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Refinancing for Responsible Homeowners

05/14/2012 Nativegrl77

Good afternoon —

Right now, refinancing a home mortgage can be confusing and costly — but it doesn’t have to be that way.

And that’s why President Obama is asking Congress to make things simpler for responsible homeowners as part of his To-Do List for lawmakers.

All over the country, there are Americans who bought houses before the financial crisis, and they’re locked in at high interest rates. Despite staying current with payments, they can’t refinance at today’s rates, which are historically low.

This issue affects you, even if you have a good rate, or don’t have a mortgage at all. Lower monthly payments mean lower foreclosure rates, helping property values in your community. And more money in people’s pockets helps to move our economy forward and create jobs.

By improving this process, responsible folks who work hard will be able to feel a little more secure in their finances and a little more secure in their homes.

Watch one of President Obama’s economic advisers explain how in this quick video:

Lowering the interest rate on your mortgage should be an idea that makes sense for both Republicans and Democrats. Outside the halls of Congress, paying a mortgage isn’t a partisan, political issue.

President Obama has done what he can to make refinancing simpler, but unless Congress acts, there’s a limit to how much we can help responsible homeowners.

Nothing will help to change the debate more than Americans across the country joining the conversation. We saw your impact a few months ago when Congress finally extended the payroll tax cut, keeping an average of $40 in everyone’s paycheck. Now it’s time to for more action – this time to help homeowners all over America.

So I’m asking you to talk to people about this refinance proposal and the other ideas on the To-Do List. You can find more info about them on WhiteHouse.gov:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/todolist

Thank you,
David

David Plouffe
Senior Advisor to the President

P.S. — If you’re on Facebook or Twitter, consider posting the video. I bet you’ll get a surprising response from your network. Most people don’t track the day-to-day in Washington closely, but all of us know people who would love to refinance their mortgages.

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Tell Congress that sustainable agriculture is the right investment – repost

05/14/2012 Nativegrl77

Today the Backyard, Tomorrow the Farm!

Most gardeners will be planting bulbs for next spring and taking steps to protect perennials from harsh winter weather over the next few weeks. But did you know that actions you take now can also help in the fight against global warming?

The following advice from a gardening expert offers a simple step you can take this fall to be a climate-friendly gardener by increasing your soil’s ability to store carbon—a key component in the leading cause of global warming. After you read the tip, take action to call for the same kind of actions on our nation’s farms.

www.ucsusa.org

In Your Garden…

Tracey Payton, a horticulture educator from Norman, Oklahoma, offers this tip on how to be a climate-friendly gardener.

“Mulch is a great way to protect bare soil, and most importantly for the climate-friendly gardener, it can help prevent carbon loss. Uncovered soil is vulnerable to releasing more carbon than it stores. Mulch also has other benefits, such as protecting against temperature fluctuations that can damage plants, suppressing weeds, and reducing moisture loss and soil erosion. Using mulch can be as easy as an additional 2-3 inch layer of compost or straw in the garden; in the flower bed, cotton seed hulls, bark mulch, or wood mulch can be used. Do only keep mulch about 2-3″ deep and away from perennial plant stems to prevent rot and other moisture problems.”

More information about how healthy soil can lock up carbon may be found in The Climate-Friendly Gardener. This guide also contains more valuable tips and information on how to fight global warming in your own backyard. http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=CbQwBKQYI1GwQMSDdIzNGA

On the Farm…

If gardeners can adopt practices to combat global warming on a small scale, think what could be accomplished if similar steps were taken on the millions of acres of farmland across the country!

Similar to mulching, one of the most effective farm practices to store carbon in the soil on a large scale—while building soil health and preventing erosion—is widespread planting of “cover crops” in the winter. A sort of living mulch, cover crops protect farm fields when other crops aren’t growing. They also have the benefit of releasing nitrogen—one of the main ingredients in fertilizers into the soil just in time for spring-planted crops, which can reduce the need for added fertilizer (another source of global warming emissions).

We can help expand the adoption of this practice by making sure that the next Farm Bill rewards farmers who plant cover crops. Voted on every five years, the Farm Bill helps determines what food farmers will grow and what practices they will employ. This bill includes programs to help farmers successfully adopt a wide array of sustainable agriculture practices, including the planting of cover crops.

Write to your members of Congress and demand farm policies that help farmers protect our water, air, and land while producing the food we need!

Take Action Today! www.ucsusa.org

Sincerely,

Jenn Yates
National Field Organizer
UCS Food & Environment Program

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Clean Air Under Attack … Union of Concerned Scientists

05/14/2012 Nativegrl77

Union of Concerned Scientists

Clean Air Under Attack ,
The Chamber of Commerce and other groups who oppose climate action are mounting a massive attack on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) efforts to protect our health and the environment from the impacts of global warming.
Right now, we’re pumping too much carbon into the atmosphere and it’s having a dangerous effect on our climate. To help protect us, the EPA recently released draft standards that, for the first time ever, will limit carbon pollution from new power plants. Yesterday, UCS supporters heard directly from senior White House and EPA officials about how these standards are a critical first step towards reducing the effects of global warming and protecting public health.
Unfortunately the Chamber of Commerce recently released a press statement vowing to do whatever it takes to overturn the EPA’s standard.
The chamber’s attacks are bogus.

