Tag Archives: cheney

#NotOneMore


You helped make this powerful message unavoidabl​e

If you were in D.C., this ad was all over news sites, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Basically, all the places political offices have to monitor.”

That’s how our ad team described MoveOn members’ powerful ad campaign targeting decision makers in Washington, D.C. and state capitals across the country. The ad featured a call for action on gun violence from Richard Martinez, whose son was killed in the recent shooting at UC Santa Barbara.

This ad generated 8.1 million impressions in capital cities across the country in a week, including nearly 1 million in Washington, D.C. While not all of those “impressions” mean that someone watched the entire video, we do know that it was viewed thousands of times by government staffers and more than 600 times by members of the media.

Together, we’re working to make this powerful message unavoidable—to demand action in the face of the continued scourge of gun violence in communities across America. Sadly, in just the past few weeks, there have been multiple mass shootings since UCSB and countless individual gun deaths.

But passionate messages like Mr. Martinez’s can break through. As this video was being shared from coast to coast, MoveOn member and UCSB student Kyley Scarlet started a petition on gun violence to the Obama administration, and Vice President Joe Biden responded with a personal video message for students at the school.1

That’s why, no matter how frustrating this effort can be, we have to keep lifting our voices. If you haven’t already, please share the ad with everyone you know.

Thanks for all you do.

–Garlin, Jo, Nick, Alejandro, and the rest of the team

P.S. Have an idea for reducing gun violence in your community? Start your campaign today.

Sources:

1. “Vice President Joe Biden’s video message for UCSB graduates,” KCBX, June 11, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=299639&id=97504-17809870-5iignsx&t=4

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

Teachers forced to sign a “morality contract”


by Dominick Mortarotti via Change.org

I go to a Catholic school in Oakland, and the local Bishop wants to be able to fire teachers for things like supporting gay rights or seeking infertility treatment. Please sign my petition calling on the local Diocese to change this offensive contract.

Petitions on Change.org are started by people like you who care deeply about an issue. It takes only a few minutes, and can change something big.

Start your own petition

My teachers are in trouble, and we need your help. I go to a Catholic high school in Oakland, CA, and the Bishop of our district just put out a terrible new contract which says my teachers could be fired for being gay, for supporting gay rights, for supporting a woman’s right to choose, even for using or supporting infertility treatments like in vitro fertilization.

No one at my school wants this contract: not the teachers, not the students, not even the administration.  

The Bishop in my district re-categorized teachers as ministers to be able to get around employment law and fire teachers for their beliefs or even their personal medical decisions. There’s also a broad ethical clause that would give the Diocese leeway to fire teachers for any belief they hold.

I started a petition on Change.org calling on the Diocese of Oakland to get rid of this offensive and outlandish contract. Please click here to sign my petition.

It has been really difficult to watch my teachers struggle with this terrible contract. Some of them have even quit over it. My favorite teacher is just a few years away from retirement, and she has to choose whether to live with this offensive contract or risk compromising her pension. She’s the teacher who taught me about having strong moral character and standing up for yourself. It’s awful to watch her question whether she should hide her own beliefs because she can’t afford to lose her job.

This isn’t just happening in Oakland. The Catholic church is putting out terrible contracts like this all over America, from Cleveland to Honolulu. 

But some communities are fighting back, and they’re winning. In Santa Rosa, the community fought back so hard against a contract like this that the local Diocese was forced to postpone it. I know we can do the same in Oakland — and make the Bishops think twice before they try to do this to teachers in another city.

Please sign my petition calling on the Diocese of Oakland to change the contract that would allow teachers to be fired for supporting gay rights or infertility treatments.

Thank you,

Dominick Mortarotti
Oakland, CA

Tell Congress to End the Overuse of Antibiotics on Factory Farms


the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 6/11 ~~ the House


embassy attcksThe Senate stands adjourned until 9:15am on Wednesday, June 11, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2432, a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans.  The time until 10:00am will be divided as follows: Senator Alexander will control up to 15 minutes and the remaining time will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

 

At 10:00am, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2432.

10:00am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2432, a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans;

Not Invoked: 56-38

 

For procedural reasons, Senator Reid changed his vote and entered a motion to reconsider the failed cloture vote at a later time. The Senate continues consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2432.

 

S.Con.Res.37, a concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the rotunda of the United States Capitol in commemoration of the Shimon Peres Congressional Gold Medal ceremony.

