Friday, February 26, 2010

406-19

Click here to sign:
"Big insurance companies like Blue Cross have too much power. The Senate must subject them to antitrust laws, just like every other company."

Sign the petition
Most Republicans were too embarrassed to publicly support insurance industry price-gouging. But not Republican leader John Boehner, who was one of 19 Republicans to vote against the bill. Click here to see our new ad calling him out.
Dear MoveOn member,

Unlike just about every other industry in America, health insurance companies are completely exempt from federal antitrust laws.

They can establish monopolies and raise rates without having to worry about competition, like Blue Cross just did in California, where they're raising premiums by up to 39% for some customers.

But now, there's a real chance that could change, thanks to Rep. Tom Perriello, a progressive freshman in a very challenging Virginia district. His bill to subject insurers to antitrust laws just passed the House 406-19 despite overwhelming opposition from the insurance industry.1

Republicans have been trying to protect insurers—they even tried to block this bill from coming to a vote—but Perriello called their bluff and forced them on the record.2 Now the Senate needs to follow the House's lead and pass Rep. Perriello's antitrust measure. Sign our petition to Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer right now. Click to add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/perriello_antitrust/?id=19132-10220574-IVN2k1x&t=4

The petition reads, "Big insurance companies like Blue Cross have too much power. The Senate must subject them to antitrust laws, just like every other company."

We still desperately need comprehensive health care reform. But this bill, which Perriello is pushing along with Colorado Rep. Betsy Markey, is a simple, concrete step to rein in the power of the insurance companies, and it's not currently included in the health care reform package. There's no excuse for the Senate not to pass it.

Tom Perriello is someone you should know about, if you don't already. His district went for McCain 51-48, but Perriello is standing up for what he believes in. He voted for the House's energy and climate legislation, even as Tea Partiers responded with plans to burn him in effigy. And he voted for the House health care bill with a public option even while Glenn Nye, another freshman Democrat in a neighboring district, caved in to insurance companies and opposed the bill.

Perriello's voting record isn't perfect, but he's really shown recently what it's like to be a fighting Democrat. Listen to his response when asked if Senate Democrats should give up on an economy-wide cap on global warming pollution:

"I'm sick of starting with what can we get through the Senate; let's start with what solves the damn problem.  Until the Senate gets its head out of its rear-end and starts to see the crisis we're in, our country is literally at risk. Our economy is at risk, because these jobs are being created overseas.  It should have the same urgency with this problem that it had bailing out Wall Street.

"We are swearing an oath to do what's necessary to protect this country, not do what's necessary to get a bill through the Senate. If you look at what voters were upset with on the health-care bill, it was all the carve-outs and exemptions and watering it down. Voters are smart; they know that the House bill stood up to the health insurance companies and the Senate bill didn't. The same thing is true here: If they respect that the bill is actually going to transform our economy, make us more competitive and more independent, they'll support it. If it seems like it's just a sell-out to the big donors from the oil and gas companies, they won't support it.

"That's the question that we should be asking: Does this solve the problem? Is this a solution worthy of the American people? And if it is, then great; let's move forward with it."3

Perriello is showing that taking on special interests and passing legislation to help real people is popular across the political spectrum. But he's a top target of Republicans hoping to gain seats in the election, and he deserves our support when he takes bold stands like he did this week. Will you sign our petition urging passage of his legislation?

Click here to add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/perriello_antitrust/?id=19132-10220574-IVN2k1x&t=5

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Daniel, Joan, Adam, and the rest of the team

Sources:
1. "House votes to strip health insurance companies of antitrust exemption," The Washington Post, February 24, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86546&id=19132-10220574-IVN2k1x&t=6

2. "House Votes Overwhelmingly To Abolish Insurance Industry Anti-Trust Exemption," DownWithTyranny!, February 25, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86547&id=19132-10220574-IVN2k1x&t=7

3. "Rep. Tom Perriello: 'Every week the Senate doesn't act, we're giving up jobs'," Grist, February 25, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86548&id=19132-10220574-IVN2k1x&t=8

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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 26, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

You're invited: virtual "town hall" tonight!

Dear MoveOn member,

Progressive Democrats—including your representative, Carolyn McCarthy—are fighting to save our democracy after the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to unlimited political spending by corporations.

Tonight, one of the leaders of this fight, Congressman John Larson, will be hosting a national virtual town hall meeting on stopping the corporate takeover of Washington—and what you can do to help.

Congress is drafting legislation right now to limit the disastrous effects of the Supreme Court's decision, so now is a crucial time to let our champs know that we want them to take bold action to fix Washington.

You can log in to the virtual town hall from anywhere on your computer and ask questions via email or Twitter. The event starts at 6 p.m. EST. Can you make it?

