New Action Alerts: Stop Torture, Block Bush Judges, & Help Impeach Bush!

TODAY’S ACTION ALERTS: STOP TORTURE OUTSOURCING, BUSH’S RIGHT-WING JUDGES, & MORE


Please DU as many of these as possible, kick so everyone can participate, and forward these to others. We’ve had some important victories this week, notably defeating “Clear Skies” in committee in large part due to massive public pressure. Keep up the great work! -- Liberty Belle

STOP TORTURE BY PROXY

The Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act (HR 952) introduced by Rep. Ed Markey (MA-7) would establish a mechanism to prohibit U.S. operatives from engaging in the shameful pratice called “extraordinary rendition” – ie, seizing people without charging them and sending them overseas to be tortured. Ask your representative to cosponsor this important bill. Just enter your zip code here to take action:

http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=7187431&type=CO


FIGHT BUSH’S PLAN TO STACK THE COURTS
TELL YOUR SENATORS TO REJECT PRO-CORPORATE, EXTREMIST JUDICIAL NOMINEES

President Bush has just re-nominated 20 highly partisan, pro-corporate candidates for the U.S. Courts of Appeals -- the second highest courts in the land. All 20 of these nominees already have been rejected by Senate Democrats, compared to over 200 approved, because they so consistently favor special interest greed over the rights of average Americans. They were stopped before, they should be stopped again.

Please sign Move On’s petition asking your senators to stand firm against all 20 of President Bush’s repeat nominees to the U.S. Court of Appeals, and don’t change the rules to force confirmation.

http://www.moveonpac.org/judges/


NARAL MAKES IT EASY TO REACH CALIFORNIA’S SENATORS:

Tell Senators Boxer and Feinstein that you want REAL Justice.
Click here to send a message to Senators Boxer and Feinstein, asking them to stand strong in their continued opposition to the President's anti-choice judicial nominees. These judges are not fit for lifetime appointments - tell our senators you support their right to filibuster. The end of the filibuster is bad for Senate procedure, regardless of party, and must not be abolished.

http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/CA_nuclear_option_US_Senators_3_9_05/3k5dbnr255ii3e

JOIN IMPEACH BUSH THIS WEEKEND

We are urging all of those who are part of the impeachment movement to participate and bring the message of impeachment with signs and banners to the hundreds of local demonstrations that will be taking place on March 19/20, the second anniversary of the beginning of the criminal war against Iraq.

Between March 19 and April 3, Congressional representatives are scheduled to be back in their home district. It has never been more important for all people of conscience to hold demonstrations and rallies, and to lobby those representatives in their home districts during the March 19 - April 3 period. We are certain that impeachment activists from around the country will join us in organizing activities in the March 19 - April 3 period. Please notify the VoteToImpeach / ImpeachBush.org campaign about your local activity, and send in a report and photos, to

ImpeachBush@VotetoImpeach.org.

JOIN A PEACE VIGIL THIS WEEKEND:
EVENTS PLANNED MARCH 18-20 DURING 2nd ANNIVERSARY OF IRAQ INVASION

Two weeks ago, Sojourners sent out a call to action to organize peace vigils during the weekend of March 18-20 to mark two years of deadly war in Iraq. You answered that call. Since then, more than 300 vigils have been organized throughout America and around the world. We must keep the fire burning. We are setting a goal of organizing more than 1,000 vigils across the country, and only YOU can make it happen.

»Click here to host a vigil
»Search and RSVP for a vigil in your area


TELL CONGRESS TO BRING TROOPS HOME:

From The People's Email Network IRAQ ACTION Newsletter

Those who are pushing for continued occupation of Iraq know they cannot do so unless they can lull the American public into silence. They believe if they can downplay the casualties they won't break through the thin ice of popular support. Do they have YOUR support in this?

http://www.usalone.com/iraq.htm

In the next couple weeks there are major demonstrations planned in protest, plus the Congress will be asked to cough up yet another 80 billion dollars ($80,000,000,000.00) to be raided from every other pressing social or economic program in our already busted budget. We already know the TV cameras are controlled by people with instructions to point them away from the masses who will turn out next week, people who may have traveled many miles to make their voices heard by their presence.

