Thursday, February 27, 2014

President Obama: Reject Keystone XL!

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Duncan Meisel of the organization 350.org, and I started a petition to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, which says:

President Obama said that he would reject Keystone XL if it significantly contributed to climate change. Now the evidence is in: An 830,000-barrel-per-day pipeline would allow Big Oil to dig up, refine, and burn more tar sands than they could with any other available options, which means the president must reject the pipeline.

Right now we are in the middle of the last official public comment period for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline—one of the very last steps before President Obama makes his decision on whether to approve this 830,000-barrel-per-day pipeline of the world's dirtiest oil. 

Keystone XL would be a climate disaster, and this is our last chance to weigh in to stop the pipeline. The State Department is accepting comments on the final environmental impact statement, and Big Oil is trying to flood the system with pro-pipeline comments. Can you send a message to President Obama to stop Keystone XL while we still have a chance? 

Click here to send your message by adding your name to this petition.

It's simple: Building an 830,000-barrel-per-day pipeline of the world's dirtiest oil will have an impact on the climate. Keystone XL would allow Big Oil to dig up, refine, and burn more tar sands than they could with any other available options. The president said that he would reject the pipeline if it has a significant impact on the climate, and we take him at his word. 

We can either have Keystone XL or a safe and livable climate—"all of the above" is not an option. After six years of supporting more fossil fuel projects while saying he's committed to climate science, President Obama needs to finally decide if he wants to be a climate champion or be remembered as the pipeline president. 

This is the last chance to formally comment on the pipeline before it goes to the president's desk for a decision. Sending a strong message is critical to showing the president that the science is serious, and that we're serious too.

This is one of those things where numbers really count, and a flood of comments would show the president that there's a huge risk, politically and scientifically, to approving the pipeline. Can you submit a comment to stop Keystone XL? 

Click here to to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Let's send this message loud and clear.

Thanks!

–Duncan Meisel

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. 350.org didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 27, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Congress: Pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act

Dear New York MoveOn member,

I'm Roger Hickey of the Campaign for America's Future, and I started a petition to the United States Congress, which says:

Pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, which would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and provide the first increase to tipped employees in more than 20 years. It would also index the minimum wage to the cost of living.

Raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour would boost the paychecks of over 30 million workers in the U.S. The majority of these workers are adults with full-time jobs, and nearly half have some college education.

If the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation since 1968, it would be $10.60 today. That's why we need a fix like the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, which would raise the minimum wage and index it to the cost of living, ensuring workers a salary they can live on. 

Tell your representatives and senators to support the Fair Minimum Wage Act today.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Roger Hickey

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Roger Hickey didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 26, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Citizens United 2.0: The comic strip

(We're fighting the corrupting influence of big money with people power—like filling the streets with our allies to respond to the Supreme Court decision the day it comes out—and we're doing it the MoveOn way, with a bunch of members chipping in a little bit. Can you chip in?)
 

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 25, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Have an idea for a petition?

Dear MoveOn member,

Ever heard Margaret Mead's famous saying? "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

That's the story of MoveOn. In 1998, when a Republican Congress was focusing all its efforts on impeaching President Clinton, two people with no political experience started a simple online petition: "Censure President Clinton and Move On to Pressing Issues Facing the Nation."

They shared their petition with their friends, and within days they had hundreds of thousands of signatures. Today, MoveOn has millions of members—mostly folks who got involved by signing an online petition, and have stayed active in helping to fight for a progressive America.

That's why we launched MoveOn's public petition website, where you can start your own online petition and invite your friends to sign it. We'll send the most popular petitions to other MoveOn members to help build support for your cause.

It's easy to get started—just click here:

http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=296927&id=92235-10220574-RF4me1x&t=1

Thanks for all you do.

–Milan, David, Joan, Bobby, and the rest of the team

P.S. If you get ten signatures on your petition, we'll email it to at least 1,000 people in your area to help it grow (assuming of course that it's consistent with MoveOn's progressive values).

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 25, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, February 24, 2014

This is bad news

Republicans are dangerously close to winning control of the Senate this November—and if that happens we can kiss the rest of President Obama's second term goodbye. Can you chip in $3 to help stop the GOP takeover of the Senate?

