Pressure Congress

Reports on Congressional Meetings -

Upcoming Meeting with Stephen Lynch: 2:15 , Friday March 5th at 88 Black Falcon Avenue, Suite 340, Boston

Notes on John Tierney meeting Tues., Feb. 16, 2010

Attended by Rachel Williams, Sheik Masood, Fred DiNapoli,  Sam and Joan Baily,
Cole Harrison, Jessica Folgore, Carol Coakley.

We can always win battles but can we sustain it, what is the purpose of the war? Is the local government ready?  Afghanistan will be drug through the summer, elections following.  USAID is hollowed out. He would like to see everything in the budget, no more supplementals for war.  Beefing up science, tech and math  education, green jobs. Our lagging infrastructure and backward slide in education will not help us to create jobs - especially as an alternative to defense jobs in his area.   An industrial policy including government oversight committee and domestic civilian companies.  Our trade polices are not good.  Others are violating treaties. Alternate F-35 engine for which he voted (part of a procurement policy change to increase competition between companies)  actually expected to save money. As of now the company is budget and on time.  He said it was a national security issue and will save $ in the long haul.  Thisis the most bill passing Congress in years per conservative Norman Orenstein.  Acknowledged it is difficult to compete with right leaning talk radio, but jokingly said we could buy a radio station.

Notes on Bill Delahunt meeting, Jan. 12, 2010 in Hyannis

Cape Codders for Peace and Justice, Diane Turco and others met with Delahunt.  He indicated he would support Obama on surge and funding for Afghanistan, he agreed to help with a public forum in March on the subject of Afghanistan.

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100112/NEWS/1120309

Wrote letter to Obama encouraging the support for elections and withdrawal from Iraq to follow the Agreement.

Dec. 30th by Carol Coakley

Notes on Jim McGovern meeting, Dec. 28th with 09 Noon @ 34 Mechanic St., Worcester

1.  He will ask Obama to make a formal request for the 30,000 troops.
2.  He will ask for a debate in Congress about Afghanistan.
    .
Our message should be 'NO ON ESCALATION'

Pelosi is sympathetic to these ideas, but only if there is enough pressure to call for a debate.

Notes on Barney Frank meeting, Dec. 30, '09 @ 29 Craft St., Newton

We must challenge the fundamental notion that the US has to have a military budget eight times the size of the other major powers.

Upcoming cuts in social programs will highlight the need for costs savings in other areas of our federal budget.  Military contracts are an inefficient source of jobs - more jobs can be created using the same amount of money on civilian needs.

He is against the war in Afghanistan now because it is not working, it is an internal struggle.  We cannot fix Afghanistan.

He would like to pull together academics to discuss an alternative role for the United States military besides being the world's policeman.

Encouraged us to contact our Congressmen.  More notes to follow soon.

Congress has the power to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan!

Take Action -- Make YOUR Voice Heard: Be a part of our statewide campaign to keep the pressure on our Congresspeople.

Call your Congressperson! E-mail your district contact!

We are revising this page (Dec 2009), providing information about current legislation and how our Congresspeople stand.

CD 4, Barney Frank, Carol Coakley reporting
Dec. 8:
Frank just signed on to Rep. Barbara Lee's HR 3699  (This has been referred to House Armed Services Committee.  Of the 61 members Nicki Tsongas is the only one from MA.  She has not signed onto 3699.)
Co-sponsored McGovern's exit strategy bill
Co-sponsors Obey's bill calling for Afghanistan war surtax (if there is an escalation)

He will write soon to people who have contacted him explaining his position in detail ( I believe on the Lee resolution).

UJP  Legislative Action contacts:

Statewide Coordinators: Carol Coakley , Shelagh Foreman, Susan Lees

To connect with MA lobby work:  (list being updated 12/09)

• Senators Kirk and Kerry: contact statewide coordinators.
  
• Congressional Districts 1/2/3/ Neal, Olver and McGovern
  
• Congressional District 4/ Frank: contact  
  
• Congressional District 5/Tsongas Contact Carol Dwyer  
• Congressional District 6/Tierney Contact 
• Congressional District 7/ Markey Contact Tony Palomba or Susan Lees  
• Congressional District 8/Capuano Jim Wallace or Mike Prokosch
  
• Congressional District 9/Lynch contact 
  
• Congressional District 10/Delahunt Contact Diane Turco

To Contact the OCCUPATION PROJECT in MA contact Nate Goldshlag, Veterans for Peace

Which Congressional District am I in?