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14 ~ the House …12 days before XMAS!

12/13/2014 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 12:00 noon on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.83 (Omnibus).

There will be a series of as many as 40 roll call votes on going in and out of executive session in order to file cloture on nominations beginning shortly after 12:00 noon tomorrow.

Senator Reid intends to file cloture on a series of nominations today. In order to do so, the Senate will need to go in and out of Legislative and Executive session to get to each nomination and to file cloture. The first vote is expected to be on the motion to proceed to Executive Session. We are told the Republicans will ask for the yeas and nays (a roll call vote) on each of these motions.

The first nominations Senator Reid intends to file cloture on are the following:

Sarah Saldana (cal.#1084), Asst Sec HUD (ICE);
Carolyn Colvin (cal.#552), Commissioner, Social Security;
Vivek Murthy (cal.#681), Surgeon General;
Antony Blinken (cal.#1150), Dep Sec State;
Frank Rose (cal.#635), Asst Sec State – Verification;

12:07pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Executive Session in order to proceed to Executive Calendar #1084, Sarah Saldana, Asst Sec Homeland Security (ICE)

48-35

The Senate proceeded to Executive session by a vote of 48-34. Senator Reid then filed cloture on Executive Calendar #1084, Sarah Saldana, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security. Senator Reid asked unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum under Rule 22 be waived. Senator Wicker objected. That means we will have to have a quorum prior to the cloture vote on the Saldana nomination.

At 12:30pm , the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session;

Agreed to: 52-40

Next vote: Motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #1058, Carolyn Colvin Commissioner, of Maryland, to be Commissioner of Social Security.

12:52pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #1058, Carolyn Colvin Commissioner, of Maryland, to be Commissioner of Social Security;

Agreed to: 52-41

The motion to proceed to exec session was agreed to 52-41. Senator Reid then filed cloture on Executive Calendar #1058, Carolyn Colvin Commissioner, of Maryland, to be Commissioner of Social Security.

At 1:13pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session

Agreed to: 51-41

1:36pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #681, Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General;

Agreed to: 52-40

There will be no grace period. The remaining votes will be called at 15 minutes.

At 1:52pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session;

Agreed To: 52-41

Cloture was filed on Colvin nomination.

2:10pm Roll Call Vote on motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Blinken nomination, Dept’y Sect’y of State;

52-41

Cloture was filed on the Blinken nomination.

2:27pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session;

Agreed to: 52-41

Cloture was filed on the Blinken nomination.

2:27pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session;

Agreed to: 52-41

Cloture was filed on the Rose nomination. 3:12pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session;

Agreed to: 52-41.

2:53pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Frank Rose (cal.#635), Asst Sec State – Verification.

Agreed to: 52-41.

Cloture was filed on the Rose nomination. 3:12pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session;

Agreed to: 52-41.

3:49pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Collette Honorable (cal.#1144), Member, FERC

Agreed To: 50-41

By voice vote, the Senate passed H.J.Res.131, CR to Wednesday, December 17, 2014.

Cloture was filed on the Honorable nomination.

4:06pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session;

4:23pm The Senate proceeded to a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Daniel Santos, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.

Agreed To: 52-41

Next: File cloture on Santos. Vote on motion to proceed to Legislative Session.

4:43pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session;

Agreed To: 52-42

Next: Motion to proceed to Executive Session–Estavan Lopez, Interior

5:02pm, the Senate proceeded to a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Estevan Lopez (cal.#840), Commissioner of Reclamation, Interior;

Agreed To: 54-42

Cloture was filed on the Lopez nomination;

At 5:19pm, the Senate proceeded to a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session;

Agreed To: 42-42

Next: Motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Marcus Jadotte (cal.#922), Asst. Sec’ty of Commerce.

5:37pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Exec. Session—Jadotte nomination (Ass’t Sec. Commerce);

Agreed To: 53-42

Cloture was filed on the Jadatte nomination.https://justanother2cents.wordpress.com/

5:57pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session;

Agreed To: 54-42

6:19pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to executive Session to consider the Stivers nomination, Asst Admin, USAID;

Agreed To: 54-42

Cloture was filed on the Stivers nomination.

