Friday, January 29, 2010

Fight, don't fold

We need Senate Democrats to stand up and fight for real health care reform. Can you send that message to Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand today? Click below to send a free fax:


Click here to send a fax

Dear MoveOn member,

On Tuesday, we ran a full-page ad in USA Today, signed by thousands of MoveOn members, sending a simple message to Democrats: fight, don't fold, on health care.

The message seems to be breaking through with some in Washington. On Wednesday, President Obama told Congress to "finish the job" on health care.1 And on Thursday, Speaker Pelosi insisted, "...we're going to get health care reform passed," saying, "If the gate's closed, you go over the fence. If the fence is too high, we'll pole-vault in. If that doesn't work, we'll parachute in."2

But a huge roadblock remains: the U.S. Senate. Conservatives are pushing hard to delay or drop health care, while Senate leadership is sending mixed signals.3

We urgently need to make sure every single Democrat in the Senate gets the message: it's time to stand up and fight. So we're flooding their offices with faxes telling them just that. Can you send a free fax to your senators, Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, today?

Click here to send a fax now: 

http://pol.moveon.org/fax/?tg=FSNY_1.FSNY_2&cp_id=1242&id=18771-10220574-_.RLv8x&t=4

If the Senate stalls on health care, the whole effort is in jeopardy. And we simply can't afford to wait any longer for real reform—not with millions of Americans suffering from a lack of insurance, sky-rocketing costs, and bankruptcies caused by medical debt.

What's more, there's a clear path for Senate Democrats to finish reform right. Through a process called "budget reconciliation," they can do it with just 51 votes.

The question isn't can they or should they, but will they? So right now, with all eyes on the Senate, they need to hear from voters demanding action to pass comprehensive health care reform now.

Can you send Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand a free fax right away? Just click here:

http://pol.moveon.org/fax/?tg=FSNY_1.FSNY_2&cp_id=1242&id=18771-10220574-_.RLv8x&t=5

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Ilyse, Carrie, Wes, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Transcript: Obama's State of the Union," ABC News, January 27, 2010
http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=9678572

2. "Pelosi: Obama's Health Care Appeal 'Very Powerful' And 'Helpful To Us,'" The Plum Line, January 28, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86344&id=18771-10220574-_.RLv8x&t=6

3. "Lincoln and Bayh Vow to Oppose Budget Reconciliation," The New York Times, January 26, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86347&id=18771-10220574-_.RLv8x&t=7

"Reid: 'No Rush' On Health Care," The Washington Post, January 26, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86348&id=18771-10220574-_.RLv8x&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 January 29, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court last week struck down 100 years of campaign law and opened the floodgates to unlimited campaign spending by corporations. Today, we're launching a huge new campaign to repair the damage. To get started, it'll take  3 donations from Inwood—can you chip in $5? Click here:  

Contribute now

Dear MoveOn member,

Last time, far-right Congressman Joe Wilson shouted "You Lie." Last night, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was only slightly more graceful.1

It's never been more clear that the current Supreme Court is dominated by right-wing partisans, and last week, they issued the most scandalous decision since Bush v. Gore by opening the floodgates to unlimited campaign spending by corporations.2

Today we're launching a massive new campaign to end corporate domination of American politics.

We'll demand a constitutional amendment to directly reverse the Supreme Court decision, and we'll fight for essential changes like the Fair Elections Now Act, to give small-donor-backed populist candidates a chance against the corporate big guns.

It'll be a huge fight and we need to know if we'll have the resources to proceed. It'll take $200,000 right away to start strong, and that'll take 3 donations from Inwood. Are you in? Please help with a contribution of $5 today. Click here:

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/sotu_2010.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=18757-10220574-MiU1XXx&t=3

This new tsunami of corporate money in elections is on top of the tremendous power corporate lobbyists already have on Capitol Hill—just look at health care reform to see what a few hundred million dollars from big corporations can do.3

With this Court decision, Big Insurance could spend as much as they want to support Joe Lieberman in his efforts to keep watering down health care reform. And ExxonMobil or BP can spend millions to elect candidates who oppose clean energy. It's a disastrous decision with a disastrous outcome.

That's why we're launching a major new campaign to break the stranglehold that corporate influence has over our politics, and over all of President Obama's agenda, and we're going really big. 

