In Afghanistan, the hard-won progress of women’s rights is in danger. President Hamid Karzai recently endorsed an oppressive “code of conduct” that will ban Afghan women from traveling without a male escort or mingling with men in public places.Worst of all, the code states that, “Men are fundamental and women are secondary.” Tell President Karzai that women are NOT second-class citizens!»

In addition, women can still be physically assaulted by their spouse if it is for a “Shariah-compliant reason.”
Karzai is apparently willing to sacrifice the rights and independence of half his citizens in order to appease the extremist conservative forces.

Stop the disintegration of women’s rights in Afghanistan and tell President Karzai to retract his endorsement of this extremist code!»

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the so-called JOBS Act bill … AFL – CIO has the facts

03/19/2012 Nativegrl77

Urgent: Congress is rushing to deregulate Wall Street—pushing a cynically named “JOBS Act.” This bill could pass as early as Monday.

Senate Democrats, including Jack Reed, Carl Levin and Mary Landrieu, have offered the “INVEST in America Act” to amend the “JOBS Act” and make it less harmful. We need to support these amendments while making it clear that working families oppose the so-called JOBS Act bill.

Please urge your senators to vote FOR the “INVEST in America Act” to make the JOBS Act less harmful to workers and consumers—and AGAINST the cynically named “;JOBS Act” bill.

America needs jobs. Yet Congress has not yet passed basic legislation like a measure to reauthorize surface transportation programs, which would create hundreds of thousands of jobs. Instead, next week Congress once again will look to deregulate Wall Street.

Workers’ retirement savings will be at greater risk of fraud and speculation if securities market deregulation once again is railroaded through Congress. Our economy will be at risk from the folly of policymakers promoting financial bubbles and ignoring the needs of the real economy.

The AFL-CIO calls on Congress to set aside the politics of the 1%, the old game of special favors for Wall Street, and turn to the business of real job creation.

Urge your senators to vote FOR the “INVEST in America Act,” which will amend the JOBS Act to make it less harmful to workers and consumers—and AGAINST the cynically named “JOBS Act” bill.

Thank you for all the work you do.

In Solidarity,

Richard L. Trumka
President, AFL-CIO

Black History

Congress:the Republican led House-Ryan budget plan revised? And a fake JobsAct! — the Senate considers HR3606,the Capital Formation/IPO bill

03/19/2012 Nativegrl77

the Senate Convenes at 2:00pmET March 19, 2012

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.3606, the Capital Formation/IPO bill.
The filing deadline for all first degree amendments to the Reed-Landrieu-Levin-Brown (OH), et al, substitute amendment #1833 and H.R.3630 is 4:00pm on Monday.
As previously announced, there will be no roll call votes on Monday. Senators should expect the next roll call vote on Tuesday, March 20^th prior to the weekly caucus meetings.

As a reminder, the filing deadline for first degree amendments to the Reed-Landrieu-Levin-Brown (OH), et al, substitute amendment and #1833, the IPO bill, is at 4:00pm today. If your Senator has a germane first degree amendment and would like to preserve her or his right to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment to the Cloakroom prior to the deadline so that we may filed it at the desk for you. If you have already filed, there is no need to re-file.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Notwithstanding the passage of S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill, the Senate agreed to the Boxer amendment #1903, which is a technical amendment, striking title V of division C with the heading entitled “Research and Innovative Technology Administration Reauthorization Act of 2012”, which was moved to division E.

Discharged the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs from further consideration of S.2076, a bill to improve security at State and local courthouses and referred it to the Judiciary committee.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act. (Menendez)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

