Tag Archives: health care

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TGIF news … &CSPAN.org live-stream – Huskies and PAC10… now 12


It’s Friday and the news is good, if you are a Washington State Husky and in the PAC-10… talk about a nail biting game.. the play started out close, then got a little out of hand but ended up close 80-78  with Washington beating out 6th seeded Marquette. It was a game to write home about not giving up and having faith and given the many upsets, it was great to know our kids are going to the next round.   The news about Democrats acting like a Political Party is also becoming exciting… gotta say We the People need to help all Democrats get back into office if voting yes ends up being their Waterloo. In just one example of strange behavior, last night Republican Senator Coburn held a press conference throwing a threat  to hold seats to those who might lose seats looking for a Federal job.   If you listen to the Media and or people on the right, the stakes seem to be high given the HCR  process has taken so long, possibly costing some Democratic seats, which, has been a part of the Republican talking points. Senator Steny Hoyer completely debunked any truth in the efforts of Republicans to skew the CBO score as well as anyone Democratic Senator losing their seat because they are standing up for Americans not the select few who happen to be the upper 2%

Other News …

**The Rhode Island teacher involved in the effigy of President Obama was fired previously and this was the teachers response to being fired

**Dial Rep. McDermott’s office at (202) 225-3106 right away. Folks across the country will be calling, so if you get a busy signal, please try again. Let those in Congress know we will support them because they not only are standing up for Americans but with President Obama
http://my.barackobama.com/FinalMarchCalls

**British Airways crew will go out on strike if labor talks fail

**HEMET, Calif. — Police in this picturesque city in rural Riverside County have been on edge in recent weeks. Someone is trying to kill them. complete article at AP

**Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) has agreed with House Democratic leaders to eliminate a provision in the reconciliation bill that would’ve given his home state bank, the Bank of North Dakota, an exemption from new federal student loan rules. The provision would’ve allowed the bank to continue lending to students even though the legislation was designed to eliminate lending middlemen.TP

**Speaker Pelosi stated with truth that the other side will stop at absolutely nothing

*”Republican lawyers” are already gearing up for a legal challenge against health care reform,” conducting research and drafting arguments for lawsuits that could be filed within days or weeks, particularly if House leaders decide to go forward with a ‘deem & pass’ rule.”TP

**The Media myth of Obama’s falling poll numbers … complete article is at Media Matters…The release of an Associated Press poll last week that showed President Obama enjoying a healthy job approval rating of 53 percent didn’t generate much news beyond the wire service and produced even less commentary among the media’s chattering class. Then again, neither did another piece of polling news from January, which showed Obama basking in the glow of a 56 percent job approval rating.  The cold shoulder was expected, though. Why? It’s simple: the results didn’t fit the script.  Feeding off right-wing talking points, political journalists love to push the idea that Obama’s polling numbers are in the tank and that he’s fading fast. It’s all part of the preferred, CW narrative that his entire presidency is slipping away. (It must now be “save[d],” according to Newsweek.)


WHAT’s on CSPAN.org live-stream

President rallies for health care legislation

President Obama holds a health care rally at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Press Sec. Robert Gibbs said yesterday the President postponed his trip to Indonesia and Australia in order to be present for a possible Sunday vote on health care in the House of Representatives.

Live on C-SPAN3 at 11:30am ET    watch Press Sec. Gibbs Announces Pres. Trip Delayed

Health Care: House vote probably on Sunday

Yesterday, the CBO released its cost estimate for the House health care bill. They estimated a 10 year cost of $940 billion and deficit reduction of $138 billion. With the release of the substitute bill, House Rules will meet to discuss rules for the floor debate, which will likely be followed by a Sunday vote in the House.


Think Tank Discusses Public Policy & Bipartisanship

The Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC), a nonpartisan, nonprofit policy & education organization, holds a discussion examining the partisan divide in Washington politics. Panelists will look at ways to strengthen America’s strategic position in the areas of national security, education, energy and infrastructure.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Repower America …


On Monday, Al Gore made an impassioned call-to-arms for a clean energy revolution.

More than 10,000 supporters like you joined the Vice President on a call to discuss the next steps in our fight for strong climate and clean energy legislation. Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown shared his positive perspective on prospects for bill passage in the Senate this spring, the need for grassroots supporters to get involved right now, and the difference you’re already making.

Listen to highlights from Monday’s call with Al Gore and take action for a clean energy revolution now!

