Tag Archives: United States Congress

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We can’t wait …James Kvaal, BarackObama.com


Now that each and every Senate Republican has vowed to block measures that would create jobs, President Obama is not going to wait for them to rebuild the economy and bring financial security back to the middle class.

Today, he announced new rules on federal mortgages to prevent more families from losing their homes to foreclosure. And that’s just the beginning — the President said he would continue to make the changes he can by executive action, while continuing to urge Congress to act on legislation to strengthen the economy and create jobs.

If Congress doesn’t act, he will — because millions of Americans can’t just wait for Congress to do their jobs. That’s why thousands of you have been calling and tweeting your representatives over the past month, joining the President in sending a message to lawmakers in Washington that they need to act now.

We’re not just going to continue to wait — and we’ll be keeping up the pressure by making sure they’re hearing from folks across the country every day about why they need to act.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/55c11c7b/6c0d017d/132d201b3/118ab764/190700188/VEsH/p/eyJKU1ZGVFVGSlRDVWwiOiJ5bmF0aXZlNzdAZ21haWwuY29tIiwiSlNWYVNWQWxKUT09IjoiOTgxMTUifQ==/


Republicans in Congress have repeatedly filibustered the President’s ideas to create jobs now — ideas that until recently were supported by Republicans.

The President’s action today also stands in stark contrast to the positions of the Republicans running for president. Mitt Romney even told a newspaper last week that we actually shouldn’t act; we should let the housing crisis “run its course” and “hit the bottom” so that “investors” can come in and buy up these homes at cheap prices. He’s saying to homeowners that they are on their own, forcing thousands of families to explain to their kids why they have to give up their homes.

Doing nothing while families struggle: that’s the opposite of what this president and this campaign stand for. President Obama isn’t going to let Congress’ inaction stop him from doing what he can right now.

So here’s what the President’s announcement means:

— More families whose homes are under water will get help and save money on their monthly mortgage payment through the Home Affordable Refinance Programs.

— If the value of your mortgage is $100,000 and your house is valued at $75,000, you previously weren’t able to refinance to save your home — forcing many families to pay higher interest rates. As a result of today’s announcement, many more responsible homeowners will be able to lower their rates and pay their debts.

— And this is just one of the incremental changes to come. Next, the President will announce new steps to help young people manage their federal student loan debt while they look for a job and get on their feet. He’ll also take action to help small businesses and entrepreneurs, spur the engines of job growth, create new jobs, and assist veterans in finding them.

These measures alone are not a comprehensive solution to the economic challenges we face. That needs to come out of Congress — and if they’re going to finally put party aside, they’re going to need to keep hearing from us. President Obama is stepping up the pressure, and he’s counting on us to keep going, too.

Get the President’s back and keep the heat on Congress — tell your story of why we can’t wait any longer:

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Tweet at your Republicans in Congress as well… #PASSTHEBILL #theAmericansJOBSACT

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Democrats in the Senate tried to pass a simple piece of President Obama’s jobs plan that shouldn’t be controversial: provide money to prevent further layoffs of teachers, cops, and firefighters at the local level, and pay for it by taxing the income of millionaires an extra 0.5%.

This morning a lot of media outlets reported that the Senate “rejected” or “voted down” this proposal.

But that’s not what happened. The measure didn’t come to an actual vote.

That’s because every single Republican senator filibustered the bill — meaning they wouldn’t even let an up-or-down vote happen. Republicans have unilaterally decided not to allow even that simple majority vote on anything that might help the economy before the next election.

To be clear: This bill would have created jobs, and both parties have supported similar measures in the past.

But, sadly, some in the Congress do not feel any responsibility to act. As someone who has spent a lot of time working in and with the Senate, I can tell you that it’s a particularly low moment for the legislative branch of our government.

It doesn’t need to be this way. That’s why the President and our campaign are focused on fixing what’s broken in Washington. Right now, that means we’re going to keep the pressure on Congress to act, until every single piece of the President’s jobs plan — the parts to help veterans find jobs and get small businesses hiring more people — gets a vote.

So please, reach out and keep reaching out to Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, and ask him to give each piece of the American  Jobs Act a fair vote.

You can reach his office at (202) 224-2541.

Call now — then let us know how it went.

If you’re on Twitter, be sure to tweet at your Republicans in Congress as well.

We’ll have more on this soon.

