| Here are stories published today. |
| Q&A on consumer protection | 2011-01-05 |
| A presidential adviser talks about new consumer safeguards that will take shape in 2011. |
Hold Republicans accountable for their health care repeal vote.
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Make Republicans own their opposition to popular health care reforms.
In a tip of the hat to radical Tea Party extremists who helped elect them, Republicans in the House will vote next Wednesday to repeal President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. This symbolic vote has virtually zero chance of success, as it is unlikely to pass in the Senate. And even if it does, there’s no way Republicans could overcome Obama’s veto. House Democrats should use this opportunity to send a strong message. If Dems fight back fiercely against this inane repeal vote, they can force Republicans to publicly oppose the bill’s broadly popular reforms. Republicans who support repeal should be forced to vote in favor of denying insurance to children with pre-existing conditions or expanding health care coverage for young adults. Republicans are already trying to shut down debate, and prevent Democrats from offering amendments to protect popular provisions of the bill. Republicans used such amendments successfully when they were in the minority, and now Democrats should follow suit and do everything they can to force Republicans to take painful votes. At CREDO, we worked hard for a stronger health care bill and fought to the end for the public option. Our position has always been in favor of single payer health care and our members were deeply disappointed when Democrats caved on the public option, essentially compromising on a position which was already a compromise. But repealing the bill won’t do anything to make it stronger — in fact it will reverse provisions that help tens of millions of Americans get affordable health insurance. And it will actually increase the size of the deficit. If Dems fight back, they can seize the opportunity they failed to embrace before — clearly and powerfully framing this issue, as, in the words of Rep. Anthony Weiner: “Republicans are against a lot of things, but they are for kicking young Americans off their parents’ insurance plans, for reinstating copayments for preventive measures like cancer screenings, and for denying children coverage based on preexisting conditions.”1 If Republicans want shine a spotlight on their rejection of these popular health care reforms in order to pledge allegiance to Tea Party extremism (to say nothing of Big Pharma and the health insurance giants who would profit from repeal), that’s their problem — or it will be, if we make sure our Democratic representatives stand up and fight back against the health care repeal vote next Wednesday. Thank you for fighting for affordable health care. Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager 1 The Washington Post, January, 3, 2011 |
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Sign up to be a NOM Watcher!
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Don’t believe the lies:
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We’re reaching out to you directly because you already may be familiar with NOM Exposed, the project of the Human Rights Campaign and Courage Campaign dedicated to revealing the truth about the so-called National Organization of Marriage. Chances are you’ve read our posts on NOM’s leading role in the states, or caught our latest video trying to get NOM’s required federal tax returns.
You signed onto “NOM Doesn’t Speak for Me!” – a vehicle we’re using to let lawmakers and the media know how out-of-touch and radical NOM really is. But now, with marriage battles looming in 2011, and with NOM promising to wage war on LGBT families, we need your help.
We need eyes and ears on the ground, to make sure that we fully document the hostile, anti-gay environment NOM helps create. We must hold NOM and its followers accountable and alert both the media and voters to their radical ties and agenda.
This fringe group is gearing up to undo marriage equality in states where it is currently legal and to stop marriage in other states where it could become legal. These people won’t give up until marriage equality is banned nationwide.
That’s where you come in. Become a “NOM Watcher.” We’re looking for people from all walks of life to report on and help us challenge NOM activities in the states. Check out our new tracker map to see where NOM might be next. In the coming weeks, we’ll be providing specific steps you can take locally as a NOM Watcher.
Thanks for your engagement. We can all play a role in calling out homophobia and protecting our families.
Thanks,
Joe Solmonese
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Make them debate
The Senate is broken. Republicans have perverted its rules so that a 60-vote supermajority is needed to pass virtually anything.
Now we have a chance to reform the Senate rules and get it working for the people again. Last month, all 53 Democratic Senators signed a letter saying they supported rules reform that returned the filibuster to its original form, forcing Senators to hold the floor and talk for hours if they want to block legislation.
Call your Democratic Senators right now and tell them to support rules reform that fixes the filibuster:
1-877-426-8013
Thank you for everything you do.
-Charles
Charles Chamberlain, Political Director
Democracy for America
Democracy for America relies on you and the people-power of more than one million members to fund the grassroots organizing and training that delivers progressive change on the issues that matter. Please Contribute Today and support our mission.
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N.C. Commissioner James says, “Homosexuals are sexual predators”
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While most Americans celebrated the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Bill James, a County Commissioner in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, used it as an opportunity to bash LGBT people.
“Homosexuals are sexual predators,” James wrote. “Allowing homosexuals to serve in the U.S. military with the endorsement of the Mecklenburg County Commission ignores a host of serious problems related to maintaining U.S. military readiness and effectiveness, not the least of which is the current Democrat plan to allow homosexuals (male and female) to share showers with those they are attracted to.”
It’s not the first time Commissioner James has used his spot on the County Board to promote anti-gay bigotry. During debate over a domestic partnership bill, Commissioner James called homosexuality a “crime against nature” that should be prosecuted by police.
And last year, Commissioner James turned to a colleague whose son died from complications from AIDS, and called the son “a homo.” He then compared homosexuality to alcoholism, and argued that all gay people bring AIDS on themselves.
We can’t let this kind of hate speech by public officials go unanswered – and we have a chance in the next few days to do something about it.
Right now, the rest of the county commission is publicly debating whether to censure James. Condemnation by the commission would send a strong signal that bigotry by elected officers holds no place in our society.
Thousands of people from Mecklenburg and around the country already speaking out. Join them by signing the petition to the Mecklenburg County Board and tell them to censure James for his anti-gay attacks:
Thanks for taking action,
The Change.org team
Be a Seed for Change 
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