Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Will Inwood fight for the public option?

The heart of President Obama's health care plan—a strong public health insurance option—is under attack.  Will you organize a "Public Option Now!" Health Care Rally in the Inwood area on July 9th?

Click Here
 
Dear MoveOn member,

We've petitioned. We've called. We've faxed. We've dropped off fliers.

Now, the health care fight is really heating up in the Senate, and some Democrats are trying to bargain away the heart of President Obama's health care plan—a strong public health insurance option. We need to escalate our campaign for real health care reform.

On Thursday, July 9th, MoveOn is organizing nationwide "Public Option Now!" Health Care Rallies to send a strong message to every senator: Health care reform must include a strong public health insurance option.

But we still need someone to organize a rally near Inwood. Can you help?

http://www.moveon.org/event/events/choose_an_office.html?action_id=180&l=-10220574-20090721-OmM7OT&id=16479-10220574-DDwBRCx&t=8

Organizing a rally at your senator's office is really straight forward. All you have to do is pick a location and follow our simple guide. We'll get you all the materials you need and help you every step of the way.

These rallies will be really powerful. We'll hear from folks who are suffering because of the broken health care system—including small business owners and doctors who know firsthand why a public health insurance option is so critical.

We'll also deliver hundreds of thousands of signatures from voters who are standing with Obama and demanding a strong public option as a key part of health care reform.

If hundreds of us organize events like these we'll help impact our senators' votes during this critical moment in the fight for health care reform—but it's going to take all of us working together.

Sign up to organize a rally today:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51557&id=16479-10220574-DDwBRCx&t=10

Thanks for all you do,

–Patrick S., Peter, Carrie, Ilya and the rest of the team

 

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 30, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, June 29, 2009

The ugly truth

The House just passed a huge energy bill that falls short of Obama's vision for a clean energy economy and repeals a key part of the Clean Air Act. We need to decide today whether to launch a full-court press to fix the bill in the Senate, and it's up to you:

Dear MoveOn member,

The U.S. House passed a huge energy bill Friday. Lots of good people are applauding the passage of this legislation. But here's the ugly truth:

Big Oil and Coal lobbyists, working in cahoots with some conservative Blue Dog Democrats, weakened the bill terribly—it now falls far short of President Obama's campaign vision to transition America's economy to clean energy and create millions of new jobs.

In fact, the bill repeals a key part of the Clean Air Act and doesn't do nearly enough to shift America to renewable energy—so instead of a boom in solar and wind, the bill locks us into dirty coal power for another generation.1

Working with progressive champions in the House, we were able to achieve modest gains at the eleventh hour (see details below). But saving the Clean Air Act and fixing other problems with the bill as the fight moves to the Senate will require a massive grassroots outcry.

So we have a decision to make: Should MoveOn launch a full-court press to fix the bill, and turn up the heat on senators who might be tempted to side with Big Oil and Coal?

Click to vote:

"Yes. Let's fight to save the Clean Air Act and fix the energy bill."

"No. I don't think we should do that." (And tell us why.)

We'll go forward if 2/3 of us who vote think it makes sense.

It's not necessarily an easy choice. Of course we won't stop working on health care or other issues, but this will require significant resources. All of us will need to pitch in to make sure our senators get the message. And there are certainly thoughtful people who say the bill is the best we can do, and we should focus solely on passing it.

You can read differing views on the bill from a variety of leading experts by clicking here. But here's one indication of how far it got weakened:

During the floor debate last week, conservative Democrats openly bragged that the bill would result in "increased coal use."2 They urged others to support it because the Clean Air Act rollbacks in the bill would stop President Obama's Environmental Protection Agency from setting new rules for global warming pollution.3

Most people haven't heard much about these problems in the bill, which runs over 1,200 pages and was negotiated mostly behind closed doors. But as progressive leaders in Congress have spoken out, momentum to fix the bill has grown.

Nearly 50 members of Congress, led by Reps. Chellie Pingree and Keith Ellison, signed a letter calling for the bill to be strengthened.4 And Rep. Lloyd Doggett was one of several who spoke out on the day of the vote, saying, "The fine print [in the bill] betrays its laudable purpose. The real cap is on the public interest and the trade is from the public to the polluters."5 A few even voted against the bill to spotlight its problems.6

To win in the Senate, we need to make sure everyone understands that the Clean Air Act is under attack and highlight the other big problems with the bill. If we decide to proceed with this campaign together, we'll boost progressive champions like those who fought in the House, and expose conservatives who do the bidding of the oil and coal industry.

It's a big step—we'll need to work even harder, and organize even better. And it's up to you.

Should we go ahead with a big campaign to fix the problems with the energy bill as it moves through the Senate?

