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This week, the House is going to vote on a “border protections” measure the Senate pushed through last week. After months of assurances that they stand with us, the politicians in Washington are selling us out to capitalize on a culture of fear. This money can only be used for enforcement – because the $17 billion we’re already spending on enforcement apparently isn’t enough1. It’s not a solution – it’s throwing money at a problem that doesn’t exist. Despite what fearmongering politicians claim, crime along the border is down. Period. We don’t need to spend millions more of our tax dollars on enforcement-only policies. We need real solutions that protect families. Click here to send a fax to Congress:
The $600 million shoehorned through the Senate won’t protect the workers hiding in the shadows in places like Arizona. It won’t stop the raids that break up families. The only thing this money will do is worsen the culture of fear along our border. Tell Congress: stop playing politics with people’s lives. Thank you, 1 Source: America’s Voice |
Tag Archives: MJ
The White House …videos
- Weekly Address: Medicare Officially Safer After Health Reform
- A White House Reception for Justice Kagan
- Moving Forward on Jobs and the Economy
- A Stronger Auto Industry
- President Obama on Elena Kagan’s Confirmation
- West Wing Week: 8/06/10 or “Dispatches from the Gulf”
- 8/4/10: White House Press Briefing
- The 2010 Presidential Citizen’s Medal
- Open for Questions: Wall Street Reform & African Americans
- Making the Right Choice for the Economy
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ECONOMY: The Forgotten Foreclosure Crisis …from ThinkProgress.org
The economic meltdown of 2008 grew out of a foreclosure crisis, as Wall Street banks drove lenders to make loans that were then securitized and sold around the world, in an unregulated slew of credit products. This inflated a housing bubble that, when it burst, severely damaged an already weak economy, sent millions of homeowners into foreclosure, and put millions more out of work, leading to even more foreclosures as unemployed workers began to miss mortgage payments. Many homeowners who were able to stay in their homes now find themselves underwater — owing more on their mortgage than their home is currently worth. But so far, the foreclosure prevention efforts undertaken by Congress and the Obama administration, while well-intentioned, have failed to produce widespread results. This not only hurts homeowners but undermines economic recovery. Proposals for a variety of more aggressive, and potentially more effective, measures have so far not been taken up, as the programs unveiled have often lagged behind the heart of the problem. According to analysts at Morgan Stanley, “Without more intervention, the housing market will continue its ‘slow motion’ adjustment that will continue to inhibit economic growth and drag down consumer spending.” “It’s certainly a weight on the economy,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com. “Nothing works all that well in the economy when house prices are falling.”
FORECLOSURES RISE WITH UNEMPLOYMENT: Nearly three million homeowners received at least one foreclosure filing in 2009. As of July 2010, one in seven mortgages is delinquent or in foreclosure. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, one in 10 homeowners missed at least one mortgage payment between January and March, which is an all-time record and a 9.1 percent increase from last year. The number of homes foreclosed upon set a record for a second consecutive month in May, while banks had an inventory of approximately 1.1 million foreclosed homes as of March. According to the latest report from Realty Trac, foreclosures rose in 75 percent of the country’s metro areas during the first half of this year, and about 3.5 million homeowners have stopped paying their mortgages, but have yet to be foreclosed upon. “We’re not going to see real price appreciation probably until 2013,” said Realty Trac Senior Vice President Rick Sharga. “We don’t see a double dip in housing but we think it’s going to be a long painful recovery for the next three years.” And while subprime loans drove foreclosures early in the crisis, now high unemployment is the culprit behind missed payments. “Look at a place like Salt Lake City,” said Sharga. “The foreclosure rise there appears to be entirely related to the economy.” At the same time, almost 25 percent of homeowners are underwater.
HAMP DISAPPOINTS: The Obama administration’s signature foreclosure prevention program — the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) — was meant to keep 3 to 4 million troubled borrowers in their homes by lowering their mortgage payments to a sustainable level. However, according to the latest data, fewer than 400,000 borrowers have received a permanent mortgage modification, while more than 500,000, 40 percent of the total, have dropped out of the program. As the Huffington Post’s Shahien Nasiripour and Arthur Delaney laid out, HAMP “has fallen short of its goals — rather than significantly and permanently reducing home foreclosures, it is only delaying them,” as borrowers make lower payments for a few months but ultimately get dropped from the program. “HAMP has not put an appreciable dent in foreclosure filings,” noted a report from the Special Inspector General for TARP, the program that funds HAMP. “Foreclosure filings have increased dramatically while HAMP has been in place, with permanent modifications constituting just a few drops in an ocean of foreclosure filings.” HAMP’s problems stem from banks’ inability to process enrollments in a timely manner and a lack of incentive for banks to ensure that borrowers successfully complete the program. So far, only $250 million of the $50 billion available for HAMP has been spent.
