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President Obama and Commander in Chief

05/01/2012 Nativegrl77

Apr 30, 2012 by whitehouse

President Obama speaks at the Building and Construction Trades Department Conference about creating good jobs for American workers, who can help our economy grow by rebuilding our nation’s roads, bridges, train tracks, and airports. April 30, 2012

Apr 28, 2012 by whitehouse

President Obama at the 2012 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Apr 28, 2012 by whitehouse

President Obama discusses a new Executive Order designed to crack down on the bad actors who prey on our veterans and service members considering higher education.

Apr 25, 2012 by whitehouse

President Obama discusses the importance of a college education and why higher education should be affordable for all students willing to work hard, and calls on Congress to stop interest rates on federal Stafford loans from doubling in July. April 24, 2012

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20 ways. 20 days. 20% less carbon.

05/01/2012 Nativegrl77

You can still get cooler and smarter—20 ways, 20 days, 20% less carbon

(and get your FREE sticker!)

Don’t you want to be the coolest and smartest of all your friends? Our first 20 days are almost up! What are you waiting for? Join the first round of our 20/20/20 challenge—20 ways to get cooler and smarter, and in just 20 days you’ll be on the path to 20 percent fewer carbon emissions.
Thousands of people have already committed to reducing their global warming-causing carbon emissions by making changes to their diets, their commutes, and their lightbulbs—and that adds up to a serious positive impact for the planet.
Even if you already live a cooler smarter lifestyle than most Americans, you still have the power to make important changes—I know I did. Since I am lucky enough to live in a city with great public transportation and don’t use a car most days, I looked to my home for ways to save energy. I was able to reduce my carbon emissions 20 percent by updating my furnace (which quickly paid for itself), insulating the walls, installing a programmable thermostat, and making other small adjustments around the house.
Choose which carbon-saving tips best fit your life by taking the 20/20/20 challenge today. Then imagine if 20 of your friends do it… or 20,000… or 200 million… we’re talking serious impact!
Join the 20/20/20 challenge and get tips on how best to fight global warming in your life (plus a FREE sticker – while they last).
One person can have an impact—and we’ve got the science to prove it. After two years of research and analysis, our scientists have discovered the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions. And we’ve made it easy for you to get on the path to 20 percent less carbon in 20 days.
Check out our infographic to see 20 percent less carbon by the numbers, and take the 20/20/20 challenge to do your part to save the planet.
Thanks for being so cool and smart!
Sincerely,

Suzanne Shaw Co-author of Cooler Smarter: Practical Steps for Low-Carbon Living

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the DFA Wisconsin Recall Campaign.

04/30/2012 Nativegrl77

This is it. DFA’s campaign to recall right-wing Gov. Scott Walker and four anti-union, anti-middle class Wisconsin Republican Senators is ready to go — and it’s the biggest campaign we’ve ever run.
– We’re going to be on the air with new hard-hitting TV, radio and web ads against Walker and his Republican cronies for their work to destroy unions and middle class families.
– We’re going to be on the ground with a massive door-to-door canvass, knocking on 127,353 doors in 35 days. Wisconsin Campaign Manager Kaili Lambe is on the ground right now hiring staff for our biggest-ever ground campaign.
– We’re talking directly to voters and having real Wisconsinites tell their stories because it’s the most effective tactic to win support and Get Out The Vote. A grassroots campaign run on people-power like this one is the only thing that can beat big corporate money — it’s the only thing that ever has. But we can’t do it without you.
Please chip in $8 right now to the DFA Wisconsin Recall Campaign.
Gov. Walker reminded us this week exactly what’s at stake when he pushed through a plan to throw more than 17,000 low-income Wisconsinites off Medicaid.

Wisconsin isn’t the only state where Republicans have launched all-out War on Working Families like this. But other right-wing Governors are taking their cues from Walker and his cronies.

Wisconsin is the front line in the War on Working Families and this recall campaign is our biggest ever. Join us now to put us over the top in the June 5 recall and send a message to Republicans across the country — attack the middle class and you lose.
Please contribute $8 now.
Thank you for everything you do.
-Jim
Jim Dean, Chair Democracy For America

Black History

Congress: the Republican led House holds hearings – both Chambers back on 5/7 – the Senate

04/30/2012 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands in adjournment under the provisions of S.Con.Res.43, the adjournment resolution.

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, May 7, 2012.

Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2343, the Stop Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act.

At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following items:

– Executive Calendar #508 Jacqueline H. Nguyen, of CA, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit

– Executive Calendar #568 Kristine Gerhard Baker, of AR, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas

– Executive Calendar #569 John Z. Lee, IL, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois

with 60 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 5:30pm), the Senate will conduct up to 3 roll call votes on the Nguyen, Baker and Lee nominations. It is possible the Baker and Lee nominations will be confirmed by voice vote.

As a reminder to all Senators, on Thursday, April 26^th, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.2343, the Stop Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act. By consent, the roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2343 will be at 12:00pm on Tuesday, May 8^th.

If the Senate does not receive a message from the House that it has adopted S.Con.Res.43, the Senate will convene on the following dates at the following times for pro forma sessions only, with no business conducted:

– Monday, April 30, at 10:30am

– Thursday, May 3, at 8:30am

———————————————————————————————–

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on May 7, 2012.

Republicans hold hearings today …

4/30 9:30 am

Field Hearing: A Review of Efforts to Protect the Health of Jockeys and Horses in HorseracingCommittee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health

4/30 11:00 am

Field Hearing: STEM Education in Action: Local Schools, Non-Profits, and BusinessesCommittee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research and Science Education

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What It Takes to Live on Minimum Wage …Joan Entmacher, National Women’s Law Center

04/27/2012 Nativegrl77

National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change


	Help Us Raise the Minimum Wage



	Share your story about what it takes for women and families to live on the minimum wage.

$14,500.
That is what a woman makes working full time for a full year at the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
That’s right — only $14,500 a year, which is below the federal poverty line for a family of three. For tipped workers, the federal minimum cash wage is only $2.13 an hour! And nearly two-thirds of minimum wage workers and tipped workers are women.
We want to increase the minimum wage for all workers, including tipped workers, to give working families a boost and help close the wage gap.
But we can’t do it without your help. We want to hear about what it takes to live on minimum wage from women who’ve experienced it.
If you have a story to share, could you share it with us — or forward this message along to someone who might?
Around the country, families — especially those headed by women — are struggling to make ends meet. We want to make sure that legislators know EXACTLY what the stakes are. Women who work for the minimum wage do tough jobs — and deserve a raise!
Please share your story today, and stay tuned for more opportunities to join us as we ramp up our efforts to increase the federal minimum wage!
Sincerely,

Joan Entmacher Vice President, Family Economic Security National Women’s Law Center

P.S. Please help us continue to advocate for policies that protect and improve economic security for women and their families by making a generous donation today.