Action Alert #5

Action Alert #5

Published by the National Organizing Department, CPUSA

October 4, 2002

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Countdown to Novemebr 5th
• New Election pamphlet
• Get the word out
• YCL Convention
• PWWfund and circulation drive
• NOW calls for defense of welfare

COUNTDOWN TO NOVEMBER 5TH:

VOTE FOR PEACE!: A big challenge is how to channel the growing concerns about the Bush administration's war policy into action on election day. The Peace and Solidarity Commission is preparing a piece on this which will appear in the PWW.

In these next weeks, we should be looking for every possible way to discuss with our coalition partners the necessity of winning a Democratic Congress and thus weakening the ultra right control of the government, drive for war and its whole anti-people agenda.

USE THE PWW: The People's Weekly World is our best tool for talking about what's at stake November 5th. Let's use the five weeks that remain to boost PWW circulation, and make as big an impact as we can on this critical battle.

Districts should discuss how to increase the distribution of each of the remaining four editions of the paper, including making sure every club has concrete plans, organizing special mass distributions at work sites, targetted mailings, etc.

October 19th has been set as a day when everyone will be out with the paper, but let's try to make extra efforts every week. For that day, we should consider getting out our members as well as YCLers and friends. And we can turn it into more than just a work day, with social and/or educational get-togethers after the distribution.

NEW ELECTION PAMPHLET:

Our new election pamphlet makes the argument about what it will mean to deal a defeat to Bush and the Republicans November 5th, is out and on its way to the districts. Mass distributions of the pamphlet are important, but we should also consider using it in targetted ways, including and especially at labor movement events, central labor council meetings, in mailings to activists, etc.

The pamphlet will be printed in Spanish next week; place your orders NOW with Dan (dmargolis@cpusa.org).

CPUSA 2002 Elections Brochure: English edition, Spanish edition

GET THE PEACE WORD OUT:

In addition to putting maximum pressure on all of our elected officials to take a stand against war in Iraq, we should also put pressure on the media to cover the growing opinion and actions for peace.

OTHER SOURCES OF ANTI-WAR INFO and INITIATIVES:
www.psr.org/iraqpacket.htm
www..commoncause.org

YCL CONVENTION:

The YCL is heading into its 7th National Convention home stretch, which promises to be a great event. With all that's going on among young people, with the threat of war, public education crisis, attacks on women's rights, the possibilities of bringing young people around are limitless.

The convention should be seen as a not-to-be-missed opportunity. And inviting young people to work with us on the elections can be connected with organizing for the convention.

PWW FUND AND CIRCULATION DRIVE:

Getting new readers of the paper now will mean more financial supporters later -- and maybe sooner, rather than later, since the coverage and analysis of the elections makes great and important reading.

NOW CALLS FOR DEFENSE OF WELFARE:

From the National Organization for Women Action Center: Urge Senators to Continue Efforts to Improve Welfare October 3, 2002. White House and Republican Senate leaders are demanding a Senate welfare vote before the mid-October recess, hoping they can attach burdensome amendments and use welfare as an election issue.

Tell your senators to oppose this tactic and especially thank key senators who have been our allies. Ask them to stand firm on behalf of low-income and poor families who need the welfare safety net.

Action Needed: If your senator has taken a leadership role in attempting to craft and pass a "real" welfare reauthorization bill, please take a moment to thank her or him. Ask your senator to stand firm if pressured to withdraw "improving" floor amendments and urge your senator to resist pressure to bring up the bill if it will be diluted by harmful amendments, simply for the sake of immediate passage.

A three-year extension of the old welfare law, as bad as that may seem, is still preferable to the draconian measure that the House leadership and President Bush want.

Phone calls and faxes are preferable, but e-mails to staff who work on welfare are good too, as long as you are from the senator's state.

Background: The U.S. Senate is being pressured by many, including the editorial page of the New York Times, to bring up the Finance committee's welfare reauthorization bill before the recess in mid-October. Especially alarming is the Republican Senate Leader's proposal to bring the Finance Committee's version of the welfare reauthorization to the Senate floor for a vote while insisting on adding Republican harmful amendments.

Welfare activists and advocates who want "real" reform for poor and low income families need to contact key senators and thank them for their leadership role in attempting to enhance both the 1996 welfare law and the current Senate Finance Committee bill with important provisions and amendments.

We must also ask them to stand firm under pressure if they are asked to drop or scale down their improvements (or accept punitive amendments) for the sake of speedy passage.

Because the House-passed welfare bill is such a vicious attack on poor families, the Senate version must be especially comprehensive in order to give Senate conferees a strong bargaining position for a House/Senate conference committee. We already know that the president dislikes the Senate Finance Bill and has threatened a veto if additional childcare money and educational support is included in the bill sent to him.

If you are a constituent of the following Senate champions, please call, fax or contact your senators and their welfare staff as soon as possible with the "Thank you and stand firm" message. Sadly, it is preferable to pass a measure "continuing" the current welfare law for three more years than to reauthorize the welfare and TANF programs for the next five years if they resemble the draconian House measure and fail to include the important Senate improvements.

Thank the following:

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) -- Responsible for scheduling the floor vote on welfare and has a major influence on its content. Voted >against the Finance Committee measure because it didn't include enough money for childcare.
email: Joan_Huffer@daschle.senate.gov phone: 202-224-2321 fax: 202-224-7895

Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) Chair, Senate Finance Committee -- Passed the best bill possible and kept marriage promotion and abstinence only provisions to a minimum. Needs to "stick to his guns" and accept no weakening deals.
email: douglas_steiger@finance.senate.gov phone: 202-224-4515 fax: 202-228-0554

Senator Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.) -- Has used his role on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to craft important amendments on reducing barriers facing poor families.
email: rachel_gragg@wellstone.senate.gov phone: 202-224-5641 fax: 202-224-8438

Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) -- As chair of HELP committee, he turned the tide on the welfare debate, getting 24 Senate colleagues to support the committee's "principles" of real welfare reform.
email: holly_fechner@kennedy.senate.gov phone: 202-224-4543 fax: 202-224-2417

Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) -- Hopes to use her bill, S. 2876, as an amendment strategy when and if welfare vote occurs - improvements include anti-violence, caregiving, childcare and teens measures.
email: ann_grady@murray.senate.gov phone: 202-224-2621 fax: 202-224-0238

Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) -- Wants income to "stop the clock."
email: elyse_wasch@reed.senate.gov phone: 202-224-4642 fax: 202-224-4680

Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) -- Wants to add important civil rights provisions.
email: maryann_richmond@feingold.senate.gov phone: 202-224-5323 fax: 202-224-2725

Senator Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) -- Wants to improve unemployment trigger and promote good jobs.
email: heather_howard@corzine.senate.gov phone: 202-224-4744 fax: 202-228-2197

If neither of your senators are on this "thank you" list, please review NOW's recent welfare alert and send another message with the "stand firm" theme: http://www.now.org/congress/issues/alert/?alertid=432296&type=CO

Suggested message:
Thank you and your senator for all your hard work on the reauthorization of the welfare bill. Please continue your attempts to improve the Senate bill and stand firm in resisting pressure to support a diluted and unacceptable bill simply for the sake of immediate passage. A three-year extension of the old welfare law, as bad as that may seem, is still preferable to the draconian measure that the House leadership and President Bush want.