Tag Archives: Congress

NARAL Pro-Choice America

I know you care about stopping attacks on women’s birth control, so I wanted to make sure you heard about this.

There is a new bill in Congress that would let any boss – even the owner of a fast-food restaurant – block his employees from getting insurance coverage for birth control. It’s ridiculous!

The lawmaker behind the bill is a big supporter of the recent “Fortnight for Freedom.” This was a series of nationwide events organized by the anti-choice United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

I hope you take a moment to tell your representative that this bill cannot stand. It’s wrong to stop women from getting birth-control coverage.

http://bit.ly/MhKpsh

Thanks for getting involved!

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Support Alan Grayson for Congress

08/06/2012 Nativegrl77

The Most Anti-Christian Sign in History?

Dear carmen:

Republican Todd Long’s disgraceful bigoted attack against Alan Grayson as “The most anti-Christian Congressman that we’ve ever had in our history” continues to reverberate around the Web. Here are some more comments that have been posted online:

“I live and vote in Alan’s district. He is just the person to stand up to those Congressmen who would destroy America just to benefit the special interests who donate unlimited sums of campaign cash to Republicans. He is well-educated, has a background in the law, and willing to stand up for the average taxpayer! Last election, he was targeted by the special interest groups eager to silence him, and replaced by a puppet who marched to the Tea Party drum.” – Jim51fla

“Grayson is more a follower of Jesus Christ than any one of his critics on the right. During Grayson’s speech at the Florida Democratic Party, Alan Grayson . . . told the biblical story of Cain, who killed his brother with the jawbone of a donkey (which probably meant he wanted to blame it on the Democrats). [Alan] quoted: ‘And then when God said, “Where’s your brother?” Cain said, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” As if he had no idea. And that, [Alan said,] is actually the fundamental question that separates us from them, right? Am I my brother’s keeper? Our answer is, “Yes, we are.” We are.'” – janmb

“I love Alan Grayson. He’s observant, intelligent, outspoken, has great values and a keen moral sense, and to top it all off, he has a sense of humor. No Christian to whom Christianity is related to a code of ethics, [or related] to empathy for his or her fellow human being, to whom being a Christian is an injunction to err on the side of kindness, need ever fear Alan Grayson.” – Godipo

“Love Alan Grayson. Love his assurance, enthusiasm, courage. I seem to remember an old saying about knowing the quality of a man by the depravity of his enemies. That makes Mr Grayson the greatest man in the nation! Go Grayson! Landslide these clowns!” – hitnmyths

Widely respected blogger Howie Klein had this to say:

“The part of Long’s bizarre anti-Semitic diatribe that fascinated me was his assertion that Grayson “doesn’t believe in any of the biblical values, doesn’t believe in treating people well, doesn’t believe in uniting the country, doesn’t believe in solving problems.” I honestly cannot name another Congressman who was more in synch with Jesus’ most essential teachings than Alan Grayson. I mean, what did the Prince of Peace say about wars? Was anyone in Congress more devoted to peace than Grayson? What did Jesus say about healing the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the impoverished? Basically, Grayson did little else but work on these very issues! Unless Long is talking about some bizarre religious rites, like snake handling or whatever his crazy supporters are into, anyone examining Alan Grayson’s record would come up with the opposite conclusion– he’s the most Christian– or Judeo-Christian (or just plain ethical) Member of Congress in recent memory.”

And then there was this telephone message:

“I just spoke to Jesus on the phone and he told me that Grayson will be going back to Congress this election, and that Todd Long is going to hell.” – ProudElitist

How can we possibly let some hateful crackpot like Todd Long defeat us? How can we give someone like that any measure of control over our lives? If you haven’t done it already, it’s time to step up, be counted, and show your support at our “Beat the Bigot” contribution page. And do it now.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Stand Up for Women in D.C. and Everywhere!

07/27/2012 Nativegrl77

Stand Up for Women in D.C. and Everywhere!	Take Action!
Tell Your Representative to Stop the D.C. 20-Week Abortion Ban

And you thought the War on Women couldn’t get any worse. At a time when lawmakers are slashing funds for family planning services, blocking pay equity legislation, and targeting other programs that serve women and girls, Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) has set his sights on women who have no voting rights in Congress and can’t fight back: residents of the District of Columbia. Franks is pushing H.R. 3803, which would ban abortions only in D.C. after 20 weeks without any exceptions for rape, incest, or the mother’s health. The bill, which is modeled after a similar ban in Nebraska and several other states, passed the House Judiciary Committee on July 18. *Tell your representative to stop this heinous bill in its tracks and oppose* a full floor vote.** Franks’ bullying tactics are an act of radical cowardice. Instead of proposing this extreme legislation for the entire country, which undoubtedly would mobilize women to contact their elected officials to vote against it, Congress is imposing its will on a group of residents who lack the voting representation to fight back. In fact, Franks refused to allow Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), the duly elected, non-voting representative of the District of Columbia, to testify at the House Judiciary Committee hearing on H.R. 3803! But don’t be fooled! This legislation is a direct challenge to the constitutional protections for all women. This extreme and continued assault on women’s reproductive health will stop at nothing with the ultimate goal of turning back the clock on our constitutional rights. The War on Women, including women in our nation’s capital, needs to end now. Take Action! Urge your representative to stop H.R. 3803 from coming to a floor vote. To send a message, simply click on the “Take Action” link in the upper right corner. Then follow the instructions to compose and send your message. Follow AAUW on Twitter, and read our award-winning AAUW Dialog Blog for discussion, information, and advocacy for women and girls! Are you an AAUW member? Subscribe to *Washington Update, a members-only weekly e-mail bulletin with an insider’s view on public policy and politics news, resources for advocates and programming ideas! Subscribe today*! Take the next step to break through barriers for women and girls: Become part of the AAUW national community! Join or donate today! Have general questions about AAUW? Please contact connect@aauw.org or call 800/326-2289 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday.

