Tag Archives: BP

Congress:the Senate/House debates & votes today!

09/14/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes: 10:00amET September 14, 2010

Resume consideration of H.R.5297, the Small Business Jobs bill with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees.

At 11:00am, the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on Johanns amendment #4596 (1099 reporting). If cloture is not invoked, the Senate would proceed to a cloture vote on the Nelson (FL) amendment #4595 (1099 reporting). If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours for debate. If cloture is not invoked, the Senate would proceed to a cloture vote on the substitute amendment #4594 to HR5297, Small Business Jobs.

The Senate will recess from 12:30pm – 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

By unanimous consent, the filing deadline for second degree amendments to the substitute amendment #4594 and HR5297 is 12:00 noon today, Tuesday. September 14.

Votes:
231: Cloture on Johanns #4596 (1099 reporting);
Not Invoked: 46-52

232: Cloture on Nelson (FL) #4595 (1099 reporting);
Not Invoked: 56-42

233: Cloture on Substitute amendment #4594: to H.R.5297, Small Business Jobs bill;
Invoked: 61-37 <<- this means that HR5297 will now move forward to a final vote this week; Reid tweets dadt may get a vote as well this week

There will be no further roll call votes.

Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.Res.597, a resolution designating September 2010 as “National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month”

Adopted S.Res.603, a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Council for International Visitors, and designating February 16, 2011, as “Citizen Diplomacy Day”

Adopted S.Res.607, a resolution recognizing the month of October 2011 as “National Principals Month”

Adopted S.Res.620, a resolution to designate September 12, 2010, as “National Day of Encouragement”

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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 2:00pmET September 14, 2010

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

7:00 P.M. –

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

6:59 P.M. –

Mr. McClintock requested the following general leaves to address the House on September 21: Mr. Jones for 5 min.

Mr. McClintock requested the following general leaves to address the House on September 16: Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, and Mr. Bishop of UT for 5 min.

6:57 P.M. –

Mr. McClintock requested the following general leaves to address the House on September 15: Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, Mr. Gohmert for 5 min, Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for 5 min.

6:45 P.M. –

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

H. Res. 1571:

acknowledging and congratulating Miami Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of service to the students and residents of the State of Florida

6:43 P.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 378 – 0 (Roll no. 520).

6:32 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1052:

honoring the members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of Oklahoma for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States since September 11, 2001

6:31 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): 378 – 0 (Roll no. 519).

6:01 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

6:00 P.M. –

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

3:50 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:00 P.M. today.

H. Res. 1611:

expressing support for designation of the week beginning September 19, 2010, as “National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week”

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 voice vote.

3:40 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1611.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Sablan moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1480:

commending the University of Southern California Trojan men’s tennis team for its victory in the 2010 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Tennis Championship

3:39 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 voice vote.

3:29 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1480.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Sablan moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1564:

commending and congratulating Michigan Technological University on the occasion of its 125th anniversary

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 voice vote.

3:18 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1564.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Sablan moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1571:

acknowledging and congratulating Miami Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of service to the students and residents of the State of Florida

3:17 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

3:04 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1571.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Watson moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H.R. 6102:

to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to extend the authority of the Secretary of the Navy to enter into multiyear contracts for F/A-18E, F/A-18F, and EA-18G aircraft

3:03 P.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

2:53 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6102.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H. Res. 1251:

recognizing and honoring the United States troops who gave their lives on D-Day at the Battle of Normandy

2:52 P.M. –

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

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

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

2:45 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1251.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H. Res. 1052:

honoring the members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of Oklahoma for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States since September 11, 2001

2:38 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1052.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Boren moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1610:

expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the terrorist attacks launched against the United States on September 11, 2001

2:37 P.M. –

2:13 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1610.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Connolly (VA) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

2:12 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:00 p.m. today.

2:04 P.M. –

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

2:03 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 House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on September 14, 2010 at 9:21 a.m.: That the Senate agreed to H.Con.Res. 292, without amendment.

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 House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 12, 2010 at 12:04 p.m.: That the Senate agreed to S.Res. 617.

2:02 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 House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 12, 2010 at 10:37 p.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 6080, without amendment.

2:01 P.M. –

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

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

2:00 P.M. –

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

The Speaker designated the Honorable Laura Richardson to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress in Session -9/13/10

09/13/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes today at 2:30pmET

following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business until 3:30pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 3:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Jane Stranch, of Tennessee, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit. There will be 2 hours for debate with the time equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Sessions, or their designees.

At 5:30pm on Monday, September 13, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination of Jane Stranch to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit.

As a reminder, Senator Reid filed 4 cloture motions with respect to the Small Business Jobs bill (HR5297). The filing deadline for first degree amendments to HR5297 and the Reid for Baucus-Landrieu amendment #4594 (Substitute) is 3:00pm on Monday, September 13.
Votes:
230: Confirmation of Jane Stranch to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit; Confirmed: 71-21

The next meeting in the House will be on September 14, 2010 at 2:30

~ Recent Post

The Tiniest Tiger in the World

09/10/2010 Nativegrl77

Read Tiki’s story.

