Action Alerts! Please DU these

ACTION ALERTS: Please DU these, kick so others can see them, and forward these to your friends. Thanks!


March 3, 2005

SUPPORT ELECTION REFORM: HR 550 (Democrat Rush Holt’s bill):
As you know, there are many problems with our voting system that need to be fixed soon. Here at Common Cause, we are working at the federal, state, and local level to pass reforms that will fix our flawed election system.

While some of the problems with our election system may take several years to solve, we believe that with your help, we can fix one of the major concerns - the security and integrity of electronic voting machines - in this session of Congress. Many of you were among the tens of millions of Americans who voted this fall on an electronic machine. Did you wonder where your votes went after touching that screen? Do you have confidence that your vote was counted as cast? We can address this concern if all voting systems are required to provide a voter-verified paper ballot.

The good news is that this issue has strong bipartisan support in Congress. U.S. Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) has already introduced legislation - HR 550 - that requires that every voting system have a paper record that can be verified by the voter before finally casting his or her vote. So, touch-screen machines would have to print a paper ballot recording your vote.

Urge your representative to support the Holt bill (HR 550) for a voter-verified paper ballot. The Holt bill sets a high standard for integrity and security, while acknowledging the need for accessibility. Its passage would go a long way toward making our election system more secure and giving voters confidence in their vote.

Furthermore, the Holt bill not only ensures the voter's confidence that the vote was counted as cast, but it allows a real recount. Right now, in places that use paperless electronic machines, the recount means nothing - election officials just push the button and get the same count (right or wrong) over and over again. That happened in Nevada in 1998. Now Nevada has voting machines with a paper trail and both Nevada senators, Harry Reid (D) and John Ensign (R), support legislation (S 330) to make this a nationwide requirement.

While the paper ballot requirement has widespread public support, we'll need to generate strong bipartisan support to move any legislation in Congress. The Holt bill already has 102 cosponsors, but we need to double that to put real pressure on the leadership to bring the bill to a vote.

So, please call your Representative today and ask them to support HR 550:
www.commoncause.org/findelectedofficials
www.commoncause.org/LobbyforPaperTrail

CALL YOUR SENATOR TO STOP RESOLUTION H.R. 418, WHICH COULD ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN THE U.S.

This dangerous measure authorizes waiver of “all laws” for projects related to construction of roads or barriers. In Nazi Germany, Hitler used road-building as a pretext to bypass laws, seal off the borders and build concentration camps. This measure has passed Congress and is now before the Senate. While there is no way to know if the administration has any intention of doing this here, we must demand that this measure be stopped or amended to protect our freedom—and our lives.
Find contact info for your Senator at: www.congress.gov

URGENT! ASK CONGRESS TO SUPPORT ELECTION REFORM BILLS—BEFORE STATES BUY MORE BAD VOTING MACHINES

From MoveOn.org:
Several great bills have just been introduced in Congress to repair the embarrassing flaws in our election system -- from electronic voting machines to long lines to partisan election officials. Everyone's waiting to see if this new legislation will pick up speed or fall victim to partisan bickering. If we act right now, we can give these bills the early momentum they need.
There's no time to lose: In the coming months, states are poised to buy a billion dollars worth of unreliable electronic voting machines without paper trails.
Can you speed election repairs by signing this new petition?
http://www.moveonpac.org/repairthevote/

ACT NOW: PROTEST BANKRUPTCY BILL

Tell Members of Congress not to punish struggling families who file for bankruptcy!
Half of all bankruptcies in the U.S. are due to medical debts. The Republicans think you should lose your house if you can’t pay your hospital bills. Click here to stop this heartless bill:
http://ww.wtompaine.com/action/#003925

PROTECT OUR NATIONAL FORESTS

Just before Christmas, the Bush administration issued deplorable new management rules for our national forests that put millions of acres of our public lands at risk.

