Tag Archives: Middle class

CONGRESS: Republican led House :::doing the People’s Business?::: Democrat led Senate


Wethepeople

the Senate Convenes: 2:00pmET January 1, 2013

  • The Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 3:30pm with Senators permitted to speak there in for up to 10 minutes each.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee and Passed H.R.4365, to amend title 5, United States Code, to make clear that accounts in the Thrift Savings Fund are subject to certain Federal tax levies.

Adopted H.Con.Res.147, a concurrent resolution waiving the requirement that measures enrolled during the remainder of the 112th Congress be printed on parchment.

Completed the Rule 14 process of H.R.459, theFederal Reserve Transparency Act of 2012. (Republican request)

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #645 Richard B. Berner, to be Director, Office of Financial Research, Department of the Treasury, for a term of six years by voice vote.

Discharged the Foreign Relations Committee and Confirmed the following:

PN1878, Gary T. Greene;

PN1970, a list beginning with Philip S. Goldberg and ending with Robert W. Weitzel;

PN2028, Michael R. Hardegen;

PN2029, a list beginning with Geoffrey W. Wiggin and ending with Eric A. Wenberg, with the exception of Geoffrey W. Wiggin;

PN2030, a list beginning with Stephen J. Gonyea and ending with Katharine Antonia Weber, with the exception of Scott S. Cameron,;

PN2031, a list beginning with Sharon Lee Cromer and ending with Clinton David White, with the exceptions of Sharon Lee Cromer and Maria Rendon Labadan,; and

PN2032, a list beginning with Karl Miller Adam and ending with Daniel Menco Hirsch, with the exception of Daniel Menco Hirsch.

Discharged the following committees and confirmed the following:

COMMERCE

PN1919 Joshua D. Wright (Federal Trade Commission)

PN1774 Polly Ellen Trottenberg, (Under Secretary, Department of Transportation)

PN1924 Mark Doms (Under Secretary, Department of Commerce)

PN1702 Mignon L. Clyburn (Federal Communications Commission)

PN1925 Christopher R. Beall (Amtrak Board of Directors)

PN1509 Yvonne B. Burke (Amtrak Board of Directors)

PN2009 Brigid M. Pavilonis and one other (Coast Guard promotion)

PN2010 Barbara A. Anderson and others (Coast Guard promotion)

PN2011 Charles G. Alcock and others (Coast Guard promotion)

PN2012 Matthew P. Barker and others (Coast Guard promotion)

PN2021 Peter J. Brown and others (Coast Guard promotion)

PN2045 Robert T. Hanley and others (Coast Guard promotion)

PN2046 Austin L. Adcock and others (Coast Guard promotion)

VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

PN1948 Keith Kelly to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training

HSGAC

PN1698 Walter M. Shaub, Jr., to be Director of the Office of Governmental Ethics

EPW

PN1966: Joe H. Ritch, of Alabama, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2016.

PN1965: Michael McWherter, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2016.

PN1964: Vera Lynn Evans, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2017.

PN1398: C. Peter Mahurin, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2016.

PN1950: Beth J. Rosenberg, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board for a term of five years.

Confirmed the following nominations under the privileged section of the Executive Calendar:

PN2068 Morton H. Halperin, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation for a term of three years.

PN1566 Maria Lopez DeLeon (National Council on the Arts)

PN1934 Bruce Carter (National Council on the Arts)

PN1945 Joseph Eldridge (U.S. Institute of Peace)

PN1939 Stewart DeSoto (Board of Trustees, Barry Goldwater Scholarship Foundation)

PN1796 Camila Alire (National Council on the Humanities)

PN1926 William Shaw McDermott (Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board)

PN1927 Nina Mitchell Wells (Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board)

Confirmed the following:

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

Executive Calendar #870 William P. Doyle – to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner for the term expiring June 30, 2013

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Executive Calendar #871 Michael Peter Huerta – to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration for the term of five years

OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION

Executive Calendar #878 James M. Demers – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation for a term expiring December 17, 2014

Executive Calendar #879 Naomi A. Walker – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation for a term expiring December 17, 2012

STATE JUSTICE INSTITUTE

Executive Calendar #911 Jonathan Lippman – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute for a term expiring September 17, 2012

Executive Calendar #912 Jonathan Lippman – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute for a term expiring September 17, 2015

NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Executive Calendar #913 Maria Rosario Jackson – to be a Member of the National Council on the Arts for a term expiring September 3, 2016

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BUILDING SCIENCES

Executive Calendar #914 Joseph Byrne Donovan – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Building Sciences for a term expiring September 7, 2013

NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Executive Calendar #915 Bruce R. Sievers – to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2018

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Executive Calendar #916 Angela Tammy Dickinson—to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri for the term of four years

AIR FORCE

Executive Calendar #917 to be Brigadier General—Colonel Stephen J. Linsenmeyer, Jr.

