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Republican mis-information …UNDER THE RADAR tp


TP  HEALTH CARE — FACT CHECK: HEALTH CARE REFORM WILL NOT MOVE MILITARY HEALTH CARE ‘TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT HANDLES WELFARE’: This week, Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA) told KUSI in San Diego that one of the most offensive parts of the health care reform law is that it will move TriCARE, the health program covering service members and their families, out of the Defense Department and “to the department that handles welfare.” He added that once members of the military find out, “all hell is going to break loose.” But there is no basis to Bilbray’s claim, which he has repeated to other outlets. The Administration for Children and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services administers the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, aka “welfare,” and nothing in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act says that TriCARE will be moved there. “Those who depend on TriCARE should rest assured — TriCARE will not change under health insurance reform,” HHS spokesman Nick Papas told The Progress Report. TriCARE spokesman Austin Camacho has also said, “Tricare is a DoD agency, and I’m quite sure it will stay that way.” Even Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), appearing on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal on Monday, insisted that the Affordable Care Act won’t affect military care. “It is unfortunate that some continue to raise what is now even more clearly a false alarm that is apparently meant to frighten veterans and their families in order to prompt them to oppose the pending legislation,” said Vietnam Veterans of America President John Rowan. The American Legion, usually one of the most conservative veterans groups, has said military members “can rest assured that their TRICARE benefits are secure under the law signed by President Obama.”

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Action Alert … change.org


Don’t Let Texas Rewrite History

If you thought that decisions made by the Texas State Board of Education don’t affect you, think again.

Led by right-wing ideologues, the Texas board recently gave preliminary approval to a plan that would radically change what children across the country learn in history class.

The ultra-conservative majority on the board — many of whom are explicitly anti-science and believe that the United States is a “Christian nation” — took the curricula proposed by teachers and made over a hundred changes, questioning the separation between church and state and diminishing the role of women and minorities.

But it gets worse. Since Texas is one of the largest textbook markets in the country, material written to cater to the Texas curricula will find its way into textbooks across the country unless textbook publishers take a stand.

We can’t allow a small group of extreme ideologues on the Texas State Board of Education to re-write history. Click here to tell textbook publishers to stand up to Texas extremists.

Children who use textbooks conforming to the new standards will not learn anything about the political philosophy of Thomas Jefferson or his thoughts on the separation of church and state. When they learn about the Civil War, they’ll have to study Jefferson Davis’ inaugural address alongside Abraham Lincoln’s. And when they study the civil rights movement they’ll have to learn about the “unintended consequences” of affirmative action and Title IX.

In a particularly glaring rewriting of history, when reading about Joe McCarthy students will be told that he was right all along about communist infiltration into the U.S. government.

This is outrageous. We will have failed our children and imperiled our future if we cannot teach accurate history. We can’t let far-right ideologues co-opt our educational system.

Click here to tell the textbook publishers: Don’t let Texas rewrite history.

Thank you for standing up for the American educational system.

– The Change.org Team in partnership with CREDO Action

 Click here to sign your name

The job of textbook publishers is to educate our children, not indoctrinate them.

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TGIF news and cspsan.org live-stream


It’s Friday,  thank goodness and it definitely has been a damn good week for We The People; nothing even remotely feels  like Armageddon as suggested by John Boehner or Eric Cantor.  It was raining the wind was blowing and while our weather in the 206 did change … The Political Party of NO did everything they could to stop change, to stop having Americans move into the 21st Century with an opportunity for good health, to stop being denied or be discriminated against, to have relief because your student will be covered under  your insurance until the age of 26; the right has said this is a welfare program… College is not cheap; people lose everything in some cases from having to pay out of the nose because of the lack of good health care coverage or no coverage at all;  small businesses will be able to get tax credits for hiring and maybe afford to provide health care too.

Oh yeah, these are bad ideas even novel … wonder why no one else thought about or tried to improve the lives of Americans … oh wait; Presidents in the past have tried but no one was able to until now.  The HCR bill is not perfect but it can be adjusted. It’s time for the middle class to re-enforce the ideology of the Democratic party.   The new law of the land is just a beginning of change we can all believe in.  It’s change that is also the beginning of what  53% heard, listened and voted for.  We not only will expect it to continue We The People must participate in keeping this change happening by calling when we need to push Democrats to push forward into the 21st Century, sign Petitions to show the numbers that continue to support climate change, stop out-sourcing,  education, energy and green jobs for all projects.  The change we voted for will not be easy, it will not get done just by the President we need to rise up; voice our opinions shut down the negative noise of Republicans. The party of NO has now seen what change looks like and they will continue to from now on.

