~ Recent Post

CONGRESS: Unconstitutional Conservatism


Today, one of the first acts of the new Republican majority will be to read the entire U.S. Constitution from the floor of the House of Representatives. While the GOP explains they are reading the document because they feel that Congress has strayed from the country’s founding principles, a reading of the entire Constitution is “something that  has never been done in the chamber’s 221 year history.” The reading will lead off Thursday’s floor schedule, and will be run by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), who said the reading “shows that the new majority in the House truly is dedicated to our Constitution and the principles for which it stands.” While some have lampooned the plan as mere political theater — a New York Times editorial called it “a presumptuous and self-righteous act” — Vanity Fair estimated the reading will cost $1.1 million — it nonetheless offers an opportunity for freshmen and senior Republicans alike to actually study the text of the founding document they claim to hold so dear. They might not like what they hear. In their effort to co-opt the radical tea party movement, Republicans have attempted to wrap themselves in the document and use the Constitution like a bludgeon against progressives. In reality, conservatives consistently ignore, distort, and pervert the Constitution in order to force it to fit their political goals and ideology. As the Center for American Progress Action Fund‘s Ian Millhiser wrote, “the GOP’s agenda is nothing less than a  direct assault on America’s founding document.”

‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’ PARTS OF THE CONSTITUTION: In an op-ed in the right-wing American Spectator, Fox News’ senior judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano asked a remarkable question for someone who describes himself as a fierce “constitutional conservative”:  “Is any part of the  Constitution unconstitutional ?” “Yes,” Napolitano concluded. Napolitano’s absurd claim reflects a startlingly widespread conviction among conservatives. While claiming to defend the Constitution, conservatives are really only interested defending the parts they agree with, and are equally committed to dismantling the parts they do not. For example, a Progress Report analysis found that at least  130 GOP members of the 111th Congress — including their Senate leader, former presidential candidate, and numerous House leaders — want to “review” or dismantle the 14th Amendment and the right to birthright citizenship it guarantees. The text of the amendment could not be more clear: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” The conservative plot to end birthright citizenship eerily reflects the vision of citizenship articulated by the Supreme Court’s infamous pro-slavery decision in  Dred Scott v. Sanford . It has no place in the 21st century. Meanwhile, a  number of prominent tea party politicians, including Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), have called for repealing the 17th Amendment, which allows state citizens to directly elect their senators. Indeed, as the Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder noted in May, “It’s become a part of the Tea Party orthodoxy, now.” Why would the so-called constitutionalists of the tea party seek to maim the Constitution to make America much less democratic? “Supporters of the plan say that ending the public vote for Senators would give the states more power to protect their own interests in Washington (and of course,  give all of us “more liberty” in the process.)” On top of that, conservatives seek to further dismantle the Constitution by  undoing the 16th Amendment, which enables the income tax. Paying taxes is never popular, but it would be impossible to function as a nation if America lacked the power to raise the money it needs to “provide for the common Defense,” among other things that the Constitution charges the government with providing.

