GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Greens: Obama has joined the GOP war against working people with his announced intention to roll back Social Security and Medicare
• Agreement with Republicans would gut key protections for Americans, push retirement savings in the Wall Street casino, and will mean "work till you die" for many working people; it's time for the 'Green New Deal' and a voters' revolt against both parties, say Green Party leaders
• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on economic justice, budget policy, and sustainability
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-economic-justice.php
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-economic-sustainability.php
• Green Party's 2011 Annual National Meeting / New York Green Fest, Aug. 5-7 in Alfred, New York http://nygreenfest.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders warned that President Obama and Democratic leaders will betray the American people if they agree with Republicans to cut Social Security and Medicare, and demanded that such cuts be taken off the table.
The Green Party has challenged bipartisan claims that the deficit, rather than the recession and job crisis, is the major economic problem facing the US. Green candidates and leaders have promoted a 'Green New Deal' with an array of positive solutions for the economy and employment (http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2010/08/11/62-green-candidates-endorse-green-new-deal).
• Holly Hart, secretary of the Green Party of the United States: "There are ways other than cutting Social Security and Medicare to end the federal deficit -- ending the three wars, sharply reducing the military budget, raising taxes on the wealthy. A modest raise in the contribution cap for the highest income brackets would keep Social Security solvent. Social Security and Medicare are accounts separate from the federal budget -- they play no part in the deficit crisis. But President Obama, compromising with congressional Republicans and fulfilling his own ambition to 'restructure entitlements', has signaled his willingness to roll back the protections that his party passed in the 1930s and 1960s to give working Americans their financial security and prosperity since the mid 20th century, saving millions of people from financial destitution. The President's deal, which we can count on Democratic leaders in Congress to support, may compel
people to gamble their retirement savings in the Wall Street casino. And pushing back the eligibility age will be a 'work till you die' sentence for many Americans, including Black people, the poor, and others with statistically shorter life spans."
• Jason Nabewaniec, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States: "It's time for a voters' revolt against both Democrats and Republicans. President Obama's compromise shows he has joined the GOP war against working people. There is no longer any reason to make excuses for Mr. Obama and his fellow Democrats. There is no reason to vote for 'the lesser of two evils' if the lesser evil is so willing to cooperate with the greater evil against the rest of us. Two-party politics is more than a flaw in our democracy. It's a disaster that can only be solved by removing Democrats and Republicans from office and replacing them with Green candidates. Greens accept no corporate money and are committed to maintaining and strengthening Social Security, and to expanding Medicare to cover everyone. Mr. Obama's likely Social-Security/Medicare deal with the GOP is proof that the Green Party is an imperative for the 21st century. If the deal is
accepted, it will be time for people to gather in protest in Washington, DC, and throughout the US just as people protested in Wisconsin when Gov. Walker threatened public sector workers and union organizing rights."
• Farheen Hakeem, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States: "It's no longer accurate to say we have two parties running the country. We have a single party with an extremist wing called the Republican Party and a slightly less extremist wing called the Democratic Party, both of which have made service to Wall Street and other powerful corporate elites their top priority. Most Americans don't want to see Social Security or Medicare reduced -- but most Americans don't contribute huge campaign checks. Unlike corporations, thanks to the Supreme Court's 'Citizens' United' decision, most Americans don't run endless campaign ads."
• Howie Hawkins, Green candidate for Common Councillor of Syracuse, New York and 2010 Green candidate for Governor of New York: "If MoveOn.org and environmental activist Van Jones believe that America's future should be in the hands of Democrats, they're as deluded as Tea Partiers who want a Republican future. President Obama's planned raid on Social Security and Medicare tops off the list of capitulations and betrayals since taking office: escalation of the Afghanistan War and air assaults on Pakistan; a third war, on Libya, in violation of the War Powers Act; continued warrantless wiretapping of US citizens, harassment of whistleblowers, and other legal abuses; plans to build more nuclear power plants, with taxpayers' money, even in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in Japan; plans for more offshore oil drilling despite the BP disaster; a health care reform bill designed mainly to enrich insurance companies, with mandates to purchase private
coverage and no reductions in medical costs; embrace of the myth of 'clean coal' and no interference in destructive, poisonous mountaintop removal mining... The list goes on and on, even surpassing President Clinton's fulfillment of GOP agenda."
• George Carlin, nonpartisan comedian and social critic (1937-2008): "The word bipartisan means some larger-than-usual deception is being carried out."
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191
• Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus
• Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php
Green Party's 2011 Annual National Meeting / New York Green Fest http://nygreenfest.org
• Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-Green-Fest/71141014224
• Alfred University http://www.alfred.edu
• Green Party of New York State http://www.web.gpnys.com
• Directions http://nygreenfest.org/directions.html
• Green Party Annual National Meeting Committee http://www.gp.org/committees/anmc/index.php
"Trumka: Social Security Cuts Should Not Be on the Table"
AFL-CIO Blog, July 7, 2011
http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/07/07/trumka-social-security-cuts-should-not-be-on-the-table/
"Breaking Point: Obama and the Death of the Democratic Party"
By Jane Hamsher, FireDogLake, July 8, 2011
http://firedoglake.com/2011/07/07/the-breaking-point/
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/08-3
GreenStream Live: News and discussion on the Green Party's Livestream channel
http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States (Fall 2010 issue now online)
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
~ END ~
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
GP RELEASE Greens: US must support the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla aid boats, press Israel to end blockade
GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Green Party: The US must support the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla aid boats, press Israel to end the blockade
• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on foreign policy and peace
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-foreign-policy.php
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-peace.php
• Green Party's 2011 Annual National Meeting / New York Green Fest, Aug. 5-7 in Alfred, New York http://nygreenfest.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders today called on the US State Department to support the Gaza Aid Flotilla, and to cease defending and assisting Israel's maritime blockade.
"The US should end its shameful complicity in the brutal siege on Gaza and pressure Israel to end its illegal collective punishment which has cost thousands of civilian lives in Gaza. The U.S. State Department should denounce the Israeli Navy's threat to use snipers and attack dogs against the 'Audacity of Hope' and other Freedom Flotilla II aid boats as intimidation tactics which clearly signal Israel's willingness to, once again, violate human rights and humanitarian law," said Muhammed Malik, co-chair of Miami-Dade Green Party (http://miamidadegreenparty.org) and a member of the Green Party's International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl). Mr. Malik recently co-organized a rally near the Israeli Consulate in Miami in support of Palestinian rights and the Freedom Flotilla II.
