One day left. NO excuses. Please, DUers. Do it. JUST DO IT!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

National call-in week to stop the Federal budget cuts started January 23; this bill will go back to the House for a vote tomorrow, Wednesday, February 1.

We can turn this injustice around. If we act. If we call. If we encourage everyone we know to call. Now. Do it. Please. Do it for all who would be hurt by these budget cuts… for the least of these.

Call your U.S. Representative toll-free at 800-426-8073 until the February 1 vote.

The number, courtesy of AFSC, is toll-free, and the call takes only a few moments... not a lot of effort for DUers to do the right thing & help our fellow citizens who will be severely hurt by these proposed cuts.

If you can't get through on the toll-free line, please call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at [phone] or find your Rep's direct line / email contact info @ http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml


And from the AFL-CIO Working Families e-Activist Network…

Send a message to your Rep: Stop Budget Cuts That Hurt Working Families: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/protectworkingfamiliesnow


From the Coalition on Human Needs...

The Taint of the Union 2006 (a new report from the Coalition on Human Needs): www.chn.org/pdf/taintoftheunion2006.pdf

This budget cut bill is a result of a corrupt system and must be stopped.

Congress decided to make cuts in health programs. Lobbyists for drug and health insurance companies made sure that the cuts hit poor families in the form of higher Medicaid co-payments and cuts in benefits rather than reductions in the excessive profits made by these industries. http://www.cbpp.org/12-18-05bud3.htm

Congress decided to make cuts in student loans. Lobbyists for banks made sure that most of the cuts fall on students and their parents in the form of higher interest rates and fees rather than reductions in the excessive profits made by the banks on student loans. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/DN-harrop_12edi.ART.State.Edition1.18854b6b.html

And all these cuts will pay towards tax breaks that benefit the well-connected wealthy, while deepening the deficit and doing little to expand the economy. http://www.epinet.org/content.cfm/bp168

TANF Updates

Follow Up from Welfare Advocates' Meeting
Last week the Coalition held a Welfare Advocates' Meeting to discuss the provisions reauthorizing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program within the budget reconciliation bill. Mark Greenberg put together a presentation on the TANF provisions and we have posted his slides in a PDF format here: http://www.chn.org/pdf/2006tanfinbudget.pdf

To see how the new work participation requirements will affect each state, see Mark's paper on the Center on Law and Social Policy (CLASP) web site: http://www.clasp.org/publications/tanfagreement_update_jan12.pdf

Vicki Turetsky discussed how the bill will cause families to lose child support. To see state-by-state numbers, see her paper on the CLASP web site: http://www.clasp.org/publications/incentive_payments_121405.pdf

Q: When is a Cut a Cut? http://www.chn.org/pdf/2006whenisacutacut.pdf

To see how the cuts affect your state, click here: http://www.chn.org/issues/opportunityforall/statefactsheets.html

From the Children's Defense Fund (http://childrensdefense.org/)...

Key Facts About American Children http://www.childrensdefense.org/data/keyfacts.aspx

1 in 3 will be poor at some point in their childhood.

1 in 5 was born poor.

1 in 5 children under 3 is poor now.

1 in 6 is poor now.

1 in 8 has no health insurance.

1 in 8 lives in a family receiving food stamps.

1 in 8 has a worker in their family but still is poor.

1 in 14 lives at less than half the poverty level.

From the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) (http://www.nccp.org)...

Child Poverty in 21st Century America (http://www.nccp.org/pub_cpt.html )

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina exposed glaring truths about poverty in America. Child poverty and material hardship are not just problems experienced by the states in Hurricane Katrina's path—they plague Americans around the country. Just as residents began the clean-up process, the U.S. Census Bureau released numbers showing that in 2004, the poverty rate rose for the fourth straight year in a row—37 million Americans live below the poverty line. In the wake of this national tragedy, poverty should once again become a topic of national concern. Now is the time to focus on how to make sure no more children are left behind. This series, Child Poverty in 21st Century America, addresses the challenge.

Contents

Child Poverty in States Hit by Hurricane Katrina: http://www.nccp.org/pub_cpt05a.html

Who are America's Poor Children? http://www.nccp.org/pub_cpt05b.html



http://www.nccp.org/pub_cpt05b.html

The rich get richer, the poor get poorer...

Corporate Wealth Share Rises for Top-Income Americans: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/29/national/29rich.html

A MEANER, HARSHER AMERICA: http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/opinion/13723643.htm

Number of Americans Living in Poverty Increases for Third Consecutive Year (9/17/04): http://www.chn.org/humanneeds/040917c.html

Budget to Hurt Poor People on Medicaid, Report Says: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/30/politics/30budget.html

Assessing the Effects of the Budget Conference Agreement on Low-Income Families and Individuals : http://www.cbpp.org/12-20-05bud.htm


If you're debating whether or not to call...

