Tag Archives: Senate

Bringing Justice to Justice

Connect with the Campaign for a Fair Settlement

“Breaking the law is not a trade secret.” – Sen. Elizabeth Warren, April 11, 2013

$300. For having your home taken from you illegally.
Is that your idea of justice? The federal bank regulators think it is. Want to know why? Sorry, they can’t tell you – that would mean revealing “trade secrets” of the banks.
It’s true. This week some 4 million families whose homes were stolen by Wall Street criminals in 2009 and 2010 will be getting a total of $3.6 billion in compensation. Most will receive less than $1000. For losing their homes. That amount was arbitrarily determined by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and when asked why in a Senate hearing yesterday, they said turning over the information would mean turning over confidential “trade secrets”.
To which Sen. Warren responded, “Breaking the law is not a trade secret.” [1]
Exactly. That’s why hundreds of homeowners from around the country are going to DC this May to demand an end to Too Big to Jail. You can support their fight by signing on to this call to AG Eric Holder and President Obama to start criminal prosecutions of criminal Wall Street bankers.
If our system of justice worked, two things should have happened: (1) those responsible should have been prosecuted for their crimes, and (2) borrowers should have been compensated for these violations. You already know that Attorney General Holder and the Justice Department have given the bankers get out of jail free cards. Now the federal regulators have allowed them to pay pennies on the dollar to people who lost their homes. That’s what happens with Too Big to Jail.
In hearings on April 10th, Senator Warren posed the right question: “Have the families been protected, or have the banks been protected?” So far the regulators and Justice Department have thrown down with the banks, not with families. That’s what happens with Too Big to Jail.
We’ve made calls, sent petitions, written letters – and we’re still not seeing the change we need. So next month members of the Home Defenders League, supported by the Campaign for a Fair Settlement, are taking things right to the steps of the Justice Department in DC.
Add your voice to those going to DC by signing on to the petition to the Administration here. We can guarantee your signature will be delivered as part of dramatic and bold actions at the very heart of law enforcement in the United States.
Delivering the 333,000 signatures on April 2 was just the beginning. And we’ve got Too Big to Jail in our sights.

In solidarity,
Brian Kettenring Executive Director, Action for the Common Good Campaign Director, Campaign for a Fair Settlement

PS. If YOU want to go, you can register your interest by clicking HERE. Home Defenders League staff will contact you with more details.

[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD7zM9K0X4c http://www.campaignforfairsettlement.org/
-=-=- Campaign for a Fair Settlement · 11 Dupont Cir, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20036, United States CFS is a multi-sectoral coalition. Common Good and Action for the Common Good staff provide strategic and logistical support to the effort. This email was sent to ynative77@gmail.com. To stop receiving emails, click here. You can also keep up with Brian, Campaign for a Fair Settlement on Twitter or Facebook. -=-=-
Created with NationBuilder, the essential toolkit for leaders.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

mondaish Monday

04/15/2013 Nativegrl77

079 Capitol Hill United States Congress 1993 (Photo credit: David Holt London)

just another rant …

It’s the middle of April , technically spring, the last day to file taxes, but some Americans are still battling snow or summer like temperature while others hear birds chirping and it feels like spring , though if you live on the left coast …. It still feels like fall.

The weather is like politics …right, seemingly straight forward with designated seasons only to find as the years progress, little bumps appear that turn into malicious masses and in spite of it those who happen to be addicted to politics like so many wait to see when and where the sequester hammer will fall. Though the sequester is only about a month old the media seems to have moved on to sizing up how Hillary will do against the various Republicans wanting to be King; I mean President.

If you did not know better and took what the media spews as the truth, it seemed as if we were closer to 2016 than the beginning of President Obama’s 2^nd term. Telling viewers that gun safety legislation was more than impossible and a filibuster was imminent; then President Obama gave a fabulous speech with families of victims of gun violence standing with President Obama in support of better gun safety laws. This led Newtown families to be advocates for their and our futures asking that members of Congress to do their jobs and let the debate on gun reform happen on the floor of the Senate and the first test vote to move forward and debate Gun Reform was taken on the Senate floor and passed 68 -31. Unfortunately, two Democratic Senators decided to side with Republicans and while gun reform seems like a no brainer to me we should give props to anyone for their bipartisan efforts to move gun laws into the 21^st Century.

