Thank you for writing to me regarding the priority you place on the protection of the gray wolf. It was good to hear from you.

I have consistently supported robust laws to protect endangered species, including efforts to protect Pacific salmon and Puget Sound orcas. Rest assured, I oppose rolling back important environmental protections like the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and support funding to protect endangered species and enhance habitat in Washington State. Thank you for alerting me to legislation regarding endangered species currently pending before the Senate.

Throughout my tenure in the Senate, I have been a strong supporter of protection for endangered species and their critical habitats. Please know that I will work with my colleagues in the Senate and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to see that endangered species programs obtain proper funding, and as the Senate addresses issues related to conservation and protection of wildlife during the 112th Congress, I will keep your thoughts in mind.

If you would like to know more about my work in the Senate, please feel free to sign up for my weekly updates at http://murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=GetEmailUpdates. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.

EMAIL.BEGINHIDE.MERGE

Sincerely,

Patty Murray

United States Senator

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Sincerely,

Patty Murray

United States Senator

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Threats to Social Security Are Not Over

02/14/2011 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

The threats to undermine Social Security continue. This week the Wall Street Journal reported that four Senators, Crapo, Coburn, Conrad, and Durbin(!), are meeting regularly on a plan to reintroduce the ideas from the Deficit Commission that include raising the retirement age and cutting Social Security benefits. Meanwhile, in the House, Rep. Cantor says that Social Security is still on the table to be cut. We can’t let this happen.

We want to make sure that Congress understands what they are doing when they plan to cut the rug out from under working people who need Social Security to support themselves, their families, and their communities. That’s why we are collecting stories from folks like you to share with Congress and to put in TV ads for everyone to see.

Yes! I have a Social Security story I want to share! http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/466?akid=436.1480546.lkcsxe&t=3

I don’t have a Social Security story, but I’ll contribute $5 to put these stories on the air. http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/467?akid=436.1480546.lkcsxe&t=2

Social Security is a promise we made with each other to support one another in retirement or in cases of disability. This promise is how we keep our communities stable and secure when we need it most.

We will share these stories with Progressive Members of Congress to talk about on the House and Senate floor, we will send your stories to all Members of Congress, and we will use some stories for a TV ad to make sure that everyone knows the faces of people who depend on Social Security.

Yes! I want to make sure members of Congress hear my story! http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/466?akid=436.1480546.lkcsxe&t=1

I don’t have a Social Security story, but I’ll contribute so that others’ stories can be shared. http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/467?akid=436.1480546.lkcsxe&t=4

Thank you for all that you do.

-Levana

Levana Layendecker, Communications Director

Democracy for America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress: In Session on 2/14 -The Senate & The Republican led House

02/12/2011 Nativegrl77

the Senate Covenes at 2:00pmET February 14, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.223, the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization bill.

At 4:30pm, the Senate will turn to Executive session to consider the following nominations:

– Calendar #1, James E. Graves, of Mississippi, to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit; and

– Calendar #5, Edward J. Davila, of California, to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California.

There will be 1 hour for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed.

At 5:30pm, there will be a voice vote on the Graves nomination and a roll call vote on the Davila nomination.

The following amendments are pending to S.223:

– Wicker amendment #14, as modified (Excludes TSA from collective bargaining)

– Blunt amendment #5 (private screening company)

– Paul #21 (reduce authorization for FAA to FY2008 levels)

– Wyden #27 (increase test sites for unmanned aerial vehicles)

– Inhofe amendment #6 (liability protection to volunteer pilots)

– Inhofe amendment #7 (flight time limitations/rest requirements)

– Ensign amendment #32 (military remotely piloted aerial systems)

– McCain amendment #4 (Essential Air Service)

– Leahy amendment #50 (liability protection for volunteer pilots)

– Reid amendment #54 (noise buffering)

– Reid #55 (Convey federal land to Mesquite, NV)

– Udall (NM) #49 (Dona Ana County airport)

– Udall (NM) #51 (Advanced Imaging Technology)

– Nelson (NE) #58 (criminal penalties for distribution of airport screening x-rays)

– Paul amendment #18 (Memorandum of understanding re: OSHA)

– Baucus amendment #75, as modified (Finance title)

There will be no further roll call votes tonight.

Votes:

15: Confirmation of Edward J. Davila, of California, to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California; Confirmed: 93-0

Unanimous Consent:

S.Res.49, celebrating Black History Month

**************************************************

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF FEBRUARY 14, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

7:25 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

7:11 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

7:09 P.M. –

On approving the Journal Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 352 – 59, 3 Present (Roll no. 37).

H.R. 514:

to extend expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 relating to access to business records, individual terrorists as agents of foreign powers, and roving wiretaps until December 8, 2011

7:03 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 275 – 144 (Roll no. 36).

6:54 P.M. –

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 186 – 234 (Roll no. 35).

6:33 P.M. –

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

6:24 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. Pending the reservation of a point of order, subsequently the reservation was withdrawn.

6:22 P.M. –

Mr. Thompson (CA) moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.

