Tag Archives: Maria Cantwell

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Protect Bristol Bay … Please sign the Petition


Bristol Bay is one of our most pristine national treasures, supporting tens of millions of returning wild salmon each year. This vibrant ecosystem is home to five salmon and trout species, which support over 14,000 fishing and tourism jobs from Alaska to Washington State.

But according to a draft report released by the Environmental Protection Agency that you may have seen in the news, a proposed large-scale Pebble Mine in the region could threaten our wild salmon and Washington jobs.

I’ve long said that protecting Bristol Bay salmon — and the thousands of jobs that rely on them — needs to be our top priority. We must base any future large-scale development decisions in the Bristol Bay watershed on sound science. With this new report, the evidence against the mine is mounting — and we need to speak out

Sign my petition today: Protecting Bristol Bay needs to be our top priority — too much is at stake!  click on the link below

Bristol Bay’s significance cannot be understated. It is home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon population, the largest king salmon run in Alaska, and almost one third of Alaska’s salmon population. The sockeye salmon run alone supports almost half of all wild sockeye on the planet. Bristol Bay also supports abundant wildlife such as 35 fish species, over 190 birds and 40 animal species.

We need to do everything we can to protect the commercial, subsistence, and recreational fishermen who rely on this sustainable fishery.

The EPA has the authority under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act to block the mine if it poses an unacceptable adverse effect on natural resources, fisheries, wildlife, waters, or recreational areas. Last year, I became the first U.S. Senator to call on the EPA to use this power if the threat to Bristol Bay’s threat to our salmon fueled coastal economy is confirmed. Will you stand with me?

Take action in support of Bristol Bay: We need to stop Bristol Bay projects that would hurt Washington jobs!

While the EPA is continuing its comprehensive investigation of the potential impact of the mine, the picture painted in this draft watershed assessment is staggering. At a minimum, the proposed mine would likely eliminate or block at least 87 miles of salmon producing streams and destroy at least 2,500 acres of wetlands.

What’s more, the mine is estimated to produce 10 billion tons of toxic mine waste as a byproduct of its operation, and even a small chance that this waste could end up in Bristol Bay is an unacceptable risk

Will you join me in showing the widespread support for protecting our Bristol Bay salmon?

Sign my petition: Make it clear that Bristol Bay’s fish and wildlife need to come first!

So far, the evidence confirms what Alaska and Washington fishermen feared: that the world’s largest salmon fishery cannot co-exist with large-scale mining.

We need to do all we can to make sure the waters of Bristol Bay come first, and Washingtonian voices are heard in this process. Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,

Maria Cantwell  U.S. Senator

P.S. After you’ve signed my petition, please forward this email to five friends so that they can take action in support of Bristol Bay, too!

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Women of Valor …Maria Cantwell



  Please join U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell

  and special guests:

  U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
  U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu
  U.S. Senator Patty Murray
  U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen

  to honor Washington women making a difference in our community at the

  2012 Women of Valor Awards

Wednesday, February 22
  12:00-1:30

The Sheraton Seattle
  1400 6th Ave.
  Seattle, WA

  Individual tickets are available at the following levels:

  $1,000 Gold Seating Level
  $250 Silver Seating Level
  $150 General Seating

Click here to RSVP    http://action.cantwell.com/page/m/7fcfc442/671abd81/7293067a/13f9a6dc/1367322313/VEsH/

 If you have any questions, please contact Joanna at Joanna@Cantwell.com or (206) 285-2012.

 Thank you so much for your continuing support!

 Maria

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Can you call Senator Cantwell?


Please call Senator Cantwell and tell her…  “Don’t vote for a budget that makes cuts to education, health care, and Social Security, and puts corporations and millionaires above hardworking Americans.”

I never wanted a handout.

I just wanted to get my nursing degree and build the life I’ve dreamed of. I wanted to provide my daughter with the opportunities that my mother couldn’t give me when I was growing up.

That’s my dream, but I’m afraid my dream is about to die.

Republicans are trying to cut the financial aid I rely on to pay my tuition. Last year, as a student, I couldn’t find steady work and earned less than $4,500. If my financial aid is taken away from me, I won’t be able to afford to get my nursing degree.

Once again I’m going to have to choose between paying rent or buying diapers, between having heat or having enough food for my family to eat. Can you imagine the pain involved in making those choices?

