Bookmarks 04/13/2015

• The Law That Never Was

  The Fraud of Income & Social Security Tax

  tags:Constitution 16th amendment income tax

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

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Video: “HIDDEN CAM: #GayWeddingCakes at Muslim Bakeries?”

“HIDDEN CAM: #GayWeddingCakes at Muslim Bakeries?”

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 3-30-15: Recent Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Fiscal 2016 Budget Resolution – Adoption – Vote Agreed to (52-46, 2 Not Voting) The Senate passed adopted the concurrent resolution that would set broad spending and revenue targets over the next 10 years. It would allow $523 billion for defense discretionary spending and $493.5 billion for non-defense spending in fiscal 2016, the statutory level set by the 2011 budget law. Sen. Michael Bennet voted NO Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Ukraine Military Assistance – Passage – Vote Passed (348-48, 36 Not Voting) The House agreed to a motion to suspend the rules and adopt the resolution stating that the House of Representatives “strongly urges” the president to fully and immediately exercise authorities provided by Congress to provide Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons systems in order to enhance the ability of the Ukrainian people to defend their sovereign territory from the “unprovoked and continuing aggression of the Russian Federation.” Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted YES Veterans Affairs Future Budget Planning – Passage – Vote Passed (420-0, 12 Not Voting) The House agreed to a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that would direct the Veterans Affairs Department to annually submit to Congress a future-years veterans program with its budget request. The program would reflect estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for that fiscal year and succeeding four fiscal years, and would include a five-year plan for the department to meet its commitment to veterans, including the resources needed to do so. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted YES

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 3-23-15: Recent and Upcoming Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Human Trafficking Restitution Fund – Cloture – Vote Rejected (56-42, 2 Not Voting) The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture, and thus limiting debate, on the bill that would use fines and penalties against sex-trafficking perpetrators for more restitution and assistance funds for victims. Sen. Michael Bennet voted NO Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Volunteer Firefighters’ Healthcare – Passage – Vote Passed (415-0, 17 Not Voting) The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would clarify that qualified services rendered as a bona fide volunteer to an eligible employer do not count as employee hours of service for the purposes of the employer mandate under the 2010 health care overhaul. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted YES EPA Rule-Making Guidelines – Passage – Vote Passed (241-175, 16 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would prohibit the EPA from proposing, finalizing or disseminating a rule or other covered action unless all scientific and technical information used to decide upon the rule is made available to the public so the research can be independently analyzed and reproduced. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO NLRB Case Representation Procedures – Passage – Vote Passed (232-186, 14 Not Voting) The House passed a joint resolution that would provide for congressional disapproval and nullification of the National Labor Relations Board rule relating to case representation procedures. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO

Upcoming Votes

Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determining Reauthorization Act – H.R.360 The bill would reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, and for other purposes. Tenant Income Verification Relief Act – H.R.233 The bill would allow reviews of certain families’ incomes every 3 years for purposes of determining eligibility for certain Federal assisted housing programs. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Planning Reform Act – H.R.216 The bill would amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a Future-Years Veterans Program and a quadrennial veterans review, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Chief Strategy Officer, and for other purposes.

Bookmarks 03/12/2015

• The Irrepressible Myth of Marbury

  Michael Paulsen
  Feb. 18, 2004

  tags:Marbury v Madison tenth amendment SCOTUS Supreme Court

• The Myth of Marbury v Madison

  Tenth Amendment Center

  tags:Marbury v Madison tenth amendment SCOTUS Supreme Court

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 3-9-15: Recent and Upcoming Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Keystone XL Pipeline – Veto – Vote Not Sustained (62-37, 1 Not Voting) The Senate’s vote to override President Obama’s Feb. 24, 2015 veto of the bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state failed. Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Fiscal 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations– Motion to Recede and Concur – Vote Passed (257-167, 9 Not Voting) The House agreed to a motion made by Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho., to recede from the House amendment and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (HR 240) that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. The motion cleared the bill for the president. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted YES Amtrak Reauthorization – Passage – Vote Passed (316-101, 15 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would reauthorize Amtrak through fiscal 2019, and restructure funding according to Amtrak’s major lines of business. It would authorize funds for Amtrak operating expenses in the Northeast corridor at the following levels: $439 million for fiscal 2016, $464 million for fiscal 2017, $480 million for fiscal 2018 and $498 million for fiscal 2019; and for Amtrak operating expenses within the national network at the following levels: $973 million for fiscal 2016, $974 million for fiscal 2017, $985 million for fiscal 2018 and $997 million for fiscal 2019. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted YES

Upcoming Votes

Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 – S.625 The bill would provide for congressional review and oversight of agreements relating to Iran’s nuclear program, and for other purposes.

