CBO: S.2343, Student Loan Rate Hike of 2012 – CBO Testified – Agriculture Reform – Healthcare Act of 2011

S. 2343, Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act of 2012

CBO Testified on Federal Support for State and Local Governments Provided Through the Tax Code

Yesterday Frank Sammartino, CBO’s Assistant Director for Tax Analysis, testified before the Senate Finance Committee on federal support for state and local governments provided through the tax code and on some ways in which tax reform might affect that support.

The testimony focused on two particular aspects of current policy:

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Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012

As posted on the Web site of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on April 26, 2012.

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Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare Act of 2011

As approved by the House Committee on the Judiciary on April 25, 2011

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H.R. 4628, Interest Rate Reduction Act

As Introduced on April 25, 2012

Mitt Romney Versus Reality: Global Edition

Apr 26, 2012 by     BarackObamadotcom

Are you in? https://my.barackobama.com/globalttvid
Mitt Romney continues to distort reality in this global edition of “Mitt Romney versus Reality”

the Progress Report

The Latest GOP Assaults on Women

By         ThinkProgress War Room

The Republican War on Women Is Only Getting Bigger

While continuing to deny there is any such thing, the Republicans continue their all-out war on women, their health care, and their families.

Here’s the latest.

All of the Senators Voting Against the Violence Against Women Act Were Republican Men

Yesterday, the Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act by an overwhelming 68-31 margin.  While every Democrat and all five female Republican senators voted to reauthorize and expand the landmark law, a whopping 31 of their male colleagues voted no.

Meanwhile, House Republicans are going to be crafting a watered down version that leaves out important protections for LGBT people, immigrants, Native Americans, and others.

It’s shameful that some Republicans apparently believe that all women are not entitled to protection from abuse.  House Republicans even called the idea that all women deserve protection “controversial.”

House Republicans Rob Health Fund for Women, Children to Pay For Student Loans

Instead of asking Big Oil or millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share so student loan interest rates don’t double, House Republicans instead passed a bill today that paid for extending the current rates by outright repealing a preventive health fund that disproportionately benefits women and children.  From the White House’s veto threat:

Women, in particular, will benefit from this Prevention Fund, which would provide for hundreds of thousands of screenings for breast and cervical cancer.  This is a politically-motivated proposal and not the serious response that the problem facing America’s college students deserves.

This new attack was denounced just before today’s vote by Democratic women, including Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA).  Watch it:

Caught on Tape: The GOP’s Women Problem

To better help Republicans understand that their war on women is very much real, ThinkProgress compiled a lowlight reel of some of their most offensive comments.  Check it out:

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You May Have Missed

Pakistan deported Osama bin Laden’s family to Saudi Arabia today, ending speculation about the fate of the three widows and 11 children detained after the May 2nd raid which killed bin Laden.

A District Court has ruled Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s plan to drug-test state employees unconstitutional.

Romney’s advice to students today: borrow $20,000 from your parents.

The right-wing group ALEC, which was dumped by for-profit education company Kaplan today, was so powerful it got its own ethics exemption.

Seventy-five percent of American support “regulating carbon dioxide (the primary greenhouse gas) as a pollutant.”

Recalling war crimes in Liberia after its former President is brought to justice.

The next battle in the war on women: the Paycheck Fairness Act.

The Romney campaign criticizes the Obama administration for discussing the consequences of attacking Iran.

Boston Bruins fans react to overtime loss to Washington Capitals with racist tweets.

Fox News won’t let go of the lie that President Obama apologized for America.

Other recent Progress Reports

Apr 26, 2012: Did You Like George W. Bush’s Foreign Policy?

Mitt Romney’s Misguided, Mistaken, and Misbegotten Foreign Policy Today, Vice President Biden gave a speech at New York University laying out a broad attack on Mitt Romney — a candidate whose only foreign policy experience comes from shipping jobs overseas — and his approach to foreign policy.  Biden said that Romney was relying on the [...]

Apr 25, 2012: INFOGRAPHIC: What You Need To Know About The Violence Against Women Act

Will Republicans Really Oppose the Violence Against Women Act? As soon as the Senate finishes a massive postal reform bill, it is expected to take up a bill to reauthorize the landmark Violence Against Women Act. Shockingly, as we discussed last week, some Republicans are actually opposed to this vital legislation.  House Republicans already refused [...]

Apr 24, 2012: Will Republicans Stick It To Students? (Again.)

