Don't let the Koch brothers control public television

Below is an email from Joe Dinkin of the organization Working Families. Joe started a petition on the MoveOn website, where anyone can start their own online petition.

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Dear MoveOn member,

Last month, The New Yorker reported that public television backed out of its deal to air the documentary Citizen Koch—just because they were afraid of upsetting billionaire donor David Koch. David Koch has donated $23 million as a board member of two flagship PBS stations, WNET in New York and WGBH in Boston.

Public television was founded to support the public interest, not to cater to the private interests of wealthy donors like the Koch brothers. 

Directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmakers, Citizen Koch exposes the outsize role of money in American politics, from the Kochs and other major political spenders. This is exactly the kind of dialogue that public television was founded to foster, regardless of whether or not a powerful donor is happy about it.

That's why I started a petition to Corporation for Public Broadcasting President and CEO Patricia de Stacy Harrison, Public Broadcasting Service President and CEO Paula Kerger, and Independent Television Service President and CEO Sally Jo Fifer, which says:

Koch money shouldn't influence public television programming—we want to see the film Citizen Koch aired on PBS!

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

Thanks!

–Joe Dinkin

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Working Families 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.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 29, 2013. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Corruption won this time--but we're coming back stronger.

Corruption prevailed in Albany last week, but that isn't stopping MoveOn members from starting new campaigns about important issues affecting them. Will you start a petition today? We'll help kick off your campaign by sending your petition to other MoveOn members. Start My Petition

Dear New York MoveOn member,

The New York state Senate left an important piece of business unfinished by not passing the Fair Elections Act before they adjourned last Friday. This corruption-ending campaign finance reform proposal was passed in the State Assembly, and publicly supported by Governor Cuomo and more than 70% of New Yorkers statewide, but a small group of so-called "Independent Democrats" joined with Republican politicians to protect the status quo.¹

It's not every day that one state has the chance to pass model legislation for the entire nation. The Fair Elections Act had the potential to end New York's pay-to-play culture and significantly expand the number of people able to run for public office. Fair Elections wasn't for the corporations and the billionaires who currently have a death grip on power in the state—it was for the rest of us.

But while some state Senators showed us the worst side of politics, MoveOn members and the Fair Elections Coalition showed New York what a people-powered movement looks like. Over 10,000 MoveOn members engaged in the Fair Elections campaign, delivering thousands of petition signatures to the state Senators who were blocking progress, and joining with other activists from across the state to pack the capitol for lobbying days. Members even "swept money out of politics" at the capitol steps with mops and brooms, and donned $100 bill costumes to represent money flooding the capitol.

And those were just the high-profile events. Thousands of flyers were distributed in public spaces throughout New York, and Governor Cuomo and state Senators received hundreds of phone calls in support of Fair Elections for months.

We may have fallen just short on our ultimate goal, but this campaign was definitely worth the fight. New York progressives are fired up. That's why if you're passionate about an issue in your community or one that affects the entire state, now is definitely the time to take action.

Starting your MoveOn petition on an important state, local, or national issue takes just a few minutes. Even if you've never run a campaign before, we'll provide you the tools and tips to be effective. If you start a progressive petition on MoveOn's petitions site right now, we'll send it to other MoveOn members to help kickstart your campaign.

Will you start a MoveOn petition today?

This year's fight for Fair Elections was a coalition effort like we've never seen before, and it was an inspiration for people organizing against everything from money in politics to fracking. Where we go from here is up to you and more than a half a million other New York MoveOn members to decide.

There are millions of leaders just like you who care passionately about their communities and their country. That's why MoveOn is providing the tech tools and the people power to help our members run campaigns that make a difference.

Start your petition today.

Thanks for all you do.

–Mark, Matt P., Joan, Manny, and the rest of the team

P.S. We'd be remiss if we didn't give a shout out to Susan Weber, Joe Seeman, Lisa Oldendorp, Maria Schafer, and Jamie Kemmerer for their leadership in the fight for Fair Elections. They led a valiant effort by MoveOn members across the state!

P.P.S. Take a look at photos from one of our "The People Demand Fair Elections" rallies:

Source:

1. "New Bipartisan Poll: New York Voters Overwhelmingly Agree Campaign Finance Reform is Key to Ending Corruption," Fair Elections for New York, May 6, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=290666&id=70313-10220574-hErVvkx&t=4

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

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 28, 2013. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Wendy Davis

Texas state Senator Wendy Davis' filibuster, supported by hundreds of protestors, stopped Republican leadership from passing one of the most restrictive anti-choice bills in the country into law. Can you show Sen. Wendy Davis that we've got her back by pledging to support her in her next campaign?  Make a Pledge!

Dear MoveOn member,

On Tuesday night, the nation's eyes were on Texas state Senator Wendy Davis, who bravely stood on the floor of the Texas Statehouse for 11 hours—without food or water—filibustering a bill that would have been a devastating setback for women's reproductive rights.¹

Earlier in the day, when hundreds of protestors packed into the Statehouse, the Legislature shut down their testimonies. So Sen. Davis stood for them. With support from Democratic allies, she launched her filibuster, reading aloud the stories of those who didn't get to testify.²

That's what a true leader looks like. Let's make sure champions like Sen. Davis know that when they stand up for what's right, we've got their backs. 

Will you show Sen. Wendy Davis you've got her back by making a pledge to support her in whatever office she runs for next? You don't have to enter your credit card information. 

Click here to make a pledge to Wendy Davis' next campaign. 

Republicans are attacking women's rights, economic rights, and voting rights in statehouses across the country. The bill Sen. Davis was fighting against would have criminalized abortion after 20 weeks with no exceptions, implementing new standards that would have forced nearly every clinic in the state to close.³

But as Sen. Davis' filibuster was stopped by a procedural point, protestors in the gallery rose up in a "people's filibuster," drowning out Republican leadership until the deadline had passed—effectively killing the bill.⁴

This was an unforgettable moment, but we know this fight isn't over. As we've seen in Virginia, Ohio, and, most recently, Wisconsin, Republicans are on the attack, and they are not backing down.

Sadly, it's likely that Sen. Davis would have lost her seat in 2012 to redistricting if it weren't for the same Voting Rights Act protections the Supreme Court dismantled Tuesday.⁵ And as if that weren't bad enough, moments after the court's decision, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said that the state's restrictive voter ID law would go into effect immediately.⁶

We must build on the groundswell of support we saw Tuesday, and stand together to fight back against these restrictive policies. And that's why building a war chest for Sen. Davis is more important than ever.

Let's show Republicans that—like Sen. Davis—we aren't afraid, and we won't back down.

Click here to make a pledge to Wendy Davis' next campaign. 

We need more heroes like Wendy Davis and all those who fought for freedom Tuesday night in Texas.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilya, Milan, Garlin, Susannah, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Who is Wendy Davis?" The Washington Post, June 26, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291114&id=70215-10220574-9dSgqlx&t=4

2. "Texas abortion bill fails to pass after epic filibuster," NBC NEWS, June 25, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291115&id=70215-10220574-9dSgqlx&t=5

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. "Wendy Davis' Texas Senate Seat Was Saved By Voting Rights Act," Huffington Post, June 26, 2013 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291116&id=70215-10220574-9dSgqlx&t=6

6. Ibid.

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

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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 June 27, 2013. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Big immigration vote this week!

Can you call your senators and urge them to support the current immigration bill? Tell them: "Please support a clear roadmap to citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans."  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Phone: (202) 224-4451 Senator Charles Schumer Phone: (202) 224-6542 Report Your Call After you call your senators, will you watch this video made by MoveOn members leading the fight for immigration reform and then share it with your friends on Facebook?  Share The Video

Dear MoveOn member,

This week the Senate will vote on an immigration bill that, if passed, would add $1.5 trillion to the U.S. economy, help make Social Security more solvent, and provide a pathway to citizenship for nearly 11 million Americans.¹ 

This bill is far from perfect, but MoveOn members have played a pivotal role in advancing meaningful reform—by pushing for inclusion of LGBTQ families and holding public officials accountable for making bigoted remarks. 

However, if we want to ensure that the gains made by the current immigration bill are maintained, then we need to urge immigration supporters in Congress to stand up to any further efforts to erode the current bill. 

To achieve immigration reform that creates a clear roadmap to citizenship for nearly 11 million aspiring Americans, the bill needs to clear a Senate vote this week and get voted on in the House. 

Will you show your support for immigration reform by calling your senators to demand that they vote yes on the current Senate bill?

Here's where to call: 

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: (202) 224-4451

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: (202) 224-6542

You can report your call by clicking here.

