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Daily Archives: 01/05/2012
Where should Avaaz go in 2012?
Happy New Year!! It’s going to be a big one.
Democracy is on the march across the world, and our community is at the heart of the struggle, but to win we’re going to need to choose our course wisely. Click below to take the annual Avaaz all-member poll, and let’s decide together where to focus our energies in 2012.
The poll takes a few minutes to complete, but the more of us take it, the wiser our course will be:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/january_poll_2012/?vl
And if you don’t have time to take the poll right now, we can all see the results as they come in here:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/january_poll_2012_people_power/?bv11891
Last year we ran hundreds of campaigns and played a key role in dozens of victories, including:
• Putting a wrench in Media-Mogul Rupert Murdoch’s march to world domination
• Breaking the Syria media blackout and supporting courageous democracy movements across the Middle East
• Taking on Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi at every turn until his corrupt regime fell
• Blocking the Gay Death Penalty Bill in Uganda
• Stopping a mega highway that sliced right through indigenous protected lands in Bolivia
• Building a massive anti corruption movement in India that has repeatedly forced the government to back down
• Building a global movement for Palestinian independence
• Saving the Kyoto Protocol and UN climate process from polluting powers determined to wreck it
..and much, much more.
With the world undergoing profound change, and our community twice the size it was last January, imagine what this year’s list could look like. The challenges may be coming thick and fast, but when we stick together, we can transform them into opportunities to build the world we all dream of. Here’s to building dreams in 2012.
With hope,
Ricken, Alice, Benjamin, Diego, Emma, and the whole Avaaz team
the White House blog …
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Regional Roundup: Richard Cordray Will Protect American ConsumersPosted by Josh Earnest on January 5, 2012 at 12:14 PM ESTYesterday, the President traveled to Cleveland, Ohio to announce the appointment of Richard Cordray as America’s consumer watchdog. Mr. Corday has one job: look out for the best interest of American consumers. He’ll lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and work tirelessly to protect millions of families across the nation from the abuses of bad actors in the financial industry.
The President nominated Mr. Cordray six months ago, but Republicans in the Senate blocked his confirmation. They wouldn’t even let the Senate proceed with an up or down vote. They didn’t have a problem with Mr. Cordray, they just don’t think we need a consumer watchdog protecting families. The President disagrees. That’s why he took action and appointed Mr. Cordray. Millions of Americans can’t afford to wait for Congress to act. He’s the right man for the job. And as we’ve seen, editorial boards from across the country agree — let’s take a look:
Philadelphia Daily News: Cordray’s consumer bureau appointment a good move
President Obama says his recess appointment yesterday of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Product Bureau was an “obligation.
He wasn’t referring to the urgency for action three-plus years after a combination of hinky financial products brought the economy to its knees. What he said was, “When Congress refuses to act . . . and puts people at risk, I have an obligation as president to do what I can without them,” he said. Finally.
New Jersey Star-Ledger: President Obama’s recess appointment of Richard Cordray fulfills promise
Republicans have been hellbent on sabotaging financial regulatory reform, but yesterday they got a rude awakening: President Obama’s recess appointment of Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The Party of No blocked Obama’s first pick, Elizabeth Warren, and it was determined to block Cordray, the highly regarded attorney general of Ohio. Getting the agency up and running on all cylinders is crucial to enshrine into law the lessons from the 2008 housing and mortgage meltdown.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: With recess appointments, the president calls the GOP’s bluff
With long overdue defiance, President Barack Obama on Wednesday named former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to be director of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Hours later, he appointed Sharon Block, Terence Flynn and Richard Griffin to fill three vacancies on the National Labor Relations Board, which would have had to cease operations without new members to constitute a quorum.
All are recess appointments, which the Constitution authorizes presidents to make when Congress is not in session. They do not require Senate confirmation; the appointees may serve until year’s end. The president formally nominated Mr. Cordray in July, but Senate Republicans used the threat of a filibuster to prevent a confirmation vote.
Salt Lake Tribune – Power grabs: Obama is Right to name Cordray
Yes, President Obama’s decision to use a recess appointment to name a boss for the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is something that might fairly be described as “a power grab.”
