WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) — The Senate is on track to vote on a measure to end the government shutdown early on Monday unless Democrats agree to hold the vote sooner.
On Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Democrats to lift their filibuster and allow a vote to reopen the government forthwith. The minority party objected and Democrats say they have the votes to block the bill on Monday.
“If they continue to object, we cannot proceed to a cloture vote until 1 a.m. on Monday,” McConnell explained from the floor of the Senate. “But I assure you, we will have a vote at 1 a.m. on Monday, unless there is a desire to have it sooner.”
As a result of the Democratic filibuster on Friday night, which led to the government shutdown, the latest time a vote can take place is Monday at 1 a.m. EST.
I can see the consequences for this one ~ which can be either damaging or helpful. For example: This could people in states that requires vaccines for school or work, for example, the right to say “no”, citing religious freedom. This could also allow someone to fire an employee for their sexual preference. It’s all so ridiculously simple ~ be kind, be thoughtful and let others Be.
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Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is pleased to announce the formation of a new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The announcement will take place at an event at HHS headquarters from 10:30 a.m. to noon. It will be livestreamed here. Speakers will include Acting Secretary Eric D. Hargan, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Representative Vicky Hartzler, Senator James Lankford, OCR Director Roger Severino, and special guests.
The Conscience and Religious Freedom Division has been established to restore federal enforcement of our nation’s laws that protect the fundamental and unalienable rights of conscience and religious freedom. OCR is the law enforcement agency within HHS that enforces federal laws protecting civil rights and conscience in health and human services, and the security and privacy of people’s health information. The creation of the new division will provide HHS with the focus it needs to more vigorously and effectively enforce existing laws protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom, the first freedom protected in the Bill of Rights.
OCR already has enforcement authority over federal conscience protection statutes, such as the Church, Coats-Snowe, and Weldon Amendments; Section 1553 of the Affordable Care Act (on assisted suicide); and certain federal nondiscrimination laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion in a variety of HHS programs.
OCR Director Severino said, “Laws protecting religious freedom and conscience rights are just empty words on paper if they aren’t enforced. No one should be forced to choose between helping sick people and living by one’s deepest moral or religious convictions, and the new division will help guarantee that victims of unlawful discrimination find justice. For too long, governments big and small have treated conscience claims with hostility instead of protection, but change is coming and it begins here and now.”
Acting HHS Secretary Hargan said, “President Trump promised the American people that his administration would vigorously uphold the rights of conscience and religious freedom. That promise is being kept today. The Founding Fathers knew that a nation that respects conscience rights is more diverse and more free, and OCR’s new division will help make that vision a reality.”
To learn more about the new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, visit us at www.hhs.gov/conscience.
To file a complaint with OCR based on a violation of civil rights, conscience or religious freedom, or health information privacy, visit us at https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints.
There are numerous people on social media making the conclusion that shutting down the government means FINALLY people in Congress can be arrested because during Session, they cannot be arrested.
Not true. I researched this and found the following:
The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
So in summary, they are protected from arrest EXCEPT in cases of treason, felony (stealing) and breach of the peace.
Given what may be coming out in the “memo”, it may be possible that the crime of treason may be applied (given treason comes down to betraying ones country and most all of us can agree this is indeed what has been done for decades by our “government”), which would indicate they can be charged for that at ANY time – even when in Session.
[wp-svg-icons icon=”heart-2″ wrap=”i”] Unity Consciousness [wp-svg-icons icon=”heart-2″ wrap=”i”] More beautiful analysis/insight… Although my vision of the future, as it has been for 25 years, is no government (certainly not the form we have it now) so uh that’s just me…
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Q Posts, 1/19: Q Asks #WETHEPEOPLE to #UNITE And Press for #RELEASE THE MEMO
of note: lindsey graham and rand paul voted “no” ~ and mcconnell and mccain did not vote. as someone noted ~ “Q” has referenced 10 days of darkness. today is the 20th ~ the 1 year anniversary of DJT Inauguration. State of the Union (which Q also references) is 10 days from today. today stated as Judgment Day. Remember this day. Is is possible POTUS has them where he wants them? I knew all last year the Dem’s would never approve the Wall. What will this do with the FISA Memo? Dem distraction? POTUS also said in a tweet on the 14th that the Dems will create this shutdown which is a military shutdown at at time “we need it most”.
time for tea, chocolate and some chill time…
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Senate Democrats appeared to have blocked a spending bill on Friday night that would have prevented a government shutdown. The procedural motion to advance the bill needs 60 votes to pass.
Democrats blocked a spending bill to keep the government open, but senators remain on the floor.
60 votes needed to pass
YES
NO
Yet to vote
Republicans
45
4
2
Democrats
5
44
0
Total
50
48
2
Updated at 12:17:31 AM ET
Votes by Party
POLITICS|How Every Senator Voted on the Government Shutdown
How Every Senator Voted on the Government Shutdown
Senate Democrats appeared to have blocked a spending bill on Friday night that would have prevented a government shutdown. The procedural motion to advance the bill needs 60 votes to pass.
Democrats blocked a spending bill to keep the government open, but senators remain on the floor.
Andrew Taylor, Alan Fram and Zeke MillerAssociated Press
January 19, 2018
The government careened toward shutdown Friday night in a chaotic close to Donald Trump’s first year as president, as Democrats and Republicans preemptively traded blame while still struggling to find some accord before a deadline at the stroke of midnight.
The lawmakers and Trump’s White House mounted last-ditch negotiations to stave off what had come to appear as the inevitable, with the parties in stare-down mode over federal spending and proposals to protect some 700,000 younger immigrants from deportation.
After hours of negotiating, the Senate scheduled a late-night vote on a House-passed plan. It appeared likely to fail.
The election-year standoff marked a test of the president’s much vaunted deal-making skills — and of both parties’ political fortitude. Republicans, who control both Congress and the White House, faced the prospect of being blamed for the display of dysfunction — just the fourth shutdown in a quarter-century. It could also threaten to slow any GOP momentum, one month after passage of the party’s signature tax cut law.
Democrats, too, risked being labeled obstructionist. Republicans branded the confrontation a “Schumer shutdown” and argued that Democrats were harming fellow Americans to protect “illegal immigrants.”
A lot of awesomeness in these words today… Remember this day ~ Judgment Day. Love the words on being United. Let it be so. [wp-svg-icons icon=”heart-2″ wrap=”i”]
blah blah blah… #RELEASETHEMEMO and this “early childhood home visit” is nothing but big brother intrusion. seriously ~ #RELEASETHEMEMOANDARRESTTHEIRASSES
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LIVE: Senate Meets as Government Shutdown Looms, Count Down Clock, Release the Memo
