Sunday, March 30, 2014

Re: Add your name: We won't be bullied

Hi there—We're about to send our banner to the printer—so we can display it proudly after our court hearing in Louisiana on Wednesday. Will you add your name to say: "GOP: We won't be bullied, and we won't keep silent about your attacks on health care"? Thanks for standing up.Anna 
Dear MoveOn member,

This Wednesday, I'm heading to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to attend the court hearing for the lawsuit that the state of Louisiana has brought against MoveOn over our campaign to expand health care access for millions of low income Americans. Being sued like this is unprecedented in MoveOn's 16-year history.

I'm immensely proud of the years of work that MoveOn members like you have put into ensuring that all Americans have access to health care. And I'd like you there with me in Baton Rouge.

No, no—I'm not asking you to fly to Baton Rouge. (Though that would be fun!)

I am asking you to join me in standing up to Republican bullies—and make it clear that you won't be silenced in the fight for health care for all.

Add your name to our statement of support—say you won't back down to bullies and you won't be silenced in the fight for health care for all.

We'll print your name—and the names of tens of thousands of other MoveOn members—on a banner that we'll display outside the court house after the hearing on Wednesday. We'll show the country that there's a movement of 8 million progressives that sticks together and stands up to any attempt to silence us.

National reporters have been covering this story, and we're expecting more news coverage after the judge issues a decision—will you add your name so that we can show how strong our movement is?

It'll help to know you'll be standing with me in Baton Rouge this week.

Say you won't be silenced in the fight for health care for all. Add your name.

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Bobby, Rosy, Victoria, and the rest of the team

P.S. Here's a quick recap of the situation:

Republican governors—like Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry, and Scott Walker—and GOP state legislators are denying health care for 5 million low income Americans by blocking the expansion of Medicaid in their states—a key provision of the Affordable Care Act.

MoveOn members chipped in to put up billboards in nine states to call out these governors for their spiteful positions. We must have hit a nerve—in Louisiana, the lieutenant governor sued MoveOn, insisting we take down the billboard that criticizes Governor Bobby Jindal.

We haven't taken down the billboard, and a judge will hear the case this Wednesday. Will you add your name to say that you won't be bullied into silence in the fight for health care for all?

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 March 30, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Add your name: We won't be bullied

Dear MoveOn member,

Next Wednesday, I'm heading to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to attend the court hearing for the lawsuit that the state of Louisiana has brought against MoveOn over our campaign to expand health care access for millions of low income Americans. Being sued like this is unprecedented in MoveOn's 16-year history.

I'm immensely proud of the years of work that MoveOn members like you have put into ensuring that all Americans have access to health care. And I'd like you there with me in Baton Rouge.

No, no—I'm not asking you to fly to Baton Rouge. (Though that would be fun!)

I am asking you to join me in standing up to Republican bullies—and make it clear that you won't be silenced in the fight for health care for all.

Add your name to our statement of support—say you won't back down to bullies and you won't be silenced in the fight for health care for all.

We'll print your name—and the names of tens of thousands of other MoveOn members—on a banner that we'll display outside the court house after the hearing on Wednesday. We'll show the country that there's a movement of 8 million progressives that sticks together and stands up to any attempt to silence us.

National reporters have been covering this story, and we're expecting more news coverage after the judge issues a decision next Wednesday—will you add your name so that we can show how strong our movement is?

It'll help to know you'll be standing with me in Baton Rouge next week.

Say you won't be silenced in the fight for health care for all. Add your name.

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Bobby, Rosy, Victoria, and the rest of the team

P.S. Here's a quick recap of the situation:

Republican governors—like Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry, and Scott Walker—and GOP state legislators are denying health care for 5 million low income Americans by blocking the expansion of Medicaid in their states—a key provision of the Affordable Care Act.

MoveOn members chipped in to put up billboards in nine states to call out these governors for their spiteful positions. We must have hit a nerve—in Louisiana, the lieutenant governor sued MoveOn, insisting we take down the billboard that criticizes Governor Bobby Jindal.

We haven't taken down the billboard, and a judge will hear the case next Wednesday. Will you add your name to say that you won't be bullied into silence in the fight for health care for all?

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 March 28, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

New York: Sign up for Obamacare?


There's less than a week left to get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act!

Working America—an affiliate of the AFL-CIO—has developed a special program to help folks get signed up for health insurance in New York state.

