Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Profits Over People, Medicare Edition

09/11/2012 Nativegrl77

By ThinkProgress War Room

Romney’s Plan to Pad Insurance Company Profits

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan’s plan to end Medicare as we know it and turn it into a voucher plan is bad enough on its face. It doesn’t do anything to actually rein in health care costs. It just shifts costs — potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars for future retirees — from the government onto the backs of seniors.

But it gets worse. We learned over the weekend that all the extra money out of our pockets is going to give insurance companies some extra large profits. Here’s President Obama, who was in Florida yesterday, describing the findings of a new study:

In fact, one report just said that by the end of the next decade, our opponent’s plan would mean as much as $16 billion to $26 billion in new profits for insurance companies. So basically, your costs would rise by the thousands so that their profits could rise by the billions.

How much more are you going to be on the hook for in order to pump up the profits on insurance companies? Check out this handy infographic to find out:

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You May Have Missed

In his defense, Mitt Romney cites five studies that actually just further prove his plan would raise taxes on the middle class.

In new stump speech, Romney suggests Obama is anti-God.

One hedge fund millionaire is trying to buy a seat in Congress.

Paul Ryan once touted defense cuts he now claims to not have voted for.

Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) attacked Sandra Fluke.

Romney’s amazing and dishonest gymnastics on health care.

President Obama said Nikki Minaj’s “endorsement” of Mitt Romney was a joke — and she said the president was right.

Poll finds Obama surging after Democratic convention.

Obamacare has led to a record drop in uninsured young people.

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

CONGRESS – the Republican led House : Congress will do only about 8days of work prior to Election2012 : the Senate led by Dems

09/11/2012 Nativegrl77

Convenes: 10:00am
Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
The first hour will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
At 11:00am, the Senate will conduct a moment of silence in observance of the 11^th anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001.
The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
At 2:15pm, the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.3457, the Veterans Jobs Corps Act. As a reminder, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.3457 on Thursday, August 2^nd.

2:15pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to S.3457, the Veterans Jobs Corps Act of 2012; Invoked: 96-1

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.3457, the Veterans Jobs Corps Act; Invoked: 95-1

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.548, designating the week beginning September 9, 2012, as “National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week”.

Adopted S.Res.549, designating September 2012 as “Campus Fire Safety Month”.

Adopted S.Res.550, designating September 13, 2012, as “National Celiac Disease Awareness Day”.

Completed the Rule 14 process of H.R.8, the Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012. (Republican request)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.3522, the Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act of 2012. (Menendez and others)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.3525, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012. (Tester)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

———————————————————————————————————-

http://www.houselive.gov/

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 11, 2012.