That is why we are appealing for all those who care about what our government is doing in Iraq to take just a minute and one click to SPEAK OUT NOW by submitting a personal message to all their members of Congress as well, whatever other action you taking.

http://www.usalone.com/iraq.htm

STOP HR 418, THE REAL ID ACT 2005

HR 418 gives the federal government total authority to override all existing laws without consequences or accountability. This comes perilously close to the enabling laws, which the German legislature passed in the 1930s, giving Hitler totalitarian powers that allowed him to waive German laws and build concentration camps.
This bill is expected to receive approval from the Judicial Committee and come up for a vote in the full Senate soon. HR 418 threatens our constitutionally protected liberties, our rights to privacy, and also has serious environmental impacts.

Sign a petition to stop this dangerous measure:
http://www.petitiononline.com/NOHR418/petition.html


TELL CONGRESS: SUPPORT THE VOTER CONFIDENCE AND INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY ACT (H.R. 550)

Representative Rush Holt of New Jersey recently introduced the "Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act" (H.R.550), an enhanced version of the bill he put forward in the last session of Congress (H.R.2239). This bill is the "gold standard" of voter verifiability legislation, incorporating not only a requirement for voter-verified paper ballots but also provisions requiring mandatory manual audits to confirm that voting machines are working properly, as well as increased security requirements,
prohibiting undisclosed software, and more.

As we did last session, VerifiedVoting.org supports this bill in the strongest possible terms, and urges its immediate passage. And although it already has over 113 co-sponsors, there are still some representatives who co-sponsored the bill last session
but have yet to co-sponsor this session's stronger bill.

Voter-verified paper ballots make it possible to recover from e-voting machine malfunctions, such as those experienced last year in California, Georgia, North Carolina, and elsewhere, without having to re-run a costly election from scratch.

Passage of this bill means that all the states and counties still seeking to purchase new voting equipment can only buy systems which can provide a voter-verified paper ballot. It is far easier and more cost-effective to start out with a verifiable system than to retrofit!

To pass quickly, voter-verified paper ballot legislation must have strong bi-partisan support. You can make the difference. Make sure your Representative--a co-sponsor on last session's H.R.2239--co-sponsors the critically important H.R.550
now. Call your Congressional representative today!
You may contact your Senators and/or Representative directly.

Senate:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

House:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/



JOIN THE VELVET REVOLUTION! ASK VOTING MACHINE COMPANIES TO DIVEST FROM PARTISAN INTERESTS


From Velvet Revolution:

Hello, I am writing to ask for your strong support on an electoral reform issue that can make a real difference - the Divestiture for Democracy campaign initiated this week by www.velvetrevolution.us. In short, after two months of hard work, VR, with my active assistance, sent letters to the nine major vote machine companies (Diebold, ES&S,
Sequoia, MicroVote, TriadGSI, HartInterCivic, Danaher-Guardian, UniLect, and Advanced Voting Solutions) asking that they voluntarily agree to have voter-verified paper ballots for all votes cast, open software and hardware that is independently analyzed, no networking, no staff involvement in partisan elections, polices for release of requested documents, and other steps designed to make election results trusted once again. We have given these companies 60 days to state that they will take these steps before their machines are used in another election.

As many of you know, several bills are pending in Congress to require these same things. Moreover, Representative John Conyers just strongly endorsed this campaign. However, we should not have to wait as companies that have the ability to make such changes on their own delay doing so while seeking contracts paid for with your tax dollars. These companies have an obligation to act now.

I believe that a concerted effort over the next two months by millions of people who are concerned about democracy could put enough pressure on these companies to get these needed electoral changes. Therefore, I am asking you to do the following:

Go to http://www.velvetrevolution.us/campaigns/dv4d/ and fill out the form to send letters to all nine companies with one click

Make a generous donation to VR at www.velvetrevolution.us/donate.php

Send a letter to Congress telling them that you want paper ballots, open software and non-partisan election officials at www.velvetrevolution.us

Of course, we may not be successful within 60 days. If not, we will go to the next phase of the campaign - divestiture and boycott to put these companies out of business forever. Right now, however, you have my call to action. Please act today because together, we can make a difference!!