Some Republicans are fuming at the news that former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray will be running the agency without Senate confirmation. What they don’t say is that the power here is being grabbed away from obstructionist tools of Wall Street — we’re looking at you, Sen. Orrin Hatch — and placed in the service of the American people.
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We Can’t Wait to Help Young Americans Find Jobs
Posted by Colleen Curtis on January 5, 2012 at 10:41 AM ESTYour first job brings you more than just a steady paycheck – the experience teaches young people life and work skills that serve them long after the job is done. But as our nation continues to recover the deepest recession since the Great Depression, American youth are struggling to get the work experience they need for jobs of the future.
Today President Obama announced a new initiative, Summer Jobs+, that will make a difference.
“America’s young people face record unemployment, and we need to do everything we can to make sure they’ve got the opportunity to earn the skills and a work ethic that come with a job. It’s important for their future, and for America’s. That’s why I proposed a summer jobs program for youth in the American Jobs Act – a plan that Congress failed to pass. America’s youth can’t wait for Congress to act. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. That’s why today, we’re launching Summer Jobs+, a joint initiative that challenges business leaders and communities to join my Administration in providing hundreds of thousands of summer jobs for America’s youth,” said President Obama.
Summer Jobs+ is a call to action for businesses, non-profits, and government to work together to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth in the summer of 2012. The President proposed $1.5 billion for high-impact summer jobs and year-round employment for low-income youth ages 16-24 in the American Jobs Act as part of the Pathways Back to Work fund. When Congress failed to act, the Federal government and private sector came together to commit to creating nearly 180,000 employment opportunities for low-income youth in the summer of 2012, with a goal of reaching 250,000 employment opportunities by the start of summer, at least 100,000 of which will be placements in paid jobs and internships.
A centerpiece of the program will be the Summer Jobs+ Bank , a one-stop search tool for youth to access postings from participating employers that is targeted to launch in 60 days, which will use the same technology that powers the Veterans Jobs Bank that was launched late last year. Employers who want to offer opportunities to America’s young people can find out more here.
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State and Local Officials, Colleagues Support Cordray Appointment
Posted by Michael Block on January 4, 2012 at 7:07 PM ESTFollowing the President’s appointment of Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and help rein in predatory lenders, state and local officials across the country, including many of Cordray’s former Attorneys General colleagues, spoke out about the decision.
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley:
“The CFPB now possesses the authority to ensure that payday lenders, debt collectors, and others no longer have free rein to deplete the financial health of our communities. With Richard Cordray’s appointment, our states finally have a strong partner at the federal level to combat predatory and discriminatory lending.”
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick:
“Americans can’t wait any longer for protection from abuses in the financial markets. I applaud President Obama for taking action and appointing Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Richard Cordray is a highly qualified leader who has support from members of both parties and the credentials needed to protect homeowners, seniors and veterans from financial abuse. I wish him the best in this new position.”
California Attorney General Kamala Harris:
“American families finally have the consumer advocate we’ve needed for so long: Richard Cordray, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau…We’re at a critical moment for the middle-class in America, and we urgently need strong oversight of our financial institutions and accountability for wrongdoing. Richard Cordray is the right person at the right time to get this job done and be a strong partner with state attorneys general.”
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman:
“This is a major victory for American families seeking justice with the banks and other lending agencies at the heart of the financial crisis. The repeated procedural roadblocks that have blocked Richard Cordray’s appointment represent the worst sort of partisan politics in Washington, and President Obama must be commended for taking action in the pursuit of meaningful protection for American consumers.
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From the Archives: Holly Petraeus Joins the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Posted by Megan Slack on January 4, 2012 at 5:28 PM ESTThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was established to protect American consumers from unfair, deceptive or abusive practices at the hands of financial services providers—banks, credit card companies, mortgage and payday lenders, and debt collectors to name a few.
One group in particular is often at risk of being targeted by unscrupulous lenders: servicemembers and their families who find themselves in financial trouble and strapped for cash to cover debts and expenses due to the unique challenges members of the military face.
This week last year, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that Holly Petraeus would lead the Bureau’s Office of Servicemember Affairs. The office is charged with ensuring that those who serve in the military are able to focus on their jobs and their families without having to worry about getting trapped by abusive financial practices.