To get started, call 1-855-697-1477 to speak with one of Working America's recommended, licensed insurance agents at GoHealth. Or click here to learn more and sign up online.
Dear New York MoveOn member,

Together, MoveOn members did so much to pass health reform. Now that Obamacare's being implemented, it's making a huge difference already: 5 million people have signed up this year!

With an important Affordable Care Act deadline just days away, I have an important enrollment-related question for you: Do you need health insurance coverage—or know someone who does?

Hopefully, the majority of MoveOn members who are eligible for individual health care under the Affordable Care Act have signed up already! But we wanted to make sure you know that the March 31 deadline is rapidly approaching.

Folks who haven't signed up yet may have questions or need help to sign up. That's where our friends from Working America—an affiliate of the AFL-CIO—can help. Working America is working with the company GoHealth to make sure folks who procrastinated can get their questions answered and get signed up this week.

If you call GoHealth—or sign up online—you'll get direct access to a licensed insurance agent, who can help guide you through the process of signing up for health care, figure out if you're eligible for government subsidies, and make sure you pick the right plan for you.

To speak with a GoHealth agent about signing up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, call 1-855-697-1477. Or, click here to learn more and sign up for coverage online at the Working America Health Care website.
 
With less than a week to sign up, the best thing we can do to make the Affordable Care Act work is make sure every eligible person signs up and gets covered.

MoveOn members have helped fund ads that we're running across the country to get folks to sign up for health insurance. But we also wanted to make sure there aren't MoveOn members who—for whatever reason—haven't signed up themselves!

To speak with an agent from GoHealth who can help with signing up for health insurance in New York state, call 1-855-697-1477. Or, click here to learn more and sign up for coverage online.

Last week—when I helped an uninsured friend sign up for insurance under the Affordable Care Act—I saw how much the Affordable Care Act can help people.

My friend had really meant to sign up earlier but had some lingering questions. Together, we found an affordable health care plan that worked for her. She was relieved. And I felt great!

So I know that finding and signing up for a new health care plan isn't always easy—it can feel overwhelming, and having someone to help you can make all the difference.

If you aren't covered yet, you aren't alone. You can sign up for coverage without headaches. But there isn't much time: you only have until March 31! Working America has spent the last couple years working on a program to help folks find insurance that works for them in states across the country. They're working with GoHealth insurance agents in New York state to simplify the process as much as possible.

If you need to sign up for health care, here's all you need to do:

  • Provide your basic information
  • See if you qualify for lower rates through government subsidies
  • View and compare plans from many carriers
  • Enroll!

Call GoHealth at 1-855-697-1477 today to get advice, compare plans, and enroll. Click here to learn more and sign up for coverage online.

Or, if you have insurance already, forward this message to a friend or family member who could use a reminder to enroll before the deadline.

We have a real chance of reaching our enrollment goals by the March 31 deadline. But only if we keep our Obamacare campaigning running at full throttle and make sure eligible MoveOn members—and their friends and family—sign up for coverage in time for the deadline too.

Thanks for all you do.

–Manny, Joan, Mark, Alex, and the rest of the team

P.S. This message is part of a new effort to share products and services that may interest MoveOn members and help grow the progressive community. MoveOn isn't being paid to promote this service, or to send this email. You can share any feedback or suggestions here.

While MoveOn encourages you to take advantage of this program, MoveOn does not sponsor the workingamericahealthcare.com website and does not sponsor or operate Working America Health Care, which is a project of Working America, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. MoveOn takes no responsibility for any actions or omissions of Working America or GoHealth in providing you any services or assistance through this health care program.

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 March 27, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Re: Don't let the NRA choose our U.S. Surgeon General

Hi—I just wanted to make sure you saw this important message about the NRA's plan to derail President Obama's nominee for U.S. surgeon general.  Click here to sign the petition.

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Gloria Pan of the organization MomsRising, and I started a petition to President Barack Obama, which says:

The White House and the U.S. Senate must stand firm behind the nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy for the position of U.S. surgeon general and move forward with his confirmation. The health interests of America's families must be paramount in the choice of a surgeon general, not the narrow political interests of the NRA and the extremist gun lobby.

The NRA is actively working to derail Dr. Vivek Murthy's nomination and confirmation to the position of U.S. surgeon general. 

Why? Because, like many other doctors, he has in the past referred to gun violence as a threat to public health. 

Dr. Murthy is a Harvard- and Yale-educated doctor at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. His concern for gun safety is completely consistent with the consensus of medical and public health experts, and shared by such groups as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the American Public Health Association (APHA). Even C. Everett Koop, the legendary surgeon general nominated by Ronald Reagan, described gun violence as a "public health emergency."

