Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

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

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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

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell Senate Democrats: Stand up to Republican budget cuts


Right now, Republicans are trying to cut programs that provide access to basic health care, housing assistance and job training. For many families, what happens could mean the difference between stability and homelessness, or life and death.

The GOP‘s war on Black, poor and working folks is bad enough. But as we’ve seen in the past, Democrats often refuse to fight for us. If that happens this time, the most vulnerable among us will be left in the cold while the wealthiest Americans continue to receive massive tax breaks.

Please click the link below to demand that Democrats defend the programs we need, not use them as bargaining chips as they negotiate with Republicans. Then ask your friends and family to do the same. It only takes a moment:

www.colorofchange.org

Republicans and Democrats in Congress are in a battle over the government’s budget. Congress has reached a deal to keep the government from shutting down for the next week while it negotiates a longer-term spending bill.1 While that short-term deal cuts some important funding for education and transportation, the truly devastating cuts are being debated now.2

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has proposed a plan to cut $61 billion from the budget, and many of their proposed cuts target services crucial to our communities’ well being. If Democratic leadership in the Senate and President Obama don’t commit to looking out for our interests this month, Black and low income communities will sink even deeper into economic crisis. Here’s what’s at stake:

Federal grants that help cities create jobs and revitalize neighborhoods would be cut. The Republican plan calls for cutting $2.5 billion in Community Development Block Grants, a 62% reduction nationwide. Cities use these funds to do things like provide affordable housing, expand business opportunities and support a range of services for low- and middle-income folks.3

Low-cost access to reproductive health will be seriously undermined. The GOP’s plan calls specifically for defunding Planned Parenthood nationwide, which means that pre-natal care, cervical cancer screenings and testing for HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections will move out of reach for people who can’t afford it or whose insurance doesn’t cover these vital services. As our families know well, Planned Parenthood offers a range of life-saving care. It’s the largest family planning provider in the country, offering the birth control that makes needing to make the difficult choice of having an abortion less likely.4

Half of the budget for a program that helps low-income people heat and cool their homes will be wiped out. Given these tough economic times, the number of people using the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is on the rise. More than 8 million households used it in 2010, up from 7.7 million and 5.8 million during the previous two years. President Obama has himself suggested cuts to this program, and we need him to change course. 5

The Women Infants and Children (WIC) program would face severe cuts. The budget for this key service providing baby formula, food and other services to poor women and their children would be cut by 10%.6

AmeriCorps will shut its doors. The national service program trains and places hardworking young people in jobs in our communities. Its 83,000 members work at places like Habitat for Humanity and Boys and Girls Clubs teaching, mentoring, and building homes among other crucial jobs.7

The list doesn’t end there. If Senate Democrats and President Obama don’t stand strong, we could see $1 billion cut from Head Start programs, nearly $6 billion cut from the need-based Pell Grant program that gives our young people access to higher education, and other cuts to elder and child care, job training, transportation and health programs that help our families stay afloat.8

Please join us in calling on Democratic leaders to stand up for our communities in the current budget battle. And when you do, please ask your family and friends to do the same. It only takes a moment.

Thanks and Peace,

www.colorofchange.org

— James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Matt, Natasha and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team

March 10th, 2011

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Bankrate.com


Here are stories published today

CD rates for March 10, 2011 | 2011-03-11

Here are the average CD rates from Bankrate‘s weekly survey of large banks and thrifts.

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/cd/national-cd-rates-for-march-10-2011.aspx?ec_id=brmint_newsalert_20110310

Make the most of a debt consolidation loan | 2011-03-11

A debt consolidation loan can turn around your financial life, if you know how to avoid the traps.

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/first-steps-to-a-debt-consolidation-loan.aspx?ec_id=brmint_newsalert_20110310

Home equity loan rates for March 10, 2011 | 2011-03-11

Here are the average home equity rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of large banks and thrifts.

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/home-equity/national-home-equity-loan-rates-for-march-10-2011.aspx?ec_id=brmint_newsalert_20110310

Auto loan rates for March 10, 2011 | 2011-03-11

Here are the average auto loan rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of large banks and thrifts.

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/national-auto-loan-rates-for-march-10-2011.aspx?ec_id=brmint_newsalert_20110310

National mortgage rates for March 10, 2011 | 2011-03-11

See rates from our survey of CDs, mortgages, home equity products, auto loans and credit cards.

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/interest-rate-roundup-for-march-10-2011.aspx?ec_id=brmint_newsalert_20110310

Debt woes may impact couple’s joint assets | 2011-03-11

When dealing with debt issues, determine how your spouse’s credit and assets could be affected.

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/debt-woes-may-imperil-spouse-s-assets.aspx?ec_id=brmint_newsalert_20110310

Credit card interest rates for March 10, 2011 | 2011-03-11

Here are the average credit card rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of large banks and thrifts.

