by propublicaon Oct 31, 2011
How powerful interests are drawing you out of a vote. Part of a ProPublica investigation.
See more at: www.propublica.org/redistricting
Daily Archives: 03/19/2012
President Barack Obama Speaks at National Women’s Law Center 2011 Annual Dinner
On November 9, 2011, President Barack Obama delivered an inspiring keynote speech at the National Women’s Law Center’s Annual Awards Dinner. In his speech, he praised the Freedom Riders and efforts to promote women’s equality.
Learn more about the National Women’s Law Center at http://www.nwlc.org.
Help tell the story of health care reform in Washington
Two years ago when health care reform was on the line, thousands of Washingtonians shared their personal stories — and that helped shape the national debate.
Then, President Obama accomplished what presidents from both parties had tried to do for more than 70 years. He’ll be the first to admit he didn’t do it alone — he was bolstered by people like you who stood up to fight for reform.
Now, as we approach the two-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, we want to check in on the progress that’s been made. This is going to be a key issue in this election, and your stories will help show voters how this law is already helping millions.
Share how health care reform has helped you or someone you know.
If you’d rather make a video to tell your story, we’re all for it: Just upload it to YouTube and send us the link.
Before reform, hundreds of thousands of families each year would find themselves on the brink of bankruptcy just because someone got sick. Pre-existing conditions allowed insurance companies to deny coverage to children. A coverage gap for prescription drugs caught seniors by surprise, costing them hundreds of dollars out of pocket.
But then you spoke up and stood with President Obama for change. And on March 23rd, 2010, we made history by helping pass the Affordable Care Act.
Now, two years later, folks are starting to see the real-life impact of reform.
In Washington alone, 2.4 million people no longer have a lifetime limit on coverage; 483,000 women have seen their coverage for preventive services like mammograms expanded; 500,000 seniors and people with disabilities who have Medicare have already received free preventive care; and 52,000 young people who would otherwise be uninsured are staying on their parents’ insurance plans until they turn 26.
This isn’t where the story ends. The other side is bent on taking down the health reform we fought so hard for.
Will you help tell the story of the Affordable Care Act and why it matters to families in Washington, and across the country?
Or, submit a video telling your story:
Thanks,
Jen
Jen O’Malley Dillon
Deputy Campaign Manager
Obama for America
Watch Our New Video and Join the Campaign – I Will NOT Be Denied
In the past year, thanks to the health care law:Over 20 million women with private insurance have received at least one preventive health care service without a co-pay or deductible.
Over 39 million women no longer face lifetime limits on coverage, so they can get the health care they need.
About 2.5 million young adults gained health coverage because they could stay on their parents’ plans.
And this is just the beginning. The health care law is working for women by helping them get the care they need. So why are some opponents of the law fighting to take away these benefits and common-sense protections?
Sign the Petition
The new health care law is working for women
Join our campaign and sign our petition to tell your leaders: I Will Not Be Denied!™
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Petition Text
The health care law is working for women, helping them get the care they need. The law provides important benefits and protections that promote better health and lower costs. Now, millions more women can get preventive services like mammograms and colonoscopies without a co-pay. The law also stops insurance companies from dropping anyone’s coverage simply because they’re sick.
But this is just the beginning. Later this year, millions more women will have access to well-woman exams and birth control without a co-pay and all health plans will have to include maternity care. Other important benefits and protections will continue to roll out until the law is fully implemented, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to charge women higher premiums than men. But opponents of the law are fighting to take away all these important benefits and common-sense protections.
Take a stand and help us protect women’s health care. Join the National Women’s Law Center’s campaign and tell opponents of affordable care “I Will NOT Be Denied.”™
Afghan Code Declares “Men are Fundamental, and Women are Secondary”
In Afghanistan, the hard-won progress of women’s rights is in danger. President Hamid Karzai recently endorsed an oppressive “code of conduct” that will ban Afghan women from traveling without a male escort or mingling with men in public places.Worst of all, the code states that, “Men are fundamental and women are secondary.” Tell President Karzai that women are NOT second-class citizens!»
In addition, women can still be physically assaulted by their spouse if it is for a “Shariah-compliant reason.”