We need these standards to start to address the threat of climate change—and the EPA is not only helping to address that threat, it is also meeting the mandate it was given by the Supreme Court five years ago to reduce carbon emissions found to be dangerous to the public health and welfare.
But that’s not stopping foes like the chamber. It’s critical that informed citizens like you speak up to protect these standards. You already submitted a public comment in support of the EPA’s carbon pollution standard, but now it’s time to take the next step. Tell the Chamber of Commerce to stop their attacks.
The opposition hasn’t quit and we can’t either.

Take Action Today!
Sincerely,

Chrissy Elles Outreach Associate UCS Climate and Energy Program

Black History

Congress: the Republican led House back on 5/15 – the Senate considers Judicial nominees & HR2072,the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act.

05/14/2012 Nativegrl77

the Senate Convenes: 2:00pmET May14, 2012

Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.

It is the Majority Leader’s intention to resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act on Monday. As a reminder to all Senators, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to H.R.2072 during Friday’s session.
At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following items:

Executive Calendar # 570 George Levi Russell, III, of Maryland, to be US District Judge for the District of Maryland and
Executive Calendar #571 John Tharp, Jr., of Illinois, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois
with up to 60 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.
At approximately 5:30pm, there will be up to 3 roll call votes in relation to the following:

Confirmation of the Russell nomination
Confirmation of the Tharp nomination and
Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act.

At approximately 5:30pm today, there will be up to 3 roll call votes in relation to the following items:

– Confirmation of Executive Calendar # 570 George Levi Russell, III, of Maryland, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland;

– Confirmation of Executive Calendar #571 John Tharp, Jr., of Illinois, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois; and

– Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act.

5:30pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of John J. Tharp, of IL, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois

5:43pm The Senate has reached an agreement to consider H.R.2072, Export-Import Bank Reauthorization. As a result, we were able to vitiate tonight’s cloture vote. The first judge in the series, George Levi Russell (Maryland) was confirmed by voice vote. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of the Tharp nomination (Illinois).

The agreement on Ex-Im is as follows:

At 11:15am, Tuesday, May 15^th, the Senate will adopt the motion to proceed to Calendar #396, H.R.2072, an Act to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The only first degree amendments in order to the bill are the following:

– Lee #2100;

– Paul #2101;

– Corker #2102;

– Vitter #2103; and

– Toomey #2104.

No amendments are in order to any of the amendments prior to the votes. No motions or points of order are in order other than budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive. There will be up to two hours of debate to run concurrently on the amendments and the bill, equally divided, between the two Leaders, or their designees, prior to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed. Upon disposition of the amendments, the Senate will proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended. There will be two minutes equally divided prior to each vote; and all after the first vote be ten minute votes. The amendments and passage of the bill are subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #571, the nomination of John J. Tharp, of IL, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District; Confirmed: 86-1

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.5652, Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012. (Republican request)

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #570, the nomination of George Levi Russell III, of MD, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland by voice vote

———————————————————————————————–

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on May 15, 2012.

House Hearings for 5/14

9:00 am

Hearing: Joint Subcommittee Oversight Field Hearing on “Logs in the Road: Eliminating Federal Red Tape and Excessive Litigation to Create Healthy Forests, Jobs and Abundant Water and Power Supplies” Committee on Natural Resources: Multiple Subcommittees

2:00 pm

Field Hearing: Honoring our Nation’s Veterans: Examining the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs

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a message from … Christian Sweeney AFL-CIO

05/11/2012 Nativegrl77

I wanted to make sure you got this time-sensitive message from Beth at CWA.

Right now, 9,000 American Airlines Passenger Service Agents are trying to form a union. American Airlines is working to block their election by refusing to provide a list of eligible voters to the National Mediation Board (NMB). Please read Beth’s message and take action.

The NMB can move ahead but it needs to hear how the public feels about American Airlines’ actions.

Thanks for everything you do to win fairness.

In solidarity,

Christian Sweeney
AFL-CIO

Is American Airlines above the law?

The National Mediation Board (NMB) set May 17 as the date for a union representation election for over 9,600 ticket, gate and reservation agents at American Airlines. But in a reckless disregard for the rule of law, American Airlines has simply decided to refuse to provide employees addresses so voting instructions for the election can be mailed by the NMB.

Click here to make sure that the NMB stands up to American Airlines and ensures the election moves forward.

American Airlines is in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings. The company has announced massive layoffs, outsourcing and office closures, as well as dramatic increases in health costs and pay cuts for many of its workers.

American Airlines CEO Tom Horton hopes that by breaking the law, he will be able to postpone the election while laying off hundreds of eligible employees and forcing others to make an immediate and irrevocable decision about early retirement.

Even in this anti-worker climate, American Airline’s disdain for the rule of law and the NMB is stunning. They will be spending thousands of dollars in legal fees to silence workers while telling their employees and creditors in bankruptcy court that they will not be able meet their obligations to them.

Breaking the law to interfere with an election is simply not acceptable in a democracy. Click here to tell the NMB that you stand with the workers at American Airlines and for democracy.

In Unity,