Tag Archives: obama

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Shop at Target?


Target just gave a huge contribution to a anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-progressive candidate for governor in Minnesota. Will you send a message to Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel that you won’t shop at Target unless they stop trying to buy elections? Click here:

Sign the petition


Get this: Target, the retail giant, just became one of the very first companies to take advantage of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision allowing unlimited corporate cash in elections.1

Target has spent over $150,000 in the Minnesota Governor’s race backing state Rep. Tom Emmer, a far-right Republican who supports Arizona’s draconian immigration law, wants to abolish the minimum wage and even gave money to a fringe group that condoned the execution of gay people. 2

Target must think customers won’t care. They’re wrong: We do care, and we need to let them know that we want Target—and all corporations—out of our elections.

Will you send a message to Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel telling him that you’re not going to shop at Target unless they stop trying to buy elections? Click here to add your name to the petition:


Once we get 150,000 signatures, MoveOn members in Minnesota will hand deliver the petition to Target headquarters.

The stakes are much higher than one candidate and one company. Other CEOs are in “wait-and-see” mode following the Citizens United decision, according to a former Federal Trade Commission counsel quoted on NPR.3 If we don’t push back hard, this will just be the tip of the iceberg. Other corporations will learn that they can pour money into elections to buy the outcome they want—without paying a price with their customers or shareholders.

We all knew Citizens United would benefit candidates who stand up for corporate CEOs instead of everyday people. But you wouldn’t expect a company like Target to jump in and try to buy an election so quickly. After all, Target made its name by being thought of as the more progressive store in the wake of numerous WalMart scandals.

That’s why MoveOn members are following up on actions of groups like Human Rights Campaign and the Alliance for a Better Minnesota by telling Target that we won’t shop there unless they stop trying to buy elections. Please add your voice now:


Thanks for all you do.

–Ilyse, Robin, Anna, Mari, and the rest of the team

Uncategorized

The Senate in Session -what’s going on …


The  Senate Covnenes: 9:30amET August 3, 2010

The Senate will convene at 9:30am and immediately proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Elena Kagan to by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

Debate time on the Kagan nomination will be controlled as follows:

– Chairman Leahy –first 30 minutes

– Ranking Member Sessions—next 30 minutes

– 10:30 until 11am equally divided and controlled between the Leaders, or their designees

– 11-12:30pm equally divided and controlled, with the Majority controlling the first 45 minutes;

– 2:15pm-8:15pm divided in one hour alternating blocks, with the Majority controlling the first block

– 8:15pmET and beyond continuing to be divided in one hour alternating blocks of time.

There will be no roll call votes today.

Unanimous Consent:
Passed S.3397, the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act.

Adopted S.Res.555, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of “National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month”.

Adopted S.Res.596, a resolution to designate September 25, 2010, as “National Estuaries Day:.

Adopted S.Res.605, a resolution designating September 13, 2010, as “National Celiac Disease Awareness Day”.

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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 2:00pmET on September 14,2010

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

mashup Monday &some News …


Democrats are reforming their own members when will Republicans actually drain the swamp they have of corrupt, immoral folks in their own party?


Progress for ALL AMERICANS

If not now …when

The President will speak at a convention for the Disabled Vets of America in Atlanta and while Congress or at least the House  is out on break we, the people will hear and see some outrageous things coming from the right and Republican politicians will be leading the train of crazy talk about all things reform and repeal. For months, our opponents have spread lies about reform to scare voters away. But the simple truth about what reform would actually do — save jobs, guarantee all Americans affordable, stable coverage, and significantly reduce the deficit — is something most Americans strongly support.  We all know that watching the change we all need taking place or trying to take place in both Chambers of Congress has been difficult but when HCR came up who knew that the health insurance reform that Romney helped pass and signed while Governor of Massachusetts is very similar to the bill passed by the Democrats of the Obama Administration. It was apparent after a few interviews that the people of Massachusetts hated the way their health care was created but ask one just one if they would be willing to give up their socialized health care they have now.

Progress for ALL Americans not just a select few … VOTE Democrats

The question is, come November, will the voters know and or accept the facts? Will they seek the truth or will they accept the noise nonsense and lies given by Republicans on a daily basis.

Republicans continue to disrespect the office of President, blocking his efforts to live up to his campaign promise and the 53% who voted him into office. We the People cannot afford to vote politicians who put Political Party over doing the Peoples business; though Republicans would have the public believe it is in our best interest. We need people to make the effort to listen to Republicans talk, make comments about repealing everything, and going back to the way the house of Bush governed, we need and must move into the 21st Century if we plan to get back on track, be the number one in the Nation.

