Posts Tagged ‘Congress’
The last year has been full of discussion about the growing disparities in pay in the United States. But there is at least one sector where wealth is going up instead of down.
That sector?
Congress.
An article for the New York Times reports that members of Congress’ earnings have continued to go up during tough economic times, causing some to question their effectiveness.
The fact that rich people are in Congress isn’t usually that big a deal. But when Congress struggles mightily to take care of the economic business of the country — from the recent payroll tax extension fight to the debt limit fight — it starts to seem pretty evident to the average, everyday voter that members really don’t understand the economic problems their constituents face.”
Can rich members of Congress really represent the average American?
Image courtesy of CNN.
BREAK OUT THE CHAMPAGNE!!! IT”S TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!
Those crazy Republicans and Democrats in Washigton have actually agreed on something!!!
OH… but wait… it appears those crazy folks may have agreed on something that might be just a little too CRAZY.
The crazy thing in question is The Levin-McCain bill, part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
Opponents of the bill (ranging from the ACLU to the hacktivist group Anonymous) have expressed worries that the legislation would empower the military to detain citizens of the United States without charge or trial provisions.
Now it looks likely to be passed this week, as President Obama has backed down on a former promise to veto it.
Necessary addition to national security? Or threat to individual liberties? Decide for yourself; the full text is here.
Just some light reading for the 220th anniversary of the adoption of the Bill of Rights.
Image from NPR!
The clock is ticking. Super Committee nears deadline, with what to show?
Clinton visits Burma and NPR gives us a rare look at the country’s new capital.
Do Republicans send better emails?
It’s baaaaaaack: new episodes of Arrested Development!
Photo courtesy of the New York Times.
President Obama can’t seem to get folks in Washington to listen to him. So he has decided to try his luck elsewhere…
For weeks he has been striving to get Congress to support his plan to create jobs in the US… with lukewarm reception.
Now he is exploring alternatives to the American Jobs Act, tacitly admitting the bill is unlikely to pass through Congress.
The President will be touring in Las Vegas and Denver, hoping to pressure Republicans in Congress into passing the bill, rallying citizens under the mantra “We can’t wait,” for lawmakers to act.
Polls have shown that the main goals of the bill are widely supported- 63% approve according to a recent Wall Street Journal poll.
The bill, which can be read in its entirety here, focuses on cutting payroll taxes, extending unemployment benefits, funding new road construction, and providing a tax credit to returning veterans.
Opponents of the bill have cited concerns ranging from the proposed level of spending ($447 billion) to the targeted industries losing tax benefits, which include the oil industry.
Opposition has not been limited to the Republican party. Some Democrats are queasy.
“I have been very unequivocal…No more tax cuts,”
said a Democratic Representative from Oregon, Peter A. DeFazio.
Clearly the President has a long road to travel before his Jobs Bill will be passed.
From Wikipedia
Remember Election 2008? We know it was soooo long ago but if you are feeling nostalgic, get ready:
2012 is getting a blast from the past. Joe the Plumber is running for Congress.
Joe Wurzelbacher quickly (randomly) became the centerpiece for John McCain’s presidential bid after questioning Barack Obama on his tax policy. The nick name “Joe the Plumber” came to symbolize real hard working Americans, or at least that’s how it was intended.
Now he wants to work in Washington as a Republican representative from the 9th district of Ohio.
What do you think? Is this just a run to extend his 15 minutes of fame, or do you think this plumber would be a good representative? Either way it’s always good to have a plumber handy.
Image thanks to Wired!
Possibility of a government shutdown? Haven’t we seen this show before? #dejavu
President Obama is ready to leave behind No Child Left Behind.
Perhaps you already heard that scientists and the speed of light – but did you hear about the physicists and the invisibility cloak?
Ending modern-day slavery…one app at a time.
Oh, and watch out! A satellite’s falling to the earth.
Thanks to Politico!
Congressional Republicans will soon be adding two more names to their lineup, after Democrats lost special elections in New York and Nevada earlier this week.
Nevada’s 2nd district unsurprisingly went red and sent former state Sen. Mark Amodei to the lower chamber.
The GOP’s win in New York’s 9th district was a little harder to swallow for the opposing party. Disgraced Rep. Anthony Weiner was the last to hold the seat in the longtime Democratic stronghold.
Among one particular group of voters, NY-9’s power switch is being touted as a referendum against President Obama.
What it does indicate is there are some serious problems with messaging to the Jewish community from the administration.”
Image from the Washington Post
On Thursday night, President Obama gave a much anticipated speech to Congress about his plan to reduce unemployment – The American Jobs Act. Your trusty USDemocrazy bloggers have rounded up some of the coverage for you. Watch, read, listen, enjoy!
Don’t have a half hour to watch the President’s Thursday night speech? How about 2 minutes? CNN gives you the highlights.
How the American Jobs Act will (or won’t) impact people of color.
The markets were certainly listening – the Dow Jones takes a dip.
Perspectives on Obama’s plan and the “woman-cession.”
Let the rallies begin! As he promised, Obama presents the plan to the people.
And just in case you have some extra time, check out the full video from Thursday’s speech, enhanced with some super cool graphics from whitehouse.gov.
Thanks to CNN!
We hope you enjoyed your vacation, now fix the country. Congress is back to “work.”
Speaking of disappointing performances…President Obama’s ratings hit a new low.
Texas on fire, again. Wildfire tearing through the drought-struck state.
Feeling queasy? There might be a solution!
Image thanks to the Telegraph!
Divided government strikes again: Senate and House split on Republican debt ceiling bill.
Worldly advice – global lessons for the US on debt crises.
Title IX or Title NIX-ed?
The answer to the question on everyone’s mind – what happens when the Glee kids graduate?!
Would adopt this little “Kitler“?
