Six senators and 16 congressmen on *our* side.

[MannyGoldstein]

Six senators and 16 House members sent a letter to the White House yesterday, asking why it seems like our Trade Representative is fighting against the EU's push to lower carbon emissions, fighting for better treatment of tar sands crude oil, the stuff that, (purely coincidentally) would come through the Keystone XL pipeline.

The letter was spearheaded by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.). The other signers are Senators Barbara Boxer, Ed Markey, Dick Durbin, Jeff Merkley, and Elizabeth Warren (who's not running, yes, we know); and Representatives John Conyers, Jr., Barbara Lee, Raúl M. Grijalva, Rush Holt, Louise M. Slaughter, Jerrold Nadler, Judy Chu, Peter DeFazio, Anna G. Eshoo, Sam Farr, Peter Welch, Alan Lowenthal, Mark Pocan, and Steve Cohen.

Thanks guys, for being on our side!

Some highlights:

We write to you today to raise our concerns about the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s position on the European Union’s Fuel Quality Directive (FQD). Recent reports suggest that USTR has pressed the European Commission to alter its proposed treatment of tar sands crude oil in the FQD. If these reports are accurate, USTR’s actions could undercut the EU’s commendable goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its transportation sectors.

...

Tar sands products have a significantly worse carbon footprint than other petroleum products... According to the Administration’s estimate [Keystone XL's output] could produce more than $70 billion in additional damages associated with climate change over 50 years, the costs of which will be partially borne by U.S. businesses and investments worldwide.

...

These reports are troubling... Given the substantial harm that tar sands crude oil poses to the climate and the United States’ long-term economic well-being, as well as the potential conflict with President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, we request that you provide us a statement of USTR’s position on the EU’s Fuel Quality Directive.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

1. Sheldon Whitehouse

needs to get on the teevee a lot! He's really done his homework on environmental and global warming issues and is fighting like hell to keep them in the forefront.

[rhett o rick]

2. It's a start. nm

[MannyGoldstein]

3. A lot better then we'd have gotten a few years ago

Probably nobody would have written the thing a few years ago.

[rhett o rick]

6. I agree. We need to push hard to get a progressive movement going now.

Of course the 2014 elections are important, but we must push now to have momentum for 2016. Those that would stifle our efforts to start the push for 2016, I am afraid are tools of the corporate status quo. They call themselves Centrist Democrats but in spite of what they call themselves, they are conservatives. They may agree with the left on social issues but they agree with the conservative ideology of strong authoritarian rule. They support Wall Street dominance.

[mountain grammy]

4. Where oh where is anyone from Colorado? Guess I'll be making a few phone calls.

My son works in a refinery in Delaware. Says they've been getting tar sands crude by tankers for months. The stuff is caustic as hell, plays havoc with all the pipes and valves. He thinks there should be an outright ban on the crap.

[Wilms]

5. ^

[bvar22]

7. The Progressive Caucus has been so marginalized by The Administration...

..that they have been reduced to writing letters to the White House.


Here is another letter to the White House from members of the Progressive Caucus.
pledging not the CUT Social Security. THis has now become a Fringe Left Issue with Democrats having to sign a letter
to protect what was once the Cornerstone of the Democratic Party,
and only a handful have the courage to stand up for it.

More than 10 days ago, Congressmen Alan Grayson and Mark Takano initiated the forthright letter, circulating it among House colleagues. Addressed to President Obama, the letter has enabled members of Congress to take a historic stand: joining together in a public pledge not to vote for any cuts in Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid.


The Progressive Caucus co-chairs, Raul Grijalva and Keith Ellison, signed the letter. So did Barbara Lee, the caucus whip. But no signer can be found among the five vice chairs of the Progressive Caucus: Judy Chu, David Cicilline, Michael Honda, Sheila Jackson-Lee and Jan Schakowsky. The letter’s current list of signers includes just 16 members of the Progressive Caucus (along with five other House signers who aren’t part of the caucus).

What about the other 54 members of the Progressive Caucus? Their absence from the letter is a clear message to the Obama White House, which has repeatedly declared its desire to cut the Social Security cost of living adjustment as well as Medicare. In effect, those 54 non-signers are signaling: Mr. President, we call ourselves “progressive” but we are unwilling to stick our necks out by challenging you in defense of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; we want some wiggle room that you can exploit.

In contrast, the House members on the short list of the letter’s signers deserve our praise for taking a clear stand: Brown, Cartwright, Conyers, DeFazio, Ellison, Faleomavaega, Grayson, G. Green, Grijalva, Gutierrez, A. Hastings, Kaptur, Lee, McGovern, Nadler, Napolitano, Nolan, Serrano, Takano, Velazquez and Waters.

The Democrats in BOLD have EARNED our support.
It is heart breaking (and disgusting) that there are only a handful remaining in what was once the Party of the Working Class that gave us the New Deal and Great Society.


You will know them by their WORKS.

DURec.