The Perils of Indifference
by Elie Wiesel

In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. Anger can at times be creative. One writes a great poem, a great symphony, one does something special for the sake of humanity because one is angry at the injustice that one witnesses. But indifference is never creative. Even hatred at times may elicit a response. You fight it. You denounce it. You disarm it. Indifference elicits no response. Indifference is not a response.

Indifference is not a beginning, it is an end. And, therefore, indifference is always the friend of the enemy, for it benefits the aggressor -- never his victim, whose pain is magnified when he or she feels forgotten. The political prisoner in his cell, the hungry children, the homeless refugees -- not to respond to their plight, not to relieve their solitude by offering them a spark of hope is to exile them from human memory. And in denying their humanity we betray our own.

Indifference, then, is not only a sin, it is a punishment. And this is one of the most important lessons of this outgoing century's wide-ranging experiments in good and evil.

In the place that I come from, society was composed of three simple categories: the killers, the victims, and the bystanders. During the darkest of times, inside the ghettoes and death camps -- and I'm glad that Mrs. Clinton mentioned that we are now commemorating that event, that period, that we are now in the Days of Remembrance -- but then, we felt abandoned, forgotten. All of us did.

Continued @ http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/wiesel.htm

Listen to The Perils of indifference @ http://easylink.playstream.com/historyplace/thp-wiesel.rm

The Nobel Acceptance Speech - by Elie Wiesel in Oslo on December 10, 1986

(Excerpt)

And then I explain to him how naïve we were, that the world did know and remained silent. And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must - at that moment - become the center of the universe.

<snip>

As long as one dissident is in prison, our freedom will not be true. As long as one child is hungry, our life will be filled with anguish and shame. What all these victims need above all is to know that they are not alone; that we are not forgetting them, that when their voices are stifled we shall lend them ours, that while their freedom depends on ours, the quality of our freedom depends on theirs.

This is what I say to the young Jewish boy wondering what I have done with his years. It is in his name that I speak to you and that I express to you my deepest gratitude as one who has emerged from the Kingdom of Night. We know that every moment is a moment of grace, every hour an offering; not to share them would mean to betray them.

Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately.

Continued @ http://www.eliewieselfoundation.org/ElieWiesel/speech.html

Please do not be silent. Please do not be indifferent. Please do not be a bystander.

These people weren’t silent, weren’t indifferent, weren’t bystanders; they protested & were arrested on the steps of the Canon Building…

Testimony: http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.display_c&item=051214_arrests_testimony

Video: rtsp://real.faithandvalues.com/streaming/sojourners/051214_moralbudget.rm

Call your U.S. Representative toll-free at 800-426-8073 until the February 1 vote.

"Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately." - Elie Wiesel

Our brothers & sisters who would be hurt by these budget cuts need us desperately to speak out. Please do it.

[G_j]

1. thank you so much! I have been calling and

I would only suggest that others take their indignation and channel it towards this issue.
Help protect the least among us from further assault by the gangsters.
please!

[Sapphire Blue]

34. From your keyboard to 84,344 DUers ears!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

35. ... and on to their phones!

[Sapphire Blue]

107. 1-800-426-8073; House voting TODAY.

[Sapphire Blue]

108. Wednesday, February 1

[Sapphire Blue]

109. !

[Sapphire Blue]

110. Call. Please, 1-800-426-8073

[Sapphire Blue]

111. !

[Sapphire Blue]

112. 1-800-426-8073; House voting TODAY.

[Sapphire Blue]

125. In a matter of minutes.

[Sapphire Blue]

126. !

[Sapphire Blue]

127. MINUTES!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

128. !!!!!!

[Mass]

2. Thanks!

[rodeodance]

4. dane and thanks for pulling it together.

[Wickerman]

3. Glad to see this posted

K&R.

I've called my reps - gotten into a heated discussion with a Retug staffer, disputed the "fact sheet" they sent me and written letters to the editor. The fact that this bill is not being examined by media is further proof of the lie of a Liberal Press.

[Sapphire Blue]

16. Could this possibly be pinned to the top until tomorrow?

[rodeodance]

5. needs one more nomination please. keep this on top.

[Straight Shooter]

6. Dolly Parton's song, "Coat of Many Colors" is what these people listen to.

Don'tcha know, poverty is uplifting for the soul. If you don't have material things, you turn to Jeeezus for comfort. Why do you want to turn people away from Jeeezus?

:sarcasm:

Honestly, I read things like this and I know it goes right over the heads of people who are in charge of making a difference. Abortion is all that matters to the people pulling the strings because it's all they hear "out there." Maybe we need to talk about that we're starving babies in the womb and they might come out malnourished and die shortly after birth. But then again, that would be God's will, wouldn't it? Can't win with these people.

