the Senate Convened 10:00amET December 18,2012

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for one hour with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.
The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

The Senate has resumed consideration of H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Hurricane Sandy Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. Senator Merkley called up the Merkley-Stabenow amendment #3367 (crop insurance).

The McCain amendment #3355 (strike emergency funding for forest restoration program) and the Tester amendment #3350 (additional funds for wildland fire management) are now pending to H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the emergency supplemental appropriations bill.

Senator Reid made the following unanimous consent request for consideration of S.3276, the FAA Sunsets Extension Act of 2012 . Senator Chambliss objected to the request.

The text of the request and the unofficial transcript of their remarks are below.

At time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar #463, S.3276 and the only first degree amendments in order be the following:

– Judiciary committee reported substitute;

– Leahy (sunset);

– Leahy (oversight);

– Wyden (public reporting);

– Wyden (back-door searches);

– Tester (reverse targeting); and

– Merkley (declassification of FISA Court opinions)

And that there be one hour of debate equally divided between the proponents and opponents on each amendment, and up to two hours of debate on the bill equally divided between the proponents and opponents. Further, that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed; and that there be no amendments in order to any of the amendments prior to the votes; and upon disposition of the amendments, the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended.

MR. REID: THE SENATE HAS BEEN CONSIDERING THE SUPPLEMENTAL

APPROPRIATION BILL FOR TWO DAYS NOW. THE REPUBLICANS, I’M TOLD,

ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. WE

HAVE OTHER CONCERNS, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE TRAGEDY IN

CONNECTICUT, THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF OUR FRIEND, SENATOR INOUYE,

BUT TIME DOESN’T STOP FOR ANYTHING. IT KEEPS MARCHING ON.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING. WE HAVE A FISCAL CLIFF THAT’S IN THE

HORIZON. SO I HOPE WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS ON THIS BILL IN THE

MORNING. IF NOT, I’LL BE FORCED TO FILE CLOTURE TO TRY TO

FIGURE OUT A PATH FORWARD ON THIS BILL. IT’S BEEN OPEN FOR

AMENDMENT, THAT’S WHAT MY FRIENDS SAID THEY WANTED, THAT’S WHAT

THEY HAVE. WE HAVE THE D.O.D. AUTHORIZATION. WE NEED TO

COMPLETE ACTION ON THAT CONFERENCE REPORT THAT’S BEEN COMPLETED

NOW. WE EXPECT THAT THEY WILL FILE TONIGHT OR TOMORROW SO WE

NEED TO COMPLETE THAT BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK. CHRISTMAS IS

SEVEN DAYS FROM TODAY. WE HAVE JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS, WE’VE BEEN

MAKING SOME PROGRESS WITH THE DISTRICT COURT NOMINATIONS. WE

HAVE TO DO THREE MORE BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK. WE HAVE

EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS WE NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE THE END OF THE

WEEK. FISA, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF

LEGISLATION. IMPERFECT AS IT IS, IT IS WHAT IS NECESSARY TO

HELP US BE PROTECTED FROM THE EVIL THAT’S IN THE WORLD. WE HAVE

TO COMPLETE THIS BEFORE WE LEAVE HERE THIS WEEK. TODAY’S

TUESDAY. SO EVERYONE ELSE CAN DO THE MATH JUST AS WELL AS I CAN

ABOUT HOW MANY DAYS ARE LEFT. SO I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT

AT A TIME TO BE DETERMINED BY ME AFTER CONSULTATION WITH

SENATOR McCONNELL, THE SENATE PROCEED TO THE CONSIDERATION OF

CALENDAR NUMBER 463, S.3276, THAT THE ONLY FIRST-DEGREE

AMENDMENTS IN ORDER TO THE BILL BE THE FOLLOWING, JUDICIARY

COMMITTEE REPORTED SUBSTITUTE, LEAHY SUNSET, LEAHY OVERSIGHT,

WYDEN PUBLIC REPORT,, WIENDZ BACK DOOR SEARCHES, AND MERKLEY

WHICH IS ABOUT DECLASSIFICATION OF FISA COURT OPINIONS. THAT

THERE BE AN HOUR OF DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED

BETWEEN THE OPPONENTS AND PROPONENTS ON EACH AMENDMENT, THAT

THERE BE UP TWO TWO HOURS OF DEBATE ON THE BILL EQUALLY DIVIDED

BETWEEN THE PROPONENTS AND OPPONENTS, UPON THE USE OR YIELDING

BACK OF THAT TIME, THE SENATE PROCEED TO VOTE IN RELATION TO

THE AMENDMENTS IN THE ORDER LISTED, THAT THERE BE NO AMENDMENTS

IN ORDER TO ANY OF THE AMENDMENTS PRIOR TO THE VOTES, THAT UPON

DISPOSITION OF THE AMENDMENTS THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME AND

THE SENATE PROCEED TO VOTE ON PASSAGE OF THE BILL IF AMENDED.

BEFORE THE CHAIR RULES ON THIS, MR. PRESIDENT, IT’S PRETTY EASY

TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH TIME THIS INCLUDES. THIS IS THE BETTER

PART OF A DAY, THE BETTER PART OF A DAY IF WE GOT THIS CONSENT

DONE. SO I ASK THAT CHAIR APPROVE THE CONSENT AGREEMENT.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?

MR. CHAMBLISS: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, AND I DO INTEND TO OBJECT.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY TO THE LEADER THANKS FOR MOVING

TOWARDS THE FISA BILL.

YOU’RE EXAMINING RIGHT, THIS IS A BILL THAT MUST

BE DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR SO WE CAN BE SURE THE

INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO GATHER IN A LAWFUL AND LEGAL

WAY THE KIND OF INTELLIGENCE THAT KEEPS AMERICANS SAFE AND

SECURE. THERE ARE TWO DOCUMENTS, ONE A STATEMENT OF

ADMINISTRATION POLICY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE WHERE THEY HAVE

AGREED TO THE BILL THAT HAS ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE, AND

SECONDLY, A LETTER FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE INTELLIGENCE

COMMUNITY, NAMELY, THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS

WELL AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DIRECTED TO THE LEADERSHIP BOTH OF

WHICH LETTERS AND STATEMENTS SUPPORT THE HOUSE BILL. AND IT’S

BECAUSE OF THAT AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IF THE HOUSE BILL

COMES THROUGH HERE AND I UNDERSTAND WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE DEBATE,

MAY HAVE TO HAVE AMENDMENTS DEBATED, WHATEVER THE LEADER

DECIDES, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET

THAT BILL PASSED AND ACCEPTED IT DIRECTLY TO THE PRESIDENT’S

DESK. SO I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE LETTER FROM THE

D.N.I. AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DATED FEBRUARY 8 AS WELL AS THE

STATEMENT OF MPTION POLICY DATED SEPTEMBER 10 BE INCLUDED IN

THE RECORD AND, MR. PRESIDENT, I DO OBJECT.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD. AND WITHOUT

OBJECTION THE LETTERS WILL BE INCLUDED.

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY LEADER.

MR. REID: I’LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON PATH FORWARD IF ANYONE HAS

ANY IDEAS HOW TO HELP ME WITH THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LISTEN

TO THEM BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE MUST DO BEFORE WE LEAVE HERE.

CHRISTMAS IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS LEGISLATION. I’M

SORRY, I HOPE I’M NOT OFFENDING ANYONE, BUT THAT’S THE WAY IT

IS. WE HAVE TO GET SOMETHING DONE ON THIS BEFORE THE END OF THE

YEAR AND I THINK WE WOULD BE WALKING ON VERY, VERY THIN ICE TO

TRY TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS TO TRY TO DO THIS

LEGISLATION. I DON’T — IT’S HARD FOR ME TO COMPREHEND THE

POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRY IF WE DID NOT EXTEND THIS

LEGISLATION.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.622, notifying the House of Representatives of the election of a President pro tempore.

