Google Becomes More Social And It’s Hurting Your Business …JeffBulla’s blog

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 01:47 PM PST

 Google Becomes More Social And It’s Hurting Your Business  http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JeffbullassBlog/~3/ntwQ5-nKbC8/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email

Conversations in bars and dinner parties about who is right or wrong are often solved by the smart phone being drawn from the pocket or handbag with a Tweet subsequent mobile search on “Lord Google” with the question being answered from Wikipedia or another website with authority. Problem solved… using a blunt mobile instrument without a fight breaking out at the bar or the tipping of wine into someone’s lap.

The online search industry is embedded in our daily lives with up to 90% of all buying decisions starting with an online search and 89% of all clicks through to a website occurring from websites that appear on the first page of Google.

Google has been with us for over 10 years now (the company started in 1998) and has just announced a continuing evolution of its search algorithms to maintain its relevancy and that includes more integration with social media that has been occurring since 2009, though you may not have noticed. Google has also added other tweaks such as increasing visibility and ranking for content that is more recent and this puts fresh unique content right in the frame and blogs are essential for companies to maintain regular published online content.

If you haven’t taken close notice of Google’s search page recently beyond just looking at your results, just take a look down the left side when you do a Google search and you will notice this refined search banner that has 5 social network elements.

5 Major Social Media Elements In Google Search

Images (which includes social media channels such as Flickr)

Videos (which includes a well known social network YouTube”)

Realtime (this is the feed from Twitter.another social media channel you may have heard of but conveniently renamed by Google)

Discussions (this highlights social channels including forums)

Blogs (another social web platform)

Google’s Latest Announcement

Google has included some significant changes in its latest announcement including

Increasing the priority and prominence of search results from platforms such as Twitter, Flickr and Quora (a new social network kid on the block)

Blending results throughout the page instead of only at the bottom

Adding friends social media interactions into search results

This is done by an annotation system that lets you know when a friend has shared a specific link or search result. If your friend writes a blog about how to create honey, that result will have an annotation that your friend has “shared this,” either via Google or through one of Google’s three major social integrations.

This will produce a massive increase in social results appearance in search with friends results turning up in if they have tweeted a reference to that particular search term. You can also connect your Google account to social networks like Twitter if you choose either publicly or privately as you may not want to reveal that you are a @spongebobsuperfan on Twitter.

Google On How It Works On YouTube

Click here to view the embedded video.

What Are The Implications For Business?

The implication for business from the latest announcement and the continuing refinements is that if you want to increase your chances of appearing high in a Google search, that just pursuing a SEO link strategy is not going to be as successful as in the past.

It is now a necessity and a priority to be participating on the major social media channels or you are reducing your brands chances of “being found online” high up on search results.

If you are not active on social media because you think it’s all hype then you may be damaging your business because Google is making social search a priority and your potential customers will find it increasingly hard to find you when they do their next online search and you can’t be found.

The reality is that social media integration into search is here to stay and you need to learn the rules of the new social web or you will reduce your organisations visibility and no one wants to be invisible unless you are a super hero or a dinosaur.

Economy: Making Corporations pay their Fair Share

House Republicans have proposed a slew of spending cuts for the rest of the 2011 fiscal year that would block important investments and hurt vital public services , citing America’s current federal deficit. At the same time, several conservative governors — including Govs. Scott Walker (R-WI), John Kasich (R-OH), and Paul LePage (R-ME) — have proposed placing the brunt of deficit reduction in their states onto low- and middle-income Americans. Conservatives are using budget woes to call for decreased funding for education, health care, and the social safety net, while also trying to wring pay and benefit cuts out of public employees. But it wasn’t middle-class workers or public employees that caused the deterioration in America’s fiscal picture: it was the Great Recession, caused in large part by malfeasance of the elite class on Wall Street. Instead of asking middle-class workers and public employees to pay for the sins of the financial industry, officials at all levels of government could be looking to raise additional revenue not only from Wall Street’s financial titans, but from corporations which, in this country, have gone to great lengths to avoid paying taxes. Last weekend, Americans across the country organized a Main Street Movement to stand with organized labor and, in part, to demand that corporate interests pay their fair share to keep government services intact. US Uncut, modeled on UK-inspired demonstrations against tax dodgers, protested outside of multiple Bank of America branches, noting that BofA paid nothing in federal taxes in 2009. As Carl Gibson, the founder of US Uncut, explained, if you have “one dollar” in your wallet, you’re carrying more than the “combined income tax liability of GE, Exxon-Mobil, Citibank, and the Bank of America.”

