Senate rejects Gun Measures

The tragedy in Orlando didn't stop the GOP in the senate from being assholes.

The other day, they voted against any means to regulate gun control.



This is how they voted

The measures Monday each went down in succession on largely party line votes. The 60-vote threshold required for passage prevented even Republicans, who control the chamber, from pushing through their favored measures.

The Senate rejected first a Republican proposal to update the background check system for gun purchases, which would have required states to add more information on mental health records to a national database. It also included a provision to alert law enforcement agencies when an individual who was on a government terror watch list in the last five years buys a gun.

The proposal, sponsored by Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley, failed to get the 60 votes for passage. The vote was 53-47, largely along party lines. Some Senate Democrats warned that the legislation's revised definition of who would be considered mentally ill could potentially still allow those with significant psychological issues to legally purchase guns.
A second proposal to expand the background check system for those buying guns to require checks at gun shows and for online purchases went down 44-56. Murphy, the Democrat who launched a nearly 15-hour filibuster last week to press for new gun restrictions after the Orlando massacre where 49 people were killed, sponsored the proposal.
A Republican proposal to delay gun sales to individuals included on a government terror watch list failed in a mostly party-line vote of 53-47. The measure was sponsored by Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn. The bill would allow a judge to permanently block a purchase if the court determined probable cause that the individual is involved in terrorist activity. 

And a Democratic option that sought to bar all gun sales to those individuals on the terror watch list failed 47-53, the second time the proposal went down to defeat after a mass shooting. California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein originally pushed the proposal in December after a shooting in San Bernardino, and revived it after the horrific Orlando nightclub shooting by a gunman who pledged allegiance to the terror group ISIS.

Feinstein's plan did garner the support of some Republicans, including Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire who is facing a fierce re-election bid this year.
Sen. Mark Kirk, another vulnerable Republican up for re-election, voted with Democrats on all of the four amendments.
On the flip side, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, a moderate Democrat, voted with Republicans to oppose the two amendments offered by Murphy and Feinstein.

source 

After the Election

What we saw last night was clearly a vote against change. The fact that we are moving forward and we are changing the country, many lost folks are running scared. And that fear drove these folks to vote.

Yes, the GOP won big, but this will be Obama's big moment to shine. He has to get tough because nothing will get pass Congress. I believe in two years, the GOP will show this country that they had nothing planned for us. They will implode and fail in major ways. I truly believe that and I hope I just spoke this into existence. 

ENDA Vote Update: Senate passes, Heads to House

Some updates on the Senate ENDA vote.

Senate rejected that messy religious exemption amendment in a 43-55 vote. And, they voted 64-34 to end debate on ENDA. The final vote happens today.

Update!!

In a 64 to 32 vote, ENDA moves forward to the House for consideration.

ENDA advances in Senate with 61 Votes!

Oh Snap!

Senate advances ENDA with 61 votes! Seven, yes, SEVEN Repubs joined in to stop any filibusters against the bill.

The final vote was 61-30.

More to come

The Senate plans to hold hearing on the DOMA repeal in the Next Few Weeks

Sen. Patrick Leahy

Hot news from D.C. The Senate will take on the repeal of DOMA in the upcoming weeks.
Washington Blade has the scoop

A Senate committee is set in the next few weeks to hear testimony on repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, although details about the planned hearing were scant as of Thursday.

According to a Senate Democratic aide, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, intends to hold a hearing on DOMA repeal “in the next few weeks.” A more definitive date for when the hearing would take place or the individuals who would be invited as witnesses weren’t immediate known.

In a statement, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) praised Leahy for his decision to hold a hearing on DOMA repeal. Both Gillibrand and Leahy are sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA.

 This is good and possibly a turning point if this hits the ground running. I'll keep you posted.

ENDA Reintroduced in Senate

Today, ENDA was reintroduced in Senate. A press release from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force explains some details.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force applauds today's U.S. Senate reintroduction of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would protect against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The measure was introduced by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Susan Collins (R-Maine). National Gay and Lesbian Task Force staff was on hand for today's press conference announcing the bill's introduction. The Task Force was the first national organization to advocate for federal nondiscrimination protections when it worked with then-U.S. Reps. Bella Abzug and Ed Koch to introduce a sweeping bill in 1974. It has played a leading role in ensuring ENDA is explicitly inclusive of transgender people.

