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Tomorrow, Defenders of Wildlife will join groups from across America, participating in Hands Across the Sand events to oppose dangerous new drilling. To find an event near you, visit http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/organize-join-a-beach/ |
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This week, Defenders of Wildlife’s legal team moved to stop Big Oil’s attempt to block a temporary moratorium on deepwater offshore drilling, opposing the oil industry in federal court in Houston. Incredibly, a judge who has had significant financial ties to the oil industry ruled to lift the ban. However, the Obama administration plans to appeal the decision – a move supported by Defenders. |
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So far, Defenders has mobilized more than 61,000 caring people like you in support of additional protections for loggerhead sea turtles. Loggerheads – already in trouble before the Gulf oil disaster – are particularly vulnerable to oil and can drown or be poisoned when they become oiled.Defenders has also mobilized to prevent threatened and endangered sea turtles from being burned to death as part of the controlled oil burns occurring in the desperate attempt to reduce oil from the ongoing Deepwater Horizon oil leak in the Gulf. |
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Last week, more than 31,000 Defenders supporters urged Senate Democrats to pass comprehensive legislation to reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuels and address the impacts of climate change without opening additional coastal areas to offshore drilling. |
Archive for June 25th, 2010
25
Jun
10
Defenders of Wildlife
The Obama administration has proposed a 5-year plan for offshore oil and gas drilling that would open up huge swaths of our coasts to dangerous drilling – risking the lives of countless sea turtles, endangered whales, sea birds, polar bears and other wildlife.
Help us send 60,000 messages by Wednesday’s deadline for public comments. Take action now and forward this message to at least 3 friends.
At a time when millions of gallons of oil are still spewing into the Gulf of Mexico, wreaking havoc on sea turtles, brown pelicans, sperm whales and irreplaceable coastal and marine ecosystems, it seems inconceivable that the Obama administration would consider more dirty, dangerous offshore drilling.
Yet, incredibly, that’s exactly what’s happening.
Take a stand for imperiled sea turtles and other marine wildlife. Urge the Obama administration to reject calls for offshore drilling off the coasts of Florida, Alaska, Virginia, North Carolina and other coastal states.
As of yesterday, more than 1,000 birds, 400 sea turtles and 40 marine mammals are already confirmed dead due to the Gulf oil disaster. Far more birds, sea turtles, whales, dolphins and other wildlife are likely dead or dying as a result of the ongoing oil leak in the Gulf.
The scale of this ecological catastrophe is massive. Yet drilling proponents persist in their calls to industrialize our coasts and sacrifice our marine wildlife at the altar of Big Oil’s profit margins.
The Obama administration had announced a six-month moratorium on new deepwater drilling, temporarily blocked planned drilling in the fragile Chukchi Sea and deployed thousands of federal workers to respond to the disaster in Gulf.
On Tuesday, however, a federal judge in Houston – with a history of significant financial investment in oil companies drilling the Gulf — overturned the six-month ban on deepwater offshore drilling. The Obama administration plans to appeal the ruling and take administrative action to uphold the ban.
Ironically, the administration itself is also considering a 5-year leasing plan for offshore drilling that would approve new oil and gas drilling along the Mid-Atlantic and South-Atlantic coasts, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and in the Arctic Ocean – risking the lives of countless sea turtles, endangered whales, sea birds, polar bears and other wildlife.
Speak out for our coastal wildlife and communities. Send your comments to the Obama Administration now.
In the face of the tragedy in the Gulf, we must make our voices heard. All comments are due by Wednesday (June 30th), so please take action now, forward this message and help us reach our 60,000-message goal.
With Gratitude,
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Richard Charter Senior Policy Advisor, Marine Programs Defenders of Wildlife |
Defending Wildlife
25
Jun
10
Three’s Company
This summer, three Members of Congress – Michele Bachmann, Joe Barton, and Steve King – have joined together in a remake of the hit comedy “Three’s Company.”
The three have so much in common:
- They are all members of the Republican Study Committee, which called the creation of a relief fund for victims of the BP oil spill a “shakedown.”
- All three have repeatedly gone out of their way to defend BP over the course of the past week.
- They all voted against the federal DISCLOSE Act yesterday, which prevents foreign corporations – like British Petroleum – from giving money to campaigns to influence American elections.