10:00:31 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:40 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Daniel Webster to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:01:19 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.
10:31:06 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:46 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 11.
12:00:56 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:02:30 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:02:41 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Wilson of SC to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:03:32 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
12:34:41 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until the conclusion of general debate on all suspensions.
12:35:01 P.M.	H.R. 4631	Mr. Walsh (IL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4631 — “To require quarterly reports on agency conferences and meetings, and for other purposes.”
12:35:18 P.M.	H.R. 4631	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:35:22 P.M.	H.R. 4631	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4631.
12:47:00 P.M.	H.R. 4631	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
12:47:03 P.M.	H.R. 4631	>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:47:08 P.M.	H.R. 538	Mr. Walsh (IL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 538 — “To require the establishment of customer service standards for Federal agencies.”
12:47:31 P.M.	H.R. 538	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:47:34 P.M.	H.R. 538	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 538.
12:54:30 P.M.	H.R. 538	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
12:54:34 P.M.	H.R. 538	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:58:38 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification of the continuance of the national emergency with respect to terrorists attacks onthe United States of September 11, 2001 – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-138).
1:01:13 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification of the continuance of the national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-139).
1:05:35 P.M.	H. Res. 773	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 773 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5544) to authorize and expedite a land exchange involving National Forest System land in the Laurentian District of the Superior National Forest and certain other National Forest System land in the State of Minnesota that has limited recreational and conservation resources and lands owned by the State of Minnesota in trust for the public school system that are largely scattered in checkerboard fashion within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and have important recreational, scenic, and conservation resources, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5949) to extend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 for five years.”
1:05:55 P.M.	H. Res. 773	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 773.
1:46:08 P.M.	H. Res. 773	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H. Res. 773, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Polis (CO) demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on ordering the previous question until later in the legislative day.
1:46:49 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess for a period of less than 15 minutes.
2:00:45 P.M.		<action_description>The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 11.
2:01:06 P.M.	H. Res. 773	Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 773 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5544) to authorize and expedite a land exchange involving National Forest System land in the Laurentian District of the Superior National Forest and certain other National Forest System land in the State of Minnesota that has limited recreational and conservation resources and lands owned by the State of Minnesota in trust for the public school system that are largely scattered in checkerboard fashion within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and have important recreational, scenic, and conservation resources, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5949) to extend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 for five years.”
2:30:27 P.M.	H. Res. 773	>On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 232 – 177 (Roll no. 560).
2:37:51 P.M.	H. Res. 773	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 233 – 179 (Roll no. 561).
2:37:53 P.M.	H. Res. 773	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:38:16 P.M.	H.R. 4264	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 4264 — “To help ensure the fiscal solvency of the FHA mortgage insurance programs of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and for other purposes.”
2:44:50 P.M.	H.R. 4264	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 – 7 (Roll no. 562).
2:44:51 P.M.	H.R. 4264	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:44:59 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
2:46:24 P.M.	H.R. 4305	Mr. Chabot moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4305 — “To authorize the Attorney General to provide a grant to assist Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in the rapid recovery of missing individuals.”
2:46:40 P.M.	H.R. 4305	Considered under suspension of the rules.
2:46:41 P.M.	H.R. 4305	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4305.
2:59:25 P.M.	H.R. 4305	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
2:59:28 P.M.	H.R. 4305	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:00:03 P.M.	H.R. 2800	>Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2800 — “To amend the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to reauthorize the Missing Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Alert Program.”
3:00:18 P.M.	H.R. 2800	Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:00:20 P.M.	H.R. 2800	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2800.
3:08:29 P.M.	H.R. 2800	<action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
3:08:32 P.M.	H.R. 2800	<action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:09:02 P.M.	H.R. 6185	<action_description>Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 6185 — “To improve security at State and local courthouses.”
3:09:20 P.M.	H.R. 6185	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:09:21 P.M.	H.R. 6185	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6185.
3:15:42 P.M.	H.R. 6185	<action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
3:15:45 P.M.	H.R. 6185	<action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:16:24 P.M.	H.R. 1775	<action_description>Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1775 — “To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish a criminal offense relating to fraudulent claims about military service.”
3:16:38 P.M.	H.R. 1775	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:16:39 P.M.	H.R. 1775	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1775.
3:26:01 P.M.	H.R. 1775	<action_description>At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
3:26:18 P.M.	H.R. 6215	<action_description>Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 6215 — “To amend the Trademark Act of 1946 to correct an error in the provisions relating to remedies for dilution.”
3:26:33 P.M.	H.R. 6215	Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:26:36 P.M.	H.R. 6215	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6215.
3:34:14 P.M.	H.R. 6215	<action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
3:34:19 P.M.	H.R. 6215	<action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:35:00 P.M.	H.R. 6189	<action_description>Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 6189 — “To eliminate unnecessary reporting requirements for unfunded programs under the Office of Justice Programs.”
3:35:03 P.M.	H.R. 6189	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:35:06 P.M.	H.R. 6189	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6189.
3:40:09 P.M.	H.R. 6189	<action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
3:40:12 P.M.	H.R. 6189	<action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:40:32 P.M.	H.R. 6080	<action_description>Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 6080 — “To make improvements in the enactment of title 41, United States Code, into a positive law title and to improve the Code.”
3:40:45 P.M.	H.R. 6080	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:40:46 P.M.	H.R. 6080	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6080.
3:44:28 P.M.	H.R. 6080	<action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
3:44:32 P.M.	H.R. 6080	<action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:45:01 P.M.	S. 3245	<action_description>Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 3245 — “To permanently reauthorize the EB-5 Regional Center Program, the E-Verify Program, the Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program, and the Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Program.”
3:45:17 P.M.	S. 3245	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:45:18 P.M.	S. 3245	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3245.
3:57:55 P.M.	S. 3245	<action_description>At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
3:58:41 P.M.	H.R. 4057	<action_description>Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4057 — “To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a comprehensive policy to improve outreach and transparency to veterans and members of the Armed Forces through the provision of information on institutions of higher learning, and for other purposes.”
3:58:58 P.M.	H.R. 4057	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:59:01 P.M.	H.R. 4057	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4057.
4:28:29 P.M.	H.R. 4057	<action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
4:28:32 P.M.	H.R. 4057	<action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:29:03 P.M.	H.R. 3857	<action_description>Mr. Turner (NY) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 3857 — “To amend the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to include as an eligible use the sustainment of specialized operational teams used by local law enforcement under the Transit Security Grant Program, and for other purposes.”
4:30:16 P.M.	H.R. 3857	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:30:21 P.M.	H.R. 3857	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3857.
4:48:34 P.M.	H.R. 3857	<action_description>At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
4:49:22 P.M.	H.R. 6028	<action_description>Mr. Walsh (IL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 6028 — “To authorize the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) to modify screening requirements for checked baggage arriving from preclearance airports, and for other purposes.”
4:49:39 P.M.	H.R. 6028	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:49:45 P.M.	H.R. 6028	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6028.
5:01:30 P.M.	H.R. 6028	<action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
5:01:34 P.M.	H.R. 6028	<action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:02:14 P.M.	S. 710	<action_description>Mr. Murphy (PA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. S. 710 — “To amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a hazardous waste electronic manifest system.”
5:02:33 P.M.	S. 710	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:02:36 P.M.	S. 710	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 710.
5:12:27 P.M.	S. 710	<action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
5:12:29 P.M.	S. 710	<action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:12:40 P.M.	H.R. 6131	<action_description>Mrs. Bono Mack moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 6131 — “To extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders Act of 2006, and for other purposes.”
5:13:04 P.M.	H.R. 6131	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:13:07 P.M.	H.R. 6131	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6131.
5:23:20 P.M.	H.R. 6131	<action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
5:23:27 P.M.	H.R. 6131	<action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:23:30 P.M.	H.R. 5865	<action_description>Mrs. Bono Mack moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 5865 — “To promote the growth and competitiveness of American manufacturing.”
5:24:07 P.M.	H.R. 5865	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:24:09 P.M.	H.R. 5865	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5865.
5:53:46 P.M.	H.R. 5865	<action_description>At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
5:54:33 P.M.	H.R. 1410	<action_description>Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1410 — “To promote freedom and democracy in Vietnam.”
5:54:50 P.M.	H.R. 1410	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:54:53 P.M.	H.R. 1410	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1410.
6:18:09 P.M.	H.R. 1410	<action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
6:18:12 P.M.	H.R. 1410	<action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:18:37 P.M.	H.R. 1464	<action_description>Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1464 — “To develop a strategy for assisting stateless children from North Korea, and for other purposes.”
6:18:48 P.M.	H.R. 1464	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
6:18:49 P.M.	H.R. 1464	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1464.
6:31:59 P.M.	H.R. 1464	<action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
6:32:02 P.M.	H.R. 1464	<action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:32:05 P.M.	H. Res. 484	<action_description>Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended. H. Res. 484 — “Calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to respect basic human rights and cease abusing vague national security provisions such as articles 79 and 88 of the Vietnamese penal code which are often the pretext to arrest and detain citizens who peacefully advocate for religious and political freedom.”
6:32:22 P.M.	H. Res. 484	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
6:32:24 P.M.	H. Res. 484	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 484.
6:47:20 P.M.	H. Res. 484	<action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
6:47:23 P.M.	H. Res. 484	<action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:47:27 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 17	Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution. S. Con. Res. 17 — “Expressing the sense of Congress that Taiwan should be accorded observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).”
6:47:41 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 17	<Considered under suspension of the rules.
6:47:42 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 17	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. Con. Res. 17.
6:58:09 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 17	On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
6:58:12 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 17	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:58:30 P.M.		The House received a communication from Daniel Scandling, Chief of Staff. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Scandling notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena for documents issued by the Fairfax County Circuit Court in connection with civil litigation currently pending before that court. After consultation with the Office of General Counsel, Mr. Scandling had determined that compliance with the subpoena was inconsistent with the privileges and precedents of the House.
6:59:00 P.M.		The House received a communication from Frank Wolf, Member of Congress. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Wolf notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena for documents issued by the Fairfax County Circuit Court in connection with civil litigation currently pending before that court. After consultation with the Office of General Counsel, Mr. Wolf had determined that compliance with the subpoena was inconsistent with the privileges and precedents of the House.
7:00:16 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:01:43 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
8:55:40 P.M.		Mr. Tonko moved that the House do now adjourn.
8:55:56 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
8:55:57 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 12, 2012.