Karzai is apparently willing to sacrifice the rights and independence of half his citizens in order to appease the extremist conservative forces.
the Progress Report – Flat Earthers
The Fight With Flat-Earthers
By Adam Peck
The Republicans on the campaign trail continue to hit President Obama for failing to act to offset high gas prices despite several conservative groups conceding that there is little a president can do to affect short term costs. Newt Gingrich’s gimmicky pledge to bring $2.50 gallon/gas has been derided by Obama, conservative commentators, and even fellow Republican candidate Mitt Romney, who called the $2.50 promise “pandering.” Yesterday, the President criticized the GOP field for parroting the same talking points used for decades and failing to offer any real solutions to solve the price spike at the pump. “There will always be cynics and naysayers who just want to keep on doing things the same way we’ve always done them,” he told supporters in Maryland, comparing the Republican candidates to “flat-earthers” and doubters of innovation. But the disconnect between Republicans and the reality of energy policy and climate science is not reserved for the campaign trail:
DOMESTIC OIL PRODUCTION IS UP: Republicans have seized on a new report from the Energy Information Administration that purportedly shows that the U.S. production of oil is slowing. In fact, even with a dip in the domestic production of crude oil on public lands last year, overall domestic production hit its highest mark since 2003. During President Obama’s first term, the number of operational oil rigs has quadrupled, more than 75 percent of potentially oil-rich wells in the gulf have been approved for exploration, and, for the first time in over a decade, we now import less than half of all the oil we consume every year. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has increased safety measures and depressed production in the Gulf of Mexico in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. But that’s not enough for Republicans, who want to drill even more. Obama did offer one concession though: “I guess there are a few spots where we’re not drilling. We’re not drilling in the National Mall, we’re not drilling in your house. I guess we could have 200 oil rigs in the middle of Chesapeake Bay,” he said on Thursday.
WAR ON SCIENCE: The effects of climate change could be felt nationwide this winter. Almost 50 percent of the continental United States experienced extreme warm temperatures, the 4th highest number ever recorded. On Wednesday, 577 temperature records were broken in a single day, 400 of them new record highs around the country. And yet, Republicans continue to deny the severity, or even existence, of climate change. The conservative Heartland Institute is bankrolling public school curriculums designed to teach young children that climate change is not a fact. GOP presidential candidates have called climate change a “hoax,” a “conspiracy,” and “unproven” on the campaign trail. The energy industry is also spending millions to ensure a pro-oil agenda. Oil and gas spent $146 million lobbying Congress last year, and over $18 million in federal campaign contributions.
PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS: Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) told his constituents at a town hall meeting last month that the federal government doesn’t need any more national parks, and should sell some of them off. Stearns is by no means an outcast either. Last October, presidential candidate Ron Paul made a similar claim, and last month Rick Santorum chimed in as well. Even the chairman of the House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) called national monuments and wilderness areas “detriments” to local communities. That’s not what the facts show, though. In 2010, national parks accounted for $31 billion in revenue and over 250,000 jobs. Public land has always taken a back seat to private interests for Republicans, though. Whether it’s the Grand Canyon or the waters off the eastern seaboard, Republicans are perfectly content trampling over public land for the benefit of corporations and oil barons.
Evening Brief: Important Stories That You May Have Missed
Inhofe on the 97 percent of scientists who agree global warming is real: “That doesn’t mean anything.”
Is Mitt Romney profiting off Chinese surveillance?
About that mandate? It’s not as unusual as Republicans want you to believe.
The latest battleground in the war on women is Arizona, where the GOP controlled legislature is about to defund Planned Parenthood.
Obscure male philosophers make the New York TImes obit page, but prominent women philosophers sometimes get left off.
The famously anti-Muslim Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders’s xenophobia extends beyond just Muslims.
Texas has lost Medicaid funding for a women’s health program because Republicans blacklisted Planned Parenthood from it.
How television sees the recession.
The U.S. cured the culture of poverty, not poverty itself.
Other recent Progress Reports
Mar 15, 2012: Did You Tell Your Boss Why You’re On The Pill?
The conservative war on women shows no signs of abating. The last few weeks have given rise to half a dozen bills that try to limit or eliminate a woman’s access to reproductive health care. Just this week, Arizona took up a bill that ups the ante: It would require women to prove to their [...]
Mar 14, 2012: A Goldman Sachs Insider Speaks
Epic Resignation Letter Underscores Need for Tougher Rules on Wall Street This morning, a now-former Goldman Sachs executive, Greg Smith, published a truly epic resignation letter in the New York Times. Smith wrote that he resigned from Goldman due to its “toxic and destructive” environment which included managing directors referring to their own clients as “muppets.” [...]
Mar 13, 2012: Rush On The Rocks
Advertiser Exodus Grows Exponentially It’s becoming increasingly clear that Rush Limbaugh’s vile, sexist attacks on Sandra Fluke and other women have taken a severe toll on his show. Here’s the latest. At least 140 Companies Have Dumped Limbaugh ThinkProgress has obtained an internal memo from Premiere Radio Networks listing 96 national companies that have “specifically [...]
Mar 12, 2012: BLOCKADE: The GOP’s Unending Effort to Block Obama’s Nominees
GOP Obstructionism, By the Numbers It’s no secret that Republicans have done everything in their power to throw up road blocks for President Obama at every turn. And nowhere is their power to block the president greater than it is in the Senate, where Republicans have effectively imposed a blockade on the president’s nominees for [...]
