On January 23, the US announced that it was withdrawing from the anti-democratic, anti-worker Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement [TPP] and seeking a reopening of the North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA]. The AFL-CIO praised the moves, saying, "Today's announcement that the US is withdrawing from TPP and seeking a reopening of NAFTA is an important first step toward a trade policy that works for working people. While these are necessary actions, they aren’t enough. They are just the first in a series of necessary policy changes required to build a fair and just global economy. We will continue our relentless campaign to create new trade and economic rules that end special privileges for foreign investors and Big Pharma, protect our planet’s precious natural resources and ensure fair pay, safe conditions and a voice in the workplace for all workers." [1] Unfortunately, the Democratic Party still has not taken an official position against the TPP, having rebuffed a campaign led by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Keith Ellison last summer to press the Democratic Party to oppose the TPP. [2] But now we have an opportunity to put the Democratic Party on track towards a pro-worker trade policy as called for by the AFL-CIO. On the weekend of February 24, members of the Democratic National Committee will meet and vote to determine the new DNC chair at the DNC's Winter Meeting. [3] Seven Members of Congress are on the DNC: Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and Reps. Maxine Waters, Barbara Lee, Nancy Pelosi, Danny Davis, Gregory Meeks, and Grace Meng. Reps. Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee have endorsed Keith Ellison's bid to lead the DNC. [4] Of the seven, only Meeks voted for fast track negotiating authority to enable the TPP. [5] If Keith becomes chair of the DNC, passing a DNC resolution that backs withdrawal from TPP and renegotiating NAFTA to be more pro-worker will help enable Keith to advocate for a pro-worker trade policy on behalf of all Democrats. Sign our petition to urge these Democrats to support Keith Ellison's leadership at the DNC by passing a resolution in support of TPP withdrawal and NAFTA renegotiation. References: 1. http://www.aflcio.org/Press-Room/Press-Releases/TPP-Withdrawal-Good-First-Step-Toward-Building-Trade-Policies-that-Benefit-Working-People 2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/06/29/obama-and-sanders-battle-over-tpp-and-the-democratic-platform/ 3. http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/23/13703720/dnc-chair-election-rules-members 4. https://keithfordnc.org/endorsements/ 5. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/tpa-trade-bill-democrat-vote-tally-119331; https://ourfuture.org/20150615/the-28-democrats-who-voted-for-fast-track

If caring for triplets isn't a job, we don't know what is! Maybe this multi-millionaire needs a time-out from politics to try out caregiving himself. We know we need someone who understands the challenges facing American families and their budgets. Mulvaney failed to pay $15,000 in taxes for four years of this woman's work. (Making around $60,000 a year sure sounds like work!) Yet once he was in office, he supported four separate pieces of legislation to keep anyone with unpaid tax debts out of the government. Now he's writing it off as an "oops." We know this means at least one of these two things: 1) He thinks, like Donald Trump, that it's just good business to try to get away with not paying your taxes 2) That raising his triplet children wasn't real work As Americans, parents, and taxpayers, we know neither is true nor acceptable. The Senate Budget Committee must hold Mulvaney to his own standards and only approve someone who is capable of good, honest home economics!

The border wall that Donald Trump has demanded for years would be an ecological disaster, an enormous waste of money, and an international symbol of intolerance that doesn't represent America's values. But Trump has said that he will shut down the government unless Congress gives him $5 billion for the wall. Congress should not let Trump take our government hostage. Even many Republicans know that the border wall is a bad idea. The money could be better spent on projects related to health care, education, and the economy.

President Trump just signed an executive order that could allow work on the Dakota Access Pipeline to proceed—threatening the water of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and 17 million people who live and work along the shore of the Missouri River. Federal disclosure forms filed in May of 2016 showed that President Donald Trump held shares in Energy Transfer Partners and Phillips 66, both part of the DAPL entity. A Trump spokesperson announced--without offering any proof--that he had sold off his shares in Energy Transfer Partners, but not Phillips 66. Trump's team has claimed he has no conflict of interest, but their word is not enough. If the President has truly divested, he should easily be able to prove it and put the claim to rest. If he cannot, he has no business signing executive orders that cause conflicts of interest.

Our tax dollars need to fund services that help all Americans. Please use our money wisely.

Solving climate change by pretending it does not exists and putting out propaganda to the uneducated is unacceptable at a minimum. Resist!

Earlier this week, a series of gag orders were issued against federal agencies thus preventing the public from having access to their work and access to information. This is Un-American and there is not even any "national security" reason for this attack on our values of freedom.

Gag orders on government agencies hamper the important work that needs to be done. It keeps these agencies from working together, from sharing information with the American public, and destroys transparency necessary in a true democracy. It is UnAmerican and goes against our first amendment right to free speech. The president is creating a fascist regime that must be stopped.

Donald Trump has nominated a slate of inexperienced, anti-government and/or ethically compromised men and women to his cabinet. We call upon our Senator to question, vet and be prepare to reject those who are unfit to represent the American People as cabinet members. That's why we are asking Arizona Senators John McCain & Jeff Flake to drain the swamp by standing up to Trump's cabinet picks.

The current social and political climate is turbulent, to say the least. There are many questions, accusations, and attacks happening all over our great nation. Many people feel powerless, ignored, and betrayed. Others feel emboldened to continue ideologies of intolerance. I am posing this question with a deep respect for the constitution its powers, and our democracy.

Americans deserve, and largely have, elections systems that are safe & accurate. There’s always room for improvement -- and we’re working to ensure that all states implement reforms ensuring the fairness and accessibility of the franchise -- but it doesn’t help to spread lies that undermine confidence in our democracy and pave the way for voter suppression. That’s why it’s so alarming that, according to the New York Times, President Trump “asserted that between three million and five million unauthorized immigrants voted for Mrs. Clinton” at a meeting with Congressional leaders. The Times continues, “Voting officials across the country have said there is virtually no evidence of people voting illegally, and certainly not millions of them.” It’s more than just “alternative facts” -- there are no facts at all that support what President Trump is saying. As President, Trump should be working to improve our elections systems -- not telling lies that undermine confidence in them. And this lie should worry you more than most: because lawmakers have invoked the myths Trump is pushing to justify a wave of voter suppression laws in states across the nation. With Trump now threatening to use his presidency to crack down on this -- we could soon see nationwide voter suppression efforts. Between this and his nomination of lifelong voting rights foe Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, we must stand vigilant against any attempts by the Trump Administration to limit our right to vote. We expect and demand better from our leaders at the top. That’s why it’s so important to call out Donald Trump’s election lies for what they are. Please add your name and tell President Trump to stop lying about our elections, and give up his witch hunt after voters.

He does not represent the views and values of the community he has been charged with serving, nor does he represent the values of an effective elected official. His attitude and opinions are universally unacceptable in today's world.