IMMIGRATION — TEXAS TEACHER SINGLES OUT LATINO STUDENT DURING SB-1070 DISCUSSION, SAYS MEXICANS ‘EXPECT HANDOUTS’: A high school English teacher in San Antonio, TX has been “removed from the classroom” after she reportedly singled out a Latino student wearing a Mexican soccer jersey and publicly insulted him with racist remarks. According to the student, Augustine Ortiz, what began as a discussion about Arizona’s new immigration law (SB-1070) escalated to an anti-Latino, racist attack. Ortiz said the teacher — whose name is being withheld pending an investigation — told him to sit in the front row, “proceeded to single him out repeatedly,” and made racist remarks about how Mexicans always “expect handouts.” The teacher also told the class that “soon it’s going to be the United States of Mexico,” according to Ortiz, and said Mexicans are “the racist ones.” The San Antonio Express-News reports that two students defended the teacher, saying Ortiz “was late to class and missed crucial aspects of her lecture.” They didn’t dispute the bulk of Ortiz’s account. However, another student in the class that day, Reina Mondragon, corroborated Ortiz’s story.” Mondragon said the teacher also “questioned why documents in the United States frequently are translated into Spanish and whether Mexicans should be allowed to own land in this country.” She said the teacher’s lecture “felt more like an attack, and like she was judging people from Mexico,” than a balanced discussion. According to Ortiz, when he went to complain about the incident, the vice principal “brushed him off.” However, once the school’s principal learned of the episode, administrators removed the teacher and launched an investigation. Ortiz also noted that the English teacher had been his favorite instructor. “She actually said we need to stand up for what we believe in,” he said. “And now I’m standing up for what I believe in.” About 93 percent of the students at the school are Hispanic.
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Repower America
With at least 4 million gallons of oil already poisoning the Gulf Coast and no end in sight for this environmental catastrophe, the alarm bell to end America’s dependence on fossil fuels is ringing and has reached a deafening volume.
We need a strong bill to transition our nation to clean energy — and we need it now.
Yesterday, we reached an important milestone in this fight when Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman released a draft version of their climate and clean energy proposal.
This is the starting gun for the Senate to craft and pass the strongest possible climate and clean energy legislation.
This week’s proposal is not the only language on the table. Over the last year, a number of other Senators, including Senators Susan Collins and Maria Cantwell, have put forward several proposals that also help end our addiction to fossil fuels. The addition of the Kerry-Lieberman draft proposal is important because it is the final piece of the puzzle — and now it’s time for the Senate leadership to craft the strongest bill possible, drawing out the best from all of the ideas that have been put forth.
The bill language that is finally selected for consideration by the Senate and the priority that it receives in the Senate calendar is driven by the Senate leadership. And how hard they push for this bill, and how strong it will be, will be determined by how much pressure Senators are feeling from us.
This week’s draft proposal from Senators Kerry and Lieberman is not perfect — it does not by itself solve the climate crisis, and there are too many provisions within it that support our continued dependence on fossil fuels, including too few restrictions on offshore drilling. Critically, the proposal does commit the United States to reducing carbon emissions 17% by 2020 and 83% by 2050 from 2005 levels — meeting the commitments President Obama made to the rest of the world at Copenhagen’s climate negotiations last year.
On Monday, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that the Senator is waiting to hear the public reaction to this draft legislation before he decides if climate and clean energy legislation will be a top legislative priority this year.
So we have to make sure our Senators hear from all of us. We cannot afford to wait any longer for climate and clean energy legislation, and we cannot afford weak legislation that won’t get the job done.
Please send an email to your Senators asking them to do everything in their power to ensure that a comprehensive climate and clean energy bill makes it to the floor of the Senate this year, and that this bill is the strongest bill possible.
http://cpaf.repoweramerica.org/senateactionnow
Congress’s failure to lead on climate and clean energy has cost us far too much already. But the first step to a better future is simple: “Bill, Baby, Bill!”
Thanks for making your voice heard at this critical time,
Dave Boundy
Campaign Manager
The Climate Protection Action Fund’s Repower America Campaign
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Tuesday News tips …
Democrats… true Democratic Candidates need We the People. It’s Super Tuesday, Primary day and as we all wait for the votes to come in it is important for all Democrats to GOTV for all the right Candidates who will continue with the great efforts to get our financial system, health care, climate change, immigration reformed, inplace and adjusted as needed. The focus should be progressives and or candidates willing to get us into the 21st Century and back in saddle again, or as the number one in the Nation.