Chip in $3

Dear MoveOn member,

We've just reviewed the latest polling on the U.S. Senate races, and it's not good—not at all.

Republicans need 6 seats to take control, and the latest polls show they're easily within striking distance of pulling it off.

If that happens, you can kiss the rest of Obama's second term goodbye. Every vote on the budget or debt ceiling will be a hostage-taking. And forget about getting anyone decent confirmed for the Supreme Court.

To stop the GOP takeover, we need to do two things. First, we need to focus our resources on helping Democrats who will actually stand up for progressive values. Second, we need to raise a huge ruckus and draw attention to the Republicans who are blocking overwhelmingly popular bills like raising the minimum wage.

But the clock is ticking, and the polls are trending the wrong way. So we're amping up our campaign to put Republicans on the defensive for their obstructionist waysCan you chip in $3 to help stop a Republican takeover of the Senate?

Yes, I can contribute $3 to help stop the Republican takeover of the Senate.

Our plan starts with member campaigns holding Republicans in close races like Mitch McConnell accountable for blocking bills to raise the minimum wage and extend unemployment insurance—two hugely popular bills they're blocking that would help millions of families nationwide.2

Then, as the election gets closer, we'll use MoveOn's proven get-out-the-vote strategies, which can be especially pivotal in tight races where a couple hundred votes can sometimes make the difference—but only in those races where Democrats stand for something. 

Before you donate we want to be clear: while our goal is to stop Republicans from taking back the Senate, we are NOT going to spend your money helping Democrats who weren't strong enough to stand up to the NRA after Newtown or who have voted to undermine Obamacare. Frankly, we have a much better chance of winning by focusing on strong Democrats who will fight for what they believe in.

But we need to kick it into gear starting right now, or else a year from now Republicans could be in complete control of Capitol Hill, and President Obama's agenda would basically be finished. Can you chip in $3?

Yes, I can contribute $3 to help stop the Republican takeover of the Senate.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilya, Matt B., Manny, Linda, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "6 Signs a Republican Senate Takeover Is Within Reach" National Journal, January 29, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=296947&id=92194-10220574-0YNESux&t=4

2. "Raising the Federal Minimum Wage to $10.10 Would Lift Wages for Millions and Provide a Modest Economic Boost," Economic Policy Institute, December 19, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=296694&id=&t=5&id=92194-10220574-0YNESux&t=5

 

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 24, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Tell Nancy Pelosi: Force a vote on immigration reform!

In the face of Republican stonewalling, Nancy Pelosi has said she's considering using an unusual legislative rules to force a vote on immigration reform in the House this year. MoveOn members have been calling for this for months, and our message is gaining traction! Can you add your name to MoveOn member Amos Lim's petition to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to file a discharge petition to force a vote on immigration reform this year?

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Amos Lim, a MoveOn member in San Francisco, and I started a petition to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, which says:

Representative Pelosi, in your role as House Minority Leader, you have spoken often about the urgent need to fix our broken immigration law. You have also stated that the country needs to address the fate of the 11 million immigrants and provide a path to citizenship for them through comprehensive immigration reform.

The signers of this petition, along with the combined 15 million members of MoveOn.org, America's Voice, 18 Million Rising, We Belong Together, and CREDO Action, call on you to stand strong and take the step that your well-meaning colleagues have not had the courage to.

We badly need a comprehensive immigration reform bill to fix the broken immigration system, and we are tired of waiting while leadership in the House employs stalling tactics to delay the passage of the bill.

Please take the lead in this historic moment by introducing a discharge petition to bring the Senate immigration bill to the House floor if Speaker John Boehner refuses to do it himself.

The Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill last June providing a roadmap to citizenship for many immigrants, increased border security, and a way to fix the broken immigration system.

However, since the bill passed the Senate last year, the House has not taken any action to pass a similar bill for comprehensive immigration reform. Speaker of the House John Boehner has insisted that the Senate's bill would never make it to the floor of the House of Representatives and he and his colleagues have made good on this promise.

