Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 10/30 ~~ the House


Wethepeople

The Senate stands in adjourned until 9:30am on Wednesday, October 30th.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #53, the nomination of Alan F. Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be a Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense with the time until 10:30am equally divided and controlled in the usual form.

At 10:30am, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Estevez nomination. If cloture is invoked on the nomination, there will be up to 8 hours of debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

Upon disposition of the Estevez nomination, the Senate will proceed to cloture votes in relation to the following nominations in the following order.  If cloture is invoked on any of the nominations (60-vote threshold), there would be up to 8 hours for debate on each of the nominations, except for the Millett nomination, which would have up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate, prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

–          Executive Calendar #307, Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management;

–          Executive Calendar #63, Jacob Lew, of New York, to be the United States Governor to the following International Banks:

–          International Monetary Fund,

–          International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

–          Inter-American Development Bank, and

–          European Bank for Reconstruction;

–          Executive Calendar #209, Melvin L. Watt, of North Carolina, to be Director of the Federal Housing Agency;

–          Executive Calendar #327, Patricia Millett, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit.

888888888888888888888888

At 10:30am today, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #53, Alan Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense. If cloture is invoked on the Estevez nomination, and we expect it to be, there would be up to 8 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination (Some time may be yielded back).

As a reminder, several other cloture motions on nominations have been filed (see list of nominations below). We will consider one nomination at a time. If cloture is invoked (60-affirmative vote threshold), then each nomination is subject to 8 hours of post-cloture debate time except for the  Millett nomination, which is subject to up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate time. Confirmation votes are subject to a majority vote threshold.

We are also working on an agreement to consider H.R.3204, a bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to human drug compounding and drug supply chain security, as early as today.

Cloture motions have been filed on the following nominations:

–          Executive Calendar #53, Alan Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (10:30am Wednesday cloture vote)

–          Executive Calendar #307, Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management;

–          Executive Calendar #242, Thomas Wheeler, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission; (Confirmed by unanimous consent 10/29/13)

–          Executive Calendar #63, Jacob Lew, of New York, to be the United States Governor to the following International Banks:

–          International Monetary Fund,

–          International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

–          Inter-American Development Bank, and

–          European Bank for Reconstruction;

–          Executive Calendar #209, Melvin L. Watt, of North Carolina, to be Director of the Federal Housing Agency;

–          Executive Calendar #327, Patricia Millett, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit.

At 10:30am the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #53, Alan Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense;

Invoked: 91-8

Cloture on the Estevez nomination was invoked 91-8. By consent, at 12:00 noon today, all post-cloture time will be yielded back, and the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination. We expect a voice vote on confirmation of the Estevez nomination. The next vote in order will be cloture on the Archuleta nomination and that vote will occur at noon.

Executive Calendar #53, Alan Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, was confirmed by voice vote.

­­At 12:03pm the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #307, Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management;

Invoked: 81-18

Cloture on the Archuleta nomination was invoked ­­­­81-18. There will now be up to 8 hours for debate, equally divided, prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. Senators will be notified when the next vote is scheduled.

Senator Rubio asked unanimous consent to take up and pass Calendar #225, S.1592, a bill to provide for a delay of the individual mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act until the American Health Benefit Exchanges are functioning properly. Senator Baucus objected.

We believe we are close to being in a position to yield back all remaining post-cloture time and vote on confirmation of Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management, at approximately 5:15pm. Senators should expect 1 roll call vote to begin at approximately 5:15pm.

5:18pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #307, Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management;

Confirmed: 62-35.

Cloture on the Archuleta nomination was invoked ­­­­81-18. There will now be up to 8 hours for debate, equally divided, prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. Senators will be notified when the next vote is scheduled.

The Archuleta nomination (Director of OPM) was confirmed 62-35. The Lew nomination was confirmed by voice vote. The Senate is now in a period of morning business for debate only with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no further roll call votes tonight. Senators should expect the next vote to occur following the swearing in of Senator-elect Booker, at approximately 12:00 noon tomorrow. That vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #209, Melvin L. Watt, of North Carolina, to be Director of the Federal Housing Agency.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #53, Alan Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense; Invoked: 91-8

2)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #307, Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management; Invoked: 81-18

3)      Confirmation of the Archuleta nomination; Confirmed: 62-35

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed Calendar #228, S.1561, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve provisions relating to the sanctuary system for surplus chimpanzees with a committee-reported substitute amendment.

H.R.3190, the United States Parole Commission Extension Act.