The Senate has reached an agreement to vote at 4pm today on a motion to waive the budget, if a budget point of order is made, and on passage of Calendar #206, H.R.3230, as amended with the text of the Sanders-McCain veterans bill, S.2450, Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014. No amendments, other than the veterans substitute amendment, are in order to the bill.

4:00pm –up to 2 roll call votes

–        Motion to waive the budget act points of order (if point of order is made); and, (if made and waived then)

–        Passage of H.R.3230, as amended with the text of the Sanders-McCain veterans bill.

Senator Sessions made a point of order against the emergency designation provision contained in section 802(b) of H.R.3230, the vehicle for S.2450, the Veterans’ Access to care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014; and Senator Sanders moved to waive the applicable points of order.

 

At approximately 4:00pm, there will be up to 2 roll call votes on the following items:

 

  1. Sanders motion to waive applicable points of order with respect to H.R.3230, the vehicle for S.2450, Veterans’ Access to care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014; and, if waived then,
  2. Passage of H.S.3230, as amended with the text of S.2450, Veterans’ Access to care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014.

4:06pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Sanders motion to waive applicable points of order with respect to H.R.3230, the vehicle for S.2450, Veterans’ Access to care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014;

Waived: 75-19

 

Next:

  1. Passage of H.S.3230, as amended with the text of S.2450, Veterans’ Access to care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014.

4:34pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Passage of H.R.3230, as amended with the text of S.2450, Veterans’ Access to care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014;

Passed: 93-3

The Senate is in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

 

On Thursday, June 12, 2014, at 11:30 am, the Senate will execute the previous order to consider the Nix-Hines nomination. There will be up to 30 minutes for debate prior to a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination. Upon disposition of the nomination, the Senate will proceed to and vote on confirmation of the McCord, Chu, and Batta nominations.

 

As a result, we expect 1 roll call and 3 voice votes at 12:00 noon tomorrow on confirmation of the following nominations:

 

  1. Executive Calendar #523 Crystal Nix-Hines, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization;
  2. Executive Calendar #710  Michael J. McCord, of Ohio, to be Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) (voice vote expected);
  3. Executive Calendar #782 R. Jane Chu, Missouri, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts for a term of four years (voice vote expected); and
  4. Executive Calendar #776 Todd A. Batta, of Iowa, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture (voice vote expected).

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2432, a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans; Not Invoked: 56-38

2)     Sanders motion to waive applicable points of order with respect to H.R.3230, the vehicle for S.2450, Veterans’ Access to care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014, as amended; Waived: 75-19

3)     Passage of H.R.3230, as amended with the text of S.2450, Veterans’ Access to care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014, as amended; Passed: 93-3

 

Additional Legislative items

Passed S.1681, An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2014 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes with a Feinstein substitute amendment by voice vote.

 

Placed the following resolution on the Legislative Calendar and ordered the Senate to adopt the resolution upon the enactment into law of S.1681:

–        S.Res.470, Amending Senate Resolution 400 (94th Congress) to clarify the responsibility of committees of the Senate in the provision of the advice and consent of the Senate to nominations to positions in the intelligence community.

 

Adopted S.Con.Res.37, a concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the rotunda of the United States Capitol in commemoration of the Shimon Peres Congressional Gold Medal ceremony.

 

Adopted S.Res.471, Honoring former President George H.W. Bush on the occasion of his 90th birthday and Barbara Bush on the occasion of Her.89th birthday and extending the best wishes of the Senate to former President Bush and Mrs. Bush.

 

Adopted S.Res.472, Honoring Dr. James Schlesinger, former Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Energy, and Director of Central Intelligence.

 

No Additional Executive items

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House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of June 11, 2014

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 6/12 ~~ the House


UScapitoltakenfromkenschramstoryThe Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Thursday, June 12, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 11:30am with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the Majority controlling the next 30 minutes.

 

At 11:30am, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #523 Crystal Nix-Hines, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization with 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form. Upon the use or yielding back of time (approximately 12noon), there will be up to 4 roll call votes on the following:

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #523 Crystal Nix-Hines – for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #710  Michael J. McCord, of Ohio, to be Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller),

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #782 R. Jane Chu, of Missouri, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts for a term of four years, and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #776 Todd A. Batta, of Iowa, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.

