Tag Archives: health care

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

*The Master Recovery Act Transportation Map


Sometimes it’s good to look up close at how a single Recovery Act project is changing a community for the better and putting people to work. Other times it’s instructuve to take a few steps back and look at the big picture.  As an example of the latter, the web team at the Federal Highway Administration created an online map of the U.S. that shows over 12,000 Recovery Act road projects. Each of the dots represented on the map represents a project. The full, interactive version on the map allows you to click the dots in order to learn more about these projects.

Recovery Act MapMarch 11, 2010.

Secretary Ray LaHood’s Blog talks more about the Recovery Act map:

More important than the number of dots is that every dot in every state represents jobs. And whether we’re keeping someone from unemployment or hiring someone back, these Recovery Act projects are creating jobs. Tens of thousands of jobs.

Those dots also add up to a lot of safer, smoother miles for you, your loved ones, and the commercial truck drivers who transport the goods we use from place to place.

In October 2009, President Obama spoke about the benefits that the construction industry was seeing as a result of the Recovery Act, including thousands of highway projects which also helped to create private sector jobs.

What makes these kinds of projects so important isn’t just that we’re creating so many jobs. It’s that we’re putting Americans to work doing the work that America needs done. We’re rebuilding our crumbling roads, our bridges, our waterways. We’ve already approved nearly a thousand transportation projects to upgrade airports, railroads, mass transit systems, and shipyards. We’re strengthening our nation’s infrastructure in ways that will leave lasting benefits to our communities, making them stronger, making them safer, and making them better places to live.

Visit WhiteHouse.gov/Recovery or Recovery.gov to learn more about the Recovery Act and projects in different states.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

LABOR — TENNESSEE GOP SENATORS BLOCK EFFORTS TO UNIONIZE FEDEX DRIVERS


This week, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) slammed the brakes on a Senate bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), objecting to a change in the House version of the bill that fixes an inequity in labor law that makes it more difficult for truck drivers at Memphis-based Federal Express to unionize than drivers at other shipping companies. Fellow Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander (R) applauded Corker’s effort, pledging to “use every right or privilege I have as a senator to make sure that in the end of the process, the legislation does not include the unfair provisions singling out FedEx that’s in the House bill.” The senators’ effort to prevent what they call an “unfair” provision singling out FedEx labor workers is itself a contradiction because, as Jim Berard, a spokesman for House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) noted, the House language seeks to “treat people who have the same type of job equally under federal labor laws.” FedEx has successfully lobbied for years to remain classified as an airline subject to Railway Labor Act (RLA), a law that is technically supposed to apply only to airlines and railroad companies and stipulates that workers can’t form local unions. CEO Fred Smith — “who raised more than $100,000 for 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain and was George W. Bush’s fraternity brother” — defends this exception, adding, “I don’t intend to recognize any unions at Federal Express.” The language that Corker objects to would bring FedEx under the National Labor Relations Act like other shipping companies, such as UPS. Corker announced Wednesday that he will release his hold on the bill after receiving assurances from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) that the FedEx provisions would not appear in the Senate bill.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Ask Congress to Stop the Rape of Women Worldwide


One out of every three women worldwide will be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.

In some countries, the rate is as high as 70 percent of all women.

Every 26 seconds, it’s estimated that someone, at times a child or baby, will be raped in South Africa, where the rate of rape is the highest in the world.

Stand up against violence against women today >

As these shocking numbers illustrate, violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive major human rights violations worldwide. Despite recognizing the gravity and scope of these violations, the global response to violence against women remains woefully inadequate.

Right now, however, there is a bill in Congress that could have a major impact on this issue and help millions of women around the world.

The International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) would, for the first time, integrate strategies to prevent and address violence against women and girls into US foreign assistance programs.

Send a letter to your elected representatives in Congress today asking them to speak out against violence against women and girls by co-sponsoring IVAWA >

We need to do everything in our power to get our elected officials to help stop the rape and violence that leaves women and girls with long-term physical and psychological scars – and tears apart communities.

Passing IVAWA would be a major step toward ending this violence.

