6 amazing Hillary facts

1. Hillary was voted "most likely to succeed" by her high school classmates.


2. She was the first Wellesley College student to give a commencement address at graduation. And she received a seven-minute-long standing ovation after her speech!


3. Hillary is a Grammy winner! How cool is that? She won an award for Best Spoken Word Album in 1997 for the audio of her book, “It Takes a Village.”


4. When Hillary became the first First Lady elected to office, she also became the first female U.S. Senator to be elected from New York. That's an impressive combination!


5. Hillary traveled to more places than any other Secretary of State, visiting 112 countries in four years.


6. Hillary has made the list of TIME's 100 most influential people in the world eight times (that's twice as many times as Bill!).

Source Ready For Hillary

Frankel “Very Disappointed” Senate GOP Blocked Minimum Wage Hike

 Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement after Senate Republicans successfully filibustered an attempt to raise the federal minimum wage.  The Republican Majority in the House has also opposed raising the minimum wage.  Representative Frankel is a co-sponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013.

 

“A hard day’s work should mean a decent day’s pay.  Increasing the minimum wage would help families put food on the table while enabling our small businesses to flourish.  We must make our economy work for all of us, not just the wealthy,” said Frankel.

 

According to the Economic Policy Institute, raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 will allow nearly six million Americans to emerge out of poverty and cease reliance on food stamps and other programs. They also report that raising the wage would generate $22 billion in increased economic activity and create 85,000 jobs.  The current minimum wage pays only $14,500 per year.

 

In Florida, if a $10.10 minimum wage was fully phased in by 2016, it would affect over 1.7 million Floridians and result in over $2 billion in increased wages.  It would also provide over $1.3 billion in increased state GDP and over 5,000 new jobs statewide.

