Tag Archives: Senate

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress:

04/23/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Tuesday, April 23, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for one hour with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.743, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013. All time during adjournment, morning business and recess will be counted post-cloture on the motion to proceed.
The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent to request a conference with the House and name conferees on the Budget resolution.

Senator Toomey objected on behalf of Senator Sessions.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass S.788, a bill to suspend the fiscal year 2013 sequestration and offset with funds from the Overseas Contingency Operations. Senator Coburn objected. Senator Coburn then asked consent to take up and pass an Inhofe-Toomey bill, Calendar #19, S.16, a bill to provide for a sequester replacement. Senator Reid objected.

The Senate reached an agreement that if the Senate receives H.R.475 from the House of Representatives and the bill is identical to the text of which is at the desk, then the bill be read three times and the Senate proceed to a vote, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Minority Leader, with no intervening action or debate. H.R.475, a bill to amend the internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include vaccines against seasonal influenza within the definition of taxable vaccines.

At 10:30am tomorrow, Wednesday, April 24, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:

– Executive Calendar #60, the nomination of Jane Kelly, of Iowa, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit; and

– Executive Calendar #64, the nomination of Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

There will be 90 minutes of debate, with time from 10:30 until 11:00am on the Kelly nomination and the time from 11:00am until 12:00 noon on the Burwell nomination. At approximately 12:00 noon, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nominations. If all time is used, the votes would begin at approximately 12:00 noon. The first vote will be a 15 minute vote and the second vote will be a 10 minute vote.

WRAP UP FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.105, designating April 2013 as “Financial Literacy Month”.

Adopted S.Res.106, commending rehabilitation counselors and supporting the goals and ideals of National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day.

Adopted S.Res.107, honoring military children during the National Month of the Military Child.

Adopted S.Res.108, designating April 2013 as “National 9-1-1 Education Month”.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.788, to suspend FY2013 sequestration. (Reid)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Watch Live House Floor Proceedings

12:00:17 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:32 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Kerry L. Bentivolio to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:54 P.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
12:15:25 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

2:00:24 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 23.
2:00:49 P.M.		Today‘s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:01:59 P.M.		POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Ms. Foxx demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx made a point of no quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day.
2:02:53 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. McCollum to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:03:25 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:19:05 P.M.		BRITISH-AMERICAN INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP – Pursuant to 22 U.S.C 276L, and the order of the House of January 3, 2013, the Speaker appointed the following member of the House to the BRITISH-AMERICAN INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP: Mr. Holding.
2:19:10 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 4:30 P.M. today.
4:29:19 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 23.
4:30:26 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
4:30:40 P.M.	H.R. 1067	Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1067 — “To make revisions in title 36, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current and make technical corrections and improvements.”
4:30:55 P.M.	H.R. 1067	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:30:56 P.M.	H.R. 1067	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1067.

4:34:53 P.M.	H.R. 1067	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
4:35:03 P.M.	H.R. 1068	Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1068 — “To enact title 54, United States Code, “National Park Service and Related Programs”, as positive law.”
4:35:21 P.M.	H.R. 1068	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:35:28 P.M.	H.R. 1068	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1068.
4:40:49 P.M.	H.R. 1068	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
4:41:20 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for approximately 6:30 P.M. today.

6:30:18 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 23.
6:30:47 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:31:25 P.M.	H.R. 1067	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1067 — “To make revisions in title 36, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current and make technical corrections and improvements.”
7:00:50 P.M.	H.R. 1067	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 – 0 (Roll no. 118).
7:00:51 P.M.	H.R. 1067	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:00:51 P.M.	H.R. 1068	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1068 — “To enact title 54, United States Code, “National Park Service and Related Programs”, as positive law.”
7:08:40 P.M.	H.R. 1068	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 – 0 (Roll no. 119).
7:08:40 P.M.	H.R. 1068	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:08:43 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUESINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and put the question on agreeing to the Journal de novo.
7:16:33 P.M.		On approving the Journal Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 285 – 118, 1 Present (Roll no. 120).
7:17:13 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

9:31:18 P.M.		Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.
9:31:33 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
9:31:34 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on April 24, 2013.

« Previous Day

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Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

CONGRESS

04/22/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, April 22.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 5:30pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act, and immediately proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed.

As a reminder at 5:30pm today, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours for debate prior to adoption of the motion to proceed.

5:30pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act;

Invoked: 74-20

At 5:55pm, the Senate invoked cloture on the motion to proceed to S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act, by a vote of 74-20. By consent, all time during any adjournment, recess, or period of morning business will count post-cloture. There will be no further roll call votes tonight.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.743, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013; Invoked: 74-20

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.90, Standing with the people of Kenya following their national and local elections on March 4, 2013, and urging a peaceful and credible resolution of electoral disputes in the courts with a committee-reported amendment to the resolution, a committee-reported amendment to the preamble and a committee-reported amendment to the title.

Discharged the HELP committee of S.437, the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act and referred it to the Banking committee.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

Last Floor Action: 4/19
11:03:10 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on April 23, 2013.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The Senate Ignored Us

04/19/2013 Nativegrl77

ThinkProgress War Room

Why Popular Policies Die in the Senate

The problems with the current Senate rules — namely the abuse of the filibuster by Republicans — are well known. Less well understood is how the Senate by design empowers the residents of small states at the expense of residents of larger states. This fact explains why a policy like background checks that enjoys the support of over 90 percent of Americans can still be killed in the Senate through a combination of filibuster abuse and the Senate’s bias toward small states.

ThinkProgress’ Ian Millhiser explains how this worked in the case of last night’s shameful Senate vote against expanded background checks:

To put this in perspective, Wyoming Sens. Mike Enzi (R) and John Barrasso (R) both voted against the gun safety provision. Together, they represent a little more than half a million people. California Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D) and Barbara Boxer (D) both voted for gun safety. They represent over 38 million Americans. In other words, a voter in Wyoming enjoys 66 times as much representation in the Senate as a voter in California.

As the least populous state, Wyoming makes out like bandits when it comes to Senate representation, but they are far from alone in enjoying such a windfall. A voter in Idaho (population 1,595,728) counts as almost 24 Californians. A voter in Nebraska (population 1,845,525) counts as nearly 21 Californians. And a voter in North Dakota (population 699,628) counts as more than 54 Californians. Indeed, if you add up the combined populations of Wyoming, North Dakota, Alaska, Idaho, Nebraska, Utah, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Alabama, that still adds up to over 3 million fewer people than live in the state of California. That also adds up to 26 senators, all of whom opposed background checks.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

The Texas fertilizer plant that exploded last night hadn’t been inspected in five years.

Gun violence victims detained, put through background checks for yelling “shame on you” at senators.

Morning Joe host shames senators for voting against background checks.

Gabby Giffords writes scathing op-ed directed at cowardly senators who voted against background checks.

Keystone XL tar sands pipeline will create only 35 permanent jobs, emit as much carbon pollution as 51 coal plants.

Regal Cinemas is latest company to face backlash after trying to dodge Obamacare rules by cutting workers’ hours.

Oklahoma’s Republican House majority leader and his colleagues have a laugh over his use of anti-Semitic slur.

No, rail transport won’t be able to replace the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline if it isn’t built.

Racist hate group seeks to use right-wing talk radio to kill immigration reform bill.

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

CONGRESS

04/19/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate's side of the Capitol Building in DC. — The Senate’s side of the Capitol Building in DC. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, April 22.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 5:30pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.743, Marketplace Fairness Act, and immediately proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed.

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Last Floor Action:4/18
2:56:55 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on April 19, 2013.

11:00:36 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:00:54 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Thomas E. Petri to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
11:01:15 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
11:02:36 A.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
11:02:39 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:02:45 A.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on April 19, 2013 at 9:48 a.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 1246, without amendment.
11:03:10 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on April 23, 2013.

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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Auctioning off assault rifles

04/18/2013 Nativegrl77

by Jaxon Ravens, WA State Democrats

Want to know the Washington State Republican Party‘s position on gun violence?
Look at how they raise money. CLICK HERE and send the message:

Washington voters support common-sense steps to reduce gun violence

Auctioning off an assault rifle to raise money?

I guess we know how the Washington State Republican Party feels about gun violence.

This weekend at their annual Gala Auction and Dinner, the Washington State Republicans actually auctioned off an AR-15 style assault rifle. This is the same type of killing machine used in Newtown, CT and Aurora, CO. 1 2

Republicans wonder why they have trouble connecting with suburban, independent, and moderate voters. They wonder why they haven’t sat in the governor’s office since 1985.

It’s because of actions like this. This is nothing less than a slap in the face to all Washington families who fear gun violence.

Click here send the message to the Washington State Republican Party: Washington voters support common-sense steps to reduce gun violence.

It is more important than ever that we hear your voice on gun violence. The United State Senate will vote today on legislation calling for expanded background checks. Even though 90 percent of Americans support expanded background checks, the bill faces an uphill battle. 3 4

Gun control has also faced obstacles on the state level. Expanded background checks failed to pass out of the Washington State House in Olympia this session. 5

But gun control advocates aren’t giving up. They are gearing up for an initiative on background checks that may appear on the ballot in 2014. We need to start building momentum now. 6

The Washington State Democratic Party stands by common-sense steps to reduce gun violence, like expanded background checks. Click here and join us today.

Thank you,

Jaxon Ravens Executive Director Washington State Democrats

1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk1H-mgWhIc&feature=youtu.be

2 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/business/the-ar-15-the-most-wanted-gun-in-america.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

3 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/13/background-checks-poll_n_3070954.html

4 http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/16/17780515-senate-background-check-compromise-in-peril-as-gop-opposition-grows?lite

5 http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/mar/12/gun-bill-proponents-secure-key-washington-vote/

6 http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020782329_guninitiativexml.htmlgun

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