Updates as needed

Other News …

**More needy college students will have access to bigger Pell Grants, and future borrowers of government loans will have an easier time repaying them, under a vast overhaul of higher education aid that Congress passed Thursday and sent to President Barack Obama.AP

**The price of a Movie Ticket will be going up today

**British Airways is warning of a 2nd round of strikes starting at midnight 3/26/2010

**UPDATE 3/26/2010 South Korea navy fires in direction of N.Korean at an unidentified vessel and now a SKorean ship is sinking by possible torpedo stricke **On 3/25/10 SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea’s military warned South Korea and the United States on Friday of “unprecedented nuclear strikes” over a report the two countries plan to prepare for possible instability in the totalitarian country.

Senate adjourning until April 12 without extending unemployment benefits after Sen. Coburn blocked efforts Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/03/25/republican-senator-blocks-unemployment-insurance-insists-democrats-pay-for-spending/#ixzz0jIcvopJS

**A 6.2 earthquake in Chile today no word of injuries yet

**Sarah Palin is campaigning for McCain today in Arizona; and as far as the show on Discovery channel? i vote to BOYCOTT it

CSPAN.org … live-stream


U.S. & Russia agree to new arms treaty. The White House announced today that it has reached an agreement on a new strategic arms reduction treaty (START) between Russia and the U.S. Pres. Obama will be joined by Sec. of State Clinton, Sec. of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen at today’s White House press briefing. The agreement will be signed on April 8 in Prague.

Census Director Discusses 2010 Census. With the U.S. 2010 census underway, Census Bureau Dir. Robert Groves joins the Washington Journal to discuss how the census is conducted and evaluated. On Wednesday, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the agency had already received 20 percent of the distributed forms. Those figures suggest this year’s census is set to match or surpass participation rates from 2000, said officials.

House Passes Senate Changes To Health Care Reconciliation Bill. On Thursday, the House passed the Senate changes to the Reconciliation Bill by a vote of 220 to 207. The bill will now go to the President for his signature. Earlier, the Senate passed the Reconciliation bill by a vote of 56 to 43.

Counterterrorism and National Security Focus of Events.  A panel at the Center for Strategic and Int’l Studies will discuss their recent report on counterterrorism efforts. The discussion focuses on national security reform and lessons learned from the attempted Christmas Day bombing. Also today, the Heritage Foundation will gather policy experts to analyze the success rate of terrorist de-radicalization programs in which select detainees from Guantanamo Bay were sent abroad.

watch CSIS: From Earlier
visit CSIS visit The Heritage Foundationwatch Heritage Foundation: From Earlier

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Our Congress in action … the Senate/House


The Senate Convenes: 9:30am

Morning Business until 12:30pm with the time equally divided and controlled between Senators Stabenow and Coburn or their designees

Unanimous Consent:
Passed HR4957, FAA Extension Act (extends to April 30, 2010; current extension expires March 31, 2010).

Passed S.3162, a bill to clarify the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that constitutes minimum essential coverage.

Passed HR4621, the Prevent deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act.

Passed HR4573, Haiti Debt Relief and Earthquake Recovery Act.

Passed H.J.Res. 80, 65th anniversary of the Blinded Veterans Association.

Adopted S.Res.117, 80th anniversary of the Daughters of Penelope.

Adopted S.Res.412, designating September 2010 as “National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month”

Adopted S.Res.427, designating the first week of April 2010 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” (with Baucus amendment to the preamble).

Adopted S.Res.471, recognizing the University of Southern Mississippi.

Asopted S.Res.472, a resolution in recognition and support of “National Safe Digging Month”.

Adopted S.Res.473, supporting the designation of April as “Parkinson’s Awareness Month”.

Passed S.3191, Satellite Home Viewer (10 year extension)

VOTES …


CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS … believed to be on Easter Holiday, back April 12

Black History

Congress …


The Senate Convened

Resumed consideration of HR4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation.  Roll call votes in relation to amendments and motions will begin around 9:45am.