Yes, I'll be there!

No, but I can make a phone call to thank Rep. McCarthy

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Anna, Stephen, Marika, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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 25, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

So close

Dear MoveOn member,

Stop what you're doing and pick up the phone right now.

We are so close to our goal. As I send this email, we're at 701,145 messages (and counting) to Congress on health care today. (!!!) And you can help put us over the top.

Can you call Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand right away? Tell them that you want Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform this year.

Here's where to call:

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Already called or getting a busy signal? Send a fax. Done that? Email your friends, post on your senator's Facebook wall, or share the march on Twitter. Every single action counts. Click below to get started:

Join the march at this link: http://pol.moveon.org/virtualmarch10/action.html?id=19085-10220574-hYIvdsx&t=2

Thanks so much for all that you do.

–Kat, Laura, Wes, Michael, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

It's time to march


Dear MoveOn member,

If you've never picked up the phone to call Congress about health care, today's the day to change that. Will you join the Virtual March for Real Health Care Reform?

With the future of health care reform hanging in the balance at the president's summit tomorrow, this may be our last big chance to make sure Congress knows that voters want real health care reform.

So we're aiming to send one million messages to Congress TODAY. The message? It's time to get the job done and pass comprehensive health care reform.

Will you join the Virtual March? Click below and we'll sign you up and automatically send a fax in your name to Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer today:

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Lenore, Joan, Stephen, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Will you march?

Will you add your voice to the Virtual March for Health Care Reform? Tomorrow, people from coast to coast will be sending a million messages to Congress to get health care reform done, and done right. Click here to sign up and we'll automatically send a fax to Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer in your name:

Dear MoveOn member,

Last week, we announced the Virtual March for Real Health Care Reform—and the response has been incredible. From labor unions to progressive blogs, from California to Florida, hundreds of thousands of people are ready to take action tomorrow.

The timing couldn't be more critical. With the president's health care plan unveiled yesterday and his congressional summit coming up, all eyes are on health care.1 This could be our last, big chance to make sure Congress hears our message loud and clear: it's time to get reform done, and done right.

But to hit our goal of one million messages to Congress and truly make this the biggest, movement-wide action of the health care fight, we need more people—like you!--to sign up today.

Will you join the Virtual March? Just click the link below—we'll sign you up and automatically send a fax in your name to Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer. Then on the day of the march, we'll email you to remind you to call your senators as well.

http://pol.moveon.org/virtualmarch10/?id=19053-10220574-IBXqWOx&t=3

A million messages in one day—from MoveOn members, labor unions, blog readers, members of the Health Care for America Now coalition, Democracy for America, TrueMajority, and other progressive groups—will send an unmistakable message to Capitol Hill.

And we've got to make it huge. With health care reform—including the public option—regaining momentum,2 there's going to be intense pushback from conservatives and Big Insurance opponents of reform this week and in weeks to come. But as we have for the past year, we've got to break through their noise and make sure Congress remembers that regular folks both want and need real reform.

This is going to be huge—and a lot of fun. But we need as many people as possible from across the country to speak out to make it work. Can you join the Virtual March today? Click the link below to sign up and we'll automatically send a fax to Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer:

http://pol.moveon.org/virtualmarch10/?id=19053-10220574-IBXqWOx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Michael, Ilyse, Lenore, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Obama offers new health-care plan; GOP slams it as 'government takeover,'" The Washington Post, February 22, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86537&id=19053-10220574-IBXqWOx&t=5

2. "Whip Congress for a Public Option," Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Democracy for America, and Credo Action
http://whipcongress.com/?source=bp

"Public option revival gains steam," The Hill, February 20, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86501&id=19053-10220574-IBXqWOx&t=6

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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 23, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, February 22, 2010

An awful conservative Democrat

Sign the petition to Bill Halter:
"We've had enough of Democrats like Blanche Lincoln who listen to big corporations instead of their constituents. We urge you to challenge her in the primary and we'll work hard to support you if you do."

Sign the petition

Dear MoveOn member,

If the final health care reform bill doesn't include a public option, it'll be because of conservative Senate Democrats like Blanche Lincoln.

After taking more than $700,000 from Big Insurance and HMO interests, she was one of just a handful of senators who vowed to filibuster health care reform until the public option was removed—and just Friday, she denounced it again.1

But now we've got a huge opportunity to replace her, and to send a powerful message to Washington that obstructing progressive legislation has heavy political costs.

She's up for reelection this year, and Bill Halter, the state's progressive lieutenant governor, is deciding right now whether to challenge her in the Democratic primary.2 Can you sign our petition to Bill Halter telling him we'll have his back if he decides to run?

http://pol.moveon.org/billhalter/?id=19043-10220574-FHnV6Qx&t=3

The petition says, "We've had enough of Democrats like Blanche Lincoln who listen to big corporations instead of their constituents. We urge you to challenge her in the primary and we'll work hard to support you if you do."

