[wacor]

Originally Posted by poochee

NOVEMBER 14, 2009.
Immigrant Bill Is Back on Table
By MELANIE TROTTMAN

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano called Friday for Congress to consider an overhaul of immigration law early next year, a move that could rekindle a divisive debate during an election year.

Ms. Napolitano said the immigration landscape has changed sharply since 2007, when attempts at a comprehensive overhaul failed because many members of Congress lacked confidence in the government's ability to enforce existing laws, she said. Immigration overhauls backed by the Bush administration and some congressional leaders from both parties foundered in part because critics portrayed them as rewarding illegal immigrants with "amnesty" for violating U.S. law.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125816110639347917.html

You would think the morons in congress would have learned their lesson back then. Nothing has changed. The vast majority do not want amnesty and a form of that is gonna be proposed. You liberals must not want to stay in power very long. After cap and trade and NHC now to come up with immigration next is nuts if you are a democrat.

I guess the arrogance of power is all consuming and renders one to make idiotic decisions under the grandeur of self worth. Say good by to speaker Pelosi and Harry Reid. They have learned nothing from the last speaker and senate leader on the left who were bounced out for similar incompetence.

[poochee]

Senate hears need for bank overdraft controls
JIM ABRAMS | November 17, 2009 11:48 AM EST | AP

Banking committee chairman Chris Dodd, D-Conn., has introduced legislation that would allow consumers to "opt-in" for overdraft protection on ATM and debit card transactions when they open an account. It would also limit the number of overdraft fees a bank can charge per month and year, require that fees be proportional to the cost of processing the overdraft and require that customers be notified when they overdraw their account so they don't make further uncovered transactions. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., has proposed similar legislation in the House.

Excerpt from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-w...verdraft-fees/

[poochee]

November 17, 2009
Byrd set to mark first 20,744 days in office
Posted: November 17th, 2009 04:15 PM ET
From CNN Political Research Director Robert Yoon

Washington (CNN) – Sen. Robert Byrd will become the longest-serving member of Congress Wednesday, having logged a staggering 20,774 days representing his home state of West Virginia in either the U.S. House or Senate.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...ays-in-office/

[ekim68]

The Senate this afternoon voted to end a GOP filibuster over a judicial appointment, with some Republicans crossing the aisle in a rare display of bipartisanship.

In a 70-29 vote, Democrats voted to end the filibuster and move along the nomination of U.S. District Judge David Hamilton to The 7th Circuit appellate court, which serves Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The full Senate will now get a chance to debate the nomination.

More

[poochee]

Originally Posted by ekim68

More

[LANMaster]

[ekim68]

Senate health bill gets a boost

As the Senate opened debate Monday on a landmark plan to overhaul the nation's health-care system, congressional budget analysts said the measure would leave premiums unchanged or slightly lower for the vast majority of Americans, contradicting assertions by the insurance industry that the average family's coverage would rise by thousands of dollars if the proposal became law.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?hpid=topnews

(I still don't know why any business wouldn't want a single-payer heath care plan...Those businesses wouldn't be paying into it, just the workers.....The businesses would save a lot of money.)

[poochee]

Originally Posted by ekim68

Senate health bill gets a boost

As the Senate opened debate Monday on a landmark plan to overhaul the nation's health-care system, congressional budget analysts said the measure would leave premiums unchanged or slightly lower for the vast majority of Americans, contradicting assertions by the insurance industry that the average family's coverage would rise by thousands of dollars if the proposal became law.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?hpid=topnews

(I still don't know why any business wouldn't want a single-payer heath care plan...Those businesses wouldn't be paying into it, just the workers.....The businesses would save a lot of money.)

[poochee]

Huffpost - Financial Reform Approved By House Banking Panel
JIM KUHNHENN | 12/ 2/09 11:53 AM | AP

WASHINGTON — A key House panel voted Wednesday to slap new restraints on big Wall Street institutions and to demand greater openness from the nation's central bank, clearing a significant hurdle in the drive for a sweeping financial regulations overhaul.

Motivated by the crisis that caused a near collapse in financial markets, the House Financial Services Committee approved legislation 31-27 that would give the government the right to dismantle financial firms that pose a risk to the economy, even if they are healthy.

The legislation also would require a detailed congressional audit of the privacy-shrouded Federal Reserve and would assess fees up front on large financial institutions to pay for the failure of their competitors.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/1..._n_376595.html

[LANMaster]

Originally Posted by poochee

Huffpost - Financial Reform Approved By House Banking Panel
JIM KUHNHENN | 12/ 2/09 11:53 AM | AP

WASHINGTON — A key House panel voted Wednesday to slap new restraints on big Wall Street institutions and to demand greater openness from the nation's central bank, clearing a significant hurdle in the drive for a sweeping financial regulations overhaul.