Be Tiki’s friend.

Deep in the beautiful Sumatran rainforests of Indonesia lives the tiniest tiger in the world. His name is Tiki.

Sumatran tigers are now the smallest tiger species in existence, ever since their relatives, the Javan tigers, went extinct. There are currently less than 500 Sumatran tigers left in the wild and Tiki is their new super cute superhero spokestiger.

Please help Tiki save the tiny tigers!

Start by reading Tiki’s story and sharing it with the children in your life.

Tiki’s home is in great danger. Every day, wood pulp and paper companies threaten the survival of these majestic felines by clear-cutting their precious rainforest habitat, draining wildlife rich (carbon-filled) peatlands, and turning these lands into plantations.

Tiki is calling on kids, parents, teachers, families and you to help him defend his rainforest home.

Be Tiki’s friend so he can keep you in the know about actions to save the tiny tigers of Sumatra.

Before Sumatran tigers like Tiki become just another extinct species for the history books or a special “last remaining” exhibit at the zoo, we must stop destructive paper companies from tearing down Indonesia’s precious rainforests.

Stay tuned for upcoming actions in your community and GET READY TO ROAR!

		For the tigers,
		Hillary Lehr Grassroots Organizer

~ Recent Post

CLEAN ENERGY: California’s Fight Against Polluters

09/10/2010 Nativegrl77

ThinkProgress.org

In 2006, California’s Global Warming Solutions Act, known as Assembly Bill 32, was passed, and called for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. It was a bipartisan, significant effort that has already yielded green jobs in California, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and served as a model for other legislative efforts. As one might expect, however, the legislation is under a furious and well-funded assault by Big Oil and those ideologically opposed to addressing climate change. This fall, voters in California will pull the lever for or against Proposition 23, which if passed, would immediately suspend AB 32‘s effects. The usual conspirators — including Koch Industries — have been funding the opposition, and the debate is looming larger over the tightly-contested gubernatorial and U.S. Senate elections there. California voters have a choice between continuing progress on climate change, or helping already-wealthy and powerful industrial interests protect their bottom line.

AB32’S IMPACT: Assembly Bill 32 was passed to address a real threat in California — sea levels along California’s coast have been steadily rising and are projected to climb nearly 5 feet by 2100, threatening $100 billion in property and infrastructure like homes, office buildings, roads, and power plants. Addressing climate change in California would not only help residents, but also the world — as the eighth-largest economy on the planet, California could contribute significantly to the reduction of overall greenhouse gases. AB 32 is also serving as a useful trial balloon for climate change legislation in other states and at the federal level. As ClimateProgress has detailed, AB 32 is a model of bipartisan action on clean energy. A Democratic-controlled legislature passed the measure with support from business, labor, environmental and health organizations and Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed it into law. AB 32’s approach mirrors the legislation recently passed in the House — though the version sponsored by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) is has been delayed in the Senate. Aside from positively affecting global climate change and legislative efforts elsewhere, AB 32 has already had a positive economic impact on California. More than 100 economists with expertise in California energy and climate issues signed an open letter in July opposing any change to AB 32. “Delaying action now and waiting for the future before initiating accelerated action to reduce global warming gases will be more costly than initiating action now,” the letter states. As CAP has written, doing away with AB 32 would damage California’s clean-energy economy and exacerbate the unemployment problem crippling the emerging clean energy industries. According to the California Employment Development Department, hundreds of thousands of employees already work part- or full-time manufacturing, construction or other green jobs. Over $9 billion in venture capital since 2005 — 60 percent of all venture capital invested across the U.S. during that period — has been invested in California clean energy initiatives. A study released yesterday by the University of California Berkely found that “Passage of Proposition 23 would result in direct job losses.”

KOCH INFLUENCE: Unsurprisingly, the fossil fuel industry is vigorously opposed to AB 32, and is pumping considerable resources into passing Proposition 23. Contributions to the Yes on 23 campaign are now over $8 million — and 97 percent comes from oil companies, and 89 percent comes from out of state. Among the most active companies are two Texas firms: Valero Energy and Tesoro Corp. Valero, Tesoro and Koch Industries alone have funded more than $6.5 million of the opposition. The Wonk Room recently obtained a PowerPoint file that a Tesoro executive presented at a large oil conference — attended by giants like BP, Exxon Mobile, and Shell Pipeline — urging fellow companies to fund the AB 32 opposition because Tesoro determined it would have a negative “impact on business.” While Tesoro’s presentation did yield almost immediate donations from a handful of companies, the big-name groups like BP and Exxon Mobile did not donate — at least publicly. However, the Adam Smith Foundation, a Missouri-based nonprofit, is mysteriously funding much of the opposition to AB 32. The foundation is not required to disclose its finances, but many suspect that it is spending the oil industry‘s money. And the now-notorious Koch family has gotten involved in trying to stop this progressive policy initiative. Koch Industries is already the largest funder of climate change denial and anti-environmental regulation fronts worldwide, and not incidentally, is also the 10th-worst air polluter in America. The Wonk Room learned in August that Koch Industries is also a serious participant in blocking AB 32. In its corporate newsletter, Koch Industries explicitly stated that the low fuel standards set forth in AB 32 would harm the companies’ bottom line and would “be very bad news for our industry.” Koch has been funding the Pacific Institute, the main think tank producing junk studies that smear AB 32, and on Sept. 2, a Koch Industries subsidiary made a $1 million donation to the campaign for Proposition 23. A spokeswoman said the company “may consider additional support.” Leading Proposition 23 proponent Assemblyman Dan Logue (R-Linda) told the Wonk Room he expected a whopping $50 million to be raised in support of the campaign to overturn AB 32, dishonestly dubbed the “California Jobs Initiative.” In order to appeal further to moderates who may not have an ideological opposition to addressing climate change, the campaign is simply calling for a “suspension” of AB 32 until California’s unemployment rate drops below 5.5 percent for four consecutive quarters — something that has only happened three times since 1976.

THE POLITICAL GAME: This November, the other candidates on the ballot along with Proposition 23 cannot avoid taking a position — try as some of them might. California GOP Senate nominee Carly Fiorina was repeatedly asked during a debate with Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) if she supported Proposition 23, and she repeatedly deferred offering an opinion. Two days later, however, she issued a statement in support of Proposition 23 and advanced the phony jobs claim: “AB 32 is undoubtedly a job killer, and it should be suspended,” the statement read. Meg Whitman, the GOP nominee for governor, is still wavering on Proposition 23 and will neither endorse nor condemn it. As the Los Angeles Times describes, Proposition 23 is “lose-lose” for GOP candidates, who must “appeas[e] members of their party who want to suspend the global warming bill while wooing environmentally-conscious independent voters who could carry them to victory in November.” The Obama administration, however, has weighed in opposition to Proposition 23: Energy Secretary Steven Chu calls the measure a “terrible setback” and EPA regional administrator Jared Blumenfeld has said Proposition 23 would send a “terrible and false message” to the rest of the country. GOP-aligned business interests favor Proposition 23, though they are doing it softly. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce opposed AB 32 when it was passed, and has recently been criticizing AB 32 on phony job-killing claims. It has endorsed Fiorina, but stopped short of outwardly supporting Proposition 23. The California Chamber of Commerce has also said it will remain neutral. But some local business groups are opposing Proposition 23, as many did when it was passed — for example, the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce came out against the initiative, saying only that it “needs to be implemented carefully and that consideration of impacts on the state economy should be taken into account as part of that process.” Ultimately, however, the voters of California — not the politicians or business interests — will decide whether to allow AB 32 to continue creating jobs and reducing greenhouse gas pollution.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Stop Texas Oil from Rewriting Environmental laws

09/10/2010 Nativegrl77

Stand against oil companies trying to overturn global warming legislation

With the Senate’s failure to pass an anti global-warming bill, legislation on the state level is currently our most direct answer to saving the planet.

California already passed one of the toughest anti-global warming laws in the world (AB32) back in 2006 — and its regulations will start being phased in next year.

But not if a bunch of oil companies in Texas have their way. Texas oil companies Valero and Tesoro have spent $3.5 million to fund Prop 23 in California; a deceptive initiative that, if approved by voters this November, will effectively reverse AB32.

If these Texas Oil Companies succeed in rewriting California’s global warming laws, it won’t just hurt California’s effort to curb harmful carbon emissions — it will be a giant step back for nationwide efforts to fight global warming.

So we need to tell Valero that their continued support of this proposition is going to cost them, too >

This campaign was started by our partner CREDO Action in California earlier this year with The Courage Campaign, but since then, Valero has upped the ante. With only two months until the election, they just gave another $3 million to fund the attack on AB32. There’s no telling how many more millions Valero will dump into this effort before November — but if we create a groundswell of national pressure, we can force them to reconsider their support. So we’re supporting CREDO Action in taking this boycott national.

The Senate climate fight made clear that dirty energy companies have far too much power in Washington. And now that the Citizens United case has opened the door for more corporate money in our elections, the best way to stop dirty energy from having an even bigger impact on ballots nationwide is with direct, public pressure that will be noticed by corporate executives and shareholders alike.

This type of pressure just made a big difference after Target donated $150,000 to a group backing anti-gay candidates. With Valero leading an attack on the strongest climate pollution reduction act in the country, we need to show them that their support isn’t just bad for the environment — it’s also bad for business.

Valero’s CEO needs to hear the message loud and clear. Sign the pledge and join the boycott of Valero >

Thanks for taking action,

The Change.org team