We asked MoveOn members in Arkansas about this race, and over 90 percent said that we should urge Halter to run and support his campaign.

Jennifer P. from Little Rock told us, "Lincoln never met a special interest she didn't like. It's hard to express just how awful she has been as a senator. I don't know of anyone who will vote for her if she shows up on the November ballot."

By contrast, according to MoveOn member Bill C. from Pocahontas, Halter is "more electable and much more likely to support progressive legislation."

As lieutenant governor, Bill Halter led the successful campaign to establish a state-run lottery with all proceeds donated to tens of thousands of college scholarships for Arkansas students.3 He also recently helped organize a free medical clinic that provided care for more than 1,000 uninsured Arkansans.4 And he's spoken out strongly against anti-gay ballot measures in Arkansas.5

But he's facing a tough fight, because Lincoln has raised millions in campaign contributions from corporate interests and has more than $5 million in the bank.6 So we need to show Bill Halter that progressives will support him if he decides to run.

Click here to sign the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/billhalter/?id=19043-10220574-FHnV6Qx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Adam, Ilya, Michael, Kat, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. Analysis conducted by Public Campaign Action Fund using data from the Center for Responsive Politics, October 2009
http://s3.moveon.org/pdfs/lincoln_whoseside.pdf?id=19043-10220574-FHnV6Qx&t=5

"Lincoln: 'I'll Filibuster A Public Option Bill,'" Talking Points Memo, November 21, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85297&id=19043-10220574-FHnV6Qx&t=6

Tweet by Sen. Lincoln, February 19, 2010
http://twitter.com/blanche4senate/status/9348914468

2. "Lincoln Faces Rough Road," The Wall Street Journal, February 18, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86491&id=19043-10220574-FHnV6Qx&t=7

3. Office of Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter, accessed February 22, 2010 
http://www.ltgovernor.arkansas.gov/bills_bio.html

4. "More Than 1,000 Uninsured Receive Care at Free Clinic in Little Rock," Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Nov. 23, 2009 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86535&id=19043-10220574-FHnV6Qx&t=8

5. "Halter: Against Initiated Act 1," Arkansas Times, October 26, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86530&id=19043-10220574-FHnV6Qx&t=9

"Blanche Lincoln Could Face Primary Opponent Due To Health Care Opposition," Huffington Post, November 19, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86531&id=19043-10220574-FHnV6Qx&t=10

6. Data from the Center for Responsive Politics, accessed February 22, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86495&id=19043-10220574-FHnV6Qx&t=11

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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 22, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

One million messages

Next week, we're holding a massive movement-wide day of action—the Virtual March for Real Health Care Reform on February 24. Can you join the march today? Click here to sign up and we'll send a fax to Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand in your name:

Dear MoveOn member,

Imagine if every single phone line, fax machine, email inbox, and social network page of every senator was flooded with a simple message simultaneously: It's time to stop stalling and get real health care reform done now.

Well, that's exactly what's going to happen next week. On February 24th, together with allies from labor unions, progressive blogs, Health Care for America Now, and others, we're organizing a massive day of action: the Virtual March for Real Health Care Reform.

We're aiming to send one million messages (!!) to Congress that day. We'll call, fax, email, tweet, blog, Facebook—everything we can think of—to make sure Congress knows voters want health reform this year.

It's going to be huge—and fun. But to make the biggest impact and hit our one million goal, we need as many people involved as possible from coast to coast. Can you sign up today to join the Virtual March? It's simple to sign up—and when you do, we'll automatically send a fax in your name to Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand. Click the link below—it'll sign you up and send a fax in your name to your senators.

http://pol.moveon.org/virtualmarch10/?id=19022-10220574-EjW5Vnx&t=3

As our messages are flooding Congress, hundreds of folks will also be marching through Washington, D.C. to Capitol Hill in honor of Melanie Shouse, a MoveOn Council leader in St. Louis who recently passed away from breast cancer—while still fighting her insurance company for coverage, and organizing tirelessly to pass real health care reform.1 Together, we'll send an unmistakable message to Congress.

These marches couldn't come at a more important moment. With President Obama's big health care summit approaching, next week could be a major turning point for health care reform. But it's not yet clear which direction Congress and the White House will head after the summit—continued debate and delay, or working to finish real reform quickly.

That's why we've got to make our voices heard in a big way, right away. This could be our last chance to make a major impact on the health care fight. And to do that in a big way, we need as many people as possible to sign up for the Virtual March in advance, and then to call their senators on the day of the March.

