves out two provisions: a tax credit that helps some laid-off workers pay for health insurance and a tax credit for buying electric motorcycles.”

WH summit today to tackle college affordability. McClatchy:“College presidents and school district leaders from around the country will attend it and announce 600 new commitments to help more students prepare to get into college and graduate. The new commitments fall into four areas: greater promotion of college completion, efforts by elementary and secondary schools to prepare students for college, more money for 5,000 additional high school counselors in districts that need help getting more students to college; and increasing the number of college graduates in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields.”

GOP may target NLRB. Roll Call:“Among the targets: a potential NLRB ruling that says college athletes are school employees, union elections should happen more quickly and national franchise companies should be responsible when franchisees violate labor laws … Democratic member Nancy J. Schiffer’s term expires on Dec. 16, and if her replacement isn’t confirmed by then, observers expect the board to make several controversial rulings … Failing to get these decisions out by mid-December could leave the board deadlocked for months with two Democratic members and two Republicans … epublican Harry Johnson’s term expires in August, so Hill GOP leaders could wait to confirm a Republican and Democrat simultaneously. But delaying that vote pushes the issue closer to the 2016 presidential campaign…”

Progressive Breakfast is a daily morning email highlighting news stories of interest to activists. Progressive Breakfast is a project of the Campaign for America’s Future. more »