Motivated by the crisis that caused a near collapse in financial markets, the House Financial Services Committee approved legislation 31-27 that would give the government the right to dismantle financial firms that pose a risk to the economy, even if they are healthy.

The legislation also would require a detailed congressional audit of the privacy-shrouded Federal Reserve and would assess fees up front on large financial institutions to pay for the failure of their competitors.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/1..._n_376595.html

Are you out of your Vulcan mind?

While I support sweeping reform legislation,I will NEVER support the government having the power to "dismantle financial firms ... even if they are healthy".

Does anybody else see a serious problem with such a thing?

[poochee]

House votes to keep current estate tax rate
By Ben Pershing
Friday, December 4, 2009

The House approved a measure Thursday that would make the current estate tax rate permanent, setting it at 45 percent for individual estates worth more than $3.5 million.

The bill passed 225 to 200, with 26 Democrats joining all Republicans present in voting no. If Congress does not act, the estate tax will disappear in 2010, then return in 2011 under the higher rates -- 55 percent and a $1 million exemption -- that existed before President George W. Bush took office.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...=nl_pmpolitics

[ekim68]

Byrd calls tactics of ‘fear mongering’ coal industry ‘morally indefensible’

The West Virginia coal industry has become a virulent opponent of President Barack Obama’s reform agenda, and the state’s political leaders have cheered it on. In June, West Virginia declared coal the state rock. In September, the coal industry sponsored a rock concert and rally to demonize “environmental extremists.” In October, coal companies organized mobs to attack the Environmental Protection Agency’s halting steps to enforce Clean Water Act limits on mountaintop removal mining. In November, the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce told Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) to hold health care reform hostage until climate legislation is killed.

Today, Sen. Byrd had enough. In a stunning rebuke, Byrd told his state to admit that change is coming, and that the coal industry has to clean up its act:

Here

[poochee]

Originally Posted by ekim68

Byrd calls tactics of ‘fear mongering’ coal industry ‘morally indefensible’

The West Virginia coal industry has become a virulent opponent of President Barack Obama’s reform agenda, and the state’s political leaders have cheered it on. In June, West Virginia declared coal the state rock. In September, the coal industry sponsored a rock concert and rally to demonize “environmental extremists.” In October, coal companies organized mobs to attack the Environmental Protection Agency’s halting steps to enforce Clean Water Act limits on mountaintop removal mining. In November, the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce told Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) to hold health care reform hostage until climate legislation is killed.

Today, Sen. Byrd had enough. In a stunning rebuke, Byrd told his state to admit that change is coming, and that the coal industry has to clean up its act:

Here

[poochee]

December 4, 2009
Congress moves to extend jobless benefits
Posted: December 4th, 2009 04:19 PM ET
From CNNMoney.com Senior Writer Tami Luhby

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) – Lawmakers in both the House and Senate introduced bills this week to push the deadline to apply for unemployment benefits to as far back as 2011.


http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...less-benefits/

[poochee]

Huffpost - Senate Takes Aim At Insurance Company Executive Pay
stumble reddit del.ico.us ERICA WERNER | 12/ 5/09 12:28 PM | AP

WASHINGTON — Americans can't take weekends off from worrying about health care and the Senate shouldn't either, Majority Leader Harry Reid said Saturday as he opened a rare weekend session to debate President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

With Democrats preparing to vote on an amendment targeting tax breaks for insurance executives' pay, Reid lashed out at "greedy health insurance companies" that he said make profits by neglecting consumers' health needs.

Reid, D-Nev., called the weekend session as he races the clock to complete action on the 2,000-page remake of the nation's health care system by Christmas. With both sides jockeying for political advantage amid raging partisan debate, Democratic senators used their weekend work to cite their commitment to Obama's signature issue. Reid's office announced that Obama would make a personal pitch Sunday during a visit to the Capitol, when he is expected to speak to Democratic senators during a caucus meeting.

The nearly $1 trillion legislation would provide insurance coverage to more than 30 million more people over the next decade with a new requirement for nearly everyone to purchase insurance. New insurance purchasing marketplaces would be set up, lower-income people would get subsidies, the federal-state Medicaid program for the poor would be expanded and unpopular insurance company practices such as yanking coverage when someone gets sick would be banned.

Excerpts from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/1..._n_381246.html