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Tell your Senators to vote Yes on the Murray budget


National Women's Law Center
Take Action: Write your Senators today!
                Urge your Senators to vote for the Murray budget.
Take Action

In a matter of days, the Senate is going to vote on a budget that we can believe in.
A budget that would give more children access to early learning, protect Social Security and most core safety net programs, expand access to affordable health insurance, end the sequester’s arbitrary program cuts, and improve tax fairness.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, did her part by developing a budget that stands in stark contrast to the devastating Ryan budget. Now it’s our turn to stand up for a better budget for women and families.
Please take two minutes to tell your Senators to vote YES on the Murray budget.
Need a reason to take action? We have five of them!
Senator Patty Murray’s budget would:

  • Increase investments in early learning and home visiting programs, giving more children access to prekindergarten, child care, Head Start and Early Head Start opportunities.
  • Protect Social Security and most core safety net programs, including SNAP (food stamps), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and Supplemental Security Income.
  • Permanently extend the improvements in the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit that lift millions of women and children out of poverty.
  • Expand access to affordable health insurance and preventive care services by continuing to fully implement the Affordable Care Act.
  • Replace the arbitrary cuts from the “sequester,” including for this year, with a mix of revenue increases and other spending cuts.

And a bonus reason!

  • The Murray budget would close corporate tax loopholes and limit unfair tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, raising revenue needed to support vital programs and contribute to deficit reduction.

The time to act is now! Your Senators need to hear that you expect them to vote YES on the Murray budget.
Thank you for everything you do for women and families.
Sincerely,
 Joan Entmacher Vice President for Family Economic Security National Women’s Law Center     Judy Waxman  Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights  National Women’s Law Center      Helen Blank  Director of Child Care and Early Learning  National Women’s Law Center     

P.S. To learn more about the budget visit www.nwlc.org/federalbudget.
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A Trillion Dollar Boost


By ThinkProgress War Room

How a Path to Citizenship Will Boost the Economy

Reforming our broken immigration system and offering the 11 million undocumented immigrants already here a path to earned citizenship is morally right thing to do, but it’s also the economically smart thing. A new report out today from our colleagues at the Center for American Progress outlines how immigration reform will offer a tremendous boost to the economy — especially if reform includes the vital pathway to citizenship.

Here are some of the key numbers to know:

  • Cumulative increase in GDP of $1.1 TRILLION.
  • Cumulative increase in the income of all Americans of $618 BILLION.
  • Increase in federal taxes paid by undocumented immigrants of $91 BILLION.
  • Increase in state and local taxes paid by undocumented immigrants of $53 BILLION.
  • Earnings of undocumented immigrants would increase by 25.1 percent, a cumulative increase in earnings of $515 BILLION.
  • Average annual increase in jobs of 159,000.

(All figures are the gains over ten years based on undocumented immigrants acquiring legal status in 2013 and citizenship 5 years later.)

As this handy chart shows, the sooner undocumented immigrants become citizens, the bigger the boost to the economy:

It’s hard to appreciate what some of these figures mean in real life, so here are some examples of the economic benefits of immigration reform:

  • Education: The GOP budget cuts education funding per capita by 47 percent; taxes from new citizens would fund 1.5 MILLION special education teachers.
  • Infrastructure: While the GOP budget slashes spending on roads, bridges, schools, airports, and other infrastructure, taxes from new citizens could rebuild the San Francisco Bay Bridge 23 times over.
  • College Affordability: The $91 BILLION in additional federal tax revenue paid by new citizens would fund more than 16 MILLION additional Pell grants over the next ten years.
  • Teachers: The $53 BILLION in additional state revenue paid by new citizens would fund more than 1 MILLION new K-12 teachers over the next years.

For more information on how immigration reform will boost the economy, check out the full report HERE.

BOTTOM LINE: Undocumented immigrants are makers not takers and putting them on a path to earned citizenship will help these new citizens and their communities and boost the economy by over $1 TRILLION.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

The GOP still won’t own up to its real problems.