CONSERVATIVE DISTORTIONS: While seeking to remove whole parts of a document they call “sacred,” conservatives also work to subvert the meaning of other parts. The Constitution gives Congress broad authority to “provide for yet a growing movement of right-wing “tenthers” want to squelch this and other authorities to render the federal government almost powerless. This is particularly evident in the slew of lawsuits against President Obama’s health care reform law, and the judgment of  conservative-activist-turned-federal-judge Henry Hudson striking down the law’s individual insurance mandate. The Constitution clearly grants Congress the authority to enact the law through the “Commerce Clause,” which allows Congress to regulate the national economy, and the “Necessary and Proper Clause,” which grants Congress the power “to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution” this power to regulate the economy. Even George Washington University Law Professor Orin Kerr, who was a recent constitutional adviser to Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), wrote that Hudson committed a “fairly obvious and quite significant error” by completely ignoring the “Necessary and Proper Clause” in his decision. Kerr’s colleague, Jonathan Adler, a leading opponent of environmental regulation, agrees that Hudson’s opinion “cannot be right.” Even House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-OH) own lawyer Carrie Severino wrote in the conservative National Review that Hudson’s opinion renders that entire provision of the Constitution “meaningless.” Meanwhile, as Millhiser noted yesterday, today’s conservative movement’s distorted interpretation of the Constitution would send the country back a century, allowing illegal activities like  child labor, whites only-lunch counters, and gender discrimination. And a growing number of conservative “tenthers” believe Social Security, Medicare, and the minimum wage are unconstitutional (Goodlatte himself said this week that he didn’t know if the minimum wage is constitutional).
THE PROGRESSIVE VISION: The Constitution is a progressive document, and has always been and remains central to progressive thought. The progressive view of the Constitution simply calls for embracing the  whole   Constitution — including the Bill of the Rights and the amendments ratified by “We the people” over the past 220 years — not just the fragments that happen to align with conservative ideology. Progressives recognize that the Constitution is the  most enduring government charter in world history precisely because it was designed to be improved and adapted to the times, so these changes cannot be ignored in an attempt to return to some mythical earlier era to which conservatives constantly refer. Tea party conservatives often accuse progressives of undermining the text or abandoning its principles, when in fact it is progressives who must repeatedly defend the document and its emphasis on social justice, expanded franchise, and equality for all from conservative attacks. While conservatives accuse progressives of “judicial activism,” it is conservatives who increasingly  legislate from the bench, such as in overturning decades of campaign finance law in the Supreme Court’s Citizens United  decision. Progressives recognize that the Constitution sees “We the people” as the source of political power and legitimacy, and that it grants the federal government broad powers to better the nation, separates church and state, enshrines basic human and civil rights, promotes free and fair markets, and broadly protects the right to vote. Hopefully conservatives will see this as well when the document is read on the House floor.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Moving forward in 2011 …Brave New Films


Happy New Year Activists!

Here at Brave New Films, we are always looking for ways to share our content with the widest audience possible. In 2010, you were all very helpful in sharing our videos on Facebook and in 2011 it is very important to keep up the good work.

In addition to sharing our videos on Facebook, we need you to help spread the word on Social Bookmarking websites, namely: Digg, StumbleUpon, Reddit and CurrentTv.

You will be able to easily help us out by “voting up” our videos on these sites so that more people will see them!

To get started, it’s easy to do:

1. If you do not have an account on these websites, please take a few minutes and sign up for FREE. We have been using these sites for years and they do not share your information with third parties. (The links to these sites are below)

2. When we release a new video, I will send out a message to all of you and include a DIRECT LINKS to our video on each of these sites.

3. All you will have to do is log in and click on the links to “Digg” and “Vote Up” our video. I do this for each of our videos and it take about 2 minutes.

That’s it! With your help, we are able to spread the word about these important issues.

Here are the links to the sites for you to sign up:
http://digg.com/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/
http://www.reddit.com/
http://www.current.com/

If you have any questions, I will be more than happy to help out.

Once you sign up for these sites, head over to the Citizen Activists wall and let me know that you have signed up.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129038640447204

Thanks for all that you do!

Chris Johnson
New Media Associate
Brave New Films

Black History

the New 112th Congress goes to work …the House is in Session -the Senate is on break until Jan.25th -hmmm

2 Comments

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JANUARY 6, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

2:47 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House continued with further Special Order speeches.

OATH OF OFFICE – Representative-Elects Pete Sessions, Thirty Second District, State of Texas and Mike Fitzpatrick, Eighth District, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, presented themselves in the well of the House for the purpose of taking the Oath of Office which was administered by the Speaker of the House.

1:51 P.M. –

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

1:50 P.M. –

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on January 12: Mr. Jones for 5 min.

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on January 11: Mr. Jones for 5 min.

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on January 7: himself for 5 min, Mr. McClintock for 5 min, Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, and Mr. Jones for 5 min.

1:44 P.M. –

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

H. Res. 22:

reducing the amount authorized for salaries and expenses of Member, committee, and leadership offices in 2011 and 2012

1:38 P.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 410 – 13 (Roll no. 8).

12:57 P.M. –

The House resumed debate on H.Res. 22.

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 2.

