MILITARY — GATES URGES CONGRESS TO DELAY ‘DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL’ REPEAL: In a strongly-worded letter to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO), Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrote he doesn’t want Congress to take any action on repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) until the Pentagon’s “working group” on the issue has completed its work to determine the impact a repeal would have on the U.S. Armed Forces. Citing the need for a “a thorough, objective, and systematic assessment of the impact of such a policy change,” Gates wrote, “I strongly oppose any legislation that seeks to change this policy prior to the completion of this vital assessment process.” According to Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Gates’ stance “delivered a devastating blow to getting repeal done this year,” which Obama has asked Congress to do. Sarvis called the letter a “joint political decision” by Obama and Gates and and said that it “showed a lack of respect for our LGBT service members who are on the frontlines every day risking their lives for our safety.” There is momentum for a DADT repeal this year as 13 Democratic senators have signed onto an effort to enact a repeal after the Pentagon’s review has completed. One of the bill’s co-sponsors, Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO), responded to the letter by saying, “There is no reason why Congress shouldn’t pass legislation this year that would time the repeal to follow the conclusion of the study.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has also signaled her support for repeal, saying that Congress should “immediately place a moratorium on dismissals under this policy until the review has been completed and Congress has acted.” Democrats in Congress will have a tougher time attracting moderate and Republican co-sponsors in light of Gates’ letter, and if Congress waits until next year — after the Pentagon review is completed — to move forward on legislation, the make-up of the legislature will be different and could again delay repeal. White House Spokesman Tommy Vietor said Friday, “The President’s commitment to repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is unequivocal. This is not a question of if, but how. That’s why we’ve said that the implementation of any congressional repeal will be delayed until the DOD study of how best to implement that repeal is completed. The President is committed to getting this done both soon and right.”
Tag Archives: equality
Monday mashup …&c-span
The wind and rain was, is loud and heavy here in the 206 last night but nothing like what is going on in the mid-west and further south of our country. All thoughts are on the people along the Gulf Coast, hopefully BP will hire and pay so all those who are losing money everyday the WELL is not capped as the coast remains a mess and threats of damage to shrimping, oyster beds, fish, canneries, restaurants, sight-seeing tours and everything related is likely to suffer as well. It’s only right to not only pay up but figure out what the potential loss for the gulf coast economy along with the fishing industry and prepare to compensate a whole lot of people.
The people on the Gulf Coast should not be treated as if they don’t know what the future looks like; no deal, no amount of money will be able to undo what has happened to the area in the long term and after hearing an offer of $5,000 dollars if people don’t sue? uh can we all say class action. While there are many other issues to stress out on most people are wondering and or thinking about … the attempted terrorist attack in Times Square, Wall Street reform, an Immigration and Climate Change Bill.
