Posted by Matt Compton on December 6, 2011 at 6:47 PM EST

In the state where his mother was born, President Obama made an argument about laying a new foundation for broad-based prosperity in America.

“It starts,” he said, “with making sure that everyone has a fair shot at success.”

That means giving Americans the education, infrastructure, and resources necessary to out-innovate our global competitors, structuring our tax system fairly to pay for those investments, and it means creating an environment where everyone — from Main Street to Wall Street — plays by the same set of rules. The President said:

As infuriating as it was for all of us, we rescued our major banks from collapse, not only because a full blown financial meltdown would have sent us into a second Depression, but because we need a strong, healthy financial sector in this country.

But part of the deal was that we would not go back to business as usual. That’s why last year we put in place new rules of the road that refocus the financial sector on this core purpose: getting capital to the entrepreneurs with the best ideas, and financing to millions of families who want to buy a home or send their kids to college. We’re not all the way there yet, and the banks are fighting us every inch of the way.

And Republicans are standing with Wall Street to block broader reform by refusing to confirm a head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the watchdog group is charged with protecting everyday Americans from lenders who are out to take advantage of them. Here’s what President Obama had to say:

The man we nominated for the post, Richard Cordray, is a former Attorney General of Ohio who has the support of most Republican and Democratic Attorneys General throughout the country.

But the Republicans in the Senate refuse to let him do his job. Why? Does anyone think the problem before that led to this crisis was too much oversight of mortgage lenders or debt collectors? Every day we go without a consumer watchdog in place is another day when a student, or a service member, or a senior citizen could be tricked into a loan they can’t afford – something that happens all the time. Financial institutions have plenty of lobbyists looking out for their interests. Consumers deserve to have someone whose job it is to look out for theirs. And I intend to make sure they do.

The Senate is slated to vote on Richard Cordray’s confirmation later this week. Check back at WhiteHouse.gov for more information.

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President Obama: “In America, We Are Greater Together”

Posted by Matt Compton on December 6, 2011 at 5:43 PM EST

Members of the audience listen as President Barack Obama delivers remarks at Osawatomie High School in Osawatomie, Kansas, Dec. 6, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

More than a century after Teddy Roosevelt outlined a vision for a “New Nationalism” in a Kansas town called Osawatomie, President Obama visited the same community to talk about what he called a make-or-break moment of the middle class.

He described how the world has undergone an economic transformation unlike any other in our collective history — and how that change has upended our expectations of social mobility in this country. Where professionals ranging from factory workers to travel agents to accountants once enjoyed the promise of a good job and steady income in exchange for their hard work, today they and a range of people like them must compete with new technology and individuals from around the world.

The President told the 1,200 people gathered in Osawatomie that there are two ways to respond to these challenges.

Some in Washington, he said, argue that we should let the markets take care of everything — rolling back regulation and slashing taxes:

Now, it’s a simple theory. And we have to admit, it’s one that speaks to our rugged individualism and our healthy skepticism of too much government. That’s in America’s DNA. And that theory fits well on a bumper sticker. But here’s the problem: It doesn’t work. It has never worked. It didn’t work when it was tried in the decade before the Great Depression. It’s not what led to the incredible postwar booms of the ‘50s and ‘60s. And it didn’t work when we tried it during the last decade.

Thankfully, President Obama said, we can choose a different path:

[T]here’s another view about how we build a strong middle class in this country — a view that’s truer to our history, a vision that’s been embraced in the past by people of both parties for more than 200 years.

It’s not a view that we should somehow turn back technology or put up walls around America. It’s not a view that says we should punish profit or success or pretend that government knows how to fix all of society’s problems. It is a view that says in America we are greater together — when everyone engages in fair play and everybody gets a fair shot and everybody does their fair share.

Read the entire speech here.

~ my 2cents ...

