72 Hours and Counting: Healthcare Reform is coming

by: colin

Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:32 AM CST

On Tuesday night the House Rules Committee released the Manager's Amendment to HR 3962, the "Affordable Healthcare Act for America". This starts the 72-hour clock for consideration of the legislation which means a vote could occur as early as Saturday morning.

It is important to note that the 72-hour layout period is not standard operating procedure in DC. A coalition of members of both parties pushed for this added measure of accountability. This period allows all members, the media and the public the opportunity to review the bill instead of passing huge pieces of important legislation with no layout in the middle of the night like Delay and his cronies did.

72-hour amendment & summary

District-By-District healthcare analysis

Majority Leader’s Clearinghouse for Healthcare Information

The District-By-District analysis is the best weapon against your anti-healthcare opponents that I've ever seen.  Any candidate for Congress should memorize these numbers and quote them frequently.

 Still a tough vote for lots of Texas Democrats.  We need to make sure it is a tougher vote for Texas republicans who choose the insurance companies and HMOs over middle class families.

 Moving forward towards November 2010, it is imperative that we arm ourselves and supporters with this information, communicate it frequently, and shutdown misinformation before it can become "fact-like".

Support our delegation by writing letters to the editor, messaging your friends on Facebook, emailing your fantasy football buddies, etc.  This is a tough vote that could cost us some seats unless we all dig in and fight shoulder-to-shoulder to breakdown the lies and promote the cause that healthcare reform is necessary AND affordable.

Congratulations to President Obama on Nobel Prize

by: Robin Cravey

Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 09:33 PM CDT

Many Americans remain in denial, even now, of the shameful record of the previous eight years.  It was a time when Americans, acting as willing dupes of reckless and immoral leaders, scapegoated entire populations for the crimes of a cabal of madmen.  It was a time when Americans rationalized torture, aggression, murder, and revenge.  

Americans woke up, last year, from the sinister trance that gripped them.  They turned away from the grim dichotomy of domination or destruction.  They listened to a voice that offered hope, and they chose a new path.  

This is the real change in the world.  America is once again motivated by its higher self.  This prize is not for the eloquence of one man who enabled us to wake up, or the daily efforts of that man working to live up to the change he has enabled.  

This Nobel Peace Prize is really for the American people.  And no one is more fit to represent us in accepting this prize than the President of the United States, Barack Obama.  

We Need More Congressional Reps Like Marcy Kaptur

by: Elsbeth

Sat Oct 10, 2009 at 03:20 PM CDT

This is an amazing interview. If you take the time to watch it in its entirety, I'm certain you won't regret it.

BILL MOYERS: How do we get Congress back? How do we get Congress to do what it's supposed to do? Oversight. Real reform. Challenge the powers that be.

MARCY KAPTUR: We have to take the money out. We have to get rid of the constant fundraising that happens inside the Congress. Before political parties used to raise money; now individual members are raising money through the DCCC and the RCCC. It is absolutely corrupt. It's good people.

[...]

MARCY KAPTUR: And then people wonder, 'Well, why doesn't Congress get along?' Because they are made into arch enemies by the type of fundraising system that is embedded in the very guts of the institution. So, you've got to clean that out. But meanwhile, we need to get hired over at the justice department, 1,000 agents, in mortgage fraud and in securities fraud. Then, I pray, that the leadership of both chambers will do the kind of robust hearings that the nation deserves to rout out those who did wrong and to change the fundamental financial architecture of this country. And then the President needs to get his top housing advisors in the room with him. And they need to meet all weekend. And they need to get their arms around this housing market, in order to stem the rising foreclosures. We haven't stopped the bleeding out there.

BILL MOYERS: Does President Obama get it?

MARCY KAPTUR: I don't think President Obama has the right people around him. The poor man inherited a total mess, globally and domestically. I think some of the people that he trusted haven't delivered. I urge him to get new generals. It's time. [Emphasis added.]

DNC Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus Reception in Austin - Sept. 10

by: PI Lawyer

Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 02:55 PM CDT

The Texas Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has played a key role in the state's tremendous political transformation.  AAPIs comprise approximately 3.5% of the state population, but exceed 15% or even 20% in certain political subdivisions in Austin, Dallas, and Houston; additionally, AAPIs are one of the fastest growing populations in Texas.  And like other Texans, AAPIs are voting more and more Democratic.  According to exit polling conducted by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, 76% of AAPIs voted for President Barack Obama.  Among US-born AAPIs, President Obama's margin was even higher with 87% of the vote.

