Friday’s Political Calendar of events …
12/18/2009
12/18/09
The Senate will convene at 11:00AM ET and resume consideration of the House Message with respect to H.R. 3326, Department of Defense Appropriations Act. Cloture… could use all 30 hours, the Majority leader Reid will file motions to resume debates and or take any votes on health care reform. The package includes items that effect short-term unemployment insurance, health care benefits that will be continued until February 2010, funding ends at midnight on Saturday so the efforts to pass the package is important.
Americans without health insurance
12/18/2009
It’s 11PM PST and after hearing the Whip adjourn the Senate debate i change the channel to cable 44…
Cnn/yt debate is just starting… The moderator; Becky Anderson’s show held in Copenhagen, Denmark; the guests included … Darryl Hannah, Thomas Friedman, Bjorn Lomborg, Yvo de Boer and Kofi Annan answer questions and debate the facts about Climate Change… over 115 Leaders are in Copenhagen, Denmark debating Climate Change.
First, Global Warming is real
Darryl Hannah/Actress… believes the world needs a new energy economy, wants to make any agreements on Climate Change legally binding, giving out sanctions if violated, she also feels that special interest groups, indigenous peoples and the disenfranchised have been ignored by leaders, she is also very worried about an initiative called Red that has policies that may be hard for indigenous peoples to understand, may inadvertently invade their environment, questions where the money is coming from and how it will be allocated.
Thomas Friedman/NYT reporter,writer…feels America needs to take the lead in global warming technology and enforce policies,it’s not complicated…climate change is real, what the implications to doing nothing is complicated, waiting too long, what happens afterward that is too is complicated, he does not see how countries can be held legally accountable, feels competition may help get other countries to participate and drive the costs down and give incentives as well. He strongly feels research and dev must happen now and the US should be the leaders in res, dev and selling new energy products for the poorest countries to use, bit change happens when we incentivise
Kofi Annan/ … Africans are not the only experts, we all are in the same boat, countries need to be more responsible for their output, some African nations are doing their part but they have a long way to go, they need ways to transfer to Green technology, need people to train them, promises were made a long time ago and were broken, we need to keep the fight and improve our world.
Bjorn Lomborg/Copenhagen Center for Climate Change … For the last 18years the promises made to the world have failed, world leaders promised to make changes yet they ignore the obvious, making changes is too expensive so they ignore it, if nothing is done, our environment has how long? We must invest in research and development, this can be done, it’s not so expensive, we probably do need a carbon tax but it’s not realistic. We need to help the poorest get green technology… for food, water; consumer will be expected to pay.
Yvo de Boer/framework on Climate Change … Feels we are in deep trouble if we do nothing, we need to act ont now, change the lifestyle of our people, change how we make products, the government needs to come up with a viable solution, while he does not believe in a Carbon Tax, he pays one, he feels competition among business owners will help + incentives and the poor need to be trained to grow sustainable ways to live.
Viewer comments and questions…
How do we police climate change violations?
Climate Change affects poor countries, Bangladesh being one, when will rich nations start to make the move toward helping the poorer ones.
What are the negative to fixing Climate Change? greed, and will that keep us from solving the worlds’ global warming issue? should we worry about where the money will come from and will that be worst than doing nothing at all.
Why should consumers be responsible for the Carbon Tax, why can’t businesses pay if they violate the policies, most don’t want to pay 6 or 7dollars carbon tax. This attitudes, behaviors, lifestyles have to change,people need to participate.
last, a young man asked what does the panel plan to leave his generation? he lives in Malaysia
C-SPAN after dark … go figure
12/17/2009
12/17/09
Wednesday night Senator Reid asked to bring a close to HR3590, the Patient Protection Amendment debate, he then offered a motion to withdraw, the vote ayes59 38nays with 3Senators not voting… Byrd, Enzi and Chambliss, the vote would allow the Defense Spending Package HR3326 and HCR debates to resume at midnight after a recess.
