tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142331322024-03-07T16:31:24.327-05:00Cleveland vs. The WorldUsually optimistic, and at times pessimistic, observations and reports on developments, planning activities and other pro-urbancentric activities in and around Cleveland... with a dash of whatever I feel like throwing in the pot for enhanced flavor.J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.comBlogger502125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-89858246095799924452017-04-25T09:48:00.001-04:002017-04-25T09:48:07.314-04:00NEOtrans: The Cleveland skyscraper building-binge starts<a href="http://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-cleveland-skyscraper-building-binge.html?spref=bl">NEOtrans: The Cleveland skyscraper building-binge starts</a>: Construction workers will begin building in May the new Beacon apartment tower at Euclid Avenue and East 6th Street in downtown Cleveland...J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-70336147353672915472011-10-24T23:05:00.000-04:002011-11-01T23:06:48.856-04:00Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 10242011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:<br />
<br />
Recent Congressional Votes<br />
Senate: Confirmation of John Edgar Bryson to be Secretary of Commerce<br />
Senate: Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act of 2011<br />
Senate: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012<br />
<br />
Upcoming Congressional Bills<br />
House: Internal Revenue CodeEditor's Note: The Senate is in recess this week.<br />
<br />
<br />
Recent Senate Votes<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=176&chamber=S&congress=1121">Confirmation of John Edgar Bryson to be Secretary of Commerce</a> - Vote Confirmed (74-26)<br />
The Senate confirmed John Bryson as Secretary of Commerce. Bryson succeeds Gary Locke, who is now the ambassador to China.<br />
</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Rob Portman voted YES......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460">bio</a> <br />
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472">bio</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=177&chamber=S&congress=1121">Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act of 2011</a> - Vote Rejected (50-50)<br />
Last week the Senate rejected consideration of this bill that would allocate $30 billion in grants to state and local governments to pay to hire or retain teachers and $5 billion in grants to governments and other groups to pay for law enforcement officers and emergency personnel. This was one component of the president’s broader jobs bill that was rejected earlier in the month.<br />
</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Rob Portman voted NO......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460">bio</a> <br />
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472">bio</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=187&chamber=S&congress=1121">Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012</a> - Vote Agreed to (82-16, 2 Not Voting)<br />
The Senate reached the necessary 60 votes to end debate on a legislative package that combines the fiscal 2012 Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science (S 1572) and Transportation-HUD (S 1596) appropriations bills. When they return from a weeklong recess, senators will resume consideration of the bill.<br />
</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Rob Portman voted YES......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460">bio</a> <br />
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472">bio</a> <br />
<br />
<br />
Upcoming Votes<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.674&congress=112">Internal Revenue Code</a> - H.R.674<br />
The House is scheduled to vote this week on a bill to repeal a 3 percent withholding requirement on government contractor payments.</span></div></div></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-71918696808307988172011-10-17T22:51:00.000-04:002011-10-17T22:51:02.260-04:00Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 10172011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:</b><br />
<br />
<u>Recent Congressional Votes</u><br />
Senate: Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2011 <br />
Senate: American Jobs Act of 2011 <br />
Senate: United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act <br />
Senate: United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act <br />
Senate: United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act <br />
House: United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act <br />
House: United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act <br />
House: United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act <br />
House: EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 <br />
<br />
<u>Upcoming Congressional Bills</u><br />
Senate: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 <br />
<br />
Editor's Note: The House is in recess this week.<br />
<b><u>Recent Senate Votes </u></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=159&chamber=S&congress=1121">Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2011</a> - Vote Passed (63-35, 2 Not Voting)<br />
The Senate passed this bill last week that would allow economic sanctions to be placed on China for keeping its currency value artificially low. The House is unlikely to vote on the measure.<br />
Sen. Rob Portman voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">YES</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460">bio</a><br />
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">YES</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472">bio</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=160&chamber=S&congress=1121">American Jobs Act of 2011</a> - Vote Rejected (50-49, 1 Not Voting)<br />
The Senate did not reach the necessary 60 votes to end debate on the presidents comprehensive $447 billion jobs bill, effectively tabling the legislation. Parts of the bill will likely be considered in multiple smaller bills.<br />
Sen. Rob Portman voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460">bio</a><br />
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">YES</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472">bio</a><br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=161&chamber=S&congress=1121">United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act</a> - Vote Passed (83-15, 2 Not Voting)<br />
On Wednesday, the Senate voted to implement a trade pact with South Korea. The House approved the bill earlier in the day and the president is expected to sign the bill into law.<br />
Sen. Rob Portman voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">YES</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460">bio</a><br />
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472">bio</a><br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=162&chamber=S&congress=1121">United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act</a> - Vote Passed (77-22, 1 Not Voting)<br />
The Senate approved a trade pact with Panama. The House passed the bill earlier the same day and the president is expected to sign it into law.<br />
Sen. Rob Portman voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">YES</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460">bio</a><br />
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472">bio</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=163&chamber=S&congress=1121">United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act</a> - Vote Passed (66-33, 1 Not Voting)<br />
The Senate passed this bill to implement a trade agreement with Colombia. The House approved the bill earlier in the day and the president is expected to sign it into law.<br />
Sen. Rob Portman voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">YES</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460">bio</a><br />
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472">bio</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Recent House Votes</u></b> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=781&chamber=H&congress=1121">United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act</a> - Vote Passed (262-167, 4 Not Voting)<br />
On Wednesday, the House passed this bill to implement a trade pact with Colombia. The Senate approved the bill later in the day and the president is expected to sign it into law.<br />
Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=782&chamber=H&congress=1121">United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act</a> - Vote Passed (300-129, 4 Not Voting)<br />
The House approved this bill to implement a trade pact with Panama. The Senate approved the bill later in the day and the president is expected to sign it into law.<br />
Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=783&chamber=H&congress=1121">United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act</a> - Vote Passed (278-151, 4 Not Voting)<br />
The House passed this trade agreement with South Korea. The Senate approved the bill later in the day and the president is expected to sign it into law.<br />
Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=791&chamber=H&congress=1121">EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011</a> - Vote Passed (275-142, 16 Not Voting)<br />
The House passed this bill that would delay EPA emissions rules for boilers, solid-waste incinerators and process heaters, requiring the EPA to re-propose the rules and finalize them exactly 15 months after the bills enactment. The Senate is unlikely to vote on the legislation.<br />
Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a><br />
</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
<u><b>Upcoming Votes </b></u><br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2112&congress=112">Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012</a> - H.R.2112<br />
The Senate is expected to consider a fiscal 2012 appropriations measure that incorporates three spending bills: Agriculture (H.R. 2112), Commerce-Justice-Science (S. 1572) and Transportation-HUD (S. 1596). </span></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-36993472858360402782011-10-17T22:32:00.000-04:002011-10-17T22:32:31.630-04:00Public Meetings on Proposed WestShore Corridor Transportation Project Plan<div style="text-align: justify;">GREATER CLEVELAND – In the near future, residents, regional visitors and commuter could have safe, convenient new options for travel between major points in Erie, Lorain and Cuyahoga Counties including commuter bus and rail, according to planners on the WestShore Transportation Project. However, new local funding sources must be identified, further studies undertaken, and railroad and intercounty agreements inked before a major new service like commuter rail service is ready to operate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8G_TUibZkOD843nZX0Nyql4aRgJ2vvPBhZtMR9tPvzMnEy7B_mDVlweT33IdJYhm4BrQcbtPCca_jjSMtkQoBB4yY8_8FVqdjwPMnoXZTnsdd-M5Vp07zPs69v65GwUSO-oP/s1600/westshorecorridormap-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8G_TUibZkOD843nZX0Nyql4aRgJ2vvPBhZtMR9tPvzMnEy7B_mDVlweT33IdJYhm4BrQcbtPCca_jjSMtkQoBB4yY8_8FVqdjwPMnoXZTnsdd-M5Vp07zPs69v65GwUSO-oP/s320/westshorecorridormap-s.jpg" width="320" /></a>On behalf of project co-sponsors Lorain County Board of Commissioners/Lorain County Transit and Lorain County Community Alliance, the WestShore Commuter Rail Task Force and communities in Lorain County, Erie County and Cuyahoga County, will hold three public meetings to present study findings to-date for recommended travel options, costs, benefits and funding/financing for the WestShore Corridor. Public comments are needed in order to finalize the proposed package of options designed to improve longer-distance public transit service between the WestShore counties of Erie, Lorain and Cuyahoga.</div><br />
<span class="bbc_color" style="color: red;"><strong>The public is invited and encouraged to attend one or more of the following meetings:<br />
<br />
Cuyahoga County—October 24, 2011 <br />
Lakewood City Hall <br />
Auditorium <br />
12650 Detroit Avenue <br />
Lakewood, OH 44107 <br />
6-8 pm <br />
<br />
Lorain County—October 26, 2011<br />
Black River Landing<br />
421 Black River Lane<br />
Lorain, OH 44052<br />
6-8 pm<br />
<br />
Erie County -- October 25, 2011<br />
Erie County Administration Building<br />
3rd Floor Commissioner’s Chambers<br />
2900 Columbus Avenue<br />
Sandusky, OH 44870<br />
6-8 pm</strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
For more information, please contact Tim Rosenberger, PB at 216-832-2952, Nancy Lyon Stadler, Michael Baker, Jr., Inc. at 216-776-6814 or Marissa Beechuk, BrownFlynn at <br />
440-484-0100, ext.211.<br />
<br />
****************************************************************************************************************<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">WESTSHORE CORRIDOR TRANSPORTATION STUDY BACKGROUND</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The WestShore Corridor Transportation Project (WCTP) seeks to address the lack of public transportation options for travel in the WestShore Corridor, which extends from downtown Cleveland through western Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Erie Counties to Sandusky. The need for improvements is based on several factors including a lack of public transit options for inter-county travel, lack of transit options within Lorain and Erie Counties, and the need for more sustainable land use patterns in suburban growth areas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While the development of commuter rail service along the Norfolk Southern (former Nickel Plate) rail line that passes through Lakewood, Bay Village and much of northern Lorain County has been the goal for many citizens and political leaders in the WestShore Corridor, the analysis conducted for the WCTP indicates that a transit market must first be established within the WestShore Corridor before commuter rail can become a reality. Currently, commuter bus services to downtown Cleveland operate from Medina, Summit, Portage and Lake counties. Lorain County is the most populous county surrounding Cleveland that does not have bus service to downtown Cleveland. The WCTP suggests that an inter-county transit market could be established in several phases.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Phase 1, during the next five years, would include implementation of commuter bus service between Lorain County and downtown Cleveland. The proposed service would include basic commuter bus service between the city of Lorain and downtown Cleveland with stops at Black River Landing, Midway Mall, and two new park and ride lots located in Sheffield and Avon. In this phase, Lorain County Transit would be restored to its pre-2009 service levels to distribute passengers throughout Lorain County. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Implementing this service would cost approximately $11 million per year in buying buses and outfitting park-and-ride lots in Lorain County. The annual estimated annual operating cost of Phase 1 is $8.3 million. While commuter bus service is made operational, work would continue on the analysis of the benefits and environmental impacts of the commuter rail service to allow for that service to be developed in the future. Discussions with the Norfolk-Southern Railroad about use of their rail line for commuter rail service began as part of the West Shore study, and would continue through the first phase of development. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Phase 2 (Years 6-10), commuter bus service in Lorain County would expand, and commuter bus service between Erie County and downtown Cleveland would begin. In this phase two new bus routes would be started to supplmenet the route operating between Lorain and downtown Cleveland. One new route would operate between Sheffield and downtown Cleveland, with one park and ride lot located in Sheffield and two in Avon. A third commuter bus route would begin providing service between Sandusky and downtown Cleveland, with stops at park and ride facilities located in Sandusky, Huron, and Vermilion. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The estimated cost of this second phase of service would be about $16 million for additional buses and park and ride lot, and about $10 million in additional annual operating cost. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also in this phase, regional transit officials would complete the analysis of commuter rail service and reach an agreement with the Norfolk Southern railroad regarding use of their rail line, and would begin the design of improvements to the rail line, stations and other infrastructure needed to operate commuter rail service.