House Passes Volunteerism Bill Critics Call Pricey, Forced Service

FoxNews ^ | March 18,2009, Wednesday | Kelley Beaucar Vlahos

[joygrace]

WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives passed a measure Wednesday that supporters are calling the most sweeping reform of nationally-backed volunteer programs since AmeriCorps. But some opponents are strongly criticizing the legislation, calling it expensive indoctrination and forced advocacy.

The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, known as the GIVE Act -- sponsored by Reps. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y, and George Miller, D-Calif. -- was approved by a 321-105 vote and now goes to the Senate.

[joygrace]

I am not 100% fluent in LEGISLATIVE “SPEAK” but here is an update SO FAR.

STAY TUNED...still trying to catch up on what happened today...

Here is how your Representatives VOTED TODAY: House Roll Call

[joygrace]

The HR 1388 Bill, “Give” Act Ping List

PING!

PING me or....

Please FReepmail me to let me know if you want to be Added or Deleted from the "Ping List."

Thank you

[Las Vegas Ron]

Thanks joygrace.

Is anyone else getting a redirect on FOX links today (like the one on this thread)?

[Pantera]

It looks like it was 24-174 (not 321-105). There was only 1 R that voted for it. Straight down party lines here.

[YellowRoseofTx]

Pretty much by party line. Wonder why 8 abstained?

[Nervous Tick]

I’m not in favor of this nonsense, but if it passes there may be a silver lining.

90% of the youngsters that get “drafted” into the brownshirts are little morons that voted for Bambi.

The spoiled little brats will NOT like forced service. And guess what — Mommy and Daddy won’t be able to help, and (in most cases) won’t be able to buy their way out of the service like they buy their little darlings out of everything else.

Ergo: they may pay a little closer attention to electing socialist vermin that yank away their freedom and cut into their video game, teevee, and party time.

[joygrace]

HR 1388.House Res250 BACKGROUNDER

The Republican Study Committee (RSC) highlights some Key points below SEE LINK above for original article from RSC:

Key Conservative Concerns
Take-Away Points
--H.R. 1388 expands the scope of a number of programs including AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve, and the National Civilian Community Corps. While no CBO score is available for the overall bill, last year’s bill which was similar to H.R. 1388, authorized $6.2 billion in spending for volunteer programs.

-- H.R. 1388 stretches the definition of a volunteer by paying them for their service, frequently providing volunteers with health benefits, housing, and other items that undermine the definition of a volunteer.

--H.R. 1388 funds AmeriCorps at a level of “such sums may be necessary.” AmeriCorps has funded programs in the past such as Planned Parenthood of Western Washington and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center (LAGLC). In addition, they ran a program that gave $5 to children for each toy gun they brought in.

--H.R. 1388 funds Learn and Serve, which has been described as “Not Performing: Results Not Demonstrated” by the Office of Management and Budget’s website, ExpectMore.gov. It also funds AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps which OMB describes as “Not Performing: Ineffective.” During a time of economic crisis, we should not be funding programs that have shown little or no results.

BACKGROUND : In the 110th Congress, H.R. 2857 came to the House floor on March 6, 2008. The bill was pulled from the floor due to the Republican Motion to Recommit which would have required background checks for participants in the national service programs and would have prohibited sex offenders from serving in some prisons.

The bill was brought up under suspension on March 12, 2008 as H.R. 5563. The bill included the Republican Motion to Recommit in the text.

The language is also included in H.R. 1388. Many RSC Members voted against the bill last year.

Summary of Amendments that had brief debate today from RSC website-

HR 1388.House Res250 BACKGROUNDER


“Order of Business: H.R. 1388 is scheduled to be considered Wednesday, March 18, 2009, subject to a structured rule (H.Res. 250) that waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except for clause 9 of Rule XXI (earmarks) and clause 10 of Rule XXI (PAYGO) and makes in order the 11 amendments listed below.

All amendments are debatable for 10 minutes, except for the Manager’s Amendment, which is debatable for 30 minutes.” Source, Republication Study Committee

What happened on the House Floor TODAY?

H. RES 250. Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1388) to reauthorize and reform the national service laws.