Click here to vote yes: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51552&id=16469-10220574-LCjoyPx&t=6

Click here to vote no (and tell us why): http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51551&id=16469-10220574-LCjoyPx&t=7

Thanks for all you do.

–Justin, Eli, Michael, Laura and the rest of the team

P.S. It's disappointing that we have not yet succeeded in fixing the most severe problems with the bill. But MoveOn members' strong advocacy, side-by-side with allied groups, made an important difference. We helped prevent the bill from getting even worse and made it moderately stronger in some ways, including:7

  • Programs to increase the federal government's use of renewable energy;
  • Significant new funding for green manufacturing, renewable energy development, and worker training for green jobs; and
  • New investments in money-saving energy efficiency programs for homes and businesses.
Sources:

1. "Under House energy bill, coal won't be going away," Los Angeles Times, June 22, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51521&id=16469-10220574-LCjoyPx&t=8

"Big Coal Using Climate Change Bill To Roll Back Clean Air Act," Huffington Post, June 18, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51542&id=16469-10220574-LCjoyPx&t=9

"Waxman-Markey Strips EPA of Clean Air Act Authority to Fight Global Warming," Friends of the Earth, June 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51541&id=16469-10220574-LCjoyPx&t=10

2. Statement of Rep. Rick Boucher on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, June 26, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51544&id=&id=16469-10220574-LCjoyPx&t=11

3. Ibid., and Statement of Rep. John Dingell on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, June 26, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51545&id=16469-10220574-LCjoyPx&t=12

4. Letter to Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Henry A. Waxman, and Edward J. Markey, June 24. 2009. http://www.nrcm.org/documents/ACES_Pingreeltr.pdf

5. Statement of Rep. Lloyd Doggett on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, June, June 26, 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtoyLBYbb7A

6. Statement of Rep. Peter DeFazio on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, June, June 26, 2009. http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=107197708952

Statement of Rep. Pete Stark on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, June 26, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51546&id=&id=16469-10220574-LCjoyPx&t=13

Statement of Rep. Harry Mitchell on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, June, June 26, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51547&id=&id=16469-10220574-LCjoyPx&t=14

Statement of Rep. Dennis Kucinich on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, June, June 26, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51548&id=16469-10220574-LCjoyPx&t=15

7. Summary of Manager's Amendment to the American Clean Energy and Security Act, 1Sky, June 26, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51549&id=16469-10220574-LCjoyPx&t=16

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 29, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

The big threat to health care reform

Can you call Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand? Tell them that anything other than a strong public health insurance option is unacceptable—including the weak co-op proposal.

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451


Report your call

Dear MoveOn member,

President Obama's public health insurance option—the key to lowering costs and helping cover everyone—is in danger. The threat? The so-called co-op plan.

If you have no idea what that means, don't worry. This stuff is confusing and changing quickly. So here are three great articles laying out the case FOR the public health insurance option, and AGAINST the co-op plan.

After you read one or all of them, can you call Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand? Tell them that anything other than a strong public health insurance option is unacceptable—including the weak co-op proposal.

Here's where to call:

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

After you call, click here to report your call so we can track our progress: 

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1.FSNY_2&cp_id=983&id=16456-10220574-FLY8hex&t=3

"Health Care Showdown," by Paul Krugman, Nobel prize-winning economist and New York Times columnist:

"For the record, neither regional health cooperatives nor state-level public plans, both of which have been proposed as alternatives [to the public option], would have the financial stability and bargaining power needed to bring down health care costs."

"Un-Cooperative: The Trouble with Conrad's Compromise," by Jacob Hacker, author of Health Care for America and U.C. Berkeley political scientist:

"[The co-op plan is]...not going to have the ability to be a cost-control backstop, much less a benchmark for private plans, because they are not going to have the reach or authority to implement innovative delivery and payment reforms."

"Why We Need a Public Health-Care Plan," by Robert B. Reich, former secretary of labor and professor at the University of California:

"...cooperatives would lack the scale and authority to negotiate lower rates with drug companies and other providers, collect wide data on outcomes, or effect major change in the system."

Experts agree: the co-op doesn't cut it. But some senators are in danger of bargaining away our best chance at health care reform in a decade.

Can you call Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand right away? After you call, let us know how it went at the link below:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1.FSNY_2&cp_id=983&id=16456-10220574-FLY8hex&t=6

Thanks for all you do.

–Patrick S., Kat, Peter, Ilya and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 25, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Iran: Stop the Crackdown

Dear MoveOn member,

The Iranian people's courage in the face of brutal repression has been inspiring.

But the situation is getting worse. The Iranian regime has begun a violent crackdown against the protesters—including hundreds of arrests and a number of deaths.

