S 1743 in Senate - (H.R. 2728) was Passed Last Week (1 of 3 Passed to Allow A Fracking Free-For-All on Public Lands)

 S 1743 in Senate - Contact Your Senators Now To Stop A Free-For-All on Public Lands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Update from GovTrack.us notified this writer that text was ready for S 1743 - Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act  This bill is related to H.R. 2728 which was one of three bills that was passed last week by the House of Representatives to cause a "Fracking Free-For-All" on public lands, see  "STOP H.R. 1900, H.R. 1965, H.R. 2728!" Nov. 24, 2013 - Get Involved For A Better America,

This bill contains the following text:

 

(b)

Prohibition

The Secretary of the Interior shall not enforce any Federal regulation, guidance, or permit requirement regarding hydraulic fracturing, or any component of hydraulic fracturing, relating to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities on or under any land in any State that has regulations, guidance, or permit requirements for hydraulic fracturing.

(c)

State authority

The Secretary shall recognize and defer to State regulations, guidance, and permitting for all activities regarding hydraulic fracturing, or any component of hydraulic fracturing, relating to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities on Federal land regardless of whether the regulations, guidance, and permitting are duplicative, more or less restrictive, have different requirements, or do not meet Federal regulations, guidance, or permit requirements.

Summary:

This bill is designed to take away from the Federal Government, public lands, and the power to regulate fracking and it's related tasks. It gives states the regulatory authority. This will cause a fracking free-for-all on public lands. This is unacceptable. Click here H.R. 2728 to TRACK the bill, and your Senator's votes. But, before that, you can use this link to call your Senator's office and tell them to not allow the Republicans to take our Federal land and allow a fracking free-for-all. Now is the time to act, they are rushing these bills through before they go on holiday recess in a few days. 

Now is the time to contact your Senators and tell them your not going to accept a fracking free-for-all on public land. Use this link to see the bill, track the bill, contact your Senators, and then track how your Senators vote

 

S 1743, See the Bill, Find and Contact your Senators, and then Track how your Senators Vote 

S - 1737 Minimum Wage Fairness Act - NOW is the Time To Contact YOUR Senators

S - 1737 Minimum Wage Fairness Act

Photo by REUTERS/beawiharta

S 1737 -  Minimum Wage Fairness Act - In Senate

The Minimum Wage Fairness Act was "Introduced" to the Senate by Sen. Thomas "Tom" Harkin (for himself and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid) on November 19, 2013. S 1737 - Minimum Wage Fairness Act - GovTrack.us The bill was read to the committee on November 20, 2013. In general the bill reads:

Section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1) ) is amended to read as follows:

(1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than—

      (A) $8.20 an hour, beginning on the first day of the sixth month that begins after the

            date of enactment of the Minimum Wage Fairness Act ;

      (B) $9.15 an hour, beginning 1 year after that first day;

      (C) $10.10 an hour, beginning 2 years after that first day; and

      (D) beginning on the date that is 3 years after that first day, and annually thereafter,

            the amount determined by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (h);

 

 The bill is Co-Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the bill, according to GovTrack.us, only has a 20% chance of being enacted at this time. It is crucial that people contact their Senators immediately. Corporations, and the ultra-rich, have a good deal of influence on the Senators due to large campaign contributions made possible by the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court in 2010. If enough people call, or e-mail, their Senators it can, and will, effect them. Click on this link To TRACK this bill, FIND, and CALL YOUR SENATOR so that they hear our voices. 

 

Photo by SeattleTimes.com

 

Voter Initiative To Enact A $15hr Minimum Wage in a Suburb of Seattle Passes By Narrow Margin

Business Insider - A Town Near Seattle Voted To Raise The Minimum Wage To $15hr - The Highest In The Country - November 27, 2013

 OLYMPIA, Washington (Reuters) - A voter initiative to enact a $15 minimum wage for thousands of workers in a Seattle suburb that houses the region's main international airport won a narrow victory on Tuesday that proponents hailed as a signal moment in the nationwide fight for livable wages.