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">WESTSHORE CORRIDOR TRANSPORTATION STUDY BACKGROUND - Continued</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Page 2</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Phase 3 (Years 10-15), commuter rail service would begin operation and would replace some or all of the commuter bus services in Lorain County, and would perhaps replace some bus services in Cuyahoga County. The commuter rail service would operate between Black River Landing in Lorain and downtown Cleveland. Stations would be located in Lorain, Sheffield, Avon, Westlake, Bay Village, Rocky River, Lakewood and Cleveland. It is hoped that many of the park and ride facilities developed in the first two phases of the project would now function as park and ride lots at the commuter rail stations. Commuter bus service would continue to be operated between Sandusky and Cleveland as in Phase 2. Extension of commuter rail service to Sandusky and other Erie County locations would be re-examined as a possibility for the future.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The WestShore Study has estimated that it would cost nearly $160 million in improvements to the Norfolk Southern rail line and associated stations and park-and-ride lots, and in purchasing new rail cars and other equipment, to operate a startup commuter rail service. The estimated annual cost of operating the commuter rail and commuter bus services in Phase 3 is approximately $17 million.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are many challenges to developing intercounty transit service in the WestShore corridor. The most important of these is the establishment of a sustainable funding source to support the service. Currently, Lorain and Erie Counties lack a secure dedicated funding source for mass transit service to match the 1% county wide sales tax that supports the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) in Cuyahoga County. A source for those county’s portions of the cost of operating the service would be necessary to allow service to be operated. Identifying a potential operator of the commuter bus and rail service-whether it be Lorain County Transit (LCT), GCRTA, Erie County Transit, some combination of those agencies, or a new agency, is another issue that must be resolved before operation can begin. The high cost of commuter rail may be beyond the funding capacity of the region at this time, but the phased approach may allow for the more fiscally manageable commuter bus service to begin operating while the region works toward the goal of developing commuter rail. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The budget for this phase of the WestShore Corridor Transportation Project is $423,000 and was managed by Lorain County. Funds for 80% of this budget came from a Federal appropriation secured by Congresswoman Betty Sutton in 2008. The remaining 20% of the project budget was contributed by local sources including the private sector, municipalities, transit authorities and government agencies from all three project area counties. Representatives from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), GCRTA, ODOT, Lorain County Transit and other organizations helped in manage the project via the WestShore Corridor Commuter Rail Task Force. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Public comments will be accepted through November 2, 2011 at <a class="bbc_email" href="mailto:WestshoreAA@pbworld.com">WestshoreAA@pbworld.com</a>.</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Readmore: <a href="http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,1916.msg582347/topicseen.html#new#ixzz1b62j9IAW" style="color: #003399; text-decoration: none;">http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,1916.msg582347/topicseen.html#new#ixzz1b62j9IAW</a></div></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-88982222849340758522011-09-23T07:08:00.000-04:002011-09-23T07:08:48.147-04:00Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 09192011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From MegaVote, via the APA:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
<br />
<b><u>Recent Senate Votes</u></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=135&chamber=S&congress=1121"></a><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=135&chamber=S&congress=1121">Emergency Supplemental Disaster Relief Appropriations Resolution, 2011</a> - Vote Agreed to (62-37, 1 Not Voting)<br />
The Senate agreed to add supplemental disaster relief funding to legislation extending the trade sanctions on Myanmar, still commonly known as Burma. The bill, later passed by unanimous consent, would provide $6.9 billion in immediate aid. The vote came after the Senate rejected two proposals to offset the cost of the funding.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
Sen. Rob Portman voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460">bio</a> <br />
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">YES</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472">bio</a> <br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=138&chamber=S&congress=1121">Surface and Air Transportation Programs Extension Act of 2011</a> - Vote Passed (92-6, 2 Not Voting)<br />
On Thursday, the Senate approved this bill to extend FAA programs through January 2012 and surface transportation authorization through March 2012. The House had passed the bill by voice vote earlier in the week. Aviation programs were scheduled to expire on September 16, and highway programs would have expired this week. The president signed the bill on Friday.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
Sen. Rob Portman voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">YES</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460">bio</a> <br />
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">YES</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472">bio</a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Recent House Votes</u></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u><br />
</u></b><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=705&chamber=H&congress=1121">Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act</a> - Vote Passed (365-54, 12 Not Voting)<br />
The House passed this bill to expand successful charter school programs, the first part of an effort to overhaul and reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act. The Senate is likely to consider charter school legislation as part of a broader reauthorization of No Child Left Behind rather than as a stand-alone bill.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a> <br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=711&chamber=H&congress=1121">Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act</a> - Vote Passed (238-186, 9 Not Voting)<br />
The House approved this legislation to limit the authority of the National Labor Relations Board. The bill prohibits the board from ordering an employer to restore, shut down or relocate operations. The Senate is unlikely to take up the measure.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a> <br />
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<br />
<b><u>Upcoming Votes</u></b><br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2832&congress=112">Generalized System of Preferences Act</a> - H.R.2832<br />
The Senate is scheduled to vote on this trade preferences bill, which may be used as the legislative vehicle for a restoration of expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.J.RES.79&congress=112">Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2012</a> - H.J.RES.79<br />
This House legislation would fund government operations through November 18. Government programs are currently funded through September 30, when the 2011 fiscal year ends.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2401&congress=112">Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act of 2011</a> - H.R.2401<br />
The House plans to take up this measure that calls for examination of the economic effect of EPA regulations, including those pertaining to greenhouse gas emissions.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-88218415168947056832011-08-02T22:53:00.000-04:002011-08-02T22:53:11.613-04:00Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 07252011From Megavote<br />
<br />
In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:<br />
<br />
<b><i>Recent Congressional Votes</i></b><br />
Senate: Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012<br />
Senate: Motion to Table; Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011<br />
House: Cut, Cap, and Balance Act<br />
House: Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2011<br />
House: Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2012<br />
<br />
<b><i>Upcoming Congressional Bills</i></b><br />
House: Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act<br />
House: Interior-Environment Appropriations, FY2012<br />
<br />
<div><b><u>Recent Senate Votes</u></b></div><div><br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=115&chamber=S&congress=1121">Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012</a> - Vote Passed (97-2, 1 Not Voting)<br />
The Senate passed its version of the military construction and Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for the upcoming fiscal year. The $144 billion bill differs slightly from the House version that passed on June 14. A conference committee will work out a final bill.<br />
Sen. Rob Portman voted YES......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460">bio</a> <br />
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472">bio</a> <br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=116&chamber=S&congress=1121">Motion to Table; Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011</a> - Vote Agreed to (51-46, 3 Not Voting)<br />
The Senate agreed to this motion to table the House-passed "Cut, Cap and Balance" debt ceiling and balanced-budget plan. The move essentially kills the bill.<br />
Sen. Rob Portman voted NO......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460">bio</a><br />
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472">bio</a> <br />
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<br />
<b><u>Recent House Votes</u></b></div><div><br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=606&chamber=H&congress=1121">Cut, Cap, and Balance Act</a> - Vote Passed (234-190, 8 Not Voting)<br />
The House passed this bill that would make a debt ceiling increase contingent on passage of a balanced-budget constitutional amendment. The White House indicated the president would veto it. The Senate rejected the bill later in the week.<br />
Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted NO......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a> <br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=621&chamber=H&congress=1121">Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2011</a> - Vote Passed (241-173, 18 Not Voting)<br />
The House passed this bill to alter the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a mortgage and credit card watchdog group created by the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial overhaul law. The bill would raise the threshold by which the Financial Stability Oversight Council can overturn CFPB regulations and require Senate confirmation of a director before the CFPB can begin operating. The Senate is unlikely to pass the bill.<br />
Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted NO......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a> <br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=629&chamber=H&congress=1121">Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2012</a> - Vote Passed (252-159, 21 Not Voting)<br />
This $3.3 billion bill would fund the legislative branch in the upcoming fiscal year. It marks a 6.4 percent reduction from the current funding level. It is not clear when the Senate will take up the bill.<br />
Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted NO......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a> <br />
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<b><u>Upcoming Votes</u></b></div><div><b><u><br />
</u></b><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2587&congress=112">Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act</a> - H.R.2587<br />
The House is scheduled to vote on this bill to restrict certain powers of the National Labor Relations Board.<br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2584&congress=112">Interior-Environment Appropriations, FY2012</a> - H.R.2584<br />
This bill would provide the Department of the Interior and the EPA with $27.5 billion in the upcoming fiscal year.<br />
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</div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-37147366055622741632011-08-02T22:45:00.000-04:002011-08-02T22:45:25.590-04:00Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 07182011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From Megavote:<br />
<br />
In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:<br />
<br />
Recent Congressional Votes<br />
House: Better Use of Light Bulbs Act<br />
House: Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011<br />
House: Energy-Water Appropriations, FY2012<br />
<br />
Upcoming Congressional Bills<br />
Senate: Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012<br />
House: Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011<br />
House: Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2011<br />
House: Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2012<br />
</span><div><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent House Votes</span></b></u></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u><br />
</u></b><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=563&chamber=H&congress=1121">Better Use of Light Bulbs Act</a> - Vote Failed (233-193, 1 Present, 4 Not Voting)<br />
The House rejected this bill that would have repealed energy efficiency standards that are expected to lead to a phaseout of the traditional incandescent light bulb. A two-thirds vote was necessary to pass the bill under suspension of the rules. The bill is likely to come up again under a rule or as part of another bill.<br />
Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>NO</b></span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a> <br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=573&chamber=H&congress=1121">Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011</a> - Vote Passed (239-184, 8 Not Voting)<br />
This House bill would limit the EPAs authority to override a states water pollution standards in favor of stricter standards. It is unclear if the Senate will take up the bill. The White House has issued a veto threat.<br />
Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span></b>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a> <br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=600&chamber=H&congress=1121">Energy-Water Appropriations, FY2012</a> - Vote Passed (219-196, 16 Not Voting)<br />
The House passed this 2012 fiscal year spending bill that would provide $30.6 billion to the Department of Energy, the Army Corps of Engineers and various water projects. The Senate has not written its version of the bill yet.<br />
Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span></b>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a> <br />
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<br />
<u><b>Upcoming Votes</b></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u><br />
</u></b><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2055&congress=112">Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012</a> - H.R.2055<br />
The Senate is scheduled to work on this $144 billion bill funding the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects in the upcoming fiscal year.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2560&congress=112">Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011</a> - H.R.2560<br />
The House is scheduled to vote on this bill that would put caps on spending and raise the debt limit if Congress submits a balanced-budget constitutional amendment to the states.<br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.1315&congress=112">Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2011</a> - H.R.1315<br />
This House bill would make it easier to overturn rules and regulations issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.<br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2551&congress=112">Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2012</a> - H.R.2551<br />
The House is set to take up this bill funding House and Senate operations and salaries in the upcoming fiscal year.<br />
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<br />
