Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Cardin, Casey, Hagan Join Education Advocates And Firefighters To Discuss Why FMAP Funding Is Important For Our Communities And Schools


June 22, 2010

Washington, DC— Senators Ben Cardin, Bob Casey and Kay Hagan joined Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and Kevin O’Connor of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) at a press conference this morning to call on Republicans to stop blocking critical state funding. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, actions needed to close state budget deficits could cost the national economy 900,000 public- and private-sector jobs, including teachers, police officers and firefighters.  In recent weeks, Republicans have blocked several efforts by Senate Democrats to pass this legislation, leaving our communities vulnerable and depriving our schools of much-needed resources to educate our children.

“If we do not extend these funds, the states like Maryland will hit a fiscal wall that will have an immediate impact on our most vulnerable citizens. It also will cost us jobs as local governments are forced to make painful cuts just at the very time we were beginning to feel the positive results of our recovery,” said Senator Cardin. “This is critically important for our nation as a whole and should not be a partisan issue.”

“Continued obstruction in the Senate could lead to 20,000 layoffs in Pennsylvania alone and poses a threat to public safety and schools,” said Senator Casey.  “Despite majority support, states around the country are facing harmful real world consequences because a minority of senators are blocking funding.”

“Extending this Medicaid funding is the key to helping North Carolina and all of our states navigate these difficult economic times,” said Senator Hagan.  “Our children’s education and the safety of our communities are at risk.  This is an issue too important to fall victim to partisan bickering.”

“Children don’t decide to be born during good times or bad. But we, the adults, decide whether we are going to take care of our children and give them the care and education they deserve,” said Randi Weingarten of the AFT.  “By funding FMAP, we can meet that obligation to our children, and continue the terrific progress we’re making in school districts across the county.”

“It’s time for Congress to stop talking and start acting. It’s time to put our communities and the safety of our citizens first,” said Kevin O’Connor of the IAFF. The price of Congressional inaction will force cities and towns to lay off thousands of fire fighters and jeopardize public safety. Stop the delays, pass the FMAP funding extension immediately.”

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Oil rig worker warned of BP danger


As Americans heard Judge Martin Feldman rule against the President’s moratorium today,  one has to wonder why people on the Gulf Coast cannot wait while safety checks are done, possibly demand relief wells be dug and or any 500thouand dollar safety feature be on all questionable wells… why wouldn’t a Judge want these wells checked and or adjusted before letting the lives of workers be at any more risk

the BP whistle blower talks about his experience  … we all need to ask ourselves is it possible that  Corporations like BP are willing to risk life and the environment against Profits; does this include Judge feldman

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Momentum!


Hi

If you signed the petition …

Thanks again for signing our petition demanding Wall Street accountability. In the past week, thousands of PCCC members have called Congress — and it’s paying off: we’re winning.

We’ve gotten reports behind the scenes that one Congressman who is trying to water down reform is feeling heavy pressure as a result of the PCCC’s petition signatures, phone calls, and online ads — even convening a conference call with local constituents to “respond” to the PCCC’s campaign.

Can you help our momentum continue by calling Senator Patty Murray and asking them to fight for strong Wall Street reform today? Click here.

News outlets are reporting the tough provisions we’ve been fighting for are likely to make it to the final bill. But the New York Times just reported:

As Congress rushes this week to complete the most far-reaching financial reform plan in decades, the banking industry is mounting an 11th-hour end run.

Industry lobbyists — and sympathetic members of Congress — are pushing for provisions to undercut a central pillar of the legislation, known as the Volcker Rule, which would forbid banks from using their own money to make risky wagers on the market and would force them to sell off hedge funds and private equity units.

Sen. Murray is going to be a key vote. Lobbyists want her to kill provisions that keep Wall Street from gambling away your bank deposits on risky schemes.

Can you call her and insist on strong Wall Street reform this week? Just click here.

Already thousands of people have called. Please add your voice today.

Thanks for being a bold progressive,

— Aaron Swartz, Adam Green, Stephanie Taylor, Shaunna Thomas, and the PCCC team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

UNDER THE RADAR

BUSINESS — BP LAUNCHES ‘AGGRESSIVE’ SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN, BUT RESTRICTS FEEDBACK: Facing public outrage over the devastation its oil gusher has caused in the Gulf, BP has been making a major public relations push over the past few weeks to burnish its image. The company began buying space on search-engine results pages for oil-related search terms, and it earned criticism for lavishing $50 million on radio, TV, and print ads featuring CEO Tony Hayward pledging to “do everything we can so this never happens again.” Now, BP is launching an “aggressive” social media campaign employing Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr. A BP spokesperson boasts of how the social venues are “more direct than other channels.” BP’s sophisticated campaign “would make most social media strategists proud,” but the AdWeek report reveals the hollowness of the outreach. On Facebook, the company only accepts comments from people who “like” BP, and the “extensive commenting policy…warns that any ‘ad hominem attacks’ will be removed.” Meanwhile, comments are disabled completely on the company’s YouTube channel. BP shutting down feedback is ironic considering the oil giant claims to be actively soliciting ideas from the public on how to help resolve the crisis in the Gulf. Although BP has received tens of thousands of ideas, it quickly became clear that the company was ignoring the suggestions and that the effort was largely a PR stunt. Many inventors who have submitted suggestions complain BP “isn’t taking their suggestions seriously enough,” and overall, BP has been widely denounced for spending millions on advertising to rehabilitate its image while it should be spending that money to rehabilitate the Gulf.

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

tentative Tuesday …&some News ~ new hc benefit


Today, our President will announce a new health care benefit that will impact all Americans.

Primary day

If not now   -when

Politicians and the Military who serve the people would be well warned to remember that the consequences of their actions or inaction have an impact that affects all of us.