————————————————————————————————————

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 19, 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.5:23:34 P.M. -H.R. 3992At 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.5:13:45 P.M. -H.R. 3992DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3992.5:13:41 P.M. -H.R. 3992Considered under suspension of the rules.5:13:26 P.M. -H.R. 3992Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 3992 — “To allow otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E-2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly situated United States nationals are eligible for similar nonimmigrant status in Israel.”5:13:12 P.M. -H.R. 4086Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.5:13:10 P.M. -H.R. 4086On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.5:04:35 P.M. -H.R. 4086DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4086.5:04:32 P.M. -H.R. 4086Considered under suspension of the rules.5:04:16 P.M. -H.R. 4086Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4086 — “To amend chapter 97 of title 28, United States Code, to clarify the exception to foreign sovereign immunity set forth in section 1605(a)(3) of such title.”5:04:04 P.M. -The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. today.5:03:54 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 19.4:11:33 P.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 5:00 P.M. today.4:04:14 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.4:03:51 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Faleomavaega to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.4:03:41 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.4:01:00 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.4:00:00 P.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell Republican Rob McKenna to STOP the GOP attack on education funding!

03/16/2012 Nativegrl77

Fourteen days ago, Olympia Republicans fought to pass a state budget that slashed millions from education funding and forced our already cash-strapped state into a special session that is costing about $20,000 per day.

After weeks of public outcry and media scrutiny, today those same Republicans were embarrassed into reversing course by restoring funding to education. Rob McKenna‘s response today continued to suggest his support for the Republican-passed budget that cut millions from our schools and colleges, despite campaigning on the need to increase funding for education.

Will you share this video with your friends so they can see for themselves that Rob McKenna isn’t who he says he is when it comes to standing up for our schools?

McKenna can’t have it both ways. That’s why we’ve launched a new web video that lays out McKenna’s duplicity and calls into question his commitment to his own campaign rhetoric.

Watch the video, and then share it with your friends so they can see that Republican Rob McKenna isn’t who he says he is!

McKenna has been on the record constantly, promising billions for education since he launched his campaign — it’s a matter of public record:

“We need to adequately fund our education system, and we need to do it now.” – 11/8/11, announcing his “New Direction” plan“…Rob McKenna kicked off his 2012 campaign for governor Tuesday, doubling down on pledges…plowing billions more into public schools and colleges.” – Seattle Times, 11/8/11“We need to invest more in our K-12 system. That means more of the state budget needs to be dedicated to our public schools.” – 1/10/12, at the IMPACT WA manufacturing summit

He talks a good game. But when Republicans passed a budget that slashed $74 million dollars from our already underfunded schools and colleges, PubliCola reported that McKenna praised the Republican budget.

Voters want to know where McKenna stands: with Olympia Republicans who wanted to slash education funding, or with his own campaign rhetoric that calls for more education spending?

Watch our new web video, and then share it with your friends so they can see that Republican Rob McKenna isn’t who he says he is!

Thank you for standing up for Washington’s schools and letting Republican Rob McKenna know talking a good game only matters if you’re willing to fight when it’s tough — not just when it’s a convenient campaign talking point.

Sincerely,

Joby Shimomura
Campaign Manager
Jay Inslee for Washington

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Flood Congress with Support for Climate Action … Union of Concerned Scientists

03/16/2012 Nativegrl77

Flood Congress with Support for Climate Action

http://action.ucsusa.org << Take Action

Global warming emissions present a danger to public health—from worsening ozone pollution to hotter, longer heat waves and other types of extreme weather. For instance, heavy rain and floods are likely to get worse in a warming world, leaving us more and more vulnerable to health risks such as drowning and exposure to contaminated water.

Floods are one of deadliest and most expensive natural disasters in the United States. The average annual U.S. flood losses in the past 10 years were more than $10.2 billion. More than half of all waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States occur in the aftermath of heavy rain, and floodwaters may contain more than 100 types of disease causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

In order to protect our health from these effects of climate change, we must reduce global warming emissions now.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is on the verge of releasing draft standards that will limit global warming emissions from power plants under the Clean Air Act. Unfortunately, dirty energy companies and their allies in Congress are trying to block the EPA from moving forward with these historic standards.

Tell your members of Congress to protect our health from the effects of climate change and oppose any legislation that would block or delay the EPA’s ability to reduce global warming emissions under the Clean Air Act.

Take Action Today!

Sincerely,

Chrissy Elles
Outreach Associate
UCS Climate & Energy Program