~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Weekend On The Wage

07/29/2014 Nativegrl77

Things Many Of Us Take For Granted Are Not Feasible For Those On A Minimum Wage Budget

For most of us, the weekend means taking some time to relax and do something fun after a full week of work. Maybe it’s going out to dinner, seeing a movie, watching a child’s soccer game, or traveling to visit friends or family. But for full-time minimum wage workers, there’s little if any room to afford such activities. After housing and tax expenses, full-time workers earning the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour have just $77 per week on average left for other expenses. Take a look at some of the graphics below to see how many of the things we take for granted are simply not feasible on that budget. And ask yourself, where would you cut?

Workers who make the minimum wage have little, if any, leeway in how they spend their money each week. $7.25 an hour is not enough to live on—much less enough to invest back into the community. In solidarity with these workers, leaders and activists around the country are taking the #LiveTheWage challenge, attempting to live on $77 for one week in an effort to highlight the critical need to raise the federal minimum wage. Check out Governor Ted Strickland talking and tweeting about his experience so far.

BOTTOM LINE: It’s been over five years since the last increase to the federal minimum wage. If we raise the wage to $10.10, it would lift 4.6 million Americans out of poverty and would raise the wages of 28 million Americans by a total of $35 billion dollars. That means more than just a long-awaited paycheck increase — it means more people able to go to the state fair, watch their kid’s soccer game, or see a movie every once in a while.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Mayors for #theAmericanJOBsACT ~~ PASS IT NOW

07/29/2014 Nativegrl77 3 Comments

Phil Gordon, the mayor of Phoenix, Arizona believes the American Jobs Act should be passed,

“We can’t afford to keep waiting. And the politics that are being played
not only in Washington, DC, but across the country are just devastating our
nation, our cities. And it’s important not only to put people back to work but
to train them for the 21st century.”

He is pleading with Congress – Republicans and Democrats – to pass the
American Jobs Act “right away.”

“Arizona has been hit—one of the two or three hardest states—in Phoenix in
particular—with housing, lack of conventions, tourism, lack of jobs,” Gordon
explains. “It’s time to stop talking about it, it’s time to move forward.
There’s plenty of time for everybody to do politics afterwards. But right now,
in Phoenix, we have a lot of people out of work. We have a lot of children that
are now homeless with their moms and dads that shouldn’t be.”

Kansas City Mayor Sly James Supports the American Jobs Act

The American Job Act will help James answer the one question he says the residents of his Missouri city
ask any time he leaves the office, “’Mayor, where can I get a job? Mayor can you
help me get a job? Mayor can you help my brother or my mother get a job?”’Jobs
are at the forefront of people’s minds.”

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer Supports the American Jobs Act

There’s a real sense of urgency right now. A lot of people have been out of
work for a long period of time. Their savings are gone or practically gone. So
they see where they thought they were going to be fitting in the American dream,
and saying, “that may not happen to me anymore right now.” And so there’s this
feeling of hopelessness that we’ve got to address, we can’t wait until the next
election cycle. This is something the American people need today.

America’s Mayors Are in Sync: Congress Must Work on a Bipartisan Basis to put
America Back on Track

Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, California says that the residents
of his city are united in their message to him, and to elected officials in
Washington: “Job #1 is to create the jobs they need going into the future.”

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory Supports the American Jobs Act

Mayor Mark Mallory said that he — and the citizens of his city — are “very
excited” about the possibility of the Jobs Act because the President’s plan will
enable Cincinnati to keep firefighters and police officers on the
job.Mallory specifically refers to the provisions in the Act that provide funds for
infrastructure, and says Cincinnati’s “very large, very old” Brent
Spence Bridge needs to be replaced.

Mayor of Denver: American Jobs Act an “Opportunity for all Elected Officials to
Put Aside Differences”

Mayor Michael Hancock of Denver, Colorado says there is no more important
initiative that any elected official can be focused on than “trying to get
America back to work, right now.” Hancock believes that “this Job Act is an opportunity for all elected
officials at every level but particularly here in Washington, in Congress and
the White House, to finally put aside our differences and stand again for the
people of America and begin to put them to work.”

