House Republicans have warped values

The budget is a blueprint of our nation’s values. Based on their proposal, the House Republicans have warped values.

The Ryan budget sums it up: destroy Medicare and leave seniors and people with disabilities to fend for themselves. They’d give huge tax cuts to billionaires and corporations while slashing the most basic services our fellow Americans rely upon.

President Obama said it exactly right yesterday: The Republican vision is dead wrong, and it’s not going to happen as long as he’s president – and as long as Democrats hold the Senate. Here’s where your help is urgently needed.

The DSCC has an FEC deadline on April 30, and we need to raise $245,000 to ensure we can maintain our majority. If the GOP had just 4 more seats, the Ryan budget would sail through Congress. It’s imperative that we stop them.

Help stop the radical Republicans with an immediate gift of $5 or more to the DSCC. More than 90 percent of our donations come from grassroots supporters. We CAN stop them, but not without your help!

President Obama outlined the stakes. In the past decade, the average income of 90% of working Americans dropped. On average, the top 1% are making an extra quarter million each. Yet Republicans demand tax cuts for them. Republicans would slash education, clean energy investments, and even the health care our parents rely on in order to shift more wealth to the extremely wealthy and corporations.

It’s not hard to see why. The Citizens United decision means that these same corporations can turn around and spend an unlimited amount in support of candidates. You can be sure that Republicans would be handsomely rewarded for the tax cut largesse.

If President Obama’s 2008 campaign taught us anything, however, it’s this: A million small voices aren’t so small when they speak out in unison. When we stand together – and invest in the beliefs we share – we can make a difference. We have, and we will.

Your gift of $5 or more right now will make a difference. Every dollar you give helps stop the radical Republican agenda and protect our Senate majority. We can stop them, but only if we work together.

Democrats have a vision – and it’s a vision entirely different than the bleak future Republicans have put forward. If you believe in our vision, I’m asking you to back it up. Let’s stand together and fight.

Sincerely,

Guy Cecil

Republicans …

Budget:A Better Path To Prosperity

As the nation edges closer to hitting the debt ceiling, President Obama delivered at George Washington University yesterday a new plan to reduce the deficit by $4.4 trillion over the next 12 years — a rebuttal to the GOP’s “Path to Prosperity” plan sponsored by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI). Matching targeted spending cuts with less drastic entitlement reform and a more realistic tax policy, Obama’s plan, as Center for American Progress notes, “puts us on a much more sustainable path, and most importantly, would do so without putting further burdens on seniors and an already-struggling middle class.” While a big step away from his 2012 budget, Obama’s plan stands in stark contrast to Ryan’s “draconian” vision that gouges out the budget at their expense. Trading cuts and reforms that overly burden vulnerable populations for tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, Ryan’s budget earned rebuke even from conservative economists. Former President Ronald Reagan’s budget director called it “a measure of how far off the deep end Republicans have gone.” Obama did not mince words when drawing the contrast between the GOP vision and his “compassionate” alternative. In response, House Republicans elected to decry what they saw as the president’s political, unfriendly treatment rather than offer the merits of their policy. Hearkening back to the 1995 government shutdown, Republicans are now hinting that Obama’s strong words might be enough to derail budget negotiations — no matter how valid the proposal.

OBAMA’S VISION: Rather than relying exclusively on deep spending cuts, President Obama’s deficit plan offers a framework to more responsibly reduce the deficit over the next 12 years through a multi-pronged approach. To achieve the $4 trillion in deficit reductions, Obama called for $2 trillion in spending cuts while maintaining “investments” in “schools, highways, bridges and research” that help maintain global competitiveness. However, aware of the ballooning defense budget, Obama also called to cut $400 billion from national security over 10 years — a move the GOP has specifically avoided. On entitlement programs, Obama asked both parties to “work together now to strengthen Social Security” and proposed saving $340 billion on Medicare and Medicaid by 2021 through increasing efficiency. “We will reduce wasteful subsidies and erroneous payments” and “cut spending on prescription drugs by using Medicare’s purchasing power to drive greater efficiency,” he said. In stark contrast to Ryan’s Medicare voucher plan, Obama’s Medicare plan builds on the cost containment reforms in the health care reform law by expanding IPAB, a 15-person commission tasked with advising Congress on how to reduce excess growth in Medicare if costs exceed GDP per capita plus one percent but will do so without rationing care or raising premiums or cost sharing. Obama’s clearest policy declaration, however, centered on his rebuke of the Bush-era tax cuts. “We cannot afford one trillion dollars in tax cuts for every millionaire and billionaire in our society. We can’t afford it. And I refuse to renew then again,” he said. Opting to move towards his fiscal commission’s policies, Obama plans to allow those tax cuts to expire at the end of 2012 and would raise an additional $1 trillion by overhauling the tax code to lower rates and eliminate tax breaks. And should all these deficit reduction efforts miss their targets, Obama called for a fail-safe “trigger mechanism ” that would force “across-the-board spending reductions if the ratio of debt-to-GDP is not stabilized by 2014 and projected to decline for the rest of the decade.” While Obama’s plan does propose significant cuts and misses opportunities to add additional revenues and find secure additional savings in the Pentagon budget, it provides a more “balanced” deficit plan than offered by the GOP. In response, U.S. bonds and the dollar rose based on hopes that Obama’s plan would “shore up the United States’ credit-worthiness and the dollar’s reserve status.” Oil recovered by 1.5 percent.