H. Res. 22:

reducing the amount authorized for salaries and expenses of Member, committee, and leadership offices in 2011 and 2012

12:31 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with two hours of debate on H. Res. 22.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Lungren, Daniel E. moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

12:30 P.M. –

PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE – Pursuant to clause 11 of rule X and clause 11 of rule I, and the order of the House of January 5, 2011, the Speaker appointed the following member of the House to the PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE: Mr. Rogers of MI.

10:57 A.M. –

READING OF THE CONSTITUTION – Pursuant to section 5(a) of H. Res. 5, the Chair recognized the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Goodlatte, for the reading of the Constitution.

10:54 A.M. –

Call of the House Quorum responded: 405 present (Roll no. 7).

10:49 A.M. –

ADJUSTMENT OF WHOLE HOUSE – Under Clause 5(d) of Rule XX, the Chair announced to the House that, in light of the administration of the Oath of Office to the Gentleman from Oregon, the whole number of the House is 435.

10:48 A.M. –

OATH OF OFFICE – Representative-Elect Peter DeFazio, Fourth District, State of Oregon, presented himself in the well of the House for the purpose of taking the Oath of Office which was administered by the Speaker of the House.

10:03 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 10 per side of the aisle.

10:02 A.M. –

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

10:01 A.M. –

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

10:00 A.M. –

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

The Speaker designated the Honorable Michael K. Simpson to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))(((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))()())))

The Senate Convenes: 12:00 noon January 5, 2011

Following the presentation of the certificates of election and the swearing in of elected members, there will be a required live quorum. All senators are asked to report to the floor at that time. The Senate will then be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.Res.1, a resolution notifying the President that a quorum of each House has assembled.

Adopted S.Res.2, a resolution notifying the House that a quorum of the Senate has assembled.

Adopted S.Res.3, a resolution fixing the daily meeting of the Senate.

Adopted S.Res.4, a resolution commemorating Senator Mikulski as the longest serving female senator.

Adopted S.Res.5, a resolution electing Gary B. Myrick as Secretary for the Majority.

Adopted S.Res.6, a resolution appointing Morgan J. Frankel as Senate Legal Cousel pursuant to Chair appointment.

Adopted S.Res.7, a resolution appointing Patricia Mack Bryan as Deputy Senate Legal Counsel pursuant to Chair appointment.

Adopted S.Con.Res.1, a resolution providing for the adjournment or recess of the House and Senate.

Adopted S.Con.Res.2, authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for an event marking the 50th anniversary of the inaugural address of President John F. Kennedy.

The Senate Convenes: 10:00am January 25, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. Roll call votes are possible during Tuesday’s session. Senators will be notified when any votes scheduled.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JANUARY 5, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

5:50 P.M. –

The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on January 6, 2011.

On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.

Ms. Foxx moved that the House do now adjourn.

S. Con. Res. 1:

providing for a conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate and an adjournment of the House of Representatives

5:49 P.M. –

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

5:47 P.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

5:46 P.M. –

That during the first session of the 112th Congress: (1) on legislative days of Monday or Tuesday when the House convenes pursuant to House Resolution 10, the House shall convene two hours earlier than the time otherwise established by the resolution for the purpose of conducting morning-hour debate; (2) on legislative days of Wednesday or Thursday beginning on February 1, 2011, when the House convenes pursuant to House Resolution 10, the House shall convene two hours earlier than the time otherwise established by the resolution for the purpose of conducting morning-hour debate; (3) when the House convenes pursuant to an order other than House Resolution 10, the House shall convene for the purpose of conducting morning-hour debate only as prescribed by such order; (4) the time for morning-hour debate shall be allocated equally between the parties and may not con tinue beyond 10 minutes before the hour appointed for the resumption of the session of the House; and (5) the form of proceeding for morning-hour debate shall be as follows: (a) the prayer by the Chaplain, the approval of the Journal and the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag shall be postponed until resumption of the session

5:45 P.M. –

The House received a communication from The Honorable John A. Boehner, Speaker. Pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution 1, and also for purposes of such concurrent resolutions of the current Congress as may contemplate my designation of Members to act in similar circumstances, the Speaker notified the Clerk of his designation of Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia to act jointly with the Majority Leader of the Senate or his designee, in the event of his death or inability, to notify the Members of the House and the Senate, respectively, or any reassembly under any such concurrent resolution. In the event of the death or inability of that designee, alternate Members of the House are listed in the letter bearing this date for the same purpo

The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting the statement showing the apportionment population for each State as of April 1, 2010, and the number or Representatives to which each State would be entitled – referred to the Committees on Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-5).