CORPORATE TAX DODGERS: As the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) found, “corporate tax revenues are now at historical lows as a share of the economy, at a time when the nation faces deficits and debt that are expected to grow to unsustainable levels.” While the U.S. statutory tax rate of 35 percent is high compared to other countries, the effective tax rate — the rate that corporations actually pay — is quite low, due to the myriad loopholes and credits in the corporate tax code and the widespread use of corporate tax havens. In fact, the U.S. collects below the OECD average in corporate tax revenue. Many corporations, including Boeing, General Electric, and Wells Fargo, have paid nothing to the U.S. government in recent years. Other corporations, like Google, Pfizer, and Coca-Cola dramatically lower their effective tax rates, often by 20 points or more. Over the last three years, for instance, Google paid a 2.4 percent effective tax rate by sheltering its income in Ireland and countries in the Caribbean. According to the Government Accountability Office, Citigroup has 427 subsidiaries in identified tax havens, while Bank of America has 115, Morgan Stanley has 273, and Goldman Sachs has 29. The GAO actually found that 18,857 U.S. companies maintained a post office box in one five-story building in the Cayman Islands. According to Business and Investors Against Tax Haven Abuse, multinational corporations alone avoid $37 billion in taxes annually. As the CBPP noted, “the corporate tax now contributes considerably less to federal revenues than it once did: between 2000 and 2009, 10.7 percent of federal revenues were collected through the corporate tax, down from 29.8 percent of revenues in the 1950s.”

CORPORATE TAX GIVEAWAYS: In many instances, when corporations aren’t exploiting weaknesses in the U.S. tax code, they are actively receiving subsidies from American taxpayers. For example, oil companies receive billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies every year, even though the oil industry is hugely profitable: “The big five oil companies — BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Shell — made a total profit of nearly $1 trillion over the past decade.” Former Shell Oil CEO John Hofmeister admitted earlier this month that oil companies do not need this money. “In the face of sustained high oil prices it was not an issue — for large companies — of needing the subsidies to entice us into looking for and producing more oil,” Hofmeister said. And oil company subsidies are far from the only corporate giveaway. Cutting coal subsidies would save taxpayers $2.5 billion over ten years. The farm bill up for renewal in 2012 includes $30 billion in agriculture subsidies, much of which goes to big, profitable factory farms. As the Center for American Progress’ Seth Hanlon pointed out, there are “special tax provisions that allow companies to choose the most favorable method for valuing their inventory and cost of goods sold. This is an inefficient and unnecessary subsidy for certain businesses.” Changing these provisions could save taxpayers $61 billion over ten years.

PRO-TAX DODGING CONSERVATIVES: Corporations are aided in their effort to bilk the taxpayer by complicit lawmakers in Congress. This week, every Republican member of the House (joined by 13 Democrats ) voted to preserve subsidies for the five largest oil companies. In fact, the Obama administration has been proposing to cut these subsidies since it came into office, only to be rebuffed by conservatives every time. A few Republicans — including House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) — have actually said that corporate tax dodging is proof that the corporate tax rate should be lowered. When asked by ThinkProgress if it was fair that Bank of America pays no federal corporate taxes, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty replied “the corporate tax rate in America is too high.” House Republicans are so unconcerned about tax dodging that they have proposed cutting the Internal Revenue Services’s budget by $600 million, even though “every dollar the Internal Revenue Service spends for audits, liens and seizing property from tax cheats brings in more than $10.” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said that a $600 million cut in this year’s budget “would result in the IRS collecting $4 billion less through tax enforcement programs.” While they allow tax dodging to continue unabated, House Republicans have laid out spending cuts that would would gut important federal investments in special education, K-12 education for low-income students, federal job training, environmental protection, community health centers, infrastructure, programs that aid both pregnant women and newborns, and housing assistance for low-income veterans and long-term disabled people.

The White House blog …

Behind-the-Scenes: First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary Arne Duncan Read “Green Eggs and Ham” on Dr. Seuss’ Birthday

Posted by Kori Schulman on March 3, 2011 at 9:54 AM EST

As part of Read Across America Day and in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ 107th Birthday, First Lady Michelle Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan spent yesterday morning reading the Seuss classic Green Eggs and Ham to elementary school students at the Library of Congress.

Mrs. Obama and Secretary Duncan stressed the importance of reading to an audience of more than 300 children wearing red-and-white striped stovetop hats, best known from Seuss’ Cat in the Hat. Secretary Duncan said, “If you become lifelong readers you can do anything you want to do.”