Adopted S.Res.278, designating October 2013 as “School Bus Safety Month”.

Adopted H.Con.Res.62,provides for an adjournment for the House of Representatives.

Additional EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed the following items by voice vote:

–          Executive Calendar #53, Alan Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense

–          Executive Calendar # Executive Calendar #63, Jacob Lew, of New York, to be the United States Governor to the following International Banks:

–          International Monetary Fund,

–          International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

–          Inter-American Development Bank, and

–          European Bank for Reconstruction;

Jointly referred the nomination of Rhea Sun Suh, of Colorado, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, sent to the Senate by the President on October 30, 2013, to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

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

Last Floor Action:
9:42:55 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The
next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on October 30, 2013.

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

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Next Progressive Radio Northwest Community Forum, October 29


radioProgressive Radio Northwest (PRNW) invites you to join American blogger and former Seattle talk radio host David Goldstein on Tuesday, October 29, for the second in the PRNW series of monthly get-togethers to meet, mingle and discuss issues central to the mission of bringing progressive radio back to the region. Goldstein addresses the question of “What’s the Way Forward for Progressive Talk?”

The Forum begins at Seattle’s Montlake Branch Library at 6:30 pm and then moves to the Montlake Ale House at 7:45 pm for those wanting to continue the Meet & Mingle.

Montlake Branch Library, 6:30 – 7:45 p.m., 2401 24th Ave. E.,  Seattle, WA 98112, (206) 684-4720

Montlake Ale House from 8:00 pm;  2307 24th Ave E; Seattle, WA 9811; (206) 726-5968

RSVP by Friday, October 25 at progressiveradionorthwest@gmail.com and visit the website: www.progressiveradionorthwest.org

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Our bees are dying


Tell the EPA: Save our bees and crops! Ban toxic pesticides!

Take action!Disaster struck for Mark, a Minneapolis beekeeper last month. His precious backyard bees were spilling out of their hive “like they’re drunk” and falling to the ground dead — victims of toxic agricultural pesticide.

[1] A quarter of everything we eat — from apples to onions — depends on pollination.

[2] But now, Mark and fellow beekeepers from around the world are reporting a pandemic of the worst bee population collapses ever recorded. While you and I know chemical-giant Bayer for aspirin and alka seltzer, their toxic agricultural pesticides are unfortunately linked to this unprecedented bee die-off.

[3] The EPA has the power to ban the pesticides, but so far has bowed to pressure from Bayer.

[4] Our nation’s food supply is at risk — it’s time for the SierraRise community to step in and speak out! Over 1 million people have stood up for the health of our bees and our food — will you join them?

[5] The EPA has the power to protect our bees and our food supply. Let’s send 50,000 more letters by Tuesday, demanding they ban Bayer’s toxic pesticide! The same story of shocking bee die-off — called Colony Collapse Disorder — has been heard all over the country. Bret Adee, whose family owns Adee Honey Farms of South Dakota, the nation’s largest beekeeper, described mounting losses. “We lost 42 percent over the winter. But by the time we came around to pollinate almonds, it was a 55 percent loss,” he said in an interview.

[6] This isn’t just bad for our nation’s food supply — it’s also crippling family businesses like Bret’s and the local economies. Independent, unbiased studies have linked Bayer’s pesticides to colony collapse — when picked up by bees, the chemical can act like a nerve agent, compromising a bee’s ability to feed and make its way back to the hive.

[7] It’s no wonder the European Union just adopted a continent-wide ban on these toxic chemicals. It’s time we do the same![8] The EPA continues to dither while Bayer peddles its toxins and puts our nation’s crops at risk. Not on our watch — together, we are more powerful than any chemical company. Make sure the EPA knows where you stand. The safety of our food supply is at risk.

Demand the EPA stands up to big chemical companies like Bayer and bans bee-killing pesticides! In it together, Ashley Allison SierraRise Senior Campaigner P.S. To keep up with the latest about climate change and other campaigns from SierraRise, like us on Facebook and follow @SierraRise on Twitter! Share this page on FacebookShare this page on TwitterShare this page with other services

References:

[1] Colwell, Hailey (2013 September 16). “U investigates sudden slew of bee deaths.” Minnesota Daily.

[2] Collman, Ashley (2013 June 14). “What your supermarket will look like if bees die out: Empty shelves, scant produce options.” Emerging Truth.

