Democracy for New Hampshire - Action alerts

Lynch promises veto of medical marijuana legislation

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:46:07 -0500

For Immediate Release

Gov. Lynch Statement Regarding Legislation to Decriminalize Marijuana

“Marijuana is a controlled drug that remains illegal under federal law. I share the law enforcement community’s concerns about proliferation of this drug.

“In addition, New Hampshire parents are struggling to keep their kids away from marijuana and other drugs. We should not make the jobs of parents – or law enforcement – harder by sending a false message that some marijuana use is acceptable.

“That is why if legislation to decriminalize marijuana were to reach my desk, I would veto it.”

# # #

Action alert: Protect our Tongass National Forest

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:25:08 -0500

A "sweetheart" deal working its way through Congress could allow a single corporation, Sealaska, to clearcut some of the best, oldest, most biologically-rich areas left in America's Rainforest, the Tongass National Forest in Alaska.

Please tell Congress to stop expanded logging in the Tongass.

America's rainforest, the Tongass National Forest, is stunningly beautiful, stretching across islands, fjords and mainland that are part of Southeast Alaska.

In this mist-shrouded forest, black and brown bears grow fat on five different species of Pacific salmon. Bald eagles soar high above waters where sea otters and whales splash.

But new legislation working its way through Congress would transfer much of the ancient forest remaining on the Tongass to Sealaska Corporation for industrial clearcut logging and other private development.

Help us stop this land grab now.

Sealaska Corporation has already clearcut some 300,000 acres of the best and biggest trees on the Tongass, exporting the timber to international markets. They mustn't be allowed to take the best of what remains. Take action to stop this legislation.

The Tongass must be protected for its ecological values and to help local communities transition to a more sustainable forest economy. The Wilderness Society has been working with communities and the Forest Service on just such a plan, but this new legislation would undermine it, along with the ancient forest.

Tell Congress to oppose the Sealaska "Sweetheart Deal."

Sincerely,

Kathy Kilmer
The Wilderness Society

Action alert from Al Gore: Call now for clean energy

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:31:21 -0500

Call Your Senators Now:

Senator Gregg:
202-224-3324

Senator Shaheen:
202-224-2841

Tell them you want strong clean energy and climate legislation this year. Then, report your call.

I've been working on solutions to the climate crisis for a long time -- and right now, we're on the cusp of what could be the biggest breakthrough in decades, with a bipartisan Senate clean energy and climate bill under negotiation right now.

That's why this week, supporters like you have already made over 42,000 calls to your Senators to demand the strongest legislation possible.

It's been one of the largest call-in campaigns in the history of our movement, and we've definitely got people's attention. But we have only one day left until our deadline tonight, and we need to demonstrate exactly how broad and deep this movement is.

Can you make your voice heard by calling your Senators now?

Call Senator Gregg now at 202-224-3324

Fight The "Citizens United" Court Ruling With The Fair Elections Now Act

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:02:47 -0500

If you haven't already been alerted, the Supreme Court has inadvertently created a brief but important opportunity.

Background: Key legislation to help curb global warming was passed in the House and is now bottled up in the Senate under the thumbs of big money special interest lobbies. We have seen all too clearly what such lobbies are doing to block or emasculate health care legislation and much environmental and financial reform.

Please consider phoning the above title message to your Senators and also relaying it to friends all over the country. Anyone need only to call the Capital Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121 or click congress.org , where their Zip Code gives names and phone connections to their own two Senators and House Member, i.e. NH Senators Gregg Judd, 202-224-3324 or 603-225-7115 and Jeanne Shaheen, 202-224-2841 or 603-647-7500. Night or weekend recorded messages are fine and convenient.

The following alert to me from Common Cause tells more.

Cheers!

Governor Lynch requests investigation of Vermont Yankee Nuclear facility

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:42:40 -0500

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Gov. Lynch Calls for Investigation of Vermont Yankee

Governor Today Sent Letter to Chairman of Nuclear Regulatory Commission

CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch today sent the following letter to the chairman of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner asking for a full investigation into the recent tritium leak and overall operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant:

February 10, 2010

The Honorable Gregory B. Jaczko
Chairman
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

Dear Chairman Jaczko:

I want to share my deep concerns about the operation and safety of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power plant owned by Entergy Corporation, and to strongly urge the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to thoroughly investigate the safety and management of the plant before affirming an extension of its license.

Last month New Hampshire was made aware of elevated levels of tritium discovered in groundwater monitoring wells at the plant. Entergy had previously told Vermont officials that there was no underground piping carrying water that could contain radioactivity. However, in the search for the source of contamination, we learned that, in fact, a leak of underground piping containing tritiated water could be involved.

