by Judd Legum
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As we discussed before, Congress rushed to the rescue of air travelers after a mere four days of flight delays. Meanwhile, some of the most vulnerable Americans have been dealing with the additional hardships imposed by painful sequester cuts for more than two months now.
Our Center for American Progress colleague Erik Stegman explain hows the sequester is hurting struggling families, seniors, and children:
It’s very clear by now that Republicans are perfectly happy to force this kind of painful austerity on the American people so long as it means that corporations and the wealthiest Americans get to keep their special tax breaks. And now Republicans are refusing to even sit down and talk about finalizing a budget for next year. Worse yet, they are once again threatening to take the full faith and credit of the United States hostage unless Democrats agree to hundreds of billions of dollars in new corporate tax breaks.
BOTTOM LINE: Our economy and struggling families literally cannot afford the games the GOP continues to play with programs that benefit millions of Americans each and every day.
BREAKING: Delaware becomes 11th state with marriage equality.
Author of bogus Heritage Foundation immigration “study” admits he hasn’t even looked at the entire Senate immigration bill.
DC police chief promises to meet loaded rifle-toting protesters at the DC border.
On day stock market hits new record, conservative group blames Obama for “wrecking the stock market.”
Pro-marriage equality Republican senator still not sure about protecting gays from getting fired just for being gay.
Minnesota House of Representatives to vote on marriage equality this Thursday.
GOP’s latest attempt at women’s outreach is a trap.
Marco Rubio denounces bogus Heritage Foundation immigration “study.”
Study proves that Justices Alito, Roberts are the most pro-corporate in nearly 70 years.
The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013.
Upon disposition of the Coburn and Whitehouse amendments, the substitute amendment, as amended, if amended, will be agreed to and considered original text for the purposes of further amendment.
Senator Coburn has indicated he will not offer amendment #804. As a result, there will only be 2 roll call votes at 2pm.
– Coburn amendment #805 (Army Corps lands/guns); and
– Whitehouse amendment #803 (oceans).
2:00pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Coburn amendment #805 (Army Corps land/guns) (60-vote threshold);
Not Agreed to: 56-43
2:26pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Whitehouse amendment #803 (Oceans);
Agreed To: 68-31 (60-affirmative vote threshsold)
The next amendments in order to S.601, Water Resources Development Act, are the following:
No second degree amendments are in order prior to votes in relation to the amendments. We will work on time agreements on the amendments. Senators will be notified when any votes are scheduled.
This afternoon, Senator Lee asked consent to adopt a Senate Resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress and the States should investigate and correct abusive, unsanitary, and illegal abortion practices.
Senator Blumenthal then asked consent to adopt an alternative resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that all incidents of abusive, unsanitary, or illegal health care practices should be condemned and prevented and the perpetrators should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Senator Lee objected to Senator Blumenthal’s request and Senator Blumenthal objected to Senator Lee’s request.
5:45pm the Senate began a roll call vote on Brown amendment #813, as modified (Asian Carp);
Agreed To: 95-0
– Pryor #806 (work-in-kind);
– Inhofe #835, with a modification to the instruction lines (rural water infrastructure projects);
McCain #833 (levee safety programs);
2) Whitehouse amendment #803 (oceans); Agreed to: 68-31 (60-vote threshold)
3) Brown amendment #813, as modified (Asian carp); Agreed to: 95-0
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
Passed S.622, an original bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize user fee programs relating to new animal drugs and generic new animal drugs.
Adopted H.Con.Res.32, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition.
Discharged the HELP committee and adopted S.Res.126, recognizing the teachers of the United States for their contributions to the development and progress of our country.
Completed the Rule 14 process of S.888, the End User Exemptions from provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act. (Johanns)
No EXECUTIVE ITEMS
– Executive Calendar # 39 Shelly Deckert Dick, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana, and
– Executive Calendar #41 Nelson Stephen Roman, of New York, to be District Judge for the Southern District of New York.
There will be 30 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form. Upon the use or yielding back of time the Senate will proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed.
