The Senate will convene at 9:30am and immediately proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Elena Kagan to by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
Debate time on the Kagan nomination will be controlled as follows:
– Chairman Leahy –first 30 minutes
– Ranking Member Sessions—next 30 minutes
– 10:30 until 11am equally divided and controlled between the Leaders, or their designees
– 11-12:30pm equally divided and controlled, with the Majority controlling the first 45 minutes;
– 2:15pm-8:15pm divided in one hour alternating blocks, with the Majority controlling the first block
– 8:15pmET and beyond continuing to be divided in one hour alternating blocks of time.
There will be no roll call votes today.
Unanimous Consent:
Passed S.3397, the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act.
Adopted S.Res.555, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of “National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month”.
Adopted S.Res.596, a resolution to designate September 25, 2010, as “National Estuaries Day:.
Adopted S.Res.605, a resolution designating September 13, 2010, as “National Celiac Disease Awareness Day”.
Social Security is under attack and we need to fight back against the lies.
Have you heard that Social Security is going bankrupt? Driving up the deficit? In crisis?
Well none of that is true. These are all myths that opponents of Social Security have been spreading to scare people into accepting benefit cuts this fall. But the myths are taking hold—so we have to fight back with the facts.
So we’ve put together a list of the top five myths about Social Security, along with the real story. Can you check out the list and then share it with your friends, family, and coworkers?
Reality: There is no Social Security crisis. By 2023, Social Security will have a $4.6 trillion surplus (yes, trillion with a ‘T’). It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever.1 After 2037, it’ll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits—and again, that’s without any changes. The program started preparing for the Baby Boomers’ retirement decades ago.2 Anyone who insists Social Security is broke probably wants to break it themselves.
Myth #2: We have to raise the retirement age because people are living longer.
Reality: This is a red-herring to trick you into agreeing to benefit cuts. Retirees are living about the same amount of time as they were in the 1930s. The reason average life expectancy is higher is mostly because many fewer people die as children than they did 70 years ago.3 What’s more, what gains there have been are distributed very unevenly—since 1972, life expectancy increased by 6.5 years for workers in the top half of the income brackets, but by less than 2 years for those in the bottom half.4 But those intent on cutting Social Security love this argument because raising the retirement age is the same as an across-the-board benefit cut.
Myth #3: Benefit cuts are the only way to fix Social Security.
Reality: Social Security doesn’t need to be fixed. But if we want to strengthen it, here’s a better way: Make the rich pay their fair share. If the very rich paid taxes on all of their income, Social Security would be sustainable for decades to come.5 Right now, high earners only pay Social Security taxes on the first $106,000 of their income.6 But conservatives insist benefit cuts are the only way because they want to protect the super-rich from paying their fair share.
Myth #4: The Social Security Trust Fund has been raided and is full of IOUs
Reality: Not even close to true. The Social Security Trust Fund isn’t full of IOUs, it’s full of U.S. Treasury Bonds. And those bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.7 The reason Social Security holds only treasury bonds is the same reason many Americans do: The federal government has never missed a single interest payment on its debts. President Bush wanted to put Social Security funds in the stock market—which would have been disastrous—but luckily, he failed. So the trillions of dollars in the Social Security Trust Fund, which are separate from the regular budget, are as safe as can be.
Myth #5: Social Security adds to the deficit
Reality: It’s not just wrong—it’s impossible! By law, Social Security’s funds are separate from the budget, and it must pay its own way. That means that Social Security can’t add one penny to the deficit.8
Defeating these myths is the first step to stopping Social Security cuts. Can you share this list now?
Thanks for all you do.
–Nita, Duncan, Daniel, Kat, and the rest of the team
Democrats are reforming their own members when will Republicans actually drain the swamp they have of corrupt, immoral folks in their own party?
