Tag Archives: Frank Lautenberg

The Week in Crazy … and a Reminder for 2014 Voters


This is a repost from June 2013 …

10 Crazy Things the Right Did … This Week

By  ThinkProgress War Room

Another week of the insane, inane, and outright offensive. Here’s your top ten:

  1. House Republicans pass plan to deport DREAMers. Just as the Senate is about to consider a bipartisan immigration reform plan, House Republicans, led by virulently anti-immigrant Rep. Steve King (R-IA), passed a mean-spirited plan to deport DREAMers. Boos filled the chamber as the vote was gaveled.
  2. GOP Senator says we can’t pass immigration reform because of government spying programs. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) used the revelations regarding the NSA’s spying programs as his latest excuse for not passing immigration reform.
  3. Republican-appointed federal judge says blacks and Hispanics are “predisposed to crime.” Judge Edith Jones, a member of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, a circuit overseeing a large number of death penalty cases, made her outrageous comments about minorities during a speech earlier this year. The judge, who has a long history of troubling behavior, added that the death penalty is a public service because it’s the only way an inmate can “make peace with God.”
  4. Congressman loses it on the House floor. Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) lost it during a rant on the House floor during which he accused the president of “dishonesty, incompetence, vengefulness and lack of moral compass [that] lead many to suggest that he is not fit to lead.”
  5. Senator suggests porn is to blame for military sexual assaults. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), most recently known for being the chief opponent of immigration reform, suggested that porn is responsible for the epidemic of sexual assault plaguing the military.
  6. Republican governor schedules costly special election to lower Democratic turnout during the general election. Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) is far head in the polls in his bid for re-election, yet he appears to have scheduled a special election to fill the seat of recently deceased Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) to keep Democratic turnout low the day he and Republican state legislators will be on the ballot. The election will cost $12 MILLION or more and is taking place less than a month before the November general election.
  7. Fox Business refuses to run an ad critical of Fox contributors. After a spate of male Fox contributors made disparaging and sexist comments about female breadwinners, the group UltraViolet sought to run an ad on Fox Business critical of their comments. The network refused to air it.
  8. Anti-Obamacare states pass up billions in funds meant to help the poor get health insurance. The red states that are refusing to expand Medicaid under Obamacare are set to lose out on $8 BILLION in funding, which will cause them to leave an additional 3.6 MILLION Americans uninsured simply out of spite.
  9. Wall Street Journal editorial board member says bike share is a “totalitarian” plot. Dorothy Rabinowitz assailed the newly unveiled bike share plan being rolled out in New York City. She complained that the city’s best neighborhoods were being “begrimed” by the bikes put in place by “totalitarian” Mayor Michael Bloomberg. She also described the “bike lobby” as an “all-powerful enterprise.”
  10. Congressional inquisitor-in-chief goes overboard on CNN. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has been endlessly pursuing conspiracy theories and alleged Obama administration scandals for years, but he went more overboard than usual this week. During an appearance on CNN, Issa called White House Press Secretary Jay Carney “a paid liar.” Issa’s fellow Republicans reportedly told him to cool it following the incident.

BONUS: A Texas jury acquitted a man for the murder of a woman he hired as an escort, after his lawyers claimed he was authorized to use deadly force because she refused sex.

the Senate considers S.954 S.953 S.1003&S.744 :::::: CONGRESS :::::: the House considers HR2217