6:36pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session;

54-42

7:26pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of John Cruden, Assistant AG.

7:59pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Christopher Smith, Asst. Sec’ty of Energy.

Agreed to: 54-42.

8:18pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Legislative Session;

Agreed To: 53-42

8:35pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Stephen Bough–District, MO;

Agreed To: 52-42

9:10pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.83, CR-Omnibus;

Invoked: 77-19

The Senate proceeded to Executive Session by a vote of 54-42 and Senator Reid filed cloture on the Bough nomination.

We do not expect to have roll call votes on the remaining motions to go in and out of Legislative and Executive sessions for the purpose of filing cloture on the remaining nominations. Shortly there will be a series of voice votes before a series of votes in relation to the CR-Omnibus, H.R.83.

Next roll call votes:

Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.83;
Procedural vote on a Constitutional point of order. The question will be: Is the point of order well taken? Senator Reid will vote no.
Motion to concur in the House amendment to H.R.83.

Senator Cruz raised a Constitutional point of order against the bill.

9:32pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the Constitutional point of order. The question before the Senate is, Is the point of order well taken?

Not Well Taken: 22-74

9:50pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.83, Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (passage);

Agreed To: 56-40

There will be no further roll call votes today. Senators will be notified when the next votes are scheduled.

Cloture was filed on the below listed nominations. Conversations are ongoing to schedule the cloture and confirmation votes on each of the nominations.

Sarah Saldana (cal.#1084), Asst Sec Homeland Security (ICE);
Carolyn Colvin (cal.#552), Commissioner, Social Security;
Vivek Murthy (cal.#681), Surgeon General;
Antony Blinken (cal.#1150), Dep Sec State;
Frank Rose (cal.#635), Asst Sec State – Verification;
Collette Honorable (cal.#1144), Member, FERC;
Daniel Santos (cal.#979), Member, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety;
Estavan Lopez (cal.#840), Commissioner of Reclamation, Interior;
Marcus Jadotte (cal.#922), Asst Sec Commerce;
Jonathan Stivers (cal.#901), Asst Administrator, USAID;
John Cruden (cal.#735), Asst AG;
Chris Smith (cal. #553) Asst Sec. Energy
Stephen Bough (cal.#1041), District Judge -MO;
Jorge Alonso (cal.#1070), District Judge – IL;
Haywood Gilliam (cal.#1071), District Judge – CA;
Amit Mehta (cal.#1072), District Judge – DC;
Allison Burroughs (cal.#1073), District Judge – MA;
John Blakey (cal.#1075), District Judge – IL;
Amos Mazzant (cal.#1076), District Judge – TX;
Robert Pitman (cal.#1077), District Judge – TX;
Robert Schroeder (cal.#1078), District Judge – TX;
Joan Azrack (cal.#1145), District Judge – NY;
Elizabeth Dillon (cal.#1146), District Judge – VA; and
Loretta Biggs (cal.#1147), District Judge – NC.

The vote schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday:

Monday, December 15:

5:30pm:

Cloture on Executive Calendar #681, Vivek Murthy, to be Surgeon General
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #681, Vivek Murthy, to be Surgeon General
Cloture on Executive Calendar # 979, Daniel Santos, Member, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety;
Cloture on Executive Calendar #635, Frank Rose, Asst Sec State – Verification;

Tuesday, December 16:

10:00am:

Confirmation of Executive Calendar # 979, Daniel Santos, Member, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety;
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #635, Frank Rose, Asst Sec State – Verification;

2:30pm:

Cloture on Executive Calendar #1084, Sarah Saldana, Asst Sec Homeland Security (ICE);
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1084, Sarah Saldana, Asst Sec Homeland Security (ICE);

6:00pm:

Cloture on Executive Calendar #1150, Antony Blinken, Dep Sec State
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1150, Antony Blinken, Dep Sec State

The cloture motion on the nomination of Executive Calendar #1058, Carolyn Colvin, Commissioner, Social Security, was withdrawn.