http://www.houselive.gov/

House hearings

12:00 am	Hearing: Medicare’s Durable Medical Equipment Competitive Bidding Program: How are Small Suppliers Faring?Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology
9:35 am	Hearing: IG Report: The Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General Examines the Failures of Operation Fast and FuriousCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee
10:00 am	Hearing: Hearing entitled “TRIA at Ten Years: The Future of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program”Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity
10:00 am	Hearing: Eleven Years Later: Preventing Terrorists from Coming to AmericaCommittee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security
10:00 am	Hearing: A framework for building partner capacity programs and authorities to meet 21st Century challengesCommittee on Armed Services: Full Committee
10:00 am	Hearing: The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program – A Progress ReportCommittee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy
10:00 am	Hearing: Tenth Anniversary of the Maritime Transportation Security Act: Are We Safer?Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
10:00 am	Hearing: A Review of Amtrak Operations Part 2: The High Cost of Amtrak’s Monopoly Mentality in Commuter Rail CompetitionsCommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee
10:00 am	Hearing: UPDATE: NEW TIME Boustany Announces Hearing on the Internal Revenue Service’s Implementation and Administration of the Democrats’ Health Care Law Committee on Ways and Means: Oversight
10:15 am	Hearing: H.R. 4255, the Accountability in Grants Act of 2012Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power
11:30 am	Hearing: Oversight Hearing on “The Chu Memorandum: Directives Could Increase Electricity Costs for over 40 Million Families and Small Businesses”Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee
2:00 pm	Hearing: Navy shipbuilding and impacts on the defense industrial base in a time of fiscal uncertaintyCommittee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
2:00 pm	Hearing: Legislative Hearing on H.R. ____ and H.R. 4969Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
2:00 pm	Hearing: Eleven Years After 9/11 Can TSA Evolve To Meet the Next Terrorist Threat?Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Transportation Security

