Tell Congress: No cuts to Medicare benefits



Democrats on the so-called Super Committee are caving to Republican demands and pushing a plan that would make drastic cuts to Medicare.

This is bad policy and bad politics. Cuts like these are the worst possible way to reduce the deficit. They protect the status quo for the richest 1 percent while the 99 percent are expected to sacrifice vital healthcare that they need to survive in tough economic times like these — and they’ll hamstring Democrats running for reelection in 2012.

We’ve been down this road before. Republicans and some Democrats have been pushing plans to destroy Medicare and Social Security for months. We beat them then and we can beat them now with an overwhelming show of grassroots opposition to any plan that cuts Medicare.

Join me and tell Washington that this deal is Dead On Arrival.

Pledge to oppose any candidate — Republican or Democrat – who votes for a plan that cuts Medicare and Medicaid benefits for the 99 percent.

The facts are simple: The average income of Medicare beneficiaries is about $22,000 a year. Our nation’s seniors can’t afford to have their benefits cut and hard-working Americans can’t afford to have their eligibility for Medicare raised to 67.

As more and more people lose employer-provided health insurance, the last thing the nation’s seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income children who depend on Medicaid need is for the federal government to slash these vital programs.

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid did not cause the run-up in federal deficits. We have President Bush’s huge tax cuts for the top 1 percent, the unpaid costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and the Great Recession caused by reckless, un-American, and potentially criminal behavior on Wall Street to thank for the mess we’re in.

Washington needs to make sure those who caused this mess pay to clean it up — not seniors, not Americans with disabilities, and certainly not low-income children who depend on Medicaid to survive.

Send a message to Washington now — Stand against cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security or stand alone for reelection.

This is a fight we will win, if we stand up and fight. Because when we work together, we’re unstoppable.

Thank you for everything you do.

-Jim

Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America

TGIF -Help Protect the Right to Choose


just another rant … tweaked

In March of 2011, the abortion debate- a topic that has
strong feelings in both Political Parties has changed and the

status quo or agreement that is the Hyde
Amendment
 has heated up … again. I post quite a few articles from
well-known activists and extremely knowledgeable and trustworthy organizations with great truthful information
regarding women’s health care, contraceptives, and abortion. I also post many
Petitions because they do work. The topic of abortion is a very personal one
that is a no brainer … at least to me. I still do not understand why any man
unless invited should tell women what to do with their bodies at all let alone
try to legislate it and tell us all we must not only have a possible unwanted
pregnancy we must do so no matter what the circumstance. In addition, some
politicians feel a pregnancy caused by rape is not a reason to terminate. I
gotta say if that ain’t some shit. I am still reeling over ex-Gov. Palin was
making women pay for their rape kits in Alaska. The attack on Women is not a
new thing right, but this is the 21st Century and while so many other things
have changed, the topic of abortion seems to bring out the barbarian in people.
These attacks on women are happening on the local and state level, have seen
some traction, and are now quickly moving to the Federal level. These moves
to control contraceptive sales and possible abortion procedures should tell
women that big government is only a bad thing if it regulates the JOB Creators
though they are not doing a hell of a lot these days. While The Family Values
Platform keeps creeping into politics a true lack of regard toward the
separation of church and state continues. The votes in the Republican led House
of Representatives should be all any Woman needs to vote these fools out of
office. I do not want to go into anyone’s bedroom any more than i want him or
her in mine. In 1973, the Supreme Court ruling made abortion legal and because
Rep.Hyde did not want federal funds used to provide such a procedure, the Hyde
Amendment created.

I do not understand how in the 21st Century… mostly men feeling comfortable trying to block not only a woman’s right to choose, but to have safe affordable aside from other health care services .

 

The Hyde Amendment    Introduced by Henry Hyde (R-Illinois) in 1976,bears his name restricts federal funding for abortion. Passed by the House as part of the Department of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare Appropriation Act in 1976, the Hyde Amendment prohibits appropriated funds to be expended on abortion except when the mother’s life is endangered by her pregnancy.

Each year since then, the Hyde Amendment has been attached to the annual federal spending bill; and over the years other exceptions for rape, incest, and “severe and physical health damage” to the mother have been added, removed, added, and debated as the numbers of pro-life and pro-choice members of Congress have fluctuated.

The 2009 version of the Hyde Amendment allows for exceptions in the cases of rape, incest or endangerment of the pregnant women’s life.

