20 ways, 20 days, 20% less carbon.

Get cooler and smarter — and get a free sticker!

Save money. Improve your health. And help save the planet while you’re at it.Sound like a get-rich quick scheme? It’s actually our practical guide to reducing global warming-causing carbon emissions—and your ticket to a cooler, smarter lifestyle.

Backed by two years of research and analysis, we’ve determined the best ways that anyone can combat global warming in their daily lives, from carbon-cutting newbies to experts.

Get your own personalized tips—choose from 20 ways, and in 20 days, you’ll be on the path to 20 percent less carbon.

Just answer a handful of questions about you, your home, how you get around, and what you eat and buy. Our scientists have done the rest for you. Then we’ll send you a FREE sticker to broadcast how cool and smart you are so more people can join you in making their own changes.

You may be surprised how quickly a few easy changes can add up. Here’s just one tidbit: if everyone in the United States simply switched from incandescent lightbulbs to CFLs or LEDs, it’d be the equivalent of closing 12 coal-fired power plants for good.

Learn more and geek out on the data with our infographic of a cooler smarter United States.

What have you got to lose? CARBON, of course! Thanks for doing your part to create a low-carbon country.

Sincerely,

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

Black History

Congress:the Republican led House – Tell members of Congress the Buffett/Reagan Rule is about Fair Share – the Senate

04/16/2012 Nativegrl77

the Senate Convenes at 2:00pmET April 16, 2012

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act.
As a reminder to all Senators, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act on Thursday, March 29^th.
At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #460, Stephanie Dawn Thacker, of WV, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit with up to 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), there will be a roll call vote on confirmation of the Thacker nomination. There will then be a 2^nd roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act.
If the House does not adopt S.Con.Res.38, the adjournment resolution, the Senate will also meet on the following dates at the following times in pro forma sessions only, with no business conducted

The Senate will recess from 3:30-4:30pm for a members only briefing on national security issues.

5:31pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Stephanie Dawn Thacker, of WV, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; Confirmed: 91-3

6:06pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act

6:06pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act; Not Invoked: 51-45

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Confirmation of the nomination of Stephanie Dawn Thacker, of West Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; Confirmed: 91-3

2) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act; Not Invoked: 51-45

No LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

2012 Calendar – 112^th Congress, Second Session

Convene – January 23, 2012 (Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday January 16)

4 weeks

February 20 – 24 State Work Period (Presidents’ Day February 20)

5 weeks

March 5- NO VOTE (Monday)

March 12 – NO VOTE (Monday)

March 19 – NO VOTE (Monday)

April 2 – April 13 State Work Period (Passover April 6-7; Good Friday April 6; Easter April 8)

2 weeks

April 30 – May 4 State Work Period

3 weeks

May 28 – June 1 State Work Period (Memorial Day May 28)

4 weeks

July 2 – July 6 State Work Period (Independence Day July 4)

4 weeks

August 6 – September 7 State Work Period (Labor Day September 3)

Target adjournment – TBD

—————————————————————————————————————————–

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF APRIL 16, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

-The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.5:10:26 P.M. -H.R. 2453At 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.4:58:29 P.M. -H.R. 2453DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2453.4:58:27 P.M. -H.R. 2453Considered under suspension of the rules.4:58:18 P.M. -H.R. 2453Mr. Luetkemeyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2453 — “To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of Mark Twain.”4:57:50 P.M. -H.R. 4040At 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.4:38:16 P.M. -H.R. 4040DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4040.4:38:14 P.M. -H.R. 4040Considered under suspension of the rules.4:38:03 P.M. -H.R. 4040Mr. Luetkemeyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 4040 — “To provide for the award of a gold medal on behalf of Congress to Jack Nicklaus in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship in golf.”4:37:37 P.M. -H.R. 1815At 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.4:19:46 P.M. -H.R. 1815DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1815.4:19:45 P.M. -H.R. 1815Considered under suspension of the rules.4:19:00 P.M. -H.R. 1815Mr. Luetkemeyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1815 — “To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lena Horne in recognition of her achievements and contributions to American culture and the civil rights movement.”4:18:37 P.M. -H.R. 3001At 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.4:01:53 P.M. -H.R. 3001DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3001.4:01:51 P.M. -H.R. 3001Considered under suspension of the rules.4:01:20 P.M. -H.R. 3001Mr. Luetkemeyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 3001 — “To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Raoul Wallenberg, in recognition of his achievements and heroic actions during the Holocaust.”4:00:57 P.M. -The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. today.4:00:50 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 16.2:10:06 P.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 4:00 P.M. today.2:02:32 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.2:02:09 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Kinzinger of IL to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.2:02:05 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.2:00:39 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.2:00:29 P.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.2:00:16 P.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

..President Obama and Vice President Biden’s 2011 Tax Returns

04/13/2012 Nativegrl77

Jay Carney April 13, 2012 10:30 AM EDT

Share This Post

Today, the President released his 2011 federal income and gift tax returns. He and the First Lady filed their income tax returns jointly and reported adjusted gross income of $789,674. About half of the first family’s income is the President’s salary; the other half is from sales proceeds of the President’s books. The Obamas paid $162,074 in total tax.

