Congress Must Extend the Payroll Tax Cut

01/26/2012

What drove the U.S. economy in 2011? And can it last?

12/28/2011 Posted by Brad Plumer – washingtonpost

Through the first three quarters of 2011, the U.S. economy expanded at a 1.2 percent annual rate. So where did this (middling) growth come from? The Council of Foreign Relations serves up a handy graph breaking things down:

The left-hand side shows the drivers of economic growth — both up and down. Government layoffs and budget cuts, particularly at the local level, slashed growth by about half a percentage point. On the positive side, meanwhile, the biggest driver of growth was an increase in personal consumption. Americans were buying more stuff. Trouble is, it’s unclear how sustainable even this modest spending binge will prove to be.

As the bar graph on the right shows, 44 percent of the increase in consumption this year came because incomes were growing and people were actually getting richer. By contrast, 36 percent of the consumption bump came because Americans were saving less, while 20 percent of the spending boost came thanks to the payroll tax cut, which is set to expire in two months unless Congress extends it again.

Contact your legislator NOW YOU CAN HELP BY CONTACTING YOUR CONGRESS PERSON TO EXTEND THE PAYROLL TAX CUT!

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Record Judicial Diversity, Record Judicial Delays

01/05/2012

Creating a judicial pool for the 21st Century, one with intellect, fair-mindedness and integrity that resembles the nation that it serves, is a top priority for President Obama and his administration. In fact, the President’s nominations for federal judges embody an unprecedented commitment to expanding the racial, gender and experiential diversity of the men and women who enforce our laws and deliver justice.

Hon. Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice
confirmation date: 8/6/2009

Hon. Elena Kagan, Associate Justice
confirmation date: 8/7/2010

Unfortunately, the delays these nominees are encountering on Capitol Hill are equally unprecedented: earlier this month, the Senate left for its August recess without considering 20 eminently qualified candidates, 16 of whom had passed through the bipartisan Senate Judiciary Committee completely unopposed, a development the Washington Post called “not only frustrating but also destructive” in an editorial published yesterday.

The victims of these delays, of course, are the American citizens who are being denied the fair and timely judicial proceedings they deserve because of the chronic shortage of federal judges on the bench.  Stephen Zack, president of the American Bar Association, told Senate leaders in a recent letter that the abundance of vacant federal judgeships “create strains that will inevitably reduce the quality of our justice system and erode public confidence in the ability of the courts to vindicate constitutional rights or render fair and timely decisions.”


Pres. Obama’s 2011 Achievements Despite A Polarized Congress

12/27/2011

Ending of the Iraq War
December: 31, 2011

H.R. 1540, the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012″
Signed December 31, 2011

H.R. 2055 – “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012.”
Signed: December 23, 2011

S. 278 – “Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District Land Exchange Act of 2011
Signed: December 23, 2011

S. 384 – which amends title 39, United States Code,
Signed: December 23, 2011

H.R. 2867 – “U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011
Signed: December 23, 2011

H.R. 3421 – Fallen Heroes of 9/11 Act
Signed: December 23, 2011

H.R. 3672 – “Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2012.”
Signed: December 23, 2011

H.R. 3765 – “Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011.”
Signed: December 23, 2011

Presidential Memorandum — Flexible Implementation of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Rule
December 21, 2011

Executive Order — Amendments to Executive Orders 12131 and 13539
December 19, 2011

Executive Order — Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
December 19, 2011

Executive Order — Instituting a National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security
December 19, 2011

Executive Order — 2011 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States
December 13, 2011

Executive Order 13592 — Improving American Indian and Alaska Native Educational Opportunities and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities
December 02, 2011

Executive Order 13591 — Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees
November 23, 2011

Executive Order 13590 — Iran Sanctions
November 21, 2011

Message to Congress — Iran Sanctions
November 21, 2011

Executive Order 13589 — Promoting Efficient Spending
November 09, 2011

Executive Order 13588 — Reducing Prescription Drug Shortages

October 31, 2011

United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
Signed: October 21, 2011

United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
Signed: October 21, 2011