The Office of Servicemember Affairs ensures that:
- Military families receive the financial education they need to make the best financial decisions for them
- Complaints and questions from military families are monitored and receive responses
- Federal and state agencies coordinate their activities to improve consumer protection measures for military families
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President Obama Discusses Richard Cordray in Shaker Heights
Posted by Matt Compton on January 4, 2012 at 4:05 PM EST
President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the economy at Shaker Heights High School,Shaker Heights, Ohio, Jan. 4, 2012. Richard Cordray, former Ohio Attorney General and nominee as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau shares the stage with the President. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)President Obama was in Shaker Heights, Ohio this afternoon to talk about the fight to help secure a better future for the middle class — and his decision to appoint Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Speaking before a packed house at Shaker Heights High School, the President said protecting consumers is too important to wait:
When Congress refuses to act, and as a result, hurts our economy and puts our people at risk, then I have an obligation as President to do what I can without them. I’ve got an obligation to act on behalf of the American people. And I’m not going to stand by while a minority in the Senate puts party ideology ahead of the people that we were elected to serve. Not with so much at stake, not at this make-or-break moment for middle-class Americans. We’re not going to let that happen.
Richard Cordray, the former attorney general of Ohio, joined President Obama as he spoke, and the President outlined his credentials:
You know, you look at him and you think, this guy is not somebody who’s going around picking fights. And yet, this fight on behalf of consumers is something that Richard has been waging here in Ohio for the better part of two decades.
As your attorney general, he helped recover billions of dollars in things like pension funds on behalf of retirees. He protected consumers from dishonest lending practices. Before that, Richard was the state treasurer, where he earned a reputation for working with folks from across the spectrum — Democrats, Republicans, bankers, consumer advocates — had a great reputation across the board doing the right thing.
And, Cleveland, you’ve seen the difference that Richard can make for consumers, and I have, too. And that’s why I want Richard to keep standing up for you — not just here in Ohio, but for consumers all across the country.
The job ahead of Mr. Cordray is nothing less than ensuring the integrity of our financial system. The President said:
[We] know what would happen if Republicans in Congress were allowed to keep holding Richard’s nomination hostage. More of our loved ones would be tricked into making bad financial decisions. More dishonest lenders could take advantage of some of the most vulnerable families. And the vast majority of financial firms who do the right thing would be undercut by those who don’t.
See, most people in the financial services industry do the right thing, but they’re at a disadvantage if nobody is enforcing the rules. We can’t let that happen. Now is not the time to play politics while people’s livelihoods are at stake. Now is the time to do everything we can to protect consumers, prevent financial crises like the one that we’ve been through from ever happening again. That starts with letting Richard do his job.
To see the full remarks, watch the video.
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Reining in Predatory Lenders with a Consumer Watchdog
Posted by Josh Earnest on January 4, 2012 at 3:57 PM ESTPresident Barack Obama participates in a discussion with, from left: Mr. William Eason; Richard Cordray, former Ohio Attorney General and nominee as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Mrs. Endia Eason; and Deonna Kirkpatrick, Communications Director ESOP (Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People), at the Eason home in Cleveland, Ohio, Jan. 4, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
For William and Endia Eason, the trouble began in 2001. Officials in Cleveland issued the couple a citation to make repairs to bring their home up to code.
Then a mortgage broker knocked on their door, telling the Easons that they needed a loan to get the work done. They would go to jail, he said, unless they made the changes, and after telling them it was too late to back out of the loan process, the broker talked the couple into borrowing $8,000 to repair their steps, garage, and roof.
He also convinced them to open up a line of credit — backed by the deed on their home — that he said would help them make the changes to the house. The repairs never got done, however, and the loan flipped multiple times.
After living in their home for 30 years, the Easons suddenly found themselves owing almost $80,000. When they fell behind on the payments, the lender started the foreclosure process. In desperation, the Easons reached out to a nonprofit that assists victims of predatory lending — and with support from that nonprofit, they were able to convince the mortgage company to write off part of the loan and back away from foreclosure. The mortgage broker, on the other hand, made $4,000 from the deal and walked away.
That’s the story that William and Endia Eason told President Obama when they met with him today, and it’s the perfect illustration for why he appointed Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
This week, CFPB is officially launching a service that could have helped the Easons. They’re establishing a 1-800 hotline for mortgage related consumer complaints. The Bureau will forward each issue to the proper financial institution for review and resolution. And if the institution doesn’t resolve the issue, CFPB will investigate the complaint directly and make sure that the financial institutions are held accountable under Federal law.
