AzAN to Congress: Let's Get to Work Without a public option that will hold insurance companies accountable, there is no meaningful health care reform
PHOENIX, AZ - Responding to President Obama's
address to Congress Wednesday evening, Linda Brown, executive director of the
Arizona Advocacy Network called on Congress to represent the interests of the
American people - not the insurance companies - and pass quality, affordable
health care reform with a public health insurance option.
"We support the President in his call for genuine health care
reform and that means fixing the real health care challenges that the American
people face," Brown said. "I speak as an advocate and as one with personal
experience. Last year I was 'recissioned' by my health insurance company after
they refused to pay for an in-network PET scan prescribed by my in-network
doctor. They actually returned my premium check and left me with no coverage.
Arizonans have limited choices among insurance companies. My present insurance
company required that I sign a waiver agreeing that they would permanently
exclude two of my health issues from coverage. Fortunately for now, these
health issues aren't that serious, but what happens to people who need costly
treatments in order to survive? In the richest country in the world, no one
should have to worry that a treatable health problem could either bankrupt them
or lead to an early death."
Brown added that
affordability must be the cornerstone of health care reform - and to make health
care affordable, insurance companies must be held accountable. "Without a public
health insurance option, the health insurance companies win and the American
people lose," she said.
Brown said the public health
insurance option will lower costs and stop insurance industry abuses. "We have
an historic opportunity to pass comprehensive reform that gives people a choice
of a public health insurance plan as a guaranteed option with good benefits at a
price that they can afford, so that never again in America will anyone have to
worry about getting the care they deserve when they need it."
Arizona Advocacy Network (AzAN) is an affiliate of USAction.
USAction and AzAN are members of Health Care for America Now (HCAN), the
nation's largest public health care campaign. USAction Executive Director Jeff
Blum serves as co-chair of HCAN's steering committee.
# # #
Arizona Advocacy Network
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2008
Linda Brown
602-622-6641
Bush Budget Seeks $3.1 Billion from
Arizonans to Fund War Advocates and Legislators Say These Funds Needed at Home
Phoenix—In the same year that
Arizona’s legislature struggles to cover a $1.2 billion budget shortfall,
President Bush wants Arizonans to kick in another $1.2 billion to fund the Iraq
war.For the president’s FY ’09 budget,
Arizona's share would be an additional
$1.9 billion.This would bring
Arizona’s total share of the cost of the war to $10.3 billion.On the fifth anniversary of the start of the
war in Iraq, state legislators joined members of the Arizona Advocacy Network
in releasing a report showing the astronomical costs of the war to
Arizonans.They also called on Congress
and President Bush to bring the troops home so that we put that money toward
priorities here at home. “The amount of money we have
poured into this debacle is beyond staggering, and the devastation we have
wrought is unconscionable,” said Linda Brown, executive director of the Arizona
Advocacy Network.“When so many American
families are hurting, and state and local governments are slashing funding for
vital services, how can the president expect American taxpayers to kick in
another $139 billion for Iraq?Congress
must reverse the administration’s upside-down priorities, end the war and
invest in America’s future.” During the past five years
the war has cost U.S taxpayers more than $522 billion.Arizonans’ share of that is $7.2 billion[1].The share for Maricopa County residents is
$4.8 billion[2] and for
residents of the city of Phoenix, $1.8 billion[3].Joseph E. Stiglitz, a Columbia University
economics professor and Nobel Laureate, has estimated that the total cost of
the war will exceed $3 trillion. Nearly 4,000 U.S. troops have
been killed in Iraq, 30,000 more have been wounded, and hundreds of thousands
of Iraqis have lost their lives Beginning this month, the
Arizona Advocacy Network will ask state and local governments to pass
resolutions urging Congress to recognize the massive economic costs of the war
and invest instead in America’s future.According
to Cities
for Peace, at least 280 cities, ten counties
and 17 states have passed resolutions calling on President Bush to bring the
troops home.The effort will emphasize
how real investment in America’s future is possible only if we stop spending
billions of dollars every week in Iraq. “Arizona families support an
economic justice agenda that invests in quality, affordable health care for
all; stronger public schools; and clean energy to end our dependence on oil,”
said Rosie López, a member of the Arizona Advocacy Network.“In order to invest in America’s future, we
need to end the war in Iraq.” The Arizona Advocacy Network
is an affiliate of USAction, which opposed the 2003 invasion and now leads a
national coalition of academics, advocates, grassroots leaders, labor
organizations and others to end the war and invest in America’s Future. The Arizona Advocacy
Network promotes social, economic, racial and environmental justice by
connecting and building power among activists and leaders in those fields, and
by leading efforts for electoral justice and increased civic participation.
