Tag Archives: United States

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Why We #StandWith​Peggy


A Better Balance The Work and Family Legal Center
We Stood with Peggy Young at the Supreme Court to Fight Pregnancy Discrimination
Rally at the Supreme Court in Support of Peggy Young
Dear friend,
Earlier this week, Peggy Young’s pregnancy discrimination case came before the Supreme Court. Peggy was forced off her job while pregnant, losing income and her health benefits in the process. Women should not have to choose between their jobs and the health of their pregnancies. We stood with Peggy inside the court room, at the rally on the steps outside of the Supreme Court and online. Thank you for taking the time to show your support, so many of you helped us to show solidarity with Peggy and all pregnant workers that #StandWithPeggy peaked at 2,300 tweets per hour on Wednesday!
ABB Co-President Dina Bakst was inside the court for the arguments. You can read her Op-Ed, Supreme Court Must Make Clear That Pregnancy Discrimination Is Unjust co-authored with MomsRising here.
The rally emceed by ABB’s Southern Office Director Elizabeth Gedmark was a complete success! More than 200 advocates and supporters came together for the event, enthusiastically chanting and carrying signs despite the wintery weather. Stories were shared of other pregnant workers, who were pushed out of their jobs, like ABB Client Officer Lyndi Trischler. You can read her story here.
ABB’s Senior Staff Attorney Phoebe Taubman was on To The Point with Warren Olney.  If you missed this informative radio program you can listen to it here.
Thank you for all of your support!
The A Better Balance Team,
Sherry, Dina, Phoebe, Jared, Elizabeth, Risha, Morenike, Rachel, Jake, Molly & Lynn
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Don’t miss the final story in our Product of Mexico series: Children work the fields


Los Angeles Times
Dear Readers:Meet Alejandrina. She was 11 when Los Angeles Times journalists first began reporting her story. Alejandrina, a little girl who likes lip gloss and longs to go to back to school, works 14 hours a day picking chile peppers for a farm that supplies a U.S. distributor.
Mexican law requires workers to be at least 15, but Alejandrina is among an estimated 100,000 children younger than that who work the fields. As she told The Times: “I work because we don’t have any money and we need money to eat things.”
Times reporter Richard Marosi and photographer Don Bartletti tracked Alejandrina’s nomadic existence for a year. Read her story, which is also the story of so many others: Children harvest crops and sacrifice dreams in Mexico’s fields
This marks the fourth and final piece in our Product of Mexico series, an investigation into conditions on Mexican farms that supply Americans with much of our tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and other produce.
We’ve told readers about unbearable conditions at labor camps and taken them into Bioparques, a supplier to Wal-Mart and one of Mexico’s biggest tomato exporters, where Mexican officials found workers held captive. We’ve examined company stores, where a lack of price tags and big mark-ups leave many farmworkers trapped in a cycle of debt.
I want to thank all of you for reading this important series and sharing it with others. Here’s a sneak peek at a video coming Monday that features Marosi and Bartletti talking about the reporting behind this eye-opening series.
Davan Maharaj, Editor
P.S. We’ve created some extra content available only to our subscribers. Bartletti, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist whose interest in photography dates back to his service in Vietnam, has covered Mexico for decades. He shares some of his best photos and memories of what it took to capture the images.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Union of Concerned Scientists … Playground politics


A small group of lawmakers are dead set on stopping the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.Don’t let them get away with it.Fight for strong limits on global warming pollution with your tax-deductible gift.

Donate Now

Or read on to find out how we’re fighting on the state level this year.

 

Here’s what a Texas lawmaker recently said:

“What if we just said no [to the Environmental Protection Agency’s new rules on power plant pollution]? There is a precedent in Texas to say we’re not going to be under the federal government’s boot.”1

He might as well have said, No! We don’t have to follow the rules! That sort of thing is barely acceptable on the playground—as a way of setting national policy, it’s downright dangerous.

Yet it’s happening now: Twelve states are suing the EPA to block new rules on global warming pollution.2 And even if they lose, there are a string of bills in state houses around the country to gut progress on clean energy and protect fossil fuel interests—in effect, to roll back years of work and victories you and I have made possible.

That’s why UCS is launching an ambitious new campaign next month to make sure states make real progress on clean air and renewal energy.

States have to devise plans to comply with new EPA rules that cut global warming pollutants from power plants. If we don’t have the right resources now, our opponents will beat us to the punch, and we’ll miss out on this opportunity to move states forward. Please don’t let that happen.