On Wednesday and Thursday we will continue to work our way through the remaining cloture and confirmation votes on nominations and we hope to reach agreements to consider Tax Extenders and TRIA.

Unanimous Consent Request

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding Rule 22, on Monday, December 15, 2014, following Leader remarks, the Senate proceed to Executive Session for consideration of Executive Calendar #’S.681 (Murthy), 979 (Santos), 635 (Rose), 1084 (Saldana), 1150 (Blinken), that at 4:30 pm, there be one hour equally divided in the usual form on the Murthy nomination and at 5:30 pm the Senate proceed to vote on cloture on Cal. #681 (Murthy), that if cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time be expired, and the Senate proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination; following disposition of the nomination, the Senate proceed to vote on cloture on Cal. #’S.979(Santos), and 635 (Rose), and that if cloture is invoked, on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, following Leader remarks, the Senate proceed to Executive Session and all post-cloture time be expired and the Senate proceed to vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed.

Further, at 2:30 pm, the Senate proceed to vote on cloture on Calendar #1084(Saldana); that if cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time on the nomination be expired and the Senate proceed to vote on the nomination.

Further, that at 5:00 pm, the time until 6:00 pm, be equally divided in the usual form and at 6:00 p.m. the Senate proceed to vote on cloture on Cal. #1150 (Blinken); that if cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time be expired and the Senate proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination.

Further, that if any nomination is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s action.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#.1084, Sarah Saldana, Asst. Sec. Homeland Security; Agreed To: 48-34.

2.) Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session; Agreed To: 52-40.

3.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#.1058, Carolyn Colvin, Commissioner, Social Security; Agreed To: 52-41.

4.) Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session; Agreed To: 51-41.

5.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#. 681, Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General; Agreed To: 52-40.

6.) Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session; Agreed To: 52-41.

7.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#. 1150, Antony Blinken, Deputy. Sec. State; Agreed To: 52-41.

8.) Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session; Agreed To: 53-41.

9.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#. 635, Frank Rose, Asst. Sec. State; Agreed To: 52-41.

10.) Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session; Agreed To: 52-41.

11.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#.114, Collette Honorable, Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Agreed To: 50-41.

12.) Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session; Agreed To: 53-40.

13.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#. 979, Daniel Santos, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board; Agreed To: 52-41.

14.) Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session; Agreed To: 52-42.

15.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#. 840, Estevan Lopez, Commissioner of Reclamation; Agreed To: 54-42.

16.) Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session; Agreed To: 54-42.

17.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#. 922 Marcus Jadotte, Asst. Sec. of Commerce; Agreed To: 53-42.

18.) Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session; Agreed To: 54-42.

19.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#. 901 Jonathan Stivers, Asst. Administrator, USAID; Agreed To: 54-42.

20.) Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session; Agreed To: 54-42.

21.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#. 735 John Cruden, Assistant AG; Agreed To: 54-42.

22.) Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session; Agreed To: 54-42.

23.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#. 553 Christopher Smith, Asst. Secretary of Energy; Agreed To: 54-42.

24.) Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session; Agreed To: 53-42.

25.) Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to consider Cal#. 1041 Stephen Bough, District Judge, MO; Agreed To: 54-42.

26.) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.83 (Omnibus); Invoked: 77-19.

27.) Is the point of order well taken; Not well taken: 22-74.

28.) Motion to concur in the House amendment to H.R.83 [passage]; Passed: 56-40.

Legislative Business

Agreed to H.Con.Res.122, to correct the enrollment of H.R.83

Passed H.R.2591, Rollover Amounts in Airline Carrier Bankruptcy

Passed H.R.5859, Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014

Executive Business

The Senate confirmed the following nominations by unanimous consent:

PN1816 – Rear Admiral (Selectee) James M. Heinz to the grade Rear Admiral
PN2000 – seven Coast Guard nominations to the grades of Rear Admiral (lower half)
PN2142 – seventy-six Coast Guard nominations to the grades of Captain
PN2143 – fifteen Coast Guard nominations to the grades of Captain
PN2144 – two Coast Guard nominations to the grades of Captain
PN2145 – one hundred and sixty Coast Guard nominations to the grades of Commander

