Politics might not be on the Thanksgiving menu, but when families and friends gather, it seems to be a side dish some of us are force fed. We want to give you something to be thankful for by making sure you’re prepared to talk about what women and families have at stake in the economy and the truth about what happened with the super-committee. Remember that the super-committee was a special committee of Members of Congress created to come up with a plan to reduce the federal deficit over the next decade. Last night, the super-committee announced that it did not reach agreement on a deficit reduction plan. To explain what this means for you — and Aunt Edith — below are a few key myths and facts. |
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MYTH: It would have been better if the super-committee reached a deal.FACT: No deal is better than a bad deal — and we were headed toward a bad deal. The fact that some members of the super-committee felt a strong enough obligation to protect the programs that women and families depend on is incredibly important. Had key safety net programs like Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare been cut in a last-minute deal, the damage could have been irreparable. For more info, check out our latest blog post: Five Reasons Why No Deal is Better than a Bad Deal. | |||
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MYTH: I heard Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare will automatically be cut.FACT: The automatic cuts do not reach Social Security, Medicaid, or many other programs for low-income Americans. Any Medicare cuts would affect payments to providers, not beneficiaries. The automatic cuts that are scheduled would affect defense and non-defense programs equally. Unfortunately, discretionary programs that specifically serve low-income people are not exempt. However, the cuts won’t start to take effect until 2013, so Congress has time make changes through the regular legislative process. | |||
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MYTH: The super-committee didn’t reach a deal and important programs were protected — so our advocacy worked! We don’t need to worry anymore.FACT: We still have lots to do. We need to work to extend federal emergency unemployment benefit programs and pass job creation measures. We need to fund the government through the rest of this fiscal year, without strings attached that limit women’s rights. And the fight to make millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share and to protect Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and other vital programs will continue. So enjoy, rest up — and join us next week. | |||
| This Thanksgiving, we could not be more grateful for the dedication of our network of activists like you, who took action to send emails and make phone calls throughout the super-committee’s deliberations.While the super-committee’s work has ended, our work for a fair economy continues. We couldn’t do it without you.National Women’s Law Center | ||||
Tag Archives: Congress
“It’s something we have to fight for”
I’d like to share a video with you. It features Mike McCarry, a 59-year-old veteran who juggles two jobs to make ends meet.
Mike talks about the veterans portion of President Obama’s jobs plan — the piece that Congress passed earlier this month thanks in part to your work, and that the President signed into law today.
But the fight for American jobs continues, and many in Congress — including almost every single Republican — still refuse to do the right thing for teachers, cops, firefighters, and middle-class families like they did for our vets.
Watch the video, then pass it along to your friends to keep the pressure on Congress:
It can be easy to get discouraged when members of Congress put party before people and block legislation that would help American families.
But you didn’t let up in the fight for our veterans’ future. The bill that went to the President’s desk for his signature today — which provides tax credits for small businesses that hire unemployed veterans — is proof that Congress can still come together and act when Americans demand it.
Here’s what’s next: After Thanksgiving, the Senate will vote on extending President Obama’s payroll tax cut, which puts $1,500 in the pockets of the typical middle-class family.
It’s the provision that Mitt Romney called a “little band-aid.” But $1,500 wouldn’t be a band-aid for me or Mike McCarry — and probably not for you either.
Our job right now is to make sure Congress does the right thing again.
Share this video with friends and family and encourage them to keep the pressure on:
http://my.barackobama.com/Vets-Jobs-Video
Thanks,
James
James Kvaal
Policy Director
Obama for America
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Monday mashup … &some News
just another rant …
Fall back y’all and we did.