~ my 2cents ...

TGIF …

07/27/2012 Nativegrl77

image from Alternet/GeneH.Bell article

In response to folks willing to comment on my blog about gun control … an attitude formed way before 2009

an article i posted about guns in – 10/2011 by mayor nutter

On 7/22/09 Congress decided to vote down this effort by 2 votes !!!!!

— It is only my opinion, but Congress should not be voting yes to allow people to carry guns across state lines … the Police should be the only people being able to cross state lines with a gun !!! and assault weapons should never never be in the hands of civilians at all

no civilian should be able to carry a gun across state lines … legally or not … this is just an absurd idea !!!

— Well, I am against hand guns because of incidents my family and friends have experienced. I am against automatic weapons because i don’t think we civilians need to have them at all. I definitely understand states rights but after the Giffords attack and what may have been said or done that led up to it is another issue to be considered . I am not an expert but i do receive newsletters and interesting articles that are meant to start a dialogue. I will admit i cringe anytime I hear states rights and while I did post an article by a Mayor I did not say he was speaking up for any citizen but what he has experienced as a Mayor. Your 2nd Amendment rights? will stay intact but the facts are what they are guns in the wrong hands kill innocent people. I don’t think the rules laws or policies State by state should be different unless there are statics to back maybe a strict process. i just feel a dialogue is needed now not later and all guns should be registered and the owner vetted …everyone. I respect your rights though i don’t understand “Government is damaging the whole country.”

— First, you assumed i wrote the article, yet the title has the Mayor’s name on it, did you even bother to read it? NO … don’t be so willing to be nasty to people unless and until or before you try and convict folks -try to get the facts … That article was written by Mayor Nutter – It says … “Listen to Philly’s top Cop Mayor Michael Nutter” …So, write a nasty letter or whatever to him. FYI – I get information that i share from various newsletters, email and subscriptions… I post most because I think some are very informative others are of topics close to me and feel need more PR , i get Petitions and some articles are meant to produce a dialogue but i find it interesting that folks feel like they assume this that or the other … don’t . I get it, you do not agree with what he wrote but it was his opinion as a Mayor. I have to say your comment was just rude and if you had read it all the way to the end, you would have seen he signed off with his full name and position.
I do not believe in concealed weapons because i (had) friends and relatives who were victims of concealed handguns and I will admit i totally want automatic weapons out of the hands of civilians.

———————————-

The article … Tell President Obama: Listen to Philly’s Top Cop … by Mayor Michael Nutter

Richard Tipton⋅

10/14/2011 at 1:19 PM ⋅ Edit

American Mayors, Police Chiefs and Sheriffs do not speak for the Citizens of this country.
The ability to carry a weapon for non-felonies and non-adults is our rights. We are more afraid of the Government (local, state and federal) than we are of criminals. Criminal damage is usually local. Government is damaging
the whole country.

educateyourselfbeforeblogging⋅

10/12/2011 at 5:26 PM ⋅ Edit

According to you, “dangerous people, including sex offenders and domestic abusers, could get a permit in one state and then carry hidden, loaded guns nationwide.” Now, read the facts for yourself:

Congress passed the first blanket prohibition on felons carrying guns in the Gun Control Act of 1968, which made it illegal for felons to possess a gun any under circumstances. The Firearm Owners’ Protection Act, passed in 1986, reinforced the ban on felons carrying guns, and also banned people who have been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment from possessing guns.

Congress later expanded federal gun control laws by passing what is commonly known as the Lautenberg Amendment, which prohibits persons who are subject to protective or restraining orders as a result of domestic violence, or who have been convicted of misdemeanor crimes involving domestic violence. Incidentally, these federal laws not only ban felons from possessing guns, but also from possessing any type or amount of ammunition.

In addition to the long-standing federal prohibition on felons possessing guns, there are also many state laws that limit the ability of a felon to legally carry a gun, some of which even predate the federal law. At one extreme, some states prohibit anyone who has been convicted of a felony, and even of certain misdemeanor crimes involving violence, from ever legally carrying a gun.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Our endorsements for your Primary ballot … Dwight Pelz, WA State Democrats

07/25/2012 Nativegrl77

By now, you’ve received your ballot for the 2012 Primary Election. Please mail your ballots by Tuesday, August 7th.

It’s important that you vote in the August Primary, even if there is not a contested race in your area. The Primary Election will be watched carefully, here in our state and nationally. It will dictate the amount of money and resources invested in our state by national committees and super PACs.

Click here to find out which candidates on your ballot we’ve endorsed, including local candidates.

Make sure to vote for these federal and statewide candidates:

Federal candidates

Senator Maria Cantwell for Senate Rick Larsen for Congress (CD2) Mary Baechler for Congress (CD4) Rick Cowan for Congress (CD5) Derek Kilmer for Congress (CD6) Jim McDermott for Congress (CD7) Karen Porterfield for Congress (CD8) Adam Smith for Congress (CD9) Denny Heck for Congress (CD10)

Statewide candidates

Jay Inslee for Governor Bob Ferguson for Attorney General Brad Owen for Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Drew for Secretary of State Mike Kreidler for Insurance Commissioner Jim McIntire for State Treasurer Craig Pridemore for State Auditor Peter Goldmark for Public Lands Commissioner Susan Owens for Supreme Court, Position 2 Steve Gonzalez for Supreme Court, Position 8

To find these endorsements and endorsements for State Legislature, go to our Personal Democratic Endorsement Finder:

http://www.wa-democrats.org/primary-endorsements

Thank you! Make sure your ballot is mailed and postmarked by August 7th.

Best,

Dwight Pelz Washington State Democrats Chair