Executive Calendar #918 to be Brigadier General—Col. Calvin H. Elam

Executive Calendar #919 to be Major General—

Brig. Gen. Mark E. Bartman

Brig. Gen. Stanley J. Osserman, Jr.

Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Thomas, Jr.

Brig. Gen. Eric G. Weller

Executive Calendar #920 to be Brigadier General—

Colonel Glen M. Baker

Colonel Jeffrey D. Buckley

Colonel Anthony J. Carrelli

Colonel Timothy J. Cathcart

Colonel Andrew J. Donnelly

Colonel Harold S. Eggensperger

Colonel James O. Eifert

Colonel Bryan P. Fox

Colonel Ricky D. Gibney

Colonel Christopher A. Hegarty

Colonel John P. Hronek, II

Colonel Paul Hutchinson

Colonel Kevin J. Keehn

Colonel Christopher J. Knapp

Colonel Michael E. Manning

Colonel Clayton W. Moushon

Colonel Michael A. Nolan

Colonel Michael L. Ogle

Colonel Ronald E. Paul

Colonel Samuel H. Ramsay, III

Colonel William B. Richy

Colonel Adalberto Rivera

Colonel Sami D. Said

Colonel Anthony E. Schiavi

Colonel John D. Slocum

Colonel Ronald W. Solberg

NAVY

Executive Calendar #932 to be Vice Admiral—Rear Adm. Kenneth E. Floyd

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

Executive Calendar #933 Edward W. Brehm – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation for a term expiring September 22, 2017

Executive Calendar #934 Iqbal Paroo—to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation for a term expiring September 22, 2017

UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Executive Calendar #935 T. Charles Cooper—to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Executive Calendar #941 Patrick J. Wilkerson—to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma for the term of four years

Executive Calendar #942 Louise W. Kelton—to be United States Marshal for the Middle District of Tennessee for the term of four years

MILLENIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION

Executive Calendar #943 Lorne W. Craner – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Millenium Challenge Corporation for a term of two years.

AIR FORCE

Executive Calendar #944 to be Lieutenant General–Maj. Gen. Lori J. Robinson

Executive Calendar #945 to be Lieutenant General–Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Biscone

Executive Calendar #946 to be Brigadier General–Col. Lisa A. Naftzger-Kang

Executive Calendar #947

to be Major General –

Brigadier General William B. Binger

Brigadier General Keith D. Kries

Brigadier General Maryanne Miller

Brigadier General Jane C. Rohr

Brigadier General Patricia A. Rose

Brigadier General Jocelyn M. Seng

Brigadier General Sheila Zuehlke

Executive Calendar #948

to be Major General –

Brigadier General Paul L. Ayers

Brigadier General Jim C. Chow

Brigadier General Gregory L. Ferguson

Brigadier General Anthony P. German

Brigadier General Rickie B. Mattson

Brigadier General John E. McCoy

Brigadier General John E. Murphy

Brigadier General Brian G. Neal

Executive Calendar #949

to be Brigadier General –

Colonel Stephanie A. Gass

Colonel Mary H. Hittmeier

Colonel Timothy P. Kelly

Colonel Thomas E. Kittler

Colonel Kenneth R. LaPierre

Colonel Mark L. Loeben

Colonel James F. Mackey

Colonel Walter J. Sams

Colonel Christoper F. Skomars

Colonel Wade R. Smith

Colonel Mark D. Stillwagon

Colonel Curtis L. Williams

Executive Calendar #950 to be Lieutenant General–Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke, III

ARMY

Executive Calendar #951 to be Brigadier General–Col. Jody J. Daniels

Executive Calendar #952 to be Lieutenant General–Maj. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux

Executive Calendar #953 to be Brigadier General–Col. Michael L. Scholes

Executive Calendar #954

to be Brigadier General –

Colonel Christopher S. Ballard

Colonel David G. Bassett

Colonel Donald C. Bolduc

Colonel Edward M. Daly

Colonel Malcolm B. Frost

Colonel Donald G. Fryc

Colonel Anthony C. Funkhouser

Colonel Peter A. Gallagher

Colonel William K. Gayler

Colonel Mark W. Gillette

Colonel David B. Haight

Colonel Joseph P. Harrington

Colonel Michael L. Howard

Colonel John P. Johnson

Colonel James E. Kraft, Jr.

Colonel Michael E. Kurilla

Colonel Paul J. Laughlin, II

Colonel Joseph M. Martin

Colonel Terrence J. McKenrick

Colonel Christopher P. McPadden

Colonel John E. O’Neil

Colonel Mark J. O’Neil

Colonel Andrew P. Poppas

Colonel James E. Rainey

Colonel Kent D. Savre

Colonel Wilson A. Shoffner, Jr.

Colonel Mark S. Spindler

Colonel Sean P. Swindell

Colonel Randy S. Taylor

Colonel John C. Thomson, III

Colonel Leon N. Thurgood

Colonel Flem B. Walker, Jr.

Colonel Robert P. Walters, Jr.

