ACTION ALERTS 3-17: DU THESE, PLEASE!!!

[Liberty Belle]

ACTION ALERTS: MARCH 17, 2005


Please take action on as many of these important issues as you can. This week, 5 Republican Senators joined with Democrats to pass a resolution opposing privatization of Social Security. The “Clear Skies” pro-polluter bill failed to pass out of committee. When we stand together, we can make a difference—with your help!

Don't forget to type "kick" when you're done to keep this at the top, so everyone can help. Thanks!



From True Majority:
OPPOSE BUDGET CUTS FOR SAFETY NETS

Congress is debating the budget this week and may vote on it by Friday.

President Bush's 2006 budget cuts funding for some of the most vital social programs we have, like Head Start, low-income housing assistance and special education. Budget decisions show what we value as a nation—and what we're willing to spend our money on. But this budget is not compassionate. That's why March 8 has been designated National Call-In Day for the budget. A coalition of groups, including True Majority, The Children's Defense Fund and the National Coalition on Human Needs, is sponsoring call-in efforts to senatorial offices. To participate, just call [phone] and tell the operator what state you live in. Then, tell the receptionist that you want your senator to support programs that help those in need and provide a social safety net. For talking points, or to send an e-message to your senator instead, click here. ACT NOW

http://www.kintera.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=irKQL0NSE&b=405697&action=1919&template=x.ascx



TWO GOOD PLANS FOR THIS WEEKEND: JOIN A PEACE VIGIL AND HELP IMPEACH BUSH

JOIN A PEACE VIGIL:

EVENTS PLANNED MARCH 18-20 DURING 2nd ANNIVERSARY OF IRAQ INVASION

Two weeks ago, Sojourners sent out a call to action to organize peace vigils during the weekend of March 18-20 to mark two years of deadly war in Iraq. You answered that call. Since then, more than 300 vigils have been organized throughout America and around the world. We must keep the fire burning. We are setting a goal of organizing more than 1,000 vigils across the country, and only YOU can make it happen.

Hosting a vigil can be as easy as burning candles and offering prayers at a local street corner or town hall, including a special prayer for peace in your Sunday worship service, or reading the names of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians who have lost their lives. We are making a special invitation to returning soldiers to join us in a lament for lives lost.

We will also help you organize! Sojourners has put together a comprehensive toolkit containing ecumenical and interfaith worship resources, vigil litanies, and ideas for further community action (available through the above link). Once you sign up, your event will be listed on Sojourners' Web site and members of your community will be able to locate it by using our easy event-finder. . .

Since March 19, 2003, more than 1,500 U.S. soldiers have been killed in this second Gulf war, as well as thousands of Iraqis. U.S. citizens have suffered on the domestic front, as crucial domestic programs that benefit low-income families have been threatened by President Bush's proposed budget cuts. The already-ballooning national deficit has swelled to compensate for the cost of war. Join us in our cry for peace!

»Search and RSVP for a vigil in your area

(Note: In San Diego, protest march is planned for 3/19. Meet at 2pm , 6th and Laurel at Balboa Park)



IMPEACH BUSH EFFORTS COORDINATED WITH PEACE RALLIES:

We are urging all of those who are part of the impeachment movement to participate and bring the message of impeachment with signs and banners to the hundreds of local demonstrations that will be taking place on March 19/20, the second anniversary of the beginning of the criminal war against Iraq.

Between March 19 and April 3, Congressional representatives are scheduled to be back in their home district. It has never been more important for all people of conscience to hold demonstrations and rallies, and to lobby those representatives in their home districts during the March 19 - April 3 period. We are certain that impeachment activists from around the country will join us in organizing activities in the March 19 - April 3 period. Please notify the VoteToImpeach / ImpeachBush.org campaign about your local activity, and send in a report and photos, to [email protected]







From the Friends Committee on National Legislation:
STOP TORTURE BY PROXY


The Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act (HR 952) introduced by Rep. Ed Markey (MA-7) would establish a mechanism to prohibit U.S. operatives from engaging in the shameful pratice called “extraordinary rendition” – ie, seizing people without charging them and sending them overseas to be tortured. Ask your representative to cosponsor this important bill. Just enter your zip code here to take action:

http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=7187431&type=CO


From Velvet Revolution:

JOIN THE VELVET REVOLUTION! ASK VOTING MACHINE COMPANIES TO DIVEST FROM PARTISAN INTERESTS

Velvet Revolution has launched the Divestiture for Democracy campaign. VR sent etters to the nine major vote machine companies (Diebold, ES&S, equoia, MicroVote, TriadGSI, HartInterCivic, Danaher-Guardian, UniLect, and Advanced Voting Solutions) asking that they voluntarily agree to have voter-verified paper ballots for all votes cast, open software and hardware that is independently analyzed, no networking, no staff involvement in partisan elections, polices for release of requested documents, and other steps designed to make election results trusted once again.

Representative John Conyers has endorsed this campaign. But Velvet Revolution believes these companies have an obligation to act now, since they have received our tax dollars. With enough pressure from millions of people concerned about Democracy, VR hopes to achieve real electoral changes. Here’s how you can help:

Go to http://www.velvetrevolution.us/campaigns/dv4d/ and fill out the form to send letters to all nine companies with one click

· Send a letter to Congress telling them that you want paper ballots, open software and non-partisan election officials at www.velvetrevolution.us



If these steps don’t work in 60 days, VR will launch its next phase of the campaign for divestiture and boycott to put these companies out of business forever.


From the ACLU:

URGE YOUR SENATORS TO PROMOTE OPEN GOVERNMENT

Responding to a disturbing new trend toward government secrecy, new legislation has been introduced to ensure government transparency, and needs your support.

Recent scandals around torture and prison abuse have demonstrated that government employees and officials must be accountable to the public. As members of the public, we have the right and responsibility to know what is happening in our government, and to know what the government is doing about any problems.

Yet the current Administration has blocked reasonable requests for information relevant to a wide range of issues. Without timely and appropriate access to information about the government activity, we cannot stay properly informed and involved in our nation’s governance. Contact your Senators in 2 clicks:

Take action to support openness and transparency in the federal government.

http://www.aclu.org/NationalSecurity/NationalSecurity.cfm?ID=17722&c=24



From Howard Dean:

SIGN A PETITION TO PROTECT FREE SPEECH

The Republican Senate leaders have decided to fundamentally alter the role of Congress -- they want to give George Bush unprecedented power to manipulate the legislative branch and the courts.

Today Harry Reid and the Democratic Senators asked us, the American people, to help them preserve the right of our elected representatives to speak their mind on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

We have to act. Sign this petition, which we will deliver to every U.S. Senator, asking them to protect the right to free speech in the Senate. If they don't, it is not only their voice that will be silenced -- it will be ours:

http://www.democrats.org/freespeech


From Common Cause:
DEMAND HONEST ETHICS RULES
As new scandals concerning alleged ethical violations by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) and other Members have erupted in recent days, the House Ethics Committee has become virtually powerless. The reason? Rules passed at the beginning of 2005 make it virtually impossible for the Committee to launch any investigation of unethical conduct. We are writing to ask for your help to resolve the gridlock in the Ethics Committee:
www.commoncause.org/DemandHonestEthicsRules

Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV), the senior Democrat on the Ethics Committee, is leading the charge to reject the new rules and is calling on his House colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to join him in cosponsoring a resolution that would roll back the most onerous rule changes.

We believe it is absolutely critical that members of both parties join Rep. Mollohan in overturning the controversial ethics rules in order to ensure an honest and effective ethics process. This is why we need you to urge your Member of Congress, and the House leadership, to co-sponsor the Mollohan resolution (H.Res. 131).

Details at: www.commoncause.org/DemandHonestEthicsRules


From Contest the Vote:
STOP ARNOLD FROM HOLDING AN EXPENSIVE, UNECESSARY, UNVERIFIABLE SPECIAL ELECTION
California residents: do you want your vote to count? Do you know that, if a Special Election is held in 2005, your vote could be lost or stolen by electronic means that would leave not a trace? Yes, Arnold’s boondoggle of an election would not only cost $70 million dollars--the most distressing fact is that voting in 2005 would take place on the outmoded paperless and non-voter verified electronic voting machines.