Mayor Rawlings-Blake of Baltimore Supports the American Jobs Act

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says the country needs the American Jobs Act in order to “grow
out of this great recession.” As an older city, Baltimore has tremendous
infrastructure needs and its mayor believes the $50
billion investment in rebuilding that is a core component of the Jobs Act
will make the streets and schools of her city “safer for generations to come.”
Rawlings-Blake also applauds the Jobs Act’s focus on offering relief to small
business owners, who she says are the “backbone” of Baltimore’s economy

Governor John Kitzhaber of Oregon says that in his state,

“the American Jobs Act
will translate into almost
9,000 jobs for vital transportation, school infrastructure projects for idol
construction workers, funding for our schools and incentives for small
businesses to put people back to work.”

Most importantly. says Kitzhaber, the jobs that are
created will be “good middle income family wage jobs,” which will create a
significant economic ripple across the state. “In an economic crisis we need to
be investing in the economy–we need to be investing in job creation and I think
the American Jobs Act is exactly
what we need at the right time and certainly for Oregon and I think for
America.”

Black History

the Senate #Midterm2014Matters CONGRESS 7/29 98 days left the House

07/29/2014 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, July 29, 2014, at 10:00am.

Following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 12:00 noon, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.

At 12:00 noon, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #952, Robert Alan McDonald, to be Secretary for Veterans Affairs.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

At 2:45pm, there will a roll call vote on confirmation of the McDonald nomination, followed by several voice votes to confirm the Andre, Hoza, and Polaschik nominations.

Upon disposition of the Polaschik nomination, the Senate will turn to the consideration of the Highway and Transportation Funding Act. Senators should expect 5 roll call votes in the evening in relation to the Wyden, Carper-Corker-Boxer, Lee, and Toomey amendments and on passage of H.R.5021, as amended, if amended. Senators will be notified when those votes are scheduled.

2:45pm—1 roll call vote, 3 voice votes

Confirmation of Executive Calendar #952, Robert Alan McDonald, of Ohio, to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs (roll call vote)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #530, Larry Edward Andrea, Jr., of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #543, Michael Stephen Hoza, of Washington, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Cameroon (voice vote expected)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #899, Joan A. Polaschik, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria (voice vote expected)

TBD—5 roll call votes

Wyden amendment #3582 (text of Finance-reported bill)
Carper-Corker-Boxer amendment #3583 (Date Change and Finance Committee-reported financing provisions, with the exception of pension smoothing provisions)
Lee amendment #3584 (devolution/text of S.1702)
Toomey amendment #3585 (Exemptions – Damaged Road/Bridge reconstruction)
Passage of H.R.5021, Highway and Transportation Funding Act, as amended, if amended

2:46pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #952, Robert Alan McDonald, of Ohio, to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs;

Confirmed: 97-0

The Senate confirmed the McDonald nomination by a vote of 97-0. The Senate then confirmed Andrea, Hoza, and Polaschik nominations by voice votes.

The Senate is now considering H.R.5021, Highway and Transportation Funding Act. The Wyden-Hatch #3582, Carper-Corker-Boxer #3583, Lee #3584, and Toomey #3585 are in order prior to a vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended. The amendments and passage are subject to 60-affirmative vote thresholds. There is 1 hour for debate on each amendment and 2 hours on the bill, but we hope to yield back some time and vote in the 5-5:30pm range. Another message will be sent once we have a better idea of when the votes will occur.

TBD—up to 5 roll call votes:

Wyden amendment #3582 (text of Finance-reported bill)
Carper-Corker-Boxer amendment #3583 (Date Change and Finance Committee-reported financing provisions, with the exception of pension smoothing provisions)
Lee amendment #3584 (devolution/text of S.1702)
Toomey amendment #3585 (Exemptions – Damaged Road/Bridge reconstruction)
Passage of H.R.5021, Highway and Transportation Funding Act, as amended, if amended

5:42pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Wyden amendment #3582 (text of Finance-reported bill);

Agreed to: 71-26

6:08pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Carper-Corker-Boxer amendment #3583 (Date Change and Finance Committee-reported financing provisions, with the exception of pension smoothing provisions);

Agreed to: 66-31

6:28pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Lee amendment #3584 (devolution/text of S.1702)

Not agreed to: 28-69.