Progress for ALL AMERICANS
If not now …when
The President will speak at a convention for the Disabled Vets of America in Atlanta and while Congress or at least the House is out on break we, the people will hear and see some outrageous things coming from the right and Republican politicians will be leading the train of crazy talk about all things reform and repeal. For months, our opponents have spread lies about reform to scare voters away. But the simple truth about what reform would actually do — save jobs, guarantee all Americans affordable, stable coverage, and significantly reduce the deficit — is something most Americans strongly support. We all know that watching the change we all need taking place or trying to take place in both Chambers of Congress has been difficult but when HCR came up who knew that the health insurance reform that Romney helped pass and signed while Governor of Massachusetts is very similar to the bill passed by the Democrats of the Obama Administration. It was apparent after a few interviews that the people of Massachusetts hated the way their health care was created but ask one just one if they would be willing to give up their socialized health care they have now.
Progress for ALL Americans not just a select few … VOTE Democrats
The question is, come November, will the voters know and or accept the facts? Will they seek the truth or will they accept the noise nonsense and lies given by Republicans on a daily basis.
Republicans continue to disrespect the office of President, blocking his efforts to live up to his campaign promise and the 53% who voted him into office. We the People cannot afford to vote politicians who put Political Party over doing the Peoples business; though Republicans would have the public believe it is in our best interest. We need people to make the effort to listen to Republicans talk, make comments about repealing everything, and going back to the way the house of Bush governed, we need and must move into the 21st Century if we plan to get back on track, be the number one in the Nation.
The November elections are important and democrats must be out in droves to vote Democrats into office for each and every State ; stay informed and vote to keep democrats in to complete the fixes our economy needs so badly because they definitely were avoided by the house of Bush.
Democrats are reforming their own members when will Republicans actually drain the swamp they have of corrupt, immoral folks in their own party?
Other News …
The Financial Times’ Ed Luce documents the “crisis of middle-class America.” Noting the “median wage stagnation” that has afflicted most American families, Luce writes, “the annual incomes of the bottom 90 per cent of US families have been essentially flat since 1973 — having risen by only 10 per cent in real terms over the past 37 years. That means most Americans have been treading water for more than a generation.”Tprogress
**Lindsey Lohan was released from jail
The passage of the Affordable Care Act will save the Medicare program about $8 billion by the end of the year, “and $575 billion over the rest of the decade,” according to the Obama administration. The savings are anticipated to add “12 years of solvency” to Medicare’s trust fund for inpatient care.TPprgress
**2 killers from AZ are still on the loose
**High Court trims Miranda warning rights
**Spirit Airlines will charge for walk-on luggage from now on
**Ahmadinegad offers to speak to President Obama one on one
**Obama states there is a shift commitment to the iraq war
**BP is going to try and plug up the well for good -Static Kill
Health Care Discussion on “50 Ways to Implement Health Reform”
C‑SPAN’s Washington Journal will begin a month long series looking at issues in the news, from health care to financial reform and politics. This morning, Tracy Watts a senior health care consultant for Mercer discussed how employers are working to implement the heath care law that was passed earlier this year. Later, the Alliance for Health Reform hosts a discussion titled “50 Ways to Implement Health Reform: State Challenges and Federal Assistance.” Health care administrators will give an overview of how states and the federal government will begin implementing provisions of the new health care law President Obama signed on March 23rd. Speakers include representatives from the Health and Human Services Department, insurance companies and the states.
The Senate will begin its final week of work before the August recess at 2pm (ET) today. They will first resume work on H.R. 1586, a substitute amendment to a House-passed FAA reauthorization bill. The substance of the Senate amendment to this measure is $10 billion in education funding for teacher salaries and $16.1 billion in aid to the states from the stimulus fund for state Medicaid costs. The vote on the motion to proceed to the bill is expected at 5:45pm.
The Senate may also take up Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) energy package (S.3663) later in the week. This package would eliminate the $75 million cap on economic damages from offshore oil spills; it also would provide full funding for up to five years for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is mostly paid for by offshore drilling revenues. Sen. Reid will likely set up a cloture vote on this energy package.
Before the recess, the Senate will take up the nomination of Elena Kagan to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. If confirmed, she would replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens and become the fourth female Justice in the Supreme Court’s history.
Allen Defends Oil Dispersant Oversight, Says Static Kill Possible on Monday
During Sunday’s conference call on oil spill recovery efforts, Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen responded to charges made by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) that the Coast Guard has “rubber stamped” BP’s use of oil dispersants. Adm. Allen said he and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson agree on guidelines calling for a 75% reduction in use of chemicals which breakdown oil in the Gulf.