A Message From Rep. Alan Grayson

Your Voice. Don't Let Dirty Money Silence It. : Recently, Slate Magazine identified the Member of Congress who had passed more amendments on the Floor of the House last year than any other Member. A Democratic Member who was constantly winning votes in the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives. A Congressman in only his third year in Congress, without seniority, without a leadership position, who was going toe-to-toe against Committee Chairmen, and winning. A Congressman who passed one provision after another that promoted progressive principles, in defiance of the House's Tea Party leadership. Slatecalled him the "most effective Member of the House." That was me. Business Insider, hardly a bastion of progressivism, recently asked the question, "Who introduced the most bills in Congress in 2013?" Many people assumed that it would be a Committee Chairman, or a "Ranking Member," or a senior Congressman or Senator who had accumulated draft legislation over many years. But they found that it was a second-term Congressman who hadnot only drafted dozens of bills, but also hundreds of amendments. Someone who had contacted the House Legislative Counsel to start drafting bills even before he took office. Business Insidercalled him the most productive Member of Congress. That was me. And these are not bills or amendments to rename a post office, or establish a committee, or require a report from some obscure federal agency. Not at all. Outnumbered and outgunned in the Tea Party House, we nevertheless found a way to pass meat-and-potatoes progressive provisionslike these: Defeating the military-industrial complex's plan to deploy weaponized drones in the United States. Instituting a "corporate death penalty" against crooked government contractors who cheat the taxpayers and the troops. Prohibiting racial profiling and other violations of our constitutional rights by the Department of Homeland Security. In an era of tight budgets, conjuring a 50% increase in federal funding for bilingual housing counseling. Reprogramming of tens of millions of dollars out of the weapons budget and into the biomedical research budget. And off the Floor, when war with Syria loomed, I did seven national TV interviews in a single day, to make sure that the public was properly informed of the facts. Because when it comes to war, it's our money, and it's our blood, so it should be our decision. And when the proposed federal budget included a cut in Social Security benefits, I wrote a petition that drew an incredible 3,000,000 signatures against "any and all" cuts in our benefits – and then I delivered that petition to both the President and to the Speaker of the House. Let me sum it up for you this way: I'm a Progressive. And I get things done. And let me tell you something: you pay a price for that. I was elected to Congress in 2008. In 2009 and 2010, what Hillary Clinton called "the vast right-wing conspiracy" saw what I could accomplish, as a freshman. So they mobilized to defeat me. The "independent expenditures" (a/k/a "sewer money") against me reached $5.5 million – at that time,the most sewer money that had ever been spend in a House race, anywhere, ever. Four million dollars of that came from the deep pockets of the right-wing Koch Brothers alone. And they did beat me in 2010. But now I'm back. Following what the U.S. House Historian told us was the biggest comeback in the history of the House. Yet the Koch Brothers seem no more fond of Alan v2.0 than they were of Alan v1.0. The Koch Brothers started to run ads against me, in my district, last November. A year before the election. At the same time, as the Washington Post reported, the National Republican Party "targeted" me, and started an ad campaign condemning me as an "Obamacare co-conspirator." And whenever I'm the subject on Faux News or hate radio, what Bill Clinton called "the politics of personal destruction" seems to reach new heights. Recently, on Fox News, former Rep. Allen West said that he "prays" for my defeat this year. Hate-meister Bill O'Reilly called me "crazy" and "unbalanced." Hate-meister Mark Levin called me a "circus clown." Hate-meister Sean Hannity smeared me by falsely claiming that I had invited a "designated Al Qaeda terrorist" to brief Congress. Hate-meister "Joe the Plumber" (remember him?) called me a "piece of nose slime" and a "dreg of society." When Senator (now Secretary) John Kerry was the Democratic candidate for President, this type of personal vilification was called "swift-boating." Well, I'm not just being swift-boated. I'm not just being swift-flotilla'ed. I'm being swift-armada'ed. Look, this is not some remote hypothetical. You can see where this is already, and you can see where this is heading. When you are a "targeted" House Democrat, it means that the other side is planning to spend $5 million or more to defeat you. You can take my word for it, because it happened to me before. And it worked. I was out of office. For two years, I wandered in the wilderness. When you are out of office, there ain't nothing you can do for nobody. Think of liberal lions like Dennis Kucinich, Barney Frank, Russ Feingold. Think of how much they accomplished in office. And then think of what they accomplished afterward. How much would Elizabeth Warren be able to achieve if she had lost her Senate race? So here are two questions for you: (1) Do you care that there is a Progressive in Congress who can get things done? (2) If so, then when you see that I'm on the GOP hit list, what are you going to do about it?  Allow me to explain why I am posing these questions to you. Last year, the Houston Chroniclestudied Federal Election Commission records regarding the 2012 election. They found that exactly one Member of the House – one out of 435! – had raised most of his campaign contributions from small donors. Only one. That was me. [The only Senator, out of 100, was Bernie Sanders (I-VT). And the only Presidential candidate, God help us all, was Michele Bachmann.] I can't turn to the lobbyists and the PACs and the multinational corporations and the millionaires and the billionaires for campaign support. They would love to be able to buy me, but I'm not for sale. And therefore, I have only one person to whom I can turn for help. That is you. Yes, YOU. More than 100,000 people have contributed to our campaign. You may even be one of them. That's great, and I'm grateful. But that's not enough to counter $5 million. If you haven't contributed today already, then I need you to do that now. Why now? We are under attack. It's time for us to circle the wagons, and return fire. I need your help, and I need it now. We need to hire canvassers, collect petitions, set up phone banks and hand out campaign literature – right away. Every dollar counts. Please contribute today.  And the most effective way to do that is to make a monthly pledge. Just $10 or $20 or $25 each month – it adds up. It makes a difference, a huge difference. Every dollar counts. We are fighting for justice, equality, and peace. We are paying attention, we are working hard, and we are getting things done. And because of that, I am under attack. I need your help, and I need it today. I know that you are counting on me. Well, it works both ways. I'm counting on you. Please don't let me down. It's my job. But it's your future. Courage, Rep. Alan Grayson "Just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean that politics won't take an interest in you." – Pericles. Not Paid for or Authorized by any candidate or committee

The Money Game Of 2014

Campaign data analyst at the Center for Responsive Politics Sarah Bryner says FEC filings for the first quarter in 2014 show Republicans leading the money race in the House, while Democrats lead in the Senate.