  • visitors-memorials-eve
  • The Senate will not be in session on Wednesday, June 5th in order to allow Senators to attend the funeral services of Senator Lautenberg.
  • The Senate stands in adjournment under the provisions of S.Res.161, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Senator Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey.
  •  The Senate will convene at 9:00am on Thursday, June 6, 2013.
  •   Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.954, the Farm bill.
  • During Tuesday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on S.954, the Farm bill.
  • As a result, the filing deadline for first degree amendments to the bill is 1:00pm on Wednesday, June 5th (notwithstanding the Senate not being in session).
  • The filing deadline for second degree amendments is 9:45am on Thursday, June 6th.
  • Also during Tuesday’s session, cloture was filed on the following items:
  • At 10:00am, there will be 3 roll call votes on the following in the following order:
    • Motion to invoke cloture on S.954, the Farm bill,
    • Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1003, A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reset interest rates for new student loans (Coburn) and
    • Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.953, the Student Loan Affordability Act (Reed).
    • By consent, S.744, a bill to provide for comprehensive immigration reform, as reported, was star printed to make technical corrections to the committee-reported substitute amendment. Attached to this email you will find a summary of the corrections.Senator Reid then moved to proceed to S.744, and filed cloture on the motion to proceed. The cloture vote will occur at a time to be determined next week.
    • As a reminder, the filing deadline for second degree amendments to S.954, the Farm bill, is 9:45am today.If your Senator has a germane amendment and would like to preserve his or her ability to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment to the cloakroom prior to the deadline.  If you have already filed, there is no need to re-file.
    • The time until 10:00am is equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees. At 10:00am, the Senate will proceed to a series of 3 roll call votes in relation to the following motions:-          Motion to invoke cloture on S.954, the Farm bill,-          Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1003, A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reset interest rates for new student loans (Coburn) and-          Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.953, the Student Loan Affordability Act (Reed).Following the votes, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 11:45am with the time equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees. Senator Reid will be recognized at that time.
    • 10:01am The Senate began a  roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on S.954, the Farm bill;Invoked: 75-22
    • 10:34am The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1003, A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reset interest rates for new student loans (Coburn);Not Invoked: 40-57
    • 10:54am The Senate began a roll call vote on motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.953, the Student Loan Affordability Act (Reed);Not Invoked: 51-46
    • Cloture on the motion to proceed to S.943, the Reed student loan bill, was not invoked 51-46. The Senate is now in a period of morning business until 12:30pm.
    • There will be no further roll call votes today or tomorrow.
    • ********** We expect to be in session tomorrow, Friday, June 7 from the 9:30 until 1:30pm range **********
    • The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Friday, June 7, 2013.
    • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume the motion to proceed to S.744, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill. The time until 1:30pm will be for debate on the motion to proceed with Senator Sessions, or his designee, controlling three hours and the Majority Leader, or his designee, controlling the remaining time.
    • There will be no roll call votes on Friday. The next roll call vote will be at 5:30pm on Monday, June 10th on passage of S.954, the Farm bill.
    • We are still working on an agreement to complete action of the Farm bill and to begin consideration of the Immigration Reform bill. Another message will be sent if an when an agreement is reached.
    • The Senate has reached an agreement to consider the Alejandro and Schmehl nominations at a time to be determined, with 30 minutes for debate prior to votes on confirmation of the nominations. The agreement is as follows:At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, in consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:-          Executive Calendar #47, Nitza I. Quinones Alejandro, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.-          Executive Calendar #49, Jeffrey L. Schmehl, of Pennsylvania to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.that there be 30 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form; that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed; the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order; that any related statements be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s action and the Senate then resume legislative session.
    • The Senate has reached an agreement to vote in relation to the pending Leahy amendment #998 (to establish a pilot program for gigabit Internet projects in rural areas), on passage of the Farm bill, to set the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S.744, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, and on adoption of the motion to proceed.
    • The vote schedule is as follows:5:30pm Monday, June 10:–          Leahy amendment #998 (voice vote expected)-          Passage of S.954, the Farm billTuesday, June 11:

      –          2:15pm Cloture on motion to proceed to S.744, Comprehensive Immigration Reform

      –          4:00pm Adoption of the motion to proceed to S.744, Comprehensive Immigration Reform

      Agreement to complete action on the Farm bill and Comprehensive Immigration Reform:

      Following any Leader remarks on Friday, June 7th, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar #80, S.744; that the time until 1:30pm be divided as follows:  Senator Sessions, or designee, controlling three hours and the Majority Leader, or designee, controlling the remaining time; further.

      Following any Leader remarks on Monday, June 10th, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.744; that the time until 5pm be divided as follows:  Senator Sessions, or designee, controlling two hours, and Senator Leahy, or designee, controlling the remaining time.

      At 5pm, the Senate resume consideration of S.954, the Farm bill with the time until 5:30pm equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees; that at 5:30pm, all post-cloture time be considered expired and the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Leahy amendment, with no amendments in order to the amendment prior to the vote; and upon disposition of the Leahy amendment, the Senate proceed to vote on passage of S.954, as amended.

      Upon disposition of S.954, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.744, with Senator Sessions, or designee, controlling one hour of debate on Monday evening.

      Following any Leader remarks on Tuesday, June 11th, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.744, with the time until 12:30pm equally divided between the proponents and opponents; further, with Senator Sessions, or designee, controlling up to one hour of that time.

      At 2:15pm, on Tuesday, June 11th, the Senate proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.744. Finally, if cloture is invoked on the motion to proceed, the time until 4pm, be equally divided between the proponents and opponents; and at 4pm, the Senate proceed to vote on the adoption of the motion to proceed to S.744.