The President and First Lady also reported donating $172,130 – or about 22% of their adjusted gross income – to 39 different charities. The largest reported gift to charity was a $117,130 contribution to the Fisher House Foundation. The President is donating the after-tax proceeds from his children’s book to Fisher House, a scholarship fund for children of fallen and disabled soldiers.

The President’s effective federal income tax rate is 20.5%. The President believes we must reform our tax system which is why he has proposed policies like the Buffett Rule that would ask the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share while protecting families making under $250,000 from seeing their taxes go up. Under the President’s own tax proposals, including the expiration of the high-income tax cuts and limitations on the value of tax preferences for high-income households, he would pay more in taxes while ensuring we cut taxes for the middle class and those trying to get in it.

The President and First Lady also released their Illinois income tax return and reported paying $31,941 in state income tax.

Download the Obamas’ tax returns

The Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden also released their 2011 federal income tax returns, as well as state income tax returns for both Delaware and Virginia. The Bidens filed joint federal and combined Delaware income tax returns. Dr. Biden filed a separate non-resident tax return for the state of Virginia. Together, they reported adjusted gross income of $379,035. The Bidens paid $87,900 in total federal tax for 2011. They paid $13,843 in Delaware income tax and $3,614 in Virginia income tax. The Bidens contributed $5,540 to charity in 2011.

Download the Bidens’ tax returns

American taxpayers are able to go online and see exactly how their federal tax dollars are spent. You can visit the taxpayer receipt and after entering a few pieces of information about your taxes, the taxpayer receipt will give you a breakdown of how your tax dollars are spent on priorities like education, veterans benefits, or health care.

View the President and First Lady’s tax receipt

View the Vice President and Dr. Biden’s tax receipt

Jay Carney is the White House Press Secretary

Related Topics: Economy, Fiscal Responsibility, Taxes

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Labor: The Original Social Network

04/13/2012 Nativegrl77

For too long, our political process has been dominated by too much money and too much power concentrated in the hands of too few.That’s why Workers’ Voice was created: to build an independent voice for the working and middle class. That voice will be fighting for the 99%—working people joining together to recognize the value of hard work and call for good jobs, a fair economy and to build a strong middle class.

As megamillionaires like Mitt Romney, the Koch brothers and large corporations plan to try and buy the 2012 elections, Workers’ Voice—powered by cutting-edge technology and old-fashioned energy—will activate and energize networks of working families, both online and offline, to come together to organize their friends, family, co-workers and neighbors, and make their voices heard.

As Theresa Brown, a worker from Cooper Tire in Ohio, said this morning at a press conference to launch Workers’ Voice, “It doesn’t matter if you’re in a union or not because we’re all fighting corporate greed and it’s time that we stood up and took this country back because we’re tired of it.”

Susan Baskett, who is from Michigan and unemployed, said, “Politicians aren’t paying attention to, or doing enough, to put people like me back to work. Workers’ Voice will let us connect with other people in similar situations so we can work together to organize our neighborhoods and communities.”

Check out Workers’ Voice and sign up here.

Workers’ Voice represents and fights for all working families—union and nonunion—around political campaigns, legislative issues and holding elected officials accountable. And we hope you’ll be a part of it.

Thanks for all the work you do.

In Solidarity,

Manny Herrmann
Online Mobilization Coordinator, AFL-CIO

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Next steps to save Tripa forest …Lindsey Allen, Rainforest Action Network

04/13/2012 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

Give a wake up call to Cargill

As you know, Tripa rainforest is in a state of emergency.
The Tripa forest of Sumatra, home to Indigenous communities and critical to the survival of endangered Sumatran orangutans, is still in peril from the landclearing fires started by palm oil companies in March.
U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill—trader of 25% of the world’s palm oil—can make a difference by adopting the safeguards necessary to guarantee that rainforests, communities and critical habitat for endangered species are not destroyed through its palm oil business.
Cargill clearly needs a wakeup call. Can you commit five minutes of your time to give it to them?
Applying the kind of pressure required for Cargill to take a stand for the local people of Tripa, the survival of Sumatran orangutans, and the 130 million year old rainforests that they call home is no small task, but it’s a worthy one.
Are you ready to do what it takes to transform the destructive behavior of a corporate giant? Cargill needs to hear from you, and hundreds of other rainforest advocates like you, to be moved to action at this critical moment.
Let’s give this sleeping giant a wake up call today to save Tripa!