~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Special report: ‘They treated us like slaves

12/12/2014 Nativegrl77

Dear Readers:Imagine a workplace where bosses would strip people of their shoes to prevent them from running away. Or one where workers would be put on a no-pay list if they got sick. And a job site where bosses tied a worker to a tree and then beat him.

Earlier this week, we told you about unbearable conditions for workers at Mexican mega-farms, which now supply a huge portion of the tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and other produce consumed by Americans.

Today, we invite you to read our second installment in the “Product of Mexico” series. Our story offers an inside look at Bioparques, one of Mexico’s biggest tomato exporters and a supplier to Wal-Mart.

Financed by the World Bank, Bioparques was honored as a “socially responsible company.” But for fieldworkers, whom Bioparques described as the “backbone of all company operations and partners in every success,” the company’s labor camp was a virtual prison.

Our reporter, Rich Marosi, reports that Bioparques’ continued operation speaks to the impunity of Mexican agribusiness.

Read: Desperate workers on a Mexican mega-farm: ‘They treated us like slaves’

Davan Maharaj, Editor

P.S. Many readers are sharing their opinions of the story. See what they’re saying and weigh in with your own thoughts.latimes.com

Black History

the Senate ~ CONGRESS12/12 ~ the House

12/12/2014 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Friday, December 12, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to accompany H.R.3979, Defense Authorization, post-cloture. If all debate time is used, there will be up to 4 roll call votes in relation to the Defense Authorization bill and the Saperstein nomination at 3:00pm.

3:00pm—up to 4 roll call votes expected:

Coburn motion to refer (subject to a 60-vote threshold)
Possible procedural vote related to motion to suspend the rules by Coburn
Motion to concur in the House amendment to H.R.3979, National Defense Authorization Act (passage) (60-affirmative vote threshold)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #697 Mark Gilbert – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to New Zealand, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Independent State of Samoa (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #632 Robert C. Barber – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Iceland (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1055 David Nathan Saperstein – to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom (roll call vote)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #542 Amy Jane Hyatt – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Palau (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #637 Arnold A. Chacon – to be Director General of the Foreign Service (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1051 Virginia E. Palmer – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Malawi (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1057 Donald L. Heflin – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Cabo Verde (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #791 Michael W. Kempner – to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2015 (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1102 Leon Aron – to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2016 (voice vote expected)

At 4:01pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Coburn motion to refer the House Message on H.R.3979, National Defense Authorization Act, to the Senate Armed Services with instructions to report back forthwith with changes to strike Title XXX, the Lands portion of the bill;

Not Agreed To: 18-82

Possible procedural vote related to motion to suspend the rules by Coburn
Motion to concur in the House amendment to H.R.3979, National Defense Authorization Act (passage) (60-affirmative vote threshold)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #697 Mark Gilbert – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to New Zealand, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Independent State of Samoa (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #632 Robert C. Barber – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Iceland (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1055 David Nathan Saperstein – to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom (roll call vote)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #542 Amy Jane Hyatt – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Palau (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #637 Arnold A. Chacon – to be Director General of the Foreign Service (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1051 Virginia E. Palmer – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Malawi (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1057 Donald L. Heflin – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Cabo Verde (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #791 Michael W. Kempner – to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2015 (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1102 Leon Aron – to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2016 (voice vote expected)

Senator Lee asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and to call up Feinstein amendment #3996 (to clarify that an authorization to use military force, a declaration of war, or any similar authority shall not authorize the detention without charge or trial of a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States) to the House Message on H.R.3979, National Defense Authorization Act.

Senator Levin objected.

Senator Hirono asked unanimous consent that the Indian Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R.4329, To reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, and the Senate pass the bill.

Senator Lee asked that the request be modified to include a Lee amendment to strike the Native Hawaiian Homeownership Act included in the bill.

Senator Hirono objected to the modification and Senator Lee objected to the original request.

Then, Senator Coburn made a motion to suspend Rule 22 to make it in order to call up amendment #4009. The Chair ruled that the motion is dilatory post-cloture. Senator Coburn appealed the ruling of the Chair. At 4:29pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the question, shall the ruling of the chair stand?

Upheld: 55-45

The ruling of the chair was upheld by a vote of 55-45. At 4:48pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to H.R.3979, National Defense Authorization Act (passage of NDAA) (60-affirmative vote threshold). There will be 1 more roll call vote in this series.