We'll push Congress to pass a real "fair elections" bill that will make sure politicians rely on money from real people in their home districts instead of major multi-national corporations. We'll fight to kick lobbyists out of the back room negotiations on Capitol Hill. And together we'll tackle the single biggest and best solution to the corporate corruption problem: A constitutional amendment to undo the damage of the horrible Supreme Court decision.4

Over the course of the next year we'll:

  • Expose the ties between big oil, insurance and Wall Street CEOs and politicians who stand in the way of the change Americans want
  • Invest in a major organizing effort to rally voters in every district to hold their representatives accountable for taking corporate money and then watering down critical reform
  • Launch tough ads that shine a light on the corrupting influence of corporate interests on crucial public priorities.

This is obviously an enormous challenge and, honestly, it'll take a lot of resources to run a truly strong effort. It's going to take 3 folks from Inwood today to make sure we can kick off the campaign. Can you chip in $5 today?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/sotu_2010.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=18757-10220574-MiU1XXx&t=4

Nothing less than our democracy is at stake. But together, we can begin to turn the tide.

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Kat, Adam, Ilya, and the rest of the team

P.S. Last week, MoveOn.org President Eli Pariser wrote an opinion column for The Wall Street Journal showing how corporate control of politics has dramatically limited progress in President Obama's first year—and explaining how we can fight back. Click here to read it:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86341&id=18757-10220574-MiU1XXx&t=5

Sources:

1. "Justice Samuel Alito Mouths 'Not True' During State of the Union," Politics Daily, January 28, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86336&id=18757-10220574-MiU1XXx&t=7

"Justice Samuel Alito channels Joe Wilson during State of the Union," Daily Kos, January 27, 2010 
http://www.dailykos.com/tv/w/002512/

2. "Justices Overturn Key Campaign Limits," The New York Times, January 21, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86098&id=&t=5&id=18757-10220574-MiU1XXx&t=8

"Lobbyists Get Potent Weapon in Campaign Finance Ruling," The New York Times, January 21, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86104&id=&t=6&id=18757-10220574-MiU1XXx&t=9

3. "New Lobbying Reports Show Big Business Keeps Spending to Influence Politics," Center for Responsive Politics, January 21, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86337&id=18757-10220574-MiU1XXx&t=10

4. "The Solutions: Three Ways to Curb Excessive Corporate Money in Politics," Public Citizen, accessed January 28, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86338&id=18757-10220574-MiU1XXx&t=11


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 January 28, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Return of the public option?

We can save health care reform by giving a bill with a public option a fair up-or-down vote in the Senate. Can you call Rep. McCarthy and urge her to sign a letter in support of the public option?

Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Phone: 202-225-5516


Report your call

Dear MoveOn member,

The best way to rescue health care reform is also the best chance for Democrats to prevail at the polls in November: pass a health care bill with a public option through the Senate using an up-or-down vote.

Reform with a public option has strong support in both houses of Congress, and from the majority of the American people.1 In fact, the public option is far more popular than the Senate bill that passed without it.2 But because of a few conservative obstructionists, it's been taken off the table.

Not anymore. Tomorrow, progressive champions in Congress are sending a letter urging Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring a bill with a public option to the floor through a rule called "reconciliation" that would allow it to pass with a simple majority.3

They need more signatures immediately to send a powerful message in support of a fair up-or-down vote on real health care reform. Can you call Representative Carolyn McCarthy right away and urge her to sign the "Polis-Pingree" letter supporting the public option?

Here's where to call:

Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Phone: 202-225-5516

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FHNY_04&cp_id=1243&id=18740-10220574-VuBAkVx&t=3

The letter, written by Rep. Jared Polis from Colorado and Rep. Chellie Pingree from Maine, makes the following points:4

  1. The public option is overwhelmingly popular. A December New York Times poll shows that, despite the attacks of recent months, the American public supports the public option 59% to 29%. And a recent Research 2000 poll found 82% of people who supported President Obama in 2008 and Scott Brown for Senate last week also support the public option.
  2. The public option will save billions for taxpayers. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the public option will save taxpayers anywhere from $25 billion to $110 billion and will save billions more when private insurers compete to bring down premium costs.
  3. There is strong support in the Senate for a popular public option. It is very likely that the public option could have passed the Senate, if brought up under majority-vote "budget reconciliation" rules—for which it would clearly qualify as budget-related.

Can you call Rep. McCarthy right away?

Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Phone: 202-225-5516

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FHNY_04&cp_id=1243&id=18740-10220574-VuBAkVx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

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

Sources:

1. Final vote results on passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, November 7, 2009
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml

"Senate Public Option Scoreboard," The Washington Independent, September 16, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86331&id=18740-10220574-VuBAkVx&t=5

"Most in U.S. Want Public Health Option: Poll," Reuters, December 3, 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B20OL20091203

2. "Poll: Public Option Way More Popular Than Senate Health Care Proposal," WhoRunsGov.com, December 10, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86332&id=18740-10220574-VuBAkVx&t=6

3. "House Progressives Push Reid To Put Public Option Back On Table," Huffington Post, January 27, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86330&id=18740-10220574-VuBAkVx&t=7

4. Draft letter to Sen. Harry Reid from Reps. Jared Polis and Chellie Pingree, January 27, 2010 
http://polis.house.gov/UploadedFiles/1-27_Public_Option_Letter_--_Draft.pdf

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 January 27, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

BREAKING: Passing health care?

Dear MoveOn member,

Breaking news: congressional leaders are presenting a new plan to finish comprehensive health care reform—but it's already meeting resistance from some rank-and-file Democrats.1

News reports say "it's unclear that they will have the votes to move forward."2

So we're launching a massive nationwide call-in effort today to send an overwhelming message to Capitol Hill: giving up on health care reform is not an option. Voters want their elected representatives to stand up and deliver, and the first step is passing real, comprehensive health care reform this year.

We've set a goal of making 3 calls to Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer from MoveOn members in Inwood today—can you join in?

Here's where to call:

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_2.FSNY_1&cp_id=1237&id=18722-10220574-4Q3mlZx&t=1

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Carrie, Joan, Michael, and the rest of the team

Calls needed from Inwood: 3

Sources:

1. "Dem Leaders Unite on Health Care Strategy," The Associated Press, January 25, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86321&id=18722-10220574-4Q3mlZx&t=2

2. Ibid.

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 January 26, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, January 25, 2010

No to Bernanke

Fed chair Ben Bernanke spent trillions to bail out Wall Street, but he's turning a blind eye to regular Americans. Now he's up for a second term. Can you ask Sen. Gillibrand to vote against confirming Bernanke?

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Click Here
Dear MoveOn member,

With the struggling economy topping the list of concerns for most Americans, it's clear that we need new economic leadership in Washington

Instead, President Obama has renominated Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, a holdover from the Bush administration, for another term.

Bernanke presided over the biggest Wall Street bailout in history, making trillions of dollars in loans to big banks with no oversight.1 But after taking extreme measures to save the banks, Bernanke has shown no interest in helping regular folks who can't find jobs, even though ensuring "full employment" is explicitly part of his mandate.2

The Senate is getting ready to vote on Bernanke's nomination. Can you ask Sen. Gillibrand to vote against reconfirming Bernanke as Fed Chair?

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_2&cp_id=1235&id=18698-10220574-UZ9G.ox&t=3

Bernanke has had numerous opportunities to tell Congress and the American people specifically how he'll change the Fed policies that contributed to the financial meltdown and how he'll work to clean up the mess it created. Instead, all he's offered are platitudes and inaction.

When asked what the Fed would do differently next time, Bernanke called for "better and smarter" regulation, without any explanation of what that means. He's also pushed for giving regulators more power over financial firms—but he won't acknowledge that regulators didn't use the powers they already had this time. And he won't admit that the Fed completely missed the real-estate bubble, even though many outside economists were warning of the danger it posed.3

Bernanke has also opposed a cornerstone of the administration's financial reform package: the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. He wants to keep responsibility for consumer protection where it is now: under his authority at the Fed. That idea is ludicrous—it was the Fed that refused to protect consumers from the shady subprime mortgage lenders and ripoff credit card deals that imperiled our economy.4

Finally, and perhaps most troublingly, Bernanke has completely ignored his responsibility to help fight massive unemployment. He acknowledged to Congress that there are steps the Fed could take that would "stimulate spending and output" to help our economy start growing again. But he's not interested in taking them.5

With views like this, it's clear that Bernanke is more interested in continuing business as usual than helping those who are struggling. We just can't afford to have someone like that setting economic policy. Please call Sen. Gillibrand today and ask her to vote against confirming Ben Bernanke.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

After you call, let us know here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_2&cp_id=1235&id=18698-10220574-UZ9G.ox&t=4

Thank you for all you do.