The Hyde Amendment does not allow Medicaid coverage for abortion. Also prohibited is abortion coverage for women in in the military, the Peace Corps, federal prisons, and those who receive medical care from Indian Health Services. FROM >> www.womensissues.about.com

Anyway, I posted an article from MoveOn  and received a question and pictures in response to it. I appreciate the comments which came over a couple of days and tried to respond below .. .Abortion will always be met with strong words and feelings.  I have friends, family and co-workers who have the right to choose at the moment,but, it is up to ALL of us to fight and keep it that way.

HIM:Choosing to kill a baby is not a right. http://www.abortiontruth.com/pictures.html

HIM: When do you believe life begins? Lets start with your measuring stick for life.

FYI: The word fetus (plural fetuses) is from the Latin fetus, meaning offspring, bringing forth, hatching of young. It has Indo-European roots related to sucking or suckling, from the Aryan prefix bheu-, meaning “To come into being”.

I prefer to speak English and just call the developing life form in women, I don’t speak Latin in my daily use of language.

HIM:You really need to relax, if you can’t handle someone disputing your opinion you need to stay away from blogs. Or just censor those that comment on your blog if that makes it easier for you.

You complain about a lot of things that I never brought up. I state that I do not think that the choice to kill a baby is not a right. Am I wrong?

I gathered from your rant that you consider an embryo with a heart beat is now a baby. Am I right?

To save time, I am going to ask the next question as if the last statement is true. Would you then still believe a women has the right to end the life of a baby, as long as it is in her womb?

I am not asking these questions out of hostility and I hope you are not offended by me asking them. I really do what to know what you stance is and how you justify that stance. It is too easy to box someone into a pro-life or pro-choice label, when that label probably does not fit.

HIM: One last question. Is there any point where you believe a baby has a right to life while it is in a women’s body?

This is based on normal pregnancy and not considering medical complications that put a women’s life in danger.

I thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and I am finding your answers very educational. I understand that we will not come to an agreement based on this discussion, but I do believe that if we understand each other more that we can eventually  come to an understanding.

ME: I would like to know if you believe in less government at
all. If so, why shouldn’t my private life, my bedroom and my uterus be outside
your control, especially if i pay for the procedure myself and the most
important element being that the procedure is safe, affordable with women being
responsible and reasonable enough to make their own decisions. I feel any medical
procedure I am required to pay for or not is totally my personal business  and in my opinion, everyone should mind your
own business . The Hyde amendment should be enough for anyone to accept.
Planned Parenthood is a company that provides a safe environment for women,
what part of that is hard to understand.  I do not believe people in Congress think
about  the number of  women that go there and it is not to have an
abortion. Reports are that 3% of the visits are abortion related. Planned
Parenthood provides a great services beyond that sleazy image so many
Teapublicans prefer to project to the public. I would wager that under certain
circumstances even daughters/sons of the well to do go there as well as college
women in need.  I don’t think you get
it-using Latin words instead of emotions about a very emotional topic for any
woman is a problem, while you may think it’s used improperly the point is women
are smart enough to decide on medical procedures on their own and having a
choice is the point. I do not think any woman has an abortion for fun. It is a
topic far deeper than the clinical crap you are spewing. The fact is there was
a time when women and young women were desperate enough to use coat
hangers
drugs or fake doctors  to “take
care” of the problem and the reality is having unwanted babies is not the
answer and a woman’s body does not belong to you or the government. I think the
current laws rules and attitudes are suffocating to women in general. Women all
over the World should be able to decide for themselves have consultations with
their doctors and hope that a great doctor will provide safe and affordable
health care. I just read your comment and you sound controlling, act like the
decider , the guy/gal who thinks women should be pregnant and barefoot which is
pure BS and i do not understand this logic. The clinical and or professorial
attitude shows just how little you know about women and giving up my personal
control to you or my government is definitely a definition of big
government
.

———————————————

ME: i believe we can call a baby a baby when a heartbeat can be
heard, which is about at 9weeks depending on the woman but that does not change
my mind about abortion.  Women should not
lose the right to choose; we should be treated as intelligent enough to decide
and contrary to popular thought doctors actually do counsel and discuss options
but those choices those options are being slowly taken away by the likes of Republican
Tea Party under the disguise or family values platform when in reality it is
family enforcement. It makes no sense to think this is anyone’s business except
for the woman and her doctor, it baffles my mind to think a member of congress,
a stranger thinks my uterus should be controlled by them because of their own
personal beliefs, religion, values. I do believe that the Senate will respect a
woman’s right to choose though Republicans feel women should be seen and not
heard i guess with the cutting slashing and burning of safe, clean and truly
great facilities that help girls, young women and older women on a daily basis
for all kinds of things not just abortion. The fact is that places like Planned
Parenthood also talk to young men about their responsibilities and about
contraceptive etc. The idea of trying to keep a strong hold on information, procedures and
personal choice can only be harmful to the progress in the realm of women’s
health care –

