Showing posts with label filibuster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label filibuster. Show all posts

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Filibuster Ends - Thank You, Senators!

It ended in the wee hours of the morning.  We are proud of Senator Murphy and all the senators who joined.




Murphy Ends Filibuster With Reminder of Sandy Hook Teacher's Bravery
Senate Democrats ended a nearly 15-hour filibuster early Thursday after Republican Party leaders reportedly agreed to allow votes on two proposed gun control measures.
Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said that a compromise had been reached. Votes would be held on whether to ban people on the government's terrorist watch list from obtaining gun licenses and whether to expand background checks to gun shows and internet sales, he added.
"We did not have that commitment when we started today," Murphy said.
The nonstop series of speeches stretched 14 hours and 50 minutes. It followed the shooting massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
Read more >>>>
Here is an updated list of participating senators.
filibuster-06-16-16

Curbing gun sales will not prevent another Oklahoma City, Boston Marathon bombing, or 9/11 but can help prevent the next Orlando, Sandy Hook, Charleston, or Colorado Springs.  Trump, McCain, Cruz and other Republicans insist the focus should be on terrorism rather than guns.  Arguably, any attack using assault weapons can be called terrorism, but it is possible ISIS was only the latest convenient excuse for this shooter and banning people from coming here would not have prevented this tragedy. This afternoon, CNN reported this story originally an exclusive to TMZ.  Apparently it checks out.  He could not buy a gun in fifth grade, so that didn't happen, but there were warnings.
It also should be lost on no one that there were 50 shooting victims in Orlando over the weekend. Christina Grimmie's murder was quickly eclipsed by the larger massacre - and that could have been a much worse situation had her brother not tackled the shooter. These problems cannot be addressed with a wall or by banning people, as Hillary Clinton tirelessly points out.

So thank you Senator Murphy, all the senators listed above, and Hillary Clinton for shining light on a realistic solution.
Sign the thank you note to the senators here >>>>

Email from Senator Murphy:
I was the Congressman from Newtown, Connecticut when tragedy struck Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14th, 2012. As long as I live, I’ll never forget the scene at the firehouse when twenty-six families were told they would not be reunited with their children and loved ones.

For years, Congress has failed those families and the victims of gun violence all across the country.

That is why yesterday, starting at 11:21 a.m., I decided to stand on the Senate floor and talk for as long as I could about the need to prevent gun violence. And with the help of more than 30 of my colleagues, we demanded immediate action to make our communities safer from gun violence:

I can tell you that as the hours progressed, my colleagues heard your calls for change grow louder and louder. And after almost fifteen hours of filibustering, I was proud to be able to announce that Republicans had agreed to our demand for a vote on legislation that would keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists and require comprehensive background checks for gun purchases.

That is just one step, and our fight is far from over. But there are millions of voices out there who believe like we do that now is the time for action. And if we keep making ourselves heard, we will save lives.

Add your voice to Hillary Clinton’s and mine to demand Congress take immediate action to make our communities safer from gun violence:

Whether it's shootings fueled by racism, rage against women, homophobia, extremist ideologies, or severe mental illness, I shudder to think what it says about us as a nation if we don't even attempt to make a good faith effort to end this carnage. We need to re-think whether or not that's something we are willing to allow. And like President Obama said on Sunday, doing nothing is a choice, too.

So I am going to stand with Hillary Clinton and continue this fight until Congress has done everything it can to make our communities safer from gun violence.

Thank you for adding your voice to ours.

Chris Murphy
U.S. Senator, Connecticut

Hillary Clinton Wins Two Enormous Endorsements

While we were all busy encouraging and thanking our senators for their filibuster last night, Oprah - yes the Oprah - was endorsing Hillary.