Votes:
87: Baucus motion to table Bunning amendment #3681: (opt out of Medicare);
Tabled: 61-36

88: Grassley motion to waive budget with respect to Grassley amendment #3699: (short term extension of certain tax provisions);
Not Waived: 40-56

89: Bennett (UT) motion to waive Budget with respect to Bennett (UT) #3568 (DC Gay Marriage)
Not Waived: 36-59

90: Baucus motion to table Risch #3645 (itemized medical expense deductions);
Tabled: 55-40

91: Hutchison motion to waive Hutchison amendment #3635: (marriage penalty);
Not Waived: 40-55

92: Baucus motion to table the Vitter amendment #3668: (mobile mammography)
Tabled: 56-39

93: Ensign motion to waive Budget with respect to Ensign amendment #3593: (medical liability protections)
Not Waived: 40-55

94: Coburn motion to waive Budget with respect to the Coburn amendment #3700: (Guns)
Not Waived:45-53

95: Durbin motion to table Sessions amendment #3701: (Immigration)
Tabled: 55-43

96: Baucus motion to table the Cornyn amendment #3698: ;
Tabled: 58-40

97: Baucus motion to table the Grassley amendment #3569: (frontier states)
Tabled: 53-45

98: Baucus motion to table the Brownback amendment #3697: ;
Tabled: 56-42

99: Now Voting on Vitter Motion to Waive Budget with respect to Vitter #3665 (to prevent the new government entitlement program from further increasing an unsustainable deficit)

100: Baucus motion to table DeMint Motion to Commit (Across State Lines);
Tabled: 56-43

101: Baucus motion to table Ensign amendment #3710: (individual mandates);
Tabled: 58-40

102: Now Voting on Motion to Waive Budget with respect to Murkowski amendment #3711: (Index Medicare Tax)

102: Motion to Waive Budget with respect to Murkowski amendment #3711: (PROVIDES a cost of living adjustment for taxable years after December 31, 2013 for the Medicare tax thresholds ($200,000 for individuals; $250,000 for families) established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the amendments made by this Act. RESCINDS $1.6 billion of unobligated amounts from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus bill));
Not Waived: 42-57

103: Hutchison amendment (small business)
Tabled: 55-43

104: Baucus motion to table Cornyn #3712
Tabled: 57-41

105: Passage of HR4872, Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, as amended by operation of section 313 (e) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974;
Passed: 56-43 sending it to the House for the final vote.

106: Reid motion to table the McConnell motion to proceed to S.3153, extension of UI, COBRA, physician payment, HER clarification, Frontier states/Medicare, 2009 poverty guidelines, floor insurance, satellite tv, highway extension, with an offset;
Tabled: 59-40

107: Motion to Instruct the SAA to request the presence of absent senators;
Agreed To: 58-35

108: H.Con.Res257, adjournment resolution;
Adopted: 49-39

Unanimous Consent:
Passed S.3186, to reauthorize the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 through April 30, 2010.

Passed S.3187, Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 (30-day extension)

Passed HR4938, a bill to permit the use of previously appropriated funds to extend the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program for an additional 30 days (current extension expires on March 28, 2010).

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 25, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

11:21 P.M. –
On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote. The House adjourned pursuant to H. Con. Res. 257. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on April 13, 2010.

Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.

10:46 P.M. –
SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed with Special Order speeches.

H.R. 4957:

to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program, and for other purposes

10:45 P.M. –
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On passage Passed without objection.

Considered by unanimous consent.

Ms. Richardson asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

10:25 P.M. –
SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed with Special Order Speeches.

S. 3186:

to reauthorize the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 through April 30, 2010, and for other purposes

10:23 P.M. –
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

10:22 P.M. –
On passage Passed without objection. Considered by unanimous consent.

Mr. Maffei asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker’s table and consider.

9:49 P.M. –
SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed with Special Order speeches.

9:48 P.M. –
The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 4938, S. 3186, and S. 3187.

9:28 P.M. –
SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

9:15 P.M. –
ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

9:12 P.M. –
The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 257.

H. Res. 1215:

expressing support for Bangladesh’s return to democracy

9:11 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): (Roll No. 195).