RYAN’S ’PESSIMISTIC’ PLAN: A driving factor behind Obama’s plan was to provide a “compassionate” alternative to slash-and-burn Republican proposal offered last week. “This debate over budgets and deficits is about more than just numbers on a page,” Obama said. “It’s about the kind of future we want.” Dubbing Ryan’s plan as a “pessimistic” vision that “is less about reducing the deficit than it is about changing the basic social compact in America,” Obama blasted Republicans for implementing cuts that allow our infrastructure to “crumble” and “collapse” and, by slashing billions from Pell Grants, for telling “bright young Americans” that “we can’t afford” to support their education. He then lambasted Ryan’s Medicare voucher program for “end[ing] Medicare as we know it.” “Instead of guaranteed health care, you will get a voucher. And if that voucher isn’t worth enough to buy insurance, tough luck – you’re on your own,” he said. Indeed, according to the non-partisan CBO, seniors will end up paying significantly more for their health benefits if House Republicans have their way. He viewed the GOP’s plan to rob Medicaid of $771 billion over the next decade by turning it into a block grant program as a vision that tells 50 million Americans, including “poor children,” “middle-class families” with disabled children, and low-income seniors “to fend for themselves.” But “worst of all,” he said, was the Republican vision increase the burden on the vulnerable just so a corporate tax rate can be ten points lower and so we can “afford more than $1 trillion in new tax breaks for the wealthy.” Criticizing the tax break he’d receive while asking seniors to pay “$6,400″ more in health costs, Obama said “that’s not right, and it’s not going to happen as long as I’m President.”

POLITICS OF WHINING: Invited to the address, House Republicans bristled under Obama’s rebuke and quickly rejected his plan as a “political broadside from the campaigner-in-chief.” Almost completely ignoring his policies, House Republicans took their turn at the podium to lambast the president for engaging in “partisan rhetoric .” House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) insisted that Obama’s plan was “light on the specifics” but “didn’t lack shameless political attacks and scare tactics.” Ryan claimed Obama’s “demagoguery” was “exploiting people’s emotions of fear, envy, and anxiety.” Indeed, Ryan gave a detailed account of his hurt feelings, tracing them from “excited” to “naively optimistic” to “disappointed” then to “sad,” and hinted that Obama’s rebuke “sure doesn’t help” Republicans forge a budget consensus. Now “sincerely disappointed” at Obama’s “partisan broadsides against us,” Ryan is also suggesting that his hurt feelings will make it “that much harder for the two parties to come together with mutual respect of one another to get things done.” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), however, did offer House Republicans’ sole policy response: “We, as a conference, won’t raise taxes” on the wealthy.

Watch Al Gore speak live

Tomorrow, thousands of young leaders will gather here in Washington to help solve the climate crisis: the greatest challenge the world has ever faced. At the Power Shift 2011 Conference, they’ll learn how to build the clean energy future that is essential to our planet’s survival.

Al Gore will deliver the keynote address Friday night. He will discuss the overwhelming evidence of climate change and show attendees how we can bring clean, renewable energy to America and the world.

It will be a must-see event — and you don’t have to miss out. Former Vice President Gore‘s speech will be streamed live on the Power Shift website:

http://www.powershift2011.org/live

Tomorrow, April 15, at 7:05 p.m. ET, click that link to watch the speech streamed live.

Planning to watch the livestream event? Click here to let us know!