In just the past week, Senate Democrats gave in to Republican demands in a disappointing compromise that would waste billions of taxpayer dollars by adding 20,000 additional border security agents, hundreds of miles of walls, and the use of military grade equipment we've seen deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq to militarize our already secure border.²

MoveOn members are committed to making sure that no more compromises are made to the current bill. Check out what some of your fellow MoveOn members have accomplished, then say you're with them by calling your senators to make sure that they vote for immigration reform: 

• MoveOn members organized I Am American house meetings in their communities to show local support for immigration reform. These meeting's launched MoveOn's national immigration campaign and helped build a strong team of MoveOn Immigration Ambassadors, a team of dedicated MoveOn members leading MoveOn's efforts for immigration reform. 

• We've launched the Wall of Shame to call out bigoted language used to kill immigration reform—and to change the terms of the debate. MoveOn members and allies have been calling out public figures like Representative Steve King (R-IA) who've made bigoted comments in the fight for immigration reform.³

• Individual MoveOn members all around the country have been targeting members of Congress to make sure that their voices are heard in support of immigration reform—members like Amos L. from San Francisco who has been working tirelessly to ensure that binational same-sex couples are included in the immigration bill.  

Together with our allies, MoveOn members are 8 million people strong in support of comprehensive immigration reform. Call your senators right now, and then please report your call by clicking here:

http://civ.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_2.FSNY_1&cp_id=1947&id=70179-10220574-q7h0CWx&t=6

Thanks for all you do.

–Mariana, Alejandro, Elena, Carinne, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Granting Undocumented Immigrants Citizenship Would Boost Economy, 75 Percent of Americans Say," The Huffington Post, June 24, 2013

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291106&id=70179-10220574-q7h0CWx&t=7

2. "Immigration reform passes key Senate test," CNN Politics, June 25, 2013

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291107&id=70179-10220574-q7h0CWx&t=8

3. "Steve King: 'Illegal Aliens Have Just Invaded My DC Office'," Talking Points Memo, June 13, 2013

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=290945&id=70179-10220574-q7h0CWx&t=9

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

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 27, 2013. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Tomorrow in Brooklyn: Stop Student Loan Rates from Doubling

☆YOU'RE INVITED!☆

Day of Action to Stop Student Loan Rates from Doubling in Brooklyn

Host: Desiree R. Where: Chase Manhattan Bank (in Brooklyn) When: Thursday, Jun. 27, at 10:00 AM Can you come? Click below for more details and to RSVP: Yes I'll be there! I can come. I can't make it. Sorry, I can't make it, but I'm interested in getting more updates. What: MoveOn members are holding emergency events at congressional offices, outside banks and on campuses in over 55 cities on Thursday to stop student loan rates from doubling on July 1. It's not too late—there is still time for Congress to turn the tide on student debt, but only if we make our voices heard. Can you join us at an event in Brooklyn to deliver the message: "Don't let student loan interest rates double"?

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

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 26, 2013. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Supreme Court finishes what GOP couldn't do last year

The Supreme Court has gutted the Voting Rights Act, making it a lot harder to block radical right-wing governors and state legislatures from discriminating against millions of voters. Can you chip in $5 to help fight new Supreme Court-sanctioned discriminatory laws?  Chip in $5

Dear MoveOn member,

This is devastating: The Supreme Court, following the most circular logic you've ever read, has struck down an essential part of the Voting Rights Act.¹ Some advocates are saying the Voting Rights Act has been gutted entirely.²

In short, the Voting Rights Act allows the federal government to stop discriminatory voting laws from being enacted by the states. And it's been working. Just last year, new laws were struck down in Texas, South Carolina and Florida—arguably three of the most important states for upcoming elections.³ Two of those defeated laws were deemed flat-out racist.⁴

Yesterday's ruling clears the way for states with conservative legislatures to implement whatever voting laws they want. And it gives power to Congress to determine what, if any, states should now be covered by the VRA.

This was right-wing judicial activism at its worst. But MoveOn members represent grassroots activism at its best.

The Supreme Court is opening the floodgates to a wave of conservative organizing to pass discriminatory laws state by state. This is the type of battle we've been prepping for. We've spent the last six months experimenting with new ways for MoveOn members to have a huge impact on state issues—and voter suppression is one of them.

If we can raise $150,000 in the next 24 hours, we'll go all-in to stop the Court's decision from stealing elections and stripping the right to vote from millions of Americans.

Can you chip in $5 to support new member-led campaigns to protect the right to vote?

Yes, I'll chip in $5.