I hoping for better luck with ENDA this time, especially including our Trans family.

hat tip to Mad Professah

Indiana Senate approves banning gay marriage

Mess! Mess! Mess!

The Indiana Senate has the nerve to approved a possible amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions by a vote of 40-10.

If the General Assembly passes the measure again in 2013 or 2014, it would go to the voters in 2014, before the state constitution can be amended.


The Indiana House already approved the measure.


Democratic Sen. Tim Lanane of Anderson argued that attitudes toward same-sex marriages are rapidly changing and the amendment would make it difficult for future changes in state law.


Current state law prohibits gay marriages. Amendment sponsor Sen. Dennis Kruse of Auburn says the measure would provide maximum protection for the basic family unit of society.

This is ridic! Protection for the family unit? How? How, does ban gay marriage protect the family? If they can prove that to be true... Oh, they can't!

SLDN will stage a Sit-In until the DADT vote is taken

The Service Members will have a sit-in at the Senate Gallery until the DADT vote is taken on Saturday. Here is their press release:

ADVISORY: TOMORROW @ 12:15 PM
SERVICE MEMBERS TO ANNOUNCE THEY WILL SIT IN SENATE GALLERY UNTIL “DON’T ASK” REPEAL VOTE IS TAKEN

***

U.S. SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN WILL JOIN SERVICE MEMBERS AT ANNOUNCEMENT
WHAT: Media availability: Service members to announce they will sit in Senate gallery until “Don’t Ask” repeal is passed
WHERE: TBD / will be re-advised in the morning
WHEN: Friday, December 17, 2010, 12:15 p.m. ET
WHO: Service members impacted and discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

“Service members are making it absolutely clear that Senators need to stay in town until repeal is passed. We simply cannot let the clock run out and lose this historic opportunity. We need 60 votes to complete the bill and send it directly to the President’s desk. We need to fight back on any amendments as a change to the language will cause further delay,” said Aubrey Sarvis, Army veteran and executive director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

 

 

As some worry about the fate of the DADT Repeal, Sen. Lieberman provides some Hope

A few blogs and LGBT news sites are already dooming the DADT repeal for this year. They are using this clip from Sen. Reid this morning.

Nothing truly defeating, but to some, the game is over. However Sen. Joe Lieberman presents another possibility... Keep sessions going.

On Monday, Lieberman tweeted a blog post from Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart, saying that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) should keep the chamber in session this year until it passes a bill ending “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Lieberman’s office said he’s determined to repeal the policy before the session ends.“Sen. Lieberman is working closely with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and he is confident that there are at least 60 votes to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ this year, provided that leadership allows fair and reasonable time to debate the National Defense Authorization Act,” said his press secretary, Erika Masonhall. 

“Wanting to go home is not an acceptable excuse for failing to pass a bill that provides essential support for our troops and veterans and failing to take action that the president, the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have called for.”

I think this is great possibility and hopefully, they can get this done. I don't think we are down and out, as long as they push for this, anything is possible 

source

Lady Gaga has a Message to The Senate about DADT

Racist and Teabagger, Glenn Miller is running for US Senate

Glenn Miller wants to run for US Senate.

But this man is the horrible! Please see why:


Sad, sad man!

Health Reform Bill Passes First Procedural Vote

According to Dick Durbin, DADT will have to wait... For a little while

I'm sure this will go over well with the masses.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said the Senate is too swamped to truly deal with the repeal of DADT... For now.

The Pentagon brass is reticent and wants a go-slow strategy, while a majority of the rank and file in the military opposes changing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law. With no Republican co-sponsors for a repeal, key moderate Democrats such as Sens. Jim Webb of Virginia and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas remain uncommitted.

“We have a very heavy, busy agenda and a few months left to do it,” Durbin said in an interview recently. “So it may not be now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be soon.”

It's being said that next year is the better time for the DADT battle. I think that's probably true. I know that's not the popular stance, but it could be a realistic one. With Patrick Murphy and others working with the military and other folks, it may be best to take the time and thoroughly hash this out.