The U.S. Senate is in the process of drafting clean energy and climate legislation. But with lobbyists from big oil and their front groups whispering in Senators’ ears every day and corporate polluters pouring millions of dollars into ads, we have to fight back with all our strength to make sure we pass a strong bill this year.

We’ve heard directly from Senate offices that one of the most meaningful and effective ways to deliver a message to our elected officials is with a handwritten letter. And by sending a personal letter, we’re demanding that our Senators respond. Which is why we’ve set an ambitious goal: delivering over 150,000 handwritten letters demanding the Senate pass a strong bill this year!

Will you take a few minutes to listen to an update from Al Gore and write your Senator a personal, handwritten letter in support of strong clean energy and climate legislation?

Make it personal. Help us deliver over 150,000 letters for clean energy.

http://cpaf.repoweramerica.org/lettersn

If there’s one thing our elected officials cannot deny, it’s the voice of their constituents.

Writing these letters is easy and important — and we’ll show you how. We will provide sample letters, talking points, and your Senator’s address — all you need to bring is a passion about the climate crisis and a commitment to America’s clean energy future.

So please take just a few minutes and write your Senator today.

Help us reach our goal of 150,000 handwritten letters demanding a strong clean energy and climate bill this year.

The time is now. The revolution has arrived. And the voice for change is yours.

So please, make sure our Senators know that this time, it’s personal.

Thanks for all you do,

Dave Boundy
Campaign Manager
The Climate Protection Action Fund’s Repower America campaign

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

Thursday March-madness countdown to the Big Dance …&news -Cspan.org


March Madness is now in full effect and will play itself out to it’s final push toward the big dance in April.  Apparently, a lot of upsets on the first day of NCAA play… UW is playing today, Go Huskies.  This week has been crazy and the talk from some has driven many mad as the final push toward one of our most historic life changing efforts to reform health care and insurance company practices.  The great debate or debates about who will vote no and why; can  or do Democrats want to support the President’s agenda or save themselves has gotten way too much media play for my taste, it has changed my thoughts on how honest certain reporters and the cable stations they work for are and just what side of the aisle they represent on any given day or hour in the day; because they shouldn’t be representing a side.  Recently, the President subjected himself to a foxnews interview and was unable to respond to much of what was asked by a reporter who clearly was hostile toward the President. The behavior by the host should be quite an embarrassment to foxnews management; actually, for anyone who works for the Media and calls themselves a reporter and or journalist who intentionally acts with such bad manners. It’s tough waiting for this CBO score and is it just me or has this been a score that seems to be taking much more time than all the others?  are they helping the media hype and anticipation or struggling to get it right because they have a history of having to correct the numbers.  Reports of the President leaving DC before the historic health care reform vote or right after the vote is slightly surprising.  Unfortunately, the need for the President to be here until the HCR bitter end is necessary;  though it does slow down the opportunity for getting other work done in Australia, though this vote is not the last meaningful or historic one, it  should be followed through to the end by the President

Other News …

**Should we Eliminate Saturday Mail Delivery?

**The CBO is a neutral body … both Political Parties use the CBO to get the numbers before votes are taken on financial measures

**Democrats that were against the HCR bill will be holding press conference through out the day, letting the public know what they have decided to do … support the bill or not

**The CBO score has come out and the news is good …CBO cost estimate of the HCR Bill is $940Billion over 10years and trims the deficit by 130Billion in the first 10years and 1.2Trillion in the second 10years  … and look forward to Sunday being the day the final vote

what’s on Cspan.org live-stream today

Pres. Obama Signs HIRE Act Jobs Bill President Obama signed the HIRE Act, a bill aimed at spurring job growth by encouraging businesses to hire new workers and invest in their companies and communities. He was flanked in the Rose Garden by members of Congress, his Cabinet and economic team, as well as small business owners.

watch Pres. Obama HIRE Act Bill Signing
White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced that President Obama has delayed his trip to Indonesia and Australia in order to be around for final votes on health care legislation in the House and Senate. The President had been scheduled to leave on Sunday, the same day the House is expected to take up the measure.watch White House Press Briefing

Dems Wait on CBO estimate for health care bill, possible weekend vote

While House leadership waits for the CBO to release its cost estimate for the revised health legislation, they indicated that a draft of the bill will be available for review 72 hours prior to any floor vote. Lawmakers are anticipating possible weekend votes. Yesterday, Rep. Kucinich (D-OH) stated that he would vote for the health care bill.  The CBO has released a cost estimate for health care legislation indicating that the bill is expected to cost $940 billion and reduce the deficit by $138 billion over 10 years. Also, the White House announced that Pres. Obama will reschedule his foreign travel until June.