The oil dump off the Gulf Coast has gotten to a point where everyone is now questioning what was said by the 3 stooges.. =BP/Halliburton/TransOcean from the beginning; did they start spinning from the beginning; why didn’t have equipment siphoning off oil right away. The conflicts between them was sad and offensive and when the final truth is that the equipment actually malfunctioned, that they were trying to draw oil from a blown well and mud, blow out switch or, top hat, junk shot and now siphoning, which probably should have been started sooner by people dressed in protective gear including masks.
immigration is still important and seems to be getting shoved under the rug; the polls have stated that people of America are sort of inclined to side on Gov Jan Brewer’s law… well, the poll question is what i question … the law is not stating that we need a comprehensive immigration reform … it states that the police will have the right to questions … by reasonable suspicsion…what is that? what does an illegal look like/what does an American look like? it means if you look like an undocumented or as most put it … if you look like an illegal then you are up for being stopped, questioned based on your accent, shoes and whatever will get you to show your papers. We all have to question what happens next? will police be paid at a higher rate because they are doing the job of a immigrant agent? and people need to know that police do commit errors, they do racially profile and in Seattle it was shown on camera … by a citizen…with audio and it def was racial profiling and racial slurs … the polls and how they are worded are the question
Other News …
**Pfizer to cut 6,000 jobs/closing more plants
**The Dow bounces back
**Republican Mark souder resigns after being caught having an affair with a staff aide
C-SPAN …
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN179665920100517
White House Press Briefing 5/17
Commerce Small Business Summit 5/17
Panelists Take Snapshot of Current Supreme Court Amid Changes
Coinciding with the recent release of “The Supreme Court: A C‑SPAN Book Featuring the Justices In Their Own Words,” C‑SPAN and the Library of Congress sponsor a discussion on the Supreme Court. Justice Stephen Breyer, Supreme Court reporters Joan Biskupic and Lyle Denniston, and former law clerk Maureen Mahoney take a look at the current make-up and issues facing the Court.
Primary Day Arrives in Oregon too!! Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Arkansas
Three state primaries being held today may shape the Congressional elections in November. In Pennsylvania, Incumbent Sen. Specter (D-PA) defends his seat from challenger U.S. Representative Joe Sestak (D). Also, Mark Critz (D) and Tim Burns (R) are in a special election to fill the seat of the late Rep. John Murtha (D). Kentucky holds a primary for the GOP U.S. Senate race with Trey Grayson, Rand Paul, Gurley L. Martin, John Stephenson and Jon J. Scribner. Lastly, incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln is up against challenger Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in the Arkansas U.S. Senate Democratic Primary.
Election Coverage: Tonight on C-SPAN Networks
New START Treaty Submitted To Congress
In April, Pres. Obama and Russian Pres. Medvedev signed a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) that will limit long-range nuclear weapons. Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Sec. Robert Gates and Jt. Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen discuss the treaty at a Senate Foreign Relations Cmte hearing. This would replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and the 2002 Moscow Treaty.
Senate Hearing: LIVE on c-span.org
START Signing Ceremony (4/8)
Lawmakers Examine Long Term Impact of Oil Spill
Congress continues its investigation into the Gulf oil spill, hearing from Obama Administration officials and executives from BP and Transocean. The Senate Commerce Cmte. will highlight the personal responsibility of BP and Transocean, while the heads of the Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration list short and long-term impact of the spill. Also, the Senate Environment Committee hears from EPA Admin. Lisa Jackson and Interior Sec. Ken Salazar on federal assistance in the Gulf Coast.
Commerce Cmte: c-span.org, 2:30pm ET
Environment Cmte: C-SPAN3 at 2:30pm ET
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Monday in Congress …
The Senate Convenes at 2pmET
The Senate will resume consideration of S.3217, Wall Street Reform.
Call your Senator today ! end Republican stalling …time to get Wall Street,Bank and Insurance Industry Reform
The following amendments are pending to
Dodd-Lincoln #3739 (Substitute) to S.3217:
– Brownback #3789, as further modified (automobile manufacturers)
– Snowe-Pryor #3883 (small business)
– Specter #3776 (civil action)
– Leahy #3823 (antitrust laws)
– Whitehouse #3746 (States rights)
– Cardin #4050 (resource extraction issuers)
Senator Reid then filed cloture on the Dodd-Lincoln substitute amendment and S.3217, Wall Street Reform. Senator Reid said that he had a conversation with Senator McConnell and they agreed that they will continue to process amendments tomorrow and Tuesday. Under Rule 22, the cloture vote will occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Wednesday.
Senator Dodd then asked consent to set aside pending amendments in order to call up the Bond-Dodd amendment #4056. Senator Wyden asked to modify the request to allow Wyden to call up amendment #4019 (secret holds). Senator Risch objected to Wyden’s request and the original request was granted.
By unanimous consent, the following amendments are in order:
– Cardin-Lugar #4050;
– Corker re: preemption, and
– Carper side-by-side to Corker amendment re: preemption
Votes:
Rockefeller #3758, as modified (FTC) was agreed to by voice vote.