The good news is that Rep. Pelosi could introduce a discharge petition, gain support from fellow members, and force the House of Representatives to vote on the Senate's comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Unfortunately, while many House Democrats have voiced support for signing such a discharge petition, none has yet shown the leadership to actually introduce it. We need one brave soul to take the lead.

A coalition of progressive and social justice groups, including MoveOn.org, America's Voice, 18Million Rising, We Belong Together, and CREDO Action, have committed to mobilizing our combined 15 million members in support of a discharge petition on comprehensive immigration reform.

We hope you will join us in urging Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to find the courage and leadership needed to introduce a discharge petition and making it possible to bring the Senate immigration legislation to the House floor.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Amos Lim

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Amos Lim didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 23, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Another mistake for the Supreme Court?

Dear MoveOn member,

Do you know what McCutcheon v. FEC is? McCutcheon is Citizens United 2.0. Remember that—even if you don't remember anything else from this email. It'd do for wealthy individuals the same thing Citizens United did for corporations—and money would reign.

Shaun McCutcheon is an Alabama coal tycoon who likes to spread his money far and wide.1 McCutcheon's a real-life Raymond Tusk from House of Cards.

In 2012, McCutcheon managed to spend nearly $300,000 on political campaigns—almost three times what an individual can legally contribute—by creating his own political action committee.2 Now, in a case he's argued before the Supreme Court—with support from Republican Senator Mitch McConnell's own legal team—McCutcheon could eliminate some, or even all, of our country's aggregate spending limits for individuals making political contributions.3

This democracy-crippling judgment could come down from the court as soon as next week.4

For more of a primer on McCutcheon and why it's so dangerous, check out this 90-second video to get up to speed—and then share it with a friend or two.

A bad Supreme Court decision in this case would practically legalize corruption. Instead of donating to 18 House races, politician purchasers like McCutcheon and the Koch brothers could donate to 435.

Check out the video above, and spread the word by sharing it on Facebook, Twitter, and email.

Thanks for all you do.

–Mark, Kyle, Matt B., Joan, and the rest of the team

P.S. MoveOn is partnering with Public Citizen and a dozen other advocacy and policy organizations to pull off more than a hundred rapid-response rallies when the Supreme Court issues its decision—whether it's next Monday or next month. Find details for a rally near you. 

Sources:

1. "Meet Shaun McCutcheon, the Republican Activist Trying to Make History at the Supreme Court," The Daily Beast, October 8, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=296936&id=91945-10220574-9oX8cdx&t=5

2. "McCutcheon Super PAC Already Busts Limits, Rule of the Game," Roll Call, October 7, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=296937&id=91945-10220574-9oX8cdx&t=6

3. "Meet Shaun McCutcheon, the Republican Activist Trying to Make History at the Supreme Court," The Daily Beast, October 8, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=296936&id=91945-10220574-9oX8cdx&t=7

4. "Nationwide Rapid Response Planned for U.S. Supreme Court's McCutcheon Ruling," Common Dreams, February 10, 2014
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2014/02/10-6

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 22, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Loud and clear

Dear MoveOn member,

Yesterday, we took a huge step to defend our democracy and secure voting rights.

When the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the original Voting Rights Act of 1965 last summer, it stripped away voter protections that have helped thousands cast their vote—and left it to Congress to clean up the mess. And for eight months now, Congress has failed to act.

This is what it looks like when we start to take action ourselves—when we stand with Democrats who have spent years fighting for voting rights and demand that Republicans join them. Yesterday, more than 4,000 MoveOn members visited representatives' local offices asking for their support of the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014, which would provide federal protection from discriminatory voting practices.

MoveOn members visiting local congressional offices to show support for voting rights.

For the past month, we've built grassroots energy to push Congress to strengthen and pass the bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014. Here's what MoveOn members have accomplished so far:

  • Launched 643 petitions in 387 congressional districts, collecting 314,378 signatures of support
  • Delivered those petitions yesterday during more than 4,000 visits to local offices
  • Made 7,606 phone calls over the past two weeks, urging legislators to strengthen, fight for, and pass the new Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 before the next election

Congress is listening. We've fielded dozens of calls from Congressional offices wanting us to know they've heard the message—but that we can't stop now.