Can you sign up today? Click here to join the Virtual March, and we'll automatically send a fax to Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand:

http://pol.moveon.org/virtualmarch10/?id=19022-10220574-EjW5Vnx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Michael, Ilyse, Lenore, and the rest of the team

P.S. Can you also forward this email to five friends today? The more people involved in the Virtual March, the stronger the message to Washington that it's time to finish health care reform—and finish it right.

Sources:

1. "March to the Finish Line for Melanie," Health Care for America Now
http://melaniesmarch.com/

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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 20, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Hero of the public option

Dear MoveOn member,

As next week's health care summit approaches, a group of progressive senators—led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand—are standing up and fighting to get a public option in the final health care bill.

Senator Gillibrand has taken the lead in pushing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to give the public option an up-or-down vote. The letter that she drafted with Senators Bennet, Merkley, and Brown already has 18 signatures and is really picking up momentum.

When a senator stands up for progressive priorities, it's really important that she hears from her constituents. In just the last few months, Senator Gillibrand has taken courageous stands on the public option and on saving the Clean Air Act.

Can you call her local office nearest to you and tell her that you really appreciate her work and are counting on her to keep fighting?

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
District Offices:
    Albany: 518-431-0120
    Buffalo: 716-854-9725
    Melville: 631-249-2825
    New York: 212-688-6262
    Rochester: 585-263-6250
    Syracuse: 315-448-0470

Then, please let us know you called by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_2&cp_id=1277&id=19013-10220574-N4ytUdx&t=1

–Kat, Daniel, Eli, Lenore, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Potatoes

The Democrats' campaign finance reform plan is small potatoes. After the Supreme Court repealed limits on political spending by corporations, small potatoes won't save our democracy. Can you deliver a bag of small potatoes to Sen. Schumer to let him know that this bill isn't enough?

Click Here
Dear MoveOn member,

Last week, Democratic leaders—including New York Senator Charles Schumer—announced the Democratic plan to stop the flood of corporate money into politics.1

Unfortunately, the Democratic plan is small potatoes—especially compared to the threat posed by the Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited corporate spending on political campaigns.

The good news is that the plan isn't final, so we can definitely still have an impact, if enough of us speak out.

Can you drop by Sen. Charles Schumer's office tomorrow or Thursday and deliver a bag of small potatoes to let him know that this proposal isn't enough? All you need to do is grab your potatoes (really, any size potatoes will do) and print a flyer to bring with you. We'll provide a flyer you can bring with you. Click here if you can do it:

http://pol.moveon.org/smallpotatoes/index.html?location_id=11&pri=1&id=18955-10220574-bD7TlLx&t=3

The Democratic plan, proposed by Representative Chris Van Hollen and Sen. Schumer, currently includes these main provisions2:

  • Public disclosure: The proposal includes a number of provisions intended to make sure the public knows which corporations are funding the ads we see on TV during the election.
  • Foreign corporations: The plan would bar most political spending by foreign-owned corporations.
  • Government contractors: The proposal would stop government contractors from spending on political campaigns.
This just doesn't cut it—not after the Supreme Court put our democracy up for sale to the highest bidder. This is a plan that basically says it's OK for most corporations to buy elections, as long as they tell us they're doing it.

Under the bipartisan Fair Elections Now Act, a fund would be created from a small fee on big government contractors and media corporations. Then, candidates who only take contributions below $100 will get those small donations matched four times over from the Fair Elections fund.3

The Fair Elections Now Act is modeled on successful citizen-funded elections in states like Maine and Connecticut, and a new poll shows it's a winner with voters across the political spectrum.4

To save our democracy, we need citizen-funded elections, not small potatoes like the Van Hollen-Schumer plan.

You can help by delivering a bag of small potatoes to Sen. Schumer's office tomorrow or Thursday with a flyer urging Congress to pass the Fair Elections Now Act? It's urgent, so it needs to happen right away. Click here if you can do it:

http://pol.moveon.org/smallpotatoes/index.html?location_id=11&pri=1&id=18955-10220574-bD7TlLx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Anna, Ilya, Wes, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Lawmakers Want to Reinstate Barriers on Campaign Spending by Corporations, Others," The New York Times, February 11, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86474&id=18955-10220574-bD7TlLx&t=5

2. "Breaking: Congress's response to Citizens United," Fix Congress First, February 11, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86475&id=18955-10220574-bD7TlLx&t=6

3. "Fair Elections Now Act Bill Summary," Public Campaign, accessed February 16, 2010
http://www.publicampaign.org/node/38166

4. "Supreme Court ruling fuels ire," Politico, February 9, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86430&id=18955-10220574-bD7TlLx&t=7

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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 16, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Toyota's safety problems

Clicking here will add your name:
"Toyota: Stop funding groups that lobby against car safety standards. Quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce."

Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member,

Toyota wants customers to believe that safety is it's number one priority. The company president even went on TV to apologize to customers for its recent problems.1

So why is Toyota funding lobbyists who oppose auto safety standards?

Toyota is a funder of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which for years has fought efforts in Congress to strengthen car safety protections.2

It's time to call them out. With so much public attention focused on their safety record right now, Toyota can't afford to ignore a public outcry.

Can you sign our petition urging Toyota to quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce? Clicking here will add your name to our petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/chamber/toyota2/o.pl?id=18936-10220574-6I4GSSx&t=3

The petition says: "Toyota: Stop funding groups that lobby against car safety standards. Quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce." After signing, please forward this email to your friends, family, and co-workers.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's record on auto safety is awful. In 2000, the U.S. Chamber blocked important new safety protections after at least 300 people were killed and 3,000 injured in SUV rollovers.3

And last year, the U.S. Chamber fought efforts by President Obama to make sure people injured by defective automobiles are able to sue for damages. If the U.S. Chamber had their way, many people injured or even killed by defective cars wouldn't even get their day in court.4

Those are just two of the most extreme examples of the U.S. Chamber's extreme agenda.

In fact, Toyota was under pressure to quit the Chamber long before this safety crisis. The Chamber's far-right agenda against clean energy caused major corporations like Apple to quit in protest. And in June, thousands of MoveOn members and Toyota owners called on Toyota to quit the Chamber as well.5

The message to Toyota is clear. From the environment to car safety, Toyota must quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to gain back our trust.

Sign this petition to urge Toyota to stop funding lobbyists to oppose car safety. Clicking here will add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/chamber/toyota2/o.pl?id=18936-10220574-6I4GSSx&t=4

Thank you for all you do.

–Steven, Ilya, Lenore, Eli, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Toyota president offers rare apology as pressure mounts," Los Angeles Times, February 6, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86443&id=18936-10220574-6I4GSSx&t=5

2. "Toyota: We're staying in US chamber of commerce," The Guardian, October 26, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85008&id=18936-10220574-6I4GSSx&t=6

"Chamber: W.H. attacks are backfiring," Politico, October 26, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86446&id=18936-10220574-6I4GSSx&t=7

3. "Auto Safety Legislation Rolled by Special Interests," Public Citizen, October, 2000
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86441&id=18936-10220574-6I4GSSx&t=8

"Chronology of Firestone/Ford Knowledge of Tire Safety Defect," Public Citizen, accessed February 12, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86444&id=18936-10220574-6I4GSSx&t=9

4. "Shift Toward State Rules on Product Liability," The Wall Street Journal, May 21, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86447&id=18936-10220574-6I4GSSx&t=10

5. "Apple Leaves U.S. Chamber Over Its Climate Position," The Washington Post, October 6, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85265&id=18936-10220574-6I4GSSx&t=11

"MoveOn Targets Toyota's Chamber Membership," Mother Jones, October 21, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86445&id=18936-10220574-6I4GSSx&t=12

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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 15, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Blue Cross

Click here to add your name:
"Anthem Blue Cross must provide a detailed explanation for their exorbitant rate increases, or else roll them back immediately."

Sign the petition

Dear MoveOn member,

Blue Cross has just announced that it's immediately raising premiums charged to hundreds of thousands of individual customers by as much as 39%—even though their parent company's profits soared to a record $4.7 billion last year.1

Even worse, the insurer has so far refused to explain why they're increasing their rates, and warned that they might do so again this year without warning.

The Obama administration is demanding answers from Anthem Blue Cross, and Congress has opened an investigation.2 But Blue Cross is only going to respond if this story becomes a major public-relations problem for them.

So it's time to turn up the heat. Let's join the growing call for an explanation and send a powerful public message that these abuses by Big Insurance are unacceptable.

Clicking here will add your name to the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/bluecross/o.pl?id=18913-10220574-7OmVkvx&t=3

The petition says: "Anthem Blue Cross must provide a detailed explanation for their exorbitant rate increases, or else roll them back immediately."

These latest rate increases in California—reportedly the largest ever by Blue Cross for individual policyholders in the state—are yet another powerful example of how badly broken our health care system is and how desperately we need to hold Big Insurance accountable for exploiting their customers.

Anthem Blue Cross's parent company made record profits last year despite losing 1.4 million customers—increasing their profit margins by cherrypicking the healthiest people to insure.3

Then they can turn around and dramatically increase the rates they charge to the customers they've kept, because there's almost no rules governing rate increases. In fact, the company doesn't even have to publicly reveal how many customers' rates they've increased, or by how much.