</span></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-67433488413133539822011-08-02T22:29:00.014-04:002011-08-02T22:34:46.722-04:00Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 07112011In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:<br />
<br />
Recent Congressional Votes<br />
House: Fiscal 2012 Defense Appropriations<br />
<br />
Upcoming Congressional Bills<br />
Senate: High earners and the deficit<br />
House: Fiscal 2012 Energy-Water Appropriations<br />
House: Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011<br />
House: Better Use of Light Bulbs Act<br />
House: Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011<br />
Recent House Votes<br />
<div><br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=532&chamber=H&congress=1121">Fiscal 2012 Defense Appropriations</a> - Vote Passed (336-87, 8 Not Voting)<br />
The House passed this $649.2 billion bill to fund the Defense Department in the next fiscal year. The bill marks a $17 billion increase over the 2011 spending level. The Senate is expected to work on its version of the bill later in the summer.<br />
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Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">NO</span>......send <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom">e-mail </a>or see <a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468">bio</a><br />
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<br />
<u>Upcoming Votes</u><br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=S.1323&congress=112">High earners and the deficit</a> - S.1323<br />
This sense of the Senate bill says that any budget deficit agreement should require taxpayers who earn more than $1 million to contribute more to deficit reduction.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2354&congress=112">Fiscal 2012 Energy-Water Appropriations</a> - H.R.2354<br />
<img src="http://images.capwiz.com/img/spacer.gif" />The House is scheduled to take up this $30.7 billion bill funding the Energy Department and other water projects for the upcoming fiscal year.<br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.1309&congress=112">Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011</a> - H.R.1309<br />
This House bill would reauthorize and overhaul the National Flood Insurance Program.<br />
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<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2417&congress=112">Better Use of Light Bulbs Act</a> - H.R.2417<br />
The House is scheduled to vote on this bill to repeal a provision of the 2007 energy law that created minimum efficiency standards for the incandescent light bulb.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2018&congress=112">Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011</a> - H.R.2018<br />
The House may consider this bill that would prevent the EPA from enforcing new water pollutant rules where a state has already acted.</div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-36297686636150088532011-07-10T14:20:00.000-04:002011-07-10T14:20:51.941-04:00Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 06272011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From Megavote:</span><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #244387; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:</span></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent Congressional Votes</span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Confirmation of David H. Petraeus to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency</span></span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Upcoming Congressional Bills</span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Libya authorization</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: FY2012 Defense Appropriations</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: Fiscal 2012 Energy-Water Appropriations</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011</span></span></li>
</ul></span><br />
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<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent Senate Votes</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=101&chamber=S&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Passed</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (79-20, 1 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
This bill would reduce the number of executive branch appointees requiring Senate approval. Its future in the House is unclear.<br />
<br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Rob Portman</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Sherrod Brown</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=104&chamber=S&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Confirmation of David H. Petraeus to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Confirmed</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(94-0, 6 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
Army Gen. David H. Petraeus was confirmed to be the new CIA director. Petraeus, currently the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, is expected to begin work in September.<br />
<br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Rob Portman</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Sherrod Brown</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Upcoming Votes</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=S.J.RES.20&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Libya authorization</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - S.J.RES.20<br />
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The Senate is scheduled to debate this resolution authorizing limited use of the U.S. military in Libya.<br />
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</span></span></span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2219&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">FY2012 Defense Appropriations</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - H.R.2219<br />
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The House is scheduled to work on this $650 billion bill funding Defense Department operations for the upcoming fiscal year.<br />
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</span></span></span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2354&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fiscal 2012 Energy-Water Appropriations</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - H.R.2354<br />
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The House may also take up this $30.7 billion bill funding the Energy Department and other water projects for the upcoming fiscal year.<br />
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</span></span></span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.1309&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - H.R.1309<br />
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This House bill would reauthorize and overhaul the National Flood Insurance Program.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-56598592208914188102011-07-01T07:02:00.001-04:002011-07-01T07:04:21.614-04:00HGR, Inc.: "Local Artists Transform Used Industrial Equipment Into Unique Chairs"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKsPM4xwEKXiDNe5uSQXmHcZueXvN-ctl6yEU70RBl-fU1D5kIRRbZvidnX_DMa2grnxMYViIfw6ZQ5J1rgTbVzP9EvbpN25pHQTYJLCWxjUzsiCm7m3K46gGh5kTDUCjlpYk/s1600/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKsPM4xwEKXiDNe5uSQXmHcZueXvN-ctl6yEU70RBl-fU1D5kIRRbZvidnX_DMa2grnxMYViIfw6ZQ5J1rgTbVzP9EvbpN25pHQTYJLCWxjUzsiCm7m3K46gGh5kTDUCjlpYk/s400/logo.png" width="400" /></a></div><h2 class="seo-h2-subheadline" style="line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 25px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Clevelanders Share in the Story as Chairs Become Public Art</span></span></h2><div class="featured" style="color: #464646; line-height: 12px;"></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="xn-location"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">CLEVELAND</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, </span><span class="xn-chron"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">June 24, 2011</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> /PRNewswire/ -- HGR seeks talented local artists to participate in the First Annual Chair&Tell. In partnership with local public art recipients, the event showcases the creative reuse of materials from HGR's warehouse as local</span><span class="xn-location"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cleveland</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> artists are invited to build a stunning and unique chair out of industrial surplus equipment. With over 12 acres of items to choose from at the HGR showroom in </span><span class="xn-location"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Euclid, OH</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, the artists will select up to </span><span class="xn-money"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">$300</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> worth of materials that they will transform into a chair iconic of industrial equipment. </span></div></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I like to think of myself as a chair guy," says </span><span class="xn-person"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kevin Busta</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, Artist and Chair&Tell participant. "Walking around HGR is inspirational...Sometimes I'm pulled to a certain angle of a piece." </span></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But Chair&Tell is not just about innovative design—it is also about the process behind it. Artists will document the transformation through photos and videos. The images will be displayed on the Chair&Tell website and at the kick-off Chair&Tell event this fall at Tower City where artists will be available to tell the story of the transformation.</span></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="xn-person"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aidan Cho</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, HGR's CMO and creator of Chair&Tell, explains, "Chair&Tell was conceived from the idea that surplus equipment can have multiple lives, and in each life there is a story. A city built on the promise of industrial manufacturing is the perfect setting in which we can inspire people to reinvent and give used industrial equipment a new life."</span></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The finished chairs will remain on display at Tower City for several weeks following the event, and will then be moved to other public art spaces throughout </span><span class="xn-location"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cleveland</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Interested artists should submit an application by </span><span class="xn-chron"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">July 1st</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> via </span><a href="http://www.chairandtell.com/" style="color: #6099e9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">www.chairandtell.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Accepted applicants will receive a </span><span class="xn-money"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">$500</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">stipend and have the opportunity to have their chair displayed as public art throughout </span><span class="xn-location"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cleveland</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. HGR also seeks public art chair recipients interested in temporary, permanent, fixed or rotating displays.</span></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For more information about Chair&Tell, visit </span><a href="http://www.chairandtell.com/" style="color: #6099e9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">www.chairandtell.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; word-wrap: break-word;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What is HGR?</span></b></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">HGR, Inc. specializes in buying and selling industrial surplus equipment. We purchase equipment from manufacturers around the country, and resell the items to a wide variety of customers around the world. Some of our customers are in the manufacturing industry. Some of them are hobbyists. Others are just looking for something off the beaten path for their next creation. Visit </span><a href="http://www.hgrinc.com/" style="color: #6099e9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">www.hgrinc.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> for more information.</span></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; word-wrap: break-word;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Why Chair&Tell?</span></b></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We believe in sustainability, creativity and the limitless possibilities of surplus equipment. We also believe public art revitalizes communities and engages residents in the creative afterlife of the materials. Chair&Tell is an opportunity to transform industrial equipment into works of art. The chairs breathe new life into the surplus items, and Clevelanders get to share in the story.</span></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; word-wrap: break-word;"></div><div style="color: #464646; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SOURCE HGR, Inc.</span></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-18382340206580363022011-06-29T07:37:00.000-04:002011-06-29T07:37:11.224-04:00Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 06272011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From Megavote:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #244387; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:</span></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent Congressional Votes</span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Confirmation of Leon E. Panetta to be Secretary of Defense</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: America Invents Act</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: Authorizing the limited use of the United States Armed Forces in support of the NATO mission in Libya</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: To limit the use of funds to support NATO Operation Unified Protector with respect to Libya</span></span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Upcoming Congressional Bills</span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011</span></span></li>
</ul></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Editor's Note: </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u></u>The House is in recess this week.<u></u><br />
</span></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent Senate Votes</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=93&chamber=S&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Confirmation of Leon E. Panetta to be Secretary of Defense</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Confirmed</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (100-0)<br />
<br />
Current CIA Director Leon E. Panetta was confirmed to be the next Secretary of Defense. Panetta succeeds Secretary Robert Gates, who is retiring at the end of June.<br />
<br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Rob Portman</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Sherrod Brown</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent House Votes</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=478&chamber=H&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Passed</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (253-166, 12 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
This House bill would require the EPA to complete action within six months on air pollution permit applications for offshore oil and gas drilling. A companion measure has been introduced in the Senate but its future is unclear. The administration opposes the bill.<br />
<br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rep. Dennis Kucinich</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=491&chamber=H&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">America Invents Act</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Passed</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (304-117, 10 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
The House passed this bill that would make changes to the patent system. The Senate passed its version of the bill in March 2011. Negotiators will likely meet this summer to work out a compromise bill. The administration has expressed support for the House bill.<br />