The Power Shift Conference is an opportunity to empower the next generation of America’s leaders to change the way we think about energy. It’s so important that we are bringing 20 of Repower America‘s best young activists from around the country to Washington so they’ll have the chance to participate. Young leaders will be trained to go back to their communities and help take the next step in the movement to solve the climate crisis.

We believe Vice President Gore’s speech will be the highlight of this important event, and we hope that you’ll have the opportunity to watch.

Click here to let us know you’re planning to watch.

Thank you for all your help,

Maggie L. Fox

President and CEO

Alliance for Climate Protection

The view from outside Washington

The President’s speech today began a new conversation in Washington about how to reduce the deficit while protecting crucial investments in our country’s future.

But as we seek to build an organization based outside of Washington, President Obama’s speech also provides an unusually stark contrast — one all of us can use to start conversations with our friends and neighbors about what’s at stake in this election.

He spoke about things you don’t generally hear in Washington conversations too often dominated by special interests: He’ll cut waste and excess at the Pentagon – particularly spending that is requested not by our military, but by politicians and corporate interests.

He’ll eliminate tax cuts for Americans in the highest tax brackets who don’t need them, including himself — and he will reform the individual tax code so that it’s fair and simple and so that the amount of taxes you pay isn’t determined by what kind of accountant you can afford.

Some cuts he proposed are tough. But they’re also smart and surgical — helping us balance our books while still doing the right things to win the future. President Obama’s plan would protect the middle class, invest in our kids’ education, and make sure we don’t protect the wealthiest Americans from the costs of reform at the expense of the most vulnerable.

The other side has presented a very clear alternative: End Medicare as we know it, privatizing the program that millions of seniors rely on for health care. Make deep cuts to education. Slash investments in clean energy and infrastructure. All to pay for tax cuts for people making over $250,000 a year, and all while actually raising our national debt.

In short, their plan will please a special interest donor base and those who put ideology before results rather than reduce deficits over the long term. And let’s be clear: They think they can get away with it because, fundamentally, they don’t think you’ll do anything about it.

That’s where I know we can prove them wrong. Because we can respond right now by building an organization that will stop them — not just in this deficit battle, but in the next election so they never have the chance to enact these proposals.

Here’s the first step. Join our fight for a deficit reduction plan that will actually reduce the deficit — with a goal of shared prosperity through shared responsibility. Add your name to support President Obama’s plan — and then help bring more people into the conversation:

www.barackobama.com

Keep Tortoises on the Sunny Side of Solar Developmen​t

Large-scale renewable energy development in the U.S. is a key part of the strategy to fight climate change that threatens countless animals worldwide, to meet our nation’s growing energy needs and to build a stronger economy.

But to succeed, we need to be “smart from the start.”

Urge federal officials, who are developing a solar strategy for the U.S., to reduce impacts on wildlife like desert tortoises, wild lands and natural resources.

While Defenders supports solar energy it could be disastrous for wildlife and natural resources if poorly planned.

For instance, solar sites located in sensitive wildlife habitat could destroy the homes of endangered desert tortoises and other wildlife.

Help save desert tortoises and other wildlife. Submit your comments now.

Unfortunately, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) – intended to guide all solar energy development on BLM public lands – falls short in protecting wildlife and other natural resources.

Help promote solar energy development AND protect wildlife. Take action now!

One proposal in the BLM’s draft plan — the one preferred by federal officials would open up some 22 million acres to development. A more moderate alternative, the Solar Energy Zones (SEZ) alternative, limits development to zones totaling 677,000 acres.

But both options include areas with important wildlife habitat.

We need your help to urge BLM to instead adopt a “hybrid” approach that will guide solar projects to areas with high solar potential, near existing roads and transmission lines, but also to places with limited potential for conflicts with wildlife, important wildlife habitat and other natural resources.

Take action now. Make solar development “smart from the start” and help protect wildlife.

Specifically, Defenders of Wildlife supports a “hybrid” alternative we call a “Modified SEZ Alternative”… and I hope you will too. Our preferred approach would:

Include a process to modify, drop, or add zones, as necessary, but only from appropriate areas. It should exclude the Pisgah and Iron Mountain zones California.

Ensure compliance with existing BLM wildlife policies, and ensure no net loss of wildlife and improvement in threatened and endangered species habitat where possible.

Require proper mitigation for impacts to wildlife, both permanent and temporary, including compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts.

Promote proper conservation of limited water resources in present and future zones.

Ensure that projects that will have a high conflict with wildlife resources do not go forward.

