ACTFORCHANGE ACTIVISM UPDATE: January 30, 2003
IN THIS
BULLETIN:
Featured Action
President Bush has made it utterly clear that the decision to invade Iraq is his to make alone, and the State of the Union address left many wondering if Mr. Bush would announce at the end that the attacks had already begun. Instead he announced that Iraq had already missed its last chance. Last fall, Congress erred by prematurely approving a resolution authorizing the President to wage war against Iraq at his time of choosing, for virtually any reason.
Democratic Representative DeFazio and Republican Representative Paul have introduced legislation that rescinds the unilateral grant of war making power to Mr. Bush. It deserves support now.
Mr. Bush has completely failed to make the case that Iraq
poses a threat to our national security that justifies a military invasion. He
is diverting vast resources — both dollars and people — away from actions to
combat terrorism and essential domestic priorities.
Congress needs to reconsider the Bush Administration’s rush to war. The inspectors should be given time to work and Mr. Bush contained.
Urge your member of Congress to cosponsor and support Representatives DeFazio and Paul’s legislation to revoke the unilateral grant of war making powers to Mr. Bush.
Please forward this newsletter to your friends and help spread the word about this important campaign!
Stop Extremist Judicial Nominees
The Bush Administration is continuing its aggressive efforts to remake the Federal appeals courts by nominating ideologically driven candidates. While much of the public's attention is distracted by the drumbeat of war, Mr. Bush and his conservative allies continue to push through candidates who will tilt critical appeals courts for decades to come. If approved, these nominees receive lifetime appointments and are often considered for the Supreme Court.
Last year, the Senate Judiciary Committee rejected two of the most damaging candidates, Priscilla Owens and Charles Pickering, yet Bush has resubmitted both of them again this year in hopes of being able to push them through via the new Republican majority in the Senate.
Urge your senators to vote against judicial nominees who are hostile to values of freedom, reproductive choice, privacy and justice. Many of these nominees will be decided upon within the next few weeks, so time is of the essence. Please take action today and let your friends and family know about this important campaign.
Reject Bush’s Plan to Eliminate the Tax on Stock Dividends
The United States economy is in real trouble, and the Bush Administration is proposing a tax cut that won’t help, will mainly reward many of its donors and will cause the deficit to mushroom for decades to come.
In a move that stunned most political observers, Mr. Bush has proposed to cut taxes by an estimated $300 billion over the next decade by eliminating income taxes on dividends paid by companies to investors. This measure alone accounts for half of Mr. Bush’s total plan. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, nearly two-thirds of the financial payoff from this tax cut would go to the top 5% of the population, whose average income is $350,000. If this was not so completely skewed, one might think the proposal is a satirical version of class warfare.
Urge your senator to reject the elimination of taxes on stock dividends and to promote a plan for economic recovery that is immediate and puts funds into the hands of those who will put them to good use without delay.
Thank you for speaking out on issues that matter. Together, we can make a difference.
Jennifer Willis
Director
ActForChange.com
PLEASE SEND QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO: info@actforchange.com.
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