Tag Archives: moveon.org

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AG McKenna: Oppose the unfair robo-signi​ng settlement


Dear Washington MoveOn member,

Reports are circulating that a settlement of the robo-signing case between the big Wall Street banks and the 50 state attorneys general will be announced as soon as next week. Early indications are that the settlement will amount to yet another unconscionable giveaway to the banks.

The settlement will provide too little money to homeowners, require only trivial financial penalties for the banks, distributehuge amounts of money to individuals who were NOT fraudulently foreclosed upon, and will not have sufficient enforcementmechanisms to ensure that the money banks are supposed to pay actually gets paid—all while falling far short ofcompensating actual victims for the losses they wrongfully sustained. Worst of all, early reports indicate that the settlementgrants civil and criminal immunity to the Wall Street banks and their executives.

That’s why I created a petition to Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna on SignOn.org, which says:

Oppose any settlement of the robo-signing case that provides civil or criminal immunity to banks or their executives. Instead,create a program that helps Washington state homeowners damaged by fraudulent bank processes to sue banks for full recoveryof damages and punitive awards.

Will you sign the petition? Click here to add your name, and then pass it along to your friends:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=267289&id=32771-17809870-OUgF%3Dvx&t=2

Thanks!

–Linda Brewster

The text above was written by Linda Brewster, not by MoveOn staff, and MoveOn is not responsible for the content. Thisemail was sent through MoveOn’s secure system, and your information has been kept private.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

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

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The Struggle in Wisconsin …


The struggle in Wisconsin is still ongoing, but MoveOn members like you have already played a pivotal role in fighting back against Governor Scott Walker‘s radical attack on workers’ rights.

Walker expected his budget bill to sail through, but instead, it’s sparked a national backlash and energized millions of people. And that’s thanks, in part, to you.

Since the fight began:

Thousands of Wisconsin MoveOn members attended the massive demonstrations in Madison, made calls to their state legislators, and sent almost 10,000 messages to Governor Walker, which protesters plastered all over the walls outside Walker’s office when he refused to accept them. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206612&id=26435-17809870-dEjiEix&t=1

 MoveOn members contributed more than $100,000 to the Wisconsin 14, the brave Democratic state senators who left the state to prevent Republicans from jamming through Walker’s proposal—providing them a huge boost to fight back against Republican attacks.  http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206615&id=26435-17809870-dEjiEix&t=2

 MoveOn members sent more than 260,000 statements of support to the Wisconsin 14. We delivered the statements—all 5,700 pages of them—to State Senator Chris Larson. He was thrilled to share them with his colleagues and posted on Facebook: “Thank you for standing with us! (And yes, people actually do get paper copies of those forms you fill out online. Thank you MoveOn.org).”

 MoveOn members nationwide contributed more than $445,000 to support the efforts to recall the Republican state senators who refuse to negotiate. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206613&id=26435-17809870-dEjiEix&t=4  The folks running the recall report they’re off to an amazing start, beating their signature goal in the first weekend by 35%, and they’re hugely grateful for the early fundraising.

 MoveOn members held solidarity rallies in every state capital—our biggest in years, and on just four days’ notice—to say that we are all Wisconsin and we won’t stand by while Republicans try to kill the American Dream. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206323&id=26435-17809870-dEjiEix&t=5

It’s an amazing and inspiring list. And this fight is far from over. Even if Governor Walker manages to push through his disastrous proposal, the recall efforts targeting Republicans are already off to an amazing start and several of those who support Walker could be thrown out of office as soon as June.

With similar fights happening across the country and in Washington, we’ve got a long way to go before we put the American Dream back in reach for all Americans. But Wisconsin has sparked a national uprising and given us the strength to fight back.

For the moment though, we just wanted to take the time to say thanks, for all you do.

–Daniel, Joan, Kat, Lenore, and the rest of the team

P.S. With Republicans in Washington pushing devastating federal budget cuts—to education, student loans, NPR, environmental protection, family planning, health and nutrition programs for pregnant women and small children, and more—we’re looking to highlight the stories of those who’d be affected by the cuts. If any of the Republican budget cuts would affect you or your family.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Immoral …

2 Comments

Dear MoveOn member,

It’s time to sound the alarm.