Our analysts and outreach staff need resources to take our hard hitting, science-based campaigns to even more states—to beat back attacks on the EPA and pass proactive legislation to ramp up wind and solar development and energy efficiency. What you give now determines just how hard we can fight in the weeks and months ahead—for science, clean air, and our families’ health.

Here’s how UCS will use your support to make a difference. Here’s how we’ll win:

  • We’ll mobilize the 20,000 scientists and technical experts in our Science Network to collaborate on new research and share their findings with lawmakers and regulators.
  • We’ll organize more than 450,000 individuals who’ve signed on as activists across all 50 states to make sure elected officials know they’re being watched, and ask them to follow the science on global warming, clean energy, and more.
  • We’ll work in key states to help them adopt strong clean energy and climate policies to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s new standards for power plant global warming emissions, and using the momentum to create a tipping point for national climate action.
  • We’ll expose misinformation from corporate and political interests in the media, in Congress, and in state houses—so decision makers know the difference between science fact and corporate fiction.

Those are the same ways UCS members helped secure landmark fuel economy standards for cars and trucks, impose limits on global warming emissions from coal-fired power plants, and cut sulfur pollution from gasoline—all in the last two years.

It’s also how we helped kill nearly every single legislative attempt to roll back support for wind and solar development in the states. We even beat the Koch brothers in their home state of Kansas.3

And it’s how we’ll convince key states to strengthen their reliance on clean and renewable energy. On January 1, we’re immediately ramping up our work in three states where legislators are poised to adopt stronger renewable energy policies—Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota. That’s just the beginning of our state-based work in 2015. The number of states we can reach depends on your support right now.

Legislative sessions open up in early January. We either get ahead of the fossil fuel industry or we don’t.

The only disadvantage we face when compared to the people who protect corporate interests and deny climate science is resources. It’s just that simple. We’ve got the science, the experts, the everyday people fighting for their futures and their families’ health. We’re making a difference, but with your extra generous support right now, we can—we will—do so much more.

A lot of groups have a role to play in fighting global warming. Ours is unique. We are the leading national organization built by and for scientists and people like you who look to science first when faced with threats like sea level rise, persistent drought, and toxic pollution. We are the trusted experts on climate science and clean and renewable energy. And you are the power behind each of our campaigns.

The new year is just around the corner,

Ken Kimmell Sincerely,
Ken Kimmell
Ken Kimmell
President
Union of Concerned Scientists

 

P.S. As a UCS member, you should know you’re well respected by leaders in the climate movement. Just recently, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) said he “always follows UCS because they’re always right.” We appreciate that, and I can tell you—with your support—we always strive for accuracy and integrity in the defense of science. I’m proud of that, and hope you are too.

1. http://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/20140929-litigation-looms-over-state-co2-hearings.ece
2. http://www.ok.gov/oag/documents/Section%20111d%20Settlement%20Filing.pdf
3. http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article1138361.html
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood ~~ Personal reasons for hope


Just yesterday we got some exciting news: the U.S. Supreme Court did the right thing by protecting women’s continued access to medication abortion in Arizona, at least for now.This win for women’s health is yet another reason I’m hopeful for the year to come — but to keep fighting dangerous laws like this one in Arizona, we’ll need people like you with us every step of the way. Please, make your tax-deductible year-end gift to Planned Parenthood today. Every dollar will be matched, up to $1 million, so your support will go twice as far in the year to come!At moments like this, I’m so proud to have you by our side. Thanks for all you do to protect women’s health and rights when it counts.Sincerely,
Cecile
Planned Parenthood
I’ve been at Planned Parenthood for eight years now. And I’ve been an activist my whole life. So when I say that the constant attacks and disturbing news for women, for rights, for whole communities over the last few weeks — and months, and years, really — are utterly devastating, that’s saying a lot.And yet…and yet…despite the terrible news, it might surprise you to know that I’ve never been more hopeful. Stick with me here — I’ve got darn good reasons.But first, Carmen, I want to tell you why I’m writing today. Truth is, this is the time of year when I ask you to donate, and it’s just about the most important time to give. Right now is when we make our plans for the next year. The money we raise this month determines our course for all of 2015. So, I’m counting on my reasons for hope being your reasons for hope — and your reasons to give.
You could say that it all comes down to these two (very tall) young men, Eladio and Robert. I met them in North Carolina, where they were canvassing. They drove an hour and a half to Raleigh each way, each day to knock on doors and talk about health care access and reproductive rights. Why? Because, they told me, it’s not enough to complain about what’s wrong. Planned Parenthood Federation of America gives them a chance to DO something about it.These two young men are remarkable. But they’re not alone. Far from it! Everywhere I go, I meet young people who are taking back this world of ours.Who see a chance for change, for good — and I’m so deeply proud to say they see it in Planned Parenthood.After a pretty depressing election for many of them and in the face of increasing attacks on women and rights, these young people are bringing astonishing hopefulness and energy and indomitable will to their volunteer and organizing work with Planned Parenthood. And lest you think it’s always been this way, it hasn’t. This is new. This is different. This is what hope looks like.Oh — and then there’s Texas. My home state has dealt just about the rawest deal to women I can imagine. You know — you’ve been with us through the few ups and many, many downs. But get this: Today we will cut the ribbon on a brand new health center in Dallas, TX. Because you cannot keep this organization, this movement, this family down.
Hope? Damn straight. They can try to limit access to affordable birth control and safe and legal abortion. They can push for dangerous laws that will roll back our rights. They can try to shut down Planned Parenthood health centers for good. All of these threats are all too real, and daunting indeed. They’re what we’re facing in 2015. We know this: Opponents of women’s health will try, again and again and again to keep women from getting the care they need.But here’s what else I know: Across the country, we’ve kept our doors open, no matter what, every day for more than 90 years and nothing, nothing, can stop us.Because we’ve got Eladio and Robert. Because we’ve got thousands of other young people who are stepping up like never before. And because, of course, we’ve got you. You and your unending support.Good reasons to hope? You bet. Good reasons to give? I’m counting on it. Literally! Thank you so much for believing in us, believing in these young people, and believing in hope today. Your support means the world to me, and to us.

