Tag Archives: vote

The Senate & The House in Session :Congress

09/15/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes: 9:30amET September 15, 2010

Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business for 1 hour with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Republicans will control the first 30 minutes and the Majority will control the final 30 minutes.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.5297, the Small Business Jobs bill, post-cloture. Time during any adjournment, recess, or period of morning business will count post-cloture.

The Senate will recess from 2:45pm until 3:30pm to accommodate members attending the September 11th Congressional Remembrance Ceremony on the East Front Center steps of the Capitol.

The Majority Leader will continue to work with the Republicans on an agreement that would allow us to complete action on the Small Business Jobs bill. Senators will be notified when any agreement is reached and votes are scheduled.

Unanimous Consent:
S.Res.624, a resolution 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.

S.Res.625, a resolution designating September 2010 as “National Preparedness Month”.

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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00amET September 15, 2010

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

5:11 P.M. –

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

5:09 P.M. –

Mr. Burton of IN requested the following general leaves to address the House on September 22: Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min and Mr. Jones for 5 min.

5:04 P.M. –

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

5:03 P.M. –

Mr. Arcuri filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 1620.

H. Res. 1614:

expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that law enforcement service dogs and their handlers perform a vital role in providing for our Nation’s security and should be recognized for their service

5:02 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.

4:49 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1614.

4:48 P.M. –

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H.R. 4862:

to permit Members of Congress to administer the oath of allegiance to applicants for naturalization, and for other purposes

4:46 P.M. –

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

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

4:35 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4862.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Cohen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H. Res. 1375:

recognizing the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment

4:34 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 voice vote.

4:15 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1375.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H. Res. 1473:

supporting backcountry airstrips and recreational aviation

4:10 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 voice vote.

4:05 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1473.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

4:04 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

4:03 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 15.

2:59 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

H. Res. 1610:

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

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 410 – 0 (Roll no. 525).

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

2:51 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

2:50 P.M. –

MOMENT OF SILENCE – The House observed a Moment of Silence in memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

H.R. 5366:

to require the proposal for debarment from contracting with the Federal Government of persons violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977

2:49 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 the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 – 0 (Roll no. 524).

2:42 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1522:

expressing support for designation of the last week of September as National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and the last Wednesday of September as National Previvor Day

2:41 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): 408 – 0 (Roll no. 523).

2:35 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 5873:

to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 218 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, Wisconsin, as the “Captain Rhett W. Schiller Post Office”

2:34 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 the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 411 – 0 (Roll no. 522).

2:24 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 2039:

to clarify the applicability of the Buy American Act to products purchased for the use of the legislative branch, to prohibit the application of any of the exceptions to the requirements of such Act to products bearing a Congressional seal, and for other purposes

2:23 P.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 371 – 36 (Roll no. 521).

1:55 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

1:54 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Res. 1583:

observing the fifth anniversary of the date on which Hurricane Rita devastated the coasts of Louisiana and Texas, remembering those lost in the storm and in the process of evacuation, recovery, and rebuilding; saluting the dedication of the volunteers who offered assistance in support of those affected by the storm, recognizing the progress of efforts to rebuild the affected Gulf Coast region, commending the persistence of the people of the States of Louisiana and Texas following the second major hurricane to hit Louisiana that season, and reaffirming Congress’ commitment to restore and renew the Gulf Coast region

1:53 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.

1:40 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1583.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Johnson, E. B. moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H.R. 5773:

to designate the Federal building located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, as the “Robert M. Ball Federal Building”

1:39 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 pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

1:31 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5773.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Johnson, E. B. moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 3562:

to designate the Federal building under construction at 1220 Echelon Parkway in Jackson, Mississippi, as the “Chaney, Goodman, Schwerner Federal Building”

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.

1:21 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3562.

Ms. Johnson, E. B. moved that the House suspend the rules an agree to the Senate amendments.

H.R. 5706:

to designate the facility of the Government Printing Office located at 31451 East United Avenue in Pueblo, Colorado, as the “Frank Evans Government Printing Office Building”

1:20 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 pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

1:14 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5706.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Johnson, E. B. moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 5651:

to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 515 9th Street in Rapid City, South Dakota, as the “Andrew W. Bogue Federal Building and United States Courthouse”

1:13 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.

1:09 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5651.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Johnson, E. B. moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H.R. 5282:

to provide funds to the Army Corps of Engineers to hire veterans and members of the Armed Forces to assist the Corps with curation and historic preservation activities, and for other purposes

1:07 P.M. –

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

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

12:59 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5282.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Johnson, E. B. moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H. Res. 1613:

expressing condolences to and solidarity with the people of Pakistan in the aftermath of the devastating floods that began on July 22, 2010

12:56 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.

12:39 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1613.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H.R. 3519:

to amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to establish a grant program to promote efforts to develop, implement, and sustain veterinary services, and for other purposes

12:37 P.M. –

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

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

12:27 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3519.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Boswell moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

S. 3656:

to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to improve the reporting on sales of livestock and dairy products, and for other purposes

12:26 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.