Now, it's crucial that the Iranian regime knows that the world is watching and that they must stop their violent repression of peaceful dissent. 

So our friends at Avaaz—a global MoveOn-type organization—have asked people all over the world to stand with the Iranian protesters. Avaaz is aiming for 1 million signatures worldwide and is going to deliver this message of solidarity to other governments, concentrating on the countries with the most influence over Iran's regime. Can you add your name?

http://civ.moveon.org/irancrackdown/?id=16437-10220574-IjUboAx&t=1

A clear message from people all over the world can help put pressure on the Iranian regime to stop the violence. Other Muslim countries in the region and key trading partners like China and Turkey have been mostly silent since the election, but a worldwide outpouring of support can convince them to take action.

Involvement by the American government could be used by the Iranian regime as an excuse to crack down further. But if we, as individuals, join with folks around the world, we can help create a global outcry. The petition will be delivered directly to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the Non-Aligned Movement, the E.U., and the U.N. to show them that the world wants them to act.

Iranians have shown that regular people, using new technologies like Twitter and Facebook, can have a profound impact on world affairs. As they face enormous danger to stand up for democracy and freedom of speech, we should stand with them. Can you add your voice to the chorus of people calling for an end to the violence?

http://civ.moveon.org/irancrackdown/?id=16437-10220574-IjUboAx&t=2

Thanks for all you do.

–Justin, Stephen, Laura, Daniel and the rest of the team

P.S. To show your support for the Iranian people, you can also print out this sign and put it in your window.

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51527&id=16437-10220574-IjUboAx&t=3

P.P.S. If you're on Facebook, another great way to show your support is to change your profile picture.  Here's a picture you can use to show that you stand with the protesters in Iran.

http://civ.moveon.org/irancrackdown/signs.html?id=16437-10220574-IjUboAx&t=4



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Monday, June 22, 2009

Health care reform in trouble

Click here today and we'll fax a flier to Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer on your behalf, asking them to support a strong public health insurance option.


Click here

Dear MoveOn member,

Health care reform is in trouble in the Senate.

Conservatives in Congress, including some Democrats, are trying to kill Obama's public health insurance option not by opposing it outright, but by pushing weak half-measures and calling them "public plans."1 The latest is a proposal for small, regional "co-ops" that would have no chance of competing against insurance companies to bring costs down.2

If we act immediately, we have a good shot at defeating ploys like the "co-op." The key is to make it clear that we support a strong public health insurance option and lay out exactly what that means.

Click below and we'll fax a flier in your name (for free!) to Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer that sets the bar for a strong public health insurance option. Faxes come directly into the office, so staffers are guaranteed to see them. And if enough of us send faxes, staffers will pass the flier on to their senator.

http://pol.moveon.org/fax?tg=FSNY_2.FSNY_1&cp_id=967&id=16427-10220574-8HwgnXx&t=3

It's up to us to remind our senators that an overwhelming majority of Americans—83%—supports a public health insurance option,3 and that weak half-measures like the "co-op" plan are no substitute for real reform.

The flier says: "A strong public health insurance option must be part of health care reform this year," and outlines key criteria that a plan must be based upon:
  • Available to all of us: A strong public health insurance option should be available to anyone who chooses to participate. If you like your current plan, you can keep it; if you want to participate in the public health insurance plan, you can choose that.
  • A national plan with real bargaining clout: In order to truly control costs and compete with private health insurance plans, a strong public health insurance option must be available nationwide.
  • Ready on day one: Every day we wait on real reform, health care costs continue to rise. A strong public health insurance option with a broad network of providers right out of the gate is key to building a competitive program that will help control costs.
  • A truly public plan: To ensure it's held to the highest standards of accountability, a public health insurance option must be truly publicly run—accountable and transparent to Congress and to voters.

If thousands of us send faxes to Senate offices this week, we can make sure that message is heard loud and clear. Can you fax Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer today? Click below and we'll send one for you:

http://pol.moveon.org/fax?tg=FSNY_2.FSNY_1&cp_id=967&id=16427-10220574-8HwgnXx&t=4

Thanks for all that you do.

–Patrick S., Kat, Justin, Wes, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "A Public Health Plan," The New York Times, June 21, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51519&id=16427-10220574-8HwgnXx&t=5

2. "A co-op for the public option? Let's talk principles," The Now! Blog, June 12, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51498&id=16427-10220574-8HwgnXx&t=6

3. "New Poll Shows Tremendous Support for Public Health Care Option," Blog for Our Future, June 15, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51510&id=16427-10220574-8HwgnXx&t=7

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 22, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Note from a neighbor in East Rockaway

This is a note from MoveOn member JoAnn W. in East Rockaway:

Hi,

I'm writing you as one of your neighbors in East Rockaway, asking you to join me in supporting an emergency effort to strengthen the energy bill that's moving through Congress right now.

