Keystone Progress Calls for Corbett's Resignation

www.corbettmustresign.org

The Office of Attorney General is one of the most important offices in all of government. The Attorney General, as the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth, is responsible for the safety and security of all of the residents of Pennsylvania. The Attorney General has the power to file criminal and civil charges that can end a person’s life, lock someone in prison away from family and friends, and impose penalties that can eradicate a life’s savings.

It is therefore incumbent upon the Attorney General to not only impartially prosecute the laws of the Commonwealth, it is vital that he avoid even the appearance of bias.

In the last few weeks Attorney General Tom Corbett has come under almost daily criticism for appearing to be using the Office of Attorney General for political gain. Among the criticism are the following:

· Corbett has politicized the Office of Attorney General by joining in a highly partisan lawsuit to repeal the recently passed federal healthcare reform legislation. Corbett agreed to join the lawsuit before the bill was even written, meaning he made his decision before reading the legislation. Most constitutional law professors think this suit is frivolous and a politically-motivated waste of taxpayers’ money.

· Questions have been raised about the appearance of selective prosecution of legislators who may have used their legislative staff and offices to run political campaigns. Corbett has pursued the prosecution of mostly Democrats in what has become known as the “Bonusgate Scandal.” Recently, it has been reported that Corbett’s office did not investigate allegations against Republican State Senator Jane Orie. Sen. Orie was indicted by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala after Corbett’s office did not follow up on a complaint by a former Orie intern of her office using legislative staff for the campaign of her sister, now PA Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin.

· Corbett’s campaign staff has admitted that they had been planning to file their suit against the healthcare reform legislation even before he had read the bill, sending out a fundraising mailing in February saying that he is "leading the fight" against "government-run socialized medicine."^1,2

· Corbett has been accused of using his office and staff for his campaign for governor—the same charges he has brought against mostly Democratic lawmakers. The accusations come in a motion filed by the attorney for former State Representative Steve Stetler. The motion also accuses Corbett of selective prosecution, prosecuting Democrats while ignoring similar actions by Republicans. According to the York Daily Record, the allegations in the motion say that “Corbett improperly took control of the grand jury, illegally revealed details of its deliberations to the media, found targets that, if toppled, would benefit his re-election campaign in 2008 and current run for governor, illegally gave key campaign staffers jobs in the Attorney General's office between campaigns, had staffers do campaign work on state time and used campaign resources to further the Bonusgate investigation.”³

· Keystone Progress filed a Right to Know request on March 26 seeking correspondence between the Office of Attorney General and outside entities, seeking to determine if there were political motives behind the Corbett’s decision to join the lawsuit against healthcare reform. To date the AG’s office has not provided that information. ⁴

When there are so many concerns being raised it puts the integrity of the Office of Attorney General in serious question. The Attorney General’s judgment and actions cannot be doubted. His performance must be beyond reproach. That is why so many attorneys general, including Virginia Republican Bob McDonnell, New Hampshire Republican Kelly Ayotte, and even New York’s ethically-challenged Democrat Elliott Spitzer , have resigned when seeking a higher office.

After taking all of these factors into consideration, we have come to the conclusion that it is time for Mr. Corbett to resign as Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The people of the Commonwealth need to trust that the justice system will work impartially, but the clouds of doubt and suspicion that are engulfing Mr. Corbett are raising too many doubts.

We therefore urge Mr. Corbett to resign immediately. www.corbettmustresign.org

Keystone Progress
www.keystoneprogress.org

We are not alone in our questions about the recent actions of Attorney General Corbett.

· The DuBois, PA Courier-Express has called Corbett’s anti-healthcare suit “grandstanding,” “specious,” and “showboating with taxpayer money.”⁵

· The Chambersburg Public Opinion said that the “accusations of hypocrisy warrant investigation.”⁶

· The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board says his lawsuit “clearly looks like a political ploy and a waste of state tax dollars.”⁷

· The York Daily Record said “his [Corbett’s] decision to join a lawsuit seeking to undo the recently passed health care reform package looks a lot like using state resources to make political hay.”⁸

· The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News editorial board declared that “Corbett has gone too far” by joining the anti-reform lawsuit.⁹

