Question: is there a good website...

[Kevin Spidel]

that is keeping and eye of grassroots initiatives to impact the legislation on Captiol Hill?

I mean there are so many groups doing "urgent actions"

Congress.org is a good site.. but that is by groups. Is there a place where folks (bloggers, activists, etc) discuss the issues and bills?

[housewolf]

1. Looks like this might be a good project for PDA..

Since there haven't been any responses to your request.

Kevin, does PDA have the resources to do something like this?

[Kevin Spidel]

2. WOW... surprised, but yeah...

just a staffing nightmare. We are already underfunded, understaffed, streached thin, and doing so much work. But where there is a need... we will find a way. that has been our motto so far.

We really need a citizen's watch dog site on the leg coming up on the hill so we can actively work toward making impact. I am surprised the $25 million dollar moveon has not done something like this, or the $30 million ACT?

I guess the $135,000/year volunteer grassroots organization PDA should take the lead. Hmmm.. think MoveOn or ACT can help with the $$.


This is seriously needed!

Who here is for a citizens watchdog on the hill?

[housewolf]

4. Well, you guys at PDA are working miracles

Perhaps this will be another one that PDA can pull out of its hat.

Do some "thinking out loud" here, if you will - what's your vision of a citizen's watchdog on the hill? What would they be doing? What would their activities be? What's would be the focus of such a website? What services would be offered to individuals and/or other grassroots organizations? What data needs to be compiled? Where does the data come from? What follow-up is needed?

[Kevin Spidel]

9. we have great people...

staffers, political stratigists, and great partners who can mobilize a base around the issues....

but we need to dedicate some staff to move this forward... i need to know if this is something people would support however?

support financially?

we have some great talent in our ranks.

hmmm.... (begins thinking)

[Kevin Spidel]

3. is there no Citizen Watchdog site for Congress?

here is a quote from an aide in Congress. I thought of it nice.. just didn't know how true it was.

"In the five years that I have worked in Congress for Rep. John Conyers as a senior legislative assistant, the PDA is the most effective progressive national organization that I have worked with. On a shoe string budget, the PDA was able to move the issue of voter suppression in Ohio to the very top of the Congressional Radar Screen because of its extensive grassroots base, and the PDA's technical wizardry of the internet. As a result of their efforts, Rep. John Conyers has introduced legislation that protects voters from disenfranchisement. The far right has the Christian Coalition, Rush Limbaugh, Heritage, and Carol Rove. We now have the PDA! Without the Progressive Democrats of America, we simply will not have an organized grassroots lobby to effectively counter the powerful and well funded right wing, which currently has the political strength to privatize Social Security, dismantle Medicaid and Medicare, and dramatically reduce funding for affordable housing, education, and job programs. The PDA is rapidly developing a committed and energized grassroots base across the country; something the Christian Coalition and the far right have already accomplished. Finally, democratic party activists, through the leadership of the PDA, are fighting back the right! Thank God for the PDA! With adequate funding, I am confident the PDA will become a new grassroots political force that will move America in the right direction."



Joel Segal
Senior Legislative Assistant
Rep. John Conyers





now I know ..... We NEED a citizens watchdog group!

[EFerrari]

5. Good question. I don't know. I get my news from DU

and usually have it hours if not days before anyone else. :)

[Kevin Spidel]

6. exactly... but...

what about specifics on legislation.

[EFerrari]

7. Exactly. I don't have a resource for that and if one existed

I'd most likely know about it. Sorry, not very helpful.

[Kevin Spidel]

8. how does one create a poll?

so we can poll DU'ers if this is something (a tool) they would support finanically?

[housewolf]

12. Creating a DU Poll

Go to the forum where you want to post the poll (like GD:Politics or Legislation or whereever)

Then instead of clicking on "Post" at the top of the page, click on "Poll" and a form will pop up where you can enter your message and also all the options you want to use for your poll. It's easy, you'll see.

[paineinthearse]

10. Try DU's own legislative watch group

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=308

[Kevin Spidel]

11. yeah... i did.. note the link i posted "is it dead in here" n/t

[paineinthearse]

13. That's certain to go over like a lead baloon

Try encouraging people to revitalize that group. These things take time and patience to grow.

[Wilms]

14. .