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“Score one for a customer rebellion!” — that’s how Diane Sawyer announced on ABC Nightly News Friday night that big banks are backing off debit card fees after 300,000 people signed Molly Katchpole’s Change.org petition against Bank of America’s $5 debit card fee. Not only is Bank of America revising its $5 debit card fee, but big banks like Chase and Wells Fargo are publicly canceling their plans to charge their customers for debit cards. Molly’s fight against Bank of America isn’t over. While BofA is revising its fee, many customers, including Molly, would still have to pay $5 for a debit card fee even after the bank’s revisions. But, as the Wall Street Journal put it, the “big banks blinked.” Here’s what else the media is saying about Molly’s Change.org petition against big bank fees:
Dan Rather covered Molly’s petition too, saying that Change.org has become a “nerve-center for social justice the world over.” But here’s what’s most exciting: If a 22-year-old from Washington can best the biggest bank in America with a Change.org petition, think about what else is possible. Thanks for being a change-maker, - Jess and the Change.org team |
Monthly Archives: October 2011
What I’m Reading … Guy Cecil
We got some great new polling this week in Ohio, Nevada and Wisconsin, and Democrats are winning the fundraising war. Meanwhile, profit reports show Big Oil is doing just fine – we’re taking Republican candidates to task for continuing to support unneeded public subsidies for Big Oil while trying to gut programs like Medicare and Social Security that help the middle class. And the Republicans keep denying it, but the gap between the rich and poor is growing wider all the time. The New York Times has all the numbers on income inequality, and they aren’t pretty.
If this email was forwarded to you, and you’d like to see what I’m reading each week, you can sign up here. You can also follow me on Twitter @guycecil. Topics include politics, the Gators and reality TV, but don’t let that scare you off.
Polls Show Sen. Brown Strong in Ohio
Lots of good polling news came out this week. In Ohio, a new poll shows that Sen. Sherrod Brown is in strong position to be re-elected in 2012. Sen. Brown is leading Republican opponent Josh Mandel 49-34. Meanwhile, Mandel has yet to explain or return a $1,000 contribution he received from former congressional candidate and Nazi re-enactor Rich Iott, who was lambasted for his offensive hobby during the 2010 Election.
Berkley Now Tied in Nevada
There’s great news for our great candidate in Nevada. Rep. Shelley Berkley has made up a 13-point deficit against appointed Sen. Dean Heller, leaving the race a dead heat. The poll also shows that Nevadans have soured on Heller since he was handed disgraced former Sen. John Ensign’s seat. Among Hispanic voters, Berkley is leading 74-16. Her margin with this population will probably only grow after Heller canceled a Vegas meeting with the Latin Chamber of Commerce.
Polling Shows Baldwin Strong In WI
In Wisconsin, Rep. Tammy Baldwin is statistically tied with any one of her likely Republican opponents. A deeper dig into the polling shows why. Voters are recognizing that Baldwin is the only candidate in the race who stands up for the middle class and puts the people ahead of Wall Street, and that is what Wisconsinites want. Meanwhile, the Republican primary is going to get very divisive in the months to come, as all of the four candidates pander to the most extreme Tea Party activists in the state. Tammy is well-positioned to win this one.
We’re Winning the Polls – and the Money Race
We’re not only winning the polls – we’re winning the money race, too. In September alone, the DSCC outraised our Republican counterparts by $1 million. Here’s a good read on why, and what we need to do to keep the momentum on our side. Full Article »
Big Oil Profits = Big GOP Liability
Here’s one example where we’re going on offense: Big Oil just posted multi-billion dollars in profits, and what are Republicans doing? Continuing huge oil corporation tax subsidies, filibustering jobs bills and refusing to make the wealthiest among us pay their fair share. It’s no surprise given how much money Republican candidates receive from Big Oil. We’re going to make sure voters know all about this on Election Day. Full Article »
It’s True: The Rich ARE Getting Richer
Does it seem like the rich keep getting richer while the middle and lower classes struggle to get ahead? It’s not your imagination. According to a new study by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the top 1% of earners has seen its income grow 275% in the past 30 years. In contrast, the poorest 20% of Americans only saw its income rise 18%. These are important statistics to keep in mind when Republicans accuse Democrats of “class warfare.” If there’s class warfare going on, the wealthy are clearly winning the fight. Full Article »
We’ve got three brand new Senate polls you have to see:
OHIO:
(D) Sherrod Brown 49%
(R) Josh Mandel 34%
Contribute here
NEVADA:
(D) Shelley Berkley 45%
(R) Dean Heller 45%
Contribute here
WISCONSIN:
(D) Tammy Baldwin 44%
(R) Tommy Thompson 46%
Contribute here
We have come from behind to statistical ties in NV and WI, and we are maintaining a lead in OH. This positive momentum means our plan is working. We are proving we can beat them. But the plan is only working because we’ve been able to fund it, month by month.
