Tag Archives: Boston

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

a message from AL Franken … Repeal DOMA


Hear that sound? That’s momentum — our fight for marriage equality is building steam.

We knew the Defense of Marriage Act was discriminatory. We knew it was wrong. But an appeals court in Boston just ruled that it’s unconstitutional, too.

Meanwhile, in the wake of President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage, polls show that more and more Americans are ready for a country where the law treats all loving, committed relationships equally.

And here in Minnesota, surveys show that we have a great chance to defeat an anti-equality constitutional amendment — a victory that would be the first of its kind if we can pull it off.

This is the perfect time to help us keep building momentum by signing on to my petition to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act —   click here to add your name today!

We still have a long way to go. Change is hard — even without right-wing groups spending lots of money to stop it from happening. We’re fighting uphill — here in Minnesota and around the country.

But the momentum is on our side. It’s just a matter of time before we end marriage discrimination in America. Well, time and hard work.

A generation from now, marriage equality will be the law of the land. And you’ll be able to look back on this moment and know that you helped to build momentum in this fight — that, because of you, America is a fairer country.

Click here to help me fight for marriage equality today!

Thanks,

Al

P.S.: My ‘extra ask in the P.S.’ is even more important when we’re fighting for equality. Join in the fight to end DOMA today.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Pelosi – House Dems and Congress in the Newsroom JUNE 2012

5 Comments

It’s been more than 250 days since the GOP took control of the House, and Americans are still asking: Where are the jobs, House Republicans?

The middle class is hurting, and the Republicans’ only answer is a plan to end Medicare and give tax breaks to Big Oil and companies that ship jobs overseas.

Learn more about the legislation the House has considered this Congress:

The Republican Default Act»

H.R. 1315 – Assault on Consumer Protections»

H.R. 2560 – GOP Cut, Cap & End Medicare Act»

H.R. 2018 – Undermining Clean Water»

H.R. 1309 – Flood Insurance»

H.R. 2417 – BULB Act»

H.R. 2219 – Defense Appropriations»

H.R. 2021 – More Giveaways to Big Oil, Not Lower Gas Prices»

H.R. 672 – Ending the Election Assistance Commission (EAC)»

H.R. 2112 – FY 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill»

H.R. 2055 – FY 2012 Military Construction/VA Appropriations Bill»

H.R. 1229 & H.R. 1231 – More Gifts To Big Oil»

H.R. 1230 – A Gift to Big Oil»

Restricting Women’s Access to Health Care»

Reducing Access to Health Care For Small Businesses & Uninsured»

Reducing Access to Health Care for Young People»

Upton-Inhofe Weaken Clean Air Act»

The FAA Job Loss Bill»

DC Private School Vouchers»

HAMP Termination Act»

GOP Spending Bill»

Build America Bonds»

GOP Patients’ Rights Repeal Bill»

H.R. 359 – Placing Control of Our Elections More Squarely Into the Hands of Special Interests»

Learn more about Democratic motions the House has considered this Congress:
On certain bills, House Democrats are allowed to offer a Motion to Recommit amending the pending bill before the final passage vote. Democrats have offered many motions this Congress ranging from increasing combat pay for our troops to protecting Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Democratic Motions to Recommit in the 112th Congress»

As Speaker Boehner continues his legal boondoggle to defend the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act in the federal courts, he is batting 0 for 4. Today’s ruling in Windsor vs. U.S. marks the fourth loss for his lawyers as the court ruled that DOMA serves no rational purpose and is unconstitutional.

In Windsor vs. U.S., Speaker Boehner intervened in the case of Edie Windsor who was penalized by DOMA to the tune of $350,000 after the death of her spouse, Thea Spyer, of 44 years.

When Thea died, the federal government refused to recognize their marriage and taxed Edie’s inheritance from Thea as though they were strangers. Under DOMA, only an opposite-sex spouse who dies can leave her assets, including the family home, to the other spouse without incurring estate taxes.

Boehner’s lawyers have now intervened in 14 cases and spent over $700,000 in taxpayer funds, but have now lost four cases in a row:

February 22, 2012 – U.S. District Court in California declares DOMA unconstitutional, in Golinski v. United States, ruling in favor of Karen Golinski who sought to enroll her wife in the federal employee health plan

May 24, 2012 – U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California rules DOMA unconstitutional and held that federal tax law cannot limit the participation of same-sex married couples and domestic partners in a long-term care insurance plan in Dragovich v. U.S. Department of Treasury.

