Indiana’s attorney general on Tuesday appealed a judge’s ruling that blocked key aspects of a new state law that cut some public funding for Planned Parenthood because the organization provides abortions.
Tag Archives: United States
I am an outlaw
Just one week ago, I published an expose in the New York Times. It was my life story. I am an undocumented immigrant, an outlaw in my own country.
In the days since, I have been drowning in media requests, tearful letters, and powerful Facebook messages. I want to thank all of the individuals who have both challenged and supported me, and ask those who have not yet done so to join me.
I’ve left my job as a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and come out about my immigration status because it’s long past time to strike up a more civil, inclusive debate about immigration in America. It’s a risk, but I have a unique story to tell, and I was tired of staying silent.
Now, I’m launching the project “Define American.” http://www.change.org/petitions/stand-with-me-jose-antonio-vargas-for-a-new-conversation-about-immigration?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=priUkRVDLL_INmaVodArs
We may not all agree on how to fix it, but one thing we can all agree on is that our immigration debate is out of control and our immigration system is badly broken. I believe not only that we can do better, but that we must.
Will you sign the pledge to stand with me, Jose Antonio Vargas, in calling for a new national conversation on immigration? http://www.change.org/petitions/stand-with-me-jose-antonio-vargas-for-a-new-conversation-about-immigration?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=priUkRVDLL_INmaVodArs
Some would say my story is the tale of a hard-working immigrant who defines the American dream: achieving success against great odds, working hard, and even earning a Pulitzer Prize for my reporting. Still, despite everything I’ve achieved, the law still says I am not technically an American. I am undocumented.
I want to ask my fellow Americans: What would you do, if you found out at age 16 that you didn’t have the right papers? As a journalist, my job is to ask questions that spark conversation. Now I am asking you to join in that conversation.
Sign the pledge to “Define American,” share it with everyone you know, and then leave us a comment about what you would do if you found out you were undocumented. I will bring your comments and stories with me as I head to the next round of media interviews. http://www.change.org/petitions/stand-with-me-jose-antonio-vargas-for-a-new-conversation-about-immigration?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=priUkRVDLL_INmaVodArs
We all have a story to tell, so let’s talk. Let’s debate. Most importantly, let’s listen.
All the best,
– Jose
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Corporate crackdown .. Rebecca Tarbotton, Rainforest Action Network
As corporations amass more and more power over our government and all of our lives, how do we stop them from trampling our rights and polluting the air and water we need to survive?
We must be unrelenting, we must be strategic and we must be more brave than we’ve ever imagined we could be. Now is the time for action.
Last month, four RAN activists chained themselves to Disney‘s headquarters to shine a light on its forest destruction. Just a week later, six more were arrested bringing attention to the struggle of 30,000 Ecuadoreans living with Chevron‘s oil disaster in the Amazon.
Why would these courageous men and women risk so much? Because sometimes it takes rappelling off a bridge and unfurling a 50-foot banner to get a corporation to put people’s health and the environment first.
RAN’s next big action is going to be absolutely awe-inspiring…Do you want to be in on it?
We need you there with us. We need your direct support now to start planning.
You can feed an activist a meal that will fuel them through the grueling physical challenge of a banner action. It only takes $10.
Precision communication is key to pulling off direct actions. Put a mobile phone into the hands of our next action coordinator for $25.
Direct action climbers dangle hundreds of feet over land or water, which means safety comes first. Protect the most vital tool a climber has, their head. Give $50 to buy a safety helmet for a RAN activist during our next big banner hang.
Now if you’ve got the means and the passion to push Corporate America hard, I’m asking you to go big. Like 80-feet wide kind of big.
Be the funder behind RAN’s next massive banner. $500 will get the job done.
When corporate polluters refuse to stop decimating precious rainforests or blowing up historic mountain ranges, we’ve got to take action.
YOU can make it happen. Donate today.
