=Tomorrow, local MoveOn members and the University of Washington Academic Workers for a Democratic University are taking part in the national Fight for $15 rally. They’re delivering a petition to the UW president calling on him to comply with Seattle’s historic new ordinance and raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour for all campus workers. Can you make sure they include your name? Click here to sign the petition, then share it with your friends.

Dear Washington MoveOn member,

I’m Garrett Shishido Strain, and I started a petition to the University of Washington administration, which says:

I demand that the University of Washington comply with the $15 per hour Seattle minimum wage ordinance by raising the wages of 12,000 campus workers—including 8,700 student workers—who are paid less than $15 per hour. Sign Garrett’s petition

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

On April 1, Seattle took its first step toward a $15 minimum wage by requiring all employers with more than 500 workers to pay at least $11 per hour. Despite being the single largest employer in Seattle, the University of Washington administration has argued that it’s not obligated to pay $15 per hour to campus workers. This means that more than 12,000 campus workers are at risk of not receiving a much-needed wage increase—including more than 8,700 student workers, who have seen UW tuition rise 82% since 2008.¹

Academically, UW is ranked among the best universities worldwide. Unfortunately, UW is also home to an ever-growing gap between the highest-paid administrators and the lowest-paid hourly workers. Instead of increasing student fees and tuition, or cutting research funding and campus jobs, UW can and should provide living-wage jobs for all campus workers by redistributing funds from highly paid administrators to the most marginalized workers on campus.

If every other employer in Seattle can pay at least $15 per hour, so can UW.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Garrett

Source:

1. “Seattle’s $15 wage law might not affect city’s biggest boss: UW,” The Seattle Times, March 25, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304042&id=111593-17809870-4ce3tcx&t=2

This petition was created on MoveOn’s online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. The University of Washington Academic Workers for a Democratic University didn’t pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Nine in Ten

04/14/2015 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

Nearly Nine Out of Ten Americans Now Have Health Insurance Thanks to the Affordable Care Act

Some more big health care news is out today that continues to prove that the Affordable Care Act is working. And while some conservatives continue their efforts to dismantle it, others are finally putting people over politics.

Gallup released a survey this morning showing that the uninsured rate among U.S. adults fell to 11.9 percent this quarter, the lowest rate since it started tracking insurance rates in 2008. It is a one percentage point drop from last quarter, and a 6.1 point drop from the middle of 2013, just before the state and federal health exchanges opened for business. That’s a whopping 34 percent drop in uninsured American adults in less than two years.

In addition to this good news, a conservative-leaning state is also taking a huge step in expanding health care for its residents. This weekend in Montana, the Republican-controlled House approved a bill to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, is expected to sign the bill into law, which would make the state the 29th to expand Medicaid and give health coverage to up to 70,000 more Montanans.

While Montana is taking the right step both morally and economically for its residents, Florida is moving backwards. Talks to expand health care there have hit a roadblock, with GOP Gov. Rick Scott completing a flip-flop-flip from being against Medicaid expansion, to being for it, now back to being against it. Florida would benefit more than almost any other state in the nation from the move, but conservatives continue to play politics.

Speaking of conservative elected officials in Florida, those at the federal level are also ignoring the facts on health care. Sen. Marco Rubio, who is officially announcing his candidacy for president today, has consistently advocated the repeal of the health care law. And while it is expected that the 43-year-old Cuban-American will play up his heritage on the campaign trail, the fact remains that Hispanics are one of the demographics that has benefited the most from the Affordable Care Act, and would benefit from closing the coverage gap as well.

BOTTOM LINE: The Affordable Care Act is a profoundly important public policy and the evidence continues to pile up showing its effectiveness in providing health care to Americans. It’s time that all conservative lawmakers at the state and federal level look at the facts and stop playing politics with their constituents’ well-being.