However, since we are a culture of gun-jumpers, I can imagine how this will just become the fodder for bashing Obama and the gang.


source

Who voted for the Matthew Shepard Act?

HRC is showing out! They have the list of voters for and against the Act.

But I'll be a nice guy and cut and paste it for you.

Alabama
Sen. Sessions (R) — No
Sen. Shelby (R) — No

Alaska
Sen. Begich (D) — Yes
Sen. Murkowski (R) — Yes

Arizona
Sen. Kyl (R) — No
Sen. McCain (R) — No

Arkansas
Sen. Lincoln (D) — Yes
Sen. Pryor (D) — Yes

California
Sen. Boxer (D) — Yes
Sen. Feinstein (D) — Yes

Colorado
Sen. Bennet (D) — Yes
Sen. Udall (D) — Yes

Connecticut
Sen. Dodd (D) — Yes
Sen. Lieberman (ID) — Yes

Delaware
Sen. Carper (D) — Yes
Sen. Kaufman (D) — Yes

Florida
Sen. Martinez (R) — Didn't Vote
Sen. Nelson, Bill (D) — Yes

Georgia
Sen. Chambliss (R) — No
Sen. Isakson (R) — No

Hawaii
Sen. Akaka (D) — Yes
Sen. Inouye (D) — Yes

Idaho
Sen. Crapo (R) — No
Sen. Risch (R) — No

Illinois
Sen. Burris (D) — Yes
Sen. Durbin (D) — Yes

Indiana
Sen. Bayh (D) — Yes
Sen. Lugar (R) — Yes

Iowa
Sen. Grassley (R) — No
Sen. Harkin (D) — Yes

Kansas
Sen. Brownback (R) — No
Sen. Roberts (R) — No

Kentucky
Sen. Bunning (R) — Didn't Vote
Sen. McConnell (R) — No

Louisiana
Sen. Landrieu (D) — Yes
Sen. Vitter (R) — No

Maine
Sen. Collins (R) — Yes
Sen. Snowe (R) — Yes

Maryland
Sen. Cardin (D) — Yes
Sen. Mikulski (D) — Yes

Massachusetts
Sen. Kennedy (D) — Didn't Vote
Sen. Kerry (D) — Yes

Michigan
Sen. Levin (D) — Yes
Sen. Stabenow (D) — Yes

Minnesota
Sen. Franken (D) — Yes
Sen. Klobuchar (D) — Yes

Mississippi
Sen. Cochran (R) — No
Sen. Wicker (R) — No

Missouri
Sen. Bond (R) — Didn't Vote
Sen. McCaskill (D) — Yes

Montana
Sen. Baucus (D) — Yes
Sen. Tester (D) — Yes

Nebraska
Sen. Johanns (R) — No
Sen. Nelson, Ben (D) — Yes

Nevada
Sen. Ensign (R) — No
Sen. Reid (D) — Yes

New Hampshire
Sen. Gregg (R) — Didn't Vote
Sen. Shaheen (D) — Yes

New Jersey
Sen. Lautenberg (D) — Yes
Sen. Menendez (D) — Yes

New Mexico
Sen. Bingaman (D) — Yes
Sen. Udall (D) — Yes

New York
Sen. Gillibrand (D) — Yes
Sen. Schumer (D) — Yes

North Carolina
Sen. Burr (R) — No
Sen. Hagan (D) — Yes

North Dakota
Sen. Conrad (D) — Yes
Sen. Dorgan (D) — Yes

Ohio
Sen. Brown (D) — Yes
Sen. Voinovich (R) — Yes

Oklahoma
Sen. Coburn (R) — No
Sen. Inhofe (R) — No

Oregon
Sen. Merkley (D) — Yes
Sen. Wyden (D) — Yes

Pennsylvania
Sen. Casey (D) — Yes
Sen. Specter (D) — Yes

Rhode Island
Sen. Reed (D) — Yes
Sen. Whitehouse (D) — Yes

South Carolina
Sen. DeMint (R) — No
Sen. Graham (R) — Didn't Vote

South Dakota
Sen. Johnson (D) — Yes
Sen. Thune (R) — No

Tennessee
Sen. Alexander (R) — Didn't Vote
Sen. Corker (R) — Didn't Vote

Texas
Sen. Cornyn (R) — No
Sen. Hutchinson (R) — No

Utah
Sen. Bennett (R) — No
Sen. Hatch (R) — No

Vermont
Sen. Leahy (D) — Yes
Sen. Sanders (I) — Yes

Virginia
Sen. Warner (D) — Yes
Sen. Webb (D) — Yes

Washington
Sen. Cantwell (D) — Yes
Sen. Murray (D) — Yes

West Virginia
Sen. Byrd (D) — Didn't Vote
Sen. Rockefeller (D) — Yes

Wisconsin
Sen. Feingold (D) — Yes
Sen. Kohl (D) — Yes

Wyoming
Sen. Barrasso (R) — No
Sen. Enzi (R) — No

The HRC also have more info about the vote...check out the source

NY Senate is a Mess

So I promised to have more info on the gay marriage vote in the New York Senate.
Well...I have nothing, because they have nothing.
Repubs didn't show up!

I guess, Tune in Tomorrow.

Thanks NG, for posting this

Stimulus Update

Straight from HuffPo on Friday Night

