Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The latest on the budget fight & a link -find out what reckless Republican cuts will do to your state!

03/14/2011 Nativegrl77

The stand-off on the budget continues.

While it looks like the deadline could be extended, the President has said from the beginning that we simply can’t do business a few weeks at a time.

At OFA, we’ve been working hard at the local level. I can tell you the Republican plan isn’t getting any prettier. It costs nearly a million American jobs — including 15,100 in Washington — and it makes drastic, politically motivated cuts to education and innovation. Click here to learn more about how the Republican plan hurts people you know.

http://my.barackobama.com/State-Consequences2?state=WA

Let’s be real — this plan is not how we’re going to win the future. President Obama has offered a budget that would reduce the deficit by more than $1 trillion, but he’s said he’s not willing to go along with any plan that would hurt our economic recovery.

So, we’re keeping the pressure on Republicans to come to the table to pass a responsible budget.

You’ve already taken the first step by adding your name to the President’s call for a commonsense budget — but here’s what you can do now before we deliver each and every name to Congress: Spread the word to friends and family in Washington about exactly what the Republican plan would do.

Please pass along the email below, and ask folks to join you in making their voices heard.

Mitch and I will keep you posted as we learn more.

Thanks,

Yohannes

Yohannes Abraham

Political Director

Organizing for America

————–

Subject: Stand up for 15,100 Washington jobs

Dear friends,

I’m writing because 15,100 Washington jobs are at risk — along with key investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure.

The President is committed to finding common ground on a budget that reduces the deficit and cuts wasteful spending, but he’s made it clear that he can’t go along with any plan that could derail our economic growth.

The current spending plan proposed by Republicans would be devastating — and you can see exactly what the Republican budget would mean for Washington: eliminating 8,000 community health center jobs, cutting Washington homeland security investments for local law enforcement by $2.2 million, and dropping 2,989 Washington children from Head Start.

Even with a deadline extension in the works, if Republicans refuse to come to the table to find a long-term solution, the government will be forced to shut down.

Check out all the consequences of the Republican plan for people in Washington — and join me in standing with President Obama for a commonsense approach to the budget:

http://my.barackobama.com/State-Consequences2?state=WA

Thanks

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Accountability in Wisc. a national priority

03/14/2011 Nativegrl77

Friday, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed into law a bill that strips public workers of their rights to collectively bargain after the Republican-controlled legislature rushed through the legislation. The bill also authorizes state officials to fire any state employee who joins a strike, walk-out, sit-in or coordinated effort to call in sick. While Walker maintains that the bill is necessary to solve the budget crisis, this move was purely a power grab by the GOP and its pro-corporate allies.

Two weeks ago, a blogger posing as oil billionaire and Tea Party/Republican mega-donor David Koch recorded a phone conversation with Gov. Walker. Throughout the course of the call Walker talked about various dirty tricks he and his allies had considered, from luring the Democratic Senators back to Madison with false promises of negotiation to infiltrating the mass protests with troublemakers. The Governor even seemed to indulge fantasies about busting public employee unions following President Reagan‘s example of firing more than 11,000 air traffic controllers in 1981.

The Wisconsin GOP’s attempt to pay for massive corporate giveaways that expanded the deficit on the backs of hard working people is not unique to that state. We see it in several other states and, perhaps most visibly, in the current federal budget battle going on in Congress.

We must do everything we can to defend the American Dream, to defend the middle class and to defend fundamental rights all across the United States … that struggle is embodied as clearly as it can be in the current events transpiring in Wisconsin. And that’s why Wisconsin is a battle we as Americans cannot afford to lose. That means unseating by recall election the GOP state senators who are eligible for it now and working to repeal the union-bashing law and hold Gov. Walker accountable going forward.

The response from PFAW members and activists across the country has been truly tremendous. THANK YOU to all of you who have taken action and donated. We need your help to keep the great momentum going, so please continue to spread the word and contribute what you can.

We have our work cut out for us, but with your continued support, together we will help vote out the eight Republican Wisconsin state senators eligible for recall. We’ll help reshape the state government so that this heinous attack on fundamental rights and the American Way can be overturned … and we’ll send a message to right-wing, anti-worker elected officials everywhere, as well as their corporate cronies, that Americans’ basic rights are not on the table and that there are consequences for these attacks.

Thank you for all your support at this historic moment in our nation’s story.

Sincerely,

Ben Betz, Online Strategy Manager

P.S. Republican State Senate Leader Scott Fitzgerald told Fox News that the bill was passed in order to dramatically weaken the clout of unions who could support President Obama’s reelection campaign in the swing state: “If we win this battle, and the money is not there under the auspices of the unions, certainly what you’re going to find is President Obama is going to have a much more difficult time getting elected and winning the state of Wisconsin.”

Randy Hopper, a Republican State Senator who could be recalled by voters this year, also said in an interview with Fox News, “I think there’s absolutely no question that this is an issue for 2012.”