The November elections are important and democrats must be out in droves to vote Democrats into office for each and every State ; stay informed and vote to keep democrats in to complete the fixes our economy needs so badly because they definitely were avoided by the house of Bush.

Democrats are reforming their own members when will Republicans actually drain the swamp they have of corrupt, immoral folks in their own party?

Other News …

The Financial Times’ Ed Luce documents the “crisis of middle-class America.” Noting the “median wage stagnation” that has afflicted most American families, Luce writes, “the annual incomes of the bottom 90 per cent of US families have been essentially flat since 1973 — having risen by only 10 per cent in real terms over the past 37 years. That means most Americans have been treading water for more than a generation.”Tprogress

**Lindsey Lohan was released from jail

The passage of the Affordable Care Act will save the Medicare program about $8 billion by the end of the year, “and $575 billion over the rest of the decade,” according to the Obama administration. The savings are anticipated to add “12 years of solvency” to Medicare’s trust fund for inpatient care.TPprgress

**2 killers from AZ are still on the loose

**High Court trims Miranda warning rights

**Spirit Airlines will charge for walk-on luggage from now on

**Ahmadinegad offers to speak to President Obama one on one

**Obama states there is a shift commitment to the iraq war

**BP is going to try and plug up the well for good -Static Kill


C-SPAN …

watch Pres. Obama’s Weekly Address watch Republican Weekly Address

listen Adm. Thad Allen (Ret.) Conference Call (8/1)

Health Care Discussion on “50 Ways to Implement Health Reform”

C‑SPAN’s Washington Journal will begin a month long series looking at issues in the news, from health care to financial reform and politics. This morning, Tracy Watts a senior health care consultant for Mercer discussed how employers are working to implement the heath care law that was passed earlier this year. Later, the Alliance for Health Reform hosts a discussion titled “50 Ways to Implement Health Reform: State Challenges and Federal Assistance.” Health care administrators will give an overview of how states and the federal government will begin implementing provisions of the new health care law President Obama signed on March 23rd. Speakers include representatives from the Health and Human Services Department, insurance companies and the states.

watch Tracy Watts on WJ: Available Shortly
watch AHR-Health Reform: C-SPAN at 12:15pm ET
read AP: A Struggle To Fix New Law
visit Alliance for Health Reform

Senate this Week: Jobs, Energy, Kagan Vote

The Senate will begin its final week of work before the August recess at 2pm (ET) today. They will first resume work on H.R. 1586, a substitute amendment to a House-passed FAA reauthorization bill. The substance of the Senate amendment to this measure is $10 billion in education funding for teacher salaries and $16.1 billion in aid to the states from the stimulus fund for state Medicaid costs. The vote on the motion to proceed to the bill is expected at 5:45pm.

The Senate may also take up Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) energy package (S.3663) later in the week. This package would eliminate the $75 million cap on economic damages from offshore oil spills; it also would provide full funding for up to five years for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is mostly paid for by offshore drilling revenues. Sen. Reid will likely set up a cloture vote on this energy package.

Before the recess, the Senate will take up the nomination of Elena Kagan to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. If confirmed, she would replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens and become the fourth female Justice in the Supreme Court’s history.

visit Bloomberg: First Democrat to Oppose Kagan

watch Senate Floor: C-SPAN2 at 2pm ET
visit WSJ: Reid’s Energy Bill Delayed Until Tuesday

Allen Defends Oil Dispersant Oversight, Says Static Kill Possible on Monday

During Sunday’s conference call on oil spill recovery efforts, Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen responded to charges made by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) that the Coast Guard has “rubber stamped” BP’s use of oil dispersants. Adm. Allen said he and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson agree on guidelines calling for a 75% reduction in use of chemicals which breakdown oil in the Gulf.

However, incident commanders are authorizing additional dispersant use on a case-by-case basis, he pointed out.

On Saturday, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) sent a letter demanding that government officials provide his office with records documenting the amount of dispersants used.

Also during the call, Adm. Allen said that the hydrostatic or “static kill” could begin as soon as Monday evening. A sequence of tests must first be performed before mud can be pumped into the wellhead.

Uncategorized

Congress- back in Session


The Senate Convenes: 3:00pmET July 26, 2010

Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.3628, a bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit foreign influence in Federal elections, to prohibit government contractors from making expenditures with respect to such elections, and to establish additional disclosure requirements with respect to spending in such elections (DISCLOSE Act)

There will be no roll call votes during Monday’s session of the Senate.

Votes:
There will be no roll call votes on Monday, July 26.

On July 27th after several minutes maybe hours of debate …at 2:45pm roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the DISCLOSE Act (S.3628).

