Today, we took an important step toward fixing our economy and leveling the playing field for working Americans – the Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.
Now the hard work begins. Corporate special interests are twisting arms, spending millions on misleading ads, and spreading lies and propaganda to block the bill. We must ensure Congress passes the Employee Free Choice Act.
Ask your members of Congress to support the Employee Free Choice!
It's been two years since corporate lobbyists blocked this bill. They were backed by the same greedy CEOs who ran this economy into the ground – and they will stop at nothing to keep workers from getting a fair shake.
But with the most pro-worker Congress in years, and President Obama committed to the cause, this is our best chance yet to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. The stakes couldn't be higher – giving more workers a fair chance to negotiate for better pay, benefits, and job security will help restore the struggling middle class and make the economy work for everyone.
There's not a moment to lose—let your members of Congress know that we need their support!
UFCW members have joined with organizations across the country in rallying legions of activists around this crucial piece of legislation. Together, we collected over 1.5 million signatures supporting the Employee Free Choice Act—including signatures from 250,000 UFCW members!
Now that the bill has been introduced, it's time for your representative to hear directly from you.
We also need you to spread the word – every voice makes a difference. Tell friends and family to write their members of Congress too.
Together, we can make it happen!
Sincerely,
UFCW Employee Free Choice
Support The Employee Free Choice Act
Join Healthcare For All Rally
EXPIRED BULLETIN
Paulette Garin, 2008 Democratic Congressional Candidate in Wisconsin’s 1st District and State Coordinator for PDA – Progressive Democrats of America will be featured as the Single Payer Speaker at a rally and action event which will be held Saturday, July 25, on the steps of the Capitol in Madison. Garin will be speaking on behalf of the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care – The National Single Payer Alliance which is one of the sponsors for the event. PDA is one of four lead organizations in the Alliance.
Congresswoman, Tammy Baldwin, who co-sponsored HR 676 – Single Payer legislation, will be the guest of honor.
Other sponsors and speakers for the rally include: ABC for Health, AIDS Network, AFSCME Wisconsin, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Community Action Coalition for South Central WI, Inc., The Coalition for Wisconsin Health, Disability Rights WI, The Dane County Grassroots Network, Healthcare for America Now!, The League of Women Voters Dane County, Madison-area Urban Ministry, NAMI Dane County, Organizing for America, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, SEIU Wisconsin, Wisconsin AFL-CIO, Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health, Wisconsin Farmers Union, Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.
Marchers will gather at the Library Mall at 2:30 p.m. for a walk up State Street, with the rally starting at 3:00 p.m.
Garin said, “I am humbled and honored to speak on behalf of all the Single Payer supporters. Single Payer really is the gold standard of what we should ask for in regards to healthcare reform. It is 100% guaranteed coverage for all Americans regardless of job transfer or pre-existing condition. Single Payer fulfills President Obama’s 3 principles of cost effectiveness, access, and choice unlike any other proposal.”
The event is being hosted by the Dane County Grassroots Network.
ALSO HAPPENING IN Racine - Community Conversation on Health Care Reform: Expo and Forum
Sunday, July 26
1-4 p.m.
Racine Masonic Center
1012 Main Street
Racine, WI
Sponsored by Community for Change
Rock County Rx Round-Up
EXPIRED BULLETIN
Saturday August 29th
TIME: 9am-1pm.
LOCATIONS:
Janesville Water Utility
123 Delavan Drive, Janesville, WI 53547
Beloit Department of Public Works
2351 Springbrook Court, Beloit, WI 53511
BRING IN:
old pills, vet/pet drugs, medical patches, creams
CAN'T ACCEPT:
sharps/needles, chemo/radioactive drugs, other non-Rx waste
Open to all households in Rock County (businesses excluded).
Service is free of charge, no pre-registration needed, keep pills in original containers, drive-thru drop off, strictly confidential.
For more info. contact the Rock County Health Dept. at 757-5441
Bulletin submitted by L.R.
Attend a Health Care Reform Event in Your Area!!!
EXPIRED BULLETIN
Sign up to host or attend a Health Care Organizing event through My.BarackObama.com by clicking HERE.
Paulette Garin will be guest speaker at two events this weekend.
Saturday, June 6, Racine Community for Change at 10 a.m.
Downtown Racine at the Kurt Sports Complex (Former YWCA)
Saturday, June 6, Walworth County Democratic Party Office at 4 p.m.