You may have heard that conservative Democrats, working with oil and coal lobbyists, have added some really nasty provisions to the energy bill. MoveOn is trying to generate enough citizen pressure to get the bill fixed, and they've asked for help funding their effort.

Time is of the essence, since the vote is only days away. I've already contributed, and I'm writing to ask you to do the same.

This bill is our big chance to switch America to clean energy—we can't stand by and let the dirty energy industry kill it.

To meet our goal, we need donations from 3 people in Inwood. Can you chip in?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/fromaneighbor.html?id=16413-10220574-Nygr44x&t=1

Thanks,

JoAnn W.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 18, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Tell Sen. Schumer: Stand strong for real health care reform

We need 3 people from Inwood to call Sen. Schumer today. Can you call? Tell him how important it is to you that we have a strong public health insurance option in health care reform this year.

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542


Report your call

Dear MoveOn member,

This week, as key Congressional committees are finalizing draft health care reform legislation, opponents are ramping up the fight against their number one target: the public health insurance option.

Their new strategy? Rather than simply oppose a public plan outright, they're pulling a bait-and-switch, pushing weak, half-measures and calling them "public plans."1

We only get one chance for health care reform, and we have to get it right. Your senator, Charles Schumer, needs to hear right now from people all across New York to know that these public plans in name only won't cut it: Americans want a strong public health insurance option as part of real reform this year. That means we need 3 people to call from Inwood today. Can you call?

Here's where to call:

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

And after you call, click on the link below to let us know how it went:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1&cp_id=962&id=16410-10220574-AoAofSx&t=3

Here are a few key points about what a strong public health insurance option would look like:

  • Available to all of us: A strong public health insurance option should be available to anyone who chooses to participate. If you like your current plan, you can keep it; if you want to participate in the public health insurance plan, you can choose to do so.
  • A national plan with real bargaining clout: In order to truly control costs and compete with private health insurance plans, a strong public health insurance option must be available nationwide.
  • Ready on day one: Every day we wait on real reform, health care costs continue to rise. A strong public health insurance option right out of the gate is key to building a competitive program that will help control costs.
  • A truly public plan: To ensure it's held to the highest standards of accountability, a public health insurance option must be truly publicly run—accountable and transparent to Congress and to voters.
Senators are hearing daily from insurance lobbyists and conservatives about these half-measures. The latest that's gaining steam is a proposal for "co-ops"—small, regional insurers that would be too weak to bring costs down or compete with existing private insurance.2

We need to make sure they're also hearing from Americans who support strong health care reform this year. Can you call Sen. Schumer today? And then click on the link below to let us know how it went:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1&cp_id=962&id=16410-10220574-AoAofSx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Patrick S., Kat, Nita, Justin and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Co-op compromise gives White House a health option," The Associated Press, June 14, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51504&id=16410-10220574-AoAofSx&t=5

2. "Insurance co-op idea gains appeal," The Washington Examiner, June 16, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51512&id=16410-10220574-AoAofSx&t=6

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 17, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The big challenge on health care

Can you write a letter to the editor about how important it is to include a strong public health insurance option in reform this year?

Click Here
Dear MoveOn member,

Key leaders in Washington are now saying that any health care reform will—and must—include a public health insurance option.1,2

The big challenge now? Opponents of reform are trotting out weak half-measures and calling them "public plans,"3 with the goal of leaving us with a public health insurance option in name only. The latest is a proposal for "co-ops"—small, regional insurers that would be too weak to bring costs down or compete with existing private insurance.4

We have to push back right away and with a clear message: Americans demand a strong public health insurance option, one that is available to everyone, national in scope with real bargaining clout, ready to go on day one, and truly public.

Can you write a letter to the editor about how important it is to include a strong public health insurance option in reform this year? Our tool makes writing a letter really simple. You can send the letter right from our website—it only takes a few minutes:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51500&id=16403-10220574-iuJj_fx&t=3

If you've never written a letter to the editor before, now is the time to send your first. The letters page is one of the most widely read—and most important—in local newspapers. Members of Congress and their staffs read it to understand how their constituents are feeling. And the media read it as feedback on their coverage.