12:21 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3656.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Scott (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H. Res. 1612:

expressing the support for and honoring September 17, 2010 as “Constitution Day”

12:19 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Clay objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.

12:04 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1612.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H.R. 5366:

to require the proposal for debarment from contracting with the Federal Government of persons violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977

12:03 P.M. –

11:57 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5366.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H. Res. 1522:

expressing support for designation of the last week of September as National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and the last Wednesday of September as National Previvor Day

11:56 A.M. –

11:36 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1522.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

S. 2868:

to provide increased access to the General Services Administration’s Schedules Program by the American Red Cross and State and local governments

11:35 A.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 pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

11:28 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2868.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Clay moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 5873:

to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 218 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, Wisconsin, as the “Captain Rhett W. Schiller Post Office”

11:27 A.M. –

11:13 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5873.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H. Res. 1595:

recognizing the 50th anniversary of the passage of legislation that created real estate investment trusts (REITs) and gave millions of Americans new investment opportunities that helped them build a solid foundation for retirement security and has contributed to the overall strength of our economy

11:12 A.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.

11:02 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1595.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H.R. 3978:

to amend the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept and use gifts for otherwise authorized activities of the Center for Domestic Preparedness that are related to preparedness for and response to terrorism, and for other purposes

11:01 A.M. –

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

On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.

10:54 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3978.

Ms. Richardson moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments.

H.R. 3116:

to prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from procuring certain items directly related to the national security unless the items are grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States, and for other purposes

10:53 A.M. –

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

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

10:39 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3116.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Richardson moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 2039:

10:37 A.M. –

10:27 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2039.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Brady (PA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

10:22 A.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

10:03 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.

10:02 A.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Tonko 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.

10:01 A.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Roderick Pearson, St. Mark Remnant Ministries, Central Islip, New York.

10:00 A.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable John A. Yarmuth to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ Recent Post

22 Million Jobs

09/14/2010 Nativegrl77

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.

Democrats like Barack Obama and Patrick Leahy want to return to the booming Clinton-Gore economy that led to balanced budgets and created over 22 million new jobs.

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

RADICAL RIGHT Rallies of Misinformation

09/13/2010 Nativegrl77

In the months leading up to the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, conservatives, right-wing media, and Republican lawmakers have led a campaign of misinformation, paranoia, fear, and anger toward Muslims, sparked by the recent hysteria over a hate pastor’s plan to burn the Quran (which he thankfully never carried out) and outrage over an organization’s plan to build a mosque and Islamic community center near Ground Zero in Manhattan. A recent Washington Post poll found that a plurality of Americans now have an unfavorable view of Islam, “the most negative split on the question” since Oct. 2001. Commemorating the 9/11 attacks, President Obama urged tolerance toward Muslims. “As Americans we are not — and never will be — at war with Islam,” he said. “It was not a religion that attacked us that September day — it was al Qaida, a sorry band of men which perverts religion.” Yet rhetoric from conservatives who gathered this weekend in New York City to protest the Park51 community center, and in Washington, D.C. for the Tea Party “9/12” rally was steeped in Islamophobia and general misinformation about the President, leading Democrats, and their policies.

‘NO MOSQUE HERE’: The Stop Islamization of America-sponsored rally near Ground Zero in Manhattan against the Park51 Islamic cultural center drummed up fears of Sharia law in America with regular “no mosque here” chants from the Tea Party-esque crowd. As the Wonk Room’s Matt Duss noted, the event stirred “together half-truths with outright falsehoods into a stew of anti-Muslim paranoia.” Speaking at the event, GOP House candidate Ilario Pantano attempted to instill fears that Park51 project leader Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, along with Iran, was responsible for the Gaza aid flotilla this summer that resulted in the killing of nine Turks — including one Turkish American — by Israeli commandos. And the event’s headline speaker, right-wing Dutch politician Geert Welders — who once called Islam “the ideology of a retarded culture” — falsely claimed that the Park51 center would be “a house of Sharia” and that Rauf “refuses to condemn terrorists.” In dozens of interviews with The Progress Report, attendees at the protest espoused similar views. “It’s going to be a Sharia law mosque. They believe in the jihad,” one woman from Long Island said. Another woman associated with the American Congress for Truth said Rauf is “building sharia on Ground Zero.” Echoing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, one man — not seeming to recognize the freedoms bestowed on the U.S. as opposed to other countries — said, “When they build a church in Saudi Arabia then they can build a mosque” near Ground Zero. Many attendees said that Rauf and his organization wanted to build a mosque near Ground Zero because that’s what Muslims do after a victory in battle — a notion propagated recently by Fox News, and by hate radio hosts Micheal Savage and Rush Limbaugh. “History shows us that they do build where they have conquered,” one woman said. When asked how she knew this, she replied, “On many different shows. … We have historians in our family and they said if you were to research that, that that would right. I don’t know personally myself, I haven’t seen them but they say in history, that’s what they have done.”