Can you help save my dream? The Senate is on recess, and Senator Maria Cantwell is home in Washington. Can you call her in her district office in Everett, and ask her to vote against any budget that makes cuts to education, health care, and Social Security, and puts corporations and millionaires above hardworking Americans like me?

Here’s where to call:

Senator Maria Cantwell

Everett office: 425-303-0114

I recently got a part-time job at Walmart and with that money, along with my student aid, I’m now able to cover all my expenses. I even had enough money to get new glasses for the first time in six years. I’ve struggled to get this far, but I finally feel like I’m going to be able to make a good life for myself and my daughter.

Please, don’t let the Republicans take all this away from me. You see, the cuts they want to make aren’t abstract. And they aren’t limited to student aid, either. They’re trying to cut job training, food aid to women and children, and more. Congress doesn’t seem to understand the consequences to people like me all across the country if these programs are cut.

Can you call Senator Maria Cantwell, and ask her to vote against any budget that makes cuts to education, health care, and Social Security, and puts corporations and millionaires above hardworking Americans like me?

Senator Maria Cantwell

Everett office: 425-303-0114

Thank you.

–Katryna Wade, Arkansas

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Call Sens. Cantwell and Murray: Jimmy would be proud


The Senate is getting ready to vote on a crucial reform to end the abuse of stalling tactics in Washington. So we need to make sure our senators hear right away how important this reform is to voters at home. Can you call Sens. Cantwell and Murray today and ask them to support rules reform and end the abuse of filibusters?

Senator Maria Cantwell
Phone: 202-224-3441

Senator Patty Murray
Phone: 202-224-2621


Remember when Jimmy Stewart takes the Senate floor in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington“ and refuses to cede it until he’s made his point? That’s how filibusters are supposed to work: A principled senator would stand up in the light of day to stop the majority from doing something bad.

These days, though, filibusters—the procedure that the minority party in the Senate uses to block a majority favored bill—don’t work that way. All it takes is one anonymous objection from a single senator to trigger a filibuster. In fact, in the 1960s, only 8% of all bills were blocked by a filibuster—but since 2006 that has ballooned to more than 70%.1

Now, Senators Tom Udall and Jeff Merkley are pushing for rule changes that would end the abuse of the filibuster. Those changes could come up for a vote as soon as this week. So we need to speak out right away to show how important this reform is to voters at home. Can you call Sens. Cantwell and Murray and ask them to support rules reform to end abuse of the filibuster?

Here’s where to call:

Senator Maria Cantwell
Phone: 202-224-3441

Senator Patty Murray
Phone: 202-224-2621

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSWA_2.FSWA_1&cp_id=1515&id=25709-9640874-OU6kWHx&t=3

This vote is not about ending the filibuster or crushing minority rights in government. It’s about returning our government to a more democratic and transparent process.

In the last two Congressional terms Democrats have had to overcome more than 275 filibusters—the most in history.2

Here’s what the New York Times says is on the table for rules reform:3

“No lazy filibusters. At least 10 senators would have to file a filibuster petition, and members would have to speak continuously on the floor to keep the filibuster going. To ensure the seriousness of the attempt, the requirements would grow each day: five senators would have to hold the floor for the first day, 10 the second day, etc. Those conducting the filibuster would thus have to make their case on camera. (A cloture vote of 60 senators would still be required to break the blockade.)

“Fewer bites of the apple. Republicans now routinely filibuster not only the final vote on a bill, but the initial motion to even debate it, as well as amendments and votes on conference committees. Breaking each of these filibusters adds days or weeks to every bill. The plan would limit filibusters to the actual passage of a bill.

“Minority amendments. Harry Reid, the majority leader, frequently prevents Republicans from offering amendments because he fears they will lead to more opportunities to filibuster. Republicans say they mount filibusters because they are precluded from offering amendments. This situation would be resolved by allowing a fixed number of amendments from each side on a bill, followed by a fixed amount of debate on each one.”

Please call Sens. Cantwell and Murray today and ask them to support rules reform to end abuse of the filibuster.

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Michael, Ilyse, Peter, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. “A nuclear Senate,” Los Angeles Times, December 28, 2010 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205631&id=25709-9640874-OU6kWHx&t=4

2. Reform and the Filibuster, New York Times, January 2, 2011 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205632&id=25709-9640874-OU6kWHx&t=5

3. Reform and the Filibuster, New York Times, January 2, 2011 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205632&id=25709-9640874-OU6kWHx&t=6

Want to support our work? We’re entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

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.

      •  

  • 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!