BUSINESS — BOEING LOBBIES LAWMAKERS TO KEEP PURCHASING PLANES THE PENTAGON DOESN’T WANT: Despite strong objections from the Defense Department, the House of Representatives has moved forward to fund a second engine for the F-35 fighter jet. The Pentagon says that the alternative engine is a huge waste of money and has asked Congress to jettison the program, but the House decided to fund it anyway in the 2011 defense authorization bill. The second engine is hardly the only example of wasteful defense spending from Congress: even though the Pentagon hasn’t requested any new C-17s — military transport planes — over the last four years, “Congress has appropriated $12 billion for 43 of the transport aircraft, including eight in the fiscal 2009 war supplemental spending measure and 10 in the fiscal 2010 Defense appropriations law.” As Congressional Quarterly pointed out, Congress’ insistence on funding a plane the Pentagon doesn’t want is “due in no small part to the lobbying efforts of Boeing Co., which builds the planes in California, Missouri, Georgia, Connecticut and elsewhere.” Boeing is also “belatedly lobbying for the purchase of five more C-17s at a cost of about $1.3 billion” for this year. Earlier this year, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates addressed the lobby’s influence, saying he’s “fully aware of the political pressure to continue building the C-17″ while announcing he would “strongly recommend that the president veto any legislation that sustains the unnecessary continuation.” As Pentagon officials told a Senate subcommittee this week, “it is not in the national interest to continue adding more C-17s. In our view, the production line should begin shutting down.” As the Wonk Room’s Pat Garofalo points out, “This isn’t just about the upfront cost of purchasing more planes, which is considerable. It’s about then paying to maintain the planes for years. The Pentagon actually spends $1 billion per year to maintain the 43 C-17s that it didn’t request, but received anyway.” President Obama has called the continued purchase of C-17s “waste, pure and simple.”
Tag Archives: Congress
Economic Stimulus …
The $787 Billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. Known as the economic stimulus law, it was passed to jumpstart the U.S. economy as well as to save and create more than 3.5 million jobs over the next two years.
Recovery Progress Report:
As of July 7, $403.8 billion of the $787 billion stimulus has been committed to states; $257.3 billion has been paid out.
As of July 7, $403.8 billion of the $787 billion stimulus has been committed to states; $257.3 billion has been paid out.
This website contains news conferences, hearings and Congressional debates on the stimulus as well as links to government and watchdog groups who are tracking spending.
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Haiti …6 months later
This past Monday marked six months since a devastating earthquake shook the coast of Haiti. I wanted to give you, a supporter of the Clinton Foundation and our work, a brief update on where things stand.
For the people of Haiti, each day since the earthquake is simply one more in the long process of rebuilding and reimagining their future. One step at a time, with the cooperation of the international community and through the generosity of individuals like you, they are reconstructing their country, their families, and their lives. Although recovery is not going as quickly as many of us involved in the process would like — progress is being made.
Despite the challenges, I remain committed to helping the people of Haiti build back better. Through the Clinton Foundation, as the United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti, and now as the co-chair of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission along with Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, I will continue to strive to help the Haitians build the nation that they desire and deserve.
With your support, the Clinton Foundation has provided the equivalent of $23 million worth of assistance to the people of Haiti since the earthquake in the form of grants to relief organizations, emergency supplies, and supporting the shipment and delivery of more than $16 million worth of goods, including more than 100 trucks, 14 pieces of heavy equipment, 32,680 solar flashlights, 24 tons of medicine and medical supplies, portable classrooms and educational supplies, 390,000 articles of clothing, and much more.
Additionally, the Clinton Global Initiative has facilitated over $100 million worth of commitments to help rebuild Haiti, the Clinton Health Access Initiative continues to work there to help provide access to essential health services, and recently, as a project of the Clinton Guistra Sustainable Development Initiative and Fundacion Carlos Slim, a $20 million fund for small- and medium-sized enterprises was announced to help Haitian entrepreneurs. Learn more about what’s happening in Haiti and all the Clinton Foundation’s work there.
However, the scale and the urgency of the needs on the ground continue to be enormous. Millions of people still require shelter, access to basic services like education, water and sanitation, electricity, health care, and the tools to lift themselves from poverty. We still have a long road ahead.
Months and years of work remain to help the people of Haiti realize the future they have imagined for themselves.
I intend to be there every step of the way and I offer my humble thanks to you for being there alongside me.
Sincerely,
Bill Clinton
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What does ColorOfChange.org do?
ColorOfChange.org exists to strengthen Black America’s political voice. Our goal is to empower our members—Black Americans and our allies—to make government more responsive to the concerns of Black Americans and to bring about positive political and social change for everyone.
We were heart-broken and outraged by the catastrophe that followed Hurricane Katrina. And we were devastated to realize that no African-American organization or coalition had the capacity to respond on the necessary scale.