[3] Carrington, Damian (2013 March 28). “Study: Pesticides Make Bees Forget the Smell of Food.” Mother Jones.

[4] Staff (2013 August 22). “EPA announces new bee warning labels for neonicotinoid containing pesticides.” Underground Health.

[5] DeWitt, Dan (2012 March 31). “A Pasco County beekeeper knows why bees are dying and colonies are collapsing.” Tampa Bay Times.

[6] Wines, Michael (2013 March 28). “Mystery Malady Kills More Bees, Heightening Worry on Farms.” New York Times.

[7] Eban, Katherine (2010 October 8). “What a scientist didn’t tell the New York Times about his study on bee deaths.” CNNMoney.

[8] Carrington, Damian (2013 April 29). “Bee-harming pesticides banned in Europe.” The Guardian.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Campaign for a Fair Settlement Tell Chase: No tax breaks for Wall Street crime


Take Action
Chase CEO Jamie Dimon at the DOJ, trying to deflect accountability for Wall Street crime

$13 billion for committing Wall Street crime. That’s what the Department of Justice hit JPMorganChase for this past week, specifically for selling the toxic mortgage backed securities they and other Wall Street criminals used to destroy our economy and steal our homes.
While this settlement will only recoup a small part of the damage JPMorgan Chase and Wall Street caused, it is a refreshing change from past behavior by Attorney General Eric Holder and the Obama Administration. It’s especially promising that this time, according to news reports, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder refused to negotiate away the right to criminal prosecutions.
However, corporate tax law likely allows Chase to deduct all or some of the record penalty they will be paying. That’s outrageous. First they strip the wealth from our homes with predatory loans, then use those loans to blow up our economy, then use the Great Recession as an excuse to steal our homes through foreclosure, and now want to use our tax dollars to help pay their fine.
Tell Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorganChase: No tax breaks for Wall Street crime. Our tax dollars will not go to subsidize Chase’s role in causing the Great Recession, creating the foreclosure crisis, and stealing our homes. 1

The fact that Chase is on the hook for this record penalty and still might face criminal prosecutions is a testament to the pressure people like you have put on the bankers and the Obama Administration to hold Wall Street bankers accountable.

In March, when Attorney General Holder testified before Congress that Wall Street banks couldn’t be prosecuted because of their outsized wealth, you joined with 333,000 others from Action for the Common Good, CREDO, MoveOn, Campaign for America’s Future, and the Courage Campaign to demand the Obama Administration end “Too Big to Jail”. Some of you helped deliver those petitions to US Attorneys in cities across the country. And you stood with 500 home defenders from around the country who risked arrest at the Department of Justice in order to demand accountability for Wall Street criminals in May. That action ended with 28 arrests and non-violent protestors tazed, while seven more were arrested at the high-end Wall Street law firm Covington and Burling protesting the revolving door between the DOJ and Wall Street. Then just two weeks ago over 500 of you called AG Holder’s office demanding a strong deal with Chase. You and people like you are true warriors for justice.
That’s why it is simply unacceptable for any of us, as taxpayers, to pick up part of the $13 billion tab for Chase’s wrong doing. Tell Dimon: Don’t demand any tax deductions from this settlement.
Reuters explains it this way:

“If $11 billion [of the $13 billion total penalty] is tax deductible, and assuming a 38 percent tax rate, the tax deduction could save JPMorgan as much as $4.18 billion, [tax expert Robert] Willens said.The government, however, could negotiate an exception and require that JPMorgan agree not to deduct some of those expenses from its taxable income, he said.” 2

Simply put, it would be unconscionable for this agreement to allow Chase to use our tax dollars to pay for the criminal acts and economic destruction of which we’ve borne the brunt. Click here to tell Chase their agreement must prohibit tax deductibility for any of the $13 billion.

In Solidarity,
Brian Kettenring, Executive Director, Action for the Common Good
[1] Recent agreements between the DOJ and other corporations show clear precedent here, including one from November 2012 with BP, forbidding them from deducting any of the $4 billion they owe for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster. “Government doing more to prevent corporations from deducting settlements,” Washington Post, December 31, 2012 http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-12-31/business/36103880_1_tax-deductions-million-settlement-federal-agencies
[2] “Exclusive: JPMorgan settlement could cost bank closer to $9 billion,” Reuters, Oct. 22, 2013. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/22/us-jpmorgan-penalties-idUSBRE99L19720131022?ak_proof=1
http://www.campaignforfairsettlement.org/

politics,pollution,petitions,pop culture & purses