Local TV news shows the painful consequences of the sequester cuts.

Another football player accused of rape, another community blames the victim.

Why Sen. Reid must include universal background checks in the Senate gun violence prevention bill.

Colorado governor signed gun law reforms today, will sign civil unions tomorrow.

Senators parrot NRA talking points to oppose gun violence prevention laws.

Not everyone is terrible: Steubenville-area women’s shelter receiving donations from around the world.

Iraq War architect says it’s “unreasonable” to question whether the war was worth fighting.

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the House: H.Con25 Vote:227-207 /HR933 Vote:318-109 ::::::: CONGRESS :::::: the Senate: S.Con.Res.8


March 2013
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3/20/13  —  H.R.933, the Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, as amended; Passed: 73-26

The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:00am on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will resume consideration of S.Con.Res.8, a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2014, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2013, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2015 through 2023.
  • When the Senate convenes on Thursday, there will be 34 hours remaining for debate on the budget resolution, equally divided and controlled between the Chair and Ranking Member of the Budget Committee.

The Senate has resumed consideration of S.Con.Res.8, the Budget resolution. Senator Reid reiterated his intention that the Senate will be in session until we complete the Budget resolution and that could mean being in session all night Friday night or whatever it takes. Senators should plan accordingly.

Senator Sessions made a motion to recommit S.Con.Res.8 back to the Committee on the Budget with instructions to report back no later than March 22, 2013 with such changes as may be necessary to achieve unified budget balance by Fiscal Year 2023.

Motions to recommit are debatable for up to 1 hour, equally divided, and are amendable in two degrees. Each amendment to a motion is debatable for 1 hour each and equally divided. It would take consent to return to the resolution side of the amendment tree to offer amendments to the resolution.

When a vote time is set, another message will be sent.

At 3:45pm today, there will be up to 60 minutes of debate equally divided between Senators Klobuchar and Coats, or their designees, for a report on the economic goals and policy under section 305(b) of the Congressional Budget Act.

We believe to be close to locking in an agreement that would result in a series of up to 5 roll call votes in the 8pm range tonight. When an agreement is reached and vote time is set, I will send another message.

Up to 5 votes around 8pm tonight:

 

–          Sessions motion to recommit (budget balance by 2023)

–          Murray #433 (Paul Ryan Budget)

–          Hatch #297 (medical device repeal)

–          Stabenow #432 (vouchers)

–          Grassley #156 (reserve fund-tax reform)

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in a series of 5 votes at 8:10pm tonight, 6 votes at 11am tomorrow, and provides for the commencement of the so-called vote-a-rama around 3pm tomorrow. All votes after the first vote tonight will be 10 minutes in duration with 2 minutes for debate equally divided between each vote. No amendments are in order to the amendments or motion in this agreement prior to the votes in relation to the amendment. Following the votes tonight, the remainder of tonight’s session will be for debate only on the Budget resolution.

Up to 5 votes at 8:10pm tonight:

–          Sessions motion to recommit (budget balance by 2023)

–          Murray #433 (Paul Ryan Budget)

–          Hatch #297 (medical device repeal)

–          Stabenow #432 (vouchers)

–          Grassley #156 (reserve fund-tax reform)

Up to 6 votes at 11am tomorrow:

–          Mikulski #431 (equal pay)

–          Ayotte #158 (prohibits budget with revenue increase while unemployment is above 5.5%)

–          Cruz #202 (reserve fund to repeal PPACA and Education reconciliation)

–          Murray #439 (side by side to Crapo PPACA)

–          Crapo #222 (reserve fund re: repeal tax increase under PPACA for low and middle income Americans)

–          Shaheen #438 (women’s health)

2 hours for debate

Vote-a-rama!

–          Democratic amendment

–          Republican alternative to Shaheen (women’s health)

 

Text of the agreement is as follows:

Leader:            I ask unanimous consent that the pending motion be set aside and the following amendments to S.Con.Res.8 be called up:

–          Murray #433;

–          Hatch #297;

–          Stabenow #432;

–          Grassley #156;

–          Mikulski #431;

–          Ayotte #158;

–          Cruz #202;

–          Murray #439;

–          Crapo #222; and

–          Shaheen #438.

That the time until 8:10pm be equally divided between the two managers, or their designees, prior to votes in relation to the Sessions motion and the first four amendments listed; that all after the first vote this evening be 10 minute votes; that there be two minutes equally divided in the usual form prior to each vote; that no amendments be in order to the motion or any of the amendments prior to the votes in relation to these items; that following the votes this evening, the remainder of today’s session be for debate only on the concurrent resolution; further, that when the Senate convenes at 9am on Friday, March 22nd, the Senate resume consideration of S.Con.Res.8 with the time until 11am equally divided between the two managers, or their designees; that at 11am, the Senate proceed to votes in relation to the remaining amendments listed above; that there be two minutes equally divided prior to each vote and all after the first vote in this sequence be ten minute votes; that upon disposition of the last amendment listed, there be two hours equally divided between the two managers, or their designees, remaining on the concurrent resolution; finally, the next amendment in order be an amendment from the Majority side to be followed by a Republican alternative to Shaheen #438.

8:10pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Sessions motion to recommit (budget balance by 2023)

Not Agreed to: 46-53

8:52pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Hatch amendment #297 (medical device repeal)

Agreed to: 79-20

9:10pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Stabenow amendment #432 (Medicare vouchers);

Agreed To: 96-3

9:28pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Grassley amendment #156 (reserve fund-tax reform).

Not Agreed To: 45-54

This will be the last vote of the night. The next votes will occur at 11am tomorrow.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

–          Sessions motion to recommit (budget balance by 2023); Not Agreed To: 46-53

–          Murray #433 (Paul Ryan Budget); Not Agreed To: 40-59

–          Hatch #297 (medical device repeal); Agreed To: 79-20

–          Stabenow #432 (vouchers); Agreed To: 96-3

–          Grassley #156 (strikes tax reconciliation/establishes reserve fund-tax reform); Not Agreed To: 45-54

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

 

Adopted S.Res.88, a resolution providing for Members on the part of the Senate of the Joint Committee on Printing and the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library.

Adopted S.Res.89, Designating March 25, 2013, as “National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day”

Adopted H.Con.Res.18, authorizing the use of the Capital Grounds for the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service-May 15, 2013.

Adopted H.Con.Res.19, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby-June 15, 2013.

Passed S.540, to designate the air route control center located in Nashua, New Hampshire, as the “Patricia Clark Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center”.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013. (Reid)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on March 21, 2013.

Black History

the House H.Res.122 ::::::::::::: CONGRESS :::::::::::: the Senate: HR933, appropriations bill


March 2013
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The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013.

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.933, the continuing appropriations bill.
  • The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
  • All time during adjournment, recess and morning business will count post-cloture on the Mikulski-Shelby substitute amendment #26, as modified to H.R.933.
  • We hope to reach an agreement to complete action on H.R.933 during Tuesday’s session.

This morning the Senate resumed consideration of the Mikulski-Shelby substitute amendment #26 to H.R.933, Continuing Appropriations, post-cloture. If all time is used, the 30 hours of post-cloture debate time on the substitute would expire at 12:48am on Wednesday, March 20. At that time, the question would be on the substitute amendment. We could either agree to the substitute by consent or have a roll call vote. Upon disposition of the substitute, the Senate would immediately proceed to a cloture vote on the underlying bill. If cloture is invoked on the underlying bill, there would be an additional 30 hours of post-cloture debate prior to disposition of the bill. We hope to reach an agreement to deal with these late night/early morning votes at a more reasonable time. I suspect senators may discuss such matters at the caucus meetings today.

We also hope to reach an agreement to begin consideration of S.Con.Res.8, An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2014, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2013, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2015 through 2023, this afternoon, notwithstanding cloture on H.R.933. The result of such an agreement would be that the clocks run concurrently on both measures (CR and Budget).