The Green Party of the United States has supported the Freedom Flotillas to Gaza (http://ustogaza.org), including the May 2010 fleet of humanitarian aid ships that were attacked by Israel in international waters near Cyprus which left 9 human rights activists dead and at least 50 wounded (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=321). In July 2009, Cynthia McKinney, a former US Representative from Georgia and the Green Party's 2008 presidential nominee, was one of 21 human rights activists on board the Free Gaza relief boat seized by the Israeli navy in international waters when it tried to deliver medical and other humanitarian aid to Gaza in June 2009, in the wake of Israel's invasion of Gaza. Ms. McKinney and the other activists were held in an Israeli jail for several days.
The flotilla will begin its next voyage on or around June 24 with approximately 60 passengers, including Alice Walker, author of 'The Color Purple'; Col. Ann Wright, who resigned from the State Dept. in 2003 in protest of President Bush's invasion of Iraq; Hedy Epstein, a Holocaust survivor; many other peace activists and journalists.
"The State Department has called the Gaza aid boats 'provocative' -- and this is entirely correct. By delivering humanitarian aid to Gazans, the Freedom Flotilla is undertaking a nonviolent, courageous, and justifiable act of defiance to provoke international outrage over Israel's actions in Gaza. The aid boats are calling attention to Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, murderous treatment of Palestinian people, displacement of Palestinian families from their homes, and internal apartheid. The US must cut off all military aid to Israel until the Israeli government reverses its current policies," said Justine McCabe, co-chair of the Green Party's International Committee.
The Green Party of the US has called for boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel until it complies with international law and UN directives, ends the occupation of Palestinian lands, and observes full and equal human rights for Palestinians, including the right of return.
Greens leaders have urged support for Palestinian and Israeli peace groups and called for an end to all violence targeted at unarmed civilians, insisting that regional stability and security for all the people of Israel and Palestine are not possible until peaceful negotiation resolves the conflict.
The Green Party has condemned Israel's persecution of Palestinian peace activists, including the 2011 arrest of Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh (http://qumsiyeh.org), former associate professor of genetics at Yale University and member of the Green Party of Connecticut before he moved back to Palestine (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=307).
Greens expressed fear that peaceful resolution may be less likely after Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that Palestinians recognize Israel as a "Jewish state" (http://www.haaretz.com/news/netanyahu-demands-palestinians-recognize-jewish-state-1.274207), which drew no protest from the White House. Contrary to Mr. Netanyahu's demand and President Obama's uncritical support for it, Israel-Palestine has always been multicultural, with Palestinians currently making up 20-plus percent of the population.
"We're very concerned that Israel will interpret the Obama Administration's refusal to criticize the attacks on peaceful aid boats as permission for even worse attacks on future flotillas. We urge the President to do the right thing -- to defend the Freedom Flotilla and see it as the equivalent of nonviolent civil disobedience by activists during the US Civil Rights struggle. We are embarrassed that Mr. Obama doesn't seem to understand this comparison," said Carl Romanelli, former Green US Senate candidate from Pennsylvania and member of the party's International Committee.
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus
• Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php
US Campaign to End the Occupation
http://www.endtheoccupation.org
Free Gaza Movement
http://www.freegaza.org
"Peaceful protest in Israel can lead to arrest"
By Dr. Mazin Qumsiyah, March 9, 2010, The New Haven Register
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/03/09/opinion/doc4b95ab40a3642160727871.txt
Green Party's 2011 Annual National Meeting / New York Green Fest http://nygreenfest.org
• Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-Green-Fest/71141014224
• Alfred University http://www.alfred.edu
• Green Party of New York State http://www.web.gpnys.com
• Directions http://nygreenfest.org/directions.html
• Green Party Annual National Meeting Committee http://www.gp.org/committees/anmc/index.php
• Media Credentialing http://www.gp.org/committees/media/kit.shtml
GreenStream Live: News and discussion on the Green Party's Livestream channel
http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States (Fall 2010 issue now online)
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
~ END ~
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Green Party: The US must support the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla aid boats, press Israel to end the blockade
• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on foreign policy and peace
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-foreign-policy.php
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-peace.php
• Green Party's 2011 Annual National Meeting / New York Green Fest, Aug. 5-7 in Alfred, New York http://nygreenfest.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders today called on the US State Department to support the Gaza Aid Flotilla, and to cease defending and assisting Israel's maritime blockade.
"The US should end its shameful complicity in the brutal siege on Gaza and pressure Israel to end its illegal collective punishment which has cost thousands of civilian lives in Gaza. The U.S. State Department should denounce the Israeli Navy's threat to use snipers and attack dogs against the 'Audacity of Hope' and other Freedom Flotilla II aid boats as intimidation tactics which clearly signal Israel's willingness to, once again, violate human rights and humanitarian law," said Muhammed Malik, co-chair of Miami-Dade Green Party (http://miamidadegreenparty.org) and a member of the Green Party's International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl). Mr. Malik recently co-organized a rally near the Israeli Consulate in Miami in support of Palestinian rights and the Freedom Flotilla II.
The Green Party of the United States has supported the Freedom Flotillas to Gaza (http://ustogaza.org), including the May 2010 fleet of humanitarian aid ships that were attacked by Israel in international waters near Cyprus which left 9 human rights activists dead and at least 50 wounded (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=321). In July 2009, Cynthia McKinney, a former US Representative from Georgia and the Green Party's 2008 presidential nominee, was one of 21 human rights activists on board the Free Gaza relief boat seized by the Israeli navy in international waters when it tried to deliver medical and other humanitarian aid to Gaza in June 2009, in the wake of Israel's invasion of Gaza. Ms. McKinney and the other activists were held in an Israeli jail for several days.
The flotilla will begin its next voyage on or around June 24 with approximately 60 passengers, including Alice Walker, author of 'The Color Purple'; Col. Ann Wright, who resigned from the State Dept. in 2003 in protest of President Bush's invasion of Iraq; Hedy Epstein, a Holocaust survivor; many other peace activists and journalists.