After the midnight recess, the Senate voted … Cloture vote; 63 ayes 33 nays was invoked and agreed to … limiting the debate on the Defense Spending Package HR3326, debates could last up to 30hours. Democrats all voted yes, 3 Republican Senators voted with the Democrats… Collins, Hutchinson and Snowe. The final vote could be taken on Saturday morning.
they adjourned until Friday morning …
MJ’s executors …
12/17/2009
The executors of Michael Jackson’s estate have filed documents, explaining why they should be entitled to more than the statutory fee most executors get — a big reason … Joe Jackson.
Learning from the Growth of the Internet — the New Broadband Grants
Today, Vice President Biden is in Georgia to kick off over $2 billion in Recovery Act grants and loans to bring broadband to communities that currently have little or no access to the technology, all rolled out over the next 75 days. The initial $182 million investment announced today is for eighteen broadband projects benefiting seventeen states, and has already been matched by over $46 million in private capital.
We in the National Economic Council are releasing a new report (pdf) called “Recovery Act Investments in Broadband: Leveraging Federal Dollars to Create Jobs and Connect America.” The report explains the Administration’s strategy for using stimulus dollars wisely to get the biggest return on investment, in terms of jobs and exciting new opportunities for Americans.
An intriguing part of the report shows how the Recovery Act now will do for broadband what federal efforts did for the Internet in the 1980s and 1990s. Here are three pictures of the Internet over time, from 1988 to 2007. The thing to notice is that the federal government invested first in the backbone of the Internet. Next, it helped fund regional networks to extend the Internet’s reach. With the backbone and the middle piece in place, private investment took off, leading to the Internet connections of the present day.
Senate Floor: NOW on C-SPAN2Check back for UPDATES …
12/17/09
Wednesday started out as a let’s slow it down day for Republicans in the Senate who continued to Filibuster things rather than get our FY 2010 done.
The 636billion dollar Spending Package HR3326: 508 for Defense Department and 128 for War Operations, would also extend jobless benefits through February 2010 and delay Medicare cuts to Doctors; negotiations are going on off the Senate Floor. The Senate might convene this weekend and continue to work on HCR, Tarp extension and the debt limit.
There are several Senators in Copenhagen, participating in the U.N. Climate Change negotiations.
(D)Senator Ben Nelson stated he will not support the current abortion compromise proposed by anti-abortion (D)Senator Bob Casey. They are in the process of adjusting the abortion language.
C-SPAN.org… Witnesses spoke about the present and future fiscal condition of the United States, with a particular focus on the current and long-term imbalance between federal spending commitments and projected revenues. Witnesses: Panel One Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H. Panel Two Alan Greenspan, former chairman, Board of .. Read More <——click on the link for the complete article… C-SPAN.org.
Even with Senator Bernie Sanders rhetoric, the Senate Banking Cmte. voted 16-7 to send the nomination of Ben Benanke to continue as Chairman of the Federal Reserve to the Senate floor. *************************************************************
My take on Todays Circus…
Republicans need to do the right thing, any filibuster or delay should show what side Republicans are on and it’s not for Americans.
The idea that 2 Democrats who both happen to be Anti-Abortion supporters feel they can just change the abortion language to suit them and the cause was offensive. Tampering with abortion language and or the laws will set women back after years of fighting for the right to choose; since when did abortion, the Hyde Amendment and or Roe V Wade become available for editing? Women all over this country should call the offices of Senator Nelson and Senator Bob Casey to let them know, women are here don’t make changes behind our backs to suit the new wave of anti abortion supporters, the Hyde Amendment is all that we need, transfer that language in and be done with it. Women who are able to buy their own insurance, own small business should have the right to safe medical procedures if needed. Senator Nelson whoa has been a thorn in the side of health care reform for Democrats and will definitely make getting the 60 votes a challenge.
