Tag Archives: Washington

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A Breaking Confirmati​on, Four Days to Enroll, and Celebratin​g Cesar Chavez


whitehouselogoWe are proud to announce that the Senate just confirmed Maria Contreras-Sweet as our next Administrator of the Small Business Administration. President Obama applauded her confirmation, stating:

“With the bipartisan confirmation of Maria Contreras-Sweet as the next Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the American people will have a fierce champion who understands what it means to start a small business, and who has a proven track record of helping other small businesses succeed. … Two years ago I elevated the role of Small Business Administrator to a cabinet-level position to make sure small businesses have the seat at the table they deserve.”

In other news, there are only four days left to get health insurance coverage for 2014 at HealthCare.gov or at CuidadoDeSalud.gov before enrollment ends on March 31. Celebrities like Eva Longoria and America Ferrera are doing their part to educate Latinos about the importance of health care. So what can you do to spread the word? If you already have health insurance, tell your friends, family, and co-workers that they need to get covered, too. Visit WH.gov/GetCovered for tips on how to spread the word.

If you haven’t signed up yet, the President wants you to get covered today. As the President says, “No one’s invincible. We all get sick, or get into accidents. Life happens. But you should never have to worry you’ll lose everything to medical bills. That’s why health insurance is so important.”

As always, please share this information with your networks to help inform the Latino community on the latest news about the Health Insurance Marketplace and other updates.

Thank you,

Jorge Neri
Associate Director
White House Office of Public Engagement

Celebrating Cesar Chavez Day

Last week, President Obama delivered remarks before a White House screening of the new feature film “Cesar Chavez,” a new biopic of a true American hero who dedicated his life to making our country more just by ensuring farm workers and all working people are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. President Obama reflected on Chavez’s legacy stating, “One of the great lessons of Cesar’s life [is] that you don’t give up the fight. No matter how long it takes, no matter how long the odds, you keep going, fueled by a simple creed — sí se puede.”

On Cesar Chavez Day, this Monday, March 31, we celebrate one of America’s greatest champions for social justice. Along with President Obama issuing a proclamation honoring Cesar Chavez, the White House will honor 10 community leaders who embody the spirit of Cesar E. Chavez’s legacy. Each of the Cesar Chavez Champions of Change has committed themselves to improving the lives of others in their communities and across the country.

Tune in here to watch the event live.

The Cesar E. Chavez Champions of Change include community leaders across the country. The honorees include:

  • Khin Mai Aung, Educational Equity Program, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
  • Germain Castellanos, Program Director SHINE Educational Leadership Program
  • Armando H. Chavez, Principal of Columbus Elementary School
  • Sandra Gutierrez, National Director of Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors
  • Helen Gym, Board Member, Asian Americans United
  • Nahla Kayali, Founder & Executive Director of Access California Services
  • Herbert Lee Jr., Executive Director of the Pacific American Foundation
  • Xavier A. Munoz, AmeriCorps Member / ESOL Instructor with the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia
  • Diego Uriburu, Executive Director for Identity, Inc.
  • Luis Urrieta Jr., Coordinator of the Cultura en Acción — Culture in Action After School Program

Additionally, federal partners such as the Corporation for National and Community Service and the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics are working with state service commissions, schools, and their respective grantees to continue to engage students and other community members in service and educational programming inspired by Chavez’s life and work. As well, groups across the country are organizing support for a National Day of Service in honor of Cesar Chavez.

President Obama delivers remarks before the White House screening of a film celebrating the life of Cesar Chavez.

Administration Highlights

Statement by the President on Immigration Reform
Last year, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate came together to pass a commonsense bill to fix our broken immigration system — a bill that would grow our economy, shrink our deficits, and reward businesses and workers that play by the rules. But so far, Republicans in the House have refused to allow meaningful immigration reform legislation to come up for a vote. Click here to read more.