United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
Signed: October 21, 2011

Executive Order 13587 — Structural Reforms to Improve the Security of Classified Networks and the Responsible Sharing and Safeguarding of Classified Information
October 07, 2011

Executive Order 13586 — Emergency Board to Investigate Disputes Between Certain Railroads
October 06, 2011

Message from the President to Congress Regarding the District of Columbia’s 2012 Budget Request Act
October 03, 2011

Killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, in al-Jawf Governorate, Yemen
September 30, 2011

Executive Order 13585 –Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees
September 30, 2011

America Invents Act
Signed: September 16, 2011

Executive Order 13584 –Developing an Integrated Strategic Counterterrorism Communications Initiative
September 09, 2011

Executive Order 13583– Establishing a Coordinated Government-wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce
August 18, 2011

Executive Order 13582– Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting Certain Transactions with Respect to Syria
August 18, 2011

Budget Control Act of 2011
Signed: August 2, 2011

Executive Order 13581–Blocking Property of Transnational Criminal Organizations
July 25, 2011

Executive Order 13580–Interagency Working Group on Coordination of Domestic Energy Development and Permitting in Alaska
July 12, 2011

Executive Order 13579–Regulation and Independent Regulatory Agencies
July 11, 2011

Executive Order 13578–Coordinating Policies on Automotive Communities and Workers
July 06, 2011

Executive Order 13577–SelectUSA Initiative
June 15, 2011

Executive Order 13576–Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and Accountable Government
June 13, 2011

Executive Order 13575 – Establishment of the White House Rural Council
June 09, 2011

Executive Order 13574 Concerning Further Sanctions on Iran
May 23, 2011

Executive Order 13573–Blocking Property of Senior Officials of the Government of Syria
May 18, 2011

Killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan
May 1, 2011

Executive Order 13572 –Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria
April 29, 2011

Executive Order 13571–Streamlining Service Delivery and Improving Customer Service
April 27, 2011

Executive Order 13570 — Prohibiting Certain Transactions with Respect to North Korea
April 18, 2011

Executive Order 13569–Amendments to Executive Orders 12824, 12835, 12859, and 13532, Reestablishment Pursuant to Executive Order 13498, and Revocation of Executive Order 13507
April 05, 2011

Executive Order 13568–Extending Provisions of the International Organization Immunities Act
March 08, 2011

Executive Order 13567–Periodic Review of Individuals Detained at Guantánamo Bay Naval Station Pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force
March 07, 2011

Executive Order 13566 –Libya
February 25, 2011

Executive Order 13565 — Establishment of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory Committees
February 08, 2011

Executive Order 13564 — The President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness
January 31, 2011

Executive Order 13563 — Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
January 18, 2011

FDA Food Safety Modernization Act
Signed: January 4, 2011

James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010
Signed: January 2, 2011


GOP Plan: OBSTRUCT, DELAY & DEGRADE

12/08/2011

Senators ask John Boehner to help block Obama recess appointments

5/25/11 Jonathan Allen – POLITICO

Senate conservatives asked House Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday to try to block President Obama from making recess appointments for the remainder of his presidency.

In a letter, the group of 20 senators implored Boehner to refuse to adopt any resolution that would allow the Senate to stand in recess for more than three days.

Source: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55723.html

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Fact Check: The Real Reasons Republicans in Congress are Blocking Richard Cordray at CFPB

Posted by Stephanie Cutter on October 06, 2011

In his press conference on October 6, the President spoke primarily about what we can do to create jobs and boost the economy right now, but he also took some time to discuss his efforts to fix the problems in our financial sector that precipitated this economic downturn:

And what we’ve seen over the last year is not only did the financial sector — with the Republican Party in Congress — fight us every inch of the way, but now you’ve got these same folks suggesting that we should roll back all those reforms and go back to the way it was before the crisis.

As he also explained, his nominee to be the first head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, former Ohio Treasurer and Attorney General Rich Cordray, is being blocked from office, noting that “Republicans have threatened not to confirm him not because of anything he’s done, but because they want to roll back the whole notion of having a consumer watchdog.”