"The State Department has called the Gaza aid boats 'provocative' -- and this is entirely correct. By delivering humanitarian aid to Gazans, the Freedom Flotilla is undertaking a nonviolent, courageous, and justifiable act of defiance to provoke international outrage over Israel's actions in Gaza. The aid boats are calling attention to Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, murderous treatment of Palestinian people, displacement of Palestinian families from their homes, and internal apartheid. The US must cut off all military aid to Israel until the Israeli government reverses its current policies," said Justine McCabe, co-chair of the Green Party's International Committee.
The Green Party of the US has called for boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel until it complies with international law and UN directives, ends the occupation of Palestinian lands, and observes full and equal human rights for Palestinians, including the right of return.
Greens leaders have urged support for Palestinian and Israeli peace groups and called for an end to all violence targeted at unarmed civilians, insisting that regional stability and security for all the people of Israel and Palestine are not possible until peaceful negotiation resolves the conflict.
The Green Party has condemned Israel's persecution of Palestinian peace activists, including the 2011 arrest of Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh (http://qumsiyeh.org), former associate professor of genetics at Yale University and member of the Green Party of Connecticut before he moved back to Palestine (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=307).
Greens expressed fear that peaceful resolution may be less likely after Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that Palestinians recognize Israel as a "Jewish state" (http://www.haaretz.com/news/netanyahu-demands-palestinians-recognize-jewish-state-1.274207), which drew no protest from the White House. Contrary to Mr. Netanyahu's demand and President Obama's uncritical support for it, Israel-Palestine has always been multicultural, with Palestinians currently making up 20-plus percent of the population.
"We're very concerned that Israel will interpret the Obama Administration's refusal to criticize the attacks on peaceful aid boats as permission for even worse attacks on future flotillas. We urge the President to do the right thing -- to defend the Freedom Flotilla and see it as the equivalent of nonviolent civil disobedience by activists during the US Civil Rights struggle. We are embarrassed that Mr. Obama doesn't seem to understand this comparison," said Carl Romanelli, former Green US Senate candidate from Pennsylvania and member of the party's International Committee.
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus
• Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php
US Campaign to End the Occupation
http://www.endtheoccupation.org
Free Gaza Movement
http://www.freegaza.org
"Peaceful protest in Israel can lead to arrest"
By Dr. Mazin Qumsiyah, March 9, 2010, The New Haven Register
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/03/09/opinion/doc4b95ab40a3642160727871.txt
Green Party's 2011 Annual National Meeting / New York Green Fest http://nygreenfest.org
• Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-Green-Fest/71141014224
• Alfred University http://www.alfred.edu
• Green Party of New York State http://www.web.gpnys.com
• Directions http://nygreenfest.org/directions.html
• Green Party Annual National Meeting Committee http://www.gp.org/committees/anmc/index.php
• Media Credentialing http://www.gp.org/committees/media/kit.shtml
GreenStream Live: News and discussion on the Green Party's Livestream channel
http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States (Fall 2010 issue now online)
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
~ END ~
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
GPUS Mission Statement how should we vote?
Proposal 593
Replace Article I of the Bylaws, which reads:
[ARTICLE I. PURPOSE
1. Assist in the development of State Green Parties
2. Create a legally structured national Green Party Federation]
With the following language:
ARTICLE I. ORGANIZATION
Section 1-1 Name and Structure
1-1.1 The name of this organization is the Green Party of the United States (GPUS).
1-1.2 The GPUS is a legally structured Green Party federation of state parties and caucuses operating in the United States of America.
Section 1-2. Mission
1-2.1 The purpose of the Green Party of the United States is to transform government at all levels by electing Green Party candidates to office and engaging in other electoral and advocacy efforts, consistent with the Party’s Four Pillars of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and non-violence.
1-2.2 To further its mission, GPUS may nominate Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates and may approve a Party Platform. Through the operation of a National Committee, GPUS provides ongoing support to state Green parties.
Replace Article I of the Bylaws, which reads:
[ARTICLE I. PURPOSE
1. Assist in the development of State Green Parties
2. Create a legally structured national Green Party Federation]
With the following language:
ARTICLE I. ORGANIZATION
Section 1-1 Name and Structure
1-1.1 The name of this organization is the Green Party of the United States (GPUS).
1-1.2 The GPUS is a legally structured Green Party federation of state parties and caucuses operating in the United States of America.
Section 1-2. Mission
1-2.1 The purpose of the Green Party of the United States is to transform government at all levels by electing Green Party candidates to office and engaging in other electoral and advocacy efforts, consistent with the Party’s Four Pillars of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and non-violence.
1-2.2 To further its mission, GPUS may nominate Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates and may approve a Party Platform. Through the operation of a National Committee, GPUS provides ongoing support to state Green parties.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
GP RELEASE Greens: Enact Sen. Sanders' Medicare For All bill; drop Obamacare; reject Dem & GOP cuts to Medicare
GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Monday, May 16, 2011
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Green Party urges passage of Sen. Sanders' Medicare For All bill
• Mediicare For All must replace Obamacare; Greens urge rejection of Democratic and Republican plans to cut and privatize Medicare
• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on health care: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-health-care.php
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party called for national support for legislation intoduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ind.-Vt.) for a single-payer national health system (Medicare For All) and urged Congress to reject Republican and Democratic plans to scale back Medicare.
"The Sanders bill does what needs to be done -- it eliminates the control by health insurance companies over our medical care," said Dr. John Battista, former Green candidate for state representative in Connecticut and co-author of his state's single-payer legislation in 1999 (the Connecticut Health Care Security Act). "Insurance companies pad the cost of health care by as much as 31% for profits, CEO salaries, and other unnecessary overhead such as managing care, while restricting and denying care to make even more money. As a result, over 45 million Americans have no coverage, millions more have inadequate coverage, and the US has the most expensive, least cost-effective health system of all industrial democracies in the world. For-profit health care has consistently been shown to result in poorer quality health care, and should be abolished, not subsidized. International experience shows that single-payer improves health care while reducing costs,
eliminating managed care, and providing increased access."
