Tag Archives: Congress

The White House

On Friday, President Obama laid out his strategy for moving our country forward and reducing our deficit in a balanced way. Speaking from the East Room of the White House, the President was joined by Vice President Joe Biden – and 14 others stood behind him at the podium.

So who were those 14 people anyway? One was Pam, a school administrator. Another, Sara, is a veteran recovering from open-heart surgery. Barry has six children and Steve is an orthopedic assistant. Estela recently became an American citizen and voted in a U.S. election for the first time on Tuesday.

What they all have in common, however, is an interest in helping find answers to some of the big questions we face as a nation.

Find out more about the 14 people who stood behind the President.

President Barack Obama delivers a statement to the press on the economy, in the East Room of the White House, Nov. 9, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

CONGRESS: the House Republicans – the Senate Democrats

11/14/2012 Nativegrl77

the Senate Convenes at 2:30pmET November 14, 2012

Following the prayer and pledge, the first hour will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
The filing deadline for first degree amendments to S.3525, the Sportsmen’s Act is 4:00pm on Wednesday.
During Tuesday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on S.3525. Under the rule, that cloture vote will occur on Thursday morning.

The filing deadline for first degree amendments to S.3525, Sportsmen’s Act of 2012, is 4:00pm today. If your senator has a germane amendment and would like to preserve their ability to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment to the cloakroom prior to the deadline so that we may file it at the desk for you.

The Senate has reached an agreement that at 4:30pm today the motion to proceed to the motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on S.3414, the Cybersecurity Act of 2012, be agreed to; the motion to reconsider be agreed to; and that there be 60 minutes for debate divided between the two Leaders, or their designees, on the motion to invoke cloture on S.3414; and that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will proceed to the cloture vote on S.3414, upon reconsideration.

As a result of this agreement, at approximately 5:30pm today the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on S.3414, Cybersecurity Act of 2012, upon reconsideration.

5:36pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on S.3414, Cybersecurity Act of 2012, upon reconsideration;

Not Invoked: 51-47

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Motion to invoke cloture on S.3414, the Cybersecurity Act of 2012, upon reconsideration; Not Invoked: 51-47

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed H.R.6118, the Taking Essential Steps for Testing Act of 2012 (TEST Act).

Passed H.R.6131, a bill to extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders Act of 2006, and for other purposes (SAFEWEB Act) by voice vote.

Adopted S.Res.596, a resolution permitting the solicitation of donations in the Senate buildings for the relief of victims of Superstorm Sandy.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on November 14, 2012.

Watch Live House Floor Proceedings

10:00:12 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:18 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Daniel Webster to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:01:08 A.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
10:16:49 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:50 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of November 14.
12:00:58 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Donna Kafer, Arizona Legislative Chaplaincy, Peoria, Arizona.
12:02:21 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:03:26 P.M.		Walz of MN to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:03:49 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
12:27:20 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
12:28:11 P.M.	H.R. 2606	Mr. Amodei moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
12:28:27 P.M.	H.R. 2606	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2606.
12:33:54 P.M.	H.R. 2606	On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
12:33:55 P.M.	H.R. 2606	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:34:19 P.M.	H.R. 6570	Mr. Garrett moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 6570 — “To amend the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to consolidate certain CBO reporting requirements.”
12:34:35 P.M.	H.R. 6570	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:34:38 P.M.	H.R. 6570	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6570.
12:41:30 P.M.	H.R. 6570	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
12:41:33 P.M.	H.R. 6570	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:42:24 P.M.	H.R. 2453	Mr. Luetkemeyer moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments.
12:42:36 P.M.	H.R. 2453	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 2453.
12:48:33 P.M.	H.R. 2453	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.
12:49:17 P.M.	H.R. 6116	<MR. class=hiddenSpellError pre=”Mr ” Coble moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 6116 — “To amend the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to provide for direct appeals to the United States Supreme Court of decisions of the Virgin Islands Supreme Court.”
12:49:50 P.M.	H.R. 6116	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:49:55 P.M.	H.R. 6116	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6116.
1:04:35 P.M.	H.R. 6116	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
1:04:38 P.M.	H.R. 6116	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:04:41 P.M.	H.R. 6116	The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
1:05:03 P.M.	H.R. 5934	Mr. Coble moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5934 — “To amend title 18, United States Code, to include certain territories and possessions of the United States in the definition of State for the purposes of chapter 114, relating to trafficking in contraband cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.”
1:05:21 P.M.	H.R. 5934	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:05:23 P.M.	H.R. 5934	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5934.
1:17:16 P.M.	H.R. 5934	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
1:17:18 P.M.	H.R. 5934	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:17:51 P.M.		that that body had agreed to the House amendment to S. 743.
1:18:16 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
1:18:35 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