Hurricane Katrina made it clear that our lack of a political voice has life-and-death consequences. With no one to speak for them, hundreds of thousands of people—largely Black, poor, and elderly—were left behind to die. But it wasn’t just Black folks. Poor, sick, and elderly people of every color were abandoned too. We are not alone, and when we work to protect Black lives and interests, we do the same for all who have been left behind in political silence.
ColorOfChange.org is comprised of Black folks from every economic class, as well as those of every color who seek to help our voices be heard. Our members are united behind a simple, powerful pledge: we will do all we can to make sure all Americans are represented, served, and protected—regardless of race or class.
What We Do
Using the Internet, we will enable our members to speak in unison, with an amplified political voice. We will keep them informed about the most pressing issues for Black people in America and give them ways to act. We will lobby elected representatives using email, the telephone, and face-to-face meetings. We’ll bring attention to the needs and concerns of Black folks by holding coordinated events in different parts of the country, running TV and print advertisements, and demanding that the news media cover our issues. We will also work with other groups—online efforts and other organizations that are doing related work—to magnify our impact.
When we come together and speak with one voice, we cannot be ignored.
ColorOfChange Staff
James Rucker
James Rucker is co-founder of ColorOfChange.org and serves as its executive director. Prior, James served as Director of Grassroots Mobilization for MoveOn.org Political Action and Moveon.org Civic Action and was instrumental in developing and executing on fundraising, technology, and campaign strategies. Prior to joining MoveOn, James worked in various roles in the software industry in the San Francisco and has provided coaching and technology consulting for other start-up ventures.
Gabriel Rey-Goodlatte
Gabriel Rey-Goodlatte joined ColorOfChange.org two weeks after the effort started and has played a lead role in campaign definition and execution. He serves as Campaign Director. Prior to joining ColorOfChange.org, Gabriel was a student at Bard College in New York.
William Winters
William Winters joined the ColorOfChange campaign staff in the fall of 2008, after having run political and advocacy campaigns in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. William played a key role in regional campaign work aimed at supporting justice in the case of the Jena 6, in Central Louisiana.
Dani McClain
Dani McClain joined the ColorOfChange campaign staff in the winter of 2008. Dani is a graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, and before ColorOfChange worked for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel covering education.
Former Staff
Van Jones (Co-founder, inactive)
While Van hasn’t been active in the work of ColorOfChange in recent years, we are proud of where his work las led him. After helping ColorOfChange get started in 2005, Van moved on to other pursuits. In 2007, he founded and served as the executive director of Green For All, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for low-income communities connected to the greater effort of addressing climate change. Most recently, Van served as Special Advisor for Green Jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
For ColorOfChange.org’s privacy policy, click here.
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Advancing equality means fighting abhorrent views like these every single day.
The Texas Republican Party says “Homosexuality tears at the fabric of society.” The Family Research Council says repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will increase sexual assault in the military and “undermine the religious liberties” of military chaplains.
Advancing equality means fighting abhorrent views like these every single day.
To go toe-to-toe with them – to run the full-scale campaigns it takes to win – we rely on the regular support of HRC Partners. That’s why we’re setting a new goal of 200 new monthly donors.
As the manager of the Partners program, I wanted to make it as easy as possible for you to get started. To meet that new goal we’re extending the deadline by just one more day – and, we’re even discounting our offer of a FREE HRC water bottle to the first 50 people to pledge $10 or more monthly.
I’m resending Wednesday’s message, in case you missed it. Please join us in the fight for equality. Thank you!
– Sarah
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Only hours left.
‘Til midnight only – get a free, stylish water bottle when you pledge at least $20 $10 a month! |
You can help bring change to millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people for the same price as a tank of gas or a few cups of coffee.
I’m talking about an end to workplace discrimination and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” I’m talking about marriage equality.
By midnight tonight, HRC needs 100 people like you to take their support to the next level with a monthly gift.
Why give monthly?
- It’s easy on your budget, and it goes a long way. Most of us don’t think twice about keeping the lights on or the car insured – aren’t fundamental rights just as essential?
- The enemy is relentless. Relentless, shameless and animated by hatred. The Texas GOP recently declared that gay people shouldn’t have custody of children and that performing a same-sex marriage should be punishable by jail time. It takes steady resources to go up against groups like this every day – to fight back with national grassroots pressure, direct lobbying, public education programs, election organizing, and hard-hitting media campaigns.
- Monthly giving is the right wing’s bread and butter. We need to match our opponents – gift for gift, dollar for dollar.
Now’s not the time to relent – we can’t afford to give one inch back to the radical right. Take the next step with us, and help us ensure we don’t.
Warmly,
Joe Solmonese
President
Be a Seed for Change 
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