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Here we go again …

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The Attacks on Women’s Health Keep Coming

It’s only January 15, but Republican legislators and their activist allies are not wasting any time when it comes to the war on women. Just today, both the Supreme Court and Congress considered new restrictions that could limit basic access to abortion.

1. A panel of House Republicans, all of which are men, is advancing a bill that contains far-reaching restrictions on abortion access. The bill, the so-called Rape Audit, H.R. 7, aims to limit access to abortion by making it much more difficult for women to purchase private insurance that covers abortion (as most private plans currently do) with their own money. (Similar laws were passed by seven states last year.) In addition to increasing taxes on women and small businesses, it would also empower the IRS to conduct audits of rape survivors to ensure they’re not merely pretending to be raped. Pro-choice legislators and advocates have been pushing back against this assault, including a group of Democratic congresswomen who sternly told the GOP to “stop wasting taxpayers’ time and dollars waging attacks on women’s constitutionally protected right to make informed health care decisions about their own bodies.”

Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), who chairs the Judiciary Committee, claimed the bill is actually a jobs plan because denying women access to abortions will make them have more children, who will in turn help grow the economy. Another leading anti-abortion legislator, Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), blocked a Democratic effort to amend the bill with legislation that cracks down on workplace discrimination against pregnant women by claiming that abortion access has nothing do with pregnant women.

rapeaudit

CREDIT: DEMOCRATIC LEADER NANCY PELOSI

2. The Supreme Court may rule to eliminate buffer zones at abortion clinics, allowing protesters almost unlimited access to patients and staff. Depending on how the Justices rule in McCullen v. Coakley, a case they heard today, cities and states may no longer be allowed to enact buffer zones around reproductive health care facilities. Since protests outside of clinics often turn violent, abortion providers say that buffer zones are critical for ensuring the safety of their patients and staff. In fact, there have been over 4,700 incidents of clinic violence and 140 clinic blockades since 1995.

Justices Scalia and Alito incredulously claimed that anti-abortion activists who gather outside clinics and harass patients and staff aren’t actually even protesting, they merely want to “speak quietly” to patients. It appears likely that Alito, Scalia, Kennedy (who has long opposed buffer zones) will be able to find at least two other justices to strike down the Massachusetts law and perhaps overturn a 2000 ruling that upheld a similar law in Colorado.

It’s worth noting that the Supreme Court bans protests on its own plaza.

3. In the past 3 years, states have enacted more abortion restrictions than during the entire previous decade. A new report from the Guttmacher Institute notes that between 2011 and 2013, state legislatures enacted 205 laws that restrict women’s reproductive rights. In the decade prior, between 2001 and 2010, states enacted 189 such restrictions. While the campaign against abortion rights rages on nationwide, Guttmacher points out that the multiple, often overlapping restrictions enacted just a few states — North Dakota, Texas, Arkansas, and North Carolina — helped drive the spike.

guttmacher

CREDIT: GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE

4. States with anti-choice governors and state legislatures outweigh states with pro-choice ones. The two charts below illustrate the imbalance. And in a new state-by-state report card released this week by NARAL Pro-Choice America, 25 states receive a failing grade for reproductive rights while America on the whole gets just a ‘D’ grade.

Choice Positions Of Governors

Choice Positions Of Governors

CREDIT: NARAL

Choice Positions Of State Governments

Choice Positions Of State Governments

CREDIT: NARAL

BOTTOM LINE: Women’s health advocates are hopeful that this year will prove to be a turning point in the fight over women’s reproductive rights, but so far we’re seeing more of the same from their opponents.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Calling all Student Filmmakers


White House Student Film Festival

Movie Night at the White House

Ever dreamed of having your own short film screened in a movie theater? How about right here at the White House? Great news: We’re inviting K-12 students from around the country to create and submit one- to three-minute short web videos.

The topic: Highlighting the importance of technology in the classroom — and imagining how technology will change the educational experience for kids in the future. And finalists could have their videos screened at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, and posted on the White House website.

Find out how you or someone you know can apply.

Weekly Address: Marking the One-Year Anniversary of the Tragic Shooting in Newtown, Connecticut

In his weekly address, President Obama honors the memory of the 26 innocent children and educators who were taken from us a year ago in Newtown, Connecticut.

READ MORE

West Wing Week 12/13/13 or, “Madiba, Farewell”

Last week, the Vice President wrapped up a six-day, diplomatic mission to Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea, while the President spoke on achieving peace in the Middle East at the Saban Forum, honored and lit the National Christmas Tree, and traveled to Johannesburg to honor the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela.