    • WRAP UP
    • 1) Motion to invoke cloture on S.954, the Farm bill; Invoked: 75-222) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1003, A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reset interest rates for new student loans (Coburn); Not Invoked: 40-573) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.943, Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.953, the Student Loan Affordability Act (Reed); Not Invoked: 51-46No LEGISLATIVE ITEMSEXECUTIVE ITEMS

      Confirmed the following items:

      Executive Calendar #141 Rachel Elise Barkow – to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2017

      Executive Calendar #142 Charles R. Breyer – to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2015

      Executive Calendar #143 William H. Pryor, Jr. – to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2017

      Confirmed all nominations on the Secretary’s desk in Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy and the following items:

      AIR FORCE

      Executive Calendar #147 Maj. Den. Douglas J. Robb – to be Lieutenant General

      Executive Calendar #148 Lt. Gen. Stephen L. Hoog – to be Lieutenant General

      Executive Calendar #149 Lt. Gen. Brooks L. Bash – to be Lieutenant General

      ARMY

      Executive Calendar #150 Maj. Gen. Joseph Anderson -to be Lieutenant General

      Executive Calendar #151 Maj. Gen. Thomas W. Spoehr – to be Lieutenant General

      Executive Calendar #152 Lt. Gen. John D. Johnson -to be Lieutenant General

      Executive Calendar #153 Col. Ivan E. Denton – to be Brigadier General

      NAVY

      Executive Calendar #154 Capt. Brian S. Pecha – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #155 Capt. Victor W. Hall – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #156 Capt. Priscilla B. Coe – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #157 Capt. Christina M. Alvarado – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #158 Capt. James R. McNeal – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #159 Capt. Daniel L. Gard – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #160 Capt. Mark J. Fung – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #161 Capt. Alma M.O.L. Grocki – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #162 Capt. William K. Davis – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #163 Capt. Daniel J. MacDonnell – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #164 to be Rear Admiral (lower half)-

      Capt. William J. Galinis

      Capt. Jon A. Hill

      Executive Calendar #165 to be Rear Admiral (lower half)-

      Capt. Christian D. Becker

      Capt. Gordon D. Peters

      Executive Calendar #166 to be Rear Admiral (lower half)-

      Capt. John P. Polowczyk

      Capt. Paul J. Verrastro

      Executive Calendar #167 Rear Adm. (lh) Paula C. Brown – to be Rear Admiral

      Executive Calendar #168 Rear Adm. (lh) Thomas E. Beeman – to be Rear Admiral

      Executive Calendar #169 to be Rear Admiral-

      Rear Adm. (lh) Kelvin N. Dixon

      Rear Adm. (lh) Brian L. LaRoche

      Rear Adm. (lh) John C. Sadler

      Executive Calendar #170 Rear Adm. William A. Brown – to be Vice Admiral

      Executive Calendar #171 Rear Adm. Robert L. Thomas, Jr. – to be Vice Admiral

      Executive Calendar #172 Rear Adm. Nora W. Tyson – to be Vice Admiral

      MARINE CORPS

      Executive Calendar #173 to be Brigadier General-

      Col. David G. Bellon

      Col. Raymond R. Descheneaux

      Executive Calendar #174 to be Brigadier General-

      Colonel James W. Bierman, Jr.

      Colonel Robert F. Castellvi

      Colonel David J. Furness

      Colonel Michael S. Groen

      Colonel Kevin M. Iiams

      Colonel John M. Jansen

      Colonel Kevin J. Killea

      Colonel David A. Ottignon

      Colonel Thomas D. Weidley

      Colonel Terry V. Williams

    ********************************************************************

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    • 9:01:43 A.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The
      House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would
      be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.

————————————————————————————————————–

the House :::::: CONGRESS ::::: the Senate


capitolphonelines

  • The Senate will not be in session on Wednesday, June 5th in order to allow Senators to attend the funeral services of Senator Lautenberg.
  • The Senate stands in adjournment under the provisions of S.Res.161, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Senator Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey.  The Senate will convene at 9:00am on Thursday, June 6, 2013.  Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.954, the Farm bill.
  • During Tuesday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on S.954, the Farm bill. As a result, the filing deadline for first degree amendments to the bill is 1:00pm on Wednesday, June 5th (notwithstanding the Senate not being in session).  The filing deadline for second degree amendments is 9:45am on Thursday, June 6th.
  • Also during Tuesday’s session, cloture was filed on the following items:
  • At 10:00am, there will be 3 roll call votes on the following in the following order:
    • Motion to invoke cloture on S.954, the Farm bill,
    • Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1003, A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reset interest rates for new student loans (Coburn) and
    • Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.953, the Student Loan Affordability Act (Reed).
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  • Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity
  • Last Floor Action: 6/4/2013
    8:55:57 P.M. – The House adjourned.
  • The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on June 5, 2013.