Tag Archives: equality

Reduce Jacob’s charges to misdemeanor possession instead of life


Jana Duty: You promised to “restore integrity to the Williamson County District Attorney’s office” & use alternative sentencing. Reduce Jacob’s charges to misdemeanor possession.

By Robert Butler
Round Rock, Texas

Jacob Lavoro is a teenager facing life in prison for baking marijuana brownies in Round Rock, Texas. He’s a young man who has never been in trouble with the law before, and has always been a great kid who we love very much. I started the petition because I live in the same city as Jacob Lavoro and I felt a responsibility to help stand up for him. Our county has a history of excessively punishing minor crimes or even innocent people to “send a message” that has little do with justice or the best interests of the community.

In this case, the sentencing rules are being abused and stretched to increase a punishment that does not fit the allegations.  The police apparently included the full weight of the brownies: flour, sugar, water, etc and the plastic containers that held them to determine the weight of the illegal hash oil used to bake the brownies.

If our petition can convince Jana Duty, the District Attorney in Williamson County, to follow through on her campaign promises to clean up Williamson County’s justice system and offer alternative sentencing options then we hope that there will be justice for Jacob Lavoro and that county residents can breathe easier under a less oppressive atmosphere.

If Jacob Lavoro receives a harsh sentence, it will destroy this young man’s life and leave a permanent mark of injustice in Williamson County, Texas. Please join us today to stand up against unfair sentencing and ruining a young man’s life. Sign and share the petition today!

Have you heard about Moral Monday?


 

I support the Moral Monday protesters.

President Obama announced TWO pieces of GREAT news


Sign on to support President Obama’s call to action:

Moments ago, President Obama endorsed the Elizabeth Warren-John Tierney plan to effectively lower student loan debt by allowing people to refinance their loans. Add your name to support the plan:

President Obama just announced TWO pieces of GREAT news:

1. President Obama is taking executive action to expand his “Pay As You Earn” student loan program to up to five million more Americans. That means millions of college graduates won’t be forced to pay more than 10% of their monthly income on student loan bills.

2. President Obama went one step further — he called on Congress to pass the Elizabeth Warren-John Tierney bill allowing graduates to refinance their student loans, and get cheaper rates. The measure is paid for by making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share of taxes.

You can bet Republicans in Congress aren’t eager to support raising taxes on their billionaire backers — even if it helps college graduates struggling under crushing student loan debt.

That’s why we need to put the pressure on today — a vote could come as soon as this week.

Join President Obama: Help us reach 50,000 strong calling on Congress to pass the Elizabeth Warren-John Tierney Student Loan Reform Bill.

Carmen, click here to add your name >>

Thanks,

DCCC Breaking News

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 6/10 ~~ the House


voter-suppression_petition

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Following the vote, the time until 12:00noon will be equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees.

 

At 12:00noon, there will be 2 roll call votes on the following nominations:

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

Following the vote on the Boulware nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm for the weekly caucus meetings.

 

At 2:15pm, the time until 2:30pm will be equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees.

At 2:30pm, there will be 3 roll call votes on the following motions:

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

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

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors.

10:13am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #734, M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia;

Confirmed: 90-0

12:01pm The Senate began a 15minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts.

Confirmed: 91-0

 

Next:

– Confirmation of Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada

At 12:32pm, the Senate began a 10-minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

Confirmed: 58-35

At 12:32pm, the Senate began a 10-minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

Confirmed: 58-35

2:30pm The Senate began a 5 minute roll call vote on Cloture on Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

Invoked: 59-35

 

Next:

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

2:58pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on cloture on Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

Invoked: 58-36

 

Next:

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

3:16pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on cloture on Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

Invoked: 56-38

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; Confirmed: 90-0

2)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Confirmed: 91-0

3)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada; Confirmed: 58-35

4)     Cloture on Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Invoked: 59-31

5)     Cloture on Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Invoked: 58-36

6)     Cloture on Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Invoked: 56-38

 

Legislative items

Adopted H.Con.Res.100, a` concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

 

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.2450, Veterans’ Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 (Sanders and McCain) in order to place the bill on the Legislative Calendar of Business.

 

No Additional Executive items

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

Last Floor Action:
10:30:30 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

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

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 6/9 ~~ the House


Pinterestwh_climate_banner climate change is real

The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, June 9, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

 

At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and proceed to a series of 3 roll call votes on the following:

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia;

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; and

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

 

If cloture is invoked on any of the nominations, on Tuesday, June 10th at 10:00am, all post-cloture time will be considered expired and the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed above.

 

For the information of all Senators, during Thursday’s session of the Senate, Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations in the following order:

–        Executive Calendar #734, M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia;

–        Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts;

–        Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada;

–        Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (8 hours of post-cloture debate);

–        Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (8 hours of post-cloture debate); and

–        Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors (8 hours of post-cloture debate).

After the Senate convened today, Senator Reid moved 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 Senate is now in a period of morning business until 5:30pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

 

At 5:30pm today, there will be a series of 3 roll call votes on the following motions:

 

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia;

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; and

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

Senator Reid filed 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. The cloture vote is expected to occur on Wednesday, June 11. Another message will be sent once the vote time is scheduled.

5:32pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia;

Invoked: 52-32

 

Next:

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; and

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

6:04pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts;

Invoked: 52-33

 

Next:

Cloture on Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada (10 minute vote)

At 6:20, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada

Invoked: 53-34

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in several series of votes tomorrow and Thursday, June 12. As a reminder, cloture was also filed on the motion to proceed to the College Affordability bill and that vote will occur at a time to be determined on Wednesday.  Additional votes are possible this week, but the current schedule is as follows:

 

Tuesday, June 10:

10:00am—1 roll call vote:

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia

 

12:00noon — 2 roll call votes:

 

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada

 

2:30pm,–3 roll call votes:

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

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors

 

Wednesday, June 11:

TBD-cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2432, College Affordability

 

Thursday, June 12:

1:45pm—3 roll call votes—(if cloture is invoked on the Federal Reserve nominations on Tuesday)

–        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

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

At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, with the concurrence of the Republican Leader, there will be up to 30 minutes for debate prior to a 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.

 

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; invoked: 52-32

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Invoked: 52-33

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada; Invoked: 53-34

 

No Legislative items

The Senate began the Rule 14 process to place S.2450, Veterans’ Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 (Sanders and McCain), on the Legislative Calendar of Business.

 

No additional Executive items       

Senator Reid filed 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

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

Last Floor Action:
11:15:15 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on June 10, 2014.

Last Floor Action:6/5
3:04:46 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 604.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on June 9, 2014.

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