TELL CONGRESS: NO MORE IRAQ WAR MONEY WITHOUT A CLEAR EXIT STRATEGY

This alert is from Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan (USN, ret.), who served in combat in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam and commanded the North Atlantic fleet. We are thankful for his depth of experience and his insight as he guides TrueMajorityACTION’s national security policies:

When Congress refused to continue funding the Vietnam War, that spelled the end of the U.S. campaign there. Based on thoughtful analysis by both conservative and progressive analysts, this alert is the first step in the process of getting out of Iraq.

Next week, the House of Representatives will vote on the president's request for $82 billion to pay for the ongoing military occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. That’s a lot of money. It is enough to feed the world’s starving people for five years or more, and would save the lives of millions of kids.<1> Aside from how that money could be better spent, a toll continues to be taken on the Iraqi people, our own service members, and America's image throughout the world.
Yet even as the quagmire in Iraq worsens, Bush continues to refuse to (1) specify when we will exit the country and (2) make clear that America will not establish permanent military bases there.

Send a message to your Congresiojnal representatives:
http://www.truemajorityACTION.org/Iraqexit



PROTECT MEDICAL PRIVACY – STOP INTIMIDATION OF WOMEN!

Petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/21944

A woman's right to choose is in danger these days. In D.C. and in the states, politicians are increasingly taking control over women's private decisions, limiting birth
control options, favoring ideology over medical science, and forcing schools to teach dangerous untruths under the guise of "abstinence-only" programs.

And now, for the latest from Kansas: Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline is demanding that two abortion clinics turn over the complete medical records - including all
identifiable patient information - of close to 90 women and girls who have had late-term abortions, supposedly for criminal investigations into the legality of those abortions.

Sound familiar? Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft tried the same approach nationally last year - several federal judges struck down his subpoenas for women's
medical records, because they violated medical privacy rights laws in those states.

These tactics are nothing short of intimidation. Please sign this petition to Attorney General Kline to let him know that this invasion of medical privacy is outrageous,
and that he must stop his intimidating pursuit of women's private medical records. http://www.care2.com/go/z/21944

TELL THE FCC TO STOP DECEPTIVE PHONE CHARGES
Does Your Phone Bill Drive You Crazy?
Petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/21946

Are you frustrated by the ever-growing number of add-on fees and surcharges that shows up on your phone bill? Here's your chance to speak out. In the coming weeks the
FCC will vote on whether to put an end to deceptive charges on your phone bill - and consumers have until March 9th to weigh in!


Sometimes it feels like we're victims of a "bait and switch," where the real price of service is much higher than the advertised price once all of the add-ons are
added up. Here's the solution: Consumer advocacy groups,including Consumers Union, have petitioned the FCC, askingthat phone companies be required to issue phone bills thatare truthful, as well as clear and understandable.

Stand up for your rights to clear and honest bills. Tell he FCC that you want them to stop the proliferation of confusing and deceptive fees on your bills and allow
customers to truly compare prices of phone services. Send your public comment to the FCC here: http://www.care2.com/go/z/21946

HELP CALIFORNIA’S NURSES & HOSPITAL PATIENTS:
STOP ARNOLD FROM REDUCING NURSE-PATIENT RATIOS

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with the Department of Health Services, seeks to appeal a ruling requiring California hospitals to immediately restore safe staffing to emergency rooms and implement ratios of no more than one RN for every 5 patients.
California had the nation’s second worst ratio of RNs per patient in acute care hospitals. Research studies have found a direct correlation between improved registered nurse to patient staffing and lower rates of preventable patient death from infection and other adverse outcomes.

In December 2004, the California Nurses Association sued Schwarzenegger and his administration to reverse an illegal emergency regulation to roll back patient safety standards in California hospitals. Superior Court Judge Judy Holzer Hersher declared Schwarzenegger’s emergency regulation illegal, meaning California hospitals must immediatel restore safe staffing in emergency rooms and implement ratios of no more than one RN for every five patients in general medical units. Now Schwarzenegger is seeking a new “emergency order” to block safe staffing in California hospitals, with no public notice, openly defying the court’s decision

1. Call Governor Schwarzenegger at 916-445-2841 ext. 7. Tell him you oppose his attack on safe nursing staff-to-patient ratios.

