Over the last week we’ve asked you what $2,000 more in taxes would mean to you and your family, and we’ve already received more than 370,000 responses — including one from Tiffany.
Today, President Obama will meet Tiffany and her family in their Northern Virginia home, where he’ll talk more about why it is so important for Congress to pass the middle-class tax cuts before the end of the year, both for families like hers and our economy.
Here are some of the top stories from the White House blog:President Obama Speaks to the Business Roundtable
Yesterday, President Obama spoke to members of the Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs of American businesses, and reiterated his plan to extend tax cuts for middle-class families.Watch: President Obama’s Twitter Q&A on #My2k
From the Roosevelt Room of the White House Monday, President Obama connected directly with Americans via Twitter, where he answered questions about extending middle-class tax cuts.
Continuing the Progress in Tribal Communities
Yesterday, President Obama hosted the 2012 White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Department of Interior. This conference continued to build upon the President’s commitment to strengthen the government-to-government relationship with Indian Country
Of course, the biggest event over the past 12 months was our groundbreaking in February. It was marked by a special ceremony attended by President and Mrs. Obama, and featured speeches by the President and other dignitaries. This event stands as one of our major milestones and accomplishments thus far.
Today, our future site on the National Mall is a hive of activity. The bulldozers, backhoes and other construction equipment are drawing a lot of attention from people visiting the Capitol, the national monuments, and the museums that line the Mall.
I cannot begin to tell you how excited we are knowing that in 2015, the National Museum of African American History and Culture will open its doors and take its place among the great family of Smithsonian institutions — provided we continue to progress on schedule.
Let me take this opportunity to wish you and yours all the best in the coming year. Thank you for your kind generosity to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture — and for making this dream a reality.
A secret deal could allow China’s energy companies to take over an enormous toxic oil reserve with devastating consequences for the planet. A lawsuit is our big chance to stop it. Click to chip in and Avaaz will only process your donation if we raise enough money to make this important case happen :
Right now, the tar sands, a toxic oil reserve almost the size of Saudi Arabia’s but over 3 times as dangerous for climate change, sits landlocked in Northern Canada. People power has twice blocked new pipelines into this poison, but now we have a bigger challenge.
A new trade deal, negotiated in secret with China, could allow China’s companies to take over the tar sands and sue the Canadian government if it hampers their exploitation with environmental or health laws. Canada’s right-wing Prime Minister is an oil-man with a history of climate-denial, and he’s using this tactic to bypass democracy, with potentially devastating consequences for the planet.
Our big chance to stop this is that the deal may not be legal. It’s likely to be signed in the coming days or weeks and we need to be ready to hit back when that happens. If 20,000 of us pledge now to help hire outstanding lawyers and fund research and public campaigning, we can be sure to hit the ground running when the government acts — Avaaz will only process the pledge if we get enough to make this important case happen. Our climate is already under grave threat, and tar sands could push it over the edge. Pledge now to defend the planet:
Tar sands oil would harm all of us: The emissions from this dirty oil are up to 35% greater than regular crude oil, the process for getting it out of the ground alone emits three times the pollution, and the production of one gallon of oil poisons up to 35 gallons of fresh water. Not to mention that the exposure of another huge oil reserve would skyrocket the destruction of our planet.
That’s why experts and campaigners all over joined the fight to stop pipelines from being built in the US and Canada that would unlock this toxic sludge from the ground. Now those hard-fought victories could be wiped out.
We have already reached out to one of the top constitutional law firms in Canada and they are standing by to help us fight this dirty deal. But it’s going to take a powerful legal fund to stand up to the government’s deep pockets, campaign to win in the court of public opinion and make sure we keep dirty oil in the ground. Let’s all pledge our support now. Then, if the deal goes through, we’ll be able to get started right away defending our planet in Canada’s courts. Chip in to join the fight for our planet:
We’ve taken on the Canadian government before, and won — striking a blow against a Fox News-style television network and beating back attempts to stop Canadian Avaaz members from campaigning during federal elections. This is our chance to win a battle for the entire world’s survival against a trade deal that threatens our water, air and land.