Sorry for the off-topic rant, I woke up thinking about Alito this morning after having bad dreams about 'murika all night. :(

[wtmusic]

7. Sapphire: a request

The bill number

Thanks

[Sapphire Blue]

9. S. 1932 (the approved Senate bill; not sure if it's the same bill # ...

... when it goes back to the House. If not, you can reference it as the 'budget cuts bill' being voted on Wednesday, Feb. 1)

[wtmusic]

19. Done

Brad Sherman (CA-27th) is voting against.

Don't like not having time to look at all your info. But I've had it--everything that appears to further the criminal ends of this administration is getting action from me.

Thanks for taking the time to bring this to our attention.

[Sapphire Blue]

33. Thanks for calling!

[mzteris]

8. Why aren't more

"take action" sites involved in this???

[Sapphire Blue]

10. There have been many...

Sojourners/Call to Renewal, Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities, Faithful America, Campaign for America's Future, AFL-CIO, to name a few.

Edited to add: And, of course, the Coalition on Human Needs & AFSC.

[mzteris]

11. I'm not on any of those

well - I was on Faithful America, but I changed email addy's so maybe that's why I didn't get that one.

Where is MOVE ON? And Working Assets? And PDA and and and ? ? ?

[Sapphire Blue]

13. Good question... where are they? And why haven't they moved on this?

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. I felt like a total sap, but I did it.

[Sapphire Blue]

14. If that's what it takes, may more DUers be willing to feel like saps!

:toast:

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. Don't be so swift to thank me.

I came close to telling the bitch to go fuck herself.

[Sapphire Blue]

17. If THAT'S what it takes, may many more DUers do likewise!

:evilgrin:

[w8liftinglady]

23. LOL..now will you call my rep-and say the same thing?

[Sapphire Blue]

27. Definitely in the mood to do it today!

:evilgrin:

[drm604]

18. Do like we did with the filibuster.

CALL AND FAX all of your Reps local offices as well as the DC office. Do it several times. Call and FAX neighboring Reps local and DC offices. Do it several times. Tell them how important this is to you. Tell them how upset you will be with them if they dissapoint you on this (be courteous and DON'T THREATEN, but be firm). If you're nervous about calling and your voice shakes - that may actually help! Sapphire Blue has given you some good material; put together some written talking points based on what feels most important to you. Try to state them conversationally but if it ends up sounding like you're reading them that's okay also. Just do it.

Report back here with the results of the calls. We should try to keep a running tally. Call all of your friends and relatives and ask them to do this and to also call all of their friends and relatives. DO. IT. NOW. REPEATEDLY. Make them notice us! Make them realize that we are a force to be reckoned with!

[Sapphire Blue]

44. Kick for drm604's post!

:kick:

[drm604]

20. Sapphire Blue, do you have a list of the most important Reps to contact?

Sapphire Blue, do you have a list of the most important Reps to contact? We need to know the swing Representatives, the ones who are on the fence and can make a difference if we move them to our side. Also, we need to know who is firmly on our side since we need not use time and resources on them. Afterwards, we will call and thank them (and everyone else who voted with us) but right now we need to set our sights elsewhere. Who should we call and fax? Who is convincable? Do you have such a list? If you do, post it with contact numbers (both phone and fax if possible) and, if possible, brief info about where they stand and what approach may work best with them. Make it clear and simple for everyone to use.

[Sapphire Blue]

25. Simmons, Sweeney, & Goode are 3 possibilities...

Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.), perennially one of the GOP’s most vulnerable incumbents, has declared he will switch his vote to no. Rep. John Sweeney (R-N.Y.) is wavering. Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Va.), another supporter of the cuts in December, is not commenting on his upcoming vote, according to a spokesman.

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/013106/news4.html

You can check here for your Rep's previous vote...


FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 670 (Dec 19, 2005)
QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Conference Report
BILL TITLE: Budget Reconciliation, 2006


Republican: 212 Yeas 9 Nays 10 NV

Democratic: 196 Nays 6 NV

Independent: 1 Nay

TOTALS 212 Yeas 206 Nays 16 NV

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll670.xml

[Sapphire Blue]

78. *** If Simmons, Sweeney, or Goode is your Rep, PLEASE call!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

82. !

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

103. 1-800-426-8073; you can call & leave a message right now.

[Sapphire Blue]

26. Perhaps the Reps that didn't vote last time should be targeted?

Baca
Davis, Jo Ann
Emanuel
Gutierrez
Harman
Hostettler
Hyde
Istook
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Kolbe
Miller, Gary
Myrick
Radanovich
Reyes
Roybal-Allard

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll670.xml

[Sapphire Blue]

106. Call these Reps @ 1-800-426-8073

[understandinglife]

21. K&R. Thank you. Excellent post.

Peace.

[EFerrari]

22. Kick

:kick:

[goclark]

24. Wow! Importante! Kick and Recommend

[liberalhistorian]

28. What's the fucking point?

Sorry to be such a gloom-and-doom killjoy, especially with all of your hard work in putting this together, but after yesterday I really have to wonder just what is the fucking point? They didn't listen to us, even in the overwhelming numbers by which we flooded them, they don't listen to us, even in the overwhelming numbers by which we flood them, and they won't listen to us, even in the overwhelming numbers by which we flood them.

