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Sun Mar 27, 2011 at 19:12:03 PM EDT
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So it's been about three weeks since we last had this conversation, but once again we have to take action to try to keep Social Security from being the victim of "deficit fever".
I know that doesn't make a lot of sense, considering the disconnect between Social Security and the deficit-but once again it's "Continuing Resolution" time on Capitol Hill, where some use the threat of an impending shutdown of the Federal Government to extract concessions from the other side...and some on the other side try to make points with the voters by out-conceding their opponents.
So Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, there's a national push on to get voters to call their Senators and remind them to vote for an Amendment that is a big ol' "I'm not willing to cut Social Security just because other people philosophically want to cut Government any way they can" kind of reassurance to the voters, and I'm here to encourage you, once again, to make a couple phone calls and do some pushing of your own.
I've also been storing up a couple somewhat facetious random thoughts which will be the "garnish" for today's dish; you'll see them pop up as we go along.
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Wed Dec 22, 2010 at 05:30:49 AM EST
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We are coming down to the end of the 111th Congress, and we are all surprised that a number of things actually got done: a nuclear arms reduction treaty appears to be on the verge of approval, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed; we have new health care and financial reforms (admittedly, they're imperfect solutions, but...), food safety reform, a better way to do student loans, and a credit card reform act that's forcing issuers to spend thousands of labor hours to develop new and better ways to work over consumers.
And yet there is one important bit of legislation that is still being blocked by Republicans, and, amazingly enough, it's a bill that would provide health care and compensation for those people who ran down to the World Trade Center site on September 11th, and for months thereafter, in the effort to rescue and recover victims, and to restore normal operations in the city after the attack.
Yes, folks, you heard me correctly: the Party of waving flags and "Second Amendment solutions" and tri-cornered hats and Rudy ("noun, verb, 9/11") Giuliani is now engaged in a desperate battle to screw over the very 9/11 first responders that you would think they would be...well, putting up on a stage somewhere next to Rudy Giuliani.
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Tue Oct 05, 2010 at 23:27:58 PM EDT
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Dover, Delaware (FNS)-Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell shocked the crowd at a Delaware political breakfast meeting when she announced that she has changed her thinking about masturbation following a weekend bathtub "incident".
Spike Fromula, O'Donnell's press secretary, explained to the press gaggle today that O'Donnell now realizes that it is possible to "masturbate without lust in your heart" after Saturday night's revelatory event, which Fromula described as a "slip and fall episode".
"It wasn't exactly 'The Passion of the Showerhead'" said Fromula, in a reference to her former work as a marketing consultant to the Mel Gibson movie of a similar name, "but there is no doubt that her thinking on the issue has evolved".
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Tue Jul 27, 2010 at 19:30:16 PM EDT
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The three largest LGBT groups have announced their endorsements in advance of Michigan's August 3, 2010 primary. These groups include Equality Michigan Pride PAC, the Michigan Democratic Party's LGBTA Caucus and the Lansing Association for Human Rights PAC. Guess who got the gubenatorial endorsement? That would be Virg Bernero, which I'm sure will result in Brady etal telling us that this means the end of the world for the Bernero campaign. Bernero is endorsed by EM-PAC & MDP LGBTA Caucus and got an Extremely Positive rating by LAHR PAC. (Sure would be nice if both of the Democratic candidates were endorsed or highly rated. *sigh*) For the full list of endorsements, I've uploaded the list for your viewing pleasure. It is provided courtesy of Between the Lines and will be printed in the July 29, 2010 edition. What I find really interesting is the lack of endorsements (or really completion of questionnaires from candidates I thought would surely get one or who had one in the past like say Dan Scripps. Any insights? (Disclosure Statement: From 2007 - 2009, I worked for Michigan Equality. I have not been involved with the organization in over a year except as a volunteer. I do, however, continue to be an outspoken ally and Chief Big Gay Party Thrower in the Lansing area.)
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Tue Jun 22, 2010 at 09:17:03 AM EDT
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While we've all been busy watching the "oil spill live cam", a similar uncontrolled discharge has been taking place in Washington, DC
In this case, however, it's lobbyists that are spilling all over the landscape as the House and Senate attempt to merge their two visions of financial reform.
They're trying desperately to influence the outcome of the conference in which House and Senate negotiators have been engaged; this to craft the exact language of the reconciled legislation.
There's an additional element of drama hovering over the events as eight House members, including one of the most vocal of the Republican negotiators, face ethics questions related to this very bill.
The best part: if you're enough of a political geek, you can actually watch the events unfold, unedited and unfiltered, from the comfort of your very own computer.