The Impact of Raising the Minimum Wage on Women and the Importance of Ensuring a Robust Tipped Minimum Wage
President Obama supports raising the minimum wage to help build real, lasting economic security for the middle class and has made it a key part of his plan to create more opportunities for every hardworking American to get ahead in 2014. On Wednesday, March 26, the White House continued to demonstrate support to raise the minimum wage by releasing a new report on the impact of raising the minimum wage on women.
Click here to read the full report.

Blog Highlights

The President Answers Questions About Health Care from the Quora Community
President Obama answered questions on Quora, a leading question-and-answer website, about Affordable Care Act enrollment and how the law affects young people across America. The deadline to enroll for health care coverage for this year is March 31.

Improving Economic Opportunity for Women and Working Families
On Thursday, March 20, President Obama talked about improving economic opportunity for America’s women and working families. He made clear that we need “a women’s economic agenda that grows our economy for everybody,” and that starts with ensuring that America’s women get equal pay for equal work.

President Obama Awards the Medal of Honor to 24 Army Veterans
On Tuesday, March 18, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans in recognition of their valor during major combat operations in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Each veteran honored had already received the Distinguished Service Cross — the nation’s second-highest military award — but 19 of them were previously overlooked for the Medal of Honor due to their racial or ethnic backgrounds. The ceremony followed a 12-year Pentagon review, ordered by Congress, of past discrimination in the military.

Action for Our Workers: President Obama Signs Memorandum to Update Overtime Pay
On Thursday, March 13, President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum directing Secretary of Labor Tom Perez to update and modernize America’s overtime pay system, so that millions of our nation’s salaried workers will have the protections of overtime pay.

Get Involved

White House Internship Program

The White House Internship Program’s mission is to make the “People’s House” accessible to future leaders from around the nation, and cultivate and prepare those devoted to public service for future leadership opportunities. If you know of any such future leaders, please encourage them to apply.

Who: The White House Internship Program
What: Fall 2014 White House Internship
When: DEADLINE is Sunday, April 13
Apply: http://www.whitehouse.gov/internships

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Did you know you can also follow us on Twitter? Follow @LaCasaBlanca, @Cecilia44, and @Vargas44 for updates.

Stay Connected

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How Conservati​ves Built A Contracept​ion Lie


MediaMattersweekly_email_header_logo_altOne notable event this week is Media Matters founder David Brock returning to Arkansas in very different circumstances from when he was last there. You can read The New York Times story on it here: http://nyti.ms/1dQHxe5

John Whitehouse
Twitter: @existentialfish

Hobby Lobby And The Right

ScaliaConservatives have spent a decade pushing lies about birth control – and now these falsehoods have made their way into the mouths of Supreme Court justices. Hannah Groch-Begley explains how conservative media might sway the Supreme Court: http://mm4a.org/NUyW2J Related: There is no contraception mandate on corporations: the requirement is only on insurance plans. How the right is using this to spread lies: http://mm4a.org/1p0HOBO

The Benghazi Hoax Has Cost Millions

The PentagonIndependent investigations have long answered the questions, but conservatives keep calling for additional Benghazi investigations. A new report indicates that these politically-motivated investigations have cost millions: http://mm4a.org/1lm1fGj

Rand Paul And The Media

Rand PaulMainstream media figures would have you believe that Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is a social liberal. But Paul’s positions are those of a conventional social conservative: http://mm4a.org/1fjnOE1

 

FEATURED VIDEO

Women VideoMarch is women’s history month. Here are seven times women on cable stood up for the truth: http://youtu.be/EnkHf1yRvOM

OBAMACARE MYTHS

Emily ArrowoodWith the deadline for enrolling in Obamacare approaching, the right is going all-out with misinformation. Emily Arrowood presents the top 5 Obamacare myths: http://mm4a.org/1haqILT

IMAGES OF THE WEEK

Cate Blanchett
These 12 Women Are Fed Up With Sexism In The Media

 

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Dan Pfeiffer, The White House


whitehousebannerIt’s not exactly a secret that Washington hasn’t worked as well as it should. Between the constant gridlock and partisanship, most people just tune this town out. That was especially true this year when the government literally shut down.