· The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that even some Corbett loyalists are questioning his motives. “’He's not representing the people of Pennsylvania, he's representing the Republican Party,” said Ruth Kahn of Warminster.” Kahn is described as a “former Corbett supporter.”¹⁰

¹ Philadelphia Daily News, April 2, 2010 http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/Election_2010_Serendipity_In_The_Mail_For_Tom_Corbett.html

²Philadelphia Daily News, March 31, 2010 http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/89580282.html

³York Daily Record, March 27, 2010 http://www.ydr.com/ci_14770694

⁴PA2010.com, March 26, 2010 http://www.pa2010.com/2010/03/liberal-group-wants-information-on-corbett-health-care-suit-rendell-says-drop-it/?utm_source=PA2010.com+First+Read+Opt-In+List&utm_campaign=364b81ed86-The+First+Read+3/29&utm_medium=email

⁵Courier-Express, March 27, 2010 http://www.leader-vindicator.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20419132&BRD=2758&PAG=461&dept_id=572980&rfi=6

⁶Chambersburg Public Opinion, http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_14773094?source=most_viewed

⁷Philadelphia Inquirer, March 25, 2010 http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/89095067.html

⁸York Daily Record, March 26, 2010 http://www.ydr.com/ci_14764186

⁹Patriot-News, March 26, 2010 http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2010/03/out_of_bounds_attorney_general.html

¹⁰Philadelphia Inquirer, March 28, 2010 http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/89343487.html

Just a question about Corbett and Orie-gate

Why is no one reporting on the fact that Jerry Orie, the brother of Republican State Senator Jane Orie and Republican Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin, works for Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett?

Jerry Orie is the Deputy Attorney General in the Insurance Fraud Section.

Corbett is being accused of selective prosecution for not investigating Jane Orie's use of her Senate staff for her sister's 2009 campaign for Supreme Court. Corbett is running for governor this year, largely on the basis of his record in prosecuting mostly Democrats for using their staffs for political campaigns. Jane was indicted this week by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala after Corbett ignored complaints about the Orie sisters.

We're not suggesting that there's a connection, but I'm surprised that this Orie relationship to Corbett hasn't been reported in any stories related to this issue. At least none that we've seen.

Corbett Uses Legal Loophole to Delay Providing Information on Partisan GOP Health Reform Lawsuit

Corbett Uses Legal Loophole to Delay Providing Information on Partisan GOP Health Reform Lawsuit

Right to Know request delayed up to 30 days to “determine whether the records requested are subject to access.”

(HARRISBURG)—Keystone Progress filed two Right to Know requests with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office on March 26, seeking copies of all correspondence concerning Tom Corbett’s joining in a lawsuit with 12 other Republican Attorneys General to block the federal Affordable Health Care for America Act signed into law last month by President Obama.

Corbett’s office responded by claiming that “a legal review is necessary to determine whether the records requested are subject to access under this act and the extent and nature of the request precludes a response within the required time period. As provided by in the above statute, the Office of Attorney General will require up to an additional 30 calendar days, or until April 30, 2010, in which to provide a final written response to your request.”

Corbett’s response was signed by Robert A. Mulle, Chief Deputy Attorney General and Right to Know Officer for the Office of Attorney General. Mulle was called by Keystone Progress to clarify their position, but has yet to reply. Mulle’s response was dated April 1, but was postmarked April 3, two days after the deadline under PA’s Right to Know Law.

“What is Corbett hiding?” asked Michael Morrill, executive director of Keystone Progress. “This is a straightforward request for information that has nothing to do with the case itself. Our request is for information about the political aspects of how they determined whether to file a suit on a law that hadn’t even been written. This 30 day delay is not necessary if the AG’s office has nothing to hide.”

Corbett has come under increasing criticism in recent days for politicizing the Office of Attorney General. In addition to the obviously political lawsuit challenging healthcare reform, Corbett has been accused of selectively prosecuting mostly Democrats in the “Bonusgate” scandal, while ignoring Republican malfeasance such as Senator Jane Orie’s alleged use of public funds to help elect her sister, state Supreme court Justice Joan Orie Melvin.

