Transit Update: Good News (with a catch), Bad News and More Bad News

Transit Update: Like the headline says there's good news with a catch, some bad news and then there was some more bad news. Bottom Line: You need to start calling your governor and your state legislature, which is unfortunate because the republicans are the pro privatizing party. Not that the dems are much better. They used to be. Lately, not so much. I didn't realize how much PAT workers hated Onorato until I went to that Pat rally a few weeks back.

Anyway.

First the sorta good news with a big catch. The governor's commission did come up with a plan back on October 19th. You can read that story here.

Here's a bit from the story:

The governor's Transportation Funding Advisory Commission in August recommended measures that would eventually raise $2.7 billion in new annual revenue for roads, bridges and public transit.

Now, the good news is that would seem to be enough to fund public transit not just for Pittsburgh but also for Philly. Here's the bad news or the catch: just about all the money raised for that $2.7 billion comes from regressive taxation. If you're
poor or middle class, then you'll pay more for roads and public transit than if you're wealthy. The best and fairest solution would be to tax the Marcellus Shale oil drillers. But, bottom line, if the governor pushes this, then you'll keep your bus service at decent levels.

This is where the bad news comes in. Governor Corbett isn't in a hurry to pass his own commission's recommendations. This is the story in the Post Gazette:

Here's the nut graph as we used to call it:

In remarks after a speech to the national Waterways Symposium Downtown, Mr. Corbett said he would "take a look" at any transportation bills proposed this year, but they would battle for attention with measures on school vouchers and Marcellus Shale regulations. He said transportation fixes might have to take a back seat, especially because the Legislature's current session is only half finished.

Here is a response yesterday by Steve Bland, the Port Authority's CEO. This is from the Tribune Review:

"We're getting less funding from the state and county government now than we were seven years ago," Bland said in an interview with reporters after a Port Authority board of directors meeting Downtown. "If the state doesn't act, there will be service cuts, there will be fare increases regardless of what the union does."

Bland acknowledged the transit agency's prospects for additional help from lawmakers in Harrisburg dimmed last month when Gov. Tom Corbett said increasing transportation funding isn't among his priorities this year. Corbett said he's hesitant to increase fees on vehicles and drivers — a recommendation from his transit advisory commission — that would help boost funding by up to $2.7 billion over five years.

Port Authority officials said Sept. 23 they're facing a potential $64 million deficit next fiscal year that they characterized as a "death spiral." It could mean cuts of up to 40 percent by July — double the cuts made in March.

Read more: Port Authority CEO: Transit cuts, fare increase inevitable without state help - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_764944.html#ixzz1cZ7x7ilh

So, this is horrible news, especially if you're in one of those areas already served by only one bus. After that bus is gone, you have no other options.Yeah, you might find yourself eligible for a car loan but I hear that's a bit of scam, too.
 

But there is a plan, apparently. It was discussed in your usual stereotypical back room deals.There might be a privatized answer on the way. Privatization, by the way, means paying more for bus service not less. Unless you like your 10 dollar a day round trip bus fare from Cranberry...Here's the story:

What they've done is successfully taken struggling transit companies and brought in their expertise and a fresh, new look and made some great turnarounds," Mr. Campolongo said.

That includes New Orleans, where Veolia took over a transit system that had been decimated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. According to news accounts, the system has ordered new buses, won a federal grant for a new streetcar line and raised its bond rating since the company took over in 2008. But some have complained that service is unreliable and far less frequent than what was in place before the storm.

Read more: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/11297/1184433-455.stm#ixzz1cZIUf8EM

Yeah, some complaints I'm sure. As stated in the beginning of this post, please write your state legislator and your governor.

Yet Another Heartbreaking We are the 99 percent Pic

Here's another from that Firedoglake series.

Occupy Wall Street Pic One

These are taken from a Firedoglake series and they're kind of heartbreaking. I'm sure that 99 percent of us can relate.

September 24 noon rally at Mellon Park to Save Public Transit

There is a noon rally at Mellon Park this Saturday the 24th to save public transit. And there's probably truth in advertising there. Its just clear that there are factions of both parties that want to privatize public transit. They mus tbe stopped unless you like spending 10 bucks on a one day round trip like the citizens of Cranberry now must do.

Read more about the rally here.

Please sign the petition calling not to execute Troy Davis.

This isn't one of our issues and we won't be canvassing on this but, seriously, if you have time please sign this petition regarding the execution of Troy Davis.