But she says numbers are likely to even out as midterm elections approach in November.

Read more: http://thehill.com/video/in-the-news/203830-campaign-data-expert-previews-midterm-elections#ixzz30NAYVTKU
Follow us: @thehill on Twitter | TheHill on Facebook

voting-rights advocates are winning.

A state judge ruled last week against Arkansas’ voter-ID law, which followed related victories in Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Texas. Today, proponents of voting rights scored an even bigger victory with success in a Wisconsin federal court.

A federal judge on Tuesday struck down Wisconsin’s voter ID law Tuesday, saying it violated the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution.

 

The law had already been blocked by a state judge. To be put back in place, 

supporters of the voter ID law would have to overturn both the state and federal decisions – a possibility that appears unlikely between now and the Nov. 4 election for governor.

 

In Tuesday’s decision, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman in Milwaukee determined the law requiring voters to show one of a narrow set of photo IDs at the polls violated the federal Voting Rights Act and established an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote. He issued an injunction barring the law from being enforced.

Not surprisingly, Wisconsin’s Attorney General, Republican J.B. Van Hollen, has already announced plans to appeal to the 7th Circuit Court.

 

Note, the judge in this case, a Clinton nominee, based his ruling in part on the Voting Rights Act, but relied on Section 2, which was not gutted as part of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last summer.

 

The entirety of the 90-page ruling is online here (pdf). Rick Hasen flagged some key excerpts:

A key quote: “virtually no voter impersonation occurs in Wisconsin and it is exceedingly unlikely that voter impersonation will become a problem in Wisconsin in the foreseeable future.”

 

Another quote: “Perhaps the reason why photo ID requirements have no effect on confidence or trust in the electoral process is that such laws undermine the public’s confidence in the electoral process as much as they promote it.”

Note, the ruling comes against the backdrop of ongoing efforts on the part of Wisconsin Republicans to further restrict residents’ voting rights.

 

The a state court in Pennsylvania yesterday announced it will not revisit its decision striking down the state’s voter-ID law.

1 is 2 Many Campaign Releases New Public Service Announcement on Sexual Assault

Today, Vice President Biden launched a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) encouraging men to speak up and step in if they see someone in danger of being sexually assaulted.  The PSA is being launched in coordination with the 1 is 2 Many campaign and the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault.  Because while anyone can be a victim of sexual assault, some are more at risk than others:  1 in 5 women is sexually assaulted while in college, and young women, ages 16 to 24, experience the highest rates of sexual violence at the hands of someone they know.  The PSA, produced by the AWhite House, features several film and television actors, President Obama, and Vice President Biden.  It encourages men to be part of the solution by delivering a simple message:  “If she doesn’t consent – or can’t consent — it’s a crime . . . and if you see sexual assault happening, help her -- don’t blame her —and speak up.”

The PSA will air in select Regal Entertainment Group and Cinemark movie theaters, over NCM Media Networks’ Lobby Entertainment Network (LEN), and in movie theaters on military installations and ships underway worldwide starting in May.  Joining the President and the Vice President in the PSA are Daniel Craig, Seth Meyers, Benicio Del Toro, Steve Carell and Dulé Hill.

Click here to watch the 60-second PSA.

Click here to watch the 30-second PSA.

Click here for more information about the Administration’s efforts to combat sexual assault.