Greens emphasized that Medicare For All would provide every American with quality health care regardless of ability to pay, employment, age, or prior medical condition. It provides full choice of physician and hospital and prevents people from going into financial ruin because of a medical emergency. It would boost the economy by relieving businesses of the burden of providing health care benefits. Overhead and administration costs would be dramatically reduced from their current levels of at least 25% to Medicare's current 3%.
"It's significant that Medicare For All has been introduced in 2011 by someone in the US Senate who is outside the two major parties -- Sen. Sanders, an independent. Americans who support Medicare For All should vote to elect Green candidates to Congress, since Greens, unlike most Democrats, will not compromise or retreat from a real universal health care bill," said Darryl Moch of the DC Statehood Green Party and the Green Party Black Caucus.
The Green Party's endorsement of Medicare For All reflects support by a majority of Americans for such a program, according to numerous polls (http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/12/09/two-thirds-support-3/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-payer_health_care#Public_opinion_in_the_United_States).
Green Party leaders expressed hope that Americans would reject the Democrats' health care reform bill passed in 2010 ("Obamacare"), which they called a life-support system for the health insurance industry.
"Medicare For All is superior to Obamacare in every way," said Holly Hart, secretary of the Green Party of the United States. "The 2009-2010 health care debate between Democrats and Republicans turned out to be a dispute over which party could best satisfy the health insurance cartel. Obamacare does very little to stop the skyrocketing cost of health care, and 23 million Americans will still lack coverage. Furthermore, Obamacare's mandates -- an idea borrowed from Republican plans of the 1990s -- require everyone to purchase coverage from private companies, a legally questionable direct public subsidy for corporations."
"Obamacare was designed primarily for the benefit of health insurance, pharmaceutical, and other corporate lobbies, which funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in checks to Democratic as well as Republican campaigns. That's why Sen. Max Baucus [chair of the Senate Finance Committee] declared single-payer 'off the table' during his health care reform roundtables in 2009. We were dismayed to see so many progressive Democrats, who claimed they supported single-payer, turn around and vote yea on the President's bill," said Tamar Yager, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.
Sen. Sanders' introduction of his Medicare For All bill coincides with efforts by Republicans and by Democrats under White House leadership to scale back and privatize Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. As economist Dean Baker noted (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/apr/26/healthcare-congress), the privatization plan ("The Path to Prosperity") offered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) would hike costs for seniors and would ultimately become a $30 trillion handout from taxpayers to insurance companies, an expense confirmed by the Congressional Budget Office, and would also force as many 44 million poor and disabled Americans off Medicaid during the next decade.
Greens warned that the Obama administration intends to balance the federal budget with cuts that will "slowly strangle Medicare leaving seniors struggling to find physicians able to care for them" ("Republican and Democratic Plans for Medicare and Medicaid Misguided: Push for Privatization Will Accelerate Costs and Deaths, by Dr. Margaret Flowers, Common Dreams, April 27, 2011, http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/04/27-8).
"Cutting waste and profits for insurance companies is a far better solution to the budget deficit than cutting medicare services for seniors," said Mark Dunlea, New York Green and co-chair of Single Payer NY (http://www.singlepayernewyork.org).
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus
• Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php
"Single-Payer, Medicare-for-All Legislation Introduced"
Press release, Bernie Sanders, US Senator for Vermont, May 10, 2011
http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=47d632b8-4a43-4d2b-b500-cb2c105e93ef
The Bernie Buzz: News from the US Senate, May 10, 2011 (with video)
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?gpiv=2100072418.159085.143&gen=1
"Doctors' group greets single-payer health bill in Senate"
Press release, Physicians for a National Health Program, May 10, 2011
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2011/may/doctors-group-greets-single-payer-health-bill-in-senate
"Obama Health Law Unlikely to Stem Medical Bankruptcies"
By Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein, Common Dreams, May 12, 2011
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/05/11-6
"Study: 44 million could lose Medicaid coverage under GOP plan"
The Los Angeles Times, May 10, 2011
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/10/news/la-pn-gop-medicare-analysis-20110510
"Obama Denies Vermont Healthcare"
By David Swanson, WarIsACrime.org, April 28, 2011
http://warisacrime.org/content/obama-denies-vermont-healthcare
'GreenStream Wednesday': News and discussion on the Green Party's Livestream channel
http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States (Fall 2010 issue now online)
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
~ END ~
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Monday, May 16, 2011
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Green Party urges passage of Sen. Sanders' Medicare For All bill
• Mediicare For All must replace Obamacare; Greens urge rejection of Democratic and Republican plans to cut and privatize Medicare
• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on health care: http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-health-care.php
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party called for national support for legislation intoduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ind.-Vt.) for a single-payer national health system (Medicare For All) and urged Congress to reject Republican and Democratic plans to scale back Medicare.
"The Sanders bill does what needs to be done -- it eliminates the control by health insurance companies over our medical care," said Dr. John Battista, former Green candidate for state representative in Connecticut and co-author of his state's single-payer legislation in 1999 (the Connecticut Health Care Security Act). "Insurance companies pad the cost of health care by as much as 31% for profits, CEO salaries, and other unnecessary overhead such as managing care, while restricting and denying care to make even more money. As a result, over 45 million Americans have no coverage, millions more have inadequate coverage, and the US has the most expensive, least cost-effective health system of all industrial democracies in the world. For-profit health care has consistently been shown to result in poorer quality health care, and should be abolished, not subsidized. International experience shows that single-payer improves health care while reducing costs,
eliminating managed care, and providing increased access."
Greens emphasized that Medicare For All would provide every American with quality health care regardless of ability to pay, employment, age, or prior medical condition. It provides full choice of physician and hospital and prevents people from going into financial ruin because of a medical emergency. It would boost the economy by relieving businesses of the burden of providing health care benefits. Overhead and administration costs would be dramatically reduced from their current levels of at least 25% to Medicare's current 3%.
"It's significant that Medicare For All has been introduced in 2011 by someone in the US Senate who is outside the two major parties -- Sen. Sanders, an independent. Americans who support Medicare For All should vote to elect Green candidates to Congress, since Greens, unlike most Democrats, will not compromise or retreat from a real universal health care bill," said Darryl Moch of the DC Statehood Green Party and the Green Party Black Caucus.