2. Write a letter to a newspaper editor:

San Diego Union Tribune: letters@uniontrib.com
North County Times: letters@nctimes.com
Los Angeles Times: letters@latimes.com
More info: http://www.calnurse.org/?Action=Category&id=241

STOP THE DRAFT!
On March 31, the Selective Service System will report to President Bush that it is ready to implement a draft within 75 days. We have to organize now to stop the draft before it starts.

The President has given the Selective Service System a set of readiness goals to be implemented by March 31, 2005. As part of these performance goals, the System must be ready to be fully operational within 75 days. This means we can
look for the Draft to be in operation as early as June 15, 2005.
Sign the No Draft Petition.
http://nodraftnoway.org/petition.shtml

http://www.NoDraftNoWay.org

OPPOSE THE BANKRUPTCY BILL!

Both houses of Congress have approved differing versions of the bankruptcy bill. This pro-corporate measure helps only the big credit card companies and financial institutions, but harms ordinary citizens. Half of all bankruptcies are due to medical crises—and most of those people had health insurance. Now Congress wants to let creditors seize everything you own if you can’t pay your bills. Call or e-mail your Senator and Congressman and urge them to oppose this greed-driven measure. Find your representatives contact info here:
www.congress.gov

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Previous Alerts (Still active)


URGENT! SAVE FAIR ELECTIONS IN CALIFORNIA
Today at 5pm is the deadline to submit comments opposing an attempt by Republicans to reinstate certain decertified voting machines in California elections. L.A. County Registrar of Voters Conny McCormack is asking lawmakers to pass emergency legislation to override Kevin Shelley’s office and temporarily certify 2004 systems for use in 2006 elections.
Thursday, March 17th the issued of “grandfathered” e-voting equipment will be heard by the Voting Systems and Procedures Panel. We must take action NOW and lobby members of this board to protect California’s Mandated Voter Verified Paper Audit System.
Contact all the appropriate individuals at the California Secretary of State Election offices and let them know that Conny McCormack's Election Integrity Nuclear Option is Unacceptable in California. Make sure that Michael Wagaman is contacted. These are good people.
http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_contacts.htm
Contact ALL of California's Elected Officials, Federal (Senators and Representatives) and the California State Elected officials, and Committee and inform them that McCormack's agenda is unacceptable. Exert them to put intense pressure on Conny McCormack.
Contact the California State Assembly Joint Legislative Audit
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/newcomframeset.ascommitt... ?
Voting Systems and Procedures Panel
c/o Michael Wagamann, Office of Secretary of State - MWagaman@ss.ca.gov

In addition to the above, be aware that confirmation hearings begin next week for Schwarzenegger’s nominee, McPherson, a Republican as California’s Secretary of State. Please contact the Senate Rules Committee with comments:
Senate Rules Committee
c/o Nettie Sabelhaus, Senate Appointments - NettieSabelhaus@sen.ca.gov

Re: Comment for SRC Hearing of 3/16/05

Please consider these comments at your confirmation hearing for Bruce McPherson as Secretary of State. The electoral protections supported by our former Secretary of State protected the right of California voters to honest and secure elections and should be continued under the new administration. This is to respectfully request the Committee require the following commitments from Mr. McPherson before his confirmation:

--Endorse the election reforms supported by Secretary of State Shelley
--Support the requirement for Voter Verified Paper Audit Systems plus the specific security measures developed for the November elections
--Retain all the current members of the Voting Systems and Procedures Panel and work closely with them
--Publicly pledge that he will refrain from using the office for partisan electoral purposes as was done in previous elections in FL and OH

SAVE WYOMING’S GREAT DIVIDE WILDLANDS!

The Bush administration is proposing to open over 90 percent of Wyoming's spectacular Great Divide wildlands to large-scale oil and gas drilling.

Please go to
http://www.savebiogems.org/yellowstone/takeaction.asp
right now and send a message telling the Bureau of Land Management that you oppose its destructive plan to industrialize some of America's greatest natural and cultural treasures.

The Great Divide boasts spectacular desert wildlands, sculpted badlands and one of the largest active sand dune fields in North America. It is home to one of the world's last viable wild populations of the endangered black-footed ferret,large herds of pronghorn, wild horses and rare birdlife like the ferruginous hawk and the burrowing owl.