Tell President Obama to stand firm behind the nomination of Dr. Murthy.

The NRA has no business meddling in the decision of who should be the United States' foremost champion for public health issues. The position of Surgeon General has no role in determining gun control legislation.The NRA is simply blocking the nomination of the eminently qualified Dr. Murthy to extend its political power.

Tell the White House and the U.S. Senate to stand firm behind the nomination of Dr. Murthy for the position of U.S. surgeon general and to move forward with his confirmation!

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

Thanks!

–Gloria Pan

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. MomsRising 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 March 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=93554-10220574-4w4qHXx&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 March 25, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Don't let the NRA choose our U.S. Surgeon General

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Gloria Pan of the organization MomsRising, and I started a petition to President Barack Obama, which says:

The White House and the U.S. Senate must stand firm behind the nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy for the position of U.S. surgeon general and move forward with his confirmation. The health interests of America's families must be paramount in the choice of a surgeon general, not the narrow political interests of the NRA and the extremist gun lobby.

The NRA is actively working to derail Dr. Vivek Murthy's nomination and confirmation to the position of U.S. surgeon general. 

Why? Because, like many other doctors, he has in the past referred to gun violence as a threat to public health. 

Dr. Murthy is a Harvard- and Yale-educated doctor at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. His concern for gun safety is completely consistent with the consensus of medical and public health experts, and shared by such groups as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the American Public Health Association (APHA). Even C. Everett Koop, the legendary surgeon general nominated by Ronald Reagan, described gun violence as a "public health emergency."

The NRA has no business meddling in the decision of who should be the United States' foremost champion for public health issues. The position of Surgeon General has no role in determining gun control legislation.The NRA is simply blocking the nomination of the eminently qualified Dr. Murthy to extend its political power.

Tell the White House and the U.S. Senate to stand firm behind the nomination of Dr. Murthy for the position of U.S. surgeon general and to move forward with his confirmation!

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

Thanks!

–Gloria Pan

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. MomsRising 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 March 22, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Friday, March 21, 2014

"What it looks like to stand up and fight on health care"

Dear MoveOn member,

I want to take a brief moment to update you on where we're at with the lawsuit that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's administration has filed against MoveOn.

Thanks to the support of MoveOn members like you, we're vigorously defending ourselves against the suit—which even The Washington Post's conservative legal writer agrees has no merit—and unapologetically doubling down on our campaign to expand Medicaid for the millions of Americans for whom Republicans are denying health care.1

National media, grassroots activists, and political elites are taking notice. And as MoveOn's executive director Anna Galland told nearly a million Americans on MSNBC's All In with Chris Hayes Tuesday night, MoveOn members are showing "what it looks like to stand up and fight on health care."

Click here to watch MoveOn Executive Director Anna Galland give an update on the campaign on national television—and sign up to receive text messages about urgent opportunities to get involved:

MoveOn Executive Director Anna Galland   on Chris Hayes

As Anna told Chris Hayes, this lawsuit would be "almost funny if the stakes weren't so high." By not expanding Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act, Republicans in 25 states are telling more than 5 million people that they should live without health care.

Two weeks ago, Bobby Jindal's lieutenant governor threatened MoveOn with a lawsuit if we didn't remove our billboard criticizing Jindal's decision to deny health care for 242,000 of his own constituents. We didn't back down, and instead went on the air with a TV ad, funded by MoveOn members, standing by our campaign.

Since then, nearly 20,000 MoveOn members have chipped in as part of an emergency request to fight back against the bogus lawsuit, which Louisiana filed last Friday, and to expand the campaign to more states like Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, and Oklahoma, where MoveOn members are joining with allies to fight back against Republican obstruction.

Yesterday, more than 50 MoveOn members gathered in downtown New Orleans to enroll the lunchtime crowd in JindalCare, the governor's fake health care plan that promises "no application, no insurance card, and no health care at all!" And they did it with a brass band playing some classic New Orleans jazz! Check it out:

Louisiana MoveOn members   roll out JindalCare

And as we approach the enrollment deadline for Obamacare at the end of the month—a key moment to recognize that millions of Americans who didn't have insurance before now will—look out for opportunities we'll let you know about to get involved in the final push.