THE TEA PARTY IN D.C.: Tea Party members from all over the country gathered on the Mall in Washington, D.C. for their second annual FreedomWorks-sponsored “9/12” rally to protest against President Obama and his purported “socialist cronies.” Many attendees at the 9/12 rally appeared to represent the nearly 20 percent of Americans who believe that Obama is a Muslim. “None of the crowd members I talked to would say that Obama was either Christian or a U.S. citizen (the best I got was ‘only God knows what’s in his heart,’ from a nice woman from Ohio),” reported TPM’s Evan McMorris-Santoro. The rest of the rally — which was considerably smaller in size when compared to last year’s event — consisted of ridiculing taxes and spending and heralding the Constitution with “God repeatedly placed firmly on the conservative side of the political spectrum by speakers and audience members alike.”

SIGNS OF INTOLERANCE: Apart from the divisive and misinformed rhetoric that took place at these rallies, attendees often displayed signs, banners, and other placards displaying symbols and inscriptions of hatred and intolerance. At the 9/12 rally, one attendee held a sign that said “Obama wants to ban pork!” presumably a reference to the false claim that he is a Muslim. Another sign depicted Obama as both a Nazi and a communist while another associated members of Congress with rodents. One man carried a sign that said “Obama, the terrorist from within.” One banner at the New York rally read that the Park51 center is “the monument to terrorism,” while another sign read “no Muslim integration.” Many protesters carried small pieces of cardboard that read “No Obama’s Mosque.” One placard portrayed a cartoonish image of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and read: “‘Sharia’ Pelosi. Implant A Tongue Depressor — Wire Her Jaw.” Others wore t-shirts with an image of an airplane flying into the World Trade Center with the words, “They will teach” imprinted on them. Indeed, one observer at the anti-mosque rally in New York noticed the signs and rhetoric of hatred and intolerance, telling The Progress Report, “It’s so emotional here. It’s really aggressive…it’s all fear and it’s all anger, and it just makes me cry. … What is wrong with a mosque? It’s just the same, it’s a great religion just as all the others.”

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress in Session -9/13/10

09/13/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes today at 2:30pmET

following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business until 3:30pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 3:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Jane Stranch, of Tennessee, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit. There will be 2 hours for debate with the time equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Sessions, or their designees.

At 5:30pm on Monday, September 13, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination of Jane Stranch to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit.

As a reminder, Senator Reid filed 4 cloture motions with respect to the Small Business Jobs bill (HR5297). The filing deadline for first degree amendments to HR5297 and the Reid for Baucus-Landrieu amendment #4594 (Substitute) is 3:00pm on Monday, September 13.
Votes:
230: Confirmation of Jane Stranch to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit; Confirmed: 71-21

The next meeting in the House will be on September 14, 2010 at 2:30

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Stop Texas Oil from Rewriting Environmental laws

09/10/2010 Nativegrl77

Stand against oil companies trying to overturn global warming legislation

With the Senate’s failure to pass an anti global-warming bill, legislation on the state level is currently our most direct answer to saving the planet.

California already passed one of the toughest anti-global warming laws in the world (AB32) back in 2006 — and its regulations will start being phased in next year.

But not if a bunch of oil companies in Texas have their way. Texas oil companies Valero and Tesoro have spent $3.5 million to fund Prop 23 in California; a deceptive initiative that, if approved by voters this November, will effectively reverse AB32.

If these Texas Oil Companies succeed in rewriting California’s global warming laws, it won’t just hurt California’s effort to curb harmful carbon emissions — it will be a giant step back for nationwide efforts to fight global warming.

So we need to tell Valero that their continued support of this proposition is going to cost them, too >

This campaign was started by our partner CREDO Action in California earlier this year with The Courage Campaign, but since then, Valero has upped the ante. With only two months until the election, they just gave another $3 million to fund the attack on AB32. There’s no telling how many more millions Valero will dump into this effort before November — but if we create a groundswell of national pressure, we can force them to reconsider their support. So we’re supporting CREDO Action in taking this boycott national.

The Senate climate fight made clear that dirty energy companies have far too much power in Washington. And now that the Citizens United case has opened the door for more corporate money in our elections, the best way to stop dirty energy from having an even bigger impact on ballots nationwide is with direct, public pressure that will be noticed by corporate executives and shareholders alike.

This type of pressure just made a big difference after Target donated $150,000 to a group backing anti-gay candidates. With Valero leading an attack on the strongest climate pollution reduction act in the country, we need to show them that their support isn’t just bad for the environment — it’s also bad for business.

Valero’s CEO needs to hear the message loud and clear. Sign the pledge and join the boycott of Valero >

Thanks for taking action,

The Change.org team