The good news is that Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama's Secretary of Health and Human Services, is already publicly demanding answers from the company. And the House Energy and Commerce Committee has announced plans to hold hearings to investigate.

But to get Anthem to clean up their act—and show politicians and the media that we can't afford any more abuses by Big Insurance—we all need to lend our voices. Clicking here will add your name to the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/bluecross/o.pl?id=18913-10220574-7OmVkvx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Michael, Carrie, Stephen, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Anthem Blue Cross dramatically raising rates for Californians with individual health policies," The Los Angeles Times, February 4, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86432&id=18913-10220574-7OmVkvx&t=5

"WellPoint sees profit grow eightfold in fourth quarter," The Los Angeles Times, January 28, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86433&id=18913-10220574-7OmVkvx&t=6

2. "Sebelius Calls on Anthem Blue Cross to Publicly Justify 39 Percent Premium Increase," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, February 8, 2010
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/02/20100208c.html

"Congress opens probe into Anthem Blue Cross rate increases," The Los Angeles Times, February 10, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86434&id=18913-10220574-7OmVkvx&t=7

3. "Waxman and Stupak to WellPoint: We Request Your Testimony," Office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, February 9, 2010
http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=2149

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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 12, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Tell President Obama: Huge bonuses aren't okay

Dear MoveOn member,

In an interview this week, President Obama was asked about Goldman Sachs' CEO giving himself a $9 million bonus. He called the CEO, Lloyd Blankfein, a "savvy" businessman and said the American people don't begrudge him his wealth.1

There's one big problem: Every cent of bonus money Goldman Sachs has paid out in the last year belongs to taxpayers.2 That's because of huge taxpayer supports—including $12.9 billion of bailout money funneled directly to Goldman through AIG—none of which they have any intention of paying back.3

The fact is, the American people do begrudge wealth when it's taken directly out of their pockets. And "savvy" doesn't accurately describe a businessman who brought the world economy to the edge of collapse.

Can you let the president know that you're outraged that big banks have returned to business as usual while the rest of the country suffers? Tell him that appearing close to Wall Street is no way to gain voters' trust that he's on their side.

The White House
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86440&id=18905-10220574-xKvyr5x&t=1

Then click here to let us know how it went:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?cp_id=1265&tg=638&id=18905-10220574-xKvyr5x&t=2

In the past, the president has used language that's much more in touch with how most Americans see Wall Street's outsized bonuses, calling them "obscene" and "shameful."4 And he supported a 90% tax on last year's AIG bonuses.5 That's why this latest interview, where he compared the bankers who destroyed our economy to highly-paid baseball players, was so discouraging.

New York Times columnist Paul Krugman made clear why the president's analogy makes no sense, and why it's so troubling:

To my knowledge, irresponsible behavior by baseball players hasn't brought the world economy to the brink of collapse and cost millions of innocent Americans their jobs and/or houses.

And more specifically, not only has the financial industry has been bailed out with taxpayer commitments; it continues to rely on a taxpayer backstop for its stability.6

[The president] said some things about making compensation better tied to results—but it was framed purely in terms of stockholder interests, with no mention, again, of the damage bankers have done and the public support they still require.7

Can you let the president know how Wall Street's bonuses are seen on Main Street? Tell him that you want him to stand up to bankers who think they're entitled to billions of taxpayer dollars with no accountability.

The White House
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86440&id=18905-10220574-xKvyr5x&t=3

Then click here to let us know how it went:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?cp_id=1265&tg=638&id=18905-10220574-xKvyr5x&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Peter, Kat, Ilyse, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "What Obama Said About Those Bonuses," The Washington Post, February 10, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86435&id=18905-10220574-xKvyr5x&t=6

2. "Strong Year for Goldman, as It Trims Bonus Pool," The New York Times, January 21, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/business/22goldman.html

3. "Testy Conflict With Goldman Helped Push A.I.G. to Edge," The New York Times, February 6, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/business/07goldman.html

4. "White House Moves Swiftly To Stem Fallout Of Obama Interview," The Huffington Post, February 10, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86436&id=18905-10220574-xKvyr5x&t=7

5. "Obama Praises Bonus Tax, Looks Forward To Getting Final Bill," Talking Points Memo, March 19, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86438&id=18905-10220574-xKvyr5x&t=8

6. "Clueless," The New York Times, February 10, 2010
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/clueless/

7. "Wall Street Damage Control," The New York Times, February 10, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86437&id=18905-10220574-xKvyr5x&t=9

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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 11, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Big decision on corporate money in politics

Democratic leaders are about to unveil their bill to rein in political spending by big corporations. We need to make sure that the bill includes public financing of congressional campaigns. Can you send Sen. Schumer that message on Facebook right away? Click here to post your comment:

Click Here

Dear MoveOn member,

According to reports, Democrats in Congress may be just days away from unveiling their bill to rein in political spending by big corporations.1 It's critical that Congress act now to stop the tidal wave of big corporate money after the Supreme Court's disastrous decision allowing corporations to spend unlimited funds on political campaigns.