More at Change.org.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

My brother, Troy Davis, has been on Georgia's death row for 20 years despite strong evidence of his innocence. His execution date is now scheduled for Wed, Sept 21. He has a hearing in front of the GA Board of Pardons & Parole tomorrow.We need to tell the Board and the District Attorney strongly and clearly: There's too much doubt to execute Troy Davis!

The case against my brother Troy consisted entirely of witness testimony which contained inconsistencies even at the time of the trial. Since then, seven out of nine witnesses from the trial have recanted or contradicted their testimony.

Many of these witnesses have stated in sworn affidavits that they were pressured or coerced by police into testifying or signing statements against Troy Davis. Here is what one had to say:

“I got tired of them harassing me, and they made it clear that the only way they would leave me alone is if I told them what they wanted to hear. I told them that Troy told me he did it, but it wasn’t true."

We need to tell the DA and Board strongly and clearly: There's too much doubt to execute Troy Davis!

More Middle Man Comics (featuring a president that we know...)

We support Jan Schakowsky's Plan for Job Creation

We completely support this plan but will the president support it? Or will he support it enough?

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, announced on Wednesday that she will introduce a progressive-minded budget outline aimed at putting more than two million people to work.


Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, announced on Wednesday that she will introduce a progressive-minded budget outline aimed at putting more than two million people to work.
Titled the “Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act,” the plan would cost $227 billion and would be implemented over two years. It would be financed by separate legislation introduced by Schakowsky called the "Fairness in Taxation Act," which would raise taxes for Americans who earn more than $1 million and $1 billion. It would also eliminate subsidies for big oil companies while closing loopholes for corporations that send American jobs overseas.

The congresswoman said that her plan would create 2.2 million jobs and decrease the unemployment rate by 1.3 percent.

"If we want to create jobs, then create jobs," Schakowsky said in a press release. "I’m not talking about "incentivizing" companies in the hopes they’ll hire someone, or cutting taxes for the so-called job creators who have done nothing of the sort. My plan creates actual new jobs."

Schakowsky’s proposal reads more like a progressive wishlist than legislation likely to be signed into law. But it does provide a template of sorts to help Democrats frame their budget argument as lawmakers enter the high-stakes super committee negotiations.

Under her plan, the following policies would be implemented:

The School Improvement Corps would create 400,000 construction and 250,000 maintenance jobs by funding positions created by public school districts to do needed school rehabilitation improvements.
The Park Improvement Corps would create 100,000 jobs for youth between the ages of 16 and 25 through new funding to the Department of the Interior and the USDA Forest Service’s Public Lands Corps Act. Young people would work on conservation projects on public lands including the restoration and rehabilitation of natural, cultural, and historic resources.
The Student Jobs Corps would create 250,000 more part-time work study jobs for eligible college students through new funding for the Federal Work Study Program.
The Neighborhood Heroes Corps would hire 300,000 new teachers, 40,000 new police officers and 12,000 new firefighters.
The Health Corps would hire at least 40,000 health care providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and health care workers to expand access in underserved rural and urban areas.
The Child Care Corps would create 100,000 jobs in early childhood care and education through additional funding for Early Head Start.
The Community Corps would hire 750,000 individuals to do needed work in communities, including housing rehab, weatherization, recycling, and rural conservation.
In addition, the bill would give priority to the longterm unemployed -- the so-called "99ers" who have exhausted both their state and federal unemployment benefits. Federally extended unemployment benefits are set to expire this year, even though nearly 14 million Americans remain out of work and it takes the average worker nine months to find a new job.

“The worst deficit this country faces isn’t the budget deficit," Schakowsky said. "It’s the jobs deficit. We need to get our people and our economy moving again.”

© 2011 Huffington Post

Why is the Obama administration helping the Big Bankers?

I'm a lifelong democrat but I find the actions of my president to be disturbing.

Contract for the American Dream with Cute Kids

A helpful video about the Contract for the American Dream.

We Support the Contract for the American Dream

Go sign this petition now if you're looking for a plan to create jobs.

