Truth to Power – just the facts from Stephanie


President Obama had some pretty powerful words on what this campaign is going to be about — and I wanted to make sure folks on the Truth Team heard them.
At a press conference Monday, the President was asked why the campaign is taking a look at Mitt Romney‘s record as a corporate buyout specialist,  a record Romney’s been claiming as his chief qualification for the presidency.
The President said that while there’s nothing wrong with private equity, Romney’s priority wasn’t to create jobs — it was to maximize profits for partners and investors. A president has to focus on more than just that.
Watch the rest of his response on why Romney’s record should be looked at, then share it far and wide:

Video: President Obama on Romney's record
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President Obama said of Romney, “his main calling card for why he thinks he should be President is his business expertise … And when you’re President, as opposed to the head of a private equity firm, then your job is not simply to maximize profits. Your job is to figure out how everybody in the country has a fair shot.”
Folks, that’s what we’re going to be fighting for this year — and it’s up to us to lay out the stark differences between Romney’s views and our President’s. Get our President’s back — pass it on:

http://my.barackobama.com/Truth-Team-May22


Thanks,
Stephanie
P.S. — Here’s the video the President refers to in his response. Definitely worth a watch.

a message from Tarryl Clark


Dear Friend-
 
After months of stalling the renewal of the Violence Against Women Act, Chip Cravaack and the House Republicans voted last Thursday to water down this important legislation which has helped protect women and their children.
 
This is completely unacceptable. Over the past two decades, the Violence Against Women Act has been a powerful tool, helping decrease domestic violence by 50%.
 
 
I’ve spent my career working to strengthen our families and all communities, including representing domestic abuse victims and organizations serving them as an attorney and advocate. It is critical that all women and children have the resources to escape domestic violence.
 
I can’t believe Chip Cravaack is voting to make this more difficult.
 
 
Yesterday, I attended a walk memorializing a Duluth woman who lost her life to domestic violence just two years ago. This reinforces just how important it is to strengthen these protections, please join me in urging Chip Cravaack to stand with us today.
 
Thank you,
Tarryl
 

P.S. This is the only the latest front in the Republican war on women. I don’t know why they keep attacking us, but we have to keep fighting back or they win. Sign my petition now!

Congresssional Budget Office


Economic Effects of Reducing the Fiscal Restraint That Is Scheduled to Occur in 2013

Policymakers are facing difficult trade-offs in formulating the nation’s fiscal policies. On the one hand, if the fiscal policies currently in place are continued in coming years, the revenues collected by the federal government will fall far short of federal spending, putting the budget on an unsustainable path. On the other hand, immediate spending cuts or tax increases would represent an added drag on the weak economic expansion.

read more

 

CBO Analyzes Effects of Fiscal Restraint Scheduled Under Current Law

Policymakers face difficult trade-offs in deciding how quickly to implement policies to reduce budget deficits. On the one hand, cutting spending or increasing taxes slowly would lead to a greater accumulation of government debt; on the other hand, immediate spending cuts or tax increases would represent an added drag on the weak economic expansion.

read more

 

Senate Amendment 2122 in the Nature of a Substitute to S. 3187, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act

CBO Estimate of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Effects for Senate Amendment 2122 in the Nature of a Substitute to S. 3187, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act

 

 

 

AFL – CIO – National Labor College(NLC)



Alejandro Garcia, IBEW Local 357, is an NLC student and a Union Plus NLC Scholarship recipient. Want to join him?

Are you or is someone you know trying to complete a college degree?

If so, now is the time to do something about it, and the National Labor College (NLC) can get you started toward completing your degree as soon as this fall.

The NLC’s program is tailor-made for full-time working men and women like you. Call 1-888-427-8100 or click here to visit NLC.edu for more information.

With NLC, you can expand your job skills, increase your salary, enhance your job security and improve your job satisfaction while finishing your degree.

Apply by Aug. 6 to be eligible for financial aid and scholarships.