Susan Collins Concerned, but misinformed

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:41:10 -0500

According to MSNBC.com, Senator Susan Collins of Maine issued a statement to the press, but it hasn't been indexed on her official web site. So, it's unclear how much credit it should receive.

The President's Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, obviously thought refuting the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee important enough to address the Senator's "concerns" point by point.

Election experts issue orange alert for Massachusetts special election

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:18:40 -0500

For Immediate Release: January 18, 2010

Groups Urge Secretary of State Galvin to Take Action to Detect Election Tampering

Belmont, MA

Representatives of nonpartisan election watchdog groups around the nation issued a last-minute 'orange alert,' warning that tomorrow's Massachusetts special election to elect a successor to the late Senator Ted Kennedy is ripe for manipulation. The groups call on Secretary of State Galvin to take immediate extra security precautions for the Senate race, which has become a high-stakes national contest. Critical national initiatives such as health care reform and financial reform will be influenced by the results of this election.

Unprecedented amounts of out-of-state money has funded a media blitz, and recent seesawing polls —some highly questionable—show Republican Scott Brown and Democrat Martha Coakley now reported to be in a virtual toss-up.

Experts are concerned that with the electronic election system in use, its lack of transparency and ease of manipulation, the public has no basis for trust in the accuracy and integrity of the election results. Confidence in election outcome should be based on objective verification rather than government reassurance, particularly when voting systems with so many known vulnerabilities and so little ability for oversight are employed.

Call for poll watchers in MA

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:41:34 -0500

PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY

We are writing to invite you to help us watch the polls on Tuesday in the MA Senate race.

There are many things to watch, and furthermore, poll watchers help to prevent any kind of malfeasance at the polls and contribute a great deal to the honesty of our elections.

WE WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE PEOPLE TO BE THERE AT THE CLOSING OF THE POLLS, TO SEE THE POLL TAPES and RECORD THE TALLY. 6-8PM (or shortly thereafter. Document if you can; cell phones with photo or video capability are great for this)

We are going to select a variety of jurisdictions all over MA - ones where they have had trouble in the past or where we think there might be trouble now.

I am sorry we cannot be more specific right now, but we shall be as soon as we can.

If you can help, please send an email to sheilaruthparks@comcast.net and please include:

- your cell and landline numbers
- how early and late you can be called
- what hours you are available on Tues
- how far you are willing to travel

Protect the Count Massachusetts! Help avert election fraud disaster

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:49:17 -0500

SOURCE: BlackBoxVoting

Black Box Voting : News Headlines: (MA) 1/10 - NO BASIS FOR TRUST IN MASS. SENATE RACE (THERE IS NEVER BASIS FOR 'TRUST'!) - ------------------------------

Posted by Bev Harris on Sunday, January 17, 2010 - 2:07 pm:

Below you'll find suggestions for effective actions everyone can take, whether you live in Massachusetts or not, to help protect the truthfulness of Tuesday's Massachusetts senate special election.

Yes, the machines are hackable*, machines are programmed by a firm with a member of its key management team afflicted with a criminal record and a history of driving around the state with replacement memory cards and voting machines in his trunk. And this election is vehemently political, with the winner possibly holding a key vote on the controversial healthcare bill.

(* Did a program update eliminate hackability? Well, the point is that

Haiti alert from Credo

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:26:22 -0500

1. Give to Doctors Without Borders

2. Tell Obama: Stop the forcible deportation of Haitians

Our hearts go out to the victims of yesterday's earthquake in Haiti. Here are two progressive ways you can make a difference today.

Give to Doctors Without Borders / Medicins Sans Frontieres.

Doctors Without Borders - a group CREDO members support with their phone bills - operates one of the only free trauma centers in Port-au-Prince as well as an emergency hospital in the capital for pregnant women, new mothers, and newborn children. All three of its primary medical centers have collapsed, but DWB/MSF has already set up temporary shelters and is offering emergency care on the ground. For more info on their work in Haiti click here. To make a donation click here.

UBS whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld deserves statue on Wall Street, not prison sentence

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:19:21 -0500

SOURCE: NY Daily News

UBS whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld deserves statue on Wall Street, not prison sentence

Juan Gonzalez - News

Wednesday, January 6th 2010, 4:00 AM

Take action

AP
UBS whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld

Barack Obama, who entered the White House promising all this change, should be hailing Bradley Birkenfeld as a modern-day hero.

He should erect a statue on Wall Street for this former banker for Swiss giant UBS who blew the whistle on the biggest tax-evasion scheme in U.S. history.

Instead of rewarding Birkenfeld, Obama's Justice Department is sending him to prison. He begins serving a 40-month federal sentence Friday for conspiracy and bank fraud.

