~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Amazon Watch

02/10/2014 Nativegrl77

Chevron trembles at a little cartoon

When you take on the third largest corporation in the US, you have to come up with all kinds of creative ways to fight. We knew we were onto something great when we teamed up with Pulitzer winner Mark Fiore to release the “Donny Rico” animation, which has helped to inspire over 100,000 people to tell the US Senate to oppose Chevron’s dirty tactics. Chevron’s response? A claim in Federal Court that our oh-so-dangerous little cartoon “injured” the company. Hilarity aside, the fact that the gargantuan company went running scared to court shows that together we’re being effective!

Your donation will help Amazon Watch and the communities in Ecuador continue that effectiveness.

The landmark victory that 30,000 Ecuadorians won over Chevron after 20 years of legal battles cannot be overstated as a precedent for justice. But Chevron has sworn that it will never pay what the court ordered long ago. It’s a corporate criminal on the run, but we won’t give up. Amazon Watch is committed to ongoing efforts to chase Chevron down and make it clean up the toxic mess it left in the Amazon rainforest.

The movement is growing, and some of the credit for this belongs to Chevron. Its outrageous tactics of attacking free speech, vilifying critics, and undermining the system of justice led over 40 environmental and human rights groups to condemn Chevron’s actions, calling it a threat to open society. We need your support today to keep Chevron on the ropes until justice is served in Ecuador!

Please stand with us and against corporate criminal Chevron. Donate today to Clean Up Ecuador.

For the Amazon, for justice!

Paul Paz y Miño
Online & Operations Director

Black History

the Senate considers S.1963,Military Retirement CONGRESS 2/10 the House

02/10/2014 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, February 10, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration bill.

As a reminder to all Senators, during Thursday’s session, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.1963.

At 5:30pm Monday, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1963.

5:32pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration bill;

Invoked: 94-0

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, February 11, 2014. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.S.1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration bill, post-cloture.

By a vote of 94-0, the Senate invoked cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration bill. There will now be up to 30 hours for debate on the motion to proceed. There will be no further roll call votes tonight. Senators will be notified when the next vote is scheduled.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1) motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1963, 113th Congress”S.1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration bill; Invoked: 94-0

Legislative Items

Passed S.1954, A bill to provide for the extension of the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals through 2014

Adopted S.Res.339, A resolution commemorating the 150^th anniversary of Mayo Clinic.

No Executive Items

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

Last Floor Action:
9:30:18 P.M. – The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 11, 2014.

Last Floor Action:
7:33:07 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

Last Floor Action:2/10
12:10:42 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess.

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

Last Floor Action:
12:58:40 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on February 10, 2014.

12:00:16 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:21 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Luke Messer to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:36 P.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
12:10:42 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.


2:00:28 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 10.
2:00:31 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:01:46 P.M.		POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF JOURNAL – The Speaker announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Wilson (SC) demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Speaker announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Wilson (SC) objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Speaker postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until a time to be announced.
2:02:32 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Wilson of SC to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:02:51 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:05:41 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for approximately 5:30 P.M. today.
5:30:53 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 10.
5:30:58 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
5:36:24 P.M.	H.R. 2431	Mr. Hall moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2431 — “To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System.”
5:36:46 P.M.	H.R. 2431	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:36:50 P.M.	H.R. 2431	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2431.
5:50:38 P.M.	H.R. 2431	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
5:52:01 P.M.	H. Res. 447	Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended. H. Res. 447 — “Supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear.”
5:52:02 P.M.	H. Res. 447	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:52:03 P.M.	H. Res. 447	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 447.
6:26:10 P.M.	H. Res. 447	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
6:26:16 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:27:36 P.M.	H.R. 2431	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2431 — “To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System.”
6:59:32 P.M.	H.R. 2431	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 365 – 21 (Roll no. 55).
7:00:04 P.M.	H. Res. 447	Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 447 — “Supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear.”
7:08:10 P.M.	H. Res. 447	On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 381 – 2 (Roll no. 56).
7:08:30 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal which had been postponed from earlier in the legislative day.
7:08:31 P.M.		On approving the Journal Agreed to by recorded vote: 241 – 123, 1 Present (Roll no. 57).
7:19:01 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:33:07 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

7:59:00 P.M.		Mr. Sessions filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 475.
7:59:30 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House continued with Special Order speeches.
9:30:00 P.M.		Mr. Jeffries moved that the House do now adjourn.
9:30:17 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
9:30:18 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 11, 2014.

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 2/7 the House

02/07/2014 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, February 10, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration bill.

As a reminder to all Senators, during Thursday’s session, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.1963. At 5:30pm Monday, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1963.

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

Last Floor Action:
12:58:40 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on February 10, 2014.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The Most-Shared Enhanced Slides from the State of the Union

02/07/2014 Nativegrl77

President Obama Travels the Country to Promote Opportunity for All

Following the State of the Union address, the President traveled around the country this week to talk more about the importance of opportunity for all.

As the President said Tuesday, “Today, women make up about half our workforce. But they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.” It’s time for women to get equal pay for equal work.

Want all the facts? During the State of the Union, we hand out a “pocket card” to Members of Congress so they can get all the facts in one quick, easy to read place. This year we’re sharing it with you, too.

What More Do You Want?

02/07/2014 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

GOP Continues to Turn Its Back On The Unemployed

Efforts by the Senate to reach a compromise to extend unemployment insurance (UI) fell flat again today as Republicans voted against the 1.7 million Americans looking for work who have been cut off when the benefits lapsed in late December.

The bill, which fell a single vote short of the 60 needed to overcome a Republican filibuster, was a compromise on multiple accounts. First, it accommodated the Republican demand that it be reduced from a one-year to a three-month extension. Second, it was fully paid for–using an offset that Republicans have supported in the past and are currently considering in other legislation.

CREDIT: SENATE DEMOCRATS

Now, to be fair, some Republicans aren’t just refusing to compromise–they would never vote to extend unemployment insurance in the first place. Yesterday, for example, Rep. Jeff Sessions (R-TX) said that “it is immoral for this country to have as a policy extending long-term unemployments (sic).” Two months ago, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) stated that extending the benefits beyond the prescribed 26 weeks does a “disservice to these workers.” (We remind the Senator that they are not “workers,” they are looking for work–and that’s the whole point.)

Whether it’s a refusal to compromise no matter what the other side offers, or a misguided ideological opposition, these elected officials are hurting struggling families and the economy overall. The beneficiaries of extended unemployment insurance are not lazy; they are caught in an economy where there is only one job opening for every three job seekers. And they are contending with a job climate in which economists have shown that in the eyes of employers, being out of work for over nine months is the same as losing four years of job experience. State economies have lost an estimated $2.2 billion since the extension lapsed in late December.

BOTTOM LINE: Shame on Senate Republicans for once again refusing to extend unemployment insurance benefits. Not only are they denying a lifeline to millions of struggling families, they are hurting their own state economies to the tune of billions of dollars. That’s immoral–and irrational.