9:03 P.M. –
Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 4872:

to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010

9:02 P.M. –
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll No. 194).

8:42 P.M. –
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

8:24 P.M. –
DEBATE – Pursuant to H.Res. 1225, the House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendments to H.R. 4872. Mr. Miller, George moved that the House agree to the Senate amendments.

H. Res. 1225:

providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to the bill ( H.R. 4872) to provide for reconciliation pursuant to Title II of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010 (S.Con.Res. 13)

8:23 P.M. –
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 225 – 199 (Roll no. 193).

7:56 P.M. –
The previous question was ordered without objection.


H. Res. 1225:
providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to the bill ( H.R. 4872) to provide for reconciliation pursuant to Title II of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010 (S.Con.Res. 13)

6:38 P.M. –
DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1225 Considered as privileged matter.

Ms. Slaughter filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 1225.

6:37 P.M. –
The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 2
5:39 P.M. –
The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

H. Res. 1223:

The title of this measure is not available

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.R. 4360:

to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs blind rehabilitation center in Long Beach, California, as the “Major Charles R. Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center”

5:36 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 the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): (Roll No. 192).

5:30 P.M. –
Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1125:

supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Works Week, and for other purposes

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): (Roll No. 191).

5:21 P.M. –
Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 1586:

to impose an additional tax on bonuses received from certain TARP recipients

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll No. 190).

4:54 P.M. –
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

4:53 P.M. –
UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of agreeing to the Senate amendments with an amendment to H.R. 1586, and motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H.R. 4938:

to permit the use of previously appropriated funds to extend the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program, and for other purposes

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.

4:43 P.M. –
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4938. Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H. Res. 1215:

expressing support for Bangladesh’s return to democracy

4:42 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.

4:33 P.M. –
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1215. Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

4:31 P.M. –
The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until the conclusion of general debate on all suspensions.

H.R. 1586:

to impose an additional tax on bonuses received from certain TARP recipients

4:30 P.M. –
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule 19, the Chair postponed further proceedings of the motion to agree to the Senate amendments with an amendment to H.R. 1586.

3:18 P.M. –
DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on agreeing with an amendment to the Senate amendments to H.R. 1586.

3:17 P.M. –
Mr. Oberstar moved that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendments.

3:14 P.M. –
On approving the Journal Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 241 – 178 (Roll no. 189).

H. Res. 1212:

providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to the bill ( H.R. 1586) to impose an additional tax on bonuses received from certain TARP recipients, and for other purposes

3:08 P.M. –
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 231 – 190 (Roll no. 188).

2:58 P.M. –
Considered as unfinished business. The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 4872 amended.

H. Res. 1220:

raising a question of the privileges of the House

On motion to refer Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 406 – 1, 15 Present (Roll no. 187).

2:30 P.M. –
The previous question on the motion to refer was ordered without objection.

2:29 P.M. –
Mr. McGovern moved to refer to Standards of Official Conduct.

2:26 P.M. –
Considered as privileged matter. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 25.

11:19 A.M. –
The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

H. Res. 1212:
providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to the bill ( H.R. 1586) to impose an additional tax on bonuses received from certain TARP recipients, and for other purposes

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H.Res. 1212, the Chair put the question on adoption of agreeing to the resolution and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Slaughter demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to the resolution until later in the legislative day.The previous question was ordered without objection.

10:37 A.M. –
DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1212Considered as privileged matter.

10:32 A.M. –
NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO OFFER RESOLUTION – Mr. Flake notified the House of his intent to rise to a question of the privileges of the House and to offer a resolution. Mr. Flake was recognized to notice the form of his proposed resolution. The Chair subsequently announced that under rule IX, a resolution offered from the floor by a Member other than the majority leader or the minority leader as a question of the privileges of the House has immediate precedence only at a time designated by the Chair within 2 legislative days after the resolution is properly noticed. The Chair further announced that it would not, at that point, make the determination required by the rule.

10:06 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.

10:05 A.M. –
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Fleming to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair announced that she had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Jackson(IL) 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. Jackson(IL) 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.

10:04 A.M. –
Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Sharon Daugherty, Victory Christian Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

10:03 A.M. –
The House convened, starting a new legislative day.