So far, it's been amazing political theater, and if you follow along I'll tell you how you can get in on the fun, too.
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Thu Jun 17, 2010 at 09:16:48 AM EDT
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Netroots Nation will be in Las Vegas in just a few weeks; with that in mind we are going to play “piano bar” and fulfill a couple of requests, one today and one tomorrow, from folks who would like to bring a couple of things to your attention.
Today’s topic: climate change.
As you know, there is a lot of legislation floating around Capitol Hill that would begin to use some sort of market-based mechanism to reduce the amount of carbon we emit.
None of it will move unless it moves through the Senate, and today, that’s what we’ll be talking about.
Matter of fact, they will be too.
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Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 05:49:24 AM EDT
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Those who are regular visitors to this space know that I post stories across the country, and to do that I have to follow stories from a number of states.
Because I post at Kentucky's Hillbilly Report, I've been paying particular attention to the Rand Paul campaign, and the news from the Bluegrass State (via "The Rush Limbaugh Show") is that Paul's planning to write his own balanced budget proposal for the Federal Government.
But there's a catch.
He doesn't plan on doing it until after the election.
Well, now, why in the world would a guy who's running for office based on his really good ideas want to hold back the best one?
That's not a bad question, and if we make the effort we can probably figure out the most likely answers.
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Wed Aug 05, 2009 at 21:37:19 PM EDT
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Chairman Harry Reid just announced that the Senate has reached an agreement on the Cash for Clunkers bill. The vote will be tomorrow. I'm sure Eric will have updates.... Senators have reached a deal on saving the dwindling "cash for clunkers" program, agreeing to vote Thursday on adding $2 billion to the popular rebate plan. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced the vote after lengthy negotiations between Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Wednesday. Reid has said Democrats have enough votes to pass the bill, meaning consumers could take advantage of the rebates of up to $4,500 until Labor Day.
Yesterday's election results, $1 billion for battery technology and now an extra $3 billion auto sales: What a GREAT week for the State of Michigan!
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Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 14:40:42 PM EDT
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While Republicans appear to be running rampant with burning torches and pitchforks chanting "Slash and Burn!" through the state's budget, it might be worth their while to pay careful attention to a recent poll released last week. Cut early childhood development and education funding and consider yourself on the chopping block. From Monday's subscription-only MIRS- Three-quarters of voters say it is personally important to them to protect early childhood development and education from funding cuts, with 44 percent saying it is extremely important to them and 31 percent saying very important. At least six out of 10 voters across demographic and political subgroups say it is extremely or very important to protect early childhood development and education from funding cuts.
A majority of voters say they would cast their vote depending on a candidate's position on this issue. Fifty-four percent of voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who came out in favor of maintaining funding for early childhood development and education, 31 percent were much more likely; 10 percent less likely; 32 percent no difference. Additionally, 54 percent of voters say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who came out in favor of reducing funding for early childhood development and education, 38 percent were much less likely, 15 percent more likely and 26 percent no difference.
Of course this comes on the heels of last week's axing of the Michigan Promise Grant by the Senate Republicans, but only a handful of the caucus are facing re-election. The rest are termed out, allowing them to show their true colors, i.e. kids be damned, or something to that effect. So while they keep the slash and burn mentality, the rest of us are left repeatedly hearing news like this alternative high school that's being forced to close, providing a much-needed second chance for teens. The Legislature is out for the summer recess, but between this poll and the findings of the Cherry Report in '04, you'd think that sooner or later that the Republicans would wise up when it comes to cutting off funding for education. That is, if they ever hope to gain power or seats again.
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Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 09:34:15 AM EDT
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In the small chance you've been off the Tubes of the Internets for the last 48 hours, chances are you've heard a whole lot of noise about how the Senate Republicans slashed the state's Higher Education budget yesterday, which included the Michigan's Promise, the $4000 scholarship for Michigan students, which 96,000 students in our state receive and depend on. As a geek, I love the online organizing tools -- but as a citizen, this is a great way to send a message that we won't stand for breaking Michigan's promise. From subscription-only MIRS Minutes before the vote on many of amendments that attempted to restore the Michigan Promise Scholarship, Lt. Gov. John CHERRY, who was presiding over the Senate was sending out messages on Twitter telling his followers to use an online tool to write local newspapers to stress why cutting the scholarship was wrong.
