New Action Alerts: March 9 -- DU these, please!

[Liberty Belle]

TODAY’S ACTION ALERTS—IMPORTANT!
Please take a minute to DU these important actions to protect our rights and interests, then pass these alerts on to others.

March 9, 2005

STOP UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES
Join AFSC's Stop the CAFTA Vote Campaign

Because the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) will discriminate against the poor and vulnerable, hurt workers, and stifle democracy, the AFSC is working to stop it in Congress. Supporters in Congress won't even bring CAFTA to a vote unless they are certain they can win its passage. The way to defeat CAFTA is to have your representative take a public position against it and help prevent the trade agreement from ever coming to a vote.
Click here to sign up for AFSC's Stop the CAFTA Vote campaign to stay in touch with others and help track congressional positions. We will provide you updates on CAFTA and on-going practical advice on how you can help stop it.
http://www.afsc.org/trade-matters/stop-the-cafta-vote/subscription-form.htm
Take action and help us Stop the CAFTA Vote by contacting your legislator while in their home district March 21 - April 1.
Call or write a letter to your Congressional representatives. Tell them how you feel about CAFTA and ask them to formally oppose CAFTA. If you're not sure who your representatives are, visit our web-based Congressional Directory.

More ways to help stop CAFTA at: http://www.afsc.org/trade-matters/stop-the-cafta-vote/action-alert.htm

JOIN VELVET REVOLUTION’S DIVESTITURE FOR DEMOCRACY: TELL VOTING MACHINE COMPANIES TO DIVEST PARTISAN TIES

It's time to call on America's Voting Machine Companies
to do the right thing for America!
And last week -- on President's Day -- VR did exactly that!

Now we need your help, so that they answer the call for democracy!

- SEND AN EMAIL TO THE COMPANIES HERE! -
Click the link to send a letter in 30 seconds!
Let them know you are part of the Revolution and support this effort!

Check out VR's massive new "Divestiture for Democracy" campaign!
And let your voice -- finally -- be heard!
(And pssst...pass it on...

http://www.VelvetRevolution.us/Campaigns/DV4D)
http://www.velvetrevolution.us/mailing.php?Mailing=05FC507D500021102290C

TELL HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE TOM DELAY

Once again House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) is embroiled in a new ethics scandal that demands the immediate attention of the Ethics Committee. We need you to contact the committee members today. Urge them to investigate the new allegation that DeLay illegally accepted thousands of dollars worth of travel paid for by a lobbyist now facing criminal and congressional investigations for allegedly bilking millions of dollars from casino-operating Indian tribes…

So, please join us in calling on the following Members of the House Ethics Committee to investigate reports that DeLay illegally accepted money for lodging expenses from Abramoff, a long time DeLay ally and registered lobbyist:
· Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA): 202-225-5816
· Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL): 202-225-3515
· Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX): 202-225-4236
· Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA): 202-225-2565
· Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK): 202-225-6165
· Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV): 202-225-4172 (Ranking Minority Member)
· Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-PH): 202-225-7032
· Rep. Gene Green (D-TX): 202-225-1688
· Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA): 202-225-1766


SIGN FAITHFUL AMERICA’S PETITION:

“A VISION OF HOPE & JUSTICE FOR THE FY 2006 FEDERAL BUDGET”

…Our federal budget should reflect the values of equality, opportunity, and justice that honors the poor, supports families, and builds strong, viable communities.
The Bush Administration’s FY2006 budget is morally misguided and misrepresents the true values of the American people. It suggests that we value military might and war spending more than the poor, families, and strong, viable communities. It favors permanent tax relief for the wealthy and corporations at the expense of further burdening the poor, families, and communities with economic despair. It is a budget that eats away at the heart of the American dream by eliminating funding for programs that are certain to provide us with future opportunities, progress, and security on the home front.
Our nation’s future is in serious danger if cuts or caps to programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, job training, veterans’ health services, education, housing and community development grants, among many others, are used as solutions to reduce a projected $427 billion dollar deficit

Congress must act boldly and creatively to oppose budget cuts in human services. Speaking as God’s messenger, the prophet Amos offered these words to the people because of their misplaced focus, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24).” To be true to our values as a nation, we strongly urge Congress to reverse the destructive course our nation is on and reject the Bush Administration’s budget.

