Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

a message from Governor Inslee … FCC


JayInsleeImagine driving down the highway from Seattle to Spokane when every other exit suddenly became blocked off, and the speed limit dropped by half.

That’s what the Internet would look like for the average citizen if the Federal Communications Commission proceeds with a plan to kill net neutrality this December — and it’s exactly what some are demanding right now.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, a former lobbyist for the cable industry, is pushing for new rules that would allow big telecommunications companies to create Internet fast lanes for those willing to pay a premium — and slow lanes for everyone else. That means you could be denied access to many major websites that simply can’t afford to keep up with the wealthiest tech companies.

I’m not willing to stand by and watch that happen. That’s why I’ve joined with friends from across the Northwest to demand the FCC protect our free and open Internet — and why I’m asking you to join us.

Click here to tell the FCC to reject “fast and slow lanes” on the Internet and protect innovation. Sign the petition now.

Some of the biggest tech companies in the world call our state home — but so do local up-and-comers that can compete globally thanks to the Internet. This incredible access has leveled the playing field and ensures that Washington remains a hotbed of innovation.

But if our local startups are forced to pay big bucks to have the same access as Silicon Valley behemoths, this innovation could dry up. The effect on our economy — and our future — would be devastating.

I’m not willing to let that happen — and neither is my friend Suzan DelBene. We’ve joined together with leaders like Senator Ron Wyden to demand the FCC preserve the free and open Internet you and I rely on to connect with the world.

Will you join us in demanding the FCC preserve the Internet as we know it? Click here to sign the petition now.

Thanks for your support.

Very truly yours,

Jay Inslee

New Commitment​s in Support of My Brother’s Keeper


Earlier this week, President Obama visited the Walker Jones Education Campus in Washington, D.C. to participate in a town hall with youth, and to announce new commitments in support of the My Brother’s Keeper initiative.

Find out more about the new commitments here.

As the President said during the town hall, “We want fewer young men in jail; we want more of them in college. We want fewer young men on the streets; we want more in the boardrooms. We want everybody to have a chance to succeed in America. And it’s possible if we’ve got the kind of team that we set up today.”

 

In February, as part of his plan to make 2014 a year of action focused on expanding opportunity for all Americans, the President unveiled the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential.

The Administration is doing its part by identifying programs and policies that work, and recommending action that will help all our young people succeed. Since the launch of My Brother’s Keeper, the President’s Task Force has met with and heard from thousands of Americans, through online and in-person listening sessions, who are already taking action.

Learn more at WhiteHouse.gov/My-Brothers-Keeper.

And if you haven’t already, commit to making a difference by pledging to mentor a young person in your community.

Stay Connected

Watch President Obama answer questions during this week’s town hall:

 

 

 

 Watch the President in this week's town hall.

 

The VP has the white board marker:


Over the past couple years, administration officials have picked up a marker and taken to our “White House white board” to explain how to fix our immigration system, break down how health reform helps your day-to-day life, and outline exactly what our budget’s paying for.

Today, Vice President Joe Biden is taking the pen, and he’s talking about something he knows like the back of his hand:

The current state of our country’s crumbling roads and bridges — and exactly why it’s so important to invest in them right now.

You’re going to want to watch this one. Take a look, and pass it on:

Watch the VP discuss our nation's infrastructure.

Our roads and bridges do far more than get people and goods from Point A to Point B.

A high-quality transportation system keeps jobs here in America, allows our businesses to grow, and keeps down the prices of household goods.

Our country’s infrastructure crisis isn’t a far-off problem: 65% of our major roads are rated in less than good condition. 25% of our bridges require significant repair or can’t handle today’s traffic.

It looks like Congress is going to act soon to pass a short-term resolution that would continue to fund the projects fixing our roads and bridges — but we need to solve the problem, not just kick the can down the road.

Watch the Vice President explain the need for a long-term investment, and break down exactly what our plan looks like.

Then, be sure to pass this one on.

Stay Connected

Support ~~ Amazon Watch


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You and your friends can save the Amazon!
Here’s how.
We have huge news! We’re kicking off a $50,000crowdfunding campaign to help our work in the Amazon rainforest.Crowdfunding campaigns rely onindividual supporters like you. Creating a global team of fundraisers ­is part of our commitment to increasing our capacity to meet the challenges faced in the Amazon.Take the first steps towards becoming a fundraiser. Check out our campaign page, watch our video, and create your personal profile. Then share it with your friends.

If we all come together, we’ll smash our goal. Do something meaningful this summer: Share your passion for the rainforest. Become an active Amazon ambassador by signing up and promoting this worthy cause. Will you join us?

Thank you!

Branden Barber
Branden Barber
Director of Engagement

a message from VP Joe Biden


The White House, Washington

Hey, everyone —

During his State of the Union address, the President asked me to lead an across-the-board review of our nation’s job-training programs.

It’s a top priority for the President, and it is absolutely critical to our economy’s success.

So earlier today, I put forward a roadmap for how the United States can keep and maintain the highest-skilled workforce in the world.

I’ve met with business leaders, community college presidents, governors and mayors, and most importantly, hard-working Americans who were hit hard by the Great Recession, but who are doing everything they can to learn new skills to find a decent, good-paying middle-class job.

And there was a clear consensus: We must rethink how we train today’s workers so that our programs are job-driven, teaching real skills that employers need.

We’ve heard from businesses that many jobs in today’s brightest sectors go unfilled because there simply aren’t enough people with the skills to do them. That’s not good for businesses, it’s not good for workers, and it’s not good for this country.

Some of our country’s businesses, community colleges, and state and local training programs — often supported with federal dollars — have found ways to successfully prepare Americans for these jobs. We need to make sure our entire system is learning from them.

Find out why training programs matter for middle-class Americans — and which ones around the country are working best.

We’re taking steps to improve that training, directing federal agencies to make current programs that serve more than 21 million Americans smarter, and holding training programs that use public funds accountable for making a difference.

This isn’t the only step we’re taking to make sure Americans have the skills they need, either. Today, I joined President Obama as he signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act into law. It connects more ready-to-work Americans with ready-to-be-filled jobs. And it builds on bipartisan efforts in Congress to improve business engagement and accountability. While there’s still more to do, it’s another important step in getting Americans working.

Thanks,

Vice President Joe Biden