Watch Mrs. Obama and Secretary Duncan prepare backstage for their joint reading of Green Eggs and Ham:

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Download Video: mp4 (12.3MB) .

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Going Further with America’s Auto Industry

Posted by Secretary Hilda Solis on March 2, 2011 at 5:05 PM EST

Cars have always been a part of my life. I was raised with two brothers who loved cars and when we were kids, my sisters and I would hear the buzz about the coolest “this” and the fastest “that.” With all the car talk, one would think I would have become an engineer. Two of my sisters did and we joke it’s how we got our “drive.”

By far though, my father played the most important role in my familiarity with cars. He taught me how to drive. He insisted that I learn with a stick shift. He told me that it would make me more independent – that it would take me further.

I thought about him when I visited Michigan’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant (where they are building the new Chevy Volt) and the Jeep Supplier Park plant in Toledo, Ohio recently. Both facilities have and continue to be a big beat to the hearts of their communities. And both are a testament to the success of the Obama Administration’s investments in auto communities across the country.

previous photoSecretary Of Labor Hilda Solis Travels To Michigan And OhioShow Gallery Info.

Secretary Of Labor Hilda Solis traveled to Michigan and Ohio in February to

help highlight investments in the auto industry, training and education for next

generation jobs, and the creation of clean and green energy technology.

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But while we’ve come a long way in the last two years – we too can go further.

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President Obama on the Tragic Events In Germany

Posted by Jesse Lee on March 2, 2011 at 1:49 PM EST

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Read the Transcript | Download Video: mp4 (402MB) | mp3 (39MB) .President Obama appears briefly during the press briefing to say his thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the attack in Frankfurt as well as their families.

I want to take a brief moment just to say a few words about a tragic event that took place earlier today in Frankfurt, Germany.

I’m saddened and I am outraged by this attack that took the lives of two Americans and wounded two others. I think the American people are united in expressing our gratitude for the service of those who were lost. Michelle and I have their family and their friends in our thoughts and prayers and we are praying for a speedy recovery for those who were injured.

I want everybody to understand that we will spare no effort in learning how this outrageous act took place and in working with German authorities to ensure that all of the perpetrators are brought to justice.

We don’t have all the information yet, and you will be fully briefed as we get more information. But this is a stark reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices that our men and women in uniform are making all around the world to keep us safe, and the dangers that they face all around the globe.

So I think it’s fair to say that on behalf of the American people we want to extend our deepest condolences to these families. And we will give you further updates as we get more information about it.

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Cutting Costs by Getting Rid of Government Buildings We Don’t Need

Posted by Jeffrey Zients on March 2, 2011 at 1:09 PM EST

In the White House Briefing Room today, I announced a new proposal to create a Civilian Property Realignment Board to help the Federal government cut through red tape and politics to sell property it no longer needs. The plan will save taxpayers $15 billion over the first three years the Board is fully up and running.

The Federal government owns 1.2 million properties across the country making it the biggest property owner in the United States, but billions of taxpayer dollars are wasted each year on government properties that are no longer needed. This includes roughly 14,000 buildings and structures currently designated as excess and thousands of others that are underutilized. These properties range from sheds to under-utilized office buildings and empty warehouses. Next month, the Administration will release detailed information on these excess properties so that the public can be better informed about this challenge

.The proposal we announced today brings private-sector discipline to the management of Federal real estate and applies tactics proven successful by the Defense Department’s Base Realignment and Closure Commission. It establishes an independent board of experts to expedite the disposal of unneeded properties and identifies opportunities to consolidate offices across and within agencies. The board’s recommendations will be presented to Congress in a package to be voted on in an up-or-down manner and all properties will swiftly be disposed of or consolidated.

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Nick Jonas Wants Your School to Apply for the Commencement Challenge

Posted by Katelyn Sabochik on March 2, 2011 at 10:48 AM EST

Last week, Nick Jonas took a short break from rehearsing for “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House” to encourage high schools to apply for the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. Check out what he had to say about it:

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Download Video: mp4 (6.5MB) .Applications for the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge will close next Friday, March 11, so don’t miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime. Public high schools across the country are invited to submit an application and tell us how they are preparing students for college and a career. At the end of competition, the winning school will get to have President Obama deliver its commencement address.