The Green Party's endorsement of Medicare For All reflects support by a majority of Americans for such a program, according to numerous polls (http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/12/09/two-thirds-support-3/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-payer_health_care#Public_opinion_in_the_United_States).
Green Party leaders expressed hope that Americans would reject the Democrats' health care reform bill passed in 2010 ("Obamacare"), which they called a life-support system for the health insurance industry.
"Medicare For All is superior to Obamacare in every way," said Holly Hart, secretary of the Green Party of the United States. "The 2009-2010 health care debate between Democrats and Republicans turned out to be a dispute over which party could best satisfy the health insurance cartel. Obamacare does very little to stop the skyrocketing cost of health care, and 23 million Americans will still lack coverage. Furthermore, Obamacare's mandates -- an idea borrowed from Republican plans of the 1990s -- require everyone to purchase coverage from private companies, a legally questionable direct public subsidy for corporations."
"Obamacare was designed primarily for the benefit of health insurance, pharmaceutical, and other corporate lobbies, which funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in checks to Democratic as well as Republican campaigns. That's why Sen. Max Baucus [chair of the Senate Finance Committee] declared single-payer 'off the table' during his health care reform roundtables in 2009. We were dismayed to see so many progressive Democrats, who claimed they supported single-payer, turn around and vote yea on the President's bill," said Tamar Yager, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.
Sen. Sanders' introduction of his Medicare For All bill coincides with efforts by Republicans and by Democrats under White House leadership to scale back and privatize Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. As economist Dean Baker noted (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/apr/26/healthcare-congress), the privatization plan ("The Path to Prosperity") offered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) would hike costs for seniors and would ultimately become a $30 trillion handout from taxpayers to insurance companies, an expense confirmed by the Congressional Budget Office, and would also force as many 44 million poor and disabled Americans off Medicaid during the next decade.
Greens warned that the Obama administration intends to balance the federal budget with cuts that will "slowly strangle Medicare leaving seniors struggling to find physicians able to care for them" ("Republican and Democratic Plans for Medicare and Medicaid Misguided: Push for Privatization Will Accelerate Costs and Deaths, by Dr. Margaret Flowers, Common Dreams, April 27, 2011, http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/04/27-8).
"Cutting waste and profits for insurance companies is a far better solution to the budget deficit than cutting medicare services for seniors," said Mark Dunlea, New York Green and co-chair of Single Payer NY (http://www.singlepayernewyork.org).
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus
• Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php
"Single-Payer, Medicare-for-All Legislation Introduced"
Press release, Bernie Sanders, US Senator for Vermont, May 10, 2011
http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=47d632b8-4a43-4d2b-b500-cb2c105e93ef
The Bernie Buzz: News from the US Senate, May 10, 2011 (with video)
http://sanders.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?gpiv=2100072418.159085.143&gen=1
"Doctors' group greets single-payer health bill in Senate"
Press release, Physicians for a National Health Program, May 10, 2011
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2011/may/doctors-group-greets-single-payer-health-bill-in-senate
"Obama Health Law Unlikely to Stem Medical Bankruptcies"
By Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein, Common Dreams, May 12, 2011
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/05/11-6
"Study: 44 million could lose Medicaid coverage under GOP plan"
The Los Angeles Times, May 10, 2011
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/10/news/la-pn-gop-medicare-analysis-20110510
"Obama Denies Vermont Healthcare"
By David Swanson, WarIsACrime.org, April 28, 2011
http://warisacrime.org/content/obama-denies-vermont-healthcare
'GreenStream Wednesday': News and discussion on the Green Party's Livestream channel
http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States (Fall 2010 issue now online)
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
~ END ~
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
GP RELEASE: US Greens call for a moratorium on nuclear plants, urge close monitoring of radiation in the US
GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Green Party leaders call for a moratorium on nuclear plants, insist that the Fukushima catastrophe quashes the myth that nuclear energy is a safe alternative
• US Greens send a message of sympathy and solidarity to the Japanese Green Party, urge monitoring of radiation in the US and availability of potassium iodide pills for young people in Hawaii, Alaska, and the west coast in the event of a radiation plume from Japan
• GreenStream Wednesday, March 16: discussion of Japan's nuclear disaster and the 23rd anniversary of Three Mile Island, 10 pm ET, 7 pm PT on the Green Party's Livestream channel: http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on nuclear energy, foreign policy, and related topics: http://www.gp.org/speakers/subjects.php
WASHINGTON, DC -- US Green Party leaders urged a moratorium on nuclear power plants and cancellation of license renewals for 23 General Electric reactors in the US that have the same design as reactors in Japan.
Greens also called for a close monitoring by US agencies of radiation levels throughout the Pacific and along the west coast, with accurate information published about any radioactivity discovered in these areas, especially in farm produce and other food supplies. In the event of radioactive emissions from Japanese nuclear power plants damaged by the tsunami, Greens said President Obama must authorize public health agencies to make potassium iodide pills and filtering masks available for young people in Hawaii, Alaska, and the west coast of the contiguous states.
"After the Chernobyl disaster, cancer rates spiked in the Soviet Union and Europe when the radioactive plume from a nuclear reactor meltdown spread thousands of miles. Potassium iodide pills protect people from cancerous radiation and they're not expensive. If there is any hint of a threat to our children, this is a step worth taking," said Audrey Clement, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.
According to the book "Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment," published by the New York Academy of Sciences in 2010, the Chernobyl radiation affected the entire northern hemisphere (http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2010/2010-04-26-01.html).
"The Fukushima power plant catastrophe should deflate the myth that nuclear energy is a safe, clean alternative to fossil fuels. In February 2010, President Obama announced a $5.4 billion loan -- really a subsidy -- for a nuclear plant in Burke County, Georgia, with taxpayers assuming 80% of the financial risk. Nuclear power plants are so expensive and inherently dangerous that private companies won't invest in them, so the nuclear industry forces the public to foot the bill and to guarantee their profits. We need a permanent moratorium on nuclear power plants and a deactivation of nuclear plants near earthquake faultlines and other unstable areas in the US and eventual decommissioning of all such facilities," said Michael Canney, co-chair of the Green Party of Florida, who has led efforts to stop a proposed new nuclear plant in Levy County, Florida (http://gp.org/greenpages-blog/?p=2143).