If we’d had the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ten years ago, the Easons and families like them across the country could have turned to this resource for help.
But going forward, the Bureau will be a watchdog for anyone who owns a mortgage, uses a credit card, or applies for a loan. And that’s good news for families like the Easons.
Josh Earnest is Principal Deputy Press Secretary and Special Assistant to the President.
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By the Numbers: 50 Percent
Posted by Megan Slack on January 4, 2012 at 2:59 PM ESTMore than 14 percent of consumers have one or more debts in collection. Debt collection, the business of recovering money owed on these delinquent accounts, can create economic value, but it can also be a source of abuse against consumers. In fact, nearly 50 percent of complaints about debt collectors obtained under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act cite harassment.
Personal hardships such as divorce, family member death, illness or job loss are often the precursors to a household falling behind on debt payments. Without resources that explain people’s rights and responsibilities when dealing with debt collectors, coercive collection tactics can easily pressure consumers into making decisions that aren’t in their best financial interests.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, will change all that. For starters, the Bureau will work to help people understand their obligations as borrowers, as well as the protections available to them when they deal with all types of financial service providers, from debt collectors to credit card companies to mortgage lenders. Secondly, the Bureau will establish and enforce rules that put an end to unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices at the hands of these providers, many of which have never been regulated before.
To learn more about CFPB, the first-ever Federal agency charged with protecting American consumers, see:
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 101: Why We Need a Consumer Watchdog
- America’s Consumer Watchdog: President Obama appoints Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Reining in Predatory Lenders with a Consumer Watchdog
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 101: Why We Need a Consumer Watchdog
Posted by Megan Slack on January 4, 2012 at 11:13 AM ESTThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a central part of President Obama’s historic Wall Street Reforms. Their job is to make markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans — whether they are applying for a mortgage, choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other consumer financial products. Many people have expressed confusion about this agency, so we put together answers to some of the questions we’ve been asked.
What is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?
Why do we need a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?
Why is it so important to regulate these so-called non-bank financial institutions?
How can the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau protect me and my money?
Resources to learn more or get help now
What is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was created to make sure that the financial products and services that Americans depend on every day —including credit cards, mortgages, and loans—work better for the people who use them.
Established by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, CFPB is charged with overseeing the Federal financial laws that specifically protect consumers—people who keep their money in banks and credit unions, pay for goods and services with their credit cards, and rely on loans to buy homes or pay for college, among other services.
The Bureau is tasked with making sure people understand the fine print that explains the risks involved in using these services, and ensuring the banks, credit unions, and other financial companies that provide them play by the rules.
Why do we need a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?
Before CFPB was established, seven different Federal agencies were responsible for various aspects of consumer financial protection. No single agency had effective tools to set the rules or oversee the whole market, and that is part of what led to an economic crash of epic proportions. As President Obama explained in his speech in Osawatomie:
We all know the story by now: Mortgages sold to people who couldn’t afford them, or sometimes even understand them. Banks and investors allowed to keep packaging the risk and selling it off. Huge bets – and huge bonuses – made with other people’s money on the line. Regulators who were supposed to warn us about the dangers of all this, but looked the other way or didn’t have the authority to look at all.
Moving forward, CFPB will be the single, consumer-focused regulating authority, consolidating the existing authorities scattered throughout the Federal government under one roof. And, the Bureau’s oversight includes the large banks and credit unions that had historically been regulated by the Federal government, as well as independent and privately owned “non-bank financial institutions” that had never been regulated before.
This means that for the first time, the Federal government will be able to regulate the activities of independent payday lenders, private mortgage lenders and servicers, debt collectors, credit reporting agencies, and private student loan companies.
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America’s Consumer Watchdog
Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on January 4, 2012 at 10:45 AM ESTToday the President will appoint Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He has one important job: look out for the best interest of American consumers. He’ll work on behalf of millions of families across the nation to ensure they’re not being taken advantage of by debt collectors and credit reporting agencies. As America’s consumer watchdog, Cordray will work to ensure that families and students don’t get saddled with sky-high interest rates by mortgage or payday lenders. Bottom line: he’ll strengthen oversight and accountability in order to protect millions of families across the nation. This is an important step to protect the American people.