READ MORE

What You Missed: Vice President Biden Answers Your Questions on Immigration Reform

Last week, Vice President Biden and Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the Domestic Policy Council, sat down to answer your questions on immigration during a live Skype event.

READ MORE

Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 11/21 ~~ the House


PBO&mom

The featured picture is of President Barack Obama and his moms … Family

All Americans should have the right to gain, experience have affordable comprehensive health care -Point4CounterPoint

The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:30am on Thursday, November 21, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1197, the National Defense Authorization Act.

During Wednesday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on S.1197.

As result, the filing deadline for all first degree amendments to the bill is 1:00pm on Thursday.

During leader remarks, Senator Reid moved to proceed to S.1356, Workforce Investment Act of 2013.

At 11:08am, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Reid motion to proceed to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on Executive Calendar #227, the nomination of Patricia Ann Millett, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit;

Agreed To: 57-40 ( Hatch, Chambliss, Isakson voted present. Collins and Murkowski vote aye)).

11:29am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to adjourn;

Not Agreed to: 46-54

11:46am the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to reconsider Executive Calendar #227, the nomination of Patricia Ann Millett, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit

Agreed To: 57-43

Senator Reid raised a point of order that the vote on cloture for all nominations other than for the Supreme Court is by majority vote. The point of order was not sustained by the Chair. Senator Reid then appealed the ruling of the Chair and asked for the yeas and nays.

Senator McConnell then made a series of parliamentary inquires.

At 12:10pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the question: does the ruling of the chair stand that the cloture vote for all nominations other than for the Supreme Court is not by majority vote? Senator Reid will vote no. (Appealing rule of the chair vote) Senator Reid will vote no;

The Appeal of the ruling of the chair was not sustained 48-52

The ruling of the chair was not sustained by a vote of 48-53.

 
Chair:     UNDER THE PRECEDENT SET BY THE SENATE TODAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013,

THE THRESHOLD FOR CLOTURE ON NOMINATIONS, NOT INCLUDING THOSE

OF THE SUPREME COURT OF UNITED STATES, IS NOW A MAJORITY. THAT

IS THE RULING OF THE CHAIR.

Senator McConnell then appealed the ruling of the chair and asked for the yeas and nays.

           MR. McCONNELL: MAKE A POINT OF ORDER THAT NOMINATIONS ARE FULLY
           DEBATABLE URPD THE RULES OF THE SENATE UNLESS I WAS THERE OF
           SENATORS CHOSEN AND SWORN HAVE VOTED TO BRING DEBATE TO A
           CLOSE. UNDER THE PRECEDENT JUST SET BY THE SENATE, CLOTURE IS
           INVOKED AT A MAJORITY. THEREFORE, I APPEAL THE RULING OF THE
           CHAIR AND ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.

At 12:35, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the question: Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the Senate?

Decision of the Chair: a vote on cloture for all nominations (other than for the Supreme Court) is by majority vote.

Sustained: 52-48

2:57pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #327, the nomination of Patricia Ann Millett, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, upon reconsideration;

Invoked: 55-43

Under the new cloture rules for nominations (Rule 22), a majority vote is required to invoke cloture on all nominations, except for nominations to the Supreme Court.

There will now be up to 30 hours for debate on the Millett nomination.

Additional roll call votes are expected today.

We are working on an agreement to hold the cloture vote on S.1197, National Defense Authorization Act, and the adjournment resolution this afternoon. We could vote around 3:45pm.

Under Rule 22, the filing deadline for second degree amendments is 1 hour prior to the beginning of the cloture vote. We are working on a consent to set the filing deadline for second degree amendments for later today, potentially for 5pm.

Another message will be sent once any agreement is reached.

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in 2 roll call votes at 4:00pm today. Those votes are on the following items:

–          Motion to invoke cloture on S.1197, National Defense Authorization Act; and

–          Adopting of S.Con.Res.28, adjournment resolution.

The filing deadline for second degree amendments to S.1197, is 5pm today.

4:03pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on S.1197, National Defense Authorization Act;

Not invoked: 51-44

Senator Reid changed his vote to no (for procedural reasons) and entered a motion to reconsider at a later time the vote by which cloture was not invoked.

4:31pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on adoption of S.Con.Res.28, adjournment resolution;

Adopted: 51-42

There will be no further roll call votes today.

Senator Schumer asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass S.1774, a bill to reauthorize the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 for 1 year. Senator Sessions objected.