<br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rep. Dennis Kucinich</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=493&chamber=H&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Authorizing the limited use of the United States Armed Forces in support of the NATO mission in Libya</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Failed</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (123-295, 13 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
The House rejected a resolution that would have authorized the use of U.S. military force in Libya for one year.<br />
<br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rep. Dennis Kucinich</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=494&chamber=H&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To limit the use of funds to support NATO Operation Unified Protector with respect to Libya</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Failed</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (180-238, 13 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
The House rejected this bill that would have defunded U.S. military involvement in NATO activities in Libya. U.S. participation would have been restricted to support operations such as intelligence, surveillance, and search and rescue.<br />
<br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rep. Dennis Kucinich</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Upcoming Votes</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=S.679&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - S.679<br />
<br />
The Senate is scheduled to work on this bill to reduce the number of executive branch appointments that require Senate confirmation.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-71579544983795126662011-06-24T22:30:00.000-04:002011-06-24T22:30:02.534-04:00MedMart Construction Update: 06232011<div style="text-align: justify;">PROJECT UPDATES :: JUNE 23, 2011</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ON MALL B, THE EIGHTH CAISSON WAS POURED EARLIER THIS WEEK, A DEEP FOUNDATION SUPPORT THAT IS CONSTRUCTED BY PLACING FRESH CONCRETE AND REINFORCING STEEL INTO A DRILLED SHAFT. THESE REINFORCED CONCRETE PILES ARE CAST IN HOLES OF PREDETERMINED DIAMETERS AND DEPTHS DRILLED THROUGH SOIL TO REACH BEDROCK.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36U3fWtZrvl66wt2-fUmgxwRNUvAJXzKec42R2OfcVg_zMyZ4zqMUDI9MJFDSoeOuI_Q7Dty1qUNs-aQOUeySYAzKFtQQ_lcmUx5xnv_ZUno9HLPvcFU9omw-HXdsVz-HBV2b/s1600/5635894784_bfe6032fbf_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36U3fWtZrvl66wt2-fUmgxwRNUvAJXzKec42R2OfcVg_zMyZ4zqMUDI9MJFDSoeOuI_Q7Dty1qUNs-aQOUeySYAzKFtQQ_lcmUx5xnv_ZUno9HLPvcFU9omw-HXdsVz-HBV2b/s400/5635894784_bfe6032fbf_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken April 14, 2011 by flickr user <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61995997@N08/">SeattleDog1</a></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">FOUNDATION WORK ON THE CONCOURSE LEVEL OF THE FUTURE CONVENTION CENTER CONTINUES WITH FORMWORK FOR PILASTERS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN SHORTLY. A PILASTER IS A RECTANGULAR SUPPORT THAT RESEMBLES A FLAT COLUMN.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">NEAR ST. CLAIR AVENUE, 120 OF THE 241 MICROPILES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. DESIGNED TO CARRY COMPRESSIVE LOADS, MICROPILES ARE FOUNDATIONS MADE UP OF HIGH STRENGTH STEEL CASING AND REBAR AND ARE HIGH-PERFORMANCE, HIGH-CAPACITY DRILLED AND GROUTED PILES WITH SMALL DIAMETERS THAT WILL EXTEND APPROXIMATELY 160 FEET INTO BEDROCK. MICROPILE WORK ALSO CONTINUES IN THE BALLROOM AREA NORTH OF LAKESIDE AVENUE.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">DEMOLITION IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE WITH ONLY SMALL AREAS OF SELECTIVE DEMOLITION AND HAUL OUT OF DEBRIS REMAINING. THE TEMPORARY STEEL SUPPORT OF LAKESIDE AVENUE HAS BEEN COMPLETED. STAIR CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES NORTH OF LAKESIDE AVENUE.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ON THE SITE OF THE FUTURE MEDICAL MART, BACKFILLING OF THE AREA IS MORE THAN 90% COMPLETE WITH MASS EXCAVATION WORK PASSING THE 80% COMPLETION MARK. SOLDIER PILE INSTALLATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Read the rest of the update <a href="http://www.clevelandmedicalmartonline.com/clevelandmedicalmart/index.cfm/news/construction-update-62311/">here</a></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-48835392936594404882011-06-24T22:09:00.000-04:002011-06-24T22:09:06.396-04:00Three New Pedestrian Bridges Proposed for Cleveland<div style="text-align: justify;">From cleveland.com:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A trio of pedestrian bridges proposed by Boston architect Miguel Rosales could change the face of Cleveland</b></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland boasts a collection of stellar attractions and amenities, from its lake and river to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, PlayhouseSquare and the Cleveland Museum of Art.</div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOvM0ekZ7twpv1O5cnpPYJgF4X1AhvoH-ZETTMmbdnacHykSD4lGQH03-0vvyrQbXJMTPTdareCUBxoOu6NaHAir3pW-dcMe8opXk2FwPGY83fSsl-GqdA8PNljUSfmfSGD4O/s1600/9711377-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOvM0ekZ7twpv1O5cnpPYJgF4X1AhvoH-ZETTMmbdnacHykSD4lGQH03-0vvyrQbXJMTPTdareCUBxoOu6NaHAir3pW-dcMe8opXk2FwPGY83fSsl-GqdA8PNljUSfmfSGD4O/s400/9711377-large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 13px;">Rosales + Partners</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">A stunning proposal for an S-shaped pedestrian bridge in </div><div style="text-align: justify;">University Circle has been designed by Miguel Rosales of Boston.</div></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">What it lacks are the physical connections that could make circulating around the city on foot a pleasure, even a joy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Boston bridge architect Miguel Rosales aims to change all that -- and he's in a good position to do so. Over the past few years, the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and Case Western Reserve University all chose him to design pedestrian bridges that could transform significant portions of the lakefront and University Circle.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">During a visit earlier this week, Rosales released new images and provided updates on all three projects, which combine structural innovation with elegant artistic form.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzymb25joBuvHnxM-mHez-Viq1lod0OHrj9UUhOtKNTTFYZvaUCjWyjbs_hOdNOkzaBEAs3F4O6roGAbtFnQoKiPJV21LB-cLERGqkVH14GdnwoX8DGaVKwd_zxBoo3h2o49KY/s1600/9711703-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzymb25joBuvHnxM-mHez-Viq1lod0OHrj9UUhOtKNTTFYZvaUCjWyjbs_hOdNOkzaBEAs3F4O6roGAbtFnQoKiPJV21LB-cLERGqkVH14GdnwoX8DGaVKwd_zxBoo3h2o49KY/s400/9711703-large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;">The North Coast Harbor Bridge shown in the open position.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">View full sizeRosales + PartnersThe North Coast Harbor Bridge shown in the open position.• Cleveland is ready to start construction in the summer of 2012 on a $5.5 million Rosales drawbridge at North Coast Harbor, with two sections that will extend 71 feet high when open. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration rejected plans for a more innovative curved jackknife bridge that would have been 145 feet high when open, enough to require changes to the flight path and runway configuration at nearby Burke Lakefront Airport. Construction will take roughly 18 months, Rosales said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Cuyahoga County officials began evaluating three distinct proposals for a pedestrian bridge leading to Wendy Park at Whiskey Island on the Lake Erie shoreline from the north end of the Willow Street Bridge. The county wants to refine cost estimates before involving the public in selecting a design, and it hopes to offer the project for construction bids in late 2012, said Paul Alsenas, director of the county's planning commission.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_mJ54u4agLs_C5D6Es2nYAiAyR37t1qvb30nrL9BJorW8A7WvWxWvXnUa2ehyphenhyphenKFSjkC1Fgeqd5PnJ4GN2C-Qc37RTiC7YBbtGxwM67OpJZr3K24bnb9Y6_ApTrvEl3szJRra/s1600/9713280-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_mJ54u4agLs_C5D6Es2nYAiAyR37t1qvb30nrL9BJorW8A7WvWxWvXnUa2ehyphenhyphenKFSjkC1Fgeqd5PnJ4GN2C-Qc37RTiC7YBbtGxwM67OpJZr3K24bnb9Y6_ApTrvEl3szJRra/s1600/9713280-large.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="photo-data" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; display: block; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;"><a class="full-size-popup" href="http://media.cleveland.com/pdgraphics_impact/photo/18cgbridgesjpg-e7b11449bf0e5714.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://media.cleveland.com/design/baseline/img/icons/plus.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 4px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #305cb6; cursor: pointer; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.35em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 9px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; width: auto;" target="_blank">View full size</a><span class="caption" style="clear: both; display: block; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">• Case Western Reserve University agreed to make public for the first time images of a spectacular S-shaped pedestrian bridge Rosales has conceived as a link between the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Temple Tifereth Israel, which CWRU is renovating as a performing-arts center. The span would carry pedestrians and cyclists, as well as security guards on Segways and maintenance crews with service carts, and would traverse Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and touch ground at East 105th Street.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">All three bridge proposals share a common sensibility. They aim for a sleek, bony elegance entirely different from the heavy-duty, rivet-and-girder look associated with the highway and railroad bridges that date from Cleveland's industrial heyday in the 19th- and 20th centuries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The bridges also reflect changing attitudes toward public space in Cleveland. For decades, developers, nonprofit institutions and public agencies have concentrated on building isolated attractions, from museums to sporting venues, while investing little in the spaces around them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, a new civic ethos is emerging in favor of beautifying parks and streetscapes, and making it easier and more enjoyable to explore the city by bike or on foot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkBZh6rYqrNJngu8XY-i4dzzCR7U7iahtcEAnzaw828Z0frx5apLuNwdY2fTpekIMlk-vBlB7YfAkebi8HuV-5FLwvSsmik_aL2X02dY6c1sgtX4ZgvfpnPQYgbhyDsJZMcLf/s1600/9711710-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkBZh6rYqrNJngu8XY-i4dzzCR7U7iahtcEAnzaw828Z0frx5apLuNwdY2fTpekIMlk-vBlB7YfAkebi8HuV-5FLwvSsmik_aL2X02dY6c1sgtX4ZgvfpnPQYgbhyDsJZMcLf/s400/9711710-large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;">Viewed from any angle, even below, the pedestrian bridge planned </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">by Miguel Rosales for University Circle would be a stunning </div><div style="text-align: justify;">work of structural art - and a huge point of pride for the city.</div></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Rosales, a youthful-looking 50-year-old native of Guatemala who helped design the highly acclaimed Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge in Boston, is becoming a key player in the new movement.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"He's a great designer," said Robert Brown, director of the City Planning Commission. "We're very fortunate we're engaged with him on a number of projects now."</div><div style="text-align: justify;">View full sizeRosales + PartnersViewed from any angle, even below, the pedestrian bridge planned by Miguel Rosales for University Circle would be a stunning work of structural art - and a huge point of pride for the city.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rosales is partnering with the engineering firm of Schlaich Bergermann and the Cleveland office of Wilbur Smith Associates on the North Coast Harbor project and with Schlaich and the Cleveland office of the engineering firm of DLZ Ohio on the Whiskey Island project. At University Circle, he's working with the landscape architecture firms of Siteworks, from Charlottesville, Va., and James McKnight Associates of Cleveland.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of all three projects discussed by Rosales, the CWRU bridge is the most dramatic.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It calls for a long, slender span with curving sections that would be supported by two inward-leaning diagonal masts anchored by cables. The masts, in turn, would support a harplike array of diagonal cables attached to the inboard side of each section of curving walkway.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The bridge would leap over the valley created by Doan Brook and Rockefeller Park, which now divides University Circle from the Hough neighborhood to the west, which is where CWRU plans to build its West Campus on roughly 15 acres of mostly vacant land immediately north of the temple. An additional section could extend back across MLK Jr. Dr. to link the art museum to the Judson Manor apartment tower.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiO144cD6SZ9Ub7wqlehKs2yAIwnal6AwR-xXboLheAEDJVrf9hJQzllWKSfR5Dm32Zo9_PvHs-JXHkVrt_ZHz-x_ioUuE2uZNsXoTzwMryqx2eKKSw4phnf5GXrORabcbrza/s1600/9713325-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiO144cD6SZ9Ub7wqlehKs2yAIwnal6AwR-xXboLheAEDJVrf9hJQzllWKSfR5Dm32Zo9_PvHs-JXHkVrt_ZHz-x_ioUuE2uZNsXoTzwMryqx2eKKSw4phnf5GXrORabcbrza/s1600/9713325-large.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;">The suspension bridge option for the Whiskey Island bridge.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The university has received highly positive responses to the design.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"They are pretty stunning," Stephen Campbell, the school's vice president for campus planning and facilities, said of the plans.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chris Ronayne, director of University Circle Inc., said the pedestrian connection was of "paramount importance."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Renderings suggest that the bridge itself could become a hugely popular attraction on its own, regardless of its function as a pedestrian connector.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">View full sizeRosales + PARTNERSThe suspension bridge option for the Whiskey Island bridge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Curving bridges supported by cables exist in Europe, and Rosales designed a curving, $4.5 million pedestrian bridge over the Reedy River in Greenville, S.C. The span became so much of an attraction that it spurred $100 million in residential and office development in a blighted part of town.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rosales said the CWRU bridge would cost roughly $7.5 million, although the university wants to obtain more detailed cost estimates before it proceeds. It has begun raising money for the project but is not ready to commit to construction, Campbell said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The North Coast Harbor bridge, which is closest to realization, will be funded by $4.5 million in federal money, plus $1 million in matching funds from the city. The bridge is intended to connect Voinovich Park at the north end of E. 9th Street to the finger pier extending from the west side of the harbor, just north of the Great Lakes Science Center. When closed, the bridge will create a loop trail around the harbor, making it far more pedestrian-friendly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnF5WNsOA7GM3pPywWYPiVp02VZllX_PPu_v1Ha8HgsEpjAe3q_ag7Khafv_EIVVIj_ORmaYxGUWPj5juNFPEXLwvIO3_-l5TZnlOPRLsCkZhZJ-pW8bnzh0AZ2ZvGKzgZx8f/s1600/9713326-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnF5WNsOA7GM3pPywWYPiVp02VZllX_PPu_v1Ha8HgsEpjAe3q_ag7Khafv_EIVVIj_ORmaYxGUWPj5juNFPEXLwvIO3_-l5TZnlOPRLsCkZhZJ-pW8bnzh0AZ2ZvGKzgZx8f/s1600/9713326-large.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;">The Fink truss option for the Whiskey Island bridge.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The bridge to Wendy Park at Whiskey Island is intended to create a safe shortcut for pedestrians and cyclists as an alternative to the current access road extending east from Edgewater Park, Alsenas said. Wendy Park, acquired by the county in 2004, attracts more than 180,000 visitors a year for boating, picnics, volleyball and family reunions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The three versions suggested by Rosales include a traditional-looking suspension bridge; a "Fink truss," in which the span is supported on masts extending upward from the bridge deck and held in place with diagonal cables; and a low-profile truss with continuous curving top beams, or chords, designed to rise the highest like a wave where structural forces are the greatest.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alsenas said he conducted seven meetings over two days with officials from the city, the county, the Greater Cleveland Metroparks and property owners including Carl Barricelli, president of Ontario Stone, the Whiskey Island business whose land would be traversed by the bridge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alsenas said the participants have asked Rosales for additional details on the proposals, including the costs, which average $4 million to $5 million. The planning process is being paid for by a $159,000 federal grant, plus $80,000 in private contributions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We're on our way, although obviously we have a lot of work to do," Alsenas said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-59411310340847028762011-06-24T07:34:00.000-04:002011-06-24T07:34:38.112-04:00Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 06202011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From Megavote:</span><br />
