Tag Archives: United States

~ Recent Post

Dems Midnight deadline -Tonight


RAPID RESPONSE AD BUY DEADLINE: MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
$94,071 TO GO: CONTRIBUTE TODAY >>
49 Days Until the Election

I know you receive a lot of emails, but I wouldn’t be writing if this was not so critical.

Midnight Tonight is our Rapid Response deadline to counter the barrage of post-Citizens United right-wing shadow groups that are on the air attacking Democrats in battleground districts.

We cannot let these swift boat-style attacks go unanswered. Your help putting Rapid Response ads on the air can tip the balance of air power and secure victory for Democrats in battleground races. We’re just $94,071 away from our goal, but we only have hours left before our media buy deadline.

Contribute $5, $10 or more to our Emergency Rapid Response Ad Fund before Midnight Tonight to help Democrats under attack by right-wing shadow groups in battleground races.

I’ve seen the latest polls in these battleground districts and these races can go either way. For anyone who thinks we can’t beat the Republicans, I have two words: Pennsylvania-12.

Just a few months ago, your grassroots resources put organizers on the ground and rapid response ads on the air. You literally made the difference between victory and defeat in that race — and the same can be true now if you can help fund our response to this latest wave of attacks.

The lobbyists are hiring staff and Republicans are already measuring the drapes before a single vote has even been cast. We have organizers ready to be dispatched and ads ready to go up on the air that can make all the difference. The only thing missing is your resources.

Contribute to our Emergency Rapid Response Ad Fund before Midnight Tonight to help Democrats under attack by right-wing shadow groups.

Chris Van Hollen
Chris Van Hollen
DCCC Chairman

P.S. You literally made the difference between victory and defeat in PA-12 – and the same can be true now if you can help fund our response to this latest wave of shadow group attacks. We’re just $94,071 away from our goal, but we only have hours left. Contribute to our Emergency Rapid Response Ad Fund before Midnight Tonight.

~ Recent Post

22 Million Jobs


This election, the choice is clear:

  • Republicans like John Boehner and Mitch McConnell want to retain the Bush-Cheney reckless tax cuts for the wealthy that created out of control budget deficits and lead America into a jobs-losing recession.

Which do you choose? I know, I know, the choice is obvious, right?

Believe it or not, some corporate Democrats in the Senate might side with lobbyists and racist Tea Party Republicans instead of you and me. If we’re going to win in November, we must raise $50,000 from at least 5,000 DFA members by the end of this week for an aggressive no-holds-barred campaign that backs up President Obama and Patrick Leahy right now.

Contribute $10 today to fuel DFA’s aggressive campaign to win in 2010

Racist Tea Party Republicans are more intent on beating Obama — no matter what the cost — than creating jobs for the American middle-class. The right wing wants to score political points by taking money from our kids’ and grandkids’ future, and handing out tax dollars to the wealthiest Americans.

It’s up to us to stop them.

That’s why yesterday, Senator Patrick Leahy joined with Democracy for America members in calling on Congress to let the Bush-Cheney tax cuts for the wealthy expire this year as planned. Already, in just 24 hours, over 50,000 Americans have added their name and signers are still rolling in.

I will choose the Democrats’ campaign for “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs” on Election Day over the Republicans’ dream of more “Tax Gifts for Millionaires” — and so will the rest of America — if Democrats stand up and do the right thing.

But it’s up to us to make Senate Democrats deliver for the middle class — Contribute now.

It’s not rocket science. It’s now or never. The more Democrats deliver for regular Americans in September and October, the bigger our victories will be this November.

Thank you for working to get the job done.

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Political Director
Democracy for America

~ Recent Post

Health Care: Insurers target Health Reform


Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that several insurers had filed requests to raise health insurance premiums above the rate of medical inflation and were blaming the newly-enacted health care law for at least part of that increase. “Aetna Inc., some BlueCross BlueShield plans and other smaller carriers have asked for premium increases of between 1 and 9 percent to pay for extra benefits required under the law, according to filings with state regulators,” the paper noted. “These and other insurers say Congress‘s landmark refashioning of U.S. health coverage, which passed in March after a brutal fight, is causing them to pass on more costs to consumers than Democrats predicted.” “Health care premiums follow underlying costs,” top insurance lobbyist Karen Ignagni insisted during an interview with Fox News. “Costs are going up because providers are charging more, number one…two, people buying coverage individually in a bad economy have decided for their economic reasons they sometimes can no longer afford it, that means the cost to people in the pool goes up because it’s the people who have the highest cost who stay in. And then third, we’re adding new benefits, starting September 23rd, under the legislation, and new benefits follow cost.” The White House immediately disputed these claims and predicted that state regulators could block the increases. “I would have real deep concerns that the kinds of rate increases that you’re quoting…are justified,” said Nancy-Ann DeParle, the White House’s top health official. She said that for insurers, raising rates was “already their modus operandi before the bill” passed. “We believe consumers will see through this,” she said.

COSTS OF NEW BENEFITS IS MINIMAL: While health care costs do follow medical inflation, insurers are overstating the degree to which the health law is contributing to premium increases. Actuaries working for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had estimated that the cost of the early reforms — policies that eliminate lifetime and limit annual limits, allow older children to stay on as dependents and prohibit insurers from denying coverage to children — would only slightly raise premiums by 1 to 2 percentage points. As the Urban Institute’s Linda Blumberg concludes, “For plans with lifetime maximums of $2 million or higher, removing the limits entirely will tend to increase premiums by less than 1 percent.” Similarly, “[t]he prohibitions against pre-existing condition exclusion periods for children, including denials of coverage due to such conditions, should have little to no impact in the small group market, which already is required to guarantee issue policies” and the effect of extending coverage for young adults on parents’ policies would only increase premiums “from 0.5 to 1.2 percent of premiums, depending upon the participation assumptions made” in the small group market. Generally, the health care law should not contribute more than 3 percent to premium growth, Blumberg said in a phone interview with the Progress Report.

HOLDING INSURERS ACCOUNTABLE: All premium increases that are significantly above the rate of medical inflation should trigger regulatory review. And while the authority and ability of state insurance commissioners to review and deny unreasonable premium increases varies from state to state, the Affordable Healthcare Act has already distributed millions of dollars to bolster the review process. Last month, HHS sent out $46 million in grant funds to 45 states and the District of Columbia “to help improve the review of proposed health insurance premium increases, take action against insurers seeking unreasonable rate hikes, and ensure consumers receive value for their premium dollars.” The $46 million are part of $250 million in rate review grant dollars authorized by the new health care law. As a result of the program, “15 States and the District of Columbia” are now pursuing additional legislative authority to “create a more robust program for reviewing or requiring advanced approval of proposed health insurance premium increases to ensure that they are reasonable” and “21 States and the District of Columbia” are also expanding “the scope of their current health insurance review.” Later this year, HHS will issue regulations “that will require state or federal review of all potentially unreasonable rate increases filed by health insurers, with the justification for increases posted publicly for consumers and employers” and will “keep track of insurers with a record of unjustified rate increases.” Plans with poor records may be excluded from the exchanges in 2014.

ENCOURAGING STATES TO DO MORE: Independent review of rate hikes is essential because insurers often overstate their premium increases. For instance, just four months ago, independent analysts in California discovered that WellPoint “overstated future medical costs” to justify its 39 percent premium increases in the individual health market and committed numerous other methodological errors. As HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wrote in a letter to Ignagni last Thursday, “the Administration, in partnership with states, will not tolerate unjustified rate hikes in the name of consumer protections.” “We will not stand idly by as insurers blame their premium hikes and increased profits on the requirement that they provide consumers with basic protections,” she said. Indeed, while the administration’s actions should help states review unreasonable increases, there is very little the federal government can actually do to reign in unreasonable rates; that burden falls to the states. And, given the influence of insurers on some state commissioners and the weak state regulatory structure — 23 states do not review and approve premium changes in the individual market and 5 of those 23 have no rate regulations at all — it’s clear that the federal government needs to find new ways to entice the states to strengthen their rate review processes. Absent a federal rate review process (through the enactment of Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) rate review legislation), HHS can attach thicker and longer strings to the next round of rate review grants. For instance, the federal government could target the next round of rate review grants “to states that appear the most promising in terms of greater rate review, oversight, and enforcement,” Edwin Park, co-director of health policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities told the Progress Report. “This would include not only states with an existing robust process but those states needing the most help but also the most willing to institute strong rate reviews.” Park says that the federal government can also make it easier to conduct reviews by purchasing systems, establishing common procedures, and help states find actuaries to review insurance rates. Finally, the federal government can work very closely with the states to ensure that insurers with unreasonable increases between now and 2014 are actually excluded from the exchanges and states can of course keep inefficient and costly issuers out of the exchanges.

~ Recent Post

Gallup -1 of 4Bills they say the public agrees with


Among Recent Bills, Financial Reform a Lone Plus for Congress

Most Americans oppose four other prominent legislative acts

by Lydia Saad

PRINCETON, NJ — The financial reform bill President Obama signed into law in July is the most popular of five major pieces of legislation Congress has passed in the past two years — in fact, it is the only one tested in a recent USA Today/Gallup poll that a majority of Americans support.

Support for Congressional Legislative Achievements in the Last Two Years

Six in 10 Americans approve of the legislation to strengthen government regulation of the financial industry. By contrast, a majority disapprove of the 2009 economic stimulus package, the auto industry bailout, healthcare reform, and — most of all — the 2008 banking industry bailout.

Financial reform does best due to a relatively high level of support from Republicans — 42% approve of it — as well as majority support from independents. Independents join Republicans in mostly opposing the other four legislative initiatives tested. Democrats, on the other hand, approve of all five, although to varying degrees.

Support for Congressional Legislative Achievements in the Last Two Years, by Party ID

Of the five legislative acts, healthcare reform and the economic stimulus package are the most politically divisive. By contrast, financial regulatory reform, as well as aid to automakers and banks, sparks more similar reactions from Republicans and Democrats.