6:44pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Toomey amendment #3585 (Exemptions—Damaged Road/Bridge reconstruction)

Not agreed to: 47-50

6:58pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Passage of H.R.5021, Highway and Transportation Funding Act, as amended

Passed: 79-18

The Senate passed H.R.5021, Highway Transportation Funding Act, as amended, by a vote of 79-18. The Senate then resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2648, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations. There will be no further roll call votes tonight. There will be up to 2 roll call votes around 10:45am tomorrow.

– Cloture on S.2569, Bring Jobs Home Act, if cloture is not invoked, then

– Cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2648, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations

no more votes today

Following the cloture vote the motion to proceed to S.2648 tomorrow (2^nd vote in the 10:45am series tomorrow), the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the Akuetteh, Moritsugu, and Kennedy nominations. We expect these nominations to be confirmed by voice votes.

At approximately 10:45am (depending on how much Leader time is used), there will be up to 5 votes—we expect 2 roll call votes:

Motion to invoke cloture on S.2569, Bring Jobs Home Act (roll call), if cloture is not invoked, then
Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2648, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations (roll call)
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #535 Cynthia H. Akuetteh, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Gabonese Republic, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #783 Erika Lizabeth Moritsugu, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Confirmation of Executive Calendar #729 Richard A. Kennedy, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

WRAP UP

===================================================

Last Floor Action:
7:44:16 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on July 30, 2014.

Last Floor Action:
11:28:38 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on July 29, 2014.

10:00:29 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:34 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Blake Farenthold to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:40 A.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