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/national-credit-card-rates-for-march-10-2011.aspx?ec_id=brmint_newsalert_20110310

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

what’s going on in Congress …Republican led House eliminates FHA


CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 11, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

3:38 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on March 14, 2011.

3:37 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 11.

3:02 P.M. –

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

3:01 P.M. –

The House received a communication from Darrell E. Issa, Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. On March 3, 2011, Chairman Issa had notified the House formally, pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform had been served with a subpoena for documents issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in a case pending before that Court. The notification referenced the pending case as a civil case, but was in fact a criminal case.

2:06 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

1:05 P.M. –

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

Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That when the House adjourns on Friday, March 11, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, March 14, 2011, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.

H.R. 836:

to rescind the unobligated funding for the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program and to terminate the program

12:33 P.M. –

The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 830.

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

12:32 P.M. –

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 242 – 177 (Roll no. 174).

12:26 P.M. –

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 182 – 238 (Roll no. 173).

12:10 P.M. –

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

11:57 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with amendments which provide a continuation of the provisions of the program for military veteran homeowners.

11:56 A.M. –

Mr. Connolly (VA) moved to recommit with instructions to Financial Services.

Mr. Connolly (VA) moved to recommit the bill, H.R. 836, to the Committee on Financial Services with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with the following amendment: ¢ In section 3(b), before “shall continue” insert the foloowing: “, and an y amounts made available for use under such Program pursuant to subsection (d),”. ***

11:55 A.M. –

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

11:54 A.M. –

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 836.

On agreeing to the Waters amendment Failed by recorded vote: 185 – 237 (Roll no. 172).

11:32 A.M. –

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

11:24 A.M. –

Mr. Hensarling raised a point of order against the Sanchez, Loretta amendment Mr. Hensarling stated that the provisions of the amendment exceed the scope of the bill and the amendment is therefore,not germane. The Chair sustained the point of order.

11:19 A.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 151, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Loretta Sanchez amendment number 7 under the five-minute rule, pending the reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Ms. Sanchez, Loretta.

An amendment numbered 7 printed in the Congressional Record to provide that the bill take effect on the first date occurring after enactment on which the Current Population Survey of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Labor Department, as released monthly, identifies that the unemployment rate for the United States is equal to 7.5% or less.

11:18 A.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Waters amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Ms. Waters demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

10:49 A.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 151, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Waters amendment number 4 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Ms. Waters.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in the Congressional Record to direct Housing and Urban Development Department to publish on its website, no later than five days after the bill’s enactment, to “contact your Member of Congress for assistance.”

10:48 A.M. –

On agreeing to the Neugebauer amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

10:46 A.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 151, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Neugebauer amendment number 3 under the five-minute rule.

10:45 A.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Neugebauer.

An amendment numbered 3 printed in the Congressional Record to include m ilitary servicemembers and veterans who have service-related injuries, as well as survivors and dependents of such individuals, in a study on use of the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program.

On agreeing to the Canseco amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

10:26 A.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 151, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Canseco amendment number 5 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Canseco.

An amendment numbered 5 printed in the Congressional Record to provide that all unexpended balances rescinded and permanently canceled by the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program’s termination be retained in the General Fund of the Treasury for reducing the federal government debt.

9:13 A.M. –

GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 836.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Lynn A. Westmoreland to act as Chairman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 151 and Rule XVIII.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 836 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be read by section. Specified amendments are in order. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now printed in the bill.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 151.

9:02 A.M. –

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

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

9:01 A.M. –

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

9:00 A.M. –

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

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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

The Senate will Convene on March 14, 2011 at  2:00pm

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 Boasber, 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:

Senators should expect 2 roll call votes at 5:30pm in relation to the following items:

– Confirmation of the nomination of James Boasber, of the District of Columbia, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia, and

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

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Economy: A Sensible Budget Alternative


Yesterday, the Senate nixed two budget-cutting proposals — the House GOP budget bill and the Senate Democratic alternative — and exposed “the fault lines within the Republican and Democratic parties over fiscal issues.” Three Tea Party Republicans “who want deeper cuts” joined all Democrats in a 44-56 vote against the GOP bill. But 11 Democrats joined all Republicans in a 42-58 vote the Democratic plan, with some arguing it cut too little and others arguing it cut too much. The government is currently funded until March 18, after which most federal services will cease if a new funding bill for the remaining six months isn’t passed. White House budget director Jacob Lew said the rejection of the two bills “made it abundantly clear that we are going to need to work together on a bipartisan basis.” But a look at the GOP’s idea of compromise reveals an aggressive need to balance the budget on the backs of the disadvantaged while simultaneously impairing economic recovery. At the Center for American Progress yesterday, Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY) advocated an “all of the above” approach that “incorporate[s] mandatory cuts and revenue raisers into the mix” rather than “continuing the fixation on domestic discretionary cuts” in order to reign in the deficit responsibly. While recognizing there are tough decisions ahead to reach budgetary goals, Americans are signaling support for a progressive proposal that can responsibly avoid stymieing economic growth and hurting middle-class families at the same time.

