Tell Representative Gregory Meeks: Support a discharge petition for comprehensive immigration reform

Dear Inwood MoveOn member,

Comprehensive immigration reform is dying a slow death in Congress because House Speaker Boehner—who has the power to demand an up-or-down vote on the reform bill—refuses to get out of the way.

But there is a simple way that Democrats can bypass Boehner and save immigration reform. They can introduce the Senate bill, which passed with broad bipartisan support, then use a discharge petition to force an up-or-down vote in the House of Representatives. 

A discharge petition is the most viable option to pass comprehensive immigration reform this fall. It only takes 218 votes to file a discharge petition—that's every Democrat in Congress and 17 Republicans. Support for the discharge petition is growing in the media and among members of Congress.¹

Will you start a petition asking Representative Gregory Meeks to support a discharge petition for comprehensive immigration reform?

Yes, I'll start up this petition.

Members of Congress are home for the August recess, and MoveOn members and allies across the country are heading to their offices to demand that they fix our broken immigration system.

We need to make sure that Democrats hear loud and clear that we expect them to do everything they can to make sure that comprehensive immigration reform passes the House this September. Reform is good for the economy, will ensure that nearly 11 million people have a clear roadmap to citizenship, and will keep families together.

I'll start up this petition.

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Mariana, Alejandro, Eric, and the rest of the team

P.S. If you want to create a petition about some other issue, click here.

Source:

1. "Democrats divided over immigration strategy," The Washington Post, August 5, 2013 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=292493&id=73075-10220574-bxg30ax&t=5

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Reform on the verge of collapse?

Comprehensive immigration reform is being stalled by Speaker Boehner. Let's bypass Boehner by turning up the heat on members of Congress and demanding that they introduce the Senate bill and support a discharge petition. Will you make this an August to remember by taking action and ensuring we pass comprehensive immigration reform? Yes, I'll sign up!

Dear MoveOn member,

House Speaker Boehner is the only thing standing in the way of comprehensive immigration reform.

Since the bipartisan Senate bill passed with overwhelming support in June, Speaker Boehner has been stalling, content to let the ultra right-wing members of the GOP decide immigration's fate.¹ It shouldn't come as any surprise, since, back in 2007, another immigration bill was bitterly fought for, only to die at the hands of the predecessors to today's tea party.² 

Fortunately, there is a way to bypass Boehner and force moderate Republicans to choose whether or not they want to stand with the extreme right of the GOP, or the majority of Americans who believe that our broken immigration system needs to be fixed right now. 

A "discharge petition" is the best option for passing comprehensive immigration reform. Here's how it works:

1. Any member of Congress can introduce the bipartisan Senate immigration bill into the House.


2. We only need 218 members of Congress to sign the discharge petition—every Democrat, and 17 Republicans.


3. Then, whether or not Speaker Boehner likes it, the bill automatically moves to an up-or-down vote.

Support for a discharge petition is growing amongst members of Congress as the best option for ensuring that comprehensive immigration reform passes this year, and the media is taking notice.³  That's why MoveOn members are taking to the streets during the August recess to make sure that both Democrats and Republicans hear our message loud and clear. Comprehensive immigration reform must be voted on this fall.

Will you join other MoveOn members and take action for comprehensive immigration reform this August? Here's how:

• Start a petition to your representative, calling on them to bypass Speaker Boehner and support a "discharge petition" that will give the bipartisan Senate immigration bill an up-or-down vote in the House. Click here to go to our one-stop-shop for organizing your August recess immigration actions.

• Plan to attend a town hall, district meeting, or other event with your member of Congress, or just plan a drop-by visit to their office, and ask them to take a stand for comprehensive immigration reform. Click here to go to the online action guide.

There are lots of ways to make sure our voices are heard during the August recess and with immigration reform at this critical juncture, we need to act now, and make sure that Congress does everything they can to pass comprehensive immigration reform when they go back this fall—before we lose the opportunity to reform our broken immigration system for another generation.

Thanks for all you do.

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

Sources:

1. "John Boehner Won't Take A Position On Immigration: 'It's Not About Me'," The Huffington Post, July 22, 2013. 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=292126&id=72975-10220574-gR_sLFx&t=4

2. "Taming the Tea Party on Immigration," National Journal, January 30, 2013. 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=292128&id=72975-10220574-gR_sLFx&t=5

3. "Democrats divided over immigration strategy," The Washington Post, August 5, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=292493&id=72975-10220574-gR_sLFx&t=6

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

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This Friday: A Special Lunchtime Briefing

☆YOU'RE INVITED!☆

Friday Lunchtime Call: Organize for Progress Change in August

What: With members of Congress back in their home districts, now it's the "people's turn to push, to be heard, and if at all possible, to move Congress."1 Join a *special lunchtime call* with MoveOn campaigners and volunteers this Friday to find out how you can "push and be heard" on the issues that matter to you—from saving Social Security to getting big money out of politics to immigration reform—during this year's August recess.  When: 12:30 p.m. ET. on Friday, August 9 Where: By telephone (RSVP below for the call-in number.)   Can you join us on Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET?   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.   Source: "Of Courage and Cantaloupes," The New York Times, August 3, 2013 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=292433&id=72704-10220574-7L_iT3x&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.