—————————————-

ME: That’s funny. If what you said were true i wouldn’t have
even responded to your comment”, choosing to kill a baby is not a right.” I
actually responded each time even with the first question because you sounded excessively
clinical to professorial and if it sounded hostile, that is because of the first
comment with pictures. The question you asked in it brings up abortion. The hilarity
of just reading the comment, “choosing to kill a baby is not right” and the sadness
of the tremendous hold that men and or politicians from the Republican Tea
Party

Actually, i did not say an embryo equals a baby; I said that
when a heartbeat is heard i would deem it as a baby, which is usually at 9wks
could be more.  I am saying anything
before that i would say is not a baby … and i would say a woman has the right
to choose to do whatever she and her doctor have agreed to in private without
outside forces to interrupt because whatever is going on in a woman’s body,
womb, uterus is hers unless she so choses to share. I am somewhat offended
because you do not get it. I do not think you, me , the government, or anyone
else for that matter has a say in what a woman does with her body. I am both
pro-life …i have kids and pro-choice because women have the intelligence to
decide what they want, don’t you agree? What is missing is your justification
for saying choosing to kill a baby is not right and I have to ask… is it any of
your business to begin with. I know where i stand and why but i have no idea
why you feel the way you do.

As a woman, the passion or as you say hostility i show for a woman’s right to
choose is because the Republican led House cut slashed and burnt women and
children lately, these actions give me a bad feeling and could possibly create
situations where women of all ages will resort to desperate measures. I believe
in providing choices for women which men, politicians, women who have outdated
ideas about women ’s rights keep trying to take away, and it just does not make
sense at all

—————————

ME: That is the point isn’t it. We as individuals should have
the right to decide for ourselves. My response to your question as to when life
begins is just that my response, it is not meant to represent anyone else or
speak for others. I can only speak for myself so your question about ” holding
to the standard that a woman may only have freedom of choice before 9wks,” is
odd because there is no standard to health care as no one has the same issues
or complications or outcomes. I do not subscribe to nor did i say women should
be limited to 9weeks only that for me life started when a heartbeat could be
heard which is also different for each woman. I do subscribe to privacy with each
woman in America having the right to choose and no one has the right to enforce
laws rules and or control such a personal event. I am definitely offended but
baffled as well by those who still in this 21st Century believe that a Woman no
matter what economic status does not seem to have enough sense to make their own
decisions. Therefore, i will say i cannot relate to your questions regarding killing
a baby.  That question used by folks who
want women to feel bad but the fact is the Hyde Amendment addresses the rights
and the rule of law of a woman considering an abortion and anything else
certainly is not my business nor are they yours or our Politicians who seem to
want to invade a woman’s privacy on so many levels. Now, conservative
Politicians want to make it harder than ever to purchase contraceptives and
while they feel this mission are important they have underestimated women and their
independent thoughts and behavior.

I think we are at an impasse and while I appreciate the comments, we definitely
do not agree on this particular topic. -thank you for the comments though

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The Federal Communications Commission held a hearing Thursday on broadband funding and the national emergency alert system.

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Vice President Biden Remarks

Florida Moves Primary Date from March 6 to January 31ks

Congress: Breaks until 10/31


The Senate will convene on Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:45pm and on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 11am for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted.

Following the pro forma session on Thursday, October 27th, the Senate will adjourn until 3:00pm on Monday, October 31, 2011.  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 proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #249, Stephen A. Higginson, of LA, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit with one hour equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.

The next roll call vote will be at approximately 5:30pm on confirmation of the Higginson nomination.

————————————————————————————————

The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on October 31, 2011.

The sad life of Petland puppies …Cristina Moon, Change.org


Change.org
                Call on Petland USA to stop supporting cruel puppy mills.             
Sign the Petition

While the puppies in Petland USA stores may look cute in their cages, chances are the puppies have led miserable lives that threaten their health from the day they’re born.

Petland USA is the country’s largest chain of stores that sell puppies. Most of Petland’s animals come from puppy mills, where thousands of dogs are bred again and again to supply the pet trade. Dogs are kept in cramped, unsanitary conditions, and they often lack adequate vet care.

There’s hope to stop puppy mill sales at Petland stores. Last month Petland Canada ordered its stores to stop selling puppies, in part due to continuous pressure from animal protection advocates. So Mary Haight, a Change.org member from Chicago, wants Petland USA to do the same. She started a petition on Change.org asking Petland USA to end puppy mill sales in its stores. Click here to sign her petition.

