Tag Archives: New York

The Senate Convenes at 2:00pmET March 28, 2011

Following any leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business until 3pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.493, the Small Business Jobs bill.

At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #40, the nomination of Mae D-Agostino, of NY, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of NY for one hour of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.

At approximately 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of the D’Agostino nomination.

Votes:

46: Confirmation of the nomination of Mae D-Agostino, of NY, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of NY;

Confirmed: 88-0

This will be the last vote of the day.

Unanimous Consent:

The Senate confirmed the following nominations:

Coast Guard

Cal. 69 Brian M. Salerno, to be Vice Admiral

Cal. 70 John P. Currier, to be Vice Admiral

Cal.71 Robert C. Parker, to be Vice Admiral

Cal. 72 Manson K. Brown, to be Vice Admiral

And all nominations placed on the Secretary’s Desk in NOAA and the Coast Guard

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 18, 2011 unless the House sooner receives a message from the Senate indicating its adoption of H. Con. Res. 30, in which case the House stands adjourned until March 29, 2011.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

GREENPEACE: This King’s Speech Will Get No Awards

03/10/2011 Nativegrl77

Representative King (R-NY) and the GOP have their priorities backwards.

Representative King and the GOP are playing politics with homeland security. And while they’re busy holding hearings on the ‘radicalization’ of Muslim Americans, they’re also busy extending loopholes in our chemical security law. Tell Rep. King to stop playing politics with homeland security and focus on what really threatens Americans

On the heels of an announcement that he would be holding a series of homeland security hearings on the ‘radicalization’ of Muslim Americans, Rep. King sponsored a bill to extend the loopholes in a chemical security law for seven more years instead of supporting strong legislation that will prevent chemical disasters at plants that store tons of poison gases.

The 300 highest risk chemical plants together put over 100 million Americans needlessly at risk every single day and elected officials like Rep. King and the rest of the GOP are working to keep it that way.

King claimed it’s about jobs. But you and I know better. His support for a weak chemical security law has more to do with the corporate interests of chemical manufacturers than it does jobs. He just hopes his political theater will distract you.

Representative King claims that his hearings on Muslim Americans are ‘essential’. Meanwhile, he’s ignoring one of the biggest threats to homeland security. In fact, just across the river from his district is the highest risk chemical plant in the country, the Kuehne chemical facility in South Kearny, New Jersey. According to the facility’s report to the Environmental Protection Agency, 12 million people in the New York City/New Jersey area are threatened by their bulk storage of chlorine gas.

King and the rest of the GOP need to direct their attention where it should be — protecting our safety. If we continue to ignore these high-risk chemical plants we could be opening the door to real terrorist threats like the risk of a poison gas disaster in New York and other communities around the United States.

This isn’t about saving jobs. It’s a gift to the chemical industry.

For a safer future,

Rick Hind

Greenpeace Toxics Campaigner

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Deadline TONIGHT: Fight for marriage in 2011

01/19/2011 Nativegrl77

We’re looking for just 403 more new HRC members to help start 2011 strong – and there are only hours left before our midnight deadline.

Your membership gift right now could decide whether we see new federal assaults on equality and new bans on same-sex couples marrying – or whether millions of couples will have their love recognized for the first time.

I hope you’ll read this email to find out how and then stand with us.

Help us reach our NEW goal of 3,000 new members before MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. Join HRC now – and add your voice to thousands of other straight supporters.

In the wake of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the far-right is furious – and re-energized.

Here’s what’s happening: In New Hampshire and Iowa, they’re focused on ending marriage equality. In West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Minnesota, constitutional bans on same-sex marriage could be on the table. And just last week, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) announced that it would spend $100,000 on ads opposing marriage equality in Rhode Island.

In Congress, a host of radical new representatives and senators are ready to follow through on their hateful, anti-LGBT campaign promises.

And we’ve learned from experience that right-wing groups like NOM will stop at nothing – and spare no expense – to block our very real chances of winning marriage equality in New York and Maryland and securing civil unions in Hawaii and Delaware. Meanwhile, we are gearing up to help Washington and Oregon achieve marriage equality in 2012.

Our movement must have the strength to overcome extremist lies, support pro-equality champions in Congress, invest in state campaigns, and expose radical hate groups.

After years of fighting for equality, I know I’m not the only one that feels the weight of this moment of opportunity – our opponents feel it, too. Their ads and literature are desperate. They sense the cultural shift. They’re afraid of our momentum.

But they still have a chance to do terrible damage. I believe you know what’s at stake. The only question now is: Will you help us fight?

ONLY HOURS LEFT before our midnight deadline. Become an HRC member now.

NOM can count on their tiny band of massive donors. Right-wing politicians can count on hateful activists with limitless energy. We rely on our members for 85 percent of our funding, not foundations or grants – and I know we can count on you.

