Tag Archives: equality

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

TGIF … & cspan.org


UPDATE on the mis-information by Cable,  Republicans and or FoxNews… Yesterday, it was reported that the Parliamentarian stated that President Obama had to sign for the Senate HCR bill first before it could be reconciled or fixed  but …         The   Senate parliamentarian is telling hill staff that GOP aides misinterpreted his opinion on health care + reconciliation process.

The week may be over but …         the talk about reconciliation, HCR and what it will do to Democratic Senators  is just heating up  on the Hill.  Call your Senators and tell them we are not the Clinton voters; We want HCR with a Public Option through Reconciliation.

The President has delayed his trip to Asia in order to see the health care bill through and while the Speaker was quite happy she also decided that she would not put the Public Option on the table first, that they had done this unlike the Senate and when or if they do things could change; well im no journalist but im definitely a pissed off voter. and wonder just what has happened and can this be corrected before the vote happens next weekend.   The Black and Latino Caucuses  have made an attempt to be heard, Stupak and his group of maybe five want to change how Americans deal with abortions and thank goodness someone saw this and has put a halt to it, and last Democratic Blue Dogs have quietly decided to put their future elections ahead of the American people at this moment.

The vote is out on how this whole HCR will play itself out but im leaving room for Blue Dogs to  rear  what some in the  Party think is an ugly head.  It was quite a strange feeling to be let down, very  disappointing to hear the Speaker back off  the Public Option after Senator Durbin stated he would whip Senate Dems; unfortunately, it would be after the House voted yes to the Senate bill; i totally get how Pelosi and her fellow House Dems don’t trust Senate Dems …

Politics before the People   … i get it

All this time those for Health Care Reform in general even without  a Public Option through reconciliation assumed that the Senate would be a problem, that Conserva-dems might vote against HCR for all Americans; though 53% who voted for Barack Obama in 2008  knew exactly what we voted for …  including health care & insurance reform, DADT, immigration with purpose, full throttle regulations for the banks and any or all big banks or AIG type agencies; now we hear at least for HCR the official vote counter stated the votes aren’t there … unbelievable; is this evidence of what’s to come ?

While i still completely support President Obama and the Democratic Party;  voters are beginning to see that any vote is a heavy lift as Speaker Pelosi stated; question is what are the ramifications …

I would say we all need to call the White House  …why not Public Option    202 456 1111

Other news …

Washington State legislators will be in session this weekend, they are about 200mil  apart on a spending and tax plan

The push for Democrats in both chambers begins on Monday with a possible procedural vote after the congressional budget office scores the bill.

A motion to suspend the rules and pass as amended ..the appointment of Bankruptcy Judge vote was postponed

The Senate is not in Session today, next week the Senate will resume consideration of the House Message on H.R.2847, the legislative vehicle for the HIRE Act (Jobs I). At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on the motion to concur in the House amendments to the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill, HR2847, HIRE Act.

and the House schedule is below … and will be updated after the chamber adjourns

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 12, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

H.R. 3650:to establish a National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program, to develop and coordinate a comprehensive and integrated strategy to address harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, and to provide for the development and implementation of comprehensive regional action plans to reduce harmful algal blooms and hypoxia

10:37 A.M. –On passage Roll Call 109 – Yea and Nay vote pending.
10:36 A.M. –The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. 10:05 A.M. –DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 3650.
10:04 A.M. –Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3650 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of House Report 111-439 shall be considered as adopted. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1168. H. Res. 1168:providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 3650) to establish a National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program, to develop and coordinate a comprehensive and integrated strategy to address harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, and to provide for the development and implementation of comprehensive regional action plans to reduce harmful algal blooms and hypoxia

10:03 A.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote. The previous question was ordered without objection.

9:16 A.M. –DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1168

and what’s on CSPAN.org

Sen. Reid Supports Reconciliation, House Preps For Mark Up

In a letter sent to Sen. Republican Ldr. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Maj. Ldr. Harry Reid (D-NV) said he will use reconciliation to pass part of the health care reform bill. Leaders in the House want to mark up a bill early next week, but are waiting for the CBO cost estimate on their planned revisions.

Overhaul Bill Moves Forward Without Bipartisan agreement

Senate Banking Cmte. Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-CT) is expected to unveil his legislation for new financial regulations on Monday. Yesterday, Sen. Dodd said the Banking Cmte. will schedule a markup on the bill in Mid-March. Sen. Corker (R-TN) stated on Thursday the health care debate has forced Sen. Dodd to push forward with the legislation and expressed his disappointment with the decision. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) Remarks watch Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) Press Conference

Senate Filibusters debated at think tank forums

Two Washington, D.C. think tanks examine the Congressional usage of filibusters. An AEI Politics Watch panel analyzed how filibusters have affected modern U.S. Senate procedures and mechanics. Also, the Center for American Progress Action Fund is taking a look at how filibusters have become a tactical tool available to the minority.  A filibuster is the term used for an extended debate in the Senate which has the effect of preventing a vote.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

*The Master Recovery Act Transportation Map


Sometimes it’s good to look up close at how a single Recovery Act project is changing a community for the better and putting people to work. Other times it’s instructuve to take a few steps back and look at the big picture.  As an example of the latter, the web team at the Federal Highway Administration created an online map of the U.S. that shows over 12,000 Recovery Act road projects. Each of the dots represented on the map represents a project. The full, interactive version on the map allows you to click the dots in order to learn more about these projects.