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| 9:00:06 A.M. | The House convened, starting a new legislative day. | |
| 9:00:25 A.M. | The Speaker designated the Honorable Mark Meadows to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. | |
| 9:00:40 A.M. | Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy. | |
| 9:01:57 A.M. | The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved. | |
| 9:02:03 A.M. | PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. | |
| 9:04:03 A.M. | The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The House will reconvene in Joint Meeting with the Senate for the purpose of receiving Her Excellency Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair. | |
| 10:22:42 A.M. | The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 8. | |
| 10:22:47 A.M. | JOINT MEETING – The House has reconvened in Joint Meeting with the Senate to receive an address by her Excellency Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea. | |
| 11:15:30 A.M. | JOINT MEETING DISSOLVED – The Speaker announced that the Joint Meeting was dissolved. The House remains in recess subject to the Call of the Chair. | |
| 11:15:32 A.M. | The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair. | |
| 12:01:00 P.M. | The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 8. | |
| 12:01:21 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 May 8, 2013 at 9:27 a.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 1071, without amendment. | |
| 12:02:59 P.M. | ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches. | |
| 12:42:53 P.M. | H. Res. 202 | Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 202 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 807) to require that the Government prioritize all obligations on the debt held by the public in the event that the debt limit is reached.” |
| 12:42:56 P.M. | H. Res. 202 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 202. |
| 1:48:00 P.M. | H. Res. 202 | POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H. Res. 202, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Slaughter demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of ordering the previous question until later in the legislative day. |
| 1:51:33 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 198. H.R. 1406 — “To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide compensatory time for employees in the private sector.” |
| 1:51:38 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1406 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order. |
| 1:52:52 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1406. |
| 3:20:44 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | An amendment, offered by Mr. Gibson, printed in House Report 113-051 to require the GAO to submit a report to Congress on the usage of compensatory time allowed under the Act and detail any complaints filed or enforcement actions taken for alleged violations of the Act. The report will ensure Congress can monitor any potential abuse of the Act. |
| 3:20:49 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 198, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gibson amendment. |
| 3:30:44 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | The previous question was ordered on the amendment (A002) pursuant to the rule. |
| 3:31:30 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Gibson amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Courtney demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day. |
| 3:32:09 P.M. | The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair. | |
| 5:00:05 P.M. | The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 8. | |
| 5:00:28 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1406 — “To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide compensatory time for employees in the private sector.” |
| 5:30:00 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | On agreeing to the Gibson amendment; Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 384 – 42 (Roll no. 135). |
| 5:30:50 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | Ms. Shea-Porter moved to recommit with instructions to Education and the Workforce. |
| 5:31:16 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Shea-Porter motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to ensure that employees could not be denied the use of compensatory time for the following purposes: (1) to attend medical appointments; (2) to care for a sick family member or if the employee is sick; or (3) to attend counseling or rehabilitation appointments for injuries sustained by the employee as a member of the Armed Forces. The motion would also prohibit employers who have been found to violate the Equal Pay Act of 1963 from replacing monetary overtime with compensatory time. |
| 5:39:48 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. |
| 5:47:51 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 200 – 227 (Roll no. 136). |
| 5:55:27 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | On passage Passed by recorded vote: 223 – 204 (Roll no. 137). |
| 5:55:27 P.M. | H.R. 1406 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 5:55:39 P.M. | H. Res. 202 | Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 202 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 807) to require that the Government prioritize all obligations on the debt held by the public in the event that the debt limit is reached.” |
| 6:02:27 P.M. | H. Res. 202 | On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 227 – 199 (Roll no. 138). |
| 6:14:06 P.M. | H. Res. 202 | On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 226 – 199 (Roll no. 139). |
| 6:14:07 P.M. | H. Res. 202 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 6:14:50 P.M. | Mr. Collins (GA) asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9:00 a.m. on May 9. Agreed to without objection. | |
| 6:15:35 P.M. | ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches. | |
| 6:35:59 P.M. | SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches. | |
| 7:02:48 P.M. | Mr. Pocan moved that the House do now adjourn. | |
| 7:02:56 P.M. | On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote. | |
| 7:02:57 P.M. | The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on May 9, 2013. |
In 2007, the Heritage Foundation released an influential — though widely debunked — report claiming that immigration reform would cost the U.S. $2.6 TRILLION. While no one factor alone is responsible for the death of reform that year, the Heritage paper certainly helped kill it.