The President nominated Mr. Cordray last summer. Unfortunately, Republicans in the Senate blocked his confirmation. They refused to let the Senate go forward with an up or down vote. It’s not because Republicans think Cordray isn’t qualified for the job, they simply believe that the American public doesn’t need a watchdog at all. Well, we disagree.
And we can’t wait for Republicans in the Senate to act. Now, you might hear some folks across the aisle criticize this “recess appointment.” It’s probably the same folks who don’t think we need a tough consumer watchdog in the first place. Those critics might tell you that Wall Street should write their own rules. Or you might hear them say the American people are better off when everyone is left to fend for themselves. Again, we disagree with those critics.
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President Obama Opens 2012 by Advancing Pipeline Safety
Posted by Secretary Ray LaHood on January 3, 2012 at 7:04 PM ESTEd note: This has been cross-posted from the Department of Transportation’s Fastlane blog
When we say at DOT that safety is our number one priority, we are not kidding around. And today, as part of that important goal, President Obama signed into law the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act.
Last April, following several fatal pipeline accidents, we called upon U.S. pipeline owners and operators to conduct a comprehensive review of their oil and gas pipelines to identify areas of high risk and accelerate critical repair and replacement work. We also convened a Pipeline Safety Forum with state officials, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss steps for improving the safety and efficiency of America’s pipeline infrastructure.
In one of their final actions for 2011, the House and Senate passed a pipeline safety bill consistent with the legislative proposal we submitted to Congress last year. This legislation gives the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, an important part of DOT, stronger enforcement tools and increases civil penalties for pipeline operators who do not meet safety regulations. It’s another terrific step forward for greater pipeline safety.
Not only will this legislation help keep America’s communities safer; it also helps give pipeline operators the certainty they need to run their systems more effectively.
To advance pipeline safety, the bill doubles the maximum fines that pipeline operators face for safety violations. The Bill requires PHMSA to issue new pipeline safety standards requiring operators to install automatic or remote-controlled shut-off valves and excess flow valves in new or replaced transmission pipelines. As U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller said, “Communities can rest a little easier knowing that Congress has implemented tougher safety rules.”
The bill authorizes PHMSA to award $110 million in safety-related grants each year. These include state damage prevention programs, technical assistance to local communities, emergency response training, and one-call system improvements. And PHMSA is authorized to add a number of new pipeline inspectors to support its investigation and enforcement obligations.
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From the Archives: President Obama Signs the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act
Posted by Megan Slack on January 3, 2012 at 3:35 PM ESTPresident Barack Obama signs H.R. 847, the “James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act” in Kailua, Hawaii, Jan. 2, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
“We will never forget the searing images of September 11, 2001. And we will never forget the selfless courage demonstrated by the firefighters, police officers, and first responders who risked their lives to save others. In the face of unspeakable brutality and evil, these brave men and women demonstrated the enduring strength of our values and the American spirit. Many who survived did not emerge from the dust and debris unscathed, facing continuing health problems as a result of their service.
On January 2, President Obama signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act into law, ensuring that rescue and recovery workers, residents, students, and others suffering from health consequences related to the World Trade Center disaster would be able to access the medical treatment they need.
The act established the World Trade Center Health Program, and expanded eligibilty for compensation under the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2011.
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Helping Small Businesses to Drive Innovation
Posted by Karen Mills on January 3, 2012 at 2:42 PM ESTEd. Note: Cross-posted with the Small Business Administration Blog.
Last week, President Obama signed a bill reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs for another six years. This long-term reauthorization is good news for the innovative small businesses that these programs support. SBIR and STTR invest about $2.5 billion a year in America’s most promising small research and development companies. Through SBIR and STTR, federal agencies with large R&D budgets provide competitive awards to help small businesses bring their best innovations from the drawing board to the marketplace. SBIR and STTR operate in three phases, providing support for research, development, and commercialization.
Over the years, SBIR and STTR have played a role in the growth of firms like Qualcomm, Symantec, and others. From 2002 to 2006, about 25% of R&D Magazine’s top 100 annual innovations came from companies that had received an SBIR grant at some point in their history.