Here is the contract in full:

CONTRACT FOR THE
AMERICAN DREAM
We, the American people, promise to defend and advance a simple ideal: liberty and justice... for all. Americans who are
willing to work hard and play by the rules should be able to find a decent job, get a good home in a strong community,
retire with dignity and give their kids a better life. Every one of us – rich, poor or in-between, regardless of skin color or
birthplace, no matter their sexual orientation or gender – has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is
our covenant, our compact, our contract with one another. It is a promise we can fulfill – but only by working together.
Today, the American Dream is under threat. Our veterans are coming home to few jobs and little hope on the home front.
Our young people are graduating off a cliff, burdened by heavy debt, into the worst job market in half a century. The big
banks that American taxpayers bailed out won’t cut homeowners a break. Our firefighters, nurses, cops and teachers –
America’s everyday heroes – are being thrown out onto the street. We believe:
AMERICA IS NOT BROKE. America is rich – still the wealthiest nation ever. But too many at the top are grabbing
the gains. No person or corporation should be allowed to take from America while giving little or nothing back. The superrich
who got tax breaks and bailouts should now pay full taxes – and help create jobs here, not overseas. Those who do well
in America should do well by America.
AMERICANS NEED JOBS, NOT CUTS. Many of our best workers are sitting idle, while the work of rebuilding
America goes undone. Together, we must rebuild our country, reinvest in our people and jump-start the industries of
the future. Millions of jobless Americans would love the opportunity to become working, tax-paying members of their
communities again. We have a jobs crisis, not a deficit crisis.
To produce this Contract for the American Dream, 131,203 Americans came together online and in their communities. We
wrote and rated 25,904 ideas. Together, we identified the 10 most critical steps to get our economy back on track and
restore the American Dream:
1. INVEST IN AMERICA’S INFRASTRUCTURE.
Rebuild our crumbling bridges, dams, levees, ports, water and
sewer lines, railways, roads and public transit. We must invest in
high-speed Internet and a modern, energy-saving electric grid.
These investments will create good jobs and rebuild America. To
help finance these projects, we need national and state
infrastructure banks.
2. CREATE 21ST-CENTURY ENERGY JOBS.
We should invest in American businesses that can power our
country with innovative technologies like wind turbines, solar
panels, geothermal systems, hybrid and electric cars, and
next-generation batteries. And we should put Americans to work
making our homes and buildings energy efficient. We can create
good, green jobs in America, address the climate crisis, and build
the clean energy economy.
3. INVEST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. We should
provide universal access to early childhood education, make
school funding equitable, invest in high-quality teachers, and
build safe, well-equipped school buildings for our students. A
high-quality education system, from universal preschool to
vocational training and affordable higher education, is critical for
our future and can create badly needed jobs now.
4. OFFER MEDICARE FOR ALL. We should expand
Medicare so it’s available to all Americans, and reform it to
provide even more cost-effective, quality care. The Affordable
Care Act is a good start and we must implement it – but it’s not
enough. We can save trillions of dollars by joining every other
industrialized country – paying much less for health care while
getting the same or better results.
5. MAKE WORK PAY. Americans have a right to fair
minimum and living wages, to organize and collectively bargain,
to enjoy equal opportunity and to earn equal pay for equal work.
Corporate assaults on these rights bring down wages and
benefits for all of us. They must be outlawed.
6. SECURE SOCIAL SECURITY. Keep Social Security
sound, and strengthen the retirement, disability, and survivors’
protections Americans earn through their hard work. Pay for it
by removing the cap on the Social Security tax, so that upperincome
people pay into Social Security on all they make, just like
the rest of us.
7. RETURN TO FAIRER TAX RATES. End, once and
for all, the Bush-era tax giveaways for the rich, which the rest of
us – or our kids – must pay eventually. Also, we must outlaw
corporate tax havens and tax breaks for shipping jobs overseas.
Lastly, with millionaires and billionaires taking a growing share
of our country’s wealth, we should add new tax brackets for those
making more than $1 million each year.
8. END THE WARS AND INVEST AT HOME.
Our troops have done everything that’s been asked of them, and
it’s time to bring them home to good jobs here. We’re sending $3
billion each week overseas that we should be investing to rebuild
America.
9. TAX WALL STREET SPECULATION. A tiny fee of
1/20th of 1% on each Wall Street trade would raise tens of
billions of dollars annually with little impact on actual
investment. This would reduce speculation, “flash trading,” and
outrageous bankers’ bonuses – and we’d have a lot more money
to spend on Main Street job creation.
10. STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY. We need clean,
fair elections – where no one’s right to vote can be taken away,
and where money doesn’t buy you your own member of
Congress. We must ban anonymous political influence, slam shut
the lobbyists’ revolving door in D.C. and publicly finance
elections. Immigrants who want to join in our democracy deserve
a clear path to citizenship. We must stop giving corporations the
rights of people when it comes to our elections. And we must
ensure our judiciary’s respect for the Constitution. Together, we
will reclaim our democracy to get our country back on track.
“I HAVE A DREAM. IT IS A DREAM DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE AMERICAN DREAM.”
– Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963 March on Washington
HTTP://CONTRACT.REBUILDTHEDREAM.COM

What Ian Welsh said.