Adopted S.Res.623, notifying the President of the United States of the election of a President pro tempore.

Adopted S.Con.Res.63, a concurrent resolution to correct the enrollment of S.2367 the 21^st Century Language Act of 2012.

Adopted S.Con.Res.64, a concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the lying in state of the remains of the late Honorable Daniel K. Inouye.

Adopted S.Res.624, a resolution relative to the death of the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, United States Senator from the State of Hawaii.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

————————————————————-

Watch Live House Floor Proceedings

10:00:00 A.M.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

10:01:18 A.M.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Nan A. S. Hayworth to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

10:01:39 A.M.

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed S. 1792 and S. 1793. Additionally, the Senate passed H.R. 6223, without amendment, and H.R. 2076, with an amendment.

10:02:04 A.M.

MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

10:58:24 A.M.

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

12:00:42 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 18.
12:00:52 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:02:30 P.M.		SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Altmire demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Altmire objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day.
12:02:47 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Walden to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:02:57 P.M.		CALL OF THE PRIVATE CALENDAR – Pursuant to clause 1(a) of rule XIII, the Chair announced that the call of the Private Calendar was in order on this day and would be considered after one minute speeches.
12:03:19 P.M.		<action_description>ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
12:29:23 P.M.	S. 285	Called up from the Private Calendar for consideration.
12:29:43 P.M.	S. 285	Considered from the Private Calendar. S. 285 — “For the relief of Sopuruchi Chukwueke.”
12:29:48 P.M.	S. 285	On passage Passed without objection.
12:29:55 P.M.	S. 285	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:30:04 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
12:30:28 P.M.	H.R. 6504	Mr. Chabot moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 6504 — “To amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to provide for increased limitations on leverage for multiple licenses under common control, and for other purposes.”
12:30:48 P.M.	H.R. 6504	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:30:50 P.M.	H.R. 6504	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6504.
12:41:48 P.M.	H.R. 6504	At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Chabot objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
12:43:57 P.M.	H.R. 3783	Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
12:44:17 P.M.	H.R. 3783	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3783.
1:00:55 P.M.	H.R. 3783	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – 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.
1:02:17 P.M.	H.R. 6621	Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 6621 — “To correct and improve certain provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act and title 35, United States Code.”
1:02:30 P.M.	H.R. 6621	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:02:32 P.M.	H.R. 6621	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6621.
1:15:25 P.M.	H.R. 6621	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.
1:16:16 P.M.	H.R. 6014	Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 6014 — “To authorize the Attorney General to award grants for States to implement minimum and enhanced DNA collection processes.”
1:16:34 P.M.	H.R. 6014	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:16:39 P.M.	H.R. 6014	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6014.
1:42:37 P.M.	H.R. 6014	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
1:42:41 P.M.	H.R. 6014	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:42:45 P.M.	H.R. 6014	<action_description>The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
1:42:49 P.M.	S. 3642	<action_description>Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 3642 — “To clarify the scope of the Economic Espionage Act of 1996.”
1:43:06 P.M.	S. 3642	<action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:43:10 P.M.	S. 3642	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3642.
1:47:59 P.M.	S. 3642	<action_description>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.
1:48:07 P.M.	H.R. 6671	<action_description>Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 6671 — “To amend section 2710 of title 18, United States Code, to clarify that a video tape service provider may obtain a consumer’s informed, written consent on an ongoing basis and that consent may be obtained through the Internet.”
1:48:29 P.M.	H.R. 6671	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:48:32 P.M.	H.R. 6671	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6671.
2:05:37 P.M.	H.R. 6671	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
2:05:40 P.M.	H.R. 6671	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:05:59 P.M.		>The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