They're nothing more than spineless gutless hopeless self-serving traitorous chickenshits who are too afraid to do what is right and are too afraid to upset the status quo. And there are too many of them, like Lieberman, who should just make it official and join the fucking repubs already.

I'm sorry, maybe tomorrow I'll feel differently, but right now, I repeat, what's the fucking point anymore?

[drm604]

31. The point

The point is that this can work. It may be that it didn't work yesterday because we started too late. And it may be that this will also fail, for the same reason, but maybe not. We did change the minds of some Senators yesterday. My understanding is that this bill is very close. If so, then all we have to do is change the minds of a few politicians, and we've already proven that we can do that.

[Sapphire Blue]

32. The point: "Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all...

... who need us desperately." - Elie Wiesel

Those who would be hurt by these proposed budget cuts need us desperately to speak out.

Please do not be silent. Please do not be indifferent. Please do not be a bystander.

Please call your Rep @ 1-800-426-8073.

[DearAbby]

29. Will DU do Kick

:kick:

[northamericancitizen]

30. K & R

[nofurylike]

36. absolutely, Sapphire Blue. thank you, again, for ALL you do! K&R! eom

[Sapphire Blue]

39. *

Thank you! :hug:

[nofurylike]

45. anything possible, Sapphire Blue!

:hug: !


peace and solidarity, always!

[nofurylike]

37. kick! please do this, everyone! eom

[Sapphire Blue]

38. If you haven't yet done so, please forward this info to EVERYONE you know!

[Nothing Without Hope]

40. K & R - very mportant n/t

[nofurylike]

41. kick!

[nofurylike]

42. please everyone, call your rep NOW!! eom

[nofurylike]

43. kick! call, write now! please! eom

[nofurylike]

46. kick! please pass the word to call your rep, NOW!! eom

[nofurylike]

47. kick! this is CLOSE, folks! PLEASE call your reps, NOW, and PLEASE

pass the word to everyone!!


peace and solidarity!

[nofurylike]

48. this is so EASY to do!!! URGENT!! PLEASE call you reps NOW!! eom

[Sapphire Blue]

50. Thanks for helping keep this kicked!!!

[nofurylike]

56. it is the least i can do, Sapphire Blue! thank YOU!! eom

[nofurylike]

49. urgent! please call now! eom

[nofurylike]

51. hey, folks, PLEASE CALL and nudge others to call NOW! eom

[nofurylike]

52. this is urgently important! please call, write, and kick!! eom

[H2O Man]

53. Please Call!!!

"Poverty is the worst form of violence." -- Gandhi

[nofurylike]

54. kick!!

[nofurylike]

55. PLEASE do this and spread the word!! eom

[nofurylike]

57. it is so simple to do. please call, write now! and pass it on! eom

[StoryTeller]

58. I called my Rep--Lee Terry!

And he is certainly no friend of the poor! Very republican, very pro-business. So if I can do it, so can the rest of you. The staffer I spoke with was very polite (as was I) and said he thought my points were very insightful and he would be glad to pass them on to Mr. Terry. I doubt I convinced him, but I hopefully gave him pause for thought. I used the great info listed in this post, and it was easy.

So DU it!!! :)

[nofurylike]

59. great! it's close. every one counts! please pass the word! thank you! eom

[Sapphire Blue]

63. Thank you & kudos!!!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[nofurylike]

60. please pass the word! eom

[Sapphire Blue]

61. Help Improve the State of Our Union!

An email from FaithfulAmerica.org...

Help Improve the State of Our Union!

Tune in to see the President’s State of the Union Address tonight. In the interest of truth, here are some things you WON’T see:

You will NOT see:

Faces of those who will be pushed aside because of the devastating and immoral cuts to the federal budget

Photos of 2,300+ U.S. coffins flown back from Iraq

A chart showing the 250% INCREASE in terrorist attacks since 2000 and the 550% increase in deaths by terrorists

Posters showing no-bid contracts for Halliburton for the rebuilding of Iraq

A ticking display showing the $400+ Billion deficit

A billionaire sitting beside the first lady, smiling broadly because of the Administration-led and Congress-passed tax cuts that benefit only a handful of ultra-wealthy

An Exxon-Mobil executive holding up a sign saying “Thank you, Mr. President and Congress for refusing to bring up price gouging – we raked in the biggest quarterly profit in the history of the world.”

“Brownie” (President Bush’s pet name for former FEMA director Mike Brown) sitting in the balcony smiling broadly beside a grateful 9th Ward New Orleans resident, proud of our government policies that put people first.

Photos of U.S. Secret prisons showing humane treatment of its detainees.

Scientists applauding the U.S. for its refusal to join in the world-wide effort to stop green-house gases, even though the U.S. is the world’s biggest polluter.