Mr. Thompson (CA) moved to recommit the bill, H.R. 514, to the Committee on the Judiciary with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with the following amendment: ¢ At the end of section 1, add the follwing new subsection: ¢ (c) COMPLIANCE WITH CONSTITUTION. — ***

6:21 P.M. –

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

5:13 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 514.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 514 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 79.

5:11 P.M. –

The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting his Budget of the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2012 – referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-3).

5:10 P.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 sealed envelope from the White House on February 14, 2011 at 2:35 p.m. which is said to contain a message from the President whereby he submits his Budget of the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2012.

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 14.

2:06 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

2:03 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Schock to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

2:02 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Schock demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Schock demanded the Yeas and Nays and the Chair announced that further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal would be postponed until later in the legislative day.

2:00 P.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 14.

12:08 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

12:02 P.M. –

MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

12:01 P.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Rob Bishop to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

12:00 P.M. –

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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Tim Pawlenty Moves to the right …

02/11/2011 Nativegrl77

Today, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) will address the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the annual DC gathering of political activists and potential Republican presidential hopefuls. On Monday, this moderate Republican governor from a heavily Democratic state was brandishing his conservative credentials by appearing at a Presidential Lecture Series in Iowa sponsored by The Family Leader. That group is a “Christ-centered organization” which “champions the principle that God is the ultimate leader of the family” and is leading the campaign to repeal marriage equality in the state. The organization’s president, Bob Vander Plaats, is a former high school principal and failed gubernatorial candidate who recently led a successful campaign to unseat three of Iowa Supreme Court Justices for overturning the state’s marriage discrimination law. Vander Plaats has since embarked on a 99-county tour of Iowa in which he presents The Family Leader as a traditional religious group that is more interested in restoring biblical values than slandering gay people. But the group’s materials describe homosexuality as a public health crisis akin to smoking, and endorse scientifically discredited ex-gay reversal therapies.

PAWLENTY ON DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL: Last month, Pawlenty made waves when he suggested that he would reinstate the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy if elected President. At the Family Leader forum, Pawlenty went a step further, saying that he would support rescinding the funds necessary for the Department of Defense to implement a repeal of DADT. In response to a question from ThinkProgress, Pawlenty reiterated his argument for why the policy should not have been repealed and then, when pushed, agreed that taking away the funding “would be a reasonable step.” In a separate, recent interview with ThinkProgress, Pawlenty refused to say whether gays should be allowed to serve in the military at all, explaining, “I really defer to the military leaders to a large degree on this issue. I supported maintaining Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Pressed again on whether he would be “comfortable with gays being able to serve in the military as long as they aren’t public with their orientation,” Pawlenty wouldn’t answer, saying, “I really would defer to the military leaders and military more broadly.”

PAWLENTY’S FAITH: During the forum — which featured three separate stops across the state — Pawlenty repeatedly emphasized his Evangelical Christian faith, even going so far as to suggest that his opposition to expanding marriage to gays and lesbians was a “universal” value that was “embedded in our culture.” Asked by a reporter if it was “appropriate for policy to be driven by values that are not necessarily shared by everyone, yet have a very significant effect on everyone,” Pawlenty said that he was respectful of different beliefs, before insisting that his values are universal and that “we’re going to make sure we respect traditional marriage.” But Pawlenty hasn’t always been this convinced of the righteousness of his anti-gay beliefs. In 1993, Pawlenty, then a state legislator, voted to extend protection to gays and lesbians under the state Human Rights Act, effectively banning discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation as well as race, religion, ethnicity and physical or mental disability. By 2002, he expressed regret for the vote, but a year later, suggested that nobody should be discriminated against for a job or housing simply because they are gay. In 2009, however, Pawlenty told Newsweek’s Howard Fineman that the 1993 act was “overbaked” and “not worded the way it should be” because it protected cross-dressers “and a variety of other people involved in behaviors that weren’t based on sexual orientation.”

PRESERVING ‘TRADITIONAL’ MARRIAGE: While Pawlenty did not directly address Iowa’s ongoing legislative effort to rescind marriage for gay and lesbian couples, he repeatedly reiterated his support for “traditional marriage” and “values.” Iowa Republicans were more direct about taking away rights from gays and lesbians. Following the Presidential Lecture Series, ThinkProgress spoke with Iowa State Rep. Dwayne Alons (R) — a co-sponsor of Iowa’s anti-gay marriage equality bill — in the state capitol and asked him if he agreed with the Family Leader’s characterizations of homosexuality as a public health crisis. Alons did, reciting some bullet points from the Family Leader’s “fact sheet” and suggesting that defining marriage between a man and a woman would correct “problems to society.” “Well, look at all that has been spent, you know, with the AIDS and with the issues related to the dying at an early age. I think life, longevity, of a lot of these folks is below 50, when you know, the normal people that do not enter into that kind of relationship, they’re either late into their 70s or early 80s for longevity,” Alons said. “A lot more actual productive years and contributing to society.” The story, which was picked up by KTIV News Channel 4, has sparked some controversy for Alons, who has chosen to stand by his remarks rather than to apologize for them.