Bottom Line

Congress’ approval rating has been stalled at or below 20% for most of this year, down from 39% in March 2009 — and recent Gallup polling finds Americans no happier with the Republicans than with the Democrats in Congress. While some of this may be due to unavoidable fallout from the prolonged economic downturn, it may also represent an accumulation of public discontent with the more prominent spending and policy programs Congress has made law. Wall Street regulatory reform stands alone as a major legislative accomplishment that congressional incumbents would be wise to tout as they campaign for re-election this fall.

Survey MethodsResults for this USA Today/Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 27-30, 2010, with a random sample of 1,021 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental U.S., selected using random-digit-dial sampling.

For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.

Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones (for respondents with a landline telephone) and cellular phones (for respondents who are cell phone-only). Each sample includes a minimum quota of 150 cell phone-only respondents and 850 landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents for gender within region. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.

Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, education, region, and phone lines. Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2009 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in continental U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

View methodology, full question results, and trend data.

For more details on Gallup’s polling methodology, visit http://www.gallup.com/.

~ Recent Post

Congress:the Senate/House debates & votes today!


The Senate Convenes: 10:00amET September 14, 2010

Resume consideration of H.R.5297, the Small Business Jobs bill with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees.

At 11:00am, the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on Johanns amendment #4596 (1099 reporting). If cloture is not invoked, the Senate would proceed to a cloture vote on the Nelson (FL) amendment #4595 (1099 reporting). If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours for debate. If cloture is not invoked, the Senate would proceed to a cloture vote on the substitute amendment #4594 to HR5297, Small Business Jobs.

The Senate will recess from 12:30pm – 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

By unanimous consent, the filing deadline for second degree amendments to the substitute amendment #4594 and HR5297 is 12:00 noon today, Tuesday. September 14.

Votes:
231: Cloture on Johanns #4596 (1099 reporting);
Not Invoked: 46-52

232: Cloture on Nelson (FL) #4595 (1099 reporting);
Not Invoked: 56-42

233: Cloture on Substitute amendment #4594: to H.R.5297, Small Business Jobs bill;
Invoked: 61-37 <<- this means that HR5297 will now move forward to a final vote this week; Reid tweets dadt may get a vote as well this week

There will be no further roll call votes.

Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.Res.597, a resolution designating September 2010 as “National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month”

Adopted S.Res.603, a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Council for International Visitors, and designating February 16, 2011, as “Citizen Diplomacy Day”

Adopted S.Res.607, a resolution recognizing the month of October 2011 as “National Principals Month”

Adopted S.Res.620, a resolution to designate September 12, 2010, as “National Day of Encouragement”

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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 2:00pmET September 14, 2010

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

7:00 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

6:59 P.M. –

Mr. McClintock requested the following general leaves to address the House on September 21: Mr. Jones for 5 min.

Mr. McClintock requested the following general leaves to address the House on September 16: Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, and Mr. Bishop of UT for 5 min.

6:57 P.M. –

Mr. McClintock requested the following general leaves to address the House on September 15: Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, Mr. Gohmert for 5 min, Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for 5 min.

6:45 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House continued with further one minute speeches.

H. Res. 1571:

acknowledging and congratulating Miami Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of service to the students and residents of the State of Florida

6:43 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 378 – 0 (Roll no. 520).

6:32 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1052:

honoring the members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of Oklahoma for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States since September 11, 2001

6:31 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 378 – 0 (Roll no. 519).

6:01 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

6:00 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 14.

3:50 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:00 P.M. today.

H. Res. 1611:

expressing support for designation of the week beginning September 19, 2010, as “National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week”

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

3:40 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1611.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Sablan moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1480:

commending the University of Southern California Trojan men’s tennis team for its victory in the 2010 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Tennis Championship

3:39 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

3:29 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1480.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Sablan moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1564:

commending and congratulating Michigan Technological University on the occasion of its 125th anniversary

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

3:18 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1564.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Sablan moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1571:

acknowledging and congratulating Miami Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of service to the students and residents of the State of Florida

3:17 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

3:04 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1571.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Watson moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H.R. 6102:

to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to extend the authority of the Secretary of the Navy to enter into multiyear contracts for F/A-18E, F/A-18F, and EA-18G aircraft

3:03 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

2:53 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6102.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H. Res. 1251:

recognizing and honoring the United States troops who gave their lives on D-Day at the Battle of Normandy

2:52 P.M. –

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

2:45 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1251.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H. Res. 1052:

honoring the members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of Oklahoma for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States since September 11, 2001

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

2:38 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1052.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Boren moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1610:

expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the terrorist attacks launched against the United States on September 11, 2001

2:37 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

2:13 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1610.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Connolly (VA) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

2:12 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:00 p.m. today.

2:04 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

2:03 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 House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on September 14, 2010 at 9:21 a.m.: That the Senate agreed to H.Con.Res. 292, without amendment.

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 House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 12, 2010 at 12:04 p.m.: That the Senate agreed to S.Res. 617.

2:02 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 House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 12, 2010 at 10:37 p.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 6080, without amendment.

2:01 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Poe of TX to 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.

2:00 P.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Laura Richardson to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.