JUSTICE — MILITARY RECRUITING AND RETENTION ARE THRIVING IN THE MIDST OF DADT REPEAL EFFORTS: Following a White House statement supporting a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) — the military’s policy that bars openly gay members from serving — and Congressional support for ending the policy, it’s been clear for months that DADT repeal is just on the horizon. Opponents of the repeal have been vocal, claiming that lifting the ban could undermine military effectiveness or recruiting efforts. However, “troops are already forced to live in a whole host of disagreeable conditions and train, sleep, and eat with men and women of all races, religions, and values without detriment to unit cohesion or military effectiveness.” And yesterday, the military released its latest recruiting numbers showing that “despite clear Congressional intent to end [DADT], military retention and recruiting continues to thrive.” LGBT rights blog LezGetReal reports that in the month of June, “the Army National Guard met 94% of its recruiting goal and the Air National Guard met 99% of its recruiting goal. The eight other branches or components of the Defense Department met or exceeded their recruiting goals for the month of June 2010.” The Department of Defense also noted, “The services also are at or above their fiscal year-to-date retention goals for the first nine months of fiscal 2010.” The effect of a DADT repeal on recruiting and retention is a “hugely important question” for the Pentagon; its DADT survey, given to 400,000 servicemembers to “gauge their reaction to repealing the policy,” asks, “If Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is repealed, how, if at all, will it affect your willingness to recommend to a family member or close friend that he or she join the military?” The June numbers suggest that there has been no negative effect whatsoever on recruiting due to concerns over repealing DAD
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Most countries fail to deliver on Haiti aid pledges (via Anderson Cooper 360)
Congress- debates/votes on Wall Street Reform …Today!
The Senate Convenes: 9:30amET July, 15 2010
Updates when needed today
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the conference report to accompany HR4173, Wall Street Reform. At approximately 11:00am, the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Wall Street Reform conference report. That will be the first vote of the day. Additional votes are expected during Today session of the Senate.
The vote for cloture 60-38 moves the Wall Street bill forward …i might be cynical but i will get excited about finally moving beyond Wall Street to get Every Street fixed with this somewhat watered down bill Wall Street has let the People down and needs to be reform repaired and reintroduced so that it functions correctly not corruptly. The official record is below…
Votes:
206: Cloture on the conference report to accompany HR4173, Wall Street Reform:
Invoked: 60-38
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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10amET July 15, 2010
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Call Senators Cantwell & Patty Murray -Support Wall Street Reform
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Organizing for America
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Washington’s senators are gearing up to cast their last votes on Wall Street reform tomorrow. Right now, we believe we might have just enough votes to pass this historic legislation. But we won’t know until the final vote is cast — and we’re only certain of one thing: it could come down to one single senator. That’s how close this is — and that’s how urgently we need your help. Your senators, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, have been fighting alongside President Obama to pass this bill — and they need to know you appreciate their leadership. Call your senators now and let them know you support Wall Street reform — and then make sure to let us know what they said. Call Sen. Murray at (202) 224-2621  We’re on the verge of passing the boldest overhaul of the financial system since the Great Depression. Wall Street reform will bring more economic security to consumers by forcing credit card companies, mortgage companies, and predatory lenders to stop exploiting consumers with hidden fees and pages of fine print. It will create a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency — with a responsibility to protect all of us. And it will ensure that taxpayers will never again be asked to bail out the big banks that are “too big to fail.” Reform is facing one last showdown in the Senate. Lobbyists for the big banks are doing everything they can to stop this legislation before it lands on President Obama’s desk. Let’s help pass reform — and show once again that the movement we built can go up against the most powerful special interests in Washington and win. Call your senators now: http://my.barackobama.com/WSRFinalVote Thanks for your help today, Mitch Mitch Stewart |
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Stopping Monsanto
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The USDA can stop Monsanto
Although it was reported as a wholesale victory for Monsanto1, the recent Supreme Court decision on “Roundup Ready” alfalfa has actually put food activists in a good position to maintain the ban on Monsanto’s genetically engineered GMO seeds. The court ruled that the planting of GMO alfalfa is still illegal, but it assigned authority to the USDA to determine whether to allow some provisional planting to go forward as soon as next spring. The responsibility for maintaining a total ban on the GMO seeds — and protecting organic crops from likely contamination — falls squarely on the shoulders of USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. Tell Secretary Vilsack to stand up to corporate agribusiness and protect organics for future generations. Click here to automatically sign the petition. The court supported farmers’ claims that the USDA illegally allowed Monsanto to sell its seeds before a full environmental review could be completed, but Monsanto knows that it can use its power within the USDA to speed up the review process. The company has already requested that the USDA permit a so-called “partial deregulation” that would allow some plantings of Roundup Ready alfalfa before we know the full risks. A landmark element of the recent Supreme Court ruling was its recognition that the USDA must take into account economic harms from genetic contamination of conventional seed by genetically engineered seed — things like the loss of export markets or loss of organic certification, as well as the risks to the environment of this “gene flow” effect. Monsanto wants the agency to ignore those risks and let them plant now. We can’t let them. Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressman Peter DeFazio delivered a letter signed by over 50 lawmakers demanding that the USDA not legalize GE alfalfa.2 Over 83,000 Credo members added their voice by calling on their members of Congress to sign on to the letter. Click here to automatically sign the petition and tell Secretary Vilsack to maintain the planting ban on GMO alfalfa, now and in the future. Thank you for standing up for safe and healthy food. Adam Klaus, Campaign Manager |
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