« Previous Day

6:15:09 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 18.
6:15:15 P.M.		<action_description>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 18, 2012 at 2:19 p.m.: That the Senate passed S. Res. 622.
6:15:20 P.M.	H.R. 4310	<action_description>Mr. Rigell asked unanimous consent that managers on the part of the House have until midnight on Dec. 18 to file a conference report on H.R. 4310. Agreed to without objection.
6:16:00 P.M.		<action_description>UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:16:37 P.M.	H.R. 6504	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 6504 — “To amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to provide for increased limitations on leverage for multiple licenses under common control, and for other purposes.”
6:54:15 P.M.	H.R. 6504	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 359 – 36, 1 Present (Roll no. 629).
6:54:16 P.M.	H.R. 6504	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:54:45 P.M.	H.R. 3783	>Considered as unfinished business.
7:01:14 P.M.	H.R. 3783	On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 386 – 6 (Roll no. 630).
7:01:15 P.M.	H.R. 3783	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:06:11 P.M.	H.R. 6621	>Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 6621 — “To correct and improve certain provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act and title 35, United States Code.”
7:13:01 P.M.	H.R. 6621	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 308 – 89 (Roll no. 631).
7:13:02 P.M.	H.R. 6621	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:13:06 P.M.	S. 3642	Considered as unfinished business. S. 3642 — “To clarify the scope of the Economic Espionage Act of 1996.”
7:19:51 P.M.	S. 3642	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 388 – 4 (Roll no. 632).
7:19:52 P.M.	S. 3642	>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:20:34 P.M.	S. 3687	<action_description>Mr. Denham asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
7:20:37 P.M.	S. 3687	<action_description>Considered by unanimous consent. S. 3687 — “To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program, to designate certain Federal buildings, and for other purposes.”
7:20:57 P.M.	S. 3687	On passage Passed without objection.
7:20:58 P.M.	S. 3687	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:21:02 P.M.	H.J. Res. 122	Mr. Denham asked unanimous consent to consider as introduced.
7:21:02 P.M.	H.J. Res. 122	Considered by unanimous consent. H.J. Res. 122 — “Establishing the date for the counting of the electoral votes for President and Vice President cast by the electors in December 2012.”
7:21:34 P.M.	H.J. Res. 122	<action_description>On passage Passed without objection.
7:21:36 P.M.	H.J. Res. 122	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:21:59 P.M.		Mr. Smith (TX) filed a report from the Committee on Judiciary on H. Res. 819.
7:22:56 P.M.		On approving the Journal Agreed to by voice vote.
7:23:00 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:26:00 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
9:22:50 P.M.		Mr. Altmire moved that the House do now adjourn.
9:22:55 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
9:22:55 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on December 19, 2012.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

“Newtown, you are not alone.” —President Obama

12/17/2012 Nativegrl77

December 16, 10:44pm

President Obama at Prayer Vigil for Connecticut Shooting Victims: “Newtown, You Are Not Alone”

December 15, 5:45am

Weekly Address: Nation Grieves for Those Killed in Tragic Shooting in Newtown, CT

December 14, 3:34pm

President Obama Speaks on the Shooting in Connecticut

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President Obama’s weekly address

12/17/2012 Nativegrl77

The White House

The President says the nation’s thoughts and prayers are with those who lost a loved one during Friday’s tragic shooting in Newtown, CT.

Watch President Obama’s weekly address.

President Barack Obama tapes the Weekly Address in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Dec. 14, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

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Defend Science

12/17/2012 Nativegrl77

Union of Concerned Scientists

Facts matter. Don’t let media pundits subvert science.

Chip in and become a member to defend science.

As Hurricane Sandy was wreaking havoc on the East Coast, commentators on Fox News repeatedly claimed that the storm had “nothing to do with climate change.”¹

Hurricane Sandy’s impact was undeniably worse because of rising sea levels caused by global warming—but because our opponents are desperate to keep science out of our political discourse, they tried to hide this fact from you and me. That’s not just misleading. It’s dangerous.

Fox News is willingly, and with full knowledge of their errors, denying science. We don’t say things like that lightly. We’re scientists, so we ran the numbers and found that 93 percent of Fox News Channel’s coverage of climate science was misleading or outright false.²

We need you to help set the record straight. Your support will allow us to reach out to reporters and editors across the country in 2013, so we can share the scientific facts and advance policies that will help protect and prepare our cities and states for the impacts of climate change.