To win against the inertia of Washington, we have to keep pushing, especially in Republican-held districts, until this critical bill gets through committee and to a vote.

If we lose, we face a 2014 election without federal voter protections. Think ridiculously long lines. Polling locations that change without public notice. Reduced early voting days. And a host of voting changes that could push people of color, the poor, the young, and the elderly out of the polls.

The Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 isn't a magic wand that will prevent every voting abuse, but it is a strong step in the right direction. Getting bipartisan support is key to passing this bill and laying the groundwork for strengthening voting rights across the nation.

Because MoveOn members know that our right to vote is at the core of all the issues we care about—education, health care, a strong economy, and so much more—you have stepped up in a big way. Hundreds of you reported meeting and talking with staffers yesterday and hearing firsthand how our elected officials are working (sometimes behind the scenes) to support voting rights.

Here's how yesterday's office visits went in MoveOn members' own words:

"I talked with my congressman's staffer. I told him my personal experience of the difficulty I had helping my neighbor get an ID card several years ago. She was elderly, and the only documents she had which they would accept had her first name spelled differently. It took months to get her name changed on her birth certificate to match her Social Security number.—Jean E., Chapel Hill, North Carolina

"I was glad I did this, a small act of democracy that made me feel good. I feel strongly about access to voting that is fair to all."—Joanne S., Keizer, Oregon 

"A staffer greeted me at the door and I told him I was there to show support for the Voting Rights Amendment Act. He informed me that several other MoveOn members had been in earlier in the day. He also said that my congressman would support the bill."—Terry B., Lovejoy, Georgia

Congress has a real opportunity to pass bipartisan legislation to restore the Voting Rights Act, but it's going to take an outpouring of grassroots energy to make that happen.

That's why we're not done yet. With thousands of MoveOn members organizing in hundreds of districts, we're now positioned to keep up the pressure until the Voting Rights Amendment Act is brought to a vote.

Can you support our voting rights work between now and election day?  Click here to chip in.

Thanks for all you do.

–Milan, Heidi, Jessica, Justin, and the rest of the team

Chip in $3

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 21, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Make a quick call to Rep. Meeks today?

header

Can you call Rep. Meeks to thank him for his support of voting rights and to ask for his help in leading the effort to pass and strengthen the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014? 

Representative Gregory Meeks
Phone: (202) 225-3461

Report Your Call
Dear MoveOn member,

Got a sec to make a quick phone call?

Today, thousands of MoveOn members are stopping by local congressional offices to show support for voting rights. 

For Democratic representatives, we have a special message: a thank-you for supporting voting rights, along with a request to help strengthen and pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014.

In Republican districts, MoveOn members are also visiting their local congressional offices and asking their representatives to co-sponsor the bill—and to move it quickly to a vote.

This is a rare opportunity to pass critical, bipartisan legislation through the House this year. And many Democrats, with their long history of supporting voting rights, are working behind the scenes to bring it to a vote before the election.

We need them to know we've got their back. 

You can help create an even bigger wave of support and bolster the efforts of the MoveOn members stopping by congressional offices today with a quick phone call.

Will you call Representative Gregory Meeks TODAY to thank him for his support of voting rights and ask him to help lead the effort to pass and strengthen the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014?

Here's where to call:

Representative Gregory Meeks
Phone: (202) 225-3461

Doing the right thing in Congress is tough—so when Democrats are pushing for stronger voting rights protection, hearing from supportive constituents can lighten the load.

The Voting Rights Act has, since it first passed in 1965, always been a bipartisan effort. Voting rights are a top priority for MoveOn members, and with leadership from legislators like Rep. Meeks and broad, bipartisan participation, we can help make sure this critical new legislation passes as well.

Making a call is easy. Just tell the person who answers the phone who you are, that you want to thank Rep. Meeks for his support of voting rights, and that you need his leadership to pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014. 

After the call, please report the results by clicking here:

http://civ.moveon.org/call?tg=FHNY_05&cp_id=2043&id=91656-10220574-U9Dd%3Dux&t=2

Thanks for all you do.

