Tuesday Rapid Response: Keep hammering (fortress Bush is crumbling)

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Oregon Report — Tuesday, November 8, 2005

1. Call your Congressperson to oppose the immoral, irresponsible budget bill
2. Speaking of immoral: Stand up against torture
3. Great Marie Cocco column on Bush’s scheme to dismantle health care
4. What is the deal with Nike?

1. Call your Congressperson to oppose the immoral, irresponsible budget bill
Call today to ensure the Democrats stand strong against the Repubs’ immoral budget bill that cuts millions for food stamps and medicaid and student loans, has an amendment allowing ANWR drilling, all while continuing the irresponsible tax cuts for the very wealthy that we cannot afford. Call 1-800-426-8073 and ask to be connected to your Representative—urge your congressperson to stand strong!
When I called Wu’s office the staffer said he was “leaning against” the budget bill. Hello?!? Let’s put the pressure on Wu and the others to stand up STRONG and do the right thing for America.
Suggested script for your call in this diary at DailyKos.

2. Speaking of immoral: Stand up against torture

Let’s keep up a strong stream of letters opposing the use of torture in America’s name.
Story on today’s O. front page: “High court will decide on president’s war powers”

letters@news.oregonian.com
Contact your elected representatives
letters@news.oregonian.com
Or contact your local paper
Drop a quick line to national media

3. Great Marie Cocco column on Bush’s scheme to dismantle health care

If you liked Social Security privatization… appears in today’s Oregonian.
The grand idea is to sharply limit the amount of health insurance premiums that employees buying insurance through their jobs can receive as tax-free compensation. This tax subsidy is the major way the government promotes the purchase of private health insurance. It is why Americans who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own - that's most of us - cling to work-based policies. The job-based system is so embedded in American life that Clinton's health care task force deliberately left it intact, and tried instead to fill the gaps around it.
The Bush panel abandons this caution. It takes what could become the official first step toward dismantling the employer-based insurance system. It shifts ever more costs to workers. It assumes that people will just stop buying health care if it's too expensive.
Your thoughts:
letters@washpost.com
letters@news.oregonian.com
Kudos to: mariecocco@washpost.com

4. What is the deal with Nike?
Despite getting an egregious sweetheart deal from the Legislature—a 35-year exemption from possible annexation—Nike continues its bizarre and costly vendetta against the City of Beaverton. All this to avoid paying $700,000 a year in taxes to support the infrastructure in the area they live in. (To put this expenditure in context….Nike’s 2004 revenue was $12.3 billion and their profits in just the 4th quarter were $305 million.) What the heck??
Nike losing fans in its refusal to drop lawsuit
letters@news.oregonian.com

Never give up.
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