Confirmation of Executive Calendar #697 Mark Gilbert – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to New Zealand, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Independent State of Samoa (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #632 Robert C. Barber – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Iceland (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1055 David Nathan Saperstein – to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom (roll call vote)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #542 Amy Jane Hyatt – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Palau (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #637 Arnold A. Chacon – to be Director General of the Foreign Service (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1051 Virginia E. Palmer – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Malawi (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1057 Donald L. Heflin – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Cabo Verde (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #791 Michael W. Kempner – to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2015 (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1102 Leon Aron – to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2016 (voice vote expected)

At 5:24pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1055 David Nathan Saperstein – to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. The Senate confirmed the Gilbert and Barber nominations by voice votes. We expect to confirm the remaining nominations in this series by voice votes. Senators will be notified when the next vote is scheduled.

Confirmed: 62-35.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes:

Coburn motion to refer the House Message to accompany H.R.3979, National Defense Authorization Act, to the Committee on Armed Services with instructions to report back forthwith with changes to strike Title XXX, the lands portion of the bill; Failed: 18-82.
On the question, shall the ruling of the chair stand; Upheld: 55-45.
Motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.3979, National Defense Authorization Act (passage); Agreed to: 89-11.
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1055, David Nathan Saperstein, to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom; Confirmed: 61-36.

Executive Business

Confirmed the following nominations by voice votes:

Executive Calendar #697 Mark Gilbert – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to New Zealand, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Independent State of Samoa;
Executive Calendar #632 Robert C. Barber – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Iceland;
Executive Calendar #542 Amy Jane Hyatt – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Palau;
Executive Calendar #637 Arnold A. Chacon – to be Director General of the Foreign Service;
Executive Calendar #1051 Virginia E. Palmer – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Malawi;
Executive Calendar #1057 Donald L. Heflin – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Cabo Verde;
Executive Calendar #791 Michael W. Kempner – to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2015;
Executive Calendar #1102 Leon Aron – to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2016

===========================================

Last Floor Action:
3:10:44 P.M. – The Speaker announced that pursuant to the order of the House of today, the House stands adjourned until noon on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its adoption of H. Con. Res. 125, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

Agreed to without objection

Last Floor Action:12/11
10:27:39 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on December 12, 2014.

3:00:13 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
3:00:18 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Luke Messer to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
3:00:51 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
3:01:58 P.M.		Pursuant to section 3(a) of House Resolution 775, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
3:02:05 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Culberson to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
3:02:30 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on December 11, 2014 at 11:07 p.m.: That that body had passed H.J. Res. 130.
3:03:05 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on December 12, 2014 at 10:34 a.m.: That that body had passed S. 3008, S. 2338, S. 2983, H.R. 3096, H.R. 4771, H.R. 5057. The Senate also appointed members to the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics and the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Review Board.
3:04:18 P.M.	H.J. Res. 131	Mr. Culberson asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
3:04:21 P.M.	H.J. Res. 131	Considered by unanimous consent. H.J. Res. 131 — “Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2015, and for other purposes.”
3:04:44 P.M.	H.J. Res. 131	On passage Passed without objection.
3:04:45 P.M.	H.J. Res. 131	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:04:56 P.M.	S. 2338	Mr. Flores asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker’s table and consider.
3:04:56 P.M.	S. 2338	Considered by unanimous consent. S. 2338 — “To reauthorize the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and for other purposes.”
3:05:14 P.M.	S. 2338	On passage Passed without objection.
3:05:17 P.M.	S. 2338	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:05:35 P.M.	S. 3008	Mr. Flores asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker’s table and consider.
3:05:35 P.M.	S. 3008	Considered by unanimous consent. S. 3008 — “To extend temporarily the extended period of protection for members of uniformed services relating to mortgages, mortgage foreclosure, and eviction, and for other purposes.”
3:05:47 P.M.	S. 3008	On passage Passed without objection.
3:05:59 P.M.	S. 3008	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:06:10 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 125	Considered as privileged matter. H. Con. Res. 125 — “Providing for the sine die adjournment of the second session of the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.”
3:08:23 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 125	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
3:08:29 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 125	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:09:00 P.M.		Mr. Flores asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns today, it shall adjourn to meet at noon on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its adoption of H. Con. Res. 125, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution. Agreed to without objection. Agreed to without objection.
3:09:45 P.M.		UNITED STATES-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION – Pursuant to section 1238(b)(3) of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2001, amended by the Division P of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003, the Minority Leader appointed Mr. Michael Wessel of Falls Church, Virginia to the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
3:10:05 P.M.		MEDAL OF VALOR REVIEW BOARD – Pursuant to section 3(b) of the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 2001, the Minority Leader appointed Mr. Brian Fengel, Chief of Police, Bartonville, IL, to the Medal of Valor Review Board.
3:10:29 P.M.		Mr. Flores moved that the House do now adjourn.
3:10:43 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
3:10:44 P.M.		The Speaker announced that pursuant to the order of the House of today, the House stands adjourned until noon on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its adoption of H. Con. Res. 125, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution. Agreed to without objection