The Right to Know request asked for all correspondence to and from Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett and the Attorney General’s staff with individuals inside and outside of Pennsylvania urging Corbett to file the Republican-orchestrated frivolous lawsuit. Corbett’s announcement of filing his suit occurred before anyone had a chance to read the legislation.

The first request is seeking any correspondence between Corbett and his office and entities outside of the Commonwealth. The Attorney General has coordinated his activities with other attorneys general, even before there was legislation to challenge.

The second filing seeks correspondence between Corbett and his office and Members of the General Assembly and their staff. Legislators were encouraging the Attorney General to file a suit, again even before there was legislation.

Keystone Progress created an online petition (http://www.keystoneprogress.org/page/s/pacorbett1) asking Corbett not to file this lawsuit. More than 10,000 people have signed that petition to date.

Great chart on jobs numbers, and more...

While Congressional Republicans are spinning themselves sick today disparaging the encouraging economic news that 162,000 jobs were created in March, including 123,000 jobs in the private sector -- desperately trying to justify their near unanimous opposition to the President’s stimulus program that has since created over 2 million jobs and continuing to shrug off any responsibility for enabling the failed Bush policies that led to the Great Recession in the first place – see below roundup of quick takes from actual economic experts…

CHART SOURCE:

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023170.php

Associated Press: 162,000 Jobs Added in March, most in 3 years; Private employers added 123,000 jobs, the most since May 2007

“There’s a lot of good news in this report,” said Scott Brown, chief economist at Raymond James & Associates Inc. in St. Petersburg, Florida, who had the closest forecast for payrolls. “We’re clearly on the recovery path. We expect to see this continue to build. We’re on our way.”

"The job market is slowly but surely turning the corner from job declines to job gains. Most encouraging is the improvement across more industries," said Mark Zandi, the chief economist at forecaster Moody's Economy.com. "With corporate profits and stock prices up strongly, hiring will revive in coming months."

“Good Friday is apparently a good release date for the U.S. employment report. The last time, the BLS published the employment report on a Good Friday was in April 2007. Back then, nonfarm payrolls rose another strong 239,000 and the unemployment rate fell to a cyclical low of 4.4%. While the overall economic situation couldn’t be more different this time, today’s employment report is the strongest in more than two years. – Harm Bandholz, Unicredit

"While the unemployment rate remained at 9.7 percent, this was a fundamentally good report, indicative of a slightly improving economy, and potentially, an earlier emergence from the job-less recovery than had been previously anticipated," said Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics LLC of Austin, Texas.

"The labor market has turned," Nigel Gault an economist at IHS Global Insight. “Today’s report suggests that the economy has broken through to sustained job creation.”

"It looks like the recovery has finally reached the point where it is actually boosting employment," said Paul Ashworth, senior U.S. economist with Capital Economics of Toronto.

"It's the first month of really solid growth," said Bart van Ark, chief economist at the Conference Board, a business-membership and research organization in New York. "We see the job gains spreading across the economy."

"The labor market is on the cusp of generating a sustained but moderate increase in new jobs," said Steven Wood, economist at Insight Economics, in a note.

The top economist at the U.S. Treasury Department said the job growth suggests the labor market is stabilizing and that federal policies targeting the jobs crisis are working. "The report confirms that our policies are helping to improve the jobs picture," said Treasury Chief Economist Alan Krueger, although he noted the report at the same time "makes us aware of how much damage the recession has caused."

“The most salient insight to be gleaned from these data is the net gain excluding weather and census effects, and that is positive. Despite the distortions in these data, the labor market definitely improved in March, and the trend in the payroll statistics is decidedly positive. The March nonfarm payroll data was slightly weaker than expected and the revision to the prior two months, January and February, was positive.” –Ray Stone, Stone & McCarthy

“Jobs grew 162,000 in March with important signals of improvement in services (trade/transportation, business services, leisure & hospitality) and manufacturing (up 3 months in a row) sectors.”– John Silvia, Wells Fargo

“Particularly encouraging was the increase in hiring in the service sector, which always lags the overall recovery. We attach particular importance to hiring in the trade and transport sector which are leading indicators of a resurgence of growth. Recent manufacturing data strongly suggest that increasing production should stimulate future job growth and three consecutive months of new hiring in the trade and transport sector do provide a useful leading indicator that the economy should see a modest boost in private sector employment going forward. – Joseph Brusuelas, Brusuelas Analytics