If we make our October goal, this momentum will continue. We can hold the Senate, stop a GOP takeover, and beat Karl Rove’s millions. But if we don’t meet it, and Republicans gain just four seats, all of Congress will be under their control.
This critical monthly deadline is in 36 hours. If we don’t raise $32,000, our momentum will vanish. In fact, it could mean unstoppable momentum for the GOP.
Can you give $5 before the midnight Monday deadline?
This is great news. But if we can’t maintain funding levels, it will all disappear.
a message from Leader Harry Reid
There’s a simple truth to my job: I can’t do it alone.
That’s why I rely on you to stand with me in tough fights. And that’s why I started Searchlight Leadership Fund to help elect Democratic Senators who will stand with me when our nation’s future is at stake.
We’re helping candidates who reflect the values of my hometown, Searchlight, NV — those who have a strong record of hard work, dedication, and fighting for the values we believe in. We stand with incumbents like Sherrod Brown and Debbie Stabenow who have proven themselves as champions of the middle class, and with challengers like Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Baldwin, and Nevada’s own Shelley Berkley, who represent fresh voices for working families.
There’s never been a more important moment to stand up for Democrats. Republicans have done next to nothing to create jobs — in fact, they seem willing to weaken our economy if it strengthens their political hand. Meanwhile, they plan to rely on hundreds of millions of dollars of special interest spending in an effort to destroy our candidates.
That’s why helping Searchlight Leadership Fund help these campaigns win is so important. If we want a Senate where Republicans can’t block our efforts to create jobs and protect Social Security and Medicare, we need to win these races. And if we want to win them, we need to stand with our candidates.
That’s what Searchlight Leadership Fund is all about. Please, contribute $10 or $20 to Searchlight Leadership Fund today and help us elect strong Democratic Senators who are ready to stand up for middle class families in all states.
We must marshal our resources now. There is simply too much at stake to wait. We must continue doing everything we can to put people back to work, stem the tide of foreclosures, improve access to health care and education, and protect Social Security and Medicare.
But we can’t do it without leaders who are willing to take the right side of the fight. We can’t do it without winning these races. We can’t do it without your support.
Thanks for being part of our team.
Harry
Media Matters for America
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Support Senator AL Franken
With so much at stake in 2012, I’m doing everything I can to help Democrats win across Minnesota and around the country. But every time someone asks me if Midwest Values PAC (MVP) can help out another great candidate, the answer is the same: “I’ll have to ask my team.” By which I mean you.
After all, it’s your support that has made it possible for MVP to get involved in some of 2012’s most important races, supporting progressive heroes like Sherrod Brown and Kirsten Gillibrand. And, of course, we’re standing with Minnesota’s own Amy Klobuchar, Keith Ellison, and Tim Walz.
I’ll give you a perfect example: Elizabeth Warren. This progressive champion and consumer crusader is running for Senate in Massachusetts, and she’d be a powerful voice standing up to the special interests in Washington.
I’m proud to give her my endorsement — but I want to be able to do more. Your contribution to Midwest Values PAC will make it possible for me to stand with even more great candidates like Elizabeth when they need it most — so click here to donate today!
I wish I could help every single one of our party’s great candidates stand up for Medicare and Social Security, fight for good jobs and clean energy, and take on the right-wing special interests. And with the Senate majority at stake — and the House in play — there are lots of races to choose from.
I’ll keep fighting to support progressive candidates around the country no matter what. But MVP can only help if MVP members like you are there with me.
So, on behalf of all the progressives hoping MVP will be there for them: How about it? Can you contribute a few dollars to help me elect great Democrats in 2012?
Thanks for all you to do support me — and all the other great progressives out there.
Al
Congressional Budge Office: Cost Estimates
The Global Positioning System for Military Users: Current Modernization Plans and Alternatives- Cost Estimate for H.R. 3094, Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act
Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on October 26, 2011 - Cost Estimate for H.R. 2930, Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act
Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on Financial Services on October 26, 201 - Cost Estimate for H.R. 2167, Private Company Flexibility and Growth Act
Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on Financial Services on October 26, 2011 - Cost Estimate for H.R. 1408, Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization and Jobs Protection Act
Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on July 13, 2011
the Progress Report
The Do-Nothing But Kill Jobs Congress
When Voting Against Job Creation Just Isn’t Enough
As we’ve been documenting, Republicans keep voting against millions of American jobs. But it doesn’t stop there! The bills they’ve managed to get enacted — namely spending cuts through taking the entire government hostage and threatening to shut it down — have actually killed 370,000 jobs according to a new report from Scott Lilly, a longtime Capitol Hill staffer and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.
