Tag Archives: United States Congress

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

James Kvaal – Policy Director, BarackObama.com


Here’s something that President Obama laid out in his State of the Union that I think deserves special attention:

 Recent news reports have raised questions about whether members of Congress are profiting from inside information about the very businesses they’re supposed to be regulating — information about pending legislation that could move markets and generate investor profits.

The President offered one simple fix: End insider trading by members of Congress, extending the rules that apply to anyone else whose jobs give them access to sensitive information about businesses.

If you think this simple effort at good government should be a priority during this campaign, it’s up to you to speak out. Say you support the President and spread the word:

http://barackobama.com/Ban-Insider-Trading

 Thanks,

 James

James Kvaal
National Policy Director
Obama for America

 P.S. — Here’s the full quote from the State of the Union:

“Send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress; I will sign it tomorrow. Let’s limit any elected official from owning stocks in industries they impact. Let’s make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can’t lobby Congress, and vice versa — an idea that has bipartisan support, at least outside of Washington.”

~ my 2cents ...

TGIF &some News


Just another rant …

Ten months into President Obama taking office I watched heard and read several comments about President Obama. Reports of folks feeling the President, having taken a great first step toward change just had not gone far enough to sedate or fulfill the promises he made to special interest groups during his campaign. I was very surprised at the astounding lack of patience, suddenly realized President Obama would be held at a different standard and that the odd negative comments which were becoming bold, louder and more frequent …were actually coming from people left of center.

Change takes time

Now, I can’t speak for anyone else but history tells us that Africans and their descendants, which covers so many countries because we all know most were rounded up and shipped out for labour know struggle like nobody’s business. Yes, others have suffered in the timeline of slave life but how many can offer up a story of Black slaves laying the foundation or buildings free for more years than anyone wants to admit to and some in the southern states are trying to eliminate from history books. Yes, there have been some improvements made but Black People still suffer from higher rates of arrest, incarceration, pregnancy  unemployment  and still fighting for 21st Century civil rights. Yet, even with all the hurdles blocking some aspects of progress for African Americans and decades of Caucasian Presidents. A man with a funny name and big ears who also happens to be bi-racial gains steam in Illinois, gets spotted for potential,  becomes a US Senator and while in the Senate works for the people then is tapped to be a part of the Convention  blowing everyone away with an  awesome speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention.  Yes, a lot happened before 53% of Americans voted for a Black Man for the first time but shocking (sarcasm), we also found after governing for a little over ten months that discrimination is alive and well. It was odd to see some our own run hold grudges and ignore what voters needed them to do … govern let alone support the first black President. It became clear that more Blacks definitely had the President’s back, 53% had patience but was growing thin listening to folks in the media giving viewers subliminal messages that we should expect President Obama to govern with a hammer, use his power and get their issues passed quickly. I have said it before … here is when schoolhouse rock comes to mind … and I sing it every time I hear those who think they voted for a King or Dictator. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to hear people who seem smart, use great verbiage, can recite a law or two not to mention wonderful knowledge congressional protocol and dangle their degrees when necessary yet, they forget that Congress creates debates and votes yea or nay to ALL Federal laws of the land. Ok, a chill of states’ rights came over me

Change takes time …

especially when the gauntlet of obstruction was laid down … say day 1 after taking office and three years later Teapublicans are still stating that their main job is to make sure the President Obama is a one term President, not to get Americans back to work, not to pass bills that will move us forward.

Change takes a Congress that will compromise and cooperate with President Obama unlike the first 2yrs when members of Congress seemingly left our President to save their congressional seats … I get that but they also stopped working for We the People and allowed the Teapublicans into Congress

Change takes time … but

The Democratic Party had problems to overcome and clearly, the 2010 exposed those cracks

I have to say seeing members of Congress and the professional left seemingly lose common sense and some seemed to have lost their minds was very disturbing then now it just irritates me that they feel perfectly ok with blaming President Obama for what should get done in Congress.  It took decades of bad behavior that set up the possibility for a big recession.  The notion that our economic collapse could be rectified in 1-2 years still boggles my mind yet the professional left pushed, complained and whined for that list of demands or mandates that have never been President and should watch that schoolhouse rock video more than once or take a civics class. What they should be doing is pressing their representatives in Congress to do their jobs , uh create a law for the good of all Americans not just a select few instead of whining and sitting on the side lines after giving money. I say be proactive not reactive. Yes, giving money is definitely necessary but giving money is not the end of any political campaign or a move toward change we can ALL believe in. It is only a start. It is obvious that money and 53% voted, helped get Barack Obama into office, but the work of Governing is troublesome. When we have people like Mitch McConnell telling Americans he has one job and it is to make President Obama a one term President instead of doing the Peoples Business we all have wonder how much progress can even be imagined let alone be accomplished at all.  The party of NO has filibustered progress in both Chambers of Congress more than any other, refuses to think about their fellow Americans with 15miilion people still unemployed yet, Indies and some special interest groups like the list below still have issues with the President Obama.