Applying for the Commencement Challenge is easy! The application requires three essays and some information about student achievement that should be readily accessible. The deadline for the competition is March 11 at 11:59 EST. For more information and to get started today, visit WhiteHouse.gov/Commencement.

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The Clean Air Act: Protecting Our Families and the Air We Breathe

Posted by Heather Zichal on March 1, 2011 at 6:00 PM EST

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report estimating the economic, environmental and health benefits of the Clean Air Act over the period 1990 to 2020. This report, which is designed to provide Congress and the public with comprehensive, updated, and peer-reviewed information on the Act’s costs and benefits, reaches a clear conclusion: the Clean Air Act has been an incredible investment for America.

According to the study, the direct benefits of the Clean Air Act – in the form of cleaner air and healthier, more productive Americans – are estimated to reach nearly $2 trillion in the year 2020, exceeding the costs by a factor of more than 30 to one. But this report also reminds us that the common sense provisions under the Clean Air Act are about more than economics – they are ultimately about the health of our families.

According to the report, in 2010 alone, the reductions in fine particle and ozone pollution from the Clean Air Act prevented more than:

•160,000 premature deaths

•130,000 heart attacks

•13 million lost work days

•1.7 million asthma attacks

This report puts to rest the old argument that we can’t have a healthy economy and a healthy environment – and serves as an important reminder of the need to protect the Clean Air Act from attacks. For decades, it has brought cleaner air to our children and avoided billions in health care costs. And we need a strong Act to protect our children’s children for decades to come.

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Behind-the-Scenes Video: The Motown Sound At The White House

Posted by Kori Schulman on March 1, 2011 at 2:32 PM EST

Continuing a favorite White House tradition, the President and First Lady welcomed renowned musical artists to the White House to celebrate music that’s at the heart of the American story. As Black History Month drew to a close, Thursday’s performance fittingly paid tribute to the legendary sound of Motown. Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder took the stage alongside those influenced by generations of Motown musicians.

Join John Legend for a rare glimpse behind the scenes with performers including Jamie Foxx, Sheryl Crow, Nick Jonas, Seal, Gloriana, Jordin Sparks and more in the green room during rehearsal and backstage for the performance:

Check back soon for full performances on WhiteHouse.gov. In Performance at The White House: The Motown Sound premieres Tuesday, March 1st at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide. (Check local listings.)

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Investing in Tomorrow, Creating Jobs Today

Posted by Secretary Ray LaHood on March 1, 2011 at 1:25 PM EST

Cross-posted from the Department of Transportation blog.

Today, I want to share a terrific new video, called “Transporting America: Proterra,” which tells the story of Proterra, Inc, an electric bus manufacturer in Greenville, South Carolina. Thanks to federal investment, this company has been able to develop incredible zero-emissions transit buses and add hundreds of new jobs in South Carolina.

Last month Deputy Secretary John Porcari penned a blog for us on “Good, Green Jobs.” He wrote that, “We know Americans can adopt environmentally friendly practices and create good jobs in the process.”

Nowhere is that demonstrated more clearly than in Greenville, South Carolina, where Proterra, Inc, has begun manufacturing electric transit buses. More important to the Greenville community is the fact that Proterra has hired more than 120 workers, with plans to reach up to 350 workers by the end of this year and more than 1,300 by 2015.

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Big, Bold, and Fast: A little Peace Corps history on its 50th Anniversary

Posted by Harris Wofford on March 1, 2011 at 12:11 PM EST

August 9, 1962 on the South Lawn of the White House where President John F. Kennedy delivered remarks to new Peace Corps Volunteers. March 1, 2011. (by Peace Corps and John F. Kennedy Presidential Library)

.In accepting the presidential nomination, John Kennedy promised “invention, innovation, imagination, decision.” Thirty-nine days after taking office, he established the Peace Corps by executive order and began to keep that promise.

The Peace Corps began for me when a call came from Millie Jeffrey, a Democratic National Committee member and active colleague in the Kennedy campaign’s Civil Rights Section (where I was deputy to Sargent Shriver). With great excitement, she told me about Kennedy’s extemporaneous talk she had heard at 2 a.m., October 14, 1960 to thousands of students, faculty, and town people waiting for him in front of the University of Michigan’s Student Union. Challenging the students, he had asked them if they were ready to spend years serving in Asia, Africa, or Latin America. Stirred by his question, Michigan students, including Millie’s daughter, had taken around a petition saying yes, they were ready – nearly one thousand had signed.

