Tag Archives: vote

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Obama’s big speech tonight


Clicking here will add your name:

“President Obama: We need a real plan reduce our dependence on oil, not more offshore drilling and taxpayer handouts to oil companies.”

Sign the petition

Tonight, President Obama will address the nation in prime time about the crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. According to White House aides, he’ll call for clean energy legislation to end America’s addiction to oil.1

The problem is, the proposals currently in Congress are packed with more offshore drilling and taxpayer handouts to Big Oil—exactly the opposite of what we need.2

This speech is President Obama’s best chance to demand a real plan to cut our dependence on oil.

That’s why we’re launching this petition now—which we’ll deliver tonight before the speech—to call on President Obama to clearly reject any legislation that expands offshore drilling or gives taxpayer handouts to oil companies. You can add your name by clicking the link below:

http://pol.moveon.org/obamaoilspeech/o.pl?id=21126-9640874-hugNf5x&t=5

The petition says: “President Obama: We need a real plan reduce our dependence on oil, not more offshore drilling and taxpayer handouts to oil companies.”

President Obama is expected to talk about his plan to hold BP accountable, help the Gulf Coast recover, and end our addiction to oil. Those are the right goals. But we’ve learned that Congress won’t stand up to Big Oil unless President Obama leads the way.

For instance, one of the most prominent energy proposals would roll back the Clean Air Act and give incentives for new offshore drilling, essentially bribing states to allow new drilling in areas that are currently protected.3 The bill would also give valuable pollution permits for free to the biggest polluters.4

This moment is a major test of Obama’s presidency—and for America. We can’t let the Big Oil lobbyists turn the oil spill legislation into another DC insider giveaway.

Can you sign our petition calling on President Obama to demand a real plan to reduce our dependence on oil and reject any legislation larded up with taxpayer handouts to Big Oil or offshore drilling? Add your name by clicking the link below:

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Backing down on BP


Washington Post: Pressure on Boehner Pays Off?

We did it. Over 50,000 of you answered our call to action and held Republican Leader John “Big Oil” Boehner’s feet to the fire over his outrageous statement that American taxpayers should foot the bill to clean up BP’s unprecedented environmental disaster in the Gulf. After relentless pressure from activists like you, Big Oil Boehner backed down.

But our work is not done. Check out this Washington Post report on Boehner’s retraction:

Last week, after taking good deal of criticism, Boehner’s office finally made it clear that he supports holding BP responsible for the costs of not just the cleanup, but damages, too. But his office wouldn’t endorse any particular legislative means to make this happen.

Did you catch that? While Democrats in the House continue to fight tooth and nail to lift the outrageous “liability cap” that limits how much of the cleanup cost BP will is responsible for, Republicans continue to defend their fat cat Big Oil friends who line their campaign coffers.

Thank you for signing our petition last week calling on Republicans to hold BP 100% accountable. Help us send an overwhelming grassroots response and forward this email to five of your friends right now and encourage them to sign at BoehnerBPBailout.com. Then, share the petition on Facebook and Twitter!

Thanks for all you do,

Jon Vogel
Jon Vogel
DCCC Executive Director

Sign the Petition

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

ThinkProgress.org


UNDER THE RADAR

BUSINESS — BP CALL CENTERS ARE JUST A ‘DIVERSION’: Having caused the greatest environmental disaster in American history, BP is now scrambling to defend its public image by running expensive TV ads, buying space on Google search results, and hiring former Bush and Cheney aides as public relations officials. While BP has boasted of its call centers in an attempt to demonstrate that it’s responsibly taking care of the oil spill and listening to public complaints, this effort’s credibility is now seriously questioned. One of BP’s contracted phone operators just came forward to KHOU in Houston, revealing how she and the other 100 operators at her site are merely PR props. Although they are supposed to be collecting and passing along ideas for clean-up and requests for spill-related aid, she says BP is not interested in doing anything with the information the operators receive. “We take all your information and then we have nothing to give them, nothing to give them,” she says. The calls are “non-stop,” but the contracted operators are just “a diversion to stop [calls] from really getting to the corporate office, to the big people.” Some operators “don’t bother” taking notes during their calls. The anonymous tipster laments how “it’s so frustrating when these people live right there and nothing is being done to help them.” BP officials acknowledge that this call center has received over 200,000 phone messages, yet they “can’t say just what percentage of calls is returned.” The Center for American Progress’ (CAP) Senior Fellow Tom Kenworthy and the Wonk Room’s Brad Johnson have argued in a recent report that “[f]ederal agencies, not BP, should handle spill response hotlines for volunteers, technology ideas, affected wildlife, and others. Full call records need to be logged with incident reports and technology ideas presented publicly on dynamic websites.”