15 S. Walworth Street, Elkhorn, WI
Also, Wednesday, June 10, The Home of Florence Hammelev at 6:30 p.m.
3018 86th Street, Unit 203, Kenosha, WI
In Support of Single Payer Health Care by Paulette Garin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Single Payer Health Care is a plan that would provide every American quality, comprehensive health care regardless of pre-existing condition. It is called single payer because all expenses would be paid through one publicly administered pool. Single Payer combines the best ideas of the left and the right - publicly funded, but privately driven by the consumer (patient) and their doctor.
As Congress addresses the health care crisis in this country, please take the time to contact them and tell them you support House Resolution (HR) 676 - legislation that will create a universal, single payer system to guarantee health care for all Americans.
HR 676 will provide:
Automatic coverage for life for everyone, even if you lose your job or move. Your health care is no longer tied to your employment.
Comprehensive medical services including prescription drugs, dental, vision, mental health, and long term care. No co-pays, no deductibles.
Assures your choice of doctor and hospital.
Eliminates the administrative waste of private insurance companies who spend 30 cents of every health care dollar for CEO salaries, profits, and paper work, mostly to deny you needed care.
Puts you and your doctor - not insurance companies - in control of your health care.
HR 676 and health care reform is the only real economic stimulus we have. The number one factor affecting an American company's ability to meet their bottom line and remain competitive in the global economy is the outrageous health insurance premiums they pay for their employees.
HR 676 would be funded through a 6.6% payroll tax. Currently, it costs an individual $8,000 annually to buy private health insurance with a $2,000 deductible - no dental, vision, or prescription coverage. Under HR 676, only individuals making well over $100,000 a year would even get close to paying $8,000 and it would be for far better coverage.
As more and more companies drop their employer provided plans and more retiree's benefit packages fail, the 6.6% payroll tax becomes an attractive bargain.
President Barack Obama said if he were building the health care system from scratch, a single payer system would be the best approach. Senator Russ Feingold said he'd support a single payer system over our current system, which he called a "mess."
HOWEVER, both President Obama and Senator Feingold recognize that our nation has a long tradition of health care through private insurance companies and that trying to eliminate their influence is an almost insurmountable task.
This is why it is imperative for each of us to contact our President, Senators, Congresspersons and all other elected officials stating our support for a single payer system. They need our help to overcome the powerful well funded lobbyists working against Single Payer.
Health Care Reform is the Civil Rights Movement of our time; it will require all of us who believe in a National Single Payer system to stand up and ask those who are opposed to kindly step aside.
Show Your Support for Single Payer Health Care
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Call our Wisconsin congressional delegation and our President. Ask them to support Single Payer Health Care.
President Barack Obama 202-456-1111
Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) 202-224-565
Sen. Russell D. Feingold (D- WI) 202-224-5323
Rep. Paul Ryan (R - 01) 202-225-3031
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D - 02) 202-225-2906
Rep. Ron Kind (D - 03) 202-225-5506
Rep. Gwen Moore (D - 04) 202-225-4572
Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R - 05) 202-225-5101
Rep. Thomas E. Petri (R - 06) 202-225-2476
Rep. David R. Obey (D - 07) 202-225-3365
Rep. Steve Kagen (D - 08) 202-225-5665
Time is of the essence. The President and Congress have claimed they want health care reform legislation written and voted on BEFORE the summer recess at the end of July. We must move now!
Paulette Garin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paulette Garin, 2008 Democratic Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District. Garin campaigned on a platform strongly in favor of HR 676 - The United States National Health Care Act. Two members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation, Tammy Baldwin and Gwen Moore, are co-sponsors of HR 676. Paulette currently serves as the Wisconsin Coordinator for the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care which supports HR 676 nationwide.
Paulette also serves as State Coordinator for Progresssive Democrats of America (PDA).
Visit Paulette's Blog for more information about the growing momentum in this country supporting Universal Single Payer Health Care.
Become one of Paulette's Facebook friends HERE.
Discussion Course at Milton Public Library
Starting April 20th we will meet every Monday from 6:30-8:00pm
(5 week discussion course with bonus celebration on the sixth week)
VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY
NatuRescue is hosting a new discussion course this spring that will help you discover ways to simplify your life. This course addresses the distractions of modern society that keep us from caring for ourselves, our relationships, and our environment. The course book of readings is compiled by the Northwest Earth Institute.