Now the Forest Service wants to exempt forest management plans - the blueprints for how our National Forests are run - from public environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Exempting these plans from public scrutiny would be very dangerous for our forests - we can't let this happen!

Tuesday March 7, is the deadline to provide feedback on this dangerous proposal, so please click here to submit your comments now before it's too late!

NEPA is a landmark environmental law that has protected our natural heritage for over thirty years. This law requires federal agencies to study and disclose the environmental effects of their actions and to include the public in their decision-making. The Bush administration has worked to steadily chip away at this important law over the past four years. This latest attack on NEPA would greatly reduce information available to the public, scientists, and other agencies. It would make it much more difficult for the public to weigh in on or provide comments, concerns, objections, or alternatives to Forest Service proposals.

Well over 100 national forests are due for revised management plans by the end of this decade and therefore at risk. If we don't nip it in the bud now, the effects of this exemption could stretch across millions of acres of our forestlands.

Click here to let the Forest Service know that you are opposed to this harmful proposal!
http://www.saveourenvironment.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=13074

PROTECT OUR OCEANS:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council, which governs federal waters off the coast of California, is considering a plan to protect fish habitat from bottom trawling. Bottom trawlers bulldoze the ocean floor, scraping up everything in their path including endangered marine life like sea turtles and essential habitat like coral reefs.

Right now, large commercial fishing companies are working to make sure that they can continue "clear cutting" our ocean floor. Help us persuade the Council to protect our oceans by submitting your public comment today. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To take action, click on the link below or paste it into your web browser:
http://environmentcalifornia.org/envirocalif.asp?id=718&id4=ES


KEEP IDENTITY THIEVES OUT OF YOUR CREDIT FILE
(From Consumer’s Union):

ChoicePoint: keep identity thieves out of your credit file
Have you heard of ChoicePoint? Recent news reports indicated that crooks gained access to personal financial information held by ChoicePoint on about 145,000 Americans. Lawmakers in thirteen states are considering giving you more protection. Take action to protect your privacy.
https://secure2.convio.net/cu/site/Advocacy?page=UserAction&cmd=display&id=343

SUPPORT A BILL TO STOP HOSPITAL INFECTIONS (From Consumer’s Union)

25 states now looking at hospital infection bills
We've been working hard to curb deadly hospital infections, which kill 90,000 Americans annually, through our Stop Hospital Infections campaign. Momentum continues to build, with 25 states currently looking at disclosure bills. Urge your state lawmakers to enact this key patient safety reform. https://secure2.convio.net/cu/site/Advocacy?page=UserAction&cmd=display&id=263

PREVENT MAD COW DISEASE IN THE U.S. (From Consumer’s Union)

Keep the Canadian border closed to cattle imports and improve testing methods. That's the message Consumers Union is sending U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in an effort to keep mad cow disease out of the U.S. food supply. Johanns should retest a cow suspected last November of mad cow disease, using an additional test utilized by all European Union countries and Japan. The current testing method has been found to miss mad cow cases in Japan and Belgium. Read our letter to USDA for more.
We are also urging the agency not to reopen the U.S. border to Canadian cattle and beef until the USDA takes better precautions to protect the human food supply from mad cow disease. Cattle and beef importation is set to restart March 7. Act now to voice your concern!

SEE HOW THE BUSH BUDGET DISASTER HURTS YOUR STATE-& WRITE YOUR EDITOR!

Click here to view the map, then write a letter to your local editor:
http://www.democrats.org/


MAKE THOSE WHO TERRORIZE ABORTION CLINICS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CRIMES

Help us ensure that those convicted of clinic violence are held accountable!
The Senate will vote as soon as today on the Bankruptcy Bill. The bill includes an amendment by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) to ensure that those found guilty of clinic violence cannot escape the consequences of their actions. We cannot allow those who have terrorized health care clinics to file for bankruptcy and thus avoid paying the fines and penalties assessed against them by courts of law.
Please take action immediately and tell your senators to send a strong message that these violent lawbreakers must not be allowed to avoid paying the consequences of their actions by manipulating bankruptcy laws. http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/bankruptcy/ud5x58ra55xkw5