However, incident commanders are authorizing additional dispersant use on a case-by-case basis, he pointed out.
On Saturday, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) sent a letter demanding that government officials provide his office with records documenting the amount of dispersants used.
Also during the call, Adm. Allen said that the hydrostatic or “static kill” could begin as soon as Monday evening. A sequence of tests must first be performed before mud can be pumped into the wellhead.
Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business until 3:00pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the House Message on H.R.1586. At 5:45pm, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur with amendment #4567 (Teacher Funding and FMAP) in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to HR1586.
Next week, in addition to considering the Teacher funding and FMAP amendment, the Majority Leader would like to consider an energy bill, the nomination of Elena Kagan to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and any other items cleared for action on the Legislative or Executive calendars.
Votes: 223: Reid motion to table the motion to concur with amendment #4567: (Teacher Funding and FMAP) in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to HR1586
Tabled: 95-0
Because The CBO scored 223 Reid had to table A#4567/HR1586 until further notice stay tuned
Unanimous Consent:
Passed S.1055, a bill to grant the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Batttalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.
Passed H.R.2097, the Star-Spangled Banner Bicentenial Commemorative Coin Act.
Passed S.3689, the Copyright Cleanup, Clarification, and Corrections Act.
Adopted S.Res.604, a resolution urging the Government urging the Government of the Islamic Republica of Iran to immediately and unconditionally release Sara Shourd, Joshua Fattal, and Shane Bauer on humanitarian grounds.
Sunday Buzz is Republican Hypocrisy and a couple of conservadems who have joined in on the ride hopefully out of office in November or the future.
There was a report about a week ago that some Republicans definitely needed, wanted and were happy about the Stimulus Package but only admitted this to a few and perhaps only under a confidential agreement i guess because it did not get much play in the News even though it should have. It was strange that the Media opted out of airing that story …it would have been great for Democrats… on second thought that probably is why it did not reach the 24/7 News cycle.
People need to get educated about the full intent of SB1070 and the potential impact on American and immigrant families…
I am hoping that American voters are starting to see the forest through the trees despite all the obstructions being put up by Republicans. I have faith that the voter is seeing Republicans for what they truly are. It would also be a good time for people to ask themselves if they see a great future for America if Republicans get back into office. Think for a minute about what Republicans have been doing to Americans even though our economy nearly crashed. They are a Political Party willing at this moment to stall, bait, block and debate legislation in both Chambers of Congress and then vote No, which is also saying No to All Americans and includes their constituents. It is not lost on me or should it be on anyone else why Republicans have decided to be the party of No, but will it take us all down if they succeed. taking down the governing party is un-American to me as this President and his Administration were elected contrary to all the BS put out there he is an American who ran for the office and 53% of our population voted for Barack Obama. It is obvious that the last President left a mess his party has if voted back into office stated they would repeal all the good things the Obama Administration has implemented. I have to ask where we would be now if Republicans had taken office. I ask the question but it would be in all our best interests not to go there too long because the thought is scary. I have to wonder does anyone remember what McCain said, or roughly stated, that our economy is fundamentally sound. That was a joke and many people did laugh but when he made the choice of Palin as his VP most people thought ok he is not the same guy. We heard a lot of Republican noise but in the end Americans were watching and listening and 53% decided we cannot let a group of people who led us into the ditch continue on to only help a select few if any if you believe what is being said. I ask people now how we can get a full recovery when it is clear Republicans are not willing to work with Democrats in Congress. The people we voters put into office need to start working together to get America back on track. Is it clear to anyone that Republicans have made their choice to not only follow Wall Street and Big Bank attitudes but they have sided and voted for reform only after they were able to water it down for who were they acting on behalf of people? When will Americans, at least that 53% who voted Democrat see that Wall Street is still making money, do you see the Dow going down, down, down? The answer is no; yet big Corporations are holding out and back from hiring, bit Banks will not loan to small businesses. It was only last week that Republicans voted against small business. And all along the Chamber of Commerce, a truly a conservative entity seems to be helping Republicans with talking points which should open our eyes people Republicans, Wall Street and big money have a complicit relationship that has decided to bet against the people in order to bring down President Obama efforts and regain control of the Government. It is obvious to me after watching and listening to folks like McCain, McConnell, and Boehner talk about what they can do for Americans is more like what they have been doing TO Americans. Then we have to include the stuff coming out of tea party people too it looks to me like the purity angle that the Republican party uses on their own will be thrust upon us all in this 21st Century. I don’t know about anyone else but that is not an option of mine even if President Obama has not moved more left of center he is the best choice for America now and should be given a 2nd term as well.