Yet, even in spite of all that, thanks to the grit of the American people, this country continues to move forward. After the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, folks are getting back to work and the economy is getting stronger.

And late this year, Washington took a cue — and managed to make some progress itself.

While it’s too early to declare a new era of bipartisanship, what we’ve seen recently is that Washington is capable of getting things done when it wants to. And there’s an opportunity next year for this town to do its job and make real progress.

Here are just a couple areas where there’s been progress made recently — check them out, and then take a look at our full 2013 year-in-review.

For the first time in years, both parties in Congress came together and passed a budget. This budget doesn’t include everything that everyone wanted — but our economy will grow a little faster, be a little fairer for middle-class families, and create more jobs because of it.

Our businesses created 2 million jobs in 2013. That’s more than 8 million private-sector jobs in just over 45 months.

The economy is growing. Just last week we learned that, over the summer, our economy grew at 4.1% — its strongest pace in almost two years.

We’ve cut the deficit in half since 2009. That’s four years of the fastest deficit reduction since the end of World War II — and it means we’re improving our nation’s long-term fiscal position while strengthening our economy.

We produce more oil in the U.S. than we import from abroad. Thanks to an all-of-the-above strategy, we’re reducing our reliance on foreign oil — and that means lower energy costs for consumers.

The American auto industry is thriving. Last month, the auto industry added more than fifteen thousand jobs. And just a few weeks ago, the United States sold its final stake in General Motors.

Americans are getting better health coverage. Since October 1st, more than 1 million Americans have selected new health insurance plans through the federal and state marketplaces. And millions more are getting better health care thanks to increased protections and benefits.

There’s a little less gridlock in Congress. Leaders in Congress took action so that executive and judicial nominees (except to the Supreme Court) can be confirmed with a simple majority vote. Now we’re filling critical vacancies, and the government will work better for Americans because of it.

So while the politics in Washington can be frustrating and change takes time, that’s no excuse for inaction. In the New Year, we need to help American businesses continue creating jobs, make sure Americans are ready for those jobs, and make sure those jobs offer the wages and benefits that give families a fair shot at financial security.

We also need to look out for those who are searching for a job. Congress needs to extend unemployment insurance, something we’ll be making a priority when members come back to work.

There’s a lot of unfinished business, but there are also things we can build on. If you saw some things in this list that you think more people should know about, then pass them on.

Thanks, and happy holidays.

Dan

Dan Pfeiffer Senior Advisor The White House @Pfeiffer44

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New Rules …


nrccmapairwaves

40,000 New State Rules

Starting on Jan. 1

Greg Toppo, USATODAY

If you’re a pale 17-year-old in Illinois, get your indoor tanning sessions in now. Starting Wednesday, they’re strictly forbidden.

A new state law takes effect Jan. 1 that bans anyone under 18 from using tanning salons in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois becomes the sixth state to keep teens out of the facilities, part of a growing trend of regulating tanning facilities to help reduce the risk of skin cancer, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a Denver-based group that tracks lawmaking.

STORY: Minn. starts to test aid recipients for drugs STORY: Calif. law to require 3 feet between car, bike

The new measure is one of an estimated 40,000 new laws, regulations and resolutions approved by state legislatures in 2013, many of which take effect Jan. 1. Among them:

• Arkansas voters must now show a photo ID at polling places, while Virginia voters for the first time will be able to register online.

• In Colorado, 16-year-olds will be able to pre-register to vote, but must still wait until they’re 18 to vote.

• California students must be allowed to play school sports and use school bathrooms “consistent with their gender identity,” regardless of their birth identity.

• In Oregon, new mothers will now be able to take their placentas home from the hospital — some experts say ingesting it has positive health benefits. Another new state law bans smoking in motor vehicles when children are present.

Minimum-wage increases take effect in four northeastern states: Connecticut’s rises to $8.70 an hour; New Jersey’s to $8.25; and New York‘s and Rhode Island’s to $8. In nine other states, the minimum wage rises automatically because it’s indexed to inflation.