As Republicans admit that the union-busting bill is all about punishing progressive groups and rewarding corporate backers, it is clear that the GOP’s rhetoric on “fiscal conservatism” should not be taken seriously.

P.P.S. Today, the 14 Democratic Wisconsin Senators, who showed America such a great example of progressive strength and unity, are returning to Madison in a “homecoming march” on the capitol. The move is meant to demonstrate that their return to the state is not an acknowledgement of defeat. These Senators continue to have our deepest gratitude and support.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Gallup Poll -From Gallup.Com: Texans Most Likely to Be Uninsured, Mass. Residents Least

03/14/2011 Nativegrl77

Nearly 3 in 10 adults living in Texas (27.8%) do not have health insurance, making it the state with the highest uninsured rate in the country in 2010. Massachusetts continues to have the lowest percentage of uninsured residents, at 4.7%.

Congress: debates & votes Today … -the Republican led House -the Senate …SBIR and S.493 STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011

03/14/2011 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes at 2:00pmET March 14, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 4:30pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive session to consider the nomination of calendar #10, the nomination of James Boasberg, of the District of Columbia, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia. There will be up to 1 hour for debate equally divided prior to a vote on the nomination.

Votes:

39: Confirmation of the nomination of James Boasberg, of the District of Columbia, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of ColumbiA;

Confirmed: 96-0

40: Cloture on the motion to proceed to S.493, SBIR and STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011

Invoked: 84-12.

This is the last vote of the day.

Unanimous Consent:

Adopted S.Res.100, Designating March 11, 2011, as “World Plumbing Day”.

Adopted S.Res.101, a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate relating to the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 14, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

8:58 P.M. –

The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 15, 2011.

On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.

8:57 P.M. –

Mrs. Christensen moved that the House do now adjourn.

7:04 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

7:03 P.M. –

On approving the Journal Agreed to by voice vote.

7:02 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal.

H. Con. Res. 27:

providing for the acceptance of a statue of Gerald R. Ford from the people of Michigan for placement in the United States Capitol

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 396 – 0 (Roll no. 176).

6:55 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

6:54 P.M. –

MOMENT OF SILENCE – The House observed a moment of silence for all those who have perished in the aftermath of the devastating Earthquake and Tsunami that hit the nation of Japan.

H.R. 793:

to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness, California, as the “Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office”

6:53 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 394 – 0, 1 Present (Roll no. 175).

6:52 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

6:31 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

Mr. Woodall filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 167.

6:30 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 14.

5:36 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.

H. Con. Res. 27:

providing for the acceptance of a statue of Gerald R. Ford from the people of Michigan for placement in the United States Capitol

5:35 P.M. –

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.

5:12 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 27.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Lungren, Daniel E. moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H.R. 793:

to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness, California, as the “Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office”

5:03 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 793.

Mr. Ross (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

5:02 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. today.

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 14.

2:05 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

2:02 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Burgess to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

2:01 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Campbell demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Campbell objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day.

2:00 P.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 14.

12:07 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

12:00 P.M. –

MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debates. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

The Speaker designated the Honorable John Campbell to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell the EPA: Don’t Delay -a word from RepoWer America

03/11/2011 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

I’m Christina Simeone, Policy Director here at Repower America, and I wanted to share an important piece of news with you.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to limit global warming pollution from big fossil fuel industries like power plants and petroleum refineries. These industries alone account for about 40% of the global warming pollution in the U.S. — making them the two largest sources of emissions.

Here’s where you come in. The EPA is charged with developing rules called New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) that will protect public health, reduce the pollution that causes climate change, and send a signal to polluters that they need to invest in clean energy technologies.

It’s crucial that the EPA sticks to its schedule and develops strong rules. Between now and March 18, the EPA is accepting comments on their plans. They will definitely be receiving comments from the coal, gas and oil industries. Make sure they hear from you, too.

http://www2.repoweramerica.org/page/m/396e8deb/6fdeebac/54344aa/19ba7686/1427535023/VEsF/

These rules are common sense. The EPA was created to understand our impact on our environment and protect the health of our people. An overwhelming majority of scientists are united in their understanding of the effects of global warming pollution and the EPA is charged with developing rules based on that science. Yet strong special interest groups are working to derail that process.

The EPA needs to hear that you support their efforts to limit global warming pollution from these industries. That’s why you need to encourage the EPA to issue strong New Source Performance Standards without delay.

The science is clear: Climate change is happening. Unfortunately, big polluters will make big profits if they mislead the American public about that fact. We need you to counteract and counterbalance their money and their voice by sending a comment to the EPA today.

Fill out the form below, and we’ll deliver your comment to the EPA before the March 18 deadline:

http://www2.repoweramerica.org/page/m/396e8deb/6fdeebac/54344aa/19ba7686/1427535023/VEsC/

Thanks,

Christina Simeone

Policy Director

Repower America