Pending Bills

 

1. Official Summary

3/30/2011--Introduced.Economic Espionage Penalty Enhancement Act - Amends the federal criminal code to increase (from 15 to 20 years) the term of imprisonment for economic espionage (i.e., stealing or obtaining, duplicating or conveying, or buying or possessing trade secrets without authorization intending or knowing that the offense will benefit any foreign government, foreign instrumentality, or foreign agent). Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review its guidelines and policy relating to a two-level enhancement for economic espionage and consider amending the guidelines to:
(1) apply the two-level enhancement to the simple misappropriation of a trade secret;
(2) apply an additional two-level enhancement if the defendant transmits or attempts to transmit the stolen trade secret outside of the United States and an additional three-level enhancement if the defendant instead commits economic espionage; and
(3) provide that a defendant who transmits trade secrets outside of the United States or commits economic espionage should face a minimum offense level.

2.

S.1917 - A bill to create jobs by providing payroll tax relief for middle class families and businesses, and for other purposes. Sponsor Bob Casey

3.

H.R.3012 - Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants, to increase the per-country numerical limitation for family-sponsored immigrants, and for other purposes.

Political Cartoon

Questions:

1. By the U.S. is very willing to bail out big companies at the expense of the taxpayer, how does this help the economy?
2. Should America stop regulating the economy?
3. What would the worst consequence be of not regulating the economy?

Pennsylvania's 2008 Election

Facts:

1. Philadelphians marched to celebrate president Obamas election after his vitory.
2. With 96% of precincts reporting, Obama had 2,988,473 votes, or 55%, and McCain had 2,399,080, or 44%.
3.  Democrats added 600,000 voters to their rolls over the in 2007 and the Republicans lost ground.
4. Democrats outnumbered the Republicans by more than 1 million in a state that last chose a Republican for president when it supported George H. Bush in 1988.
5. Mccain spent three times as much time campaigning in Pennsylvania than Obama and lost.

Death Penalty Questions

1. Was the death penalty ever used nation wide?
2. When was the death penalty at its' peak?
3. How many states enforce the death penalty today?
4. How many executions happen every year in America?

PA'S Congressional Districts

Facts:

1. Pennsylvania has 7 Democratic districts the rest are Republican.
2. Montgomery and Philadelphia are both in the thirteenth district.
3. Mike Doyle is the Representative of the 14th Congressional district.
4. Delaware County is in the First congressional district.
5. The fifth congressional district is the district with the most counties in it at 15 counties. 
6. The fourteenth congressional district has the fewest number of counties only having Allegheny County. 
7. PA has decreased from 21 congressional districts to 19, to 18 after the 2010 census.
8. At one time Pennsylvania had 36 congressional districts.
9. The most congressional districts lost were 3 lost after the 1950 census and the 1960 census.
10. The nineteenth district will become obsolete in 2013.

How Washington Works

Questions:
1.

Facts:

1. Carter decided that Washington is an island isolated from the mainstream of mainstream of our nations life.

2. Congress works monday afternoon to friday morning to give congress more time with constituents. 

3. In midterm elections one or two dozen new congressmen and senators arrive in Washington. 

4. Congressmen live in there home state and in Washington between work and time off.

5. Many congressmen get caught up in Washington's internal politics.

6. Many congressmen become lawyers, lobbyists, or consultants after being replaced.

7. Lobbyists and congressmen tend to bump shoulders in downtown Washington where they have regular tables. 

8. Most politicians fraternize mainly with colleagues from their own party.

9. Almost every relationship made by a politician is to gain power.  

10. Trent Lott of Mississippi is the House Republican whip. 

Questions:

1.  How can the issue of greed for power be solved?
2. How do politicians become corrupted so easily?
3. Would America be better with a direct vote from the people on bills instead of Congress?
4. If politicians were not allowed to hold jobs in government after their term is up would this solve problems potentially?
5. Why is lobbying using money legal?
6. Should it be legal for lobbyists to congregate with congressmen so frequently?
7. Why did Carter say Washington is isolated from the rest of the nation if anything it is one of the more mainstream cities of the nation?
8. Does anyone do good to better the country in congress?
9. Should congressmen only be allowed to serve one term so they do not worry about their campaign so much?
10. Should congressmen's reelection be based on passed actions with lobbyists considering lobbying is legal? 

“How Birth Control And Abortion Became Politicized”

Facts:

1. The first birth control clinic was opened in the United States in 1916
2. It was opened and ran by Margret Sanger 
3. Sanger opened the clinic because she was outraged she could not give her female patients information about contraceptives 
4. It was illegal in the early 1900's to give information out about contraceptives 
5. The Comstock Law prohibited any distribution of information that was obscene
6. Sanger gave information to an undercover policemen and was put in jail for thirty days after that
7. The court found it legal for doctors to talk about contraception 
8. In 1930's American Medical Association ruled that doctors could give information on birth control to their patients 
9. 1936: Information on contraception was taking out of the obscene category 
10. Contraception was favored by Jewish and Protestant communities

Questions:

1. Did Sangers clinic get shut down when she was arrested?

2. Did she perform abortions?

3. What would she think of contraception today?

4. What would she think of abortion today?

5. Is Sanger thought of as a hero of medicine today?

6. How could information be banned doesn't that go against the 1st ammendment?