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 3-2-15: Recent and Upcoming Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Fiscal 2015 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations – Passage – Vote Passed (68-31, 1 Not Voting) The Senate passed a bill that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. The bill would include $12.6 billion for Customs and Border Protection; $6 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement; $7.2 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, including fees; $10 billion for the Coast Guard; $1.7 billion for the Secret Service; and $10.8 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including $6.4 billion for emergency disaster relief. Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Fiscal 2015 Homeland Department Continuing Resolution – Passage – Vote Failed (203-224, 6 Not Voting) The House rejected a joint resolution that would make further continuing appropriations for the Homeland Security Department for fiscal 2015. The measure would extend funding for the department for three weeks, through March 19, 2015. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO Education Savings Plan Expansion – Passage – Vote Passed (401-20, 11 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would permanently expand the use of “529” educational savings plans by allowing tax-free distributions for students to buy computers and software. It also would eliminate the requirement that multiple 529 accounts held by a beneficiary be treated as a single account and exempt from taxation any amounts that are refunded from colleges as long as the beneficiary re-contributes the funds back into a 529 account within 60 days. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted YES

Upcoming Votes

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015 – H.R.240 The Senate is scheduled to work on this bill that would make appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes. Secret Science Reform Act of 2015 – H.R.1030 The bill would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating regulations or assessments based upon science that is not transparent or reproducible. Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act – H.R.294 This House bill would amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts and agreements for the transfer of veterans to non-Department medical foster homes for certain veterans who are unable to live independently.

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 2-17-15: Recent Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Child Pornography Victims Restitution – Passage – Vote Passed (98-0, 2 Not Voting) The Senate passed a bill that would expand restitution for victims of child pornography. The bill would expand a victim’s losses to include medical services, therapy, rehabilitation, transportation, child care and lost income. It also would allow defendants who have contributed to the same victim’s losses to spread the cost of restitution among themselves and establish minimum award levels for certain offenses. Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Keystone XL Pipeline – Passage – Vote Passed (270-152, 10 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. It also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO Small Business Tax Extenders – Passage – Vote Passed (272-142, 18 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would that would make permanent increased expensing limitations in the tax code that allow small businesses to deduct up to $500,000 of their equipment costs for a maximum of $2 million worth of property. The bill would make permanent the reduced recognition period for S corporations under which they could be taxed for sales of certain assets. It would make permanent a tax break for the charitable contributions of S corporations and allow them to qualify for the same tax exemptions that apply to individuals for charitable contributions. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 2-9-15: Recent and Upcoming Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Fiscal 2015 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations – Cloture – Vote Rejected (52-47, 1 Not Voting) The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill that would provide $47.8 billion in fiscal 2015 for the Homeland Security Department and related activities. The bill also would bar the use of funds to implement the administration’s immigration policies or to grant any federal benefit to any illegal immigrant as a result of those policies. Sixty votes were required. Sen. Michael Bennet voted NO Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Healthcare Overhaul Repeal – Passage – Vote Passed (239-186, 8 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would repeal the 2010 health care overhaul. The bill would delay the repeal by 180 days after enactment and direct several House committees to submit alternative legislation with a number of provisions, including ones to increase economic growth by eliminating certain regulations; lower health care premiums through increased competition; overhaul the medical liability system; and provide states greater flexibility to administer Medicaid programs. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted NO Small Business Regulatory Revisions – Passage – Vote Passed (260-163, 10 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would give the Small Business Administration new authority to ensure that federal agencies comply with a 1980 law requiring that they be flexible in taking regulatory actions that affect small businesses, including by getting more directly involved with an agency’s reviews of proposed rules and requiring SBA to convene panels of small entities to review rules proposals. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted YES

Upcoming Votes

Botticelli Nomination – PN60 The Senate is expected to consider the nomination of Michael P. Botticelli, of the District of Columbia, to be director of National Drug Control Policy. Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act – S1 The House will consider a Senate-passed bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. The measure also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. America Gives More Act – HR644 The House will consider a bill to combine four charitable tax measures. The measure makes permanent a number of tax provisions intended to provide incentives for charitable giving — including those related to food contributions, conservation property, contributions from certain retirement accounts and the treatment of private foundations. America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act – HR636 The House is expected to consider a bill to combine three small-business tax measures. The legislation makes permanent increased Section 179 expensing limitations for small businesses and farms, as well as rules for the S-corporation built-in gains tax and for S-corporation charitable contributions — all of which expired at the end of calendar year 2014.

Bennet, Gardner, and Perlmutter Watch 2-2-15: Recent and Upcoming Votes

From MegaVote at Congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Keystone XL Pipeline – Passage – Vote Passed (62-36, 2 Not Voting) The Senate passed a bill that would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline, including any revision to the pipeline route within Nebraska as required or authorized by the state. It also would consider the January 2014 environmental impact statement issued by the State Department sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. Sen. Michael Bennet voted YES Sen. Cory Gardner voted YES

Recent House Votes

Liquefied Natural Gas Exports – Passage – Vote Passed (277-133, 23 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would require the Energy Department to make a decision on pending applications to export liquefied natural gas within 30 days of the bill’s enactment or at the end of the public comment period, whichever is later. Under the bill, applications would have to publicly disclose the countries that would receive the proposed exports. Rep. Ed Perlmutter voted Not Voting

Upcoming Votes

Clay Hunt SAV Act – HR203 The Senate will consider a bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the conduct of annual evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to require a pilot program on loan repayment for psychiatrists who agree to serve in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Repeal – HR596 The House will consider a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. The bill would require four House committees to develop health care legislation to replace the law.