Yes, hold the President accountable but do not sit on the sidelines and demand change if you are not helping the President achieve a win for all Americans.

In 2009, we heard   …

**Environmentalist… like Phil Radford, exec director/Greenpeace USA stated among other things,” Obama is missing in action” as it relates to global warming …in an article written by Bryan Walsh from Time Magazine…

**Gay/Lesbian leaders… are starting to make comments about Obama not going far enough on don’t ask/don’t tell but today he announced he will enact federal benefits for same sex couples …moving too slow? Too little too late? come on… People of colour know what being impatient means …

**Health-care liberals… are impatient and talking about how they put Obama in office and threatening a change in 2012 …

**Wall Street … flexed their muscles to show Obama who really is in charge of the market … but bad behavior needs to be regulated

**Hispanics … are upset

It is time for them to help President Obama

Yes, change will happen and contrary to how folks feel we are going in the right direction but President cannot do it all, we need to call, write and march to let Congress know what We the People voted for …

A change we can believe in

Other News …

President Obama and Vice President Biden at House Democratic Retreat

Pres. Obama Discusses College Costs

Sec. Panetta Presents Defense Dept. FY 2013 Budget

DNI Director Clapper Gives Keynote on Information Sharing at CSIS

~ my 2cents ...

topical Tuesday &some News


just another rant …

The change that 53% of us voted for is again at risk. For three years the change and progress needed to get America/Americans back on track has suffered and though folks in the Media fail to convey it sufficiently, we can blame our lack of progress stopped, blocked, stalled, scaled back and slowed down by the Teapublican Political Party. Obvious statement right yet, folks still seem to be oblivious.

You can turn it to just about any channel and hear how the Independent vote is up for grabs. Most pundit’s strategists and politicians say it is about the economy and the terrible jobs numbers but fail to tell the viewer in detail what the party of NO have done to stand in the way of progress. I do believe if you are going to call yourself a reporter then do your job and give viewers both sides of the story otherwise you are a partisan hack. I find it hard to believe anyone has to stop think or wonder which Teapublican candidate running for President should even get a 2nd look much less bat around the possibility of giving up women’s , voter, worker, gay or our children’s right to an education to them. I am not that naïve but it really is simple; we need a better Congress that will work with the President. It is up to those who do lean left of center to reach out to our fellow independents to keep them informed. It is important to challenge the crap coming out that clearly are lies, on the edge or overtly reflect a nasty rhetoric often spewing fear hate and discrimination. It is a call to action of all those who believe in our Constitution in every way; welcomes everyone that believe in that saying We the People, the 14th Amendment and equality for All people regardless of the race, creed, religious or gender preference. It is at a moment like this that begs us all to let those who practice exclusion hears from those who believe in helping our fellow man. The fight against income inequality is on.

I don’t know about you but I tend to have a stash of sayings, proverbs, and or clichés in the back of my mind when patience calmness and reflection is needed when disagreeable rhetoric is flying my way. I give President Obama some major props for being calm cool collected as always. I appreciate and love those traits and if you are paying attention not one Teapublican running for President has yet to behave or display an even-tempered manner. I won’t be voting right of center period but if you are looking for things to compare and contrast the stark differences in tone verbiage and representation you can vision a moment when a country wanting to provoke war is pushing it. I know who I would trust how about you.

I believe … Sometimes, the needs of the many do outweigh the needs of the few. Yes, the current ugly rhetoric coming from those leaning right is meant to hurt conquer & divide us. It is also clear that in this election year when life amongst Americans is changing and not in a good way only to have gotten worse since the 2010 midterm elections though President Obama has moved us forward despite conservatives almost all by himself, Teapublican Governors, and their members of Congress keep doing their best to undermine it all. At first, Teapublican Governors were throwing coded language at those mostly in protected classes. Thus, the need to recite the saying “When the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” is an important statement for me right about now. The Fact that some on Wall Street made big bets against or in spite of an under regulated inefficient supposedly “free enterprise” system seemingly set up against the consumer proved to me that they believe themselves to be above the call and refuse to, consider the needs of the many and continue to fight for the few.