An election held early, in 2005, is much less secure than one held in 2006. A November, 2005 election would circumvent the bill passed last September by the California legislature requiring that all direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines include an accessible voter verified paper audit trail as of January, 2006. Holding a special election in 2005, before this requirement takes effect, clearly invites chaos and lack of voter confidence in the election result.

Why is Ahnold so intent on holding an election seven months prior to the regularly scheduled, more secure, June 2006 primary? Word is, he wants to circumvent yet another law, one that makes it illegal for him to raise and spend money for his initiatives closer to the time when he’s a declared candidate. Supposedly, he wants new statewide redistricting, but the timeline is so short for that, its feasibility is suspect. After all, candidates need to file their papers in early 2006, but can’t if they don’t know whether they still live in their district.

Sign Petition: http://www.npowebsite.net/ctv/ctv.asp?mode=onlinepetition




From NARAL:

TELL CONGRESS TO SUPPORT PREGNANCY PREVENTION



Could the U.S. Senate really vote against a bill that would end insurance discrimination that favors Viagra over the Pill, funds teen-pregnancy prevention programs, and educates women about the morning-after pill?

With anti-choice leaders like Sen. Bill Frist setting policy and hard-line anti-contraception activists at his side, this common-sense proposal could actually be defeated.

We need your help to make sure that Frist and his cohorts don't get their way. This week, Senators Harry Reid and Hillary Rodham Clinton, who stand on opposite sides of the abortion debate, will offer an amendment to the Senate budget to set aside $100 million for programs that will help reduce the need for abortion by preventing unintended pregnancy.

Please click here to tell your senators to vote "yes" on the Reid-Clinton prevention amendment.

It's a reasonable package that both pro-choice AND pro-life senators should be able to support. But the vote is too close to call. Your senators need to hear from you TODAY.

http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/prevention_sen_budget_031605/3k5dbn445tj5k3









From MoveOn.org:


FIGHT BUSH’S PLAN TO STACK THE COURTS
TELL YOUR SENATORS TO REJECT PRO-CORPORATE, EXTREMIST JUDICIAL NOMINEES

President Bush has just re-nominated 20 highly partisan, pro-corporate candidates for the U.S. Courts of Appeals -- the second highest courts in the land. All 20 of these nominees already have been rejected by Senate Democrats, compared to over 200 approved, because they so consistently favor special interest greed over the rights of average Americans. These judges oppose civil rights, women’s rights, environmental protections and much more. They were stopped before, they should be stopped again.

Please sign Move On’s petition asking your senators to stand firm against all 20 of President Bush’s repeat nominees to the U.S. Court of Appeals, and don’t change the rules to force confirmation.



http://www.moveonpac.org/judges/





NARAL MAKES IT EASY TO REACH CALIFORNIA’S SENATORS:



Click here to send a message to Senators Boxer and Feinstein, asking them to stand strong in their continued opposition to the President's anti-choice judicial nominees. These judges are not fit for lifetime appointments - tell our senators you support their right to filibuster. The end of the filibuster is bad for Senate procedure, regardless of party, and must not be abolished.

http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/CA_nuclear_option_US_Senators_3_9_05/3k5dbnr255ii3e









TELL CONGRESS TO BRING TROOPS HOME:



From The People's Email Network IRAQ ACTION Newsletter

Those who are pushing for continued occupation of Iraq know they cannot do so unless they can lull the American public into silence. They believe if they can downplay the casualties they won't break through the thin ice of popular support. Do they have YOUR support in this?

http://www.usalone.com/iraq.htm

In the next couple weeks there are major demonstrations planned in protest, plus the Congress will be asked to cough up yet another 80 billion dollars ($80,000,000,000.00) to be raided from every other pressing social or economic program in our already busted budget. We already know the TV cameras are controlled by people with instructions to point them away from the masses who will turn out next week, people who may have traveled many miles to make their voices heard by their presence.

