Tag Archives: United States

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

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

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

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.679

      Jun 29,
      ’11       11:57 AM

      11:55am The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of S.679, the
      Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act; Passed: 79-20

      More

      Roll
      call vote on DeMint amendment #511

      Jun 29,
      ’11       11:39 AM

      11:35am the Senate began a roll call vote on the DeMint amendment #511
       (legislative and public affairs) Not agreed to; 25-74

      More

      Roll
      call on DeMint amendment #501

      Jun 29,
      ’11       11:07 AM

      11:07am The Senate began a roll call vote on the DeMint amendment #501 (IMF
      Bailouts); Not agreed to; 44-55

      More

      Vote
      Reminder: up to 5 roll call votes at approx 11am

      Jun 29,
      ’11       9:36 AM

      At 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…

      More

      Live
      quorum/roll call vote on motion to instruct

    • 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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on July 1, 2011.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

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:

  • 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
      • 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 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

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Democracy for America


What a historic day!

I’m thrilled that today, thanks to your voice and the hard work of Governor Cuomo and so many committed organizations and elected officials, New York has become the latest state to pass marriage equality.

Last night, the New York legislature stood up for equality for all New Yorkers and spoke loudly in support of the simple proposition that every New Yorker should be able to marry the person they love.

But our work is not done.

Even once our LGBT friends and family are legally able to marry here in New York, the Defense of Marriage Act will prohibit them from enjoying over 1,000 federal rights and privileges that are afforded straight married couples. While it won’t be easy, we can overturn DOMA – but we need thousands of grassroots activists like you to stand up and demand repeal. 

Click here to join me and Democracy For America in urging Congress to repeal this regressive and discriminatory law. For only once every legally married couple in the United States is treated equally under federal law can we fulfill the true meaning of marriage equality. 

The Defense of Marriage Act is truly damaging. Every day, thousands of legally married LGBT men and women around the country are unable to take advantage of rights and privileges – from hospital visitation to inheritance rights to health benefits – that straight married couples take for granted.

Like DFA member Florence P. of Brushton, NY who sent in her story of how DOMA has impacted her:

My late partner and I were as close to a legal married couple as we could get in the state of New York. We were together for 32 1/2 years, hoping to one day marry in our state. She died in 2006. I am not considered to be her widow.  I am not considered to be legally related to her at all even though we shared our lives completely for over 32 years. It’s time to repeal DOMA.

I agree with Florence. We must end this unjust policy. But much like the historic vote last night in New York, it’s going to take a lot of hard work and our collective grassroots advocacy. And I believe it’s going to take telling more stories like Florence’s.

If you’ve been impacted by DOMA, click here to sign the petition and tell us your story at repealDOMA.com. It’s imperative that we begin to tell the stories of the Americans hurt every day by the injustice of DOMA, so that we can put faces and names to this discriminatory policy. Only then will we truly be able to start changing hearts and minds, both among my colleagues in Congress and around the country.

We did it with “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and we’ll do it with DOMA. The time to start is now.

Thank you for standing with me and DFA for equality for all Americans.

– Kirsten

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

It’s on … says Robby Mook


News just broke that Crossroads, one of Karl Rove’s shadowy outside groups, is purchasing millions in advertising attacking President Obama this summer.

 There’s no doubt: the fight for 2012 is on.

 This all comes as we are within days of the critical midyear Federal Election Commission (FEC) fundraising reporting deadline. Republicans and Democrats are in a virtual dead heat for year-to-date totals, and if we are going to keep pace with this outside money we need to take a strong lead.

 That means we need every committed Democrat to contribute something before June 30th. A gift of just $3 or more could go a long way to us having a strong showing. Will you join the fight today?

Contribute $3 or more before the mid-year FEC deadline on June 30th and House Democrats will triple match your gift.

 In just four days, the amount of money we raise in the mid-year will be used by the media and talking heads as a measure of our chances of success in 2012.

 House Democrats are so committed to June 30th — they are now matching every dollar you give with two of their own. That makes each gift worth triple the amount. It’s make or break time. Please give today before Thursday’s deadline.

 Thanks,

 Robby Mook
 DCCC Executive Director