–Daniel, Noah, Ilya, Kat, and the rest of the team

Sources: 

1. "U.S. Taxpayers Risk $9.7 Trillion on Bailout Programs," Bloomberg News, February 9, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86293&id=18698-10220574-UZ9G.ox&t=5

2. "Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act," Wikipedia, January 25, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86289&id=18698-10220574-UZ9G.ox&t=6

3. "Fed Missed This Bubble. Will It See a New One?," The New York Times, January 5, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86294&id=18698-10220574-UZ9G.ox&t=7

4. "Bernanke and Geithner clash over consumer protection," CNN, July 29, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86290&id=18698-10220574-UZ9G.ox&t=8

"Why the Fed Can't Do Consumer Regulation," The New Republic, October 18, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86295&id=18698-10220574-UZ9G.ox&t=9

5. "Ben Bernanke and the Pringles Problem," Think Progress, December 18, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86296&id=18698-10220574-UZ9G.ox&t=10

"The curse of Montagu Norman," The New York Times, December 18, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86297&id=18698-10220574-UZ9G.ox&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 January 25, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Tuesday: Emergency rally in Brooklyn

Everything we've fought for hangs in the balance. So we're organizing emergency rallies to tell Democrats to stand up and fight, starting by passing real health care reform. There's one Tuesday in Brooklyn at 12:00 PM—will you come?


RSVP for the rally


Dear MoveOn member,

After one bad Senate election, most Democrats in Washington are on the verge of full-fledged retreat.

Everything we've fought for together hangs in the balance. President Obama has signaled he's open to dramatically scaling back health care reform.1 The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee says he might gut the financial reform bill to appease Republicans.2 And on top of all that, the Supreme Court just opened the floodgates of corporate cash on politics!3

We need to show Democrats that we're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore. So MoveOn members are organizing an emergency rally in Brooklyn on Tuesday to urge Democrats to show some backbone—starting with passage of a real health care reform bill.

We need a big turnout to show Democrats we're still waiting on them to deliver the change we voted for—on health care and everything else. Can we count on you to attend?

Yes, I'll be there on Tuesday at 12:00 PM

Sorry, I can't make it

The lesson from Massachusetts is that voters are angry and it's time for Democrats to stand up to corporate interests and fight for working families by passing health care reform and taking on Wall Street.

And make no mistake: Democrats still have the ability to pass health care reform and other progressive legislation. They have a larger majority in Congress than Republicans ever did under George W. Bush—and even in Massachusetts, polls show that voters continue to support a bold, populist agenda.4

But it took an unprecedented grassroots movement to elect this President and Congress—and it'll take all of us standing together now to get their attention, and get them to show some backbone.

Can you join the rally in Brooklyn on Tuesday?

Yes, I'll be there: http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=100705&id=18677-10220574-Qvbg8Dx&t=5

Sorry, I can't make it: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86107&id=18677-10220574-Qvbg8Dx&t=6

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Michael, Carrie, Lenore, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Obama Weighs Paring Goals for Health Bill," The New York Times, January 20, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86094&id=18677-10220574-Qvbg8Dx&t=7

"Democrats begin discussing smaller health care overhaul after losing Massachusetts Senate seat," The Associated Press, January 21, 2010
http://www.startribune.com/politics/82149892.html

"Obama, Dems regroup to cut back health plan," The Detroit Free Press, January 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86093&id=18677-10220574-Qvbg8Dx&t=8

"In the aftermath, Dems debate path of party," The Hill, January 20, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86095&id=18677-10220574-Qvbg8Dx&t=9

2. "Consumer Protection Agency in Doubt," The Wall Street Journal, January 22, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86108&id=18677-10220574-Qvbg8Dx&t=10

3. "Justices Overturn Key Campaign Limits," The New York Times, January 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86098&id=18677-10220574-Qvbg8Dx&t=11

"Lobbyists Get Potent Weapon in Campaign Finance Ruling," The New York Times, January 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86104&id=18677-10220574-Qvbg8Dx&t=12

4. Poll conducted by Research 2000 January 19, 2010, commissioned by MoveOn.org, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and Democracy for America
http://pol.moveon.org/brownpoll/?id=18677-10220574-Qvbg8Dx&t=13

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 January 23, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Disastrous decision for democracy

Yesterday's Supreme Court ruling allows corporations to spend unlimited money on elections. Can you sign our petition today?

Clicking here will sign your name:
"Congress must act now to make sure voters—not corporations—have control of our elections. Pass public financing to make our elections fair."

Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member,

Yesterday, the Supreme Court announced a disastrous rollback of campaign finance laws. Their 5-4 decision gives corporations free rein to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections. 