11:10:11 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:53 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 29.
12:00:56 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Jeff Parish, First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, Largo, Florida.
12:01:47 P.M.		POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Messer demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Messer made a point of no quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day.
12:02:00 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Harris to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:03:35 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
12:23:46 P.M.	H. Res. 693	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 693 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4315) to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require publication on the Internet of the basis for determinations that species are endangered species or threatened species, and for other purposes.”
12:26:33 P.M.	H. Res. 693	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 693.
1:32:44 P.M.	H. Res. 693	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 224 – 192 (Roll no. 458).
1:40:13 P.M.	H. Res. 693	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 225 – 192 (Roll no. 459).
1:40:50 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
1:45:18 P.M.	H.R. 3896	Mr. Walberg moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 3896 — “To amend the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act to provide a definition of recreational vessel for purposes of such Act.”
1:45:31 P.M.	H.R. 3896	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:45:33 P.M.	H.R. 3896	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3896.
1:55:04 P.M.	H.R. 3896	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
1:55:05 P.M.	H.R. 3896	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:55:47 P.M.	H.R. 4626	Mrs. Capito moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 4626 — “To ensure access to certain information for financial services industry regulators, and for other purposes.”
1:55:54 P.M.	H.R. 4626	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:55:56 P.M.	H.R. 4626	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4626.
2:04:06 P.M.	H.R. 4626	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
2:04:08 P.M.	H.R. 4626	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:04:45 P.M.	H.R. 5062	Mrs. Capito moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 5062 — “To amend the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to specify that privilege is maintained when information is shared by certain nondepository covered persons with Federal and State financial regulators, and for other purposes.”
2:04:58 P.M.	H.R. 5062	Considered under suspension of the rules.
2:04:59 P.M.	H.R. 5062	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5062.
2:16:55 P.M.	H.R. 5062	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
2:16:57 P.M.	H.R. 5062	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:17:03 P.M.	H.R. 5062	The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
2:18:14 P.M.	H.R. 4809	Mr. Campbell moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4809 — “To reauthorize the Defense Production Act, to improve the Defense Production Act Committee, and for other purposes.”
2:18:31 P.M.	H.R. 4809	Considered under suspension of the rules.
2:18:33 P.M.	H.R. 4809	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4809.
2:36:15 P.M.	H.R. 4809	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
2:37:25 P.M.	H.R. 4709	Mr. Pitts moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4709 — “To improve enforcement efforts related to prescription drug diversion and abuse, and for other purposes.”
2:37:40 P.M.	H.R. 4709	Considered under suspension of the rules.
2:37:42 P.M.	H.R. 4709	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4709.
2:57:19 P.M.	H.R. 4709	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
2:57:21 P.M.	H.R. 4709	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:57:34 P.M.	H.R. 4315	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 693. H.R. 4315 — “To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require publication on the Internet of the basis for determinations that species are endangered species or threatened species, and for other purposes.”
2:57:39 P.M.	H.R. 4315	Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4315 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
2:58:00 P.M.	H.R. 4315	House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 693 and Rule XVIII.
2:58:01 P.M.	H.R. 4315	The Speaker designated the Honorable Rodney Davis to act as Chairman of the Committee.
2:59:02 P.M.	H.R. 4315	GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4315.
4:10:41 P.M.	H.R. 4315	An amendment, offered by Mr. Hastings (WA), numbered 1 printed in House Report 113-563 to amend Section 2 of the bill to clarify extent of disclosure policy as it relates to State law and to Department of Defense classified information.
4:10:50 P.M.	H.R. 4315	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 693, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hastings (WA) amendment No. 1.
4:15:15 P.M.	H.R. 4315	On agreeing to the Hastings (WA) amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
4:15:39 P.M.	H.R. 4315	An amendment, offered by Mr. DeFazio, numbered 2 printed in House Report 113-563 to exclude scientific information published solely in internal Interior Department publications from the definition of “best available science”.
4:15:42 P.M.	H.R. 4315	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 693, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeFazio amendment No. 2.
4:25:38 P.M.	H.R. 4315	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the DeFazio amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. DeFazio demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the amendment until later in the legislative day.
4:26:05 P.M.	H.R. 4315	An amendment, offered by Mr. Holt, numbered 3 printed in House Report 113-563 to strike a provision which automatically defines all data submitted by State, County or Tribal governments as the “best available science,” regardless of its merit.
4:26:14 P.M.	H.R. 4315	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 693, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Holt amendment No. 3.
4:37:36 P.M.	H.R. 4315	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Holt amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Holt demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the amendment until later in the legislative day.
4:38:04 P.M.	H.R. 4315	An amendment, offered by Mr. Duffy, numbered 4 printed in House Report 113-563 to require disclosure of any federal funding used by a person or a governmental or non-governmental entity in bringing a claim in a covered suit.
4:38:07 P.M.	H.R. 4315	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 693, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Duffy amendment No. 4.

4:45:51 P.M.	H.R. 4315	On agreeing to the Duffy amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
4:46:10 P.M.	H.R. 4315	UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that, pursuant to clause 6 of Rule XVIII, the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
5:14:01 P.M.	H.R. 4315	On agreeing to the DeFazio amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 188 – 227 (Roll no. 460).
5:18:51 P.M.	H.R. 4315	On agreeing to the Holt amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 204 – 215 (Roll no. 461).
5:19:14 P.M.	H.R. 4315	The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4315.
5:19:41 P.M.	H.R. 4315	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
5:19:58 P.M.	H.R. 4315	The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
5:21:15 P.M.	H.R. 4315	Mrs. Kirkpatrick moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Natural Resources.
5:21:46 P.M.	H.R. 4315	DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to require the Secretary of the Interior to consult with affected Indian tribes to ensure that the Federal trust responsibility with respect to Indian tribes is fulfilled when carrying out any provision of H.R. 4315.
5:35:30 P.M.	H.R. 4315	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 197 – 225 (Roll no. 462).
5:42:17 P.M.	H.R. 4315	On passage Passed by recorded vote: 233 – 190 (Roll no. 463).
5:42:27 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on a motion to suspend the rules, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
5:42:43 P.M.	H.R. 4809	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 4809 — “To reauthorize the Defense Production Act, to improve the Defense Production Act Committee, and for other purposes.”
5:49:17 P.M.	H.R. 4809	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 386 – 32 (Roll no. 464).
5:49:17 P.M.	H.R. 4809	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:49:30 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the Speaker’s approval of the Journal.
5:49:36 P.M.		On approving the Journal Agreed to by voice vote.
5:49:54 P.M.		Mr. Nugent filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 694.
5:50:36 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
6:02:00 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification stating that the national emergency declared with respect to the actions of certain persons to undermine the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic processes and institutions is to continue in effect beyond August 1, 2014. – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 113-142).
6:03:46 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
7:44:01 P.M.		Mr. Bentivolio moved that the House do now adjourn.
7:44:15 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
7:44:16 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on July 30, 2014.