HR 1388, H RES250 on THOMAS

[444Flyer]

All the Representatives I phoned yesterday voted “no” on this. The “legislative speak” is confusing, will the House now be voting on the actual 1388 next? We all need to call our Reps if that is the case.

Thanks again Joygrace for sounding the alarm on this.

[Candor7]

Action, action, social action.

Thats a common fascist thrust.

Too bad we have a bunch of glory hole leftist libs in power.

They want to stay out of our county.

Nobody wants the idjits here.

ACTION. Take action today.(sarc.)

The SDS wing of the Dem party is about to try and take the country by storm.

[fishergirl]

Thank you, this is beyond scary.

[azishot]

Unbelieveable! Although I’m not surprised.

Also, where’s the media coverage? Any Republicans out there telling us about this? Did I miss them on TV?

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

90% of the youngsters that get “drafted” into the brownshirts are little morons that voted for Bambi.
_________________________________________

A lot of them are ACORN (nuts).

[bossmechanic]

How does the fox news report support the statement
“But the bill’s opponents — and there are only a few...”
when the vote was 248 aye to 174 nay????? All but 1 republican voted against the damn thing.

[bossmechanic]

Obama and his commie buddies are absolutely destroying this nation from within.
And our elected representatives haven’t got the balls to go on public record opposing his actions.
What the heck is wrong with these people. They grandstand ever time they’re in front of a camera but they can’t get one national media outlet to expose this crap?????

[azishot]

I agree. Silly me. I thought MAYBE Michael Steele would be out there, but I guess he has better things to do....

[boxlunch]

What else can we do??

[DBrow]

Somewhere in there is a section for a four-year course for what amounts to “community activists”. I can’t find it, anybody know where it is, or went?

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h1388rh.txt.pdf

[DBrow]

(6) Whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational back grounds.

Mandatory volunteerism to strengthen the social fabric. Like Cuba, China, Russia, Soviet Georgia, and other progressive places.

We must start planning The Resistance now before our streets are flooded with volunteers.

"We'll control then, and who are We? Volunteers of America!" - Jefferson Airplane 1976

[joygrace]

"All the Representatives I phoned yesterday voted “no” on this. The “legislative speak” is confusing, will the House now be voting on the actual 1388 next? We all need to call our Reps if that is the case..""

Excellent question. It is my question too. I didn’t think this Bill after today was on its way to the Senate like it states according to the Fox article?? I will need to verify.

This FoxNews article SOURCED here in this Thread threw me a bit in my understanding what happens next.

I was surprised when the author, Vlahos, wrote

(SNIP) ..."was approved by a 321-105 vote and now goes to the Senate."

I need clarification especially because of the exchange I had with Cantor’s office.

I called Eric Cantor's office this morning to see if he had received my FAX.

It seemed like I caught the Staffer a bit off guard when I asked about Cantor’s position on HR 1388.,br>
He was extremely personable and professional but as soon as I asked how Cantor would vote today, his staffer said ,”Congressmen Cantor has "no" position yet. I said well isn't he voting TODAY. He seemed unaware of the vote. The staffer said HR 1388 has not been released from Committee yet.

The staffer wasn't aware the Budget had been Released from the CBO office. Given what happened today maybe TODAY was all about dressing the Bill up with EARMARKS which they did and then proceed to next step..I don't know yet what that is

I think today's vote was a vote to Consider the Bill. They literally "REAUTHORIZED" the Bill for Consideration. Just my take …unconfirmed at this point

My take is ….this is the first step this Bill had to take for it to be considered in the House.

Another Key issue was members presented 11 Amendments to consider for attachment to the Bill. So I think now they may be attached to the Bill and that had to be formally done which happened today.

I am guessing a bit and I don't want to lead you down a dead end so I will wait for my updates but I think it is proceeding in the House. Others on this thread will probably know precisely what is going on so I am sure all answers will be revealed soon.

[autumnraine]

I’m sorry but you so far off track it’s not even funny.

90% of the youngsters that “drafted” by the brownshirts aren’t old enough to VOTE.

This bill is for Primary on up.