Sincerely,
Cecile Richards, President
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
P.S. Right now, a generous donor has agreed to match all gifts up to $1 million, but only until December 31st — don’t wait to make your gift to Planned Parenthood Federation of America. This is the moment when you can make a difference.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The Expanding List of Expandeders


By

More Red States Are Deciding That Closing The Coverage Gap Is The Right Move

The news today that, through December 12, there have been 2.5 million signups in the second year of open enrollment is another indication of the success the Affordable Care Act is having in bringing health care to millions of Americans. The website has been withstanding surges in traffic, too.

But there is more evidence that the law is working. As the holiday season approaches, conservative-led states previously committed to resisting the Affordable Care Act at all costs are doing a funny thing. With the 2014 elections behind them, more and more red state governors are announcing that they support accepting federal funding to close the coverage gap and provide affordable healthcare to families. While we hope that state legislatures will come on board with these state executives and approve plans quickly, in some cases it could be a long slog from governors announcing a deal to these same governors signing legislation. Despite that, this news is incredibly encouraging:

  • Yesterday, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced Insure Tennessee, a federal-state hybrid program that could bring coverage to more than 160,000 Tennesseans. A recent poll found that 58 percent of registered Tennessee voters supported taking federal funding to expand coverage for low-income Tennesseans.
  • Earlier this month, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead announced his support for his state’s version of Medicaid expansion, which could cover up to 17,600 Wyomingites.
  • Also earlier this month, Utah Governor Gary Herbert released his plan to expand coverage in his state, which would go beyond closing Utah’s coverage gap and could provide insurance for 77,000 Utahns.
  • Newly-elected Alaska Governor Bill Walker, an independent, continued his campaign to expand Medicaid from the campaign trail into his administration, though he will face stiff resistance from the Republican statehouse to bring affordable health care to 40,000 Alaskans.
  • According to reports, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D), undeterred after Republicans blocked him from expanding Medicaid to 400,000 Virginians, will continue to push for Medicaid expansion in 2015, despite facing long odds.

Since it is the holiday season, it would not be complete without a Grinch. That would be Kansas Governor Sam Brownback. Fresh off a tough re-election fight where he had to defend his tax cuts that blew a huge whole in the budget and deepened the recession’s damage to state services, Brownback has to continue to try and stitch together a balanced budget. His new idea to fill that pothole, however, is to use funds available to Kansas in part due to savings through the Affordable Care Act. Kansas received about $30 million thanks to the ACA through Medicaid, but instead of using that money to pay for Medicaid, Brownback wants to use it to replace the money given out in tax cuts disproportionately to the wealthy.

BOTTOM LINE: Despite setbacks by obstructionist Republicans, the Affordable Care Act’s fight to expand coverage to millions more Americans is not over. Expanding health coverage and closing the coverage gap is good for state budgets, for state economies, and of course for the uninsured. More red states are realizing this now, and we’ll bet even more will in the year to come.