Simply use your media letter(s) that you created on Monday and roll . . .
Real Clear Politics
letters@realclearpolitics.com
Counter Punch
counterpunch@counterpunch.org
GritTV
grittv@grittv.org
Startribune, MN
http://mpls.startribune.com/dynamic/feedback/form.php
Democracy Now
http://www.democracynow.org/about/contact
Drudge Report
drudge@drudgereport.com
Tavis Smiley
http://www.tavissmileyradio.com/tell.html
Washington Journal – Radio Call In.
journal@c-span.org
Daily Morning News, Dallas TX
mbeelman@dallasnews.com
tconnolly@dallasnews.com
readertips@dallasnews.com
Scott@ScottBurns.com
Atlanta Journal Constitution
jgalloway@ajc.com
newstips@ajc.com
jdwallace@ajc.com
Baltimore Sun
talkback@baltimoresun.com
marcia.myers@baltsun.com
jean.marbella@baltsun.com
Chicago Tribune
AZajac@tribune.com
mebazer@gmail.com
SChapman@tribune.com
http://getsatisfaction.com/chicago_tribune
Click on Politico link below and select “Story Tips”
http://www.politico.com/aboutus/feedback.html
Newsweek
Editors@newsweek.com
Letters@newsweek.com
okieandaussie@gmail.com
MSNBC
john.schoen@msnbc.com
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Activity Requests: Tuesday
Simply use your media letter(s) that you created on Monday and roll . . .
The Mike Malloy Show
Mike@mikemalloy.com
Kathy@mikemalloy.com
The Bill Press Show
http://www.billpressshow.com/contact-us/
The Thom Hartman Show
thom@thomhartmann.com
The Rick Smith Show
Rick@theRickSmithShow.com
Labor Beat
mail@laborbeat.org
Kansas City Star
mpepper@kcstar.com
The Union Edge Talk Radio
http://theunionedge.com/contact
The Source
editorial@thesource.com
The Root
readerfeedback@theroot.com
Richmond Times
feedback@timesdispatch.com
letters@timesdispatch.com
NY Daily News
voicers@edit.nydailynews.com
Truthout
http://www.truthout.org/contactus
Reader Supported News (2500 characters max)
http://readersupportednews.org/general-feedback
Denver Post
newsroom@denverpost.com
openforum@denverpost.com
Newsday
benjamin.weller@newsday.com
news@newsday.com
The Hill
letters@thehill.com
Star Telegram
jrlabbe@star-telegram.com
News & Observer
https://www.formrouter.net/online01@TNAO/Contact_New.aspx?contact=bbarrett
The Mike Malloy Show
Mike@mikemalloy.com
Kathy@mikemalloy.com
The Bill Press Show
http://www.billpressshow.com/contact-us/
The Thom Hartman Show
thom@thomhartmann.com
The Rick Smith Show
Rick@theRickSmithShow.com
Labor Beat
mail@laborbeat.org
Kansas City Star
mpepper@kcstar.com
The Union Edge Talk Radio
http://theunionedge.com/contact
The Source
editorial@thesource.com
The Root
readerfeedback@theroot.com
Richmond Times
feedback@timesdispatch.com
letters@timesdispatch.com
NY Daily News
voicers@edit.nydailynews.com
Truthout
http://www.truthout.org/contactus
Reader Supported News (2500 characters max)
http://readersupportednews.org/general-feedback
Denver Post
newsroom@denverpost.com
openforum@denverpost.com
Newsday
benjamin.weller@newsday.com
news@newsday.com
The Hill
letters@thehill.com
Star Telegram
jrlabbe@star-telegram.com
News & Observer
https://www.formrouter.net/online01@TNAO/Contact_New.aspx?contact=bbarrett
Activity Requests: Monday
[Note: As always any sample messages, letters, etc. that we provide are just that, “samples.” The samples are just what we’re sending out from this end and you are strongly encouraged to use your own judgment, voice and perspectives. Our prose, tone and approach can always be improved upon and quite frankly a good mix of perspectives is better than following our samples verbatim. We don’t do messaging for the group (nor do we aspire to) or ever speak for the group, but instead merely facilitate our members’ ability to speak at once for more power and volume. If you’re a “professional communicator” or would like to help with recruiting, research, administration, etc. shoot us a note and we’ll be happy to get you involved. There is no lack of work to be done.]
Media Outreach
1) Create your own version of a short and a long media pitch to use for online and e-mail outlets. [See sample pitch below] Some online forms limit the number of words or characters and we on this end find out those limitations, if any, the same time you do.
2) Remember to save whatever you write somewhere on your computer so you don’t have to recreate the wheel over and over. (We'll probably use this pitch for weeks to come.)
3) Simply make media pitching a mindless simple for you repetitive exercise that you can do almost with your eyes closed. While what you say is important, at the end of the day it’s a numbers game. Just make this effort a paste in your message, fill in the blanks (or e-mail address) and send exercise that you do over and over and over.
VERY VERY IMPORTANT! Don't stop with just the media lists we provide. Every exposure is important, but it's especially important to hit ALL YOUR LOCAL media outlets such as newspapers, talk radio, etc. Before you send your letters, check the link below to see if YOUR representative is on our dirty money list. If they are be sure to revise your letter and name them along with how much money they took. Your role is critical if you have a representative on the list . . . the rest of us are depending on YOU!
http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-and-money-why-hr3149-is.html
[Sample Letter]
Where is the Media as Your Fellow Americans Starve?
Political pundits and both parties along with the American media talk 24/7 about “corporate money and lobbyists” running Washington, yet for either party it seems to only be about the ulterior motive of control of power and never about “the people.” When millions of Americans are suffering and even dying because of the “corporate money and lobbyists” isn’t it time for the media to expose it and stop it? When you are handed the clear and undeniable money trail and the motivation for vote buying couldn’t be any more clear . . . the suffering and potential loss of life is upon your hands if your fail to report it.
In just the 2010 cycle alone, members of Congress have accepted $258,000+ in PAC money from the big three credit bureaus in exchange for trying to kill HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act. The legislation, that would make it illegal for employers to use the personal credit reports of Americans to hire and fire, has been stalled in the House Committee on Financial Services since July. Just in this committee alone during the 2010 cycle, almost half of it members (38+ %) stuffed their wallets with a total of $104,000+ in credit bureau PAC money. At the top of the money list, during the past two cycles, is Committee Chair Barney Frank who took $25,000 during in the 2008 cycle. This quid pro quo money for killing the legislation deal, not to mention the millions from corporations in general that oppose the legislation, is NOT DEMOCRACY! With that said, the death of democracy pales in comparison to the suffering of the American people caught in a catch 22 of bad credit = no job and no job = bad credit.
In survey after survey, including a recent MSNBC survey, more than 90 percent of the American people say that workplace discrimination based upon someone’s personal credit report is wrong and should be illegal. The practice was always wrong and from the start has always been a gross invasion of Americans’ privacy. The information has always been used by employers to low ball wages and intimidate employees based upon the level of desperation depicted in their credit report – while employers use the smoke screen of saying the information is used to protect them from fraud and theft. It’s “the people” that need protection from corrupt politicians and dirty corporate money . . . not the other way around!
NOT ONE SINGLE study or shred of evidence exists to demonstrate that Americans with damaged credit reports steal or commit fraud at a higher percentage than other Americans. If there were any correlation between a credit report and theft, then American CEOs such as Bernie Madoff, Ken Lewis, Kenneth Lay, Dennis Kozlowski, Bernard Ebbers and Richard Fuld wouldn’t be either already convicted or under investigation for “stealing” millions and millions from their companies. The American elite, Wall Street and Congress operate by different rules when it comes to credit reports, corruption and stealing. The more corrupt they become, the better their credit reports get while “the peoples” credit reports suffer to a point of never being allowed to work again.
Without the media and real journalists reporting the truth, there is and can be no democracy, but again, democracy is the lesser victim here. The American people have been pummeled as the result of Wall Street’s greed facilitated by Congress, yet Congress is getting a free pass from the media when it comes to the corruption killing HR3149. As the American people lose their homes to foreclosure, starve by the millions and yes, we can safely assume commit suicide – where are the American journalists exposing the corruption and defending the people? As a loyal reader, I ask that you stand up for the people in their hour of great need by telling the truth to your readers and supporting passage of HR3149 NOW!
Sources for the 2010 Money Cycle:House Committee on Financial Services (only)http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-and-money-why-hr3149-is.html
Equifax: http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00143867&cycle=2010
Trans Union: http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00313700&cycle=2010
Experian: http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00379768&cycle=2010
[End Sample Letter]
Media Outlets for Monday:
Salon
readermail@salon.com
jwalsh@salon.com
klauerman@salon.com
Ebony/Jet
tglover@ebony.com
Washington Monthly
editors@washingtonmonthly.com
Democracy Now
http://www.democracynow.org/about/contact
PDA
tim@pdamerica.org
Stltoday.com
siteeditor@stltoday.com
Café Sentido
sentido@casavaria.com
Cleveland.com/Plain Dealer
sgoldberg@plaind.com
Truthdig
feedback@truthdig.com
Free Speech TV
viewercomments@freespeech.org
Coast to Coast AM
george@coasttocoastam.com
ian@coasttocoastam.com
georgeknapp@coasttocoastam.com
lisa@coasttocoastam.com
tom@coasttocoastam.com
Media Outreach
1) Create your own version of a short and a long media pitch to use for online and e-mail outlets. [See sample pitch below] Some online forms limit the number of words or characters and we on this end find out those limitations, if any, the same time you do.
2) Remember to save whatever you write somewhere on your computer so you don’t have to recreate the wheel over and over. (We'll probably use this pitch for weeks to come.)
3) Simply make media pitching a mindless simple for you repetitive exercise that you can do almost with your eyes closed. While what you say is important, at the end of the day it’s a numbers game. Just make this effort a paste in your message, fill in the blanks (or e-mail address) and send exercise that you do over and over and over.
VERY VERY IMPORTANT! Don't stop with just the media lists we provide. Every exposure is important, but it's especially important to hit ALL YOUR LOCAL media outlets such as newspapers, talk radio, etc. Before you send your letters, check the link below to see if YOUR representative is on our dirty money list. If they are be sure to revise your letter and name them along with how much money they took. Your role is critical if you have a representative on the list . . . the rest of us are depending on YOU!
http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-and-money-why-hr3149-is.html
[Sample Letter]
Where is the Media as Your Fellow Americans Starve?
Political pundits and both parties along with the American media talk 24/7 about “corporate money and lobbyists” running Washington, yet for either party it seems to only be about the ulterior motive of control of power and never about “the people.” When millions of Americans are suffering and even dying because of the “corporate money and lobbyists” isn’t it time for the media to expose it and stop it? When you are handed the clear and undeniable money trail and the motivation for vote buying couldn’t be any more clear . . . the suffering and potential loss of life is upon your hands if your fail to report it.
In just the 2010 cycle alone, members of Congress have accepted $258,000+ in PAC money from the big three credit bureaus in exchange for trying to kill HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act. The legislation, that would make it illegal for employers to use the personal credit reports of Americans to hire and fire, has been stalled in the House Committee on Financial Services since July. Just in this committee alone during the 2010 cycle, almost half of it members (38+ %) stuffed their wallets with a total of $104,000+ in credit bureau PAC money. At the top of the money list, during the past two cycles, is Committee Chair Barney Frank who took $25,000 during in the 2008 cycle. This quid pro quo money for killing the legislation deal, not to mention the millions from corporations in general that oppose the legislation, is NOT DEMOCRACY! With that said, the death of democracy pales in comparison to the suffering of the American people caught in a catch 22 of bad credit = no job and no job = bad credit.
In survey after survey, including a recent MSNBC survey, more than 90 percent of the American people say that workplace discrimination based upon someone’s personal credit report is wrong and should be illegal. The practice was always wrong and from the start has always been a gross invasion of Americans’ privacy. The information has always been used by employers to low ball wages and intimidate employees based upon the level of desperation depicted in their credit report – while employers use the smoke screen of saying the information is used to protect them from fraud and theft. It’s “the people” that need protection from corrupt politicians and dirty corporate money . . . not the other way around!
NOT ONE SINGLE study or shred of evidence exists to demonstrate that Americans with damaged credit reports steal or commit fraud at a higher percentage than other Americans. If there were any correlation between a credit report and theft, then American CEOs such as Bernie Madoff, Ken Lewis, Kenneth Lay, Dennis Kozlowski, Bernard Ebbers and Richard Fuld wouldn’t be either already convicted or under investigation for “stealing” millions and millions from their companies. The American elite, Wall Street and Congress operate by different rules when it comes to credit reports, corruption and stealing. The more corrupt they become, the better their credit reports get while “the peoples” credit reports suffer to a point of never being allowed to work again.
Without the media and real journalists reporting the truth, there is and can be no democracy, but again, democracy is the lesser victim here. The American people have been pummeled as the result of Wall Street’s greed facilitated by Congress, yet Congress is getting a free pass from the media when it comes to the corruption killing HR3149. As the American people lose their homes to foreclosure, starve by the millions and yes, we can safely assume commit suicide – where are the American journalists exposing the corruption and defending the people? As a loyal reader, I ask that you stand up for the people in their hour of great need by telling the truth to your readers and supporting passage of HR3149 NOW!
Sources for the 2010 Money Cycle:House Committee on Financial Services (only)http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-and-money-why-hr3149-is.html
Equifax: http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00143867&cycle=2010
Trans Union: http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00313700&cycle=2010
Experian: http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00379768&cycle=2010
[End Sample Letter]
Media Outlets for Monday:
Salon
readermail@salon.com
jwalsh@salon.com
klauerman@salon.com
Ebony/Jet
tglover@ebony.com
Washington Monthly
editors@washingtonmonthly.com
Democracy Now
http://www.democracynow.org/about/contact
PDA
tim@pdamerica.org
Stltoday.com
siteeditor@stltoday.com
Café Sentido
sentido@casavaria.com
Cleveland.com/Plain Dealer
sgoldberg@plaind.com
Truthdig
feedback@truthdig.com
Free Speech TV
viewercomments@freespeech.org
Coast to Coast AM
george@coasttocoastam.com
ian@coasttocoastam.com
georgeknapp@coasttocoastam.com
lisa@coasttocoastam.com
tom@coasttocoastam.com
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Activity Request: Outreach to MoveOn.org
[Note: As always any sample messages, letters, etc. that we provide are just that, “samples.” The samples are just what we’re sending out from this end and you are strongly encouraged to use your own judgment, voice and perspectives. Our prose, tone and approach can always be improved upon and quite frankly a good mix of perspectives is better than following our samples verbatim. We don’t do messaging for the group (nor do we aspire to) or ever speak for the group, but instead merely facilitate our members’ ability to speak at once for more power and volume. If you’re a “professional communicator” or would like to help with recruiting, research, administration, etc. shoot us a note and we’ll be happy to get you involved. There is no lack of work to be done.]
Let's get MoveOn.org MOVING on something tangible to alleviate the suffering by Americans from workplace discrimination employment credit checks.
Contact link for MoveOn.org
http://pol.moveon.org/feedback/fb/form.html?tp=suggest
[Sample Letter]
FICO Scores Drop to New Lows
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/12/credit-scores-sink-to-new_n_642616.html
Bankruptcy Filings Highest Since 2005
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38744083/from/toolbar
Fidelity Sees Record Number Raid their IRS
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38783832/ns/business-your_retirement/
What does all the above really mean? One simple thing: half of America can’t get a job or change jobs for better pay. In just a few short weeks after Congress returns on Sep. 8, beginning in the House Committee on Financial Services, Congress will debate passage of HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act. For most jobs, the legislation will make it illegal for employers to use an American’s private and personal credit report to hire and fire. Without the help of your group and full mobilization with all the numbers you can muster and groups like yours, the bill doesn’t have even the slightest chance of passing. The reason is simple: money. The big three credit bureaus have already paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars to members of Congress in order to bribe them to protect their revenue stream. In addition to that, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and 19 other business lobbying groups have paid in millions in PAC money. All are poised, ready and sitting with their finger on the trigger to stop passage of HR3149 by calling in their markers and behind the scenes arm twisting. Even if you may be opposed to passage, this pay-to-play outright bribery of Congress to kill a bill that 90 percent of Americans support is horribly wrong and smacks the word “democracy” in the face.
While the issue disproportionately impacts minorities, the truth is no group of Americans is immune in our struggling economy. The FICO numbers in the linked article above guesses at number of 70 million, but the real number is far closer to 100 million since evaluation of credit reports by employers is completely arbitrary. This number includes entry level personnel and professionals such as doctors, lawyers, sales people, marketing people, etc.. The percentage of use of credit reports by employers is now at least 60+ percent of all jobs and 80+ percent of all white collar jobs. No race, profession or socio-economic segment of America is immune.
The sad news is that without your action and full mobilization in support of HR3149, millions of Americans will continue losing their homes, their cars, their dignity and their children will starve. Employment credit checks are a catch 22 with no way out: bad credit = no job and no job = bad credit. America needs you to stand up for the people and fight the corporate greed. If not for the people with ruined credit, do it for their children, their spouses, their extended families and all generations of Americans that follow. Please act now to stop this senseless practice and the needless suffering of millions of your fellow Americans.
Committee Chair, Rep. Barney Frank, (202) 225-5931
House Committee on Financial Services: 71 Members Total
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/committee.xpd?id=HSBA
[End Sample Letter]
Let's get MoveOn.org MOVING on something tangible to alleviate the suffering by Americans from workplace discrimination employment credit checks.
Contact link for MoveOn.org
http://pol.moveon.org/feedback/fb/form.html?tp=suggest
[Sample Letter]
FICO Scores Drop to New Lows
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/12/credit-scores-sink-to-new_n_642616.html
Bankruptcy Filings Highest Since 2005
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38744083/from/toolbar
Fidelity Sees Record Number Raid their IRS
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38783832/ns/business-your_retirement/
What does all the above really mean? One simple thing: half of America can’t get a job or change jobs for better pay. In just a few short weeks after Congress returns on Sep. 8, beginning in the House Committee on Financial Services, Congress will debate passage of HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act. For most jobs, the legislation will make it illegal for employers to use an American’s private and personal credit report to hire and fire. Without the help of your group and full mobilization with all the numbers you can muster and groups like yours, the bill doesn’t have even the slightest chance of passing. The reason is simple: money. The big three credit bureaus have already paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars to members of Congress in order to bribe them to protect their revenue stream. In addition to that, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and 19 other business lobbying groups have paid in millions in PAC money. All are poised, ready and sitting with their finger on the trigger to stop passage of HR3149 by calling in their markers and behind the scenes arm twisting. Even if you may be opposed to passage, this pay-to-play outright bribery of Congress to kill a bill that 90 percent of Americans support is horribly wrong and smacks the word “democracy” in the face.
While the issue disproportionately impacts minorities, the truth is no group of Americans is immune in our struggling economy. The FICO numbers in the linked article above guesses at number of 70 million, but the real number is far closer to 100 million since evaluation of credit reports by employers is completely arbitrary. This number includes entry level personnel and professionals such as doctors, lawyers, sales people, marketing people, etc.. The percentage of use of credit reports by employers is now at least 60+ percent of all jobs and 80+ percent of all white collar jobs. No race, profession or socio-economic segment of America is immune.
The sad news is that without your action and full mobilization in support of HR3149, millions of Americans will continue losing their homes, their cars, their dignity and their children will starve. Employment credit checks are a catch 22 with no way out: bad credit = no job and no job = bad credit. America needs you to stand up for the people and fight the corporate greed. If not for the people with ruined credit, do it for their children, their spouses, their extended families and all generations of Americans that follow. Please act now to stop this senseless practice and the needless suffering of millions of your fellow Americans.
Committee Chair, Rep. Barney Frank, (202) 225-5931
House Committee on Financial Services: 71 Members Total
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/committee.xpd?id=HSBA
[End Sample Letter]
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Hit Barney at Home Where it Hurts . . .
If you have been a member for awhile, you know the routine: copy the letter, edit it to suit your tastes if you wish and then paste and send to every e-mail on the media list below the following letter. Politicians in general could care less what you think unless you live in their voting district and Barney Frank most especially is no stranger to controversy. In fact he has weathered so many controversies that he believes he’s Teflon that can’t be touched. We’re going to test that theory by informing his constituents that he is taking money to block HR3149 while they’re left in poverty with no way out. So let’s get started and remember to smile big as you’re sending your e-mails ;-)
[Sample Letter]
As America Starves Barney Frank Takes Bribes to Kill HR3149
In 2008, Representative Barney Frank accepted $30,000 in PAC money from the big three credit bureaus and since last July HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act has been stalled in his House Committee on Financial Services. The legislation, would make it illegal for employers to use the personal credit reports of Americans to hire and fire. Just in this committee alone during the 2010 cycle, almost half of it members (38+ %) stuffed their wallets with a total of $104,000+ in credit bureau PAC money. All total in the 2010 cycle, members of Congress have accepted $258,000+ from the credit bureau PACs. Calling this “Political Action Committee” (PAC) money by any other name other than BLATENT BRIBERY is an insult to the intelligence of every American citizen. This quid pro quo money for killing the legislation deal, not to mention the millions from corporations in general that oppose the legislation, is NOT DEMOCRACY!
In survey after survey, including a recent MSNBC survey, more than 90 percent of American people say that workplace discrimination based upon someone’s personal credit report is wrong and should be illegal. The practice was always wrong and from the start has always been a gross invasion of Americans’ privacy. The information has always been used by employers to low ball wages and intimidate employees based upon the level of desperation depicted in their credit report – while employers use the smoke screen of saying the information is used to protect them from fraud and theft. It’s “the people” that need protection from corrupt politicians and dirty corporate money . . . not the other way around!
NOT ONE SINGLE study or shred of evidence exists to demonstrate that Americans with damaged credit reports steal or commit fraud at a higher percentage than other Americans. If there were any correlation between a credit report and theft, then American CEOs such as Bernie Madoff, Ken Lewis, Kenneth Lay, Dennis Kozlowski, Bernard Ebbers and Richard Fuld wouldn’t be either already convicted or under investigation for “stealing” millions and millions from their companies. The American elite and Congress operate by different rules when it comes to credit reports, corruption and stealing. The more corrupt they become, the better their credit reports get while “the peoples” credit reports suffer to a point of never being allowed to work again.
Without the media and real journalists reporting the truth, there is and can be no democracy. The American people have been pummeled as the result of Wall Street’s greed facilitated by Congress, yet Congress is getting a free pass from the media when it comes to the corruption killing HR3149. As the American people lose their homes to foreclosure, starve by the millions and yes, we can safely assume, commit suicide because of the catch 22 of no job = bad credit and bad credit = no job – where are the American journalists exposing the corruption and defending democracy? As a loyal reader, I ask that you stand up for the people in their hour of great need by telling the truth to your readers and supporting passage of HR3149 NOW!
Sources:
Trans Union 2008 Cycle $10,000 to Barney Frank
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/fec/?commid=C00313700&page=campaigns&order=TOTAL&cycle=2007-2008
Equifax 2008 Cycle $10,000 to Barney Frank
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/fec/?commid=C00143867&page=campaigns&order=TOTAL&cycle=2007-2008
Experian 2008 Cycle $10,000 to Barney Frank
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00379768&cycle=2008
2010 Money Cycle:House Committee on Financial Services (only)http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-and-money-why-hr3149-is.html
2010 Equifax:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00143867&cycle=2010
2010 Trans Union:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00313700&cycle=2010
2010 Experian:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00379768&cycle=2010
[End Sample Letter]
Barney's Home Media:
Boston Globe
letter@globe.com
newstip@globe.com
Boston Herald
http://www.bostonherald.com/about/contact/news_tip.bg
Gloucester Times
rlamont@gloucestertimes.com
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
llamson@telegram.com
aesposito@telegram.com
newstips@telegram.com
Milford Daily
milforddailynews@cnc.com
rlodge@cnc.com
rholmes@cnc.com
mdnletters@cnc.com
Daily Times Chronicle
news@woburnonline.com
Gazette Net
editor@gazettenet.com
The Republican
news@repub.com
letters@repub.com
The Eagle Tribune
http://www.eagletribune.com/contactus/local_story_173103837.html
The Daily News
ssmith@newburyportnews.com
jmacone@newburyportnews.com
Lynn Daily Evening Item
news@itemlive.com
editpage@itemlive.com
The Sun Chronicle
mkirby@thesunchronicle.com
darconte@thesunchronicle.com
Herald News
editor@heraldnews.com
jroot@heraldnews.com
South Coast Today
jbarnes@s-t.com
Newsroom@S-T.com
Taunton Gazette
letters@tauntongazette.com
newsroom@tauntongazette.com
Cape Cod Times
ablaisdell-bannon@capecodonline.com
[Sample Letter]
As America Starves Barney Frank Takes Bribes to Kill HR3149
In 2008, Representative Barney Frank accepted $30,000 in PAC money from the big three credit bureaus and since last July HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act has been stalled in his House Committee on Financial Services. The legislation, would make it illegal for employers to use the personal credit reports of Americans to hire and fire. Just in this committee alone during the 2010 cycle, almost half of it members (38+ %) stuffed their wallets with a total of $104,000+ in credit bureau PAC money. All total in the 2010 cycle, members of Congress have accepted $258,000+ from the credit bureau PACs. Calling this “Political Action Committee” (PAC) money by any other name other than BLATENT BRIBERY is an insult to the intelligence of every American citizen. This quid pro quo money for killing the legislation deal, not to mention the millions from corporations in general that oppose the legislation, is NOT DEMOCRACY!
In survey after survey, including a recent MSNBC survey, more than 90 percent of American people say that workplace discrimination based upon someone’s personal credit report is wrong and should be illegal. The practice was always wrong and from the start has always been a gross invasion of Americans’ privacy. The information has always been used by employers to low ball wages and intimidate employees based upon the level of desperation depicted in their credit report – while employers use the smoke screen of saying the information is used to protect them from fraud and theft. It’s “the people” that need protection from corrupt politicians and dirty corporate money . . . not the other way around!
NOT ONE SINGLE study or shred of evidence exists to demonstrate that Americans with damaged credit reports steal or commit fraud at a higher percentage than other Americans. If there were any correlation between a credit report and theft, then American CEOs such as Bernie Madoff, Ken Lewis, Kenneth Lay, Dennis Kozlowski, Bernard Ebbers and Richard Fuld wouldn’t be either already convicted or under investigation for “stealing” millions and millions from their companies. The American elite and Congress operate by different rules when it comes to credit reports, corruption and stealing. The more corrupt they become, the better their credit reports get while “the peoples” credit reports suffer to a point of never being allowed to work again.
Without the media and real journalists reporting the truth, there is and can be no democracy. The American people have been pummeled as the result of Wall Street’s greed facilitated by Congress, yet Congress is getting a free pass from the media when it comes to the corruption killing HR3149. As the American people lose their homes to foreclosure, starve by the millions and yes, we can safely assume, commit suicide because of the catch 22 of no job = bad credit and bad credit = no job – where are the American journalists exposing the corruption and defending democracy? As a loyal reader, I ask that you stand up for the people in their hour of great need by telling the truth to your readers and supporting passage of HR3149 NOW!
Sources:
Trans Union 2008 Cycle $10,000 to Barney Frank
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/fec/?commid=C00313700&page=campaigns&order=TOTAL&cycle=2007-2008
Equifax 2008 Cycle $10,000 to Barney Frank
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/fec/?commid=C00143867&page=campaigns&order=TOTAL&cycle=2007-2008
Experian 2008 Cycle $10,000 to Barney Frank
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00379768&cycle=2008
2010 Money Cycle:House Committee on Financial Services (only)http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-and-money-why-hr3149-is.html
2010 Equifax:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00143867&cycle=2010
2010 Trans Union:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00313700&cycle=2010
2010 Experian:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00379768&cycle=2010
[End Sample Letter]
Barney's Home Media:
Boston Globe
letter@globe.com
newstip@globe.com
Boston Herald
http://www.bostonherald.com/about/contact/news_tip.bg
Gloucester Times
rlamont@gloucestertimes.com
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
llamson@telegram.com
aesposito@telegram.com
newstips@telegram.com
Milford Daily
milforddailynews@cnc.com
rlodge@cnc.com
rholmes@cnc.com
mdnletters@cnc.com
Daily Times Chronicle
news@woburnonline.com
Gazette Net
editor@gazettenet.com
The Republican
news@repub.com
letters@repub.com
The Eagle Tribune
http://www.eagletribune.com/contactus/local_story_173103837.html
The Daily News
ssmith@newburyportnews.com
jmacone@newburyportnews.com
Lynn Daily Evening Item
news@itemlive.com
editpage@itemlive.com
The Sun Chronicle
mkirby@thesunchronicle.com
darconte@thesunchronicle.com
Herald News
editor@heraldnews.com
jroot@heraldnews.com
South Coast Today
jbarnes@s-t.com
Newsroom@S-T.com
Taunton Gazette
letters@tauntongazette.com
newsroom@tauntongazette.com
Cape Cod Times
ablaisdell-bannon@capecodonline.com
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Activity Request(s): Thursday
Simply use your media letter(s) that you created on Monday and roll . . .
LA Times
Russ.stanton@latimes.com
Davan.maharaj@latimes.com
Jon.thurber@latimes.com
Sean.gallagher@latimes.com
Real Clear Politics.com
letters@realclearpolitics.com
john@realclearpolitics.com
tom@realclearpolitics.com
The Wall Street Journal
kristen.mcnamara@dowjones.com
LA Times
Russ.stanton@latimes.com
Davan.maharaj@latimes.com
Jon.thurber@latimes.com
Sean.gallagher@latimes.com
Real Clear Politics.com
letters@realclearpolitics.com
john@realclearpolitics.com
tom@realclearpolitics.com
The Wall Street Journal
kristen.mcnamara@dowjones.com
Activity Request(s): Wednesday
Simply use your media letter(s) that you created on Monday and roll . . .
Chicago Tribune
AZajac@tribune.com
mebazer@gmail.com
SChapman@tribune.com
http://getsatisfaction.com/chicago_tribune
Slate
dcoffice@slate.com
nyoffice@slate.com
Fox News
yourcomments@foxnews.com
oreilly@foxnews.com
newsmanager@foxnews.com
Chicago Tribune
AZajac@tribune.com
mebazer@gmail.com
SChapman@tribune.com
http://getsatisfaction.com/chicago_tribune
Slate
dcoffice@slate.com
nyoffice@slate.com
Fox News
yourcomments@foxnews.com
oreilly@foxnews.com
newsmanager@foxnews.com
Activity Requests: Tuesday
Simply use your media letter(s) that you created on Monday and roll . . .
NBC News & MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29104230/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28437928/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe/
hardball@msnbc.com
Countdown@msnbc.com
rachel@msnbc.com
Washington Post:
letters@washpost.com
NY Times:
news-tips@nytimes.com
washington@nytimes.com
managing-editor@nytimes.com
national@nytimes.com
NBC News & MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29104230/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28437928/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe/
hardball@msnbc.com
Countdown@msnbc.com
rachel@msnbc.com
Washington Post:
letters@washpost.com
NY Times:
news-tips@nytimes.com
washington@nytimes.com
managing-editor@nytimes.com
national@nytimes.com
Activity Requests: Monday
[Note: As always any sample messages, letters, etc. that we provide are just that, “samples.” The samples are just what we’re sending out from this end and you are strongly encouraged to use your own judgment, voice and perspectives. Our prose, tone and approach can always be improved upon and quite frankly a good mix of perspectives is better than following our samples verbatim. We don’t do messaging for the group (nor do we aspire to) or ever speak for the group, but instead merely facilitate our members’ ability to speak at once for more power and volume. If you’re a “professional communicator” or would like to help with recruiting, research, administration, etc. shoot us a note and we’ll be happy to get you involved. There is no lack of work to be done.]
Media Outreach
1) Create your own version of a short and a long media pitch to use for online and e-mail outlets. [See sample pitch below] Some online forms limit the number of words or characters and we on this end find out those limitations, if any, the same time you do.
2) Remember to save whatever you write somewhere on your computer so you don’t have to recreate the wheel over and over. (We'll probably use this pitch for weeks to come.)
3) Simply make media pitching a mindless simple for you repetitive exercise that you can do almost with your eyes closed. While what you say is important, at the end of the day it’s a numbers game. Just make this effort a paste in your message, fill in the blanks (or e-mail address) and send exercise that you do over and over and over.
DO NOT FORGET TO KEEP US POSTED ON ANY AND ALL HR3149 COVERAGE YOU READ OR VIEW!
Media Outlets for Monday as follows:
CNN Money
Use link below, select "News Alert Problem or a Question"
http://money.cnn.com/services/speakup/speakup.html
CNN, CNN Website, etc.
caffertyfile@cnn.com
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11b.html?
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.am.html
tami.luhby@turner.com
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form4.html?2
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?24
CBS News: Use the following link and hit: CBS Evening News w/Katie Couric, CBS Morning News and The Early Show
Media Outreach
1) Create your own version of a short and a long media pitch to use for online and e-mail outlets. [See sample pitch below] Some online forms limit the number of words or characters and we on this end find out those limitations, if any, the same time you do.
2) Remember to save whatever you write somewhere on your computer so you don’t have to recreate the wheel over and over. (We'll probably use this pitch for weeks to come.)
3) Simply make media pitching a mindless simple for you repetitive exercise that you can do almost with your eyes closed. While what you say is important, at the end of the day it’s a numbers game. Just make this effort a paste in your message, fill in the blanks (or e-mail address) and send exercise that you do over and over and over.
DO NOT FORGET TO KEEP US POSTED ON ANY AND ALL HR3149 COVERAGE YOU READ OR VIEW!
Media Outlets for Monday as follows:
CNN Money
Use link below, select "News Alert Problem or a Question"
http://money.cnn.com/services/speakup/speakup.html
CNN, CNN Website, etc.
caffertyfile@cnn.com
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11b.html?
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.am.html
tami.luhby@turner.com
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form4.html?2
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?24
CBS News: Use the following link and hit: CBS Evening News w/Katie Couric, CBS Morning News and The Early Show
http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/feedback/fb_news_form.shtml?tag=contentAux;ad-googleAdSense
Use the following link and hit: CBS Evening News http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php
ABC News
http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346&cat=World%20News%20with%20Charles%20Gibson
http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3052660 http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3428117
[Sample Media Pitch Communication – Long Version] When you need something shorter, simply cut it down and edit to fit . . .
As America Starves Congress Takes Bribes to Kill HR3149
In just the 2010 cycle alone, members of Congress have accepted $258,000+ in PAC money from the big three credit bureaus in exchange for trying to kill HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act. The legislation, that would make it illegal for employers to use the personal credit reports of Americans to hire and fire, has been stalled in the House Committee on Financial Services since July. Just in this committee alone during the 2010 cycle, almost half of it members (38+ %) stuffed their wallets with a total of $104,000+ in credit bureau PAC money. At the top of the money list, during the past two cycles, is Committee Chair Barney Frank who took $25,000 during in the 2008 cycle. Calling this “Political Action Committee” (PAC) money by any other name other than BLATENT BRIBERY is an insult to the intelligence of every American citizen. This quid pro quo money for killing the legislation deal, not to mention the millions from corporations in general that oppose the legislation, is NOT DEMOCRACY!
In survey after survey, including a recent MSNBC survey, more than 90 percent of American people say that workplace discrimination based upon someone’s personal credit report is wrong and should be illegal. The practice was always wrong and from the start has always been a gross invasion of Americans’ privacy. The information has always been used by employers to low ball wages and intimidate employees based upon the level of desperation depicted in their credit report – while employers use the smoke screen of saying the information is used to protect them from fraud and theft. It’s “the people” that need protection from corrupt politicians and dirty corporate money . . . not the other way around! NOT ONE SINGLE study or shred of evidence exists to demonstrate that Americans with damaged credit reports steal or commit fraud at a higher percentage than other Americans. If there were any correlation between a credit report and theft, then American CEOs such as Bernie Madoff, Ken Lewis, Kenneth Lay, Dennis Kozlowski, Bernard Ebbers and Richard Fuld wouldn’t be either already convicted or under investigation for “stealing” millions and millions from their companies. The American elite and Congress operate by different rules when it comes to credit reports, corruption and stealing. The more corrupt they become, the better their credit reports get while “the peoples” credit reports suffer to a point of never being allowed to work again.
Without the media and real journalists reporting the truth, there is and can be no democracy. The American people have been pummeled as the result of Wall Street’s greed facilitated by Congress, yet Congress is getting a free pass from the media when it comes to the corruption killing HR3149. As the American people lose their homes to foreclosure, starve by the millions and yes, we can safely assume commit suicide because of the catch 22 of no job = bad credit and bad credit = no job – where are the American journalists exposing the corruption and defending democracy? As a loyal reader, I ask that you stand up for the people in their hour of great need by telling the truth to your readers and supporting passage of HR3149 NOW!
Sources for the 2010 Money Cycle:
House Committee on Financial Services (only)
http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-and-money-why-hr3149-is.html
Equifax:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00143867&cycle=2010
Trans Union:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00313700&cycle=2010
Experian:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00379768&cycle=2010
[End Sample Letter for Media Outlets listed above]
Get your letter out to EVERY media outlet you can find. Every local and national newspaper, TV station/network, blogs, etc. until the media listens and exposes the corruption killing HR3149. It's especially important for you to check the link below to see if your House Representative is on the House Committee for Financial Services and on our HR3149 Dirty Money list:
http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-and-money-why-hr3149-is.html
If they are on the dirty money list, PLEASE make sure to edit your letter and name your House Rep. and disclose the amount of money they took and get it out to ALL your local media outlets NOW. Your role is critical to our entire group. Please support us!
Every day and week that passes from here on out is critical. With November fast aproaching, time is NOT on our side. Don't wait on us to send you lists of contact points, although we will continue to do so just to increase group participation. The time to act with energy, passion and anger is NOW. Don't allow our democracy and the will of the people to be sold for pieces of gold. Expose the corruption in Washington killing HR3149 and tell everyone you know to pass the word!
Activity Requests: Ramp Up Membership Recruiting!
Grow Us an HR3149 Army with which to FIGHT!
As a group, we’ve succeeded in many areas most notably getting media attention for HR3149. The one area that has been elusive and continues to be elusive is EXPLOSIVE growth in our membership numbers. We’re currently at just under 2,000 members and we continue to grow at a steady pace, but our growth rate as demonstrated thus far is not in touch with the political realities. To succeed, we’ve got to grow our membership numbers NOW and we’ve got to grow FAST. The clock is ticking and unless we unlock the challenge of EXPLOSIVE growth we don’t have the HR3149 army necessary to overpower the stiff opposition we face.
One method that seems to be working for us on this end, that everyone can easily join in, is to paste the following message EVERYWHERE you can within FB. Modify it to suit your preferences but make sure to leave our group URL link in the message and this will work to A) get the word out on the corruption killing HR3149 and B) helps our recruitment efforts within FB. Paste it onto every FB wall you can get it on, especially on FB group walls, and use it to start a discussion topic anywhere you can. Leave no opportunity missed to get the word out and recruit!
[Sample Message]
HR3149, that will protect YOU from workplace discrimination via YOUR personal credit report, is being stalled in Congress by political corruption. Just in the 2010 cycle alone, $258,727 in bribes via PAC money from the big three credit bureau has been taken by Congress to kill the legislation. When 90% of the people demand this legislation NOW and Congress is being bribed to kill it, that’s not democracy! Join our FB PAG at: http://groups.to/h.r.3149 (or simply type “hr3149” into FB search) to stop the corruption and demand passage of HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act NOW!
[End Sample Message]
Additional Growth Techniques:
http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2009/12/roar-for-hr3149.html
http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2009/12/outreach-to-groups-how-to-guide.html
As a group, we’ve succeeded in many areas most notably getting media attention for HR3149. The one area that has been elusive and continues to be elusive is EXPLOSIVE growth in our membership numbers. We’re currently at just under 2,000 members and we continue to grow at a steady pace, but our growth rate as demonstrated thus far is not in touch with the political realities. To succeed, we’ve got to grow our membership numbers NOW and we’ve got to grow FAST. The clock is ticking and unless we unlock the challenge of EXPLOSIVE growth we don’t have the HR3149 army necessary to overpower the stiff opposition we face.
One method that seems to be working for us on this end, that everyone can easily join in, is to paste the following message EVERYWHERE you can within FB. Modify it to suit your preferences but make sure to leave our group URL link in the message and this will work to A) get the word out on the corruption killing HR3149 and B) helps our recruitment efforts within FB. Paste it onto every FB wall you can get it on, especially on FB group walls, and use it to start a discussion topic anywhere you can. Leave no opportunity missed to get the word out and recruit!
[Sample Message]
HR3149, that will protect YOU from workplace discrimination via YOUR personal credit report, is being stalled in Congress by political corruption. Just in the 2010 cycle alone, $258,727 in bribes via PAC money from the big three credit bureau has been taken by Congress to kill the legislation. When 90% of the people demand this legislation NOW and Congress is being bribed to kill it, that’s not democracy! Join our FB PAG at: http://groups.to/h.r.3149 (or simply type “hr3149” into FB search) to stop the corruption and demand passage of HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act NOW!
[End Sample Message]
Additional Growth Techniques:
http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2009/12/roar-for-hr3149.html
http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2009/12/outreach-to-groups-how-to-guide.html
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Actitity Request(s): Sunday & Monday
Contact The Congressional Black Caucus and The National Urban League NOW!
As noted below in the reprinted letter from The National Urban League, The Congressional Black Caucus is holding a hearing this Wednesday on “Jobs.” While we applaud the effort as highly commendable, anyone working for “jobs” and not working just as hard for HR3149 is simply out of touch with reality. Time and time again, we see discussions in Washington and elsewhere on “Jobs,” but what we’re NOT seeing is HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act included in that discussion. That simply has to change and it’s our job to make that happen! Whether Washington can actually spur or create jobs not funded by taxpayers is a tricky question and yet to be proven, but stopping the money game stalling HR3149 and passing the legislation can be done in an instant. Shouldn’t discrimination in the workplace be at or near the top of priorities list for both The Congressional Black Caucus and The National Urban League?
It’s up to YOU to make it a top priority by making your voice heard. The comfortable status quo in Washington and within the Congressional Black Caucus is the problem. “They” have a “hearing” so they can get on camera for you folks back home and NOTHING CHANGES! “They” may NOT be able to create even one single job, but “they” can sure as “hell” get HR3149 passed this week if they so desired. Stop kidding yourself and stop buying into the empty words for the cameras. Force Washington, The Congressional Black Caucus and The National Urban League to make passage of HR3149 PRIORITY ONE and part of any and all discussions on “Jobs.” Make them listen!
Congressional Black Caucus contact info.:
congressionalblackcaucus@mail.house.gov
jioni.palmer@mail.house.org
202.226.9776
Contact Info. for The National Urban League's "Jobs Surge" effort
mystory@iamempowered.com
Reprint of letter from The National Urban League on this Wednesday's "Jobs Discussion" at a Congressional Black Caucus Hearing
Out of Work But Not Out of Hope
Congressional Black Caucus Hearing
The National Urban League "Jobs Surge"
The Congressional Black Caucus has invited the National Urban League to join it in a national focus on jobs. Government must act now because many Americans can no longer wait while Washington drags its feet and offers up lukewarm solutions to burning crises. Unemployment among African Americans is 15.8% and 42% for African American teenagers as we approach the summer months. Washington must create new jobs now-- a Jobs Surge-- before conditions get even worse.
That is why I am calling upon you and millions of Americans across the nation to share your challenges and experiences during this Great Recession. Your voice must be heard in Washington even if you are not there in person. . . . Wednesday, March 17, 2010 on Capitol Hill, the Congressional Black Caucus is hosting a jobs hearing, and I want to share with them and the nation what you are experiencing. I need you to help me tell them just how bad things have gotten for communities.
You can send a personal message via email to mystory@iamempowered.com or post a video on our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/IAmEmpoweredVideo. It is your turn to tell how challenging the economy is for urban communities, the unemployed and their families, teenagers, and minority-owned businesses. This is your chance to have your say. I will present your personal testimony to the media and Members of Congress that morning. This opportunity might never come again for you to testify before Congress. Your voice will finally be heard! You are finally empowered!
I need your testimony by . . . Tuesday, March 16, 2010 by 12 PM (eastern) so that you can tell the House and Senate that you demand to be heard. I look forward to reading your messages and watching your videos.
I AM EMPOWERED!
Marc H. Morial
As noted below in the reprinted letter from The National Urban League, The Congressional Black Caucus is holding a hearing this Wednesday on “Jobs.” While we applaud the effort as highly commendable, anyone working for “jobs” and not working just as hard for HR3149 is simply out of touch with reality. Time and time again, we see discussions in Washington and elsewhere on “Jobs,” but what we’re NOT seeing is HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act included in that discussion. That simply has to change and it’s our job to make that happen! Whether Washington can actually spur or create jobs not funded by taxpayers is a tricky question and yet to be proven, but stopping the money game stalling HR3149 and passing the legislation can be done in an instant. Shouldn’t discrimination in the workplace be at or near the top of priorities list for both The Congressional Black Caucus and The National Urban League?
It’s up to YOU to make it a top priority by making your voice heard. The comfortable status quo in Washington and within the Congressional Black Caucus is the problem. “They” have a “hearing” so they can get on camera for you folks back home and NOTHING CHANGES! “They” may NOT be able to create even one single job, but “they” can sure as “hell” get HR3149 passed this week if they so desired. Stop kidding yourself and stop buying into the empty words for the cameras. Force Washington, The Congressional Black Caucus and The National Urban League to make passage of HR3149 PRIORITY ONE and part of any and all discussions on “Jobs.” Make them listen!
Congressional Black Caucus contact info.:
congressionalblackcaucus@mail.house.gov
jioni.palmer@mail.house.org
202.226.9776
Contact Info. for The National Urban League's "Jobs Surge" effort
mystory@iamempowered.com
Reprint of letter from The National Urban League on this Wednesday's "Jobs Discussion" at a Congressional Black Caucus Hearing
Out of Work But Not Out of Hope
Congressional Black Caucus Hearing
The National Urban League "Jobs Surge"
The Congressional Black Caucus has invited the National Urban League to join it in a national focus on jobs. Government must act now because many Americans can no longer wait while Washington drags its feet and offers up lukewarm solutions to burning crises. Unemployment among African Americans is 15.8% and 42% for African American teenagers as we approach the summer months. Washington must create new jobs now-- a Jobs Surge-- before conditions get even worse.
That is why I am calling upon you and millions of Americans across the nation to share your challenges and experiences during this Great Recession. Your voice must be heard in Washington even if you are not there in person. . . . Wednesday, March 17, 2010 on Capitol Hill, the Congressional Black Caucus is hosting a jobs hearing, and I want to share with them and the nation what you are experiencing. I need you to help me tell them just how bad things have gotten for communities.
You can send a personal message via email to mystory@iamempowered.com or post a video on our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/IAmEmpoweredVideo. It is your turn to tell how challenging the economy is for urban communities, the unemployed and their families, teenagers, and minority-owned businesses. This is your chance to have your say. I will present your personal testimony to the media and Members of Congress that morning. This opportunity might never come again for you to testify before Congress. Your voice will finally be heard! You are finally empowered!
I need your testimony by . . . Tuesday, March 16, 2010 by 12 PM (eastern) so that you can tell the House and Senate that you demand to be heard. I look forward to reading your messages and watching your videos.
I AM EMPOWERED!
Marc H. Morial
Friday, March 12, 2010
Activity Request(s): Wednesday and Continuing Forward
Contact the House Financial Services Committee at 202.225.4247 and keep calling 24/7 until they get HR3149 out of their committee.
Use your real name (or if you wish dream one up every time you call, the enemy has money and lobbyists and we have "creativity") . . . BTW this is NOT a democratic exercise, “vote” loudly, “vote” often (express your opinion) as many times as possible as often as possible! Push the number out to all your friends, put it in discussions, blogs, etc. and make the number ring loudly and often.
Use this e-Mail Link below to FLOOD them with e-mails (repeat as often as possible until we advise we have a hearing scheduled):
http://financialservices.house.gov/contact.html
Messages to convey:
* This legislation has been stalled for almost a year now as millions of Americans are losing their homes, going hungry and are locked out of the workplace by the catch 22 of no job = bad credit and bad credit = no job. It's WRONG for your committee members to dine with the credit bureau lobbyists and the people suffer. You were elected to serve "the people" not lobbyists!
* We're well aware of the $104,727 that members of the committee took from the big three credit bureau PACs and the back room deal making that is taking place to try and kill the legislation.
Use your real name (or if you wish dream one up every time you call, the enemy has money and lobbyists and we have "creativity") . . . BTW this is NOT a democratic exercise, “vote” loudly, “vote” often (express your opinion) as many times as possible as often as possible! Push the number out to all your friends, put it in discussions, blogs, etc. and make the number ring loudly and often.
Use this e-Mail Link below to FLOOD them with e-mails (repeat as often as possible until we advise we have a hearing scheduled):
http://financialservices.house.gov/contact.html
Messages to convey:
* This legislation has been stalled for almost a year now as millions of Americans are losing their homes, going hungry and are locked out of the workplace by the catch 22 of no job = bad credit and bad credit = no job. It's WRONG for your committee members to dine with the credit bureau lobbyists and the people suffer. You were elected to serve "the people" not lobbyists!
* We're well aware of the $104,727 that members of the committee took from the big three credit bureau PACs and the back room deal making that is taking place to try and kill the legislation.
Activity Request(s): Tuesday and Continuing Forward
Contact YOUR Representative(s) on the House Committee on Financial Services and Continue the Contact At Least Weekly if Not More Often . . . no more stalling and delays!
1) See if YOUR Representative is on the Financial Services Committee, search by State and District (via the link below) and if you find them, e-mail and FAX them and call every telephone every number available, but first see # 2) below to uncover if YOUR "Representative" is one of our HR3149 "Dirty 27" list. One of the 38% of the 71 committee members that took the PAC money being handed out by the big three credit bureaus.
Use the link below to search and see if YOUR State Rep. is on the committee.
http://financialservices.house.gov/members.html
You’ll need to have your full 9 digit zip code handy. Use the following link to look it up if you don’t already know it.
http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp
2) We're calling the list below our HR3149 "Dirty 27" who accepted PAC money from the big three credit bureaus during the "2010 Cycle" as it's called in Washington.
Bachmann, Michele (R-MN) $4,000
Bachus, Spencer (R-AL) $7,000 - Committee Ranking Member
Bean, Melissa (D-IL) $10,500
Biggert, Judy (R-IL) $6,000
Campbell, John (R-CA) $8,227
Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV) $1,000
Childers, Travis W (D-MS) $2,000
Foster, Bill (D-IL) $4,000
Garrett, Scott (R-NJ) $2,000
Hensarling, Jeb (R-TX) $7,000
Himes, Jim (D-CT) $5,000
Jenkins, Lynn (R-KS) $3,000
Kanjorski, Paul E (D-PA) $4,000
Lee, Christopher J (R-NY) $1,000
Maloney, Carolyn B (D-NY) $2,500
McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA) $2,000
McCotter, Thad (R-MI) $4,000
McHenry, Patrick (R-NC) $1,000
Meeks, Gregory W (D-NY) $5,000
Moore, Dennis (D-KS) $3,000
Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX) $4,000
Paulsen, Erik (R-MN) $1,000
Peters, Gary (D-MI) $2,000
Posey, Bill (R-FL) $2,000
Price, Tom (R-GA) $5,000
Royce, Ed (R-CA) $7,500
Scott, David (D-GA) $1,000
If you find them on our HR3149 "Dirty 27" list above, your job and role within our group is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL to our success. Don't minimize your importance to our cause. Please express the following by phone and by e-mail repeatedly as often as possible and encourage everyone you know in your voting district to do the same:
* Why did you accept $______ from the big three credit bureau PACs when you reasonably should have known that you could be sitting in judgment and ruling on legislation that could impact the big three credit bureaus? Doesn’t that create a conflict of interest? Doesn’t that border on corruption of our democracy?
* What was the money for? Does the money enable clear unbiased thinking? Does it better enable you to care about the "folks back home" that voted you into office? Rembemer us, your voters who who are now unemployed, having our homes forclosed upon and are locked out of the job market by workplace discrimination?
* As a voter in November, while millions of Americans are locked out of the workplace in a catch 22 of no job = bad credit and bad credit = no job, the fact that you’re accepting money from the big three credit bureaus that oppose HR3149 causes me great concern! I will share my concerns with everyone I can find in our district as well as the media and I’ll be watching so see just how hard and fast you work to get this stalled legislation out of your committee. What’s more, I’ll also be voting in November based largely upon passage of HR3149 and will encourage everyone I can find in our voting district to do the same. I think they deserve to know the truth about our democracy and how Washington works for us folks back home.
Last But NOT Least . . . Contact YOUR Local Media Outlets
We, your fellow group members, know we’re asking a lot already, but please go the extra mile to “turn the screw” and put some “icing on the cake” with some well placed media attention from the “folks back home.” You’re "Representative" is always sending out press releases and lauding what they’ve done for the “folks back home” so help them out!
Contact local talk radio, blogs, newspapers and TV and tell them about the money and what a good job YOUR "Representative" is doing for the “folks back home.” Don’t hold back, you’ll be glad you did and all of us in the group will owe you a huge debt to gratitude. Thanks in advance for all your hard work!
Don't forget to keep us posted on your activites . . . let us share in your "fun."
1) See if YOUR Representative is on the Financial Services Committee, search by State and District (via the link below) and if you find them, e-mail and FAX them and call every telephone every number available, but first see # 2) below to uncover if YOUR "Representative" is one of our HR3149 "Dirty 27" list. One of the 38% of the 71 committee members that took the PAC money being handed out by the big three credit bureaus.
Use the link below to search and see if YOUR State Rep. is on the committee.
http://financialservices.house.gov/members.html
You’ll need to have your full 9 digit zip code handy. Use the following link to look it up if you don’t already know it.
http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp
2) We're calling the list below our HR3149 "Dirty 27" who accepted PAC money from the big three credit bureaus during the "2010 Cycle" as it's called in Washington.
Bachmann, Michele (R-MN) $4,000
Bachus, Spencer (R-AL) $7,000 - Committee Ranking Member
Bean, Melissa (D-IL) $10,500
Biggert, Judy (R-IL) $6,000
Campbell, John (R-CA) $8,227
Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV) $1,000
Childers, Travis W (D-MS) $2,000
Foster, Bill (D-IL) $4,000
Garrett, Scott (R-NJ) $2,000
Hensarling, Jeb (R-TX) $7,000
Himes, Jim (D-CT) $5,000
Jenkins, Lynn (R-KS) $3,000
Kanjorski, Paul E (D-PA) $4,000
Lee, Christopher J (R-NY) $1,000
Maloney, Carolyn B (D-NY) $2,500
McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA) $2,000
McCotter, Thad (R-MI) $4,000
McHenry, Patrick (R-NC) $1,000
Meeks, Gregory W (D-NY) $5,000
Moore, Dennis (D-KS) $3,000
Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX) $4,000
Paulsen, Erik (R-MN) $1,000
Peters, Gary (D-MI) $2,000
Posey, Bill (R-FL) $2,000
Price, Tom (R-GA) $5,000
Royce, Ed (R-CA) $7,500
Scott, David (D-GA) $1,000
If you find them on our HR3149 "Dirty 27" list above, your job and role within our group is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL to our success. Don't minimize your importance to our cause. Please express the following by phone and by e-mail repeatedly as often as possible and encourage everyone you know in your voting district to do the same:
* Why did you accept $______ from the big three credit bureau PACs when you reasonably should have known that you could be sitting in judgment and ruling on legislation that could impact the big three credit bureaus? Doesn’t that create a conflict of interest? Doesn’t that border on corruption of our democracy?
* What was the money for? Does the money enable clear unbiased thinking? Does it better enable you to care about the "folks back home" that voted you into office? Rembemer us, your voters who who are now unemployed, having our homes forclosed upon and are locked out of the job market by workplace discrimination?
* As a voter in November, while millions of Americans are locked out of the workplace in a catch 22 of no job = bad credit and bad credit = no job, the fact that you’re accepting money from the big three credit bureaus that oppose HR3149 causes me great concern! I will share my concerns with everyone I can find in our district as well as the media and I’ll be watching so see just how hard and fast you work to get this stalled legislation out of your committee. What’s more, I’ll also be voting in November based largely upon passage of HR3149 and will encourage everyone I can find in our voting district to do the same. I think they deserve to know the truth about our democracy and how Washington works for us folks back home.
Last But NOT Least . . . Contact YOUR Local Media Outlets
We, your fellow group members, know we’re asking a lot already, but please go the extra mile to “turn the screw” and put some “icing on the cake” with some well placed media attention from the “folks back home.” You’re "Representative" is always sending out press releases and lauding what they’ve done for the “folks back home” so help them out!
Contact local talk radio, blogs, newspapers and TV and tell them about the money and what a good job YOUR "Representative" is doing for the “folks back home.” Don’t hold back, you’ll be glad you did and all of us in the group will owe you a huge debt to gratitude. Thanks in advance for all your hard work!
Don't forget to keep us posted on your activites . . . let us share in your "fun."
Activity Request: Starting Monday and Continuing Forward
Force Barney to Schedule a Hearing on HR3149 NOW!!!!!!!!!!
Call and write Barney Frank 24/7 Until We Get a Hearing and HR3149 is moved out of his House Commitee on Financial Services and brought to a vote in the House at-large! We got it confirmed from inside sources that he refuses to let it move forward or be scheduled for a hearing.
All Members use the following #s (202) 225-5931 to call him and (202) 225-0182 to FAX him. (For Members in Frank's district see additional info. below) They will ask you of course if you are a Barney Frank constituent (a.k.a. live in his district), if you are, of course answer “yes” and if you are NOT (and are NOT timid) say that you can’t get through on the number given for the Financial Services Committee, but are demanding that YOUR voice be heard nonetheless. [WE MUST GET BARNEY’S ATTENTION ANY WAY LEGALLY POSSIBLE!] Put this number on speed dial and call it repeatedly on a diaily basis until we advise that we have HR3149 out of committee.
Put Barney's number in discussions, on blogs, in comments to articles, etc. Anywhere you can get in and ask people to call and keep calling until he gets HR3149 out of his committee.
Specific Messages for Barney
1) Since he took a total of $25 K from TransUnion, Equifax and Experian (the big 3 credit bureaus making millions off selling YOUR personal credit report to employers) during the '08 political contributions cycle, we question his loyalty to “we the people” who are suffering by the millions in America due to the discrimination and invasion of privacy by employers who are forcing people to turn over their personal credit report just to be able to work.
2) We're also well aware of the $104,727 that members of his committee took from the big three credit bureau PACs and the back room deal making that is taking place to try and kill the legislation.
3) We now have boots on the ground in his district and are actively and passionately mobilizing to let his constituents know about the $25 K in PAC contributions he accepted from the big three credit bureaus and more importantly to let them know they have been completely forgotten when it comes to passage of H.R.3149: The Equal Employment for All Act.
NOTE TO ALL MEMBERS IN BARNEY’S DISTRICT: We need your help in a BIG WAY to mobilize voters and voices in his district. Our entire group is depending on YOU to Visit, Call and FAX his MA Offices:
NEWTON
29 Crafts Street
Newton, MA 02458
tel: (617) 332-3920 fax: (617) 332-2822
NEW BEDFORD
558 Pleasant Street #309
New Bedford, MA 02740
tel: (508) 999-6462 fax: (508) 999-6468
TAUNTON
The Jones Building
29 Broadway Suite 310
Taunton, MA 02780
tel: (508) 822-4796 fax: (508) 822-8186
If you reside in his district, please communicate with us. If you want to connect with fellow group members in Barney's district, shoot us a note and we'll connect you.
For Barney Frank Constituents (ONLY) use following e-mail link: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
You’ll need to have your full 9 digit zip code handy. Use the following link to look it up if you don’t already know it.http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp
If you don't actually live in Barney's district but want to write him any way (BTW this is "highly discouraged" by members of Congress) here's how: Mapquest and USPS zip code finder . . . you'll figure it out ;-) and NO! you can't get arrested for it any more than members of the House Committee on Financial Services can be arrested for taking $104,727 from the big three credit bureaus and making back room deals to kill HR3149. Lobbyists for the big three credit bureaus can just drop by Barney's office, but YOU can't get access because YOU didn't contribute $25 K to his campaign or live in his district?
That's NOT democracy, that's the American elite and the lobbyists taking care of their own via money and corruption of democracy.
Call and write Barney Frank 24/7 Until We Get a Hearing and HR3149 is moved out of his House Commitee on Financial Services and brought to a vote in the House at-large! We got it confirmed from inside sources that he refuses to let it move forward or be scheduled for a hearing.
All Members use the following #s (202) 225-5931 to call him and (202) 225-0182 to FAX him. (For Members in Frank's district see additional info. below) They will ask you of course if you are a Barney Frank constituent (a.k.a. live in his district), if you are, of course answer “yes” and if you are NOT (and are NOT timid) say that you can’t get through on the number given for the Financial Services Committee, but are demanding that YOUR voice be heard nonetheless. [WE MUST GET BARNEY’S ATTENTION ANY WAY LEGALLY POSSIBLE!] Put this number on speed dial and call it repeatedly on a diaily basis until we advise that we have HR3149 out of committee.
Put Barney's number in discussions, on blogs, in comments to articles, etc. Anywhere you can get in and ask people to call and keep calling until he gets HR3149 out of his committee.
Specific Messages for Barney
1) Since he took a total of $25 K from TransUnion, Equifax and Experian (the big 3 credit bureaus making millions off selling YOUR personal credit report to employers) during the '08 political contributions cycle, we question his loyalty to “we the people” who are suffering by the millions in America due to the discrimination and invasion of privacy by employers who are forcing people to turn over their personal credit report just to be able to work.
2) We're also well aware of the $104,727 that members of his committee took from the big three credit bureau PACs and the back room deal making that is taking place to try and kill the legislation.
3) We now have boots on the ground in his district and are actively and passionately mobilizing to let his constituents know about the $25 K in PAC contributions he accepted from the big three credit bureaus and more importantly to let them know they have been completely forgotten when it comes to passage of H.R.3149: The Equal Employment for All Act.
NOTE TO ALL MEMBERS IN BARNEY’S DISTRICT: We need your help in a BIG WAY to mobilize voters and voices in his district. Our entire group is depending on YOU to Visit, Call and FAX his MA Offices:
NEWTON
29 Crafts Street
Newton, MA 02458
tel: (617) 332-3920 fax: (617) 332-2822
NEW BEDFORD
558 Pleasant Street #309
New Bedford, MA 02740
tel: (508) 999-6462 fax: (508) 999-6468
TAUNTON
The Jones Building
29 Broadway Suite 310
Taunton, MA 02780
tel: (508) 822-4796 fax: (508) 822-8186
If you reside in his district, please communicate with us. If you want to connect with fellow group members in Barney's district, shoot us a note and we'll connect you.
For Barney Frank Constituents (ONLY) use following e-mail link: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
You’ll need to have your full 9 digit zip code handy. Use the following link to look it up if you don’t already know it.http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp
If you don't actually live in Barney's district but want to write him any way (BTW this is "highly discouraged" by members of Congress) here's how: Mapquest and USPS zip code finder . . . you'll figure it out ;-) and NO! you can't get arrested for it any more than members of the House Committee on Financial Services can be arrested for taking $104,727 from the big three credit bureaus and making back room deals to kill HR3149. Lobbyists for the big three credit bureaus can just drop by Barney's office, but YOU can't get access because YOU didn't contribute $25 K to his campaign or live in his district?
That's NOT democracy, that's the American elite and the lobbyists taking care of their own via money and corruption of democracy.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
House Committee on Financial Services Accepts $104,727 to Kill HR3149
HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act was introduced in July 2009 and for almost a year now, the legislation has sat idle as “the people” starve. This critical piece of legislation would make it illegal for employers to use a citizen’s personal credit report to hire and fire. After thousands and thousands of letters and phone calls to the House Committee on Financial Services, citizens are wondering why there has been no hearing scheduled or movement on the legislation. Committee members have been deploying all the typical politician stall tactics such as ‘the health care debate, the issue is being studied in depth’ and that takes time, etc. Since it’s already a law in Hawaii and Washington State and soon will be law in Oregon, citizens are scratching their heads thinking ‘this is NOT something complex that takes almost a year to figure out.’ Why is there still no movement or a hearing on the legislation scheduled? After all, members of Congress are elected to represent the “will of the people” and 90+ percent of “the people” want this legislation passed NOW! So what’s the hold up?
In a democracy “the people” rule, right? Surly money funneled via political PACs and lobbyists couldn’t be overriding “democracy by the people for the people” could it? Members of Congress are called “representatives” which means, we thought, they “represent” the “will of the people,” not the big three credit bureaus and corporations. At every turn, “we the people” are told to believe and participate in the “democratic process” to air our issues and grievances. We’ve been doing plenty of that “participation” thing, but just to be safe, we decided to do a little checking up on our “representatives” on the House Committee on Financial Services. We of course trust them 100% but thought we might should do some verifying just in case . . . so that’s what we did and here’s what we found.
Almost half (40+ %) of the members of the House Committee on Financial Services took money from either Experian, Equifax or Trans Union and some even took PAC money from all three during the most recent “2010 Cycle” as they call it in Washington. All total the members took $104,727 in PAC money from the big three. In 2008, Barney Frank, the Committee Chair took $25 K and in 2010 Spencer Baucus, Ranking Committee member, took $7 K but he pales in comparison to Melissa Bean who took $10+ K. For the entire list of “representatives” that sit on the committee taking PAC money from the big three credit bureaus opposed to passage of HR3149, visit: http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-and-money-why-hr3149-is.html
Now here is the question at hand, this democracy that we lowly citizens are supposed to support and believe in . . . does our vote and opinion ever count? And as for that “Cycle” thing as it’s called in Washington . . . would it be complete blasphemy to perhaps suggest that maybe, just maybe, “we the people” may be getting suckered just a little by that “Cycle” thing? We certainly wouldn’t suggest that PAC money is being used in any quid pro quo, pay-to-play, grease the palm arrangements with members of the committee. Nor would we be so bold as to suggest that wine-em-and-dine-em outings and backroom meetings are taking place to kill HR3149 from every coming to a vote. Activities such as all that would be called “corruption” and we wouldn’t dare call it that, because “we the people” know that this is “democracy” working as intended by our founding fathers. George Washington would be proud if still alive today! He and Barney Frank would be the best of friends for sure.
As lowly citizens most of us are not attorneys and members of the American elite like our members of Congress. We’re just dumb citizens who don’t understand the “legislative process” and how well it’s working for us. Isn’t this kinda like on those TV legal shows where people with their hands in the till are supposed to recuse themselves from serving in a judicial capacity or sitting in judgment? If you’re taking money from the big three credit bureaus who oppose passage of HR3149, how can you be unbiased and objective? It’s not possible even for a saint, much less a politician!
In Congress, however, it seems to work the other way around. The more members of the House Committee on Financial Services that have their hands are in the till, via credit bureau PACs, the smarter the money makes them . . . and the more inclined they are to look out for “the people.” It’s funny how different ethics and the law work for members of Congress, but seem to be the opposite for us lowly citizens out here in the real world. Nonetheless, we know you’re rich, important and went to law school and all this stuff is just way over our heads. So we’re just going to leave HR3149 in your very capable hands because we know you’re representing us and will do what’s best for your constituents and the American people. That’s why you’re admired, held in high esteem and are called leaders and “public servants” right? We know you would never serve yourself or cover for your elite corporate friends, but instead always have what is best for “the people” in mind.
It’s ok that you enabled Wall Street to steal us all blind and destroy the economy. It’s ok that you bailed them out with our tax money. After all, they’re your personal friends and we’re not. It’s ok that because of your friends’ greed that there are no jobs and as a result millions of Americans have had their personal credit reports destroyed. Why would we lowly citizens want or expect fairness, equality and a level playing field in the workplace? As a member of the American elite, everything is skewed and tilted in your direction and that’s the way it has always been in America and Washington. Why should we change anything at this late stage of the game? Isn’t the status quo and business as usual in Washington best for us all?
In closing, we citizens would just like to say “thanks” for all you’ve done for us . . . especially you members of the House Committee on Financial Services. You’ve taught us how democracy works, you’ve demonstrated your heartfelt concern for the American people starving, being foreclosed upon and yes, even committing suicide due to the catch 22 of no job = bad credit and bad credit = no job. Discrimination in the workplace is just fine as long as your elite friends at the big three credit bureaus can make a buck off the credit dead carcass of an American citizen.
As you pour yourself a cocktail from the top shelf of course, light that Cuban cigar and dine with the lobbyists from Trans Union, Experian and Equifax let not your conscience be troubled. “We the people” now understand that their money just helps you think better and more slowly. Now we fully understand “democracy” and will remember you this November . . .
Follow the Money and Uncover the Truth About “Democracy” and the Killing of HR3149
http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-and-money-why-hr3149-is.html
In a democracy “the people” rule, right? Surly money funneled via political PACs and lobbyists couldn’t be overriding “democracy by the people for the people” could it? Members of Congress are called “representatives” which means, we thought, they “represent” the “will of the people,” not the big three credit bureaus and corporations. At every turn, “we the people” are told to believe and participate in the “democratic process” to air our issues and grievances. We’ve been doing plenty of that “participation” thing, but just to be safe, we decided to do a little checking up on our “representatives” on the House Committee on Financial Services. We of course trust them 100% but thought we might should do some verifying just in case . . . so that’s what we did and here’s what we found.
Almost half (40+ %) of the members of the House Committee on Financial Services took money from either Experian, Equifax or Trans Union and some even took PAC money from all three during the most recent “2010 Cycle” as they call it in Washington. All total the members took $104,727 in PAC money from the big three. In 2008, Barney Frank, the Committee Chair took $25 K and in 2010 Spencer Baucus, Ranking Committee member, took $7 K but he pales in comparison to Melissa Bean who took $10+ K. For the entire list of “representatives” that sit on the committee taking PAC money from the big three credit bureaus opposed to passage of HR3149, visit: http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-and-money-why-hr3149-is.html
Now here is the question at hand, this democracy that we lowly citizens are supposed to support and believe in . . . does our vote and opinion ever count? And as for that “Cycle” thing as it’s called in Washington . . . would it be complete blasphemy to perhaps suggest that maybe, just maybe, “we the people” may be getting suckered just a little by that “Cycle” thing? We certainly wouldn’t suggest that PAC money is being used in any quid pro quo, pay-to-play, grease the palm arrangements with members of the committee. Nor would we be so bold as to suggest that wine-em-and-dine-em outings and backroom meetings are taking place to kill HR3149 from every coming to a vote. Activities such as all that would be called “corruption” and we wouldn’t dare call it that, because “we the people” know that this is “democracy” working as intended by our founding fathers. George Washington would be proud if still alive today! He and Barney Frank would be the best of friends for sure.
As lowly citizens most of us are not attorneys and members of the American elite like our members of Congress. We’re just dumb citizens who don’t understand the “legislative process” and how well it’s working for us. Isn’t this kinda like on those TV legal shows where people with their hands in the till are supposed to recuse themselves from serving in a judicial capacity or sitting in judgment? If you’re taking money from the big three credit bureaus who oppose passage of HR3149, how can you be unbiased and objective? It’s not possible even for a saint, much less a politician!
In Congress, however, it seems to work the other way around. The more members of the House Committee on Financial Services that have their hands are in the till, via credit bureau PACs, the smarter the money makes them . . . and the more inclined they are to look out for “the people.” It’s funny how different ethics and the law work for members of Congress, but seem to be the opposite for us lowly citizens out here in the real world. Nonetheless, we know you’re rich, important and went to law school and all this stuff is just way over our heads. So we’re just going to leave HR3149 in your very capable hands because we know you’re representing us and will do what’s best for your constituents and the American people. That’s why you’re admired, held in high esteem and are called leaders and “public servants” right? We know you would never serve yourself or cover for your elite corporate friends, but instead always have what is best for “the people” in mind.
It’s ok that you enabled Wall Street to steal us all blind and destroy the economy. It’s ok that you bailed them out with our tax money. After all, they’re your personal friends and we’re not. It’s ok that because of your friends’ greed that there are no jobs and as a result millions of Americans have had their personal credit reports destroyed. Why would we lowly citizens want or expect fairness, equality and a level playing field in the workplace? As a member of the American elite, everything is skewed and tilted in your direction and that’s the way it has always been in America and Washington. Why should we change anything at this late stage of the game? Isn’t the status quo and business as usual in Washington best for us all?
In closing, we citizens would just like to say “thanks” for all you’ve done for us . . . especially you members of the House Committee on Financial Services. You’ve taught us how democracy works, you’ve demonstrated your heartfelt concern for the American people starving, being foreclosed upon and yes, even committing suicide due to the catch 22 of no job = bad credit and bad credit = no job. Discrimination in the workplace is just fine as long as your elite friends at the big three credit bureaus can make a buck off the credit dead carcass of an American citizen.
As you pour yourself a cocktail from the top shelf of course, light that Cuban cigar and dine with the lobbyists from Trans Union, Experian and Equifax let not your conscience be troubled. “We the people” now understand that their money just helps you think better and more slowly. Now we fully understand “democracy” and will remember you this November . . .
Follow the Money and Uncover the Truth About “Democracy” and the Killing of HR3149
http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-and-money-why-hr3149-is.html
“Democracy” and Money: Why HR3149 is Stalled
HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act has been stalled in the House Committe on Financial Services since July 2009 with no hearing or action whatsoever. The following report details the money being funneled to committee members by the big three credit bureau PACs to explain why . . . it's called "Democracy"
House Committee on Financial Services: 71 Members Total
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/committee.xpd?id=HSBA
"Democracy" Research Findings: Following the Money
2008 Cycle*
Barney Frank (D-MA) $30,000 - Committee Chair
* Barney Frank was the only member we researched for the 2008 cycle and these dollars are not included in the total dollar amount as reported for the 2010 Cycle below.
2010 Cycle
Total Amount Accepted by the Financial Services Committee: $104,727
House Committee on Financial Services: 71 Members Total
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/committee.xpd?id=HSBA
"Democracy" Research Findings: Following the Money
2008 Cycle*
Barney Frank (D-MA) $30,000 - Committee Chair
* Barney Frank was the only member we researched for the 2008 cycle and these dollars are not included in the total dollar amount as reported for the 2010 Cycle below.
2010 Cycle
Total Amount Accepted by the Financial Services Committee: $104,727
Almost half (40+ %) of the members of the House Committee on Financial Services accepted money from the Big Three Credit Bureau PACs in the 2010 Cycle Based on data released by the FEC on February 21, 2010
Committee Member Totals from all of the Big Three Credit Bureau PACs . . . can you find YOUR "Representative" . . .
Bachmann, Michele (R-MN) $4,000
Bachus, Spencer (R-AL) $7,000 - Committee Ranking Member
Bean, Melissa (D-IL) $10,500 - PH 202.225.3711
Biggert, Judy (R-IL) $6,000
Campbell, John (R-CA) $8,227 - PH 202.225.9177
Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV) $1,000
Childers, Travis W (D-MS) $2,000
Foster, Bill (D-IL) $4,000
Garrett, Scott (R-NJ) $2,000
Hensarling, Jeb (R-TX) $7,000
Himes, Jim (D-CT) $5,000
Jenkins, Lynn (R-KS) $3,000
Kanjorski, Paul E (D-PA) $4,000
Lee, Christopher J (R-NY) $1,000
Maloney, Carolyn B (D-NY) $2,500
McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA) $2,000
McCotter, Thad (R-MI) $4,000
McHenry, Patrick (R-NC) $1,000
Meeks, Gregory W (D-NY) $5,000
Moore, Dennis (D-KS) $3,000
Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX) $4,000
Paulsen, Erik (R-MN) $1,000
Peters, Gary (D-MI) $2,000
Posey, Bill (R-FL) $2,000
Price, Tom (R-GA) $5,000
Royce, Ed (R-CA) $7,500
Scott, David (D-GA) $1,000
Is your representative on the list above? To find out, proceed as follows:
1) Find Your 9 Digit Zip Code Before you begin, you’ll need your full 9 digit zip code. Simply go to the link below and plug in your address and it will provide your full 9 digit zip.http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp
2) Contact YOUR member(s) the House of Representatives https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Simply click on the link above and follow the steps, select your state, enter your full 9 digit zip code, click “contact my representative,” answer the security question, plug in your personal information. If your representative is on the list above, ask them why they took the money? Ask them why they are stalling a hearing on HR3149? Ask them if the money they took is getting in the way of protecting the people during the worst economy since the Great Depression? Call them out and hold them accountable! Write them and call them at every opportunity you can find. Don't allow your reprsesentative to be bought by PAC money. They work for YOU!!!!!
In the event your representative is not on the list above, as them to support the legislation and to co-sponsor the bill now sitting stalled in the House Committee for Financial Services.
Act now to protect your right to privacy and equality in the workplace.
Equifax Breakout Figures
Bean, Melissa (D-IL) $1,000
Campbell, John (R-CA) $1,000
Childers, Travis W (D-MS) $1,000
Hensarling, Jeb (R-TX) $1,000
Kanjorski, Paul E (D-PA) $1,000
Meeks, Gregory W (D-NY) $1,000
Price, Tom (R-GA) $2,500
Scott, David (D-GA) $1,000
Trans Union Breakout Figures
Bachus, Spencer (R-AL) $2,000
Bean, Melissa (D-IL) $5,000
Biggert, Judy (R-IL) $1,000
Foster, Bill (D-IL) $1,500
Garrett, Scott (R-NJ) $1,000
Hensarling, Jeb (R-TX) $1,000
Jenkins, Lynn (R-KS) $1,000
Kanjorski, Paul E (D-PA) $2,000
Lee, Christopher J (R-NY) $1,000
McHenry, Patrick (R-NC) $1,000
Meeks, Gregory W (D-NY) $3,000
Moore, Dennis (D-KS) $2,000
Experian Breakout Figures
Bachmann, Michele (R-MN) $4,000
Bachus, Spencer (R-AL) $5,000
Bean, Melissa (D-IL) $4,500
Biggert, Judy (R-IL) $5,000
Campbell, John (R-CA) $7,227
Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV) $1,000
Childers, Travis W (D-MS) $1,000
Foster, Bill (D-IL) $2,500
Garrett, Scott (R-NJ) $2,000
Hensarling, Jeb (R-TX) $5,000
Himes, Jim (D-CT) $5,000
Jenkins, Lynn (R-KS) $2,000
Kanjorski, Paul E (D-PA) $1,000
Maloney, Carolyn B (D-NY) $2,500
McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA) $2,000
McCotter, Thad (R-MI) $4,000
Meeks, Gregory W (D-NY) $1,000
Moore, Dennis (D-KS) $1,000
Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX) $4,000
Paulsen, Erik (R-MN) $1,000
Peters, Gary (D-MI) $2,000
Posey, Bill (R-FL) $2,000
Price, Tom (R-GA) $2,500
Royce, Ed (R-CA) $7,500
Sources:
Equifax:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00143867&cycle=2010
Trans Union:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00313700&cycle=2010
Experian:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00379768&cycle=2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Activity Requests: Wednesday
[Note: As always any sample messages, letters, etc. that we provide are just that, “samples.” The samples are just what we’re sending out from this end and you are strongly encouraged to use your own judgment, voice and perspectives. Our prose, tone and approach can always be improved upon and quite frankly a good mix of perspectives is better than blindly following our samples verbatim (we’re just expressing one opinion among well over a 1500 different member opinions). We don’t do messaging for the group (nor do we aspire to) or ever speak for the group, but instead merely facilitate our members’ ability to speak at once for more power and volume. If you’re a “professional communicator” or would like to help with recruiting, research, administration, etc. shoot us a note and we’ll be happy to get you involved. There is no lack of work to be done.]
Outreach to Workers’/Privacy/Misc. Rights Groups and Organizations
ACLU
http://www.aclu.org/general-feedback
Call them as well at: 212-549-2500
National Employment Law Center
nelp@nelp.org
MoveOn.org
http://pol.moveon.org/feedback/fb/form.html?tp=suggest
Democracy Now
http://www.democracynow.org/about/contact
PDA
tim@pdamerica.org
[Sample Letter to Workers’/Privacy/Misc. Rights Groups and Organizations]
Outreach to Workers’/Privacy/Misc. Rights Groups and Organizations
ACLU
http://www.aclu.org/general-feedback
Call them as well at: 212-549-2500
National Employment Law Center
nelp@nelp.org
MoveOn.org
http://pol.moveon.org/feedback/fb/form.html?tp=suggest
Democracy Now
http://www.democracynow.org/about/contact
PDA
tim@pdamerica.org
[Sample Letter to Workers’/Privacy/Misc. Rights Groups and Organizations]
SUBJECT: H.R.3149: The Equal Employment for All Act
While I may have missed something, your organization does not seem to be fully and publicly supporting passage of HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act now sitting stalled in the House of Representatives. In short, the legislation would make it illegal for employers to access and use personal credit reports as criteria for hiring and firing. Most Americans don’t even know HR3149 even exists. What’s more, they don’t know about the corruption and backroom deal making taking place to keep the legislation stalled in the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee. Isn’t it your job and role within a democracy to support the people, expose corruption and see to it that Congress answers to the will of the American people?
Follow the money and expose the truth:
Equifax:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00143867&cycle=2010
Trans Union:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00313700&cycle=2010
Experian:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00379768&cycle=2010
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00379768&cycle=2010
I believe this employer discrimination practice and gross invasion of privacy - that cuts across the entire white and blue collar employment segments - constitutes the single most important workplace issue in America today. This is most especially true during this, the worst economy since the Great Depression! When you deny a well qualified human being the right to work in America – you violate the core principals of justice set down by our founding fathers and prevent millions and millions of Americans from affording food and shelter . . . the basic requirements to sustain life.
Without passage of H.R3149 there is simply no way out of the horrible cycle of no job = bad credit and bad credit = no job. Employers today are forcing almost half of “blue collar” job applicants and more than 80 percent of “white collar” job applicants to turn over their personal credit report. The credit reports are being used as the first cut in the screening and hiring process and believe it or not - the percentage of employers using this discriminatory practice is rising rapidly. This practice constitutes a modern day debtor’s prison where millions of Americans are relegated to a lifetime of under-employment at best with no hope whatsoever of ever working their way out debt or improving their credit report.
It’s un-American to brand someone for life and lock out a highly qualified worker from the workplace. Nonetheless, it’s happening right here in America and without your help, we cannot generate the number of citizen voices necessary to force passage of the legislation. The right to work is the most basic of all rights in America and without passage of HR3149 millions of your fellow Americans are simply locked out of the workplace or barred from ever changing jobs. It’s just WRONG and we need your help to bring the practice to an end.
Please support our democracy, the overwhelming will of the people and the rights of highly qualified American workers to compete on a level playing field during this horrible economic disaster.
Basics of the Legislation:
http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2009/11/basics-of-bill-now-pending-in-house.html
Platform for Passage:
http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2009/11/basis-of-platform-for-passage.html
[End Sample Letter]
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