This week, Congress could cut a deal on the budget. And if Republicans get their way, billions will be cut from vital programs that millions of Americans count on—while tax cuts for the richest are protected.

But most people don’t have any idea what’s at stake—and how devastating these cuts would be to their communities—even though the cuts could take effect within weeks. So we’re launching an emergency campaign to spread the word. Republicans want to gut programs with enormous public support, and hope no one notices. So it’s up to all of us to spark a public outcry before it’s too late.

The devastating impact these cuts will have on our country—and on your community—is unprecedented. Check out the list below. If we can get it out to a million people, we can start to sound the alarm and stop the GOP. Click here to post on Facebook and Twitter, or simply forward this email.

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Peter, Carrie, Kat, and the rest of the team

Top 10 Worst Things about the Republicans’ Immoral Budget

The Republican budget would:

1. Destroy 700,000 jobs, according to an independent economic analysis.

2. Zero out federal funding for National Public Radio and public television.

3. Cut $1.3 billion from community health centers—which will deprive more than 3 million low-income people of health care over the next few months.

4. Cut nearly a billion dollars in food and health care assistance to pregnant women, new moms, and children.

5. Kick more than 200,000 children out of pre-school by cutting funds for Head Start.

6. Force states to fire 65,000 teachers and aides, dramatically increasing class sizes, thanks to education cuts.

7. Cut some or all financial aid for 9.4 million low- and middle-income college students.

8. Slash $1.6 billion from the National Institutes of Health, a cut that experts say would “send shockwaves” through cancer research, likely result in cuts to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research, and cause job losses.

9. End the only federal family planning program, including cutting all federal funding that goes to Planned Parenthood to support cancer screenings and other women’s health care.

10. Send 10,000 low-income veterans into homelessness by cutting in half the number of veterans who get housing vouchers this year.

We’ve got to get the word out about this awful budget—right away. Please, share this with your friends on Facebook and Twitter, or by forwarding this email, today.

Sources:

1. “GOP spending plan would cost 700,000 jobs, new report says,” The Washington Post, February 28, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206357&id=26412-17809870-IywQf0x&t=6

2. “GOP budget would cut funding for public broadcasting,” The Washington Independent, February 14, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206513&id=26412-17809870-IywQf0x&t=7

3. “NACHC Statement in Response to the Budget from the House Appropriations Committee,” National Association of Community Health Centers website, accessed March 4, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206514&id=26412-17809870-IywQf0x&t=8

4.”Bye Bye, Big Bird. Hello, E. Coli.,” The New Republic, February 12, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206104&id=26412-17809870-IywQf0x&t=9

House Republican Spending Cuts Target Programs For Children And Pregnant Women

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206566&id=26412-17809870-IywQf0x&t=10

5. “Obama and the GOP’s Spending Cuts: Where’s the Outrage?” Mother Jones, February 18, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206569&id=26412-17809870-IywQf0x&t=11

6. Ibid.

7. “Deficit Reduction on the Backs of the Most Vulnerable,” Center for American Progress, March 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206518&id=26412-17809870-IywQf0x&t=12   (PDF) 

8. “The GOP Budget and Cancer—Why New Research Is at Risk,” Politics Daily, February 27, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206515&id=26412-17809870-IywQf0x&t=13

“Republican Budget Cuts at Heart of Medical Research: Albert Hunt,” Bloomberg, February 20, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206516&id=26412-17809870-IywQf0x&t=14

“Durbin: Cuts to NIH put research jobs at risk,” Business Week, February 28, 2011

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9LLSCB00.htm

9. “GOP Spending Plan: X-ing Out Title X Family Planning Funds,” Wall Street Journal, February 9, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206105&id=26412-17809870-IywQf0x&t=15

10. “House GOP Spending Cuts Would Prevent 10,000 Low-Income Veterans From Receiving Housing Assistance,” Think Progress, March 1, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206517&id=26412-17809870-IywQf0x&t=16

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

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

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