For a just and thriving planet,
Rebecca Tarbotton
Executive Director
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Congress is in Session –
The Senate Convenes at 9:30amET June 29, 2011
- Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning
business for one hour with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10
minutes each with the time equally divided and controlled between the two
Leaders or their designees with the Republicans controlling the first half and
the Majority controlling the final half. - Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.679,
the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act. At approximately
11am, the Senate will conduct up to 4 roll call votes in relation to the
following amendments to S.679:- DeMint #501 (IMF bailouts)(60-vote threshold);
- Portman-Udall(NM)-Cornyn #509, as modified with the changes that are at the
desk (Comptrollers of Navy, Army, Air Force; Controller of OMB and department
CFOs)(expected voice vote); - DeMint #511 (legislative & public affairs);
- Toomey #514(strikes the provision relating to the Governors and alternate
governors of the IMF and the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development)(expected voice vote);
- Following disposition of the amendments, the Senate will conduct an
additional roll call vote on passage of S.679, as amended (60-vote threshold). - Following disposition of S.679, the Senate will proceed to consideration of
S.Res.116, a resolution to provide for expedited Senate consideration of certain
nominations subject to advice and consent.
- 6:11pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Coburn amendment #521
(duplicative Federal programs)At approximately 6:10pm, the Senate will conduct 2 roll call votes in
relation to the following:- Coburn amendment #521 (duplicative Federal programs) (67-vote threshold)
- Adoption of S.Res.116, to provide for expedited Senate consideration of
certain nominations, as amended (majority threshold) - VOTES
- 6:36pm the Senate began a roll call vote on adoption of S.Res.116, to provide
for expedited Senate procedure for certain nominations, as amended; Adopted:
89-8 - 6:11pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Coburn amendment #521
(duplicative Federal programs) (67 vote threshold) Not agreed to; 63-34 -
Roll
call vote on Passage of S.679Jun 29,
’11 11:57 AM11:55am The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of S.679, the
Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act; Passed: 79-20Roll
call vote on DeMint amendment #511Jun 29,
’11 11:39 AM11:35am the Senate began a roll call vote on the DeMint amendment #511
(legislative and public affairs) Not agreed to; 25-74Roll
call on DeMint amendment #501Jun 29,
’11 11:07 AM11:07am The Senate began a roll call vote on the DeMint amendment #501 (IMF
Bailouts); Not agreed to; 44-55Vote
Reminder: up to 5 roll call votes at approx 11amJun 29,
’11 9:36 AMAt approximately 11:00am today, the Senate will conduct up to 5 roll call
votes in relation to the following: DeMint #501 (IMF bailouts)(60-vote
threshold); Portman-Udall(NM)-Cornyn #509, as modified with the changes that are
at the desk (Comptrollers of Navy, Army, Air Force; Controller of OMB and
department CFOs)(expected voice vote); DeMint #511 (legislative &
public… -
Wrap Up
- Adopted S.Res.220, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the June 30,
2011, opening of the Tom Lantos Institute in Budapest, Hungary. - Adopted S.Res.221, congratulating Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity on reaching the
historic milestone of 100 years. - Adopted S.Res.222, recognizing the American Revolution Center for its role
in telling the story of the American Revolution and the continuing impact on
struggles for freedom, self-government, and the rule of law throughout the
world, and encouraging the Center in its efforts to build a new Museum of the
American Revolution.
- Adopted S.Res.220, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the June 30,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on July 1, 2011.