“The third increase in jobs in the past five months indicates that the labor market has begun to stabilize. The increases were broad-based with 60 percent of the industries hiring. Manufacturing has turned the corner adding 45,000 jobs so far this year. More than 58 percent of the manufacturers have increased employment along with more overtime and hours worked. Temporary employment, a good sign of an improving labor market, continues to increase.” – Sung Won Sohn, Smith School of Business and Economics

Source:

Our friends at www.AmericansUnitedforChange.org

Tim Burns doesn't know which district he's running in

(Hint: it's CD 12)

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Tim Burns' newsletter has another blunder from Burns. This time he says he's running in the 20th District. PA only has 19 districts.

This follows his Tweet last week where he misunderstood the need for the CBO report before passing the Healthcare Reform Bill.

Burns may be giving the Democrats lots of ammunition that he's not ready for prime time.

Here's the P-G article:

http://earlyreturns.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=222:burns-running-for-pa-20&catid=53:post-gazette-staff&Itemid=34

Corbett trying to kill healthcare reform

Just hours after Congress passed health insurance reform, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett joined a lawsuit to block it. He joined 10 other Republican attorneys general who are pledging to take it to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Tom Corbett is using our tax dollars to sue the United States in an effort to block health care reforms that offer huge benefits to the people of our state. Who is he representing?

We know Corbett isn't representing the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians with pre-existing conditions who will be guaranteed coverage, or the 151,000 small businesses who will receive tax credits and other assistance to help them afford coverage, or the 2.2 million people who will receive improved Medicare benefits, or the 10.7 million residents with health insurance who are now protected from arbitrary premium hikes and insurance cancellations if they get sick.¹

Does Tom Corbett represent you?

If you don't want Attorney General Corbett to file this suit in your name, now is the time to speak out! We need Tom Corbett to hear from thousands of people across the state: don't sacrifice Washington's health for partisan politics. Please click on the link below to sign our petition. Then forward this email to your friends and ask them to sign as well.

http://www.keystoneprogress.org/page/s/pacorbett1

This reform will benefit nearly every family in Pennsylvania. A congressional analysis found that this bill will:

* Protect 10.7 million residents with health insurance from arbitrary premium hikes and insurance cancellations if they get sick.
* Provide tax credits and other assistance to up to 904,000 families and 151,000 small businesses in PA to help them afford coverage.
* Improve Medicare for 2.2 million people in PA.
* Extend insurance coverage to 1.3 million uninsured residents.
* Guarantee that the more than 500,000 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.
* Reduce the national debt by over $1 trillion over the next 20 years.²

Despite these benefits for the people of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett is putting partisan politics above good policy by trying to maintain the status quo of our broken health care system.

He thinks this will help him win his campaign for governor. We need him to hear from thousands of people across the state: don't sacrifice Pennsylvania's health for partisan politics.

Help us make sure Tom Corbett understands that he does not represent the people of Pennsylvania if he continues to pursue this suit. Please click on the link below to sign our petition, and then forward it to your friends.

http://www.keystoneprogress.org/page/s/pacorbett1

Michael Morrill

How does the Healthcare Reform Bill affect your district?

The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce has produced a district-by-district review of how the pending legislation would affect people.

http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1924:benefits-of-health-care-reform-district-by-district-impact&catid=169:legislation&Itemid=55

WE WON! 75,000 emails in 24 hours convince Sen. Committee to kill anti-marriage equality bill

Thanks to you and your hard work the Pennsylvania State Senate Judiciary Committee just voted 8-6 to table SB 707! SB 707 is the bill to amend the PA Constitution to ban same sex marriage. This is a huge victory for us, since the vote effectively kills the bill.

This is your victory. We had over 120,000 emails sent to senators, over 75,000 in the last 24 hours! In addition, our allies and friends generated thousands more phone calls, emails and letters.

We should celebrate, but we need to remain vigilant. It is unlikely, but it is possible that the bill could come to life again. Especially if they think we aren't going to act again.

Please encourage your friends and family to join us at www.keystoneprogress.org

Also, help us maintain our network with your financial contribution. Any amount can help. You can donate at http://www.keystoneprogress.org/page/contribute/kspdonate

Congratulations on your incredible victory.