Secret Service Focus of House Hearing

U.S. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan will testify about the President’s FY 2011 budget request for the Secret Service. House Appropriations Cmte. members are expected to question Dir. Sullivan on the White House State Dinner security breaches. Rep. David Price (D-NC) chairs the Appropriations Subcmte. on Homeland Security.

Postmaster Suggests no Saturday delivery, new rates

Postmaster Gen. John Potter recently said that the postal service needs to eliminate Saturday mail delivery and close some post office branches in order to remain financially viable. Today, he appears before the Senate Appropriations Cmte. to make additional cost savings measures and discuss his FY2011 budget.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

MILITARY — MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS COMFORTABLE SERVING WITH OPENLY GAY TROOPS … TP


As the Pentagon prepares to survey soldiers about President Obama’s decision to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), a new poll of military personnel who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq war finds that sexual orientation is “not a burning issue that overwhelms veterans’ lives.” The poll, commissioned by Vet Voice Foundation and conducted jointly by Republican and Democratic pollsters, finds that most veterans are “comfortable around gay and lesbian people, believe that being gay or lesbian has no bearing on a service member’s ability to perform their duties, and would find it acceptable if gay and lesbian people were allowed to serve openly in the military.” Fifty-eight percent of veterans said they served alongside gays or lesbians, and only 22 percent thought they had not. A full 73 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans said it is “personally acceptable to them if gay and lesbian people were allowed to serve openly in the military,” and only a quarter objected. The survey, which included samples 45 percent self-identified Republicans and 20 percent self-identified Democrats, suggests that support for ending DADT cuts across party and ideological lines. Yesterday, during a hearing before the Armed Services Committee, General David Petraeus said that he believes “the time has come to consider a change to Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” yet he asked that the change be done in a “thoughtful and deliberative manner that should include the conduct of the review that Secretary Gates has directed that would consider the views in the force on the change of policy.”

Black History

What’s going on in the Senate and House …


THE SENATE Calendar for 3/16/2010

The Senate will resume consideration of H.R.1586, the vehicle for the FAA reauthorization bill. Roll call votes in relation to the FAA bill are expected to occur Tuesday afternoon, the following amendments to HR1586 are pending …

– Rockefeller #3452 (Substitute)
– Sessions #3453, as modified (Discretionary Spending)
– Lieberman #3456 (DC School Scholarships)
– Vitter #3458 (Coastal Impact Assistance program)

– DeMint #3454 (Earmark moratorium)

– Feingold #3470 (Rescission of unused transportation earmarks)
– McCain #3472 (bike paths)
– McCain #3475 (ban on congressionally directed funding during deficit years)
– McCain #3527 (Next Generation)
– McCain #3528 (Grand Canyon)

Votes:
50: Motion to Table the DeMint #3454 (earmark moratorium);
Tabled: 68-29Fifteen Republican senators joined almost all Democrats in voting down Sen. Jim DeMint’s (R-SC) amendment that would have established “an earmark moratorium for fiscal years 2010 and 2011.” The 68-29 vote rejected a two-year moratorium on spending provisions that include members’ pet projects.

51: Feingold #3470, as modified (Rescission of unused DoT funds);
Agreed To: 87-11

52: Vitter Motion to Waive Vitter #2458, as modified (Coastal Impact);
Not Waived: 41-57

53: Now Voting on Lieberman #3456 (DC Scholarship Program)
Not Agreed To: 42-55
Not Agreed To:

By Unanimous Consent:
Adopted H.Con.Res.249, a concurrent resolution commemorating the 45th anniversary of Blody Sunday and the role that it played in ensuring the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Adopted S.Res.456, a resolution congraulation gRadford University on teh 100th anniversary of the university

Passed S.1782, Federal Judiciary Adminsitration Improvements Act (with a Whitehouse substitute amendment)

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

THE HOUSE Calendar for  3/16/2010


Suspensions (12 Bills)

1.       H.Res. 311 – Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of Red Cross Month (Rep. Watson – Foreign Affairs)

2.       H.Res. 605 – Recognizing the continued persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China on the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party campaign to suppress the Falun Gong spiritual movement and calling for an immediate end to the campaign to persecute, intimidate, imprison, and torture Falun Gong practitioners (Rep. Ros-Lehtinen – Foreign Affairs)

3.       H.Res. 1128 – Thanking Vancouver for hosting the world during the 2010 Winter Olympics and honoring the athletes from Team USA (Rep. Davis (CA) – Foreign Affairs)