TAKING SMALL STEPS: The Treasury Department has acknowledged that HAMP has shortcomings and has launched new measures in an attempt to deal with the realities of today’s housing crisis. Last week, it announced, “As many as 50,000 struggling homeowners in five U.S. states with high unemployment may receive help from a special $600 million federal fund,” called the “Hardest Hit fund,” which will “help unemployed or under-employed people keep up with their mortgage payments…[and] try to assist homeowners who are facing negative equity by reducing the principal of loans that they owe.” The Department of Housing and Urban Development has also announced $79 million in grants for foreclosure mitigation. These initiatives, while aimed at the right outcomes (as only 0.1 percent of HAMP modifications actually lower loan principle), are, as Firedoglake’s David Dayen noted, “not nearly enough to deal with the scale of the problem.” “Maybe with several of these droplets, you can actually start to fill the ocean,” he wrote. “But $79 million, while helpful to a targeted set of families, isn’t going to solve this mess.” Last week, the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank released research showing that the implementation of judicial loan modification — known as “cram down” — is a good way to incentivize private loan modifications. Legislation giving judges the ability to modify mortgages in bankruptcy has come up for a vote in Congress multiple times, but has yet to become law.
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another magic Monday …& some News
On Tuesday, the House returns from their summer recess to consider Senate amendments to HR 1586, which encompasses $26.1 billion in aid to the states for Medicaid assistance and money to avert teacher layoffs.
Today, Republicans seem to keep on talking trash … keep putting Party and Profits before the People.
Not only is it trash it is such crap that it stinks. Is it just me or should this finally open the eyes of Republican constituents …They have said no to HCR which will help parents with children in college, no to Medicare that obviously will help current Seniors and future ones, they have said no to Wall Street reform… and i thought Republicans were fiscal conservative worry about the budget so on and so forth yet they sided with big Corporations like AIG, big Banks even met with them, no doubt received money and talking points and now they have thrown the baby out with the bath water and decided to be honest and should scare the rest of us into action against discrimination …reasonable fair and compassionate people believe in equality but …
The hate and vitriol Republicans seem to be projecting is on people of colour, their babies and I guess gay people. The issue at hand is about equality and in this 21st Century people need to decide what right do people have to tell each other what a family is or that as a group we have that right to tell you No you cannot love or marry who you want or love? It just seems strange to think about it seriously. Republicans have the reputation for being the party of No. It is true they have said no to things that would help ALL Americans. We all must have seen on cable the final outcomes from the votes of all but 2 Republicans in Congress in the Senate to get legislation passed where the Peoples Business, the lives of Americans usually goes to die unless it benefits them financially. That has been proven over and over specifically on their reaction and objection to letting the Bush tax cuts expire. 
The Bush tax cuts, which were only for the rich top 1-2%. The question i keep asking myself is are their constituents listening up because each and every No vote effects you too.
Americans have had to sort through the noise on the right, wade through the Media propaganda or nonsense, and get bombarded with crazy talk from the right. While we may gasp at all or most of what Republicans throw out at us day after day. It should open the eyes of all those who have been trying to decide which side of the isle they should be on … it is clear to me Republicans have tried to play both sides of the issues yes we want to help Teachers, First Responders, but it just isn’t fiscally appropriate or a responsible thing to do at this moment… huh? But Republicans are having complete melt downs when the talk is focused on letting the Bush Tax cuts expire, even Alan Greenspan stated that they were wrong and we should let them expire. Go figure
A few months ago, Eric Cantor and most Republicans were using the Lewin Group for facts and numbers to get the public to be scared and view the Public Plan as a government plan that will be the worst thing for families and businesses… Please do not think this is the case. The lewin group is in the business of insurance … specifically private care and a Public Option would have competed with them. The point is, people need to get the facts before believing what any Republican states is their source for the truth because their truth may not be accurate
Is talk cheap…
Take a moment to compare and contrast what the House of Bush did while in office … come on he sent 10mil a month to Iraq … i really cannot think of much this man did that helped all of Americans … he did give oil men and the rich huge tax cuts …
People who voted Obama into office need to step up and be counted on those polls. The process to pass legislation on Healthcare, Climate Change, Clean Energy, and Education were not easy. The Obama Admin change would not be easy and it has not been at all but this man had no idea that he would be facing an economic melt down or put up with Republican obstruction. When the President was debating with Republicans there were only three issues to worry about by themselves and could have been individually dealt with but the House of Bush, Paulson and others decided to run the government, Wall Street , Banks, AIG, Goldman Sachs, insurance into the ground. We have an Administration who has proven they can debate, compromise and get more than one piece of legislation passed into law with the perseverance of the Democratic Party in Congress. The Dems in Congress do need to get tough on the filibuster have the future in their minds each time a progressive legislation comes up…and from now on legislation in the Senate will be issues that will either move Americans into the 21st Century or not. Its obvious Republicans are going to be obstacles and again, be the party of no. The rest of us, at least 53% want to move forward fight for the middle class while Republicans continue to stay in the 19th century. It is sad to see so many people drinking the Republican kool-aid. The comments coming from the mouths of people on the right are offensive and should open the eyes of all Americans why 53% voted for Obama. We also need to recognize all the great things President Obama has done in such a short time and appreciate it for what it is. This President has worked for the middle class, has fought to get legislation moved onto the floors of both Chambers of Congress. Though few felt the effort would be fruitful he proved them all wrong. But, we need this to continue until the ditch the last guy drove us into becomes a memory and the only person that seems able is President Obama and we need to give him a chance not throw him to the wolves just because he is not doing exactly what we want but challenge him to do better to push Congress to do the peoples business and accept that Republicans only want his failure and will do what they need to do to get it done even if it means bringing a double dip to Americans which will bring us ALL down people not just Democrats.
The public should remind themselves that the President can give the Democratic Party in Congress his agenda but they have to be willing to move it forward with enthusiasm and in a coordinated effort for the good of All Americans.
Other News …
**Cities are charging additional fees to services rendered in order to plug the budget holes they all have-beware
**Trial for youngest Gitmo prisoner is taking place as you read this
**BP is going to continue drilling the relief wells
**HP CEO Out, and with nearly 28mil –
**Honda is recalling the honda accord and civic
**Cnn Reports the the 2 remaining escaped prisoners might be heading for Indiana
C-SPAN …
Swearing-In Ceremony: 8/7 Elena Kagan Ceremony
Picnic: 8/7 (D) Jack Conway V (TeaParty) Rand Paul the choice is obvious
Pres. Obama’s Weekly Address Republican Weekly Address
House returns to vote on aid to the states
On Tuesday, the House returns from their summer recess to consider Senate amendments to HR 1586, which encompasses $26.1 billion in aid to the states for Medicaid assistance and money to avert teacher layoffs. The Senate passed this bill last week and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) immediately announced that she would call members back from the recess to pass the bill so the President could sign it before the school year begins.They are also likely to address a privileged resolution by Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., who is calling on the Democratic leadership not to hold a lame duck session after Election Day for, in his words, “the purpose of passing hugely unpopular legislation like a national energy tax, enormous deficit spending bills, and the kickback to Big Labor known as “Card Check”.
The House is expected to be in legislative business for only one day.
House Session: Tuesday at 10am on C-SPAN
Politico: House recalled to rush aid to states The Hill: Democrats consider border securityExperts Discuss The Role of Community Health Centers
The nation’s community health centers received additional funding in both the health care overhaul package as well as the stimulus bill. Today, the Center for American Progress hosts a discussion on these centers and their impact in their communities. Speakers include officials from health centers in New York City and Leesburg, Virginia. They will likely discuss health centers’ experiences serving their communities and how the Recovery Act funding impacted their services. Last week, the Washington Journal explored how businesses are working to implement the heath care law that was signed by President Obama in March. Discussions ranged from changes to health insurance to individual health savings accounts.
Center for American ProgressWashington Journal Focuses on National Security and Energy
With national security continuing to be a major focus in Washington, retired General and former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Michael Hayden joined the Washington Journal to discuss national security strategy. His appearance comes as James Clapper prepares to become the fourth Director of National Intelligence.The Washington Journal continues its month long series looking at issues in the news, with a week long discussion on energy. Virginia Tech’s Yvan Beliveau, director of the Myers Lawson School of Construction, discussed ways to construct energy saving homes and buildings. The government encourages retrofitting homes with energy saving technologies by providing consumers up to a 30% tax credit on these purchases.
Photos: Getty Images /Credit to
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Google’s about to be really evil …boldprogressives.org
Sign the letter to Google. Tell them to stop being evil and protect the free and open Internet.
Hi — this is Jason Rosenbaum, a new campaigner at the PCCC. I’ve got some urgent news.
Google, who’s corporate motto is “Don’t be evil,” is about to do something really, awfully evil: kill Net Neutrality, the First Amendment of the Internet.
As reported on the front page of the New York Times, they’re in secret talks with Verizon “to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content’s creators are willing to pay for the privilege.”
The more people who sign by next week’s delivery, the more pressure Google will feel — so please pass this email to friends.
Many groups that organize over the Internet are joining together to save the Internet. This includes the PCCC, Free Press, MoveOn, CREDO, and Color of Change. Josh Silver at Free Press writes at Huffington Post:
The deal marks the beginning of the end of the Internet as you know it. Since its beginnings, the Net was a level playing field that allowed all content to move at the same speed, whether it’s ABC News or your uncle’s video blog. That’s all about to change…
A problem just for Internet geeks? You wish. All video, radio, phone and other services will soon be delivered through an Internet connection. Ending Net Neutrality would end the revolutionary potential that any website can act as a television or radio network.
This Google-Verizon deal, this industry-captured FCC, and the way this is playing out is akin to the largest banks and the largest hedge funds writing the regulatory policy on derivative trading without any oversight or input from the public, and having it rubber stamped by the SEC. It’s like BP and Halliburton ironing out the rules for offshore oil drilling with no public input, and having MMS sign off.
Along with this letter, we’re launching an ad campaign targeting Google, so they know people all over the country are watching this deal.
We need you to stand with us and tell Google to stop being evil.
Click here to sign the letter to Google.
Thanks for being a bold progressive,
Jason Rosenbaum and the PCCC team
Be a Seed for Change 
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