Green Card Bonanza!

Get your green cards, get your green cards, paste them in your S&H booklet, save ten and get free food stamps for the children. Pithy comments added in italic blue by the smart-assed blogster....

Congress.org (congress.org) presents: MEGAVOTE for July 1, 2013

In this MegaVote for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes:

• Senate: Pritzker Nomination  Confirmation
• Senate: Foxx Nomination  Confirmation
• Senate: Immigration Bill  Passage
• House: Offshore Drilling Bill  Passage

Editor's Note:  The House and Senate are in recess until Monday, July 8.

Recent Senate Votes:

Pritzker Nomination  Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (97-1, 2 Not Voting)
The Senate confirmed President Obamas nomination of Penny Pritzker to be Secretary of Commerce.  Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., was the only vote against the Chicago real estate and investment executives confirmation. She had served on the Presidents Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Secretary Pritzker was sworn in one day after her confirmation, June 26.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted YES
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
All right, who is the stinker from Vermont?  Was he having a Rand Paul moment?

Foxx Nomination  Confirmation
Vote Confirmed (100-0)
In their second Cabinet level vote of the week, the Senate unanimously confirmed current mayor of Charlotte, N.C. Anthony Foxx to be Secretary of Transportation. Mr. Foxx should be sworn in later this week after his planned resignation in Charlotte on July 1.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted YES
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Hey Sanders, why is this guy acceptable and the other dude not so?

Immigration Bill  Passage
Vote Passed (68-32)
After months of negotiations led by a bipartisan group of eight lawmakers, the Senate passed a sweeping overhaul of immigration policy by a vote of 68-32. Fourteen Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the bill, which gained traction after a compromise amendment providing $42.5 billion for border security initiatives passed the day before. The measure would expand the number of both permanent resident and temporary visas available annually to highly-skilled professionals and entrepreneurs. The bill also would create a program to allocate green cards, up to 250,000 each year, on a merit-based system that would consider family ties in the United States along with the country's economic needs. It mandates use of the E-Verify electronic employment verification system and requires the Department of Homeland Security to begin removal proceedings for at least 90 percent of people who stay beyond the duration of their visas. Perhaps most importantly, it offers an incremental 13-year path to citizenship for most of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally, with expedited processes for some agricultural workers and young immigrants. Conservative House members have expressed opposition to this portion of the bill.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted NO
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted NO
I am pleased with the vote by the two Georgia Senators. The real test is yet to come. 


Recent House Votes:

Offshore Drilling Bill  Passage
Vote Passed (235-186, 13 Not Voting)
Before leaving for the July 4th recess, the House passed a bill that would direct the Interior secretary to implement a five-year oil and gas leasing program off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, including areas off of California, South Carolina and Virginia. The vote largely broke along party lines, with 16 Democrats voting in favor of the bill and 6 Republicans voting no. Five of the six GOP no votes came from the New Jersey delegation. The bill would make at least half of the unleased costal areas with the most potential for energy production available for exploration and would create a nationwide revenue sharing system for all coastal states. Before passing the bill, the chamber narrowly defeated (209-210) a Democratic amendment by Alan Grayson of Florida that would prevent the bill from affecting states authority to restrict leasing and natural-resource development beneath states navigable waters. Reps. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Ore. And Lois Capps, D-Calif. also offered amendments to protect sensitive coastline in Alaska and California. Both were defeated. The House adopted (217-202) a Paul Broun, R-Ga., amendment that would place a 60-day limit on judicial review of claims arising from projects in the leasing program. It would place restrictions on appeals and institute a "loser pays" requirement on individuals or entities filing suit, except in specified circumstances.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
To a degree, I am surprised that the President has not threatened to veto this bill. There is little doubt that with the situation as it is in the middle east, the United States would be, at least in the short term, moving forward with as many energy independence threads as possible.  Do the pipeline, apply green where feasible and increase nuclear capacity. We do not want to be beholden to an unstable region.  If only the President would let up on this boner he has to rid to world of coal use.

I think that Paul Broun is going to be the next Georgia Senator.  

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