If the Senate does not receive a message that the House has adopted S.Con.Res.28, the adjournment resolution, the Senate will meet conduct pro forma sessions only with no business conducted on the following dates and times:

  • Friday, November 22nd at 11:15am
  • Tuesday, November 26th at 11:00am
  • Friday, November 29th at 1:00pm
  • Tuesday, December 3rd at 11:00am and
  • Friday, December 6th at 10:30am

If the Senate receives a message that the House has adopted S.Con.Res.28, the Senate will stand adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, December 9th.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Reid motion to proceed to the motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on Executive Calendar #327, the nomination of Patricia Ann Millett, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; Agreed to: 57-40-3(present)

2)      McConnell motion to adjourn until 5:00pm; Not Agreed to: 46-54

3)      Reid motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on Executive Calendar #327, the Millett nomination; Agreed to: 57-43

4)      Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the Senate (cloture on nominations (other than Supreme Court nominees) require the votes of three-fifths of Senators duly chosen and sworn and not a majority)(Reid appeal of the chair); the decision of the Chair was not sustained: 52-48

5)      Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the Senate (cloture on nominations (other than Supreme Court nominees) is a majority vote) (McConnell appeal of the chair); the decision of the Chair was sustained: 52-48

6)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #327, the nomination of Patricia Ann Millett, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, upon reconsideration; Invoked: 55-43

7)      Motion to invoke cloture on S.1197, the National Defense Authorization Act; Not Invoked: 51-44

8)      Adoption of S.Con.Res.28, Providing for a conditional adjournment or recess of the Senate and an adjournment of the House of Representatives; Adopted: 51-42

Additional LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Began the Rule 14 process of the following bills:

  • S.1774, a bill to reauthorize the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 for 1 year. (Nelson-Schumer)
  • S.1775, the Victims Protection Act of 2013. (McCaskill)
  • H.R.1965, the Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act. (Republican request)
  • H.R.2728, the Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act. (Republican request)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.1752, the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013. (Gillibrand)

==================================================

Last Floor Action:
11:29:50 A.M. -H.R. 1900
On agreeing
to the Speier amendment (A003) Roll Call 607 – Recorded vote pending.

Last Floor Action:
9:03:02 A.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The
House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would
be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.

=========================

~ my 2cents ...

about failed Promises


thefacesMy take on failed promises, past present and future, which is what we are all experiencing under the Republican controlled House of Representatives versus change to or redirection of promises that President Obama has had to make on numerous occasions. It is obvious the two situations are quite different. The first two years of the Obama Admin the RTP as we know was spent on the floor of Congress saying no, blocking, making the Democratic Party scale back or run away from legitimate bills that RTP attached felonious amendments to that no member of Congress could in good conscience vote for. Then came the campaign for the midterm election that if you know your history gets few voters out to vote though in what definitely is a first of many first in this Presidency, the midterms were important yet folks did the same ole same, some opted out on purpose and even more voted right of center on purpose. While most know the outcome of the midterm elections, I think that many people do not understand what truly happened. President Obama said he got a shellacked and would try to make a move to be more bipartisan, though senator McConnell said if he wants us to consider compromise he would have to do, say and act like we want him to, essentially bow down to the Republican Tea Party. For the last 4.5 years, Americans have been hearing Republicans say that we need to create jobs. Mr. Boehner and his comrades definitely used the jobs, jobs, jobs slogan to win the House or Representatives. Sadly, these carpetbaggers have been waving one hand in the air while using the other to attack, slash, cut, and burn every effort to get our economy back on track. It may sound dramatic, but it feels as if the Republican Tea Party has wanted to eliminate the middle and lower class since then Senator Barack Obama became President and now I certainly feel our country is at risk with reckless, seemingly uneducated Republican members of Congress.

Contrary to most if not all polls the anger or feelings of distrust and failed promises should be pointed at the way in which President’s govern? It was done poorly for eight years during the house of Bush, because when he took office there was a surplus… Question is, what did he do with it and how do we make sure this cannot happen again lest we talk about in times of American crisis both Political Parties and any entities involved must all come together to fix the issue … leaving ideology at the door!