And they’re all big fans of each other, too; King has defended Barton’s apology to BP and Bachmann, who has traveled to Iowa several times this year to campaign with Rep. King, has even suggested he run for President!
While it is clear that Bachmann aspires to national celebrity, it is doubtful that this “Three’s Company” will be a hit with the American taxpayers.
Sincerely,
Zach Rodvold
Campaign Manager
P.S. – Tell a friend who’s keeping “Three’s Company” – forward this email!
25
Jun
10
Whaling ban survives
We did it! Thanks to YOU, the Obama Administration kept its promise to save whales at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) talks. As a result, the IWC was unable to lift the ban on commercial whaling!
As I sat in a stuffy meeting room in Agadir, Morocco with delegates and representatives from other nations, I knew I wasn’t alone in working to help save the whales. I had more than 1.5 million passionate people, like YOU, with me there in spirit supporting the whales and standing up to tell the President that they deserve to be saved, not slaughtered.
While the gathering nations failed to implement new plans for whale conservation, I’m pleased that our President and his team stood their ground in the end, thanks to your efforts.
This year, the best we could do was preventing the IWC from rolling back protections for whales. Next year, we need to apply even more pressure so the IWC will close dangerous loopholes that have allowed Japan, Iceland, and Norway to continue killing whales.
Thank you for all your support. The whales are breathing a big sigh of relief!
For the whales,
Phil Kline
Oceans Campaigner
The Obama administration has dubbed the following few months the “Recovery Summer“ in an effort to highlight the successes of last year’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The act created jobs and gave a much-needed boost to the economy through tax cuts, investments in roads, bridges, education, and green technology. One-fifth of the Recovery Act went directly to states “to help them cope” with the effects of the recession and to “spare[] governors and state lawmakers from making some of the most brutal budget cuts” to education, law enforcement, and employment. But, because of fiscal constraints and conservative obstructionism, the recovery funds were not enough. Now, as stimulus funds wane, states that “have already slashed services” to balance their budgets will have to “make even deeper cuts” that, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), risk “weakening the fragile economic recovery and harming vulnerable children, seniors, and people with disabilities, among others.” Though such “tough decisions” seem inevitable, some right-wing governors are making decisions that will make the situation worse. And, by blindly touting the party message that blasts government spending, some Republican policymakers helping to make it worse by obstructing much-needed federal aid. By preventing policies that would directly address the primary causes of their budget shortfalls, conservative leaders at the state and national level imperil the welfare of their constituencies and the future fiscal health of states.
THE ANTI-STIMULUS: According to CBPP, state budget shortfalls could total $180 billion in 2011. This compounds the shortfalls 48 states already face in 2010 which total $200 billion and are “the largest gaps on record.” And, with only $40 billion remaining for states from the Recovery Act to help with 2011 budget needs, states “will have to deal with total budget shortfalls of some $260 billion for 2011 and 2012.” As Washington Post’s Ezra Klein points out, when in an economic downturn, “the role of the government is to step up and keep the economy moving until consumer confidence returns.” But while the Recovery Act’s $787 billion was intended to do just that, the funds were not enough to help states stabilize their budgets. And, because states must balance their budgets, this has left state and local governments to their own devices — namely more drastic budget cuts that shutter vital public services. Kentucky, for instance, is shutting down its juvenile drug court program that helps young people dealing with substance abuse to get counseling. An Ohio county judge even told residents to “arm themselves because the number of deputies has been cut about in half.” While such expenditure cuts may contract the budget, they are “problematic policies” that “lay off employees, cancel contracts with vendors” and undercut services, and ultimately “reduce overall demand” and consumption. And now, just as spending is needed to help grow the economy, the National Governor’s Association notes that it’s “the first time in four decades…that total state spending has dropped for two years in a row.” As the “Obama stimulus starts to fade out” and no longer “cancel[s] out the contractionary effects of the state spending cuts,” “you end up with a pretty forbidding scenario” for states’ near-future fiscal health.