Now the students wanted to present it personally to Kennedy. Millie asked me to help arrange their doing so. The first staff man she had called showed little interest, but when she finally reached Ted Sorensen, he liked the idea and arranged the meeting. When the President learned of the petition, before seeing it, he told Ted Sorensen to start drafting a major speech proposing a Peace Corps. He gave that talk to many thousands at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on November 2, 1960. Almost everywhere Kennedy went in the last week of the campaign, he was asked about the Peace Corps. In his election eve broadcast he included the promise of a Peace Corps.

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President Obama’s Meeting With UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

Posted by Jesse Lee on March 1, 2011 at 11:30 AM EST

President Barack Obama meets with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in the Oval Office, February 28, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

.On Monday afternoon, President Obama hosted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for a discussion of events in the Middle East and around the world. A readout of their meeting, provided by UN Ambassador Susan Rice during yesterday’s press briefing, is below.

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Ten Days Left to Apply for the 2011 Commencement Challenge

Posted by Katelyn Sabochik on March 1, 2011 at 11:22 AM EST

The application deadline for the 2011 Race to the Top Commencement Challenge is March 11 – just ten days away! The Commencement Challenge invites public high schools across the country to demonstrate how their school best prepares them for college and a career, helping America win the future by out-educating our competitors and achieving President Obama’s goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. President Obama will travel to the winning school to deliver their commencement address this spring!

Earlier today, Good Morning America ran a segment on the Commencement Challenge featuring Simon Boehme, a member of Kalamazoo Central’s class of 2010, last year’s Challenge winner, and Melody Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council. Check out the video on ABCNews.com.

Last week, musician John Legend was at the White House as part of the “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House” event, and he took a few moments to encourage high schools around the country to get involved in the Commencement Challenge:

Applying for the 2011 Commencement Challenge is easy. The application includes three short essays and readily available data from each school that illustrate how schools are promoting college and career readiness for all students while establishing a culture of student success and academic excellence. Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 11 at 11:59 pm EST. Apply today!

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Marking the 8th Anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security

Posted by Secretary Janet Napolitano on March 1, 2011 at 7:00 AM EST

Today marks the 8th anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security. As I said in my “State of America’s Homeland Security” address in January, our nation is more secure than it was two years ago, and more secure than when DHS was founded. Nonetheless, our work never stops.

I am joining my predecessors, Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff, today at a public commemoration of the Department’s 8th anniversary. We’ll speak to the history and progress of the last eight years, and to the dedication and service of the more than 230,000 men and women of DHS. A live video stream of the event will be available here.

Since it was formed in 2003, DHS has achieved remarkable progress across our key missions: preventing terrorism; securing our borders; enforcing our immigration laws; securing cyberspace; and ensuring resilience to disasters.

But we know that we have more work to do to counter the evolving threats we face. We must remind ourselves that our mission – a secure homeland – requires our constant vigilance, hard work, and determination to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other threats.

As I often say, homeland security begins with hometown security. Working hand in hand with first responders, state, local, tribal and territorial governments, community groups, international partners and the private sector, we have made great strides in protecting our nation from terrorism and other threats while building a culture of resiliency and preparedness in our communities. Security is, indeed, a shared responsibility.

I invite you to watch and to learn more about how DHS is working every day to secure our nation. I look forward to the coming years, as we build on the foundation we celebrate today.

Janet Napolitano is the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

RECALL Wisconsin’​s GOP Senators!

It’s time to show right-wing lawmakers that they cannot use budget gaps, created by their own massive giveaways to their corporate sponsors, as an excuse to attack Americans‘ fundamental rights.

The budget plan proposed by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and advanced by his Republican allies in the legislature which would rip away the collective bargaining rights of public workers is a shocking example of extreme overreach … it’s time to hold these people accountable!

In Wisconsin, voters can recall their state elected officials after they have been in office for a year. That means that Gov. Walker cannot be recalled until 2012, but eight of the GOP Senators who have pushed for passage of Walker’s plan are eligible for recall NOW — and the state Democrats have taken steps to begin the recall process.

First things first: Let us know you’re on board and sign our petition supporting the recall effort. http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=GbPmpmXeNOxyIYbTQmjhcQ..

This is not just about Wisconsin — it’s about right-wing power grabs and assaults Americans’ rights everywhere. If we can successfully recall these lawmakers in  Wisconsin, it will help set us up for similar recall efforts where they are possible in other states and, more importantly, it will make governors and legislators think twice about pushing such measures to begin with.

Show lawmakers in Wisconsin and all states that this type of overreach will not be taken sitting down.