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<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cd1041; font-family: verdana, helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></span></span><div style="color: #244387; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:</span></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent Congressional Votes</span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Ethanol subsidies amendment</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations, FY2012</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: Agriculture Appropriations, FY2012</span></span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Upcoming Congressional Bills</span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Nomination of Leon E. Panetta to be Defense Secretary</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: Defense Appropriations</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: America Invents Act</span></span></li>
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<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent Senate Votes</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=90&chamber=S&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ethanol subsidies amendment</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Agreed to</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (73-27)<br />
<br />
During work on the Economic Development Administration bill, the Senate adopted this amendment to eliminate a tax credit refiners receive for adding ethanol to gasoline and a tariff on imported ethanol.<br />
<br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Rob Portman</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Sherrod Brown</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent House Votes</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=418&chamber=H&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations, FY2012</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Passed</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (411-5, 16 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
The House passed this $143.9 billion bill that would fund the Veterans Affairs Department and the Defense Departments construction activities for the upcoming fiscal year. The bill marks a two percent increase over the current years level. The Senate has not yet begun work on its version of the bill.<br />
<br />
</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rep. Dennis Kucinich</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=459&chamber=H&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Agriculture Appropriations, FY2012</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Passed</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (217-203, 12 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
The House passed this bill that would provide $125.5 billion in the upcoming fiscal year for the Agriculture Department. The bill would cut discretionary spending by thirteen percent over the current amount and increase mandatory spending by three percent. The Senate has not yet begun work on its version of the bill.<br />
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</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rep. Dennis Kucinich</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Upcoming Votes</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nomination of Leon E. Panetta to be Defense Secretary</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> -<br />
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The Senate has a Tuesday vote scheduled on the nomination of Leon Panetta, the current CIA Director, to be the new Defense Secretary.<br />
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</span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=S.679&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - S.679<br />
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This bill would reduce the number of executive branch appointments that require Senate confirmation.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=S.782&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - S.782<br />
<br />
The Senate is scheduled to work on this bill that would authorize $500 million annually over the next 5 years for the Economic Development Administration.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2219&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Defense Appropriations</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - H.R.2219<br />
<br />
The House is scheduled to work on this bill that would provide the Defense Department with $648.7 billion for the 2012 fiscal year.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.1249&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">America Invents Act</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - H.R.1249<br />
<br />
The House may also take up this bill that would overhaul the U.S. patent system.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-35030504912022736102011-06-20T20:29:00.000-04:002011-06-20T20:29:57.981-04:00MedMart Construction Update: 06162011<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;">CONSTRUCTION UPDATE - 6/16/11</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">PROJECT UPDATES :: JUNE 16, 2011</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5CNnAQlqkI-7QDSRF0q6kBpfrYY_5w28Zhedvtrs0ntdKi9p84T0IWEp7jlW92WKrh1gxVf5ETiuv9EbdqjDgp4GMeCqR_m4bLkvHQqBwMD1WL9pSlC9XiZNQTLvrlaohw3t/s1600/concenter616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5CNnAQlqkI-7QDSRF0q6kBpfrYY_5w28Zhedvtrs0ntdKi9p84T0IWEp7jlW92WKrh1gxVf5ETiuv9EbdqjDgp4GMeCqR_m4bLkvHQqBwMD1WL9pSlC9XiZNQTLvrlaohw3t/s320/concenter616.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura Johnston/The Plain Dealer</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">NORTH OF LAKESIDE AVENUE, THE NORTH BRIDGE DEMOLITION CONTINUED ON MALL C AND IS NOW 95% COMPLETE. DEBRIS REMOVAL WILL CONTINUE. INTERIOR DEMOLITION IS 85% COMPLETE IN EXISTING EXHIBIT HALLS ‘’C’’ AND ‘’D’’ ON THE LOWER LEVEL. UNDERNEATH LAKESIDE AVENUE, TEMPORARY STEEL SUPPORT OF THE ROADWAY CONTINUES WITH TARGETED COLUMN DEMOLITION SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK. MALL C DEMOLITION CONTINUED WITH ADDITIONAL ROOF REMOVAL CONTINUING THIS WEEK. MICRO-PILE WORK CONTINUES IN THE BALLROOM AREA.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ON MALL B, PRE-CORES CAISSONS WORK IS NEARING COMPLETION WITH 63 OF THE 66 COMPLETED. MEANWHILE, FOUR CAISSONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED ALONG WITH 111 MICRO-PILES COMPLETED ALONG ST. CLAIR AVENUE.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">FOUNDATION WORK CONTINUES ON THE FUTURE CONVENTION CENTER CONCOURSE LEVEL AND STAIR WALLS ARE BEING FORMED FOR CONCRETE.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ON THE MEDICAL MART SITE, BACKFILLING IS 90% COMPLETE AND WORK HAS COMMENCED IN THE AREA WHERE THE FORMER CONVENTION CENTER RAMP OFF ONTARIO AVENUE WAS LOCATED. MASS EXCAVATION WORK IS 70% COMPLETED ON THE MEDICAL MART SITE. SOLDIER PILE INSTALLATION IS COMPLETE IN THIS AREA.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">PUBLIC AUDITORIUM SEPARATION WORK CONTINUES WITH HVAC DEMOLITION WORK 95% COMPLETED.</div></span>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-75989012150467057162011-06-09T07:37:00.000-04:002011-06-09T07:37:31.052-04:00Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 06122011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From Megavote:</span><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #244387; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:</span></span></span></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent Congressional Votes</span></span></span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: Debt Limit Increase</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2012</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: Use of Ground Forces in Libya</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: Libya Troop Withdrawal</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Upcoming Congressional Bills</span></span></span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Nomination of Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. to be Solicitor General</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Editor's Note: </span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The House is in recess this week.<br />
</span></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent House Votes</span></span></span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=379&chamber=H&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Debt Limit Increase </span></span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Vote </span></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Failed</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (97-318, 7 Present, 9 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
The House rejected this bill to raise the public debt limit by $2.4 trillion. The government is expected to hit the current $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by August 2, 2011. Negotiations between the White House and congressional leaders are ongoing.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rep. Dennis Kucinich</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=409&chamber=H&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2012</span></span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Passed</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (231-188, 13 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
This bill would provide the Department of Homeland Security with $42.3 billion in funding for the upcoming fiscal year. The total is 2.6% less than the current fiscal year. The bill includes $1 billion in emergency spending for disaster aid. Senate appropriators have not drafted their version of the bill yet.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rep. Dennis Kucinich</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NO</span></span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=411&chamber=H&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Use of Ground Forces in Libya</span></span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Passed</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (268-145, 1 Present, 18 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
The House passed this resolution stating the chambers opposition to deploying ground forces in Libya and requiring President Obama to report the strategy for U.S. involvement in combat operations in Libya to Congress within 14 days. The resolution is non-binding.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rep. Dennis Kucinich</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=412&chamber=H&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Libya Troop Withdrawal</span></span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Failed</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (148-265, 19 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
The House failed to pass this resolution that would have forced the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Libya within 15 days.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rep. Dennis Kucinich</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span></span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Upcoming Votes</span></span></span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nomination of Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. to be Solicitor General</span></span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> -<br />
<br />
The Senate is scheduled to take up the nomination of Donald Verrilli to be the governments top lawyer before the Supreme Court.</span></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0Cleveland, OH, USA41.446598646924059 -81.81747260712893441.339694646924059 -81.990588607128927 41.553502646924059 -81.644356607128941tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-3181885492025453232011-06-07T08:26:00.001-04:002011-06-07T08:38:32.953-04:00What Will Become of the Columbia Building?<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From greencitybluelake.com:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<h2 class="main_page-title" id="page-title" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 7px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Not stuck between Rock Gaming and a hard place</span></span></h2><div class="node" style="color: #29303b; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 2em; text-align: left;"><div class="meta" style="color: #777777; line-height: 1.15em; margin-top: 0.35em; text-align: justify;"><span class="submitted"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Submitted by Marc Lefkowitz | May 27, 2011 - 8:11am</span></span></span></div><div class="terms" style="color: #777777; line-height: 1.15em; margin-top: 0.35em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="entry" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-top: 0.85em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.85em;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="inline inline-none"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1y3DwCv-DD7NlWF4zWL02IcpKslPJir3HE9USCv7c0d1WETWLNX1ADj57-9YfLWKD6NRzP9N_PmnSV2jDFBaonuVYMvDzqpqkt8OFmRbQEbosyKQmbesNEJmO6mpPQTIGees0/s1600/columbia-building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1y3DwCv-DD7NlWF4zWL02IcpKslPJir3HE9USCv7c0d1WETWLNX1ADj57-9YfLWKD6NRzP9N_PmnSV2jDFBaonuVYMvDzqpqkt8OFmRbQEbosyKQmbesNEJmO6mpPQTIGees0/s320/columbia-building.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Cleveland Landmarks Commission and a contingent of the area’s most influential architecture and design professionals told Dan Gilbert’s Rock Gaming ... to go back to the drawing board with a garish garage and valet zone for his temporary Caeser’s casino. They found much to dislike in the proposal, which would have turned lower Prospect into a suburban style development with huge driveways, a Las Vegas-style glassy gift shop, a parking garage and walkway over the street that punctured through the Higbee building all while knocking down or altering historic buildings.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The City Planning Commission had approved the plan as it, but Landmarks and the design community agreed that Rock Gaming hadn’t done all of the due diligence it promised when it bought up a block of buildings on Ontario and the south side of Prospect that include the local historic landmarked Columbia building and proposed razing them for a four-lane valet drop off zone, a gift shop and a walkway that would enable about 350 of the casino’s highest rollers to cross the street without letting their Pradas touch the pavement.