Congress: the Repubican led House worked for 2minutes back on 2/24 -the Senate is in pro forma session until 2/27

02/21/2012 Nativegrl77

The Senate will meet on the following date and times for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted:

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:00pm and

Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:00am.

The next meeting in the Senat is SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, February 27, 2012. Following any Leader remarks, Senator Shaheen will be recognized to deliver Washington’s Farewell Address. Upon conclusion of the reading, 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.

Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #409, the nomination of Margo Kitsy Brodie, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York with up to one hour of debate equally divided and controlled between the Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.

Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Brodie nomination.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF FEBRUARY 21, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

-The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 24, 2012.12:02:31 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.12:02:23 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.12:01:55 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Alisa Lasater Wailoo, Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, Washington, DC.12:01:04 P.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.12:00:08 P.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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Help Greenpeace protect Sumatran tigers …Philip Radford, Greenpeace

02/21/2012 Nativegrl77

Help Greenpeace protect Sumatran tigers and the rainforest they call home by making your first gift to Greenpeace today.
Renew Today!

www.greenpeaceusa.org

Last year was an amazing one for our campaign to protect the world’s 400 remaining Sumatran tigers and the Indonesian rainforest they call home.
There seemed to be a new victory to celebrate every month. And while I couldn’t be prouder of the work we did together in 2011, I know that if we want to continue to protect Sumatran tigers and achieve our global target of zero deforestation by 2020 that this year has to be even better. That can only happen with your support.
Now is the time. Make your first gift and join Greenpeace and help us protect Sumatran tigers and the Indonesian rainforest. www.GreenPeaceUsa.org

Our goal is to get 2,012 people to make their first gift to Greenpeace by the end of February. We’re already over half way there, but we still need 17 people from Washington to make it happen!
Greenpeace is completely independent. The work we do is supported entirely by the generosity and convictions of people like you. We don’t take money from corporations or governments, which means our campaigns are only concerned about what is necessary to protect the planet.
We have big plans for this year. Calling out forest criminals, exposing the corporate greed that is driving deforestation and continuing our work on the ground in Indonesia. Your support will make this work possible.
Help make 2012 the best year yet for our forests campaign and all of the work we do to protect the planet by making your first gift and joining Greenpeace today.

Thank you,
Philip Radford Greenpeace USA Executive Director
P.S. We need just 17 people from Washington to reach our goal of 2,012 first time gifts by February 29th. Donate online or at 1-800-722-6995 today.

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You helped to extend the payroll tax cut

02/20/2012 Nativegrl77

Good afternoon–This week, thousands of folks have shared how $40 less in every paycheck would affect them if Congress didn’t extend the payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans.And it worked.This afternoon, lawmakers got this done. The President will sign that bill into law next week, and we’ve already invited some of the folks who shared their stories to come to the White Housewhen he does.The past few days have been a constant reminder of how incredible it can be when people from all walks of life join together to speak out. On Tuesday, we sat down with another group of Americans who added their voices to the debate, and they recorded a message just for you. It’s a powerful thing to watch.

There will be other fights in the weeks and the months ahead when the kind of engagement they’re talking about in this video could make all the difference. So check it out, then pass it along to anyone who is skeptical that real people can’t have an impact:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/40dollars/stories

Thanks, David

David Plouffe Senior Advisor to the President

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a message from Sherrod Brown … OVERTURN CITIZENS UNITED: A Constitutional Amendment

02/20/2012 Nativegrl77

You’re busy, so I’ll be quick.

Our grassroots movement to repeal Citizens United is gaining steam. Progressives from across the country are coming together in a fight to bring transparency back to our elections and give our democracy back to the people.

Could you take one quick minute to click here and sign our petition?

Karl Rove and the corporate-backed special interests are enjoying their new privileges — Rove just announced that his “Crossroads” group raised more than $50 million last year.

And they’re counting on our momentum to slow down. But we have to show them that we’re not going to stop until we’ve repealed Citizens United once and for all.

Please click here to sign our petition and join a movement to take back our democracy!

Thank you very much.

Sherrod

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Think Progress: the 5man panel – Birth Control

02/20/2012 Nativegrl77

No Women Allowed

By ThinkProgress War Room

Sorry, ‘Gals’

This morning, Republicans held a hearing on women’s health care. Here’s the panel they brought in to discuss birth control:

And then Foster Friess, Rick Santorum’s money man, went on MSNBC this afternoon and gave some unsolicited advice on contraception to “the gals.”

Check out his shocking comments:

Foster Friess: I get such a chuckle when these things come out. Here we have millions of our fellow Americans unemployed, we have jihadist camps being set up in Latin America, which rick has been warning about, and people seem to be so preoccupied with sex. I think that says something about our culture. We maybe need a massive therapy session so we can concentrate on what the real issues are. And this contraceptive thing, my gosh, it’s such inexpensive. Back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn’t that costly.”

IN ONE SENTENCE: Republicans may find blocking affordable access to birth control funny, but the GOP’s all-out war on women’s health care is no laughing matter.