5:44 P.M. –

COMMITTEE TO REPORT – Mr. Cantor notified the House that the Committee appointed on the part of the House to join a like Committee on the part of the Senate to notify the President of the United States that a quorum of each House had been assembled and is ready to receive any communications.

Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent that during the One Hundred Twelfth Congress, all Members be permitted to extend their remarks and to include extraneous material within the permitted limit in that section of the record entitled “Extension of Remarks”. Agreed to without objection.

5:43 P.M. –

Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent that during the One Hundred Twelfth Congress, the Speaker, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader be authorized to accept resignations and to make appointments authorized by law or by the House. Agreed to without objection.

HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING COMMISSION – Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 2001, and the order of the House of today, the Chair announced the Speaker’s appointment of the following members of the House to the House Office Building Commission: Mr. Cantor and Ms. Pelosi .

5:42 P.M. –

ADJUSTMENT OF WHOLE NUMBER OF HOUSE – Under clause 5(d) of Rule XX, the Chair announced to the House that the whole number of the House is 434.

H. Con. Res. 1:

regarding consent to assemble outside the seat of government

5:38 P.M. –

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

Mr. Dreier asked unanimous consent to consider as introduced.

Considered by unanimous consent.

5:37 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 1.

H. Res. 10:

fixing the daily hour of meeting of the First Session of the One Hundred Twelfth Congress

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

5:36 P.M. –

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 8:

providing for the designation of certain minority employees

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

5:35 P.M. –

Mr. Capuano asked unanimous consent to consider as introduced.

Considered by unanimous consent.

H. Res. 7:

electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 6:

electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives

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

5:34 P.M. –

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 5:

adopting rules for the One Hundred Twelfth Congress

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 240 – 191 (Roll no. 6).

5:17 P.M. –

On motion to commit the resolution to a select committee Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 191 – 240 (Roll no. 5).

5:01 P.M. –

The previous question on the motion to commit the resolution to a select committee was ordered without objection.

4:59 P.M. –

Mr. Crowley moved to commit the resolution to a select committee.

4:57 P.M. –

On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 238 – 188 (Roll no. 4).

3:12 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 5.

3:11 P.M. –

Motion to refer tabled.

On motion to table the motion to refer Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 225 – 188 (Roll no. 3).

2:37 P.M. –

Mr. Cantor moved to table the motion to refer

2:36 P.M. –

Ms. Norton moved to refer the resolution to a select committee of five members, to be appointed by the Speaker, not more than three of whom shall be from the same political party, with instructions to report back the same until it has conducted a full and complete study of, and made a determination on, the constitutionality of the provision that would be eliminated from the Rules that granted voting rights in the Committee of the Whole to the Delegates.

2:33 P.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 4:

authorizing the Clerk to inform the President of the election of the Speaker and the Clerk

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 3:

authorizing the Speaker to appoint a committee to notify the President of the assembly of the Congress

2:32 P.M. –

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

2:31 P.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 2:

to inform the Senate that a quorum of the House has assembled and of the election of the Speaker and the Clerk

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 1:

electing officers of the House of Representatives

2:30 P.M. –

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

2:29 P.M. –

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

On agreeing to the remainder of the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

On agreeing to the Larson (CT) amendment Failed by voice vote.

Amendment offered by Mr. Larson (CT).

2:28 P.M. –

On agreeing to the first portion of the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

Considered as privileged matter.

2:27 P.M. –

ADMINISTERING OATH OF OFFICE – Representative-Elect John Sullivan, First District, Oklahoma, presented himself in the well of the House and the Speaker proceeded to administer the Oath of Office.

