Dear Friend,

If you’re looking for a progressive take on the current political news, ThinkProgress has you covered. Catch up on the biggest stories from the past week that you may have missed:

Why The Individual Mandate Is Not A ‘Massive Tax Hike’ On The Middle Class

4 Reasons Why Republicans Won’t Be Able To Repeal Obamacare

Supreme Court Decision On Arizona’s Immigration Law Provides Strong Support For Obama’s Immigration Order

Best,

Igor Volsky Deputy Editor, ThinkProgress

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

VIDEO PREMIERE: Arizona, We Are All “Illegals

07/02/2012 Nativegrl77

We Are All “Illegals”!

Tweet this video right now!

On the eve of the Supreme Court’s decision on Arizona anti-immigrant law SB1070, we urge the need to stand together and send a strong & united message: We Are All “Illegals”! This is why Cuéntame partnered withOuternational, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Residente of Calle 13, Pop/Latin ProducerThom Russo as well as video & photo submissions from over 100 fans worldwide to produce a powerful, creative and important music video. This release highlights the absurdity and obsolescence of the very notion of human beings deemed “illegal” in the year 2012.
Watch the exclusive video premiere of We Are All “Illegals”
We need you to stand with us and unite in one voice – fighting the persecution and profiling of our community and sending a strong message: No Human Being is “Illegal“!
Help us spread this video widely by tweeting it right now!
Together we can make an ever-lasting impact.

Yours, Axel Caballero and the Cuéntame team.

Continue making a difference please follow our updates on Twitter!

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VICTORY! Re: Sent back to her rapists? … Gabriela Garcia, Change.org

07/02/2012 Nativegrl77

Blanca Medina and her lawyer, Matthew Muller, got some great news from immigrations officials yesterday: after hearing from more than 100,000 people (including you!) who signed Matthew’s petition to prevent Blanca from being deported, they’ve issued a stay of deportation for Blanca and her daughter Alejandra.

Blanca, a five-time rape survivor who fears for her safety in her native El Salvador, was slated to be deported yesterday. But now, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is allowing her to apply for asylum based on her traumatic experience and the danger she would face at home.

“I am relieved DHS listened to the more than 100,000 people who thought it was a travesty to deport a rape survivor back to her attackers,” Matthew said. “This is a major step forward that wouldn’t have happened without public outrage.”

Blanca’s just one of dozens of people who have have challenged unfair deportation orders, and been released from detention, after petitions were started for them on Change.org.

Is there an issue you care about? Something you see in the world that needs to change? You can start your own petition on Change.org — it takes only five minutes. Click here to start a petition on Change.org now.

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Gabriela and the Change.org team

Black History

CONGRESS: the Republican led House- both back 7/9 -the Senate considers:Judicial nominees,S.2237,Small Business&S.Con.Res51

07/02/2012 Nativegrl77

the Senate Convenes: 2:00pmET July 9. 2012

Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
As previously announced, there will be no roll call votes on Monday, July 9^th. The next roll call vote will be at noon on Tuesday, July 9^th.
At 11:30am on Tuesday, July 10^th, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #661, the nomination of John Thomas Fowlkes, of TN, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee with 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 12:00pm), there will be a roll call vote on confirmation of the Fowlkes nomination.
Additionally, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to Calendar #341, S.2237, the Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act on Thursday, June 29^th. As a result, there will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S.2237 at 2:25pm on Tuesday, July 10^th.
If the Senate does not receive a message that the House has adopted S.Con.Res.51, the adjournment resolution, the Senate will meet on the following dates at the following times for pro-forma sessions only with no business conducted:

Tuesday, July 3^rd at 12:00pm and
Friday, July 6^th at 12:00pm

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed S.1379, the D.C. Courts and Public Defender Service Act of 2011 with committee-reported amendment by voice vote.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.3364, the Bring Jobs Home Act. (Stabenow and others)