Thank you for believing in equality, and being willing to fight for it.

Just hours to go,

Joe Solmonese

President

P.S. If you’ve already put a check in the mail or given to HRC through some other means, thank you. If you’ve yet to contribute, though, please consider making a gift now. Your gift is critical to maintaining our fight against hate and bigotry in all its forms.

~ Recent Post

Marriage on the line: 24 hours left to fight hate

01/18/2011 Nativegrl77

Thanks to right-wing groups like the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), 2011 brings as much trepidation as hope. Just see the map below.

JUST 24 HOURS LEFT: The National Organization for Marriage thinks it speaks for straight America.

Show America that’s a lie.

Deadline TOMORROW. Defend marriage equality – join HRC now.

Same-sex marriage bans are in the works in no fewer than five states. In New Hampshire, where NOM shelled out $1 million in 2010, a more right-wing legislature is already preparing for major hearings on the repeal of marriage equality. In Iowa, NOM helped unseat three judges who ruled in favor of equal marriage – and now they’re going after the other four.

But it’s not all bad. In New York and Maryland, we could finally win full marriage rights for ALL loving couples. There are only 24 hours left in our campaign that can help us make it a reality.

These challenges – and our critical federal work – demand urgent resources. Carmen, thousands have stepped up to help. And after sailing past our original goal of 2,011 new members, we’ve upped our goal to 3,000 members by TOMORROW. That’s only 4 more from Washington. And we simply can’t do it without straight supporters like you.

Stand up for marriage and make sure NOM doesn’t control the debate. Stand with HRC – join by tomorrow.

Only two weeks ago, HRC staffers pressured NOM into releasing their most recent tax returns – and it turns out 75 percent of NOM’s entire multi-million dollar budget came from just five wealthy donors.

We’re different. 85 percent of our funding comes from individual donors, not from foundations or grants. And the more straight allies like you that join our cause, the more people will understand that this is an issue of basic fairness, not special rights. That grassroots power will be critical in 2011, and this map shows why:

In states marked in light blue, we have a chance to advance equality – marriage in New York and Maryland, and civil unions in Hawaii, Delaware, and Colorado. Plus we are gearing up to help Washington and Oregon achieve marriage equality in 2012.

Dark blue states show the front lines of the equality fight. In Florida we’re trying to stop rabid activists from reinstating a ban on same-sex parents adopting children. In West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Minnesota, we face the very real prospect of NOM-backed campaigns to pass constitutional bans on same-sex marriage.

We’re working hand-in-hand with local partners across the country. We’re putting staff on the ground in some states, while in others we’re providing financial support and training – or exposing lies with the help of our “NOM Watchers.” In many states, we’ll do all of the above.

These states have one thing in common: your support, right now, can mean the difference between triumph and failure.

Stand with us. Fight for the future. Become an HRC member now.

This is one of the most critical civil rights issues of our time. Decisions by the U.S. House and Senate and by every single state will have a very real impact on everyday lives. Together, we can ensure those decisions are positive.

For all you do, and all that you will do, thank you. You’re the reason I know we will succeed.

Onward,

Joe Solmonese

President

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress in Session on Sunday 12/19/10 -lame duck?

12/18/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes: 12pmET December 19, 2010

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume Executive Session to consider the New START Treaty.There will then be 3 hours of debate with respect to the Risch amendment #4839 with the time divided as follows: one hour under the control of Senator Kerry or his designee and 2 hours under the control of Senator Risch or his designee. No amendments will be in order to the Risch amendment and upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will vote with respect to the amendment.

Therefore, at approximately 3:10pm, the Senate will proceed to up to 3 roll call votes in relation to the following:
– Risch amendment #4839 to the New START Treaty

– Confirmation of Executive Calendar #892, the nomination of Raymond J. Lohier, Jr., of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit

– Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1092, Carlton W. Reeves, of Mississippi, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Senator Reid then filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to HR3082, with an amendment (CR). The amendment extends appropriations through March 4, 2011.

Senator Reid then filed cloture on Treaty Document 111-5, the START Treaty.

The cloture vote will occur on Tuesday, December 21.

Votes:
283: Risch amendment #4839: to the New START Treaty (tactical weapons);
Not Agreed To: 32-60284: Confirmation of Executive Calendar #892, the nomination of Raymond J. Lohier, Jr., of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit;
Confirmed: 92-0

Unanimous Consent:
Confirmed by voice vote Carlton W. Reeves, of Mississippi, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi.Confirmed Darrell James Bell to be U.S. Marshal (Montana)

Confirmed Edwin Sloane to be U.S. Marshal (District of Columbia)

Passed H.R.2751, as amended by the text of S.510 (Food Safety) minus the offending blue slip provisions (with title amendment).