151: Crapo motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Crapo amendment #4020: (GSEs on Budget);
Not agreed to: 47-46
152: Cornyn amendment #3986: (IMF);
Agreed To: 94-0
– Udall (CO) #4016 (credit scores) was agreed to by voice vote.
– Bond amendnet #4056 (Angel Investors) was agreed to by voice vote
Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.Res.533, a resolution recognizing National Foster Care Month.
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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 12:30pmET on May 18th 2010
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Monday mashup
It’s going to be a week of enlightenment for We the People … Super Tuesday is here and while primaries do matter what we all will definitely glean from it all is what side are Americans really on. The effort to educate recruit and mobilize Democrats for special and mid-term elections is still a work in progress. It’s hard to believe any true American is willing to put people into office that practice exclusion or do in fact state they want less government but ask for money and advice from Wall Street, Big Banks and the insurance industry. The Primaries will …or should help organizers see just who isn’t getting out there, who isn’t motivated to vote and this could be very important leading up to November elections.
FYI … people on the right are crafting a few falsehoods around the Elena Kagan appointment to the Supreme Court; please get the facts go to: White House site and read the information about Kagan; you will see this is another crazy show … a stalling tactic and effort to portray her in the worst light ever … remember the comments and strange behavior during the Sonia Sotomayer appointment? the mis-understanding of saying what was really meant by “a wise Latina” The questions will be just as strange the length probably as long but Kagan probably will be the next Justice; a woman justice.
BP’s only focus has been capping the oil dump leak with top hats, holders and tubes and while that has gone on they either have forgotten or have no idea how to deal with what is going on with the plumes they are dispersing … strange, because it just seems like someone should be trying to siphon those plumes … is that a novel idea or just common sense. It is also apparent that what was going on at MMS, other regulators as well as the EPA before President Obama was elected has to be reformed; this is another learning moment for what happens behind closed doors, handled by Republicans… the light has been turned on turbo style and while this oil dump, regulations and the Gulf Coast economy on his plate … who better than President Obama to reform the entire system. It’s obvious a lot of what has been going on was in the hands of Republicans including the winking and handshakes … it’s disgusting
Other News …
In a deal reached with Brazil and Turkey, Iran has agreed to ship most of its enriched uranium abroad and would receive medium-enriched fuel rods for its medical reactors in return. The agreement is nearly identical to the U.N.-drafted plan backed by the U.S. and its allies and could “deflate a U.S.-led push for tougher sanctions” on Iran.TP
**Hank Jones died at 91; Jazz pianist/composer-Grammy lifetime achievement award Winner
**The President signs the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act into law/protect the rights of journalists
**The President has issued an executive order to get an independent commission started
**A refinery has exploded in Huston,TX
**1.9million dart gun kits are being recalled as 2 children have died
Four Hispanic House Republicans told Roll Call that “the GOP must tread cautiously on immigration so as not to reverse the gains the party has begun to make with Hispanic voters on other issues.” “Part of the reason we have done so poorly with Hispanics was that there are a number of people who really went out of their way not to solve these issues but to stir them up,” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) said.TP
C-SPAN …
Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan: Sen. Judiciary Kagan Questionnaire | Senate Judiciary Cmte. | Sen. Leahy | Sen. Hatch | Senate Judiciary Cmte. | Solicitor General Questionnaire
Today at 8pm (ET) on C-SPAN
Campaign Rallies for Pennsylvania 12th Congressional District Special Election Candidates
BP Exec. again Defends Containment Efforts to Congress
Nearly a month after the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, BP America, Inc. President Lamar McKay appears once more before Congress to explain the new techniques being tried to halt the spill. Also, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will provide the federal government’s response to the oil rig disaster.
Senate Hearing on C-SPAN at 2:30pm ET
Previous Hearings on Gulf Oil Spill
Candidates Prepare for State Primaries
On Tuesday, four state primaries will be held that may shape Congressional elections in November. In Pennsylvania, Mark Critz (D) and Tim Burns (R) are in a special election to fill the seat of the late Rep. John Murtha (D). Also, Incumbent Sen. Specter (D-PA) defends his seat from challenger U.S. Representative Joe Sestak (D). Kentucky holds a primary for the GOP U.S. Senate race with Trey Grayson, Rand Paul, Gurley L. Martin, John Stephenson and Jon J. Scribner. Lastly, challengers Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter and D.C. Morrison are up against incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the Arkansas U.S. Senate Democratic Primary.
Republicans continue to offer Amendments to Financial Reform Bill
Senators continue work on the financial reform bill this week with debate on Republican amendments, including an amendment by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) that would give the U.S. representative at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the right to oppose future international rescue packages over repayment concerns. This and other amendments have been introduced by concerns over the Greek Financial Crisis. A cloture vote to end debate on the bill may happen as early as Wednesday.
Senate: 2pm ET on C-SPAN2
Be a Seed for Change 
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