Greens noted further that insurance companies have acknowledged the dangers posed by nuclear power plants, including vulnerability to natural disaster and sabotage, and have been exempted from insuring such plants under the Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act. Hundreds of spent fuel pools across the US remain a serious danger to public health.
On Sunday, March 13, the US Green Party's International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl) sent a message of condolence and solidary to the Green Party of Japan. The message was addressed to Japanese Green leaders Shuji Imamoto and Satoko Watanabe and signed by International Committee co-chairs Marian Douglas-Ungaro and Justine McCabe and US representatives to the Global Green Network (Romi Elnagar, John Rensenbrink, and Bahram Zandi):
"On behalf of the Green Party of the United States, we extend our deepest sympathies and concern to the victims of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant disaster in Japan. With great sorrow, we also acknowledge that Japanese Greens' warning against the dangers of nuclear power has now become a reality. We stand ready to aid our fellow Green Party members and the people of Japan in whatever way we can." (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl/statement-on-japan.html)
See also:
• "Fukushima Radioactive Release Should Serve as Warning Greens Urge Obama to Withdraw Loan Guarantees for Nukes," March 12, 2011 press release from the Georgia Green Party (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-state.php?ID=400)
"Green Party of California sympathizes with Japanese people, expresses concern for safety of California, supports dismantling all nuclear power plants and shift to 'greener, safer power sources'," March 14, 2011 press release from the Green Party of California (http://www.cagreens.org/press/pr110314.shtml)
• "Greens call President Obama's resurrection of nuclear power and handout for Georgia nuclear reactors his 'worst idea yet'," February 18, 2010 press release from the Green Party of the United States (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=297).
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus
• Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php
"Nuclear reactor crisis: Is radiation a threat to US?"
By Peter Grier, The Christian Science Monitor, March 14, 2011
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0314/Nuclear-reactor-crisis-Is-radiation-a-threat-to-US
"U.S. Forces' Off Japan Receive Treatment for Radioactive Contamination"
PanOrient News, March 14, 2011
http://www.panorientnews.com/en/news.php?k=844
Fact Sheet on Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant (with updates)
Nuclear Information and Resource Service
http://www.nirs.org/reactorwatch/accidents/Fukushimafactsheet.pdf
'GreenStream Wednesday': Weekly news and discussion on the Green Party's Livestream channel
http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States (Fall 2010 issue now online)
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
~ END ~
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Green Party leaders call for a moratorium on nuclear plants, insist that the Fukushima catastrophe quashes the myth that nuclear energy is a safe alternative
• US Greens send a message of sympathy and solidarity to the Japanese Green Party, urge monitoring of radiation in the US and availability of potassium iodide pills for young people in Hawaii, Alaska, and the west coast in the event of a radiation plume from Japan
• GreenStream Wednesday, March 16: discussion of Japan's nuclear disaster and the 23rd anniversary of Three Mile Island, 10 pm ET, 7 pm PT on the Green Party's Livestream channel: http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on nuclear energy, foreign policy, and related topics: http://www.gp.org/speakers/subjects.php
WASHINGTON, DC -- US Green Party leaders urged a moratorium on nuclear power plants and cancellation of license renewals for 23 General Electric reactors in the US that have the same design as reactors in Japan.
Greens also called for a close monitoring by US agencies of radiation levels throughout the Pacific and along the west coast, with accurate information published about any radioactivity discovered in these areas, especially in farm produce and other food supplies. In the event of radioactive emissions from Japanese nuclear power plants damaged by the tsunami, Greens said President Obama must authorize public health agencies to make potassium iodide pills and filtering masks available for young people in Hawaii, Alaska, and the west coast of the contiguous states.
"After the Chernobyl disaster, cancer rates spiked in the Soviet Union and Europe when the radioactive plume from a nuclear reactor meltdown spread thousands of miles. Potassium iodide pills protect people from cancerous radiation and they're not expensive. If there is any hint of a threat to our children, this is a step worth taking," said Audrey Clement, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.
According to the book "Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment," published by the New York Academy of Sciences in 2010, the Chernobyl radiation affected the entire northern hemisphere (http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2010/2010-04-26-01.html).
"The Fukushima power plant catastrophe should deflate the myth that nuclear energy is a safe, clean alternative to fossil fuels. In February 2010, President Obama announced a $5.4 billion loan -- really a subsidy -- for a nuclear plant in Burke County, Georgia, with taxpayers assuming 80% of the financial risk. Nuclear power plants are so expensive and inherently dangerous that private companies won't invest in them, so the nuclear industry forces the public to foot the bill and to guarantee their profits. We need a permanent moratorium on nuclear power plants and a deactivation of nuclear plants near earthquake faultlines and other unstable areas in the US and eventual decommissioning of all such facilities," said Michael Canney, co-chair of the Green Party of Florida, who has led efforts to stop a proposed new nuclear plant in Levy County, Florida (http://gp.org/greenpages-blog/?p=2143).
Greens noted further that insurance companies have acknowledged the dangers posed by nuclear power plants, including vulnerability to natural disaster and sabotage, and have been exempted from insuring such plants under the Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act. Hundreds of spent fuel pools across the US remain a serious danger to public health.
On Sunday, March 13, the US Green Party's International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl) sent a message of condolence and solidary to the Green Party of Japan. The message was addressed to Japanese Green leaders Shuji Imamoto and Satoko Watanabe and signed by International Committee co-chairs Marian Douglas-Ungaro and Justine McCabe and US representatives to the Global Green Network (Romi Elnagar, John Rensenbrink, and Bahram Zandi):
"On behalf of the Green Party of the United States, we extend our deepest sympathies and concern to the victims of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant disaster in Japan. With great sorrow, we also acknowledge that Japanese Greens' warning against the dangers of nuclear power has now become a reality. We stand ready to aid our fellow Green Party members and the people of Japan in whatever way we can." (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl/statement-on-japan.html)
See also:
• "Fukushima Radioactive Release Should Serve as Warning Greens Urge Obama to Withdraw Loan Guarantees for Nukes," March 12, 2011 press release from the Georgia Green Party (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-state.php?ID=400)
"Green Party of California sympathizes with Japanese people, expresses concern for safety of California, supports dismantling all nuclear power plants and shift to 'greener, safer power sources'," March 14, 2011 press release from the Green Party of California (http://www.cagreens.org/press/pr110314.shtml)
• "Greens call President Obama's resurrection of nuclear power and handout for Georgia nuclear reactors his 'worst idea yet'," February 18, 2010 press release from the Green Party of the United States (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=297).