You won’t see any of this, of course. But if you want to really know the state of the union, this is it. Is there anything we can do?

Absolutely! Right now, as a matter of fact. Tomorrow, riding the media wave from the President’s speech, the House of Representatives are voting on the 2006 federal budget – the insane and immoral one – and as of right now, it may actually PASS. That would be a moral disaster. You can try and stop it by calling your Representative and urging him or her to defeat this immoral budget. Otherwise, millions of the poorest among us will be affected – through slashes in health care, student loans, food stamps, and other critical services.

CALL YOUR REP HERE: 1-800-426-8073

After you’re connected with a staff person from your Representative’s office, tell them:

“My name is _______________ and I live in (your town/city). I would like Representative to vote NO on the budget cuts bill (S.1932). This bill will cut billions in vital services and programs, including Medicaid, SSI, foster care, child care, child support and student aid. Now that Representative has had time to read and understand the full harm of this bill, I urge him/her to vote against it."

If you can't get through on that line, please call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at [phone] or find their direct line at www.house.gov.

Please act today - because this is one scene we do NOT want to see:

A White House transfer ceremony where people on food stamps, the poor elderly, those on medicare and medicaid officially hand over their remaining pennies to the billionaire elite.

Finally, be sure to read (or listen to) our Faithful State of the Union.

The Faithful State of the Union Address is here: http://www.faithfulamerica.org.

The AUDIO version is here: http://faithfulamerica.org/podcasts/fsoupodcast.mp3

The PDF version is here: http://www.faithfulamerica.org/resources/FSOUA.pdf


One final note: Early this morning, Corretta Scott King, widow of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. passed away. What an inspiring legacy of service she has left for us. She was often emboldened and strengthened by the words which in her tradition – the Christian faith – have moved so many to action. Here they are, for you – whatever your faith journey – to lift your eyes and move to you take action. They are from the writer of the book of Hebrews:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith..."

Know you do not run alone! Blessings,

Vince Isner and your FaithfulAmerica.org Team


PS: Please be sure to take time to add your name to those calling for the release of the Christian Peacemaking Team members being held in Iraq. We will send ALL of those who have signed the petition to the Middle East News Agency Al Jazeera, in hopes that those holding these innocent servants will listen, and let them come home.

Here is where to sign the petition: http://ga3.org/campaign/releasehostages

[nofurylike]

62. please ask your rep to please reason with other reps, too. it is close. nt

[drm604]

74. Excellent point.

That's one I didn't think of!

[mom cat]

64. Done, and thanks for this impressive post. Detailed info.

[Sapphire Blue]

65. Thank YOU!!!

[nofurylike]

66. please keep this kicked! i'm off to vigil, then to bang pots and pans! eom

[nofurylike]

67. kick! please call, write NOW! please kick! eom

[nofurylike]

68. kick bye, for now. please keep kicked and pass the word! URGENT!! eom

[Maat]

69. Thank you for this info.

My sister works in social services in Orange County, California; I've been asking her, and she gives me information when she can. This really helps. I'm a retired social worker, and I use the information in conversations with my hypocritical rightwing neighbors, who want every fertilized egg to result in a baby born, but do not want to help with the children in poverty or the children in foster care waiting to be adopted. I'll make the calls.

[Sapphire Blue]

70. Thank you!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

71. Please do not be silent. Please do not be indifferent. Please do not be...

... a bystander.

Call your U.S. Representative toll-free at 1-800-426-8073

[Sapphire Blue]

72. "Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who...

... need us desperately." - Elie Wiesel

Our brothers & sisters who would be hurt by these budget cuts need us desperately to speak out.

Please do it.

Call your U.S. Representative toll-free @1-800-426-8073

[Sapphire Blue]

73. *

:kick:

[Wind Dancer]

75. Sapphire Blue, thanks for posting this wealth of info.

Kicking for the afternoon gang.

Please call toll free number 1-800 426-8073.

[Sapphire Blue]

76. If you are a member of a church/synagogue, please pass this info on...

... to everyone that you possibly can... just as fast as you can!

[Sapphire Blue]

80. !

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

77. kick; please call 1-800-426-8073

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[pinto]

79. Kick.

[Sapphire Blue]

81. It all comes down to us

Email from the Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities (ECAP) (http://www.actnow.org)...

It all comes down to us

"Let's be clear: Anyone who votes for this cut-the-poor, help-the-big-interests federal budget will be standing for the bad old ways of doing business in Washington." -- E. J. Dionne, Washington Post 1/31/06

Across the country, our message is being heard. Our emails, calls and virtual yard signs are working. Just last week, Bob Simmons, Republican House Member from Connecticut, announced he is now voting against the budget. He said grassroots pressure changed his mind.

Tomorrow, the House of Representatives will cast the final vote on this reckless budget. The budget will cut health care funding, child support enforcement, student loans, child care assistance and other vital public services — all to fund more tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.