=========================================================

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

add your name

12/11/2014 Nativegrl77

This weekend volunteers with Wreaths Across America will continue their visits to Arlington National and cemeteries across the country to lay wreaths before the headstones of fallen veterans.

Each wreath costs about $15 to produce and ship, and the effort is powered almost exclusively by individual contributions and volunteers.

So far, VoteVets has raised almost $12,000 towards that effort. First thing in the morning, they hope to write a $30,000 check to Wreaths Across America to cover the cost of 2,000 wreaths.

Add your $15 contribution to mine to cover the cost of a single wreath that will be placed this Saturday afternoon.

I’ll announce the final tally during the next airing of my MSNBC program, Taking the Hill this Sunday, December 14th at 1:30 on MSNBC.

Thanks for contributing to make this program an annual success.

Patrick Murphy
Former Congressman, Iraq War Veteran
VoteVets.org Senior Advisor

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Wal-Mart 10 Years Later

12/11/2014 Nativegrl77

Ten years ago we released Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price to shine a light on the then-shocking business practices of one of the world’s largest and most profitable retailers.

We have made progress, but there is a lot more to be done. End corporate welfare!

Watch the full documentary film here!

Screen_Shot_2014-12-08_at_4.12.14_PM.png

Due to demand we re-released the entire movie on YouTube. Share and subscribe here!

Help keep this fight alive.Thanks for all that you do.Robert Greenwald, President
Brave New Films

P.S. Still looking for the perfect gift for a special someone? Stay away from Wal-Mart and give the gift of media that makes an impact! Donate $100 or more today and get the Brave New Films 10th Anniversary Activist Collection.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

GOP Senate Majority To Raise Retirement Age, Cut Medicare

12/11/2014 Nativegrl77

The Republicans have made big promises to their ultra-wealthy financial backers: Should they take the Senate, they promise to cut ‘entitlements’ and pass the savings on with more tax cuts for the 1%.

This isn’t fear mongering. This is taking them at their word. Republicans have promised to raise Medicare age and cut Social Security benefits.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, who would become chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, proposed legislation to raise the retirement age to 70 and supported President Bush’s plans to privatize the system.

Representative Bill Cassidy, who hopes to replace Mary Landrieu as senator from Louisiana, has pledged to raise the retirement age to 70 and turn Medicare into a voucher program.

Senators Ron Johnson and Ted Cruz both refer to Social Security as a “Giant Ponzi Scheme.” Cruz went further, going on the record with the Texas Tribune for privatization. As Texas solicitor general, he even sued the federal government to strike down Medicare’s prescription benefit.

Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona said he’d prefer “savings in entitlement programs rather than defense spending.”

Campaign for America’s Future has defeated similar bad ideas before. We’ve done it when Democrats are in charge, and we’ve done it when Republicans held all three branches of government.

Can you make a donation of $15 today to help us in this fight? We are now pushing to EXPAND, not cut Social Security. And we are gearing up the alliances, and strategies needed to meet the coming attacks. We will not accept any cuts to benefits older Americans have earned.

In 2010, Representative Paul Ryan and House Republicans tried to use their new majority in the House to raise the retirement age and cut benefits. We fought back and prevented a “Grand Bargain.” Right-wing GOPers wore their folly around their necks in the 2012 election and it helped re-elect Barack Obama.

In 2015, the assault is likely to be a retirement age of 70 and yet another attempt to replace Medicare with vouchers.

We will not let them savage Americans who are vulnerable because of retirement or disability.

To do this, we need your help. Can you contribute $15 to help us gird for the fight we face? Join us as we work for a country that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and privileged.