News & Action Alerts
July 25th, 2007
Celebrate First Increase in Minimum Wage in Ten Years
July 24th, 2007 – American minimum wage workers are finally getting a raise. After 12 years of conservative rule the first increase to the minimum wage in almost a decade took effect yesterday. To highlight the momentous occasion, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and dozens of members of the U.S. House and Senate joined thousands of fellow Americans for a huge rally at the U.S. Capitol.
And today, July 25th the sun still rose and commerce as we know it continued uninterrupted. According to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, “This is just the beginning. In coming months, we will expand cost-effective health coverage for millions of uninsured children; lower energy costs for all Americans, and create the next generation of good-paying American jobs by growing our renewable energy and technology sectors."
Steady as we go. One step at a time. In England, the wage for airport security guards starts at $15 per hour and includes intensive anti-terrorism training. The government regulates and sets the rules of conduct and wages for the airline industry. Here, we gave that right up long ago, leaving us to believe - you get what you pay for.
This Just In
JUDICIARY VOTES TO HOLD MIERS AND BOLTEN IN CONTEMPT
The House Judiciary Committee approved a measure Wednesday recommending the House charge White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers with contempt of Congress, passing the measure after a contentious partisan debate.
GONZALES DIGS DEEPER HOLE
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales may have put himself in legal jeopardy with his testimony Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senators of both parties warned, as Members cast doubt on the truthfulness of his answers and suggested he may have improperly released classified information in his own defense.
The Ground Truth: After the Killing Ends
Free Movie
Taylor 's Books
226 Capitol St. , Charleston , WV
5:30 PM
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
A Stark look at the training and dehumanization of U.S. Soldiers from boot camp to Iraq , and how they struggle to come to terms with what's happened – and what they've done – after they return home. With interviews of soldiers in training and footage of the war in and occupation of Iraq. --- 72 minutes
Sponsored by West Virginia Patriots for Peace and West Virginia Citizens Action Group – For more information call 343-9456.
Patriots for Peace
Patriots has invited Senator Clinton to step outside and pay tribute to the fallen, and view the WALL IN ITS ENTIRETY to demonstrate what this foreign ‘policy' has wrought - (that's where YOU come in). PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU CAN BE THERE (we have about 38 commitments so far but need about 15 more people, in case some folks cancel at last minute).
| WHAT WE WANT: | If Senator Clinton should come and view the Wall and speaks to any of us, what Patriots wants is simple and direct: BRING THEM HOME---NOW!!! TROOPS OUT BY APRIL '08---STARTING NOW! |
| WHO: | HILLARY CLINTON in Chas. for fundraising luncheon at Marriott at 1p.m. Friday. |
| WHAT: | PATRIOTS FOR PEACE WEEKLY FRIDAY VIGIL (this is a non-partisan action entering its 4th year) |
| WHY: | All candidates coming here should see the Wall, pay tribute to the soldiers who have died, and be accountable for those who are still in Iraq. |
| WHERE: | Charleston , on Lee St. across from Marriott Hotel, outside Macy's. |
| WHEN: | FRIDAY, JULY 27, NOON -- 1:30 p.m. - RAIN OR SHINE - (It is possible that we'll stay slightly longer if Sen. Clinton has not viewed the Wallbefore the luncheon, although attendees WILL have seen it up entry.We should know more by Thursday and will advise.) |
| WHAT TO BRING: | Bring a camping stool or lawn chair if you like. We'll have water on site. |
Please be on time, and LET US KNOW. Many thanks!!! Paul Sheridan, President, WV Patriots for Peace - Rev. Jim Lewis, chair of Vigil Committee
Send response to:
Robin Godfrey rlgdfry@yahoo.com
or call work 344-3440 or 344-3489; home 346-3303; cell 552-2567
Job Opening
Field Organizer
American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of West Virginia , the state's leading civil liberties and civil rights organization, seeks a full-time Field Organizer to create and implement effective multi-disciplinary campaigns to inspire, support, and strengthen our network of chapters and activists. With this grassroots network, the Field Organizer will lobby Congress, the state legislature, and local governments around the state on a variety of civil liberties issues.