As The New York Times put it, this "opens the floodgates" for corporate money.1

It's a horrible decision. But we can undo some of the damage if Congress passes public financing of elections, which would give progressives and populists who don't have industry backing the ability to compete. 

There is already a public financing bill, the Fair Elections Now Act, with significant, bipartisan support.2 Congress, which right now desperately needs to show that it's on the side of the voters instead of corporate interests, should rush to pass it.

Will you sign our petition urging Congress to make sure our democracy represents the people, not corporations? Clicking here will add your name to this critical petition:

The petition says: "Congress must act now to make sure voters—not corporations—have control of our elections. Pass public financing to make our elections fair."  

Corporations are already running roughshod over our democracy—just look at the health care fight. But now it's actually going to get far worse.

With this Court decision, Big Insurance could spend as much as they want to support Joe Lieberman in his efforts to keep watering down health care reform. And ExxonMobil or BP can spend millions to elect candidates who oppose clean energy. It's a disastrous decision with a disastrous outcome.

Fixing the problem of corporate money in politics is a long-term fight—and public financing is the best first step. With the Fair Elections Now legislation, candidates could get off the corporate fundraising treadmill and raise enough from small donors to be seriously competitive. If this bill passes, 95% of House members would get the same or more money than they spent in 2008—and they'd still be able to raise small contributions beyond that.3

The Fair Elections Now Act is being spearheaded by Democrat John Larson and Republican Walter Jones in the House. And it's already won the support of a wide range of good-government groups who want to see Congress doing the work of the people.

This is our best chance ever to advance the cause of public financing for fair elections. The idea's been proven in numerous states. And with this Supreme Court decision, members of Congress are getting nervous about having to compete against a wave of corporate cash. Change is now possible.

Can you sign our petition today urging Congress to pass public financing? Clicking here will add your name:

Thank you for all you do.

–Kat, Daniel, Stephen, Wes, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Justices Overturn Key Campaign Limits," The New York Times, January 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86098&id=18673-10220574-km8u2jx&t=5

"Lobbyists Get Potent Weapon in Campaign Finance Ruling," The New York Times, January 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86104&id=18673-10220574-km8u2jx&t=6

2. "Fair Elections Are the Answer to Citizens United," The Huffington Post, January 11, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86099&id=18673-10220574-km8u2jx&t=7

3. Common Cause analysis of Federal Election Commission filings from 2008

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 January 22, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Emergency campaign

Obama and some Democrats in Congress are considering scaling back health care in the wake of Tuesday's election. So we're launching an emergency campaign—starting with a national newspaper ad—to save reform. Will you add your name to our ad urging Democrats to deliver real health care reform with a public option? 

Add your name to the ad

Dear MoveOn member,

Tuesday's election was a shock. But the aftermath was even worse: President Obama and some Democrats in Congress are now considering scaling back health care reform.1

That would be a huge mistake. We saw on Tuesday that voters don't feel like Washington is delivering on the change they voted for in 2008.Caving on health care reform will only make that worse.

So we're launching an emergency campaign to save real health care reform. The first step is running full-page ads in national newspapers with thousands of names of folks calling on Democrats to step up and pass strong health care reform. Will you add your name to the ad today? Just click the link below.

http://pol.moveon.org/bold/?id=18657-10220574-87dJ5vx&t=2

We're still writing the ad, but it'll say something like: We want the change we voted for in 2008, but Democrats aren't delivering. It's time to stand up to corporate interests and fight for us—starting with passing a strong health care reform bill, not scaling back.

It's clear voters still want real change—but are disappointed with Washington's failure to deliver. A poll of Massachusetts voters shows just that:3

  • 82% of Obama supporters who voted for Brown support the public option, as do 86% of Obama voters who stayed home.

  • 57% of Obama voters who stayed home on Tuesday support the Senate health care bill or think it doesn't go far enough.

  • And of Obama voters who cast a ballot for Brown, nearly half (49%) support the Senate bill or think it does not go far enough. Just 11% think it goes too far. 

Democrats could take the election's message to heart and redouble their efforts for real change. Instead, too many, including the president, are shrinking back.

But even with one less Democrat in the Senate, they've got more than enough votes to finish reform. Through a process called "budget reconciliation," they only need 51 votes to pass a bill, not 60. 

As our ad will point out, this could be their chance to pass an even stronger bill, including the popular public option. With reconciliation, Democrats would no longer be beholden to conservatives like Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson.