 The measure mandates that some 6,300 workers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and nearby hotels, car rental agencies and parking lots receive a minimum hourly wage more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25.

 "It shows that people are tired of waiting for corporate CEOs or Congress to deal with income inequality and that they can use democracy to make a change," said Heather Weiner, spokeswoman for the union-backed Yes For SeaTac campaign.
The measure won by a margin of 77 votes with about 6,000 ballots cast, and King County election officials certified the outcome on Tuesday after weeks of uncertainty.
Opponents who fear the measure will slow the region's economy and drive businesses away said they plan to request a manual recount, for which they will have to foot the bill unless the result is reversed.
 
Four major California airports operate under ordinances similar to the SeaTac measure, including one guaranteeing workers at San Jose airport $13.82 an hour plus health insurance, and another mandating that Los Angeles airport workers earn $10.91 per hour plus health benefits.

Meme by "Raise The Minimum Wage"

While The Purchasing Power Has Fallen Sharply - The Rich Have Grown Far Richer

The Minimum Wage Should Be Raised - Huffington Post - 11/10/2013

 Some 47 million Americans live in poverty, and a key reason is the decline of the minimum wage.
First established under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the nationwide minimum wage was designed to lift millions of American workers out of poverty and to stimulate the economy. Unfortunately, however, it was not indexed to inflation, and big businesses -- hostile from the start -- fought, often successfully, to prevent congressional action to raise it. As a result, over the past 40 years, the purchasing power of the minimum wage has fallen sharply. If Congress had kept the minimum wage in pace with inflation over this period, it would today be $10.74. But, in fact, it is $7.25 -- about two-thirds of its previous purchasing power.

A major consequence is that increasing numbers of workers and their families live in poverty. The annual salary of a full-time American worker employed at $7.25 per hour is $15,080 -- less than the official federal government poverty level for a family of two. The poverty level for a family of four is $23,550 -- considerably beyond what a minimum wage worker earns.

 At the same time, the rich have grown far richer. Between 1968 and 2012, as the minimum wage declined in value, the top 1 percent of households doubled their share of the nation's income. The typical CEO of a big business received a 16 percent raise in 2012 -- to $15.1 million. That year, the pay of Wal-Mart's CEO, Mike Duke, rose 14 percent, to $20.7 million. By contrast, Wal-Mart -- the largest employer in the United States - pays its sales associates an average wage of $8.81 an hour. It is much the same story at McDonald's, which employs large numbers of the nation's low wage workers. In 2012, the CEO of McDonald's was paid $27.7 million. Although his income roughly tripled in 2012, the income of McDonald's fast food workers remained abysmal. Thanks to this pattern, the United States now has the most unequal distribution of income in the industrialized world.

 

Costco CEO Craig Jelinek at the Costco store in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

 

 At Costco, we know that paying employees good wages makes good sense for business

 

COSTCO CEO "Raise Minimum Wage to $10 - March 2013 - Huffington Post

Costco CEO and President Craig Jelinek came out in support of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, which aims to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, then adjust it after that for inflation.
"At Costco, we know that paying employees good wages makes good sense for business," Jelinek said in a statement. "We pay a starting hourly wage of $11.50 in all states where we do business, and we are still able to keep our overhead costs low."

"An important reason for the success of Costco’s business model is the attraction and retention of great employees," Jelinek added. "Instead of minimizing wages, we know it's a lot more profitable in the long term to minimize employee turnover and maximize employee productivity, commitment and loyalty. We support efforts to increase the federal minimum wage."