After hearing Senator Gregg speak … i want to know why Sen. Judd Gregg, a man who could have been commerce secretary,challenge what the last Administration did, correct it, be bipartisan like “We the People” hoped and voted for, help out America, decided to quit? what was he truly up to when he first accepted the nomination by our President and then within a week, pull out. I have my theories, and watching Senator Gregg’s behavior since returning to business as usual? which, has been a journey filled with unending Republican obstructionist talk and behavior…. ………………..Speaking of obstructionist behavior, Senator Bernie Sanders announced that he will take a stand; opposing the re-nomination of Ben Bernanke, placing a hold on his nomination. i have to ask, is he doing what’s right for Americans or what’s right just for him?
Single Payer debated in the Senate
12/16/2009
In what could be looked at as yet another attempt by Republicans to hold up progress in health care reform, (R) Senator Coburn of OK, requested Senate Clerks read (I) Senator Bernie Sanders of VT Single Payer amendment entirely.
The reading of most amendments are usually waived. It is also very interesting that after having made the request to have the Single Payer amendment read in its entirety; Senator Coburn left the Senate floor. The amendment would open Medicare up to all US citizens regardless of age, creating a Single Payer health care system.
(I)Senator Bernie Sanders withdrew his amendment in order to stop what he stated was an effort to slow down the debate.
House Speaker Pelosi, Hoyer, Majority Whip Clyburn and others announced a House Jobs Bill named “Jobs for Main Street” The 174billion dollar legislation was filed today and passed on 12/16/09 for the coming year.
The Jobs Bill should create more public service jobs, sustains the success of the stimulus, reduces the deficit, sustains the current job loss path toward a more positive result, will also sustain investments, boost construction.. infrastructure program; the following are all paid for by tarp funds …credit for small biz, the bill also allows for an extension of unemployment insurance and Cobra for 6months for public service jobs… teachers, firefighters and police officers.
In all the House worked on and passed the following items of legislation..
Defense Appropriations 636billion dollar bill was voted on and passed 395 ayes 30 nays,
Debt extension,
300billion dollar increase to the debt limit passed 218 ayes 214 nays would top out at 12.394 trillion dollars
The 174billion dollar jobs bill using tarp funds will also extend both unemployment insurance and Cobra for 6 months.
Be a Lifeline …
12/16/2009
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Heart and blood vessel diseases claim the lives of people of all ages and all races, in cities and towns across America. Even a small gift can go a long way for critical lifesaving projects like these:
Make a donation before December 31st and help save lives in 2010. On behalf of the millions of Americans touched by heart disease or stroke, I thank you for your generosity.
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Every 38 seconds, someone dies from cardiovascular disease. In fact, heart and blood vessel diseases are America’s No. 1 killer. And with your help, we’re fighting back – working relentlessly for a world free of these deadly diseases. But as we speak, critical projects that could save countless lives are in desperate need of funding for 2010. We need to raise $1.5 million online by December 31st to fund our programs at full strength. Can you help? Every 38 seconds someone dies from cardiovascular disease. Help us fight back. Be a lifeline. Help us raise $1.5 million by Dec. 31 to save lives in 2010. Make a tax-deductible gift right now and be a lifeline for someone touched by heart disease or stroke. Heart and blood vessel diseases claim the lives of people of all ages and all races, in cities and towns across America. Even a small gift can go a long way for critical lifesaving projects like these: * Groundbreaking pediatric heart and stroke research. About 36,000 babies are born with heart defects each year —research is the key to saving the lives of tiny babies. * The Alliance for a Healthier Generation to help schools fight childhood obesity. The percentage of overweight children in America has tripled since 1980, and this innovative program is starting heart-healthy habits when it’s most important. * Lifesaving CPR classes across the nation. Bystander CPR can double a victim’s chances for survival. The more people we train, the more lives we can save. We’ve been helping to save lives for six decades, and we’re not about to quit. But we need people like you behind us. Make a donation before December 31st and help save lives in 2010. On behalf of the millions of Americans touched by heart disease or stroke, I thank you for your generosity. Sincerely, Nancy Brown Chief Executive Officer American Heart Association