Here’s the rundown, via ThinkProgress’ Travis Waldron:
Lilly’s report focuses on three major areas where Republicans insisted on spending cuts: funding for local law enforcement, environmental cleanup of sites where nuclear weapons were disabled and destroyed, and investments into construction, repair, and maintenance of government buildings. Cuts to just those three areas will result in the loss of 90,000 jobs, the report found — 60,000 from direct cuts, and 30,000 additional jobs lost from the secondary impacts of job losses in each community.
And according to Lilly, those three areas weren’t among the worst budget cuts forced through by the Republican House:
“Similar stories could be told about many other budget cuts made in this bill—cuts that resulted in further job losses,” said Scott Lilly, author of the report and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. “All of the various 250 program reductions in the fiscal year 2011 Continuing Resolution probably eliminated more than 370,000 American jobs. The three areas selected for discussion in this paper are in my judgment neither the worst cuts made by the committee from a policy standpoint nor the best. But without a doubt they demonstrate the consequences of slashing government spending in a weak economy.”
According to the report, the $2.5 billion cut to local law enforcement funding could have prevented 36,000 police layoffs nationwide, and similar cuts made to grant programs could have prevented the loss of other state and local government jobs. Crunched by the recession and budget cuts, state and local governments shed more than 200,000 jobs in 2010 alone. Republicans not only cut such funding this spring but have now opposed the American Jobs Act — which included grants to state and local governments for the hiring of teachers, police officers, and firefighters.
Survey Says: Americans Like Obama’s Economic Policies
Polls have shown strong support for the elements of president’s jobs plan. We received even more confirmation of this sentiment from an unlikely source — a Fox News poll. ThinkProgress has the details:
A majority of Americans think President Obama’s economic policies would have positive results if they were implemented, according to a new Fox News poll released Thursday. 52 percent of respondents said Obama’s “ideas are good, but he hasn’t been able to get them implemented,” against 37 percent who think his “ideas are bad, and too many of them are being implemented.” In past polls,substantial majorities have supported the main proposals in Obama’s jobs plan, while others show continued frustration with Congressional Republicans for repeatedly blocking Obama’s proposals.
Evening Brief: Important Stories That You May Have Missed
Boys learn to be boys.
The 99 percent movement and organized labor
Romney: Two-faced enough to win?
GDP is back up to pre-recession levels, but Matt Yglesias notes that we’ve got more people, so people are poorer on a per capita basis.
An apparently counterproductive Sharia alarmist makes a case so weak that it shows why Islamic extremism is not actually that big a threat.
Herman Cain has come a long way from being an (albeit accidental) advocate for a controversial Palestinian position to verging on denying that Palestinians even exist.
Marine Vet Scott Olsen who was injured by police in Occupy Oakland is awake and ready for brain surgery.
How to fit 7 billion people on the planet.
Romney flips to climate denying.
Photo Friday: Mitt Romney’s $10 Million ‘Lakeside Getaway’ in New Hampshire
CBS News posted some snaps of Mitt Romney’s lakeside home in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.
The main house:
The stable house:
The boat house:
In other New Hampshire-related Romney news, Granite State Progress, a local progressive group, today called on Mitt Romney to release his tax returns.
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Other recent Progress Reports
Oct 27, 2011: Survey Says: The Public Supports the 99% Movement
The Verdict Is In As the Occupy Wall Street protest and growing 99 Percent Movement enters its second month, poll after poll shows public support for the movement. Here’s the rundown. 82…percent of New York State voters think it’s OK for the Occupy Wall Street protesters to protest. 70…percent of Americans have heard “a lot” [...]
Oct 26, 2011: ThinkProgress & Rick Perry Completely Agree That…
It’s Time to See Millionaire Mitt Romney’s Missing Tax Returns Back on Oct. 14, we asked if Mitt Romney had something to hide since he’s never released his tax returns despite running for or holding elective office for the better part of two decades: Not when he ran for the Senate against Ted Kennedy in [...]
Oct 25, 2011: 2012ers Unite Behind Massive Giveaways To The Wealthy
Trillions In Giveaways to the Rich Enacting massive tax giveaways to the wealthiest Americans seems to rank just after an all-consuming desire to defeat President Obama on the Republicans’ priority list. Texas Governor Rick Perry’s flat tax plan, which he released today in South Carolina, is just the latest entry in the Republican contest to [...]
Oct 24, 2011: The 99 Percent Are Winning
On Friday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) was scheduled to make a speech on income inequality at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Yet after learning that the event would be taking place in a forum open to the public and that hundreds of protesters from Occupy Philly [...]
a message from Gov.Howard Dean
I’m going to get straight to the point. If the so-called Super Committee votes to increase the age of Medicare eligibility from 65 to 67, it will completely erase all the gains we made in providing healthcare to every American under President Obama.
Medicare is the only universal healthcare program that exists in the United States of America. No one who supports moving back the age of eligibility can possibly be considered an advocate for universal health insurance.
