Recent Harry Reid and Dean Heller Votes

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Featheriver


November 7, 2011

In this MegaVote for Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

  • Senate: Fiscal 2012 Agriculture Appropriations
  • Senate: Motion to Proceed; Rebuild America Jobs Act
  • Senate: Motion to Proceed; Long-Term Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011

Upcoming Congressional Bills

  • Senate: Government Contractor Withholding Repeal Act
  • Senate: Fiscal 2012 Appropriations
  • Senate: Net neutrality disapproval

Editor’s Note: The House is not in session this week.

Recent Senate Votes

Fiscal 2012 Agriculture Appropriations – Vote Passed (69-30, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this “minibus” bill making appropriations for the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development. The bill provides the five departments with $128 billion in discretionary funds for the 2012 fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2011. House and Senate conferees have begun meeting to work out a compromise bill.

Sen. Harry Reid voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Dean Heller voted NO……send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Dean Heller voted NO……send e-mail or see bio

Motion to Proceed; Rebuild America Jobs Act – Vote Rejected (51-49)

The Senate fell short of the 60 vote threshold needed to move forward on this part of the president’s jobs bill that would have provided $60 billion for transportation projects and created a national infrastructure bank.

Sen. Harry Reid voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Dean Heller voted NO……send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Dean Heller voted NO……send e-mail or see bio

Motion to Proceed; Long-Term Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011 – Vote Rejected (47-53)

The Senate also fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward on the Republican alternative that would have reauthorized highway programs for two years and overhauled certain regulations.

Sen. Harry Reid voted NO……send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Dean Heller voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Dean Heller voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

Government Contractor Withholding Repeal Act – H.R.674

The Senate is scheduled to take up this House bill to repeal a 3 percent withholding requirement on government contractor payments.

Fiscal 2012 Appropriations – H.R.2354

The Senate is also scheduled to begin work on this bill combining the 2012 Energy-Water, Financial Services, and State-Foreign Operations appropriations bills.

Net neutrality disapproval – S.J.RES.6

This Senate resolution would disapprove of the Federal Communications Commission’s “net neutrality” regulations adopted in December 2010.

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Democrats Steven Horsford and John Lee compete in CD#4

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Featheriver

Horsford Nevada Democrat State Senators Steven Horsford (D-Las Vegas) and John Lee (D-North Las Vegas) have bothjohnlee announced they wish to be the Democratic Party’s nominee to run for the United States Congress in 2012 to represent new Nevada Congressional District #4. CD#4 includes the entirety of Nye County.

Lee’s campaign website can be found at Vote John Lee. He is also on Wikipedia.

Horsford’s campaign website can be found at Steven Horsford Democrat for Congress. Senator Horsford can also be found on Wikipedia.

CegavskeOn the Republican side Nevada Republican State Senator Barbara Cegavske (R-Las Vegas) announced last Thursday she will also seek her party’s nomination to run for the United States Congress in 2012 to represent Congressional District #4.

Cegavske can be found on Wikipedia. I haven’t located her campaign website for Congress yet. I expect it will be up shortly.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal she is a conservative Republican.

Cegavske says her campaign will focus on fiscal policy and regulatory reform. She says she’s also committed to protecting and preserving Social Security and Medicare. [The Republic]

The Republic also states “Democrats hold a 13 percentage point voter registration advantage over Republicans in the new congressional district. Non-partisan voters account for about 15 percent.”

“I will work every day to get government out of the business of punishing our job creators and in the business of protecting and preserving Social Security and Medicare for our seniors,” vows Cegavske. [Nevada News Bureau]

That quote sounds like the usual GOP line—”get government out of the business of punishing our job creators”—and the fact she is characterized as a conservative makes me nervous.

She spouts the usual GOP line.

“We can improve our economy and get people back to work if we send people to Congress who are committed to sound fiscal policy, sensible tax policy and regulatory reform,” she said. “I am committed to protecting and preserving Social Security and Medicare for our senior citizens and for future generations.” [Nevada News Bureau]

The Nevada News Bureau also mentions that a Republican Las Vegas business man, Dan Schwartz plans to seek the nomination of the Nevada Republican Party for the Congressional seat. First I’ve heard of him. Since he plans to seek the seat doesn’t necessarily mean he will announce and actually run. We’ll see. If he does then Cegavske will have some primary competition. However, the Nevada News Bureau in another paragraph states he has announced.

But the Las Vegas Sun reported today (November 12) that:

Las Vegas businessman Dan Schwartz has also filed papers with the Federal Elections Commission to begin raising money for the CD4 race. He has not formally launched his campaign yet.

So I guess he is in. Will have to find out more about Schwartz in another blog post. I looked for his campaign website but find it is “under maintenance.”