Photo by www.americansunitedforchange.org

Obama's $10.10 Minimum Wage Would Fundamentally Change America

Obama's $10.10 Minimum Wage Would Fundamentally Change America - Huffington Post - 11/08/2013

  President Barack Obama announced his support for legislation introduced by two Democratic senators that, if passed, would mark the first significant increase to the federal minimum wage in more than four years. Obama's statements showed that he's ready to go farther than his February proposal to push the minimum wage to $9, which many criticized as not a significant enough boost.
A leap to $10.10, however, could be enough to push a large number of the working poor -- a group defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as those who fall below the poverty line despite working (or searching for work) at least 27 weeks per year -- out of poverty.

Inequality For All – Must See Documentary (VIDEO)

Liberals Unite - Inequality For All - September 2013 

 A passionate argument on behalf of the middle class, 'Inequality For All' features Robert Reich-professor, best-selling author, and Clinton cabinet member—s he demonstrates how the widening income gap has a devastating impact on the American economy. The film is an intimate portrait of a man who's overcome a great deal of personal adversity and whose lifelong goal remains protecting those who are unable to protect themselves. Through his singular perspective, Reich explains how the massive consolidation of wealth by a precious few threatens the viability of the American workforce and the foundation of democracy itself. In this INCONVENIENT TRUTH for the economy, Reich uses humor and a wide array of facts to explain how the issue of economic inequality affects each and every one of us.

H.J.Res. 104: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the sixteenth article of amendment.

Amendment XVI To The Constitution of the United States

Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February 3, 1913. Note: Article I, section 9, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 16. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

> The 16th amendment to the United States Constitution  was ratified on February 3, 1913 and allowed the U.S. Congress to collect taxes on income.

> On January 4, 2013, (99 years, 11 months, and 1 day later,) Rep. Steve King (R-IA D4) introduced H.J. Res.16; a joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, "proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the sixteenth article of the amendment." This resolution was co-sponsored by Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA7) and Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL3) The prognosis of this resolution; 0% chance of getting past committee, and 0% chance of being enacted or past. H.J. Res 16 govtrack.us.

> On November 15, 2013, Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK-1), introduced H.J. Res.104, once again; a joint resolution which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary "proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the sixteenth article of the amendment."   And further more reads:    "Effective 2 years after the ratification of this article of amendment, the sixteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is repealed, and the Congress shall have no power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, except in time of war declared by the Congress." H.J. Res. 104 govtrack.us 1) This is the question; Knowing the Republicans have spent more than $59B, with a "B", of taxpayer money to hold 45 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act in Congress, is it acceptable to continue to have our elected officials spend our money, and waste time, while not doing anything to actually benefit the people? 2)  Is it acceptable for these Representatives to again waste the taxpayers time and money putting forth resolutions that have a 0% chance of getting out of committee, much less being enacted, or past? Please note these Representatives names, and if they are YOUR Representatives, contact them, using the links provided here to tell them to do their jobs, for the American people, and stop the senseless and costly behavior.

This resolution introduced by Rep. Bridenstine has nine (9) cosponsors;

Cosponsor	Date Cosponsored
Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4]*	11/15/2013
Rep. DeSantis, Ron [R-FL-6]*	11/15/2013
Rep. Woodall, Rob [R-GA-7]	11/21/2013
Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1]	11/21/2013
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]	11/21/2013
Rep. Yoho, Ted S. [R-FL-3]	11/21/2013
Rep. Broun, Paul C. [R-GA-10]	11/21/2013
Rep. Thornberry, Mac [R-TX-13]	11/21/2013
Rep. Salmon, Matt [R-AZ-5]	11/21/2013

74% Oppose H.R. 1755 (S 815 PASSED) The Employment Discrimination Act - ACT NOW - Bill is to be Acted Upon During Last Days of Session

 Status and Opinion on the Bills That Will Be Dealt With In The Last Days Before Holiday Recess

Photo by blackenterprise.com

Photo by libguides.law.drake.edu

74% of People "Oppose" H.R. 1755 (Related Bill - S 815 -Passed the Senate on November 7, 2013) The "Non-Discrimination Act, Wait! What?! 

