Senate Gives a Hearty F-U to Unemployed, Hungry & Sick, Breaks Early for Vacation

(10PM EST – promoted by Nightprowlkitty)

The Senate broke early, this past Thursday,  for their 11 day long vacation, kicked off with the Memorial Day Holiday upcoming on Monday.   They aren’t coming back into session until June 7 th.   They can’t “do” anything because of their arse kissing fillibuster rules until June 11th, 15 days after that.

HuffPo.  You need to read the entire story, but here’s a taste:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

On June 1, several programs, including extended unemployment benefits, will expire. By the end of the week, 19,400 people will prematurely stop receiving checks, according to data from the Department of Labor. How long will it take the Senate to finish the bill? With Republicans promising to stand in the way, leadership will need to file at least one time-consuming “cloture” motion to break the filibuster and to set up a vote by the end of the week in the best-case scenario. By the end of the following week, the number of premature unemployment exhaustions will climb to 323,400. The week after that, 903,000. By the end of the month, 1.2 million.

It will be the third time this year that lawmakers have allowed extended unemployment benefits to lapse, and the second time they’ve decided to leave town for recess fully knowing the lapse would cause panic and confusion among blameless layoff victims — not to mention what Katz calls a “huge” administrative burden on state workforce agencies.

But this is the first time the Democratic Party can’t even half-plausibly blame the Republicans for the lapse. “This isn’t being done because of Republicans, believe me.  This is done because there’s a group of us, we don’t have a majority, but they listen,” said Rep. Dutch Ruppersburger (D-Md.), who fought to shrink the size of the bill. “I think it’s really symbolic. We have a very diverse party and the party has come together… This is a real victory for the moderates and the Blue Dogs and the freshmen, that our party leadership is working with us to let this happen.”  

The difference between the Blue Dogs and the Progressive Caucus, as I have repeatedly pointed out, is that the Blue Dog contingent is already a sell out to the established domestic energy, pharma, and tobacco industries, from which it takes donations, and said industries also are the financial backers of the Tea Party movement, which is the Republican Party’s astroturf for non thinking, feel good libertarian type older voters already on government benefits.

The House sucked up to the Blue Dog contingent to get their version ready for the Senate, and the Senate, as usual, skeedadled out the door, without taking any action on it,  laughing at them again.   The House also just left the entire month of December 2010 out of the bill, so the budget “deficit hawks” in the flyover states, like Sen. Kent Conrad  (D, ND, Middle East Warmonger, Domestic Budget “hawk”) can look at it again.

“It’s so hard to know what the economic conditions will be at that point,” he said.

Remember that “health insurance reform” bill these clowns just passed with great fanfare a few months ago ?

They are cutting the unemployed COBRA’s benefits, too.  Any person laid off after this Monday, May the 31st, will not be able to get COBRA subsidies to continue to purchase health insurance.  Welcome to the open market and the Emergency Room, folks !  

Here’s the last bill that the Senate passed Thursday the 27th before they rushed off to fundraise:  HR 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010, which passed 67 to 28.

This is the War Appropriations Supplemental, which the President said that he had to have by Memorial Day.  Instead of amending it by formal process, they passed the bill in the Senate by a roll call vote.

It wasn’t always called that, it started out with a cutesy name, “Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010”

Here’s the list of bastards who were fighting over it, recognize any names ?  I do.

May 27, 2010: Senate insists on its amendment, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Inouye; Byrd; Leahy; Harkin; Mikulski; Kohl; Murray; Dorgan; Feinstein; Durbin; Johnson; Landrieu; Reed; Lautenberg; Nelson NE; Pryor; Tester; Specter; Cochran; Bond; McConnell; Shelby; Gregg; Bennett; Hutchison; Brownback; Alexander; Collins; Voinovich; Murkowski.

Oh, and look who didn’t bother to vote on this, Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, and Sen Claire McCaskell of Missouri, both Blue Dogs.

http://www.govtrack.us/congres…

And here is the Summary of this thing, the ORIGINAL version,  as written by the Congressional Research Service.

http://www.govtrack.us/congres…

3/24/2010–Passed House without amendment. (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010 –

Makes emergency supplemental appropriations for FY2010 to: (1) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster relief, including to the DHS Office of the Inspector General for disaster-related audits and investigations; and (2) the Department of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) for training and employment services for activities under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, to be available for grants to states for youth activities. Appropriates specified funds to the House of Representatives for a payment to Joyce Murtha, widow of John P. Murtha, late a Representative from Pennsylvania. Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for the business loans program account. Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to extend from March 28, 2010, through April 30, 2010, the authority of the SBA to guarantee up to 90% of qualifying small business loans made by eligible lenders in the Economic Stimulus Program for Small Businesses.