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Voter ID

09/10/2012 Nativegrl77

Republicans are working hard to suppress your vote. Can you contribute $12 today to the Emergency Black Voter Fund?

Last week 2,260 delegates from all 50 states elected Mitt Romney to represent their party in this election. Yet at the same time the Republican party is talking about freedom and American values, it is doing everything it can to make it harder for Black folks to exercise their right to vote.¹

In Ohio, Secretary of State Jon Husted has eliminated weekend access to polls, an option that was exercised by Black voters in past elections.² In Pennsylvania, Republicans pushed through a law requiring specific forms of restrictive photo identification to vote, a constraint that systematically pushes Black and low-income voters out of the system.³ In Florida, Republican Gov. Rick Scott has overseen a sweeping voter purge that has erased hundreds – if not thousands – of lawful citizens from the voter rolls.⁴

That’s why we’re launching an Emergency Black Voter Fund. Can you chip in $12 a month until election day, to create a fighting fund to help make sure that these attacks on our right to vote don’t go unanswered. Can you spare $12 a month?

http://act.colorofchange.org/pledge/emergency_recur_donate

With your help we will register thousands of new Black voters and prepare them to have everything they need to vote on Election Day. We will also launch rapid response media campaigns in key states like Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio to fight back against conservative attempts to make it harder for Black folks to vote.

The Republican machine has invested millions to keep us from voting.⁵ This will take significant resources, which is why we don’t have a minute to lose. We need your help to get these plans off the ground. Can you chip in $12 a month from now until election day to help turn these plans into reality?

http://act.colorofchange.org/pledge/emergency_recur_donate

Thanks and Peace,

— Rashad, Dani, Matt, Arisha, Charlene and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team September 1st, 2012

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:

http://www.colorofchange.org/donate

References

1. “Republicans Boast About Voter Suppression in Tampa, but the Ground Is Shifting,” The Nation (Blog), 08-29-12 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1759?t=7&akid=2614.1174326.U3rkmV

2. “Equal voting processes for Ohio counties may still be unfair for voters,” WKSU, 08-16-12 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1703?t=9&akid=2614.1174326.U3rkmV

3. “Shocker: PA Judge Upholds Voter Disenfranchisement Law, Setting Up Chaos Like 2004 in Ohio,” AlterNet, 08-15-12 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1760?t=11&akid=2614.1174326.U3rkmV

4. “How Governor Rick Scott Is Preventing Eligible U.S. Citizens From Voting In Florida,” ThinkProgress, 05-23-12 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1761?t=13&akid=2614.1174326.U3rkmV

5. “Many states’ voter-ID laws, including Pennsylvania’s, appear to have tie to same U.S. group,” Philadelphia Inquirer, 08-15-12 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1762?t=15&akid=2614.1174326.U3rkmV

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The stakes for clean air, clean water, and clean energy jobs …

09/10/2012 Nativegrl77

Here’s something Mitt Romney actually joked about with pride — and plenty of scorn — while formally accepting the Republican nomination for president of the United States:

“President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet.”

And the crowd went wild.

It is nothing short of terrifying to imagine a party that openly mocks climate change taking back the White House.

The contrast between our candidate and theirs couldn’t be any clearer.

President Obama has more than doubled the amount of electricity we get from wind and solar over his first term — and his plans for wind power are expected to help grow the wind industry to support 100,000 jobs by 2016. Both Romney and Ryan want to kill the wind production tax credit, which could come at the expense of 37,000 American jobs. Oh, but they would keep giving $4 billion in tax breaks to Big Oil every single year.

And just this week, while President Obama’s administration finalized historic fuel economy standards to double our vehicles’ mileage by 2025 and cut carbon pollution from vehicles in half, the GOP adopted a platform that could kill investments in clean energy, and calls on Congress to prohibit the EPA from moving forward with new greenhouse gas regulations.

Surprise, surprise — according to the Los Angeles Times, the platform “was written at the direction of the Romney campaign,” making it heavily influenced by Big Oil interests.

So there you have it — the stakes for clean air, clean water, and clean energy jobs couldn’t be higher. Make sure your friends and family know what we’re fighting for:

Thanks, and stay tuned.

Buffy

Buffy Wicks National Operation Vote Director Obama for America