In our 24/7 news cycle, it brings forth a lot of information that quite frankly seems more  like ugly gossip than anything else and in some instances reporters seem willing to put people at risk and today we hear that our military has started to fight openly, something that is usually classified  is not anymore? gotta say,  it is with great displeasure to know that in order to get the story magazines like the Rolling Stone would go with or without thought that extra mile and get a top military general to talk on or off the record not only about the President and his Administration but about others in the circle and or chain of command.  I am no military expert but it would be a moment that maybe someone would have enough sense to see what the impact would be on everyone including Americans  -it is with great sadness no one said ok this story could have all kinds of repercussions to our security to the security of the guys fighting and quite possibly to the top guys; but no- Rolling Stone found the rogue General was upset enough to talk and say things that will probably end his career though from what i read about McChrystal he seemed very adept at his job though the Obama administration has fought him about his military moves he has on some occasions been right -but was overridden which is probably why he decided to go rogue and talk til it got to the mainland; big big mistake.  Most people, sane people know this behavior is not acceptable by anyone on the lower level let alone those on the top level.  The notion that Rolling Stone made arrangements to do a story then spent over 3months with the general and no one told them that what was being said was off the record? even the comments from eiken berry should have been off the record/classified. The comments made by the General were calculated and  in response to his feelings of being betrayed but no military man should spout off to civilians unless and until he has gone through all the channels needed at the highest level ever -the President and from this mornings reports our President is furious and rightly so.  It’s a tough call -though he seems to have been somebody who had a plan his outbursts are unacceptable and should be dealt with swiftly.

The other odd news …among so many, is that Peter Orszag will be leaving in July and though he has been out of sight for quite sometime since the financial crisis was at its worse; obviously the rumors will be hot and heavy with no end in sight until someone at the WH decides to announce his departure and why. The Tea party has decided…well, reports are that Sarah Palin has given an indian woman and a black man permission to run for office which is strange in and of itself because who anointed Palin with that kind or power.

The BP oil disaster has cast a big shadow on Republicans because it showed exactly what side of any issue about big Corporations they are on and it ain’t with We the People; it’s an issue for me hopefully others will continue to replay the words that Barton, Bachmann Boehner, Paul Rand Sarah Palin have said: they are  corporatist that have probably voted against the people for years and are now being outed by an oil spill that will impact the Gulf Coast for decades and bring that areas businesses to their knees unfortunately. A lawsuit demanding the Feds cancel the moratorium because of all the jobs in limbo has been filed and the judge will decide on Wednesday if it merits.  It seems like a no brainer for a moratorium to be placed in effect until each one is evaluated and relief wells put into place and that 500mil dollar accessory is available so that each well has true safety features.

Other News …

judge says moratorium should end/grants injunction/administration will appeal/judge martin feldman -is a lot of things but should end/will affect unemployment and ripple throughout and damage that cannot undo/he cannot justify the moratoriumthis ruling coming  from a judge from  Alabama and given his position by Ronald Reagan


Fifty-seven percent of residents in Fremont, NE voted Monday to “banish illegal immigrants from jobs and rental homes,” overturning an earlier decision by city leaders. “Within minutes” of its passage, the ACLU in Nebraska “pledged to file a lawsuit” against the ordinance on grounds that it would “cause discrimination and racial profiling.”TP

Under orders from President Obama, the Labor Department is set to “expand the rights of gay workers by allowing them to take family and medical leave to care for sick or newborn children of same-sex partners.” Those who work for a company with 50 or more employees are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid leave “to care for a newborn or for a spouse, son or daughter with ‘a serious health condition.'”TP

Sixty-five percent of Americans support President Obama’s temporary moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, a New York Times/CBS News poll found. “Overwhelmingly, Americans think the nation needs a fundamental overhaul of its energy policies, and most expect alternative forms to replace oil as a major source within 25 years,” the poll suggested.TP

“I have great respect for [gays and lesbians].”
— Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, 4/24/10

VERSUS

 

“We can get into the ick factor, but the fact is two men in a relationship, two women in a relationship, biologically, that doesn’t work the same.”

— Huckabee, 6/28/10, quoted in the New Yorker magazine


C-SPAN …

Conferees to address “swipe fees” at todays meeting

The Conference Cmte. on Financial Regulation legislation continues its meeting today. One of the issues under discussion will be fees charged to consumers on debit card “swipe fees”. Other areas of the legislation that will be debated this week include, derivatives trading, a consumer protection agency, an auto dealers exemption on some of the new regulations, and the so called “Volcker rule” which limits banks ability to make trades with their own money.The conference cmte. hopes to finish the bill this week so both chambers can vote on it before the July 4th recess.

Watchdog Questions Secretary Geithner on TARP’s Management

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner makes his fourth appearance before the Congressional Oversight Panel, giving an update on his Department’s handling of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The Congressionally-created group is charged with supervising how the $700 billion fund is managed and other financial stabilization initiatives proposed by the Obama Administration.
watch COP Hearing on C-SPAN at 10am ET
visit COP Website

Oil Rig Support Services File Lawsuit to Overturn Ban

The federal hold on new deepwater drilling faces its first legal challenge after several companies that provide support services to oil rigs filed a lawsuit to overturn the moratorium. In the filing, Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC claims the suspension on drilling will result in lost jobs and wages in Louisiana. A federal judge will decide Wednesday whether to overturn the ban.Kenneth Feinberg, the Independent Claims Facilitator of the $20 billion fund for victims of the spill, is in the Gulf region to begin implementing a plan to dispense funds to victims of the spill. He says the plan will likely be in place in 30 to 45 days, and after that time future claims will be addressed within 30 to 60 days of submission. He and his associates have also started arranging town hall meetings across the region, where people can discuss concerns and learn how to file claims.