Not surprisingly, those Republicans in Congress have looked for any excuse to avoid admitting that they are seeking to weaken these consumer protections

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/10/06/fact-check-real-reasons-republicans-congress-are-blocking-richard-cordray-cfpb

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Senate Republicans’ Vote to Block Job Growth Through U.S. Infrastructure Development

Posted by DNC Press on Thursday, November 03, 2011

Following today’s vote by Republicans in the U.S. Senate to block legislation that would create jobs and grow the economy through the development of our nation’s infrastructure, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement:

“It’s almost hard to believe: This is now the third time in a matter of weeks that Republicans in the Senate have voted in unison to block part or all of the American Jobs Act, which would create jobs and strengthen our economy. First, Republicans filibustered the President’s jobs bill in its entirety—then, when President Obama and Democrats tried to move forward with legislation that would prevent hundreds of thousands of teachers and first responders from losing their jobs, the Senate GOP shot that down, too.

“Today, they did it again—voting to block legislation that would make an immediate $50 billion investment in America’s roads and bridges and a $10 billion investment to create a bipartisan National Infrastructure Bank. This bill would create hundreds of thousands of jobs for construction.

Source: http://www.democrats.org/news/blog/dnc_chair_debbie_wasserman_schultzs_statement_on_senate_republicans_vote_to

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GOP senators block bill to put teachers, first responders back to work

Posted by Elizabeth Chan on Friday, October 21, 2011

Last night, Republican Senators stood unanimously to block the Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act, a stand-alone piece of President Obama’s jobs bill that would put Americans back on the job teaching our children and keeping our communities safe.

The GOP is putting politics ahead of country yet again.

Source: http://www.democrats.org/news/blog/gop_senators_block_bill_to_put_teachers_first_responders_back_to_work

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DREAM Act dies with rejection of defense bill when Republicans blocked a defense spending bill in the Senate

9/21/2010 By SUZANNE GAMBOA- AP

WASHINGTON—The chance for hundreds of thousands of young people to legally remain in the U.S. evaporated Tuesday when Republicans blocked a defense spending bill in the Senate.

Democrats failed to get a single Republican to help them reach the 60 votes needed to move forward on the defense bill and attach the DREAM Act as an amendment. The vote was 56-43. Arkansas Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor voted with Republicans. Majority Leader Harry Reid also voted to block the bill in a procedural move that allows the defense bill to be revived later.

Source: http://bit.ly/cmoUNn

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Republicans block bill to lift military gay ban

9/21/10 By ANNE FLAHERTY, AP

WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked an effort by Democrats and the White House to lift the ban on gays from serving openly in the military, voting unanimously against advancing a major defense policy bill that included the provision.

The mostly partisan vote dealt a major blow to gay rights groups who saw the legislation as their best hope, at least in the short term, for repeal of the 17-year-old law known as “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Source: http://yhoo.it/9VEMT9


Fuel Economy Standards for Commercial Vehicles

08/09/2011

White House Announced First Ever Oil Savings Standards for Heavy Duty Trucks, Buses Saving $50 billion in fuel costs and over 500 million barrels of oil.

President Obama announced new fuel efficiency standards that will save American businesses that operate and own commercial vehicles approximately $50 billion in fuel costs over the life of the program. These work trucks, buses, and other medium- and heavy duty vehicleswill be required to meet fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emission standards for the first time ever beginning in 2014.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the standards in close coordination with the companies that met with the President today as well as other stakeholders, following requests from companies to develop this program.

“While we were working to improve the efficiency of cars and light-duty trucks, something interesting happened,” said President Obama. “We started getting letters asking that we do the same for medium and heavy-duty trucks. They were from the people who build, buy, and drive these trucks. And today, I’m proud to have the support of these companies as we announce the first-ever national policy to increase fuel efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas pollution from medium and heavy-duty trucks.”

