[Dialogue] {Disarmed} Analysis and call for action from MoveOn

Thu Jan 4 17:45:08 EST 2007

Dear ICA friends,

Perhaps the issues listed here are important to you.  If so, you may want to respond.  There are some members of Congress who appreciate and rely upon such grassroots engagement and support, and who will stand up for action on these issues.

Janice Ulangca

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Ben Brandzel, MoveOn.org Political Action 
To: Janice Ulangca 
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 11:00 AM
Subject: You're needed again

            The Democratic leadership is starting off with a plan for strong first-step reforms during the first 100 hours. Corporate lobbyists are already working hard to defeat it, and we need to show where the people stand. Can you add your name to our petition calling on Congress to pass the 100 Hours Agenda?

            Add your name today! 

                  The Next Step 

                  The 100 Hours Agenda is just the first crucial step towards the larger changes we believe in. Later this month, we'll organize local meetings with our representatives, urging them to take on the really big issues that Americans care most about, like health care for all, clean energy and Iraq. Stay tuned for more details.

Dear MoveOn member, 
In a few hours, Nancy Pelosi will pick up the gavel as the first female Speaker in history and bring to order the first Democratic Congress of the 21st Century. You helped make this moment possible-well done. And now, you're needed again.

The new Democratic leadership is starting off with an ambitious reform agenda for the first 100 business hours (see below for details). It takes on some very powerful interests-so the big oil companies, drug companies, and other right wing lobbyists are already swarming Capital Hill to "prepare for battle."1

To balance the special interests Democrats and Republicans alike need to hear from us right away. So we're launching a petition calling on Congress to swiftly pass the 100 Hours Agenda. The total number of signatures and some of your comments will be read aloud by our allies in Congress during debate on the House floor- the more signatures we get, the bigger the impact. Please add your name now, at:

http://pol.moveon.org/100hours?id=9655-2702203-E5lxDJkKOpZ54.IblAyNEg&t=2

We're aiming to gather at least 100,000 signatures by the time the number is read in Congress next week. Please ask your friends and family to sign as well.

To combat the new Democratic leadership, big oil is launching a $100 million dollar PR campaign-as one of their lobbyists recently put it, "People are very concerned, and concerned on a lot of levels."2 The drug companies are gearing up their $100 million dollar a year lobbying operation.3 And top congressional Republicans are vowing to dig in their heels.4

Why are they so nervous? Here's a brief summary of the 100 Hour Agenda package:

  a.. Good Government: Cutting off lobbyist gifts and restoring fairness and transparency in the way laws are passed
  b.. Fiscal Responsibility: Stop recklessly driving up the national debt
  c.. National Security: Implement all of the 9/11 Commission security recommendations
  d.. Fighting Poverty: Increase minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, helping 15 million working families
  e.. Health Research: Increased funding and availability for stem cell research
  f.. Affordable Health Care: Negotiate for lower prices on prescription drugs, passing savings on to seniors
  g.. Education Access: Cut interest on federal student loans in half
  h.. Clean Energy: Cut oil company subsidies and invest in safe alternatives
While it's not everything we want from this Congress-and we plan to push for much more-for just the first 100 business hours it's a powerful start.

With this much special interest money pouring in, we can't take any vote for granted. Every member of Congress-Democrat and Republican-needs to hear from their constituents on this. 

And to get this ambitious agenda passed into law, we don't only need it to pass the House, we need it to pass soon and with enough support to generate real momentum as it heads to the Senate. But with the drug, oil, banking, and other industry lobbyists pulling out all the stops, that's only going to happen if we raise our voice, right now.

To call on your representative to pass the 100 Hour Agenda, just click below to add your name to the petitition. We'll pass on your signatures and comments on to your representative, combined with others from your district, and some of your comments along with the total signature count will be read aloud during the Congressional debate.

http://pol.moveon.org/100hours?id=9655-2702203-E5lxDJkKOpZ54.IblAyNEg&t=3

Thanks for all that you do,

-Ben, Eli, Matt, Natalie and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
  Thursday January 4th, 2004

P.S. To read a more detailed summary of the 100 Hours Agenda legislation, click here: http://pol.moveon.org/100hoursdetails/index.html?id=9655-2702203-E5lxDJkKOpZ54.IblAyNEg&t=4

1. "Sides prepare for battle over minimum wage," St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 1, 2007
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/16348588.htm

2. "Democrats to target oil and gas industry in early hours," The Hill, January 3, 2007 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2284&id=9655-2702203-E5lxDJkKOpZ54.IblAyNEg&t=5

3. "Drug makers brace for fight with Democrats over prices," Newark Star-Ledger, December 17, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2285&id=9655-2702203-E5lxDJkKOpZ54.IblAyNEg&t=6

4. "McConnell says Republicans may fight over Medicare drug prices," Bloomberg, December 12, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2287&id=9655-2702203-E5lxDJkKOpZ54.IblAyNEg&t=7

Support our member-driven organization: MoveOn.org Political Action is entirely funded by our 3.2 million members. We have no corporate contributors, no foundation grants, no money from unions. Our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. If you'd like to support our work, you can give now at: 

http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html?id=9655-2702203-E5lxDJkKOpZ54.IblAyNEg&t=8

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. 

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