This one last chance to protect American workers depends on us.

We have one last chance to stop this bill from passing. The vote in the House is going to be extremely close. Every voice counts, so lift yours in prayer, in song, in solidarity. Here's what you can do:

1. Make your call today. Call your U.S. representative toll-free at 1-888-355-3588. Urge your representative to vote "NO" on the budget.

2. Find an event in your area. The Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities is holding vigils and other events all over the country to show that Americans will not stand for the immoral trade-offs presented in this budget. Call Cassandra McKee at 202-263-4526 to find out about events in your area.

3. Check out our newspaper ad. Today ECAP has a full page ad in the New York Times, pointing out the hypocrisy of the "Health Savings Accounts" President Bush will announce tonight in his State of the Union address. Click here (http://www.actnow.org/healthad.pdf) to download a PDF of the ad and pass it along to your friends.


In solidarity,

Tracey Conaty
Emergency Campaign for America’s Priorities

[Sapphire Blue]

83. Please... call for our children!!!

How many children across the United States are poor or extremely poor?

Rates of child poverty vary tremendously across the states.

Nationwide, 17% of children live in poverty (12 million).
The District of Columbia has the highest child poverty rate—30%. Across other states, child poverty rates range from 7% in New Hampshire to 25% in Arkansas.

Child poverty is defined as children who live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level (FPL). The annual FPL is $16,090 for a family of three and $19,350 for a family of four.

Extreme child poverty is defined as children who live in families with incomes below half the FPL. Half of the annual FPL is $8,045 for a family of three and $9,675 for a family of four.



http://www.nccp.org/pub_cpt05b.html

[Sapphire Blue]

85. !

[AirmensMom]

84. Kick.

:kick:

[Catchawave]

86. Bookmarked and forwarded !

...and kicked :)

[calimary]

87. Kicked and recommended!

LOTS of work in this, too. VERY comprehensive - great job!

:yourock:

[Wordie]

88. K&R...thanks for posting this. eom

[Lone_Star_Dem]

89. Very important that we not lose track of this

I know things have been hard on us, but there is no excuse for dropping the ball on this vital issue.

[Sapphire Blue]

90. Only hours left until the vote. Call. Please. 1-800-426-8073

[Wickerman]

91. new kick

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

92. kick... to defeat the vote in a matter of hours!

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

93. !

[Sapphire Blue]

100. Please call your US Rep, @ 1-800-426-8073!!! Please do not be indifferent.

The Perils of Indifference: http://easylink.playstream.com/historyplace/thp-wiesel.rm

[Wilms]

94. kick

[Cocoa]

95. kick

:kick:

[nofurylike]

96. kick! PLEASE call in the morning, everyone who hasn't!! eom

[nofurylike]

97. kick! this is close, please call first thing in morning! eom

[nofurylike]

98. this is close, please call first thing in morning! pass the word! eom

[nofurylike]

99. this is close, please call first thing in morning! pass the word! eom

[nofurylike]

101. oops! kick! please pass the word, and please call, write, kick! g'night!

[Sapphire Blue]

102. "In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes...

... the human being inhuman." - Elie Wiesel

Please do not be indifferent.

Please call your US Representative @ 1-800-426-8076; tell them to vote NO on the budget cuts. The switchboard is open right now... you can call & leave your Rep a message.

Please do it!

[rodeodance]

104. today is the day.

[Sapphire Blue]

105. DUers... Call. Please. 1-800-426-8073. Please don't be indifferent!

The Perils of Indifference: http://easylink.playstream.com/historyplace/thp-wiesel.rm

[Sapphire Blue]

113. Mainline Protestant Leaders Decry Poverty Program Cuts

Mainline Protestant Leaders Decry Poverty Program Cuts

1/29/2006

Dear Members of Congress:

Greetings and Peace to you in this New Year! As leaders of our respective faith communities, we wrote to you throughout 2005 regarding our concerns for the FY ’06 Federal Budget Reconciliation Bill. At each step of the complicated budget process we called on Congress to reject cuts to programs that serve the working poor, children and the elderly, as unjust, particularly at a time when both the hurricanes and the U.S. Census Report on poverty brought vividly before us the need to renew our commitment to “the least of these” among us. We, like you, have had time to learn more fully what is included in the Conference Report on S. 1932. We write to each of you now to urge you to listen to both your hearts and your constituents, and oppose once and for all the FY ’06 Budget Reconciliation Spending Reduction package when it comes before the House on February 1.

Last year, we called on the President and the Congress to put before the American people a budget that represents the values and priorities of the nation. Many of you have expressed your own concerns regarding the severity of the cuts considered in the budget reconciliation process. We applaud those of you in both political parties who sought to prevent those living in the margins of society from bearing the greatest burden. We are deeply grateful that the Food Stamp Program was spared.