That is why we are appealing for all those who care about what our government is doing in Iraq to take just a minute and one click to SPEAK OUT NOW by submitting a personal message to all their members of Congress as well, whatever other action you taking.

http://www.usalone.com/iraq.htm





TELL CONGRESS: SUPPORT THE VOTER CONFIDENCE AND INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY ACT (H.R. 550)



Representative Rush Holt of New Jersey recently introduced the "Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act" (H.R.550), an enhanced version of the bill he put forward in the last session of Congress (H.R.2239). This bill is the "gold standard" of voter verifiability legislation, incorporating not only a requirement for voter-verified paper ballots but also provisions requiring mandatory manual audits to confirm that voting machines are working properly, as well as increased security requirements,
prohibiting undisclosed software, and more.

As we did last session, VerifiedVoting.org supports this bill in the strongest possible terms, and urges its immediate passage. And although it already has over 113 co-sponsors, there are still some representatives who co-sponsored the bill last session
but have yet to co-sponsor this session's stronger bill.

Voter-verified paper ballots make it possible to recover from e-voting machine malfunctions, such as those experienced last year in California, Georgia, North Carolina, and elsewhere, without having to re-run a costly election from scratch.

Passage of this bill means that all the states and counties still seeking to purchase new voting equipment can only buy systems which can provide a voter-verified paper ballot. It is far easier and more cost-effective to start out with a verifiable system than to retrofit!

To pass quickly, voter-verified paper ballot legislation must have strong bi-partisan support. You can make the difference. Make sure your Representative--a co-sponsor on last session's H.R.2239--co-sponsors the critically important H.R.550
now. Call your Congressional representative today!

You may contact your Senators and/or Representative directly.



Senate:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm



House:

http://www.house.gov/writerep/



DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ARE ACTIVILY RECRUITING ANTI-ABORTION CANDIDATES, FORCING OUT PRO-CHOICE DEMOCRATS. TAKE ACTION!



Eleanor Smeal warns:



We have very disturbing news to report – some Democratic leaders are actively recruiting anti-abortion candidates and forcing out pro-choice Democrats!

Feminists and progressives must speak out to stop the Democratic Party from becoming "Republican-lite" on women's issues and undermining its own women candidates.

We must let the Democrats know that women will no longer be taken for granted.



Click here to take action:

http://capwiz.com/fmf1/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7199041









TELL CONGRESS: NO MORE IRAQ WAR MONEY WITHOUT A CLEAR EXIT STRATEGY

This alert is from Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan (USN, ret.), who served in combat in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam and commanded the North Atlantic fleet. We are thankful for his depth of experience and his insight as he guides TrueMajorityACTION’s national security policies:

When Congress refused to continue funding the Vietnam War, that spelled the end of the U.S. campaign there. Based on thoughtful analysis by both conservative and progressive analysts, this alert is the first step in the process of getting out of Iraq.

Next week, the House of Representatives will vote on the president's request for $82 billion to pay for the ongoing military occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. That’s a lot of money. It is enough to feed the world’s starving people for five years or more, and would save the lives of millions of kids.<1> Aside from how that money could be better spent, a toll continues to be taken on the Iraqi people, our own service members, and America's image throughout the world.

Yet even as the quagmire in Iraq worsens, Bush continues to refuse to (1) specify when we will exit the country and (2) make clear that America will not establish permanent military bases there.

If you are a TrueMajorityACTION member and you’d like to send a message (text below) to your representatives urging them to oppose the supplemental bill for Iraq unless an exit plan is included, just click "Reply" and "Send" in your email program to send your message. If this was forwarded to you or you’d like to customize the message to your congresspeople, click here:

http://www.truemajorityACTION.org/Iraqexit


PROTECT MEDICAL PRIVACY – STOP INTIMIDATION OF WOMEN!


Petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/21944

A woman's right to choose is in danger these days. In D.C. and in the states, politicians are increasingly taking control over women's private decisions, limiting birth
control options, favoring ideology over medical science, and forcing schools to teach dangerous untruths under the guise of "abstinence-only" programs.

And now, for the latest from Kansas: Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline is demanding that two abortion clinics turn over the complete medical records - including all
identifiable patient information - of close to 90 women and girls who have had late-term abortions, supposedly for criminal investigations into the legality of those abortions.

Sound familiar? Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft tried the same approach nationally last year - several federal judges struck down his subpoenas for women's
medical records, because they violated medical privacy rights laws in those states.

