Tag Archives: Republican

Republican proposal is packed with extreme cuts


Democrats and Republicans have to reach an agreement to keep the government operating.

Right now, President Obama is calling on both sides to come to the table and reach a reasonable solution — a plan that builds for the future while eliminating wasteful spending in the present. A plan where cutting spending is done judiciously — not recklessly. A plan with investments that create jobs — not cuts that eliminate them.

But the current Republican proposal is packed with extreme cuts that are clearly serving a political agenda — cutting billions from Head Start, slashing Pell Grants and other programs that help students pay for college, and completely eliminating funding for Title X family-planning services.

It’s not a responsible plan to cut spending — but a set of policy prescriptions intended to appease the most extreme wing of their party.

And while cuts like these make the Republican plan objectionable — it’s the fact that it puts nearly 1 million jobs at risk that makes it absolutely unacceptable.

So we’re standing with President Obama in a very public way — with an open letter calling on Republicans to work with him and Democrats in Congress to pass a commonsense budget that works for the American people. Supporters will hand-deliver the petition, with your signature, to House Republicans — making sure our combined voices ring loud and clear.

www.democrats.org

Right now, the debate surrounding our budget should be about one thing — people.

An out-of-work father of three isn’t concerned with advancing the Republicans’ social agenda. All he’s thinking about right now is getting back to work so he can pay his mortgage and his gas bill.

A single mother who relies on Head Start for her four-year-old isn’t thinking about the political sound bite of the moment — she is concerned with making sure her daughter can keep up when she enters kindergarten next year.

The American people don’t care about political back-and-forth or partisan ideology. They want their government to do right by its citizens.

And that’s where the Republican plan falls short.

They would close more than 16,000 classrooms, lay off 55,000 teachers, and cause 218,000 children to be kicked out of early-childhood education programs.

They would slash homeland security investments and lay off thousands of police officers and firefighters, leaving our communities less safe.

They would defund health insurance reform, doing away with the cost savings and vital patient protections relied upon by millions of Americans around the country.

They would eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood, ending thousands of health center jobs across the country and leaving millions of women without access to preventive care.

Now, President Obama knows that this must be a shared sacrifice, and that some cuts must be made — and he stands ready to work together to find a commonsense solution.

But the current Republican plan would knock this country down just as we’ve begun to stand back up.

The American people deserve better — and it’s up to us to demand it.

Add your name to call on congressional Republicans to stand down from their irresponsible proposal and work with the President on a reasonable plan that we can all support:  www.democrats.org

Thank you,

Patrick

Patrick Gaspard

Executive Director

Democratic National Committee

BREAKING: Wisconsin …CodeRed from the PCCC team


CODE RED: Wisconsin‘s Republican senators just voted to pass Gov. Walker’s anti-worker bill — without Democrats present.

They are bending the rules in order to break Wisconsin unions, and they need to be punished for this undemocratic action.

We plan on working all night to prepare new online ads and radio ads — and we’ll buy more TV ads in the districts of Republican senators up for recall.

http://act.boldprogressives.org/go/3227?akid=3495.392150.-YYCDp&t=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjb44QYB8nw&tracker=False

8 Republican senators are facing recall elections. Voters need to know what happened in Madison tonight. This was wrong.

http://act.boldprogressives.org/go/3227?akid=3495.392150.-YYCDp&t=3

Now more than ever — please consider chipping in $3 to help us punish Republicans for their war on working families and their undemocratic actions. Click here.

Then, please pass this email to others! Thanks for being a bold progressive.

— Adam Green, Stephanie Taylor, Jason Rosenbaum, Amanda Johnson, and the PCCC team

Congress on 3/10/2011 – the Republican led House:trying to eliminate FHA prg – the Senate


CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 10, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

4:40 P.M. –

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

H.R. 830:

to rescind the unobligated funding for the FHA Refinance Program and to terminate the program

4:36 P.M. –

The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 830.

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

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 256 – 171 (Roll no. 171).

4:30 P.M. –

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 185 – 243 (Roll no. 170).

4:12 P.M. –

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

4:03 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Deutch motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with amendments which provide a continuation of the provisions of the program for senior homeowners.

4:02 P.M. –

Mr. Deutch moved to recommit with instructions to Financial Services.

4:00 P.M. –

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

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. 830.

3:59 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Waters amendment as modified Agreed to by recorded vote: 278 – 147 (Roll no. 169).

3:52 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Lynch amendment Failed by recorded vote: 184 – 243 (Roll no. 168).

3:28 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.

3:27 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair put the question on adoption of the Waters amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Biggert demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

3:21 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Waters amendment number 6, as modified, under the five-minute rule.

3:20 P.M. –

Waters amendment modified by unanimous consent.

3:19 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Ms. Waters.

An amendment numbered 6 printed in the Congressional Record to add a new section requiring the Secretary to post a statement prominently on the web which explains that the FHA Short Refinance Program has been terminated and includes a contact for borrowers who are uncertain as to how to proceed.

3:04 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on pro forma amendments under the five-minute rule.

3:02 P.M. –

Mrs. Biggert raised a point of order against the Garamendi amendment Mrs. Biggert stated that the amendment was not germane and violated clause 7 of rule 16. The Chair sustained the point of order.

2:56 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Garamendi amendment number 7 under the five-minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mr. Garamendi.

An amendment numbered 7 printed in the Congressional Record to add a new section regarding treatment of bonuses for finacial sector employees.

2:55 P.M. –

Mrs. Biggert raised a point of order against the Holt amendment Mrs. Biggert stated that the amendment was not germane and violated clause 7 of rule 16. The Chair sustained the point of order.

2:52 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Holt amendment number 8 under the five-minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mr. Holt.

An amendment numbered 8 printed in the Congressional Record to add a new section detailing modifications of real property standard deduction.

2:45 P.M. –

Mrs. Biggert raised a point of order against the Inslee amendment Mrs. Biggert stated that the amendment was not germane and violated clause 7 of rule 16. The Chair sustained the point of order.

2:42 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Inslee amendment number 14 under the five-minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mr. Inslee.

An amendment numbered 14 printed in the Congressional Record to add a new section directing the Attorney General to pursue criminal prosecution of those who have failed to comply with State laws relating to foreclosure of mortgages on residential real property.

2:41 P.M. –

Mrs. Biggert raised a point of order against the Sanchez, Loretta amendment Mrs. Biggert stated that the amendment had the effect of increasing mandatory spending over a specified period of time and violated clause 10 of rule 21. The Chair sustained the point of order.

2:37 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Loretta Sanchez amendment in the nature of a substitute number 15 under the five minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Ms. Sanchez, Loretta.

An amendment in the nature of a substitute numbered 15 printed in the Congressional Record to insert a complete new text detailing use of funding for an FHA Refinancing Program.

2:35 P.M. –

Mrs. Biggert raised a point of order against the Waters amendment Mrs. Biggert stated that the amendment was not germane and violated clause 7 of Rule XVI. The Chair sustained the point of order.

2:29 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Waters amendment number 5 under the five minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Ms. Waters.

An amendment numbered 5 printed in the Congressional Record to direct the Housing and Urban Development Department, in consultation with the Treasury Department, to conduct a study on the negative impacts of underwater mortgage loans on the housing market and economy of the United States and to report on the findings.

2:24 P.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on pro forma amendments under the five-minute rule.

2:23 P.M. –

Mrs. Biggert raised a point of order against the Inslee amendment Mrs. Biggert stated that the amendment was not germane. The Chair sustained the point of order.

2:19 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Inslee amendment number 12 under the five minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mr. Inslee.

An amendment numbered 12 printed in the Congressional Record to modify the bill’s required study by the Housing and Urban Development Department on the FHA Refinance Program’s use by, and effects on, certain homeowners to include a study on the need and appropriate guidelines for a replacement mortgage insurance program.

On agreeing to the Paulsen amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

2:15 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Paulsen amendment number 4 under the five minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Paulsen.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in the Congressional Record to include military servicemembers and veterans who have service-connected injuries, as well as survivors and dependents of such individuals, in a study on use of the FHA Refinance program.

2:14 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Lynch amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Frank (MA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

2:00 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Lynch amendment number 3 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Lynch.

An amendment numbered 3 printed in the Congressional Record to strike language in the bill terminating the Mortgagee Letter 2010-23, which provided guidance for the FHA Refinance Program. The amendment also strikes language which prohibits the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from issuing any regulation, order, or notice that is based on or substantially similar to such Mortgagee Letter.

1:59 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Fitzpatrick amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

1:56 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Fitzpatrick amendment number 11 under the five minute rule.

1:55 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Fitzpatrick.

An amendment numbered 11 printed in the Congressional Record to require any unexpected balances for the FHA Refinance Program that are rescinded and canceled under the bill to be retained in the general fund of the Treasury for reducing the debt of the federal government.

1:40 P.M. –

Mr. Bachus raised a point of order against the Maloney amendment Mr. Bachus stated that the amendment was not germane and violated clause 7 of Rule XVI. The Chair sustained the point of order.

1:33 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Maloney amendment number 9 under the five minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mrs. Maloney.

An amendment numbered 9 printed in the Congressional Record to add a section which lists the number of underwater mortgages in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

12:26 P.M. –

GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 830.

12:25 P.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Charles F. Bass 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. 150 and Rule XVIII.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 830 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 read by section. Specified amendments are in order. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now printed in the bill.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 150.

12:03 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.

12:02 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Wilson of SC 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 Raymond Bowman, Spruce Street Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee.

12:00 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 10.

10:51 A.M. –

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

10:01 A.M. –

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

10:00 A.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Robert E. Latta to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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

Convenes: 10:00am

Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 2:15pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 10:30am, Senator Moran will deliver his maiden speech to the Senate.

At 2:15pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive session to consider the nomination of Max Oliver, Jr., of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina. There will be up to 15 minutes for debate on the nomination prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

Senators should expect the vote on confirmation of the Oliver nomination to begin around 2:30pm.

The Senate is in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

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

The Senate reached an agreement to consider Executive calendar #10, the nomination of James Boasberg, of the District of Columbia, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia, at 4:30pm on Monday, March 14.

Under the agreement, there will be up to 1 hour for debate equally divided prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

Senators should the vote on confirmation to begin at approximately 5:30pm on Monday, March 14.

Today we were unable to reach an agreement to begin consideration of the Small Business Committee’s bill, S.493, the SBIR and STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011.

As a result, Senator Reid moved to proceed to the bill and filed cloture on the motion.

The cloture vote will occur Monday evening. There will be 2 votes at 5:30pm on Monday. The first vote will be on confirmation of James Boasberg (DC District Judge) and the second vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.493, the SBIR and STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011.

Votes:

38: Confirmation of Max Oliver, Jr., of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina;

Confirmed: 96-0

Unanimous Consent:

Confirmed Timothy J. Feighery, of New York, to be Chairman of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the US.

The Struggle in Wisconsin …


The struggle in Wisconsin is still ongoing, but MoveOn members like you have already played a pivotal role in fighting back against Governor Scott Walker‘s radical attack on workers’ rights.

Walker expected his budget bill to sail through, but instead, it’s sparked a national backlash and energized millions of people. And that’s thanks, in part, to you.

Since the fight began:

Thousands of Wisconsin MoveOn members attended the massive demonstrations in Madison, made calls to their state legislators, and sent almost 10,000 messages to Governor Walker, which protesters plastered all over the walls outside Walker’s office when he refused to accept them. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206612&id=26435-17809870-dEjiEix&t=1

 MoveOn members contributed more than $100,000 to the Wisconsin 14, the brave Democratic state senators who left the state to prevent Republicans from jamming through Walker’s proposal—providing them a huge boost to fight back against Republican attacks.  http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206615&id=26435-17809870-dEjiEix&t=2

 MoveOn members sent more than 260,000 statements of support to the Wisconsin 14. We delivered the statements—all 5,700 pages of them—to State Senator Chris Larson. He was thrilled to share them with his colleagues and posted on Facebook: “Thank you for standing with us! (And yes, people actually do get paper copies of those forms you fill out online. Thank you MoveOn.org).”

 MoveOn members nationwide contributed more than $445,000 to support the efforts to recall the Republican state senators who refuse to negotiate. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206613&id=26435-17809870-dEjiEix&t=4  The folks running the recall report they’re off to an amazing start, beating their signature goal in the first weekend by 35%, and they’re hugely grateful for the early fundraising.

 MoveOn members held solidarity rallies in every state capital—our biggest in years, and on just four days’ notice—to say that we are all Wisconsin and we won’t stand by while Republicans try to kill the American Dream. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206323&id=26435-17809870-dEjiEix&t=5

It’s an amazing and inspiring list. And this fight is far from over. Even if Governor Walker manages to push through his disastrous proposal, the recall efforts targeting Republicans are already off to an amazing start and several of those who support Walker could be thrown out of office as soon as June.

With similar fights happening across the country and in Washington, we’ve got a long way to go before we put the American Dream back in reach for all Americans. But Wisconsin has sparked a national uprising and given us the strength to fight back.

For the moment though, we just wanted to take the time to say thanks, for all you do.

–Daniel, Joan, Kat, Lenore, and the rest of the team

P.S. With Republicans in Washington pushing devastating federal budget cuts—to education, student loans, NPR, environmental protection, family planning, health and nutrition programs for pregnant women and small children, and more—we’re looking to highlight the stories of those who’d be affected by the cuts. If any of the Republican budget cuts would affect you or your family.

wicked weathered Wednesday &some News


Beware the weather is churning March Madness is heating up and the nonsense in Politics and the behavior by Politicians is getting even worse.

After then Senator Barack Obama became President, someone said the sky was falling, that Marxism and or Socialism was coming to America and we will lose our freedom … oh and that certain Muslims are not to be trusted unless they become FBI informants and or give up their rights – freedom of religion

I thought this was the 21st Century people! I find it amusing yet it brings me to tears to see how easy folks seem to throw out labels to describe President Obama’s actions in a time when the jig is up so to speak. We all see and hear the rhetoric out there in I guess a desperate move to try and make Americans feel that “other” thing relevant again. I am hoping folks have had enough of it and can see through the Republican Tea Party for what they are and refuse to drink the Kool-Aid. If you need to get a blast from the past, engage in movements to make the tea party base scared see what the McCarthyism days were like just tune into the Peter King hearings and see what a racist who holds public office looks like. It is as if these people holding public office not only forgot the oath they took, they decided to use their positions of power to do whatever they can to alienate working American families by separating them from jobs, social services and education to name just a few things jumping around on the chopping block of the Republican Tea Party. Republicans have made a choice and it ain’t for the Middle Class.

I would like to remind anyone thinking of voting right of center in 2012 because they are not happy about the status of your own life at this very moment. After years of so-called creative accounting, procedures from Wall Street finally reared its ugly head. Life for middle America changed as we all know it and again like I keep saying the show House of cards by David Faber on CNBC was a cruel reminder and rude awaking at how greed affects the mind … a truthful documentation of the nasty journey our economy took … by who, for who and how it brought us all down …

I am definitely a part of the Democratic Party but if we have to subscribe to labels … call me a Marxist who believes in Socialism at this time. We need someone who cares, who is socially responsible and who believes the gap between the haves and have none needs to shrink. If that is wrong, school me. Even though my question is rhetorical, think about it. What could be wrong with caring for your fellow man no matter what race, sex, creed, and or religion not just the 2% who got their bonus dollars after holding the Middle Class hostage for what about two years but still not satisfied until they destroy what America use to be about. The fact is that 2% has been and continues to wheel and deal with folks like the Koch brothers and the US Chamber of Commerce beginning or ending at the house of bush is not clear. However, it is obvious they intended to make money at the expense of all investors and the crap trickled down to Main Street.

“We the People” need to admit. It’s time for a change and if you believe in equality, it you believe in Working Families, Working Class American Workers instead of Corporate American or the Rich we all need to make sure that the Democratic Party regains control and correct the blatant BS and or mess that Republicans have made of our country.

Other News …

 **Peter King defends his hearings and will bring in other Muslims to prove it

**Libyan rebels might be losing the fight

**clashes in Tahrir square – 11 killed senselessly

**NPR CEO resigns amid tea party flap

**7.2 earthquake off coast of Japan

**41 in the Italian crime grp are being looked for

**Ben affleck talks about the horrors in Congo

**Mortgage Apps uptick to 16%, highest since June

**Suicide bombings in Pakistan killing dozens 

**hey Glee with Gwenth Paltrow was great

CSPAN …

Senate to Vote on Competing Spending Bills

http://c-span.com/Events/Senate-to-Vote-on-Competing-Spending-Bills/10737420087/

Sec. Duncan Defends FY2012 Education Budget

http://c-span.com/Events/Sec-Duncan-Defends-FY2012-Education-Budget/10737420052/

Capitol Hill

Hearing to Ask if Federal Workers are Underpaid

pay-for-performance system evaluated

http://c-span.com/Events/Hearing-to-Ask-if-Federal-Workers-are-Underpaid/10737420051/

Committee Starts to Deal with Housing Finance Reform

first in series of hearings

http://c-span.com/Events/Committee-Starts-to-Deal-with-Housing-Finance-Reform/10737420082/

First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hosted the annual International Women of Courage Awards ceremony at the State Department. Afterwards, two award winners, a prosecutor from Afghanistan and a journalist from the East African nation of Cameroon, spoke with reporters. http://c-span.com/Events/State-Department-Press-Briefings/10737420056/