Here are a few key points for your letter on what a strong public health insurance option should look like:

  • Available to all of us: A strong public health insurance option should be available to anyone who chooses to participate. If you like your current plan, you can keep it; if you want to participate in the public health insurance plan, you can choose to do so.
  • A national plan with real bargaining clout: In order to truly control costs and compete with private health insurance plans, a strong public health insurance option must be available nationwide.
  • Ready on day one: Every day we wait on real reform, health care costs continue to rise. A strong public health insurance option right out of the gate is key to building a competitive program that will help control costs.
  • A truly public plan: To ensure it's held to the highest standards of accountability, a public health insurance option must be truly publicly run—accountable and transparent to Congress and to voters.
A robust public health insurance option is the lynchpin of real reform that will help bring costs down and provide coverage for all Americans. If thousands of us write to our local papers, we can make sure our representatives in Washington understand how crucial it is to voters like us. Please click here to get started:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51500&id=16403-10220574-iuJj_fx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Patrick S., Kat, Nita, Justin and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Pelosi: Health Care Reform Can't Pass Without Public Option," The Huffington Post, June 11, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51502&id=16403-10220574-iuJj_fx&t=5

2. "CONFIRMED: Kennedy Bill Will Have Public Health Insurance Option," Health Care for America Now, June 9, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51503&id=16403-10220574-iuJj_fx&t=7

3. "Co-op compromise gives White House a health option," The Associated Press, June 14, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51504&id=16403-10220574-iuJj_fx&t=8

4."A Co-Op for the Public Option? Let's Talk Principles," The Now! Blog, June 12, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51498&id=16403-10220574-iuJj_fx&t=9

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 16, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, June 15, 2009

They're tying Obama's hands

Clicking here will sign your name:
"Congress must not repeal the Clean Air Act provision that empowers President Obama to crack down on global warming pollution from dirty coal plants."

Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member,

Congress is voting on the big energy bill next week. But the latest version of the energy bill would repeal a key part of the Clean Air Act1—arguably the most important environmental law in American history.

Big coal companies want to revoke President Obama's authority to crack down on global warming pollution from their dirty power plants—and they're on the verge of winning.

If they succeed, the oldest and dirtiest coal plants could keep destroying the climate for years to come. And this change could pave the way for 100 new coal plants, which would pollute our communities with smog, soot, mercury, and global warming pollution.2

The big vote is next week. Can you tell Congress not to repeal this Clean Air Act provision? Clicking here will add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/cleanairact/o.pl?id=16386-10220574-R5jJ0Ex&t=3

The petition says: "Congress must not repeal the Clean Air Act provision that empowers President Obama to crack down on dirty coal plants."

How did this happen? For years, George W. Bush refused to use the Clean Air Act to cut global warming pollution. But the Obama administration has taken the first steps toward changing that, so the coal industry is desperate to take away Obama's authority to limit global warming pollution. Now, coal lobbyists have forced a terrible provision into the new energy bill—which otherwise has some good parts—to give coal plants a pass.

If the coal industry wins, Obama would be powerless to stop hundreds of old, dirty coal plants from spewing global warming pollution into our air. Some of the biggest climate polluters on the planet would be let off the hook.

Even worse, the coal industry is trying to build at least 100 more dirty coal plants. For years, local environmental groups and the Sierra Club have blocked these plants.3 But if this Clean Air Act provision is eliminated, local groups may be unable to stop another generation of dependence on dirty coal.

We got Congress's attention in the last two weeks with a powerful grassroots drive to fix this and other problems in the energy bill. We made thousands of phone calls, wrote letters to local newspapers, and delivered petition signatures in person to hundreds of congressional offices. But we're not there yet.

The clock is ticking down to the big vote next week, and we need to protect the Clean Air Act. Can you click here to sign your name to the petition?

http://pol.moveon.org/cleanairact/o.pl?id=16386-10220574-R5jJ0Ex&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Noah, Steven, Justin, and the rest of the team

Sources:
1. "EPA urged to act on climate, not wait for Congress," Associated Press, May 18, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51479&id=16386-10220574-R5jJ0Ex&t=5

"American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009," Library of Congress, May 15, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51482&id=16386-10220574-R5jJ0Ex&t=6

2. "Stopping the Coal Rush," Sierra Club
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51483&id=16386-10220574-R5jJ0Ex&t=7

3. "Taking on King Coal," Time, November 5, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51496&id=16386-10220574-R5jJ0Ex&t=8

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 15, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Biggest corporate attack on Obama yet

Corporate America has declared war on Obama's agenda for health care and a clean energy economy. We're countering with an emergency organizing drive to strengthen the energy bill, promote clean energy, and pass real health care reform. Can you donate $25 today?

Click Here
Dear MoveOn member,

Less than 48 hours ago, the biggest corporations in the country declared war on President Obama's agenda. The scale of the attack is mind-boggling.