Ask your elected representatives in Congress to co-sponsor this bill and help change the lives of women and girls all over the world >

Thank you for all that you do,

– The Change.org Team in partnership with CARE

 Click here to sign your name

Ask Congress to stop the rape and abuse of women worldwide.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Republican campaign message … We will repeal comprehensive health care


There are reports of Republican Senators …

who have decided to run 2010 campaigns based on repealing Health Care ; think about that, each and every Republican Senator willing to hurt their own constituents by keeping them from having the health care they need, deserve and probably hated the process but know that when it kicks in;  health care for children will be immediately available … you’re kids can be assured health care until age 26, no discrimination, cannot be dropped for pre-existing conditions … these changes will be implemented as soon as comprehensive health care is approved … who wouldn’t want to give all Americans an opportunity to have the health care they need and desire… remember Scott Brown and Mitt Romney both voted for and have Universal Health Care in Massachusetts … why can’t the rest of us Americans at least have comprehensive health care

Rubio

Coryn

McConnell

Cantor

Boehner

Shelby

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

Tuesday news today … CSPAN.org


The countdown to March Madness basketball championships continues and so do the battles on the Senate floor, as unemployment extensions, summer jobs for youth,  60 tax breaks, highway projects, the 21% Medicare payments are just some of the things they have not yet dealt with.  Though reports are that votes on these provisions will take place sometime this today has been moved to sometime this week, you have to wonder how interested is the Senate in getting the Peoples business done.

The President is getting the beat down by the Media; seems it’s an all out blitz that gets ever tiring as you hear the negative talking heads on each and every station; my suggestion would be … Don’t listen to it.

other News

Tuesday brings a lot of protesters out today, the tea party while Union leaders, organizers and activists will also be out to protest the affect  insurers have on our economy, the people, small business  and the rate increases.

A handful of Senators have joined the effort to Reform the Filibuster; last week Senator Bennett offered up  SR 440

Washington state legislation … have passed a bill to continue Death Benefits for  families of fallen Public Service folks such as the Police;  a provision was stripped out of the bill that would have continued to cover families though a living spouse re-married; a senator stated that it was tough but they had to consider the cost.

Reports state most African Americans will be out to vote for the Mid-term elections

Chevron to layoff at least 2000 workers

Greek independence day will be celebrated on the Hill and White House today

Chris Matthews interviews VP Biden in Israel today

Apparently even Democrats have problems; believe me the Massa story is not over yet, stay tuned;  Massa, Kucinich and Sestak blowing up at the President is an unwise choice because it probably will keep some of us from voting for these democrats in the future.   Does Stupak  want all this negative press and will his  future be impacted by folks who care about having a right to choose and support keeping the Hyde amendment the current law. Current

House &Senate votes,updates and  …

Amendments from Senator Murray to use 1.5bil  provide jobs to 500,000 youth during the summer to waive was defeated 55yeas and 45nays

The House is holding a  hearing on the impact of military deployment on children; the findings and what kinds of programs and support they need

The Senate vote to limit debates and amendments on extending tax breaks, unemployment benefits, federal programs and highways, vote of 66yeas and 34nays the motion was a agreed to and will move HR4213 forward to a final vote

In a vote of 100-0 the Senate agrees to  transparency regarding any  spending or tax cuts not paid for  in current budgets

The House will continue with 15bills&resolutions including one that prohibits Census look-a-like mailings, Aid to Haiti and Chile, Judicial Impeachment


what’s on CSPAN.org

White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Press Secretary Robert Gibbs conducted a daily briefing at the White House. Topics included the latest timeline for passing health care legislation and financial troubles in Greece.watch White House Briefing

Senate Debates TAX Extender Bill

The first votes of the week are expected today on a long term tax extenders bill. Last week, the House passed a separate $15 billion jobs bill by a vote of 217-201. Because the bill was modified, the Senate needs to also vote on the legislation. The House added language forcing the bill’s costs to be fully offset, which will be a main point of debate in the Senate later.

watch Senate Floor: NOW on C-SPAN2
read Jobs Bill: House Vote Tally (3/4) read NY Times: House Adopts $15 Billion Plan

Food Safety Among FDA Initiatives for 2011

A Senate Appropriations Subcmte. is holding a hearing with Food and Drug Administration Cmsr. Margaret Hamburg on the agency’s proposed fiscal 2011 budget. Hamburg will discuss several FDA initiatives such as food safety, patient protection, disease treatment and tobacco program priorities.
speeches on jobs and the economy at business conference

The Nat’l Assoc. For Business Economics (NABE) began the second day of its annual economic policy conference with a speech by Christina Romer, chairwoman of Council of Economic Advisers. Later, Caterpillar Inc. Chairman Jim Owens shares his thoughts on jobs and the economy. Also speaking at the conf. is Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Pres. Charles Evans.

watch Christina Romer: From Earlier watch Jim Owens: c-span.org at 12:55pm ET    watch Charles Evans: video available later today