In fact, if that happens, the legacy of the Democrats for the past four years will have been to do far more harm to the healthcare system than good.
By raising the age of eligibility from 65 to 67, hard working Americans who are in their 50′s or 60′s, and cannot afford insurance under the current system will have to wait two additional years before Medicare kicks in. They would be forced to stay in the private healthcare system – if they can afford it.
I personally know people who are on crutches this year because they cannot afford the hip replacement they need until they turn 65 a year from now.
It also means that you’ll have more people putting off care for an extended period of time and entering the system as more expensive Medicare recipients. This could actually increase overall spending on Medicare — eliminating much or all of the ”savings” the Super Committee may imagine they can achieve with these cuts.
This is bad policy and we have to stop it. I will personally not support any candidate for any office that attempts to cut back Medicare in this way. Democracy for America is preparing right now to run aggressive campaigns, including hard-hitting TV ads, against anyone — Republican or Democrat — who supports increasing the age of Medicare eligibility.
Please contribute $12 right now to fuel DFA’s campaign and deliver the resources to win.
We’ve succeed in bringing Washington politicians to their senses before and we can do it again. Because when we work together, we win.
Thank you for everything you do.
-Howard
Governor Howard Dean, MD
Founder, Democracy for America
a message from Nancy Pelosi
If we continue to stand together, I believe this moment will mark the turning point on the road to a Democratic victory in 2012.
The American people are rejecting the Tea Party Republican agenda that puts tax breaks for the wealthiest people in our country ahead of creating jobs.
Now, it is up to us to seize this moment.
That’s why the looming October 31st FEC fundraising deadline is so critical. This is the last fundraising deadline before the one year out to Election Day marker and House Democrats must have a strong showing.
The world will be watching to see if Democrats can maintain the momentum and exceed our million dollar goal. Our results will be closely scrutinized by the media and political pundits as an indication of our strength and determination to take the fight to the Republicans.
With just 25 seats standing between us and a new Democratic Majority, we can’t wait for tomorrow.
Contribute $3 or more to our Million Dollar Match Campaign before Midnight Monday >>
Let’s stand together for a new direction that places creating jobs over reckless tax breaks for billionaires and Big Oil.
Thank you for your support,
A small fish with a big problem
Menhaden. It’s a small fish that makes its home along the Atlantic coast and that other fish love to eat. Unfortunately, humans love it too.
Help us collect 40,000 comments before the Nov. 2nd deadline by taking action now.
We like to grind it up, put in pet food and stick it in fish oil supplements. So much so, that this once abundant fish is in serious trouble. If something isn’t done soon to stop the overfishing of menhaden, the entire Atlantic coastal ecosystem could be in danger.
That’s why right now the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is considering changing the way they manage menhaden. As part of the process, they have opened up public comments. They don’t often hear from the public on this issue. Which is why we are hoping to overwhelm them with support by generating 40,000 comments before the deadline.
This is our chance to show broad public support for ending the overfishing of menhaden and preserving the Atlantic ecosystem. But the comment period closes in just 48 hours.
Tell the ASMFC to protect the menhaden and protect the Atlantic ecosystem by taking action right now. WWW.GREENPEACEUSA.ORG
Menhaden have been called “the most important fish in the sea.” They are critical to the Atlantic marine ecosystem as prey for other fish and wildlife such as striped bass and ospreys. Millions of recreational anglers depend on a healthy coastal ecosystem to support the populations of striped bass, bluefish, and other species recreational fishermen love to catch. Without menhaden the Atlantic fishing industry—and the 63,000 jobs it supports—could collapse.
Unfortunately, that’s a real possibility. Overfishing of Atlantic menhaden has been going on for over 25 years and the population is on the brink. Scientists estimate that only 8% of the original menhaden population exists today. We have to act now to protect the menhaden and the entire Atlantic ecosystem.
Don’t wait. There are just 48 hours left to submit a comment to the ASMFC and protect the Atlantic ecosystem.
Greenpeace has been working on overfishing around the globe for twenty years, and we’ve been working on protecting the menhaden now for almost a decade. I attended a public hearing in Virginia this month, and delivered my comment in person. The hearings are stacked with industry insiders, so your voice is crucial for us to successfully reform menhaden management.
This is our chance to finally protect the species once and for all. If the menhaden population collapses, our entire Atlantic ecosystem and the fish and birds of prey that depend up on it will collapse as well. We can’t let that happen.
Submit your comments now before it is too late.
For the Oceans,
Phil Kline
Greenpeace Senior Oceans Campaigner
P.S. Forward this email to anyone in your address book who cares about the fate of the world’s oceans. The more comments we can generate in the next 48 hours, the better the chance we can protect the menhaden and the entire Atlantic ecosystem.