If you were unfortunate enough to have been a victim of the 2008 financial collapse, invested in it directly maybe your 401k, or are a part of the housing debacle, you probably suffered tremendously. Yes, the government had to step in and up to help All Americans because unfortunately it was clear “the market” was not going to correct itself- the bets – the casino shut itself down. The economic collapse was an opportunity to see to “the needs of the many” change the failed ways that the house of Bush apparently was handling things and move All Americans into the 21st Century. Yet, McConnell and his comrades decided to put their heads down and fight for the rights of the 1% oh those job creators need our help repeatedly. I don’t know about you but I am getting tired of this nonsense.

What Wall Street did was take tax payer money and then shit on us on so many levels

I admit it; I am biased so any negative comments about President Obama get a second or third scan. I gotta say listening, reading and hearing comments coming from the likes of a matt damon, harry belafonte or groups the msm calls special interest though President Obama, having taken great first steps toward change state, I guess, that he has not gone far enough. It is my contention that we vote for a President not a puppet, dictator or king so the notion that he had a mandate or needs to sedate or fulfill the promises he made to some special interest groups during his campaign is beyond ridiculous let alone that stupid comment about President Obama being morally corrupt. First, just as many special interest groups are very happy, supportive and plan to express that by voting for Barack Obama for a second term. Second, all you have to do is compare and contrast the facts and President Obama is definitely putting “the needs of the many before the needs of the few; thankfully so. While Independents seem to be holding out they should decide what side of history do they want to be remembered taking.

I think the negative comments are becoming bold, louder and more frequent but they are coming from the right, the more extreme side of our society certainly special in their own way… have chosen to go extreme go right of center and in some cases sound very dangerous but hey that is just my take. The whole class warfare the 99% V 1% the poor V the Rich. I say the battle is about how and not allowing a Black man govern in the White House again let alone the other awful code words being used to induce fear into Americans. I say the Black Man as President Thing who btw has gotten more things done then previous Presidents cannot and should not be forced back into that genie bottle though some Teapublicans in Congress and their constituents seem to want to. FYI, governing for the greater good has nothing to do with colour if the mind and heart are for ALL Americans not a select few. Though the house of Bush created 3million jobs, the fact is that shameful number took him 8yrs to accomplish. I have to wonder WTH are people beating up/down President Obama when the last guy obviously skated. We can also blame the Media for the selective and misinformation they all seem to provide viewers what with ratings seemingly more important than giving all angles of a story or giving a guest an opportunity to rebut the opinions of the host or commentator.

Change takes time… It will take a Congress with courage to create and pass laws that should be for the greater good that covers all Americans.

Sometimes, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Other news …

President’s Council on Jobs to Meet at White House

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Talks with Politico

U.S. – Jordan Talks Focus on Middle East Peace, Unrest in Syria

Nation’s Mayors Talk Job Creation

Homeland Security Officials Discuss International Cooperation

“C-SPAN letter to Chief Justice Roberts on TV camera coverage of health care case”

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Summary of the Two-Month Payroll Tax Cut Extension


 

Title I – Temporary Payroll Tax Relief
Sec. 101 Extension of Payroll Tax Holiday (costs $20.1 billion)
The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 provided a two percentage point employee payroll/self-employment tax holiday during 2011. This means employees pay only 4.2 percent on wages and self-employed individuals pay only 10.4 percent on self-employment income up to the threshold. The proposal would extend the payroll tax cut for 2 months with a pro rata limitation on the amount of earnings eligible for the tax cut of $18,350.

Note: The total cost for Title I is $20.1 billion over ten years.

Title II – Temporary Extension of Unemployment Compensation Provisions
Sec. 201 Continuation of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program
This provision extends for two months the availability of benefits in all tiers of Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC).
Temporary Extension of Extended Benefit Provisions
This provision continues, for 2 months the extended benefits (EB) program, with a 3-year look-back.
Federal UI Benefits Available
Program; Additional Weeks

State-Based Regular Benefits; Up to 26 Additional Weeks

EUC Under Current Policy; Up to 53 Additional Weeks

Tier 1: None; 20

Tier 2: None; 14

Tier 3: at least 6%; 13

Tier 4: at least 8.5%; 6

EB under current policy (3yr look-back); up to 20

Total: Up to 99

Sec. 202 Continuation of Unemployment Benefits Under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act

This provision permits for a two-month continuation of benefits for railroad workers.

Note: The total cost for Title II is $8.49 billion over ten years.

Title III – Temporary Extension of Health Provisions
Sec. 301 Physician Payment Update (costs $3.6 billion)
Under current law, the Medicare payment formula would cut payments to physicians by 27.4 percent on January 1, 2012. This provision would update physician payments by zero percent for two months, ending February 29.