Now, the media focus still seems to want viewers to accept that nothing positive can be done in Congress and we hear all their skepticism they have leaped frogged from 2016 elections to the pushing public cynicism on all that is on the Congressional calendar. Yet, this is the time that voters, people who have friend’s family or co-workers fallen victim to gun violence make calls to a Republican member of the House

This week, in Congress the political games are just about to begin; the so-called debates heated and the word filibuster will probably make its way into even the youngest members of our society’s vocabulary, but as Margaret’s Mead said fits …

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

:::::: CONGRESS :::::: S.649

04/15/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands in adjournment until 2:00pm on Monday, April 15, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business until 5:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
At 5:00pm on Monday, April 15^th, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #21, Beverly Reid O’Connell– to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California with up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of time (approximately 5:30pm), there will be a roll call vote on confirmation of the O’Connell nomination.
The Senate will continue to consider S.649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013 during the week of April 15^th.

5:39pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #21, the nomination of Beverly Reid O’Connell, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California;

Confirmed: 92-0

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #21, the nomination of Beverly Reid O’Connell, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Confirmed: 92-0

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Began the Rule 14 process of S.729, the Disarm Criminals and Protect Communities Act. (Cruz)

Began the Rule 14 process of S.730, the Firearm Straw Purchasing and Trafficking Prevention Act. (Cruz)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

*******************************************************************

April 2013
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30

*******************************************************

Last Floor Action:
2:38:04 P.M. – The House adjourned. 4/12/2013

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on April 15, 2013.

12:00:40 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:50 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable George Holding to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:01:00 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.
12:13:22 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.
2:00:25 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 15.
2:00:34 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:01:38 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
2:01:43 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.
2:02:17 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:12:20 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for approximately 5:00 P.M. today.

5:01:29 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 15.
5:01:35 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
5:02:13 P.M.	H.R. 1162	Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1162 — “To amend title 31, United States Code, to make improvements in the Government Accountability Office.”
5:02:25 P.M.	H.R. 1162	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:02:26 P.M.	H.R. 1162	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1162.

5:11:36 P.M.	H.R. 1162	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.
5:12:09 P.M.	H.R. 1246	Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1246 — “To amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to provide that the District of Columbia Treasurer or one of the Deputy Chief Financial Officers of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia may perform the functions and duties of the Office in an acting capacity if there is a vacancy in the Office.”
5:12:25 P.M.	H.R. 1246	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:12:27 P.M.	H.R. 1246	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1246.
5:28:05 P.M.	H.R. 1246	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
5:28:10 P.M.	H.R. 1246	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:28:38 P.M.	H.R. 882	Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 882 — “To prohibit the awarding of a contract or grant in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee has no seriously delinquent tax debts, and for other purposes.”
5:28:48 P.M.	H.R. 882	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:28:50 P.M.	H.R. 882	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 882.
5:45:52 P.M.	H.R. 882	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.
5:46:23 P.M.	H.R. 249	Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 249 — “To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that persons having seriously delinquent tax debts shall be ineligible for Federal employment.”
5:46:32 P.M.	H.R. 249	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:46:33 P.M.	H.R. 249	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 249.
6:19:08 P.M.		The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 8.
6:19:51 P.M.	H.R. 249	DEBATE – The House resumed with debate on H.R. 249.
6:32:25 P.M.	H.R. 249	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.
6:32:38 P.M.	H.R. 1162	in the Government Accountability Office.”
6:57:49 P.M.	H.R. 1162	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 – 0 (Roll no. 103).
6:57:50 P.M.	H.R. 1162	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:00:00 P.M.		MOMENT OF SILENCE – The Chair led the House in observing a moment of silence for the victims in Boston.
7:01:11 P.M.	H.R. 882	Considered as unfinished business.
7:08:01 P.M.	H.R. 882	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 407 – 0 (Roll no. 104).
7:08:30 P.M.	H.R. 882	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:08:47 P.M.	H.R. 249	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 249 — “To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that persons having seriously delinquent tax debts shall be ineligible for Federal employment.”
7:16:46 P.M.	H.R. 249	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 250 – 159 (Roll no. 105).
7:17:14 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:26:08 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
8:55:04 P.M.		Ms. Frankel (FL) moved that the House do now adjourn.
8:55:44 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
8:55:45 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on April 16, 2013.

——————————————————————————————-

Black History

:::::: CONGRESS ::::::

04/12/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands in adjournment until 2:00pm on Monday, April 15, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business until 5:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
At 5:00pm on Monday, April 15^th, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #21, Beverly Reid O’Connell– to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California with up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.
Upon the use or yielding back of time (approximately 5:30pm), there will be a roll call vote on confirmation of the O’Connell nomination.
The Senate will continue to consider S.649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013 during the week of April 15^th.

*************************************************

House Calendar … April 2013

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
31	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	1	2	3

Last Floor Action:
5:45:57 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on April 12, 2013.

