Tag Archives: Republican

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Republicans continue to choose -Anti-Choice Legislation


Last night House Republicans voted in favor of an appalling piece of anti-choice legislation that could force victims or rape and incest to relive their trauma during an IRS audit and deny millions of American women access to life-saving reproductive health care.

http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63cab1/1b9dd8ab/4a3ad271/4e0ce84b/3136141357/VEsE/

Their assault on women has nothing to do with saving money and everything to do with forcing extremist beliefs into the tax code of the United States of America.

And they didn’t stop there. They used the occasion to sneak in a provision restricting the definition of rape to deny victims access to reproductive health care — even after they claimed to have removed the language in the face of overwhelming public opposition.

We must take immediate, decisive action against this attack on women’s health and reproductive freedom.

Help us hold House Republicans accountable: Contribute $3 or more right now so we can get hard-hitting Rapid Response ads up holding Republican extremists in Congress accountable for their radical assault on women’s health care and reproductive freedom.

Republicans’ H.R. 3 bill would drastically restrict women’s options for reproductive services by imposing burdensome new regulations on public and private insurance coverage. If made law, women would be denied using money from their personal health savings accounts to pay for abortion services.

I know how important it is for all women to have access to reproductive health care and it is unconscionable that one party would hold women’s health hostage and use the tax code as a moral club to force their religious beliefs on every American.

We are just $27,215 short of our emergency Rapid Response goal of $100,000 by Midnight Tonight to fight this Republican extremism.

http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63cab1/1b9dd8ab/4a3ad271/4e0ce84b/3136141357/VEsE/

Help us hold House Republicans accountable: Contribute $3 or more right now so we can get hard-hitting Rapid Response ads up holding Republican extremists in Congress accountable for their radical assault on women’s health care and reproductive freedom.

With your help, we will stand up to this extremism and protect women’s reproductive freedom.

Thank you.

Rep. Jackie Speier

P.S. House Republicans will stop at nothing to appease their extremist anti-choice Tea Party backers. Please contribute right now so Democrats can get hard-hitting Rapid Response ads up to hold the extremists in Congress accountable for their radical assault on women’s health care and reproductive freedom.

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Congress: What are they doing to us in -the Republican led House – the Senate is working on S.493- a JOBs bill!


The Senate Convenes at 10:00amET May 4, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business for debate only with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees, with the Majority controlling the first 30 minutes each and the Republicans controlling the next 30 minutes.

The filing deadline for all 2nd degree amendments to S.493, the Small Business Jobs bill is at 11am on Wednesday.

There will be up to 2 roll call votes at 12:15pm. The first roll call vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on S.493, the small business jobs bill. If cloture is not invoked on the bill, the Senate will immediately proceed to a second roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of John McConnell to be US District Judge for the District of Rhode Island.

The Senate is now debating the nomination of John McConnell to be US District Judge for the District of Rhode Island, post-cloture. If all time is used, the 30 hours of post-cloture debate time will expire at approximately 7:10pm, Thursday, May 5th. However, there is a possibility some debate time will be yielded back and a vote on confirmation of the nomination could occur this afternoon or evening. Senators will be notified when the vote is scheduled.

We expect to lock in an agreement to yield back time and vote on confirmation of the nomination of John McConnell to be a US District Judge for the District of Rhode Island at approximately 5:30pm.

Votes:

64: Motion to invoke cloture on S.493, the Small Business Jobs bill; Not Invoked: 52-44

65: Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of John McConnell to be US District Judge for the District of Rhode Island; Invoked: 63-33-1(present)

66: Now voting on confirmation of the nomination of John McConnell to be US District Judge for the District of Rhode Island

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 4, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

5:29 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

5:20 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

5:19 P.M. – Mr. Westmoreland asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 5, 2011. Agreed to without objection.

H.R. 3: to prohibit taxpayer funded abortions and to provide for conscience protections, and for other purposes

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

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 251 – 175 (Roll no. 292).

5:12 P.M. – On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 192 – 235 (Roll no. 291).