Visit NLC.edu or call 1-888-427-8100 to get more details and apply.

Worried that your full-time work schedule won’t give you enough time to go to class? The National Labor College offers degrees with an online format so you can manage your courseload and pace to fit your schedule. You also can receive college credits for what you have learned through trainings and work experience.

And NLC is the only accredited labor college dedicated to educating union members and their families. Tuition is highly discounted for union members (about $300 per credit).

What if you aren’t a union member? You can join our community affiliate, Working America, and get the discount. And Union Plus scholarships also are available to help with tuition costs.


Tina Davis, AFSCME Local 1270, is a Union Plus NLC Scholarship recipient and will graduate this year.

Online bachelor’s degrees and certificates are offered in:

Call 1-888-427-8100 or click here to visit www.NLC.edu for more information. Take the first step and apply today!

In solidarity,

Andy Richards
New Media Strategist, AFL-CIO

P.S. The NLC offers an array of financial aid options so you don’t have to worry about how to pay for your degree. You can find out more about financial aid here. You could complete your degree in less than two years for less than $10,000.

If you apply now, take 50 percent off the application fee—and you can start taking classes in September.

Media Matters for America: Socialists Dobbs and Trickle-Down Economy


“Socialist BS”: Right-Wing Media Attack Obama’s Joplin Commencement Speech Right-wing media responded to President Obama’s May 21 high school commencement speech in Joplin, Missouri, by claiming that Obama “preache[d] socialist BS,” called for “military-style community action during crises,” and that he “uncorked a campaign speech.” Read More

Limbaugh Perverts Obama’s Rejection Of Trickle-Down Economics Into An Attack On America President Obama has said that relentless deregulation and tax cuts — “you’re on your own” economics — don’t result in a strong economy and have “never worked.” Rush Limbaugh has repeatedly twisted these words and falsely claimed that Obama is attacking “capitalism” and America itself. Read More

“Unhinged,” “Deranged”: Conservatives React To Joe Biden’s Speech About The Middle Class With Scorn And Ridicule

Colin Powell Throws Wet Blanket On Hannity’s Obsession With Rev. Wright And Bill Ayers

Today In Fox Race Baiting: Lou Dobbs Suggests A Hate Group Is President Obama’s “Base”

 

the Progress Report – Sabotage?


Sabotage?

By         ThinkProgress War Room

Are Republicans Sabotaging the Economy Just to Hurt President Obama?

Last year, the Republicans nearly destroyed the economy with their manufactured crisis over raising the nation’s debt ceiling. And then the spending cuts they demanded in return for avoiding a first-ever default on our obligations have slowed down the recovery and cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Unsurprisingly, polls taken at the time of this debacle found that half of all Americans agreed that Republicans were sabotaging the economy just to hurt the president. That so many people hold such a view is not shocking given both Republicans’ actions and the fact that leading Republicans have stated that their top priority was not fixing the economy, but was instead defeating President Obama. For example, here’s Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY):

The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.

It appears that 2011, which of course also featured another possible economy-sabotaging blowup over the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits, was just the beginning for Republicans.

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) announced last week that Republicans plan to take the entire economy hostage once again when it comes time to raise the nation’s borrowing limit again.  It didn’t take long for Democrats to blast the move:

It already can be damaging, just the fact that it’s brought up. -Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA)

The last thing the country needs is a rerun of last summer’s debacle that nearly brought down our economy. I hope that the speaker is not doing this because he doesn’t want to see the economy improve, because what he said will certainly rattle the markets. -Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Even the Associated Press wondered aloud whether Republicans were trying to sabotage the economy and pointed to evidence that if that was indeed their plan, it appears to be working:

Regardless of whether Schumer’s suspicions are right, there’s evidence that unceasing partisan gridlock and the prospect of big tax increases and spending cuts in January are causing some companies to postpone expansions.[...]