MoveOn members won't sit idly by while the Supreme Court lends a hand to politicians assaulting our voting rights. We proved last year in places like Ohio and Pennsylvania—where MoveOn members led months-long campaigns to protect the vote—that thousands of fed up Americans can put a stop to this nonsense.

In Pennsylvania, Steven S. led a statewide crusade against a voter ID law that could have affected more than 700,000 voters. Other MoveOn members replicated Steven's campaign at the county level to pressure local voting officials, and Steven led an ambitious Twitter campaign against the state Supreme Court. In Ohio, members funded digital billboards with voting information in neighborhoods targeted by right-wing scare tactics, and lobbed thousands of calls into the Secretary of State's office.

Now that the Supreme Court has opened the floodgates, it's time for a comprehensive strategy. One that supports the commitment of our allies, and relies on the leadership of MoveOn members like you.

Chip in $5 to make sure the Supreme Court doesn't deny the right to vote to millions of Americans.

If we can raise $150,000 in the next 24 hours, here's a preview of what we'll do: 

• Push Congress to pass a fix. The Voting Rights Act was renewed with overwhelming majorities as recently as 2006. And the Supreme Court explicitly left the door open to Congress taking action to put the heart back in the Act. And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid just promised to take action.⁵
• Push for a constitutional amendment: Our friends at ColorOfChange are leading the charge for a constitutional amendment to enshrine the right to vote in the Constitution. If we have the resources, we'll make sure that MoveOn members around the country are plugged in as the amendment fight builds steam.
• Proactive state-level legislation: We should be expanding the right to vote—not restricting it. States like Minnesota and Colorado are among those leading the nation on voting rights' expansion, with initiatives like online voter registration, same-day voter registration, and other initiatives.

MoveOn members have proven their commitment to protecting the right to vote time and time again, but this is the biggest obstacle yet. Can you chip $5 today?

Yes, I'll contribute to protect the right to vote.

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Linda, Eric, Lenore, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Supreme Court Strikes Down Key Part of Voting Rights Act," The New York Times,July 25, 2013 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291071&id=70113-10220574-cwnsO4x&t=5

2. "Supreme Court Guts Voting Rights Act," Colorlines, June 25, 2013 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291078&id=70113-10220574-cwnsO4x&t=6

3. "South Carolina voter ID law struck down," CBS News, December, 23, 2011 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291073&id=70113-10220574-cwnsO4x&t=7

4. "Justice Department bars Texas voter ID law," The Washington Post, March 12, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291072&id=70113-10220574-cwnsO4x&t=8

5. "Harry Reid: Senate 'will act' on Voting Rights Act," Politico, June 25, 2013 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291086&id=70113-10220574-cwnsO4x&t=9

 

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

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 26, 2013. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Bank on Students: Thursday in Brooklyn

Join me in Brooklyn to stop student loan rates from doubling! Join An Action

Dear MoveOn member,

I'll get straight to the point: In 6 days, student loan interest rates are set to double, from 3.4% to 6.8%.

For the average American who owes $26,000 in college loans, that could translate to an additional $15,000 worth of interest payments—and another 6 years of debt.¹

It isn't too late for Congress to take action and stop student rates from doubling ahead of the July 1 deadline—but if we're going to break through the partisan deadlock in Washington, we have to make our voices heard. 

That's why this Thursday, thousands of MoveOn members are taking action at congressional offices, outside banks, and on college campuses around the country and delivering a single message: Don't Double Student Loan Rates. 

Can you join us in Brooklyn? 

Yes, I'll be there!

No, I can't make it. 

Earlier this month, over 480,000 MoveOn members signed Senator Elizabeth Warren's MoveOn petition in support of her Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act, a bill to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1 by setting them at the same low rates as the big banks get.

Preventing student loan interest rates from doubling will not solve the $1 trillion student debt crisis, but it is an important first step. That's why with only 6 days to stop the rates from doubling, we need to ramp up our efforts one more time—and make sure our elected officials hear from us. 

Will you be a part of a MoveOn action in Brooklyn on Thursday to stop student loan interest rates from doubling? 

Yes, I'll be there!

No, I can't make it.

Thank you for all you do. 

–Anna, Carinne, Ilya, Susannah, and the rest of the team

Source:

¹ "Student Loan Calculator," Democracy for America, accessed June 24, 2013  http://democracyforamerica.com/studentloandebt

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

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 24, 2013. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.