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what’s going on in Congress -the Republican led House -the Senate
The Senate Convenes at 10amET June 28, 2011
- Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session
to consider the following nominations, en bloc:-
- Calendar #62 James Michael Cole, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy
Attorney General - Calendar #145 Lisa O. Monaco, of the District of Columbia, to be an
Assistant Attorney General - Calendar #110 Virginia A. Seitz, of the District of Columbia, to be an
Assistant Attorney General
- Calendar #62 James Michael Cole, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy
-
- There will be 2 hours for concurrent debate on the nominations equally
divided in the usual form. Upon the use or yielding back of time (at
approximately 12:00pm), the Senate will proceed to up to 3 roll call votes on
the nominations in the order listed. Senators should be aware a roll call vote
is expected on confirmation of the Cole nomination. While roll call votes are
possible on confirmation of the Monaco and Seitz nominations, we are hopeful the
nominations can be confirmed by voice vote. - Following disposition of the Cole, Monaco, and Seitz nominations, the Senate
will recess until 2:15pm for the weekly caucus meetings. - At 2:15pm, the Senate will resume consideration of S.679, the Presidential
Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act. We are working on an agreement to
complete action on S.679. Additional roll call votes are expected during
Tuesday’s session of the Senate.
- At approximately 12:10pm today, the Senate will conduct up to 3 roll call
votes on confirmation of the following nominations:
- Senators should be aware a roll call vote is expected on confirmation of the
Cole nomination. While roll call votes are possible on confirmation of the
Monaco and Seitz nominations, we are hopeful the nominations can be confirmed by
voice vote. - The Senate confirmed the following nominations by voice vote on Tuesday, June
28, 2011:- Calendar #145 Lisa O. Monaco, of the District of Columbia, to be an
Assistant Attorney General - Calendar #110 Virginia A. Seitz, of the District of Columbia, to be an
Assistant Attorney General - At 12:07pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar
#62 James Michael Cole, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Attorney
General; Confirmed: 55-42 - At 6:04pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Reid motion to instruct the
Sergeant at Arms to request the presence of absent Senators. -
- The Senate has reached the following agreement with respect to S.679, the
Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act. As a result of this
agreement, Senators should expect a series of up to 5 roll call votes (but more
likely 3 roll call votes) beginning at approximately 11am on Wednesday, June
29, 2011. - The following pending amendments will be agreed to by unanimous consent:
- Akaka #512, as modified with the changes that are at the desk (Commissioner
of the Administration for Native Americans); - Carper #517 (GAO report); and
- Paul #503 (Director of the Mint)
- Managers’ amendment, which is at the desk
- Akaka #512, as modified with the changes that are at the desk (Commissioner
- At 11am on Wednesday, June 29th, the Senate will proceed to vote in relation
to the remaining amendments to S.679 in the following order:- DeMint #501 (IMF bailouts)(60-vote threshold);
- Portman-Udall(NM)-Cornyn #509, as modified with the changes that are at the
desk (Comptrollers of Navy, Army, Air Force; Controller of OMB and department
CFOs)(expected voice vote); - DeMint #511 (legislative & public affairs);
- Toomey #514(strikes the provision relating to the Governors and alternate
governors of the IMF and the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development)(expected voice vote);
- Further, that the Cornyn amendment #504, McCain #493 and the Paul amendment
#502 will be withdrawn; no amendments will be in order to any of the amendments
prior to the votes. Upon disposition of the amendments, the bill will be read a
third time and the Senate proceed to a roll call vote on passage of the bill, as
amended (60-vote threshold). There will be no motions or points of order in
order to the bill or any of the amendments other than budget points of order and
the applicable motions to waive. - Following disposition of S.679, the Senate will proceed to the consideration
of S.Res.116, under the previous order. - Discharged Foreign Relations and Adopted S.Res.185, a resolution reaffirming the
commitment of the United States to a negotiated settlement of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
- The Senate has reached the following agreement with respect to S.679, the
- Calendar #145 Lisa O. Monaco, of the District of Columbia, to be an
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on June 28, 2011.
CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE
DAY OF JUNE 28, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION
10:09 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is
scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on July 1, 2011.The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R.
2279 and agreed to S. Con. Res. 15.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair lead the members in reciting the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag.
The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I,
the Journal stands approved.
10:07 A.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro
tempore for today.
10:00 A.M. – The House convened, starting a new legislative day
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