The Senate filed cloture on the following nominations:

Sarah Saldana (cal.#1084), Asst Sec HUD (ICE);
Carolyn Colvin (cal.#552), Commissioner, Social Security;
Vivek Murthy (cal.#681), Surgeon General;
Antony Blinken (cal.#1150), Dep Sec State;
Frank Rose (cal.#635), Asst Sec State – Verification;
Collette Honorable (cal.#1144), Member, FERC;
Daniel Santos (cal.#979), Member, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety;
Estavan Lopez (cal.#840), Commissioner of Reclamation, Interior;
Marcus Jadotte (cal.#922), Asst Sec Commerce;
Jonathan Stivers (cal.#901), Asst Administrator, USAID;
John Cruden (cal.#735), Asst AG;
Christopher Smith (cal.#553); Asst. Sec’ty Energy;
Stephen Bough (cal.#1041), District Judge -MO;
Jorge Alonso (cal.#1070), District Judge – IL;
Haywood Gilliam (cal.#1071), District Judge – CA;
Amit Mehta (cal.#1072), District Judge – DC;
Allison Burroughs (cal.#1073), District Judge – MA;
John Blakey (cal.#1075), District Judge – IL;
Amos Mazzant (cal.#1076), District Judge – TX;
Robert Pitman (cal.#1077), District Judge – TX;
Robert Schroeder (cal.#1078), District Judge – TX;
Joan Azrack (cal.#1145), District Judge – NY;
Elizabeth Dillon (cal.#1146), District Judge – VA; and
Loretta Biggs (cal.#1147), District Judge – NC

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

Last Floor Action:12/12
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

Ferguson:

12/13/2014 Nativegrl77

Violent Missouri police are trying to silence #JusticeForMikeBrown.

Chip in $15 to help St. Louis’ Organization of Black Struggle hire a full-time police accountability organizer:

The situation in Ferguson is extreme. Community organizers, journalists, and residents face brutal assaults on their safety and civil rights due to a dangerous and militarized Missouri police force; officers in tanks, clad in riot-gear, are firing rubber-coated bullets and smoke grenades, unleashing tear gas on children, and unlawfully arresting peaceful protestors.¹

At the front lines of the fight for justice is Organization for Black Struggle (OBS) — whose tiny volunteer staff have been working around the clock to hold Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson fully accountable for brutally killing Michael. But OBS is stretched to the limit and their resources are rapidly depleting. In order to sustain the fight for justice and continue organizing peaceful protests in the face of escalating police violence, OBS needs additional staff and resources.²

Can you chip in $15 today to help Organization for Black Struggle continue their critical work and hire a full-time police accountability organizer?

When we first heard about the tragic police killing of Michael Brown, ColorOfChange reached out to OBS. For decades, this stalwart organization has organized and fought against a punitive and discriminatory culture of policing rampant across the St. Louis area. Since Michael was executed, OBS has been overwhelmed by media requests and progressive groups looking for leadership. Yesterday, when news broke of another tragic police killing in St. Louis OBS was the first to respond.³ Despite limited resources, they continue to bring to life a strategic vision for securing justice for Michael and bringing about sustainable and systemic policing reforms in Missouri. The only thing holding them back is resources. Groups like OBS that fully commit to the long, hard, work of transforming policing practices and securing accountability deserve our support.

In a few short weeks the media spotlight on Ferguson may fade away and we need the strongest possible organizing front on the ground. Please chip in $15 to help OBS hire a full time #JusticeForMikeBrown organizer.

Over the weekend, Ferguson residents experienced some of the worst police violence since Michael Brown was killed.⁴ Local officials continue to prove incapable of a fair investigation and instead of arresting Officer Wilson for executing Michael they are focused on victim blaming and increasing police militarization.⁵ Today, all eyes are on Ferguson as National Guard soldiers occupy the city and continue to unjustly crackdown on peaceful protestors and bystanders.⁶ And it doesn’t have to be this way. The strong organizing of groups like OBS is crucial to resisting ongoing attempts to arrest and criminalize Black organizers and maintain a focus on securing justice for Michael. Furthermore, by supporting OBS today you can ensure a lasting police accountability presence in Ferguson long after the media attention has dwindled.