With hope and determination
Dalia, Ricken, Emma, Morgan, Rewan, Ari, Grant and the rest of the Avaaz team
Bernie is leading a fight against a Federal Communications Commission proposal to allow fewer and fewer news media conglomerates to control more and more television stations, radio stations and newspapers. “We’re going to do everything we can to prevent it from happening,” Bernie told Bill Moyers in an interview that will air this weekend on Moyers & Company.
Media concentration limits the public’s access to unbiased information about important issues, drowns out independent voices, hurts local news and community affairs coverage, eliminates competition and discourages diversity in ownership. The FCC could issue an order on the rule change as early as January.
Official photographic portrait of US President Barack Obama (born 4 August 1961; assumed office 20 January 2009) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
So, it’s Friday very cold but we definitely are not snowbound. ..
Yet, considering all the stuff going on … it’s a good day to reach for the sky while breathing deeply through your nose then slowly exhale through your mouth while slowly lowering your arms, head, shoulders, chest and waist bend knees -repeat when needed …
Just another rant …
I’m beyond tired of “main stream media malarkey”, is anyone else yet and can I just say the only grown-ups on the floor of Congress lately are from the Democratic Party but hey that is just my opinion. Though watching the Republican/tea party shakeup or the art of turning on each other is exciting! 6 Out … 38 to go?
I would like to thank our President for doing such a great job despite the 24/7 News cycle bashing him. I say, we must constantly remind low informationvoters that President Obama does not make, create or pass legislation into laws, our Congress does, so, all complaints about bills not getting on the floor of Congress should be directed at Republican Tea Partiers who have held most if not all of them up or blocked, stalled and just said no to. It is a sad day to realize that a Political Party would put their ideology above the needs of their fellow Americans but the Republican Tea Party did without flinching, thinking of their constituents I guess and all for the love of money. The Bush Tax Cuts of 2001&2003 were given, scheduled to expire 12/31/10 and unpaid for a long with the two wars waged which cost Americans trillions of our money.
The fact is the tax cuts, 2Wars, Wall Street bets, AIG insurance selling banking products as well as too much deregulation sent our economy over the cliff -sigh
In a time when things are tough and a large number of voters leaned left voted for PBO though Republicans kept telling the public lies and now the joke is on them. They say their focus is on Jobs, economy and doing the work of the People yet these RWNJs continue to vote against issues facing Americans; stating people on UI do not look for jobs are still lazy and don’t pay taxes among other ugly words from elitists. I have to say every time one of them makes a statement that is obviously outrageous; I wonder where the outrage is. Then I only have to see photos from Election2012 to know that Americans voted, early and stood in line while Republicans decided a long time ago that not only would they refuse to cooperate with the First Black President they will do whatever is necessary to bring him down even if it means taking AmericanVoters down and today provided a peek at what these fools planned the night President Barack Obama was sworn into office. !
Well, the Democratic Party did not gain control back of both Chambers, but contrary to RWNJs current behavior, PBO won decidedly and should be given the right to govern though they continue to filibuster… still
Congress gets back from break on an odd note, passing the Vets bill but then a week later with a vote of 61- 38, on the Disability Treaty, a bill that was supposed to protect ALL people with disabilities gets killed by Republicans. Unfortunately, Leader Reid decided that he will hold the bill until the 113th Congress. It feels like Republicans have decided to hold onto their status quo hanging it out to dry… “Hostage” along with other legislation that would not only protect Americans it could have been a bill that passed with bipartisanship but that clearly was too much to ask for from Republicans. While that was taking place, we all wait for the Farm bill to pass among other legislation. Again, I wonder where the outrage toward Congress is as they are solely responsible for making and passing laws, not the President though he keeps getting the blame.
The fault and blame for any lack of real progress lies at the feet of the Republican/Tea party. Though it is unfortunate that the Republican Tea Party has apparently decided to continue to thumb their noses at our President demanding those Bush Tax Giveaways before they will cooperate, which most Americans feel we cannot afford or allow to happen again … ever.
The lame duck session, notoriously known as the session when things get done in Congress but we need that conciliatory behavior to start now …maybe before December 31st definitely before Jan.1st.
Unfortunately, the Lame Duck is more lame than we have ever experienced and this #righttoworkbill … is becoming the right for Govs. to make American Workers work for less
Be a Seed for Change 
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