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

it’s Tuesday, what’s going on- in Congress


The Senate Convenes: 10:00amET June 15, 2010

Following Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 11:30am with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Majority will control the first 30 minutes. The Republicans will control the next 30 minutes. The remaining time will be equally divided between the two Leader or their designees.

Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the District Court nominations listed below. There will be up to 20 minutes for debate equally divided between Senators Leahy and Sessions or their designees. At approximately 11:50am, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination in the order listed.

– Tanya Pratt of Indiana,
– Brian Jackson of Louisiana, and
– Elizabeth Foote of Louisiana.

Upon disposition of the nominations, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

When the Senate reconvenes at 2:15pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the House Message to accompany HR4213, Tax Extenders. Roll call votes in relation to amendments are expected to occur throughout the day.

As a reminder, today Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to concur with an amendment with respect to Tax Extenders. The only applicable filing deadline is for second degree amendments. Those amendments must be filed one hour prior to the cloture vote on Wednesday.

Votes:
185: Confirmation of Tanya Pratt of Indiana to be US District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana;
Confirmed: 95-0

186: Confirmation of Brian Jackson of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana;
Confirmed: 96-0

Elizabeth Foote of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana;
Confirmed by voice vote

187: Sanders amendment #4318: (close oil and gas tax loopholes) (subject to a 60-vote threshold);
Not Agreed To:
35-61

188: Vitter amendment #4312: (Oil spill trust fund); (subject to 60-vote threshold) not agreed to: 48-49

189: Franken amendment #4311: , as modified (subject to a 60-vote threshold); Agreed To: 63-33

Unanimous Consent:

Passed HR3951, a bill to designate the facility of the US Postal Service located at 2000 Louisiana Avenue in New Orleans, LA, as the “Roy Rondeno, Sr. Post Office Building.”

_______________________________________________________________

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

P.M. –

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

6:03 P.M. –

Mr. Bishop (UT) requested the following general leaves to address the House on June 22: Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min and Mr. Jones for 5 min.

6:00 P.M. –

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

H. Res. 1322:

celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program and recognizing the significant contributions of Albert Einstein Fellows

5:59 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): 405 – 5 (Roll no. 364).

5:52 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 5486:

to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for small business job creation, and for other purposes

5:51 P.M. –

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

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 247 – 170 (Roll no. 363).

5:44 P.M. –

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 187 – 230 (Roll no. 362).

5:24 P.M. –

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

5:17 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Camp (MI) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions in the motion seek to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment adding a section entitled “REPEAL OF INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE MANDATE”.

5:15 P.M. –

Mr. Camp moved to recommit with instructions to Ways and Means.

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1389:

recognizing the immeasurable contributions of fathers in the healthy development of children, supporting responsible fatherhood, and encouraging greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, especially on Father’s Day

5:14 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): 416 – 0 (Roll no. 361).

4:41 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

4:40 P.M. –

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

H.R. 5486:

to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for small business job creation, and for other purposes

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair announced further consideration of H.R. 5486 would be postponed until a time to be announced.

4:39 P.M. –

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

3:45 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 5486.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5486 and H.R. 5297 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of each bill except for clauses 9 and 10 or rule XXI are waived.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1436.

H.R. 4855:

to establish the Work-Life Balance Award for employers that have developed and implemented work-life balance policies

3:44 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 Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 249 – 163 (Roll no. 360).

3:36 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1436:

providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 5486) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for small business job creation, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 5297) to create the Small Business Lending Fund Program to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to make capital investments in eligible institutions in order to increase the availability of credit for small businesses, and for other purposes

3:35 P.M. –

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 228 – 186 (Roll no. 359).

3:26 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1383:

honoring Dr. Larry Case on his retirement as National FFA Advisor

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): 409 – 0 (Roll no. 358).