EXCLUSIVE: Oprah Winfrey Endorses Hillary Clinton in Upcoming Election: 'It's a Seminal Moment for Women'

by Zach Seemayer 9:54 PM PDT, June 15, 2016
Oprah Winfrey is throwing her support behind Hillary Clinton.
Winfrey spoke with ET's Nancy O'Dell at the premiere of her new OWN drama, Greenleaf, and the media mogul opened up about the possibility of America electing its first female president.
"I really believe that is going to happen," said Winfrey, 62. "It's about time that we make that decision.
Read more >>>>
Today, the AFL-CIO gave Hillary their nod.

AFL-CIO endorses Hillary Clinton


Hillary Clinton Statement on AFL-CIO Endorsement

Today, the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest federation of labor unions, representing 12.5 million members, endorsed Hillary Clinton for president—the latest sign that progressive organizations are uniting behind Clinton as the presumptive Democratic nominee. Upon receiving the endorsement, Clinton released the following statement: “I am honored to have earned the endorsement of the AFL-CIO.
“The AFL-CIO is one of America’s most vital organizations, having been on the front lines of the fight for good-paying jobs and careers with benefits and dignity for more than a century. AFL-CIO member unions contribute to virtually every sector of our economy and are on the job in every corner of our country—building our infrastructure, teaching our children, sowing our fields, operating our ports, and entertaining us on stage and screen.
“Members of the AFL-CIO know, as I do, that we are stronger together. We are stronger when we are investing in our country and our future. As President, I will make the biggest investment in infrastructure since the Interstate Highway System—because to build a 21st century economy, we need 21st century roads, ports, transit systems, water systems, and electric grids. We will fight for good schools in every ZIP code—because all of our children deserve a chance to live up to their God-given potential. And we will fight to raise the federal minimum wage back to the highest it’s ever been, to finally join all other industrial nations in guaranteeing paid family leave for workers, and at last secure equal pay for women.
“And we know we are stronger when we have each other’s backs. Workers’ rights to organize, to bargain collectively, to be safe on the job, and to retire with dignity and security after years of hard work are fundamental to our country and to our economy. In too many statehouses across the country—and even in the halls of Congress—these rights are under concerted attack by Republicans and big corporations who have forgotten that a strong economy requires a strong workforce. As President, I will stand proudly with the AFL-CIO and fight to protect the rights and values that helped build the mighty American middle class. Workers will always have a seat at the table and a champion in the White House—because when unions are strong, workers are strong, and when workers are strong, America is strong.”
06-06-16-Z-01
Hillary had a wonderful week last week and all the joy was punctuated by the massacre in Orlando.  Hillary has vowed to take on the NRA and the Senate will vote on proposals to close loopholes in the gun laws. It will be a while before people feel joyful again, but we can be thankful to Hillary for her firm stance, to the senators who joined the filibuster, and to the very strong, influential people and organizations who endorse Hillary.

donate
VOLUNTEER
STAND

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

FILIBUSTER! Democratic Senators #HoldTheFloor #Enough

Proud of my Senators.  Are yours in this?

Dems take over floor to protest Senate inaction on gun control


Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and other Democrats have taken over the Senate floor to call for tougher gun control laws and specifically action on keeping people on terrorist watchlists from buying firearms.
“I'm prepared to stand on this floor and talk about the need for this body to come together on keeping terrorists away from getting guns ... for, frankly, as long as I can, because I know that we can come together on this issue,” Murphy said in beginning the filibuster on Wednesday.
Murphy began speaking at about 11:20 a.m., and the filibuster was still going at 2 p.m.
Other Democrats who joined him included Sens. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Al Franken (Minn.), Cory Booker (N.J.), Bill Nelson (Fla.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Ben Cardin (Md.) and Ed Markey (Mass.).
It also won support from presumptive Democatic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
How are your Senators doing?  Here is the list of participants.


You can call to urge participation or register your support here >>>>



The number will be dialed for you and you will be connected.  Let's do this once and for all!

Stand with Senate Democrats >>>>
 
Stand with Hillary >>>>
STAND