I do not believe Republicans represent all Americans and if you have watched, listened to the Republican noise lately they have not been hiding that fact at all lately.
We are in the 21st Century people we need progressive politicians working for All Americans and it is clear for me at least that actions speak louder than words and Republicans do not represent me. In this moment especially since Mid-term elections are here, again, Republicans made a choice; they made a bet that saying and voting against the people not only will bring down the governing party but that the People want this. I call on all 53% to vote out Republicans where we can and…
like President Obama stated Republicans should not bet against the people, they need to give us more credit for seeing the forest through the trees and will use our vote to voice our distaste our outrage our support of ALL Americans by keeping and or putting Democrats in Congress for Mid-Term elections.
Other News …
**Senator Ben Nelson will vote against Elena Kagan
**Republicans block aid to 9/11 first responders
**Republicans block small business bill
**President Obama calls on Iran to release the 3American hikers
**Mexican Police rescue reporter
**Ford will add 1200 workers
**AZ Gov.Brewer had her appeal to SB1070 turned down
**BP announces a settlement of 100mil to oilrig workers
It’s Saturday …
This week , this month, No the last 18months have been tough for Americans on so many levels and in some cases it has been sad, outrageous, disturbing and an eye opener to this voter. I have also been listening to this Billy Nungesser and other leaders, mostly Republican leaders on the Gulf Coast and it seems they all are saying one thing to the Feds and something diff to the Media and or behind closed doors.
It is time to get real –
The temperature in the 206 as told by the weather channel will eventually reach 83 but at this moment, it feels like a nice fall day with lots of wind and clouds …rain would be good for all things 206 as long as that 83temp comes our way later in the day. A poetry nut as a kid& in high school but learned in college that poetry is a required taste you either take it to the next level or not…i chose not and that might have been because of the prof we were subjected to ah but that’s a diff story. The point is, since 6th grade poetry wowed me then college profs stepped in and ruined it, but out of all the poetry thrown at me in college, the writers/artists that come to mind or can remember a line or two, only a few if im honest. There seems to be only one writer comes to mind a lot lately. It is probably because he was engaged in and wrote first hand about social injustice, he definitely influenced pop and politically culture or as we all know well -The Orwellian ideas and can still be applied to our society today , anyway, he expresses how i feel about the things being debating on all Media levels in the year 2010. i personally do not want to go back to colonial days it controlled my parents past &future and now a group on the hard right are determined to repeal the 14th amendment -we must move forward stay in the present so discrimination on all levels fails …
“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” -George Orwell
It is recess time for Congress and did anyone get pissed after hearing that great sound off by Anthony Weiner …while called a lose it moment by the Media and other stupid things the public …stated it was about fing time somebody flew off the handler. It was not a fake melt down as some in the Media have stated, clearly Anthony Weiner was getting heated by the moment about what most would say was a no brainer. There are first responders to ground zero that need help but Republicans decided yet again to vote no on an opportunity to help the very people that put these politicians into office. It is clear Weiner reached his boiling point maybe it is time for others as well because the past year , almost 20 months the American public has been manipulated by Republicans. The Party of No has been among other things the main if not the reason progress has slowed down. In a moment of time when we have elected our first bi-racial President who has tried to include Republicans but told no, he has been baited and then told no, he has been baited, and then the outcome scaled down. There are quite a few progressives in the Democratic Party who believe this President should move more left of center on all things Republican to keep his base but then what will the Media or people on the right call him then. The responsibility of getting his campaign promises or his agenda in Congress and voted into law is We the People …We all must call, some can march but we all need to vote Democrats in the November election. If we want America to be number one again, if we want a better economy, a better environment, better educational opportunities and health care available to all Americans not just a select few then vote Democrats.
