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Black History

Congress


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The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Thursday, May 9, 2013.

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for one hour with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.601, the Water Resources Development Act. We will continue to work through amendments to the bill. Senators will be notified when votes are scheduled.

The following amendments are pending to S.601, the Water Resources Development Act:

The following amendments have been considered to S.601:

  • Coburn amendment #805 (Army Corps land/guns) Not Agreed to: 56-43 (60-vote threshold)
  • Whitehouse amendment #803 (oceans) Agreed to: 68-31 (60-vote threshold)
  • Boxer-Vitter substitute amendment #799 Agreed to by UC
  • Brown amendment #813, as modified (Asian carp) Agreed to: 95-0
  • Pryor amendment #801, as modified (farms) Agreed to by UC
  • Pryor amendment #806 (work-in-kind) Agreed to by UC
  • Inhofe amendment #835, with a modification to the instruction lines (rural water infrastructure projects) Agreed to by UC
  • McCain amendment #833 (levee safety programs) Agreed to by UC
  • Murray amendment #832 (cargo noncontainer) Agreed to by UC
  • Senator Reid Murray unanimous consent that the Senate go to conference on the Budget resolution.Senator McConnell asked that the request be modified so that it not be in order for the Senate to consider a conference report that includes tax increases or reconciliation instructions to increase taxes or raise the debt ceiling.Senator Murray objected to modifying the request.

    Senator McConnell then objected to the original request.

  • At 1:30pm today, the Senate will turn to Executive Session to consider the nominations of Shelly Decker Dick and Nelson Stephen Roman. Under the previous order, there will be up to 30 minutes for debate equally divided and controlled prior to votes on confirmation of the nominations. We expect to consider one by voice vote and the other by a roll call vote, but Republicans have not indicated which one will require the roll call vote.Up to 2 roll call votes at approximately 2:00pm:

    Upon disposition of the nominations, the Senate will resume consideration of S.601, Water Resources Development Act. As a reminder, we reached an agreement yesterday that the next amendment in order is the Blunt amendment #800 (resilient construction techniques for extreme weather). The managers of the bill are working on moving the bill forward.

  • WRAP UP
  • ROLL CALL VOTES1)      Confirmation of Executive Calendar #41, the nomination of Nelson Stephen Roman, of New York, to be District Judge for the Southern District of New York Confirmed: 97-0

    LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

    Passed H.R.360, to award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley to commemorate the lives they lost 50 years ago in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.

    Adopted S.Res.136, recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice and the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1953, and congratulating Park Geun-Hye on her election to the Presidency of the Republic of Korea.

    Adopted S.Res.137, designating May 2013 as “Older Americans Month”.

    Adopted S.Res.138, Congratulating the students, parents, teachers, and administration of charter schools across the United States for their ongoing contributions to education, and supporting the ideals and goals of the 14th annual National Charter Schools Week, to be celebrated the week of May 5 through May 11, 2013.

    EXECUTIVE ITEMS

    Confirmed Executive Calendar #39, the nomination of Shelly Decker Dick, of Louisiana, to be a District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana by voice vote.

This afternoon Senator Reid filed cloture on S.601, Water Resources Development Act of 2013.

 

The filing deadline for first degree amendments is 4:00pm on Monday, May 13. If your senator have a germane first degree amendment and would like to preserve the right to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment to the cloakroom prior to the deadline so that we may file it at the desk for you. If you have already filed, there is no need to re-file.

 

The cloture vote will occur at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, May 14.

 The managers of the bill will work over the weekend on an agreement to complete action of the WRDA bill. If an agreement can be reached, we would seek to vitiate the cloture vote.

  • At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, in consultation with the Republican Leader, there will be up to 60 minutes for debate equally divided and controlled prior to a vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #40, the nomination of William H. Orrick, III, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California.
     
     

The Senate reached the following agreement to consider the Moniz nomination. At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, in consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate will consider Executive Calendar #91, the nomination of Ernest J. Moniz, of Massachusetts, to be Secretary of Energy. There will be up to 3 hours for debate equally divided prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

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Watch Live House Floor Proceedings

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Black History

CONGRESS


Capitol DC
Capitol DC (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, May 6, 2013.

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 5:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
  • At 5:30pm, the Senate will resume consideration of S.743, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013, post-cloture. The filing deadline for 2nd degree amendments to S.743 is 4:00pm.
  • At 5:30pm, all post-cloture time will be yielded back, the Durbin amendment #745 will be withdrawn, no other 2nd degree amendments will be in order and the Senate will proceed to 2 roll call votes in relation to the following:
  • Upon the disposition of S.743, there will be a 3rd roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.601, the Water Resources Development Act of 2013.

The cloture motion on the motion to proceed to S.601, Water Resources Development Act, was withdrawn. At 2:15pm tomorrow, Tuesday, May 7, the motion to proceed to S.601 will be agreed to, and the Senate will begin consideration of the bill.

We may be able to consider the Enzi-Durbin amendment #741 (perfecting substitute) to S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act, without a roll call vote. If so, there would only be 1 vote at 5:30pm on passage of S.743, as amended. If a roll call vote is requested, there would be 2 votes.

5:31pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Enzi-Durbin amendment #741 (perfecting substitute) to S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act;

Agreed To: 70-24

6:12pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act.

Prior to the vote on passage of Marketplace Fairness Act, Senator Reid asked consent to go to conference on the Budget resolution. Senator Cruz objected.

Request to go to conference on H.Con.Res.25 – Budget Resolution – FY2014

 

Leader:            I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar #33, H.Con.Res.25; that all after the enacting clause be stricken; that the amendment which is at the desk, the text of S.Con.Res.8, the budget resolution passed by the Senate, be inserted in lieu thereof; that H.Con.Res.25, as amended be agreed to; the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that the Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses; and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate, all with no intervening action or debate.

Chair:              Is there an objection to the request?

Cruz:                Reserved his right to object and asked that the Leader modify his request so that it not be in order for the Senate to consider a conference report that includes tax increases or reconciliation instructions to increase taxes or to raise the debt limit.

Senator Reid:  Declined to modify his request

Senator Cruz:  I object

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Enzi-Durbin amendment #741 (perfecting amendment) to S.743, the Marketplace Fairness Act; Agreed to: 70-24

2)      Passage of S.743, as amended; Passed: 69-27

No additional LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on May 6, 2013 for Morning Hour Debate.

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

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~ my 2cents ...

We got him …


White House
White House (Photo credit: HarshLight)

just another rant …

My first thoughts when we first heard the news of the elimination of Osama Bin Laden was a great relief. Then a need to clarify that “I” am not into war or killing but this person killed thousands of Americans as well as thousands of others all over the World in a ways that cannot be forgotten and while friend’s family and or co-workers cannot come back, it is with a great sigh of relief that at least one head of terror has been eliminated. The news that folks want to see the photo is odd in my opinion because it will not bring back anyone’s family member, why not just trust our government took care of the world’s worst criminal. I am not sure it translates into getting out of Afghanistan sooner than what our President has announced and since there are questions about how much Pakistan knew before our Navy SEALs eliminated Osama Bin Laden our military may need to stay longer.

War is easier to declare than end and the consequences even worse …. remind your favourite member of Congress

Though we have pulled most of our troops out of Iraq, there are still thousands serving and protecting on behalf of all Americans. We still have Corporations in the private and or public sector companies … still not hiring enough as our slow recovery takes shape, or have changed the rules by limiting the work available as well as redefining what part-time means or is. The Democratic Party was voted out of the majority in 2010. Unfortunately, We had far too many public servants with personal agendas, Republicans, Conservadems, Tea Party or Tea baggers, who were only a small group a while ago have been able to put a few in the US Congress after the midterm elections. I was unhappy then but now somewhat pleased because the current nasty rhetoric, almost negative and or competing exchanges among themselves are encouraging if not telling.  Teapublicans clearly used the lack of jobs; an unstable economy to win Election2010, the distraction won them the House but not the White House.  While we were all watching, waiting the truth slowly unfolded and folks who voted them into office saw the ugly Teapublican agenda, which is that they are going after President Obama instead of creating jobs or a better economy. We all know this group has very extreme ideas about what they will do when on the floor of Congress and while the voters decided to send a message to the folks on Capitol Hill I am still confused about what voting against your best interest does for anyone but make things even worse. I was upset about it and as a member of the Democratic Party; feel people need to take control over their own ability to get good information and dissect it to make intelligent choices. The loss of the House, the things we all wanted as Dems, libs and or progressives were put at risk by all the “anger votes” made me sick. I want to believe people truly had no idea what was at stake and treated the midterms as the no big deal state based elections as per usual.

The only problem is, 4.7% of Blacks Women and Gay voters decided to lean right. The fact is, the 2010midterm elections mattered and will continue to as long as the TeaParty & Republicans grab onto more control of local city state and federal levels. My first thought was outrage then confusion that folks who usually support sometimes need support from the Government vote against their best interest. Only time will tell how much we all will suffer or for how long.

If that lean to the right in 2010 was a tantrum, you have to admit at some point that this is childish behavior. I would also say people need to stop whining and understand the governing process because if not we all will suffer for it and how selfish could someone be to hold their vote hostage or vote right of center just because they are angry is not only offensive but makes me wonder how American is that.

I will never understand anyone willing to vote against his or her best interests.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Must See Vids … YouTube


 

 
President Obama Speaks on Common-Sense Measures to Reduce Gun Violence
 

 #GunReform has suffered a set-back … but 

 Americans who support moving #GunSafety into the 21st Century … Don’t Give UP!

 
Reid: We Are Not Giving Up On Background Checks
 

 
Obama Fires Back After Background Checks Voted Down
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Auctioning off assault rifles


by  Jaxon Ravens, WA State Democrats

Want to know the Washington State Republican Party‘s position on gun violence?
Look at how they raise money. Washington State Republican Party Chair auctions off assault rifle CLICK HERE and send the message:

Washington voters support common-sense steps to reduce  gun violence

Auctioning off an assault rifle to raise money?

I guess we know how the Washington State Republican Party feels about gun violence.

This weekend at their annual Gala Auction and Dinner, the Washington State Republicans actually auctioned off an AR-15 style assault rifle. This is the same type of killing machine used in Newtown, CT and Aurora, CO. 1 2

Republicans wonder why they have trouble connecting with suburban, independent, and moderate voters. They wonder why they haven’t sat in the governor’s office since 1985.

It’s because of actions like this. This is nothing less than a slap in the face to all Washington families who fear gun violence.

Click here send the message to the Washington State Republican Party: Washington voters support common-sense steps to reduce gun violence.

It is more important than ever that we hear your voice on gun violence. The United State Senate will vote today on legislation calling for expanded background checks. Even though 90 percent of Americans support expanded background checks, the bill faces an uphill battle. 3 4

Gun control has also faced obstacles on the state level. Expanded background checks failed to pass out of the Washington State House in Olympia this session. 5

But gun control advocates aren’t giving up. They are gearing up for an initiative on background checks that may appear on the ballot in 2014. We need to start building momentum now. 6

The Washington State Democratic Party stands by common-sense steps to reduce gun violence, like expanded background checks. Click here and join us today.

Thank you,

Jaxon Ravens Executive Director Washington State Democrats

1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk1H-mgWhIc&feature=youtu.be

2 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/business/the-ar-15-the-most-wanted-gun-in-america.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

3 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/13/background-checks-poll_n_3070954.html

4 http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/16/17780515-senate-background-check-compromise-in-peril-as-gop-opposition-grows?lite

5 http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/mar/12/gun-bill-proponents-secure-key-washington-vote/

6 http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020782329_guninitiativexml.htmlgun

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