Perhaps most significantly, Colorado adults age 21 or older will be able on Wednesday to buy up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational use from a state-licensed retail store. Marijuana advocates expect many of the new stores to be up and running by then, and observers say the new Colorado regulations are a sign of things to come.

“I think state legislatures will be faced with the marijuana issue” in 2014, says Jane Carroll Andrade, NCSL’s spokeswoman.

In Washington state, regulators are combing through more than 2,000 applications for similar stores after voters approved a similar measure in 2012, says Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). He expects the first Washington stores to open in a few months.

“Other states are watching Colorado and Washington because it will continue to come up,” Andrade says.

Armentano, who likens these developments to the state-led reversal of Prohibition in the 1930s, says a dozen states are due to debate marijuana legalization measures in the coming year or so. “The genie’s out of the bottle and it’s simply not going back in.”

Many new state laws take effect 90 days after they’re signed, but a few states, like California, Colorado, Illinois and Oregon, get extra attention this time of year because traditionally many laws in these states take effect on Jan. 1.

As a result, life changes a bit more radically for Illinois residents each new year: On Wednesday, in addition to the tanning measure, they’ll find that they can now return a pet or be reimbursed for veterinary costs if an illness was not disclosed by the seller. So-called “lemon pets” laws already exist in 21 states, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

 in Illinois: Anyone who flicks a cigarette butt on a street or sidewalk could be fined at least $50 for littering; police must receive training on the psychological and physiological effects of stun guns, and penalties are now tougher for inciting a violent flash mob or riot via social media.

Illinois also becomes the 13th state to prohibit handheld cellphones while driving. Meanwhile, school districts on Jan. 1 will be able to install cameras on school buses to photograph drivers who pass them when buses are stopped. And school-based sex education must include information about both abstinence and contraception.

Illinois is also home to tough new laws prohibiting unmanned aerial drones. Come Wednesday, it’ll be illegal to use a drone to interfere with hunters or fishermen — and police must get a warrant to use a drone for surveillance, except in cases of terrorism or if a suspect is fleeing a crime scene. Even with the warrant, police must destroy information gathered within 30 days unless it’s linked to a crime, says Ed Yohnka of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.

Lawmakers in both parties overwhelmingly passed the new surveillance prohibition, he says. “They understood that it was something that could occur in the relatively near future, and so there was a desire to get on top of it.”

Contributing: The Associated Press and Reuters

What’s new Jan. 1

A sample of other state laws taking effect Jan. 1:

Colorado: Drivers will see a new annual $50 fee for plug-in electric cars.  Colorado is one of several states looking to capture revenue from alternative fuel, electric and hybrid vehicles.•

Connecticut: New gun-control laws in the aftermath of the school shooting in Newtown include mandatory registration of all assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines bought before April 2013, and creation of a statewide registry that will track parolees whose crimes involved weapons.•

Delaware: Sale, possession or distribution of shark fins prohibited.•

Florida: Expanded early voting.•

Maine: Becomes the 48th state to require a check-off for organ donation on driver’s licenses to promote organ donation.•

Oregon: Privately run websites that feature police mug shots must take down photos for free if subjects can show they were not guilty or that charges were dropped.•

Rhode Island: Becomes the eighth state to enact a so-called “ban the box” law that prohibits prospective employers from inquiring into an applicant’s criminal history on written job applications.

Los Angeles start their grocery bag ban – gender id and bathrooms

Illinois :  organizing a violent flash mob is banned/could be a felony

NC: • Owners of plug-in electric vehicles must pay a $100 registration fee in addition to any other fees -• Health care facilities that perform mammography exams must report breast density information to patients

California: Homeless youth are eligible to receive food stamps. The previous law had a minimum wage requirement.

Delaware: Delaware is the latest in a growing number of states where residents can no longer possess, sell or distribute shark fins, which is considered a delicacy in some East Asian cuisine.

Oregon: Family leave in Oregon has been expanded to allow eligible employees two  weeks of pai d leave to handle the death of a family member.

Sources:

Cnn.com

Greg Toppo, USATODAY

Charlotte Observer