Tag Archives: political action

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1,600,000 And Counting…


By 

Bring the Unemployed in From the Cold

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The number of Americans who have lost their unemployment benefits is huge…and growing.

Today, we will hit the 1.6 million mark for the number of people who have been cut off from emergency unemployment benefits since December 28. That is 1.6 million Americans whose financial security, and in many cases their children’s financial security, is in jeopardy because Republicans in Congress have failed to act.

Last week, a majority of Senators voted to extend these benefits. But because of Republican obstruction, it didn’t pass the filibuster-proof 60 vote threshold. In fact, as shown below, many of the Republicans who voted against renewing unemployment benefits come from states where it is especially needed.

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Not only did these and other Republican Senators vote against the unemployed in their states, they also voted against the will of a vast majority of Americans. Poll after poll (after poll!), including the latest from CBS News released yesterday, finds up to seven in 10 Americans want to extend unemployment insurance benefits for those that lost them when they expired at the end of 2013.

Meanwhile, Republican grandees gathered at the winter meeting of the Republican National Committee actually voted to call for an end to a successful crackdown on wealthy tax dodgers in order to help, as they explained it, raise more money from wealthy Americans living abroad. It’s no wonder that 63 percent of Americans believe the policies pushed by Republicans in Congress favor the wealthy, while just 9 percent think they favor the middle class.

BOTTOM LINE: Profits at the biggest banks may have bounced back to record highs, but the economy is still not working for too many struggling families.  Letting the extended, emergency unemployment benefits lapse through the next year would cost us 240,000 jobs and slash economic growth.  It already drained $400 million from state economies in the first week alone. We can’t afford for Republicans to oppose this vital program that would support their state economies and extend lifeline for those looking for work.

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Mayor Bill de Blasio …


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U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)


01/16/2014 09:00 AM EST
FDA has learned that some wart removal products for use at home have caught fire during use.
Learn how to use cryogenic (removal by freezing) wart removal products safely and other options for removing warts.
Read the Consumer Update to learn more.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

a message from Gov.Inslee


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One year ago today, I was sworn in as governor of the great state of Washington — and what a year it has been.

We made historic investments in education — without cuts to vital services. We passed important legislation that will protect the future of Washington’s aerospace industry. We implemented a health insurance exchange that is the envy of the nation.

But the Washington Supreme Court underscored last week that we have a lot more to do. According to the court, we are not moving fast enough to fund basic costs. We must show “immediate, concrete action… not simply promises.”

That’s why I am proposing that this legislative session we approve $200 million for school districts and fund a voter-mandated cost-of-living adjustment for our educators. And I propose we pay for it by eliminating tax breaks and loopholes that, when weighed against our moral and legal obligation to educate Washington’s kids, fall short.

Are you with me? Sign on as a citizen endorser of my 2014 agenda today and show that you’re committed to do what we have to do in 2014 to build a working Washington.

Of course, we also need to pass the DREAM Act, and send thousands more young Washingtonians to college.

We need to pass a new transportation package and prevent dozens of key thoroughfares from becoming structurally deficient.

We need to raise our state’s minimum wage, an immediate step to begin correcting 50 years of widening income inequality.

We need to make good on Washington’s chance to lead our country and the world in realizing the possibilities of a new, clean energy economy.

And we need to build on our momentum and take steps to improve childhood health, drive down the cost of healthcare, and better serve patients by helping integrate care across providers.

None of these will be easy to do — but all of them are worth doing, and I will need your support to accomplish any of them.

Will you sign on today as a citizen endorser of my 2014 agenda, and show that you’re with me?

I know it’s an ambitious agenda for a 60-day legislative session, but I didn’t run for governor because it would be easy. This is Washington, and when we work together, we really can do big things.

Thanks for your continued support, and for joining me today on the next step of our journey together.

Let’s go get ’em!

Jay Inslee
Governor

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Justice for Jewlyes Gutierrez … Change.org

Drop charges against transgender teen defending herself!

By Valerie Poquiz
Hercules, California

My sister, Jewlyes Gutierrez, is a 16 year old teenager, who identifies as a transgender female. Her gender identity has caused her to be a victim of taunting, harassment, and bullying by her peers.  On November 13, 2013, Jewlyes defended herself against three girls who were tormenting and then physically attacked her. This was captured on video and you can see Jewlyes trying to run away. The students involved were suspended but to our disbelief, District Attorney Daniel Cabral then filed charges against Jewlyes for battery – she’s the only one charged.

Jewlyes should not be charged criminally. Rather, this altercation should be the responsibility of the school district, who should take proper action and implement the necessary resources to prevent incidents like these from happening again.

One of the girls who attacked Jewlyes had repeatedly bullied her – even spitting gum in her face. Jewlyes sought help from the assistant principal in fear of her physical safety but the issue was not properly addressed, no necessary action was taken by the administration. The bullying continued.

Jewlyes attends Hercules High School in Hercules, CA – part of the Contra Costa Unified School District. Even the school district president disagrees with the charges being brought against Jewlyes: “This is just a young child who is 16-years-old, already going through a lot of stress,” he said. “This is a remedy? Is this the way we want to deal with children?”

Violence towards transgender and queer youth is a serious problem. Recently in Oakland, CA, a transgender teen was lit on fire. What message is the District Attorney’s Office sending when they prosecute a transgender teen who school officials labeled as the victim in this incident?

Sign this petition and tell District Attorney we are outraged by the decision to charge Jewlyes and that we hope he will use his discretion to allow for a restorative and educational solution rather than the court system to deal with what happened at Hercules High School.

Please tell the District Attorneys Office that we want our tax dollars spent on teaching tolerance and on conflict resolution programs in schools, not on prosecuting youth who are in need of a safe learning environment.