===================================================

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Top 5 Reasons to Stand with Raul, Democratic Party

07/28/2014 Nativegrl77

Raul needs your help.

Raul is in the race of his life and he’s running against a true obstructionist.

You know, the kind that would rather shut down the government to score political points than help families in need.

We believe in Raul and in his vision for our community and nation but he needs your help today to win.

So we’ve put together our top five reasons why Raul deserves your support today.

5.) You know what you’re getting with Raul – a public servant who shares our values. He helps people and fixes problems – and as a doctor, he always has. No “put a Band-Aid on it” solutions from Raul – he promotes real answers to real issues. Click here to back Dr. Ruiz and show your support for a real problem solver.

4.) Raul is the type of leader we can be proud of. Raul fights for our values, not for big money special interests – that’s why they’re trying to defeat him. Even Ann Coulter is working to defeat Raul. Please donate $5 now to tell Dr. Ruiz you won’t let Ann Coulter seize his seat and stall our progress.

3.) Raul keeps his promises. In the summer of 1990, Raul walked from business to business in the Coachella Valley asking them to invest in their community by investing in his education at UCLA. He made a promise to come back home and serve his community as a physician. He kept his promise. Will you also invest in Raul?

2.) Raul mentors students who want to serve their communities as he has. His two requirements of his mentees: a) Show up and b) Serve the community. It’s this kind of simple, effective, and forward-looking public service that sets Raul apart. Show up for Raul.

1.) Dr. Ruiz needs your support to win this election. Raul’s opponent is another well-funded obstructionist that will hold the country hostage to push an extreme agenda. We need Raul’s voice in Washington more than ever. Click here to donate $5 or more to Dr. Ruiz’s campaign now – we need him standing for us in Congress.

Thank you,

Team Ruiz

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Demand Action … Clai Lasher-Sommers, Everytown for Gun Safety

07/28/2014 Nativegrl77

I was just 13 years old when my abusive stepfather shot me in the back. I may have survived, but there are too many women — young and old — who have died at the hands of a domestic abuser armed with a gun.

The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that the female victim will die. Five times!

We don’t have to accept this. I’m joining 20 other domestic violence advocates and survivors next week in Washington, D.C. to push our senators to support common-sense measures that would help keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and stalkers.

Are you with me? If so, click here to automatically sign the petition to your senators asking them to co-sponsor Senator Amy Klobuchar’s bill that would protect victims of abuse from gun violence.

No one should have to experience what I experienced. No domestic abuser or stalker should be able to get a gun. It’s that simple.

Sen. Klobuchar’s Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act would help fix that by prohibiting domestic abusers and stalkers from buying or having guns. Now is the time to push our senators to support the bill as our advocacy day on Capitol Hill approaches.

If you want to help save women’s lives and make our communities safer, I’m asking you to please stand with me. Automatically sign the petition now:

http://act.everytown.org/sign/klobuchar-bill

The more supporters who take action in the next few days, the more powerful our message will be on Capitol Hill next week.

Thanks for taking action,

Clai Lasher-Sommers
Keene, New Hampshire