74% Oppose H.R. 1755 POPVOX Page for H.R. 1755 , how could that be? There are 200 Co-Sponsors of this bill List of Co-Sponsors of H.R. 1755 on Congress.gov. It was Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections on July 8, 2013 by Rep. Jared Polis [D, CO-2] yet if you check with the  POPVOX Bill Report you'll see out of the 282 constituents that responded 74% oppose the bill. Organizations that endorse the bill include: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the American Humanist Association, the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), and the Human Rights Campaign. There are no organizations on POPVOX that oppose the bill. So where are these 74% of constituents that oppose this bill coming from?

Opposing Comments

If you look at some of the comments (click or tap the top link "POPVOX Page...") you'll see things like: "It endangers religious freedom and creates unnecessary restrictions on business owners," from jared_quirk1 in Pennsylvania's 3rd District and, from CraigBabich in Virginia's 7th District "Let us not continue to tie the hands of small business in America." How does not allowing employer discrimination based on "the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity" tie the hands of an employer? And finally on the opposing comments oldsquid from Arizona's 1st District "This would force faith based organizations to hire persons that blatantly oppose the very tenants of faith in Almighty God, by their actions, lifestyle, etc." what happened to "Love thy Neighbor" and "treat your worst enemy as you would treat your brother?" Is someone of the LBGT community even an enemy? Is oldsquid judging?

Comments from those that Endorse H.R. 1755

LivSimply in Maryland's 4th District "No one should be denied a job based on their sexual preference or gender identity. This is an issue of basic human dignity and sex discrimination," but is this bill forcing employers to hire people in fear they will be sued? WiseOldUnicorn in Georgia's 2nd District says "If it's wrong to discriminate against people because of things like religion, sex, or age, then it's also wrong to discriminate against them because of sexuality or gender identity." Although you can't "choose" you age you can choose what religion you choose to follow, For those who don't know, people don't "choose" to be gay, wake-up. Unlike Michelle Bachman's Husband who claimed to be able to "Pray the Gay Away," people have come to realize certain things about people's sexual orientation. JudHanson in Arkansas's 3rd District  says "The First Amendment does not grant people the right to use their faith to rob others of their dignity and basic civil rights," and "Discrimination of any kind in the workplace is wrong and should not be allowed." JudHanson is right, there is no such right in the First Amendment.

 

Discrimination in the Workplace is Wrong - Now is the Time To Speak Out

Whether the discrimination is based on age, ethnicity, sex, or sexual orientation, it is wrong. Just as hatred and racism are. As far as employers being sued for not hiring people based on their sexual orientation, that's simple, just hire the best candidate for the job based on experience and merit, not on sexual orientation and they won't be guilty of discrimination. By using this hiring practice business owners will benefit, not be involved in frivolous law suits. People need to become informed. Yesterday I saw a survey by Human Health Services (HHS) that said 27% of people still believe you can be infected with HIV from casual contact (shaking hands) with people infected with the virus. Really? Really? I taught "Communicable and Infectious Diseases" to EMT's and Paramedics in New York City EMS in 1985, then, we weren't sure of which routes of transmission would transmit the virus, but folks, that was 1985! And yet after decades of scientific research which proves beyond any reasonable doubt that it is a bloodbourne disease 27% of people are ignorant to these facts, as well as those of sexual orientation.

S 815 passed the Senate on November 7 2013, and the bill in the House of Representatives, H.R. 1755 needs to pass. You can help! "Click," or "Tap" on this link www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr1755 and click or t6ap on "Call Congress," it will find your Congressmen/women and place the call for you, it even has a script to read from, if you'd like, for when they connect you. But DON'T WAIT, time is running out quickly!

 

Bills About To Be Acted Upon In The House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate VERY SOON. You must ACT NOW To Be Heard! VOL. 01 November 27, 2013

 Here are Bills That Will Be Acted Upon in the House of Representatives and/or U.S. Senate Very Soon - Get Involved For A Better America

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S 1752 - "Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013".  

