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CONGRESS: pro forma Sessions … So President Obama cannot do any Recess Appointments …political games?

08/12/2011 Nativegrl77

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

– Friday, August 5^th at 10:00am,

– Tuesday, August 9^th at 11:00am,

– Friday, August 12^th at 12:00pm,

– Tuesday, August 16^th at 11:00am,

– Friday, August 19^th at 10:00am,

– Tuesday, August 23^rd at 2:30pm,

– Friday, August 26^th at 11:15am,

– Tuesday, August 30^th at 10:00am,

– Friday, September 2^nd at 10:00am;

When the Senate convenes at 10:00am on Friday, September 2^nd, it will adjourn until 2:00pm on September 6, 2011. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 5:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will be in Executive Session to consider Calendar #109, Bernice Bouie Donald, of Tennessee, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 6^th Circuit with 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley.

The next roll call votes will be at 5:30pm on Tuesday, September 6^th. The first roll call vote will be on confirmation of the Donald nomination. The 2^nd will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R.1249, the Patent Reform bill.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF AUGUST 12, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

10:05 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3 ofH. Res. 375. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on August 16, 2011.

10:04 A.M. – JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON DEFICIT REDUCTION – Pursuant to section 401(b)(4)(B)(iv) of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P. L. 112-25) and the order of the House of January 5, 2011, the Minority Leader appointed the following members of the House to the JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON DEFICIT REDUCTION: Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Becerra and Mr. Van Hollen.

JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON DEFICIT REDUCTION – Pursuant to section 401(b)(4)(B)(iii) of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25) and the order of the House of January 5, 2011, the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON DEFICIT REDUCTION: Mr. Hensarling, Mr. Upton and Mr. Camp.

NOT DISPENSING WITH LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS – Pursuant to section 4 of H.Res. 375, the Chair announced that legislative business would not be dispensed with on this day.

10:03 A.M. – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

10:02 A.M. – JOURNAL APPROVED – The Chair announced that pursuant to section 5 of H.Res. 375, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.

10:01 A.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, Associate Professor, The Catholic University of America, Washington DC.

10:00 A.M. – The Speaker designated the Honorable Jeffrey M. Landry to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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Syria – no blood for oil …Stephanie B – Avaaz.org

08/11/2011 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

For months, Syria‘s brutal President Assad has paid henchmen to wage war on his own people. Governments across the world have condemned these atrocities, but key European leaders could cut off the cash flow that finances this bloodbath.

Germany, France and Italy are the three main importers of Syrian oil. If they move to impose immediate EU sanctions, Assad’s slaughter funds will dry up. Assad has ignored political appeals for him to rein in his assault, and EU leaders have discussed ramping up sanctions, but only a massive global outcry will push them to act urgently.

We have no time to lose — every day dozens of Syrians are shot, tortured or disappeared simply for calling for basic democratic rights. The EU can stop funding the crackdown now. Click below to sign the petition to EU heads of state to immediately adopt oil sanctions on Syria:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/no_blood_for_oil/?vl

We have all watched and read about the horrific violence in Syria — much of the coverage coming from Avaaz-supported citizen journalists who are risking their lives to report on Assad’s crackdown. And now we have a chance to turn our horror into action. Experts say EU oil sanctions will seriously disrupt cash flow to Assad’s cruel army without significant negative consequences to either the European economy or the Syrian people.

Almost all Syria’s exported oil is purchased and refined by Germany, France and Italy, but these governments have yet to use their key trade relationship with Assad as leverage to protect the Syrian people. Still, they have denounced the violence, and newspapers report that some EU leaders are already pushing for oil sanctions. Let’s demand that they ramp up the pressure and push through oil sanctions immediately and cut the engine of Assad’s murderous regime.

Join in the call to cut off the cash to Syrian forces now. Click below to sign the petition for EU oil sanctions and forward to everyone:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/no_blood_for_oil/?vl

Avaaz members have played a crucial role in supporting Syrians in their demands for freedom, democracy and human rights. Much of the footage and information shown around the world is funded by small donations from Avaaz members worldwide. Let’s build the momentum for lasting change as the violence against the Syrian people escalates and insist the EU take immediate action now.