However, Democrats still haven't committed to including public financing of congressional campaigns in the bill. Until we can amend the Constitution to undo the Supreme Court's decision, public financing is one of the best tools we have to curb the influence of corporate money in politics, and we need to speak up now to make sure it's in the bill.

Members of Congress pay close attention to what voters are saying on Facebook. Can you send Sen. Schumer a message on Facebook today telling him to support public financing of congressional campaigns?

Facebook wall:
http://www.facebook.com/chuckschumer?v=wall

Become a fan, then write something like this on his wall:

The Supreme Court has put our democracy up for sale. We need public financing of congressional campaigns to get it back.

(And it's best if you write in your own words, so speak from the heart!)

Then, please let us know you did by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1&cp_id=1262&rc=fb&id=18883-10220574-77Wc.fx&t=2

Why public financing? The other approaches under consideration would, at best, slow the flood of corporate cash. But public financing would work on the other side of the equation, giving a huge boost to grassroots candidates who raise money from regular folks instead of big corporations and fat cats.

Under the bipartisan public financing plan, candidates who only take contributions below $100 will get every local contribution matched four times over (up to a limit). It adds up to a huge boost for candidates who really rely on the grassroots for support.

The funding for the plan would come not from average taxpayers, but from a small fee on big government contractors and the biggest media corporations—those who profit most from all the negative ads during election season.2 The plan gives control of government back to ordinary people by giving a leg up to politicians that seek support for their campaigns back home, not in Washington, DC.

It's a must for any legislation to curb corporate influence. And a new poll shows it's a winner with voters of all stripes.3 But Democrats may not include these key reforms in their bill, so we need to speak out now. Can you send a message to Sen. Schumer on Facebook?

Then, please click the link below to let us know that you did:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1&cp_id=1262&rc=fb&id=18883-10220574-77Wc.fx&t=3

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Nita, Lenore, Michael, and the rest of the team

P.S. When you finish, click below to become a fan of MoveOn on Facebook:

http://facebook.com/moveon

And click here to follow MoveOn on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/moveon

Sources:

1. "Dems seek quick fix on campaign finance," The Washington Times, February 10, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86431&id=18883-10220574-77Wc.fx&t=4

2. "Fair Elections Now Act Bill Summary," Public Campaign, accessed February 10, 2010
http://www.publicampaign.org/node/38166

3. "Supreme Court ruling fuels ire," Politico, February 9, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86430&id=18883-10220574-77Wc.fx&t=5

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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 10, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Real people's lives

The death of Melanie Shouse, tireless health care advocate and MoveOn member leader, is a visceral reminder that we can't afford to delay real reform any longer. Can you send a message to Congress today? Tell them you stand with Melanie: It's time to put real people ahead of political calculations, and pass health care reform.

Send a message to Congress
Dear MoveOn member, 

As politicians fret about the political risks of health care reform instead of fixing our broken system, people are dying.

And last week, that reality hit home. Melanie Shouse, a MoveOn Council leader in St. Louis, passed away from breast cancer while still fighting her insurance company for chemotherapy coverage. 

There is a serious cost to inaction on health care—people's lives. It's time to remind Washington that delay has real consequences for real people.

Can you send a message to Congress today? Tell them you're standing with Melanie: It's time for Washington to put real people ahead of political calculations.

http://pol.moveon.org/stand/?id=18862-10220574-tpaNXkx&t=2

Thousands of us sharing Melanie's story will be a visceral reminder to Congress that America can't afford to wait for reform.

Melanie was a true fighter. Even after her treatments began, she came to every single MoveOn health care rally, working steadfastly to help fix a system that, as she put it, leaves "millions of us in a state of perpetual fear and insecurity."1

Now it's up to us to continue the fight. Big Insurance and other opponents have spent millions this past year to stop real reform2—and they're not going to let up. So we've got to remind Congress that what voters want, and need, is for them to finish comprehensive reform, now.

Can you send a message to Congress today? Tell them that you stand with Melanie, and the thousands like her, who simply cannot wait for real reform any longer. It's time they finish health care—too many real people are suffering with each delay. Get started by clicking the link below:

http://pol.moveon.org/stand/?id=18862-10220574-tpaNXkx&t=3

Thank you for all you do.