Application Procedure
Applicants should send a letter of interest, resume, and a list of three references including one from a current or former supervisor to Executive Director, ACLU-WV, PO Box 3952 , Charleston , WV 25339 . E-mail: wvclu@aol.com
Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
Shared prosperity discussed at forum
By JEFFREY SAULTON, Staff Writer
PARKERSBURG — A town hall meeting introduced the “Agenda for a Shared Prosperity” from West Virginians United to about 100 people at the Parkersburg Municipal Building Monday night.
According to the group, the agenda is a set of policy proposals designed to strengthen the middle class and to make it possible for families to realize the “American dream.”
Speakers at the meeting were Rick Wilson of the American Friends Service Committee Economic Justice Project; Perry Bryant, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care; Ted Boettner of the Mountain State Education and Research and the Rev. Jim Lewis of West Virginia Patriots for Peace.
After speaking the panel took questions from the audience, mostly regarding health care and the war in Iraq . Bryant was asked about efforts to reform health care and action his organization thought West Virginia should take.
Bryant said the key is to contain costs, stating there has to be a way to bring discipline to an undisciplined area.
“We submitted our proposals to the West Virginia Medical Association and they said it was socialized medicine, which it is not,” Bryant said. “At the same time there are health care professionals who are sick of the system as it is.”
Lewis was asked how citizens can put pressure on the administration to recall troops from Iraq . Lewis said the place to start is at the local level, getting individuals, churches and city councils to discuss the war and to organize to be heard.
“We need to persevere and don't lose hope,” he said. “Make the war the No. 1 issue.” Contact Jeffrey Saulton at jsaulton@newsandsentinel.com
From the DLC
Dear Friends,
We are delighted to announce that former President Bill Clinton will address the 2007 DLC National Conversation on Sunday, July 29 , in Nashville , Tennessee . President Clinton will join more than 350 elected officials from 45 states for the Conversation, including Governors Phil Bredesen (TN), Martin O'Malley (MD), Brian Schweitzer (MT) and Kathleen Sebelius (KS).
This year's National Conversation will feature engaging speakers, valuable and informative breakout discussions, and of course, enjoyable networking opportunities.
Elected official scholarships and hotel rooms at the Opryland Hotel are still available. If you have not yet done so, please fax in the attached registration form before Friday, July 27. Reminder: there is no on-site registration at the National Conversation. If you have any further questions, please call the DLC Political Department at (202) 546-0007. ---- DLC Political Team
State Children's Health Insurance Program
For the last decade, a public program called the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has provided health insurance to many low-income kids. Congress must renew the program by September or it will disappear.
Democratic leaders want to offer free health care to millions of uninsured children. Who could be against that? But President Bush is afraid insuring kids is a slippery slope—opening the door to affordable health care for everyone. How terrible.
Bush is threatening to veto if the bill passes, but some Republican senators are ignoring him in favor of insuring kids. We still don't have enough votes to override Bush's veto, though—and the Senate vote is just days away.
Can you help win the biggest health care victory in decades? Clicking here will add your name to the petition.
Stop Medicare Privatization
Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO
Remember when President Bush tried to privatize Social Security? We were able to stop him.
But in 2003, President Bush also tried to privatize Medicare by giving private insurance companies big subsidies to provide benefits that Medicare usually provides at a much lower cost. Today, these subsidies are out of control, putting the entire Medicare program at risk. They've already resulted in higher premiums—and they may force Congress to cut benefits.
Within the next few weeks, Congress will vote on a law to cut overpayments to private insurance companies.
Call Congress today. Tell your lawmaker to stop the privatization of Medicare and cut the overpayments to private insurance companies:
1-800-828-0498
Ask the Candidates: What Will You Do to Win Workers' Rights?
CWA members and activists have an important question to ask the candidates for president of the United States : "What will you do to lead the effort to restore workers' rights? How will you lead the fight for the Employee Free Choice Act?"
CWA President Larry Cohen stressed that it's not enough for a candidate to say, "as President, I'll sign the bill when it comes to my desk." "We need to hear how these candidates will stand up for us and how they'll fight against a Senate filibuster," he said.
Postcards now are available online that CWAers, their friends, neighbors, family members and co-workers can use to ask exactly that question of up to three candidates -- Democratic or Republican. The cards are being collected at CWA and will be presented to the candidates with a letter from CWA President Larry Cohen asking for a response. Click here for the online postcard. Fill it out and click submit.
The Drema Dems Coalition E-Newsletter produced by Capitol City Communications
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