These tactics are nothing short of intimidation. Please sign this petition to Attorney General Kline to let him know that this invasion of medical privacy is outrageous,
and that he must stop his intimidating pursuit of women's private medical records. http://www.care2.com/go/z/21944



STOP HR 418, THE REAL ID ACT 2005

HR 418 gives the federal government total authority to override all existing laws without consequences or accountability. This comes perilously close to the enabling laws, which the German legislature passed in the 1930s, giving Hitler totalitarian powers that allowed him to waive German laws and build concentration camps.

This bill is expected to receive approval from the Judicial Committee and come up for a vote in the full Senate soon. HR 418 threatens our constitutionally protected liberties, our rights to privacy, and also has serious environmental impacts.

Sign a petition to stop this dangerous measure:

http://www.petitiononline.com/NOHR418/petition.html



STOP THE DRAFT!

On March 31, the Selective Service System will report to President Bush that it is ready to implement a draft within 75 days. We have to organize now to stop the draft before it starts.

The President has given the Selective Service System a set of readiness goals to be implemented by March 31, 2005. As part of these performance goals, the System must be ready to be fully operational within 75 days. This means we can
look for the Draft to be in operation as early as June 15, 2005.

Sign the No Draft Petition.
http://nodraftnoway.org/petition.shtml


http://www.NoDraftNoWay.org





SAVE WYOMING’S GREAT DIVIDE WILDLANDS!

The Bush administration is proposing to open over 90 percent of Wyoming's spectacular Great Divide wildlands to large-scale oil and gas drilling.

Please go to
http://www.savebiogems.org/yellowstone/takeaction.asp
right now and send a message telling the Bureau of Land Management that you oppose its destructive plan to industrialize some of America's greatest natural and cultural treasures.

The Great Divide boasts spectacular desert wildlands, sculpted badlands and one of the largest active sand dune fields in North America. It is home to one of the world's last viable wild populations of the endangered black-footed ferret,large herds of pronghorn, wild horses and rare birdlife like the ferruginous hawk and the burrowing owl.

These wide open spaces have a colorful past, being the ancestral homelands of the Shoshone and Ute peoples, the site of the Overland and Cherokee trails traveled by the pioneers and the favorite hiding places of outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

But the Bush administration's proposed plan would give only token protection to the sensitive big game winter ranges, migration corridors and important habitats for rare wildlife. And it would allow destructive industrialization of the most fragile areas.

Just as bad, the plan would not protect almost 3,000 sites cherished by Native Americans, archeologists and trails enthusiasts. Hundreds of those sites are eligible for designation on the National Register of Historic Places.

I urge you to go to
http://www.savebiogems.org/yellowstone/takeaction.asp
right now and make your voice heard in defense of the Great Divide's
irreplaceable natural and cultural treasures!
http://www.13wham.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=422B960A-26BA-4891-9E60-21C8818788D4

ASK SCHWARZENEGGER NOT TO ALLOW OIL DRILLING ON CALIFORNIAS CENTRAL COAST

Governor Schwarzenegger recently announced his support for protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of proposed wilderness on California's north coast. Now we need him to voice his opposition to oil and gas development in the Los Padres National Forest.

The Los Padres provides critical habitat for over 20 threatened and endangered species, including the California Condor. It also offers recreational opportunities to millions of Californians, clean drinking water for nearby communities, and is of cultural significance for the native Chumash people.

The US Forest Service is now considering opening vast areas of the Los Padres National Forest on California's central coast to oil and gas drilling. We need your help to urge the governor to weigh in with the Forest Service against oil drilling. Click here to send a message to the Governor asking him to join our campaign.

You can send that message immediately from
http://ga1.org/campaign/govlospadres/w6ubxxe497td3n8



FROM THE DNC: OPPOSE SOCIAL SECURITY PRIVATIZATION

On Monday, we asked you to show your support for Social Security and for Democrats who are standing up to President Bush's reckless plan to privatize Social Security. In just 24 hours, nearly 100,000 of you made your voices heard by signing the petition. Thank you for your help.

That powerful response is making a difference. But Republicans are desperate to salvage Bush's privatization plan and are pulling out all the stops to get it done.