… Community Organizer and Senator Obama watched from the sidelines, watched, heard, and knew the status quo had to change though we had no financial crisis to speak of things were not as they should be or more importantly not as they could be. The change we Americans need is one that moves all of us into the 21st Century. This effort to change has been misinterpreted in my opinion of one of socialism… folks have to know that our current system is outdated does not represent all of the people and if you are really listening. The Republicans want to go backward to a time when life was good but it was only good for the rich. Then Presidential candidate, Barack Obama had a plan for America. There were some financial issues are brewing, the house of Bush was focused only on the Iraq war, Obama’s ideas seemed far ahead of the other competitors. Americans saw and heard what he wanted to do and agreed, well at least 53% believed a change was needed in the way things are done on the Hill. However, change takes time maybe years.  If we had all participated, it could happen sooner with GOP co-operation but as the months passed by there were more rumblings of financial problems and then Senator Obama faced with lots of criticism became the main target and NOT our finances heading toward the ditch.  We voters heard or told to ask if Obama was an American, did he pal around with terrorists, could he bring in the vote of not only women but also white women and men on top of it all. I really feel people need to be reminded of when, what, where and who got us into an economic downward spiral. However, weeks went by more and more information is coming out, people notice that there were many layoffs happening, businesses closing up and some notice Bush is less available every day and while the backroom deals made by the house of Bush, McCain tells Americans that our economy is still sound and strong. In what seemed like only a month or few weeks before Americans had to vote for President of the United States. The House of Bush slowly opened the doors of pain and the possibility of our economic collapse. I still want to know why did they wait until the next administration was about to be put into place? Some say there is no such thing as a coincidence.

Wall Street, Main Street, AIG and a lot of Banks Crashed … with the house of Bush and Paulson making back room deals …

The day they swore in President Obama everyone knew there was quite a different Presidency he had walked into than most Presidents. This President has faced one crisis after another and contrary to what “the Media” wants us to feel or believe he has made failed and false promises. I do not believe he has made false promises, he has had to contemplate and change directions, he is still working for all Americans, and I am so proud to have voted for President Obama.

While the forces of the RTP say otherwise, we all need to understand the change, redirecting any and quite possibly all campaign promises if needed. Why? Because our lives have changed, they are more of a challenge now and the elements(theGOP) needed to create a better situation did not play by the rules choosing to sit on the sidelines. The banks flexed their muscles, lobbyists are stood in the way, Republicans/Conservatives cannot accept Obama as our President and have become more than just the party of no, some are trying to provoke fear and hate not bipartisanship, and I keep asking is socialist a code for the n word?

ConservaDems and definitely Republicans are not all in for the change the rest of us believed in want or voted for twice.  We need to tell members of  Congress! be outraged at the nonsense going on…We need to continue reforming that part of our economy monopolized by parts of Corporate America given the right to do so by folks on the Supreme Court. Vote out the TeaCarpetbaggers for a positive change.

While President Obama did promise change, he has kept over half of them, he also stated that he could not make changes alone … we all would have to participate. That comment is a hard reality given the crap that the Republican Tea Party keeps pulling out of somewhere disguised with them saying they are listening to what Americans want because Americans spoke thus the outcome of the midterm elections. Even if it were true, the promises the Republican Tea Party made before and have been making consistently are epic failures …like I said could put us at risk and as I finish a rant a rumor from twitter states Republicans might be considering a government shutdown. Republicans talk about not wanting big government but they do not deliver on their promise. In fact, they have been practicing failed promises and lies since the 112th Congress started. Mr. Boehner, Cantor and their comrades have failed to offer up a legitimate JOBS bill, failed to create a JOB and of course we can all debate whether that bush bonus giveaway has helped create, save and or stopped any outsourcing of jobs.

I ask the GOP, where and when are the JOBS among many other issues going to be brought to the floor of Congress! and the Epic Failure Promises describes the Republican Tea Party.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

What a shutdown means for veterans


VoteVets.org

Add your name to VoteVets’ petition calling
for an end to the government shutdown

The Republican-sponsored government shutdown promises to have a drastic, and immediate, impact on veterans and military family members.

Starting today, the Department of Veterans Affairs may be forced to furlough up to 20,000 claims processors — wiping out all of the recent progress made reducing the backlog.

We could also begin to see immediate lapses in care. During the 1995 shutdown, some military hospitals canceled appointments and even some surgeries.

From there, things only get worse…

The VA believes that after two or three weeks “benefit checks it issues, including disability claims and pension payments will be disrupted.”

Worse still, the toll sequester has already taken on military readiness will be multiplied with each passing day.

But nothing ends this shutdown faster than the voices of veterans and military family members, particularly those personally impacted.

Add your name to mine on VoteVets’ petition calling for an end to the government shutdown, and let them know if you expect it to impact your family.

http://action.votevets.org/shutdown

In their zeal to deny coverage to the one million-plus uninsured veterans who will qualify for health care under the Affordable Care Act, Ted Cruz and his Tea Party allies are disproportionately placing the burden of a shutdown on military families.

We have an extraordinarily unique voice in this fight. It’s critical that you make yours heard today.

All the best,

General (Ret.) Wesley Clark