These wide open spaces have a colorful past, being the ancestral homelands of the Shoshone and Ute peoples, the site of the Overland and Cherokee trails traveled by the pioneers and the favorite hiding places of outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

But the Bush administration's proposed plan would give only token protection to the sensitive big game winter ranges, migration corridors and important habitats for rare wildlife. And it would allow destructive industrialization of the most fragile areas.

Just as bad, the plan would not protect almost 3,000 sites cherished by Native Americans, archeologists and trails enthusiasts. Hundreds of those sites are eligible for designation on the National Register of Historic Places.

I urge you to go to
http://www.savebiogems.org/yellowstone/takeaction.asp
right now and make your voice heard in defense of the Great Divide's
irreplaceable natural and cultural treasures!
http://www.13wham.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=422B960A-26BA-4891-9E60-21C8818788D4


ASK SCHWARZENEGGER NOT TO ALLOW OIL DRILLING ON CALIFORNIAS CENTRAL COAST
Governor Schwarzenegger recently announced his support for protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of proposed wilderness on California's north coast. Now we need him to voice his opposition to oil and gas development in the Los Padres National Forest.

The Los Padres provides critical habitat for over 20 threatened and endangered species, including the California Condor. It also offers recreational opportunities to millions of Californians, clean drinking water for nearby communities, and is of cultural significance for the native Chumash people.

The US Forest Service is now considering opening vast areas of the Los Padres National Forest on California's central coast to oil and gas drilling. We need your help to urge the governor to weigh in with the Forest Service against oil drilling. Click here to send a message to the Governor asking him to join our campaign.
You can send that message immediately from
http://ga1.org/campaign/govlospadres/w6ubxxe497td3n8

FROM THE DNC: OPPOSE SOCIAL SECURITY PRIVATIZATION
On Monday, we asked you to show your support for Social Security and for Democrats who are standing up to President Bush's reckless plan to privatize Social Security. In just 24 hours, nearly 100,000 of you made your voices heard by signing the petition. Thank you for your help.
That powerful response is making a difference. But Republicans are desperate to salvage Bush's privatization plan and are pulling out all the stops to get it done.
We need your help again. Spread the word by telling your friends to join the fight and sign the petition today:
http://www.democrats.org/askfriends
Tell them about all the reasons it's so important to support Democrats who are standing up in opposition to President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security:
· Privatizing Social Security would cut guaranteed benefits by 40 percent.
· Bush's risky plan does not ensure the solvency of the program -- in fact, it would shorten the life of Social Security.
· Bush's plan would add trillions of dollars in additional debt, mostly owed to China and OPEC nations.

PREVIOUS ALERTS (STILL ACTIVE)
March 9, 2005
STOP UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES
Join AFSC's Stop the CAFTA Vote Campaign

Because the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) will discriminate against the poor and vulnerable, hurt workers, and stifle democracy, the AFSC is working to stop it in Congress. Supporters in Congress won't even bring CAFTA to a vote unless they are certain they can win its passage. The way to defeat CAFTA is to have your representative take a public position against it and help prevent the trade agreement from ever coming to a vote.
Click here to sign up for AFSC's Stop the CAFTA Vote campaign to stay in touch with others and help track congressional positions. We will provide you updates on CAFTA and on-going practical advice on how you can help stop it.
http://www.afsc.org/trade-matters/stop-the-cafta-vote/subscription-form.htm
Take action and help us Stop the CAFTA Vote by contacting your legislator while in their home district March 21 - April 1.
Call or write a letter to your Congressional representatives. Tell them how you feel about CAFTA and ask them to formally oppose CAFTA. If you're not sure who your representatives are, visit our web-based Congressional Directory.
More ways to help stop CAFTA at: http://www.afsc.org/trade-matters/stop-the-cafta-vote/action-alert.htm

JOIN VELVET REVOLUTION’S DIVESTITURE FOR DEMOCRACY: TELL VOTING MACHINE COMPANIES TO DIVEST PARTISAN TIES
It's time to call on America's Voting Machine Companies
to do the right thing for America!
And last week -- on President's Day -- VR did exactly that!