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

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for July 26, 2010

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JULY 26, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

7:26 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

7:24 P.M. –

Mr. Duncan requested the following general leaves to address the House on July 30: Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for 5 min.

Mr. Duncan requested the following general leaves to address the House on July 29: Mr. Diaz-Balart, Lincoln of FL for 5 min.

Mr. Duncan requested the following general leaves to address the House on July 28: Mr. Thompson of PA for 5 min, and Mr. Diaz-Balart, Lincoln of FL for 5 min.

Mr. Duncan requested the following general leaves to address the House on July 27: Mr. Cao for 5 min, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for 5 min, and Mr. Diaz-Balart, Lincoln of FL for 5 min.

7:23 P.M. –

Mr. Cardoza filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 1556.

7:13 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

H. Con. Res. 304:

The title of this measure is not available

7:12 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

Considered as privileged matter.

H.R. 3101:

to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to emerging Internet Protocol-based communication and video programming technologies in the 21st Century

7:11 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 348 – 23 (Roll no. 469).

7:01 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1504:

recognizing and honoring the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

6:42 P.M. –

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): 377 – 0 (Roll no. 468).

6:34 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 1320:

to amend the Federal Advisory Committee Act to increase the transparency and accountability of Federal advisory committees, and for other purposes

6:33 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 250 – 124 (Roll no. 467).

6:03 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

6:02 P.M. –

Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX, the Speaker postponed until a time to be announced, the roll call vote on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.Res. 1543, which was ordered on Monday, July 26, 2010.

6:01 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.

6:00 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 26.

5:00 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:00 P.M. today.

H.R. 1320:

to amend the Federal Advisory Committee Act to increase the transparency and accountability of Federal advisory committees, and for other purposes

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.

4:48 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1320.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Norton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H. Res. 1525:

honoring the 50th anniversary of the publication of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, a classic American novel authored by Nelle Harper Lee of Monroeville, Alabama

4:47 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 voice vote.

4:30 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1525.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Norton moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Con. Res. 226:

supporting the observance of “Spirit of ’45 Day”

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 voice vote.

4:19 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 226.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Norton moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Con. Res. 275:

expressing support for designation of the week beginning on the second Sunday of September as Arts in Education Week

4:17 P.M. –

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 voice vote.

4:06 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 275.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Polis (CO) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H. Res. 1456:

congratulating the University of Dayton men’s basketball team for winning the 2010 National Invitation Tournament basketball championship

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 voice vote.

3:57 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1456.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Polis (CO) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1543:

honoring the educational significance of Dr. Jane Goodall’s work on this the 50th anniversary of the beginning of her work in Tanzania, Africa

3:56 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.

3:49 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1543.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Polis (CO) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1058:

honoring and praising the Sojourn to the Past organization on the occasion of its 10th anniversary

3:48 P.M. –

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 voice vote.

3:41 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1058.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Polis (CO) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

3:40 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 26.

3:31 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

H.R. 3101:

to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to emerging Internet Protocol-based communication and video programming technologies in the 21st Century

3:30 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.

2:56 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3101.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Markey (MA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

2:55 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on July 26, 2010 at 10:21 a.m. stating that that body had disagreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the text of H.R. 4899. The message also stated that the Senate had passed H.R. 4684 without amendment.

H. Res. 1504:

recognizing and honoring the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

2:54 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.

2:22 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1504.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Polis (CO) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

2:21 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:00 p.m. today.

2:20 P.M. –

Mr. Olver filed a report from the Committee on Appropriations on H.R. 5850.

2:05 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

H. Res. 1555:

permitting individuals to be admitted to the Hall of the House in order to document the improved accessibility of the Hall of the House

2:04 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

Considered as privileged matter.

2:03 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Kennedy to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

2:02 P.M. –

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

2:01 P.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.

2:00 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 26.

12:31 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

12:30 P.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Laura Richardson to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Counter corporate control of our democracy


Hi,

I just signed the “Fight Washington Corruption” pledge to get Congress to stand up to corporate influence over our democracy. At the end of the month, a group of people in our district is going to take these signatures to Rep. Jim McDermott, asking him to sign the pledge too. We need another 2,512 people to sign to reach our goal by then. You can sign at the link below:

http://pol.moveon.org/pac/sfd/ratify/local/?r_by=21862-9640874-1ahykdx&rc=paste&district=WA_07

If Rep. Jim McDermott is not your Representative you can sign a petition to your Representative here:

http://pol.moveon.org/pac/sfd/ratify/local/?r_by=21862-9640874-1ahykdx&rc=paste

Thanks!