Not too long after I saw the tweets from the Lt. Governor, I clicked on one and was taken to the website from A Whole Lot of People Supporting Cherry, his exploration committee, asking me to make sure our state is 'Keeping Our Promises' by visiting an entire section of his website to take action on this one singular issue. Now that might not seem to extraordinary, but if you visit the page, you're apt to be a little more impressed. The page includes a You-Tube video, a petition to sign directed at the Senate Republicans, a link to the Facebook group for the issue, a link to a tool that allows you to automatically send a letter-to-the-editor about this particular issue (with suggested text), a "tell-a-friend" tool, and lastly a link to the news page with all of Cherry's press releases. From an online organizing/get-out-the-vote (GOTV) perspective, that's pretty sweet. To be fair, the Senate Democrats have done an impressive job of also using some of these very same online tools to keep folks informed and engaged through their website, blog and Twitter, and Facebook accounts, and have one of the most active and updated YouTube channels, with over 75 videos to date. On top of all of that, Cherry started using a new online petition tool, http://act.ly, the Twitter Petition, that just launched within the last 72 hours, to also drive the subject. Obviously the Obama campaign set the bar pretty high last year for similar online action, but this early in the 2010 game it's pretty impressive. As someone who makes monthly student loan payments equivalent to what some pay for a mortgage, I appreciate the fight that the leadership of Cherry and the Senate Democrats are taking on with this issue. As a giant geek, I think it's great to see public officials really grabbing this online technology by the horns and using it for a very worthy cause.
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Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 12:35:11 PM EST
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The State Legislature's Lame Duck session was beginning to sound like that annoying children's song "This is the Song that Never Ends", you know the one that never ends, just keeps going on and on and that parents and caregivers alike have all been tortured by at some point in their life? It pretty accurately exemplifies how many legislative staffers, lobbyists, legislators and a blogger or two (wink, wink) felt after a 25+ hour session that just ended this morning just after 11am. According to one inside source, the scene this morning at the Capitol was filled with 'sleep-deprived lobbyists were running amok', and based on what I saw last night, I have no trouble imagining that. I was there from 8pm to midnight, and while it was great to see folks from my days entrenched on the House floor during last year's Budget Shutdown, four hours was plenty for me, and I can only imagine how miserable it was for everyone else stuck there the entire time. The night was filled with constant conference committees on individual bills, meetings between key lawmakers, and Governor Granholm was there meeting with both sides behind closed doors. Here's the most current tally I've been able to come across of major issues passed. If you know of something I've missed, please free to add it in the comments. The list starts below the fold...
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Wed Dec 10, 2008 at 12:00:49 PM EST
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When talking about instituting a smoking ban in Michigan, neither the activists nor the tobacco lobbies should prevail,but common sense. Current discourse on this matter, though, seems dominated by the extremes.
An OpEd in the Detroit News yesterday lambasted the House bill, which carves out exemptions for the Detroit casinos and cigar bars, as playing into the hands of 'Big Tobacco'. The piece pushed for the Senate bill, which would cover all work places in Michigan, despite the negative effects this would have on some small businesses in the state.
What needs to be kept in mind in this debate is that this bill must be for the greatest public good: promoting better health while not infringing on people's rights or their economic futures. It should not simply play into the hands of the anti- or pro-smoking activists.
Certain business models rely on smoking: cigar bars and hookah/sisha/nargeliah bars to name a few. These workers and patrons have made a conscious decision to expose themselves to smoke by attending, as that is the only reason to go to one.
However, casino, bar, and restaurant patrons and employees do not, as there are many reasons to go out there and smoking is not one of them. Intelligent legislation would take this into account.
Fight the forces of polarism. Create intelligent legislation that will work and move forward, reaching a compromise we all can support.
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Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 13:45:32 PM EST
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Just in from the State Senate, Senator Mike Prusi of Ishpeming has been elected by his peers to be the next Democratic Caucus Leader when current leader Mark Schauer heads to Washington D.C. next January as Congressman for the 7th District. From the Senate Democratic Caucus - "The challenges before us are great, but by staying focused on what's best for the people who sent us here we can turn Michigan's economy around," said Prusi. "We must be united in making changes that will help our children and grandchildren find jobs and raise their families' right here in this great state."
Prusi has served in several leadership positions within the caucus, including as the lead Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee and previously as the lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The Senator also serves on the Energy Policy, Judiciary and Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs committees. Before being elected to the Senate, he served three terms in the Michigan House of Representatives. Prior to his legislative career, Mike worked for over twenty years as an iron ore miner for the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company at various Marquette County mining operations, including five years as an underground miner.
"Senator Prusi has been at the forefront of the most pressing issues facing our state, including energy policy and the state budget," said Schauer. "These experiences will serve him well, and I am confident he will excel in his new role as Caucus Leader. We will work closely together to ensure a smooth, productive transition."