We need your help again. Spread the word by telling your friends to join the fight and sign the petition today:

http://www.democrats.org/askfriends

Tell them about all the reasons it's so important to support Democrats who are standing up in opposition to President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security:

· Privatizing Social Security would cut guaranteed benefits by 40 percent.

· Bush's risky plan does not ensure the solvency of the program -- in fact, it would shorten the life of Social Security.

· Bush's plan would add trillions of dollars in additional debt, mostly owed to China and OPEC nations.

From AFSC:
STOP UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES
Join AFSC's Stop the CAFTA Vote Campaign Because the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) will discriminate against the poor and vulnerable, hurt workers, and stifle democracy, the AFSC is working to stop it in Congress. Supporters in Congress won't even bring CAFTA to a vote unless they are certain they can win its passage. The way to defeat CAFTA is to have your representative take a public position against it and help prevent the trade agreement from ever coming to a vote.

Click here to sign up for AFSC's Stop the CAFTA Vote campaign to stay in touch with others and help track congressional positions. We will provide you updates on CAFTA and on-going practical advice on how you can help stop it.

http://www.afsc.org/trade-matters/stop-the-cafta-vote/subscription-form.htm

Take action and help us Stop the CAFTA Vote by contacting your legislator while in their home district March 21 - April 1.
Call or write a letter to your Congressional representatives. Tell them how you feel about CAFTA and ask them to formally oppose CAFTA. If you're not sure who your representatives are, visit our web-based Congressional Directory.

More ways to help stop CAFTA at: http://www.afsc.org/trade-matters/stop-the-cafta-vote/action-alert.htm


TELL HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE TOM DELAY

Once again House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) is embroiled in a new ethics scandal that demands the immediate attention of the Ethics Committee. We need you to contact the committee members today. Urge them to investigate the new allegation that DeLay illegally accepted thousands of dollars worth of travel paid for by a lobbyist now facing criminal and congressional investigations for allegedly bilking millions of dollars from casino-operating Indian tribes…

So, please join us in calling on the following Members of the House Ethics Committee to investigate reports that DeLay illegally accepted money for lodging expenses from Abramoff, a long time DeLay ally and registered lobbyist:

· Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA): 202-225-5816

· Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL): 202-225-3515

· Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX): 202-225-4236

· Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA): 202-225-2565

· Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK): 202-225-6165

· Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV): 202-225-4172 (Ranking Minority Member)

· Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-PH): 202-225-7032

· Rep. Gene Green (D-TX): 202-225-1688

· Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA): 202-225-1766



SIGN FAITHFUL AMERICA’S PETITION:

“A VISION OF HOPE & JUSTICE FOR THE FY 2006 FEDERAL BUDGET”

…Our federal budget should reflect the values of equality, opportunity, and justice that honors the poor, supports families, and builds strong, viable communities.

The Bush Administration’s FY2006 budget is morally misguided and misrepresents the true values of the American people. It suggests that we value military might and war spending more than the poor, families, and strong, viable communities. It favors permanent tax relief for the wealthy and corporations at the expense of further burdening the poor, families, and communities with economic despair. It is a budget that eats away at the heart of the American dream by eliminating funding for programs that are certain to provide us with future opportunities, progress, and security on the home front.

Our nation’s future is in serious danger if cuts or caps to programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, job training, veterans’ health services, education, housing and community development grants, among many others, are used as solutions to reduce a projected $427 billion dollar deficit
Congress must act boldly and creatively to oppose budget cuts in human services. Speaking as God’s messenger, the prophet Amos offered these words to the people because of their misplaced focus, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24).” To be true to our values as a nation, we strongly urge Congress to reverse the destructive course our nation is on and reject the Bush Administration’s budget. The FY2006 budget should be funded by scaling back tax relief for the wealthy, closing corporate tax loopholes, and holding military and war spending in check. We call on Congress to draft and approve a budget and policies that will provide the poor, families, and communities with the tools to meet basic needs such as access to nutritious food and quality child-care, accessible and affordable housing, comprehensive and affordable health care, high quality education at every stage of life, a fair and just tax system, job creation and a livable income to sustain their future.

This positive vision for our nation is only limited by the lack of political will to make it happen. We call on Congress to Let Justice Roll!

http://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=juI1LcPZG&b=410381&en=jpJJKLMpGaIGLSPCJ9LCLUOvGfJOINNoEbILJONyEpJ1G


http://www.kintera.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=irKQL0NSE&b=405697&action=1919&template=x.ascx



From People for the American Way:

COUNT EVERY VOTE ACT!