Thanks to NPR!
A Happy, Healthy Meal: McDonald’s announces changes to its most famous order.
Call your legislators! Congress flooded with calls about the debt ceiling.
Another race gap? Recession has hurt minorities most.
Two more years! FBI Director’s term extended for the first time.
Image Courtesy of Politico
The high temperatures have hit the Capitol and are heating up the debt ceiling debate.
On Wednesday, the heat turned into a flame war.
Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) took to the House floor to criticize the Republican “Cut, Cap, and Balance” plan. She said
Incredulously, the gentleman from Florida who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Unbelievable from a member from south Florida.
Only problem is that the gentleman from Florida did not take kindly to Wasserman-Schultz’s critique. Instead, the political got personal.
Representative Allen West (R-FL) wrote to Wasserman-Schultz – and the Congressional leadership – and said
You are the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the US House of Representatives. If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up…You have proven repeatedly that you are not a Lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!
West’s response has sparked outrage and started a fundraising war.
Both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the organization EMILY’s List have used West’s comments in a fundraising appeal. By Wednesday afternoon, West’s reelection campaign had done the same.
Female Democratic colleagues of Wasserman-Schultz have also called for an apology from West for his sexist remarks (though there are mixed reports as to whether West has already apologized).
One Congresswoman explained that
We see this as a historic and systemic way that women have been subjected to sexism particularly in this venue, in this political environment. Just once again, we have been told that in order to be a ‘lady,’ we need to just stay in our places.
Another Congresswoman, Carolyn Maloney from NY, responded that
I’ve got to tell you that standing up for what you believe in, speaking out on the floor of Congress, and getting elected to office is very ladylike, Mr. West.
Anthony Weiner’s now infamous antics have made him a prime target for late night comedians.
But with public opinion of Congress at rock bottom, perhaps it is time to question the activities of Congressman Weiner and his colleagues. What has happened to the values of honesty and fidelity of our nation’s leaders?
True, Weiner’s case is nothing new. There are other Democrats who have dallied outside of their marriages to cavort with mistresses, White House interns, and prostitution rings,
The GOP is not immune. We’ve all heard about hypocritical anti-marriage-equality Republicans soliciting homosexual encounters in public restrooms.
And let’s not exclude the unique examples like the Republican Terminator’s recent confession of betraying his wife, who is, ironically, a Kennedy.
The public humiliation of these men’s actions take a toll on the politician’s family. Still, many wives and children continue to stand by these fools despite the costs (Elizabeth Edwards, is a particularly sad case)
Weiner’s wife of eleven months, Huma Abedin, close aide to Hilary Clinton, was “notably absent” from her husband’s press conference/confession. This is quite different from the traditional politician’s wife’s supportive stance. As Joshua Holland highlighted in a recent Internet article, the congressman stated:
She is not here. She made it clear that she thought what I did was very dumb.
Some are suggesting that these these extra-marital indulgences are private business and of no interest to the public.
This why Rep. Weiner has emphasized he broke no rules of political office.
‘I don’t see anything in what I did that violated the rules of the House,’ Weiner said. ‘I don’t believe I did anything that violates any law or any rule.’
Okay, maybe no rules were broken…but Weiner, like many of his guilty colleagues lied about their actions.
Prominent Democrat and former National Committee chairman Tim Kaine has already called for Weiner’s resignation.
‘Lying is unforgivable,’ he told WCAV-TV in Charlottesville, Va., on Tuesday. ‘Lying publicly about something like this is unforgivable and he should resign.’
This lack of honesty seems to get people’s goat.( but wait… isn’t an honest politician an oxymoron?)
So, what does all this mean to you? Where do you stand on the issues of fidelity, honesty, or the rules of politics?
Thanks to CNN.com!
Just this once? House refuses to pass debt ceiling increase.
Wish they would have told us sooner! Cell phones may cause brain cancer!
Big spender: Obama nominates new Secretary of Commerce.
If you hadn’t heard, PBS was hacked!
And, Balloon Boy’s dad is selling his balloon?!
It is easy to think that the political system in Washington is broken… There seems to be little agreement on issues big and small.
But fixing the big issues in the country today isn’t easy. Take the economy…
Most agree that US Government debt is an concern for the economy. The disagreement comes from how and when to solve this problem.
Well, one man (and his party) claims to have a solution.
Speaking in the video above Republican Paul Ryan, Chairman of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, outlines his answer.
Analyzed by the Congressional Budget Office Ryan’s plan is expected to accomplish its goals as presently
debt held by the public is projected to rise from about 62 percent of GDP in 2010 to about 90 percent of GDP in 2050.
…Under the proposal, the ratio of debt to GDP would be significantly smaller over the long term—falling to 48 percent in 2040 and 10 percent in 2050.
What seems even more impressive is that this is done WITHOUT RAISING TAXES! How you might ask? Well as Free Exchange’s G.I. notes this is accomplished
Through an eye-watering assault on entitlement spending, in particular health care. Mr Obama’s health care reform would be ditched, Medicaid would be converted to block grants, and traditional Medicare would be replaced with vouchers.
The end of Medicare as we know it, the end of government guarantees for seniors, is generating the most anger. Over at Democracy in America, M.S. after analyzing the proposal states:
I agree with Mr Ryan that the government needs to limit taxpayers’ exposure to Medicare cost inflation. I think this plan is a fundamentally immoral way to do it.
With so much emotion felt over the issues of both Federal debt and social safety nets its no wonder that even Republicans are tentatively approaching the proposed budget.
Fears of the political fallout from such a plan Catherine Rampell notes have sunk past budget solutions and that
The country’s budget problems are not a failure of policy ingenuity, but a failure of political willpower.
Which has us wondering; what ever the right answer is will Washington ever actually find AND more importantly implement it?