"Senator Prusi is an experienced, thoughtful legislator who will make sure people are the top priority," said Democratic Floor Leader Buzz Thomas (D-Detroit). "I look forward to working closely with him to advance an agenda that will attract jobs to Michigan and improve the lives of struggling consumers." Previous to today's election, the race was defined by many insiders as a complete toss-up between Prusi and Thomas. It's also worth noting that Prusi had challenged Schauer for the position in 2006 after the Senate elections, but Schauer prevailed. A hearty congrats to Sen. Prusi, his family, and then entire Senate Democratic Caucus.
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Sun Nov 02, 2008 at 09:15:23 AM EST
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Update: You can view the dirty mailer in question here, and then compare it to this very official mailing from the Peterman campaign here. Things worth noting: card size is the same, font is the same, stamps are both from the same type of roll, basic layout is the same, even the postmark is from the same location. Coincidence? Perhaps, but I've learned to be highly skeptical of oh-so-convenient coincidences this close to the election. So if someone you know lives in the 39th district, take the extra 2 minutes to call or email them up, and make sure they see this. Is this really someone they want representing them in Lansing? Update 2: It has been confirmed from Oakland County officials that there is no such organization as the Oakland County Reproductive Rights Action League. Shame on the Oakland County Republicans and the Peterman campaign for trying trick and deceive voters! ***** I'm spending my weekend down in Oakland County, getting out the vote for Democratic House candidate Lisa Brown, who's in a fierce battle for the open seat in the 39th District (Wolverine Lake, Commerce Twp., West Bloomfield Twp.) Lisa is a real up-and-coming star for the Dems. She's received the endorsement of the UAW, Michigan Equality, Triangle Foundation, Sierra Club, MI Deputy Sheriffs Association, Michigan State AFL-CIO, and Planned Parenthood, just to name a few. Her opponent, Amy Peterman, is a former attorney who works with a couple of bozo's you might have heard of. They are also the very same bozos that have a way of obstructing almost every piece of helpful legislation that comes their way. That's right, your infamous Senate Republicans!! Peterman is endorsed by Mike Cox, L. Brooks Patterson, Michelle McManus, John Pappageorge, Arlan Meekhoff, Laura Toy, Joe Knollenberg, and the like. She's obviously already following in their footsteps because the dirty tricks have already begun. Besides claiming to be the "right to life" candidate, a mailing recently went out to the district claiming that Peterman was endorsed by the Oakland County Reproductive Rights Action League. Problem is, after hours of searching the Tubes of the Internets and teh Googles, including the Secretary of State's website, there's not one trace of any such "Oakland County Reproductive Rights Action League" and the figments of Peterman's mind do not count. Over a week ago, one of Peterman's family members showed up at Lisa Brown's campaign office and just started literally screaming and hollering about the campaign, disrupting the office and obviously shaking campaign volunteers up. And yet, it gets even worse. Peterman's primary opponent, David Wolkinson, reported that his supporters got robocalls from him as early as 4 and 5am before the primary election. Not only is that illegal, it's also the fastest way to turning your supporters against you. Very conveniently, none of this is really provable, but what is fact is there's a clear record of dirty tricks being played, and all for the benefit of Amy Peterman in her desperate attempt to be the next state representative from the 39th District. So while it's just the same old bag of dirty Republican tricks, every day folks from all walks of life are down in Commerce Township phonebanking and knocking doors for Lisa Brown. Let's fight for real democracy, the fair way, and get Lisa Brown elected. God knows we don't need one more Republican obstructionist in Lansing who doesn't like to play fair. Lisa Brown and the Commerce Township Campaign for Change office is located at 4088 Haggerty Road (corner of Haggerty and Richardson) in Commerce Township. Come on down and tell them that LL sent you. :-)
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Tue Sep 09, 2008 at 15:12:42 PM EDT
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Stall, stall, stall. The way legislators in Michigan are acting these days, you’d think they were a 15 year old learning to drive a stick shift. This week, esteemed members of Michigan’s Senate chose to hold off yet again on moving forward with a feasible energy plan that could put the mitten on the path to a renewable energy future. You know, the kind of future that can create thousands of jobs for unemployed Michiganders, entice cutting-edge industries to put down their stakes here, and cut down and deadly CO2 emissions that are threatening kids with increased asthma rates and older folks with cardiovascular diseases. Yeah, that silly little thing called clean energy. Really, continuing to stonewall on what could be one of the most vital issues of our generation is not even grossly negligent or unacceptable – at this point, it’s just kinda sad. For 18 long months, legislation about Michigan’s energy future has been stalled and lingered on like a bad engine on a dirt road. There are few states who have suffered more under failed policies of the Bush administration than Michigan has, and yet, when presented with the kind of life-altering opportunity that could potentially turn things around for everyone state legislators do what they do best: nothing. Already, across the nation, other states, including Pennsylvania and even oil-swilling Texas have been making gigantic-football field length leaps forward when it comes to renewable energy. States like Kansas and Georgia have even passed legislation to protect against harmful CO2 emissions from coal plants, and effectively pushed themselves towards a clean energy future. Sometimes, giving in to peer pressure is not only a good thing, but highly recommended. Instead of continuing to steer clear of what could pull us out of this rut, how about setting a renewable portfolio standard of 25% by 2025? C’mon, Michigan Senate – would that really be so hard? We've created a tool that allows you to take minute or less to tell your state law makers how you feel. Please speak out and tell Lansing to move Michigan towards a bright energy future!