4:52 P.M. – The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

4:43 P.M. – Floor summary: DEBATE – The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Speier motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment adding a new section providing that nothing in the bill would permit the Federal Government to gain access to the private medical records of the victims of rape and incest.

4:42 P.M. – Ms. Speier moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.

4:41 P.M. – Considered as unfinished business.

CONTINUATION OF PROCEEDINGS – Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced that proceedings would now resume on H.R. 3 which had been considered earlier in the day.

H.R. 1214: to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction

4:40 P.M. – On passage Passed by recorded vote: 235 – 191 (Roll no. 290).

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

4:33 P.M. – On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 180 – 230 (Roll no. 289).

4:16 P.M. – The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

4:05 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the McCarthy (NY) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment adding a new paragraph directing the Secretary to publish, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the names and locations of each school based health center or sponsoring facility that will not receive a grant.

4:04 P.M. – Mrs. McCarthy (NY) moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce.

4:03 P.M. – The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

4:02 P.M. – The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1214.

On agreeing to the Pallone amendment Failed by recorded vote: 205 – 210 (Roll no. 288).

3:53 P.M. – On agreeing to the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment Failed by recorded vote: 207 – 218 (Roll no. 287).

3:26 P.M. – UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

3:25 P.M. – The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 3: to prohibit taxpayer funded abortions and to provide for conscience protections, and for other purposes

3:24 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair announced that pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, further proceedings on H.R. 3 would be postponed until a time to be announced.

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

1:59 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 3.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the report of the Committee on Rules 112-71 shall be considered as adopted. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 237.

H. Res. 237: providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 3) to prohibit taxpayer funded abortions and to provide for conscience protections, and for other purposes

1:55 P.M. – Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 243 – 177 (Roll no. 286).

1:32 P.M. – The previous question was ordered without objection.

12:27 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 237.

Considered as privileged matter.

12:02 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.

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

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

12:01 P.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Kurt Gerhard, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Washington DC.

12:00 P.M. – The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 4.

10:41 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

10:00 A.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Michael G. Fitzpatrick to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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what’s happening on the floor of Congress: -the Republican led House -the Senate


the Senate Convenes at 10:00amET May 3, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 5:00 pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Republicans will control the first 30 minutes and the Majority will control the next 30 minutes.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15 pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

The filing deadline for all first degree amendments to S.493, the Small Business Jobs bill is at 2:30pm today. If your Senator has a germane first degree amendment and would like to preserve his or her right to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment to the cloakroom prior to 2:30pm today. If you have already filed, there is no need to re-file.

At 2:15pm, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of S.Res.159, a resolution honoring the members of the military and intelligence community who carried out the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, and for other purposes, with up to 90 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. The final 10 minutes of debate will be reserved for the two Leaders, with the Republican Leader controlling five minutes and the Majority Leader controlling the final five minutes.

Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 3:45pm), the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on adoption of the resolution. Senator Reid encourages Senators to vote from their desks.

The Senate is currently in a period of morning business until 5:00pm for debate only with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

There will be no further roll call votes today.

Votes:

63: Adoption of S.Res.159, honoring the members of the military and intelligence community who carried out the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, and for other purposes; Adopted: 97-0

Unanimous Consent:

S.Res.160, designating May 6, 2011, as “Military Spouse Appreciation Day”.

S.Res.161, designating May 2011 as “National Inventors Month”.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 3, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

6:45 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

6:44 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

H.R. 1214: to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction

6:43 P.M. – Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1214 as unfinished business.

On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Burgess moved that the Committee rise.

6:42 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Pallone amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

6:39 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Pallone amendment numbered 2 under the five-minute rule.

6:38 P.M. – Amendment offered by Mr. Pallone. An amendment numbered 2 printed in the Congressional Record to require a GAO study to determine school districts most in need of constructing or renovating school-based health centers.

6:37 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

6:28 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment No.1 under the five-minute rule.

6:27 P.M. – Amendment offered by Ms. Jackson Lee (TX). An amendment numbered 1 printed in the Congressional Record to insert a new paragraph requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to post a notice of recission of unobligated funds made available by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act not later than 10 days after the date of enactment of this Act on the Department’s public website.

6:26 P.M. – The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

6:25 P.M. – Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 1213: to repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges

6:21 P.M. – Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 238 – 183 (Roll no. 285).

6:14 P.M. – On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 190 – 233 (Roll no. 284).

5:48 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment inserting a provision that would require health insurance issuers to disclose the extent to which coverage has been denied or premiums have been increased for an individual. A point of order was reserved, but was subsequently withdrawn.

5:47 P.M. – Mr. Boswell moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce. Mr. Boswell moves to recommit the bill H.R. 1213 to the Committee on Energy and Commerce with instructions to report the same to the House forthwith with the following amendment: � In section 1, add at the end the following: � (c) CANCER OR OTHER PREEXISTING CONDITION NON-DISCRIMINATION DISCLOSURE CONDITION. — ***

5:46 P.M. – The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1213.

5:45 P.M. – On agreeing to the Ellison amendment Failed by recorded vote: 180 – 242 (Roll no. 283).

5:37 P.M. – On agreeing to the Waters amendment Failed by recorded vote: 178 – 242 (Roll no. 282).

5:30 P.M. – On agreeing to the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment Failed by recorded vote: 177 – 239 (Roll no. 281).

5:07 P.M. – UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings were postponed.

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 1214: to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction

5:06 P.M. – Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1214 as unfinished business.

On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

5:05 P.M. – Mr. Burgess moved that the Committee rise.

3:55 P.M. – GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1214.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Steven C. LaTourette to act as Chairman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 236 and Rule XVIII.

3:54 P.M. – Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1213 and H.R. 1214 with 1 hour of general debate for each bill. In both cases, the previous question shall be considered as ordered except motion to recommit with or without instructions. The measures will be considered read. In the case of H.R. 1213, specified amendments are in order. In the case of H.R. 1214, the resolution makes in order only those amendments that are received for printing in the portion of the Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII in a daily issue dated May 2, 2011, and pro forma amendments for the purpose of debate.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 236.

H.R. 1213: to repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1213 as unfinished business.

On motion that the Committee now rise Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Burgess moved that the Committee now rise.

3:53 P.M. – On agreeing to the Welch amendment Failed by voice vote.

3:43 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Welch (VT) substitute amendment No. 5.

Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Welch.

A substitute amendment numbered 5 printed in House Report 112-70 to preserve funding for establishment of Health Benefit Exchanges for states that apply for early innovator grants before 2012. The funds used shall be subject to availability of appropriations up to $1.9 billion.

On agreeing to the Pallone amendment Failed by voice vote.

3:31 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pallone amendment No. 4.

Amendment offered by Mr. Pallone.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 112-70 to require GAO to report on benefits of funding in setting up state run exchanges that reflect that state’s marketplace, as opposed to state exchanges established and operated by the federal government.

3:30 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Ellison amendment no. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Ellison demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

3:19 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ellison amendment No. 3.

Amendment offered by Mr. Ellison.

An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 112-70 to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress a report on the impact of H.R. 1213 on the possible delays and potential enrollment reductions to Health Benefit Exchanges.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Waters amendment no. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Waters demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

3:12 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waters amendment No. 2.

Amendment offered by Ms. Waters.

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 112-70 to require, within 6 months after enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress a report on the extent to which states are expected to have difficulties establishing Health Benefit Exchanges without the federal assistance repealed and rescinded under this bill.

3:11 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment no. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Jackson Lee (TX) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

3:00 P.M. – Amendment offered by Ms. Jackson Lee (TX). An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 112-70 to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to post notice of rescission of funds and the amount rescinded on the public website of the Department of Health and Human Services.

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment No. 1.

1:49 P.M. – GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1213.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Steven C. LaTourette to act as Chairman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 236 and Rule XVIII.

1:48 P.M. – Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1213 and H.R. 1214 with 1 hour of general debate for each bill. In both cases, the previous question shall be considered as ordered except motion to recommit with or without instructions. The measures will be considered read. In the case of H.R. 1213, specified amendments are in order. In the case of H.R. 1214, the resolution makes in order only those amendments that are received for printing in the portion of the Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII in a daily issue dated May 2, 2011, and pro forma amendments for the purpose of debate.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 236.

H.R. 1425: to reauthorize and improve the SBIR and STTR programs, and for other purposes

1:46 P.M. – RE-REFERRAL OF H.R. 1425 – Mr. Hall(TX) asked unanimous consent the H.R. 1425 be re-referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition, to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology and Armed Services. Agreed to without objection.

H. Res. 236: providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 1213) to repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges, and providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 1214) to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 237 – 185 (Roll no. 280).

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

1:39 P.M. – On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 234 – 185 (Roll no. 279).

12:16 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 236.

12:13 P.M. – Considered as privileged matter.

12:02 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.

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

12:01 P.M. – The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

12:00 P.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Alan Kieran, Office of the U.S. Senate Chaplain, Washington DC.

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 3.

10:43 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

10:02 A.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

10:01 A.M. – The Speaker designated the Honorable Tom McClintock to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

10:00 A.M. – The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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Economy:Bernanke Meets The Press


Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke held the first public press conference in the history of the Federal Reserve yesterday, in an attempt to bring more transparency to the central bank (which faced its first ever audit last year). “I’ve personally always been a believer in providing as much information as you can,” Bernanke told the gathered press. The conference wa s held just hours after the Federal Reserve Board announced that it will end its program of quantitative easing (QE2) — aimed at boosting the sluggish economy — on schedule in June, due to its assessment that “the economic recovery is proceeding at a moderate pace and overall conditions in the labor market are improving gradually.” However, at the same time, the Fed revised its projections for economic growth downward. Previously, the Fed had estimated that growth this year would be between 3.4 and 3.9 percent, but now it is only predicting growth at 3.1 to 3.3 percent, due to contractions in exports, construction spending and military spending. The Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that first quarter growth registered at just 1.8 percent . And while most of the questions during the conference centered on Bernanke’s views on inflation, gas prices, and the nation’s deficit, little time was spent on arguably the most pressing problem facing the country: continued high unemployment.

‘VERY DEEP HOLE’: Bernanke acknowledged during the press conference that the nation faces a “very, very deep hole” when it comes to job creation, noting that we would have to create seven million jobs just to make up for those lost during the Great Recession. The unemployment rate currently stands at 8.8 percent, while the broader U-6 measure of underemployment is at 15.7 percent. The African-American unemployment rate is 15.5 percent, and the Hispanic unemployment rate is 11.3 percent. While the private sector has been slowly adding jobs, it would still take several years at the current pace in order to get back to full employment. In fact, at the rate of job growth that occurred in March, full employment would not be achieved until 2019. As The Wall Street Journal noted, “even adding 300,000 jobs a month would take almost five years to get back to full employment.” According to the Fed’s own estimates, the economy will not reach full employment for ano ther five years or six years, and the unemployment rate will still be between 6.8 and 7.2 percent in 2013. “The fact that we’re moving in the right direction, even though that’s encouraging, doesn’t mean that the labor market is in good shape. Obviously it’s not,” Bernanke said. To his credit, Bernanke also noted the problem with long-term unemployment, saying, “Long-term unemployment in the current economy is the worst, really the worst it’s been in the post-war period.” “We know the consequences of that can be very distressing, because people who are out of work for a long time, their skills tend to atrophy,” he added.

NO FURTHER ACTION: The Fed has a dual mandate to both ensure full employment and price stability (i.e. combat inflation). During the conference, The New York Times’ Binyamin Applebaum asked Bernanke, “Is it in the Fed’s power to reduce the rate of unemployment more quickly? How would you do that and why are you not doing it?” Bernanke replied, “While it is very, very important to help the economy create jobs and help to support the recovery, I think every central banker understands that keeping inflation low is absolutely essential to a successful economy.” Essentially, Bernanke’s response was that the Fed could do more but won’t due to worries about infla tion getting out of control. However, as many economists have noted, inflation at the moment is exceedingly low (the Fed isn’t meeting its own inflation targets, and its forecasts show inflation is contained for the foreseeable future ), while unemployment remains stubbornly high. In fact, as Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman noted, “there is no tradeoff: more expansionary monetary policy is good in terms of both unemployment and achieving the Fed’s inflation target.” And Bernanke, during his days in academia, actually chided Japan for failing to engage in more expansive monetary policy to get itself out out of its 1990’s slump. “The Bank of Japan could achieve a great deal if it were willing to abandon its excessive caution and its defensive response to criticism,” Bernanke wrote in 1999. So Krugman noted that “[Bernanke’s] own theories — and for that matter the doctrine endorsed by the Fed itself — says that the central bank should be doing much more quantitative easing, not stopping with the US still facing high unemployment.” As Center for American Progress Action Fund Fellow Matthew Yglesias wrote in the journal Democracy, “The idea that a time of unusually high unemployment and unusually low inflation would be a good moment for monetary policy-makers to start caring less about growth and more about price stability, especially when we already have price stability, is bizarre.” Bernanke did say, though, that if Congress enacts spending cuts in the short-term that will slow economic growth too much, the Fed will be forced to act, and the Fed Board also announced that it will be keeping interest rates at around zero for the time being.

POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP: Thus far, the steps to boost the economy that the Fed has taken have been too small and have thus ushered in lackluster results. But as the New York Times noted this week, “a vocal group of critics…argues that the Fed has already done far too much.” These include several Republicans in Congress, who have been fearmongering about the effect of the Fed’s attempt to spur economic growth. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) wrote in a letter to Bernanke that, “you should prepare the Board for an early end to quantitative easing, along with other monetary measures to protect Americans from rising inflation.” House Republicans spent two hearings e arlier this year peppering Bernanke with questions about the specter of inflation. Senate Republicans have also refused to confirm Nobel Prize-winning economist Peter Diamond, who President Obama has nominated to the Federal Reserve Board, saying that despite his stellar economic credentials, he is not qualified for the job; Diamond is known to be an inflation “dove.” Late last year, several Republicans also introduced legislation that would strip the Fed of its responsibility for promoting full employment, with Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) calling the Fed’s full employment mandate “inappropriate.” By focusing more on inflation than full employment, even though inflation is low while unemployment is high, Bernanke and the Fed seem to be bowing to this Republican pressure.

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288 reasons to fight


First they tried to shut down the government to defund women’s health.

Then two weeks ago they passed a budget that demolishes Medicare.

And all the while, GOP leaders in both houses are still pushing to give more huge tax cuts to big corporations that ship American jobs overseas — including handouts to Big Oil even before the first anniversary of BP’s Gulf Coast disaster.

There are reasons we need to keep fighting. In fact, 288 Republican members of the House and Senate mean we have 288 reasons. And if we aren’t strong enough or committed enough to stop their agenda, we will lose our country as we know it.

Your support is crucial as we challenge the Republican Party for the future of our nation. Help us fight their agenda by contributing $10, $20, $35, or more right now.

My biggest focus as I lead the Senate majority is helping families across the country weather this recession. There still are obstacles. College costs are rising faster than paychecks, too many Nevadans are still out of work, and not even our veterans are immune to falling on hard times — and just one homeless veteran is one too many.

These challenges tell us that we must do better. But we can’t reach the kind of success America is known for so long as Republicans in the House and Senate continue to line the pockets of their corporate buddies while letting their Tea Party wing lead an agenda of partisan wedge issues.

Our opposition is strong. There are 288 of them. They’re well-financed, and they have the resources to wreak havoc on our nation’s future if we don’t succeed in stopping them.

I know there’s still fight left in us. Chip in $10 today because there are 288 reasons we can’t stop standing up for what we know is important.

Thanks for everything,

Harry Reid