Like CAP Action on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

GM604 Campaign Update April 13, 2015 – Update on “FDA Grant Accelerated Approval for GM604”

04/14/2015 Nativegrl77

GM604 Campaign Update April 13, 2015

Apr 13, 2015 — In this update: 1) Rally – Washington DC, May 11, 2015 2) Welcome New Campaigners 3) Email/call FDA and Congress – Last Chance? 1) Our grassroots campaign has adopted the moniker… Read more

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Virginia keeps innocent man in prison even after he’s served his time

04/14/2015 Nativegrl77

Later On

Amazing: the US criminal-justice system really is criminal. Dahlia Lithwick reports in Slate:

DNA testing has been used 329 times now to prove the innocence of people wrongly convicted of a crime. But what happens when there is no DNA evidence to prove someone’s innocence? What happens when there is only his word, and the mounded doubts of the team that prosecuted and convicted him? And what happens when—despite growing certainty that it has imprisoned the wrong man for more than 20 years—the Commonwealth of Virginia stands poised to keep him locked up, possibly forever?
Of all the maddening stories of wrongful convictions, Michael McAlister’s may be one of the worst. For starters, he has been in prison for 29 years for an attempted rape he almost certainly did not commit. For much of that time, the lead prosecutor who secured his conviction, the original lead detective on…

View original post 217 more words

Black History

the Senate ~ CONGRESS ~ the House

04/14/2015 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, April 14, 2015.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Senate will recess from 10:30 until 11:30am to allow for the all senators briefing and will recess again from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly conference meetings.

The Senate has reached an agreement to consider H.R.2, Medicare Access (SGR) and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, tonight. Under the order, at 7:10pm today, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of H.R.2, which was received from the House, and the only amendments in order be the following:

Cornyn #1114 (repeal individual mandate);

Bennet #1115 (4 years of CHIP);

Lee #1116 (motion to strike exclusion from PAYGO requirements);

Murray #1117 (women’s health);

Cotton #1118 (fee schedule); and

Cardin #1119 (repeal of therapy caps).

Following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will vote in relation to the amendments in the order listed, that all amendments except the Lee and Cotton amendments be subject to a 60 vote affirmative threshold for adoption, the bill then be read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended. Further, there will be two minutes equally divided between the votes. All votes after the first will be ten minutes in length.

Cornyn #1114 (repeal individual mandate) (60-vote threshold)
Bennet #1115 (4 years of CHIP) (60-vote threshold)
Lee #1116 (motion to strike exclusion from PAYGO requirements) (majority vote threshold)
Murray #1117 (women’s health) (60-vote threshold)
Cotton #1118 (fee schedule) (majority vote threshold)
Cardin #1119 (repeal of therapy caps (60-vote threshold)
Motion to waive applicable budget points of order (60-vote threshold)
Passage of H.R.2, as amended, if amended (majority vote threshold)

7:12pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Cornyn #1114 (repeal individual mandate) (60-vote threshold).

Bennet #1115 (4 years of CHIP) (60-vote threshold)
Lee #1116 (motion to strike exclusion from PAYGO requirements) (majority vote threshold)
Murray #1117 (women’s health) (60-vote threshold)
Cotton #1118 (fee schedule) (majority vote threshold)
Cardin #1119 (repeal of therapy caps (60-vote threshold)
Motion to waive applicable budget points of order (60-vote threshold)
Passage of H.R.2, as amended, if amended (majority vote threshold)

The Cornyn amendment #1114 (repeal individual mandate) was not agreed to by a vote of 54-45.

Senator Hatch raised a budget point of order with respect to the Bennet amendment #1115 (4 years of CHIP). We expect Republicans to raise budget points of order against the Democratic amendments; therefore, we expect there to be motion to waive the budget act votes with respect to the remaining Democratic amendments.

At 7:41pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the Bennet motion to waive the budget act with respect to Bennet amendment #1115;

Not Agreed to: 50-50

Not Waived: 50-50.

8:00pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Lee amendment #1116 (strike PAYGO exemption reimbursement);

Not Agreed To: 42-58

Murray #1117 (women’s health) (60-vote threshold) [motion to waive vote expected]
Cotton #1118 (fee schedule) (majority vote threshold)
Cardin #1119 (repeal of therapy caps (60-vote threshold) [motion to waive vote expected]
Motion to waive applicable budget points of order (60-vote threshold)
Passage of H.R.2, as amended, if amended (majority vote threshold)

8:17pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Murray motion to waive budget points of order with respect to Murray amendment #1117 (women’s health) (60-vote threshold);

Not Agreed To: 43-57

Cotton #1118 (fee schedule) (majority vote threshold)
Cardin #1119 (repeal of therapy caps (60-vote threshold) [motion to waive vote expected]
Motion to waive applicable budget points of order (60-vote threshold)
Passage of H.R.2, as amended, if amended (majority vote threshold)

8:34pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Cotton amendment #1118 (fee schedule);

Not Agreed To: 11-89

Cardin #1119 (repeal of therapy caps (60-vote threshold) [motion to waive vote expected]
Motion to waive applicable budget points of order (60-vote threshold)
Passage of H.R.2, as amended, if amended (majority vote threshold)

Senator Hatch raised a point of order against Cardin amendment #1119. Senator Cardin then moved to waive the applicable points of order.