NAVY

Executive Calendar #955 to be Rear Admiral–Rear Adm. (lh) Randolph L. Mahr

MARINE CORPS

Executive Calendar #956 to be Lieutenant General–Lt. Gen. Steven A. Hummer

Executive Calendar #957 to be Lieutenant General–Lt. Gen. Richard T. Tryon

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

Executive Calendar #958 Albert G. Lauber–to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for the term of fifteen years

THE JUDICIARY

Executive Calendar #959 Ronald Lee Buch–to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years

NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Executive Calendar #960 David Masumoto—to be a Member of the National Council on the Arts for a term expiring September 3, 2018

Executive Calendar #961 Ramon Saldivar—to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2018

SAINT LAWRENCE SEAWAY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Executive Calendar #962 William J. Mielke—to be a Member of the Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

Executive Calendar #963 Arthur H. Sulzer—to be a Member of the Advisory Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE

Executive Calendar #964 George E Moose—to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace for a term of four years

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on January 1, 2013.

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Congress Must Protect the Middle Class from Income Tax Hike


The White House

President Obama urges Congress to meet its deadlines and responsibilities, protect the middle class from an income tax hike, and lay the groundwork for future progress on more economic growth and deficit reduction.

Watch President Obama’s weekly address.

Watch President Obama's Weekly Address

In Case You Missed It

A Digital Milestone in 2012: 100,000,000 Video Views
Earlier this month, we reached a milestone with the news that our videos have been viewed more than 100,000,000 (that’s one hundred million!) times since we launched the official White House YouTube channel on Inauguration weekend in 2009.

President Obama Urges Congress to Prevent Tax Hikes on Middle Class Americans
With just four days left before tax rates are scheduled to rise, President Obama met with Senate and House leaders at the White House yesterday to talk about how Congress can prevent every American from seeing a smaller paycheck next week.

Nearly 2.9 Million Records Released In September 2009, the President announced that—for the first time in history—White House visitor records would be made available to the public on an ongoing basis. Yesterday’s release brings the total number of records made public by this White House to nearly 2.9 million.

a message from Stephanie Cutter


Obama - Biden

Who will decide if your taxes increase in just 22 days? A few dozen members of the House of Representatives, that’s who.

Cutting taxes for the middle class shouldn’t be difficult, especially when Republicans claim they agree with the President on the issue. But some Republicans are still holding middle-class tax cuts hostage simply because they want to cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires.

Here’s what’s going on right now: President Obama is asking Congress to move forward on a plan that would prevent 98 percent of American families from paying higher taxes next year. The Senate has passed that bill, and the President is ready to sign it — but the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives won’t even bring the bill to the floor for a vote. House Democrats have filed a petition that would force a vote if it attracts 218 signatures.

If a bill has enough votes to pass, Congress should vote on it and pass it. It’s a pretty simple proposition. And every Member of Congress who hasn’t signed on to keep taxes low for the middle class needs to hear from you.

Your representative in Congress, Jim McDermott, has already done their part to help bring the bill to the floor. But there are dozens more who still need to step up and do the right thing.

Use the call tool today to reach out to fellow Obama supporters and make sure they contact their Republican representative.

Let’s get one thing straight: If your taxes go up, Republicans will have made a conscious choice to let that happen. They’ll have missed the opportunity to prevent it, just to cut taxes for the wealthy.

Republicans need to stop using the middle class as a bargaining chip. If they fail to act, a typical middle-class family of four will see a $2,200 tax hike starting in a few short weeks. Middle-class families could face some tough financial decisions simply because Republicans didn’t want to ask the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans to pay their fair share.

That’s not what President Obama and you campaigned on, and that’s not what millions of Americans voted for just one month ago.

We know we can affect change in Washington when we raise our voices together. So pick up the phone and make a few calls. Republicans in the House need to hear from their constituents. You can help:

http://my.barackobama.com/Call-Tool

Thanks,

Stephanie

Stephanie Cutter
Deputy Campaign Manager
Obama for America

HCAN


Dear Health Care Advocate,

Call 888-531-3993

Please call 888-531-3993 and tell your member of Congress to sign a petition that will bring the middle-class tax cut to an immediate vote.

The American people showed in the November election that they want middle-class tax cuts, but Republican members of the House of Representatives are holding that goal hostage while they work to deliver massive tax breaks to the richest Americans and cut away at Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

Members who want to vote on middle-class tax cuts can sign a petition to force the House to act on them now with an up or down vote.

We urge you to call 888-531-3993 today to tell your representative to sign the petition to force an immediate vote on middle-class tax cuts.

Americans were crystal clear: Washington must extend the middle-class tax cuts now and then debate later whether to reduce taxes for the richest 2 percent.

If every Democrat and at least 26 Republicans sign the House petition, Speaker John Boehner will be required to give working families a fair shake and hold a vote on tax cuts for middle-class Americans. Join us in calling Congress now!

Will O’Neill
Health Care for America Now