Tag Archives: Amy Klobuchar

President Obama’s Message to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.


 

 
 
 
U.S. government officials, investors, entrepreneurs, NGO leaders, and policy makers from more than 50 countries are gathered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for the third annual summit, which was created following President Obama’s 2009 speech at Cairo University.

Hostages


ThinkProgress War Room

Another Way the GOP Favors the Wealthy Over Everyone Else

While much of the discussion around the fiscal showdown has rightly focused on the top tax rates for the wealthiest Americans, there are a lot of other very important tax issues to sort. Notably, many expanded tax credits for low-wage workers and other important tax credits, such as the American Opportunity tax credit, will disappear at the end of the year if they are not extended.

The Senate has already passed a bill extending these important tax credits as well as the current tax rates for 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses, but Republicans are holding those tax cuts hostage in order to get more tax breaks for the wealthy.

Our colleagues put together a handy infographic showing how Republican plans would impact different families.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

“New” Republican fiscal cliff offer: permanently extend tax cuts for the rich.

The public doesn’t care for Speaker Boehner’s handling of the fiscal showdown.

Rape gaffe candidate blames loss on “liberal media.”

POLL: Obama has overwhelming “mandate” to raise taxes on the rich, protect Medicare and Social Security benefits.

Liberals promise to fight any effort to raise the Medicare eligibility age.

How workers can repeal the Michigan GOP’s anti-union power grab.

Sen. Lindsey Graham’s ridiculous comments on marriage equality.

The Federal Reserve made a big move to help improve the economy.

Things in Syria are getting even worse.

Act now: Urge policymakers to take the chained CPI off the table


 

National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change
 
 
Why are policy makers thinking about cutting Social Security behind closed doors? Because it’s easier for them if you don’t really know what’s happening.

Well, the cat is out of the bag.

According to recent news reports, the chained CPI is officially on the table and gaining buzz in the current deficit reduction negotiations. If the chained CPI (a new and lower Consumer Price Index) is adopted the cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) that Social Security recipients depend on would be calculated in a new way that cuts the value of benefits each year. And no matter how Washington insiders try to spin it, it means a CUT to Social Security benefits.

Act now: Urge policymakers to take the chained CPI off the table during budget negotiations.

Need a reason to take action? How about five?

  1. The chained CPI will cut the value of benefits each year.
  2. The cuts add up — quickly. The cut in the value of benefits will be equivalent to the cost of a week’s worth of food each month by age 80 and nearly two weeks’ worth by 95 for the typical single elderly woman.
  3. The chained CPI cuts everyone’s benefits — including today’s beneficiaries — as soon as it goes into effect.
  4. It particularly hurts women because, on average, they live longer than men and are already more likely to be poor.
  5. It’s less accurate because it doesn’t account for the real increases in the cost of living the elderly face each year.

Oh, and there’s a 6th! As the White House has pointed out, Social Security isn’t the cause of our deficits. So switching the COLA to the chained CPI is just an underhanded move to balance the budget on the backs of the elderly, especially elderly women.

Your voice can make a difference! Tell your Members of Congress and President Obama that the chained CPI should NOT be part of deficit reduction talks.

Thanks for all of your support!

Sincerely,

 
Joan Entmacher   Joan Entmacher
Vice President, Family Economic Security
National Women’s Law Center
 

P.S. Are you on Facebook? Help us spread the word about what the chained CPI would really mean for women.

P.P.S. Read just one of the many news reports here.

a message from Senator Al Franken


I have an idea for how to stop the right-wing war on women: Elect more women and fewer right-wingers.
 
That’s why, in 2012, my Midwest Values PAC is standing with longtime champions like Dianne Feinstein, Claire McCaskill, Kirsten Gillibrand, and, of course, Minnesota’s own Amy Klobuchar. And it’s why we’re fighting to elect more women like Tammy Baldwin and Shelley Berkley and Elizabeth Warren to the Senate, and women like Christie Vilsack and Tammy Duckworth to the House.
 
And, just to be clear, by “standing with” and “supporting,” I mean “giving money to.” Kind of a lot of it, actually. But don’t thank me — thank your fellow MVP members. Your contributions — yes, even the little ones — are going straight to great candidates facing tough fights in 2012. Click here to make one of those contributions today!
 
Electing more women is a big part of what we need to do in 2012. But great progressives across the country — from Sheldon Whitehouse and Bernie Sanders to Sherrod Brown and Jon Tester — are on ballots this year, and MVP is right there with them.
 
The same goes for the terrific Democrats who represent Minnesota in the House — Tim Walz, Keith Ellison, and Betty McCollum. We’re there with them, too.
 
And I’m proud that MVP is fighting to take back the Minnesota legislature and defeat the anti-marriage equality ballot amendment in my home state.
 
That’s a lot of important causes. And MVP is giving out a lot of money to them. And that’s all because people like you clicked on links like this one and helped us build this organization into a powerful progressive force.
 
I want to do more — much more. I want to elect more women, support more progressive champions, win more races. But it all depends on you.
 
 
Thanks for making me look good.
 
Al
 
P.S.: I am also looking forward to employing more “extra asks” in the P.S. section of emails. But I need you to help me prove that it works. Won’t you click here to make a contribution today?

Support Senator AL Franken


With so much at stake in 2012, I’m doing everything I can to help Democrats win across Minnesota and around the country. But every time someone asks me if Midwest Values PAC (MVP) can help out another great candidate, the answer is the same: “I’ll have to ask my team.” By which I mean you.

After all, it’s your support that has made it possible for MVP to get involved in some of 2012’s most important races, supporting progressive heroes like Sherrod Brown and Kirsten Gillibrand. And, of course, we’re standing with Minnesota’s own Amy Klobuchar, Keith Ellison, and Tim Walz.

But I want MVP to be able to support even more great candidates in 2012 — which is why I’m asking you to help me help them by making a contribution of $5 or more today!

I’ll give you a perfect example: Elizabeth Warren. This progressive champion and consumer crusader is running for Senate in Massachusetts, and she’d be a powerful voice standing up to the special interests in Washington.

I’m proud to give her my endorsement — but I want to be able to do more. Your contribution to Midwest Values PAC will make it possible for me to stand with even more great candidates like Elizabeth when they need it most — so click here to donate today!

I wish I could help every single one of our party’s great candidates stand up for Medicare and Social Security, fight for good jobs and clean energy, and take on the right-wing special interests. And with the Senate majority at stake — and the House in play — there are lots of races to choose from.

I’ll keep fighting to support progressive candidates around the country no matter what. But MVP can only help if MVP members like you are there with me.

So, on behalf of all the progressives hoping MVP will be there for them: How about it? Can you contribute a few dollars to help me elect great Democrats in 2012?

Thanks for all you to do support me — and all the other great progressives out there.

Al