Democrats believe that Texas and the AAPI community are central to their efforts to achieve meaningful and lasting reform.  The Asian American Democrats of Texas - AADT, recognized by the Texas Democratic Party as the representative Texas caucus for Asian Americans, is hosting a reception for local AAPI Democrats, members of the DNC's AAPI Caucus, and local and national party and elected officials.  The reception will take place at Chinatown Restaurant at 3407 Greystone Drive near MoPac from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  Complimentary appetizers will be served, and the event is free and open to the public.  More information is available at the Asian American Democrats of Texas's website, www.aadt.us, or by e-mailing mail@aadt.us or calling 512.326.0222.

Juan Garcia: Confirmation Hearing Set For Thursday

by: M. Eddie Rodriguez

Mon Jul 27, 2009 at 07:30 AM CDT

Former State Representative Juan Garcia now has a date for his confirmation hearing with the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

Live video will stream this Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 8:30 AM CST from the Armed Services Committee website and the C-SPAN viewing schedule will be announced later this week. 

For BOR readers in the D.C. area who would like to attend, the hearing is open to the public, and will take place in Room SD-106, Dirksen Senate Office Building.

What is Really in the Public Option?

by: Whosplayin?

Sun Jul 26, 2009 at 10:22 AM CDT

Now, the bill (H.R.3200, otherwise known as "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009") as introduced in the house is very large, but since the most controversial part of this is a provision for a "public option" for health care coverage, that is the part we examine here.

Where to Find It
The public option for health care coverage is found in Title II, Subtitle B of H.R. 3200.

The Context of Title II
Title II itself establishes a Health Insurance Exchange.  Within Title II, Subtitle A defines the Exchange, Subtitle B defines the Public Health Insurance Option, and Subtitle C defines Individual Affordability Credits which help reduce the premium cost of individuals based on their income.

Watch the Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings Live on Burnt Orange Report

by: Phillip Martin

Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 11:06 AM CDT

If it's Sotomayor you want to hear from, make sure you get lunch first. And maybe a nap. Because although the hearings are expected to be gaveled into session at 10 a.m., the first order of business is opening statements. From the Senators. Nineteen of them. For up to ten minutes apiece. Plus statements of introduction from home state Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirstin Gillibrand.

In any case, you can watch the video below:

Going With the Flow, Swimming Upstream, or Flopping on the Shore?

by: liberaltexan

Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 06:55 PM CDT

Palin touted her accomplishments as Governor: the promotion of private energy projects, ethics reform, and fiscal conservatism. Of course she took time to mention the cutting of the perks of the executive office such as the plane and the chef. She proudly took credit for all of the successes that where achieved in two years as governor, and how she protected Alaska from the "immoral" stimulus funds.

"You don't hear much about the good stuff in the press anymore, do ya?"

More Below the Fold...

News Fluff

by: Aimlessness

Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:17 AM CDT

I dubbed 2007 the year of the bimbo because of the enormous amount of time dedicated on what was supposed to be news channels, and even our plain old nightly news to the saga of Anna Nicole Smith, the trials and tribulations of Paris Hilton, and the various on goings of Brittany Spears and Lindsay Lohan.

Despite the fact that our country was fighting two bloody wars and the death of such greats as Molly Ivins and Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson, one quarter to one half of the news on many nights and on many shows was wasted on the afore mentioned bimbos. 2009 is shaping up to be nearly as bad.

For the past two nights, the Rachel Maddow Show has been pre-empted to instead dedicate the full hour to Michael Jackson. Those "news" shows that haven't dedicated their entire show to Jackson, spent a quarter to a half of their time on story. Just as with the death of Anna Nicole Smith, we are getting a play by play on everything from the custody of the children to the location and details of the funeral and burial.

The coverage of Anna Nicole's death was over the top and excessive.

The coverage of Michael Jackson's death is turning out to be just as bad or possibly even worse.

Texas Meets American Recovery Act Milestone Ahead of Schedule

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 04:23 PM CDT

As part of the Administration's effort to infuse Recovery Act funds swiftly into the economy, states are required under ARRA to obligate 50 percent of their highway funds by June 29, 2009.  Working in coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation, all 55 U.S. states and territories successfully beat this deadline at least 10 days ahead of schedule with Texas allocating over 50% of its funds as of June 12.

Nationwide, to date, $19 billion has been obligated to fund over 5,300 approved for highway and other transportation projects nationwide.  Of those, 1,900 projects are already underway.  Already in Texas, the state has put to work $960.7 million in highway funds - or 61 percent - of the funds required under the Act.

As of today, Texas' largest ARRA-funded project is the $6.6 million repair of concrete pavement on I-45 from Keechi Creek to Bliss Creek in Leon County, an economically distressed area.  This 7.29-mile-long project - fully funded by ARRA - will extend the service life of infrastructure on a route that is expected to carry increased traffic volume.