Tag Archives: republicans

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From Wall Street to K Street




Call Your Senators Today
1-877-323-5246

Tell your senators to support Wall Street reform and increase oversight on the shadow banking system.

In the next few days the Senate will wrap up debate on a Wall Street reform bill that puts important new rules and restrictions on Wall Street banks. The bill is not finalized yet and we’re fighting hard right now to strengthen it, so call your senators today and tell them to support real Wall Street reform, including oversight of the shadow banking system.

Once you’ve called, join AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler next Monday at 11:45 a.m. and help us ratchet up the pressure on the Big Banks and their lobbyists at a Showdown on K Street, the famous Washington, D.C., avenue of high-priced, deep-pocketed lobbyists who are leading the Big Banks’ fight against real Wall Street reform.

Just like our Wall Street event, we’ll livestream the march and rally online so you can join us from anywhere. Add your name to the list of marchers here.

On K Street we’ll be targeting the lobbyists for Wall Street’s Big Six banks—Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo/Wachovia. Since last year and so far through 2010, Big Banks have spent about $1.4 million a day in lobbying and political expenses to fight reform. The Big Banks have four lobbyists for every member of Congress. It’s obscene.

So join us online or in person on Monday at 11:45 a.m. EDT.

And don’t forget, while you wait for the big event, call your senators now and tell them to support real Wall Street reform, including oversight of the shadow banking system.

Call Your Senators Now: 1-877-323-5246

In solidarity,

Marc Laitin
AFL-CIO Online Mobilization Coordinator

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TGIF … and some News – BP&econ collapse


Among other things happening and being reported, the news of today could be that the Senate got a lot done yesterday and seems to be buying into having some courage; maybe we can get some real Financial Reform that Wall Street, Big Banks and AIG types will respect, feel and be punished for not adhering to if they create another system that bets against the people.  Republicans are against Reform …

Is it just me or does anyone else find it awfully strange that people on the right and or Republicans appear to be mad about too much gov’t spending and or big government, but Politicians from the right are holding meetings with big Oil Corporations, big Banks and AIG type agencies and then there’s Sarah Palin campaigning for anti-abortion? they want the government and entitlements out of all our lives until it comes to issues like abortion which they want to completely control…  unreal.  Republicans, maybe some conserva-dems too are clearly on the wrong side of Financial Reform … asking for money and support?

What i feel is lost in the Media coverage and obviously the Public is missing …  is what side Republicans are actually on and it’s not on the side of We the People… sure folks are voting in more conservatives …but it doesn’t seem like they are watching closely… Republicans are on the side of the very people who led us into the financial ditch; Wall Street, Big Banks and AIG types.   Republicans are against Financial Regulations, Republicans want to Repeal Health Care so that the many who might have a chance will continue suffer and be discriminated against.

In the case of BP; Congress needs to find the courage, face the reality and vote to at least a moratorium on oil drilling… though jobs will be lost and that aspect of the oil dump will be a major concern of our President…  it’s obvious that drilling needs to be completely re-evaluated…  we are finding out that these 3 Big Corporations BP, Halliburton, TransOcean; BP being the focus and maybe many others like them have bet on risk…  the average amount of accidents against being ready for one was not only a disaster, betting on averages obviously proved to be the wrong move. Now, we find out that not only did their equipment fail the emergency protocol or plan b,c,d also failed. The idea that they bet or took a risk on not having a big accident and even so the cost of the fine and clean up  …probably a lot less than the profits from drilling and or an insurance claim itself.

In other news …SB1070 or the new Arizona law making racial profiling legal,  has prompted Los Angeles into boycotting the State, a school superintendent deciding the winning girls BB team will not play the championship in Arizona, the RNC cancelling their convention in Arizona and at least 22 other conventions have been canceled,  yet Baseball Commissioner Bob Selig seems to be ignoring calls to move the Phoenix All-Star game out of Arizona.  I am not sure what it will take for Gov Brewer and others to get the gist … SB1070  is a horrible law, the new birther law is horrible and now shutting down any and all Ethnic Study classes in a State and or Federally funded run schools should be considered a problem and addressed asap.

Other News …

**Washington and Oregon State politicians/lawmakers are looking to ban offshore drilling;any drilling spill/disaster would affect over half a million people on the west coast

**Thousands mourn Lena Horne in the NYC

C-SPAN

Financial Overhaul Bill enters final weeks in Senate

Lawmakers devoted a full week to work on the financial reform bill with Senators voting on a range of amendments from revamping underwriting standards to proposing limits on credit card fees. On C SPAN’s Newsmakers, Budget Committee Ranking Member Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) clarified that Republicans were not interested in stopping the passage of financial reform but wanted to offer amendments to “improve” the bill. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) says he expects to complete work on the bill next week.

watch Senate Floor: NOW on C-SPAN2

Chamber CEO Focuses on Job Creation

In a speech at the National Press Club, the CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Thomas J. Donohue will unveil an economic impact study entitled “Opening Markets, Creating Jobs.” His speech will highlight the number of American jobs created by free trade agreements and assess challenges from overseas and at home.

Sarah Palin delivers address on Pro Life Agenda

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) is the keynote speaker at the Susan B. Anthony List’s Celebration of Life Breakfast. The President of the pro-life organization, Marjorie Dannenfelser, praised her, saying, “Susan B. Anthony would be proud of Governor Palin’s consistent, passionate witness for women and the unborn, and especially her commitment to the families of children with special needs.”

watch Palin Address: LIVE on C-SPAN3

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Follow Congress … Friday


The Senate Convenes: 9:30amET

The Senate will resume consideration of S.3217, Wall Street Reform.

There will be no roll call votes on Friday, May 14


The following amendments are pending to S.3217:
– Dodd-Lincoln amendment #3739 (Substitute)
– Brownback #3789, as modified (auto dealer exemption)
– Snowe #3883 (small business regulation transparency)
– Specter #3776, as modified (Aiders & Abettors)
– Leahy #3823 (health insurance antitrust enforcement)
– Durbin #3989, as modified (interchange fee)
– Wyden #4019 (secret holds)
– Thune #3987 (sunset of Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection)
DeMint #3852 (Border Fence)
Rockefeller #3758 (FTC)
#4016 (access to credit score)

There will be no roll call votes on Friday, May 14.

Unanimous Consent:
Passed HR2711, Special Agent Samuel Hicks Families of Fallen Heroes Act.

Adopted S.Res.410, a resolution supporting and recognizing the goals and ideals of “RV Centennial Celebration Month” to commemorate 100 years of enjoyment of recreation vehicles in the United States.

Adopted S.Res.521, a resolution commemorating and celebrating the lives of fallen officers in Washington State.

Adopted S.Res.526, a resolution designating May 16-22, 2010, as “National Search and Rescue Week”.

Adopted S.Res.527, a resolution supporting the designation of an appropriate date as “National Childhood Stroke Awareness Day”

Adopted S.Res.528, a resolution designating May 15, 2010, as “National MPS Awareness Day”.

Adopted S.Res.529, a resolution celebrating the life and achievements of Lena Mary Calhoun Horne.

Adopted S.Res.530, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of “National Women’s Health Week”.

The Senate will Convenes on May 17, 2010:

The Senate will convene at 2:00 p.m. There will be a period of morning business until 3:00 p.m. with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 3:00 p.m., the Senate will resume consideration of S. 3217, Wall Street Reform. Several roll call votes are expected to begin at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Monday.

Secret holds are kept in place by DeMint, though he doesn’t really agree with them  he voted no to getting rid of them… WHAT?   there are 52 holds on Obama appointments … and he is in year 2 of his Administration… is this the way all Republican Senators act?

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 14, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

11:37 A.M. –
The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on May 18, 2010.

11:33 A.M. –
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG – The Chair led the House 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.

11:31 A.M. –
Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin. The Speaker designated the Honorable Lois Capps to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

11:30 A.M. –
The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
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Oklahoma Is At It Again: State Legislature Passes Bill Stripping Abortion Coverage From Health Insurance


by Amanda Terkel

As ThinkProgress has reported, many far-right members of the Oklahoma legislature have made denying women rights a full-time mission. What the legislature has done in recent weeks:

– Both the House and the Senate passed a law mandating the collection of personal details about every single abortion performed in the state, which will then be posted on a public website.

– The legislature overrode the governor’s veto of an ultrasound mandate, which requires that doctor’s show women seeking an abortion ultrasounds of their babies and “describe the size of the fetus and any viewable organs and limbs. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.” The law also “limits who can do the ultrasound and which technology can be used — issues lawmakers are ill-equipped to decide.”

– The legislature also overrode the governor’s veto of a measure to prevent women from filing “wrongful life” lawsuits against “doctors who withhold information about a fetus or pregnancy that could cause a woman to seek an abortion.”

Yesterday, the Oklahoma House was at it again, this time passing a bill (HB 3290) by a 70-21 vote to bar private insurance companies from covering abortion. From the legislation:

No health plan, including health insurance contracts, plans or policies, offered outside of the state Exchange, but within the state, shall provide coverage for elective abortions except by optional separate supplemental coverage for abortion for which there must be paid a separate premium in accordance with subsection D of this act.

The bill does provide “exceptions in cases of rape and incest or to prevent the death of the mother.” Rep. Skye McNiel (R), the author of the legislation, said that it was simply meant to “ban state insurance exchanges created under the recently signed federal health care legislation from covering abortion procedures.” However, several legislators — including a Republican Rep. Doug Cox, who is also a doctor — spoke out against what the House was doing:

“This bill is nothing but pure politics so people can go home and stand up and beat their chests and say, ‘I voted against abortion of any type,’” Cox said. “You’re going to be trampling on some people who are good Christian people who are against abortion, but when it comes to one of these sad, terribly sad, freaks of nature that happen, you’re going to be punishing those good Christian people who are against abortion except in these cases.”

As CAP’s Jessica Arons has pointed out, making women purchase a separate abortion “rider” — as this legislation does — is discriminatory and requires women “to plan for a completely unexpected event.” Similarly, Rep. Jeannie McDaniel (D), who also voted against the bill, read a letter from a doctor who said that it’s unfair to require women to purchase special abortion coverage in advance because “a medically necessary termination of pregnancy is something that no family plans for or anticipates.” According to Cox, paying for abortion without insurance could cost a woman $10,000.

Oklahoma joins other states such as Arizona, Mississippi, and Tennessee in prohibiting insurers from offering abortion coverage in state exchanges, even if it’s paid for with private dollars.

State Sen. Steve Russell (R) recently tried to justify the abortion-reporting bill by saying, “This is not about women. It is about children in the womb deserving a life that got created.” The fact that lawmakers like Russell are leaving women’s interests out of the equation underscores the problem of what’s going on in Oklahoma.

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Call on Congress to Reject Rate Hikes


Today, Health Care for America Now released a report1 on insurance company profits and the results are stunning.  In the first quarter of 2010 the profits of the five biggest insurers increased at record levels while they covered less people and spent less on care.  That’s why we need to give the federal and state governments more power to reject and modify rate hikes.

Health Care champions Senator Dianne Feinstein of California and Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-9) have introduced legislation2 that will build upon the landmark health care law that was passed in March and give the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the authority to end unjust premium increases.

Click here to call your Member of Congress and tell them you support this legislation that would make health care more affordable for businesses and families.

The Insurance Company’s recent behavior3 has shown they will do and say anything to keep their bloated CEO pay and inflated profits by denying our care and jacking up our rates.   We need to give regulators the power and resources to check the insurance companies and stop business as usual.

Click here and call your Member of Congress and tell them you support giving regulators more authority to bring the insurance companies under control and stop outrageous rate increases.

In Solidarity,

Melinda Gibson
Health Care for America Now