THE SLASH AND BURN: Intent on fulfilling their pledge, House Republicans plowed through the federal budget to reach $57 billion in spending cuts in H.R. 1, their continuing resolution to fund the government through 2011. Bypassing pragmatic cuts to outdated programs and subsidies, the House GOP took their ax to vital public investments and our nation’s most vulnerable populations. It would leave 10,000 low-income military veterans and 10,000 long-term disabled people without housing assistance, nearly one million low-income students without academic support, numerous pregnant women and mothers without food and health care assistance, 11 million patients without health care received at Community Health Centers, and at least 5 million children without access to anti-poverty services when the number of children in poverty is at a record high. While leaving the Pentagon’s record-high budget request intact, Republicans still jeopardized national safety by cutting funding to food safety regulators, local law enforcement, and air transportation safety. And despite making job creation their top priority, the House GOP turned H.R. 1 into a job-killer out to kneecap economic competitiveness by drastically reducing investment in public infrastructure, cutting nearly 50 percent of federal job training funding and potentially driving the unemployment rate “up to 9.7-10 percent.” Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and numerous economists have stated that the GOP bill could “cost about 700,000 jobs through 2012.” H.R. 1 ended up being so detrimental to “the drivers of long-term economic growth and job creation” that President Obama promised to veto the bill if passed. “This is a highly politicized slash-and-burn budget,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said after it failed. “This debate is about more than dollars and sense. It’s about real people with real lives.”

THE RESET: The Democratic budget proposal “coalesced around a spending bill that cuts government funding by $6 billion in 2011” — a far less damaging alternative. However, as The Washington Post’s Ezra Klein indicates, the Democratic baseline still fails to “accelerate our economy” because it focuses solely on deficit reduction without offering any spending on economic investments. In a speech at the Center for American Progress yesterday, Schumer called on Congress to “reset” its approach to deficit reduction. “We need to stop falling into the trap of measuring fiscal responsibility in terms of willingness to cut government, and instead focus on what matters — reining in the deficit,” he said and proceeded to offer a more responsible way to do so. First, Schumer revived his proposal from last year to institute a surtax on millionaires and billionaires — a proposal, he noted, that was “the most popular proposal” among Americans in a recent poll. He also advocated for closing the tax gap by going after tax dodging and income sheltering by big corporations, a gap that “has gotten as high as over $300 billion a year this past decade.” Pointing to mandatory spending as “the largest contributor to the deficit,” Schumer also suggested Congress reduce unnecessary subsidies handed out to industries that don’t need them every year. In an interview with ThinkProgress‘s Pat Garofalo, Schumer said oil and gas subsidies “stick[] out like a sore thumb” because “the entire rationale for it is gone.” With the price of oil at $100 a barrel, “the subsidy, in economic terms, doesn’t mean anything other than to make some people wealthy who are already wealthy,” he said. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) agreed, advocating similar millionaire surtaxes and elimination of tax breaks for oil companies to address the deficit. Schumer pushed back hard against cuts to Social Security. “Social Security doesn’t have any problems until 20 years from now,” he said, adding that the deficit needs to be reduced long before then.

THE MAIN STREET VIEW: While House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) might think “Americans don’t have a clue” about the problems facing our economy, the perspective from outside the beltway is pretty clear. Most Americans want to see a compromise on the federal budget to avoid a government shutdown, but 56 percent of Americans chose creating jobs over cutting spending as the more important government priority. Fifty-nine percent of Americans favored repealing the Bush tax cuts, and 49 percent thought defense spending should be a top priority for cuts, “even if it means eliminating programs that bring jobs to your state.” However, Americans “across all ages groups and ideologies said by large margins that it was ‘unacceptable’ to make significant cuts to entitlement programs in order to reduce the federal deficit.” What’s more, a sizable majority supported making wealthier Americans share more of the sacrifice — be it through reduced Social Security and Medicare payments or, the most popular option, a surtax on millionaires. Overall, Americans overwhelmingly rejected cuts to social programs. The progressive plan outlined by the Center For American Progress’s Michael Ettlinger, Michael Linden, and Reece Rushing “brings the budget into primary balance by 2015 and brings our deficits to sustainable levels” through pragmatic cuts in 2015, including “eliminating roughly $35 billion in corporate subsidies” and “targeting $60 billion in specific defense cuts for a 7 percent overall reduction.” Coupling responsible cuts at a more economically viable time while raising revenues — such as “applying a new 2 percent surtax to adjusted gross income above $1 million” — will help achieve important budget goals “while protecting middle-class families, continuing vital economic investments, and adequately funding other national priorities.” While tough choices must be made, “proposing to balance the budget only on tax increases or only on spending cuts” while the economy is still fragile “is both unrealistic and bad public policy.” Any feasible deficit reduction plan will balance both the budget and the sacrifice to avoid crippling the economy and hurting struggling middle-class families.