The Washington Post this past week compiled a list of military contractors, hospitals and universities that are delaying hires and bracing for cuts, partly because of fears that Washington’s partisan divisions will not abate.

And, just as a reminder, two noted scholars of Congress recently pointed out that “partisan gridlock” is really just code for Republican extremism and intransigence. “Republicans are the problem,” they wrote.

IN ONE SENTENCE: Instead of playing dangerous games with our economy just for political gain, it’s time for Republicans to support measures that will grow our economy and make sure that it’s an economy that works for everyone — not just the wealthy few.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You May Have Missed

More Americans are killed on the job each year than the total number of Americans that were killed in 10 years of war in Iraq, so why do Republicans want to defund the agency that protects workers from physical harm in the workplace?

Grover Norquist thinks that trying to stop billionaires from dodging their taxes makes you a Nazi.

Despite the fact that 43 Catholic institutions are suing the Obama administration over the birth control mandate, 55% of Catholics actually support coverage for contraceptives.

Obamacare’s future is Romneycare’s past.

Missouri legislature approves bill allowing employers to deny access to birth control.

The GOP’s anti-research agenda.

The FBI is probing whether illegal campaign contributions were given to two top Ohio Republicans.

Senate Democrats score a major victory in the battle over judicial confirmations.

New York’s City Council Speaker marries her same-sex partner.

Other recent Progress Reports

May 18, 2012: The Latest on the Trayvon Martin Case

Ten Pieces of New Evidence Last night, state prosecutors released a large amount of evidence — including 183 pages of documents and numerous multimedia files — related to their murder case against George Zimmerman. Here are ten notable pieces evidence that were just made public: 1. Two days after Trayvon Martin’s death a woman called [...]

May 17, 2012: REVEALED: The Racist GOP Campaign To Smear The President

A Shameful Effort by Republicans to Divide Our Country A front-page New York Times story today exposed a shocking $10 MILLION racist campaign to smear the president that was prepared by GOP operatives and was merely awaiting final sign-off from a politically active right-wing billionaire. The campaign was to focus on the president’s previous ties to Rev. [...]

May 16, 2012: You Won’t Believe The GOP’s Latest Assault on Women

House GOP Passes Rollback of the Violence Against Women Act In a show of bipartisanship that is basically unprecedented these days in the dysfunctional U.S. Senate, the Senate recently reauthorized and expanded the Violence Against Women Act on an overwhelming 68-31 vote. (Unfortunately, 31 male Republican Senators still voted no.) Today, instead of passing this [...]

May 15, 2012: Do You Want a Repeat of the Financial Crisis?

JP Morgan Loss Shows Why We Need Tougher Rules On Wall Street You’ve probably heard by now that JP Morgan Chase lost a whopping $2 BILLION on a single bad bet in just a matter of weeks.  What you may not have heard is that JP Morgan, and its CEO Jamie Dimon, have been among [...]

CONGRESS: the Republican led House keeps taking days off – the Senate considers S.3187,FDA user fees


the Senate Convened at 9:30amET May 23, 2012

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized. It is his intention to resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.3187, the FDA user fees legislation.
  • Following the remarks of the Majority Leader and the Republican Leader, the first hour will be equally divided and controlled between the two sides with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
  • At 11:00am, the motion to proceed to S.3187 will be adopted, the Harkin-Enzi substitute amendment will be agreed to and considered original text for the purposes of further amendment. The Majority Leader will then be recognized.
  • Additionally, the Majority will control the time from 1:00pm until 2:00pm.
  • We are working on an agreement for amendments to the FDA user fees legislation.  We hope an agreement can be reached without filing cloture on the bill.  Senators will be notified if an agreement is reached and when votes are scheduled.

By consent, the previous order to adopt them motion to proceed to S.3187, the FDA bill, has been delayed until 12:30pm today. The Majority Leader will be recognized prior to adoption of the motion to proceed.