2:58:44 P.M.		Mr. Paul moved that the House do now adjourn.
2:58:58 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
2:58:59 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on November 15, 2012.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

President Obama’s Energy and Environment Achievements

10/23/2012 Nativegrl77

Oct 19, 2012 by BarackObamadotcom

Learn more: http://OFA.BO/UFY1XF
President Obama has made record investments in clean energy, and refuses to let polluters play by a different set of rules than everyone else. He’s implementing new standards to keep our air and water clean and our children safe.
Under President Obama’s watch we have more than doubled production of renewable energy from wind and solar, while investing in over 15,000 clean energy projects across the country.
Mitt Romney would cut funding and incentives for clean energy, including ending the tax incentive for wind energy, which could cost 37,000 American jobs. Meanwhile, he would continue providing billions in subsidies to Big Oil companies.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Did you hear … that some members of Congress plan to cut Social Security?

10/18/2012 Nativegrl77

Have you heard about the plan to cut Social Security? If you haven’t, here’s what it looks like:
Step 1: Talk about the plan behind closed doors
Step 2: Claim to not be cutting Social Security benefits, just adjusting the Consumer Price Index
Step 3: Keep the public in the dark with technical language such as “chained CPI”
Right now this is EXACTLY what some members of Congress are doing. They’re looking for additional programs they can cut to reduce the deficit, and Social Security is on the table. They’re looking at a stealth way to cut Social Security benefits: by switching the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment to a new measure of inflation, the chained CPI.
The chained CPI would cut Social Security benefits by reducing the annual cost-of-living adjustment — and the value of benefits — every year. These cuts start small, but get deeper every year. The older you get, the deeper the cut from the chained CPI.
That’s why we need your help to educate the public. Will you help share this important message? The image below explains what these cuts would really mean.

Infographic - Stealth cuts to Social Security

Please spread the word!

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Or, simply forward this email to friends and family

Why are we so worried? This stealth plan to cut Social Security would be a triple whammy to women:

Since women live longer than men on average, they would face deeper cuts in their Social Security benefits.
Elderly women rely more on income from Social Security, so these cuts would represent a larger share of their total income in retirement.
Since older women are already more economically vulnerable, these cuts would leave many of them unable to meet basic needs.

We are worried about women like Jeannette, from Medford, Oregon. She worked her whole life, up until she was 73, but has no pension. Her only income, apart from a little help from her adult children, is her Social Security check. She described to us how she manages.
“I’m a very frugal person. Always have been. I don’t have cable…that’s a luxury. I shop for food very carefully, too. I can’t afford meat anymore, but every once in a while if I see a great bargain, I’ll splurge on a small piece of meat. There’s a special discount cheese that I like. I make very thin slices…. I’m careful about keeping my clothes in good condition. I know that I don’t have the option to buy new ones.”
Jeannette’s story is not unique. She is one of millions of women who rely on Social Security to survive. And she can’t afford ANY cuts to her Social Security. And this is exactly why we need your help.
Please help spread the word by sharing our new graphic today.
Sincerely,

Joan Entmacher Vice President, Family Economic Security National Women’s Law Center

P.S. Do you or a loved one have a Social Security experience that you can share? Add your story to our storybank! Stories help our advocacy efforts by putting a face on programs that make a difference in women’s lives.
P.P.S. Please help us continue to advocate for policies that protect and improve economic security for women and their families by making a generous donation today.