2:22 P.M. –

ANNOUNCEMENT OF LEADERSHIP POSTS – Mr. Larson of Connecticut notified the House that, at the direction of the Democratic Caucus, Ms. Pelosi of California had been elected as Minority Leader, Mr. Hoyer of Maryland had been elected as Minority Whip, and Mr. Clyburn had been elected as Assistant Democratic Leader.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF LEADERSHIP POSTS – Mr. Hensarling notified the House that, at the direction of the Republican Conference, Mr. Cantor of Virginia had been elected as Majority Leader and Mr. McCarthy of California had been elected as Majority Whip.

2:16 P.M. –

ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE – The Speaker administered the Oath of Office to the Members-elect of the 112th Congress.

2:15 P.M. –

ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE – The Dean of the House administered the Oath of Office to the Speaker-elect.

2:00 P.M. –

ADDRESS BY THE SPEAKER-ELECT – The Speaker-elect addressed the House prior to taking the Oath of Office which will be administered by the Dean of the House, Representative-elect John Dingell of Michigan.

1:50 P.M. –

The Speaker-elect was escorted into the Chamber by the Escort Committee and introduced by Representative-elect Pelosi, Democratic Leader, before assuming the Chair.

1:39 P.M. –

COMMITTEE TO ESCORT THE SPEAKER-ELECT – The Clerk appointed a Committee of Members-elect to escort the Speaker-elect into the Chamber and to the Chair.

1:38 P.M. –

Roll call 2 – Election of the Speaker Boehner: 241 Pelosi: 173 Shuler: 11 Lewis (GA): 2 Costa: 1 Cardoza: 1 Cooper: 1 Kaptur: 1 Hoyer: 1 Present: 1 (Roll no. 2). Boehner elected Speaker.

12:40 P.M. –

APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS – The Clerk announced the appointment of the following Members-elect to act as Tellers during the Roll Call for Election of Speaker: Mr. Lungren; Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania; Ms. Kaptur; and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen.

12:39 P.M. –

NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICE OF SPEAKER – Pursuant to law and precedent, the Clerk announced that the next order of business was the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 112th Congress and that nominations would now be in order. Accordingly, the Honorable Jeb Hensarling of Texas placed the name of the Honorable John Boehner into nomination for the Office of Speaker and the Honorable John Larson of Connecticut placed the name of the Honorable Nancy Pelosi into nomination for the Office of Speaker. No other nominations were put forward.

12:35 P.M. –

ELECTION CREDENTIALS FOR DELEGATES – The Clerk notified the House that election credentials for all Delegates and Resident Commissioners had been received.

12:34 P.M. –

Call of the States Quorum responded: 434 present (Roll no. 1).

12:05 P.M. –

CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION – The Clerk announced that Certificates of Election covering 435 seats in the One Hundred Twelfth Congress had been received and the names of those persons whose credentials show that they were regularly elected as Representatives in accordance with the laws of their respective States of the United States would be called. Without objection, the Representatives-elect were directed to record their presence by electronic device in order to determine whether a quorum was present.

12:04 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Clerk led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

12:01 P.M. –

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

12:00 P.M. –

The House convened, starting a new legislative day, pursuant to the 20th amendment to the Constitution and fixed by Public Law 111-289, for the meeting of the One Hundred Twelfth Congress of the United States.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

First Test …


One week from today, the new Republican House Majority will attempt to take a giant step backwards for our nation by holding a vote to repeal the health reform law that protects Americans from insurance company abuses.

This is our first test of how grassroots Democrats will respond to the Republicans’ disgraceful attempt to roll back our progress for America’s middle class families. We must hold House Republicans’ feet to the fire for taking government funded health care for themselves while voting to deny it to American families.

That is why we urgently need your support to raise $100,000 in grassroots contributions to hold Republicans accountable before their shameful vote on Wednesday.

Contribute $5, $10 or more today to help us respond to the Republicans’ shameful vote to take away quality, affordable health care from the American people and put insurance companies back in charge.

In the weeks since last November’s election, grassroots Democrats have not missed a beat in our effort to regain the Majority in 2012. Thanks to you, we surpassed our December grassroots goal by raising over $250,000. I cannot thank you enough.