The FY2006 budget should be funded by scaling back tax relief for the wealthy, closing corporate tax loopholes, and holding military and war spending in check. We call on Congress to draft and approve a budget and policies that will provide the poor, families, and communities with the tools to meet basic needs such as access to nutritious food and quality child-care, accessible and affordable housing, comprehensive and affordable health care, high quality education at every stage of life, a fair and just tax system, job creation and a livable income to sustain their future.
This positive vision for our nation is only limited by the lack of political will to make it happen. We call on Congress to Let Justice Roll!

http://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=juI1LcPZG&b=410381&en=jpJJKLMpGaIGLSPCJ9LCLUOvGfJOINNoEbILJONyEpJ1G
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PREVIOUS ALERTS (STILL ACTIVE, FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE MISSED THESE)

March 08, 2005

Oppose The Bankruptcy Bill
Tuesday 10:24 AM
Last week, the Senate rejected a number of critical amendments to the bankruptcy bill, including ones that would have closed loopholes for the wealthy, cracked down on predatory lending practices and protected the homes of those who are facing bankruptcy from medical bills. Now the bill in its current form would do more harm than good. The Senate is set to bring the bankruptcy bill to a vote tomorrow, so it's critical that we tell our elected representatives now that we don't want to target seniors with medical crises or average families in hard times. Take action with The American Progress Action Fund and contact your senator before it's too late. ACT NOW
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=klLWJcP7H&b=100385&action=1921&template=x.ascx

Tell Congress to Strengthen Social Security & Oppose Privatization
If you haven't already taken one minute to urge your members of Congress to sign the Pledge to Strengthen Social Security and to oppose privatization, please do it right now. Click here:
www.unionvoice.org/campaign/sspledge


National Budget Call-In Day
By now, you've probably heard a lot about President Bush's 2006 budget. It cuts funding for some of the most vital social programs we have, like Head Start, low-income housing assistance and special education. Budget decisions show what we value as a nation—and what we're willing to spend our money on. But this budget is not compassionate. That's why March 8 has been designated National Call-In Day for the budget. A coalition of groups, including True Majority, The Children's Defense Fund and the National Coalition on Human Needs, is sponsoring call-in efforts to senatorial offices. To participate, just call [phone] and tell the operator what state you live in. Then, tell the receptionist that you want your senator to support programs that help those in need and provide a social safety net. For talking points, or to send an e-message to your senator instead, click here. ACT NOW
http://www.kintera.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=irKQL0NSE&b=405697&action=1919&template=x.ascx

Help Save Social Security
Bush's right wing allies are spending a fortune in their propaganda campaign to privatize Social Security.
They are also sinking to new lows: last week they began a Swift Boat-style smear campaign accusing the AARP of opposing our troops and supporting gay marriage.
The Campaign for America's Future is running a hard-hitting campaign to protect Social Security. This week they are taking on the House Republican who is leading the fight for privatization: Rep. Jim McCrery of Louisiana.
Let's tell McCrery to cut his ties to Wall Street profiteers now, and demand the he NOT take any more money from the companies that would reap billions if Social Security is privatized
http://www.ourfuture.org/issues_and_campaigns/accountablecongress/petition_mccrery.cfm


CALPIRG: TELL CONGRESS TO PASS STRONG IDENTITY THEFT LAWS

We've all read or heard the news stories about ChoicePoint. Someone fooled the company into handing over confidential information pertaining to hundreds of thousands of people. Armed with names, addresses and social security numbers, the thief had the tools necessary to steal people's identities, open up new lines of credit, and do all sorts of damage.

Thankfully, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department recently apprehended the criminal, but not soon enough. Law enforcement officials have identified approximately 750 people who have been victims of identity theft in this incident.

Please take a moment to contact your members of Congress and ask them to pass strong identity theft laws that are modeled after California's laws, and to oppose any laws that would preempt states from enacting stronger protections. Click below to email your members of Congress and to forward this email on to friends, family and co-workers so they can help too.

http://www.pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=182&id4=ES