Join this effort now.

– Ben Betz, Online Communications Manager http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=O4zSzS3uSvIPX3v3DdxGXg..

P.S. This is going to be BIG and PFAW hopes to be a real force in this effort. That means we’ll need as many of our members and activists, from around the country, engaged in it.

Tell Sens. Murray and Cantwell: Support the Social Security Protection Act of 2011.

Tell Sens. Murray and Cantwell: Support the Social Security Protection Act of 2011.

Take Social Security off the chopping block.

Clicking here will add your name to this petition to Sens. Murray and Cantwell:

“Social Security is one of the most popular and most effective social programs in our country’s history. We cannot allow its opponents to undermine it.

Help take Social Security off the chopping block by co-sponsoring the Social Security Protection Act of 2011.”

Click here to add your name

http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=7242&id=17410-2591629-SdISt_x&t=9

We need to take Social Security off the table as a bargaining chip in talks about the budget deficit and federal spending.

Social Security is one of the greatest anti-poverty programs in our country’s history and is wildly popular. In addition, despite fearmongering to the contrary, Social Security is currently running a surplus, is fully solvent for decades, and is prohibited by law from adding to the deficit.

In fact, the only crisis facing Social Security is caused by opponents of the program who are crying wolf about a crisis in order to justify undermining one of the most popular social programs in our history.

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is introducing a bill today called the Social Security Protection Act of 2011. The bill would take Social Security off the chopping block by requiring a two-thirds super majority to reduce benefits, raise the retirement age or privatize the program.

Tell Sens. Murray and Cantwell: Support the Social Security Protection Act of 2011. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

Make no mistake, enemies of Social Security are trying to sabotage it even as they try to bamboozle the rest of us about their real aims. And we already know that some plan to use the prospect of a government shutdown or the fight around the debt ceiling as leverage to undermine Social Security.

We’ve seen how this works before. Time and again, conservatives have ginned up fake emergencies to justify far-reaching and deeply unpopular legislation. And all too often, we’ve seen Democrats in office do nothing to stop — or worse, actively enable — these conservative power-grabs.

We can’t let this happen with Social Security, which for 75 years has withstood both the test of time and the active efforts to undercut it.

Tell Sens. Murray and Cantwell: Support the Social Security Protection Act of 2011. Click here to automatically sign the petition..

Ten senators are already co-sponsoring the Social Security Protection Act. As a number of the co-sponsors of the bill wrote in a Dear Colleague letter:

http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=7242&id=17410-2591629-SdISt_x&t=9

“Our legislation does not prohibit Congress from cutting Social Security benefits, raising the retirement age or privatizing this important program. It simply ensures that if Congress takes any of these actions, a super-majority vote is needed…”

This is precisely the type of leverage we’ll need in the upcoming fights. It will help stop conservatives from ramming through cuts or privatization as some sort of grand compromise on “must pass” legislation.<

Once we do this, we banish the false specter of crisis, and have a real discussion about how to make changes to Social Security to keep it successful for another 75 years.

Thank you for standing up for Social Security.

Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager

CREDO Action from Working Assets

P.S. The co-sponsors for the Social Security Protection Act of 2011 are: Bernard Sanders (VT), Daniel Akaka (HI), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Sherrod Brown (OH), Barbara Mikulski (MD), Barbara Boxer (CA), Debbie Stabenow (MI), Mark Begich (AK), Richard Blumenthal (CT) and Frank Lautenberg (NJ).

Think Fast …thinkprogress.org

The Ohio state senate approved a bill that would severely curb the collective bargaining rights of public employee unions. The bill would prohibit workers “from bargaining over health benefits and pensions, while also eliminating the right to strike.”

At a town hall meeting yesterday, Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) exclaimed “I love collective bargaining” and insisted that the Garden State is very different from Wisconsin or Ohio. While Christie’s relationship with state unions “has in the past been icy,” he now wants to work with them now, adding “get me out of the cage” and “let me at them.”

Anti-government rebels repelled an attack by forces loyal to Libyan leader Col. Muammar Qaddafi yesterday in the strategic oil city of Brega. The battle was the pro-Qaddafi forces’ first attack in the rebel-held eastern Libya. The rebels fought through artillery fire and air power throughout the day and forced the government forces to flee by night fall.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates poured some cold water on the idea of establishing a no-flight zone over Libya yesterday, telling Congress it would be “a big operation in a big country” that would have to begin with an attack on the country’s air defenses. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) also expressed concern about the idea.