The 2014-2018 fuel efficiency standards for trucks are designed to account for the different kind of work done by different kinds of trucks. Long haul trucks will save an average of 4 gallons for fuel for every 100 miles traveled. Heavy-duty pickups and vehicles like buses, delivery trucks, or vans would save one gallon for every 100 miles traveled. Altogether, we’re looking at saving a projected 530 million barrels of oil.

For the entire article: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/08/09/secretary-lahood-50-billion-fuel-savings-significant-win-trucking-industry


Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

06/14/2011

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (abbreviated as FLSA; also referred to as the Wages and Hours Bill) is a federal statute of the United States. The FLSA established a national minimum wage, guaranteed ‘time-and-a-half‘ for overtime in certain jobs, and prohibited most employment of minors in “oppressive child labor,” a term that is defined in the statute. It applies to employees engaged in interstate commerce or employed by an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, unless the employer can claim an exemption from coverage.

On Saturday, June 25, 1938, to avoid pocket vetoes 9 days after Congress had  adjourned, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat,  signed 121 bills. Among these bills  was a landmark law in the Nation’s social and economic development —  Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA). Against a history of judicial opposition,  the depression-born FLSA had survived, not unscathed, more than a year of  Congressional altercation. In its final form, the act applied to industries whose  combined employment represented only about one-fifth of the labor force. In these  industries, it banned oppressive child labor and set the minimum hourly wage at  25 cents, and the maximum workweek at 44 hours.


Repeal Of The “Bennett Freeze” Legislation

05/08/2011

May 8, 2009, President Barack Obama signed a law repealing the Bennett Freeze section10(f) of Public Law 93-531, thus setting the stage for the Navajos to begin seeking federal funding to rehabilitate an area larger than the state of Delaware that has had no significant development for four decades.

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., who sponsored the bill in the House, said it was about time that the federal government start addressing the problems caused by the freeze, which prevented Navajos on roughly 1.5 million acres around Tuba City from developing their communities or, in many cases, from even keeping their houses in repair.

The freeze was imposed after the Hopi Tribe filed suit in 1966 to add that land to the 1.8 million acres that was part of the original Navajo-Hopi land dispute.

Then BIA director Robert Bennett issued an order suspending development on the land pending a decision in the court case, effectively preventing the 8,000 Navajos living in the area from building new homes, improving roads and infrastructure, or making improvements on their existing homes. Over the next 40 years, life stood still under the Bennett Freeze area as Navajo families watched as other areas of the reservation receive improvements such as electricity and running water.

Obama Biden


Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010

05/03/2011

The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 was signed into law by President Barack Obama on May 5, 2010.  The law provides several benefits for veterans and their families.

The bill was heavily supported by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

2/22/2011 Department of Veterans Affairs opened a toll-free National Caregiver Support Line housed at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center campus in Canandaigua, N.Y.

The support line will serve as a primary resource and referral center to assist caregivers, Veterans and others seeking caregiver information to help in the care of our nation’s Veterans.  Calls to The National Caregiver Support Line will be answered by VA employees who are licensed clinical social workers.



EnergySavers.gov

04/20/2011

Whether choosing energy efficient products, auditing your home  energy use, adding energy smart plans when building a new home or saving on transportation costs, the following links will provide the tools and information you need to help save energy and money at home and on the road. To learn more go to EnergySavers.gov

GENERAL INFORMATION - Find energy efficiency and renewable energy information in your home, community, and state, with a few quick clicks.
HOMES -  From improving homes or condos to building a new home or shopping for an appliance, this is your gateway to the best information available.
CARS - From commuting to taking a long road trip, learn ways to squeeze every mile from your gasoline dollar.

Earth Day is April 22

Each year, over 20 million Americans participate in one of the largest grassroots community service movements in our history.

Find an event near you

en español: Día del Planeta Tierra


TRICARE Affirmation Act of 2010

04/17/2011

Tricare is the health plan that serves armed forces personnel, families, and retirees. The Affirmation Act states that Tricare meets the definition of individual health insurance set in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed in March 2010. (H.R.4887 – TRICARE Affirmation Act) The Tricare Affirmation Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on April 26, 2010.


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