For Equality,

Michael Morrill
for the Keystone Progress Team

Stop PA from banning same sex marriage

The PA State Senate’s Judiciary Committee is voting on Tuesday to take away your rights! Anti-LGBT legislators plan to vote to put a ban on same sex marriage in the PA Constitution. If they succeed, it could take a generation before we LGBT people can have a chance to marry in Pennsylvania.

We can’t let this happen! Click here to send an email to all members of the Judiciary Committee NOW!

Anti-LGBT Senator John Eichelberger, who last year made headlines for saying that he is “allowing them (LGBT couples) to exist,” is the leader of this effort to put discrimination into the PA Constitution. If he wins, it will send a message throughout PA and across the nation that bigotry is acceptable and legal.

Take action now! Email the Judiciary Committee this simple message: “Vote NO on SB 707. Don't put bigotry in the PA Constitution.”

Then send this to everyone you know RIGHT NOW! We need thousands of emails TODAY to stop this bill.

I love Keystone Progress

I love Keystone Progress. There, I said it. After my family, it's the most important thing in my life right now. And it's not just because it provides my paycheck. I could work somewhere else and make more money for a lot less work. I love KP because I love Pennsylvania and I love my country. I love Keystone Progress because it is one of the organizations making a real difference.

KP is helping to build a permanent progressive political majority in Pennsylvania. And it's providing hope for progressives, when despair is as deep as the snowfall from a one-two blizzard punch. Republican obstructionism in Congress, the rise of the regressive Tea Party movement and the Supreme Court's recent decision to give corporations free rein to buy our elections are enough to cause many to throw up their hands in surrender.

But Keystone Progress, and our allies, have refused to quit. Instead, we are audacious enough to believe that we can still win healthcare for every American, equal rights for LGBT people, a growing economy that guarantees a living wage for all, a clean environment, and a society that includes everyone in its common wealth.

KP has accomplished much in its brief existence:

• Built on online progressive action list of over 220,000 subscribers.
• Organized the PA Progressive Summit, training nearly 600 activists
• Produced over 150,000 letters, emails and faxes to elected officials
• Generated over 3,000 news stories in media around PA and across the country.
• Exposed: "Joe" the "Plumber" as a paid shill for corporations; hatred and racism in the McCain/Palin campaign with our videos (over 2.5 million views); the bigotry of Sen. John Eichelberger and Rep. Daryl Metcalfe
• Assisted dozens of other progressive organizations in their communication needs

I love Keystone Progress, what it has done, and what it can do in 2010-if we have the funding. We rely on our friends for our support.

That's why I'm asking you to send a Valentine gift today. https://secure.keystoneprogress.org/page/contribute/paval Make a contribution to Keystone Progress today and we'll send an email letting your Valentine know that not only are you thinking of him/her, you are honoring your Valentine with a gift that will help make Pennsylvania a better place to live and to love. Or you can just make a contribution without the Valentine.

Your contribution will help us continue our work as the communication hub for PA's progressive community. We'll use every dollar to make a difference on the issues you care about.

Show your love. Make the most generous contribution you can afford to help us build a progressive future in PA.

In Solidarity (and love),

Michael Morrill, Executive Director
www.keystoneprogress.org

Even Fox News is reporting that ACORN has properly used its federal funding

Even Fox News is now reporting that ACORN has properly spent all of its Federal funding.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/22/acorn-properly-spent-federal-funds-congressional-study-says/?test=latestnews

How many people will die from lack of healthcare due to Republican inaction?

Congressional District	Incumbent	No. of Dead
Pennsylvania 5	Glenn Thompson	64
Pennsylvania 6	Jim Gerlach	49
Pennsylvania 9	Bill Shuster	83
Pennsylvania 15	Charles W. Dent	54
Pennsylvania 16	Joseph R. Pitts	77
Pennsylvania 18	Tim Murphy	40
Pennsylvania 19	Todd Russell Platts	51

While Republican Members of Congress oppose any meaningful healthcare reform, here are the numbers of people who will die in their districts this year.