The slogan of we want our country back has connotations of a time hopefully most Americans only want to read about in hour history books not live out in the 21st Century.
The November Mid-Term elections are coming and what do Republicans have to show Americans they are doing the peoples business. We vote people into office who are suppose to be in the business of helping out all Americans not just a select few. If anyone has been watching the continual stalling and blocking tactics used by Republicans that quickly moved into voting NO with a couple of conservadems voting along with them. I feel all Americans have to ask what can Republicans tell their own constituents they did to them when even their own voters are small business owners, first responders that worked at 9/11, are unemployed, need jobs, or have the capability to hire but the Big Banks are not giving out loans to.
What can Republicans say to Americans watching them vote No on every piece of legislation that could help ALL Americans …
The article below by Gallup Poll was done in April and is a re-post and should be a warning for the millions of Obama supporters to keep up the good work and mobilize to get others to vote Democrats in November for both Chambers of Congress… if you believe in a positive change ..believe in We the People not … some or just a select few … then come be one of millions to help the effort and process of the change we can all believe in … Young, Old, Caucasian, First time Voter, African-American Latino, Women, 1st Nation Peoples and those in between -YES WE CAN …damn WE HAVE TO.
By Frank Newport: Younger Voters Less Enthusiastic About Voting This Year
April 26, 2010 Gallup Poll
Younger American voters are less enthusiastic about voting in this year’s midterm elections than those who are older. At the same time, 18- to 29-year-old voters currently favor the Democratic candidate in their districts by a 12-point margin over the Republican candidate. More …
Other News …
**Obama calls on Iran to release the 3hikers being held for a year
**Israeli air strike kills Hamas Commander
**Chelsea Clinton gets married on the last day of July
**Sealing the BP well has been delayed;the relief wells need to be cleaned out;a 2-3day delay
**MSteele cancels his Urban League appearance
**BP announces 100 settlement to oil rig workers
**Gov.Jan Brewer’s request to expedite her appeal has been turned down-until November
**Israeli air strikes hit the Gaza Strip
**Sen.Ben Nelson (D)states he will vote No to the Elena Kagan confirmation
New Leadership Assigned to BP; Congress Examines Oil Spill Impact to Tourism
BP’s Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward resigned Tuesday, following a meeting of the company’s board of directors in London. The board named Robert Dudley, who took over BP’s Gulf cleanup efforts last month after a series of public gaffes by Hayward, as the new CEO. The Mississippian is the first American to lead the 101-year-old British oil giant. The move takes effect in October, with Hayward expected to receive a severance package estimated at $18 million and a new post with a BP joint venture in Russia.
Also last week, the Gulf oil spill claims fund administrator Kenneth Feinberg testified before a House Energy Subcommittee on the spill’s impact on the tourism industry. The U.S. Travel Association says the tourism industry accounts for one million jobs in the Gulf region and $39 billion in annual tax receipts. Feinberg said that he will issue a “blueprint” to the compensation facilities and that a claimant’s “proximity” to the oil spill site will be one of the factors in determining the amount of damages awarded.
In his briefing on Friday, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen (Ret.) said that implementing “static kill” would be delayed after debris was found in the relief well. The procedure, which includes pumping heaving mud from the surface down to the broken well, will likely begin next week.
Cemetery Ex-official takes “full responsibility” for mismanagement
The former superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, John Metzler, said on Thursday that he takes “full responsibility” for the mix-up of graves at a Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing investigating the mismanagement of contracts at Arlington National Cemetery.The military spent an estimated $6-$15 million on computerizing the cemetery’s paper burial records. According to an Army report, as many as 6,600 have been misidentified, improperly marked or buried in the wrong graves because of bad record keeping. Longtime Arlington National Cemetery Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, both who recently resigned, were subpoenaed to appear at today’s hearing.The U.S. Army Inspector General’s office released a report last month on management problems at Arlington National Cemetery.
Pres. Obama’s Weekly Address
Adm. Thad Allen (Ret.) Conference Call (8/1)
AP: A Struggle To Fix New Law
Alliance for Health Reform 
Arlington Nat’l Cemetery Grave Discrepancies
Be a Seed for Change 
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