Tag Archives: white

As we move into 2010 the percentage of jobs lost has not subsided and the stimulus package has not produced as many jobs as the Obama Administration had hoped, the percentage, still in the double digits, 10%. This slow turn around has the Obama Administration taking steps to increase job creation of 17thousand if not more jobs by injecting money and giving tax credits to green businesses. Tax credits were awarded to 183 projects in 43 states, which, hopefully will boost the economy.

As the President introduced the Clean Energy initiative, he promised that these green jobs will not be outsourced, he also reminded the nation that America started out being the number one in Energy Innovation and manufacturing. These jobs and others primarily held by Americans have since been sent overseas, in my opinion because material and labor was and still is very cheap.

Today, China is one if not the biggest manufacturer of solar panels, wind and other clean energy technology products; it’s obvious America needs to improve upon our status and production of green jobs, green products and innovation.

The Clean Energy initiative is a package of 2.3billion dollars to forge a future for Americans by starting to manufacture solar, wind and hopefully infrastructure projects, these projects must be in service by 2014, but approximately 30 percent of them will be completed by 2010, the administration estimated. The money used will be coming from the stimulus package as well as an additional 5billion of private capital provided to the manufacturing sector to create thousands of additional jobs.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Cash for Appliances …

01/05/2010 Nativegrl77

By Renee DeFranco

Many traded in their “clunkers” for new fuel-efficient vehicles in 2009. As we move into 2010, the popularity of green appliances is heating up.

That’s thanks to a newly launched federal appliance rebate program, modeled after the popular Cash for Clunkers incentive. We provided a sneak peek back in August, and now the deal has officially begun. Consumers can receive cash for swapping their older clothes washers, refrigerators and other appliances for energy-efficient models that qualify for the “Energy Star” designation.

How does the program work? Guidelines and rebate amounts vary by state. California residents, for example, can get $100 rebates for washing machines, $75 for refrigerators and $50 for room air conditioners. To see how your state stacks up, check out the program information currently available on the federal web site.

If you’re in the market for new home-appliance upgrades, now may be the time to cash in. But first, there are some finer points to consider. For instance, will you save enough in water and energy bills over time to justify splurging on a new product? (The older the appliance, the greater possibility of saving money by buying a new one, suggests this Associated Press article.) Also, just because you’re getting a federal rebate, be sure you shop around to find the absolute best deal.

Still interested?

Then it’s helpful to act sooner, rather than later. That’s because the federal appliance rebate program received only $300 million, which is one-tenth of what the Cash for Clunkers incentive garnered and about $1 per U.S. resident. The program is expected to end by February 2012 or when the money runs out — whichever happens first. We saw what reached the finish line first in Cash for Clunkers… government funding.

Do you plan to take advantage of the federal appliance rebates? Do you have energy-efficient appliances in your home, and do you think they were worth the investment? Share your thoughts here. <——– click the link to respond to Renee DeFranco

— The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Consider … credit unions and or smaller local banks…

01/04/2010 Nativegrl77

on The ed Show …

moveyourmoney.info

Video

Check out the video, then enter your zip code to find the most sound community banks near you!

Join the Sea Change
Find community banks in your neighborhood now! The banks listed have received a grade of “B” or above.
Enter a U.S. Zip Code.

www.IRABankRatings.com

a service of Institutional Risk Analytics

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Let Dems hear from you…202-225-3121… this HCR bill is for the People

12/14/2009 Nativegrl77

REPOST

The Democrats who’ve said — either in interviews or press releases — that they’re opposing the HCR bill include: 15 so far

Members of Congress need to hear from you. Lieberman may have wanted Medicare buy in and HCR before he didn’t; he is now showing how Politicians can easily put aside the rights of their constituents and fellow Americans. We need to get Progressive Democrats to Unite and push pass and shove a Bill toward our President’s desk that has been a long time in the making and one that can change not just health care, it will create jobs, will not kill grandma and will definitely need to be adjusted frequently.

The number to the Congressional switch board is 202-225-3121. If you get a busy signal, don’t be discouraged. Keep dialing.

Rep. Travis Childers (Miss.);

Rep. John Adler (N.J.);

Rep. Walt Minnick (Idaho);

Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (S.Dak.);

Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.);

Rep. Frank Kratovil (Md.);

Rep. Larry Kissell (N.C.);

Rep. Bart Gordon (Tenn.);

Rep. Dan Boren (Okla.);

Rep. Jim Matheson (Utah);

Rep. Michael McMahon (N.Y.);

Rep. John Tanner (Tenn.);

Rep. Brian Baird (Wash.);

Rep. Harry Teague (N.M.);

and Rep. Collin Peterson (Minn.).

Black History

Congress VOTES and UPDATES …

12/06/2009 Nativegrl77

UPDATES: 12/05/09 the House passes HR 3590 patient protection/affordable care act

House Democrats added 5 amendments to HR 3590:

Senator Kerry’s (A2926) passed 96-0 to preserve home health benefits

Sen. Stabenow (A2899) passed 97 ayes 1 nay

Sen. Thune (A2901) passed 51 ayes 41 nays

Sen. Whitehouse (A2870) pasesd 98 ayes 0 nays

Sen. Bennett (A2826) passed 100 ayes 0 nays

(R)Senator johanns amendment to eliminate cuts to Medicare home health services was voted down 53 nays 41 ayes; it also would have sent the Bill back to the CFO to remove all cuts in the bill before getting back on the floor for further consideration.

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H/S action on 12/03/09

The House makes its way to voting on extending the Estate Tax Cuts, the bill, sponsored by Blue Dog Earl Pomeroy, would make permanent the lower estate tax rate that was enacted by President Bush. /H.R. 4145 — Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses Act of 2009

UPDATE: HR 4145 Passes: 225 ayes 200 nays… 26Democrats and 174Republicans voted nay …6Democrats and 3Republicans abstained

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Senator McCain’s amendment and his attempt to send the entire 2074 page bill back to the Senate Finance Committee was rejected by a vote of 58-42

Democrats stated no guaranteed benefits to Seniors will be cut. The bill “does not take away any seniors’ guaranteed Medicare benefits,” Bennet said on the Senate floor. “We know that the bill extends Medicare solvency for five additional years.” Passed 100-0.

The Senate also voted on 2 Women’s Health Amendments proposed by Senator Mikulski and Senator Murkowski

The Mikulski amendment was Approved by a vote of 61-39. Sen. Susan Collins [R, ME] and Sen. Olympia Snowe [R, ME] joined Democrats to vote in favor the amendment. Sen. Russell Feingold [D, WI] and Sen. Ben Nelson [D, NE] voted with Republicans against it.

The Murkowski amendment was Rejected by a vote of 41-59. Sen. Ben Nelson [D, NE] was the only Democrat to vote in favor of the Murkowski amendment along with all Republicans.

Senator Mary Landrieu offered up another Public Option…option, called the competitive community option, that reads like the trigger that Senator Snowe proposed but is calling it a fallback.

opencongress.org / Donny Shaw

and Point/Counterpoint