Rescinds certain amounts of funds from the following accounts: (1) the Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Program; (2) the Department of Transportation (DOT), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program; (3) the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and (4) the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Programs.

Yes, these “deficit hawks” ( a phrase directly from a billionaire Tea Party operative who supports Sen Lieberman) cut money from the WIC, the Nutritional Program for poor Women, Infants, and Children, to fund the Surge in Afghanistan and to stay longer in Iraq.  Oh, and they cut Highway Traffic Safety, Trash Recycling, and Rural Development programs, and the ability to get a bit of help to convert your old TV to play new Analog, too.  

Starve your toddler, die on the Highway, don’t recycle but send to the landfill, and while you’re at it, either buy a new TV or go without.

And here’s an outline of what you really got from the Senate, from THOMAS,  HR 4899, Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010, Engrossed Amendment as Agreed to by Senate

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/…

Beginning

TITLE I

CHAPTER 1

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency

agricultural credit insurance fund program account

Emergency Forest Restoration Program

Foreign Agricultural Service

food for peace title ii grants

CHAPTER 2

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Exploration

CHAPTER 3

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE–MILITARY

MILITARY PERSONNEL

Military Personnel, Army

Military Personnel, Navy

Military Personnel, Marine Corps

Military Personnel, Air Force

Reserve Personnel, Army

Reserve Personnel, Navy

Reserve Personnel, Marine Corps

Reserve Personnel, Air Force

National Guard Personnel, Army

Operation and Maintenance, Army

Operation and Maintenance, Navy

Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps

Operation and Maintenance, Air Force

Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide

Operation and Maintenance, Army Reserve

Operation and Maintenance, Navy Reserve

Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps Reserve

Operation and Maintenance, Air Force Reserve

Operation and Maintenance, Army National Guard

Operation and Maintenance, Air National Guard  

Afghanistan Security Forces Fund

Iraq Security Forces Fund    

PROCUREMENT

Aircraft Procurement, Army

Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army

Procurement of Ammunition, Army

Other Procurement, Army

Aircraft Procurement, Navy

Other Procurement, Navy

Procurement, Marine Corps

Aircraft Procurement, Air Force

Other Procurement, Air Force

Procurement, Defense-Wide

Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Fund

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide

REVOLVING AND MANAGEMENT FUNDS

Defense Working Capital Funds

OTHER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS

Defense Health Program

Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities

high-value detainee interrogation group charter and report

CHAPTER 4

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE–CIVIL

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

Corps of Engineers–Civil

investigations

mississippi river and tributaries

operation and maintenance

flood control and coastal emergencies

EMERGENCY DROUGHT RELIEF

reclassification of certain appropriations for the national nuclear security administration

CHAPTER 5

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Federal Funds

federal payment to the public defender service for the district of columbia

INDEPENDENT AGENCY

Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission

CHAPTER 6

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

operating expenses

acquisition, construction, and improvements

Federal Emergency Management Agency

disaster relief

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

(rescissions)

CHAPTER 7

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Departmental Management

public health and social services emergency fund

Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission

CHAPTER 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Payment to Widows and Heirs of Deceased Members of Congress  (they paid deceased Rep. Murtha’s widow)

CAPITOL POLICE

General Expenses

CHAPTER 9

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION

Military Construction, Army

Military Construction, Air Force

Family Housing Operation and Maintenance, Air Force

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Veterans Benefits Administration

compensation and pensions

GENERAL PROVISION–THIS CHAPTER

LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

CHAPTER 10

Administration of Foreign Affairs

diplomatic and consular programs

embassy security, construction, and maintenance

International Organizations

contributions for international peacekeeping activities

RELATED AGENCY

Broadcasting Board of Governors

international broadcasting operations

UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

office of inspector general

BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE

global health and child survival

international disaster assistance

Economic Support Fund

migration and refugee assistance

Department of the Treasury

international affairs technical assistance

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE

Department of State

international narcotics control and law enforcement

Funds Appropriated to the President

foreign military financing program

GENERAL PROVISIONS–THIS CHAPTER

extension of authorities

allocations

spending plans and notification procedures

afghanistan

pakistan

iraq

haiti

haiti debt relief

haiti debt relief authority

mexico

el salvador

democratic republic of the congo

international scientific cooperation

international renewable energy agency

office of inspector general personnel

authority to reprogram funds

special inspector general for afghanistan reconstruction  

CHAPTER 11

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

highway traffic safety grants

(highway trust fund)