In our view we believe the final legislation is harsher for those most vulnerable and in need than previously understood. The conference agreement allows states to reduce benefits for almost all of the 28 million children enrolled in Medicaid today. The agreement includes more punitive provisions than the original House-passed bill in restricting eligibility for long term Medicaid services hurting many low-income seniors. New work requirements for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) will now cost states an additional $8.4 billion over five years, potentially forcing states to shift resources away from desperately needed child care to fund the new work requirements. The agreement would also impose increasingly onerous work requirements on two-parent families. The conference agreement severely limits states’ ability to tailor state programs to meet the individual needs of the families they serve, likely forces deep cuts in child care assistance for low-income working families who do not receive TANF assistance and allows states to deny contraception to poor women through Medicaid for the first time in the history of the program. The conference agreement includes provisions that would delay certain Supplemental Security Income payments for up to a year for many poor individuals with disabilities who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income. Finally, we are deeply concerned low and moderate income students will find it more difficult to receive or pay back student loans.

As a result of the frenzied outcome of the Senate vote to pass the Conference Report on S. 1932 in December, you now have an opportunity to redeem the image of Congress in the eyes of the nation by rejecting cuts to those who suffer in sickness, live in hunger, struggle in poverty, live in the cold and seek brighter futures through education. As the Psalmist wrote: For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish for ever. (Psalm 9:18) We ask that you listen to your constituents and people of faith and defeat the Conference Report on S. 1932 when it is considered by the House.

Signed by:

The Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

The Reverend Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Reverend Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.)

The Reverend John H. Thomas, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ

Mr. James Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3654_71303_ENG_HTM.htm

[Sapphire Blue]

114. [NOW Action List] House to Vote Soon on Cruel Budget Cuts

Please call your US Rep @ 1-800-426-8073.

Action Needed:

When the House reconvenes on February 1, the day after the state of the union address, one of the first items they will be voting on is the conference report for the Budget Reconciliation bill (S. 1932).

We must DEMAND that they vote NO on these heartless cuts to social services.

You've probably already read the news reports about Democrats being excluded from the committee room when the measure was put together. Now we must demand that the heartless bill they crafted be rejected by the House of Representatives.

Please call your Representatives today. Just enter your zip code on our form and you will see your Congress member's telephone number and some useful talking points. After your call, it would be very helpful in our lobbying if you could take a moment to fill in the box with a few lines about the kind of response you received.

We must DEMAND that they vote NO

More @ http://www.now.org/lists/now-action-list/msg00224.html

[Sapphire Blue]

115. Last Chance to Stop Budget Cuts and TANF Changes; Call 1-800-426-8073

Last Chance to Stop Budget Cuts and TANF Changes

In December, the House voted 212-206 and the Senate voted 51-50 (with Vice President Cheney casting the tie-breaking vote) to pass a budget reconciliation spending reduction package (S 1932) that would cut over $39 billion over five years from programs affecting low- and moderate-income people. However, the Senate passed a version slightly different than the House, so the House must pass the Senate version before the legislation can go to the President for signature.

The House is expected to vote on these budget cuts on February 1, so you have one more chance to contact your Representative and urge that they vote NO on the budget package that would severely impact those most in need in our nation.

The package includes:

$16 billion over 10 years in increased Medicaid co-payments and premiums and benefit reductions,

A provision that allows states to deny contraception to poor women.

Family planning services are a mandatory under current Medicaid law. Under the conference agreement, states would no longer be required to cover such services.

Child support enforcement cuts that will lead to nearly $8 billion in lost child support collections over 10 years,

Cuts a net amount of $12.7 billion from the federal student loan programs,

Reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, making significant changes to work participation requirements that would put enormous pressure on state child care programs and could lead to a sharp drop in funding for low-income working families not receiving TANF.

In order to meet both the child care and work costs of these new requirements, states may decide to cut child care for low-income working families who are not receiving TANF cash assistance. By 2010, an estimated 255,000 fewer child care slots will be available for low-income working families than in 2004.

Call the Capitol switchboard at [phone] and ask to be connected with your Representative. When you reach the office, ask that your Representative vote NO on the budget reconciliation spending reduction bill (S 1932) when it comes to a vote in February. Urge him/her to defeat this proposal - that bases budget reductions primarily on programs that serve those most in need, including seniors, people with disabilities, women, and children. Call on them instead to strengthen federal commitments to people in need and to follow ethical values of justice for the poor, welfare for children, hospitality to the stranger, and assistance to the disadvantaged.

http://www.pcusa.org/hunger/usbudget.htm

[Sapphire Blue]

116. Fiscal discipline on the backs of the needy

Fiscal discipline on the backs of the needy

OUR OPINION: REJECT BUDGET BILL IN FAVOR OF MORE SENSIBLE SAVINGS

The so-called Deficit Reduction Act is a prime example of how good intentions become laws that favor special interests at the expense of vulnerable populations that don't have high-priced lobbyists. This budget bill (S 1932) should have included more-sensible spending cuts, called for by the Senate, in both Medicare and Medicaid. Instead, lawmakers chose House provisions that promise greater hardship for needy beneficiaries and higher costs for local communities.