Completed Rule 14 process of H.R.4018, Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Improvements Act of 2012. (Democratic request)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

————————————————————————————————

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on July 9, 2012. Check Out the live stream …

www.Houselive.gov

2:00:00 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
2:00:37 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
2:00:48 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:02:16 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
2:02:21 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. McCollum to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:02:30 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 June 29, 2012 at 5:01 p.m.: That the Senate passed S. 3238, S. 2165, S. 2239, and S. 3363.
2:03:15 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 June 29, 2012 at 4:39 p.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 6064, without amendment.
2:04:14 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:11:50 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 4:00 P.M. today.
4:00:41 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 9.
4:00:52 P.M.		The House received a communication from Representative McCotter wherein he resigns as a member of the House of Representatives effective at 12:00 midnight on July 6, 2012.
4:00:57 P.M.		ADJUSTMENT OF WHOLE NUMBER OF THE HOUSE – Under clause 5(d) of Rule XX, the Chair announced to the House that, in light of the resignation of Representative McCotter, the adjusted whole number of the House was 432.
4:01:45 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. today.
4:02:01 P.M.	H.R. 4155	Mr. Chaffetz moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4155 — “To direct the head of each Federal department and agency to treat relevant military training as sufficient to satisfy training or certification requirements for Federal licenses.”
4:02:38 P.M.	H.R. 4155	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:02:41 P.M.	H.R. 4155	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4155.
4:16:07 P.M.	H.R. 4155	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.
4:17:02 P.M.	H.R. 4114	Mr. Miller (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 4114 — “To increase, effective as of December 1, 2012, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.”
4:17:21 P.M.	H.R. 4114	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:17:24 P.M.	H.R. 4114	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4114.
4:32:28 P.M.	H.R. 4114	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:32:31 P.M.	H.R. 4114	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:33:00 P.M.	H.R. 4367	Mr. Luetkemeyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 4367 — “To amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to limit the fee disclosure requirement for an automatic teller machine to the screen of that machine.”
4:33:13 P.M.	H.R. 4367	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:33:15 P.M.	H.R. 4367	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4367.
4:51:30 P.M.	H.R. 4367	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.
4:52:07 P.M.	H.R. 5892	Mrs. McMorris Rodgers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5892 — “To improve hydropower, and for other purposes.”
4:52:28 P.M.	H.R. 5892	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:52:30 P.M.	H.R. 5892	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5892.
4:59:45 P.M.	H.R. 5892	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.
5:00:30 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for approximately 6:30 p.m. today.
6:30:00 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 9.
6:30:27 P.M.	H.R. 4155	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 4155 — “To direct the head of each Federal department and agency to treat relevant military training as sufficient to satisfy training or certification requirements for Federal licenses.”
6:56:11 P.M.	H.R. 4155	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 369 – 0 (Roll no. 452).
6:56:12 P.M.	H.R. 4155	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:56:27 P.M.	H.R. 4367	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 4367 — “To amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to limit the fee disclosure requirement for an automatic teller machine to the screen of that machine.”
7:03:32 P.M.	H.R. 4367	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 371 – 0 (Roll no. 453).
7:03:34 P.M.	H.R. 4367	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:03:50 P.M.	H.R. 5892	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 5892 — “To improve hydropower, and for other purposes.”
7:09:50 P.M.	H.R. 5892	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 372 – 0 (Roll no. 454).
7:09:51 P.M.	H.R. 5892	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:15:10 P.M.	S. 2061	Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 2061 — “To provide for an exchange of land between the Department of Homeland Security and the South Carolina State Ports Authority.”
7:15:36 P.M.	S. 2061	Considered under suspension of the rules.
7:15:37 P.M.	S. 2061	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2061.
7:20:16 P.M.	S. 2061	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
7:20:19 P.M.	S. 2061	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:21:03 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:22:35 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
8:00:39 P.M.		Mr. Sessions filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 724.
8:01:13 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed with Special Order speeches.