10:00:09 A.M.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

10:00:18 A.M.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Lynn A. Westmoreland to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

10:00:44 A.M.

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.

10:02:04 A.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. Mr. Hultgren 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. Mr. Hultgren demanded the yeas and nays 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.

10:02:43 A.M.

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

10:03:05 A.M.

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.

10:16:53 A.M.

H.R. 1120

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 146. H.R. 1120 — “To prohibit the National Labor Relations Board from taking any action that requires a quorum of the members of the Board until such time as Board constituting a quorum shall have been confirmed by the Senate, the Supreme Court issues a decision on the constitutionality of the appointments to the Board made in January 2012, or the adjournment sine die of the first session of the 113th Congress.”

10:16:58 A.M.

H.R. 1120

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1120 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 resolution provides that an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of the Rules Committee Print 113-6 shall be considered as adopted.

10:17:47 A.M.

H.R. 1120

Amendment in the nature of a substitute reported by the House Committee on Rules, Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 146 the amendment consisting the text of the Rules Committee Print 113-6 shall be considered as adopted.

10:20:06 A.M. DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate onH.R. 1120.

11:25:48 A.M.	H.R. 1120	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
11:26:33 A.M.	H.R. 1120	Mrs. Bustos moved to recommit with instructions to Education and the Workforce.
11:26:52 A.M.	H.R. 1120	DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bustos 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 to protect the employment and election rights of veterans and the American workforce against outsourcing, abuse by foreign firms, unsafe working conditions and discrimination.
11:35:00 A.M.	H.R. 1120	The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
12:00:54 P.M.	H.R. 1120	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll no. 100).
12:10:57 P.M.	H.R. 1120	On passage Passed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 101).
12:10:58 P.M.	H.R. 1120	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:11:12 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal which had been postponed from earlier in the day.
12:18:15 P.M.		On approving the Journal Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll no. 102).
12:28:03 P.M.		COLLOQUY ON HOUSE SCHEDULE – The Chair recognized Mr. Hoyer for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with Mr. Cantor on the expectations regarding the legislative schedule for the House during the upcoming week.

12:52:46 P.M.	S. 716	Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker’s table and consider.
12:52:46 P.M.	S. 716	Considered by unanimous consent. S. 716 — “To modify the requirements under the STOCK Act regarding online access to certain financial disclosure statements and related forms.”
12:53:08 P.M.	S. 716	On passage Passed without objection.
12:53:10 P.M.	S. 716	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:53:23 P.M.		Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on April 15. Agreed to without objection.
12:54:14 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

1:00:06 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
2:38:00 P.M.		Ms. Norton moved that the House do now adjourn.
2:38:03 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
2:38:04 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on April 15, 2013.

« Previous Day

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

What the banks don’t want you to know!

04/11/2013 Nativegrl77

Policy and Action from Consumer Reports

They’re out to weaken your rights – and your watchdog!

Our financial watchdog is under attack right now in the Senate. Without a confirmed director to hold them accountable, the financial industry can get away with a lot more tricks! Tell your Senators to hold the banks accountable!

Lax banking and mortgage oversight tanked our economy, so Americans like you demanded a real financial watchdog, not a bank lapdog.

You got one in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In a little more than a year, this watchdog made the banks pay back $425 million to consumers they duped, made sure borrowers can pay back their loans, and demanded an end to hidden credit card fees.

But rather than being celebrated, your watchdog is under attack. A minority of Senators is holding up the CFPB director’s confirmation unless they can weaken his ability to protect the public – and turn him into a lapdog!

If you’re tired of these politics, email your Senators now and demand the accountability you were promised!

For more than a year Richard Cordray has successfully led the CFPB, not only holding the banks accountable but going after the giant credit reporting and student loan industries.

But this success is rubbing the financial lobbyists the wrong way. They want to weaken the bureau by subjecting it to the highly politicized and sluggish Congressional funding process; replace the director with a five-member commission; and let other bank regulators (those who failed to prevent the economic meltdown) veto the bureau’s decisions.

A block of Senators is holding up Cordray’s confirmation for a new term until they get these changes. And without a confirmed director, each of us is at greater risk of being scammed – the CFPB can’t exercise its full powers over payday lenders and certain mortgage operators, as well as student loan servicers and credit reporting agencies.

Email your Senators here and tell them you want a watchdog that holds the financial industry accountable!

The best way to stymie this plan is to flood the Senate with a tidal wave of constituent messages demanding the watchdog we were promised. Please take action, then forward this to as many people as you can so they can act too.

Sincerely,

Pamela Banks, DefendYourDollars.org
Consumers Union, policy and action from Consumer Reports