All funds will be sent directly to OBS. Once you chip in, please ask your friends and family to do the same.

Thanks and peace,

Rashad, Matt, Arisha, Jamar, Lyla and the rest of the ColorOfChange team

References

1. “Ten Facts About Police Violence in Ferguson Sunday Night,” Huffington Post, 08-18-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3773?t=9&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

2. “OBS and Hands Up Don’t Shoot Issue Demands,” Organization of Black Struggle, 08-18-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3777?t=11&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

3. “Police Officers Involved In Fatal Shooting Just Miles From Ferguson,” ThinkProgess 08-19-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3781?t=13&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

4. “7 Arrested in Ferguson Were Sitting in Cars, Some Were Dragged Out by Hair,” Missourians Organizing for Refom and Empowerment, 08-17-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3775?t=15&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

5. “Ferguson police chief: Officer didn’t stop Brown as robbery suspect,” CNN, 08-15-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3771?t=17&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

6. “Chaos erupts again in Ferguson,” USA Today, 08-19-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3778?t=19&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

Can you chip in $15 today to help Organization for Black Struggle continue their critical work and hire a full-time police accountability organizer?

All funds will be sent directly to OBS. Once you chip in, please ask your friends and family to do the same.

Thanks and peace,

Rashad, Matt, Arisha, Jamar, Lyla and the rest of the ColorOfChange team

References

1. “Ten Facts About Police Violence in Ferguson Sunday Night,” Huffington Post, 08-18-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3773?t=9&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

2. “OBS and Hands Up Don’t Shoot Issue Demands,” Organization of Black Struggle, 08-18-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3777?t=11&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

3. “Police Officers Involved In Fatal Shooting Just Miles From Ferguson,” ThinkProgess 08-19-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3781?t=13&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

5. “Ferguson police chief: Officer didn’t stop Brown as robbery suspect,” CNN, 08-15-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3771?t=17&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

6. “Chaos erupts again in Ferguson,” USA Today, 08-19-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3778?t=19&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

Can you chip in $15 today to help Organization for Black Struggle continue their critical work and hire a full-time police accountability organizer?

All funds will be sent directly to OBS. Once you chip in, please ask your friends and family to do the same.

Thanks and peace,

Rashad, Matt, Arisha, Jamar, Lyla and the rest of the ColorOfChange team

References

1. “Ten Facts About Police Violence in Ferguson Sunday Night,” Huffington Post, 08-18-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3773?t=9&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

2. “OBS and Hands Up Don’t Shoot Issue Demands,” Organization of Black Struggle, 08-18-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3777?t=11&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

3. “Police Officers Involved In Fatal Shooting Just Miles From Ferguson,” ThinkProgess 08-19-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3781?t=13&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

5. “Ferguson police chief: Officer didn’t stop Brown as robbery suspect,” CNN, 08-15-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3771?t=17&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

6. “Chaos erupts again in Ferguson,” USA Today, 08-19-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3778?t=19&akid=3585.1174326.FPrYUG

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The Secret Giveaways To Big Money Political Donors Tucked Into 1600-page Federal Budget Bill

12/13/2014 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

‘Cromnibus’ Tries To Sneak Through Another Blow To Campaign Spending Limits

With less than two days to go before another government shutdown, last night House and Senate leadership unveiled compromise budget legislation nicknamed the “cromnibus” — a portmanteau of continuing resolution, or CR, and an omnibus spending bill. While the main flashpoint going into these negotiations was conservatives’ radical reaction to President Obama’s executive action on immigration, in the light of day, a number of other odious provisions threaten to derail the bill’s passage.

ThinkProgress has a good run-down of the cromnibus’ troubling last-minute additions: handouts to Wall Street, cuts to IRS enforcement, interference in D.C.’s new voter-approved marijuana legalization, and a cold shoulder to students, the homeless, and those in need of affordable housing.