Technically, if you're been supporting us at the door (thank you) or reading the blog we've essentially borrowed the Bold Progressives line and said no cuts to social security, medicare or medicaid. It seems like that's what happened with the debt deal exception being medicare, which aids old people or your parents or grandparents, great aunts and the like. However, given the president's weak and/or non existent negotiating skills I honestly don't know how long that will continue.

Or here's a fun scenario, thanks to the Super Congress: social security, medicare and medicaid aren't touched but we lose the EPA and Americorps. I just don't consider this debt deal a victory. In fact, it looks to be a horrible loss which could repeal the New Deal. Just awful. Or as I've stated elsewhere: Bad optics. Bad policy. Bad president (When you score this much for the opposing team I begin to think that you're on the other side).

Ian Welsh speaks for me:

What the Debt Limit Crisis Should Have Taught You

2011 JULY 31

by Ian Welsh

This is not primarily about the Tea Party

It is about what rich donors want.  The Tea Party does not even have the amount of muscle progressives do.  Progressives can bring tens of thousands of people out, the Tea Party can rarely even get above 1,000.  They are a convenient excuse to do what the Beltway and the oligarchs already want to do.

Where are you going to go?

Both Dems and Republicans are onside with cutting Social Security and Medicare. They are only third rails if there is someone else to vote for.

The deals being offered will cause a second downleg of the Depression and a worse one

We’re in a Depression.  This is fact.  Anyone who doesn’t call it that is gutless, stupid or uninformed.  This will make it worse, not just for the US, but for the entire developed world.

Representatives work for the people who pay them

That isn’t really you.  They don’t become multi-millionaires on their salaries, you know.  It’s their donors, the people who hire their wives and children, the people who fund their campaigns, the people who give them good jobs when they leave government.  If you want Reps and Senators to work for you, you must pay them better, you must fund their campaigns (and sharply limit outside funding) and you must make it illegal for them to EVER make more money in a year than their government salary (index it to an average of the median wage, the minimum wage, and CPI).  You should do what Canada used to do and give them a good pension after 6 years.  You DON’T want them worrying about their next job, or what they’ll do if they’ll lose.

Point being, they don’t work for you.

This is a representative plutocracy

I believe Stirling Newberry, in the early 90s, pointed this out first.  Politicians are paid by people other than you.  You are the product.  Think of this as the Facebook rule, if you aren’t paying for something, then you are the product.  The rich pay politicians to rangle you.  The amount of salary and public funding most Reps get is trivial compared to how much money they get from donors, even during their time in elected office, let alone after they leave.  You are the product, not the customer, of DC politicians.  They do not represent you, and you should not expect your interests to be looked after except as an afterthought.  When the oligarchs all agree that something needs to be done (like cut entitlements), it will be done, no matter how unpopular it is.

This “Crisis” is what Obama wanted

Again, if he didn’t, he would have raised the debt ceiling in the lame duck.  Nancy Pelosi was always very good at getting those sort of basic housekeeping bills through. It would have passed.  Period.  Obama wanted to cut SS and Medicare, and he needed a “crisis” in order to do it.  He also needed a Republican House, which he had, because his policies during 2009 and 2010 didn’t fix the economy.

You should have been working on nothing but primarying Obama since the day after the midterms

If you don’t understand why, I can’t help you.

There is no war but class war

Break the rich, or they will finish institutionalizing aristocracy.  Period.

Sign the Credo Petition Today! Make your voice heard!

The best solution for the president and the country would be for the president to invoke the 14th amendment solution. One way you can get involved is to sign the Credo Action petition: "Enough is Enough: Invoke the 14th Amendment and end the crisis."

Here's what it says:

Enough is Enough: Invoke the 14th Amendment and end the crisis

Tell President Obama to use his 14th Amendment powers, raise the debt ceiling without Congress, end this crisis, and tell the House Republicans to go take a hike.

For weeks now, House Republicans have been holding America hostage, and threatening to wreak havoc with our credit rating and our economy. They have refused to raise the debt ceiling unless their extremist policies are enacted, policies that place a higher priority on defending tax loopholes for corporate jets than on preserving Medicare and Social Security.

Enough is enough. Mr. President, it is time to use your 14th Amendment powers to end this crisis.

The 14th Amendment to the Constitution clearly states that the validity of the U.S. government's debt "shall not be questioned." Leaders from President Clinton¹ to Representative James Clyburn to have called upon the president to invoke these powers.

Republicans, apparently unable to read, have tried to claim that doing this would be unconstitutional. But these same Republicans have held America hostage for too long. It is time for President Obama to move ahead without them, and use the powers given to him by the Constitution. If the Republicans really want to take their claims to court, let them. But right now, it's time to end this long, national nightmare.

Enough is enough. Tell President Obama to use his 14th Amendment powers to end this crisis.

Yves Smith (of Naked Capitalism) on the Debt Ceiling Debate

Yves Smith gives a nice rundown on the debt ceiling debate.

If you can't make the noon rally, sign Alan Grayson's pledge.

If you can't make the noon rally, then sign Grayson's pledge telling the president no cuts to medicare, medicaid or social security.


From the press release:

Dear Friend,

Former Congressman Alan Grayson is taking a clear stand against cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The Right Wing is doing everything it can to dismantle the American dream. We need a REAL Congressman with Guts, like Alan Grayson, to fight back.

That's why I signed Alan Grayson's petition, with one simple message: NO CUTS!:

http://www.No-Cuts.com

If we can collect 100,000 signatures, then Alan will deliver the petition to the White House personally.

So join me, by signing here:

http://www.No-Cuts.com

Noon rally at various congressional reps offices today....

Toomey and all republican congresspeople are a waste of time. I'm not sure what Senator Casey will do. My guess is that he would back something like the Reid plan, no social security cuts but creates a basis for them in the future with a second catfood commission.

I've received alerts from a number of organizations about a rally at noon. Yes I know this is late but better late than never.

Join thousands of others across the country TODAY, July 26, at noon (local time) at your Congress member’s nearest district office. To find the closest office to you click here.

M

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: Noon
Date: Mon, 25 July 2011, 3:48pm
From: Melinda - Health Care for America Now

Dear Friend,

In an astonishing display of reckless partisanship, House Speaker John Boehner walked away from debt-ceiling talks at the last minute. Boehner aims to appease the Tea Party fanatics in Congress and special-interest campaign contributors, who increasingly suppress his better instincts to do the right thing. It's now abundantly clear that the Republicans are willing to drive our economy off a cliff rather than ask millionaires, billionaires and the big corporations to pay their fair share.

We’ve got to put a stop to this madness. Health Care for America Now is joining MoveOn.org and other leaders of the American Dream movement to ask people to show up outside Member of Congress’s offices on Tuesday at noon to deliver a crucial message: "Don't destroy the American Dream."

Join thousands of others across the country tomorrow, Tuesday, July 26, at noon (local time) at your Congress member’s nearest district office.

Yes, I’ll be there on Tuesday!

When the Republicans walked away from what appeared to be an imminent bipartisan deal, they threw the economy, the international markets, seniors and middle-class families under the bus. They showed us they're willing to default on Americans' financial obligations and to default on the American Dream, which is made possible by programs like Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, college aid and much more.

This is a moment when progressives need to come together to show our strength and let our boldest leaders know that we're with them. And we need to hold the extremists accountable for their willingness to create an economic crisis because they want to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security to pay for tax cuts for the super-rich.

Tomorrow, stand up against the extremists in Congress who have engaged in political brinkmanship on steroids to protect tax loopholes for the wealthiest Americans and big corporations.


In Solidarity,
Melinda Gibson

Mike Doyle still hasn't signed the pledge...

Not good. Mike Doyle still hasn't signed a letter opposing all Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefit cuts...He was a no show at a very well attended public meeting organized by my old employers One Pittsburgh.


I received this from Bold Progressives.

---

Philip,

We're making progress! Thanks to our grassroots phone calls, the number of House members who signed the Progressive Caucus letter opposing any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits has jumped from 2 to 80! But Representative Mike Doyle has not signed yet, and the situation is urgent.

Negotiations are happening this weekend, and we need to show that Democrats in the House won't pass a deal that cuts benefits. Can you call Rep. Doyle now and tell him to sign the letter? Click here for the phone number and a short script.

We have the momentum -- and with your help, we'll keep it up by having Rep. Doyle fighting on our side. Thanks for being a bold progressive.

-- Stephanie Taylor, Adam Green, Jason Rosenbaum, Michael Snook, and the PCCC team

P.S. If you'd like to reward Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Keith Ellison and Raul Grijalva for leading this fight, click here to chip in $3 to their campaigns.

Toon that explains the problem with the debt negotiations. Giving the GOP real attack ads...

Something you can do from Firedoglake....

The debt negotiations are going horribly...here's something you can do...