Despite this track record, the future of SBIR and STTR had been subject to repeated short-term funding from Congress over the past ten years. This new, long-term reauthorization provides certainty and stability for the small businesses that leverage these programs to create jobs. In fact, it strengthens SBIR and STTR, proving more funding for small businesses to drive innovation, create jobs, and grow our economy. It increases the amount these programs can award to small businesses, shortens the timeline for award decisions, and improves the focus on commercializing the innovative products that will change the world.
SBIR and STTR are a win-win. Federal agencies are able to meet their R&D needs, while small businesses get the chance to bring their innovations into the marketplace. The reauthorization ensures that small businesses will have access to much needed investments. Money from these programs will go directly to small businesses to help them drive innovation, strengthen U.S. competitiveness, and create good jobs.
VIDEO: Tucson survivors remember … Patricia Maisch, Mayors Against Illegal Guns
The horror that I witnessed on a crystal clear, bright Saturday morning in Tucson, Arizona will forever be in my mind.
On January 8th, one year will have passed since that awful, tragic day. And, as our communities and our country come together to remember, please listen to those of us who were there — make sure you hear our heartfelt words.
Please watch us, survivors of the Tucson shooting, share our memories and join us in honoring the lives taken on January 8, 2011.
The six people taken from us that day were Dorothy Morris, Dorwan Stoddard, Phyllis Schneck, Judge John Roll, Gabe Zimmerman, and Christina Taylor-Green. These six were mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, friends – our neighbors! I will never, ever forget them.
And while we cannot change the past or bring back those taken from us, I hope you’ll join with people and communities around the country in remembering them. Take a moment of peaceful silence, wear a commemorative pin or ribbon, maybe attend a public vigil near you:
http://www.FixGunChecks.org/Tucson
No one should have to endure the sorrow of having a loved one murdered with a gun. My hope is that positive actions can come of this tragic anniversary and that people will renew their resolve to never let this happen again.
In peaceful resolve,
Patricia Maisch
Tucson Survivor
Chevron found guilty… Again by Ginger Cassady, Rainforest Action Network
| Help Chevron come up with its next absurd excuse |
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A court of appeals in Ecuador has upheld the $18 billion ruling of a lower court, confirming what 30,000 Ecuadoreans suffering from Chevron’s oil pollution in the Amazon and activists the world over have known for decades: Chevron is guilty.
There is no question of Chevron’s responsibility for dumping some 18 billion gallons of toxic oil waste in the Ecuadorean Amazon. The only question, at this point, is what ludicrous talking point Chevron will roll out this time to explain away its refusal to pay to clean up its mess.
Chevron spokespeople have claimed that oil is no more toxic than women’s makeup and that just because their company bought Texaco in 2001 doesn’t mean Chevron has to clean up its mess. They have vowed to fight against paying to clean up until hell freezes over, and then to “fight it out on the ice.” It’s clear the company could use a little help in crafting its excuses. Why don’t you help Chevron out by coming up with the next absurd talking point to justify putting profits before people?
The real reason Chevron won’t take responsibility for its mess in Ecuador is, of course, unbridled greed. And a complete disregard for human life. More than 1,400 Ecuadoreans have died from Chevron’s oil pollution in the Amazon, but it’s all about money for the Big Oil behemoth.
Everyone from oil industry analysts to Chevron shareholders are calling on the company to rethink its endless litigation strategy in Ecuador. What excuse can the company possibly come up with this time for refusing to clean up its mess? Why not help them out. Go to this page, pick your favorite Chevron spokesperson, enter your ludicrous excuse, and we’ll post it to our “Excuse Gallery” on ChevronThinksWereStupid.org.
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For a cleaner future, |
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Ginger Cassady
Change Chevron |
Bankrate.com
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the Progress Report …THINKPROGRESS
Why The Appointment Of Richard Cordray Is A Victory For Middle Class Families
Nearly 18 months after the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the agency will finally have its first director. That’s because President Obama, using his power to make appointments during a congressional recess, announced today that he was appointing former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray — whom the administration formally nominated in July — as the CFPB’s director. Obama also appointed three members to the National Labor Relations Board, another agency opposed by the GOP. These appointments were victories for progressives, who have spent months urging the administration to use its recess appointment powers to fill the seat, and for America, which will benefit from the fact that two important agencies will be able to function properly because of Obama’s action.
CONSERVATIVE REACTION: ThinkProgress first reported that Obama would appoint Cordray this week, and after the White House confirmed that report this morning, Republicans immediately began blasting the president’s “power grab.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called Obama’s move “unprecedented,” saying it “arrogantly circumvented the American people.” House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said Obama had made an “extraordinary and entirely unprecedented power grab,” and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) said Obama “delegitimized the CFPB and has opened the agency up to legitimate legal challenges that will cripple it for years.”
WHY THEY ARE WRONG: As ThinkProgress’ Ian Millhiser noted this week, Obama is well within his legal right to appoint Cordray during Congress’ current recess — which has lasted since December 23 for constitutional purposes. Past presidents have invoked the recess power during much shorter Senate breaks. In 1903, in fact, President Theodore Roosevelt made more than 160 recess appointments during a recess that lasted less than one day, and President Harry Truman made similar appointments. Conservative hero Ronald Reagan, meanwhile, averaged three times as many recess appointments as Obama each year, making 243 total over his time in office. If anything represents an “unprecedented power grab,” it is the rate of the McConnell-led GOP’s obstructionism. As Millhiser notes, filibusters have increased two-fold since Obama took office, and a large number of votes never occur because of the GOP’s threats to filibuster.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT: While the CFPB, the brainchild of current Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren (D), has been functioning since Dodd-Frank passed, having its first director will allow the agency to develop and grow into a true vehicle of protection for consumers against predatory Wall Street banks and other financial institutions. Without a director, the CFPB’s ability to prohibit unfair, deceptive or abusive financial practices was limited. Specifically, it was unable to use its authority to oversee non-bank financial institutions like certain mortgage lenders who target vulnerable consumers, check cashers, and payday lenders. Warren was the first choice of many progressives, but Cordray himself is eminently qualified to hold the position — so qualified, in fact, that one attorney who represents the financial industry said Cordray “frightens me the most.” Before he lost his bid for re-election in 2010, Cordray was at the forefront of the foreclosure fraud scandal and was the first state AG to sue a mortgage lender over fraudulent practices. As attorney general, he led efforts to rein in payday lenders. As for the CFPB, it will be tasked with overseeing lenders and financial institutions to prevent the types of predatory practices — like foreclosure fraud, discriminatory mortgage lending, and practices from payday, student loan, and credit card lenders — that cheated and defrauded the American people before and through the recession.
Evening Brief: Important Stories That You May Have Missed
The state of Georgia is using its anti-obesity campaign to bully overweight children.
Was Mitt Romney’s 25 percent showing in Iowa another indication of “the Romney ceiling?”
Analyzing how proponents of discriminatory policies hide the inherent racism of those policies.
Mitt Romney won the Iowa caucuses with six fewer votes than he received in 2008 when he finished second.
The professional and geopolitical delights of Mission Impossible 4
Like Iowa, New Hampshire does not reflect the U.S.’s diversity.
Check out Rick Santorum’s most outrageous, most offensive, and weirdest campaign statements.
EPA regulations for the Chesapeake Bay will create 35 times as many jobs as the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Finally: Under new rules from the Obama administration, airlines will have to disclose full ticket prices upfront.
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Other recent Progress Reports
Jan 3, 2012: Who Will Win The Iowa Caucuses?
Who Wins Tonight? The Wealthiest 1 Percent The true winner of the Iowa Caucus and the battle for the GOP nomination is the wealthiest 1 Percent of Americans. All of the Republican candidates share at least one thing in common: an economic agenda that will benefit the wealthiest 1 Percent of Americans at the expense of [...]
Dec 23, 2011: Happy Holidays from ThinkProgress
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for 2012! 2011 has been an exciting year with many up and downs — and 2012 stands to be even more action-packed. ThinkProgress and the Progress Report will be there to report on it every step of the way. To celebrate the end of this year, we’ve put together a [...]
Dec 21, 2011: Cutting Mercury Pollution, Saving Lives, Creating Jobs
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson announced today an important new rule that finally sets limits on mercury, arsenic, and other toxins released into our air. For 21 years, coal-fired power plants were allowed to unleash unlimited mercury and other toxic pollution, poisoning the air. Today’s rule requires power plants to update their pollution-control technology [...]