OPPOSE THE “DIRTY SKIES” BILL

Tell your senators to reject President Bush’s so-called Clear Skies Bill! Urge them to vote NO on this pro-polluter bill, which would cause Americans to suffer 100,000 additional early deaths, two million additional asthma attacks, and tens of billions of dollars in annual health costs.
http://www.nrdcactionfund.org/cleanair/action.asp?step=2&item=52456


END CHILD LABOR VIOLATIONS AT WAL-MART
Petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/21951

As the largest company in the world, Wal-Mart's corporate
behavior affects all of us - as shareholders, workers,
consumers, and members of communities that are home to
Wal-Mart stores. But Wal-Mart's corporate behavior is
often less than exemplary. This February, Wal-Mart
received a sweetheart deal from the Department of Labor
(DOL) in response to 24 alleged violations of child labor
laws in Wal-Mart stores from 1998-2002. This deal ensures
that Wal-Mart will receive 15 days notice before the Labor
Department investigates other alleged violations.

But more than four years ago an internal audit warned top
executives at the company that employee records showed
extensive violations of child labor laws!

These allegations are serious, and the deal the DOL gave
Wal-Mart amounts to a slap on the wrist. Please sign this
petition to urge the DOL's Inspector General to rescind
the DOL's 15 day advance notice guarantee, and to hold
Wal-Mart accountable for compliance with child labor laws.
Sign here: http://www.care2.com/go/z/21951

ATTENTION SHOPPERS: WOMEN AT WAL-MART NEED A VOICE
Petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/21941

Does a loaf of bread cost less for women? Wal-Mart seems
to think so.

As the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart sets the
standard for wages and labor practices throughout the
entire retail industry. But what kind of a model is
Wal-Mart when women employees are concentrated in lower-
paying jobs, are paid less than men on the same job, and
are less likely than men to advance to management
positions? These gender patterns persist even though
overall, women have more seniority, lower turn over rates,
and higher performance ratings in most Wal-Mart positions
than their male counterparts.

Wal-Mart has built an international retail empire while
systematically ignoring women's rights to equal pay and
equal opportunity. Sign this petition and tell Wal-Mart's
President and CEO that you won't stand for sexual
discrimination: http://www.care2.com/go/z/21941


PROTECT CIVIL SERVICE WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Our right to a voice at work is under attack by the Bush administration—and we've got to stop it. The administration proposed new personnel rules that would butcher the rights of 750,000 Defense Department workers—and become the model for government-wide and private-sector destruction of collective bargaining.
The proposed rules, called the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), would gut the civil service and bargaining rights of Defense Department civilian workers. The government is accepting public comments on the proposed rules for just a few short weeks—this is the time to block this attack on workers’ rights. It’s your chance to stop proposed rules that would:
· Reduce pay for federal workers overall.
· End civil service protections.
· End meaningful collective bargaining for these workers.
· End seniority rules on layoffs and reductions-in-force.
· Allow management to decide who gets raises and change work hours and civilian deployments at will.
· Cancel big portions of existing collective bargaining agreements.
Even if you don’t work for the Defense Department—or any part of the government—this Bush administration proposal threatens your rights, too. Administration officials want to roll out similar rules for the whole government—virtually eliminating collective bargaining and other basic protections while creating a horrible model for states and private-sector employers.
Please, don’t wait. Get your comments in while there’s still time. Click here:
www.unionvoice.org/campaign/save_rights
For 750,000 Defense Department workers, for government workers and for all workers, please tell the Bush administration to protect rather than destroy our rights to a voice on the job.

PREVENT TAX DOLLARS FROM FUNDING RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION

When you pay your taxes, you should feel confident that your dollars will not be used for religious discrimination. But that might change unless you take action: proposed legislation would allow organizations that receive taxpayer funds to discriminate against employees on the basis of their religion. This proposal will be voted on next week and your Representative needs to hear from you.

