Tag Archives: Separation of church and state

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Keystone XL: Where Things Stand

Rainforest Action Network

It’s been four weeks since the climate movement won a significant delay on the Keystone XL pipeline. Since then, the oil industry and their political and media backers have gotten increasingly desperate:

  • Oil companies tried to ram a vote on Keystone through the U.S. Senate. This week, that effort collapsed in disarray and finger-pointing among the fossil fuel industry’s biggest political boosters.
  • TransCanada, the Canadian company behind Keystone, even resorted to threats to sue the U.S. government under NAFTA. Early this month, they were forced to disavow that outrageous tactic.
  • Pro-Keystone commentators are truly grasping at straws, including claiming that President Obama is delaying a decision to pave the way for a government takeover of the energy sector,1 and arguing that it’s the poor, under-resourced oil industry—and not the environmental movement—that’s the real underdog in the fight over the pipeline.2

These bottom-of-the-barrel tactics signal that fossil fuel corporations will do anything to avoid facing up to the view that one prominent analyst voiced last week: “We have been of the opinion for nearly a year now that Keystone XL is dead.”3

This delay means another year that tar sands oil stays in the ground, instead of flowing through the pipeline. This delay is another nail in the coffin of this disastrous project. And you—the incredible grassroots tide of resolve and determination—are the ones who made this happen.

Keystone would have been just another routine dirty energy infrastructure project if not for public pressure—like the unprecedented 2.5 million public comments submitted into the approvals process. People all along the pipeline route, from Alberta to the Gulf Coast—especially Indigenous communities and farming communities—mobilized against the project.

Another key factor has been the threat of massive civil disobedience if President Obama approves the pipeline—one veteran environmental campaigner called it the “sharpest arrow in the quiver” of the Keystone opposition movement. Almost 100,000 people signed Keystone XL Pledge of Resistance, committing to take direct action if the administration lights the fuse of the continent’s biggest carbon bomb.

So while we’re proud that the movement won a major delay, the struggle is far from over. Here at Rainforest Action Network, we’re staying vigilant on Keystone. We’re continuing to hone the cutting edge of the climate movement by training committed activists. And we’re taking fast, strategic action to block dirty energy deals.

Thank you for all you’ve done.

Amanda Starbuck

 

For a healthy climate,
Amanda Starbuck
Energy and Finance Program Director

 

P.S. Alongside our work on Keystone, RAN is engaged in a range of dirty energy fights. We’ve successfully pressured banks like JPMorgan Chase to move away from mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining, and we’re approaching a tipping point with Barclays, the world’s biggest financier of MTR. Add your voice!

Sources:

1. “Obama Blocks Keystone To Start Energy Takeover,” Investor’s Business Daily, May 13, 2014 (http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials-perspective/051314-700702-obama-wants-energy-markets-fossil-fuels-under-government-heel.htm)
2. “Mainstream media don’t know Big Green has deeper pockets than Big Oil,” Washington Examiner, May 13, 2014 (http://washingtonexaminer.com/mainstream-media-dont-know-big-green-has-deeper-pockets-than-big-oil/article/2548405)
3. “The Keystone Pipeline is Quickly Becoming Obsolete,” Business Insider, May 7, 2014 (http://www.businessinsider.com/the-keystone-pipeline-is-quickly-becoming-obsolete-2014-5)
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

24 states are blocking millions from access to affordable care


If you care about health care reform, this is a big one.

One of the ways the Affordable Care Act provides access to health coverage is by expanding Medicaid to millions more Americans.

However, 24 states — thanks to leaders playing political games with Obamacare — are still blocking this expansion, and 5.7 million Americans have been locked out from affordable access to health care.

That’s wrong, and we’re going to make sure folks know about it.

Today, OFA supporters across the country are joining in to expose the states with stubborn officials that are blocking access to affordable health care for millions of Americans — share this map on Facebook and Twitter today.

The deadline to get covered is tonight.

Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 6/5 ~~ the House


Pinterestwh_climate_banner Climate Change is real

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Thursday, June 5, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 1:45pm with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Majority controlling the first 30 minutes and the Republicans controlling the next 30 minutes and the final 20 minutes equally divided and controlled between Senators Wyden and Hatch or their designees with Senator Wyden controlling the final 10 minutes.

 

At 1:45pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and proceed to a series of up to 2 roll call votes (one expected):

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #519, Carolyn Hessler Radelet, of Virginia, to be Director of the Peace Corps (voice vote expected).

At 1:45pm the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services;

Confirmed: 78-17

This will be the last vote of the day.