At 8:51pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the Cardin motion to waive Cardin SA #1119 (repeal of therapy caps (60-vote threshold)

Not Waived: 58-42

Motion to waive applicable budget points of order (60-vote threshold)
Passage of H.R.2, as amended, if amended (majority vote threshold)

Senator Sessions raised a budget point of order against H.R.2. Then, Senator Hatch moved to waive the point of order.

At 9:11pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the Hatch motion to waive the budget point of order against H.R.2, Medicare Access (SGR) and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015;

Waived: 71-29

The point of order was not sustained.

Next: passage of H.R.2, Medicare Access (SGR) and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.

At 9:33pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on passage of H.R.2, Medicare Access (SGR) and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015;

Passed: 92-8

Following passage of H.R.2, the Senate resumed consideration of S.178, Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. Then, Senator Portman withdrew his pending amendments (SA #271 and SA #270) and the Vitter second degree SA #284 fell.

Senator McConnell then offered Cornyn amendment #1120 (Hyde) and filed cloture on the Cornyn amendment. The Cornyn amendment #1120 is now the only pending amendment to the bill.

Unless an agreement can be reached, the cloture vote would occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Thursday, April 16. The filling deadline for second degree amendments to the Cornyn amendment is 1 hour prior to the cloture vote

Tomorrow we anticipate the Republicans will move to go to conference on the Senate budget resolution. Once the compound motion to go to conference is made, there would be 1 hour for debate on the motion. We expect a roll call vote on the compound motion to go to conference on the budget resolution in the 11:45am range.

There would then be up to an additional 9 hours for debate equally divided (1 of the 10 statutory hours would have been used prior to the vote). Upon the use or yielding back of time, motions to instruct conferees would be in order.

Therefore, we expect a mini-votearama (hopefully only in the 9 to low double digit vote range) in the late afternoon or early evening (depending on how much debate time is required—maybe in the 5pm range).

The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:00pm for the bipartisan luncheon.