Groups Blast McCain for Backing
Bush’s Social Security Privatization Scheme Groups rally outside Social Security office after Senator endorses
Bush’s wildly unpopular privatization plan
Phoenix—Just
days after Sen. John McCain renewed his public support for President Bush’s plan
to privatize Social Security, more than 35 representatives of the Arizona
Advocacy Network, the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans, American
Federation of Government Employees and AFSCME joined a crowd of Social Security
recipients Friday to protest the scheme at a rally outside the 7th
Avenue Social Security office in Phoenix.
In Bush’s budget
proposal for fiscal year 2009, he has again proposed to divert billions of
dollars from the Social Security system into a risky privatization scheme, and,
as part of the plan, cut Social Security benefits for the middle class. “Three
years ago, the American people resoundingly rejected President Bush’s scheme to
privatize Social Security,” said Arizona
Advocacy Network Executive DirectorLinda Brown.“By choosing to reopen the debate and champion one of Bush’s greatest
failures, Senator McCain is advertising how completely out of touch he is.Senator McCain should remember the lessons of
2005, and reverse his support for any legislation that would privatize Social
Security.” "John
McCain and George W. Bush have a lot in common," said Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans President Doug Hart.
"They both want to privatize Social Security. Under the Bush-McCain
scheme, our Social Security benefits would be thrown to the whims of the stock market.
We get all the risk, but Wall Street gets all the reward." "As
Union president I have encountered several horror stories from folks of varying
stations in life, and very little success was experienced in managing their own
funds,” added Tony Thomas, President of
the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3694. “The
advent of stimulus packages and continued interest rate cuts make it very hard
for even experts to manage funds. Past
failures and a total lack of public support make it obvious that privatization
is not the answer." In a Wall
Street Journal interview published on March 3,
McCain said: “As part of Social
Security reform, I believe that private
savings accounts are a part of it – along the lines that President Bush
proposed.” In 2005,
the Arizona
organizations spearheaded the state’s fight against President Bush’s
privatization plan.AZAN, ARA and AFSCME
were part of a national effort, called Americans United to Protect Social
Security.
# # #
USAction builds power by uniting people locally and
nationally, on-the-ground and online, to win a more just and progressive America.
We create the nation’s leading progressive coalitions, making democracy real by
organizing issue and election campaign to improve people’s lives. Arizona
Advocacy Network is USAction’s Arizona
affiliate.
Arizona Advocacy Network
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2008
Linda Brown
602-622-6641
Arizona Advocacy Network: Bush Budget Full
of the Same Upside - Down Priorities as Ever Health care cuts and largest military budget in history highlight the
need for leadership toward a budget that invests in America’s future
Phoenix—President
Bush’s budget request for fiscal year 2009 is full of the same upside-down
priorities that have characterized the last seven years of his administration,
and serves as a reminder that Arizona voters are looking for bold leadership
toward an agenda that invests in America’s future, the Arizona Advocacy Network
said today. The FY09
budget, released Monday, includes sharp cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and other
vital services.“With total federal
spending exceeding $3 trillion for the first time and expected budget deficits
of $400 billion, releasing a budget that again includes tax cuts for
millionaires and corporate interests, and an increase in defense spending that
would create the largest military budget in world history is an outrage” said
Linda Brown, Executive Director of the Arizona Advocacy Network. “Almost 50
million Americans lack health care, public schools are in disrepair across the
country, and the most vulnerable in our communities have fewer options than
ever.We need investments in Arizona’s future, not a
bloated military budget or more tax breaks for millionaires and corporate
interests” Linda Brown said. "As
Congress considers the nation’s spending priorities during President Bush’s
last year in office, Arizona's families are
depending on our representatives in congress to stand with them in favor of
investment in America’s
health care, education and clean-energy future.”
# # #
Arizona Advocacy Network
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January
28, 2008
Linda Brown
602-622-6641
Arizona Advocacy Network: Working Families
Differ With Bush over the RealState of the Union
Seven years of upside-down priorities have left Arizona
families eager for investment in America’s real priorities Phoenix—President Bush’s final State of the Union address will
reveal that President Bush is just as out of touch with America’s real
priorities as he has been for the last seven years, the Arizona Advocacy
Network said Tuesday. In his
speech, Bush is expected to announce that his priorities for his last year in
office include making the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent, even as a recession
spurred by his reckless handling of the economy looms. “After seven
years of reckless economic policies that have resulted in the mortgage crisis
and a looming recession, how can President Bush call for more of the same?”