Now we need your help, so that they answer the call for democracy!
- SEND AN EMAIL TO THE COMPANIES HERE! -
Click the link to send a letter in 30 seconds!
Let them know you are part of the Revolution and support this effort!

Check out VR's massive new "Divestiture for Democracy" campaign!
And let your voice -- finally -- be heard!
(And pssst...pass it on... http://www.VelvetRevolution.us/Campaigns/DV4D)
http://www.velvetrevolution.us/mailing.php?Mailing=05FC507D500021102290C

TELL HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE TOM DELAY
Once again House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) is embroiled in a new ethics scandal that demands the immediate attention of the Ethics Committee. We need you to contact the committee members today. Urge them to investigate the new allegation that DeLay illegally accepted thousands of dollars worth of travel paid for by a lobbyist now facing criminal and congressional investigations for allegedly bilking millions of dollars from casino-operating Indian tribes…
So, please join us in calling on the following Members of the House Ethics Committee to investigate reports that DeLay illegally accepted money for lodging expenses from Abramoff, a long time DeLay ally and registered lobbyist:
· Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA): 202-225-5816
· Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL): 202-225-3515
· Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX): 202-225-4236
· Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA): 202-225-2565
· Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK): 202-225-6165
· Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV): 202-225-4172 (Ranking Minority Member)
· Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-PH): 202-225-7032
· Rep. Gene Green (D-TX): 202-225-1688
· Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA): 202-225-1766

SIGN FAITHFUL AMERICA’S PETITION:
“A VISION OF HOPE & JUSTICE FOR THE FY 2006 FEDERAL BUDGET”
…Our federal budget should reflect the values of equality, opportunity, and justice that honors the poor, supports families, and builds strong, viable communities.
The Bush Administration’s FY2006 budget is morally misguided and misrepresents the true values of the American people. It suggests that we value military might and war spending more than the poor, families, and strong, viable communities. It favors permanent tax relief for the wealthy and corporations at the expense of further burdening the poor, families, and communities with economic despair. It is a budget that eats away at the heart of the American dream by eliminating funding for programs that are certain to provide us with future opportunities, progress, and security on the home front.
Our nation’s future is in serious danger if cuts or caps to programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, job training, veterans’ health services, education, housing and community development grants, among many others, are used as solutions to reduce a projected $427 billion dollar deficit
Congress must act boldly and creatively to oppose budget cuts in human services. Speaking as God’s messenger, the prophet Amos offered these words to the people because of their misplaced focus, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24).” To be true to our values as a nation, we strongly urge Congress to reverse the destructive course our nation is on and reject the Bush Administration’s budget. The FY2006 budget should be funded by scaling back tax relief for the wealthy, closing corporate tax loopholes, and holding military and war spending in check. We call on Congress to draft and approve a budget and policies that will provide the poor, families, and communities with the tools to meet basic needs such as access to nutritious food and quality child-care, accessible and affordable housing, comprehensive and affordable health care, high quality education at every stage of life, a fair and just tax system, job creation and a livable income to sustain their future.
This positive vision for our nation is only limited by the lack of political will to make it happen. We call on Congress to Let Justice Roll!
http://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=juI1LcPZG&b=410381&en=jpJJKLMpGaIGLSPCJ9LCLUOvGfJOINNoEbILJONyEpJ1G

PREVIOUS ALERTS (STILL ACTIVE)
March 08, 2005
Oppose The Bankruptcy Bill
Tuesday 10:24 AM
Last week, the Senate rejected a number of critical amendments to the bankruptcy bill, including ones that would have closed loopholes for the wealthy, cracked down on predatory lending practices and protected the homes of those who are facing bankruptcy from medical bills. Now the bill in its current form would do more harm than good. The Senate is set to bring the bankruptcy bill to a vote tomorrow, so it's critical that we tell our elected representatives now that we don't want to target seniors with medical crises or average families in hard times. Take action with The American Progress Action Fund and contact your senator before it's too late. ACT NOW
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=klLWJcP7H&b=100385&action=1921&template=x.ascx

Tell Congress to Strengthen Social Security & Oppose Privatization
If you haven't already taken one minute to urge your members of Congress to sign the Pledge to Strengthen Social Security and to oppose privatization, please do it right now. Click here:
www.unionvoice.org/campaign/sspledge