But today’s focus is on how Congress tried to sneak through the removal of more campaign finance limits and hand more even more control of the political system to the wealthiest and corporations. On page 1,599 of the 1,603-page cromnibus, the last-minute provision dramatically increases the caps on donor contributions to the national political parties. Right now, the most any single person can donate to candidates, parties and federal PACs was $129,600 in a single year (already more than 2.5 times the nation’s median income). But in the current version of the cromnibus, a donor’s maximum contribution would shoot up all the way to $777,600, by raising the cap on donations to party conventions from $32,400 to $97,200. In addition, it allows the national party committees to establish separate accounts for buildings and separate accounts for recounts and legal fees. Add it all up and it means a new flood of money in politics from wealthy donors and corporation– indeed, it’s a crafty way to create a solution where a problem doesn’t exist.

While that provision is particularly noxious, Common Cause also reports that there’s an additional attack on transparency tucked away in the cromnibus. The bill blocks the President from requiring federal contractors to disclose their political donations. So not only could companies that deal directly with the federal government hide their donations in plain sight, their contributions to officeholders could jump dramatically.

BOTTOM LINE: This cromnibus is a canary in the coal mine for how Republicans plan to govern in 2015. It reflects their priorities to increase the influence of the wealthy while cutting transparency at the same time. It will take continued vigilance to make sure that people like incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who profess to be for the middle class, don’t get even more opportunities to take speech away from the average person and give it to those at the very top

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Rashad Robinson, ColorOfChange.org … What happened yesterday

12/13/2014 Nativegrl77

To be real with you, I was hoping that I’d never have to send you this email.

If we learn one thing from yesterday’s election, it’s that — now more than ever — is a time to organize.

We can’t afford to stop fighting. Sustain racial justice organizing with a $3 monthly pledge to ColorOfChange.

To be real with you, I was hoping that I’d never have to send you this email. With Republicans now in control of the Senate, we will see a change in Congress that signals deep challenges for our families and communities.

Over the coming weeks and months, analysts will have much to say about the role that Black voters played in this election. Already we know that across the country, Black voters defied expectations and turned out at rates higher than in 2010 despite continued attempts by the right wing to suppress our votes.

And, unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough.

It wasn’t enough for Kay Hagan (D-NC) who lost a must-win Senate seat to Thom Tillis (R-NC) by a razor thin margin — while our communities faced the most aggressive voter suppression laws passed in the country since the Voting Rights Act. It wasn’t enough in Georgia, either, as we watched Michelle Nunn (D-GA) concede while thousands of voter registration forms remained unprocessed. And it certainly wasn’t enough in Kentucky where Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) Democratic challenger wouldn’t even admit to voting for President Obama.

As a movement, we’ve got a lot to figure out; a lot more work to do to hold the people in power accountable.

I know this much: an America in which candidates are afraid or unwilling to speak directly to Black voters about the issues that matter to us is an unacceptable, insufferable status quo; an America where politicians ignore police violence and support a broken criminal justice system, prioritize corporate interests over community values and fight to make it harder for us to vote is intolerable.

If we learn one thing from yesterday’s election, it’s that — now more than ever — is a time to organize.

Will you help sustain this movement with a $3 monthly contribution?

Obscured by the larger national picture, yesterday had some meaningful victories which demonstrate the strength of our movement. Californians passed Proposition 47 which will force the state to change course from four-decades of misguided, incarceration-only policies which have destabilized Black families and drained resources from Black communities.

Massachusetts passed a bill providing for earned sick time that will relieve working folks of having to choose between their job and the health of their families. Additionally, voters in South Dakota, Nebraska, Arkansas and Alaska passing ballot measures to increase the minimum wage shows that there is a groundswell of popular support for issues of economic equality but candidates must exhibit political courage to move this agenda forward.

And despite the Republican takeover, the 114th Congress will have more Black members than at any time in history.

With announcements coming soon about the indictments of the officers responsible for murdering Mike Brown and Eric Garner our movement has never been more important. We can’t afford to stop fighting.

Yes — I will make a $3 monthly pledge to stand with ColorOfChange and continue holding politicians accountable.

Thanks and peace,

Rashad