Messina

Jim Messina
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

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mild Monday &Some News


just another rant … not just mine

A comment came in to respond to an article i posted written by Cecil re: McConnell & his Party. I admit i am very cynical about the majority of us being fixated on or off of FOX news  enough to assimilate info and or fact check enough to have opinions or make informed decisions – the mid-terms were a great example of how FOX  helped create , push and elect a group of extreme conservatives whose agenda is to take their country back    https://justanother2cents.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/what-im-reading-guy-cecil-13/

HER:Tired of snarky McConnell comments.  The majority of us are not fixed to FOX news, can assimilate information and fact check before forming opinions.  Fact: Congress has used the filibuster to stall progress now more than at any other time in history.  If Obama could make strides here/without Congress/as he has in war policy….people would be back to work!  Nov. 2010 GOP newbies, worst mistake ever…………vote!

ME: Actually, I am in total agreement with your facts about Congress, the filibuster and the new low Teapublicans have shown Americans because they have decided to use the filibuster more than any other time in history to stall progress and defeat a President. I am not so sure that was the primary reason for the act of a filibuster. It is not protecting the American People at all and those Senators who are abusing the spirit of the filibuster should be held accountable.  I am an Obama supporter.  I get divided government but what we see going on in Congress led by Teapublicans is beyond anything We the People should accept and or allow. I have not lost the audacity of hope and or change. In my opinion, we need a Congress that functions For the People& By the People and works with the President of the United States not a Congress that filibusters at the expense of ALL the People. We also need our center left people to open their eyes. I want them to take a hard look at how Teapublicans have chosen to control the House of Representatives. I need them to compare and contrast just what President Obama has done given he became the captain of ship already sinking, has tried to be bipartisan as any President should but given the cold shoulder by an extremely conservative group of people who say they want smaller Government but ask them about social issues and they freak out. I believe this group I call Teapublicans if given the opportunity with or without McConnell want to make President Obama a one-term President.  I believe the Midterm elections were no fluke and indeed FOX had a lot to with it. I feel their scare tactics have always been directed to targeted people like the poor working class, older people, those on the edge of equaility and those against immigration under any circumstance. The info coming from FOX was scary enough that our Older people voted right of center, some gays voted right of center in protest and even more decided to stay home which was pushed by both sides of the political meme. Yes, i too am tired of the silly, offensive and questionable McConnell comments but they are getting airtime on both conservative and liberal media. It is my hope that with proper vetting the truth backed with a whole lot of facts will be brought forth over the next few months with an overwhelming number of people voting for President Obama2012 and sanity prevails.

Other News …

Week Ahead on Capitol Hill

Deficit “Super Committee” Meets, House Works on Tax Changes

Campaign 2012

Romney Holds NH Rally, Obama in the West

GOP candidates in Iowa over the weekend

Monitors Discuss Global Financial Regulation

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AFL – CIO


400,000 JOBS

 
President
Obama has called on the Senate to pass the Teachers and First
Responders Back to Work Act. This bill would create or protect nearly
400,000 education jobs while preventing the layoffs of thousands of
police officers and firefighters.Tell your senators to pass the Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act now.

There were 51 senators who supported the American Jobs Act last week—a majority. It should have passed the Senate.

But even as outrage against an economy stacked against the 99 percent
spreads like wildfire across America, Congress continues to fail
workers, again and again. Last week Senate Republicans blocked
progress for workers with procedural maneuvers—and prevented the
American Jobs Act from getting a vote at all, in spite of majority
support.

This shows just how powerful the 1 percent is—the richest Americans want
tax cuts for themselves at all costs, even if it means cutting vital
public services for the rest of us.

But President Obama hasn’t given up on jobs. And neither have we.
He’s called on the Senate to pass pieces of the American Jobs Act. The
first piece is the Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act, which
would create or protect nearly 400,000 education jobs while preventing
the layoffs of thousands of police officers and firefighters.(1)

Tell your senators to pass the Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act now.

Most of us can’t afford to replace police on the beat with our own
private security guards—and who wants to live in the kind of society
where we would need to? The vast majority of us rely on the government
to provide education for our kids. And all of us—even the top 1
percent—need firefighters if our homes are burning.

What doesn’t Congress get? What’s so controversial about the
Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act? Republicans have
supported bills like this in the past. This bill should have
overwhelming bipartisan support.

Let’s make sure every senator knows we won’t let favored treatment for the 1 percent—like sweetheart tax breaks for Wall Street
bankers—cut teachers, police and firefighters from our communities.
Working families have far more votes than millionaires and we deserve
and rightfully demand a society that works for the 99 percent.

Tell
your senators: Let’s get this done. It’s time to get America back to
work, starting with our teachers, firefighters and police officers.

In Solidarity,

Manny Herrmann

Online Mobilization Coordinator, AFL-CIO

(1) http://democrats.senate.gov/2011/10/17/fact-sheet-teachers-and-first-responders-back-to-work-act