STATUS:    Placed on Calendar in the Senate (Nov 21, 2013)

PURPOSE: Modification of authority to determine to proceed to trial by court-martial on charges
                    on certain offenses with authorized maximum sentence of confinement of more than
                    one year.

SPONSOR(S): Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY]

 To TRACK Bill S 1752 and CALL you Senators on GovTrack.us CLICK HERE 

(You are about to be redirected to govtrack.us once there type "S 1752" in the white box
in the upper right-hand corner of the screen that says "search")

To Endorse or Oppose Bill S 1752 on POPVOX CLICK HERE 

(You are about to be redirected to popvox.com, once there type "S 1752" in the white box
in the upper right-hand corner of the screen that says "bill number or keywords"  

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H.R. 3588 - "Community Fire Safety Act of 2013".

STATUS:    The House Majority Leader indicated on Nov 26, 2013 that this bill may be
                   considered in the week ahead.  

PURPOSE: To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to exempt fire hydrants from the
                    prohibition on the use of lead pipes, fittings, fixtures, solder, and flux.

SPONSOR(S): Rep. Bill Johnson [R-OH6]

To TRACK Bill H.R. 3588 and CALL your Congressmen/women, on GovTrack.us CLICK HERE 

(You are about to be redirected to govtrack.us once there type "H.R. 3588" in the white box
in the upper right-hand corner of the screen that says "search") 

  

To Endorse or Oppose Bill H.R. 3588 on POPVOX CLICK HERE

(You are about to be redirected to popvox.com, once there type "H.R. 3588" in the white box
in the upper right-hand corner of the screen that says "bill number or keywords"   

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S 815 Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013

STATUS:  Passed Senate Nov 07, 2013 1:51 p.m. Bill Passed 64/32
                  The bill was sent to the House. (See H.R. 1755)

PURPOSE: To prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

SPONSOR(S): Sen. Jeff Merkley [D-OR]

To TRACK Bill S 815 and CALL your Senator on GovTrack.us CLICK HERE 

(You are about to be redirected to govtrack.us once there type "S 815" in the white box
 in the upper right-hand corner of the screen that says "search") 

  

To Endorse or Oppose Bill S 815 on POPVOX CLICK HERE

(You are about to be redirected to popvox.com, once there type "S 815" in the white box
in the upper 
right-hand corner of the screen that says "bill number or keywords"  

 

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H.R. 1755 - Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013

STATUS:     Referred to Committee,  (S. 815 (same title) Passed Senate — Nov 07, 2013)

PURPOSE:  To prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
                     or gender identity.

SPONSOR(S):  Rep. Jared Polis [D-CO2]

To TRACK Bill H.R. 1755 and CALL your Congressmen/women, on GovTrack.us CLICK HERE 

(You are about to be redirected to govtrack.us once there type "H.R. 1755" in the white box
in the upper right-hand corner of the screen that says "search") 

  

To Endorse or Oppose Bill H.R. 1755 on POPVOX CLICK HERE

 (You are about to be redirected to popvox.com, once there type "H.R. 3588" in the white box
in the upper right-hand corner of the screen that says "bill number or keywords"   

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NOTE: These are only a selection of bills that this blog author has deemed important and post-worthy. You may be interested in other bills that you can track once you register with GovTrack.us and POPVOX. 

 

STOP H.R. 1900, H.R. 1965, H.R. 2728!

 You Can Make A Difference in Fracking On Public Lands

Photo by Secure3.convio.net

 

 House Energy Bills Would Unleash Fracking Free-For-All on Public Lands

In a  Nation of Change Article - House Bills Would Release Fracking Free-For-All on Public Lands
they follow up on the three bills we saw introduce3d last week.  The bills, H.R. 1900, H.R. 1965 and H.R. 2728, would give industry complete control over federal lands, and shut down the public’s voice. Worse yet, they would actually force development on precious lands in such places as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Already the White House has threatened to veto two of the bills.