Thanks to Rep. Alan Grayson (D,FL) for the list. To view the entire list, go to:

http://grayson.house.gov/Deaths%20by%20Congressional%20District.doc

ACME/Supervalu cuttings workers' hours to avoid paying for healthcare

Four months ago community organizations and health care advocates across the commonwealth stood side by side with the employees of ACME/Supervalu and their union, helping the parties to reach a fair agreement for both sides The agreement overwhelmingly supported by the 4,000 union members at ACME/ Supervalu gave the employer some economic relief and preserved health care benefits and pension rights for our union members.

Now ACME/Supervalu has reneged on their agreement and started to cut the hours of many part-time employees below the level required to earn benefits without regard to our long standing negotiated seniority provisions in our contract. Hundreds of workers would immediately lose their health care benefits if ACME has their way.

Local 1776 is fighting Acme on many fronts. However, we need your help and appreciate your efforts to tell Acme that you are not going to stand by while they deprive working Pennsylvanians’ of health insurance

At a time when we are so close to winning major health care reform for all Americans we cannot allow ACME/Supervalu to dump these hardworking women and men from our negotiated employer based health care plans.

You have helped these workers, your neighbors before, we are asking for your help again.

Please contact Judy Spires by email Judy.Spires@supervalu.com

by phone 610 889 4202, or write her; Judy Spires, President / Acme Markets Inc./ 75 valley Stream Parkway / Malvern PA 19355

We would also appreciate copies of your correspondence with Judy Spires or the staff at ACME Supervalu and if you could share this e-mail with your lists.

Thank you in advance for your help on behalf of the 4,000 members of UFCW 1776 working at ACME Markets and their President Wendell W. Young IV. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

John Meyerson

Director of Legislation & Political Action

United Food and Commercial Workers 1776

3031A Walton Rd

Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

610 940 1811

jmeyerson@ufcw1776.org

Coalition of Progressive Groups Announces First Gubernatorial Debate

Coalition of Progressive Groups Announces First Gubernatorial Debate
All five major Democratic candidates have agreed to face off on January 29, 2010

(HARRISBURG, PA)—A coalition of self-described progressive organizations is hosting the first debate of the 2010 race for governor as a part of the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit. All five Democratic candidates have agreed to participate.

Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, Philadelphia Businessman Tom Knox, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Auditor General Jack Wagner will face questions from an audience made up of progressive activists and leaders from across the state. Tom Corbett and Jim Gerlach were invited to participate but have not yet responded.

The debate will be held on January 29, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey on Lindle Rd. in Swatara Township. It will be hosted by a coalition of progressive organizations, including Keystone Progress, the Service Employees International Union PA State Council, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Alliance for American Manufacturing, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776, Planned Parenthood PA Advocates, United Steelworkers, and PennAction. Dozens of other organizations are already part of the planning process for the debate.

“We are excited about the impact that our gubernatorial debate will have,” said Eileen Connelly, Executive Director of SEIU PA State Council. “Since this is likely to be the first debate, the progressive community will help to set the agenda for the entire campaign.”

Questions will come from the sponsoring organizations and from the audience, which will be made up of participants in the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit. Hundreds of progressive grassroots and netroots leaders and activists will be gathering the weekend of the debate to network and discuss the progressive agenda for 2010.

Rep. Metcalfe call vets "traitors" for supporting clean energy

Representative Daryl Metcalfe is at it again. This time he has called Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans “Traitors” and “Benedict Arnolds” for disagreeing with him on energy policy.

Take action here: http://www.keystoneprogress.org/page/speakout/pametvet

Here’s the story. A group of veterans are traveling across the country on a 21-state bus tour to talk to citizens and local community leaders about the dangers of climate change and its threat to national security. The tour will make stops in Pennsylvania on October 20^th through the 22^nd (see below for the PA schedule).

The tour is sponsored by Operation Free, a coalition of veterans and national security groups working together to raise public awareness about national security threats posed by climate change and the importance of building a clean energy economy that is not tied to fossil fuels. Operation Free and its members support a clean energy plan that cuts carbon pollution, develops clean energy incentives, and puts America in control of its energy future.