Milan, Kyle, Rosy, Alejandro, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 20, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Temporary victory for diplomacy with Iran

More than seventy-four thousand MoveOn members have already signed Sen. Chris Murphy's petition calling on the Senate not to undermine President Obama's diplomacy with Iran. Below is an important follow up message from Senator Murphy about this campaign. Take a look:

Dear MoveOn member,

Thank you for joining me in calling on the U.S. Senate to give diplomacy with Iran an opportunity to succeed before voting on any additional sanctions.

In large part because of people like you making your voice heard, I am confident that the Senate won't vote to approve new sanctions while negotiations are with Iran are ongoing. And while momentum is on our side, there are still calls from within the Senate, especially among Senate Republicans, to vote on a sanctions bill now.

That means we have to push as well.

Right now, the most important thing we can do is have people continue to contact their Senators. Can I count on you to spread the news about our petition via email, Facebook, or Twitter? 

             SHARE ON FACEBOOK | SPREAD THE WORD ON TWITTER

Murphy

In 2006, I was elected to Congress as a vocal opponent of the Iraq War, and I spent my years in the House working to ensure we never forget that war's true cost to our nation.

Eight years later, now as a U.S. Senator, I'm proud to stand with President Obama as he fulfills a campaign pledge to directly engage Iran in a diplomatic effort to halt their nuclear ambitions.

I'll continue to keep you up to date as these efforts move forward.

All the best,

Chris Murphy
Senator, Connecticut

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 19, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Hey - Question from a neighbor

This is a message from Kam S., a MoveOn member in Cambria Heights. 

Hi,

This Thursday I'm going to Representative Gregory Meeks's office to make a really important delivery. I'm going to hand-deliver a list of constituents who've signed a petition urging Rep. Meeks to support the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014.

Your name isn't on it ... yet.

There are 241 people in our district who have already signed but our goal is to have 300—so Rep. Meeks knows how important the issue of voting rights is to his constituents.

Can you click here to add your name before I deliver the petition on Thursday?

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/rep-meeks-support-voting-4/?source=mo&id=91397-10220574-bKKPHJx&t=1

The Supreme Court's decision last year to strike down a key part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 critically undermined voting protections and could make it harder to vote for hundreds of thousands of voters in the next election. This new, bipartisan legislation would fix that.

That's why this Thursday, thousands of MoveOn members across the country, including me, will hand-deliver petitions to local congressional offices asking our elected officials to make voting rights a top priority by supporting the bill and fighting to strengthen it. Every member of Congress, including long-time champions, needs to hear from us, so they know we've got their backs in fighting to fix the Voting Rights Act this year.

We still need more signatures to reach our goal of 300.

You can add your name here:

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/rep-meeks-support-voting-4/?source=mo&id=91397-10220574-bKKPHJx&t=2

I hope you will help me have as big an impact as possible on Rep. Meeks this Thursday.

Thanks,

Kam S., Cambria Heights MoveOn member


Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 18, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Will you drop by Rep. Meeks's office on Thursday?

It's time to take our voting rights message straight to Rep. Meeks's office. Will you join thousands of MoveOn members and visit his office on Thursday? 

Yes, I'll drop by!
Dear MoveOn member,

New voter identification requirements. Fewer polling places. Long waits to cast your ballot.

These are just a few of the steps states around the country have taken to keep women, the elderly, and people of color from casting their ballot, which could have a profound impact on the 2014 and 2016 elections. 

But MoveOn members are fighting back: two weeks ago, we launched the Defend the Vote campaign. Since then, thousands of MoveOn members have signed petitions and made phone calls asking our representatives to co-sponsor and improve the Voting Rights Amendment Act—the critical, bipartisan legislation that would restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act and help voters in upcoming elections. 

And it's working. Thanks to MoveOn members' and our allies' campaigning, the bill is steadily gaining co-sponsors.

But too many members of Congress, including Representative Gregory Meeks, haven't signed on yet. That's why this week, when members of Congress are home for a recess, MoveOn members around the country are visiting their offices to ask that they get behind this critical piece of legislation.