The actual price tag on the Senate stimulus package will be north of $800 billion. The deal reached today will be passed as an amendment to the original bill and is roughly $780 billion. But the three amendments that have already passed this week will still be part of the law. One, a housing credit of $15,000 per buyer, is estimated to cost $19 billion. Another, a tax credit for folks who buy energy efficient cars, comes in at around $11 billion. A third, giving $6.5 billion more to the National Institutes of Health, would also be included in the total cost, which takes it to roughly $817 billion, close to the amount of the package passed by the House.

Republicans have been arguing tonight that the higher price tag means that there is, in fact, no deal -- since the deal is for the $780 billion. Democratic senators and Sens. Arlen Specter and Susan Collins said, however, that there is a deal and that the amendments will be worked out in the negotiations between the Senate and House. The NIH piece may have the best chance of survival because it was sponsored by Specter, whose vote will be needed again to pass whatever emerges from House-Senate negotiations. The assumption among Democrats, said aides, is that those amendments will be stripped out during the conference negotiations, because the crux of the compromise deal is the $780 billion package.

Now are we finally moving on?

Smith 1, Gang of Three 0, Marriage Equality Bill ?

Sen. Malcolm Smith was elected majority leader and president pro tem of the Senate in New York. The Gang of 3, the idiots of NY Dems, only got a little of what they asked for.

If y'all remember, the Gang of 3, threatened to join the Repubs and stop Smith if they couldn't get their way (one thing particular, stopping Marriage Equality Bill in New York).

They still suck and should be put out of the Dems for their foolishness. But Smith won and maybe things can get better...I hope.

Auto Bailout FAILOUT!

Since the auto bailout failed in Senate, the collapse of GM and Chrysler could come by the time we sing old lyne syne.

The failure to reach agreement on Capitol Hill raised a specter of financial collapse for General Motors and Chrysler, which say they may not be able to survive through this month.

After Senate Republicans balked at supporting a $14 billion auto rescue plan approved by the House on Wednesday, negotiators worked late into Thursday evening to broker a deal, but deadlocked over Republican demands for steep cuts in pay and benefits by the United Automobile Workers union in 2009.

The failure in Congress to provide a financial lifeline for G.M. and Chrysler was a bruising defeat for President Bush in the waning weeks of his term, and also for President-elect Barack Obama, who earlier on Thursday urged Congress to act to avoid a further loss of jobs in an already deeply debilitated economy.... G.M. and Chrysler issued statements expressing disappointment. G.M. said: We will assess all of our options to continue our restructuring and to obtain the means to weather the current economic crisis." Chrysler said it would: "continue to pursue a workable solution to help ensure the future viability of the company."

Earlier in the day, G.M. confirmed that it had legal advisors -- including Harvey R. Miller of the firm Weil Gotshal & Manges --to consider a possible bankruptcy, which the company until now has said would be cataclysmic not just for G.M. but for Chrysler and Ford as well. The rescue plan approved by the House on Wednesday by a vote of 237 to 170 would have extended $14 billion in loans to the troubled automakers and required them to submit to broad government oversight directed by a car czar to be named by Mr. Bush.

This ain't cute, y'all. Senate, go back to work!