The power of all of us—8 million MoveOn members—is growing the momentum for Medicaid expansion every day. No matter what state you're from—whether your governor has expanded Medicaid or not—it's time to join this campaign. The pressure we're putting on Bobby Jindal and other Republican governors is bringing more national attention to the fight for Medicaid expansion and health care for all—giving MoveOn members and allies room to make progress in every state still holding out.

If you're excited by the campaign's recent success and ready to lend a hand, sign up to receive text messages about urgent opportunities to get involved.

Thanks for all you do.

–Victoria, Jessica, David, Mark, and the rest of the team

Source:

1. "Louisiana official trying to stop MoveOn's use of Louisiana tourism slogan," The Washington Post, March 17, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=297463&id=93420-10220574-X4Pp9cx&t=5

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 March 21, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

UPS: Why did you fire drivers for protesting?

Dear Inwood MoveOn member,

I'm Bill Lipton of the Working Families Party, and I started a petition to UPS, which says:

UPS has told hundreds of drivers they are fired for protesting the termination of one of their fellow workers in New York City. Tell UPS it's the wrong turn for their employees, their customers, and their brand.

In Maspeth, New York, two weeks ago, UPS fired a driver and longtime union activist without the fair hearing he was entitled to. Outraged and aware that the violation of one worker's rights threatened them all, other drivers walked off their jobs to stand in solidarity with their fellow worker. 

In retaliation, UPS has now notified all 250 drivers who participated in the protest that they are on notice of termination. In other words, "You're fired." The well-being of these drivers and their families hangs in the balance because they spoke out against a company that violated workers' rights. 

UPS: Retaliation against your workers for speaking out is wrong. Stop your attack on your drivers and their families.

UPS shouldn't ship pink slips to their drivers just for speaking out—what should have been a routine disciplinary matter became an attack on hundreds of working families. It's bad for their brand, their employees, and most importantly, their customers. 

Tell UPS that it's not okay to retaliate against their workers. The drivers are committed to negotiating a fair resolution—why can't UPS do the same and take back the notices of termination? 

What can brown do for you? Certainly not this.

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

Thanks!

–Bill Lipton

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. The Working Families Party 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 March 20, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

We're being sued

Hi there—I just wanted to make sure you saw this important message from the other day.

Dear MoveOn member,

Breaking news: The state of Louisiana is suing MoveOn.org in federal court.1 They're trying to force us to take down a billboard that calls out Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal—an aspiring presidential candidate—for denying health care to 242,000 people.

After carefully discussing the matter with our lawyers, we've made a decision: We're leaving our billboard up—even if we have to take this fight all the way to the Supreme Court.

This lawsuit is unprecedented in MoveOn's sixteen-year history. And it will take all of us to respond. Normally, we ask for folks to donate when they can—and we know that not everyone can give every time. But today, we're urgently asking all MoveOn members to step up to the plate and help with a monthly contribution starting now.

Can you donate as little as $5 a month—or as much as you can afford—to make sure MoveOn has the resources we need to defend ourselves in court and keep our work going?

Yes, I'll help ensure MoveOn has the resources to defend itself from this lawsuit while doubling down in other states where health care is on the line. 

No, I can't right now, but I'll make a one-time donation instead.

We need to go all-in to fight this lawsuit. But, at the same time, we simply can't de-fund our campaigns in the other 24 states where Republicans are blocking their own people from getting Medicaid. And our other critical work needs to be maintained.

Without the resources we need to fight back, this legal battle could amount to a costly distraction from our real work. But on the other hand, if we can muster a full response and keep our core campaigning going, it's actually great news because:

1. We've drawn a future presidential candidate into a fight over health care—on our terms.

2. This lawsuit is completely baseless. As Tulane University constitutional law professor Keith Werhan said last week: "The government can't legally silence those who are criticizing them."2

3. The deeper the state of Louisiana takes this—and the more national press we get—the more attention we bring to the real substance. Which is that Gov. Bobby Jindal—who wants to be president someday—is denying health coverage to 242,000 Louisianans.

This is a big moment for MoveOn—and we're asking MoveOn members to dig deep right now with a monthly contribution so we can rise to the challenge. Can you chip in as much as you can spare each month to help MoveOn during this pivotal moment?

Yes, I'll help out.

No, I can't help with a monthly contribution right now, but I can make a one-time gift.

We'll fight this lawsuit with all we've got. But that by itself isn't enough.

We need to make sure we don't get so tied up fighting for free speech in Louisiana that we neglect the other 24 states where Republicans are still blocking Medicaid expansion. In fact, we need to double down—because we know our campaigning is working, and critical votes to expand Medicaid are coming up—in Nebraska, Maine, Virginia, New Hampshire, and other states. And we need to make sure the rest of MoveOn's campaigning can continue, too.

So, can we do it all? It's up to you.

Yes, I will help out and donate $5 a month or more.

No, I can't help out with a monthly donation right now, but I'll donate one time.

Last week, Republicans in Louisiana threatened MoveOn with a lawsuit. Now they've made good on it. With your help, let's make good on our pledge to fight back and double down.

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Victoria, Manny, Jessica, and the rest of the team

P.S. We haven't been served yet or gotten a court date. But we're already fighting this lawsuit in the court of public opinion. Last Friday night—just as Gov. Jindal took the stage at a conservative event in New Hampshire to establish himself as a presidential contender—MoveOn members greeted him on the ground, while we flew an airplane above him in the sky, with a clear message: "Stop denying 242,000 Louisianans health care." Here's a picture:

Airplane banner: Jindal, Stop denying 242k Louisianans health care
Can you sign up to become a monthly donor now and help keep campaigning like this going? Click here if you can.

And if you just can't chip in monthly, you can still help! Click here to find out how.

Sources:

1. "Louisiana sues MoveOn.org over Bobby Jindal billboard," The Times-Picayune, March 14, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=297409&id=93285-10220574-Iq3To_x&t=10

2. "Louisiana, MoveOn group tangle over political billboard," The Times-Picayune, March 6, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=297273&id=93285-10220574-Iq3To_x&t=11

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 March 18, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Monday, March 17, 2014

WATCH: MSNBC on the lawsuit

MoveOn member—

Did you catch MSNBC tonight?

Al Sharpton had a long segment on our Medicaid campaign. He captured how outrageous it is that Gov. Bobby Jindal is blocking health care for hundreds of thousands of his constituents—while his state tries to force down our billboard criticizing him.

Click here to watch this MSNBC segment and share it with your friends:

MoveOn on MSNBC tonight

Sure, you might expect to hear a sympathetic take on MSNBC. But this story has earned attention from some unexpected folks too. A high-profile conservative legal scholar, Eugene Volokh, published a sharp piece in The Washington Post today about our standoff with Gov. Jindal's administration that concluded: "I expect the case to be promptly thrown out of court; and I hope [Lieutenant Governor Jay] Dardenne gets some political grief from voters for trying to suppress criticism this way."

We're working night and day to keep the heat on—not just in Louisiana but in all the Republican-led states where millions of Americans are going without the health care they deserve. This fight will continue. 

Thanks for all you do.

–Victoria, Alejandro, David, Joan, 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 March 17, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

MoveOn.org is being sued

Dear MoveOn member,

Breaking news: The state of Louisiana is suing MoveOn.org in federal court.1 They're trying to force us to take down a billboard that calls out Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal—an aspiring presidential candidate—for denying health care to 242,000 people.

After carefully discussing the matter with our lawyers, we've made a decision: We're leaving our billboard up—even if we have to take this fight all the way to the Supreme Court.

This lawsuit is unprecedented in MoveOn's sixteen-year history. And it will take all of us to respond. Normally, we ask for folks to donate when they can—and we know that not everyone can give every time. But today, we're urgently asking all MoveOn members to step up to the plate and help with a monthly contribution starting now.

Can you donate as little as $5 a month—or as much as you can afford—to make sure MoveOn has the resources we need to defend ourselves in court and keep our work going?

Yes, I'll help ensure MoveOn has the resources to defend itself from this lawsuit while doubling down in other states where health care is on the line. 

No, I can't right now.

We need to go all-in to fight this lawsuit. But, at the same time, we simply can't de-fund our campaigns in the other 24 states where Republicans are blocking their own people from getting Medicaid. And our other critical work needs to be maintained.

Without the resources we need to fight back, this legal battle could amount to a costly distraction from our real work. But on the other hand, if we can muster a full response and keep our core campaigning going, it's actually great news because:

1. We've drawn a future presidential candidate into a fight over health care—on our terms.

2. This lawsuit is completely baseless. As Tulane University constitutional law professor Keith Werhan said last week: "The government can't legally silence those who are criticizing them."2

3. The deeper the state of Louisiana takes this—and the more national press we get—the more attention we bring to the real substance. Which is that Gov. Bobby Jindal—who wants to be president someday—is denying health coverage to 242,000 Louisianans.