Executive Calendar #519, Carolyn Hessler Radelet, of Virginia, to be Director of the Peace Corps, was confirmed by voice vote.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Vote

1)     Confirmation of Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services; Confirmed: 78-17

Legislative items

Adopted S.Res.468, a resolution to authorize the production of records by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Additional Executive items

Confirmed Executive Calendar #519, Carolyn Hessler Radelet, of Virginia, to be Director of the Peace Corps by voice vote.

Senate Floor Schedule for Monday, June 9, 2014       

 

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Last Floor Action:
3:04:46 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 604.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on June 9, 2014.

Last Floor Action:6/2
12:04:20 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 604.

The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on June 5, 2014.

3:00:32 P.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
3:00:42 P.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Thomas E. Petri to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
3:00:54 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Oran Warder, St. Pauls Episcopal Church, Alexandria, Virginia.
3:02:25 P.M. The Chair announced that pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 604, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
3:02:47 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
3:02:48 P.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 June 4, 2014 at 10:30 a.m.: That the Senate passed S. 2270.
3:03:50 P.M. Canada – United States Interparliamentary Group – Pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 276d and the order of the House of January 3, 2013 the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the Canada – United States Interparliamentary Group: Mr. Higgins, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Larsen of WA and Mr. DeFazio.
3:04:24 P.M. World War I Centennial Commission – pursuant to section 4(b) of the World War I Centennial Commission Act and the order of the House of January 3, 2013, the Speaker appointed Ms. Monique Seefried, Atlanta, Georgia.
3:04:46 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 604. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on June 9, 2014.

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Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 6/4 ~~ the House


embassy attcks

Schedule for Wednesday, June 4, 2014

The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Wednesday, June 4. Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 11:00am with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each and the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. The Republicans will control the first 30 minutes and the Majority will control the next 30 minutes. At 11:00am, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and begin a series of up to 4 roll call votes related to the following:

 

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #691, Mark G. Mastroianni, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts
  2. Confirmation of  Executive Calendar #692,Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of South Carolina
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia
  4. Cloture on Executive Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services (up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate)

This morning, Senator McConnell asked unanimous consent that the Environment and Public Works Committee be discharged from further consideration of S.2414, the Coal Country Protection Act and the bill be read a third time and passed.

 

Senator Reid objected to the request.

 

The unofficial transcript is below.

 

MR. McCONNELL: I’D INDICATED TO THE MAJORITY LEADER I WAS GOING

TO HAVE A UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST, AND I’M GOING TO PROPOUND

THAT NOW. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE ENVIRONMENT AND

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE BE DISCHARGED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION

OF S.2414, THE COAL COUNTRY PROTECTION ACT, AND THE SENATE

PROCEED TO ITS IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. I FURTHER ASK CONSENT

THAT THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME AND PASSED, THE MOTION TO

RECONSIDER BE LAID ON THE TABLE.

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT, RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT. MR.

PRESIDENT, THE RULE WILL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE FOR A LONG TIME.

THE NORMAL PERIOD OF TIME TO MAKE COMMENTS WHEN A RULE IS BEING

PROMULGATED IS 60 DAYS. THIS ONE IS 120 DAYS. THE REASON FOR

THAT IS MEMBERS OF MY CAUCUS WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS TO TRY TO

IMPROVE THE SUGGESTED RULE THAT HAS COME FROM THE E.P.A. SO I

AM WAITING TO READ THIS — THE PROPOSED REGULATION MYSELF,

WHICH I HAVE NOT DONE. I HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON IT BY MY STAFF,

AND I WILL READ THIS CLOSELY, AS I’M SURE EVER SENATOR WILL. I

KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE, AND I’LL BE AS COOPERATIVE

AS I FEEL IS APPROPRIATE WITH THE REPUBLICAN LEADER. BUT AT

THIS TIME I OBJECT.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD.

11:00am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Calendar #691, Mark G. Mastroianni, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts.

Confirmed: 92-2

The next votes in this series will be 10 minute votes. The Senate also reached an agreement to vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #796 Stefan M. Selig, of New York, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, following the cloture vote on the Burwell nomination. We expect to confirm the Selig nomination by voice vote. Senators should expect 4 roll call votes in this series.

 

Next:

  1. Confirmation of  Executive Calendar #692,Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of South Carolina
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia
  3. Cloture on Executive Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services
  4. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #796 Stefan M. Selig, of New York, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade (voice vote expected)

11:29am The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of  Executive Calendar #692,Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of South Carolina;

Confirmed: 95-0

 

Next:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #796 Stefan M. Selig, of New York, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade (voice vote expected)

11:46am The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Confirmation of Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia.