MISGUIDED RIGHT: While states face tough decisions in cutting crucial services, some right-wing governors are slashing vital services for more vulnerable constituents while protecting the wealthy ones. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) called for “layoffs of 1,300 state workers, closings of state psychiatric institutions, an $820 million cut in aid to public schools” and a sharp cut in New Jersey Transit. Christie defends the cuts on the middle class, the poor, and schoolchildren as “shared sacrifice and fairness.” However, when the state legislature asked for such a “sacrifice” via a tax on residents making over $1 million, Christie vetoed the legislation as an “irresponsible” mistake “of raising taxes on the highest taxed people in the nation.” While the tax would’ve raised $635 million to fund public services for senior citizens and the disabled, his override will “increase taxes on seniors while cutting them for the wealthy.” He is also backing a cap on property taxes that would force the state to further slash vital services. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) championed a similar slash of public services, eliminating a $3 billion deficit by cutting funding for public health programs, higher education, state workforce, and elderly and disabled services which CBPP says will result in “thousands of elderly and disabled Minnesotans” losing or cutting back on nursing home, hospital, or in-home services. Pawlenty also rejected a health care plan “that would have drawn in more than $1 billion in federal dollars” by switching low-income residents to Medicaid. While touting his budget as a win against “an absolute spending binge,” most of Pawlenty’s budget balance depends on the delay of $1.9 billion in payments to elementary and secondary schools — which launches the “projected deficit for 2012-2013″ to “nearly $6 billion without inflation.” And rather than acting “responsibly by raising revenue,” Pawlenty vetoed an income tax on his wealthiest residents, deeming it “nonsensical.” Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), facing an $18 billion budget shortfall, is brandishing his “cost-cutting zeal” with an initial budget cut of “$1.2 billion across state agencies” followed by additional 10 percent cutbacks. Perry and his legislature are considering “unpaid furloughs for state employees, moving to a four-day workweek, freezing top-level state salaries, and imposing a moratorium on new programs” but refuse “the option of raising or creating taxes” that might spare some services. One public employee said, “there’s not any fat left. This is cutting to the bone.” While all three governors balked at the Recovery Act, they used stimulus funds to balance their budgets. Thus, as the “extraordinary support” from stimulus funds “dries up”, these governors may inflict even more destructive cuts on their citizens.
REPUBLICANS SAY TOUGH: These governors’ misguided policies exacerbate the effect of larger economic trends like rising state unemployment rates, which, according to Wharton economist Robert Inman, are “the primary cause of state budget ‘gaps.’” The governor’s callous regard for the effects of unemployment are mirrored at federal level by Republican lawmakers unwilling to pass the “tax extenders bill“ that would “extend unemployment benefits” and “provide cash assistance to state governments.” According to Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, Inc., the extension of unemployment insurance benefits provides “the biggest bang for the buck — the most economic activity per federal dollar spent.” But “failure to pass the bill means 200,000 jobless a week” will lose much needed benefits and will, according to the CBPP, “cost the economy 900,000 public- and private-sector jobs in 2011.” That now seems likely as any chance for aid “collapsed in the Senate on Thursday” when Senate Republicans and “lone Democrat” Sen. Ben Nelson (NE) successfully filibustered the bill, forcing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to drop the bill despite ”a series of cuts to the measure over the past several weeks to appease deficit hawks.” Even though 60 percent of Americans “favor ‘additional government spending to create jobs and stimulate the economy’,” conservative lawmakers like Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) call such a spending effort “blatantly reckless.” Kentucky colleague Sen. Jim Bunning (R) became infamous for his single-handed obstruction of similar federal aid in February. When begged by lawmakers to release his hold on similar legislation to extend unemployment insurance and health benefits, Bunning replied “Tough s—t.” While Republicans finally supported the bill three months ago, they will not support it now, leaving a grim outlook for continued aid to states.