This is a big moment for MoveOn—and we're asking MoveOn members to dig deep right now with a monthly contribution so we can rise to the challenge. Can you chip in as much as you can spare each month to help MoveOn during this pivotal moment?

Yes, I'll help out.

No, I can't help with a monthly contribution right now.

We'll fight this lawsuit with all we've got. But that by itself isn't enough.

We need to make sure we don't get so tied up fighting for free speech in Louisiana that we neglect the other 24 states where Republicans are still blocking Medicaid expansion. In fact, we need to double down—because we know our campaigning is working, and critical votes to expand Medicaid are coming up—in Nebraska, Maine, Virginia, New Hampshire, and other states. And we need to make sure the rest of MoveOn's campaigning can continue, too.

So, can we do it all? It's up to you.

Yes, I will help out and donate $5 a month or more.

No, I can't help out with a monthly donation right now.

Last week, Republicans in Louisiana threatened MoveOn with a lawsuit. Now they've made good on it. With your help, let's make good on our pledge to fight back and double down.

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Victoria, Manny, Jessica, and the rest of the team

P.S. We haven't been served yet or gotten a court date. But we're already fighting this lawsuit in the court of public opinion. Last Friday night—just as Gov. Jindal took the stage at a conservative event in New Hampshire to establish himself as a presidential contender—MoveOn members greeted him on the ground, while we flew an airplane above him in the sky, with a clear message: "Stop denying 242,000 Louisianans health care." Here's a picture:

Airplane banner: Jindal, Stop denying 242k   Louisianans health care
Can you sign up to become a monthly donor now and help keep campaigning like this going? Click here if you can.

And if you just can't chip in monthly, you can still help! Click here to find out how.

Sources:

1. "Louisiana sues MoveOn.org over Bobby Jindal billboard," The Times-Picayune, March 14, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=297409&id=93173-10220574-TEJQ%3DGx&t=10

2. "Louisiana, MoveOn group tangle over political billboard," The Times-Picayune, March 6, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=297273&id=93173-10220574-TEJQ%3DGx&t=11


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 March 16, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Social Security cuts: The clearest explanation anywhere

Dear MoveOn member,

If you want to understand the fight over Social Security cuts that ended last week (we won!), you've got to hear this podcast.

We've put together what might be the clearest and most entertaining explanation of the battle that you can find anywhere. It's a story that goes a lot deeper than what you might have read in the paper. And it's online now, free.

Yes! I want to hear the inside story of the Social Security battle.


If you like this podcast, subscribe on iTunes for more! Or you can listen on our website here, with Stitcher (an Android and iOS app), or by subscribing via RSS.

This is no dry policy debate. This is a story of Wall Street billionaires, Tea Party obstructionists, grassroots progressives—and an Obama administration trying to find its way. It's the real story behind the constant clashes over the debt ceiling, the deficit, and the so-called grand bargain. And it'll leave you cheering.

Joining us is a guy who was at the center of it all. We interviewed Alex Lawson, the charmingly fired-up wonk-activist who, working behind the scenes, led a citizen coalition—including MoveOn members like us—to challenge the idea that there was any good reason to propose Social Security cuts. In fact, we argued, Social Security should be expanded.

You'll love not only Alex's energy but also his bracingly insightful point of view. Even on an issue that might feel intimidating or complex, things look pretty clear when you're David aiming your slingshot as you look up at Goliath.

Click here to open iTunes and check out the podcast (and subscribe and review!) ... or listen at our website here.

This is a story that all of us are part of. MoveOn members and our allies have stood strong in the conviction that nobody in this country should have to work for a lifetime and wind up in poverty. The fight goes on, of course, as it always does. But there's something deeply gratifying about being on the right side of history.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ben Wikler

P.S. "The Good Fight" is a MoveOn-backed podcast and radio show about people changing the world. Since launching a few months ago, we've hit the No. 1 spot on the podcast charts, been named one of Apple's best podcasts of 2013, and interviewed guests from Senator Al Franken to Sister Simone Campbell, the nun who helped save Obamacare. Our goal: tell the inside stories of the fights behind the headlines, introduce you to the heroes and villains shaping politics, and inspire more people to get involved.

If you like the show (every episode is on iTunes!), help us spread the word! And we'd love your feedback. Tell us what you like and how we can get better, and pitch stories, at show@thegoodfight.fm.