Confirmed: 95-0

 

Next:

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #796 Stefan M. Selig, of New York, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade (voice vote expected)

At 12:05pm, the Senate began a 10-minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Invoked: 67-28

Executive Calendar #796 Stefan M. Selig, of New York, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade was confirmed by voice vote.

Senator Menendez asked unanimous consent that at a time to be determined the Senate vote to ratify Executive Calendar #8, Treaty Document #112-8, the Tax Convention with Chile. Senator Paul objected.

Senator Cardin asked unanimous consent that at a time to be determined the Senate vote to ratify Executive Calendar #9, Treaty Document #112-1, the Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Swiss Confederation. Senator Paul objected.

 

 

 

=================================================================

Last Floor Action:6/2
12:04:20 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 604.

The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on June 5, 2014.

===================================================

Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House


Pinterestwh_climate_banner Climate Change is real

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, June 3, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 11:00am with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.

 

At 11:00am, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council, post-cloture, with the time until noon equally divided and controlled in the usual form.

 

At noon, all post-cloture time on the Harper nomination will be considered expired and there will be 2 roll call votes:

–        Confirmation of the Harper nomination and

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

Following the cloture vote on the Bowen nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

 

Additional roll call votes on nominations are expected during Tuesday’s session.

At 12:00 noon today, there will be 2 roll call votes related to the following nominations:

 

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council; and
  2. Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

If cloture is invoked on the Bowen nomination, there would be up to 8 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. We hope to reach an agreement that would allow us to vote on confirmation of the Bowen nomination this afternoon, potentially around 4:00pm.

Further, cloture was also filed on the below listed nominations and we will work on an agreement for consideration of those nominations.

–        Executive Calendar #691, Mark G. Mastroianni, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts (up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided);

–        Executive Calendar #692,Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina (up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided);

–        Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia (up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided); and

–        Executive Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services (up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate).

12:01pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council;

Confirmed: 52-42

 

Next:

Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

12:28pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission;

Invoked: 50-44

Cloture was invoked on the Bowen nomination 50-44. The Senate then reached an agreement to vote at 4:00pm on confirmation of the Bowen nomination and to vote on cloture on the 3 district court nominations. Also under the agreement, at 11:00am tomorrow, Wednesday, June 4, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the district court nominations and then cloture on the Burwell nomination.

 

The Senate stands in recess until 2:15pm for the caucus meetings.

 

The vote schedule is as follows:

 

4:00pm today, Tuesday, June 3—up to 4 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #691, Mark G. Mastroianni, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts
  3. Cloture on  Executive Calendar #692,Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina
  4. Cloture on Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia

 

11:00am tomorrow, Wednesday, June 4—up to 4 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #691, Mark G. Mastroianni, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts
  2. Confirmation of  Executive Calendar #692,Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of South Carolina
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia
  4. Cloture on Executive Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services (up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate)

WRAP UP

Roll Call Vote

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #633, 113th Congress, 2nd Session” Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council; Confirmed: 52-42
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #755, 113th Congress, 2nd SessionExecutive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; Invoked: 50-44
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #755, 113th Congress, 2nd SessionExecutive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; Confirmed: 48-46
  4. Cloture on Executive Calendar #691, 113th Congress, 2nd SessionExecutive Calendar #691, Mark G. Mastroianni, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Invoked: 56-39
  5. Cloture on  Executive Calendar #692, 113th Congress, 2nd Session”Executive Calendar #692, Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of South Carolina; Invoked: 59-35
  6. Cloture on Executive Calendar #733, 113th Congress, 2nd Session”Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Invoked: 54-40

 

Legislative items

Passed S.2270, Insurance Capital Standards Clarification Act of 2014, as amended by the Collins substitute amendment

Adopted S.Res.453, Condemning the death sentence against Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, a Sudanese Christian woman accused of apostasy

Adopted S.Res.464, National Aphasia Awareness Month

Adopted S.Res.465, Commemorating the centennial of Webster University

 

The Senate began the Rule 14 process to place S.2422, a bill to improve the access of veterans to medical services from the Department

of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, on the Calendar of Business.

 

Executive items

The Senate confirmed the following nominations by vote votes:

 

Executive Calendar #752 Timothy G. Massad, of Connecticut, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission;

Executive Calendar #753 Timothy G. Massad, of Connecticut, to be Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and

Executive Calendar #754 J. Christopher Giancarlo, of New Jersey, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

By unanimous consent, the Senate discharged the Agriculture Committee and confirmed PN #1642, the nomination of J. Christopher Giancarlo, of New Jersey, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for a term expiring April 13, 2019

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Last Floor Action:
12:04:20 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 604.

The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on June 5, 2014.

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