But with some Democrats learning exactly the wrong lesson from Tuesday, we need to speak up to save real health care reform. 

Will you add your name to the ad urging Democrats to fight for real reform with a strong public option?

http://pol.moveon.org/bold/?id=18657-10220574-87dJ5vx&t=3

Thank you for all you do.

–Kat, Laura, Eli, Carrie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Obama Weighs Paring Goals for Health Bill," The New York Times, January 20, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86094&id=18657-10220574-87dJ5vx&t=4

"Democrats begin discussing smaller health care overhaul after losing Massachusetts Senate seat," The Associated Press, January 21, 2010
http://www.startribune.com/politics/82149892.html

"Obama, Dems regroup to cut back health plan," The Detroit Free Press, January 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86093&id=18657-10220574-87dJ5vx&t=5

"In the aftermath, Dems debate path of party," The Hill, January 20, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86095&id=18657-10220574-87dJ5vx&t=6

2. Poll conducted by Research 2000 January 19, 2010, commissioned by MoveOn.org, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and Democracy for America 
http://pol.moveon.org/brownpoll/?id=18657-10220574-87dJ5vx&t=7

3. Ibid.

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 January 21, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Massachusetts

Click here to sign the petition:
"Voters want real change. It's time for the Democratic Party to stop siding with corporate interests and start fighting for working families."

Sign the petition

Dear MoveOn member,

Watching a conservative Republican replace Ted Kennedy in the Senate is simply devastating.

But as bad as the news is this morning, there's actually one reason to be hopeful.

For the last year, most Democrats in Washington have let lobbyists and corporate interests run roughshod over the people's business. Wall Street got bailouts. Bankers got bonuses. Big Insurance rewrote the health care bill. Meanwhile, ordinary Americans continue to struggle to make ends meet.

But now, finally, Democrats know they need to change course to win back voters' confidence. The question is, will they learn exactly the wrong lesson? Will they give up on change altogether? Drop health care reform? Follow the lead of conservatives like Joe Lieberman and Evan Bayh and embrace "Republican-lite"? 

We need to make sure Democrats don't get it wrong this time. It's time to demand that they start truly fighting for working families. Pass real health care reform. Rein in Wall street. Take on the banks and special interests that stand in the way of change.

Clicking here will add your name to the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/timetofight/o.pl?id=18649-10220574-9N7Bosx&t=3

The petition says, "Voters want real change. It's time for the Democratic Party to stop siding with corporate interests and start fighting for working families."

If last night's election result proves anything, it's that voters are angry, and they want politicians who'll stand up for them. So along with this petition, we'll be delivering pitchforks—that time-honored symbol of populist rage—to the White House and every Democratic member of Congress. (Don't worry, they're made of plastic.)

And if Democratic leaders want to show that they're serious about helping regular folks, they can join with the progressives in Congress who are already leading the fight for bold change. But first they're going to have to take on those in their own party who think it's more important to protect corporate profits.

The first step is to ignore the talking heads and pass a strong health care reform bill that would force big insurers to compete with a public health insurance option—even if that means they have to use the special reconciliation process to pass legislation without 60 votes in the Senate.

And then to win in November, Democrats need to show they're serious about restarting the economy by creating millions of new jobs—and crack down on the Wall Street banks that got us into this mess with tough new rules to stop their predatory behavior.

Voters need to see Democrats fighting for them. It won't be easy, and it will mean ignoring the corporate lobbyists who represent banks, insurance companies, and Big Oil. But that's the point.

Clicking here will add your name to the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/timetofight/o.pl?id=18649-10220574-9N7Bosx&t=5

Thanks you for all you do.

–Justin, Carrie, Kat, Michael, and the rest of the team


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 January 20, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Clean Air Act for sale?

Can you call Sen. Schumer? Tell him: "Vote no on the Murkowski amendment to block President Obama from enforcing the Clean Air Act's limits on global warming pollution."  

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542


Report your call
Dear MoveOn member,

Tomorrow, the Senate is expected to vote on a bill to block the Clean Air Act's limits on global warming pollution.