Now we need your continued support to hold Republicans accountable for their misplaced priorities by voting to repeal health care reform rather than focus on creating jobs for America’s middle class. Every dollar you contribute will be used to keep the pressure on Republicans through hard-hitting ads, fact-checks, petition drives, Rapid Response efforts, and so much more.

Contribute $5, $10 or more today to help us respond to the Republicans’ shameful vote to take away quality, affordable health care from the American people and put insurance companies back in charge.

The world is closely watching our commitment to protecting all of our historic progress for America’s middle class families. Let us begin right now by holding the new Republican majority immediately accountable for trying to repeal health care reform.
Nancy
Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader

P.S. We cannot remain silent as Republicans shamefully vote to take away quality affordable health care from the American people. Please urgently contribute before our Wednesday deadline to hold them accountable and send a powerful message of strength to the media.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Call Sens. Cantwell and Murray: Jimmy would be proud


The Senate is getting ready to vote on a crucial reform to end the abuse of stalling tactics in Washington. So we need to make sure our senators hear right away how important this reform is to voters at home. Can you call Sens. Cantwell and Murray today and ask them to support rules reform and end the abuse of filibusters?

Senator Maria Cantwell
Phone: 202-224-3441

Senator Patty Murray
Phone: 202-224-2621


Remember when Jimmy Stewart takes the Senate floor in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington“ and refuses to cede it until he’s made his point? That’s how filibusters are supposed to work: A principled senator would stand up in the light of day to stop the majority from doing something bad.

These days, though, filibusters—the procedure that the minority party in the Senate uses to block a majority favored bill—don’t work that way. All it takes is one anonymous objection from a single senator to trigger a filibuster. In fact, in the 1960s, only 8% of all bills were blocked by a filibuster—but since 2006 that has ballooned to more than 70%.1

Now, Senators Tom Udall and Jeff Merkley are pushing for rule changes that would end the abuse of the filibuster. Those changes could come up for a vote as soon as this week. So we need to speak out right away to show how important this reform is to voters at home. Can you call Sens. Cantwell and Murray and ask them to support rules reform to end abuse of the filibuster?

Here’s where to call:

Senator Maria Cantwell
Phone: 202-224-3441

Senator Patty Murray
Phone: 202-224-2621

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSWA_2.FSWA_1&cp_id=1515&id=25709-9640874-OU6kWHx&t=3

This vote is not about ending the filibuster or crushing minority rights in government. It’s about returning our government to a more democratic and transparent process.

In the last two Congressional terms Democrats have had to overcome more than 275 filibusters—the most in history.2

Here’s what the New York Times says is on the table for rules reform:3

“No lazy filibusters. At least 10 senators would have to file a filibuster petition, and members would have to speak continuously on the floor to keep the filibuster going. To ensure the seriousness of the attempt, the requirements would grow each day: five senators would have to hold the floor for the first day, 10 the second day, etc. Those conducting the filibuster would thus have to make their case on camera. (A cloture vote of 60 senators would still be required to break the blockade.)

“Fewer bites of the apple. Republicans now routinely filibuster not only the final vote on a bill, but the initial motion to even debate it, as well as amendments and votes on conference committees. Breaking each of these filibusters adds days or weeks to every bill. The plan would limit filibusters to the actual passage of a bill.

“Minority amendments. Harry Reid, the majority leader, frequently prevents Republicans from offering amendments because he fears they will lead to more opportunities to filibuster. Republicans say they mount filibusters because they are precluded from offering amendments. This situation would be resolved by allowing a fixed number of amendments from each side on a bill, followed by a fixed amount of debate on each one.”

Please call Sens. Cantwell and Murray today and ask them to support rules reform to end abuse of the filibuster.

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Michael, Ilyse, Peter, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. “A nuclear Senate,” Los Angeles Times, December 28, 2010 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205631&id=25709-9640874-OU6kWHx&t=4

2. Reform and the Filibuster, New York Times, January 2, 2011 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205632&id=25709-9640874-OU6kWHx&t=5

3. Reform and the Filibuster, New York Times, January 2, 2011 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205632&id=25709-9640874-OU6kWHx&t=6

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