Quotes from participating actors:

Benicio Del Toro

“This PSA is about reaching out to people and letting them know that there is an epidemic of sexual assaults. Those who commit sexual assaults will be condemned, whoever they are. The PSA also encourages any witness to such acts to speak up, do the right thing, and be a hero.  It is about protecting and respecting our loved ones--our mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, and girlfriends.”

Dulé Hill 

“One sexual assault is one too many. My desire for this PSA is that it will heighten awareness and in turn be a catalyst for more prevention.”

Daniel Craig

“I am honored to be part of such an important and crucial project. The message is clear and simple; everyone has a responsibility. There are no exceptions. There are no excuses.  Please watch it and pass it on.” 

NOT ALONE – PROTECTING STUDENTS FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT

One in five women is sexually assaulted while in college.  Most often, it happens her freshman or sophomore year.  In the great majority of cases, it’s by someone she knows – and also most often, she does not report what happened.  And though fewer, men, too, are victimized.

The Administration is committed to putting an end to this violence. That’s why the President established the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault on January 22, 2014, with a mandate to strengthen federal enforcement efforts and provide schools with additional tools to combat sexual assault on their campuses. 

Today, the Task Force is announcing a series of actions to: (1)  identify the scope of the problem on college campuses, (2) help prevent campus sexual assault, (3) help schools respond effectively when a student is assaulted, and (4) improve, and make more transparent, the federal government’s enforcement efforts.  We will continue to pursue additional executive or legislative actions in the future.

These steps build on the Administration’s previous work to combat sexual assault.  The Task Force formulated its recommendations after a 90-day review period during which it heard from thousands of people from across the country -- via 27 online and in-person listening sessions and written comments from a wide variety of stakeholders.

Helping Schools Identify the Problem: Climate Surveys

As we know, campus sexual assault is chronically underreported – so victim reports don’t provide a fair measure of the problem.  A campus climate survey, however, can.  So, today:

·         We are providing schools with a toolkit for developing and conducting a climate survey.  This survey has evidence-based sample questions that schools can use to gauge the prevalence of sexual assault on campus, test students’ attitudes and awareness about the issue, and craft solutions.  We call on schools to voluntarily conduct the climate survey next year and, based on what we learn, we will further refine the survey methodology.  This process will culminate in a survey for all schools to use.

·         We will explore legislative or administrative options to require colleges and universities to conduct an evidence-based survey in 2016.  A mandate for schools to periodically conduct a climate survey will change the national dynamic: with a better picture of what’s really happening on campus, schools will be able to more effectively tackle the problem and measure the success of their efforts.   

Preventing Sexual Assault – and Bringing in the Bystander

The college years are formative for many students.  If we implement effective prevention programs, today’s students will leave college knowing that sexual assault is simply unacceptable.  And that, in itself, can create a sea change.

·         The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a systematic review of primary prevention strategies for reducing sexual violence, and is releasing an advance summary of its findings.  This review summarizes some of the best available research in the area, and highlights evidence-based prevention strategies that work, some that are promising, and those that don’t work.  The report points to steps colleges can take now to prevent sexual assault on their campuses.

·         The CDC and the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women will pilot and evaluate prevention strategies on college campuses.  This work will build on the CDC’s systematic review, and will identify and fill gaps in the research on sexual violence prevention.

·         Getting Bystanders to Step In and Help Is a Promising Practice.  Bystander intervention programs work to change social norms, and teach everyone to speak out and intervene if someone is at risk of being assaulted.  These programs are among those the CDC found most promising. 

Helping Schools Respond Effectively When A Student is Sexually Assaulted: Confidentiality, Training, Better Investigations, and Community Partnerships

By law, schools that receive federal funds are obliged to protect students from sexual assault.  It is the Task Force’s mission to help schools meet not only the letter, but the spirit, of that obligation.  And that can mean a number of things – from giving a victim a confidential place to turn for advice and support, to providing specialized training for school officials, to effectively investigating and finding out what happened, to sanctioning the perpetrator, to doing everything we can to help a survivor recover. 