Well, “here we go again,” as Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) tweeted earlier today. Today, Heritage released an updated report with an even more fantastical claim: immigration reform with a path to earned citizenship (which the report and its authors falsely and repeatedly refer to as “amnesty”) will now cost $6.3 TRILLION over the next 50 years.
This time, however, something is different. It’s conservatives who are lining up to trash the Heritage report. In just the few hours the report has been out, influential conservatives have lined up to discredit Heritage’s way-too-bad-to-be-true claims:
As conservatives also pointed out, Heritage’s current view is even at odds with its own past statements on immigration:
The new report contradicts the think tank’s 2006 position on immigration. Heritage then wrote,“the argument that immigrants harm the American economy should be dismissed out of hand” and urged for a comprehensive bill. “A lopsided, ideological approach that focuses exclusively on border security while ignoring migrant workers (or vice versa) is bound to fail.”
Earlier this year when ultra-conservative former Sen. Jim DeMint was appointed to head Heritage, some worried aloud that this would undermine the organization’s credibility:
The DeMint choice signals a shift toward more conservative activism from one of America’s largest think tanks and is sure to please conservative donors. But it’s not likely to provide donors the political results they want. Instead, it is likely to reduce the relevance of both DeMint and Heritage.
Indeed, the organized opposition to the Gang of 8 immigration bill appears to consist largely of the Heritage Foundation, racist hate groups like FAIR, and right-wing talk radio hosts. While these groups may continue to be influential with some segments of the Republican base, it’s clear that they are increasingly outside of the mainstream of both American society and even the GOP itself. In fact, a poll out just last week found that 83 percent of all Americans and 84 percent of Republicans favor a path to earned citizenship so long as immigrants pay fines, back taxes, and meet other requirements — in other words, exactly what is in the Gang of 8 bill.
Air Force officer in charge of preventing sexual assault was himself arrested for sexual assault.
Feds ramp up crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries.
Elizabeth Smart: Abstinence education teaches rape victims they’re worthless, dirty, and filthy.
Not even Fox and Friends buys the GOP’s claims of Benghazi “cover up.”
Gun protesters plan march on Washington with loaded rifles in order to “put the government on notice.”
There are 2 MILLION extra unemployed Americans because of austerity.
NRA’s gun safety advice: store guns in your kids’ rooms.
Mississippi set to kill a potentially innocent man tomorrow.
Another week, another pointless House GOP vote to repeal Obamacare.
Lives lived. Stories told. The seniors we serve are the same people who helped shape our nation. Using their minds, ingenuity and hard work, they were there when we needed them. They fought for our freedom, invented machines, developed medicines, dared to dream and ensured a brighter future for us all. Their stories are our stories. We share their stories with you in honor of all of the seniors whom we serve and who inspire us to do what we do. We are Meals On Wheels, and this is our story.
Mr. AlsworthMr. Alsworth credits Meals On Wheels with helping him get back on his feet after undergoing cancer treatment.
Back in 2010, Mr. Alsworth was losing weight and feeling weak while receiving chemo and radiation therapy. A health professional suggested Meals On Wheels might be an option.
Alsworth says, “It was exactly what I needed. It gave me energy. It really got me back into my life.”
“It’s like a foundation of a house,” he explains. “If you don’t have a good foundation on a house, you don’t have a house. Food does the same thing for your body.”
Mr. Alsworth also appreciates the kindness of the volunteers. “They talk to you and make sure you’re alright; they’re beautiful people. You can’t ask for more.”
We are Meals On Wheels, and this is our story.
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