THURSDAY WRAP-UP in the Senate

During Thursday’s session of the Senate, Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #75, S.679, the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011. The Senate then entered into the following unanimous consent agreement.

At 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #34, the nomination of Michael H. Simon, of Oregon, to be US District Judge for the District of Oregon with one hour for debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley. Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 12pm), the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Simon nomination.
Following this vote, the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly party conferences.
At 2:15 p.m., the Senate will consider Executive Calendar #183, Leon E. Panetta to be Secretary of Defense with 2 hours for debate equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 4:15pm), the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Panetta nomination.
Following this vote, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 782, the EDA bill and conduct a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the bill.
If cloture is not invoked, the Senate will immediately conduct an additional roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 679, the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011.

Therefore, Senators should expect up to 4 roll call votes on Tuesday, June 21^st:
- at approximately 12pm
  - Confirmation of the Simon nomination
- at approximately 4:15pm
  - Confirmation of the Panetta nomination
  - Motion to invoke cloture on S.782, the Economic Development Act
  - Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.679, the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on June 20, 2011.

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a message from Sen.Patty Murray -dogged

06/16/2011 Nativegrl77

Republicans don’t have to destroy Medicare. Republicans are choosing to destroy Medicare because preserving tax breaks for oil corporations and billionaires is a bigger priority to them.

This is why we fight. We can’t allow Republicans – and their skewed priorities – to control the Senate, and they will if they gain just four seats. What you do right now truly matters!

The end of this month marks a critical FEC deadline. If we don’t raise $710,342 by June 30, we won’t have the resources to hold the Senate and stop their extreme agenda – such as ending Medicare – from becoming law. We CAN win, but it won’t happen without an army of grassroots supporters – including you.

Please give an immediate $5 or more to the DSCC. Every dollar you give will help Democrats fight – and will help keep Republicans out of power in the Senate. I’m counting on you to help stop them!

When I stepped up to lead the fight to keep our Senate majority, I told my Democratic colleagues that I would be all in, but I needed them to be all in, too. And they are. But that’s not enough. I need each and every grassroots Democrat to step up, too.

We’ve seen the extremes Republicans are willing to go to – their dogged pursuit of ending Medicare is just one example. And they’ll be attacking our candidates even harder than they’re attacking our social safety net. Karl Rove’s American Crossroads and Citizens United’s own PAC are already gearing up.

We see what’s coming. We know the fierce fight that lies ahead. And we know exactly what we need to do to win it. We can’t wait. The Republicans sure aren’t.

We must raise $710,342 by June 30 if we’re going to keep Republicans out of power. Please give $5 or more right now. Every dollar you give will help Democrats fight – and will help keep Republicans out of power. We need your help!

The stakes are higher than a simple Senate majority. This election will determine the path our nation takes. Are we the type of nation that protects the least among us? Or are we the type of nation that allows the young, old, sick and needy to fend for themselves while oil corporations and billionaires reap all the rewards?

This is the time to stand up for what we – as Democrats – believe in. Thank you for joining the fight.

Sincerely,

Sen. Patty Murra

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UPDATE: Wisconsin …from BoldProgressives.org

06/16/2011 Nativegrl77

BREAKING: It was just announced in Wisconsin that the unprecedented recall elections of Republicans will take place August 9.

And we’re on offense! If we win, it will be a major defeat for Gov. Scott Walker‘s war on working families — and be seen nationally as a major accountability moment.

Can you help us stay on offense by making calls to key Wisconsin voters soon?

Yes! I’ll make calls from my home — show me the various shifts!

No, thanks — but I’ll donate $3 to support this recall campaign.

Before the calls, we’ll get an insider update from top organizers — including our staffer on the ground in Wisconsin.

Our state-of-the-art calling system is easy to use, and you’ll get all the training you need. Then, we’ll call Wisconsin voters in swing districts.

This is a fight that matters not just in Wisconsin, but for the whole country. Can you sign up to make calls from home?

Yes! I’ll make calls!

No, thanks — but I’ll donate $3 to support this recall campaign.

Thanks for being a bold progressive.

— Michael Snook, Keauna Gregory, Stephanie Taylor, Jeremy Feigenbaum, Caroline Dean, and the PCCC team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell Your Members of Congress to Protect Medicaid

06/16/2011 Nativegrl77

National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change


	Tell Your Members



	Urge your Members of Congress to reject Medicaid cuts, in any form. Call 1-866-922-4970 today!

“The Medicaid program for the poor is facing significant cuts in an emerging bipartisan budget deal as Republicans seek to shrink entitlements and Democrats protect other priorities.” – Wall Street Journal, June 16, 2011

You’re probably reading in the papers about the ongoing budget debates. Many people are talking about the importance of Medicare and why securing it is critical for elderly individuals. Often ignored in these discussions is Medicaid — the equally vital program for individuals who are elderly, live with disabilities, and economically vulnerable parents — which is at serious risk.

Call 1-866-922-4970 and tell your Members of Congress to preserve Medicaid by rejecting any proposals to cut or restructure this vital program.

Cutting Medicaid would be devastating for women and their families, including many of the same women who also depend on Medicare. Women are more likely to be low-income than men. They also are more likely to hold low-wage or part-time jobs that don’t offer employer-sponsored health insurance. As a result, they comprise more than two-thirds of the adults who receive Medicaid. For many women, Medicaid may be their only source of health coverage, and the current threats to Medicaid will harm women disproportionately. And despite the political rhetoric, cuts to this vital program will not save money. They will just shift costs from the federal government to states, localities and providers, while increasing the burden on seniors who depend on the program for long-term care, people with disabilities, and children and their families.

Don’t let irresponsible cuts to the federal budget harm the most vulnerable women. Call 1-866-922-4970 and urge your Members of Congress to reject Medicaid cuts, in any form.

Besides the danger to Medicaid, the budget passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year and other proposals pending in Congress threaten many additional programs critical to women and their families. Funding for food stamps, child care, Head Start, K-12 education, Pell grants, family planning, domestic violence prevention, and much, much more are at risk.

Your voice will be vital in helping us keep these services safe for women and their families — join us and Demand Fair Change, Not Spare Change.

Sincerely,