The rules governing consideration of the Budget Resolution limits debate on the Budget resolution to 50 hours equally divided and, within that time, allocates 2 hours for first degree amendments and 1 hour for second degree amendments, also equally divided. When the question is on an amendment, we could vote on the amendment (up or down), a motion to table, or a motion to waive any applicable points of order.

We expect to consider amendments throughout consideration of the Budget Resolution, with a crescendo in action near or at the end of time. Upon the use or yielding back of time, senators may offer an unlimited number of amendments and are allowed an immediate vote in relation to the amendment. In the past we have sought unanimous consent to allow for 2 minutes for debate equally divided prior to a vote in relation to the amendment and limit vote time to 10 minutes. As usual, I will send a message when any consent agreement governing consideration of the resolution is reached.

Senators should be prepared for roll call votes throughout the week and into the evenings, once consideration of the Budget begins

enator Reid asked unanimous consent that the Senate vote in relation to the amendments listed below and the Senate complete action on the Continuing Appropriations bill.

– Mikulski-Shelby #98, as modified (60-vote threshold)

– Pryor-Blunt #82 (60-vote threshold);

– Toomey #115 (60-vote threshold);

– Mikulski-Shelby substitute #26;

– Passage of H.R.933, Continuing Appropriations.

Senator Moran objected because Moran #45 (air traffic control towers) was not included in the request.

Senator Reid then asked consent the Senate begin consideration of the Budget resolution today, notwithstanding cloture on H.R.933.

Senator Moran also objected to this request.

The text of the requests and the unofficial transcript of their exchange can be found below.

Request to complete action on Continuing Appropriations (H.R.933)

Senator Reid: I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding cloture having been invoked on the Mikulski-Shelby substitute, the following amendments be in order:

– Mikulski-Shelby #98, as modified with the changes that are at the desk; and

– Pryor-Blunt #82.

That no other first degree amendments to the substitute or the underlying bill be in order; that no second degree amendments be in order to any of the amendments listed above prior to the vote; that there be 30 minutes equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees, prior to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed; that upon disposition of the Pryor-Blunt amendment #82; the Durbin second degree amendment to the Toomey amendment #115 be withdrawn; that the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Toomey amendment #115; that all the amendments, with the exception of the substitute, be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold; that upon disposition of the Toomey amendment, the Senate proceed to vote on the Mikulski-Shelby substitute amendment, as amended; that if the substitute amendment, as amended, is agreed to; the cloture motion on the underlying bill be withdrawn and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended.

Senator Moran objected.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.81, commemorating March 19, 2013, as the 40th anniversary of National Ag Day.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Request to consider Budget resolution (S.Con.Res.8)

Senator Reid: I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding cloture having been invoked, that at a time to be determined today, it be in order for the Senate to begin consideration of S.Con.Res.8, the budget resolution for fiscal year 2014; that any time used for consideration of S.Con.Res.8 during the post cloture period on H.R.933 also count toward the post-cloture time on H.R.933; further, that on Tuesday, March 19th at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation of the Republican Leader, the Senate resume consideration of H.R.933.

Senator Moran objected.

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in 3 roll call votes at 11:15am tomorrow. Those votes will be in relation to the following items:

–          Toomey amendment #115 (expect a point of order and motion to waive with 60-vote threshold);

–          Mikulski-Shelby substitute amendment #26, as amended (majority vote threshold); and

–          Cloture on H.R.993, Continuing Appropriations (60-vote threshold).

If cloture on the underlying bill is invoked, the clock (30 hours) will begin counting as if cloture had been invoked at 1am on Wednesday, March 20.

Once the substitute amendment is adopted, no further amendments are in order to the underlying bill. In light of this parliamentary situation, we hope the Republicans (Senator Moran) will allow us to yield back the post-cloture time and vote on passage of the bill. Upon disposition of the Continuing Appropriations bill, the Senate will begin consideration of S.Con.Res.8, the Budget resolution.

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 19, 2013.