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 March 12, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

We could be sued

We just got word that Louisiana's lieutenant governor is threatening legal action against MoveOn to shut down our campaign holding Governor Bobby Jindal accountable for refusing to expand Medicaid. It's a frivolous attack on free speech. We need to have the resources not just for the legal fight, but to double down on our campaign to expand Medicaid in red states. Can you chip in?

Chip in $3

Dear MoveOn member,

This week, our billboard went up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana calling out Governor Bobby Jindal for refusing to expand health coverage to 242,000 of his own citizens.

Looks like we touched a nerve.

Today, the state's lieutenant governor is threatening a lawsuit to take the billboard down. It's a Republican intimidation strategy to stop word from getting out that GOP obstructionism is leaving millions of people without insurance. We can't let them stop us—let's hit back even harder.

I'll chip in $3.

Let's build up a war chest for a legal fight, and double down on the campaign to ensure everyone gets the health care they need.

Gov. Jindal is one of the 19 Republican governors who is denying health care to poor people in his state by refusing federal Obamacare funding.1 So we're taking the fight to them. We've got billboards up in five states already, with one more on the way, and they're generating headlines in national, state and local news.

Republicans want us to take down a billboard criticizing Jindal because it's a takeoff on the state's tourism slogan, "Pick Your Passion."2 This is a blatant attack on free speech. A state government isn't entitled to use trademark law to censor citizens who want to criticize the state for its heartless and stupid policies.

It's clear we're putting serious pressure on these governors to stop blocking the expansion of health care in their states.  

Can you chip in $3 to ramp it up?

Yes, I'll donate $3.

Thanks for all you do.

–Victoria, Anna, Maria, Alejandro, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Where the states stand on Medicaid expansion," The Daily Briefing, February 7, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=296796&id=92732-10220574-NWNJGMx&t=5

2. "Dardenne: Ad needs to MoveOn," The Advocate, March 5, 2014
http://theadvocate.com/home/8551853-125/dardenne-disputes-ad

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 March 6, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

MoveOn members made big news yesterday

Dear MoveOn member,

This week, MoveOn members were all over the news as we launched the next phase of our campaign holding Republican officials accountable for blocking health care for millions of Americans.

MoveOn members in key states from Nebraska to Florida unveiled creative billboards, jammed governors' phone lines, held press conferences, and barraged Twitter handles to call out Republicans who are standing in the way of Medicaid expansion. And we were heard: Over two dozen local, state, and national outlets covered this campaign; national celebrities weighed in; and key decision-makers showed they were listening.1

Take a look at some of the billboards, all inspired by state tourist industry themes, that went up in six states yesterday thanks to small-dollar donations from MoveOn members like you:

New Medicaid billboards from MoveOn   in six states

Putting these up in state capitals and on major highways in states where Republican governors like Scott Walker, Rick Perry, and Bobby Jindal—all Tea Partiers with presidential ambitions—are refusing federal Medicaid expansion money was the next step in our campaign to call out Republicans for denying, in total, more than 5 million Americans access to quality health care.

Gauging the amount of media so far, the campaign is gaining steam. Everyone from arch-conservative Grover Norquist to progressive powerhouse Howard Dean is tweeting about this campaign.2 To build on this momentum, we need to ramp up our campaign to expand Medicaid before more state legislatures start adjourning.

Can you chip in $3 to spread our Medicaid expansion campaign to more states in the next two weeks?

Thanks to their strong campaigning, MoveOn members have been all over the news this week.

In Tallahassee, Florida, the local ABC affiliate featured MoveOn member Caroline Rone in a seven-minute interview the day before her press conference outside Governor Rick Scott's office. She had this to say about Gov. Scott: "We voted him in for the best interests of our Floridians. I don't see any best interests going on here for me or any other Floridian .... How can you turn away so many people that need medical coverage?"3

MoveOn member Caroline Rone was interviewed   on ABC 27 in Tallhassee, Florida

In Lincoln, Nebraska—where the Legislature will vote in the next three weeks on Medicaid expansion—ABC 8 featured MoveOn's press conference and the issue of Medicaid expansion in a five-minute long segment where it cited the billboard as an attack on Governor Dave Heineman, with one speaker challenging Nebraska Republicans to, "explain to the working low income constituents why turning away $2 billion in federal money was better than providing them with the basics to a healthy life."4

MoveOn members in Nebraska were featured   on Lincoln news

Sharp billboards combined with incredible MoveOn members are gaining serious attention.

