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mashup Monday &some News

06/06/2011 Nativegrl77

The Movie Trailer below i guess is brought to you by a Pro-lifer GOP candidate for New Jersey State Senate. This thing is not only offensive it also seems that the best way to handle “these women” is to hold them hostage. Is this what we are in for if the Republican Tea Party gains control of all 3 branches of our governments, a complete adjustment to what the word Freedom means and for whom does it apply to or omit.

The Life Zone features an all-star cast, including Robert Loggia (Academy Award and Emmy nominee; Scarface, Big, Independence Day), Lindsey Haun (Broken Bridges, Shrooms, “True Blood”), Angela Little (American Pie Bandcamp; My Boss’s Daughter), Blanche Baker (Emmy Winner; Sixteen Candles), Charles Durning (2-time Academy Award/4-time Golden Globe/9-time Emmy winner & nominee), Martin Kove (Karate Kid; Rambo)
Eric Etebari (“Witchblade”, The Lincoln Lawyer), Tara Buck (“True Blood”)
Tom Waites (And Justice For All; The Thing), Eileen Fulton (Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award; “As the World Turns”).

The Life Zone is written and produced by Kenneth Del Vecchio and is directed by Rod Weber. Nace Naumoski is the co-producer and Tatijana Naumoska is associate producer.

Other News

US court system confounds French as Dominique Strauss-Kahn pleads not guilty

Syria Says Forces Ambushed

Wash. governor signs bill to raise college tuition

Levee breaches bring new worry

Dems blast Republicans for blocking Fed nomination

Disney to Lay Off Nearly 250 Employees

UN head airs ‘deep concern’ over Naksa Day clashes

New York Daily News

The past is never dead Palin edition

CSPAN

Commission Focuses on New Report on Waste in Wartime Contracts

Santorum Announces His Candidacy

A Look at Afghanistan and Libya

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Congress: Back in Session -the Republican led House 6/7 -the Senate

06/06/2011 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes: 2pmET June 6, 2011

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will be in period of morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #118, the nomination of Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., of the District of Columbia, to be Solicitor General of the United Stateswith one hour for debate equally divided in the usual form.Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Verrilli nomination. Votes:
85: Confirmation of the nomination of Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., of the District of Columbia, to be Solicitor General of the United States;
Confirmed: 72-16

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on June 7, 2011.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Honoring Fallen Servicemembers … a message from Senator Patty Murray

06/03/2011 Nativegrl77

June 2, 2011

Honoring Fallen Servicemembers

In honor of Memorial Day last week, I spoke on the Senate floor to pay tribute to the men and women who died serving our country in the armed forces. I also took time to discuss the need to take care of our nation’s veterans and urge my colleagues to pass my legislation to help veterans find employment.

Watch the speech |Readthe speech

Improving Care for Veterans through Agency Coordination

Last week, I heard from veterans and top VA and Pentagon officials about challenges that remain in the care for amputees, rising suicide rates, poor coordination between the departments, and delays in disability evaluations. During the hearing, I heard first-hand accounts from veterans about what went well but also about how they were negatively impacted by the lack of collaboration between DoD and VA and what they believe can be done to improve the transition for the thousands upon thousands of servicemembers still to come home.

Watch the hearing

“Concern grows over ‘epidemic’ veteran suicide rate” – The News Tribune

Benefits Program for Caregivers of Veterans Now Accepting Applications

Earlier this month, I applauded the announcement made by the Department of Veterans Affairs that they have started accepting and processing applications for the critical caregiver benefits program. After only a week and a half, the VA helped over 625 veterans, servicemembers, and caregivers apply to receive the new benefits. This program will provide much-needed and long-awaited financial and health care support to family members caring for severely wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

Eligible veterans, servicemembers, and family caregivers can apply for benefits online at: www.caregiver.va.gov

Lowering our Military’s Dependence on Fossil Fuels

Last week, Senator Maria Cantwell and I introduced legislation to extend the length of contracts between the DoD and biofuel producers. The act, which is companion legislation to a bipartisan bill sponsored in the U.S. House by Rep. Jay Inslee, would allow the military to increase long-term contracts with biofuel producers from 5 years to 15 years for the purchase of advanced biofuel fuels. Not only will this unlock opportunities to make investments in the construction and development of private biofuel refineries in the Northwest, it will also lower our military’s dependence on fossil fuels and increase the security of troops.

“Industry study says Northwest ideal for production of biofuels”
– The Everett Herald

Providing Greater Access to Affordable Health Care

Last week, I applauded the announcement that Washington State will be one of the first states to receive funding to help implement a Health Insurance Exchange, a key provision of the Affordable Care Act. The award of $22 million will help Washington state implement an Exchange that will provide individuals and small business with a one-stop shop to find and compare health insurance options.

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Florida Governor Signs Welfare Drug Screening into Law

06/03/2011 Nativegrl77

By Amanda Geronikos
Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:11:56 GMT

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has signed new legislation requiring welfare applicants to take drug-screening tests.

The new law, which goes into effect July 1, will require the Florida Department of Children and Family Services to perform drug tests on adults applying to the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Welfare recipients will be responsible for the cost of the screening, but will regain the money in their assistance if they qualify. Those who fail the drug test may deligate another person to receive the benefits on behalf of their children.

Some Democrats are furious over the new legislation. CNN reports that one Democrat even deemed the bill “downright unconstitutional.” “‘Indeed, investigating people when there is probable cause to suspect they are abusing drugs is one thing,’ Rep. Corinne Brown said in a joint statement,” as mentioned by CNN. “‘But these tests amount to strip searching our state’s most vulnerable residents merely because they rely on the government for financial support during these difficult economic times.'”

Can a simple drug test truly be considered “strip searching” though? Employers perform drug tests on their most loyal employees all the time.

Gov. Rick Scott says it’s “’unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction,’” as noted by CNN. “’It’s the right thing for citizens of this state that need public assistance. We don’t want to waste tax dollars. And also, we want to give people an incentive to not use drugs.’”

Do you think welfare applicants should be required to take drug tests? Sound off here.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of XFINITY.

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Issa continues harassment of Elizabeth Warren

06/03/2011 Nativegrl77

Elizabeth Warren, perhaps America‘s leading consumer advocate, has done a superb job standing up the Republican bullies in charge of the House Oversight Committee. And the GOP‘s harassment of Professor Warren has provoked strong rebukes from Democrats on the Oversight Committee as well as tens of thousands of progressives across the country.

But they don’t seem to be getting the message.

One week after a subcommittee chair, Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, publicly accused Professor Warren of perjury in an exchange that quickly became a viral online video, Oversight Chairman Darryl Issa sent Warren what the Huffington Post‘s Hill Update called “an unusually obnoxious-sounding invitation” to appear before his full committee.

40,000 PFAW supporters have already spoken out and joined our petition telling Republicans to back off and stop their smear campaign against Elizabeth Warren. We’re still shy of our goal of 50,000, which we really want to hit in time to deliver the petitions to the Oversight Committee in advance of Professor Warren’s next appearance this month. That’s why I’m asking you to add your name right now — we need you to help us close the gap and hit 50K.

Chairman McHenry Calls Elizabeth Warren a Liar at Subcommittee Hearing …

to watch the video click on the link below and then go to: www.pfaw.org

http://youtu.be/RET2Z5AVJ8A

Thank you for all your hard work in helping us stand up to the Right.

— Ben Betz, Online Strategy Manager