Walk into any major pet store like Petco or PetSmart, and you won’t find puppies for sale. Those stores work with local animal shelters to find homes for the countless animals waiting to be adopted across the country. Yet Petland stores prioritize profit by selling animals from puppy mills, propping up this cruel business.

Puppies bred in puppy mills are often plagued with poor health. Kept in cramped conditions and often housed outside in all types of weather, animals in puppy mills lead a pitiful existence. Puppy mill operators are also known to in-breed puppies, leading to other health and behavior problems.

Each Petland store in the US is an individually-owned franchise, meaning Petland USA’s corporate headquarters can’t ban puppy sales in stores on its own. But Petland USA can stop any new stores from selling puppies, and a strong statement from the corporation would go a long way to putting a stop to its existing stores that buy animals from puppy mills.

Please join Mary Haight in calling on Petland USA to support adoption and speak out against its stores doing business with puppy mills. Sign the petition:

http://www.change.org/petitions/petland-usa-stop-selling-pets-fire-puppy-mills-petland-canada-has

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Cristina and the Change.org team

Congress: the Republican led House the Senate in pro forma Session


The Senate will convene on Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:45pm and on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 11am for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted.

Following the pro forma session on Thursday, October 27th, the Senate will adjourn until 3:00pm on Monday, October 31, 2011.  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 proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #249, Stephen A. Higginson, of LA, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit with one hour equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.

The next roll call vote will be at approximately 5:30pm on confirmation of the Higginson nomination.

————————————–

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF OCTOBER 27, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

-The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on October 31, 2011.12:58:07 P.M

. -On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.12:58:00 P.M. -Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.11:55:06 A.M. -SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.11:47:31 A.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.11:47:30 A.M. -Mr. Thompson (PA) asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourn on Thursday, October 27, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 1 p.m. on Monday, October 31, 2011. Agreed to without objection.11:46:29 A.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.11:45:52 A.M. -H.R. 2576Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 448, H.R. 2576 is laid on the table.11:45:37 A.M. -H.R. 2576Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 448, the text of H.R. 2576, as passed by the House, is appended at the end of H.R. 674 as new matter.11:44:14 A.M. -H.R. 674Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.11:44:12 A.M. -H.R. 674On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 405 – 16 (Roll no. 815).11:26:53 A.M. -H.R. 674On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 183 – 235 (Roll no. 814).11:09:59 A.M. -H.R. 674The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.11:01:36 A.M. -H.R. 674DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Andrews motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek strike the entire bill and add language to deny relief to companies that are delinquent in paying their federal taxes.11:01:04 A.M. -H.R. 674Mr. Andrews moved to recommit with instructions to Ways and Means.10:57:59 A.M. -H.R. 674Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 674 — “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the imposition of 3 percent withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities.”10:57:36 A.M. -H.R. 2576Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.10:57:35 A.M. -H.R. 2576On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 262 – 157 (Roll no. 813).10:31:30 A.M. -H.R. 2576The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.9:46:12 A.M. -H.R. 2576DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2576.9:45:56 A.M. -H.R. 2576Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2576 and H.R. 674 with 1 hour of general debate on each measure. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions on each measure. Measures will be considered read. Bills are closed to amendments. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of both bills and directs the Clerk, in the engrossment of H.R. 674, to add the text of H.R. 2576, as passed by the House, as new matter at the end of H.R. 674.9:45:51 A.M. -H.R. 2576Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 448. H.R. 2576 — “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the calculation of modified adjusted gross income for purposes of determining eligibility for certain healthcare-related programs.”9:45:22 A.M. -H.R. 674Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule 19, further consideration of the bill is postponed.9:45:21 A.M. -H.R. 674The previous question was ordered without objection.9:15:10 A.M. -H.R. 674DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 674.9:14:18 A.M. -H.R. 674Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2576 and H.R. 674 with 1 hour of general debate on each measure. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions for each measure. Measures will be considered read. Bills are closed to amendments. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of both bills and directs the Clerk, in the engrossment of H.R. 674, to add the text of H.R. 2576, as passed by the House, as new matter at the end of H.R. 674.9:14:13 A.M. -H.R. 674Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 448. H.R. 674 — “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the imposition of 3 percent withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities.”9:02:48 A.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.9:02:19 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Johnson, Sam of TX to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.9:02:16 A.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal.  Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.9:01:28 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.9:00:52 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Steve Womack to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.9:00:38 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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