This is a smart way to promote solar energy development, but we need intelligent, caring people like you to join us in supporting it. Please send your message now.

Desert wildlife across the United States is counting on you. I hope you will help.

With Gratitude,

Jim Lyons

Senior Director, Renewable Energy

Defenders of Wildlife

Bankrate.com

Home equity loan rates for April 14, 2011 | 2011-04-14

Here are the average home equity rates from Bankrate‘s weekly survey of large banks and thrifts. http://www.bankrate.com/finance/home-equity/national-home-equity-loan-rates-for-april-14-2011.aspx?ec_id=brmint_newsalert_20110414   

National mortgage rates for April 14, 2011 | 2011-04-14

See rates from our survey of CDs, mortgages, home equity products, auto loans and credit cards. http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/interest-rate-roundup-for-april-14-2011.aspx?ec_id=brmint_newsalert_20110414

Credit card interest rates for April 14, 2011 | 2011-04-14

Here are the average credit card rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of large banks and thrifts. http://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/national-credit-card-rates-for-april-14-2011.aspx?ec_id=brmint_newsalert_20110414

Auto loan rates for April 14, 2011 | 2011-04-14

Here are the average auto loan rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of large banks and thrifts. http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/national-auto-loan-rates-for-april-14-2011.aspx?ec_id=brmint_newsalert_20110414

CD rates for April 14, 2011 | 2011-04-14

Here are the average CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of large banks and thrifts. http://www.bankrate.com/finance/cd/national-cd-rates-for-april-14-2011.aspx?ec_id=brmint_newsalert_20110414

Think Fast … thinkprogress.org

“As Tax Day approaches, most Americans say they think the taxes they pay are fair ,” two new polls suggest. An AP poll found that 54 percent of Americans found their tax bill to be “fair,” while a Fox News poll found 52 percent say they “pay about their fair share.”

Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson received compensation worth $21.5 million last year. His “salary increased 7 percent to $2.2 million, and his bonus rose 40 percent to $3.4 million.” Tillerson heads the world’s largest publicly-traded company, which saw its earnings rise over 50 percent last year.

After throwing a tantrum and calling an NBA official a “fucking fag,” basketball superstar Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 by the league yesterday. Bryant responded by issuing a statement saying he did not mean to offend the LGBT community. The Wonk Room’s Zack Ford notes the statement did not include an apology nor an explanation for how his homophobic slur could be used without offending anyone.

A coalition of liberal groups and Wisconsin union members will be on hand to give Gov. Scott Walker (R) a “rowdy welcome” before his appearance on Capitol Hill today. Walker is testifying before Congress about his budget effort, which stripped the state’s public employees of collective bargaining rights.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee Wednesday. A “blunt-talking” conservative who may lack the fundraising ability of some of his opponents, Santorum could appeal to social conservatives in early primary states. “It’s time for America to be America again,” he said.

The New York Times notes that, despite the incredible wreckage caused by the financial crisis, there have still been no prosecutions among top figures in the financial markets. “It goes to the whole perception that Wall Street was taken care of, and Main Street was not,” said University of Pennsylvania law professor David Skeel.

Gun control advocates won a “rare victory” in the recent budget deal, as a provision was removed that would have made regulation of firearm sales along the Mexican border more difficult. “It’s hard to recall the last time the NRA didn’t get a priority,” noted one gun control advocate.

And finally: An FAA investigation revealed Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) “sky-hopped’ his Cessna aircraft over six vehicles and ground personnel as he tried to land last year on a closed runway in Texas, sending frightened airport workers fleeing for their lives.” “I think (the truck driver) actually wet his britches , he was scared to death,” a worker on the scene told investigators. Inhofe has already completed a mandatory retraining program.

For breaking news and updates throughout the day, follow ThinkProgress on Facebook and Twitter.

UPDATE: Drug cartel gun deal defeated

Thanks to Mayors Against Illegal Guns supporters like you who called their leaders in Washington, President Obama and Congress came together at the eleventh hour to defeat a budget proposal that would have blocked ATF efforts to investigate and disrupt assault weapons trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border.

www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org

The budget rider, known as the Boren Amendment, would have undermined America’s law enforcement officials and put our communities at risk. But after a barrage of calls and messages from concerned citizens, the White House and congressional leaders sided with the American people over the fringe gun lobby.

At a time when gun violence is spilling across our border, we’re encouraged by this sign that Washington may be ready to help law enforcement save lives. And with supporters like you by our side, our coalition will continue to build on this important victory.

Thanks for all you do to keep our communities safe,

Mayors Against Illegal Guns

Congress:The Debt Ceiling & Budget! debates/votes -the Republican led House -the Senate

The Senate Convenes: 9:30amET April 14, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The time until 4pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees.

When the Senate receives the papers from the House with respect to continuing resolution and the correcting resolutions, the Senate will proceed to 3 roll call votes in relation the following items in the order listed below:

-H.Con.Res.35, a correcting resolution relative to a prohibition of federal funds for health care reform; and

-H.Con.Res.36, a correcting resolution relative to a prohibition of federal funds for Planned Parenthood;

-H.R.1473, the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2011;

There will be two minutes of debate equally divided prior to each vote; no amendments are in order to the bill or the concurrent resolutions prior to the votes; the motions to reconsider will be considered made and laid upon the table; the correcting resolutions and the bill will be subject to 60-vote thresholds; the only points of order and motions in order are budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive.

Further, the Secretary of the Senate will immediately notify the House of Representatives of the results of the Senate’s action on the House measures.

We hope to receive the papers from the House sometime in the afternoon on Thursday. Therefore, Senators should expect 3 roll call votes as early as 2pm.

There will be no further roll call votes today.

The Senate is now in a period of morning business until 7:00pm for debate only with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes.

Votes:

59: H.Con.Res.35, a correcting resolution relative to a prohibition of federal funds for health care reform;

Not Agreed To: 47-53

60: H.Con.Res.36, a correcting resolution relative to a prohibition of federal funds for Planned Parenthood;

Not Agreed To: 42-58

60: H.R.1473, the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2011;

Passed: 81-19

Unanimous Consent:

OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL

Cal. 59 Carolyn Lerner – Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Cal. 60 Kelvin Droegemeier – Member of the National Science Board, NSF

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Cal. 63 Kathryn Sullivan – Assistant Secretary of Commerce, NOAA

MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION

Cal. 64 Frances Gulland – Marine Mammal Commission

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Cal. 65 Ann Begeman—Surface Transportation Board

 

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

Cal. 66 Mario Cordero – Federal Maritime Commission

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

Cal. 68 Rebecca Dye – Federal Maritime Commission

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Cal. 85 Peter Bruce Lyons – Assistant Secretary of Energy (Nuclear Energy)

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Cal. 87 Nils Maarten Parin Daulaire – Representative of the United States on the Executive Board for the World Health Organization

Cal. 88 Joseph M. Torsella – Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations for U.N. Management and Reform, rank of Ambassador

Cal. 89 Joseph M. Torsella – Alternate Representative of the United States to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations

Cal. 90 Kurt Walter Tong – For rank of Ambassador for the APEC Forum

Cal. 91 Suzan D. Johnson Cook – Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom

Cal. 92 Robert Patterson – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Turkmenistan

Cal. 93 Jonathan Scott Gration – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of Kenya

Cal. 94 Michelle D. Gavin – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of Botswana

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Cal. 96 Rafael Borras – to be Under Secretary for Management, Department of Homeland Security

MILITARY NOMINATIONS

Cal. 98 Robert W. Cone – General and Commanding Genderal, US Army Training and Doctrine Command;

Cal. 99 David S. Fadok – Lieutenant General and President, Air University;

Cal. 100 David M. Rodriguez – General and Commanding General, US Army Forces Command;

Cal. 101 Norvell Coots – to be Brigadier General

Dennis Doyle – to be Brigadier General

Brian Lein – to be Brigadier General

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Cal. 104 Katherine Abraham — Member of the Council of Economic Advisors

Cal. 105 Carl Shapiro – Member of the Council of Economic Advisors

And all nominations on the Secretary’s desk in the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force

H.Con.Res.43, the adjournment resolution

H.R.1308, a bill to amend the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act to extend the termination date for the Commission, and for other purposes.

S.216, the Food Safety Accountability Act

S.Res.109, A resolution honoring and supporting women in North Africa and the Middle East whose bravery, compassion, and commitment to putting the wellbeing of others before their own, has proven that courage can be contagious with 2 Snowe amendments.

S.Res.127, designating April 2011 as “National Child Abuse Prevention Month”

S.Res.128, expressing the sense of the Senate that public servants should be commended for their dedication and continued service to the Nation during Public Service Recognition Week, May 1 through 7, 2011.