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

10:00:26 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:33 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Dan Newhouse to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:47 A.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
10:45:41 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:29 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 14.
12:00:31 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:01:39 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:01:42 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Chabot to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:02:15 P.M.	H. Res. 199	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 199 — “Electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives.”
12:02:41 P.M.	H. Res. 199	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
12:02:50 P.M.	H. Res. 199	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:03:22 P.M.		The House received a communication from Bryan Rudolph, District Office Manager. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Rudolph notified the House that he had been served with a grand jury subpoena for testimony issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois and that he had determined that compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.
12:03:44 P.M.		The House received a communication from Sarah Rogers, Staff Member. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Ms. Rogers notified the House that she had been served with a grand jury subpoena for testimony issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois and that after consultation with counsel, she would make the determinations required by Rule VIII.
12:04:03 P.M.		The House received a communication from Dayne LaHood, Staff Member. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. LaHood notified the House that he had been served with a grand jury subpoena for testimony issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois and that after consultation with counsel, he would make the determinations required by Rule VIII.
12:04:29 P.M.		The House received a communication from Mark Roman, Staff Member. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Roman notified the House that he had been served with a grand jury subpoena for testimony issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois and that after consultation with counsel, he would make the determinations required by Rule VIII.
12:04:54 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
12:34:23 P.M.	H. Res. 189	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 189 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 650) to amend the Truth in Lending Act to modify the definitions of a mortgage originator and a high-cost mortgage, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 685) to amend the Truth in Lending Act to improve upon the definitions provided for points and fees in connection with a mortgage transaction, and providing for the adoption of the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 11) setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 2025.”
12:36:47 P.M.	H. Res. 189	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 189.
1:34:43 P.M.	H. Res. 189	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 239 – 183 (Roll no. 148).
1:54:21 P.M.	H. Res. 189	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 237 – 185 (Roll no. 149).
1:54:22 P.M.	H. Res. 189	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:55:02 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 189 . S. Con. Res. 11 — “Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 2025.”
1:55:03 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 189, the House took S. Con. Res. 11 from the Speaker’s table.
1:55:05 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H. Con. Res. 27. Agreed to pursuant to H. Res. 189.
1:55:13 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	On agreeing to the resolution, as amended Agreed to pursuant to H. Res. 189.
1:55:14 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 189, the Chair recognized Mr. Price, Tom for a motion.
1:55:48 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	Mr. Price, Tom moved that the House insist upon its amendment, and request a conference.
1:55:49 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the Price, Tom motion that the House insist on its amendment to S. Con. Res. 11 and request a conference with the Senate.
1:55:54 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by voice vote.
1:56:19 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	On motion that the House insist upon its amendment, and request a conference Agreed to by voice vote.
1:56:28 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:56:49 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	Mr. Van Hollen moved that the House instruct conferees.
1:57:02 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to instruct conferees on S. Con. Res. 11. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the managers on the part of the House to (1) recede from disagreement with the Senate with respect to sec. 363 of S. Con. Res. 11 (relating to the requirement for earned paid sick time to address the health needs of workers and their families); and (2) to recede from subsection (e)(3) of sec. 808 of the House Amendment (relating to changing the current Medicare program, and replacing it with premium support payments).
2:59:01 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	The previous question was ordered without objection.
2:59:10 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Van Hollen motion to instruct conferees on S. Con. Res. 11, the Chair put the question on adoption of the motion and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Van Hollen demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the motion to instruct until a time to be announced.
3:00:42 P.M.	H.R. 650	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 189. H.R. 650 — “To amend the Truth in Lending Act to modify the definitions of a mortgage originator and a high-cost mortgage.”
3:01:06 P.M.	H.R. 650	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 189, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 650.
4:10:12 P.M.	H.R. 650	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
4:10:44 P.M.	H.R. 650	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule 19, further proceedings on H.R. 650 was postponed.
4:11:14 P.M.	H.R. 685	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 189. H.R. 685 — “To amend the Truth in Lending Act to improve upon the definitions provided for points and fees in connection with a mortgage transaction.”
4:11:50 P.M.	H.R. 685	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 685.
5:11:31 P.M.	H.R. 685	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
5:12:23 P.M.	H.R. 685	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 685, the Chair put the question on adoption of the bill, and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Waters (CA) demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption until later in the legislative day.
5:12:48 P.M.	H.R. 650	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 650 — “To amend the Truth in Lending Act to modify the definitions of a mortgage originator and a high-cost mortgage.”
5:13:10 P.M.	H.R. 650	Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule 19, further proceedings on H.R. 650 resumed.
5:13:21 P.M.	H.R. 650	Ms. Waters, Maxine moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Financial Services.
5:13:37 P.M.	H.R. 650	DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waters motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment to ensure that the underlying legislation does not benefit lenders or individuals that have engaged in unfair, deceptive, predatory, or abusive lending practices, or have been convicted of mortgage fraud, pending reservation of a point of order. Subsequently, the reservation of a point of order was removed.
5:49:54 P.M.	H.R. 650	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 184 – 239 (Roll no. 150).
5:56:48 P.M.	H.R. 650	On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 263 – 162 (Roll no. 151).
5:56:49 P.M.	H.R. 650	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:56:51 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on passage of H.R. 685, and on the motion to instruct conferees for S. Con. Res. 11, both of which had been debated earlier, and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
5:56:55 P.M.	H.R. 685	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 685 — “To amend the Truth in Lending Act to improve upon the definitions provided for points and fees in connection with a mortgage transaction.”
6:04:49 P.M.	H.R. 685	On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 286 – 140 (Roll no. 152).
6:04:50 P.M.	H.R. 685	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:14:01 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	On motion that the House instruct conferees Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 187 – 239 (Roll no. 153).
6:14:02 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:14:12 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 11	The Speaker appointed conferees: Tom Price of Georgia, Rokita, Diaz-Balart, Black, Moolenaar, Van Hollen, Yarmuth, and Moore.
6:14:13 P.M.		Mr. Stivers filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 200.
6:15:15 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
6:24:00 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a report to the Congress with respect to the proposed rescission of Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 114-26).
6:25:23 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
7:39:01 P.M.		Mr. Jeffries moved that the House do now adjourn.
7:39:14 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
7:39:15 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on April 15, 2015.