4.       H.R. 4252 – Inland Empire Perchlorate Ground Water Plume Assessment Act of 2009 (Rep. Baca – Natural Resources)

5.       H.R. 2788 – Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act (Rep. Calvert – Natural Resources)

6.       H.R. 4003 – Hudson River Valley Special Resource Study Act (Rep. Hinchey – Natural Resources)

7.       H.R. 3671 – Upper Mississippi River Basin Protection Act (Rep. Kind – Natural Resources)

8.       H.R. 1769 – Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act (Rep. Reichert – Natural Resources)

9.       H.R. 4395 – To revise the boundaries of the Gettysburg National Military Park to include the Gettysburg Train Station (Rep. Platts – Natural Resources)

10.    H.Res. 1089 – Recognizing the 150th anniversary of Augustana College (Rep. Hare – Education and Labor)

11.    H.Res. 1167 – Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work Day (Rep. Shea-Porter – Education and Labor)

12.    H.Res. __ – Congratulating the 2009-2010 University of Maryland Men’s Basketball Team on an outstanding season (Rep. Hoyer – Education and Labor)

Postponed Suspension Vote (1 Bill):

1.       H.R. 4628 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 216 Westwood Avenue in Westwood, New Jersey, as the “Sergeant Christopher R. Hrbek Post Office Building” (Rep. Garrett – Oversight and Government Reform)

* Conference Reports may be brought up at any time.

* Motions to go to Conference should they become available.

* Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees.

time line of House action below …

6:12 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
6:11 P.M. –
Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on March 23: Mr. Jones for 5 min, and Mr. Moran of KS for 5 min. Mr. Poe of TX requested that Mr. Souder be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on March 19. Mr. Poe of TX requested that Mr. Souder be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on March 18.

Mr. Poe of TX requested that Mr. Souder be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on March 17.

H. Res. 1184:

congratulating the 2009-2010 University of Maryland Men’s Basketball Team, Greivis Vasquez, and Coach Gary Williams on an outstanding season

6:09 P.M. –
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
5:53 P.M. –
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1184. Considered under suspension of the rules. Ms. Shea-Porter moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1167:

expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work Day

5:52 P.M. –
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
5:47 P.M. –
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1167. Considered under suspension of the rules. Ms. Shea-Porter moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1089:

recognizing the 150th anniversary of Augustana College

5:46 P.M. –
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
5:40 P.M. –
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1089. Considered under suspension of the rules. Ms. Shea-Porter moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

5:39 P.M. –
The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

H. Res. 1128:

thanking Vancouver for hosting the world during the 2010 Winter Olympics and honoring the athletes from Team USA

5:37 P.M. –
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 – 0 (Roll no. 119).
5:31 P.M. –
Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 605:

recognizing the continued persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China on the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party campaign to suppress the Falun Gong spiritual movement and calling for an immediate end to the campaign to persecute, intimidate, imprison, and torture Falun Gong practitioners

5:30 P.M. –
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 – 1 (Roll no. 118).

5:23 P.M. –
Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 311:

expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of Red Cross Month

5:22 P.M. –
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 – 0 (Roll no. 117).
5:14 P.M. –
Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 4628:

to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 216 Westwood Avenue in Westwood, New Jersey, as the “Sergeant Christopher R. Hrbek Post Office Building”

5:13 P.M. –
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 – 0 (Roll no. 116).
4:45 P.M. –
Considered as unfinished business.
4:44 P.M. –
UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Res. 1128:

thanking Vancouver for hosting the world during the 2010 Winter Olympics and honoring the athletes from Team USA

4:43 P.M. –
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
4:21 P.M. –
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1128. Considered under suspension of the rules. Ms. Watson moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 605:

recognizing the continued persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China on the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party campaign to suppress the Falun Gong spiritual movement and calling for an immediate end to the campaign to persecute, intimidate, imprison, and torture Falun Gong practitioners

4:20 P.M. –
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
4:07 P.M. –
DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 605. Considered under suspension of the rules. Ms. Watson moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H. Res. 311:

expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of Red Cross Month

4:06 P.M. –
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
3:55 P.M. –DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 311.
Considered under suspension of the rules–Ms. Watson moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

3:49 P.M. –
The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced. 3:46 P.M. –
NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO OFFER RESOLUTION – Mr. Flake notified the House of his intent to rise to a question of the privileges of the House and to offer a resolution. Mr. Flake was recognized to notice the form of his proposed resolution.

12:02 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches regarding health care. The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 53.