Dec 20, 2011: Another Plan To End Medicare As We Know It
Medicare Privatization Is Merely Ending Medicare by Another Name Ending Medicare as we know it has been a very hot topic this year, with Americans at town halls across the country erupting in protest at the idea when it was proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and passed by the GOP-controlled House. The idea got [...]
WSJ “Abuse[s]” Precedents To Support South Carolina’s Voter ID Law &Fox’s Bolling Fearmongers About Chinese Control Of U.S. Debt …from Media Matters for America
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A shorter, readable credit card agreement
President Obama traveled to Osawatomie, Kansas, to lay out his vision for America — where everyone from Wall Street to Main Street plays by the same rules and all Americans have a fair shot at success. Check out his speech here.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a key part of achieving that vision. Unfortunately, some Republicans in Congress are trying to dismantle this important consumer watchdog, even before it gets fully off the ground by blocking the nomination of Richard Cordray, the President’s nominee to be the director of CFPB. In his weekly address, President Obama calls on Congress to stop playing politics with important protections for American families.
Despite not having a director, the CFPB is doing everything they can to fight for consumers. In fact, this week, they kicked off a pilot program to simplify credit card agreements, and we wanted to make sure you saw it. Read their email below.
From: Marla Blow, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Subject: A shorter, readable credit card agreement
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Millions of times every year, financial institutions issue a new credit card agreement to their customers. And every year, millions of consumers receive new agreements and do not read them.We have an idea that we think can make things better: a simplified credit card agreement.Check it out, and tell us what you think. www.consumerfinance.gov/credit-cards/knowbeforeyouowe/  Credit cards are simple to use, but consumers have a lot of choice in exactly how they use them. Differences between cards provide even more choices to consumers.Credit card agreements describe the terms and features of a particular card. They spell out the rights and obligations of both parties, and provide legal protections for the issuer.This can result in a dense and complicated document that can be difficult for consumers to understand.The thought-starter we’ve developed reduces this complexity. We’ve separated the key terms from the legalese, leaving a clear, readable document.We think it makes sense to give consumers a short, understandable document with the key terms they need to know. And we think it makes sense to give issuers the option to use our definitions, freely available on our website. We think this could reduce the costs of compliance and printing.But as credit card users and issuers, you’re the people who need these agreements to work for you, so we want to know what you think. Would consumers be more likely to read this? Could issuers use this approach for their own products?
Take a look at what we’ve come up with. Weigh in with your thoughts to help us make credit card agreements better.www.consumerfinance.gov/credit-cards/knowbeforeyouowe/ Thank you, Marla Blow |
Stand with the DREAM Act … Adrian Saenz, BarackObama.com
So the Iowa caucus happened, and we didn’t learn much about who’s going to win the GOP nomination. But we did learn something about how the Republican candidates intend to try: by pandering to the most extreme voices in their party.
Case in point: Over the weekend, Mitt Romney told voters in Iowa that he would veto the DREAM Act if he got the chance. And today he actually called the DREAM Act a “handout.”
Romney’s been moving to the right on this issue for years, but this is the first time his position has been so clear.
The DREAM Act is common-sense legislation that President Obama has fought for alongside millions of Americans in both parties, designed to help smart, motivated young people that pursue higher education or join the Armed Forces earn a path to citizenship. Allowing talented young people to fully contribute to our society would only make our country safer and more prosperous.
So it’s important that we speak up now. Stand with the President and fight for progress like the DREAM Act.
All of these candidates seem to think that opposing the DREAM Act will make good politics for primary season — and that’s just the start.
Ron Paul has called for repealing the citizenship clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Mitt Romney says he would kick out every last undocumented worker in the United States. And in a telling slip-up, Rick Santorum once called the Latino electorate the “illegal vote.”
When they say they oppose the DREAM Act, they’re talking about denying kids who grew up here — who know no other home, who have learned in our schools and volunteered in our communities — a chance to give back to the country they love. These kids have worked hard for a shot at the American dream, just like their peers.
And if we give them the opportunity, they will help build a stronger future for our country.
Join President Obama in fighting for the DREAM Act, and immigration reform that works for everyone:
Thanks
Adrian
Adrian Saenz
Latino Vote Director
Obama for America