Though Democrats hold an advantage in this new Congressional District 4, Anjeanette Damon of the Sun reports:

Democrats have a 13-point voter registration advantage in the district, but Republican strategists believe the vote might favor the GOP because of the rural counties.

And therein lies the rub. The “rural counties” have always voted Republican in the past. It is really going to be interesting to see how the election works out in November 2012. Particularly in Nye County. Nye County Democrats will have to really get with it if Nye County remains Republican, which it almost certainly will.

There will be more to come in the weeks and months ahead. One thing for sure, we in Nye County will see some unfamiliar faces during the election campaigns.

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Obama supporters to open Henderson headquarters

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Featheriver

obamahdqtrsThe conventional wisdom is that the biggest hurdle to President Barack Obama’s reelection is a dispirited and disappointed base.

But judging by the 100 people who showed up Thursday night for the opening of a Henderson campaign office for Obama, the president still has a lot of ardent supporters willing to campaign on his behalf.

The group reflected the young and minority voters who were key to Obama’s historic victory in 2008.

Organizing for America, the group that opened the office, formed shortly after Obama was inaugurated in 2009 to preserve the grassroots organization that help elect Obama and lay the groundwork for a second term. Continue reading →

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Happy Veterans Day

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Featheriver

Just received the following e-mail from Marla Turner, Secretary to the Nevada State Democratic Party. Wanted to pass it on to you:

Marla_Turner

Happy Veterans Day! As we share this holiday with family and loved ones, let’s take a moment to reflect on the challenges so many veterans face.  

There are currently 23 million veterans in the United States. Estimates from the VA  have shown a significant decrease in homelessness among veterans since 2003 from 313,000 on any given day to 107,000 in 2009. Based on various estimates, 500,000 to 840,000 veterans are homeless at some time during the year  While this reduction is promising, veterans still make up nearly one-fifth of the homeless population in this country.

Additionally, 1.5 million vets are living in poverty and 634,000 live in extreme poverty and are at-risk of becoming homeless. Nearly 13,000 of these at-risk vets are women. Approximately 200,000 of those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are women. Of those women, 30-35,000 are single with children. 

It is also estimated by the VA that a veteran dies by suicide every 80 minutes. And nearly 20% of the returning forces from Afghanistan and Iraq suffer from either PTSD or major depression. (Hard not to believe that number isn’t higher). This Veterans’ Day four or five veterans will commit suicide. The price of war continues throughout the life of a veteran.

Although vets are a relatively small percentage of the general population, the needs of veterans struggling with homelessness, unemployment, and other barriers to reintegration are huge. About 45% of vets need help finding a job and 37% percent need assistance to obtain housing according to a Department of Housing and Urban Development study.

U.S. Vets has an office in Las Vegas located at 525 East Bonanza Road. Services they provide include:

Transitional & Affordable Housing

Employment Assistance

Mental Health Services and Counseling

Re-Entry Project (for those returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan)

Substance Abuse Treatment

You can help by making an online donation, and volunteering your time.

Today reach out a hand to a vet. Say thank you. And protect and serve those who have served and protected us.

My best to you,
Marla
Marla Turner

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Republican Senator Dean Heller voted to ship jobs to China

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Featheriver

nsdplogoLas Vegas, NV – You can’t make this up. On the same day unelected Senator Dean Heller voted to continue shipping American jobs to China, he voted against creating jobs in Nevada. After again voting to protect the Chinese government’s unfair trade policies that are cheating Nevada workers out of their jobs, Heller then preceded to vote against the American Jobs Act, which would create jobs immediately in Nevada.

deanheller“Dean Heller had an opportunity today to finally do something that will create jobs in Nevada, but he again demonstrated that getting Nevadans back to work isn’t his priority and protecting the Chinese government is,” said Nevada State Democratic Party spokesperson Zach Hudson. “Nevada has the highest unemployment in the country and instead of making job-creation his top priority, our junior Senator continues to focus on killing Medicare by turning it over to private insurance companies, while protecting the Chinese government’s cheating Nevada workers out of their jobs. Heller’s votes today highlight the clear choice Nevadans have between Shelley Berkley’s commitment to fighting for seniors and unemployed Nevadans, and Dean Heller who has repeatedly thrown Nevada’s seniors and middle class under the bus to protect the Chinese government and reward the Big Oil companies bankrolling his campaign with taxpayer giveaways.”

[Source: Nevada State Democratic Party]

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Republican Dean Heller voted twice to end Medicare

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Featheriver

deanhellerLas Vegas, NV – Today unelected Senator Dean Heller doubled down on his reckless plan and voted again in the Senate to end Medicare. Heller has even bragged that he’s “proud to be the only member of Congress who will get to vote for it twice.”