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The outpouring of support for a new plan that didn’t include demolition and creating a huge driveway zone on Prospect was an unexpected turn. It was a groundswell that included 360 CSU students who formed a Facebook group, calling themselves </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_211966452169552" style="color: #00729e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Save Lower Prospect Avenue</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. It included the </span></span><a href="http://www.clevelandcoalition.org/2011/featured/cleveland-coalition-calls-for-further-design-consideration/" style="color: #00729e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Cleveland Coalition</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, a new group of young professionals who are advocating for better design choices such as the new </span></span><a href="http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/grouplan/" style="color: #00729e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Group Plan Commission</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, which recently released its report calling for more respect and a better pedestrian experience from Gateway to the Malls (a corridor that is dominated on Ontario by stadia and parking garages).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“We’re concerned that the valet area is not living up to Rock Gaming’s commitment to integrate the casino with the city and respect its downtown setting,” said Cleveland Coalition member David Jurca. “Lower Prospect is one of the best (pedestrian) scaled areas in the city. Demolishing the Columbia for a valet zone would create an 80-foot wide barrier. It proposes channelizing pedestrians in a walkway above the street and obliterating Higbee’s historic context. We don’t oppose a garage, but do it without demolishing a historic structure.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">That vision is backed by the Gateway Historic District’s Master Plan, said the business development group’s associate director, Tom Starinsky. “Our master plan shows those buildings being reused.” The group has helped developers such as the Marons turn historic E. 4th Street into a major regional attraction. Starinksy believes an alternative can be found, even on the same block, that could satisfy the needs of Caeser’s to provide very close parking. He said he hopes to work with the development team in the coming week – a reprieve the Landmarks Commission unanimously granted the Columbia, a handsome 1909 building considered in the Chicago style which most recently served as home to Dyke College.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Columbia building was recently treated to a $9 million upgrade of its mechanical systems, said the building’s former manager, Gabe Singerman. “I spoke to (Forest City CEO) Albert Ratner who agreed the Columbia would make a great 83-room boutique hotel. I’m upset. I think you guys could do better for yourself.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In tabling the decision to demolish the Columbia, which Gilbert purchased through parking lot magnate, Lou Frangos, the Landmarks Commission urged Rock Gaming to seek the consultation of non-profit Gateway Development to devise a plan that will satisfy the 350 high rollers (and Caeser’s formula that calls for a walkway no longer than 200 ft.) while keeping the city’s important landmarks intact.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There were some powerful forces working for the developer at the public meeting – the city’s top brass showed up, many for the first time in their decades long service, to apply pressure to Mayor Jackson’s appointees on Landmarks. The tactic seemed to backfire as Commission members admitted the move was intimidating. As Commission member and trial lawyer Thomas Coffey pointed out, “What strikes me is (the preservation and design advocates) are not approaching this like a bunch of trial lawyers. They’re saying, the plans can be done without losing this building.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“There has not been one change in (Rock Gaming’s) position even after hearing the distinguished pleas we’ve heard today. They don’t know who owns the May Company Garage (across the street), and is it possible to do a valet service there.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“They tried bringing in the big wheels, but I know the mayor. He’s a good man. I don’t think he’d want this to be rammed through. Gateway has done a lot to get down to the nitty gritty and make things happen. I don’t think they’ve been involved in the way they could.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Gateway was involved in mediating a resolution to not demolish the 19th century Stanley building when it fell into dispute between Rock Gaming and a minority owner. But the Columbia was not part of Rock Gaming’s plan even though it’s in far better condition. The plans call for a three-lane valet exit – with two left lanes and one right turning lane onto Prospect – the zone doesn’t connect to the North Gateway Garage where the majority of casino customers would park.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Commission member and Cleveland councilman Anthony Brancatelli mentioned at the tabling that a decision on a tax abatement in the form of a TIFF on the parking garage awaits approval from City Council at its June 6 session. Commission member and Cleveland Planning Director Bob Brown remarked that if the commission didn’t ask the applicant to go back to the drawing board officially within 45 days of the original review (which occurred two weeks ago), the project will automatically get approved (as happened with the Humphrey Mansion demolition at Euclid Beach).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Among the impassioned pleas to save the Columbia, Cleveland resident, urban planner and west side design review member Mandy Metcalf said the landmark designation was enacted for exactly this reason. “The Columbia takes up a small footprint (on the overall property). The Valet lanes could be incorporated into the (North Gateway) garage. We could make it comfortable to walk down the street” (ironically, with a tenant in the Columbia Building).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Rose Androtti recited a letter from the American Institute of Architects Cleveland Chapter, which opposes the demolition. “It would further erode the fabric of the historic district. We support the development of the casino, but the city has already lost lots of important buildings.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Jane Busch of the Cleveland Restoration Society testified against the demolition, saying, “in rare instances a landmark building is sacrificed for the greater good, but all those options have not been explored. The Columbia is an important remnant of the streetscape which already lost its neighbors the Marine Buildings and the Mechanic’s Block.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Downtown resident Brad Chase asked that the project go back to the drawing board because it didn’t support a pedestrian environment for the downtown residents like him and his family. “I’m appalled by the proposal to take down this building. I ask that this project go back to the drawing board. Taking this building down is not an improvement to making Cleveland a walk-able and bike-able and family safe environment.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Gregory Soltis testified on behalf of the 360 members of the Save Lower Prospect Avenue group. “There are too many holes already in our city. It makes me sad to see the giant hole (surface parking lots) in the middle of the Warehouse District. It’s time to start acting like we deserve this. We can demand good design. Knocking down a building for a parking garage is not respect.”</span></span></div></div></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-16243016662064980632011-06-05T21:02:00.000-04:002011-06-05T21:02:17.444-04:00Next Phase of Cleveland State's Housing Plan to Start - Campus Village<div style="text-align: justify;">From Crains.com:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cleveland State trustees sign off on $50 million housing deal with private developer</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">By TIMOTHY MAGAW</span></span></b></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">12:51 pm, June 1, 2011</span></span></b></span></div></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></b></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESLka3auAEnnxWJaXsrOAIM7q9n5v6mSkeOHorj6uudUzMV54mH9f-At8npOvtL3ze1nBc3PtqcqudzMF9wd7LvaqcyM5syLWOPQAusJz_iXJBGEFEWDNTIrAXA_ycAcAF9TQ/s1600/CSU_north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESLka3auAEnnxWJaXsrOAIM7q9n5v6mSkeOHorj6uudUzMV54mH9f-At8npOvtL3ze1nBc3PtqcqudzMF9wd7LvaqcyM5syLWOPQAusJz_iXJBGEFEWDNTIrAXA_ycAcAF9TQ/s320/CSU_north.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSU North - Camous Village</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Cleveland State University trustees have signed off on a deal to allow a private developer to build a $50 million, 308-unit housing complex on the north side of the university's campus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The university will lease 6.8 acres to Polaris Real Estate Equities, a developer in Gates Mills, to build the mixed-use housing complex, known as Campus Village, off Chester Avenue between East 21st and East 24th streets for students and non-students.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Officials involved with the project said the idea is to create a neighborhood on university property flush with housing and retail options to further the university's transition into a residential, rather than commuter, campus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cleveland State president Ronald Berkman noted there has been significant retail development along the Euclid Corridor during the last two years, and the infusion of more housing options will augment that growth.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We'll see an expansion and acceleration of what we've already seen,” Dr. Berkman said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The project is expected to be completed by October 2012. It is slated to include a parking garage, nine buildings and an outdoor pool. Officials expect to start construction within 60 days.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The buildings to be constructed off Chester Avenue will include about 10,000 square feet of retail space with parking, according to Guy Totino, owner of Polaris Real Estate Equities. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">“There's a dire need for retail,” Mr. Totino said. “Restaurants would be a big one, but we're trying to focus mostly on Cleveland operators. We think there are some excellent Cleveland restaurateurs that would be pleased to be part of the landscape of Cleveland State University.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>A first for Polaris</b></span></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Cleveland State expects to sell between $5 million and $6.5 million of bonds to finance the demolition of an existing building on the site and to prep the land for development. Polaris' lease is for 50 years and holds seven, five-year renewal options.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Polaris' rent, which will be used to pay off the university's debt, will be determined once the university sells the bonds this summer, according to Stephanie McHenry, the university's vice president for business affairs and finance.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also, Polaris will pay 7% of the land's appraised value not to exceed $125,000, which will serve as the university's revenue from the lease. Once the bonds are paid off, the additional rent will increase to 15% of the appraised value, not to exceed $250,000.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">“This is a perfect example of a public-private partnership,” Dr. Berkman said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Polaris' niche is developing land near urban campuses. It has worked on projects in Indiana, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We've built a lot of projects across the country,” Mr. Totino said. “We've never created a neighborhood. It was Cleveland State's vision to do that, and we're thrilled to be a part of it.”</div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-81205226751808914132011-06-05T20:28:00.000-04:002011-06-05T20:28:48.588-04:00MedMart Construction Update: 06022011<div style="text-align: justify;">From clevelandmedicalmartonline.com:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">PROJECT UPDATES :: JUNE 2, 2011</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MALL C DEMOLITION IS ROUGHLY 95% COMPLETE WITH THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE EAST STAIR TOWER CURRENTLY BEING REMOVED. INTERIOR DEMOLITION HAS PASSED THE HALFWAY MARK ON THE EXISTING EXHIBIT HALLS ''C'' AND ''D'' ON THE LOWER LEVEL OF MALL C. ON THE FORMER MALL B, CREWS HAVE COMPLETED MORE THAN 50 PRE-CORES FOR CAISSONS WITH CAISSON DRILLING BEGINNING EARLIER THIS WEEK.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MORE THAN 60 MICRO-PILES ARE COMPLETE. DEMOLITION CONTINUED ON MALL B NEXT TO PUBLIC AUDITORIUM. METAL SHEETING CONTINUED ALONG ST. CLAIR AVENUE, MOVING WESTWARD, WITH THIS ACTIVITY EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY NEXT WEEK. WITH THE SHEETING WORK COMPLETE, CREWS WILL NOW BEGIN EXCAVATION DOWN TO FINISH EXHIBIT HALL FLOOR. CONTINUED DEMOLITION OF THE TOPPING SLAB AND 4' INTERSTITIAL SAND VOLUME, THIS WORK IS APPROXIMATELY 95% COMPLETE. THE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION RAMP BEING CONSTRUCTED WILL EXTEND FROM THE EXHIBIT HALL FLOOR TO LAKESIDE AVENUE.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ON THE MEDICAL MART SITE, MORE THAN 80% OF THE BACKFILLING HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND SOLIDER PILE INSTALLATION IS NEARLY COMPLETED. METAL SHEETING IN THIS AREA IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN SHORTLY.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION ON THE SITE AND WHAT SUPPORT IS ULTIMATELY REQUIRED IN THAT LOCATION, THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT FOUNDATION SYSTEMS BEING EMPLOYED. MICROPILES ARE SMALL DIAMETER HOLES (LESS THAN 12"} THAT ARE DRILLED, GROUTED, AND FILLED WITH STEEL PIPE CASING OR A CENTRAL STEEL CORE FOR REINFORCING. SOMETIMES PILES ARE DRIVEN INTO THE GROUND TO CREATE FOUNDATIONS. THOSE ARE CALLED DISPLACEMENT PILES BECAUSE THEY DISPLACE EXISTING SOILS. BY CONTRAST, MICROPILES ARE REPLACEMENT (OR NONDISPLACEMENT) PILES, BECAUSE THEY ARE INSTALLED BY DRILLING AND REMOVING THE SOIL IN THE CORE AND REPLACING IT WITH STEEL AND A CONCRETE GROUT.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Read the rest of the update <a href="http://www.clevelandmedicalmartonline.com/clevelandmedicalmart/index.cfm/news/construction-update-6211/">here</a>.</div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-81285755176841483762011-06-05T20:16:00.000-04:002011-06-05T20:16:12.987-04:00"Association of Professional Landscape Designers to hold international conference in Cleveland"<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From cleveland.com:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<h1 class="entry-title" style="color: #293546; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Association of Professional Landscape Designers to hold international conference in Cleveland</span></span></h1><h5 style="color: #293546; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Published: Thursday, June 02, 2011, 6:00 AM Updated: </span></span><span class="updated" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2011-06-02T18:23:45Z"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday, June 02, 2011, 2:23 PM</span></span></span></h5><div class="author_info" style="color: #444e5c; float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; min-height: 40px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://connect.cleveland.com/user/jwashing/index.html" style="color: #305cb6; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Julie Washington, The Plain Dealer" height="40" original="http://media.cleveland.com//avatars/julie-washington-plain-dealer-reporter.jpg" src="http://media.cleveland.com//avatars/julie-washington-plain-dealer-reporter.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline-block; height: 40px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 40px;" width="40" /> </span></a><span class="author_byline" style="display: inline-block; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 610px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">By </span><span class="author vcard" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a class="fn" href="http://connect.cleveland.com/user/jwashing/index.html" style="color: #305cb6; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Julie Washington, The Plain Dealer </span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #305cb6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="box_gray_gray_ol" id="EntryStats" style="color: #444e5c; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 7px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="box_bottom_left" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f7f7f7; background-image: url(http://media.cleveland.com/design/baseline/img/corners.