Two weeks ago, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Rep.Stephanie Tubbs Jones and others unveiled a sweeping federal election reform bill, the Count Every Vote Act of 2005 (H.R.939/S.450). The Count Every Vote Act addresses an impressive number of the problems that Election Protection volunteers documented in 2004. People For the American Way and the Election Protection coalition advised the bill's authors after spending weeks and months poring over the incident reports and voter testimonials that Election Protection volunteers helped gather.

This is comprehensive legislation, and it deserves our whole-hearted support -- yours, your friends', your senators' and your representative's.

Please tell your members of Congress to get on board and co-sponsor the
Count Every Vote Act at:
http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=16842&action=1887



CALPIRG: TELL CONGRESS TO PASS STRONG IDENTITY THEFT LAWS


We've all read or heard the news stories about ChoicePoint. Someone fooled the company into handing over confidential information pertaining to hundreds of thousands of people. Armed with names, addresses and social security numbers, the thief had the tools necessary to steal people's identities, open up new lines of credit, and do all sorts of damage.

Thankfully, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department recently apprehended the criminal, but not soon enough. Law enforcement officials have identified approximately 750 people who have been victims of identity theft in this incident.

Please take a moment to contact your members of Congress and ask them to pass strong identity theft laws that are modeled after California's laws, and to oppose any laws that would preempt states from enacting stronger protections. Click below to email your members of Congress and to forward this email on to friends, family and co-workers so they can help too.

http://www.pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=182&id4=ES





HELP FOUND A PROGRESSIVE STUDENT INITIATIVE


Conservative organizations pump over $30 million dollars annually into programs for college students, while progressives on campus are left to fend for themselves. College students are a large untapped market for progressives.

Become a Founding Member of PSI

The Progressive Student Initiative (PSI) is an innovative nonprofit advocacy organization that will vastly increase the number of college students who identify with the Democratic Party and participate in progressive politics. PSI will illustrate to college students that their ideals of community, opportunity, and responsibility are not simply dreams divorced from the broader political world. PSI will market progressive ideas and foster political engagement by utilizing a modern, research-driven and youth-savvy approach.



Help us fight back on college campuses by becoming a Founding Member of the Progressive Student Initiative.







HELP MOVE-ON AIR A NEW AD: “WORKING RETIREMENT” ON BUSH’S SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN



View this terrific video and make a contribution at:



https://www.moveon.org/donatec4/socialsecurity.html



URGENT! PROTEST THE BANKRUPTCY REFORM BILL

(Bill is in conference committees in both houses. This is our last chance to stop it!)



The Bankruptcy Reform legislation in Congress will make it harder for low- and moderate-income individuals to get out of debt even when blind sided by sickness, divorce, or job loss. These are the very times when people are most vulnerable to credit card companies' pitches to rack up debt.

Congress is considering this legislation because the big banks and credit card companies have contributed more than $101 million to federal candidates and party committees over the last six years (a Senate cycle). Of that, 36% went to Democrats and 64% went to Republicans.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2005, there will be a Call-in to Protest the Bankruptcy Reform bill. We flooded the switchboards in December and January demanding that senators and representatives stand with Representative Conyers and oppose the certification of Ohio's votes. So many calls were made and so many faxes sent that the "800" that was once supplied to congress by the lobbyists was disconnected and debate was had on the election fraud and disenfranchisement that took place on November 2, 2004.

Well, let's flood the switchboards of the House, Senate, and White House with calls letting them know that "we're mad as hell and we aren't going to take it anymore."

Send faxes and emails, send letters, let them know that WE THE PEOPLE don’t appreciate the fact that they are voting for corporations and businesses over the rights and needs of the citizens.

Demand your representatives represent the people and not the corporations!


Find your representatives at www.congress.gov

[purji]

1. kick

:kick:

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Thanks...a couple in there that I hadn't already done!

[redqueen]

3. Kick!

:kick:

[annabanana]

4. kick

[Liberty Belle]

5. Thanks, all! Good job.