May 31, 2012 – U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston rules DOMA unconstitutional in Massachusetts v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

June 6, 2012 – U.S. District Court in New York rules DOMA unconstitutional in Windsor vs. U.S.

More background and a timeline of Speaker Boehner’s indefensible DOMA defense are available here.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Mayor Michael Bloomberg — Super Bowl ad


As you might have guessed, Boston Mayor Tom Menino and I have a friendly disagreement about who’s going to win the Super Bowl this Sunday.  But there’s one thing we agree on: America must do more to keep illegal guns off our streets.

That’s why we’ve filmed a short ad that will air during the game on Sunday – and we wanted supporters like you to be the first to see it.

We had some fun making the ad, but our message is a serious one: we can and must support the Second Amendment while keeping guns away from criminals and other dangerous people.  That’s something our 600 mayors agree on – and we know you do too.  We’re so grateful for your support.

Enjoy the game!

Mayor Michael Bloomberg

New York City

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Get your Occupy Wall Street yard sign …


Occupy Wall Street hasn’t made specific demands yet but they’ve already won their first big fight — big banks and their right-wing allies in Congress have taken notice… and they’re scared of what they see.

Occupy Wall Street has inspired occupations in hundreds of cities across the country — from Atlanta to Boston to Los Angeles. Now, it’s time to expand the fight beyond major cities and into the suburbs, the countryside — everywhere.

The problem is local occupations outside of major cities may never be able to reach the kind of critical mass that will turn heads and force elected leaders to respond. Yet small towns and rural areas standing up and getting involved is the most likely way to help build this movement to the next level.

So we’ve spent the week asking members of Occupy Wall Street and DFA what’s the best thing we could do right now to help build the movement for the long term. The answer was clear. Help us show support for Occupy Wall Street everywhere — including our own front yard. That’s why we put together “We are the 99 percent” lawn signs so Americans everywhere can join the movement.

Start your own occupation to support and grow the movement — Get an Occupy Wall Street yard sign right now.


Normally we give merchandise away for free, but yard signs are expensive.

It costs $1.29 to print each sign. It costs $2.50 to package them. It can cost up to $9.75 to ship them, depending on where you live. And when buying signs in large quantities, it costs up to $1,000 just to add a second color to the sign.

When it’s all said and done — each sign costs $13.76 to print, package and ship directly to your home. So, we’re asking for a contribution of at least $16 to help cover all the costs. If you contribute more, we’ll use the additional money raised to support our continued involvement, spreading the message, and supporting the people on the ground in New York and beyond who started this bold movement.

It’s October. In New York, Boston, and even Atlanta, Occupy Wall Street needs sleeping bags, blankets, medical supplies and so much more. Making a contribution today not only gets you a yard sign so you can show your support, it will help us deliver more of the resources that people on the ground need right now.

Get your “We are the 99 percent” yard sign right now.

Thank you for everything you do.

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Political Director
Democracy for America

P.S. Our lawyers say we need to make it clear that the total amount of your purchase is a contribution to Democracy for America under the Federal Election Campaign Act. Please contribute now and get your lawn sign today.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Last Chance: Meet President Obama


 

 

Time is running out to enter for your chance to meet — and get your photo taken — with President Obama in Boston.

Thanks to you, we’re off to a strong and aggressive start in our campaign to win back our Democratic House Majority. But we can’t let up, not even for a minute.

We’re less than $45,000 short of our goal. With stakes this high, we must keep up our record-breaking grassroots support.

Contribute $5 or more before Midnight Tonight and you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip to Boston (airfare and hotel included). You and your guest will be our guests at a dinner with President Obama, Leader Pelosi, and leading Democrats on March 8th.

Rather than support President Obama’s job-creating plan to win the future, House Republicans have voted to repeal health insurance reform and advance an extremist social agenda on behalf of their tea party supporters.

Let’s show the media and especially the Republicans just how committed we are to making this the shortest GOP House majority in history.

Thank you,

Rep. Steve Israel

DCCC Chairman