Advocates call for investigation into whether or not Californians really voted to revoke marriage equality

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:11:01 -0500

For Immediate Release: January 7, 2010

Contact: Emily Levy (831) 429-8946

emily@emilylevy.com

New Analysis Shows Proposition 8 Election

Results May Have Been Corrupted

Advocates Call For Immediate Investigation Into Whether Californians

Really Voted to Revoke Marriage Equality

Dateline: Los Angeles

Election Defense Alliance (EDA) has released a new study challenging the election results for Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot initiative that ended marriage equality in California through a constitutional amendment. Renowned election fraud investigator and data analyst Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D., best known for his investigation of Ohio's 2004 presidential election results, has now called into question yet another high-profile election. The culminating report is hosted at WasProp8Straight.org.

Action Alert. Reclaiming Democracy: The Fair Elections Now Act

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:41:46 -0500

Action Alert. Reclaiming Democracy: The Fair Elections Now Act

From: K.C.(Chad) Murdock, Pearl River, NY

It can make a real impact if we all make a short phone call right now to NY Senator Charles Schumer at 1-716-846-4111 or, if busy, 1-315-423-5471.* Night or weekend taped messages are fine, such as "Hello. This is (name) at (address). I am calling to urge Sen. Schumer to co-sponsor the Fair Elections Now Act and to soon convene his Rules Committee to begin moving this Act toward the Senate floor. Thank you."

Background: Key legislation to help curb global warming was passed in the House and is now bottled up in the Senate under the thumbs of big money special interest lobbies. We have seen all too clearly what such lobbies are doing to block or emasculate health care legislation and much environmental and financial reform. The Fair Elections Now Act can reclaim democracy by removing the huge special interest donations which now dominate many congressional election campaigns and thus link legislators to corporations and other large donors.

Disclosure for corporate campaign financing

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:47:58 -0500

Here is the corporate donations bill. A public hearing will be held in the House Elections Law Committee next year on Tuesday, January 12th at 1:30 PM, Room 308 of the Legislative Office Building

This is the legislation I have twice sponsored in the past two Legislative Sessions -- each time it passed the House, but was defeated in the Senate. Please try to make the hearing, or offer written testimony. The effect of this bill is to meet the requirements of the 1999 court decision that allows financial participation of corporations in the political process -- the bill allows the corporation to set up a Political Action Committee while prohibiting direct contributions through its treasury. The PAC process requires DOUBLE disclosure of contributions -- by the candidate AND by the PAC. Thus, we will have transparency in the records of the Office of Secretary of State.

Thank You,
Jim Splaine

HB 1367-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2010 SESSION

10-2412 - 03/09

HOUSE BILL 1367-FN

DFA Action Alert to stop trillion dollar give-away to health insurance industry

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:00:29 -0500

From Jim Dean:

I'll get straight to the point.

If Democrats remove the choice of a public option, they can't force Americans to buy health insurance.

Here's the deal, Senate leaders are all over Washington claiming they finally have a healthcare reform bill they can pass, as long as they remove the public option. After all, they say, even without a public option, the bill still "covers 30 million more Americans." The problem is that's not really true.

What they are actually talking about is something called the "individual mandate." That's a section of the law that requires every single American buy health insurance or break the law and face penalties and fines. So, the bill doesn't actually "cover" 30 million more Americans -- instead it makes them criminals if they don't buy insurance from the same companies that got us into this mess.

A public option would have provided the competition needed to drive down costs and improve coverage. It would have kept insurance companies honest by providing an affordable alternative Americans can trust. That's why, without a public option, this bill is almost a trillion dollar taxpayer giveaway to insurance companies.

We must act fast. Both Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid and Democratic Senators need to hear from you. Please stop whatever else you are doing and make the calls right now.

Senator Harry Reid
DC: (202) 224-3542
Carson City: (775) 882-7343
Las Vegas: (702) 388-5020
Reno: (775) 686-5750

Call your Democratic Senator too -- Senate Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

REPORT YOUR CALL AND TELL US HOW IT WENT

Without the choice of a public option, forcing Americans to buy health insurance isn't just bad policy, it's political disaster for Democrats -- a ticking time-bomb for years to come.

Does anyone think Republicans won't use this against Democrats in 2010?

What about in 2014 after the mandate goes into effect and the press reports all the horror stories of Americans forced to choose between paying their monthly health insurance bill to Aetna or paying rent?

The mandate is toxic and Democrats will own it. By the 2016 presidential election, is there any wonder how this will play out for Democrats?

CALL SENATOR HARRY REID NOW AT (202) 224-3542 THEN REPORT YOUR CALL HERE

The message is simple: No public option? No Mandate!

Thank you for everything you do,

-Jim

Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America