The right-wing lobbyists at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will spend $100 million to defeat Obama's plans for health care and a clean energy economy. They call it their "most important project" in nearly 100 years.1

Congress is voting on a crucial energy bill in less than two weeks, and you can count on a barrage of misleading TV ads and arm-twisting in Congress aimed at weakening the bill. We're countering with an emergency organizing drive to strengthen the energy bill—but we urgently need to raise the funds to power our organizing drive.

Can you chip in $25 to help fight back against the Chamber's campaign?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/10days.html?id=16376-10220574-TvDMbZx&t=3

Your local Chamber of Commerce represents small businesses, but the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is different—it represents the interests of mega-corporations, especially Big Oil and Coal. 

In the next ten days, we'll pull out all the stops to block the Chamber and strengthen the energy bill. And after the big vote, we'll keep going just as strong—demanding a public health insurance option in the health care bill, fighting for tough new rules to rein in the financial industry, and making sure Obama's progressive agenda gets enough grassroots support to succeed.

This is an all-hands-on-deck moment, so we're pulling together our best online, grassroots, and legislative strategies to:

  • Flood Capitol Hill with thousands of phone calls.
  • Buy online ads targeted to get the attention of opinion-makers in key House districts.
  • Bring together progressive members of Congress to speak out about the problems in the bill.
  • Hand-deliver petitions to dozens of local congressional offices—and hold media events outside to highlight the voices of unemployed people calling for clean energy jobs.
  • Hold face-to-face meetings with congressional staff in Washington and in communities across the country.
  • Launch a new website, StrengthenIt.org, where we'll rally local environmental groups to the cause.

We're deciding this weekend on our final plan for pushing Congress before the vote—so we need to know what resources we have available. Can you chip in $25?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/10days.html?id=16376-10220574-TvDMbZx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Wes, Noah, Nita and the rest of the team

P.S. If you're a member of your local Chamber of Commerce or run a small business, please sign our petition asking the U.S. Chamber to stop lobbying against Obama's clean energy jobs plan:

http://pol.moveon.org/chamber/?id=16376-10220574-TvDMbZx&t=5

Source:
1. "Chamber defends free-market system," Politico, June 10, 2009
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23563.html

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 12, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

What we're doing in Congress

Dear MoveOn member,

Here in Washington, there are some encouraging signs on health care reform. Key members of the House and Senate have voiced their support for a public health insurance option—crucial to lowering costs and covering everyone. And just last week, President Obama strongly backed the plan.

But this progress creates a whole new risk: Opponents of reform know that a public health insurance option is likely to be part of the final bill. Their new strategy is to weaken it as much as possible.

We'll only get one shot at health care reform, and we need it to be the best possible plan. So members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus like me are fighting back by drawing a clear line in the sand: We will only support a bill if it includes a strong public health insurance option.

"Strong" means that it is run by the federal government, helps cover all of us, and comes into effect as soon as possible.  

But this will only work if the rest of Congress knows that the grassroots support us. Click here to support our line in the sand on a strong public health insurance option:

http://pol.moveon.org/progressive_caucus/o.pl?id=16337-10220574-Oji7Awx&t=1

Dozens of us in Congress are already on board. If your representative is already standing tall, your signature will show the support in his or her home district. If not, it will help convince your representative that it's time to demand a strong public health insurance option.

Publicly pledging to oppose something—instead of just doing so in closed-door sessions with other members of Congress—is certainly an uncommon step. But with nearly 50 million Americans without health care and the rest struggling with out-of-control costs, it's time for bold action.

We believe a strong public option is key to achieving universal health care and lowering costs. The plan will:

  • Finally provide relief to small businesses and families.  The public health insurance plan will drive costs down across the board, helping everyone who is struggling in this economy.
  • Give Americans a choice. So many Americans don't like their private insurance—or don't have it at all. With this plan, they'd be able to choose a plan that's not run by insurance companies. But if they're happy with their current coverage, they can keep it.
  • Make universal health care a reality. The public health insurance option will be available to everyone, regardless of job status or pre-existing conditions.
Our colleagues in the Senate and House are releasing their drafts of health care reform legislation right now, so we need to speak out immediately. Click here to stand with us. 

http://pol.moveon.org/progressive_caucus/o.pl?id=16337-10220574-Oji7Awx&t=2

Thanks for all you do.

–Representative Jan Schakowsky, 9th district of Illinois
  


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 10, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Rep. McCarthy: Fight for wind and solar energy

Clicking here will send this message to Rep. McCarthy:
"We need a stronger energy bill to fulfill Obama's vision of a clean energy economy. Congress should strengthen the clean energy standards, and restore Obama's authority to crack down on dirty coal plants." 

Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member,

It's 2009. Democrats have ample majorities in both houses of Congress. President Obama campaigned on the promise to tackle climate change and boost our economy by investing in clean energy.

So why on earth is Congress considering an energy bill that:

  • Would weaken current law, repealing President Obama's authority to crack down on dirty power plants,1 and
  • Doesn't actually require the creation of new solar or wind power? (The Union of Concerned Scientists has concluded that the clean energy standards won't make power companies produce more clean energy than is already in the works.)2

Why? Because Big Oil and Coal have teamed up with conservatives in both parties, and they've been successful in weakening the bill.

These are major flaws, but the bill has a lot of really good provisions, too. The key thing is that Congress can still strengthen it—if there's a public outcry. But we don't have much time: Congress is expected to vote on this bill in less than three weeks.

Can you sign this petition to Representative Carolyn McCarthy today? Eighty thousand MoveOn members have already signed. We need to double the number of signatures by Wednesday—that means we need 3 more signatures in Inwood. MoveOn members will personally deliver this petition to many congressional offices the next day. Click here to add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/cleanenergy/o.pl?id=16314-10220574-U09_cZx&t=4

The petition says: "We need a stronger energy bill to fulfill Obama's vision of a clean energy economy. Congress should strengthen the clean energy standards and restore Obama's authority to crack down on dirty coal plants." 

Congress must change the energy bill to require power companies to produce more clean energy for America. Wind and solar create more than twice as many jobs as coal and oil.3 And Congress needs to hold polluters accountable by restoring President Obama's current authority through the EPA to crack down on global warming pollution from power plants.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis finds that the current version of the clean energy standard "won't require utilities to use any more renewable electricity than...would be generated as a result of state renewable electricity standards already in place and the recently enacted stimulus package."4

If we just sit back, we'll miss our chance to go big with wind and solar—and we'll lose the jobs those industries would create. Big Oil and Coal will keep getting billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies. And President Obama will be powerless to stop more than 100 new dirty coal plants, which will crowd out the clean energy growth we need to boost our economy.5

There are some good parts of the bill, but these are significant problems. As the Sierra Club's Carl Pope writes, the bill establishes strong long-term goals for cutting carbon pollution and very strong energy-efficiency investments, "but in its present form, it won't do all that's needed. The oil, coal, and dirty-utility interests...were able to prevent enactment of President Obama's much bolder vision...Yes, they will try to kill the green-jobs recovery in its cradle, and yes, they will try to block our clean-energy future."6 

Please urge Rep. McCarthy to fight for a stronger energy bill. Clicking here will add your name to the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/cleanenergy/o.pl?id=16314-10220574-U09_cZx&t=5

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Michael, Joan, Noah and the rest of the team

Sources:
1. "Bill Needs Strengthening to Guarantee Necessary Carbon Reductions, New Green Jobs and Consumer Benefits, Science Group Says," Union of Concerned Scientists, May 14, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51475&id=16314-10220574-U09_cZx&t=6

2. "EPA urged to act on climate, not wait for Congress," Associated Press, May 18, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51479&id=16314-10220574-U09_cZx&t=7

"American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009," Library of Congress, May 15, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51482&id=16314-10220574-U09_cZx&t=8

3. "Green Recovery: A Program to Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy," Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, September 2008
http://www.peri.umass.edu/green_recovery/

4. "Bill Needs Strengthening to Guarantee Necessary Carbon Reductions, New Green Jobs and Consumer Benefits, Science Group Says," Union of Concerned Scientists, May 14, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51475&id=16314-10220574-U09_cZx&t=9

5. "Stopping the Coal Rush," Sierra Club
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51483&id=16314-10220574-U09_cZx&t=10

6. "So How Good Is This Climate Bill, Anyhow?" Sierra Club, May 22, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51478&id=16314-10220574-U09_cZx&t=11

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 8, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Rep. McCarthy: Strengthen the clean energy jobs bill

Clicking here will send this message to Rep. McCarthy:
"We need a stronger energy bill to fulfill Obama's vision of a clean energy economy. Congress should strengthen the clean energy standards and restore Obama's authority to crack down on dirty coal plants." 

Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member,

If you haven't been paying attention to the fight in Congress over President Obama's clean energy jobs plan, now's the time to tune in. This is the most important opportunity in generations to jumpstart our economy and fight the climate crisis.

Unfortunately, powerful oil and coal interests have had a stranglehold on our energy policy, demanding loopholes, bailouts, and giveaways from taxpayers. They've won concessions that weaken the bill's ability to deliver on the full promise of clean energy jobs.

