Keystone Progress

Campaigns

• We need a plan to address climate change

  “Last year was the hottest on record for the contiguous United States, shattering the previous mark set in 1998 by a wide margin, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Tuesday. The average temperature was 55.3 degrees, 1 degree above the previous record and 3.2 degrees more than the 20th-century average. Temperatures were above normal in every month between June 2011 and September 2012, a 16-month stretch that hasn’t occurred since the government began keeping such records in 1895.” (Washington Post, January 8, 2013) That staggering news is being ignored by the media and our elected leaders. Climate Change wasn’t addressed in last year’s elections, and there is no serious legislation moving through Congress to address it. Climate Change is probably the most important issue we face right now, even more important than the federal budget, gun violence and other serious issues. If we don’t address climate change, then none of these other issues will matter. Our elected officials—Democrats and Republicans—are ignoring the reality of Climate Change. The media don’t report on it. So it’s up to us to demand a serious plan to address Climate Change. Send President Obama and Congress this simple message.

  13,013 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Michael Morrill
• Legalize Marijuana in Pennsylvania

  State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) has legislation that will allow marijuana to be grown and sold legally in PA. “The modern prohibition of marijuana does a disservice to Pennsylvania by tying up our resources in the prosecution of its users; by depriving us of the revenue that this marijuana could generate; and by denying the Pennsylvanians suffering from terminal illnesses access to a natural medicine that could take away their pain,” Leach said. “It’s time we legalize marijuana and reap the benefits it has to offer.” What benefits could we reap? • Money to balance the state budget. Based on national figures, there is at least $3.4 billion in illegal sales of marijuana in PA each year. If we legalized it and taxed it at 6% it would generate $200 million. If we sold it in the State Wine and Spirit Shoppes, we could generate another $680 million with a 20% markup. • Fewer people in prison, lower costs for taxpayers. Approximately 25,000 citizens are arrested annually in Pennsylvania for marijuana-related offenses, at a cost of some $325 million dollars. • Legal access to a widely used medicine. Marijuana has legitimate medicinal uses and should be available to those who need it without risking arrest or dealing with underworld criminals. • A lucrative cash crop for PA farmers. Those who choose to grow marijuana will have a crop that can reap great profits. • An end to organized dealing in marijuana. Marijuana is the number money-maker for organized crime. Legalizing ends their participation in its trafficking and the associated violence. And that’s just the beginning. It’s time to end the hypocrisy, help to balance our state budget and end the 21st century version of Prohibition.

  17,014 of 20,000 Signatures

  Created by Michael Morrill
• Don't let Bayer avoid responsibility for injuries to women

  Another example of corporations attacking our rights: This time, it is an attempt to squelch our ability to sue big corporations. The birth control pill Yasmin, or Yaz, has been shown to cause blood clots in blood vessels that can lead to death.1 According to recent studies, Yaz carries triple the risk over traditional birth control pills. 2 So what is the response of Bayer, the manufacturer of Yaz? They are trying to prevent women from being able to sue for damages by changing the rules by which plaintiffs can pool their efforts to sue when there is a large number of claims of damages against a product. Cases like this are expensive to litigate, and unless working people can join together in what’s called “mass tort,” lawyers won’t be able to build a winnable case against corporations like Bayer with their untold billions of dollars in resources. There are already thousands of cases filed against Bayer, with many more to come. Bayer wants to change the rules, effectively separating the cases, requiring tens of thousands of individual trials in courts across the country. If Bayer wins, it will effectively end the possibility of a fair trial for women who are making claims that they were injured or killed by Yaz. And it will mean that other corporations will have a new way to avoid responsibility by manipulating our courts. 3 Tell Bayer to play fair. Sign our petition demanding that they stop their attempt to change the rules. 1 British Medical Journal http://www.bmj.com/content/326/7383/257.full 2 Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/22/idUS87382+22-Apr-2011+PRN20110422 3 While this is in Pennsylvania’s courts, this will have a national impact, since many of these cases are from out of state, and because it will embolden other big corporations to use this tactic.

  10,882 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Michael Morrill
• In spirit of the Women's March, it's time for Equal Rights Amendment

  As women and their supporters marched in Washington and cities around the world Saturday, Sen. Ben Cardin joined with Senate Democrats to reintroduce the Equal Rights Amendment. “Many Americans would be shocked to find out that the U.S. Constitution still lacks a provision ensuring gender equality,” the Maryland Democrat said in a statement. “Think about that: in 2017, women lack the same constitutional protections as men. This is clearly wrong and needs permanent correction.” The 28th amendment would guarantee that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

  10,680 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Michael Morrill
• Tell your Senators: Do your job and give Merrick Garland a hearing

