Date: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
From: Claudia C.
Group: USA.CAN

What we can do is watch the upcoming legislation closely and call out the Republicans every time they vote on some "pork" like this project: http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/homeland-security/100295-time-to-pull-the-plug-on-the-joint-strike-fighter-alternative-engine- (and watch this video: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/pentagon-chokes-pork-10714897)

I don't know if it is in the current bill or just sitting out there waiting to be added to any appropriations bill as an amendment . . . but let's get busy, watch the legislation and alert each other. We all know they can't wait it out until November to fund their own pet projects, and we all know they just want to "cut" what they don't agree with, but don't mind spending a mint on what they want to spend it on.

Legislation is complicated and hard to pick thru . . . so hopefully some of you have better skills at this, and can find us some juicy material to work with. Here in Savannah we have a "slick" Republican who sits on the House Appropriations Committee - Defense subcommittee, and we are watching and ready to pounce on him the minute he votes to spend some military pork.

Claudia

--- On Tue, Jul 27, 2010, in msg270532, Natalie Fowora wrote ---

--- On Tue, Jul 27, 2010, in msg270531, Sheila Canfield-Jones wrote ---

Glad to see the group back and talking. There is a lot out there we can do and keeping the conversation up about what we can do is important. Knowledge Empowers. I know there are many important Primary elections coming up and we want to keep the seats we have to keep moving forward (not backwards). I know Move On has launched their "Fight against Washington Corruption" But I think with the recent Supreme Court "mis" ruling concerning Corporations and Campaigns, we really should look at the root of lot of corporate corruption problems in Washington. Campaign Reform is way over due in America. If we want Candidates to actually be public servants not Corporate pawns we need to work hard for Federal or State Legislation that allows for people of all income levels to be able to run for local as well as Federal Office. Campaigns actually funded by you and me and not special interest groups, Political Action Committees or Corporations. We need to prove that the old idea of "Money buys Elections" is wrong. President Obama ran his Presidential Campaign without money from PACS or Special Interest Groups. Why can't Senators and Governors and Congressman? You can't run for office unless you buy it? Why? Why can't we change that? I think we can by supporting, working for and campaigning for Candidates that not only represent what we believe is important but who also believe in us not Corporations. We did it with Obama. Whether we all agree with him and his actions or not. We do all agree that it was his time and he's a good a decent President that inherited a lot of problems. Together we can make a change. Didn't we just prove that. Let's prove it again. We can elect Legislators that represent you and me. Yes We Can!! But we have to work for it.

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Many people are just not as smart as we would like. They believe the lies. We try to get out on the street and pass out information about what legislation has passed and how it affects every day people. Fox is getting attention because they exploit peoples emotions with lies. For lack of knowledge people perish, a simple fact.

I'm thinking that perhaps someone could make a list of everything that the Republicans has said NO about and blocked from passing, and start handing it out and emailing it around. Their lame duck excuse is to have an offsetting cut. Ask them to list some or lets give them some suggestions like, going through their list of donors and taking things away that gives them advantage. We can start with one day of pay for them until they can agree on something for the jobless. Every program that was greated for their donors cut by 30% until additional revenue can be raised to pay for it. I think this will speed up their decision making process. The ultimatums need to be closer to the chest.

We need more information on what pushes their buttons so we can help them feel the pain. I would be happy to work with anyone who has expertise is this area.

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