TGIF &some News

01/27/2012 Nativegrl77

Just another rant …

Ten months into President Obama taking office I watched heard and read several comments about President Obama. Reports of folks feeling the President, having taken a great first step toward change just had not gone far enough to sedate or fulfill the promises he made to special interest groups during his campaign. I was very surprised at the astounding lack of patience, suddenly realized President Obama would be held at a different standard and that the odd negative comments which were becoming bold, louder and more frequent …were actually coming from people left of center.

Change takes time

Now, I can’t speak for anyone else but history tells us that Africans and their descendants, which covers so many countries because we all know most were rounded up and shipped out for labour know struggle like nobody’s business. Yes, others have suffered in the timeline of slave life but how many can offer up a story of Black slaves laying the foundation or buildings free for more years than anyone wants to admit to and some in the southern states are trying to eliminate from history books. Yes, there have been some improvements made but Black People still suffer from higher rates of arrest, incarceration, pregnancy unemployment and still fighting for 21^st Century civil rights. Yet, even with all the hurdles blocking some aspects of progress for African Americans and decades of Caucasian Presidents. A man with a funny name and big ears who also happens to be bi-racial gains steam in Illinois, gets spotted for potential, becomes a US Senator and while in the Senate works for the people then is tapped to be a part of the Convention blowing everyone away with an awesome speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention. Yes, a lot happened before 53% of Americans voted for a Black Man for the first time but shocking (sarcasm), we also found after governing for a little over ten months that discrimination is alive and well. It was odd to see some our own run hold grudges and ignore what voters needed them to do … govern let alone support the first black President. It became clear that more Blacks definitely had the President’s back, 53% had patience but was growing thin listening to folks in the media giving viewers subliminal messages that we should expect President Obama to govern with a hammer, use his power and get their issues passed quickly. I have said it before … here is when schoolhouse rock comes to mind … and I sing it every time I hear those who think they voted for a King or Dictator. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to hear people who seem smart, use great verbiage, can recite a law or two not to mention wonderful knowledge congressional protocol and dangle their degrees when necessary yet, they forget that Congress creates debates and votes yea or nay to ALL Federal laws of the land. Ok, a chill of states’ rights came over me

Change takes time …

especially when the gauntlet of obstruction was laid down … say day 1 after taking office and three years later Teapublicans are still stating that their main job is to make sure the President Obama is a one term President, not to get Americans back to work, not to pass bills that will move us forward.

Change takes a Congress that will compromise and cooperate with President Obama unlike the first 2yrs when members of Congress seemingly left our President to save their congressional seats … I get that but they also stopped working for We the People and allowed the Teapublicans into Congress

Change takes time … but

The Democratic Party had problems to overcome and clearly, the 2010 exposed those cracks

I have to say seeing members of Congress and the professional left seemingly lose common sense and some seemed to have lost their minds was very disturbing then now it just irritates me that they feel perfectly ok with blaming President Obama for what should get done in Congress. It took decades of bad behavior that set up the possibility for a big recession. The notion that our economic collapse could be rectified in 1-2 years still boggles my mind yet the professional left pushed, complained and whined for that list of demands or mandates that have never been President and should watch that schoolhouse rock video more than once or take a civics class. What they should be doing is pressing their representatives in Congress to do their jobs , uh create a law for the good of all Americans not just a select few instead of whining and sitting on the side lines after giving money. I say be proactive not reactive. Yes, giving money is definitely necessary but giving money is not the end of any political campaign or a move toward change we can ALL believe in. It is only a start. It is obvious that money and 53% voted, helped get Barack Obama into office, but the work of Governing is troublesome. When we have people like Mitch McConnell telling Americans he has one job and it is to make President Obama a one term President instead of doing the Peoples Business we all have wonder how much progress can even be imagined let alone be accomplished at all. The party of NO has filibustered progress in both Chambers of Congress more than any other, refuses to think about their fellow Americans with 15miilion people still unemployed yet, Indies and some special interest groups like the list below still have issues with the President Obama.

Yes, hold the President accountable but do not sit on the sidelines and demand change if you are not helping the President achieve a win for all Americans.