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -28px -7px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; float: left; height: 7px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -7px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; width: 7px;"></div><div class="box_bottom_right" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f7f7f7; background-image: url(http://media.cleveland.com/design/baseline/img/corners.png); background-origin: initial; 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clear: right; display: block; float: right; height: 863px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 5px; max-width: 380px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img alt="bobbieapld.jpg" class="adv-photo" height="400" original="http://media.cleveland.com/insideout_impact/photo/9653729-large.jpg" src="http://media.cleveland.com/insideout_impact/photo/9653729-large.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 380px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom;" width="300" /><span class="photo-data" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;"><a class="full-size-popup" href="http://media.cleveland.com/insideout_impact/photo/bobbieapldjpg-ee3960b7d4830473.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://media.cleveland.com/design/baseline/img/icons/plus.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 4px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #305cb6; cursor: pointer; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.35em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 9px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; width: auto;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">View full size</span></span></a><span class="byline" style="display: block; float: right; line-height: 1.35em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; width: 220px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Bobbie Schwartz</span></span></span><span class="caption" style="clear: both; display: block; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Bobbie Schwarts, president of the APLD, will show off her garden as part of the the organization's annual international conference. It is in Cleveland from Monday, June 13 through Friday, June 17.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">PREVIEW </span></span><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Association of Professional Landscape Designers International Design Conference</span></span></strong></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">What:</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Participants from the United States, Britain and Canada will take part in lectures, workshops, garden tours and an awards banquet.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">When:</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Monday, June 13, through Fri</span></span><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">day, June 17.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Where:</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center, 127 Public Square.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Tickets:</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Registration for the entire conference ranges from $690 to $1,000. One-day admissions on Tues</span></span><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">day, Wednesday or Thursday range from $130 to $440. Registration is limited.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Contact:</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><a href="http://apld.org/" style="color: #305cb6; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">click here </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">or 717-238-9780.</span></span></div></span></span><span class="photo-bottom-left" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: url(http://media.cleveland.com/design/baseline/img/corners.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -28px -7px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; float: left; height: 7px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -7px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; width: 7px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">By Julie E. Washington Plain Dealer Reporter</span></span></strong></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When you live in a region that boasts some of the finest public and private gardens in the country, you want to shout about it.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">That's why local members of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers lobbied to bring the organization's annual international conference to Cleveland this year -- even though it meant shouldering much of the organizational work.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"We just wanted to show off our city," said Bobbie Schwartz, association president and conference organizer.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The association's International Design Conference is Monday, June 13, through Friday, June 17, at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But you can't expect a bunch of landscape lovers to stay indoors. They will roam University Circle, Cleveland Cultural Gardens and Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Cuyahoga Valley, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens and other scenic and leafy spots.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Creativity Rocks" is the conference's theme, and activities are designed to stimulate imaginations, Schwartz said. She expects about 150 participants from the United States, Britain and Canada. You don't have to be an association member to attend.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The event kicks off with a welcome reception at House of Blues and continues with lectures, workshops, garden tours and an awards banquet.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Keynote speaker is noted landscape designer, author and lecturer </span></span><a href="http://jmmds.com/" style="color: #305cb6; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Julie Moir Messervy,</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> who advocates for outdoor rooms inspired by personal vision.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Messervy, who collaborated with cellist Yo-Yo Ma on Toronto Music Garden, speaks on "Creative Design -- A Joyful Process." She is based in Saxtons River, Vt.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Another notable speaker is David Orr, the Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics and special assistant to the president of Oberlin College. Orr, a proponent of carbon neutrality for colleges and universities, will speak about his work spearheading the design of the first substantially green building on an American college campus.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">All of the private gardens on the conference tours were professionally designed. Schwartz's home, a French country house modeled on a Norman manor, and its surrounding gardens of perennials, flowering shrubs, vines, annuals and trees -- which she designed -- will be viewed when the group tours Shaker Heights.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Association member Ann Rosmarin, owner of </span></span><a href="http://annrosmarin.com/" style="color: #305cb6; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Rosmarin Landscape Design </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">in Cleveland Heights, designed two Cleveland Heights gardens on the conference tours. A water feature in the Steffee Garden reflects the owners' love of music, Rosmarin said.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">She also worked on the gardens at Beaulieu, which has been registered as a historic landmark. The garden rooms include a swimming pool garden, a Chinese garden, a Shakespeare herb garden and a Victorian greenhouse.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"They really express two different intents," Rosmarin said about the two properties.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When conference members tour an exceptional garden, they look for good composition; interesting use of benches, trellises and furnishings; variety; and focal points, Schwartz said -- along with ideas to incorporate into their own designs.</span></span></div></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-57969973132545454422011-06-01T21:44:00.000-04:002011-06-01T21:44:03.000-04:00Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 05312011<table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #244387; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Recent Congressional Votes</span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Senate: FY2012 House Budget Resolution</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Senate: President’s FY2012 Budget Resolution</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Senate: Patriot Act Extensions</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">House: National Defense Authorization Act, FY2012</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">House: Patriot Act Extensions</span></span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Upcoming Congressional Bills</span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">House: Raising the debt limit</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">House: Ending military operations in Libya</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">House: FY2012 Homeland Security Appropriations</span></span></li>
</ul></span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Editor's Note: </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Senate is in recess and is expected to return on June 6.</span></span> </span></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Recent Senate Votes</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=77&chamber=S&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">FY2012 House Budget Resolution</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Rejected</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> (40-57, 3 Not Voting)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
The Senate rejected a motion to proceed to consideration of the House-passed 2012 fiscal year budget resolution.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sen. Rob Portman</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">YES</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">or see </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank">bio</a></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"></a></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span></span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sen. Sherrod Brown</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">NO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span> </span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=78&chamber=S&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">President’s FY2012 Budget Resolution</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Rejected</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> (0-97, 3 Not Voting)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
The Senate rejected a motion to proceed to consideration of the president’s budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sen. Rob Portman</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">NO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">or see </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank">bio</a></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"></a></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span></span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sen. Sherrod Brown</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">NO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span> </span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=84&chamber=S&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Patriot Act Extensions</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Agreed to</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> (72-23, 5 Not Voting)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
The Senate passed this bill extending certain provisions of the Patriot Act until June 1, 2015. The bill, S. 990, originally reauthorized some small business programs but with the Patriot Act provisions due to expire at the end of the day, the Senate used it as the vehicle to pass the extension. The House passed the bill a few hours later and President Obama signed it into law before the end of the day.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sen. Rob Portman</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">YES</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">or see </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank">bio</a></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"></a></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span></span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sen. Sherrod Brown</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">NO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span> </span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Recent House Votes</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=375&chamber=H&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">National Defense Authorization Act, FY2012</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Passed</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> (322-96, 13 Not Voting)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
The House passed this bill authorizing $690.1 billion in defense spending for the upcoming fiscal year. The Senate is expected to take up its version of the bill this summer.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Rep. Dennis Kucinich</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">NO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span> </span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=376&chamber=H&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Patriot Act Extensions</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - Vote </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Passed</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> (250-153, 28 Not Voting)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
The House gave final approval to this bill extending certain provisions of the Patriot Act until June 1, 2015. The bill, S. 990, originally reauthorized some small business programs but with the Patriot Act provisions due to expire at the end of the day, the Senate used it as the vehicle to pass the extension. President Obama signed the bill into law before the end of the day.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Rep. Dennis Kucinich</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> voted </span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">NO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">......send </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=468&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">e-mail</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">or see </span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=468" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">bio</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span> </span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Upcoming Votes</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.1954&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Raising the debt limit</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - H.R.1954</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
The House is scheduled to vote on this bill to increase the debt limit.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span> </span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.CON.RES.51&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ending military operations in Libya</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - H.CON.RES.51</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
This House resolution would direct the president to remove U.S. forces from Libya.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span> </span><br />
<hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.2017&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">FY2012 Homeland Security Appropriations</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - H.R.2017</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