Take action! Urge Congress to oppose religious discrimination with taxpayer funds!
http://www.aclu.org/ReligiousLiberty/ReligiousLiberty.cfm?orgid=n&ID=17427&c=29&MX=1949&H=1

ASK AUTOMATORS TO SUPPORT CLEAN AIR STANDARDS IN CA

California for Democracy is partnering with environmental groups on a massive letter-writing campaign to encourage automakers to "innovate, don't litigate" when it comes to California's anti-emissions laws.
California is America's largest automobile market and the one that sets automotive trends for the entire world. California also has a history of leading the nation in creating sensible air pollution standards - that often become Federal law. Three years ago, 80 percent of Californians backed the world's first standard for automotive global warming emissions. Now, Automakers are going to court to try and stop the implementation of these new standards (set to take effect in 2009 - leaving them plenty of time to solve the problem).
Find a sample letter and the addresses of major automakers to whom you should write at the California for Democracy website. http://www.californiafordemocracy.com/?q=globalwarming

STOP DRILLING IN THE ARCTIC WILDLIFE REFUGE

The Arctic Wildlife Refuge is under attack -- a sneak attack. We need your help right now to stop oil drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge before it's too late.

In the next two weeks, President Bush and his pro-drilling allies in Congress may try a sneaky backdoor trick to pass their controversial proposal to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by inserting it in the must-pass federal budget bill.
In March, some members of Congress will try to approve Arctic drilling by hiding their proposal in the federal budget bills -- the only bills that are exempt from filibuster or extended debate. This sneaky attempt not only defies the democratic process, but it reveals the fundamental weakness of the push for drilling: proponents of drilling know they cannot pass this through the normal legislative process, so they are resorting to a procedural tactic to prohibit an open and honest debate.

A lot is riding on this decision. This incomparable wilderness is home to more than 250 animal species, including wolves, grizzlies, caribou, and millions of migrating birds. Unfortunately, it is also the target of an intense, relentless lobbying campaign by the oil industry.
Click here now to stop the oil industry from destroying the Arctic Refuge - send a message to your members of Congress demanding that they do everything in their power to keep drilling revenues out of the budget bill. http://www.saveourenvironment.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=13057

STOP THE SWIFT-BOAT CAMPAIGN TO SMEAR AARP IN A “SNEAK ATTACK” ON SOCIAL SECURITY
The right-wing fringe has declared war on Social Security -- and this week they launched their newest attack.
The ridiculous image you see to the right is the latest from USA Next, a front group for radical conservatives who want to dismantle Social Security.
You won't be surprised to hear who they hired to publicize their efforts: the same team of hatchet men that ran the swift boat smear campaign against John Kerry. Now they are targeting the AARP, a group that millions of seniors rely on to defend their interests.
To see just how low the Swift Boat group will go, check out this ad: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/StopUSANextSign this petition to asking TV stations not to air these dishonest, bigoted attacks:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/StopUSANext



DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION OF GANNON/GUCKERT

The People's Email Network ACTION Newsletter asks:

How is it that someone with no journalistic credentials was promoted to ask propaganda questions at White House press conferences? The issue is not whether Mr. Guckert (Jeff Gannon) might have moonlighted as a prostitute. The real question is whether the press itself, in the exercise of its professionalism, should have more control over the process. Is it time for Congress to get involved to make sure the tough questions are allowed to be asked? What do you think we should do?

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


SEND THE MEDIA THESE LINKS TO EXPOSE THE TRUTH ON THE HOOKER/FAKE JOURNALIST IN THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS:

All videos are in Real Media format.

MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann on "Gannon-Gate" - 2/9 @ 8:00 PM
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon_050209-02.rm

Olbermann interviews NPR reporter about "Gannon" - 2/10 @ 8:15 PM ET
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon_050210-01.rm

Hardball reports on "Gannon" scandal - 2/17 @ 7:45 PM ET
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/hardball_gannon_050217-01.rm

MSNBC Countdown reports on "Gannon" scandal - 2/17 @ 8:00 PM
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon_050217-01.rm

Countdown links "insider" Gannon to Daschle Senate loss - 2/18 @ 8:00PM ET
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon_daschle_050218-128-0
1.ram

Olbermann reports that Gannon threatens to sue - 2/21 @ 8:00PM ET
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon_threaten_suit_050221
-01.rm

TELL ARNOLD TO MAKE POLLUTERS CLEAN UP ROCKET FUEL-CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER

Last month, thousands of you wrote Gov. Schwarzenegger calling for the state to force polluters to clean up the rocket fuel contamination of our drinking water.

On Tuesday, February 22, a new university study discovered rocket fuel contamination in the breast milk of nursing mothers across the country at levels that can threaten babies. Now, we need your help to make sure the governor acts to protect California's babies by getting rocket fuel out of our water.

If you have a baby in your family or you are pregnant, send a picture of you and/or your baby to the governor, along with a note asking that the governor set a strong cleanup standard of one part per billion that will force polluters to clean up rocket fuel in our drinking water now. Read below for specific talking points for your note.

You can send your note and picture to the Governor by email, fax or snail mail.

E-mail the governor at: governor@governor.ca.gov and cc: Dr. Alan Lloyd, Secretary of CalEPA at alloyd@calepa.ca.gov (NOTE: your picture must be pasted into the email, not attached. The governor doesn't open attachments.)

Fax the governor at: 916-445-4633

Mail the governor at:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Then let us know that you sent your picture, so we can keep track of how many the governor receives. To tell us you contacted the governor, click on the link below or paste it into your web browser:
http://environmentcalifornia.org/envirocalif.asp?id=691&id4=ES


PROTECT WHALES FROM DEADLY NAVAL SONAR

We're taking our campaign to protect whales from deadly naval sonar to the
doorstep of NATO -- and we need your help.

Please go to http://www.savebiogems.org/whales/takeaction.asp
and send a message to the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization and to NATO ambassadors, urging their member countries to stop
deploying high-powered sonar systems in sensitive whale habitats around the
world.

Last month we began making our case directly to NATO officials. Now it's
critically important that they hear a worldwide outcry from concerned citizens
in support of our cause.

As the military alliance of 26 nations -- including the United States -- NATO
includes the world's biggest users of lethal military sonar. In fact, several
mass strandings of whales have been linked directly to joint NATO exercises,
including strandings in the Canary Islands and along the coast of Greece.

There is no dispute that intense bursts of high-powered sonar can and do kill
whales. The scientists of the International Whaling Commission have stated that
the evidence linking such naval sonar to whale strandings
appears "overwhelming."

The scientific journal "Nature" has reported that intense, active sonar may
kill marine mammals by causing their internal organs to hemorrhage.

In the face of this alarming evidence, it's simply cruel and wrong to use high-
powered sonar in routine training exercises without taking common-sense steps
to protect whales, dolphins and other marine life. That's why a worldwide
coalition of environmental groups, including NRDC, is pressuring NATO and its
member countries to stop inflicting this needless suffering on marine mammals.

Please make your own voice heard in defense of whales right now. Go to
http://www.savebiogems.org/whales/takeaction.asp
and call on NATO to take immediate steps to protect marine mammals from deadly
sonar.

IMPEACH BUSH!

Ramsey Clark has almost half a million signatures.
Please sign and forward this link to others:
http://www.votetoimpeach.org/

More on how you can help persuade Congress to impeach Bush:
http://www.impeach-bush-now.org/

your list. This country is screwed.

Some bills have been killed or stalled in committee lately due to overwhelming public opposition--notably the "Clear Skies" pro-pollution measure, which failed to get enough votes so far to get out of committee.

:kick: