H.R. 3149: The Equal Employment for All Act: August 2010

Sunday, August 29, 2010

What Are Our Chances?

Right now our chances of getting HR3149 out of committee and passed are about 50/50. It’s being hotly debated within the Financial Services Committee and we’re right on the cusp of having it scheduled for a mark-up hearing. If we can get it to a mark-up hearing our chances go way, way up!

We need help, we need more groups beyond the 30 or so that are officially on board behind the cause because some of the groups we have are small and most are passive. The opposition in organized and ready to strike with thousands of employees who will write, call etc. to stop passage so we must do our part to bring more fighters to our cause via groups with numbers, contacts, etc. This week’s outreach effort is intense and heavy with lots of contact points in an effort to bring more troops to our side going into the battle. We simply have to bring more of these groups to the battlefield or we’re doomed.
So please get your letters out this week to bring more warriors into the fight and don’t forget to recruit new members to our group. Stand side by side and fight to defeat greed and to remove the corporate boot off the neck of the American people!!!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Let’s Get Them Talking!!!!

We’ve been remiss in addressing the talk radio outlets for far too long, but the reason why is somewhat complex. Even though HR3149 is a populist issue with support of 90 percent of Americans, some on the right have been resistant and slow to come to the table. That is starting to change as evidenced by a conversation we had this week with the office of one of our two Senators, a Republican who called us. He's leaning toward supporting a watered down version of HR3149, but we advised that's NOT going to cut it. Nonetheless, rest assured that this battle for passage of HR3149 is just over the horizon and Congress is well aware of the issue no matter what your members may tell you. They are ALL aware of it, but they are trying to figure out a way to keep the money that’s been stuffed in their pockets to defeat it without getting voted out of office in November. If they vote with the money, we're going to do everything in our power to remove them from office.

Our goal this week is to get the talk radio outlets moving their mouths with a solution for something instead of endless banter of left, right hate mongering. The activity requests Monday thru Thursday are just a starting point for you. Please do a simple Google search by typing in “Talk Radio” and then type in the name of your city and or state. Then start calling and writing . . . this is a numbers game and 99 percent about effort and only one percent about being some type of activist genius. Please put forth some effort . . . at the Federal level to pass nationwide protection, this upcoming shot previous to November is the best shot we may ever have. After November, if something were to get passed our chances of any real legislation with teeth dim greatly.

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.]

Talk Radio Outreach
Simply copy the sample letter below, jump down to the contact points below the sample letter, paste, edit to suit you or write a letter of your own, paste and send. Please do include the linked articles at the top of the sample letter to validate the issue.

[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 IRAs
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38783832/ns/business-your_retirement/

What does all the above news really mean? One simple thing: half of America can’t get hired or change jobs for better pay. Please connect the dots and report the story that until HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act is passed by Congress, the American people will needlessly lose their homes and their cars while their children slowly starve to death. When you include the direct impact on families and potential impact on extended families; no single issue in America cries out more for a solution than workplace discrimination based on credit reports. FICO estimates that 35 percent of Americans have a credit score below 650 which they estimate that is 70+ million Americans, but anything under a score of 700 is considered “bad credit.” The real number of Americans with bad credit is closer to 100 million who are now second class citizens without the right to work. If these people don’t have a job, they don’t get one and if they have a job it not only jeopardizes them losing it, but it also means that they can’t change jobs for better pay to fix their credit report.

George Orwell’s world of big brother has arrived but it’s not the government that took over, instead a secret FICO software program now literally determines whether you live of die. Who benefits from the practice? The big three credit bureaus, their employees, their stockholders and them alone. Who loses? Everyone else . . . starting with the employers who purchase the worthless measurement tools because millions spent by the credit bureau on marketing materials have convinced them that a credit report indicates theft and fraud potential. They believe this lie even though, under oath during sworn testimony in Oregon where the practice is now illegal, a VP from TransUnion stated they have zero statistical evidence to validate that someone with bad credit is more prone to steal or commit fraud than anyone else. The one and only piece of documentation to back up their marketing claims is a study that indicates that people who “live beyond their means” are more prone to steal from their employer. Guess who that includes? At least 86 percent of the entire U.S. population . . .

This is about submission to the almighty corporation and handing total control over every aspect of someone’s life just for the right to work. Once they have your credit report the employer knows just how little they can get away with paying (in the rare event someone with bad credit is ever hired). With the worst economy since the Great Depression and more jobs moving to third world countries every day, the corporations are now in the driver’s seat like never before. Through PAC money, corporations now own Congress 100 percent and they are daring them to pass HR3149.

The bribes are working for one reason and one reason only, because of you, the American media, the so called free press now controlled by the corporations as well. The people have no money to bribe anyone in Congress, Wall Street greed saw to that. All we have is you and you alone. You’re our one and only hope. If you don’t cover the story and get the word out to the American people they can’t support the legislation in large numbers simply because they don’t know it exists. The practice of locking people out of the workplace based upon their credit report during this economy is wrong, it’s sick, it’s inhuman and amounts to class genocide albeit more slow than a bullet . . . America needs you to stand up for the people like we’ve never needed you before in our history. 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. If rumors are correct, a mark-up hearing on the bill (the first sign of any movement to date) is coming in just a few short weeks when Congress returns from recess so your coverage of HR3149 in a timely manner is critical.

[End Sample Letter]

Contact Info.: Talk Radio Outlets

RandyGorbman@wham1180.com

https://www.daveramsey.com/radio/email-dave/

jeffhenderson@clearchannel.com

760comments@kfmb.com

wgy@clearchannel.com

Click on link, select “News Tips”
http://www.850koa.com/pages/pop/feedback_pop.html

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Activity Request(s): Thursday

Simply use the media outreach letter you created on Tuesday and continue forward . . .

Mother Jones
scoop@motherjones.com

The Raw Story

ron@rawstory.com

larisa@rawstory.com

sahilkapur@gmail.com

The Real News Network

http://www.therealnews.com/t2/contact-us

Counter Punch
counterpunch@counterpunch.org

Drudge Report
drudge@drudgereport.com

Salon
readermail@salon.com

jwalsh@salon.com

klauerman@salon.com

Truthdig
feedback@truthdig.com

Activity Requests: Wednesday

Simply use the outreach letter you created on Tuesday and continue forward . . .

Voice of America
voanews@voanews.com

The American Prospect
letters@prospect.org

ZCom
zmag@zmag.org

Free Press

jsilver@freepress.net

caaron@freepress.net

cclement@freepress.net

jkelsey@freepress.net

Real Clear Politics.com

letters@realclearpolitics.com

john@realclearpolitics.com

tom@realclearpolitics.com

Slate

Slatedcoffice@slate.com

nyoffice@slate.com

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Activity Requests: Tuesday

Media Outreach with More to Follow . . .

Just like anything else in life, effort breeds success and just like selling - getting media coverage is all about numbers. The more YOU pitch, the more coverage the issue gets and the more people are exposed to HR3149. In turn more voter and media heat is placed upon Congress. To succeed, we need a lot of heat and a high rate of member participation. This week' sample letter below, as with all letters, is but one perspective. What do we know? The point is to write and a good mix of unique perspectives, stories and approaches is best. Edit our verbiage or write your own and save it somewhere on your computer. Then scroll down to our list of media outlets and send, send, send!
We’re going to be doing tons of media outreach in the coming weeks, perhaps months, so save your letter so you don’t have to recreate the wheel over and over. Keep it simple and easy for you. Let’s get started, we have miles to travel but we've never been more close to our goal than now.

[Sample Letter]
When you include the direct impact on families and potential impact on extended families; no single issue in America cries out more for a solution than workplace discrimination based on credit reports. FICO estimates that 35 percent of Americans have a credit score below 650 which they estimate accounts for 70+ million Americans, but anything under a score of 700 is considered “bad credit.” The real number of Americans with bad credit is closer to 100 million Americans. If these people don’t have a job, they don’t get one and if they have a job it not only jeopardizes them losing it, but it also means that they can’t change jobs for better pay to fix their credit report. It’s like tying someone to a ship anchor then throwing them into the water to see if they can swim. Almost half of the entire U.S. workforce, according to the big three credit bureaus, is no longer trustworthy enough to allow through the front door of any business.

George Orwell’s world of big brother has arrived but it’s not the government that took over, instead a secret FICO software program now literally determines whether you live of die. Who benefits from the practice? The big three credit bureaus, their employees, their stockholders and them alone. Who loses? Everyone else . . . starting with the employers who purchase the worthless measurement tools because millions spent in credit bureau marketing materials have convinced them that a credit report indicates theft and fraud potential. They believe this lie even though, under oath during sworn testimony in Oregon where the practice is now illegal, a VP from TransUnion stated they have zero statistical evidence to validate that someone with bad credit is more prone to steal or commit fraud than anyone else. The one and only piece of documentation to back up their marketing claims is a study that indicates that people who “live beyond their means” are more prone to steal from their employer. Guess who that includes? At least 86 percent of the entire U.S. population . . . little old ladies, police officers, preachers and everyone else that ever bought something they didn’t really need or couldn’t afford. If this is the standard for who can work, only 14 percent of the entire population are trustworthy.

Employers lose out on wonderful highly motivated employees who in most instances after starving are more loyal than their dog at home. (Dogs are actually treated better because they are allowed to eat.) That’s the whole point and why a law to eliminate the practice now in the House of Representative is being so hotly contested by the corporations. This is about submission to the almighty corporation and handing over total control over every aspect of someone’s life just for the right to work. Once they have your credit report the employer knows just how little they can get away with paying (in the rare event someone with bad credit is ever hired). With the worst economy since the Great Depression and more jobs moving to third world countries every day, the corporations are now in the driver’s seat like never before. Bad enough they polluted the entire Gulf coastline and destroyed our economy because of their greed, but now they own our right to privacy? Through PAC money, corporations now own Congress 100 percent and they are daring them to pass HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act that would in most cases make discrimination based on credit reports illegal.

The bribes are working for one reason and one reason only, because of you, the American media, the so called free press now controlled by the corporations as well. The people have no money to bribe anyone in Congress, Wall Street and the corporations have seen to that. All we have is you and you alone. You’re our one and only hope. If you don’t cover the story and get the word out to the American people they can’t support the legislation in large numbers simply because they don’t know it exists. No one will ever know that the credit bureaus, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and 19 other business groups are buying votes and twisting arms behind the scenes to stop the legislation. The practice of locking people out of the workplace based upon their credit report during this economy is wrong, it’s sick, it’s inhuman and amounts to class genocide albeit more slow than a bullet . . . the end is no different whatsoever. America needs you to stand up for the people like we’ve never needed you before in our history. 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. If rumors are correct, a mark-up hearing on the bill (the first sign of any movement to date) is coming in just a few short weeks when Congress returns from recess so your coverage of HR3149 in a timely mannner is critical.

[End Sample Letter]

Media Outlets/Contact Points:

Freepress.org
truth@freepress.org

Open Left
christopher_j_bowers@yahoo.com

NYT, Paul Krugman
http://www.nytimes.com/gst/emailus.html

Washington Post
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email/ezra+klein/

Huffington Post
huffpolitics@huffingtonpost.com

Daily KOS
http://www.dailykos.com/contactus

Crooks and Liars
crooksandliars@gmail.com

The Progressive
https://www.progressive.org/contact

The Nation
http://www.thenation.com/node/399

Ed Shultz Show
http://www.bigeddieradio.com/emailEd/

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.]

Follow-up to ABC News Segment

Responding to the following ABC News Good Morning America Segment:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/rising-jobless-claims-put-white-house-pressure-11392000

Step 1: Please fire of a less than 2000 character note to Mr. Stephanopoulus via the following link: http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3052660

[Sample Note]
ATTN: George Stephanopoulus
In reference to your interview with James Carville on Friday morning’s show, how can any Democrat assert they are for jobs and the economy until they get behind passage of HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act? The bill would enable millions of Americans to get back to work almost immediately by simply making it illegal for employers to discriminate based upon personal credit checks. The bill was introduced by a Democrat and is the 53 co-sponsors are almost if not all Democrats, yet pay-offs, via credit bureau PAC money, to nine Democrats sitting on the House Committee on Financial Services is helping to keep the legislation stalled. A Democrat, Barney Frank, chair of the committee took more than any Democrat back in 2008 when he snatched $25 K from the credit bureaus. This is change we can believe in? This is a reason to vote Democrat in November?

Upwards of 100 million Americans now have damaged credit reports due primarily to Wall Street’s greed that destroyed the economy, yet Congress that enabled the greed just take PAC money from the credit bureaus, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and 19 other business groups in exchange for stalling legislation that would allow millions to work. In addition to their majority on the committee Democrats control Congress. Yet you allowed Carville to sit there and pretend that Democrats are doing all they can do to relieve the jobless situation when a free to the taxpayer, absolute surefire solution to much of the joblessness is staring them in the face. That’s not journalism. That’s partisan media manipulation that protects your party of choice.

As the former press secretary under Clinton, this is your party so do something to save them before November by passing legislation that 90 percent of the people support and demand. If nothing else it’s a very popular issue in the minds of almost every voter and just smart election year politics. A mark-up hearing on the legislation is anticipated when Congress returns in September and I hope you will provide some coverage and shine a bright light on the pay-offs to members of both parties within the committee.
[End Sample Note]

Step 2: Fire off an e-mail to James Carville at: james@carville.info

[Sample E-Mail]
Mr. Carville, I caught your interview on Friday’s Good Morning America and have to say I’m greatly disappointed in you. Nonetheless, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you’ve never heard of HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act that’s been stalled in the House Committee on Financial Services for more than a year now. A mark-up hearing on the legislation is anticipated when Congress returns in September. It will put millions of voters back to work almost immediately by banning employment credit checks for most jobs. How many Democrat seats in Congress would that save? You’re a Democrat strategist . . . correct? Forgive me for overstepping my bounds as a mere citizen, but doesn’t that seem like a good strategy move to you? Make 90 percent of the voters happy about something before November . . .

The problem is, your fellow Democrats have been taking bribes in exchange for stalling the legislation. The bill was introduced by a Democrat and the 53 co-sponsors are most if not all Democrats, yet pay-offs, via credit bureau PAC money, to nine Democrats sitting on the House Committee on Financial Services is helping to keep the legislation stalled. A Democrat, Barney Frank, chair of the committee took more than any Democrat back in 2008 when he snatched $25 K from the credit bureaus. This is NOT change we can believe in and the type of thing that Democrats want people thinking about in November on an empty stomach with no job. Democrats control the committee and Congress so the blame game is a one way street.

Upwards of 100 million Americans now have damaged credit reports due primarily to Wall Street’s greed that destroyed the economy, yet Congress that enabled the greed just takes PAC money from the credit bureaus, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and 19 other business groups in exchange for stalling legislation that would allow millions to work. That doesn’t sit well with voters and there is no spin that will make that go away. You can’t pretend that Democrats are doing all they can do to relieve the jobless situation when a free to the taxpayer, absolute surefire solution to much of the joblessness is staring them in the face.

Since upwards of 90 percent of the people support passage of HR3149, this is a major win-win opportunity for your party if passed, but it’s a major lose-lose if not passed before November. The pundits believe your party is floundering, gasping for air and drowning fast and HR3149 is a major lifeline if you can wake someone up before it’s too late. Everyone can see the car wreck coming in November for the party in power, please grab the wheel and turn the wheel toward passing HR3149 fast. It’s just the type of good, smart politics that you’re known for, but Friday you seemed to be rudderless and hopeless. HR3149 is a beacon of hope for the people and your party if you can get it moving. Do some polling, 90 percent of the people support passage which means votes in November if HR3149 is passed.
[End Sample E-Mail]

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Activity Requests: Leverage Major News Coverage

Carpe Diem a.k.a. Act Now!

It’s rare that we get an open door like the following linked MSNBC article http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38561183/ns/business-consumer_news/ so we have seize the moment and pounce with all we have to get as much mileage out of it as possible. As noted previously, September will be war for HR3149 passage and the following multiple activity requests will help to prime the effort. Any and all media coverage is in most cases helpful if we use the opportunity to correct the misinformation, gather our forces (recruit) and pressure for more media coverage and action by Congress.

Since we have multiple avenues to leverage and attack, we can’t provide you with a one size fits all “sample letter” however, our blog has more than enough previous sample letters and information to copy, paste and edit to make your job easy. As base information to add to, we need to deliver the following:

* Make sure they get the linked article . . .
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38561183/ns/business-consumer_news/

* The idea stated in the article that credit checks provide “legal cover” is only a propaganda smokescreen to continue the practice. Since almost half the workforce has damaged credit and 86 percent of Americans “live beyond their means” a credit report measures nothing and indicates nothing in regard to potential theft and fraud in the workplace. It’s simply marketing spin by the credit bureaus and a way for them to make a buck off the downtrodden in America.

* Opportunities to explain anything are ZERO (nor does any employer have the constitutional right to violate an American's privacy for the right to work) Any job candidate with “bad credit” simply doesn’t get the job . . . end of story!

Again, to finish out your pitches and letters see the multitude of sample letters and information in previous blog entries and just copy, paste, edit, etc. (It’s NOT rocket science.) Send your e-mails, letters, etc. to the following contact points and media outlets:

1) E-mail Letter to the Commitee:

http://financialservices.house.gov/contact/contact.shtml

E-mail Representative(s) on the House Committee on Financial Services . . .

1A) See if YOUR Representative is one of the 71 members on the House Committee on Financial Services, search by State and District (via the link below)http://financialservices.house.gov/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=397

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) Hit the House and Senate Leaders

2A) Speaker of the House, link below, add name, e-mail address, zip, copy sample letter below and paste into form, edit to suit you and send.
http://speaker.house.gov/contact/

2B) House Minority Leader, link below, add name, e-mail address and send, or use the e-mail address provided.
http://republicanleader.house.gov/contact/

2C) Senate Majority Leader, link below, add name add personal info., etc. copy and paste sample letter below into form, edit to suit you and send.
http://reid.senate.gov/contact/

2D) Senate Minority Leader, link below, add name add personal info., etc. copy and paste sample letter below into form, edit to suit you and send.
http://mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm

3 President Obama
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

4) Contact Your Members of Congress

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

4A) 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, paste in your letter, edit to suit you and hit “send message.”

DO NOT forget to seach for upcoming town hall meetings.

4B) Contact YOUR Senator(s)http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Simply click on the link above, choose your state, choose your senator(s), go to their website(s) and navigate their website looking for “contact info.” then follow their steps, copy and paste in your letter, edit to suit you and hit “send.”

DO NOT forget to seach for upcoming town hall meetings.

5) Use the contact info. from the Outreach to Opponents we just did and hit them with the article and another letter.

http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/07/activity-requests-contact-your-house.html

6) Outreach to Newspaper Outlets . . . the link below is a previous Activity Request, nothing has been revised for this effort, however, the effort, contact points, strategy, etc. hasn't changed. In short we want to get this article to every newspaper in America and ask them to cover the story a.k.a. answer to their readership for a change. Use the information from #5 above and DEMAND THAT THEY ASK THE CANDIDATES ABOUT THEIR POSITION AND REPORT IT TO THE PEOPLE!

http://hr3149.blogspot.com/2010/04/massive-newspaper-outreach-campaign.html

H.R. 3149: The Equal Employment for All Act

Sunday, August 29, 2010

What Are Our Chances?

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Let’s Get Them Talking!!!!

Activity Requests: Thursday

Activity Request(s): Wednesday

Activity Request(s): Tuesday . . .

Activity Requests: Monday

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Activity Request(s): Thursday

Activity Requests: Wednesday

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Activity Requests: Tuesday

Activity Requests: Monday

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Activity Requests: Leverage Major News Coverage

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