  About Merrick Garland:  Chief Judge Merrick Garland has more federal judicial experience than any other Supreme Court nominee in history. No one is more qualified to immediately serve on the Supreme Court.  He is one of the best appellate judges in the country – a brilliant, meticulous jurist with a knack for building consensus.  That has been true ever since his strong bipartisan confirmation in 1997 to the D.C. Circuit, where he has served as Chief Judge for over three years.  This approach has earned him bipartisan praise throughout his career – he was confirmed with majority support from both parties; Senator Orrin Hatch described him as “a consensus nominee,” and Chief Justice Roberts explained “anytime Judge Garland disagrees, you know you’re in a difficult area.”  Garland has distinguished himself as a jurist who plays it straight and decides every case based on what the law requires. In his own words: “The role of the court is to apply the law to the facts of the case before it—not to legislate, not to arrogate to itself the executive power, not to hand down advisory opinions on the issues of the day.”  Garland has dedicated his life to public service, choosing to serve his country and take on some of the most difficult and significant anti-terrorism cases in our nation’s history.  In the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing, Garland led the investigation and prosecution that ultimately brought Timothy McVeigh to justice – working with federal agents, rescue workers, local officials and others.  Garland also kept in close touch with Oklahoma City victims and their families throughout the case, and for several years afterwards as well.  Beyond the courtroom, Garland is a committed mentor. In addition to mentoring hundreds of law clerks throughout their careers and encouraging them to pursue public service, Garland has for almost twenty years, tutored second, third and fourth grade students in Northeast DC in reading and math.  Garland is a dedicated family man. He and his wife of nearly 30 years, Lynn, have two daughters, Becky and Jessie. The family enjoys skiing, hiking and canoeing, and together they have visited many of America’s national parks.

  10,848 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Michael Morrill
• Pass the Respect for Marriage Act

  Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), it’s time for Congress to completely repeal it. The Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) repeals DOMA. Under RMA, if someone is legally married in any state, the federal government must recognize that marriage. It means that same-sex couples will get all of the federal benefits afforded to opposite-sex couples. Once they are married, same-sex couples will be able to get these benefits no matter what states they live in or travel to. It is common sense legislation that will clarify and legally codify the recent Supreme Court decision that overturned Section 3 of DOMA. Urge your Members of Congress to support the Respect for Marriage Act today.

  18,181 of 20,000 Signatures

  Created by Michael Morrill
• I support Obamacare

  Some of the benefits of the Affordable Care Act • 21.3 million more Americans will get healthcare coverage. • You can’t be denied coverage for preexisting conditions such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure or even cancer. And if you or a family member get sick or injured, insurance companies can’t cut off your coverage or cancel your plan. • Your kids are covered. If you have children, they can stay on your family health insurance plan until they turn 26. • No more dollar limits on your care. You can get the care you need, without having to worry about huge, unexpected medical bills. • Your coverage is protected. An unintentional mistake or minor omission on an application can no longer give your insurance company an excuse to cancel your coverage. More preventive care is covered • Medicare now covers a yearly wellness visit and preventive care at no cost to you. This includes cancer, cholesterol and diabetes screenings, immunizations, diet counseling and more. • Lower prescription drug costs for Medicare, and the “donut hole” will disappear entirely in 2020 • Every state will have a Health Insurance Marketplace where people looking for coverage can go online to shop for health insurance. • For the first time, there’s help available to pay for health coverage. In fact, many people who buy their plan on the marketplace can get help covering the costs. Low-cost or free plans are also available depending on your income. • Small businesses can get tax credits, there are cooperative possibilities to lower costs and many other benefits for the small business owner. • Obamacare requires insurance companies to provide preventive care as part of your coverage including: High blood pressure screening, Diabetes screening, Flu shots, Colorectal cancer screening, Tobacco cessation counseling, Depression screening,HIV screening for those at risk for the disease • Services for Women, including: Mammograms, Cervical cancer screening, Osteoporosis screening, Gestational diabetes screening, Well-woman visits • Services for Children: Immunizations, including flu shots, Autism screening, Behavioral assessments, Development screening, Obesity screening and counseling • Services for Men: Cholesterol screening, Prostate exams

  19,900 of 20,000 Signatures

  Created by Michael Morrill
• Tell Fast Food Companies to Raise Their Wages to $15/hour

  Fast-food jobs pay so little that 52 percent of the families of front-line fast food workers need to rely on public assistance programs, costing taxpayers nearly $7 billion a year. Even at 40 hours a week, more than half of front-line fast-food workers are forced to rely on public assistance to cover basic needs like food, rent and healthcare. Compared to the overall economy, fast-food jobs are twice as likely as other jobs to pay so little that workers are forced to rely on public assistance. We know that workers put their money right back into our economy. Increasing fast food workers’ wages to $15 an hour will not only help struggling families in community make ends meet, it will also spur economic growth. When fast food workers win, this will help lift up all low-wage workers, and improve our entire economy.

  9,224 of 10,000 Signatures

  Created by Michael Morrill
• Tell Sen. Casey to support marriage equality now!

  ***VICTORY!*** Sen. Bob Casey changes heart, comes out for Marriage Equality! Thanks to your tens of thousands of calls and emails, Sen. Bob Casey has announced his support for marriage equality. * * * Only a handful of Democratic U. S. Senators do not support marriage equality for same-sex couples. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania's Bob Casey is one of that tiny minority. Please send Sen. Casey a clear and simple message--It's time to support marriage equality.

  12,891 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Michael Morrill
• Stop the shutdown, fund the government and pay our bills.

  It is outrageous that GOP Members of Congress are willing to destroy our economy to appease their Tea Party members. It's time to tell them to "Cease and Desist." We have had enough of GOP Members of Congress “talking the talk.” Now they need to show real leadership and “walk the walk” by: •Signing the Discharge Petition. With 218 signatures, a vote on a clean CR will be brought to a vote on the Floor of the House of Representatives; •Raising the Debt Ceiling without any conditions. Congress created this debt, now they need to pay the bills; •Telling Speaker Boehner to ‘Cease and Desist’ from his extremist actions that are ruining our country.

  7,189 of 8,000 Signatures

  Created by Michael Morrill