Don’t stand by while science is under attack by the likes of Rupert Murdoch, Bill O’Reilly, and Sean Hannity. Become a UCS member today, and together we’ll show the media and policy makers that facts matter.

Sea levels could rise up to 3.3 feet in the next 80 years.³ Most Americans are connecting the dots between our changing climate and the extreme weather we’ve seen in recent years—from forest fires to flooding from intense storms—and this is our moment to make sure the conversation continues.⁴ But very powerful and cynical interests are trying to keep the public in the dark.

Many Americans unquestioningly accept what they hear on TV or through the internet as undisputed fact. That’s why we’re out there fighting misrepresentations of global warming in the popular media. We have relationships with reporters from New York City to Toledo to Sacramento, and they look to us as a trusted source of facts to counter the distortions and hysteria whipped up by climate deniers.

It’s also why we’re leading the charge on some of science’s most promising solutions to the challenges of our time: cutting harmful pollution, investing in the rapid expansion of renewable energy, and protecting our cities from sea level rise.

Pitch in to become a UCS member today and stand up for science-based solutions to our planet’s most pressing problems.

Together, we are very publicly taking on the media moguls and pundits who spread misinformation. Our groundbreaking report about Fox News and the rest of News Corporation was picked up by outlets across the country, and we backed it up with tens of thousands of signatures calling them out for their distorted coverage. Members of the UCS community power these kinds of campaigns—and we can’t win without you.

The fact that you’re reading this email means you aren’t afraid to take on powerful interests when objective science is on our side. A healthy planet, a safer world, the wellbeing of our families—that’s what’s at stake here. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Kevin Knobloch President

1. http://mediamatters.org/research/2012/10/31/fox-hurricane-sandy-has-nothing-to-do-with-glob/191018 2. http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/global_warming_contrarians/news-corporation-climate-science-coverage.html 3. http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0625/Sea-levels-rising-on-US-East-Coast-much-faster-than-global-average-video 4. http://www.forbes.com/sites/eco-nomics/2012/04/19/poll-most-americans-now-link-extreme-weather-to-climate-change/

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ConsumersUnion

12/17/2012 Nativegrl77

Policy and Action from Consumer Reports

Help us stop this dangerous game of chicken!

Your support helps us fight in this budget battle for your right to decent health care as you age, financial security, safe food, Wall Street watchdogs. Give your year-end, tax-deductible gift now.

The last thing you need this holiday season is the dangerous game of chicken some in Congress are playing with your financial future.

Only weeks remain before $500 billion in automatic tax hikes and spending cuts kick in. These drastic, across-the-board cuts are in the things that keep your family safe and secure each day, but they do little to dramatically reduce the deficit.

We just sent 200,000 of your messages to the President, your Senators and Representatives so they know your priorities in this tax-and-spend battle. Our only job is to fight for you, and your tax-deductible gift today makes sure we keep fighting.

Give $7 now. And if you can give a bit more for those who can’t, we’ll get everyone heard!

Consumers like you make our economy work. So why should you shoulder an unfair burden in an economic plan designed to fix our nation’s long-term finances?

Unless a fair plan is reached, you may wind up being told your retirement health care benefits could shrink or that you have to pay more for college. And that you can count on fewer food inspectors, toy safety testers, or air traffic controllers. Or that Wall Street and credit card companies don’t need as much oversight.

The reality is, these are your tax dollars. How your money is spent should be your priorities, not corporate lobbyists and faceless conglomerates. Your tax-deductible donation keeps us on top of the latest proposal, supports our email actions to your lawmakers, funds our toll-free hotlines so you can speak directly to your elected official.

Your year-end, tax-deductible donation keeps us working for you, no one else.

Times are tough so if you can’t give, please continue to support our work by forwarding this to friends and family. We are the most trusted voice of consumers because of support from people like you.

Thank you, Chris Meyer Consumers Union, Policy and Action from Consumer Reports