The article further states that:

H.R. 1965
The first bill, H.R. 1965, is sponsored by Rep. Lamborn (R-CO). This would direct that federal lands be managed for the primary purpose of energy development, rather than for stewardship balancing multiple uses including recreation. Astonishingly, it also would curb and then penalize the public for raising concerns about oil and gas projects on public lands that may affect them.

H.R. 2728
The second bill, H.R. 2728, is sponsored by Rep. Flores (R-TX). It would overturn decades of precedent to undermine protection of federal lands with the goal of promoting fracking for oil and natural gas.
It basically puts states in charge of fracking on federal lands within that state’s borders. And it tells the Department of Interior, charged with managing federal lands wisely for future generations, to butt out., and

H.R. 1900
The third bill up, H.R. 1900, is sponsored by Rep. Pompeo (R-KS). It would rush approval of natural gas pipelines with disregard for potential impacts on the public and on clean water and air.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would have only one year to consider a completed permit application for a pipeline, despite the fact that such projects often are complicated, risky and take longer to evaluate. Other agencies would have only three months to sign off on associated permits required by the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act.

Photo by www.npr.org

 FLOOR WATCH — HOUSE TACKLES ENERGY BILLS BEFORE BREAK: 

 Several big GOP bills are set to hit the House floor this week, giving Republicans something to be thankful for as they return to their home districts for the Thanksgiving recess. Here’s what you need to know:

 In a Politico Morning Energy Article on November 18, 2013 they summarize the bills:

 Drilling permits: The House is scheduled to get to H.R. 1965, the Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act, on Tuesday. This bill, which cleared the Natural Resources Committee back in July, accelerates onshore drilling permit decision and would require a quarter of nominated acreage be made available for leasing. The Interior Department opposes the bill, and testified earlier this year that it speeds up energy development “at the expense of sound public land management, public participation, and environmental review.”

Fracking regulations: On Wednesday, lawmakers will consider H.R. 2728, the Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act. Rep. Bill Flores's bill, which cleared committee on a largely party line vote, would block Interior from enforcing any federal fracking regulation in states that already have similar regulations or guidance for fracking on the books. Democrats complained that the bill’s language is too broad and would allow practically any state fracking requirement to supersede federal authority.

Natural gas pipelines: And rounding out the week, on Thursday the House is scheduled to vote on H.R. 1900, Rep. Mike Pompeo’s Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act. The legislation would speed up decisions on natural gas pipelines by giving FERC a 12-month deadline to make a decision (other agencies would have 90 days to weigh in once FERC completes environmental reviews). After the deadline, projects would be automatically approved. Democrats also oppose this bill, saying it would inadvertently cause FERC to reject applications because of too-tight deadlines.

BLM WITHDRAWS 100,000 ACRES FROM UTAH LEASE SALE:

Via the Salt Lake City Tribune: “The Bureau of Land Management is withholding most of the federal acreage in Emery County that it had proposed to lease for oil and gas development, including parcels in and around the San Rafael Swell, citing a need to reconsider archeological and natural values that drilling could spoil. The agency’s quarterly auction in Salt Lake City next week was shaping up to be its most controversial since climate activist Tim DeChristopher disrupted a sale five years ago with a string of bogus bids on parcels near Utah national parks. But after fielding concerns from various groups and citizens, BLM state director Juan Palma on Friday hit the pause button.” SLCT: http://bit.ly/1avquhE 

You may recall when Tim DeChristopher bid on every parcel of land in an auction until they figured out something was awry and shut him down. It was great, a brave and active guy.

Photo by ThinkProgress.org

Fracking Industry Campaign Contributions At Record Levels, Report Shows

 In a HuffPost Green Article = November 24, 2013 they report: Fracking industry contributions to congressional campaigns spiked 231 percent between 2004 and 2012 in districts and states with fracking activity, according to a report released Wednesday.