Sec. 302 Two Month Extension of MMA Section 508 Reclassifications (changes are between $50 million and -$50 million)
Under current law, hospital geographic reclassifications authorized under section 508 of the Medicare Modernization Act expire on September 30, 2011. The bill would extend these reclassifications for two months.

Sec. 303 Work Geographic Adjustment (costs $0.1 billion)
This provision would extend the current law work geographic price cost index (GPCI) floor of 1.0 for two months, through February 29, 2012.

Sec. 304 Extension of Exceptions Process for Medicare Therapy Caps (changes are between $50 million and -$50 million)
This provision extends the exceptions process for nonhospital therapy services for two months, until February 29, 2012. Without the exceptions process, therapy services would be capped at an annual amount of $1,880 per beneficiary in 2012.

Sec. 305 Extension of Payment for Technical Component of Certain Physician Pathology Services (changes are between $50 million and -$50 million)
Permits independent labs under a grandfathered arrangement to continue direct billing for pathology services provided to hospitals for two months, until February 29, 2012.

Sec. 306 Ambulance Add-Ons (changes are between $50 million and -$50 million)
This provision would extend payment add-ons for ambulance services for two months, until February 29, 2012.

Sec. 307 Extension of Physician Fee Schedule Mental Health Add-on Payment (changes are between $50 million and -$50 million)
Extends increased payments by 5 percent for certain Medicare mental health services, until February 29, 2012.

Sec. 308 Extension of Outpatient Hold-Harmless Provision (changes are between $50 million and -$50 million)
Provides “hold harmless” payments for rural hospitals that ensure those hospitals will receive 85 percent of Outpatient Prospective Payment Services payments they would have received had the prior payment system remained in effect.
Sec. 309 Extending Minimum Payment for Bone Mass Measurement (no cost)
Extends an increase in the payment rate for certain X-Ray machines (DEXA), which are used to measure bone mass to identify individuals who may be at risk of having osteoporosis for two months, until February 29, 2012.

Sec. 310 Qualifying Individual Program (costs $0.1 billion)
This provision is a two month extension of the Qualifying Individual (QI) Program. Under the QI program, Medicaid pays the Medicare Part B premium for beneficiaries with incomes between 120 and 135 percent of poverty.

Sec. 311 Extension of Transitional Medical Assistance (costs $0.2 billion)
This provision is a two month extension of work-related Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA). TMA allows low-income families to maintain their Medicaid coverage as they transition into employment and increase their earnings. The provision extends TMA until February 29, 2012.

Sec. 312 Extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (no cost)
Extends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program for two months, until February 29, 2012.

Note: The total cost for Title III is $4.1 billion over ten years.

Title IV – Mortgage Fees and Premiums

Sec. 401 Guarantee Fees
This section increases the guarantee fees that are charged to mortgage lenders by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by 10 basis points. (CBO score pending. The increase in the fees will be adjusted so that they only cover the cost of the bill.) Revenue generated by the increase is deposited directly into the United States Treasury. This increase in the annual premium expires in ten years.

Sec. 402 FHA Guarantee Fees
The Federal Housing Administration is required to increase the annual premium charged to homeowners by an amount equal to the increase at the GSEs. (CBO score pending. The increase in the GSE fees will be adjusted so that they only cover the cost of the bill.) This change does not affect the upfront premium charged by FHA for insuring loans. This increase in the annual premium expires in ten years.

Note: The total savings achieved in Title IV is $35.7 billion over ten years.

Title V – Other Provisions

Sec. 501 Keystone XL Pipeline Permitting Process (no cost)
Within 60 days, the President, acting through the Secretary of State, is required to grant a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline project application unless he determines the pipeline would not serve the national interest. Any permit issued shall require the reconsideration of routing the pipeline within the State of Nebraska. Any permit granted is deemed to satisfy all the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and any modification required by the Secretary to the construction mitigation and reclamation plan shall not require supplementation of the final environmental impact statement.

Sec. 511 Senate Point of Order against Emergency Designation (no cost)
This provision fixes a technical problem that occurred when the Budget Control Act passed. Because of an oversight, that legislation changed a long-standing 60-vote point of order against emergency designations in appropriations bills that had been a longstanding procedure in the Senate. This provision simply reinstates that procedure and it has bipartisan support.

Sec. 512 PAYGO Scorecard Estimates (no cost)
This provision directs OMB not to include the budgetary effects of this bill on the scorecard for Statutory Pay-As-You purposes. The provision is needed to avoid a possible sequester associated with the five-year PAYGO requirements.

Total CBO Savings Over Ten Years: $2.968 Billion