Now, it's been discovered that the sponsor of the bill, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, received nearly $250,000 in campaign contributions from the electric utility industry last year—and let one of the top utility industry lobbyists literally write the bill to roll back the Clean Air Act.1

Can you call Senator Charles Schumer? Tell him to vote no on the Murkowski amendment to block President Obama from enforcing the Clean Air Act's limits on global warming pollution. Here's where to call:

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1&cp_id=1228&id=18633-10220574-jgDG9Ix&t=2

At stake is a crucial section of the Clean Air Act that requires limits on global warming pollution. If the Murkowski Clean Air Act rollback passes, nearly all the progress that President Obama has made on global warming would be overturned.2

Ethics watchdogs like the Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Public Citizen, and the Alaska Public Interest Research Group have raised serious questions about the appearance of corruption in the writing of Sen. Murkowski's bill.3

Sen. Murkowski is the top recipient of campaign donations from the electric utilities in the entire Congress, and former Bush administration official Jeffrey Holmstead is one of their top lobbyists.4 Two of Holmstead's biggest clients—Southern Company and Duke Energy—are among Sen. Murkowski's top contributors.5 And Federal Election Commission reports show that PACs for six other Holmstead clients and Holmstead's lobbying firm pumped money into Murkowski's campaign as well.6

"This is the sort of pay-to-play politics that makes Americans so suspicious of our elected leaders," said Melanie Sloan, Executive Director of the Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

We can stop this, but we have to fight back now. Please call Senator Charles Schumer and tell him to vote no on the Murkowski amendment to block President Obama from enforcing the Clean Air Act's limits on global warming pollution. Here's where to call:

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1&cp_id=1228&id=18633-10220574-jgDG9Ix&t=3

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Eli, Laura, Kat, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Top Industries: Lisa Murkowski," OpenSecrets.org, accessed January 15, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86012&id=18633-10220574-jgDG9Ix&t=4

"Lobbyists helped Murkowski write bill to limit EPA," Anchorage Daily News, January 11, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86015&id=18633-10220574-jgDG9Ix&t=5

"Murkowski and her lobbyist allies," The Washington Post, January 11, 2009 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85992&id=18633-10220574-jgDG9Ix&t=6

2. "Murkowski Guns for the Clean Air Act," EarthJustice, January 13, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86018&id=18633-10220574-jgDG9Ix&t=7

3. "Lobbyists played major role in Sen. Murkowski's proposal," Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, January 14, 2010
http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/43864

"The Price to Pollute," Public Citizen, January 14, 2010
http://citizenvox.org/2010/01/14/the-price-to-pollute/

"Murkowski and the Big Money Lobbyists," Alaska Public Interest Research Group, January 14, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86035&id=18633-10220574-jgDG9Ix&t=8

4. "Electric Utilities: Top Recipients," OpenSecrets.org, accessed January 15, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86016&id=18633-10220574-jgDG9Ix&t=9

"Smoke Screen," Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, December 12, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86031&id=18633-10220574-jgDG9Ix&t=10 [PDF]

5. "Top 20 Contributors: Lisa Murkowski," OpenSecrets.org, accessed January 15, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86032&id=18633-10220574-jgDG9Ix&t=11

6. "Contributions Received By Lisa Murkowski for US Senate," Federal Election Commission, accessed January 15, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86034&id=18633-10220574-jgDG9Ix&t=12

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 January 19, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Visa takes a cut of your generosity

Clicking here will sign your name:
"Credit card companies shouldn't be getting rich off of Americans' generosity. They should waive all fees on charitable contributions from today on."

Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member,

As the tragedy in Haiti unfolds, Americans are generously donating millions of dollars to aid organizations.

But when Americans donate to charity with their credit cards, the credit card companies get rich. In some cases they keep 3% of the donation as a "transaction fee," even though that's far more than it costs them to process the donation.

It's outrageous and wrong—and it needs to stop. 

Can you sign this petition to the CEOs of the major credit card companies demanding that they waive their processing fees for all charitable donations? Clicking here will add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/nofees/o.pl?id=18607-10220574-eOZRmMx&t=3

The petition says: "Credit card companies shouldn't be getting rich off of Americans' generosity. They should waive all fees on charitable contributions from today on."

The credit card companies are trying to get ahead of this story, announcing they will temporarily waive the fees they charge on some Haiti-related charitable contributions for the next 6 weeks. But that's nowhere near enough. Many emergency donations to Haiti will still get hit with hefty bank fees. (To give a sense of how limited the exemption is, Doctors Without Borders isn't on any of the publicly available lists of charities that won't be charged fees.)2

 

All American credit card companies should announce that they will waive ALL fees on charitable contributions, starting today, and going forward for good. This isn't about helping political organizations like MoveOn, just helping true charitable organizations.  

It's the right thing to do, and honestly, it's the least they could do after the role they played in crashing the entire global economy last year.