The House is set to take up this bill funding the Department of Homeland Security for the upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-72377634826967783612011-05-25T21:27:00.004-04:002011-05-25T21:38:31.445-04:00"First Glimpse of the Designs for Cleveland's New Casino"<div style="text-align: justify;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="412" id="flashObj" width="486"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=683476136001&playerID=649725534001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAQBxUNqE~,xKBGzTdiYSTvTgY_KEDQxGs6uqT6UiMm&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=683476136001&playerID=649725534001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAQBxUNqE~,xKBGzTdiYSTvTgY_KEDQxGs6uqT6UiMm&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The company developing Dan Gilbert's Cleveland casino hasn't shown anyone what it will look like. But this video prepared by Rock Ventures and shown to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers offers a glimpse."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I realize there are many people who don't give a flying leap about this and others who disagree with the what is happening with area around the proposed parking garage. Regardless, I find this pretty interesting that it is out now. We can tell it is old because Lebron is all over the place in the background.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now if only the silliness in Columbus would stop.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.cleveland.com/metro/photo/cleveland-casino-huron-roadjpg-b98c02e3f598a4af.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://media.cleveland.com/metro/photo/cleveland-casino-huron-roadjpg-b98c02e3f598a4af.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-14024993140596915932011-05-25T07:44:00.000-04:002011-05-25T07:44:43.387-04:00"Cleveland Skate Park in the Flats Wins!"From Public Square Group and cleveland.com:<br />
<br />
<h2 style="color: #680606; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://publicsquaregroup.createsend1.com/t/y/l/vjllyd/pilbjuul/o/" style="color: #680606; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Cleveland Skate Park in the Flats Wins!</a></h2><div><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Monday evening Cleveland City Council had a <a href="http://publicsquaregroup.createsend1.com/t/y/l/vjllyd/pilbjuul/b/" style="color: #680606; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">heated discussion</a> about the fate of the planned Cleveland Skateboard Park in the Flats. In the end only ONE council person voted against the skate park. </div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks to all who wrote emails, called and most importantly attended the committee and council meetings. There is nothing better than showing up and getting involved. It's still going to take lots of work to get this park open so please do what you can as we finish raising money for the landscaping and final items. </div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://publicsquaregroup.createsend1.com/t/y/l/vjllyd/pilbjuul/n/" style="color: #680606; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">Check the progress and updates of the Cleveland Skateboard Park</a></div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #293546; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 23px; font-weight: bold;">Cleveland rolling ahead with Flats skate park</span></div><h5 style="color: #293546; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Published: Tuesday, May 17, 2011, 12:55 PM Updated: <span class="updated" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2011-05-18T15:50:31Z">Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 11:50 AM</span></h5><div class="author_info" style="float: left; height: auto; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; min-height: 40px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://connect.cleveland.com/user/thomasott/index.html" style="color: #305cb6; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Thomas Ott, The Plain Dealer" height="40" original="http://media.cleveland.com//avatars/x00161_7.jpg" src="http://media.cleveland.com//avatars/x00161_7.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline-block; height: 40px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 40px;" width="40" /> </a><span class="author_byline" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 610px;">By <span class="author vcard" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a class="fn" href="http://connect.cleveland.com/user/thomasott/index.html" style="color: #305cb6; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Thomas Ott, The Plain Dealer </a></span></span><br />
<span class="author_byline" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 610px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The city will press ahead with plans to build a skateboard park in the Flats, </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/05/cleveland_mayor_frank_jackson_23.html">even as the city moves to close other recreation facilities for budget reasons</a>.</div></div><div class="entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.cleveland.com/westshoresun/photo/skateboard-2jpg-2b437ff3982b5c73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://media.cleveland.com/westshoresun/photo/skateboard-2jpg-2b437ff3982b5c73.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">City Council voted Monday night to issue bonds for various improvements, including the $550,000 skate park. Despite whispers of a revolt among lawmakers upset by the proposed cutbacks, only Councilman Jeff Johnson opposed the measure.</div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The city is threatening to shutter Cory Recreation Center in west Glenville, which Johnson represents. Johnson called the skate park a "misplaced priority" that will serve a "niche community.</div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">"There is a niche community over in west Glenville that is losing in this equation," he said at an afternoon committee meeting.</div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The concrete skate park is expected to open next year on the east bank of the Flats, next to the Rivergate Park rowing facility.</div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The new skating area will replace a worn-out plywood and steel model formerly located on the East Ninth Street pier. A California foundation started by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk has pledged $25,000 to the project.</div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">City officials said the new park will require little maintenance and provide a designated space for a pursuit now practiced randomly on Cleveland's streets, sidewalks and other public property.</div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">"The question is not whether we are enabling the activity," Ken Silliman, chief of staff for Mayor Frank Jackson, said at the committee meeting. "The question is whether we are enabling the activity in the safest and most responsible fashion."</div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Councilman Joe Cimperman, whose ward includes the park site, said skateboarding is "no more a luxury or a niche than baseball." He rallied skating enthusiasts who packed the hearing room in the afternoon and applauded the evening vote.</div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Vince Frantz of Lakewood heads the volunteer Public Square Group, which helped design the park. He said skating is a "force of nature" that will draw visitors and help revitalize the Flats.</div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Many of the skaters who attended the committee meeting work for Jakprints, a fast-growing printing company at East 30th Street and Chester Avenue.</div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Co-owner Jacob Edwards said more than half of his 128 employees are "active skaters," and that having the park nearby would be an incentive to continue commuting from the suburbs. He expressed frustration after the committee's debate.</div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">"We have been asked to leave Cleveland many, many times," he said. "This is one more reason to question why we stay. Where is the benefit?"</div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Follow Thomas Ott on Twitter @thomasott1</em></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Plain Dealer Reporter Michelle Jarboe contributed to this report.</em></div></div></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-61471680969599786382011-05-25T07:27:00.000-04:002011-05-25T07:27:00.144-04:00LegislationLegislative Action: 10th District and State - 05212011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From Megavote:</span><br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #244387; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:</span></span></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent Congressional Votes</span></span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Motion to Proceed; Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act</span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Motion to Proceed; Offshore Production and Safety Act of 2011</span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: Cloture Motion; Nomination of Goodwin Liu to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit</span></span></span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Upcoming Congressional Bills</span></span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011</span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Senate: House Budget Resolution, FY2012</span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House: Defense Authorization, FY2012</span></span></span></li>
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<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recent Senate Votes</span></span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=72&chamber=S&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Motion to Proceed; Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act</span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rejected</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (52-48)<br />
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The Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to proceed to consideration of this bill that would end certain tax breaks for large oil companies. The bill may resurface as part of the upcoming budget negotiations.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Rob Portman</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NO</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span></span><b><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Sherrod Brown</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=73&chamber=S&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Motion to Proceed; Offshore Production and Safety Act of 2011</span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rejected</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (42-57, 1 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
The Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to take up this bill intended to increase offshore oil production. The bill is similar to the offshore oil bills passed in the House earlier this month.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Rob Portman</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span></span><b><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Sherrod Brown</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NO</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/votes/?votenum=74&chamber=S&congress=1121" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cloture Motion; Nomination of Goodwin Liu to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit</span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Vote </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rejected</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (52-43, 1 Present, 4 Not Voting)<br />
<br />
The Senate rejected this cloture motion on the nomination of Goodwin Liu to be a federal appeals court judge. A cloture motion requires 60 votes to end debate and move on to a final vote.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Rob Portman</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NO</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=460&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span></span><b><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=460" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sen. Sherrod Brown</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voted </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YES</span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">......send </span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/mail/?id=472&mailid=custom" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e-mail</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or see </span></span></span><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/bio/?id=472" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bio</span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Upcoming Votes</span></span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=S.1038&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011</span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - S.1038<br />
<br />
The Senate is scheduled to take up this four-year extension of provisions in the Patriot Act that are set to expire on May 27. The House may also take up its version of the bill.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.CON.RES.34&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">House Budget Resolution, FY2012</span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - H.CON.RES.34<br />
<br />
The Senate is expected to vote this week on the Houses 2012 fiscal year budget resolution.<br />
</span></span></span></span><hr noshade="" size="1" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/amplan/issues/bills/?billtype=H.R.1540&congress=112" style="color: #0065cc;" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Defense Authorization, FY2012</span></span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - H.R.1540<br />
<br />
The House is scheduled to work on this bill authorizing defense spending in the next fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14233132.post-52068883622841975122011-05-18T18:20:00.000-04:002011-05-18T18:20:42.512-04:00Cleveland Flats and UCI to Get Port Funding<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From WKYC:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wkyc.com/images/640/360/2/assetpool/images/08812154313_EastBankFlatsII400x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://www.wkyc.com/images/640/360/2/assetpool/images/08812154313_EastBankFlatsII400x300.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><h1 style="color: black; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Port Authority to help finance University Circle, Flats East Bank project</span></span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><h6 style="color: #666666; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Written by</h6><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><a class="gtv_link_a" href="mailto:kwendel@wkyc.com" style="color: #004276; text-decoration: none;">Kim Wendel</a></div></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">CLEVELAND -- The <a href="http://www.portofcleveland.com/">Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority</a> has approved Port Authority OKs two financing agreements to help develop a new hotel in <a href="http://www.universitycircle.org/">University Circle</a> and advance the <a href="http://www.flatseast.com/">Flats East Bank</a> project.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Port Authority's bond fund will provide $2.5 million in taxable tax increment financing revenue bonds for a 153-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel to be constructed in University Circle.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The bonds will help pay for costs associated with public improvements at the site.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The board also agreed to issue an additional $5 million in taxable first-mortgage revenue bonds for The Flats East Bank project. Proceeds will be used to fund additional project costs. The Port Authority has previously issued more than $130 million in bonds associated with the project.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>J. Scott Muscatellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284488416020304749noreply@blogger.com0