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Victory! 84 endangered orcas saved

Got an idea for your own campaign? Click below to start a petition on MoveOn's petition website. Start Your Petition

Dear MoveOn member,

 

Great news! The National Marine Fisheries Service denied a request from California agribusiness to take the endangered orcas of the Pacific Northwest off the endangered species list. Thousands of MoveOn signed the petition to protect the orcas—started by Steve Mashuda and Earthjustice—and we won! 

 

Here's a full update from Steve:  

Thanks to you, we fought to keep protections for endangered Northwest orcas, and we won!

On Friday, the National Marine Fisheries Service denied a misguided request by agribusiness interests to strip the last remaining 84 southern resident orcas of critical endangered species protections. 

You are truly a hero for orcas. Earlier this year, you, along with 136,000 concerned citizens, stood up for this incredible species by telling the National Marine Fisheries Service to deny a petition to strip southern resident orcas of their federal protections based on the scientifically-flawed premise that all orcas are the same. And thanks to your outpouring of support, the National Marine Fisheries Service listened.

Earthjustice has been successfully fighting in court for more than a decade to protect this critically endangered group of whales. With this victory, it's clear that the American public overwhelmingly supports doing everything we can to protect and recover these unique creatures.

Thank you again for speaking out for orcas, other wildlife, and our ocean ecosystems.

Sincerely,

Steve Mashuda, Attorney, Earthjustice

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Mariana, Nick, Matt P., 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.

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Why YOU should start a petition

Dear MoveOn member,

Over the last few months, we've spoken with dozens of elected officials from across the country, and we've discovered something that every voter should know.

When an elected official gets a petition that was started by a large organization like MoveOn, they usually only pay attention if we've collected hundreds of thousands of signers. But when a voter in their district starts a petition, they sit up and take notice—sometimes even if it only has a few dozen signatures.

Think about it, and it makes sense. Organizations like MoveOn have started hundreds of online petitions over the years. But how often do regular folks like you start a petition on the Internet? Not that often. And on Election Day, they have to face you, the voters, not MoveOn.

That's why MoveOn's public petition website is so powerful—it gives anyone the tools you need to make your voice heard on the issues you care about most.

So what's the issue you care about most? Don't wait for someone else to get started, do it yourself. Starting a petition is really easy, and we'll give you the tips and support to be successful.

Click here to start your petition.

Thanks!

–Steven, Eric, Mariana, Manny, and the rest of the team

P.S. If you get 20 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 members' 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.

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Tell AARP to stop advertising on the Rush Limbaugh Show

Below is an email from Carol Wallin, who started a petition on the MoveOn website, formerly called SignOn.org

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AARP: Don't advertise on the Rush Limbaugh Show. Sign the Petition!

Dear SignOn.org member,

AARP advertising is filling dead air on the Rush Limbaugh Show. Limbaugh calls women "feminazis," "infobabes," "sexretaries," and, worst of all, "sluts" and "prostitutes." Limbaugh calls Latinos "weak," "lazy," and "unskilled."

And, in the wake of the Trayvon Martin murder trial, Limbaugh even used the "n-word" and claimed it was not racist.

Over 2,600 advertisers have stopped supporting Limbaugh's shows, and AARP should follow suit.

That's why I started a petition to AARP President Robert Romasco, which says:

Request stations move AARP to the "No Rush Play List" to support civil discourse.

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

Thanks!

–Carol Wallin

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

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George Zimmerman found not guilty

Below is an email from Benjamin Todd Jealous, President of the NAACP, who started a petition on the MoveOn website, formerly called SignOn.org

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DOJ: File civil rights charges against George Zimmerman. Sign the petition

Dear SignOn.org member,

On Saturday, a jury acquitted George Zimmerman. But we are not done demanding justice for Trayvon Martin.

We're calling on the U.S. Justice Department to open a civil rights case against George Zimmerman and have launched a petition to Attorney General Eric Holder. The petition says:

The Department of Justice has closely monitored the State of Florida's prosecution of the case against George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin murder since it began. Today, with the acquittal of George Zimmerman, it is time for the Department of Justice to act. 

The most fundamental of civil rights—the right to life—was violated the night George Zimmerman stalked and then took the life of Trayvon Martin. We ask that the Department of Justice file civil rights charges against Mr. Zimmerman for this egregious violation. 

Please address the travesties of the tragic death of Trayvon Martin by acting today. Thank you.

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

Thanks!

–Benjamin Todd Jealous

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

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To remove yourself (eddie alfaro) from this list, please visit our subscription management page at:
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