With hope,

Stephanie, Pascal, Morgan, Alice, Ricken, Wissam and the rest of the Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION

Syria Forces Extend Siege on Hama as Toll Rises, New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/world/middleeast/07syria.html

EU to tighten Syria sanctions, European Voice
http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2011/august/eu-to-tighten-syria-sanctions/

Syrian rebels urge oil sanctions, Financial Times
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/9e735f18-bd22-11e0-9d5d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1Uc2dGYoh

Syria steps up assaults on protesters, drawing first Arab League condemnation, Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/syria-launches-new-attack-against-protesters-in-east-arab-league-condemns-assault/2011/08/07/gIQAMmKS0I_story.html

Syria protests: Troops renew attacks on pro-democracy demonstrators, The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/09/syria-protest-troops-attack-democracy-demonstrators

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Final Vote on Bus Cuts on Mon. 8/15

08/11/2011 Nativegrl77

: Image via Wikipedia

Your support for saving King County Metro has made a huge difference. More than 8,200 people signed our SignOn petition to save our buses, and more than 14,000 total signed letters or petitions. The testimony at the 7/26 hearing was fantastic, and we didn’t lose! But we also haven’t won yet…

We need six of nine councilmembers to vote in favor of the two-year stop-gap measure to save our buses. We have the support of 5 members, but the sixth has been elusive.

The King County Council was set to vote on the matter that day. Luckily, thanks to the thousands of people who voiced their support, the four remaining councilmembers — all Republicans — agreed to take three more weeks to seriously consider the the measure.

Now, we must double-down. This is our last chance to save our buses from devastating 17% cuts that will significantly hurt 4 out of 5 riders. Though I started this petition as an individual, I’ve learned that many professionals are working on this and related issues under the umbrella of the Transportation for Washington campaign. Here’s what they recommend:

First, please send your own personal letter to the King County Councilmembers. There are no more opportunities for public testimony, so calling or sending another letter is the best way to remind them of our arguments. Feel free to edit or add personal details.

Click here to send your letter. http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5127/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7814

Next, pack the meeting on Monday, August 15.
Click here to RSVP. http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5153/p/salsa/web/questionnaire/public/?questionnaire_KEY=608

Finally, we need volunteers to help petition, phonebank, write letters to newpaper editors, and enter data.
Email Brock Howell, field director of Transportation 4 WA, at brock@futurewise.org to volunteer.

Thanks again for your support. Your dedication to the betterment of our society and planet warms my heart.
Together we can save our buses. Stay strong & don’t give up!

Peace to all of you,

Julia Deak

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The coal industry

08/10/2011 Nativegrl77

Somewhere in America a family will lose a loved one in the next hour as a result of pollution from coal-fired power plants.

Pollution from the coal industry isn’t just poisoning our communities. It’s polluting our political process as well. The millions of dollars they spend on lobbying and campaign contributions has allowed them to continue doing business as usual. But that’s changing.

Communities everywhere are standing up to the coal industry and doing what they have to do to keep their families safe and protect their air and water. And Greenpeace is supporting them.

That’s why we created a new website — www.quitcoal.org — especially for these activists and for anyone who is concerned about coal. Check out their stories and be one of the first people to see our new site by clicking on the video below.

We feel that this site can serve as a valuable resource by providing a platform for these activists to share their story and connect with other people in the movement and to highlight the work that is being done across the country to build a clean energy future.

You’ll be hearing a lot more about the site in the future. Thanks for all you do.

Quit Coal,

Kelly Mitchell

Greenpeace Coal Campaigner

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Standing strong …Nancy Pelosi

08/10/2011 Nativegrl77

The latest reports are that Republicans are launching a smear campaign this week against ten Democrats who stood up and opposed the Tea Party plan to flat out end Medicare so they can give more tax breaks to multi-millionaires and Big Oil companies.

We have launched our “Accountability August” campaign to hold Republicans accountable for their radical agenda while they are home in their districts but we must raise an additional $27,335 by midnight tonight to fully fund our Rapid Response campaign.

Will you stand with us and contribute $3 or more right now to help hit our Rapid Response Fund goal by midnight tonight?

www.dccc.org

Your dollars will be put to work immediately with targeted advertising, grassroots organizing, and rapid response research.

Let’s stand together for a new direction that chooses creating jobs and protecting Medicare over false attacks and reckless tax breaks for billionaires and Big Oil. Contribute $3 or more before tonight’s deadline.

www.dccc.org

Thank you for your support,

Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader