Tag Archives: harry reid

CONGRESS: the Republican led House / the Senate debates Flood Ins and Student Loan rates hikes – 17 Dems voted w/Republicans -the list


the Senate Convenes: 9:30amET June 28, 2012

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
  • The first hour will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the second half.
  • The Senate will continue to debate the flood insurance bill on Thursday. We await House action on the transportation bill.  We also have to consider the student loan extension before the end of the week

Senator Reid announced on the floor that he expects the Surface Transportation conference report, which includes Student Loan Interest Rate and Flood Insurance provisions, to be filed soon. We should know within the next hour or so if we can finish tonight or come back tomorrow. Another message will be sent as soon as we have more information.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.514, commemorating the victory of Loyola University Maryland in the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse National Championship.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.3342, a bill to improve information security and for other purposes. (McCain and others)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

http://t.co/jE7Tsrks

17Dems voted with Republicans

– Peterson, Owens, Altmire, Barrow, Donnelly

– Critz, Matheson, McIntyre, Walz, Ross, Rahall

– Boswell, Chandler, Kissell, Hochul, Kind, Boren

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7:24:00 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

http://clerk.house.gov/floorsummary/floor.aspx

CONGRESS: the Republican led House / the Senate considers S.1940,Flood Ins ,S.2343,Student Loan & Transportation bills


the Senate Convenes: 9:30amET June 27, 2012

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.  The Senate will continue to debate S.1940, the Flood Insurance bill on Wednesday’s session.
  • The first hour will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
  • We hope to reach an agreement to complete action on the flood insurance bill.  We will also consider the transportation bill and the student loan extension prior to the recess.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.511, commending the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes Softball Team for winning the 2012 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Softball Championship.

Adopted S.Res.512, recognizing the 100th anniversary of Rice University.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.3342, a bill to improve information security and for other purposes. (McCain and others)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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http://clerk.house.gov/floorsummary/floor.aspx

Get ready to Vote ! Be Informed …


Please click on the photo to read what is says … Every State should be required to send this mailer out to each and every person with an address  . Call your States Elections Office and push for the Presidential elections to be National process.

Don’t let Congress double the student loan interest rate … Murshed Zaheed, CREDO Action


Tell Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: FIGHT to stop Republicans from doubling the interest rate<br />
on student loans
            Clicking here will automatically add your name to this petition to      Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:
            “Do not let the interest rate double on federal student loans. Extend the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, keeping college education affordable for the 99%.”            
      Automatically add your name:     
Take action now!      Learn more about this campaign

CREDO Action | more than a network, a movement.

Stop Republicans from doubling the interest rate on student loans.

Dear Friend,

This is unbelievable. The interest rates on federal student loans will double this summer if Congress doesn’t take action.1

Urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: FIGHT to stop Republicans from doubling the interest rate on student loans. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

Millions of American students from working class families are able to obtain a college education thanks to low-interest federal student loans. But now Congress is putting those loans in serious jeopardy at a time when students and their families can least afford to pay higher interest rates.

Back in 2007, when the Democrats were in charge of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Congress passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. It reduced the interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans incrementally over four academic years, from 6.8 percent at the time to the current 3.4 percent.2  The current Republican leadership in the House is planning to let this legislation expire on July 1, effectively doubling the interest rates on these loans. This will result in an average of $5,000 in additional payments for students who are scheduled to pay their loans backs in 5 years, and $11,000 for those who are paying back in 10.3

With Republicans in the House poised to double the interest on federal student loans, we need  leadership from the Senate.Specifically, we need Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to stand up and fight on behalf of millions of American students:

Urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: FIGHT to stop Republicans from doubling the interest rate on student loans.

If Leader Reid leads the Democratic-controlled Senate to move first and take steps to pass legislation that ensures the interest rates remain fixed at 3.4 percent, it will force the hand of Congressional Republicans to either pass the measure or go on the record as the party fighting against the interest of millions of America’s working class students and their families.But we need both the House and the Senate to pass it before July 1, so we need to convey our sense of urgency to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today.

Federal student loans with low interest rates, such as the subsidized Stafford loan, are designed to benefit students whose families make under $40,000 a year — folks who can least afford to see their interest rates jump.4 These loans help the neediest students, who are often not eligible to receive Pell Grants.  Adding further financial stress on these students and their families by letting the interest rates double this July would be devastating, especially given the extremely fragile state of our economy.

Urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: FIGHT to stop Republicans from doubling the interest rate on student loans. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

As Sarah Jaffe observed in her excellent piece in AlterNet:

“It’s worth noting, as well, that many of the big banks that make a killing on private student loans and still have billions of government-subsidized student debt on their books, are able to borrow money from the government through the Federal Reserve’s discount window at nearly no interest at all. Why, then, are young people, who aren’t guilty of trashing the economy but remain the victims of a rate of unemployment nearly twice that of the rest of the population, expected to pay more?”5

Now is the time for all of us to speak up on behalf of our students. Click here to automatically sign the petition and consider inviting students from your personal network to join the fight.

Click below to automatically sign our petition urging Senator Reid to fight to keep college education affordable and not let the interest rate double on federal student loans.

http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5541975&id=36922-5440681-yT2lVHx&t=12

Thank you for speaking out to make sure that all students can afford a higher education — including those from working class families.

Murshed Zaheed, Deputy Political Director CREDO Action from Working Assets

PS: This issue is deeply personal for me. Coming from a working class family, I have been able to pursue my own aspirations by working hard and getting a great education from amazing academic institutions. This opportunity would not have been possible for someone like me if I hadn’t had access to affordable federal student loans with low interest rates.  I hope you willjoin this cause on behalf of the students andconsider inviting any students you know in your personal network to join this fight by forwarding them this link:

http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5541974&id=36922-5440681-yT2lVHx&t=15

1. Sarah Jaffe, “Is Congress Going to Double the Interest on Your Student Loan?,” AlterNet.org February 22, 2012. 2. Ann Carrns, “Rising Concerns Over Student Loans, Public and Private,” the New York Times Blog, March 14, 2012. 3. Sarah Jaffe, “Is Congress Going to Double the Interest on Your Student Loan?,” AlterNet.org February 22, 2012. 4. Moe Bedard, “Vermont Senators Leahy And Sanders Join Bill To Prevent July Interest Rate Increase On Stafford Student Loans,” LoanSafe.org, February 2, 2012. 5. Sarah Jaffe, “Is Congress Going to Double the Interest on Your Student Loan?,” AlterNet.org February 22, 2012.

Congress: Republicans in the House – the Senate led by Democrats passes S.1813 74-22


 the Senate Convened at 9:30amET March 14, 2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, there will be one hour of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Republicans will control the first half and the Majority will control the final half.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1813, Surface Infrastructure, with the time until 11:30am equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or designees.
  • At 11:30am, we expect 3 roll call votes in relation to the following items:
  • Boxer amendment #1816 (SoS emergency exemptions),
  • Paul amendment #1556 (emergency exemptions), and
  • Passage of S.1813, as amended.
  • Upon disposition of the transportation bill, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business until 2:00pm with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
  • At 2:00pm the Senate will proceed to Executive Session with 30 minutes for debate equally divided prior to the cloture vote on the Groh nomination (Executive Calendar #408).
  • At 2:30pm there will be up to 17 cloture votes on judicial nominations, unless an agreement on nominations can be reached.

The Senate is in a period of morning business for 1 hour. Following morning business (approx. 10:36am), we will resume consideration of S.1813, Surface Transportation, with the time until 11:30am equally divided.

The only remaining first degree amendments in order to the transportation bill are the ones listed below. At 11:30am, we expect to have roll call votes on Boxer #1816, Paul #1556, and passage of 1813, Surface Transportation, as amended. I’ve noted what we expect to happen on the remaining amendments below.

– Corker #1810 (fail by voice vote)

– Carper #1670 (may make a statement, but is not expected to offer)

– Hutchison #1568 (may make a statement, but is not expected to offer)

– McCain #1669, as modified (will be withdrawn—included in the managers’ package)

– Alexander #1779 (pass by voice vote)

– Boxer #1816 (roll call vote)

– Paul #1556 (roll call vote)

– Shaheen #1678 (included in managers’ package, will not be offered)

The following amendments have been considered to S.1813, the Surface Transportation Act:

  • Johnson-Shelby #1515 (banking title); withdrawn
  • Reid amendment #1633 (Banking, Finance and Commerce titles); withdrawn
  • Reid amendment #1634 (date change); withdrawn
  • Reid motion to commit with instructions (date change); withdrawn
  • Reid amendment #1636 to the motion to commit (date change); withdrawn
  • Reid amendment #1637 to #1636 (date change); withdrawn
  • Blunt amendment #1520 (moral objections to health care services); Tabled: 51-48
  • Reid amendment #1730 (Banking, Finance and Commerce titles); withdrawn
  • Reid amendment #1761; Agreed to by UC
  • Vitter amendment #1535 (OCS) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 44-54
  • Baucus amendment #1825 (Rural Schools) (60-vote threshold); Agreed To: 82-16
  • Collins amendment #1660 (Boiler MACT) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 52-46
  • Coburn amendment #1738 (OMB/Duplicative Programs) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 52-46
  • Nelson(FL) amendment #1822 (RESTORE) (60-vote threshold); Agreed To: 76-22
  • Wyden amendment #1817 (Keystone Pipeline) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 33-65
  • Hoeven amendment #1537 (Keystone Pipeline) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 56-42
  • Levin amendment #1818 (offshore tax havens); Agreed to by voice vote
  • DeMint amendment #1756 (state discretionary authority); Not Agreed To: 30-67
  • Bingaman amendment #1759 (privatized highways); Agreed To: 50-47
  • Roberts amendment #1826 (ANWAR,Keystone, etc.) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 41-57
  • Stabenow amendment #1812 (energy tax extenders) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 49-49
  • DeMint amendment #1589 (repeal of energy tax subsidies) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 26-72
  • Menendez-Burr amendment #1782 (natural gas) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 51-47
  • Coats amendment #1517 (Apportionment formula); Not Agreed To: 28-70
  • Brown(OH) amendment #1819 (Buy America); Agreed to by Voice Vote
  • Blunt amendment #1540 (Off system bridges); Agreed to by Voice Vote
  • Klobuchar amendment #1617 (Ag transportation); Agreed to by Voice Vote
  • Portman amendment #1736 (gas tax flexibility); Not Agreed to: 30-68
  • Corker amendment #1785, as modified (discretionary spending cap adjustment); Fell when the Budget Act was Not Waived: 40-58
  • Portman amendment #1742 (rest areas); Not Agreed to: 12-86
  • McCain amendment #1669, as modified (Grand Canyon noise abatement); Withdrawn
  • Corker amendment #1810 (limitation on expenditures); Not agreed to by voice vote
  • Alexander amendment #1779 (over-flights of national parks); Agreed to by voice vote

11:37am The Senate began a roll call vote on Boxer amendment #1816 (SoS on expedited emergency environmental reviews)

11:37am The Senate began a roll call vote on Boxer amendment #1816 (SoS on expedited emergency environmental reviews); Agreed To: 76-20

12:10pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Paul motion to waive Budget Act with respect to Paul amendment #1556 (environmental waivers); Not Waived: 42-54

12:38pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill; Passed: 74-22

By consent, the cloture motions on the judges were vitiated. As a result, we will not have any votes at 2:30pm today. Senator Reid intends to turn to H.R.3606, the IPO bill, next.

Cloture was vitiated on the following nominations:

Cal.#408, Gina Marie Groh, of West Virginia;

Cal.#441, David Nuffer, of Utah;

Cal.#461, Michael Walter Fitzgerald, of California;

Cal.#462, Ronnie Abrams, of New York;

Cal.#463, Rudolph Contreras, of Virginia;

Cal.#464, Miranda Du, of Nevada;

Cal.#497, Susie Morgan, of Louisiana;

Cal.#509, Gregg Jeffrey Costa, of Texas;

Cal.#510, David Campos Guaderrama, of Texas;

Cal.#528, Brian C. Wimes, of Missouri;

Cal.#568, Kristine Gerhard Baker, of Arkansas;

Cal.#569, John Z. Lee, of Illinois;

Cal.#570, George Levi Russell, III, of Maryland;

Cal.#571, John J. Tharp, Jr., of Illinois;

Cal.#610, Jeffrey J. Helmick, of Ohio;

Cal.#612, Mary Geiger Lewis, of South Carolina; and

Cal.#613, Timothy S. Hillman, of Massachusetts

The previous order to proceed to Executive Session at 2pm has been vitiated.

The Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each and the time equally divided.

 At 1:45pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations with 15 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees:

  • Cal. #408, Gina Marie Groh, of West Virginia, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia
  • Cal. #461, Michael Walter Fitzgerald, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California

Upon the use or yielding back of time (approximately 2:00pm), there will be 2 roll call votes on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed above.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Boxer amendment #1816 (SoS emergency exemptions); Agreed To: 76-20

2) Motion to Waive the Budget Act with respect to the Paul amendment #1556 (emergency exemptions); Not Agreed To: 42-54

3) Passage of S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill, as amended; Passed: 74-22

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.396, supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.2191, to amend the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to prohibit the Attorney General from administering or enforcing certain accessibility reglations relation to pools at public accommodations or provided by public entities (DeMint).

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 16, 2012.