But now, progressives are coming together to push back. MoveOn has joined with groups across the progressive movement, from the Sierra Club to ACORN to Oxfam to Rock the Vote, to tell Congress to stand strong against the special interests that seek to weaken the clean energy bill at every turn.

We can strengthen and improve this bill, if clean energy leaders in Congress like Representative Carolyn McCarthy will join our fight. Can you sign MoveOn's petition to Rep. McCarthy? Clicking here will sign your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/cleanenergy/o.pl?id=16301-10220574-mTY8SXx&t=4

The petition says: "We need a stronger energy bill to fulfill Obama's vision of a clean energy economy. Congress should strengthen the clean energy standards and restore Obama's authority to crack down on dirty coal plants."

In particular, we need leaders in Congress to stand up for three key changes to the latest version of the energy bill:

  • Ensure more clean energy for America: Require power companies to produce more clean energy. Wind and solar create more than twice as many jobs as coal and oil.
  • Hold polluters accountable: Restore President Obama's current authority through the EPA to crack down on global warming pollution from power plants.
  • Create more clean energy jobs for America and build resiliency to climate change: Reduce giveaways to polluting industries in order to bolster green job development and protect vulnerable communities.

The full list of groups that are calling on congressional leaders to strengthen the clean energy jobs bill is impressive: 1Sky, ACORN, Democracia Ahora, Environment America, Green For All, Health Care Without Harm, Oxfam, Rock the Vote, the Sierra Club, and USAction, along with MoveOn. It's a real show of strength.

We need to urge Congress to strengthen and improve this bill. Please urge clean energy supporters like Rep. McCarthy to fight for a stronger energy bill. Clicking here will add your name to MoveOn's petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/cleanenergy/o.pl?id=16301-10220574-mTY8SXx&t=5

Thank you for all you do.

–Anna, Adam, Joan, Noah and the rest of the team

P.S. You can read the full text of the groups' joint letter to Congress at http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51481&id=16301-10220574-mTY8SXx&t=6

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 5, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Obama's bold statement

Click here to tell Congress:
"I strongly believe that Americans should have the choice of a public health insurance option operating alongside private plans. This will give them a better range of choices, make the health care market more competitive, and keep insurance companies honest."

Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member,

Since taking office, President Obama hasn't said much about a key plank of health care reform—the public health insurance option. Some worried he had backed off from his support of it.

Yesterday, all that changed. Obama said: "I strongly believe that Americans should have the choice of a public health insurance option operating alongside private plans. This will give them a better range of choices, make the health care market more competitive, and keep insurance companies honest."1

This is a huge deal. It's Obama using some of his massive political capital to take a crucial stand. And it's going to make a bunch of Republicans and insurance company lobbyists pretty angry at him. In fact, they're spending $20 million to crush this key part of his plan.2

A public health insurance option is the heart of real health care reform. And with the right wing united against it, we need to show Congress just how many Americans stand with Obama on this. Can you sign the petition supporting Obama and the public health insurance option?

Clicking here will sign your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/popetition/o.pl?id=16294-10220574-muS6Vxx&t=3

The petition says: "I strongly believe that Americans should have the choice of a public health insurance option operating alongside private plans. This will give them a better range of choices, make the health care market more competitive, and keep insurance companies honest."

The public health insurance option, which will provide coverage for all Americans and help bring costs down, is a crucial component of health care reform—and it's Republicans' number one target. As an article in the D.C. newspaper Roll Call put it yesterday:3

"Senate Republicans, realizing they don't have the votes to stop a Democratic health care bill on their own, are relying on a strategy designed to win the public relations battle over defining what it would mean to create a public plan. By the time the Democrats introduce a bill on the floor, Republicans hope to have made it politically impossible to vote for anything that includes a public plan."

This is a critical moment on health care. A key Senate committee is just days away from releasing a first draft of reform legislation, and the right-wing attacks are aimed at making sure it's watered down.

But if hundreds of thousands of us speak up, we can show Congress that Americans demand real health care reform—with a strong public health insurance option. As the President also said yesterday, "In 2009, health care reform is not a luxury.  It's a necessity we cannot defer."

Sign the petition today and show Congress that Americans stand with President Obama on health care reform. Clicking here will sign your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/popetition/o.pl?id=16294-10220574-muS6Vxx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Patrick S., Joan, Ilyse, Peter and the rest of the team

1. "Barack Obama offers support for public option," Politico, June 3, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51472&id=16294-10220574-muS6Vxx&t=5

2. "Ex-Hospital CEO Battles Reform Effort," The Washington Post, May 11, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51471&id=16294-10220574-muS6Vxx&t=6

3. "Health Battle Escalates," Roll Call, June 3, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51474&id=16294-10220574-muS6Vxx&t=7

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 4, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.