25
Jun
10
ThinkProgress..org
MEDIA — RUPERT MURDOCH ADVOCATES FOR A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP ON HIS ANTI-IMMIGRANT NETWORK: Fox News has a consistent history of “serv[ing] up a steady diet of fear, anger, and resentment on the topic of illegal immigration,” as Media Matters has documented. And yet, yesterday morning, when Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy interviewed Rupert Murdoch, the owner of News Corporation — Fox News’ parent company — and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, both guests advocated for a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants. Murdoch even argued that the media should to be used to “keep the pressure on” lawmakers to enact immigration reform, in addition to saying immigration reform would help the “millions of bright and intelligent people around the world — whether they are in China or in Hungary or in Germany or something — who want to come to America and live the American Dream.” As the Wonk Room’s Andrea Nill argues, considering that “Fox News does the most to promote the talking points and platforms of those fighting to make sure immigration reform is never a reality,” “[o]ne step Murdoch could take would be pushing his own network to start providing genuinely ‘fair and balanced’ coverage of the immigration issue.” While Bloomberg asserted on the show that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes, Doocy has baselessly reported that a Virginia anti-immigrant ordinance led to a “huge drop in crime.” And, although Doocy used the term “undocumented immigrants” in his interview with his boss, he and his colleagues usually prefer calling them “illegals.” In the past week alone, Fox & Friends, along with hosts Megyn Kelly and Sean Hannity, have accused the Department of Labor of “going to bat for illegal immigrants” by enforcing wage theft laws for undocumented workers. Murdoch is himself an immigrant from Australia, and in a statement from his and Bloomberg’s coalition of pro-immigration reform business executives, the Partnership for a New American Economy, Murdoch stated, “As an immigrant myself, I believe that this country can and must enact new immigration policies that fulfill our employment needs, provide a careful pathway to legal status for undocumented residents, and end illegal immigration.”
25
Jun
10
TGIF …&some News
Day 66 in the BP disaster and no end in sight and though people are pissed this is not the fault of the President …
MJ is being celebrated all over the country; maybe all over the World and the same ole comments about him being strange and or weird by people in the Media is just wrong because these kids are watching listening to folks who said much worse when he was alive but you know what -what happened to respecting the dead? I will not be watching gone too soon because of the ian halprin connection… It is yet another vehicle to make money off MJ and it’s offensive that he and so many others have done so; he stated the payroll or people still living off MJ is offensive … what do you call what he is doing eh?
Storms are moving in all along the Gulf and the country … in more ways than we all want to think about. It’s time that Americans stir up their own storms all across the country to tell Senator Ben Nelson and Republicans what they have done is unacceptable and will clearly bring us all back to that day when the President announced over 750thousand jobs were lost per month and destroy the efforts already accomplished.
Today the President will be in Canada at the G20/G8 summit, Italy and France both were eliminated in the 1st round of soccer but the US will be playing Ghana Saturday and the players and coaches all say they will be throwing everything they got at Ghana, Florida closes more beaches due to oil washing on shore. Gov. Jindal has made some comments about the impact that is being made from the previous moratorium that seems odd to me as a mom, worker, and safety-first advocate. It is obvious that those who worked for oil rigs in the area have lost their jobs but who would begrudge a President from wanting to have each well checked for safety given the history that BP seems to have and it apparently is not the best. The Gov of LA stated that the moratorium should be overturned because it would affect their economy. Yes, it is true and the Alabama judge agreed with Governor Jindal. It just seems strange that we have yet to fix the current oil well gushing into the Gulf with Reporters stating that other wells may need to be adjusted and or at least new rules need to be implemented. It is obvious the Feldman decision will be appealed.
The question is -what happens if there is another accident, does that mean Gov Jindal is directly responsible if anything happens? Did you know that only 33 wells out of 36 hundred were placed in moratorium status and while people would be out of work for 6 months over 3thousand are still functioning and maybe it’s just me but couldn’t the workers from the 33 be distributed to the over 3000 functioning wells to work on? in addition, how strange is it that Jindal and the rest of the Republicans wanted the moratorium overturned because of jobs but they refuse to help the rest of the country with a YES to the jobs bill… talk about hypocrisy.
Reports are that the conferees committee voted to move reform forward and was and are a great achievement but this is not the final vote. It sounds like this committee tried to have courage but felt any true reform might make folks run to other countries to keep their money. The bill will need to go through both Chambers of Congress before a final vote but this is a start to reforming Wall Street which will need adjustments to reflect what is going on in the world as well. I admit it is good that the President was able to take the agreement with him to the summit and just heard this reform was bigger than any other since the depression.
Other News …
C-SPAN …
Conferees Approve financial regulation bill, 27-16 on Thursday evening
The House-Senate conference committee on the financial regulations bill wrapped up its work early today following a marathon 20-hour session. The measure passed out of conference on a party line vote, with 27 Democrats voting for it, and 16 Republicans voting against. In remarks this morning before his departure to Canada for the G-8 summit, President Obama praised the conferess for passing what he said is the “strongest financial reform since the Great Depression.” The legislation now goes back to both chambers for final consideration. The House Conference Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) said he hopes to see the legislation signed into law by President Obama before July 4th.