The President and Mrs. Obama are at the APEC summit in Hawaii. The rest of us have to hear the continuous drone from Teapublicans who still think Americans want repeal HCR, Wall Street reform, cut Education by 20%, replace and eliminate social service programs that women, vets, older folks and the new poor use. I have to say Teapublicans in Congress must have taken a Pledge to wear earplugs in order to get through all their just say not campaign. Suffice it to say if these Teapublicans continue to go after the Middle Class Social Security Medicare/caid instead of JOBS it would definitely seem to be a recipe for trouble and likely force the USA into a double dip or deeper recession and will be the reason they will become unemployed; hopefully. I happen to think we went right into a depression what with losing 750 thousand jobs a month even before President Obama took office. The current rhetoric has absolutely nothing to do with JOBS or the Economy …If people are listening they have no intention of helping Americans unless it is on the backs of the Middle and Lower classes people …get that in your head!!! The Party of NO will be in control for about a minute and what we as Democrats need to remember is that we have to call Teapublicans out on every move they make to ruin the current President instead of focusing on and or creating Jobs. I have to say anyone with any common sense knows that the top 2% will not spend their tax cuts to create an environment so that people will be hired or create jobs and if they do it will be to outsource them for lower wages in China, Mexico etc. If you do not believe it, just tune into CNBC occasionally, and hear the words coming from various Teapublicans Ludlow and associates trot out on any given day.
I hope everyone is asking their Teapublican member of Congress what exactly the top 2% did with the Bush giveaways because it could not have been on hiring and creating jobs or we would not be in worse shape since the 2010 Midterm elections or see the mess all around us. I feel that after three years of gridlock from the Teapublican Party of No things are about to get heated within their own Family Values Platform party. Reports are and maybe Teapublicans need reminding that over 70% of Americans want to tax millionaires and billionaires, most do not want cuts to Soc.Security or Medicare, over half of us want the new Affordable Health Care Act to be law. Yet, conservative members of Congress have given themselves over to Mr. Norquist as well as the big money brothers Koch and if you start to think about it that ditch President Obama pulled us from is a whole lot closer now that we have an extreme part of Congress controlling the House of Representatives … The question is do Teapublicans care what happens to their own family friends and co-workers jobs and status in life if they continue this lemming march toward disaster?
Anyway –
“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” –George Orwell
I personally do not want to go back to colonial days we must move forward stay in the present so discrimination fails …the past fails and equal rights for all prevails.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the World. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead
Jus sayin
Other News …
Congress Returns to Negotiate Another Short-term Funding Bill
House Considers Expanding Gun-Carry Laws
Blue Cross CEO Discusses Health Care Business
House Democrats Examine Voting Law Changes
President Obama Opens APEC Summit
Grover Norquist Discusses Taxes and the “Super Committee”
News and Documentary Emmys Awarded
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Omar Samaha, FixGunChecks.org
The Fix Gun Checks tour is on its way to DC to hand-deliver more than 350,000 signatures urging Congress to fix the national gun background check system — and there’s still time to add yours.
We’ve crisscrossed 21 states and launched more than 50 public events with mayors, law enforcement and supporters like you. Now we’re sending Congress the message that it’s time to fix America’s broken background check system.
More than 10,000 Americans have been murdered with guns since the tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona that left six people dead and 13 others injured, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
It’s past time for Congress to close the loopholes that allow dangerous people to get their hands on guns. And this month, more than 350,000 Americans will send that message directly to our leaders in Congress.
Thank you for your support,
Omar
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Support the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act
Urge Congress to support local food systems, instead of subsidizing unhealthy processed foods — tell your members Congress to cosponsor Local Farms, Food and the Jobs Act !
Currently, billions of taxpayer dollars subsidize unhealthy, processed foods, while farmers who grow healthy foods work without support—but we can change that!
Leaders in Congress have introduced the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act to support local farmers and food markets. A recent UCS report found that expanding local food systems will boost local economies, create jobs, and encourage consumption of fruits and vegetables. As a bonus, these farmers are also more likely to embrace practices that protect our air, water, and soil.
With enough support, this bill could become part of the larger Food and Farm Bill, currently moving through Congress at a lightning pace.
Write to your members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act today!
Take Action Today!
Sincerely,
Jenn Yates
National Field Organizer
UCS Food & Environment Program
Be a Seed for Change 
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