Will the GOP Force Students & Their Families to Take on Even More Debt? As it stands now, the interest rate on loans for many students will DOUBLE come July 1.  This change would impact more than 7.4 MILLION students, forcing them to pile on even more debt at time when student debt is already [...]

Apr 23, 2012: An ‘Update’ To The Bush Years?

New GOP Economic Plan is Same as Previous Disastrous GOP Economic Plan In nearly every policy area, Republicans from Mitt Romney on down the line have been proposing that we go back to the disastrous policies of the Bush administration — only on steroids.  For example, Mitt Romney not only wants to keep the Bush [...]

the DFA Wisconsin Recall Campaign.

This is it. DFA’s campaign to recall right-wing Gov. Scott Walker and four anti-union, anti-middle class Wisconsin Republican Senators is ready to go — and it’s the biggest campaign we’ve ever run.
- We’re going to be on the air with new hard-hitting TV, radio and web ads against Walker and his Republican cronies for their work to destroy unions and middle class families.
- We’re going to be on the ground with a massive door-to-door canvass, knocking on 127,353 doors in 35 days. Wisconsin Campaign Manager Kaili Lambe is on the ground right now hiring staff for our biggest-ever ground campaign.
- We’re talking directly to voters and having real Wisconsinites tell their stories because it’s the most effective tactic to win support and Get Out The Vote. A grassroots campaign run on people-power like this one is the only thing that can beat big corporate money — it’s the only thing that ever has. But we can’t do it without you.
Please chip in $8 right now to the DFA Wisconsin Recall Campaign.
Gov. Walker reminded us this week exactly what’s at stake when he pushed through a plan to throw more than 17,000 low-income Wisconsinites off Medicaid.

Wisconsin isn’t the only state where Republicans have launched all-out War on Working Families like this. But other right-wing Governors are taking their cues from Walker and his cronies.

Wisconsin is the front line in the War on Working Families and this recall campaign is our biggest ever. Join us now to put us over the top in the June 5 recall and send a message to Republicans across the country — attack the middle class and you lose.
Please contribute $8 now.
Thank you for everything you do.
-Jim
Jim Dean, Chair Democracy For America

Media Matters for America: Anti Environment EPA and War On Women

Who’s Behind The Right’s Latest Anti-Environment Video? Fox News and other conservative media have promoted a video that suggests environmental regulations will cause “America to fail.” But the video, created by a conservative group with a history of ethical problems, makes many misleading claims including denying global warming. Read More

Memo To Media: EPA Official’s Comments Applied Only To Lawbreakers Several media outlets have distorted comments by an EPA official, falsely suggesting that he said “oil companies should be crucified.” In fact, the official was using an analogy, which he has since apologized for, to describe a common approach to regulatory enforcement: making examples out of those who break the law. Read More

Fox’s Hannity Denies That Women Face Discrimination From Insurers In The Absence Of Health Care Reform This week, Fox News host Sean Hannity scoffed at the idea that women face discriminatory practices from the health insurance industry, arguing that it is “disinformation” to claim that repeal of the health care reform law, which bans such practices, will again subject women to unfair and discriminatory treatment by insurers. In fact, the law bans insurance companies from its current practice of charging women higher premiums for the same coverage as men, and forbids insurers from listing pregnancy as a pre-existing condition, which was often used by some providers as an excuse to deny coverage. Read More

 

Congressional Budget Office: Reconciliation l Federal Student Loans l FY2013 Senate

• 
• Reconciliation Recommendations of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
• Reconciliation Recommendations of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce

• Estimated Budgetary Impact of Bills to Prevent the Scheduled Increase in Interest Rates on New Federal Student Loans Under current law, starting on July 1, the interest rate on new subsidized student loans will rise from the 3.4 percent in effect this year to 6.8 percent. During the past few days, CBO has released cost estimates for House and Senate bills that would delay that increase for one year.CBO’s estimates for the proposed legislation can be found here:read more

Status of Discretionary Appropriations: FY 2013 Senate

Estimates of discretionary budget authority and outlays for fiscal year 2013.

the Daily Share:

Three Words In The Bible That Some People Totally Ignore

Two Simple Ideas That We Wish More People Lived By

The Awesome Jimmy Carter Quote About Women That Everyone Is Sharing

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The Controversial Graphic That Is Popping Up Everywhere

BRILLIANT! Short Film Explains Secret To Happiness—And It’s Not What You Think

Would An Extra $10,784 Help Your Family?

