Good Afternoon Everyone;
I am going to try to catch up a wee bit.
I have not blogged-
...My own thoughts being elsewhere- (And, as you can guess from my title, they have been to Alabama).
I had previously posted (click) that our Young Lawrence may have Marfans Syndrome. He had needed to wait until December 21st for this testing. They have since moved that appointment up, twice. He was seen today, and in a note from William, he says that Lawrence does not have Marfans. William is waiting to hear more from his mom about what IS going on with Lawrence's health.
OK.
"Here.
We go.
Again."
My weather radio has just gone off. For a total of 3 events now.
A T~Storm Watch.
Then came the T~Storm warning.
And now a Tornado Warning (the next county to the west of Brown where we are).
Storm is moving east by southeast; which means it may/may not affect us here. But I have miles to go with cleaning a bit before I can go hide in the basement if need be. Grrr...
Since I have yet to clean up from the mess the storms left yesterday, I must close for now.
I will keep you all updated as soon as I hear from William.
Later. (I hope). hehehe
XOXO
Me
PS
TV weatherman just said "Pulaski" and "Green Bay" with respect to the storm's heading...
Damn.
'Sherlock' speaks on TV now, saying, "This is a dangerous storm---"
Hmmm...
Ya think?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/21/us/politics/21jobs.html?_r=1&hp- NYTimes.com
WASHINGTON — The Senate broke a stalemate on Tuesday over extending unemployment benefits for Americans who have been out of work for six months or more, voting to override Republican objections that the bill’s costs would add to the federal deficit.
On a vote of 60 to 40, the Democratic-led Senate agreed to cut off debate on the $34 billion plan to distribute added unemployment compensation through November for those who have exhausted their standard 26 weeks of aid.
The 60 yes votes were the minimum required to overcome the threat of a filibuster and advance the bill to a final vote, expected later on Tuesday, when it is all but certain to pass. Two Republicans, Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, joined 56 Democrats and two independents in voting for the legislation; 39 Republicans and one Democrat, Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, opposed it.
An estimated 2 million Americans have seen their benefits run out over the past two months while the legislation has been stalled in the partisan impasse.
“Finally, finally, finally,” said Senator Barbara Milkuski, Democrat of Maryland. She called the unemployment insurance program a social compact with American workers that means, “when you hit a speed bump and have to be laid off through no fault of your own, there will be a safety net so that you do not fall.”
Republicans said they backed the idea of extending benefits, but were determined to prevent the costs from being piled onto the mounting deficit.
“We believe the federal debt has grown to an alarming level, where it is threatening the future of our children and grandchildren,” said Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, the No. 3 Republican in the Senate.
After the Senate completes its final vote on the measure, the House must still act on it, a vote that is expected to come on Wednesday. President Obama would then quickly sign the bill into law at the White House, freeing the aid.
The Senate action came just minutes after Carte Goodwin was sworn in as the new Democratic senator from West Virginia, replacing the late Robert C. Byrd. While the seat was vacant, Democrats lacked the votes to overcome the Republican filibuster.
At age 36, Mr. Goodwin, a former legal adviser to Governor Joe Manchin III, becomes the youngest member of the Senate, replacing the eldest.
Both parties expect the fight over the unemployment extension to figure in midterm election campaigns in the fall.
- Republicans say they believe their stand will strengthen them with voters worried about the rising deficit.
- Democrats will criticize Republicans’ willingness to set aside deficit concerns when they pushed through tax cuts for the affluent, but not when unemployment pay for ordinary workers was at stake.