Will you drop by Rep. Meeks office on Thursday, February 20 to deliver a strong message of support for voting rights?

Yes, I'll drop by on Thursday, February 20.

Rep. Meeks's offices are located at: 

67-12 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Arverne, NY 11692

153-01 Jamaica Avenue
Jamaica, NY 11432

Last week we flooded representatives' offices with calls—and they took notice. Now, with members of Congress back home, we have a chance to turn up the pressure. With constituent after constituent showing up at his office on Thursday, Rep. Meeks will have no choice but to hear our message: Sign on to co-sponsor the Voting Rights Amendment Act and stand up for voting rights!

Dropping by your representative's office is easy: All you have to do is go there and tell the person at the front desk that you want to make sure that Rep. Meeks knows how important voting rights are to his constituents.

Once you sign up, we'll follow up with more information and make sure you have everything you need to make your drop-by a success, including materials to bring with you and drop off. Can we count on you to take time out of your day on Thursday to drop by Rep. Meeks's office and ask him to co-sponsor the Voting Rights Amendment Act?

Yes, I'll stand up for voting rights on Thursday, February 20.

Thanks for all you do.

Milan, Nick, Manny, Linda, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 17, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Utah? Gay marriage in Utah?!

Dear MoveOn member,

Here's my favorite moment from this interview:

If you are doing anything where you feel like the odds are insurmountable, if you feel like there is no chance you could win, I just want you to remember one phrase: Gay marriage is legal in Utah.

This week on "The Good Fight," the MoveOn-powered podcast about people changing the world, I interviewed two of the people behind an insane, impossible, come-from-behind victory-in-progress that lights the way for progressives everywhere: the fight for marriage equality in the reddest state in America. When you hear how they did it, and how it felt—well, consider keeping some Kleenex handy.

Click here to open iTunes and hear the joy-tacular story of the fight for marriage equality in the most Republican state in the country. (And if you like it, subscribe to the show... and post a review!)

The Good Fight with Ben Wikler
Or listen on our website here, or on Stitcher (an Android and iOS app), or subscribe via RSS.

For seventeen crazy days a few weeks ago, everyone in Utah could marry the person they loved. More than a thousand couples, some who'd been waiting for decades, finally tied the knot—as officials performed one marriage after another, in a giant celebration of love and family. Today, the fight is back in court—and we might be on the road to an even bigger win.

None of this was supposed to happen.

In 2004, Utah passed one of the harshest anti-equality constitutional amendments in the nation—banning not only same-sex marriage, but also civil unions or anything like them. And the vote wasn't even close—it was a two-thirds vs one-third landslide.

But thanks to a fight, things are changing, in a big way. Our guests, two gay Utahns with an infectious sense of humor and gusto, tell the story of how it all went down—a story with a kiss-in at a Mormon temple, a six-foot wedding cake at a rally, and an incredibly well-timed corruption scandal that made the impossible real.

Totally up to you. But if you'd like to hear this story, click here to check out the podcast on iTunes. And if you like it, you might want to subscribe.

Or you can listen here on our website, then share it on Facebook.

This is bigger than Utah. Our guests' court case could win a legal decision that extends marriage equality not just to Utah, but to states from Oklahoma to Wyoming—or even, if it reaches the Supreme Court, to the entire country. And whatever the courts decide, there's a deeper victory already underway: public opinion in Utah has swung sharply towards equality, even among people who would never vote for a Democrat.

It's a story that will stay with you. And it's a testament to the power of believing in your convictions, and not giving up—no matter what fight you're fighting.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ben

P.S. You can see a lot more photos of the Utah story on the episode page on our website. And, of course, you can hear the story behind the pictures on the podcast, which you can get on iTunes here! Thanks to photographer David Newkirk for the shot above—here are some more:

Troy Williams, one of our guests, leads a rally at the state capitol.
Troy Wiliams, one of our guests, leads a rally at the state capitol.

Couples getting married in Utah!
Couples getting married in Utah!

P.P.S. Wait, what's a podcast? Podcasts are prerecorded radio shows distributed via the Internet. You can listen to them for free whenever you want, on your computer, your phone, or an iPod (that's where the word "pod" came from).