By consent, the previous order to adopt them motion to proceed to S.3187, the FDA bill, has been delayed until 2:15pm today. The Majority Leader will be recognized prior to adoption of the motion to proceed. As a reminder, the previous order is to adopt the motion to proceed and agree to the Harkin-Enzi substitute amendment by consent.

The Senate has reached an agreement to limit amendments to S.3187, the FDA bill, to those amendments listed below. No other amendments are in order. There will be 30 minutes for debate on each amendment, except for the McCain amendment, and 60 minutes on the bill, both equally divided in the usual form. There will be 2 hours equally divided on the McCain amendment #2107.

At 2pm on Thursday, May 24, all debate time will be considered expired and the Senate will proceed to vote in relation to the amendments in the order listed. Amendments are subject to a majority vote except where noted with a 60 affirmative vote thresholds. There will be 2 minutes for debate prior to each vote. All votes after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration. No motions or points of order are in order to the amendment or the bill other than budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive or motions to table. Upon disposition of the amendments, the Senate will proceed to vote on passage of S.3187, as amended.

Further upon disposition of the FDA bill, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of S.2343, the Student Loan interest rate bill. There will be 10 minutes for debate prior to a series of 2 roll call votes. The first, in relation to McConnell, or designee, amendment, which is identical to the text of S.2366, and then on passage of S.2343, as amended, if amended. The amendment and bill are subject to 60-vote thresholds. No motions or points of order are in order to the amendment or the bill other than budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive. If the bill does not achieve 60 affirmative votes, S.2343 will be returned to the Calendar.  Senator Reid’s previously entered motion to reconsider the failed cloture vote is withdrawn.

Amendments in order to the FDA bill:

- Bingaman #2111 (generic filings) (60-vote threshold)**;

- McCain #2107 (reimportation) (60-vote threshold)**;

- Sanders #2109 (criminal fraud/exclusivity) (60-vote threshold)**;

- Murkowski #2108 (genetically engineered salmon) (60-vote threshold)**;

- Cardin #2125 (health benefits/risks);

- Cardin #2141 (FDA report – small business);

- Grassley #2121 (whistleblower protections III);

- Grassley #2129 (GAO report – clinical trials);

- Manchin #2151, as modified [or new version??] (reclassifying hydrocodone under Controlled Substances Act)**;

- Portman #2146, as modified (Synthetic drugs – controlled substances);

- Portman #2145, as modified (Rx drug monitoring);

- Reed #2126 (Sunscreen testing/labeling); and

- Coburn #2132 (FDA employee performance standards)**;

- Coburn #2131 (Drug Application Review Process)**;

- Durbin #2127 (dietary supplements)**;

- Paul #2143 (supplements)]**;

- Burr #2130 (Congress – user fee negotiations)**.

** indicates the most likely targets for roll call votes.

The following amendments are pending to S.3187, the FDA user fees bill:

The following amendments have been considered to S.3187, the FDA user fees bill:

  • Harkin-Enzi amendment #2122 (substitute); agreed to by unanimous consent
  • Cardin amendment #2125 (health benefits/risks); agreed to by unanimous consent
  • Cardin amendment #2141 (FDA report-small business); agreed to by unanimous consent
  • Grassley amendment #2121 (whistleblower protections III); agreed to by unanimous consent
  • Grassley amendment #2129 (GAO report – clinical trials)
  • Manchin amendment #2151, as modified (reclassification of hydrocodone under Controlled Substances Act); agreed to by unanimous consent
  • Reed amendment #2126 (Sunscreen testing/labeling); agreed to by unanimous consent

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Banking committee and passed S.2367, a bill to strike the word “lunatic” from Federal law, and for other purposes.

Passed H.R.4097, the John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2012.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.3220, the Paycheck Fairness Act. (Mikulski and others)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.3221, the Rewarding Achievement and Incentivizing Successful Employees Act. (Rubio and others)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

————————————————————————————————–

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on May 25, 2012.