 

Following disposition of the Batta nomination, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 1:45pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

 

At 1:45pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and proceed to up to 3 roll call votes on the following:

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

12:00 noon The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #523 Crystal Nix-Hines, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization;

Confirmed: 52-41

Senator Levin asked unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the Majority leader, in consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate vote on ratification of Executive Calendar #9, 113th Congress, 2nd Session” href=”http://democrats.senate.gov/execlookup.php?nomination=calendar+no.+9&congress=113″ target=”_blank”>Executive Calendar #9 treaty document 112-1, Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Swiss Confederation. Senator Paul objected.

The Senate confirmed the following nominations by voice vote:

 

  1. Executive Calendar #710  Michael J. McCord, of Ohio, to be Under Secretary of Defense;
  2. Executive Calendar #782 R. Jane Chu, Missouri, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts for a term of four years; and
  3. Executive Calendar #776 Todd A. Batta, of Iowa, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture

 

1:46pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

Confirmed: 61-31

 

Next:

  1. Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and
  2. Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

2:12pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

Confirmed: 67-24

 

2:29pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

Confirmed: 63-24.

The Fischer nominations was confirmed 63-24. The Senate is now considering the motion to proceed to H.R.4660, the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill.

 

Today Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations and on the motion to proceed to H.R.4660, the CJS Appropriations bill:

 

  1. Executive Calendar #740, Salvador Mendoza, Jr., of Washington, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington;
  2. Executive Calendar #741, Staci Michelle Yandle, of Illinois, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois;
  3. Executive Calendar #778, Darrin P. Gayles, of Florida, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida;
  4. Executive Calendar #572, Peter Joseph Kadzik, of New York, to be an Assistant Attorney General; and
  5. MTP to Calendar #428, H.R.4660, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015

 

On Monday, June 16, at 5:30pm there will be up to 3 roll call votes:

 

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #740, Salvador Mendoza, Jr., of Washington, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington;
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #741, Staci Michelle Yandle, of Illinois, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois;
  3. Cloture on Executive Calendar #778, Darrin P. Gayles, of Florida, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida;

 

If cloture is invoked on any of the nominations, on Tuesday, June 17th at 11:00am, all post-cloture time will be considered expired and the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed above followed by a cloture vote on  Executive Calendar #572 Peter Joseph Kadzik – to be an Assistant Attorney General.

 

On Tuesday, June 17 at 11:00am—up to 4 roll call votes:

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #740 Salvador Mendoza, Jr. – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington,

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #741 Staci Michelle Yandle – to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois,

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #778 Darrin P. Gayles – to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #572 Peter Joseph Kadzik – to be an Assistant Attorney General (up to 8 hours of post-cloture debate).

 

At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, in consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:

 

  1. Executive Calendar #538 Brian A. Nichols – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Peru;
  2. Executive Calendar #770  Gustavo Velasquez Aguilar – to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
  3. Executive Calendar #766  J. Mark McWatters – to be a Member of the National Credit Union Administration Board for a term expiring August 2, 2019 and
  4. Executive Calendar #712 Christine E. Wormuth – to be Under Secretary of Defense.

 

There will be 2 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form on each nomination; that upon the use or yielding back of time the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed. All roll call votes after the first be 10 minutes in length. Senators will be notified when the votes are scheduled.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #523 Crystal Nix-Hines, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization; Confirmed: 52-41

2)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Confirmed: 61-31

3)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Confirmed: 67-24

4)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Confirmed: 63-24

 

Legislative items

Adopted S.Res.473, Celebrating the 20th anniversary of National Men’s Health Week.

======================================================

 

Adopted S.Res.474, Designating June 19, 2014, as “Juneteenth Independence Day” in recognition of June 19, 1865, the day on which slavery legally came to an end in the United States

 

Adopted S.Res.475, Congratulating the Alaska Aces hockey team on winning the 2014 Kelly Cup as champions of the East Coast Hockey League.

 

Adopted S.Res.476, Recognizing the 350th anniversary of the founding of the State of New Jersey and honoring the valuable contributions of people of the Garden State.

 

Additional Executive items

Confirmed the following by voice vote:

–        Executive Calendar #710  Michael J. McCord, of Ohio, to be Under Secretary of Defense.

–        Executive Calendar #782 R. Jane Chu, Missouri, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts for a term of four years.

–        Executive Calendar #776 Todd A. Batta, of Iowa, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.

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