–Kat, Michael, Eli, Ilyse, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Obama says he won't give up on Melanie Shouse's dream of health care reform," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 6, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86398&id=18862-10220574-tpaNXkx&t=4

2. "Health Insurance Industry Contributed Millions To Covert Anti-Reform Ad Campaign," Think Progress, January 12, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86424&id=18862-10220574-tpaNXkx&t=5

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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 8, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Sad news

Dear MoveOn member,

Earlier this week, we received incredibly sad news. Melanie Shouse, a devoted MoveOn Council leader in St. Louis and tireless health care advocate, passed away after a battle with breast cancer.

Melanie was a true fighter. While she was involved in many issues with MoveOn, she always said health care was her heart—and even after treatments began, she came to every single health care rally, speaking out about the injustices she was suffering under our broken health care system.

Melanie's story is a painful reminder of why we need to fight as hard as we can to get real health care reform passed, now.

Our friends at TrueMajority are gathering messages of condolence to deliver to Melanie's family this weekend. The email they sent is below. To add your message, just click this link.

http://www.truemajority.org/MelanieShouse/moveon

Thanks for all that you do.

–Kat, Keauna, Ilya, Lenore, and the rest of the team


Our friend has died.

Melanie

Dear Kat,

Melanie Shouse has died.

Melanie was a small business owner from Missouri battling stage four breast cancer, who also had to fight with insurance companies who didn't want to pay for her treatment. She didn't take that lying down—she spoke out, she protested, she became a leader in the movement for a more just health care system. Maybe you remember the video thank-you she sent to you and other TrueMajority members last October for being part of that movement.1

The cancer took Melanie's life last week. To her family, we can only express our deepest regret and sympathy. If you'd like to send your sympathy as well, you can sign our guest book, and we'll deliver your messages to the family this weekend.

http://www.truemajority.org/MelanieShouse/moveon

We're sorry we didn't get health care reform done sooner. Sorry that insurance coverage isn't more affordable and accessible for millions of Americans who need it. Mostly, we're sorry to lose our friend.

But Melanie would not have wanted us to stop fighting for reform. In fact, she asked that those attending her memorial service wear their activist t-shirts. So tomorrow, in lieu of flowers, let's deliver our condolences, put on a campaign t-shirt and remember why we fight and who we are fighting for.

-Matt

Matt Holland
TrueMajority / USAction

1—http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86397&id=18852-10220574-wp9fgVx&t=1


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 6, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Seriously?

Clicking here will sign your name:
"Bailed-out companies shouldn't be allowed to waste money on bonuses until they've paid back their debt in full."

Sign the petition
Dear MoveOn member,

Yesterday news broke that AIG—the bailed-out insurance giant—will give out another $100 million in bonuses.1 Seriously?

These are the people who wrecked our economy. And AIG still owes taxpayers $182 billion.

Their priority should be paying us back—not giving out obscene bonuses.

But unless Congress acts—by blocking bonuses at bailed-out banks or imposing heavy taxes on them—they'll keep wasting our money. Can you sign our petition telling them that serious action to rein in bonuses is long overdue? Clicking below will add your name.

http://pol.moveon.org/aigagain/o.pl?id=18846-10220574-r2qBQSx&t=3

The petition says: "Bailed-out companies shouldn't be allowed to waste money on bonuses until they've paid back their debt in full."

Bankers in other countries have already gotten the message that their behavior is unacceptable. England and France have imposed heavy surtaxes on outrageous banker bonuses.2

But the banks still hold enormous power in Washington—as Sen. Dick Durbin put it, "They frankly own the place."3 And they're using all of their lobbying clout to oppose any attempts to rein in their bonuses.4

So despite the huge outcry over the last round of AIG bonuses, Congress still hasn't done anything to stop Wall Street from giving out huge bonuses. AIG's bonus plan is unacceptable. Clicking below will add your name to the petition letting Congress know they need to do something to stop it.

http://pol.moveon.org/aigagain/o.pl?id=18846-10220574-r2qBQSx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Carrie, Kat, Wes, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "AIG plans to pay $100 million in another round of bonuses," The Washington Post, February 3, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86394&id=18846-10220574-r2qBQSx&t=5

2. "France joins UK to target traders in bonus tax move," Reuters, December 16, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86395&id=18846-10220574-r2qBQSx&t=6

3. "Dick Durbin: Banks 'Frankly Own The Place'," The Huffington Post, April 29, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51421&id=18846-10220574-r2qBQSx&t=7

4."Wall Street's fingerprints evident on financial reform bill," The Christian Science Monitor, December 22, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86389&id=18846-10220574-r2qBQSx&t=8

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 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 5, 2010. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.