Over 2000 people have already signed up to visit the office of their Senator or Representative tomorrow. Because elites of both parties are dead-set on doing this, and grassroots opposition is the only way we’re going to make an impact.
Face-to-face meetings are the way to make it real. You can show up any time of day tomorrow, just for 5 minutes, let them know in no uncertain terms how you feel about their plans to cut these critical programs at a time of economic hardship.
The President lectures progressives on Friday about how we should all care about the nation’s fiscal health. We do. We know that they don’t need “tweaking.” The President then went on to say that he supported the cuts recommended by the Catfood Commission, which included cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits, but as Commander-in-Chief he couldn’t support their cuts to defense.
Someone should tell the President that if he wants to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits before defense spending, he’s not in any position to be giving advice to progressives.
Will you take time to go visit the office of your member of Congress or Senator tomorrow, and remind them that the American people overwhelmingly oppose cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits, and that you will will not support them in 2012 if they take part in doing that?

Guess I've found something new to canvass on: Tell Obama no to social security cuts.

MoveOn already has a campaign you can sign onto. Yes, this is a monumentally bad idea.

Dear Philip,

BREAKING: Reports say the president just offered to cut Social Security benefits, if Republicans agree not to let the U.S. default on its debts.¹

It's his offering to the out-of-control Republicans, who are threatening to crash the economy in order to ram through savage cuts to crucial government programs.

It's sickening to think that millions of seniors would have to sacrifice in order to appease Republican hostage-takers. Especially because every poll shows overwhelming majority of Americans support raising taxes on the rich and protecting Social Security and Medicare.²

But there's still time to stop this "bargain" in its tracks. Whatever deal the president offers Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass Congress. So we need Democrats in Congress to stand strong and oppose any benefit cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

Can you sign our emergency petition to Democrats in Congress and tell them to stand up and tell the President they will not vote for Social Security and Medicare benefits cuts?

Add your name here.

President Obama is making a huge mistake that will cost our country dearly.

This is one of those moments where we either stand up and demand that the Democrats in Congress show a real spine. Or we sit back and watch the Republicans destroy decades' worth of progress.

Will you help send a message demanding that Democrats draw a clear line in the sand: no cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits? Click here to add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/bad_debt_deal/?id=28665-3053238-JjgC2kx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Wes, Elena, Julia, and the rest of the team

Source: 

1. "In Debt Talks, Obama Offers Social Security Cuts," The Washington Post, July 6, 2011 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=210871&id=28665-3053238-JjgC2kx&t=5

2. "Poll: To Reduce Deficit, Most Americans say Tax the Rich More," CBS News, January 3, 2011
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20027036-503544.html

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

Sorry for the long delay...

...my tenure at One Pittsburgh ended about a week ago.  I was appreciative of the opportunity but that needs to be a full time canvass to make a dent in state or fed politics. More on that later. I even have some pictures which I'll post later.

I am currently involved with One Pittsburgh

I am also knocking on doors for One Pittsburgh, a group that has also liberated the US Uncut message.

Looks like the Change to Win unions are emulating Working America. The Change to Win unions I think are much faster than the AFL CIO old guard. I hope they move quickly to challenge this onslaught against working people. I also know that this is part of a larger national effort but this isn't made clear from the website.  They need to make this year round and they need to start challenging the worst of these pro child labor republicans.

You can check out their website here:


This is their message:

Why are Pittsburgh’s working families still losing out in this economy?

We bailed out the big banks and corporations when they were struggling. But now corporations are making out with multi-million dollar profits and paying low taxes, if any at all.

Before our public schools and colleges are shut down, before we lose one more bus route, before unemployment benefits are cut – we’re going to make rich corporations like General Electric, Comcast and Marcellus Shale drillers like Exxon pay their fair share.

• Good Jobs: We can build a city where everyone who wants to work gets a good job – one that pays a family-sustaining wage, provides health insurance and respects workers’ rights on the job.
• Strong Communities: We’re standing up for good schools, excellent public transit, affordable higher education and housing for all.
• Corporate Accountability: There’s more than enough money in Pittsburgh for everyone to have a good job, decent wages and the public services they need. It’s time for corporations and the rich to do their part.

Together we can do what we cannot do alone.  We’re standing up for a city that works for all.  Join us. →

Something more radical than signing online petitions....

So far we're offering four online actions. But if you want to do something a bit more active then you might want to get involved with US Uncut.

Some progressive election guides...

This is a progressive organization so here are some progressive voting guides.

Here are two voting guides that I trust. The first is from Keystone Progressives.

The second is from my fake virtual girlfriend Agent Ska.

Both guides punt on the Wagner vs. Valerie McDonald Roberts race. I'm punting too. Whoever won I voted for you! That's my story...

Infographic on how corporations don't pay their taxes.

I've been thinking about US Uncut and how best that movement could achieve its goals. I really think the best tactic would be open support of the People's budget. In the meantime, before I get around to that, here's an infographic on how corporations don't pay their taxes.


Via: OnlineMBA.com

Keith Olbermann is online and is going to Current TV

I was talking to someone at the door, who was politically knowledgeable which is great, and she had asked me what happened to Keith Olbermann. Well, Keith Olbermann is online and will soon be joining Current TV and not just as a high paid flunky, or high paid slave as one Steelers running back would describe it. This time Keith has an ownership stake. And of course he can self post on the Internet where no one can censor him. This is why the Internet is better than cable.

You can find Keith's site here.

Brave New World Films takes on the Koch brothers.

Brave New World films have done a series of youtube shorts that we agree with one hundred percent.



Check them all out here.

Completely frightening doc about The End of the World...Enjoy!

This is an EX tremely downbeat and frightening environmental film that is now available for free on Youtube.

More bad ideas from Governor Tom Corbett

The fair solution, of course, are tax hikes--targeted at the wealthy and corporations--and not kicking the public in the teeth. Our GOP Pennsylvania governor has chosen the latter decision.

Here's his latest bad idea:

EDINBORO, Pa.—Some Pennsylvania universities should consider drilling for natural gas below campus to help solve their financial problems, Gov. Tom Corbett said Thursday. The Erie Times-News reported that Corbett made the suggestion during an appearance at a meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees at Edinboro University.
Corbett said six of the 14 campuses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education are located on the Marcellus Shale formation, part of a vast region of underground natural gas deposits that are currently being explored and extracted.

It should also be pointed out that fracking is actually kind of dangerous. We don't know quite how dangerous because the regulated have bought off the regulators (in both parties...has anyone gone to jail over the BP disaster...anybody?) but even the EPA has taken notice. Just a bad idea. And you know what's worse? Corbett isn't even the worst of these worst than you thought Republican governors. We might have caught a break. (See here and here.)

Related: Pennsylvania Democrats have released an ad. I think it references a "Saved by the Bell" episode. Not sure about the effectiveness of this ad but Corbett's ratings are tanking.

More Higher Standard of Living Porn: Read Everything by Democrats Ramshield

While I don't think that Markos Moulitsas is a progressive there are progressives nonetheless who post at the Daily Kos. One of those posters goes by the name of Democrats Ramshield. He lives in Europe now and guess what: Europe is better. Here's his latest post:

As an American expat living in the European Union who lives under socialized medicine, who holds an MBA degree I can now see further that I could while I was in the States, because I'm removed from the plutocrats owned disinformation news networks which as they must all show a profit are tied to the plutocracy's bottom line. This doesn't mean that real journalism in America isn't dead, it does however mean it's on life support and the plutocracy has their hand on the plug if the power bill isn't paid.
In the GOP led class warfare above all the noise and above the Tea Party's union busting efforts we see the real lynch pin of American working class economic slavery, the embodiment of which is the for profit American health care system, whose very purpose in life via the mechanism of medical bankruptcy is to ensure that secure property ownership for the American working class can only be found in the American history books, because in today's modern reality it no longer exists practically speaking. For example you can work your entire life, and all it takes is one serious accident or illness for yourself or any of your family members, and then you have worked your entire life for nothing. This diary presents facts, figures and charts to back up that assertion, that you will never find published in the plutocrat owned media. And as this diary should have reached the recommended list will top out at a maximum of 3000 viewers, we know the plutocracy's secret that they have instituted a program of economic slavery, as a form of neo-feudalism in an act of class warfare against the American working class is a secret that will be kept safe, because the plutocracy owns the media and that means the truth won't get out try though as it may. 

You can read this piece here.

Something You Can Do: Tell Gov. Corbett that its not unamerican to tax profitable fracking companies.

Something you can do. But truth be told, we need federal intervention. Would be nice if the justice department or the EPA would do something.

Here's what the petition says:

Radio station WHYY in Philadelphia reported that Tom Corbett said taxing Marcellus Shale Drilling is "un-American." (http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/flexicontent/item/17611-corbett-amplifies-opposition-to-natural-gas-tax)  TellTom Corbett he needs to apologize.


Sign the Keystone Progress petition here. For background on "UnAmerican things" go to 2 Political Junkies here.

Special Democrats not Helping edition: McCaskill-Corker

Ack. From the Daily Kos:

With Democrats like Claire McCaskill, you don't need Republicans like Ryan.  Earlier this year, she joined with Tennessee Republican Bob Corker to push a plan as bad as Ryan's, but more dangerous because she calls herself a Democrat.  Really.  David Dayen lays it out:

So what is McCaskill-Corker? It would mandate that spending, within ten years, go from 24.7% of GDP to 20.6% of GDP. Instead of looking at what society needs, and advancing programs designed to fulfill those needs, and then determining how to pay for them, then, this bill would artificially limit spending to an arbitrary number that is less than the 22% level of spending under Ronald Reagan. And instead of picking and choosing what programs to save under that cap, McCaskill-Corker forces OMB to make the decision of making “evenly distributed, simultaneous cuts throughout the federal budget.” This would include mandatory spending like Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.

Debt Limit Vote Could Yield Spending Caps

The budget we wish the president would adapt: The People's Budget

The president said all the right things with his speech, but he always acts like a republican. Not the change I'm looking for. He also is either a terrible negotiator on behalf of the public good (even the latest extension cut almost a billion from the EPA, fracking radiation and BP oil disasters not withstanding...) or consciously on the other side without bothering to make that public.

If he was a really good negotiator he would start with this budget and probably end up with the budget he just articulated. But he hasn't been. Or its on purpose. Two bad options.

Something You Can Do: Sign All Four Public Petitions Against Corbett's Education Cuts

There are four public petitions against Corbett's drastic and massive proposed educational cuts.

This is one from the  Pennsylvania Democrats:

Stop Tuition Hikes and Property Tax Increases, Oppose Corbett's Budget

Tom Corbett's budget will likely lead to property tax increases and tuition hikes by cutting education funding for colleges and local school districts.

Sign our petition and oppose Tom Corbett's property tax increases and tuition hikes.

Petition:

I oppose Tom Corbett's attack on the middle class.

Tom Corbett's budget will likely lead to property tax increases and tuition hikes by cutting education funding for colleges and local school districts, which will badly hurt the middle class.

Corbett's budget cuts K-12 funding by over $1 billion and higher education funding by more than $600 million. These cuts will likely result in higher property taxes and tuition hikes for Pennsylvania's students. Education cuts will also compromise Pennsylvania's ability to train and educate students for jobs in the Commonwealth.

While targeting the middle class, Corbett's budget also provides giveaways to his donors. In addition to his earlier unilateral decision to provide a $200 million giveaway to corporate special interests, Corbett's budget also provides a $70 million tax break to corporations. Corbett also refused to implement a responsible severance tax on Marcellus shale gas drillers, instead cutting environmental protection funding and leaving families and local communities on the hook for damage caused by drillers.

Pennsylvanians deserve better, and I oppose Tom Corbett's budget.

# # #

Thank you for signing our petition and standing up to Tom Corbett's attack on the middle class.

This is one from MoveOn. Its short and to the point.

Pennsylvania's budget has already been cut to the bone. Corporations and the wealthy must pay their fair share for quality schools, police, health care, and other vital public services.

This is from Change Org. This is just an excerpt. Its written by a justifiably upset state college student.

But an analysis from the Harrisburg Patriot News suggests that the results may be a foregone conclusion  . A big chunk of the 30-member commission is made up of folks inclined to side with big natural gas drillers.

The group includes 13 people with ties to the gas industry and only four environmentalists. The others are state and local government officials and a geologist.

The other major trend in appointments? Campaign contributors:

Thirteen of the members contributed a total of $557,000 to Mr. Corbett's political campaigns since 2008; 12 have ties with companies whose executives or political action committees contributed another $562,000; one is the son of a $300,000 contributor. All together that amounted to just over $1.4 million."

Read the rest of this article here.

Tell Governor Corbett that cutting the budget for higher education is a disastrous move for current and future college students.

P.S.: Help promote this petitition as much as possible! Tweet, post on Facebook, and Email! Let people know how this affects them! The more this is promoted, the better the outcome - and promoting this petition is incredibly easy! 

 Here's a fourth one by SignOn:

Stop Pennsylvania's billion-dollar cut to education

By Marc Stier

To be delivered to: The Pennsylvania State House, The Pennsylvania State Senate and Governor Tom Corbett

“We urge you not to cut $1 billion from basic education in Pennsylvania and 50 percent from state universities. Before cutting funds for education, we need to end loopholes that enable natural gas drillers and corporations to escape taxation.”

Sign our petition to stop massive cuts to funding for elementary, secondary, and higher education in Pennsylvania.

This petition is sponsored by Penn ACTION (http://pennaction.org) and Education Voters PA (http://educationvoterspa.org).