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Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 09:30:37 AM EDT
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(The hearings are going on right now. - promoted by rich)
This morning the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which I chair, is holding a hearing to look at two banks that have relied on secrecy and deception to hide, not just the tax avoidance schemes of their clients, but the actions they themselves took to facilitate U.S. tax evasion.
Click here to watch the hearing live.
Each year, the United States Treasury loses an estimated $100 billion in tax revenues from offshore tax abuses. Tax havens are engaged in economic warfare against the United States and honest, hardworking American taxpayers.
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Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 15:06:53 PM EDT
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(The senator explains - promoted by Eric B.)
Just now the Senate took a series of votes on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillence Act, or FISA. Title II of FISA, as we voted on it, would authorize retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies who collected intelligence information inside the United States in defiance of the clear requirements of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act as it was then on the books.
This action, taken by telecommunications companies at the behest of an Administration that has all too frequently tried to place itself above the law, may have violated the privacy rights of innocent Americans.
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Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 17:34:30 PM EDT
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As promised, here is the latest happenings with the dreaded FISA bill that was just passed by the House. Due to pressure from online activist groups, Senators Dodd and Feingold have threatened to filibuster the bill in the Senate:
Report: FISA vote may be delayed until July
While the Democratic-controlled House had no trouble shoving through a Bush administration-backed surveillance law overhaul late last week, opponents of the expansion of wiretapping authority are slowing down the measure in the Senate.
Sens. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Chris Dodd (D-CT) along with several other progressive senators are leading an effort to strip a provision granting telecommunications companies retroactive legal immunity, and they have promised to filibuster any bill that contains the provision. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may put off a vote on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act update until after a Fourth of July recess next week.
Call Senators Dodd and Feingold and thank them for their leadership. Better yet, call YOUR senators and tell them "I DON'T WANNA BE SPIED ON!"
Sen. Chris Dodd (202) 224-2823
Sen. Russ Feingold (202/224-5323
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (202) 224-4822
Sen. Carl Levin (202) 224-6221
http://rawstory.com/news08/200...
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Mon May 12, 2008 at 15:59:32 PM EDT
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(Welcome, Senator! - promoted by PerfectStormer)
This afternoon, I’m speaking on the Senate floor about high energy prices. Unless something is done to make energy more affordable, the record-high prices will continue to reverberate throughout our economy, increasing the prices of transportation, food, manufacturing and everything in between. Skyrocketing energy prices are a threat to our economic and national security, and the time for action is long past.
One of the major causes of our energy crisis is the failed policies of the current Administration. In January 2001, when President Bush took office, the price of oil was about $30 per barrel. The average price for a gallon of gasoline was about $1.50. Since President Bush took office, crude oil prices have nearly quadrupled, natural gas prices to heat our homes have almost doubled, gasoline prices have more than doubled, and diesel fuel prices have nearly tripled.
One key factor in price spikes of energy is rampant speculation in the energy markets.
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Mon May 05, 2008 at 10:30:56 AM EDT
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The Michigan Senate will be meeting TOMORROW in the Homeland Security & Emerging Technology Committee to finally pass Sudan Divestment!
Lansing has the potential to show it won't play politics with the lives of innocent civilians in Darfur who are dying and running out of food and time.
However, we need your help to give one final push! Call or e-mail the Senate committee members to make them do the right thing and vote YES!
Suggested script: "As a concerned constituent, I would like to ask Senator_______________ to vote YES on House Bill 4854 to help save the people of Darfur at no cost to us!"
Please, call today!
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