Heller will vote twice for a plan that ends Medicare to pay for billions of dollars in tax giveaways to the Big Oil companies that have contributed over $80,000 to his campaign. Heller’s plan would dramatically cut the benefits Nevada seniors receive, increase the out-of-pocket cost of their healthcare by $6,000 a year, nearly double the amount they pay in prescription drug costs and put private insurance companies in charge of seniors’ healthcare.

His plan also puts insurance company bureaucrats between seniors and their doctors, giving insurers the power to decide what tests and treatments seniors get.

“For the second time, Dean Heller put the health and livelihood of Nevada seniors at risk and voted to end Medicare to pay for tax giveaways to the Big Oil companies that bankroll his campaign,” said Zach Hudson, spokesperson for the Nevada State Democratic Party.

“Dean Heller once again made clear that his priorities are with his special-interests campaign donors, not Nevada seniors. Nothing could highlight more why we need Shelley Berkley in the Senate fighting to protect Medicare, not a politician like Dean Heller who would rather shill for Big Oil than stand up for Nevada seniors.”

[Source: Nevada State Democratic Party]

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Reminder: Joe Heck Calls Social Security a pyramid scheme

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Featheriver

joeheckVoters have short memories. It is important to remember what Republicans think when you vote in 2012. Here is a reminder about Republican Congressman Joe Heck and what he thinks your Social Security is:

Las Vegas, NV – Maybe Rep. Joe Heck should just stay in DC next time the House isn’t in session, because he’s not doing himself any favors when he visits Nevada.

Less than 24 hours after calling Social Security a “pyramid scheme” again, Heck held a trainwreck townhall last night where he and his staff said multiple times that the only questions allowed to be asked were those pertaining to veterans issues. Continue reading →

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Nevada’s Democrats to “Pledge to Caucus”

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Featheriver

nsdplogoLas Vegas, NV – Today, over six months before Nevada’s 2012 Democratic Presidential Caucuses, the Nevada State Democratic Party launched PledgeToCaucus.com, an innovative social networking platform to organize Nevada Democrats for our upcoming caucuses.

“With Medicare and Social Security on the Republican chopping block, the stakes of the roberta Lange2012 campaign could not be higher,” said Nevada State Democratic Party Chair Roberta Lange. “Nevada’s 2012 Democratic Caucuses are the first step in organizing our state’s Democratic voters who will lead the charge to reelect the President, elect a Democrat to the U.S. Senate, and take back the majority of our congressional delegation. PledgeToCaucus.com will help raise awareness and make it easy for Nevada’s voters to sign up and stay informed and engaged in the 2012 caucuses.”

“As an early state, it is important that we continue to build upon the success of our 2008 caucuses. With PledgeToCaucus.com’s unique features, potential caucus-goers will find it easy to participate in the caucuses and be a part of our campaign to get Nevadans back to work and protect our state’s seniors from the extreme Republican agenda that would kill Medicare, gut Social Security, and send thousands of more Nevadans to the unemployment line,” Lange added. “It has never been more important for Nevada Democrats to make sure their voices are heard which is why we are asking them to get involved and pledge to caucus today.”

Nevada’s 2012 Democratic Presidential Caucuses will take place January 21, 2012 at 11:30AM.

Voters can go to http://www.PledgeToCaucus.com to get more info, sign-up to be temporary caucus chairs, and of course pledge to attend their caucus.

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Mississippi seeks to enter the uterus of females

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Featheriver

Mississippi voters are casting ballots today on an amendment to the state constitution that would define life as beginning at the moment of conception.

Initiative 26 would define personhood as “every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.”

If approved by voters, it would make it impossible to get an abortion in the state and hamper the ability to get some forms of birth control.

Because the amendment would define a fertilized egg as a person with full legal rights, it could have an impact on a woman’s ability to get the morning-after pill or birth control pills that destroy fertilized eggs.

It could make in vitro fertilization treatments more difficult because it could become illegal to dispose of unused fertilized eggs. This could lead to a nationwide debate about women’s rights and abortion while setting up a possible challenge to the landmark Roe v. Wade case, which makes abortion legal.

Sounds rather extreme to me. The religious right seeks to dictate to individuals about how they conduct their sexual lives. It seems to me it is using the law to force everyone to follow religious dictates.

Cristen Hemmins, a mother from Oxford, has been speaking out against Initiative 26 because of what it could mean for her, her daughters and the ability of families to make the choices they want with their doctors.

“Whether or not you believe life begins at conception, this amendment goes too far,” she said. “It is too ambiguous. It seems so obvious to me that it is far-reaching and it is going to be big government getting all up in my uterus.”

Hemmins, who was abducted, raped and shot twice by two men while she was in college, said it is “terrible” to not allow for any exceptions.

“I did not get pregnant, thank goodness, but if I had and Initiative 26 had been in place, I would have had no options,” she said. “I would have been forced to have had this child by the government. I think it’s a travesty in the United States of America that a state could force a woman against her will to bear a child.”

This business of legally controlling a woman’s reproductive life sure seems to me to be a moral and religious matter rather than a governmental one.

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Obama’s Been Busy his first two years

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Featheriver

Barack_Obama

My thanks to Deby DePreta for this handy list.

For those who claim Obama has done nothing during his first two years as POTUS:
January 29, 2009: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
February 4, 2009: Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act
February 17, 2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
March 30, 2009: Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009
April 21, 2009: Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
May 20, 2009: Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act
May 20, 2009: Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009
May 22, 2009: Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act of 2009
May 22, 2009: Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009
June 22, 2009: Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
June 30, 2009: Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009
August 6, 2009: Cash For Clunkers Extension Act
October 15, 2009: Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009
October 19, 2009: Foreign Evidence Request Efficiency Act of 2009
October 22, 2009: Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act
October 28, 2009: Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
October 30, 2009: Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act
November 6, 2009: Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009
November 11, 2009: Military Spouses Residency Relief Act
December 15, 2009: No Social Security Benefits for Prisoners Act of 2009
December 22, 2009: Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009
January 27, 2010: Emergency Aid to American Survivors of Haiti Earthquake Act
February 16, 2010: Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act
February 27, 2010: Social Security Disability Applicants’ Access to Professional Representation Act of 2010
March 4, 2010: Travel Promotion Act
March 18, 2010: Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act)
March 18, 2010: Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009 (Division B) Reestablished “pay-as-you-go”
March 23, 2010: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
March 30, 2010: Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
March 31, 2010: Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009
April 7, 2010 Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act
May 5, 2010: Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010
May 17, 2010: Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act
May 24, 2010: Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009
May 27, 2010: Federal Judiciary Administrative Improvements Act of 2010
June 9, 2010: Special Agent Samuel Hicks Families of Fallen Heroes Act
June 25, 2010: Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010
July 1, 2010: Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010
July 2, 2010: Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010
July 7, 2010: Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act
July 21, 2010: Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
July 22, 2010: Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010
July 27, 2010: Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010
August 3, 2010: Fair Sentencing Act of 2010
August 10, 2010: SPEECH Act of 2010
August 10, 2010: Cell Phone Contraband Act of 2010
August 11, 2010: United States Manufacturing Enhancement Act of 2010
September 27, 2010: Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2010
September 27, 2010: Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010
September 30, 2010: First Responder Anti-Terrorism Training Resources Act
September 30, 2010: Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010
October 7, 2010: Reducing Over-Classification Act
October 7, 2010: Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010
October 8, 2010: Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2010
October 7, 2010: Security Cooperation Act of 2010
October 12, 2010: Redundancy Elimination and Enhanced Performance for Preparedness Grants Act
October 12, 2010: Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act Improvements Act of 2010
October 12, 2010: Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010
October 13, 2010: Plain Writing Act of 2010
October 13, 2010: Veterans’ Benefits Act of 2010
October 15, 2010: United States Secret Service Uniformed Division Modernization Act of 2010
October 30, 2010: International Adoption Simplification Act
December 9, 2010: Telework Enhancement Act of 2010
December 9, 2010: Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act of 2010
December 13, 2010: Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
December 14, 2010: Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act
December 15, 2010: CALM Act*
December 18, 2010: Truth in Fur Labeling Act of 2010
December 17, 2010: Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010
December 18, 2010: Social Security Number Protection Act of 2010
December 20, 2010: CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010
December 22, 2010: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010
December 22, 2010: Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010
December 22, 2010: Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009
December 22, 2010: FOR VETS Act of 2010
December 22, 2010: New START
December 22, 2010: Preserving Foreign Criminal Assets for Forfeiture Act of 2010
December 29, 2010: Omnibus Trade Act of 2010
December 29, 2010 Helping Heroes Keep Their Homes Act of 2010
January 4, 2011: Predisaster Hazard Mitigation Act of 2010
January 4, 2011: GPRA Modernization Act of 2010
January 4, 2011: FDA Food Safety Modernization Act
January 4, 2011: America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010
January 4, 2011: Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2010
January 4, 2011: Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act of 2010
January 4, 2011 :P edestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010
January 4, 2011: Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010
January 4, 2011: Anti-Border Corruption Act of 2010
January 4, 2011: Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010
January 4, 2011: Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act
September 29, 2010: Treaty with the United Kingdom Concerning Defense Trade Cooperation
September 29, 2010: Treaty with Australia Concerning Defense Trade Cooperation
September 29, 2010: Hague Convention on International Recovery of Child Support and Family Maintenance

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