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found that “less than a quarter of Americans support making significant cuts to Social Security or Medicare to tackle the country’s deficit.” Eighty-one percent said that placing a surtax on millionaires is either a “totally” or “mostly” acceptable way in which to reduce the deficit.

President Obama signed a bill yesterday extending federal government funding for two weeks and called for high-level negotiations to bridge budgetary differences between Republicans and Democrats in Congress. “Living with the threat of a shutdown every few weeks is not responsible, and it puts our economic progress in jeopardy,” Obama said.

Obama has arranged a meeting between Congressional leaders and Vice President Biden aimed at solving the federal budget impasse — but Republican leaders may not attend. A GOP aide told Roll Call “such a meeting would be more productive if Democrats had a plan for cutting Washington spending.”

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said yesterday that House Republicans’ spending plan would likely cost “a couple hundred thousand jobs,” a number he called “not trivial.”

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) announced that he will not be running for re-election in 2012 . “It was a very difficult decision for me,” he said. “However, I feel that the end of this Congress is the right time for me to step aside.”

And finally: Cleveland may rock, but actor and Price Is Right host Drew Carey ”doesn’t appear willing to ‘come on down’ into the Ohio Senate race .” “Carey’s libertarian-conservative philosophy and recent weight loss” have made him an attractive candidate for some Republican activists, but his publicist told Politico that “Drew does not plan to run for office.”

Koch Fight …is on

Friend:

Success! On Tuesday, we set a goal of raising $10K over five days to keep the heat on the Koch brothers and their far-right, union-busting agenda. We blew through our goal in less than four hours.

But in the 48 hours since I wrote you last, the Koch brothers have lashed out at Think Progress, using their vast corporate and political communication networks to promote ad hominem attacks on our writers.

So we are upping the ante. New goal: $50K in five days.

www.americanprogressaction.org

As more and more of you join us, we can strengthen and expand our three-year long effort to reveal the Kochs. Our strategy includes:

– Detailing the far-right policies that the Kochs are quietly trying to push through Congress and in state capitols across the country

– Putting the heat on politicians who want to place the Koch agenda above the public interest

– Exposing corporate malfeasance throughout the Koch empire and promoting awareness of Koch-controlled consumer brands

We won’t be intimidated. And with your help, we’ll continue to give the Koch brothers what they can’t handle: the truth.

Yours,

Faiz

a message from our Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

Something remarkable is happening in Wisconsin.

I’m sure you’ve been watching the news coverage of teachers, firefighters, and other public servants standing up to Governor Walker’s reckless assault on the middle class.

Here in Washington, House Republicans are actively backing Governor Walker and his claim that working families are responsible for our current deficit.

Not surprisingly, Karl Rove and the very same special interests that Republicans are voting to protect are planning a massive campaign to defend their radical agenda.

This deserves an immediate response.

Contribute $5 or more to our GOP Accountability Fund by Midnight Friday so we can mount a Rapid Response campaign against House Republicans who support this reckless rhetoric. http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63cbdc/1b9dd8ab/5672bbec/4e0d1771/892576551/VEsE/

I agree we need to take steps to cut the deficit. And so do the protestors in Wisconsin.

But Scott Walker believes this fight isn’t just about budget cuts — he wants to take away Americans’ right to organize!

I will always stand up for the right to organize. This basic right ensures the fair treatment of middle-class workers.

Will you stand with me?

Contribute $5 or more to our GOP Accountability Fund by Midnight Friday so we can mount a Rapid Response campaign against House Republicans who support this reckless rhetoric.

http://www.dccc.org/page/m/1d63cbdc/1b9dd8ab/5672bbec/4e0d1771/892576551/VEsE/

Thank you,

Nancy Pelosi

Democratic Leader

Congress: -the Republican led House -the Senate …both meet @10amET

The Senate convenes at 10:00amET Thursday 3, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business until 11:00am with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Republicans will control the first half and the Majority will control the final half.

At 11:00am, the Senate will resume consideration of S.23, the America Invents Act.

The following amendments are pending to S.23:

- Leahy amendment #114 (Title amendment)

- Bennet amendment #116 (small business fast track)

The Senate has reached an agreement to vote at 12:30pm in relation to the Feinstein amendment #133, as modified (strikes first to file provisions in the bill). The time until 12:30pm will be equally divided and controlled between the proponents and opponents with no amendments in order to the Feinstein amendment prior to the vote.

There will be a period of morning business from 2-4pm. The Majority will control the first hour and the Republicans will control the next hour.

