Playing with the rules of the US Senate?

A service of National Write Your Congressman Friday, December 28, 2012www.nwyc.com get in touch Follow us on Twitter! phone: (214) 342-0299fax: (214) 324-2455address: 2435 N Central Expressway, Suite 300 Richardson, Texas  75080-2770 www.nwyc.com   Senators Not in Office After Jan. 3rd Retired  Olympia Snowe, R-ME Ben Nelson, D-NE Herb Kohl, D-WI Daniel Akaka, D-HI Jeff Bingaman, D-NM Jon Kyl, R-AZ Jim Webb, D-VA Joseph Lieberman, I-CT Kent Conrad, D-ND Kay B. Hutchison, R-TX   Defeated Scott Brown, R-MA Defeated by Elizabeth Warren, D Richard Lugar, R-IN Defeated by Richard Mourdock, R, in a primary Our reaction to the NWYC letter:  Agree with Part 1, but Part 2 may be asking to much?

National Action Alert Filibuster Rules  Mr Robin B Tucker, What is a filibuster?Unlimited debate. It's used in the Senate to block passage of a bill. Teamwork is often required as a group of senators holds the floor for days and even weeks. Of course, individual senators can filibuster. South Carolina's Strom Thurmond holds the record. A filibuster may be stopped by adoption of a cloture motion, which allows for a vote on passage. For adoption of a cloture three-fifths (sixty) of all senators is needed. The Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has vowed to change the filibuster rules. He wants filibustering senators to go back to doing it the old-fashioned way – talking on the Senate floor nonstop. He also wants the rules changed so that final votes only can be filibustered. Procedural steps could not be filibustered. He does not want to do away with filibusters. Currently, senators who wish to filibuster a piece of legislation declare a filibuster and leave the chamber. To change the Senate rules, 67 votes (two-thirds) are required. That means 12 Republicans would need to vote for the filibuster changes. Those in favor of changing the filibuster rules say the Senate has become an ineffective and dysfunctional body as it has held up legislation 389 times since 2007. They add that while a filibuster is fundamental to the democratic process, it is not mentioned in the Constitution. Those against changing the filibuster rules say that historically filibusters have kept the majority party from pushing through legislation that the minority party does not favor. They add that filibusters are a prime weapon minority members have to stall legislation, and say that as a weapon, it should not be weakened. It is protection from tyranny of the majority over the minority. Are you in favor of changing filibuster rules? (Click Here) Take action and voice your opinion now!

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas this Holiday Season near and far...

December 24-26, 2012 Holiday Season at Christmas

We enjoy time with family and friends for Christmas this year in Cedar Rapids.  Away from the hustle and bustle of employment and service to others in our occupation.  Away from the routine of a Noon Rotary Club meeting.

• Hope
• Joy
• Peace
• Love

Peace be with you this Christmas and always ...

Public Policy: Locally in Cedar Rapids to Washington D.C. with Congress...

December 10, 2012 - Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids City Council Members Monica Vernon, Pat Shey and Justin Shields - City of CR Nuisance Abatement Program (Chapter 22) will be the Noon program for the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids. The City of Cedar Rapids is revising Chapter 22 of the municipal code, with a Public Hearing on Tuesday, December 18th, during the City Council Meeting.

Mr Robin B Tucker Login Username: rtucker@tuckerusa.com www.nwyc.com Vol. 16 No. 27 Monday, December 10, 2012 REVIEW UN Disabilities Treaty Defeated: A vote to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities fell short in the Senate, with the measure getting six votes less than the 67 needed for ratification. Thirty-eight Republicans voted against the treaty and eight voted in favor of it. While most Republican lawmakers felt the treaty threatened U.S. sovereignty, most Democrats said the treaty would promote equal rights for disabled people around the world.   Fiscal Cliff Talks: The stalled talks between the White House and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) have resumed as a small but growing number of Republicans have indicated a willingness to raise tax rates on the wealthy. White House officials have indicated they would not insist on raising the top rate all the way back to the Clinton-era level of 39.6 percent. Click Here to express your opinion on this issue.   Defense Authorization Passes in Senate: The Senate passed a bipartisan defense authorization measure, 98-0, setting up a House-Senate conference that must settle differences before the new Congress convenes in January. The Senate bill contained 100 amendments. The House passed its version in May. The legislation would authorize discretionary funds for defense activities, for the base Defense Department budget, for Overseas Contingency Operations and for Department of Energy and other national security programs related to nuclear safety. The White House has threatened to veto the legislation because it would block Air Force personnel and aircraft cuts and prohibit enrollment fees for the military health insurance program. (H.R.4310) (S.3254)   Bill to Rid Law of Word 'Lunatic' Sent to President: The House passed a bill that would remove all references to the word “lunatic” from U.S. Code with the goal of refining legal language and increasing sensitivity to mental illness. (S.2367)   Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge: The House passed a bill that would push back the deadline for the online disclosure of information federal employees are required to report on certain financial transactions. Under the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) law, lawmakers and some top executive branch employees must report certain financial information annually and upload reports of stock trades exceeding $1,000 within 45 days on a public database.  The date would change from Dec. 8 to April 15. (H.R.6634)   Farm Bill: Agriculture committees remain apart on key elements of a farm bill compromise, but are working toward a  broad deficit-reduction agreement. (H.R.2419) Click Here to express your opinion on this issue.   Trade with Russia: The Senate passed a bill to authorize the extension normal trade relations with the Russian Federation and Moldova and to require reports on the compliance of the Russian Federation with its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization. (H.R.6156)   PREVIEW   Lawmakers Reid Wants to Change Filibuster Rules: Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-NV), is urging Congress to do away with the 60-vote threshold rule that applies to filibusters in the Senate.   Payroll Tax Extensions: Congress is considering the White House request for a continuation of the 2 percent payroll tax holiday.   Marijuana Sparks States' Rights Debate: A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has introduced legislation to ensure that states can move forward with their marijuana laws without federal interference. The bill would prevent a federal statute from pre-empting state laws on marijuana. (H.R.6606)   Only Black in Senate to Replace DeMint?: GOP  Gov. Nikki Haley will name retiring Sen. Jim DeMint’s replacement. Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC) is a likely successor. He's a down-the-line conservative with support from both the establishment and tea party wings. He'd be the only African-American serving in the Senate, and the first black politician to hold a Senate seat in the South since Reconstruction.   The Week Ahead: MONDAY, DECEMBER 10TH On Monday, no votes are expected. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11TH On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be posted until 6:30 p.m. Motion to go to Conference on H.R. 4310 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 and Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12TH, AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m. On Friday, no votes are expected. Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules: 1) H.R. 6190 - Asthma Inhalers Relief Act of 2012 2) H.R. 5817 - Eliminate Privacy Notice Confusion Act, as amended  3) S. 3542 - No-Hassle Flying Act of 2012  4) S. 1998 - DART Act, as amended 5) H.R. 6364 - Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act, to be amended 6) H.R. 4053 - Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012 7) S. 3315 - GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2012 8) S. 1379 - D.C. Courts and Public Defender Service Act of 2011 COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing on “State of Uncertainty: Implementation of PPACA's Exchanges and Medicaid Expansion” (Thursday, December 13th, at 10:00 a.m.)   Thank you for being a responsible American. Your voice is making a difference.