Other News …
**Conservative Latinos are rethinking their ties to the Republican Party in the wake of the GOP’s reaction to the new anti-immigrant Arizona law. Massey Villarreal, a past national chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, said, “It’s insulting to have Republican leaders across the country applauding this racist law. I’m sure this is going to hurt the Republican Party.” WSJ
**Seattle garbage/waste management workers voted 96% on the 5yr contract with yearly increases
**Obama administration officials told Newsweek that the Department of Homeland Security signaled to Arizona police that “it will most likely detain and deport only violent criminals” arrested because of the state’s new anti-immigration law. All others “will get a written notice requesting that they appear for a future hearing — warnings that some immigration officers call ‘run letters’ because recipients so rarely show up.”TP
**Whirlpool, who took about 19million in stimulus dollars; will now outsource jobs to Mexico
C-SPAN …
Press Conference on Oil Spill 5/3
Pres. Obama Press Statement 
Chron.: Obama, ‘Spare No Resource’ for cleanup
Conference Seeks to Restore Public Civility
At a national conference on intolerance, leaders from across the country gather to hear from key government leaders, policymakers and ambassadors on ways to confront violence stemming from anti-Semitism, incivility in America, the Iranian nuclear threat, and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The Anti-Defamation League hosts this Shana Amy Glass National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
Conference: C-SPAN2 at 12:30pm ET
Governors Share Solutions to Improve Job Growth
A bipartisan panel of governors, including Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), share the challenges states face in the economic downturn, such as creating jobs and reviving economic growth. He will discuss a recent study on Minnesota’s methods to foster conditions for job growth. Earlier today, Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) gave a preview of the annual summit, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Chamber Foundation
Gov. Richardson: Available Shortly Panel Discussion: C-SPAN2 at 9am ET BW: NM’s Richardson to Join Other Governors Panel Discussion: From Earlier
Sec. Clinton: U.S. Committed to Vision of Nuclear Free World
As part of the “irreversible, transparent and verifiable steps” to reduce its nuclear arms, Sec. of State Clinton announced that the U.S. will publicize the number of weapons in its nuclear arsenal. This is one of several actions by the Obama Administration to encourage world leaders to follow its nonproliferation agenda. Sec. Clinton also responded to Iranian Pres. Ahmadinejad’s remarks, saying that Iran has failed to meet its responsibility and is in noncompliance with U.N. safeguard obligations.
Iranian President Resists Non-Proliferation Pressure
In his first remarks in the United States since Pres. Obama began advancing his non-proliferation agenda, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will address a United Nations Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference this morning. Later today, Sec. of State Hillary Clinton also delivers remarks and will likely discuss stalled efforts to pass new sanctions against Iran, as well as international cooperation on nuclear arms control.
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Congress at Work …
The Senate Convenes: 2:00pm
Resume consideration of S.3217, Wall Street Reform.
Votes:
There will be no roll call votes on Monday, May 3.
***************************************************
CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 3, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION
- 10:06 A.M. –
- The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on May 4, 2010.
- 10:05 A.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 U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the house that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on April 30, 2010 at 11:20 a.m. stating that that body had passed H.R. 3714 and had agreed to S.Con.Res. 61, S.Con.Res. 62, and H.Con.Res. 264.
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ThinkProgress.org …
HEALTH CARE — SCHWARZENEGGER BECOMES THE FIRST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE REFORM: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), who had previously described national health care reform as “health care to nowhere” infected with “bribes, deals and loopholes,” announced Thursday that California will fully comply with the new law. In a news conference at the University of California at Davis Medical Center, Schwarzenegger broke with the host of Republican governors and attorneys general attempting to sue the federal government over the law, saying, “California is not part of this fight, and I’ll tell you why. When you don’t have health insurance and you go to the hospital, you are forcing other people to pay for your healthcare.” While saying the plan is “not without flaws,” the governor nonetheless called it “a good law,” adding that “it is the time for California to move ahead with it, thoughtfully and responsibly.” Schwarzenegger’s endorsement makes him the first Republican governor to publicly support health reform, delivering a major victory for Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who been trying to make clear how the law is beneficial to the states. In fact, Schwarzenegger attempted a similar reform of California’s health care system in 2007. His plan would have required Californians — even undocumented immigrants — to purchase health insurance coverage, mandated businesses with 10 or more employees to offer insurance or pay a fee, and expanded public health programs. Schwarzenegger’s proposal would also have prohibited insurers from denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions and required companies to spend at least 85 percent of their premium proceeds on patient care.
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Stand Up for Reform … May Day event
Tomorrow, tens of thousands of us are attending hundreds of events across America to celebrate the strength of our movement and march for progress on immigration reform. I just shot this video explaining why the marches and rallies happening tomorrow are so vital to this fight. If we don’t make our elected leaders act now, we’re going to see more raids, more discrimination, and more hatred – just look at what’s going on in Arizona for a chilling example of what could happen across America if we don’t act now. Tomorrow we’re going to show Congress that we won’t wait any longer for them to move on immigration reform. Thank you, |
Be a Seed for Change 
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