Tag Archives: Carmen

to Senate: Vacation can wait


Human Rights Campaign

Tell your senators: Our troops are more important than a holiday vacation.

It takes two minutes. It’s their job to take your call – and you could help make history.

Unless we speak out right now, the Senate could put their holiday vacations before fairness and national security.

A group of pro-equality senators is calling on the Senate to stay in session until “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is repealed. But too many others want to go home before the holidays instead of staying to finish the job.

So now, it’s up to us. We’ve got to pressure wavering senators and give those supporting repeal the public backing they need to keep the Senate in business.

We can’t let the Senate close up shop without repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” But we’re running out of time – please call your senators now.

It only takes two minutes to call your senator‘s office and every senator has staff on hand to answer the phones and speak to constituents. Call your senators now:

Sen. Patty Murray at (202) 224-2621 and Sen. Maria Cantwell at (202) 224-3441.

If you don’t get through right away, try again – the phones may be overwhelmed by hateful calls from right-wing activists, but it’s crucial that your voice is heard.

  1. Call one senator’s office, and tell the staff person who answers where you live so they know you’re a real constituent.
  2. Tell them you want the senator to support staying in session for as long as it takes to pass the defense bill, which includes repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year – and that you’ll remember how they vote when they’re next up for election.
       

    • If your senator is opposed to repeal, remind them that the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff believe that if the Senate fails to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” it would leave the military at the mercy of the courts – and potentially in a state of great confusion from the law being suddenly struck down.
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  • Thank them, hang up, and make your second call to the other senator.
  • Click here to let us know you made a call – we use this information to guide our lobbying efforts, so please don’t skip it.
  • You’re not done: Save the Congressional Switchboard number – (202) 224-3121 – in your cell phone right now. Then hand it to a friend, then a co-worker, and ask them to make two calls. While you’re at it, tell your family and your Facebook friends to call as well.

    We need as many calls as possible in order to make repeal happen in 2010.

    The time for debate is over. Let’s end the discrimination and prejudice once and for all.

    I’ll be making calls too,

    Eric Alva
    Joe Solmonese
    President

    P.S. Years of work, thousands of volunteer hours, hundreds of thousands of phone calls, emails, lobby visits and town halls come down to this. Please call now, and tell everyone you know to call!

    Time to Focus on Middle Class Tax Relief


    National Women's Law Center
    Tell the Senate: Pass a Middle Class Tax Relief Package
    Struggling families and the vulnerable U.S. economy need strong, progressive tax policies. The Senate must act now!
    Register Now

    These days, every newspaper, television, and radio show seems fixated on one thing: taxes. But after so much talk and speculation, tax packages are finally moving in Congress and we need to cut through the media buzz. It’s time to focus on what’s important: tax relief for struggling families.

    At long last, the House voted for a middle class tax relief package, and we must urge the Senate to do the same.

    Just yesterday, the House of Representatives passed legislation that includes essential tax cuts for middle class families. Even more importantly, the package includes valuable refundable tax credits that help working families — like the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit. The package also allows tax cuts benefiting only the wealthiest 2% of Americans to expire as scheduled, ensuring that help is directed to those who need it most.

    The House set a good precedent and now we need the Senate to act. E-mail your Senator and ask them to pass a middle class tax relief package!

    Time is running out. These provisions, unless extended, will expire at the end of this month, leaving families out in the cold.

    Please take action today! We expect a vote in the Senate as soon as tomorrow and we need them to focus on the needs of the middle class and struggling families, not the very wealthy.

    Thank you for your support!

    Sincerely,

    Reggie Oldak Reggie Oldak
    Senior Counsel
    National Women’s Law Center

    It’s time to pass the DREAM Act


    Organizing for America

    A House vote on the DREAM Act may be coming soon — but the vote will be close.

    And in the coming days, lawmakers will be looking to their constituents to decide where they stand.

    It’s a vitally important measure. Providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented youth who serve in the military or work toward a college degree is rooted in the American principles of hard work and fairness.

    OFA supporters have made calls to key senators in preparation for the Senate vote. Now, your representative needs to hear that you support the DREAM Act — and why. Theirs could be the deciding vote.

    Will you write a letter to your representative today?

    If they’ve already been fighting for the DREAM Act, it’s important they know you have their back — and if they aren’t yet supporting it, let them know where you stand. It’ll only take a minute, and it could make all the difference.

    We’ve worked hard for this moment. For years, immigration reform advocates have fought to give undocumented youth a chance to earn their citizenship through hard work and sacrifice — and this current push for the DREAM Act represents the culmination of those efforts.

    And with the support of the President and 70 percent of Americans, the time to finish the job is now.

    With this vote, we have a chance to make sure that these youth have a shot at the American dream.

    Please write your representative now:

    http://my.barackobama.com/DreamLetters

    Thanks,

    Mitch

    Mitch Stewart
    Director
    Organizing for America

    On Friday, you bought your iPad. Today, feed the poor



    CARE -- It's Cyber Monday -- give the gift that gives back.
    Your son wants an iPad. Your daughter wants new Uggs

    Anisa wants to be able to go to school and learn to earn her way out of poverty.

    You can do something for all of them when you make a gift to CARE this holiday season.

    Make a gift in honor of your son or daughter, mom or dad, aunt or uncle. They’ll get a cool e-card — and students like Anisa will get the help they need to pay school fees in Afghanistan and around the world. You’ll get the satisfaction of doing good, plus a tax deduction. (And you also can get your kids the iPad and the Uggs!)

    Get started now.

    Sincerely,

    Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH
    President and CEO, CARE
    $49 can send a girl like Hadia to school for a year so she can learn and chart her way out of poverty... $62 can train a community health worker like Elida to provide lifesaving care to pregnant mothers... $125 can help 10 families like Scherlande's receive emergency kits following a natural disaster.

    F

    we just want to thank you …from CARE


    CARE

    I hope you can take a moment to watch my special video message. This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for all the support you’ve shown to the girls and women that CARE works with in poor countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe

    Watch my special video message

    On behalf of everyone here at CARE, thank you again, and warmest wishes to you and your loved ones this Thanksgiving.

    Sincerely,

    Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH
    President and CEO, CARE