This evening, Senator Reid filed cloture on S.23, the America Invents Act. By consent, the cloture vote will occur after the 2 judge votes on Monday, March 7 (the 2 judge votes will begin at 5:30pm).

As a result of cloture being filed, the filing deadline for first degree amendments is 1pm tomorrow, Friday, March 4. If your senator has a germane amendment and would like to preserve the ability to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment to the cloakroom prior to the deadline so that we may file it at the desk for you. If you have already filed, there is no need to refile.

Votes:

31: Grassley motion to table the Feinstein amendment #133: , as modified; Tabled: 87-13

There will be no further roll call votes today.

Unanimous Consent:

Agreed to the Stabenow amendment #126 (Detroit satellite office) by voice vote

Agreed to Bingaman amendment #142 (PTO length of time between reviews).

Passed HR662, Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011.

Adopted S.Res89, a resolution relating to the death of Frank W. Buckles, the longest surviving United States veteran of the First World War.

Adopted S.Res.90, a resolution supporting the goal of “International Women’s Day” and recognizing this year’s centennial anniversary of National Women’s Day.

S.Res.91, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.

Adopted S.Res.92, a resolution to authorize the payment of legal expenses of Senate employees out of the contingent fund of the Senate.

Confirmed the following nominations:

#35 Daniel L. Shields III, of Pennsylvania, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Brunei Darussalam.

#36 Pamela L. Spratlen, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kyrgyz Republic.

#37 Sue Kathrine Brown, of Texas, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Montenegro.

#38 David Lee Carden, of New York, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

#39 Eric G. Postel, of Wisconsin, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, vice Jacqueline Ellen Schafer, resigned.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 3, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

2:47 P.M. -

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

2:41 P.M. -

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

Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 Agreed to without objection.

Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Friday, March 4, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.

Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Thursday, March 3, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2011. Agreed to without objection.

H.R. 4:

to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements for payments of $600 or more to corporations, and for other purposes

2:11 P.M. -

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

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 314 – 112 (Roll no. 162).

1:46 P.M. -

Point of order raised by Mr. Weiner on the voice vote of the measure. Mr Weiner stated that the bill purportedly included a Federal income tax increase making the clause 5b of Rule XXI requirement for a three-fifths majority for passage of the measure applicable. Point of order overruled by the Chair.

1:43 P.M. -

On motion to table the motion to appeal the ruling of the chair Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 243 – 181 (Roll no. 161).

1:19 P.M. -

Mr. Camp moved to table the motion to appeal the ruling of the chair

Mr. Levin appealed the ruling of the chair. The question was then put on sustaining the ruling of the chair.

1:18 P.M. -

Point of order sustained against the motion to recommit with instructions.

1:06 P.M. -

Mr. Camp raised a point of order against the motion to recommit with instructions. Mr Camp states that the motion violates clause 10 of Rule XXI by proposing an increase in mandatory spending over a relevant period of time. Sustained by the Chair.

1:00 P.M. -

The instructions contained in the McNernney motion seek to require the Committee on Ways and Means to report the bill back to the House forthwith with an amendment which inserts sections entitled “NONREFUNDABLE PERSONAL CREDIT FOR TAXPAYERS SUBJECT TO A TAX INCREASE UNDER THE SMALL BUSINESS PAPERWORK MANDATE ELIMINATION ACT OF 2011″, “INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO DOMESTIC PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES”, and “MAJOR INTEGRATED OIL COMPANIES INELIGIBLE FOR LAST-IN, FIRST-OUT MEHTOD OF INVENTORY”.

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

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

11:30 A.M. -

DEBATE – The House resumed debate on H.R. 4.

11:29 A.M. -

WORDS TAKEN DOWN – During the course of debate, exception was taken to certain words used in debate. Subsequently, unanimous consent was granted to withdraw the words and the House resumed debate on H.R. 4.

10:25 A.M. -

DEBATE – The House proceeded with two hours and thirty minutes of debate on H.R. 4.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4 with 2 hours and 30 minutes of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions is allowed. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The resolution provides that an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of the amendment recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in H.R. 705 shall be considered as adopted. The resolution waives all points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended. The waiver of all points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, is prophylactic in nature.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 129.

10:05 A.M. -

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 10 per side of the aisle.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Wilson of SC to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

10:04 A.M. -

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

10:01 A.M. -

The Speaker designated the Honorable Ted Poe to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

10:00 A.M. -

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.