S.Res.138, a resolution calling on the United Nations to rescind the Goldstone report, and for other purposes.

H.Con.Res.33, permitting the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony as part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the Holocaust.

S.Res.154, designating July 8, 2011, as “Collector Car Appreciation Day” and recognizing that the collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States.

S.Res.155, designating April 23, 2011, as “National Adopt A Library Day”

S.Res.156, designating April 15-17, 2011 as “Global Youth Service Day”

S.Res.157, designating April 21, 2011, as “PowerTalk 21 Day”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on April 14, 2011.

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF APRIL 14, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

6:33 P.M. -

The Committee of the Whole resumed its sitting.

6:32 P.M. -

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 1473, without amendment.

The Committee of the Whole rose informally to receive a message from the Senate.

6:03 P.M. -

The Committee of the Whole resumed its sitting.

6:02 P.M. -

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate failed to agree to H. Con. Res 35 and H. Con. Res 36.

The Committee of the Whole rose informally to receive a message from the Senate.

H. Con. Res. 34:

establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2012 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2013 through 2021

4:58 P.M. -

GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 4 hours of general debate on H. Con. Res. 34.

4:57 P.M. -

The Speaker designated the Honorable Lee Terry to act as Chairman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 223 and Rule XVIII.

Rule provides for consideration of H. Con. Res. 34 with 4 hours of general debate. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the concurrent resolution. The resolution waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of this report. The resolution permits the Chairman of the Budget Committee to offer amendments in the House pursuant to section 305(a)(5) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to achieve mathematical consistency. Finally, the resolution provides that the concurrent resolution shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question of its adoption.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 223.

4:55 P.M. -

On motion to adjourn Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 11 – 412 (Roll no. 272).

4:39 P.M. -

Mr. Jackson (IL) moved that the House do now adjourn.

H. Con. Res. 36:

directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1473

4:38 P.M. -

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 241 – 185, 1 Present (Roll no. 271).

4:31 P.M. -

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Con. Res. 35:

directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1473

4:29 P.M. -

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 240 – 185 (Roll no. 270).

4:07 P.M. -

Considered as unfinished business.

4:06 P.M. -

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on agreeing to H.Con.Res. 35 and H.Con.Res 36, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Con. Res. 36:

directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1473

4:05 P.M. -

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair put the question on agreeing to H.Con Res. 36 and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Nunnelee demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to H.Con.Res. 36 until later in the legislative day.

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

3:34 P.M. -

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 218, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 36.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 218.

H. Con. Res. 35:

directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1473

3:33 P.M. -

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair put the question on agreeing to H.Con Res. 35 and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Alexander demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to H.Con.Res. 35 until later in the legislative day.

3:32 P.M. -

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

3:08 P.M. -

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 218, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 35.

3:07 P.M. -

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 218.

H. Con. Res. 43:

providing for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives and a conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate

3:06 P.M. -

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 243 – 178 (Roll no. 269).

3:01 P.M. -

Considered as unfinished business.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on agreeing to H.Con.Res. 43 which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H.R. 1473:

making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes

3:00 P.M. -

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

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 260 – 167 (Roll no. 268).

2:34 P.M. -

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

1:16 P.M. -

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1473.

1:15 P.M. -

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1473, H. Con. Res. 35 and H. Con. Res. 36 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. All points of order against consideration of H.R. 1473 are waived. All poionts of order against consideration of H.R. 1473 are waived.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 218.

H. Con. Res. 43:

providing for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives and a conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair put the question on agreeing to H.Con Res. 43 and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Moran demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to H.Con.Res. 43 until later in the legislative day.

1:12 P.M. -

Considered as privileged matter.

On approving the Journal Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 311 – 106, 2 Present (Roll no. 267).

H. Res. 223:

providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 34) establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2012 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2013 through 2021

1:04 P.M. -

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 243 – 181 (Roll no. 266).

12:55 P.M. -

On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 238 – 183 (Roll no. 265).

11:25 A.M. -

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 223.

11:22 A.M. -

Considered as privileged matter.

11:03 A.M. -

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.

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

11:02 A.M. -

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that she had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Poe (TX) demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Poe (TX) objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day.

11:00 A.M. -

Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Arthur Cavitt, St. Charles Lwanga Center, St. Louis, Missouri

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 14.

10:36 A.M. -

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. today.

10:00 A.M. -

MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 11:00 a.m. for the start of legislative business.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.