(including rescission)

consumer assistance to recycle and save program

(rescission)       rescission, new way of saying cut funding for

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Community Planning and Development

community development fund

TITLE II

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

economic development assistance programs

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

operations, research, and facilities

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Departmental Offices

Office of the Secretary

salaries and expenses

(including transfer of funds)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Legal Activities

salaries and expenses, general legal activities

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Science and Technology

GENERAL PROVISION–THIS TITLE

deepwater horizon  

PROHIBITION ON FINES AND LIABILITY

RIGHT-OF-WAY

FUNDING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND FISHERIES IMPACTS

TITLE III

GENERAL PROVISIONS–THIS ACT

availability of funds

emergency designation

PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF CONTRACTOR INTEGRITY AND PERFORMANCE DATABASE

ASSESSMENTS ON GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEES

COASTAL IMPACT ASSISTANCE

_____________

the above is from Thomas, individual lines may be searched here:  (use the bill number and title, as searches expire)

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/…

Yes, this was your summer jobs bill from the  “in a big hurry” Senate, which was amended by a voice vote to look like this.

Here’s a sample of what’s in the bill the Senate just passed:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/…

ASSESSMENTS ON GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEES

Sec. 3011. (a) Submission of Information Related to Disposition Decisions- Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the participants of the interagency review of Guantanamo Bay detainees conducted pursuant to Executive Order 13492 (10 U.S.C. 801 note), shall fully inform the congressional intelligence committees concerning the basis for the disposition decisions reached by the Guantanamo Review Task Force, and shall provide to the congressional intelligence committees–

(1) the written threat analyses prepared on each detainee by the Guantanamo Review Task Force established pursuant to Executive Order 13492; and

(2) access to the intelligence information that formed the basis of any such specific assessments or threat analyses.

(b) Future Submissions- In addition to the analyses, assessments, and information required under subsection (a) and not later than 10 days after the date that a threat assessment described in subsection (a) is disseminated, the Director of National Intelligence shall provide to the congressional intelligence committees–

(1) any new threat assessment prepared by any element of the intelligence community of a Guantanamo Bay detainee who remains in detention or is pending release or transfer; and

(2) access to the intelligence information that formed the basis of such threat assessment.

(c) Congressional Intelligence Committees Defined- In this section, the term `congressional intelligence committees’ has the meaning given that term in section 3(7) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(7)).

Sec. 3012. Of the amounts appropriated for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3750 et seq.) under the heading `STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE’ under the heading `Office of Justice Programs’ under the heading `State and Local Law Enforcement Activities’ under title II of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-8; 123 Stat. 579), at the discretion of the Attorney General, the amounts to be made available to the Marcus Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, to provide remediation for the potential consequences of childhood abuse and neglect, pursuant to the joint statement of managers accompanying that Act, may be made available to the Georgia State University Center for Healthy Development, Atlanta, Georgia.

In other words, they are going to let Congressional committees be fed a bunch of “intelligence” on whether or not Guantanamo detainees in any state of detention, guilty, innocent, pending release,  in perpetual limbo,  should be considered a threat and continue to be held indefinitely.

Since the Secret, Special Forces, which are not “officially” under McChystal’s command,  are still actively kidnapping and renditioning foreigners, and since Bagram Prison has been shown to have this prison within the prison complex, per the Red Cross,  and then using “enhanced interrogation techniques” on them,  and since we are still propping up the corrupt and opium poppy fueled drug trade warlords in Afghanistan, like Karzai’s brother,  what chance is there that warlord “A” wouldn’t sell out his competitor warlord “B” for some cold hard cash, a free pass,  and the subsequent result is somebody gets tortured to give phony information, to keep that War On Terror Going ?

Another sample, for “Afghanistan Security Forces Fund”  and “Iraq Security Forces Fund”  –  that’s 3.6 billion right there, we’re still “training” them not to shoot at us 9 years after this crap started !

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/…

For an additional amount for `Afghanistan Security Forces Fund’, $2,604,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011

For the `Iraq Security Forces Fund’, $1,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011

$3 million for Army tracked combat vehicles ( aka”tanks”)

$219 million for Army Aircraft

$17 million for ammunition

$2 billion for unspecified “Other Procurement”  

$296 million for Navy aircraft

$31 million for “other” Navy

$162 million for Marines

$174 million for Aircraft procurement, Air Force

$672 million for “other procurement, Air Force.”

$189 million for “procurement, Defense Wide”

$ 1.1  billion for “Defense Working Capital Funds.”

So this is just a SUPPLEMENTAL AMOUNT of EXTRA money we need to defend ourselves from a bunch of mid eastern, mountain dwelling, subsistence goat herders and poppy growers !  WTF !   It only adds up to about $60 billion dollars.  What part of THIS IS EFFING STUPID AND WASTEFUL DID YOU MISS ?