·         Many survivors need someone to talk to in confidence.  While many survivors of sexual assault are ready to press forward with a formal complaint right away, others aren’t so sure.  For some, having a confidential place to go can mean the difference between getting help and staying silent.  Today, the Department of Education is releasing new guidance clarifying that on-campus counselors and advocates can talk to a survivor in confidence.  This support can help victims come forward, get help, and make a formal report if they choose to.

·         We are providing a sample confidentiality and reporting policy.  Even victims who make a formal report may still request that the information be held in confidence, and that the school not investigate or take action against the perpetrator.   Schools, however, also have an obligation to keep the larger community safe.  To help them strike this balance, we are providing schools with a sample reporting and confidentiality policy, which recommends factors a school should consider in making this decision.

·         We are providing specialized training for school officials.  School officials and first responders need to understand how sexual assault occurs, the tactics used by perpetrators, and the common reactions of victims.   The Justice Department will help by developing new training programs for campus officials involved in investigating and adjudicating sexual assault cases and by launching a technical assistance project for campus officials. The Department of Education will develop training materials for campus health center staff to improve services to victims.

·         We will give schools guidance on how to improve their investigative and adjudicative protocols.  We need to know more about what investigative and adjudicative systems work best on campus.  The Justice Department will undertake this work, and will begin evaluating different models this year with the goal of identifying the most promising practices.  The Department of Education’s new guidance also urges some important improvements to the disciplinary process.

·         We are helping schools forge partnerships with community resources.  Community partnerships are critical to getting survivors the help they need:  while some schools can provide comprehensive services on campus, others may need to partner with community-based organizations.  Rape crisis centers in particular can help schools better serve their students.  We are releasing a sample agreement between schools and rape crisis centers, so survivors have a full network of services in place. 

Improving and Making More Transparent Federal Enforcement Efforts

To better address sexual assault at our nation’s schools, the federal government needs to both strengthen our enforcement efforts and increase coordination among responsible agencies.  Importantly, we also need to improve communication with survivors, parents, school administrators, faculty, and the public, by making our efforts more transparent.

·         On Tuesday, we are launching a dedicated website – www.NotAlone.gov – to make enforcement data public and to make other resources accessible to students and schools.  On the website, students can learn about their rights, search enforcement data, and read about how to file a complaint.  The website will also help schools and advocates:  it will make available federal guidance on legal obligations, best available evidence and research, and relevant legislation.  Finally, the website will have trustworthy resources from outside the federal government, such as hotline numbers and mental health services locatable by simply typing in a zip code.

·         The Department of Education is providing more clarity on schools’ legal obligations.  The Department of Education is releasing answers to frequently asked questions about schools’ legal obligations to prevent and respond to sexual assault.  Among many other topics, the new guidance makes clear that federal law protects all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, immigration status, or whether they have a disability.  It also makes clear questions about a survivor’s sexual history with anyone other than the alleged perpetrator shouldn’t be permitted during a judicial hearing, and also that a previous sexual relationship doesn’t imply consent or preclude a finding of sexual violence.  And that schools should take steps to protect and assist a survivor pending an investigation.

·         The Departments of Justice and Education have entered into an agreement clarifying each agency’s role.  Both agencies have a critical role to play in enforcing the laws that require schools to prevent and respond to sexual assault on their campuses.  The agencies have entered into a formal agreement to increase coordination and strengthen enforcement.

Next Steps

The action steps highlighted in this report are the initial phase of an ongoing plan and commitment to putting an end to this violence on campuses.  We will continue to work toward solutions, clarity, and better coordination. We will review the legal frameworks surrounding sexual assault for possible regulatory or statutory improvements, and seek new resources to enhance enforcement.  Campus law enforcement agencies have special expertise- and they, too, should be tapped to play a more central role.  And we will also consider how our recommendations apply to public elementary and secondary schools – and what more we can do to help there.