Deficit to grow

Adding insult to injury, the budget bill won't reduce the deficit with its projected $38.8 billion in savings over five years. Pending tax-cut measures that will cost between $60 billion to $95 billion over five years not only will wipe out any savings but actually increase the deficit.

These priorities are out of whack. That's why the House, which has scheduled a final vote on the Deficit Reduction Act today, should reject the bill and send it back to a conference committee for retooling.

(snip)

House lawmakers should reject the budget bill and insist that these Senate provisions be restored. Other provisions that will increase the ranks of the uninsured should be axed. Congress also should pare down the tax cuts. Fiscal discipline mustn't come only at the expense of the poor and infirm.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/13760710.htm

[Sapphire Blue]

117. Call your rep @ 1-800-426-8073 to vote NO on the budget cuts bill (S.1932)

[Cocoa]

118. kick

:kick:

[AtomicKitten]

119. KICK

[Bluerthanblue]

120. Done- called em both, and spoke the truth-

for what little it is worth-
At least i used my voice while i still have one-

Thanks for the heads up SaphireBlue

[Sapphire Blue]

123. Thank YOU!

[Wilms]

121. kick

[Wordie]

122. Done! I wrote an email letter...here it is:

Dear Rep:

The budget cuts that are soon to be voted upon impose further suffering on those least able to withstand it. Poor families will need to spend more for medical treatments and medicine, and students will find it harder to complete their studies if these cuts are allowed to be implemented. Poor children will be especially impacted by the proposed cuts.

To ask the least fortunate among us to bear a disproportionate burden as the result of wrong-headed tax breaks that benefit the wealthy and large corporations, while deepening the deficit and doing little to expand the economy, is just plain wrong.

Please do all you can to prevent these cuts from being enacted. Thank you.

Sincerely,

XXXX

[Sapphire Blue]

124. Thank you!

Great letter!

[Wordie]

135. This is very important! Thank YOU, Sapphire Blue, for all your efforts! nt

[Wordie]

129. Kick!!! DU it now!

[lonestarnot]

130. But I do not count anymore....

[Sapphire Blue]

131. Use your voice. Speak out. Do not be indifferent.

The Perils of Indifference by Elie Wiesel...

Listen to it @ http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/wiesel.htm

Read the speech @ http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/wiesel.htm

[lonestarnot]

132. Just different, never indifferent!

[Sapphire Blue]

136. You DO count when you speak out; when you become indifferent, when...

... you stop speaking out, that's when you stop counting.

[lonestarnot]

144. Thank you.

[Wordie]

133. FAST link to contact all your Reps by free online FAX/email Write 1 letter

This site will do almost all the work for you! All you have to do is enter your zip and click "GO" and you'll be given all your reps, and can write just ONE letter to all of them!

http://capwiz.com/thedeanpeople/home/

Just enter your zip code, click go, and you'll be taken to a page with all your reps on it. Click the link toward the top that says "Write to ALL of your representatives with one click..." Then you can use the radio buttons to select an email (default), letter (don't use this, not enough time) or FAX message (probably the BEST to use NOW). The one message you write will be sent to everyone on the list, unless you deselect them, with the checkbox by their name. So select just your Congresspeople, and deselect Bush. It's really easy! DU it!

You can use the letter I wrote, if you wish, to save time. It's short, but to the point. Here it is:

The budget cuts that are soon to be voted upon impose further suffering on those least able to withstand it. Poor families will need to spend more for medical treatments and medicine, and students will find it harder to complete their studies if these cuts are allowed to be implemented. Poor children will be especially impacted by the proposed cuts.

To ask the least fortunate among us to bear a disproportionate burden as the result of wrong-headed tax breaks that benefit the wealthy and large corporations, while deepening the deficit and doing little to expand the economy, is just plain wrong.

Please do all you can to prevent these cuts from being enacted. Thank you.

Just copy the text above into the message box, fill out the rest of the info (they don't ask for a lot), and click to send! Easy! Fast!

[Sapphire Blue]

137. KICK!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

138. !!!!!

[Wordie]

139. KICK They're still debating...there's still time if you act NOW!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

140. !!!!!

[Wordie]

141. Check your inbox, SB!

[Wordie]

142. kick!

[Sapphire Blue]

134. 84,778 registeredDUers... I wonder how many have called their Reps?

I wonder how many have encouraged everyone they know to call?

I wonder how many DUers care about social justice?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

143. done

i asked his telephone girl to ask Bachus why my daughter in high school doesn't deserve the same chance my son has. My son is working two jobs and still needs the student loan to attend Uof A full time. Won't they let Kelly work her way through school like him? They both make good grades... Maybe they will have a spare loan to hand out after they draft my son for Iran... those fuckers!