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A Beautiful Gay Marriage* Video With One Idea You May Have Never Thought Of

Bill Maher Analyzes The GOP’s ‘Sh_t Eating Grin’ In One Hilariously Disturbing Clip

Wyclef Jean Releases One Of The Most Powerful Trayvon Tributes We’ve Seen

In the Library: Last Dance in Havana by Eugene Robinson

In power for forty-four years and counting, Fidel Castro has done everything possible to define Cuba to the world and to itself — yet not even he has been able to control the thoughts and dreams of his people. Those thoughts and dreams are the basis for what may become a post-Castro Cuba. To more fully understand the future of America’s near neighbor, veteran reporter Eug…moreIn power for forty-four years and counting, Fidel Castro has done everything possible to define Cuba to the world and to itself — yet not even he has been able to control the thoughts and dreams of his people. Those thoughts and dreams are the basis for what may become a post-Castro Cuba. To more fully understand the future of America’s near neighbor, veteran reporter Eugene Robinson knew exactly where to look — or rather, to listen. In this provocative work, Robinson takes us on a sweaty, pulsating, and lyrical tour of a country on the verge of revolution, using its musicians as a window into its present and future.

Music is the mother’s milk of Cuban culture. Cubans express their fondest hopes, their frustrations, even their political dissent, through music. Most Americans think only of salsa and the “Buena Vista Social Club” when they think of the music of Cuba, yet those styles are but a piece of a broad musical spectrum. Just as the West learned more about China after the Cultural Revolution by watching “From Mao to Mozart,” so will readers discover the real Cuba — the living, breathing, dying, yet striving Cuba.

Cuban music is both wildly exuberant and achingly melancholy. A thick stew of African and European elements, it is astoundingly rich and influential to have come from such a tiny island. From rap stars who defy the government in their lyrics to violinists and pianists who attend the world’s last Soviet-style conservatory to international pop stars who could make millions abroad yet choose to stay and work for peanuts, Robinson introduces us to unforgettable characters who happily bring him into their homes and backstage discussions.

Despite Castro’s attemptsto shut down nightclubs, obstruct artists, and subsidize only what he wants, the musicians and dancers of Cuba cannot stop, much less behave. Cubans move through their complicated lives the way they move on the dance floor, dashing and darting and spinning on a dime, seducing joy and fulfillment and next week’s supply of food out of a broken system. Then at night they take to the real dance floors and invent fantastic new steps. “Last Dance in Havana” is heartwrenching, yet ultimately as joyous and hopeful as a rocking club late on a Saturday night.

 

Congress: the Republican led House holds hearings – both Chambers back on 5/7 – the Senate

The Senate stands in adjournment under the provisions of S.Con.Res.43, the adjournment resolution.

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, May 7, 2012. 

Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2343, the Stop Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act.

At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following items:

-          Executive Calendar #508 Jacqueline H. Nguyen, of CA, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit

-          Executive Calendar #568 Kristine Gerhard Baker, of AR, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas

-          Executive Calendar #569 John Z. Lee, IL, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois

with 60 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.  Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will conduct up to 3 roll call votes on the Nguyen, Baker and Lee nominations.  It is possible the Baker and Lee nominations will be confirmed by voice vote.

As a reminder to all Senators, on Thursday, April 26^th, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.2343, the Stop Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act.  By consent, the roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2343 will be at 12:00pm on Tuesday, May 8^th.

If the Senate does not receive a message from the House that it has adopted S.Con.Res.43, the Senate will convene on the following dates at the following times for pro forma sessions only, with no business conducted:

-          Monday, April 30, at 10:30am

-          Thursday, May 3, at 8:30am

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The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on May 7, 2012.

Republicans hold hearings today …

4/30 9:30 am

Field Hearing: A Review of Efforts to Protect the Health of Jockeys and Horses in HorseracingCommittee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health

4/30 11:00 am

Field Hearing: STEM Education in Action: Local Schools, Non-Profits, and BusinessesCommittee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research and Science Education

Media Matters for America: Deforestation, Fluke, Apologizing and more

Fox News Now Denying Deforestation In a rant described by one scientist as “either incredibly ignorant” or “intentionally misleading,” Fox News host Greg Gutfeld denied deforestation and distorted climate science. Read More

Fox’s Monica Crowley Reacts To Sandra Fluke’s Reported Engagement: “To A Man?”

Who’s Behind The Right’s Latest Anti-Environment Video?

Fox Won’t Let Go Of Ridiculous Myth That Obama “Apologized” For America

TEMPER TANTRUM: Fox News’ “The Five” Whines About Media Matters

Disbanded ALEC Task Force Chair: Gun and Voter Issues No Longer Priority