H.R. 325 would temporarily suspend the limitation on borrowing by the Treasury through May 18, 2013. On the following day, the current debt limit of $16.394 trillion would be raised by the amount of borrowing above that level during the period in which the limitation was suspended.
On Sunday, February 17, thousands of Americans will head to Washington, D.C., to make Forward on Climate the largest climate rally in history.
President Obama’s reelection represented a big victory for the environment and public health protections that keep polluters in check. But now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get tough on one of the most violent and unconscionable of Big Polluter practices: mountaintop-removal mining. Dozens of mining permits in Appalachia are awaiting approval. New mines will destroy more mountains and forests, pollute more water, and sicken more families.Urge President Obama and the EPA to do the right thing and protect Appalachia from mountaintop-removal mining.
Time-out on Fracked Gas Exports |
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The Senate stands in recess under the provisions of S.Con.Res.3. The Senate will meet at 11:30am on Monday, January 21, 2013 for the Joint Session for the Inaugural Ceremonies.
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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on January 18, 2013.
CBO expects that the share of older people who work will increase in the latter part of this decade in response to the scheduled increase in the full retirement age (FRA) for Social Security. As a result, economic output will be slightly greater and budget deficits slightly smaller than would otherwise be the case. This blog entry explains CBO’s estimate of the effect of the change in Social Security on the size of the U.S.
With the governor and legislature poised to approve a state constitutional amendment next year that would allow for corporate casino gambling throughout the state, some elected officials in Brooklyn have begun to prematurely salivate at the promise of tax revenues, jobs and community revival. Before jumping on this casino bandwagon and forcing the development of a casino complex on what will likely be a vulnerable community, I implore our elected and community leaders to take a hard look at what the real impact casino gambling would have on a battered and dense urban community such as Coney Island as well as other similarly situated communities in Brooklyn.
Take Action: #DontCrapOut
Bertha Lewis, President and Founder
The Black Institute
http://www.theblackinstitute.org/
7.3 Pounds of plastic… Mostly pvc is in artificial trees
20 Is the number of years … We must reuse artificial trees before it lowers the carbon footprint, equal to a real tree
4000 Recycle centers nationwide … please find out where you can dispose of your Xmas tree this year for compost, woodchips for gardens and or hiking trails.
600,00 Homes …Could be powered by energy used from Xmas tree lights every year, go to holidayleds.com and find out how to recycle your incandescent lights.
A 20% reduction in meat consumption… Would have the same impact as switching from a standard sedan to an ultra-efficient fuel car.
5000 gallons of water … Is the amount it would take to produce 1lb of wheat.
20% of the worlds’ population… Could be fed with the grain and soybeans used to feed US cattle.
4.5% … Is the number of greenhouse gases produced worldwide by animal farming than by transportation.
1500 miles … Is the average amount it takes to get food on our tables, the road trip takes tons of energy, the gas used to commute pollutes, buy, use and support your local farmer’s markets and community gardens
660 gallons… Is about how much water it takes to grow cotton for one T-shirt.if the shirt is coloured,a lrg amt of dye rinses off into factory wastewater,ends up in rivers and some dyes have carcinogens.
just more good info from LYBL and Eatingwell.com
Following last week’s gun massacre in Newton, Connecticut, public support for commonsense gun safety regulations is surging. One poll out today found that support had risen nearly 20 points since this Spring. hitting a ten-year high.
As we know, overwhelming public support (or opposition) doesn’t guarantee that politicians in Washington will actually listen (e.g. why we still have to fight over giveaways to oil companies and the wealthy). Fortunately, it appears that the Sandy Hook shooting was finally one massacre too many and our elected are stepping up to the challenge of protecting everyone in our society from senseless violence.
ThinkProgress’ Josh Israel highlights ten pro-gun politicians that are now willing to consider sensible new regulations on weapons that have no place on our streets:
1. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
The Senate Majority Leader has earned high marks from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and has run as a strong gun-rights advocate. In a floor speech Monday, he said, “In the coming days and weeks, we will engage in a meaningful conversation and thoughtful debate about how to change laws and culture that allow violence to grow.” He added that “every idea should be on the table” in the discussion. Politico reported Monday that he told a colleague he was now open to more gun control, observing that “something has to be done.”
2. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)
Though he has run for office as a “friend to gun owners” and received an “A” rating from the in his 2008 Senate run, Warner said Monday that he believes, “enough is enough.” Citing urging from his own daughters, he noted “I, like I think most of us, realize that there are ways to get to rational gun control.”
3. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)
A lifelong NRA member who has received an “A” rating from the anti-gun control group, Manchin announced Monday that the time has come for assault weapon regulations. “We need to sit down and have a common sense discussion and move in a reasonable way,” he said on MSNBC. In a separate interview, he told CNBC that the tragedy in Connecticut, “changed me and it’s changed most Americans, I think.”
4. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)
Casey has received consistentlyhigh grades from the NRA and campaigned in his 2012 re-election race on his “record of supporting the Second Amendment and the interests of Pennsylvania sportsmen.” In a statement, Casey said, “These senseless acts of violence are unacceptable. Addressing them will require a comprehensive strategy that acknowledges all of the factors that contributed to this tragedy and takes every appropriate step to protect our citizens, especially our kids. Everything should be on the table.”
5. Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Johnson has received an “A” rating from the NRA, but said Monday, ” This tragedy will certainly force us as a country to have a discussion about our gun laws, as well as our mental health system. Like always, I will carefully consider any proposed legislation and listen to the voices of South Dakotans.”
6. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Collins has been fairly pro-gun — receiving a “C+” rating from the NRA. On Monday, she said in a statement, “While denying the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens won’t change the behavior of those intent on using firearms for criminal purposes, I wholeheartedly agree that we must examine what can be done to help prevent gun violence.” She suggested that “we should examine, among other issues, whether states are reporting data on mentally ill individuals found to be a danger to themselves or others to the national background check database designed to prevent gun purchases by such individuals.”
7. Sen.-Elect Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
As a U.S. Congressman, Donnelly received an “A” rating and endorsement from the NRA. In a statement Monday, the Senator-elect said, “Now is the time to work together to make sure this never happens again. All parties must come to the table as we determine the appropriate action to address this extremely concerning problem of senseless violence.” He told CNN he was open to gun control measures, noting, “I’m a Dad too. My kids are a little older now, but I think of when they were 6 and 7 years old, and I think we have a responsibility to make sure this never happens again.”
8. Sen.-Elect Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
As a U.S. Congressman, Heinrich received an “A” rating and endorsement from the NRA. Monday, he said the tragedy in Connecticut left him “deeply affected” and that he was willing to consider “sensible policy” to address the problem. He vowed to take a “very serious look all legislative proposals aimed at preventing these horrific tragedies,” and noted that as a hunter, “I don’t need a 25-round clip for effective home defense, and I sure don’t need one for hunting. That’s just too much killing power. It defies common sense.”
9. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA)
The NRA has endorsed Dent and praised him for being “a staunch defender of the Second Amendment freedoms of law-abiding gun owners, hunters and sportsmen in Pennsylvania and across America.” After Newtown, he announced he would “push for us to examine all of the possible solutions to this problem,” including ways to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.
10. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV)
In his 2012 re-election campaign, Rahall noted on his candidate website that he was “NRA Endorsed, A Rated.” Monday, while noting that the “causes of violence in America are bigger and broader than just firearms,” Rahall said, “I want to hear from all sides before the Congress moves forward, so we can move forward together. Let us act deliberately, but, for the sake of too many already lost, let us act.”
Michigan’s Republican governor vetoes radical bill that would’ve allowed concealed weapons in schools.
The House GOP’s hypocritical budget math.
Speaker Boehner decides tax hikes on millionaires won’t kill jobs after all.
Defeated Rep. Todd “legitimate rape” Akin is going out with a bang.
Florida lawmaker tried to disenfranchise college students in revenge for them having helped elect an openly gay mayor.
Top gun lobbyist: Americans should be “prepared” to take on lawmakers with their guns.
Non-sexist EZ Bake ovens are on the way.
Republicans need a deal on the fiscal cliff — really badly.
Major businesses are distancing themselves from guns.