Recovery Act MapMarch 11, 2010.

Secretary Ray LaHood’s Blog talks more about the Recovery Act map:

More important than the number of dots is that every dot in every state represents jobs. And whether we’re keeping someone from unemployment or hiring someone back, these Recovery Act projects are creating jobs. Tens of thousands of jobs.

Those dots also add up to a lot of safer, smoother miles for you, your loved ones, and the commercial truck drivers who transport the goods we use from place to place.

In October 2009, President Obama spoke about the benefits that the construction industry was seeing as a result of the Recovery Act, including thousands of highway projects which also helped to create private sector jobs.

What makes these kinds of projects so important isn’t just that we’re creating so many jobs. It’s that we’re putting Americans to work doing the work that America needs done. We’re rebuilding our crumbling roads, our bridges, our waterways. We’ve already approved nearly a thousand transportation projects to upgrade airports, railroads, mass transit systems, and shipyards. We’re strengthening our nation’s infrastructure in ways that will leave lasting benefits to our communities, making them stronger, making them safer, and making them better places to live.

Visit WhiteHouse.gov/Recovery or Recovery.gov to learn more about the Recovery Act and projects in different states.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

LABOR — TENNESSEE GOP SENATORS BLOCK EFFORTS TO UNIONIZE FEDEX DRIVERS


This week, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) slammed the brakes on a Senate bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), objecting to a change in the House version of the bill that fixes an inequity in labor law that makes it more difficult for truck drivers at Memphis-based Federal Express to unionize than drivers at other shipping companies. Fellow Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander (R) applauded Corker’s effort, pledging to “use every right or privilege I have as a senator to make sure that in the end of the process, the legislation does not include the unfair provisions singling out FedEx that’s in the House bill.” The senators’ effort to prevent what they call an “unfair” provision singling out FedEx labor workers is itself a contradiction because, as Jim Berard, a spokesman for House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) noted, the House language seeks to “treat people who have the same type of job equally under federal labor laws.” FedEx has successfully lobbied for years to remain classified as an airline subject to Railway Labor Act (RLA), a law that is technically supposed to apply only to airlines and railroad companies and stipulates that workers can’t form local unions. CEO Fred Smith — “who raised more than $100,000 for 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain and was George W. Bush’s fraternity brother” — defends this exception, adding, “I don’t intend to recognize any unions at Federal Express.” The language that Corker objects to would bring FedEx under the National Labor Relations Act like other shipping companies, such as UPS. Corker announced Wednesday that he will release his hold on the bill after receiving assurances from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) that the FedEx provisions would not appear in the Senate bill.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Ask Congress to Stop the Rape of Women Worldwide


One out of every three women worldwide will be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.

In some countries, the rate is as high as 70 percent of all women.

Every 26 seconds, it’s estimated that someone, at times a child or baby, will be raped in South Africa, where the rate of rape is the highest in the world.

Stand up against violence against women today >

As these shocking numbers illustrate, violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive major human rights violations worldwide. Despite recognizing the gravity and scope of these violations, the global response to violence against women remains woefully inadequate.

Right now, however, there is a bill in Congress that could have a major impact on this issue and help millions of women around the world.

The International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) would, for the first time, integrate strategies to prevent and address violence against women and girls into US foreign assistance programs.

Send a letter to your elected representatives in Congress today asking them to speak out against violence against women and girls by co-sponsoring IVAWA >

We need to do everything in our power to get our elected officials to help stop the rape and violence that leaves women and girls with long-term physical and psychological scars – and tears apart communities.

Passing IVAWA would be a major step toward ending this violence.

Ask your elected representatives in Congress to co-sponsor this bill and help change the lives of women and girls all over the world >

Thank you for all that you do,

– The Change.org Team in partnership with CARE

 Click here to sign your name

Ask Congress to stop the rape and abuse of women worldwide.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Republican campaign message … We will repeal comprehensive health care


There are reports of Republican Senators …

who have decided to run 2010 campaigns based on repealing Health Care ; think about that, each and every Republican Senator willing to hurt their own constituents by keeping them from having the health care they need, deserve and probably hated the process but know that when it kicks in;  health care for children will be immediately available … you’re kids can be assured health care until age 26, no discrimination, cannot be dropped for pre-existing conditions … these changes will be implemented as soon as comprehensive health care is approved … who wouldn’t want to give all Americans an opportunity to have the health care they need and desire… remember Scott Brown and Mitt Romney both voted for and have Universal Health Care in Massachusetts … why can’t the rest of us Americans at least have comprehensive health care

Rubio

Coryn

McConnell

Cantor

Boehner

Shelby