Compiled by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and based on MapLight's collection of federal campaign contribution data, the report showed a smaller, 131-percent uptick in fracking industry contributions to candidates outside of fracking areas. The fracking industry's level of contributions increased steadily from $4.3 million to just under $12 million between 2004 and 2012, according to the report, just as fracking's importance to the U.S. energy industry grew.

Go To POPVOX.org to Register and Track YOUR Politicians and Legislation

What YOU Can Do To Not Allow Fracking On Public Lands

This link GovTrack.gov's Home Page is the easiest page to use to find, and track, legislation in the House of Representatives or U.S. Senate. You can find your U.S. Senators and your Congressmen/women. This site is not the best for State Legislation. Click on the link and you can simply search for a bill number, e.g. H.R. 1900, keywords of a bill, or by putting in your Zip Code, or address, you can find who your Representatives are and track them as well.

This link Vote.Smart.org Home Page  is the easiest page to use to find, and track, STATE legislation in your STATE government. This site is not the best for bills in the House of Representatives or the Senate. Click on the link and you can simply search for a bill number, e.g. S 7722A , keywords of a bill, or by putting in your Zip Code, or address, you can find who your State Assemblymen/women and State Senators are, and track them as well.

On the bills we're talking about in this post use GovTrack.gov's Home Page, if you haven't already, "Register," you'll be glad you did. Then login. Once your logged in, look to the right of where your name is, at the top right of the page, and you'll see a "Search" box. Enter a bill number, (today you may want to do all three, but do them separately) e.g. H.R. 1900 and hit "Enter." you will see this:

from GovTrack.us

After you click on "Track this bill" you will be able to select to receive e-mail updates and add the bill to any lists that you set up. You should at least click on the radio button next to "e-mail" so you will receive an e-mail whenever the bill is coming up for action, or has been voted on.

Next you'll notice either a "Call Congress," if the bill is expected to be acted on soon, or you may see a button to help you "Write a Letter (or email) your Representative.

Try it now! Contact YOUR Representatives on issues you care about.

Another great site to use is POPVOX Home Page for tracking Congressmen/women and Senators and bills in the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. You can also choose whether to "Support" or "Oppose" a bill and it will make sending an e-mail to your Representatives letting them know how you feel REALLY EASY!

Please try at least one of these sites to "Search"
HR 1900


HR 1965
and
HR 2728

and TRACK THESE BILLS, and e-mail or call, your Congressmen/women since the bills will be voted on soon in the Congress!

Update on The True Welfare Queens; McDonald's and Wal-Mart and How They Offer Their Minimum Wage Employees "Assistance"

McDonald's "McResources" and Wal-Mart's Associates Assistance is Despicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McResourceline Is "Assisting" Their Employees By Telling Them To Sell Unwanted Items and Christmas Gifts On eBay or Craigslist for Cash

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 Wal-Mart is Running A Food Drive Asking "Associates" to Donate Food So Other "Associates" Have Food For Thanksgiving 

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WAIT! WHAT?! REALLY?!

I don't like to make too many  posts on a similar issue but this situation called for an update because both McDonald's and Wal-Mart seem to want to exacerbate their problems by using ignorance and arrogance. Below is a reprint of a post I made on this site in October.  But first here are the updates:

McDonald's McResourceline

This is from Low Pay is Not O.K. today, who is doing great work on this cause:

A screenshot if the "McResourceline" website published by Low Pay Is Not OK reads:

“You may want to consider returning some of your unopened purchases that may not seem as appealing as they did. Selling some of your unwanted possessions on eBay or Craigslist could bring in some quick cash. Consider bringing a brown bag lunch and skipping the takeout …. You might also consider a temporary part time job to dig out of debt quickly.”