National Budget Call-In Day
By now, you've probably heard a lot about President Bush's 2006 budget. It cuts funding for some of the most vital social programs we have, like Head Start, low-income housing assistance and special education. Budget decisions show what we value as a nation—and what we're willing to spend our money on. But this budget is not compassionate. That's why March 8 has been designated National Call-In Day for the budget. A coalition of groups, including True Majority, The Children's Defense Fund and the National Coalition on Human Needs, is sponsoring call-in efforts to senatorial offices. To participate, just call (202) 224-3132 and tell the operator what state you live in. Then, tell the receptionist that you want your senator to support programs that help those in need and provide a social safety net. For talking points, or to send an e-message to your senator instead, click here. ACT NOW
http://www.kintera.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=irKQL0NSE&b=405697&action=1919&template=x.ascx
COUNT EVERY VOTE ACT!

Two weeks ago, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Rep.
Stephanie Tubbs Jones and others unveiled a sweeping federal election
reform bill, the Count Every Vote Act of 2005 (H.R.939/S.450). The
Count Every Vote Act addresses an impressive number of the problems
that Election Protection volunteers documented in 2004. People For the
American Way and the Election Protection coalition advised the bill's
authors after spending weeks and months poring over the incident
reports and voter testimonials that Election Protection volunteers
helped gather.

TAKE ACTION!

This is comprehensive legislation, and it deserves our whole-hearted
support -- yours, your friends', your senators' and your
representative's.

Please tell your members of Congress to get on board and co-sponsor the
Count Every Vote Act at:
http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=16842&action=1887
Help Save Social Security
Bush's right wing allies are spending a fortune in their propaganda campaign to privatize Social Security.
They are also sinking to new lows: last week they began a Swift Boat-style smear campaign accusing the AARP of opposing our troops and supporting gay marriage.
The Campaign for America's Future is running a hard-hitting campaign to protect Social Security. This week they are taking on the House Republican who is leading the fight for privatization: Rep. Jim McCrery of Louisiana.
Let's tell McCrery to cut his ties to Wall Street profiteers now, and demand the he NOT take any more money from the companies that would reap billions if Social Security is privatized
http://www.ourfuture.org/issues_and_campaigns/accountablecongress/petition_mccrery.cfm


CALPIRG: TELL CONGRESS TO PASS STRONG IDENTITY THEFT LAWS

We've all read or heard the news stories about ChoicePoint. Someone fooled the company into handing over confidential information pertaining to hundreds of thousands of people. Armed with names, addresses and social security numbers, the thief had the tools necessary to steal people's identities, open up new lines of credit, and do all sorts of damage.

Thankfully, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department recently apprehended the criminal, but not soon enough. Law enforcement officials have identified approximately 750 people who have been victims of identity theft in this incident.

Please take a moment to contact your members of Congress and ask them to pass strong identity theft laws that are modeled after California's laws, and to oppose any laws that would preempt states from enacting stronger protections. Click below to email your members of Congress and to forward this email on to friends, family and co-workers so they can help too.

http://www.pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=182&id4=ES


HELP FOUND A PROGRESSIVE STUDENT INITIATIVE

Conservative organizations pump over $30 million dollars annually into programs for college students, while progressives on campus are left to fend for themselves. College students are a large untapped market for progressives.
BECOME A FOUNDING MEMBER OF PSI
The Progressive Student Initiative (PSI) is an innovative nonprofit advocacy organization that will vastly increase the number of college students who identify with the Democratic Party and participate in progressive politics. PSI will illustrate to college students that their ideals of community, opportunity, and responsibility are not simply dreams divorced from the broader political world. PSI will market progressive ideas and foster political engagement by utilizing a modern, research-driven and youth-savvy approach.

Help us fight back on college campuses by becoming a Founding Member of the Progressive Student Initiative.



HELP MOVE-ON AIR A NEW AD: “WORKING RETIREMENT” ON BUSH’S SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN

View this terrific video and make a contribution at:

https://www.moveon.org/donatec4/socialsecurity.html

Peace.

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and thanks for posting it all in one place. I'll get started. Thanks again, Liberty Belle.

Kick! :kick:

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