Apple's iTunes app for Mac and Windows is the most popular way to subscribe and listen to podcasts, and Apple offers a free app for iPhones and iPads called Podcasts. For Android, Stitcher is a great app. Just search for "The Good Fight." Or you can play it on the web, from "The Good Fight's" website!

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 15, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Make a call to defend voting rights

Can you call Rep. Meeks? Ask him to sign on as a cosponsor of the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 and stand up for voting rights.

Representative Gregory Meeks
Phone: (202) 225-3461

Report Your Call!
Dear MoveOn member,

Our voting rights campaign is working! Since we launched our Defend the Vote campaign in nearly 400 congressional districts across the country, twelve more members of Congress (four Republicans and eight Democrats) have signed on to cosponsor the Voting Rights Amendment Act—the critical, bipartisan legislation that would restore most of the protections of the Voting Rights Act and help millions of voters in upcoming elections.

But your member of Congress, Representative Gregory Meeks, hasn't yet signed on. Right now, we only have a short window of time to move forward this critical piece of voting rights legislation. That's why it's so important for Rep. Meeks to hear directly from you today so that we can show how much of a priority this is to his constituents.

Can you call Rep. Meeks right now and ask him to sign on as a cosponsor of the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 and stand up for voting rights

Here's where to call:

Representative Gregory Meeks
Phone: (202) 225-3461

Hearing directly from constituents is one of the most effective ways Rep. Meeks can be convinced to join this effort right now. 

Making a call is easy. Just tell the person who answers the phone who you are, that voting rights matter to you, and that you want Rep. Meeks to support this legislation. Here's an example of what you might say:

"Hi. I'm your constituent and I live in [YOUR CITY]. I'm calling to urge Representative Gregory Meeks to sign on as a cosponsor of the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014. Restoring the protections of the Voting Rights Act is critical to protecting the vote in upcoming elections and it's important to me that Rep. Meeks help lead the effort to improve and pass this bill."

Then, after you're done, please report your call by clicking here:

http://civ.moveon.org/call?tg=FHNY_05&cp_id=2025&id=90489-10220574-hBzOs%3Dx&t=2

Thanks for all you do.

Milan, Matt P., Joan, Nick, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 12, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

A hidden health tax?

Republican governors like Rick Perry are messing with Obamacare and the lives of millions of Americans by refusing to expand Medicaid. Can you chip in to ramp up our campaign to expand Medicaid, starting with launching billboards like this one in red states?

Billboard: Welcome to Texas. Proudly   denying 1,046,000 of our own people health care for no good reason whatsoever.

Dear MoveOn member,

Republican governors and likely future presidential candidates like Rick Perry, Scott Walker, and Bobby Jindal have come up with a new strategy to undermine the Affordable Care Act—and right now they're getting away with it.

It's called the "hidden health tax" and it makes family insurance premiums $1,017 higher than they need to be. Here's how this "hidden health tax" works: When a group of people is kept uninsured, it raises the premiums for everyone else.1

So when Rick Perry, Scott Walker, and their Republican friends dig in their heels to prevent the expansion of the popular Medicaid program in their states, they're not just keeping 5 million Americans without insurance (which is bad enough)—they're creating consequences for the success of the whole Affordable Care Act, which impacts tens of millions more people.

We won't let them get away with it. We're kicking off a national campaign to stop the GOP's "hidden health tax" and expand Medicaid in the 25 states where Republicans have blocked it so far—and we're going to make sure millions of Americans know about it.

Can you chip in $3 to help put up billboards like this in Texas, Florida, and other states where Republicans are denying people health coverage?

These billboards are the shot across the bow, and we'll put them up at busy interstate crossings right away. But we won't stop there. Here's our two-part plan:

1) We go all-in to win Medicaid expansion in the states. Looking at the map, there are another six states where we've got a shot at winning this year—which means hundreds of thousands of people getting health insurance, and momentum for more states to follow suit.

2) And we make sure that Rick Perry and his Republican friends feel political consequences for their actions, so that they never make it close to the White House.