Other pages go on to advise McDonald’s employees to “quit complaining” to lower stress that “Singing along to your favorite songs can lower blood pressure.”

 As I'm writing this post I received good news from Maria Trisler at Low Pay is Not O.K. She says McDonald's has removed their advice that they posted. She also says:

Don't they read this stuff before they post it on the web?

McDonald's knows they don't pay their employees like me enough to make ends meet. But instead of paying us enough to get by, their "help" consists of a website that's chock full of CLUELESS (and offensive!) tips. You have to see it to believe it.

Great work Maria! We'll look forward to more results that I'm sure you'll get from all your efforts.

And Now For Wal-Mart

In an article from The Wire - Article from November 18, 2013 "Wal-Mart Holds a Food Drive for Its Own Struggling Workers"  they say: "An Ohio Wal-Mart is holding a food drive for underprivileged families who can't afford Thanksgiving dinner, which seems like a noble enough venture, until you realize the collection box is for the store's own workers, who are apparently in need because Wal-Mart doesn't pay them enough." 

In Closing this Update

It might not be so bad that these companies are trying (although totally misguided and blind to reality) to help their employees, if they, themselves weren't so blind with greed that they don't see that they are the cause of their employees being in the financial situations that they are in. If they would simply pay a decent wage for a decent days work they could truly help the problem. 

  

REPRINT OF www.Medic3569.blogspot.com POST FROM OCTOBER 24, 2013 

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Thursday, October 24, 2013

McResourceline, McDonald's Employee Assistance Hotline Pushing Employees to Apply for SNAP and Medicaid

California Discourages Eligible Applicants From Applying for SNAP (Food Stamps)

 I posted about an article back in August of this year based an article by the L. A. Times about how people were being discouraged from applying for food stamps even though they were eligible, because they probably wouldn't get them. You heard right. Here's the article I based my post on: L. A. Times article "California discourages needy from signing up for Food Stamps"

 You would think that someone who truly needs help to feed themselves and their children would get it if they are eligible. Not so, not where onerous paperwork requirements, inhospitable county benefits offices and confusing online applications often prevail. In California, sometimes even those who qualify get rejected, as understaffed agencies prove unable to properly process applications.The state's participation rate is the lowest in the U.S. — only about half of those that qualify get assistance — making it the envy of more-conservative states. 

Wal-Mart: Leader in Costing Taxpayers for Employees Benefit

   The cost of low wages at Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500) are at the center of a new report released last week by the Democratic staff of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Low wages are an issue across the economy, but Wal-Mart, as the country's largest private employer, has long faced closer scrutiny than other companies.Wal-Mart's low wages and refusal to offer healthcare to their employees cost taxpayers $80 Million per year. money.cnn.com June 5, 2013

 

McDonald's Wants Taxpayers to Pay Their Employee's Food and Healthcare 

This is a NOT COCA-COLA  But it is THE REAL THING - McResource's Hotline for Employee Assistance

 Listen to an actual call from an employee of McDonald's asking the McResource's Hotline for help and how their help line pushes her to the SNAP (Food Stamps) program, and Medicaid programs, to have taxpayers support their employees. Mind you this employee is full-time worker making $8.25/hr and has not received av raise in TEN YEARS!

Here's a link to the article from ABC News: McDonald's Helpline article by GMA

I was outraged when I saw Zain Asher of CNN Newsroom play a phone conversation between this 10-year employee, who has not received a single raise in that 10 years, making $8.25 /hr.

This is a link to a very informative article from CNN on the same topic: CNN article on McDonald's 

Here is an article from rt.com on the same: rt.com/usa article  

These companies are making HUGH profits and their workers often make less than $25,000/yr, making them eligible for food stamps and Medicaid.  Please contact your Congressmen/women and Senators and tell them it is time to raise the minimum wage to $11.00/hr.

To Find and or get contact information for YOUR Congressmen/women and Senators use the links on the left margin of this blog. 

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