In 2009, we heard …

**Environmentalist… like Phil Radford, exec director/Greenpeace USA stated among other things,” Obama is missing in action” as it relates to global warming …in an article written by Bryan Walsh from Time Magazine…

**Gay/Lesbian leaders… are starting to make comments about Obama not going far enough on don’t ask/don’t tell but today he announced he will enact federal benefits for same sex couples …moving too slow? Too little too late? come on… People of colour know what being impatient means …

**Health-care liberals… are impatient and talking about how they put Obama in office and threatening a change in 2012 …

**Wall Street … flexed their muscles to show Obama who really is in charge of the market … but bad behavior needs to be regulated

**Hispanics … are upset

It is time for them to help President Obama

Yes, change will happen and contrary to how folks feel we are going in the right direction but President cannot do it all, we need to call, write and march to let Congress know what We the People voted for …

A change we can believe in

Other News …

President Obama and Vice President Biden at House Democratic Retreat

Pres. Obama Discusses College Costs

Sec. Panetta Presents Defense Dept. FY 2013 Budget

DNI Director Clapper Gives Keynote on Information Sharing at CSIS

Black History

Congress: Republican led House adjourns after receiving HR3800,3801&S.2039 from the Senate & being served a subpoena – the Senate will consider S.2038,the Stop Trading on Congressional knowledge(Stock)Act

01/27/2012 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes at 2pm ET January 30, 2012

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
At 4:30pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar #301, S.2038, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act with the time until 5:30pm equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
At 5:30pm, the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2038, the STOCK Act.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JANUARY 27, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

-The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on January 31, 2012.11:05:16 A.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 a message from the Secretary of the Senate on January 26, 2012, at 5:18 p.m., stating that that body had passed H.R. 3800 and H.R. 3801.11:04:40 A.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 a message from the Secretary of the Senate on January 26, 2012, at 5:50 p.m., stating that that body had passed S. 2039.11:03:51 A.M. -The House received a communication from Nick Strader, Central Oregon Office Director, Office of Rep. Greg Walden. Pursuant to Rule VII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Strader notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena issued by the Circuit Court for the County of Deschutes, Oregon, for witness testimony and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he would determine whether compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.11:02:51 A.M. -The House received a communication from The Honorable Paul D. Irving, Sergeant at Arms. Pursuant to Rule VII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Irving notified the House that the Office of the Sergeant of Arms had been served with a subpoena for documents issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, in connection with a civil lawsuit currently pending before that court and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he would make the determinations required by House Rule VIII.11:02:50 A.M. -ADJUSTMENT OF WHOLE HOUSE – Under clause 5(d) of rule 20, the Chair announced to the House that, in light of the resignation of the gentlewoman from Arizona, Ms. Giffords, the whole number of the House is 433.11:02:18 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.11:02:13 A.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.11:01:22 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Alan Keiran, Office of the United States Senate Chaplain11:01:00 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Mac Thornberry to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.11:00:44 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Pop quiz … by Brad Woodhouse

01/26/2012 Nativegrl77

Pop quiz. Which of the following excuses has Mitt used as he’s tried to release as little of his tax returns as possible?

A. I’m waiting until I’m elected president
B. My accountant isn’t available to release them
C. It’s not about my tax rate, it’s about the tax rate of the American people
D. “I want to make sure I beat Barack Obama”

If you guessed all of the above, you’re correct. Yesterday, Mitt dropped the excuses long enough to release one year’s worth. One year.

And he chose to release his tax returns on the same day President Obama gave the State of the Union and made the case for the Buffett Rule, which asks millionaires like Mitt to pay their fair share. The choice in this election couldn’t be clearer.

We think everyone should pay their fair share, including Mitt, and we don’t buy that one year of returns tells the whole story. It’s time for him to level with the American people.

Sign the petition to tell Mitt to release the rest of his tax returns.

http://my.democrats.org/No-More-Excuses

You see, Mitt doesn’t think there’s a problem with what he pays, despite the fact that his disclosure yesterday revealed a previously hidden Swiss bank account that was shut down in 2010 after an adviser reportedly realized it was politically problematic.

Between the old Swiss bank account, the Cayman Islands investments, and other tax-minimizing tactics, he paid just 13.9 percent on the $22 million he made in 2010 — about half the rate most middle-class Americans pay. And under the tax plan he’d put in place as president, he’d pay even less.

But here’s the thing: We still don’t know what tax rate he’s paid in past years, or if he’s used tax loopholes that are only for the very wealthy, because he won’t share any more of his returns.

When Mitt’s own father, George Romney, ran for president in 1967, he released 12 years of returns, saying “One year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show.”

American voters deserve to know how he makes his money, where he invests it, and the larger story that tells about his values.

Tell Mitt it’s time to step up and release the rest of his tax returns:

http://my.democrats.org/No-More-Excuses

Thanks,

Brad

Brad Woodhouse
Communications Director
Democratic National Committee

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

A Kitchen Table Conversation with those Struggling to Find Work

01/26/2012 Nativegrl77

This month, while the Senate was in recess, I spent time traveling around the state listening to constituents talk about what matters most to them. Two weeks ago, I had the great honor of being hosted at the homes of two local families, one in Seattle and one in Marysville, for an opportunity to talk one on one with constituents around their kitchen table about the issues facing the unemployed. I heard from constituents like Natalie Simmons, a community college professor who talked about how critical unemployment insurance is for students in her job re-training program. Ms. Simmons has seen good students drop out of these training programs when their benefits ran out. I also heard from a constituent who relies on her unemployment insurance to pay for necessary health care treatment. It is stories like these that I take back to Washington, D.C. with me as I continue to fight to provide critical supports for middle class families through the end of the year. I will continue to stress the need to make sure unemployment benefits are continued for workers fighting to get back on the job in this tough economy.

“Jobless tell Murray of struggles getting by” – The Seattle Times

“Sen. Murray meets in Marysville with families to discuss aid for unemployed”
– The Seattle Times

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Fairchild First in Spokane

Two weeks ago, I joined Senator Cantwell, members of the Spokane community, and elected officials at Greater Spokane Incorporated to kickoff “ Fairchild First”, a statewide initiative to ensure that Fairchild Air Force Base becomes an early home to the next generation of aerial refueling tankers. I spoke about the important work that’s being done at Fairchild – both for the local community and for our nation’s national security. Fairchild has so much to offer the new fleet, and I look forward to continuing to engage the military throughout this process to ensure that Fairchild is considered.

“Campaign begins to land new tankers at Fairchild” – The Spokesman Review

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Roundtable with Local Superintendents in Yakima, Early Learning Programs in Bremerton

I traveled to Yakima to tour Adams Elementary School and host a roundtable discussion with superintendents and other education stakeholders on local challenges and to discuss my ongoing efforts to reform and reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to benefit schools throughout Washington state and nationwide. I will use the stories and suggestions I heard at Adams Elementary to bring local concerns to Washington, D.C, as I continue to work to reform the No Child Left Behind Act.

“Senator Patty Murray talks education reform with educators” – KAPP TV

“Sen. Murray in Yakima to talk with educators” – KNDO

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During the recess, I also traveled to Bremerton for a tour of Navel Avenue Early Learning Center, to host a second roundtable with educators, education advocates, and parents to highlight our state’s strong early learning programs and the recent Race to the Top grant award, which I fought for on behalf of early learning in the ESEA reauthorization.

“Senator Patty Murray talks education reform with educators” – KAPP TV

“Sen. Murray in Yakima to talk with educators” – KNDO

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Hearing from Veterans in Yakima

While I was in Yakima, I also had the opportunity to host a roundtable discussion with local veterans. It was a great chance to hear firsthand stories and concerns from our nation’s heroes. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I will continue to work on behalf of these brave men and women, to make sure they are getting the care they deserve after serving our country.

“U.S. Sen. Patty Murray visits Yakima veterans, educators” – Yakima Herald

“Senator Patty Murray listens to veterans’ concerns” – KAPP TV

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