As you read this, decisions are being made in state capitols across the country—if we get these billboards up right away, they'll earn media attention and increase pressure on decision-makers to act. We can win, but we need to raise $150,000 today to launch the these billboards and jumpstart the campaign.

Can you chip in $3?

Yes, I can contribute $3.

MoveOn members are organizing to expand Medicaid in every state where Republicans are holding it up—hundreds of thousands of members have signed petitions to expand Medicaid, and hundreds joined a strategy call this week to plan the next phase of the campaign. These billboards are only the beginning, and they'll send a warning to anyone who dares to block Americans from accessing health care and subject us all to a "hidden health tax."

The "hidden health tax" was first reported on back in 2009 when Congress was debating the Affordable Care Act, and the principle holds true today.2 An uninsured person has trouble paying for needed health services—like treatment for late-stage breast cancer—but someone still needs to pay those costs, so health insurance companies raise premiums on everyone else to make up the difference.

Right now, Republicans are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. By keeping 5 million Americans—largely low-income folks—from getting insurance, they're manufacturing the false notion that Obamacare isn't affordable.

This is a totally winnable fight. Last year, six Republican governors did the right thing and expanded Medicaid in their states. We can use this momentum to win Medicaid expansion in even more states, if we act now.

Click here to contribute $3 to stop the GOP's "hidden health tax" and help more Americans access health coverage.

This is a case of the best defense is a good offense. So we're launching a major campaign to win Medicaid expansion in at least six more states this year, and hold obstructionists like Rick Perry accountable.

Thanks for all you do.

–Victoria, Mariana, Matt P., Nick, and the rest of the team

P.S. 25 states and the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid. But Republican governors and state legislatures in another 25 states are standing in the way, and their actions could undermine the Affordable Care Act. Can you chip $3 in to help us defend Obamacare and expand Medicaid in more states, starting with putting billboards like this up in red states?

Sources:

1. "Hidden Health Tax: Americans Pay a Premium," Families USA, May 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=296672&id=89935-10220574-xaIGLyx&t=7

2. "Study: Insured pay 'hidden tax' for uninsured health care," USA Today, May 29, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=296673&id=89935-10220574-xaIGLyx&t=8

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


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Friday, February 7, 2014

Re: The U.S. Senate should give diplomacy with Iran a chance

More than 50,000 members have signed Sen. Chris Murphy's petition calling on the Senate not to undermine President Obama's diplomacy with Iran. Momentum in Congress and the media is swinging our way. Now's the time join in: Click here to sign Senator Murphy's petition.


Dear MoveOn member,

I'm U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, and I started a petition to the United States Senate, which says:

The interim agreement with Iran gives the United States and our allies a chance to resolve the nuclear standoff with Iran without resorting to military action. The Senate should give negotiations the opportunity to succeed before voting on any additional sanctions or other efforts that would undermine diplomacy.

Last November, the United States and our partners in the international community reached a breakthrough agreement with Iran that allows negotiations to begin that can remove from Iran the ability to covertly obtain a nuclear weapon without resorting to military action.

The six-month deal provides unprecedented daily access to nuclear facilities in Iran, while halting or reversing important components of their current nuclear program. In exchange, the United States will provide limited and immediately revocable relief from some sanctions that leaves in place existing severe restrictions on their oil and banking industries.

Click here to sign my petition to give diplomacy with Iran a chance, and then pass it along to your friends.

Some will argue that we cannot trust Iran—but we do not need to trust Iran to choose to give these negotiations a real chance. Any final agreement will provide the U.S. and our partners with unprecedented access to their nuclear program to prove, on a daily basis, that their intentions are purely benign.

If Iran walks away from the negotiating table in bad faith, then the Senate should debate new sanctions. But now, let's give the Obama Administration and their partners the room to work out a peaceful resolution to this long-festering crisis before voting on any additional sanctions or other efforts that would undermine diplomacy.

Click here to sign my petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Senator Chris Murphy

This petition was started by Senator Chris Murphy on MoveOn Petitions Political Action Edition, which is licensed to and paid for by MoveOn.org Political Action. Senator Chris Murphy didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on February 7, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.