Meet great people, enjoy adult discussions and potentially simplify your life by joining us for this self-reflecting discussion topic. You will be glad you did!
There will be a small material fee for the course. If you would like to join but cannot afford the cost of materials, there will be a limited number of gifted books provided by NatuRescue. Seating is limited.
Please contact Lynn 758-5748 or Jim (608) 575-5653
e-mail: naturescue@gmail.com
for more info. and/or to reserve your spot!
NatuRescue of Milton
(NWEI volunteers)
(see more info on NWEI here.
Two Health Care Reform Events In Janesville
EXPIRED BULLETIN
Health Care Reform Community Discussion
You are invited to join Paulette Garin, 2008 Democratic Congressional Candidate and current State Coordinator for the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care, in a Community Discussion regarding Health Care Reform.
Paulette will present the various plans that are currently being discussed in Congress. In addition, you are invited to share your health care concerns.
Time: Tuesday, June 30 from 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Location:
29 South (Janesville, WI)
29 S. Main Street
Janesville, WI 53545
Time: Tuesday, June 30 from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Location:
Basics Cooperative Natural Foods (Janesville, WI)
1711 Lodge Drive
Janesville, WI 53545
For more details and events in your area, go to Mybarackobama.com
Poetry Read/Fund Raiser
EXPIRED BULLETIN
Come for one! Come for both!
Hosts: Russ Allen and Annie Showers-Curtis
When: Wednesday, May 27, 2009,
7 p.m. - ?
Where: Codos, 119 North Main St., Janesville
(Between Main St. Saloon and Perfectly Plus)
Poetry Read
Read your poetry or someone else’s. Hear what the minds in your community are thinking, writing and talking about!
This event is for ALL ages.
Fund Raiser
Help Annie raise about $800 more to attend a graphics program in June at Minneapolis
College of Art and Design.
About Codos:
Sweet local coffee house in a delicious post-Beat tradition. Russ created a Euro-style hotbed of creativity. Flavors of kitsch, Bohemia, elegance. Hard to imagine? Come see for yourself!
Russ serves plain and flavored coffees, teas, sodas and other beverages for $1 - $2.
About Annie:
Teachers, peers and assorted adults have been WOW’d by Annie’s self-taught graphics and videos from her wild imagination!
She has earned a $1,000 scholarship to this program, has raised another $500, and is slated to make another payment on June 5.
If you want to assist Annie with any size contribution, but can’t make the poetry read, call Denise (Annie’s mom) at (608) 289-0682. Or send a check payable to Annie Showers-Curtis, 117 N. Atwood Ave., Janesville, WI, 53545. If you would like Annie to address your group and show her art and design work, please call!
If you want to come to hear or read poetry, but not contribute – please come! Annie and Russ want to meet you!
Beloit Area Spring Clean-Up
EXPIRED BULLETIN
The TOWN OF BELOIT & CITY OF BELOIT & TOWN OF TURTLE are hosting a Residential City Wide Clean Up Day.
SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2009
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
at the City of Beloit Recycling Drop off Site
2351 Springbrook Ct., 364-2929
Sponsored by The City of Beloit, Town of Beloit and Town of Turtle
The City of Beloit DPW will be accepting:
Bring in your CLOTHING and TEXTILES items left over from your rummage sale.
Used EYE GLASSES and HEARING AIDS, will be donated to the Lions Club.
FREE - Residential ELECTRONICS/COMPUTER recycling - FREE
Additional Sponsors include: CRT Processing & Samsung
CPU(Tower)
Monitor
Printer
Typewriter
Laptop Computer
Scanner
Photocopier
Radio
Stereo System
Zip Drive
Keyboard, Mouse & Speakers
All Televisions
Environmental Cafe
EXPIRED BULLETIN
When: Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 6-7:30 PM
Where: Java Joys, 1009 North Washington Street, Janesville, WI (across from Mercy Mall, at the top of the Memorial Bridge)
Topic of Discussion: Janesville City Sanitary Landfill Operations Overview
Guest Speaker: John Whitcomb, City of Janesville Operations Director
Please attend our second Environmental Cafe - an informal discussion about environmental topics - with a cup of coffee or beverage. Held once monthly on different environmental topics - these discussions are open to the public, and encourage ideas and networking.
Arrive early to get yourself a beverage - at last month's meeting, the Library was kind enough to provide refreshments, however, we are also trying to promote local business during these meetings. So bring some cash, support a locally owned coffee house, and meet some new friends, and join in the discussion on this very interesting topic!