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus
• Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php
"Nuclear reactor crisis: Is radiation a threat to US?"
By Peter Grier, The Christian Science Monitor, March 14, 2011
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0314/Nuclear-reactor-crisis-Is-radiation-a-threat-to-US
"U.S. Forces' Off Japan Receive Treatment for Radioactive Contamination"
PanOrient News, March 14, 2011
http://www.panorientnews.com/en/news.php?k=844
Fact Sheet on Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant (with updates)
Nuclear Information and Resource Service
http://www.nirs.org/reactorwatch/accidents/Fukushimafactsheet.pdf
'GreenStream Wednesday': Weekly news and discussion on the Green Party's Livestream channel
http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States (Fall 2010 issue now online)
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
~ END ~
Sunday, March 13, 2011
MN Break the Bonds Day on the Hill 3.30.11
It's here. Spread the word!
REGISTER for the MN BBC Day on the Hill by providing your name, address
and/or district, and any contact information you wish to
rsvp@breakthebonds.org or 612.354.2960.
See below for links to facebook & Twitter, and for information about how to
volunteer and/or donate!
Invite your friends on facebook! http://on.fb.me/g3Zevm
Follow MN BBC on TWITTER: http://bit.ly/eZlKEk
Volunteer! E-mail mn@breakthebonds.org to express interest.
There are many tasks to be done in the next few weeks, and on the actual day
of the event, so please tell us about any time, talents, or treasure you
have to give!
Donate! to help cover the costs of the event. Find the Paypal link on our
website by scrolling half-way down the home page:
http://mn.breakthebonds.org.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
GP RELEASE Greens support Wisc. public employees, urge wider protest against budget policies that slash benefits, collective bargaining
GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
The Green Party supports Wisconsin public employees, urges wider protest against policies that cut benefits and eliminate collective bargaining
• Greens denounce austerity budgets, calling them a ploy to balance budgets on the backs of working people, destroy unions, and enlarge the power of corporations
• Green solution to deficits and economic recession: rescind tax cuts for the rich, end the wars and reduce military spending, enact Medicare For All and public works programs
• 'GreenStream Wednesday' on Feb. 23: online show will feature Wisconsin Green leaders and an elected Oshkosh City Council member, 10 pm ET, 7 pm PT, on the Green Party Livestream Channel (http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus).
WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders declared today that the party solidly supports Wisconsin's public-sector employees protesting a bill introduced by Gov. Scott Walker to eliminate their benefits and collective bargaining rights.
"We in the Green Party are standing out front on this issue by standing with our labor and public service brothers and sisters here in Wisconsin," said AJ Segneri, co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party (http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org).
On Feb. 17, the Wisconsin Greens issued a statement affirming that their party "salutes the state’s public workers, and stands in solidarity with their fight to retain full collective bargaining rights with their employers" (http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org/?q=node/97).
On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Wisconsin Wave will hold a demonstration at a conference of Wisconsin Manufacturing and Commerce (WMC), which includes the state's top corporate lobbyists (http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org/?q=node/97). Wisconsin Wave is a project of the Liberty Tree Foundation and the Center for Media and Democracy; Liberty Tree's founder and executive director is Ben Manski, a Green who ran for the Wisconsin state legislature in 2010 and received the best numbers for an independent party candidate since 1944.
Greens speak out on the Wisconsin uprising:
• Laura Wells, 2010 Green Party candidate for Governor of California: "At long last, Americans are pushing back against the rule of our country by corporate oligarchies. We've been inspired by the courage of people in countries like Egypt and Tunisia, and now by public employees in Wisconsin. This is more than a struggle to preserve benefits and collective bargaining rights in a single state. It's about saving the infrastructure of our democracy and preventing the US from lapsing into a new Robber Baron Era reminiscent of the late 19th century. We hope that the fire of protest spreads to every state where such budgets are proposed, whether by Democrats in California or Republicans in Wisconsin. It’s a thrill to see working people take back their rights, their freedoms, and their financial security."
• AJ Segneri, co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party: "Gov. Walker's bill to strip benefits and bargaining rights from state workers, based on the claim of a state deficit, is an old Republican trick. The governor enacted tax breaks and special interest spending for the top income brackets, then introduced a bill to solve the resulting deficit on the backs of working people in Wisconsin and break up the public employees' unions. The 14 Democratic state legislators in Wisconsn deserve our praise for denying Gov. Walker his quorum. National Democratic leaders should follow their example, instead of demanding sacrifice from working people and the needy while excusing the wealthy and corporations from paying their fair share in taxes. President Obama's budget plan would place a five-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending, affecting programs like heating assistance to low-income Americans and community-service block grants, as well as cuts in
money for water treatment plants and other environmental projects and higher interest on federal loans for graduate students. The rampaging union-busting extremism of the GOP and their billionaire supporters like the Koch brothers doesn't justify the Obama austerity plan."
• Howie Hawkins, 2010 Green candidate for Governor of New York: "The biggest myth is that these deficits are caused by excessive social spending and generous wages and benefits for public workers. The real cause is tax cuts for the rich, runaway military spending, and a recession triggered by the subprime mortage crisis, which was caused by deregulation of the financial industry. The Green Party proposes the obvious solution. One, call US troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan and reduce military spending. Two, roll back the tax cuts and loopholes for wealthy individuals and corporations. Three, enact Medicare For All, which will save 30% by eliminating private insurance administrative overhead and reduce the cost of health insurance for public workers. Medicare For All will also stimulate the economy by relieving the financial burden on business of providing health benefits, enabling negotiation to bring down skyrocketing drug prices and other
health costs, promoting competition by letting everyone choose which physician or hospital to visit, and saving tens of thousands of people from financial ruin over medical costs every year. And four, initiate major public works projects in conservation, green energy, public transportation, and repair of infrastructure. Presidents like FDR and Eisenhower proved that public works boost the economy for everyone."
• Tony Palmeri, Green city council member in Oshkosh serving his second term: "Gov. Walker says he wants to give local governments the tools to balance our budgets -- including a hammer to destroy collective bargaining rights. We reject his tools of divisiveness, and instead ask state government for assistance based on Green values, such as fairer distribution of shared revenue dollars to support local budgets; an end to needless budget-busting and polluting road projects; a fairer distribution of tax dollars to support equity in our K-12 system; increased grant money for college students; an end to special-interest tax breaks for the wealthy that drain millions of dollars from the budget; a progressive tax system based on ability to pay; and a green jobs program to help us build a sustainable, economically viable future. These measures, taken together, would save the state money and restore Wisconsin's tradition as a laboratory for progressive ideas
and democracy. Citizen activism has demonstrated, in an inspiring way, that we will not let Mr. Walker and his corporate sponsors bury that tradition."
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus
• Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php
Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States (Fall 2010 issue now online)
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
~ END ~
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
The Green Party supports Wisconsin public employees, urges wider protest against policies that cut benefits and eliminate collective bargaining
• Greens denounce austerity budgets, calling them a ploy to balance budgets on the backs of working people, destroy unions, and enlarge the power of corporations
• Green solution to deficits and economic recession: rescind tax cuts for the rich, end the wars and reduce military spending, enact Medicare For All and public works programs
• 'GreenStream Wednesday' on Feb. 23: online show will feature Wisconsin Green leaders and an elected Oshkosh City Council member, 10 pm ET, 7 pm PT, on the Green Party Livestream Channel (http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus).
WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders declared today that the party solidly supports Wisconsin's public-sector employees protesting a bill introduced by Gov. Scott Walker to eliminate their benefits and collective bargaining rights.
"We in the Green Party are standing out front on this issue by standing with our labor and public service brothers and sisters here in Wisconsin," said AJ Segneri, co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party (http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org).
On Feb. 17, the Wisconsin Greens issued a statement affirming that their party "salutes the state’s public workers, and stands in solidarity with their fight to retain full collective bargaining rights with their employers" (http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org/?q=node/97).
On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Wisconsin Wave will hold a demonstration at a conference of Wisconsin Manufacturing and Commerce (WMC), which includes the state's top corporate lobbyists (http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org/?q=node/97). Wisconsin Wave is a project of the Liberty Tree Foundation and the Center for Media and Democracy; Liberty Tree's founder and executive director is Ben Manski, a Green who ran for the Wisconsin state legislature in 2010 and received the best numbers for an independent party candidate since 1944.
Greens speak out on the Wisconsin uprising:
• Laura Wells, 2010 Green Party candidate for Governor of California: "At long last, Americans are pushing back against the rule of our country by corporate oligarchies. We've been inspired by the courage of people in countries like Egypt and Tunisia, and now by public employees in Wisconsin. This is more than a struggle to preserve benefits and collective bargaining rights in a single state. It's about saving the infrastructure of our democracy and preventing the US from lapsing into a new Robber Baron Era reminiscent of the late 19th century. We hope that the fire of protest spreads to every state where such budgets are proposed, whether by Democrats in California or Republicans in Wisconsin. It’s a thrill to see working people take back their rights, their freedoms, and their financial security."
• AJ Segneri, co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party: "Gov. Walker's bill to strip benefits and bargaining rights from state workers, based on the claim of a state deficit, is an old Republican trick. The governor enacted tax breaks and special interest spending for the top income brackets, then introduced a bill to solve the resulting deficit on the backs of working people in Wisconsin and break up the public employees' unions. The 14 Democratic state legislators in Wisconsn deserve our praise for denying Gov. Walker his quorum. National Democratic leaders should follow their example, instead of demanding sacrifice from working people and the needy while excusing the wealthy and corporations from paying their fair share in taxes. President Obama's budget plan would place a five-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending, affecting programs like heating assistance to low-income Americans and community-service block grants, as well as cuts in
money for water treatment plants and other environmental projects and higher interest on federal loans for graduate students. The rampaging union-busting extremism of the GOP and their billionaire supporters like the Koch brothers doesn't justify the Obama austerity plan."
• Howie Hawkins, 2010 Green candidate for Governor of New York: "The biggest myth is that these deficits are caused by excessive social spending and generous wages and benefits for public workers. The real cause is tax cuts for the rich, runaway military spending, and a recession triggered by the subprime mortage crisis, which was caused by deregulation of the financial industry. The Green Party proposes the obvious solution. One, call US troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan and reduce military spending. Two, roll back the tax cuts and loopholes for wealthy individuals and corporations. Three, enact Medicare For All, which will save 30% by eliminating private insurance administrative overhead and reduce the cost of health insurance for public workers. Medicare For All will also stimulate the economy by relieving the financial burden on business of providing health benefits, enabling negotiation to bring down skyrocketing drug prices and other
health costs, promoting competition by letting everyone choose which physician or hospital to visit, and saving tens of thousands of people from financial ruin over medical costs every year. And four, initiate major public works projects in conservation, green energy, public transportation, and repair of infrastructure. Presidents like FDR and Eisenhower proved that public works boost the economy for everyone."
• Tony Palmeri, Green city council member in Oshkosh serving his second term: "Gov. Walker says he wants to give local governments the tools to balance our budgets -- including a hammer to destroy collective bargaining rights. We reject his tools of divisiveness, and instead ask state government for assistance based on Green values, such as fairer distribution of shared revenue dollars to support local budgets; an end to needless budget-busting and polluting road projects; a fairer distribution of tax dollars to support equity in our K-12 system; increased grant money for college students; an end to special-interest tax breaks for the wealthy that drain millions of dollars from the budget; a progressive tax system based on ability to pay; and a green jobs program to help us build a sustainable, economically viable future. These measures, taken together, would save the state money and restore Wisconsin's tradition as a laboratory for progressive ideas
and democracy. Citizen activism has demonstrated, in an inspiring way, that we will not let Mr. Walker and his corporate sponsors bury that tradition."
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/ballotstatus
• Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php
Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States (Fall 2010 issue now online)
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
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