House Hearings for this week … below

2:00 pm

Hearing: Continued Human Rights Attacks on Families in China Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights

5:00 pm

Hearing: H.R. ____ Repeal of Obamacare ActCommittee on Rules:

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Supreme Court Upholds President Obama’s Health Care Reform

06/29/2012 Nativegrl77

Thursday, June 28, 2012

President Barack Obama delivers remarks after the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (June 28, 2012)

President Barack Obama delivers remarks regarding the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” in the East Room of the White House, June 28, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Nancy-Ann DeParle is Assistant to the President and White House Deputy Chief of Staff

Related Topics: Health Care

What the Supreme Court’s ruling means for your health care

Today, the Supreme Court issued a historic ruling: They upheld the Affordable Care Act and ensured that millions of American families will have access to health care and protection from the worst abuses of the insurance industry.

Lots of people have questions about the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court’s decision, and their health care coverage. We’ve pulled together the most useful information — including President Obama’s remarks after the announcement — at WhiteHouse.gov:

Watch the video and get the facts here.

Because the law has an impact on so many Americans, it’s important to understand its basic parts. We’ve also put together a list of facts about the Affordable Care Act. Will you give it a read, and then pass it on?

Nancy-Ann DeParle

June 28, 2012
01:23 PM EDT

Share This Post

Questions about what the decision means for you? Check out an infographic showing how the Affordable Care Act benefits Americans

Today, the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act ensures hard-working, middle class families will get the security they deserve and protects every American from the worst insurance company abuses. The Court has issued a clear and final ruling on this law.

For a comprehensive overview of the Affordable Care Act, visit WhiteHouse.gov/HealthReform and HealthCare.gov.

Let’s take a look at what today’s ruling means for the middle class:

Insurance companies no longer have unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny you coverage, or charge women more than men.
Soon, no American will ever again be denied care or charged more due to a pre-existing condition, like cancer or even asthma.
Preventive care will still be covered free of charge by insurance companies–including mammograms for women and wellness visits for seniors.
By August, millions of Americans will receive a rebate because their insurance company spent too much of their premium on administrative costs or CEO bonuses.
5.3 million seniors will continue to save $600 a year on their prescription drugs.
Efforts to strengthen and protect Medicare by cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse will remain in place.
6.6 million young adults will still be able to stay on their family’s plan until they’re 26.

A major impact of the Court’s decision is the 129 million people with pre-existing conditions and millions of middle class families who will have the security of affordable health coverage.

We should also remember that under today’s ruling, having health insurance is and will continue to be a choice. If you can’t afford insurance or you’re a small business that wants to provide affordable insurance to your employees, you’ll get tax credits that make coverage affordable. But if you can afford insurance and you choose not to purchase it, the taxpayers will no longer subsidize your care for free.

Given today’s ruling, it’s now time to focus on implementing this law in a smart and non-bureaucratic way that works for the middle class.

As we’ve said, the Court has issued a clear and final ruling on this law. The last thing Congress should do is refight old political battles and start over on health care by repealing basic protections that provide security for the middle class. The President refuses to go back to the way things were.

Right now, Congress needs to work together to focus on the economy and creating jobs. Right now in congress, what’s at stake is how–at this make or break moment for the middle class–we break through Washington gridlock to move our country forward. Right now in Congress, what’s at stake is our chance to seize this moment to build an economy not from the top-down, but one based on a strong and secure middle class. We need to create secure middle class jobs and an economy built to last where hard work and responsibility are rewarded, everybody gets a fair shot, pays their fair share, and plays by the same set of rules.

Right now, Congress should act on the President’s concrete plans to create an economy built to last by reducing the deficit in a balanced way and investing in education, clean energy, innovation, and infrastructure. It’s time for folks in Washington to work together on behalf of the American people.

Please check back periodically for additional information on today’s decision.

Read the President’s full remarks here