Conferees: Part 1 Conferees: Part 2 Conferees: Part 3 Conferees: Part 4
Bill text Bloomberg: Lawmakers Agree on bill AP: Provisions of the financial reform billOil Creeps Along Florida Coast; Moratorium Remains Overturned
Portions of Pensacola Beach are closed in order for workers to remove oil from the sand. At least 33 miles of Florida’s Panhandle beaches have health advisories suggesting that people should not swim or fish in the water. Yesterday, a federal judge denied a request to keep a deepwater drilling moratorium in place, pending a government appeal. The moratorium prohibits drilling in more than 500 feet of water and prevents new permits from being issued.
BP replaced the containment cap over the underwater well Wednesday night after an accident that morning forced BP to stop their containment efforts. Earlier this week, Adm. Thad Allen announced that authorities are exploring whether pipelines could be extended from the well to several platforms elsewhere in the Gulf where oil could be captured or sent to a different reservoir. This option would allow containment to continue in the event of a hurricane.
BP replaced the containment cap over the underwater well Wednesday night after an accident that morning forced BP to stop their containment efforts. Earlier this week, Adm. Thad Allen announced that authorities are exploring whether pipelines could be extended from the well to several platforms elsewhere in the Gulf where oil could be captured or sent to a different reservoir. This option would allow containment to continue in the event of a hurricane.
Complete C-SPAN Coverage: Gulf Oil Spill Adm. Allen Briefing: available later today AP: Army of undersea robots at work
World Leaders meet to discuss global issuesTodayPresident Obama and seven other world leaders are in Canada for the two-day G-8 “Group of Eight” summit. The leaders will likely focus their talks on regional and global issues, disaster relief and health related issues. The countries being represented at the G-8 include: United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and Russia.
Following the two-day forum will be the larger G-20 meeting, an economic forum summit set up to discuss strategies for restoring global growth, and measures for reforming global trade and financial governance. |
You need to hear this.
I just came from a critical strategy meeting at Democratic Party Headquarters. The number crunchers briefed me on exactly how much money we need to raise to counter the Republican Party’s “Fire Pelosi” campaign.
In short, we must raise $1 million before the critical June 30th FEC deadline to have a strong showing for House Democrats.
The pundits and others will use our midyear fundraising report to judge whether grassroots Democrats can stand toe-to-toe with the right-wing money machine. It is up to you…we simply cannot afford to fall short.
We are just $168,409 short of our goal. Contribute $5, $10 or more today to support House Democrats and counter the vicious “Fire Pelosi” campaign. Meeting this goal is so urgent that a group of committed Democrats will match your contribution dollar-for-dollar.
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We can do this if we all stand together and make a difference. More than 75% of the money House Democrats raise comes from individual Democrats like you.
Republicans are working feverishly to raise money from their corporate fat cats: Big Oil, Wall Street banks and the other special interests that will be back in the driver’s seat if the GOP regains the majority this November.
Republicans are also well on their way to reaching their $20 million goal for their Battleground Fund. In fact, Republicans and their special interest supporters, with guidance from Karl Rove, have already raised and spent more money demonizing Democrats and spreading fear, lies and half-truths than they did at this same point in the 2008 campaign.
That’s why I’m counting on you to help Democrats reach our $1 million goal today. Please contribute $5, $10 or more to our Million Dollar matching gift campaign and help House Democrats beat back the extremists who want to turn the clock back to the good old days of massive unemployment and financial ruin.
Thank you,
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
P.S. We just need to raise $168,409 in the next five days to hit our million dollar goal. Please contribute today and put House Democrats over the top.
25
Jun
10
Friday -follow Congress
The Senate Convenes at 9:30amETJune 25, 2010
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to HR H.R.5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Program. There will be no roll call votes during Friday’s session of the Senate.
Votes:
Unanimous Consent:
Passed S.3104, Radio Free Asia
Adopted S.Res.566, a resoltuion expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the situation in Kyrgystan
The Senate confirmed the nomination of John Pistole to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security.
The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 4:00pmET June 25, 2010
4:03 P.M. –
The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on June 28, 2010.
to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes
4:02 P.M. –
Papers returned to House pursuant to H. Res. 1467
The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1467 and pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that the Senate had returned the papers on H.R. 5136.
4:01 P.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.
4:00 P.M. –
Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Henry Cuellar to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