If we can raise $100,000 in the next 48 hours, we can get media-grabbing campaigns like this up in a bunch more stateskeeping Medicaid expansion for millions a real possibility, and getting leaders like Caroline—and their entire campaigns—featured on local news across the country.

Can you chip in $3 right now so we can ramp up our campaign while it's got some juice?

Together, MoveOn members are pushing every angle to make Medicaid expansion a reality—challenging stubborn governors, lobbing calls at state representatives and senators, making Medicaid an election year topic, and pushing big tactics to keep this issue in the media.

We can win Medicaid expansion, and make Republican governors pay the price for playing politics with their residents' lives.

Thanks for all you do.

–Victoria, Rosy, Mark, Manny, and the rest of the team

P.S. Tuesday, legislators in Arkansas voted to extend their version of Medicaid expansion, protecting health care access for more than 96,000 people, and we can make this a reality for another 50,000 people in Maine and New Hampshire as early as next week.5 Can you chip in to ramp up our Medicaid campaigns in these states?

Sources:

1. "MoveOn targets GOP governors over Medicaid," The Hill, March 3, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=297220&id=92711-10220574-v5ap3Zx&t=7

2. "@maravillage44 Actually the broke states are those who have been raising taxes. CA, IL, MD, NY....vs. TX, FL, WS," Grover Norquist (@GroverNorquist), March 3, 2014
https://twitter.com/GroverNorquist/status/440511814561189888

"Welcome to Scott Walker's Wisconsin: http://bit.ly/1ookqw0," Gov. Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean), March 5, 2014
https://twitter.com/GovHowardDean/status/441239711860813826

3. "Watch: Move On. Org Interview with Caroline Rone," WTXL-TV, March 3, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=297241&id=92711-10220574-v5ap3Zx&t=8

4. "Billboard attacks Gov. Heineman's refusal to expand Medicaid," KLKN-TV, March 4, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=297242&id=92711-10220574-v5ap3Zx&t=9

5. "Arkansas Compromise Medicaid Expansion Plan Stays Alive," The Huffington Post, March 4, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=297240&id=92711-10220574-v5ap3Zx&t=10


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 March 6, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Did we just prevent a war with Iran?

Dear MoveOn member,

For the last four days, Senate Republicans have been holding up every bill in Congress, trying to force a vote on an Iran sanctions bill that experts believe would put us on a path to war.

Hawkish foreign policy bills often pass unanimously. But this time, it's not going to work. And the reason why is a fantastic story.

We've just released a new episode of "The Good Fight" that tells the whole tale—about a grassroots uprising, led by an unlikely crew of outsiders and MoveOn members like you and me who turned the tide.

If you don't like needless war, if you want to know the real story behind the headlines, if believe in giving diplomacy a chance to succeed, then you should check out this podcast.

Click here to listen to the podcast on iTunes (and if you like it, subscribe and post a review).

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

President Obama is in the middle of high-wire negotiations to ensure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons—and to take war off the table. But those negotiations were nearly torpedoed by the Iran sanctions bill that popped up just before Christmas and instantly racked up dozens of Senate co-sponsors. The last time a bill like this came to a vote, it passed 99 to 0.

What happened next surprised everybody.

Or at least, almost everybody. If you were one of the MoveOn members who called your senators during the last month or two, maybe it didn't surprise you. And our guests weren't totally surprised, either—because they were at the heart of the lightning grassroots campaign to stop the bill and save the negotiations. They'd learned their lessons from the Iraq war. And they were laser-focused on preventing the next one.

Like preventing wars? Listen in to the new episode on iTunes, and be sure to subscribe if you want to hear more!

(Or check out the episode on our website.)

The guests you'll meet on this episode are a fascinating bunch. A young Iranian woman who moved here from Australia to organize for peace—and started a MoveOn petition that drew 150,000 signatures. The leaders of the pro-peace, pro-Israel group J Street. And Ilya Sheyman, who got his start in activism by opposing the Iraq invasion while he was in high school—and now serves in MoveOn.org's national leadership. But this isn't just their story: it's a story about all of us.

Remember the time before the Iraq war began? Millions of us marched in the streets—but we were ignored. So we decided to build something unignorable. We've built a progressive movement that has changed American politics, helped elect a president... and can now move the country away from military action, before it happens. Politics is rife with frustrations and disappointments and defeats—but there's something extraordinary here. Something to be proud of. Something we've all helped create.

I'm grateful for the chance to share one of these movement victory stories. Listen in here.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ben

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 March 1, 2014. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.