Rock Environmental Network
PS - Bring your own cup!
"When People Lead, the Leaders Will Follow"
REN Action Alert
EXPIRED BULLETIN
What: Janesville City Council meeting
Where: Municipal Building, 18 N Jackson, Janesville
When: 7 PM Monday, April 27th
View the Council's agenda materials here.
Make recommendations to the Council by emailing: citycouncil@ci.janesville.wi.us
Items of concern/questions with tomorrow evenings agenda items:
Pages 58-65 of the full agenda packet
From an email sent to the City Council:
Concerning the "unacceptable water pressure fluctuations" on the NE side of town, requiring a 7.1 Million dollar new water tower... "Independent engineering firms evaluating this problem conclude that additional water storage is presently needed on the City's east side to support existing demands placed on the water distribution system. This will reduce the magnitude of pressure drops during high water demand situations..."
In the agenda is also a request to raise our water rates (by 14.75%), due to a substantial drop in water use due to the closing of GM. If we have lost so much water usage, by losing GM, then why do we need to build a new water tower?
Were the studies sited in the memorandum conducted before, or after GM closed?
Upgrading our pumping system is a route to investigate, before asking the residents of the City to pay 7.1 Million dollars for a water tower, that will also help facilitate the growth of our City into the fertile farmlands on the NE side of town. The increased revenue from higher water bills of $881,361 as outlined in the agenda, could pay for the additional pumping equipment needed to correct this situation, without the land and expense of a water tower.
With an expense of this magnitude, perhaps further investigation could be required by our Council - mainly, gathering specific information from residents that live in the "affected" area of town. In other words, how "unacceptable" is the current situation? Also, with an expense like this - Council should require more citizen input - and delay a decision on this agenda item, until further information and options, if any can be gathered.
The City manager is requesting to apply for a low interest loan for this project, providing interim financing for the "proposed" Water Utility improvements. (see agenda) If we have not yet made a decision on this project, then why would we apply for, and pay interest on a loan? The City should outline information on stimulus funding options prior to a decision.
The Analysis section of the memorandum to Council, needs clarification also. This states that the north pressure zone serves 30,000 people - and includes 17,900 people between the Rock River and the interstate. Council needs further and more detailed information on our water pumping stations - including detailed maps indicating pumping stations, etc. so an educated decision can be made in the best interests of the residents.
The water pressure in the NE area is stated to have been affected 1-3 times in the past 5 years. The examples provided - that residents experienced low water pressure up to 3 times in 5 years, does not call for a 7M expense to taxpayers - especially in the economic state of our City. Residents residing in the red dot areas on the provided map, could be serviced adequately with upgrades to our pumping system - and not an entirely new water tower.
A public study session or open forum should be held by Council before making a decision on this resolution, and delayed until such time, that federal funding options are revealed to residents. The memo also states that this is a "critical situation" - however, this is the first time this issue has surfaced as critical - in searching the Gazette's archives - there are no stories or incidents relating to a critical loss of water pressure.
Concerning the purchase of a new scale for the landfill:
The cost on the accepted bid is $76,602, but the note issue is stated as $90,000. What will the 13,398.00 be used for?
ALSO - in the financial statements from Comptroller Patty Lynch, there is a 300K negative balance in our phase 2 landfill construction account - which will be paid with a general obligation note issue. I would request that Council obtain a complete profit/loss statement from our garbage and recycling operations - so that outside haulers and industrial dumpers, pay fair and equitable costs for landfilling. $21.80 per ton of trash will never cover the costs to clean up the garbage that is being dumped in our landfill. http://www.wasteresources.wi.gov/
With an estimated 40 years left at the current site (according to John Whitcomb, operations director) - the Council must act aggressively to preserve this area by reducing garbage to our landfill (which can be achieved by raising tipping fees) aggressively requiring businessses to reduce, reuse and enforce recycling laws, and limit garbage to that which is generated in Rock County.
Other options include banning e-waste, creating re-use areas at the landfill drop zone for building materials, and other items that could be reused, and REQUIRING IDENTIFICATION at the dump hut - and requiring those outside of the City to pay for dumping in our landfill. The residents of the City of Janesville are being asked to fund and eventually clean up our landfill, yet many are allowed to dump, without being required to show proof of residency, or pay a fee.
Send your items