But they won't do it unless they know how angry Americans are that they're profiting off of this terrible tragedy. Click here to sign the petition, which we'll deliver to the heads of the major credit card companies:

http://pol.moveon.org/nofees/o.pl?id=18607-10220574-eOZRmMx&t=5

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Kat, Peter, Lenore, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "As Wallets Open For Haiti, Credit Card Companies Take A Big Cut," The Huffington Post, January 14, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86028&id=18607-10220574-eOZRmMx&t=6

2. "Some Card Fees Waived for Haiti Aid," The New York Times, January 14, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86030&id=18607-10220574-eOZRmMx&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 January 16, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Last chance

Democrats in Washington could finalize the health care bill as soon as tonight—and with several key issues left to decide, they need to hear from progressives right away. Can you call Rep. McCarthy right away?

Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Phone: 202-225-5516

Report your call

Dear MoveOn member,

Today could be our last chance to push for key fixes in the final health care bill. News is that a final deal on the bill could come as soon as tonight.1 

But several major issues are still up in the air. First, whether insurance will be truly affordable for all Americans—both bills require folks to have insurance, but as of now the subsidies aren't sufficient to make it affordable for all. And second, whether the new health insurance exchange will be run by the states, or nationally—the far stronger structure in terms of efficiency, competition, and keeping insurance companies honest.2 

Many House progressives are pushing hard for these key fixes and others, like the public option, in the final bill.3 But with Senate conservatives opposed to just about any improvements, it's going to take a real show of support from voters to win these fixes.

Can you call Rep. McCarthy right away? Tell her to fight for a final health care bill with a national exchange that's affordable for all and includes a public option.

Here's where to call: 

Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Phone: 202-225-5516

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FHNY_04&cp_id=1231&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=3

Affordability and the form of the health insurance exchange are shaping up to be two core points of contention in the final health care bill. Here's why it's so crucial to fight to fix them:

  • Affordability: As it stands, reform could leave insurance unaffordable for some low-income and working Americans. Both bills require people to have insurance, but even with subsidies, some could have to pay up to 20% of their income on health care. That's simply unaffordable. The final bill must ensure that insurance is truly affordable for all.4

  • The health insurance exchange: In the House bill, the "exchange," a new marketplace where Americans who don't have insurance through work could choose from a variety of plans, is run nationally; in the Senate, it's state-by-state. According to experts, a national exchange is the far better structure—with a larger customer pool, it would be more efficient, help lower costs, and offer more consumer choice.5

Fixing these issues would go a long, long way toward making the final health care bill more progressive and better for all Americans. 

Of course, there are a number of other important issues yet to be decided in the final bill, from the public option to women's health. And it's crucial for all of us to keep fighting for all of these. 

Right now, though, the talk in Washington is on a small set of core issues, including affordability and the exchange. And we may have only hours to make sure Washington hears from folks like us before making crucial decisions.

Can you call Rep. McCarthy right now?

Then, please tell us you did by clicking here, so we can track the success of this campaign: 

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FHNY_04&cp_id=1231&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Ilyse, Wes, Marika, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Democrats Hope to Have Health Care Deal by Friday," CQ Politics, January 14, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86029&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=6

"Miller: CBO To Get Merged Bill In 'Couple Days'," Congress Daily, January 14, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86020&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=7

"Obama joins congressional leaders in talks to work out health-care kinks," The Washington Post, January 14, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86021&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=8

2. "Pelosi Fights for More Low Income Subsides in Healthcare," U.S. News and World Report, January 13, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86022&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=9

"Support Grows for U.S. Health Exchange," The Wall Street Journal, January 13, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86023&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=10

"The Differences Between The House And Senate Exchanges," Think Progress, January 11, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86024&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=11

"Sexy? No. Important? Yes." The New Republic, January 11, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86025&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=12

3. "Pelosi Fights for More Low Income Subsides in Healthcare," U.S. News and World Report, January 13, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86022&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=13

"Support Grows for U.S. Health Exchange," The Wall Street Journal, January 13, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86023&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=14

4. "Finishing Reform Right: Fixing affordability before the President signs a health care bill," The Now! Blog, December 22, 2009 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85867&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=15

5. "The Differences Between The House And Senate Exchanges," Think Progress, January 11, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86024&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=16

"Sexy? No. Important? Yes." The New Republic, January 11, 2010 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86025&id=18587-10220574-sfel1zx&t=17

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 January 15, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.