The vets in Operation Free invited local elected officials to join them at each of their stops. When Rep. Metcalfe got his invitation this is what he wrote back:

“Subject: Re: Veterans for American Power Bus Tour coming to your state

As a veteran,

I believe that any veteran lending their name, to promote the leftist propaganda of global warming and climate change, in an effort to control more of the wealth created in our economy, through cap and tax type policies, all in the name of national security, is a traitor to the oath he or she took defend the Constitution of our great nation!

Remember Benedict Arnold before giving credibility to a veteran who uses their service as a means to promote a leftist agenda.

Drill Baby Drill!!!

For Liberty,

Daryl Metcalfe

State Representative

Veteran U.S. Army

I happen to agree with the vets that a clean energy plan is in the best interest of our national security. But whether you agree or not, to call someone a “traitor” is beyond outrageous. It is against everything this nation stands for.

Join people from all over Pennsylvania in demanding that Rep. Metcalfe apologize for his insult to our veterans, the Constitution and every American. Click here to fax Metcalfe now: http://www.keystoneprogress.org/page/speakout/pametvet It will only take a minute if you use the letter we’ve drafted, or you can write your own comments to Metcalfe.

Thank you in advance for standing up for our ability to speak out without government persecution.

In Solidarity,

Michael Morrill
Keystone Progress

Join the Vets at one of their Pennsylvania stops:

Pennsylvania Tour SchedulePittsburgh PA: Veterans will hold a press conference, take a tour of the Oakland Veterans Hospital, and have dinner in Pittsburgh.
Press ConferenceWHEN: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 4:00 PM
WHERE: Pittsburgh Jobs Corps Center, 7175 Highland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA

Tour of Oakland Veterans HospitalWHEN: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 5:30 PM
WHERE: Oakland Vets Hospital, University Drive C, Pittsburgh, PA

Toast and DinnerWHEN: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 6:40 PM
WHERE: Primanti Brothers Restaurant, 3803 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA

Harrisburg, PA: Veterans will host a breakfast roundtable with local veterans and a press conference with local veterans and officials. They will then take a tour of a local job training site with union members.
Breakfast Roundtable
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 10:00 AM
WHERE: Bagel Lovers coffee shop, 327 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA

Press conference
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 11:00 AM
WHERE: Capitol Rotunda, 228 Walnut St., Harrisburg, PA
PARTICIPANTS:Paul Bachman, Central PA Building Trades President
Terry Peck, UA Local 520 Business Manager
Local veterans

Tour of Job Training Center
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 11:50 AM
WHERE: Plumbers & Pipefittes 520, 7193 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg, PA

Philadelphia, PA: Veterans will host a town hall with State Rep. Brian Lentz
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 4:00 PM
WHERE: Philadelphia City Hall, Mayor's Reception Room (Room 202), Enter through NE entrance of City Hall, near intersection of Juniper and Market Streets.

Scranton, PA: Veterans will host a press conference with local citizens.
WHEN: Thursday, October 22, 2009, 10:15 AM
WHERE: Civil War Memorial for press conference, N. Washington Ave and Spruce Street, Scranton, PA

New Green Jobs Video

Consequence: Now's the Time for Us to Lead

Join the Rally for Single Payer Healthcare

Rally For Single Payer Healthcare:

The Economic Solution:

PA 2009 / United States 2010

Join single payer supporters from all over Pennsylvania in the Capitol Rotunda, 100 N. State St., Harrisburg. Supporting State (HB1660 / SB400) and National (HR676 / S703) Health Care Reform Efforts

Tuesday, October 20, 10 a.m. to 12 noon

Speakers include:
Sen. Jim Ferlo (D, Allegheny)

Wendell Potte, former CIGNA Executive, turned whistle blower and single payer advocate.

Katie Robbins, Assistant National Coordinator, Healthcare-NOW

Donna Smith.………Political Organizer / California Nurses Assn; star of “SiCKO”

Tim Carpenter……...National Director, Progressive Democrats of America

Bill George………………..….President, PA AFL-CIO

Members of the Baucus 8…….Kevin Zeese, Russell Mokhiber, Margaret Flowers and Katie Robbins

For more information:

Visit: www.healthcare4allpa.org/rally.htm

Email: action@healthcare4allpa.org

Call: Eastern PA - Jerry at 717.295.0237

Western PA - Mary Pat at 412.421.4242