Media Matters for America … Fox doubles down on false claim of Health Care Law
Right-Wing Media Falsely Claim Cost Of Health Care Law Has Doubled Right-wing media are falsely claiming that a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) shows that the cost of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has doubled since CBO’s estimate in 2010. In fact, CBO’s analysis actually showed that the insurance coverage provisions of the health care law will cost less than originally estimated. Read More
Fox’s Varney Attacks “Feel Good” Food Stamp Program As Hunger Reaches Elevated Levels
Fox’s Stuart Varney dismissed the federal food stamp program as an “entitlement” that “make[s] you feel good” and attacked an outreach program intended to ensure that people know whether they are eligible for benefits, suggesting it was being used by the Obama administration to “buy votes.” But the food stamp program — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — is effective and necessary as the number of hungry Americans has reached elevated levels, and the SNAP outreach program goes back at least to President George W. Bush.
Ignoring Critics, Right-Wing Media Defend NYPD Muslim Surveillance While Pushing Anti-Muslim Rhetoric
Right-wing media have defended the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) surveillance of American Muslims throughout the Northeast, engaging in anti-Muslim rhetoric and dismissing concerns of civil rights groups while doing so. But law enforcement experts have said that the program has a “negative impact” on the ability to gather counterterrorism intelligence, and lawmakers from across the political spectrum have criticized the program.
the so-called JOBS Act bill … AFL – CIO has the facts
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Urgent: Congress is rushing to deregulate Wall Street—pushing a cynically named “JOBS Act.” This bill could pass as early as Monday. Senate Democrats, including Jack Reed, Carl Levin and Mary Landrieu, have offered the “INVEST in America Act” to amend the “JOBS Act” and make it less harmful. We need to support these amendments while making it clear that working families oppose the so-called JOBS Act bill. Please urge your senators to vote FOR the “INVEST in America Act” to make the JOBS Act less harmful to workers and consumers—and AGAINST the cynically named “;JOBS Act” bill. Workers’ retirement savings will be at greater risk of fraud and speculation if securities market deregulation once again is railroaded through Congress. Our economy will be at risk from the folly of policymakers promoting financial bubbles and ignoring the needs of the real economy. The AFL-CIO calls on Congress to set aside the politics of the 1%, the old game of special favors for Wall Street, and turn to the business of real job creation. Thank you for all the work you do. In Solidarity, Richard L. Trumka |
Congress:the Republican led House-Ryan budget plan revised? And a fake JobsAct! — the Senate considers HR3606,the Capital Formation/IPO bill
the Senate Convenes at 2:00pmET March 19, 2012
- Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
- Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.3606, the Capital Formation/IPO bill.
- The filing deadline for all first degree amendments to the Reed-Landrieu-Levin-Brown (OH), et al, substitute amendment #1833 and H.R.3630 is 4:00pm on Monday.
- As previously announced, there will be no roll call votes on Monday. Senators should expect the next roll call vote on Tuesday, March 20th prior to the weekly caucus meetings.
As a reminder, the filing deadline for first degree amendments to the Reed-Landrieu-Levin-Brown (OH), et al, substitute amendment and #1833, the IPO bill, is at 4:00pm today. If your Senator has a germane first degree amendment and would like to preserve her or his right to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment to the Cloakroom prior to the deadline so that we may filed it at the desk for you. If you have already filed, there is no need to re-file.
WRAP UP
No ROLL CALL VOTES
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
Notwithstanding the passage of S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill, the Senate agreed to the Boxer amendment #1903, which is a technical amendment, striking title V of division C with the heading entitled “Research and Innovative Technology Administration Reauthorization Act of 2012”, which was moved to division E.
Discharged the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs from further consideration of S.2076, a bill to improve security at State and local courthouses and referred it to the Judiciary committee.
Began the Rule 14 process of S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act. (Menendez)
No EXECUTIVE ITEMS
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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 19, 2012
112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION
-The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.5:23:34 P.M. -H.R. 3992At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.5:13:45 P.M. -H.R. 3992DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3992.5:13:41 P.M. -H.R. 3992Considered under suspension of the rules.5:13:26 P.M. -H.R. 3992Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 3992 — “To allow otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E-2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly situated United States nationals are eligible for similar nonimmigrant status in Israel.”5:13:12 P.M. -H.R. 4086Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.5:13:10 P.M. -H.R. 4086On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.5:04:35 P.M. -H.R. 4086DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4086.5:04:32 P.M. -H.R. 4086Considered under suspension of the rules.5:04:16 P.M. -H.R. 4086Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4086 — “To amend chapter 97 of title 28, United States Code, to clarify the exception to foreign sovereign immunity set forth in section 1605(a)(3) of such title.”5:04:04 P.M. -The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. today.5:03:54 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 19.4:11:33 P.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 5:00 P.M. today.4:04:14 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.4:03:51 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Faleomavaega to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.4:03:41 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.4:01:00 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.4:00:00 P.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