2:55 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 4855:

to establish the Work-Life Balance Award for employers that have developed and implemented work-life balance policies

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.

2:41 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4855.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H. Res. 1322:

celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program and recognizing the significant contributions of Albert Einstein Fellows

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.

2:22 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1322.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Woolsey moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1414:

congratulating Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men-Englewood Campus, the Nation’s first all-male charter high school, for achieving a 100 percent college acceptance rate for all 107 members of its first graduating class of 2010

2:21 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Ms. Woolsey 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.

2:14 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1414.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H. Res. 1389:

recognizing the immeasurable contributions of fathers in the healthy development of children, supporting responsible fatherhood, and encouraging greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, especially on Father’s Day

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.

1:59 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1389.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Woolsey moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

1:58 P.M. –

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

H. Res. 1436:

providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 5486) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for small business job creation, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 5297) to create the Small Business Lending Fund Program to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to make capital investments in eligible institutions in order to increase the availability of credit for small businesses, and for other purposes

1:57 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H.Res. 1436, the Chair put the question on adoption of the resolution and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of H.Res. 1436 until later in the legislative day.

The previous question was ordered without objection.

12:58 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1436

Considered as privileged matter.

11:31 A.M. –

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

11:30 A.M. –

PRINTING OF PROCEEDINGS IN RECORD – Mrs. Berkley asked unanimous consent that the proceedings had during the Former Members Ceremony be printed in the Congressional Record and that all Members and former Members who spoke have the privilege of revising and extending their remarks. Agreed to without objection.

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

10:04 A.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess for the purpose of receiving Former Members of the House. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

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

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed S. 1660.

10:02 A.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG – The Chair led the House 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 the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.

10:00 A.M. –

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

9:01 A.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. today.

9:00 A.M. –

MORNING-HOUR DEBATES – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 10:00 a.m. for the start of the legislative day.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Kathleen A. Dahlkemper to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

thoughtful Tuesday &some News


Isn’t it enough to hear Republicans use this moment to jack the President all around not to mention talking heads say and or imply this PR problem will bring the President down? Now we have to hear progressives/libs say this that or the other; people have no idea what was actually going on and we never will but to piece together information given by talking head is just wrong. This week has been tough because the talk has become very toxic on the airwaves … many people stirring up trouble for the President and or second-guessing what this BP oil spill will do to his Presidency. It is obvious we have to say it is irritating to have to listen to my own Political Party try and put his behavior in a box. The point is he has to do what he can to get to the ultimate end. The last guy did everything for the Corporations and nothing for the People and some of us may not agree with some of the President’s efforts and a lot of us don’t agree with Rahm being in the circle of people  he listens to because he often doesn’t share our ( 53% ) left of center attitude. What I see and please if anyone feels different i am sorry; this comment was not made to hurt or make people mad.  I just don’t understand why it seems like more White People seem to hold him to a higher standard and it’s usually comes  is that most white men progressives and or libs have been the worst whining ever. If we have to pick between the McCain/Palin ticket and the President we have -Please! there is no question President Obama has obstacles to jump over and our own party is willing to shoot us as well; it’s very upsetting and instead of beating up on him we need to stand up for him and stand beside him. Democrats have a huge tent and that tent is full of people willing to kick someone to the curb if they do not do what they want. Republicans not only support other Republicans they back their members no matter what…it is disgusting but they do. Is it just me or do men; mostly white men feel that they have that much knowledge above our President? Is it a racial thing? Yes Rahm is there pulling some strings and this President needs to reconsider his circle of advisors…why? Because more than one stated they tried to talk him out of pursuing HCR- if true that in itself should tell the President some people, need to be let go if they obviously did not support his efforts? That is a red flag for me. I do not know if the administration made deals but most voters feel the President should listen to the people who put him into office in the long-term vision of what happens in 2012. I am very upset with radios stations that choose to criticize the PR aspect of this whole BP disaster because unfortunately these people are causing decent among fellow Democrats and are  forming the circular firing squad. It seems like common sense that people on the airwaves that are left of center need to remember that the public listens to their comments. The question we all need to ask is how often these comments turn on the President, when we need to support this President.

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