asked Linda Brown, Executive Director of the Arizona Advocacy Network.“Arizona
families know that a strong economy requires investment in America’s
health care, education and human-needs priorities – not tax breaks for
millionaires and corporate interests.” Bush is
also expected to insist that the war in Iraq should go on indefinitely,
even though it has already resulted in the loss of at least 3,923 American
lives, destroyed the lives and livelihoods of countless Iraqis, and cost nearly
$500 billion. “Almost
five years into his disastrous, endless war in Iraq, President Bush’s plan for the
future calls for more bloodshed and more wasted resources.America’s
working families know that America
will be stronger, safer, and better able to invest in our real national
priorities when we end the war and bring the troops home,” Linda Brown said. # # #
Arizona
Advocacy Network
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December
19, 2007
Linda
Brown
602-622-6641
Arizona
Advocacy Network and End The War Coalition Reject Omnibus Package
with Blank Check for War in Iraq
The
Arizona Advocacy Network and the End the War Coalition join in
denouncing Senators McCain and Kyl for adding billions in new Iraq
war funding without a deadline for withdrawal
Phoenix—The
Arizona Advocacy Network and the End the War Coalition
released the following statement on Wednesday, following the Senate
vote on the FY08 omnibus appropriations bill:
“After
seven years of upside-down budget priorities and five years of tragic
war in Iraq, Congress’ support for legislation that holds critical
human-needs funding hostage to President Bush’s intransigence on
the war is unacceptable. The Arizona Advocacy Network opposes any
new funds for the Iraq war without a concrete deadline to bring the
troops home,” said Linda Brown, executive director of the Arizona
Advocacy Network.
Mitchell
Rubin, the spokesperson for the End the War Coalition in Phoenix
added “The End the War Coalition and the Arizona people share the
hope that Representative Giffords,
Grijalva, Pastor, and Mitchellwill
begin the final year of President Bush’s administration by
standing up to President Bush by reversing the president’s
upside-down priorities and ending the war in Iraq.”
#
# #
Arizona
Advocacy Network
For
Immediate Release Contact:
Linda Brown
Date:
October 4, 2007 Phone:
602-622-6641
Arizona
Advocacy Network, Children's Health Care Advocates Protest Bush Veto
of Children’s Healthcare, Implore Rep. Renzi to Continue to Stand
Up for Arizona's Families and Vote to Override President’s Veto of
Children’s
Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act
Arizonans
Turnout to Protest Bush Veto of Children’s Healthcare
Prescott,
AZ –
Nearly 10 million kids and thousands in Arizona
were
just one step away from receiving the basic health coverage they need
following last week’s passage in both the U.S. House and Senate of
the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act –
critical legislation that would reauthorize the State Children’s
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP, known as Kidscare in Arizona) for
6.6 million kids and provide coverage to nearly 4 million more low
income children. However, after spending half a trillion dollars on
the Iraq war, President Bush vetoed the reauthorization of this
critical program for the nation’s children, jeopardizing the
healthcare of 10 million children including thousands right here in
Arizona.
In
response, the Arizona Advocacy Network, Children’s Health Care
Advocates and Community Leaders gathered today in protest, reacting
angrily to Bush’s backwards and irresponsible policy that
sacrifices the healthcare of children for a failed policy in Iraq.
Those gathered called on Republican Rep. Rick Renzi, who voted in
favor of the children’s health insurance program in defiance of the
White House last week, to stand firm and vote to override the
President’s veto when it comes back before the House. Even as
President Bush was vetoing a modest, $35 billion expansion of the
children’s healthcare insurance program, he asked Congress for
nearly $200 billion in additional funds for Iraq.
“After
spending half a trillion dollars in Iraq, President Bush chose to
deny healthcare funding for millions of children in need, thousands
right here at home, with one stroke of his veto pen,” said Linda
Brown, executive director of the Arizona Advocacy Network. “The
fact is, for what we spend in just one week in Iraq, 800,000 children
could have health insurance for an entire year. This is a question of
priorities, and President Bush and many Republicans in Congress have
theirs all mixed up: billions for the Iraq War and a veto for kid’s
health care. The needs of our children and other priorities here at
home, like education and prescription drugs for seniors, have been
shortchanged for far too long while this President spends billions
and billions each week in Iraq.”
“Rep.
Renzi, and all members of Congress, must look this President in the
eye and say enough is enough and to vote to override the President’s
shameful veto of this critical legislation to provide health care for
thousands of kids in Arizona and expanding that care to thousands
more in desperate need,” Brown added.
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Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2007
Contact: Linda Brown
602-622-6641
Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation Reveals Iraq War’s Cost to Arizona
New data shows new investments in Arizona health care, education, job training, and other priorities are a tiny fraction of Iraq War spending every month
Phoenix, AZ--The Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation today released a report with new data revealing the cost of the Iraq War to Arizona. Arizona taxpayers have spent $6.3 billion of the $456 billion in total funding for the Iraq war. The report, titled “Getting U.S. Back on Track” and authored by the USAction Education Fund, illustrates, how Arizona’s cost of war could have provided health insurance for more children, funded Head Start and provided more college scholarships here in Arizona. The report also finds that the modest new investments in neglected priorities such as health care and education to be debated this fall between Congress and President Bush would amount to a fraction of what is spent every month on the war. “This data highlights how the Bush administration’s upside-down priorities have shortchanged Arizona families and communities,” said Linda Brown, executive director of the Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation.“For a fraction of what Arizona’s taxpayers have spent in Iraq, about $3,313 for each and every household in the state, we could be addressing neglected priorities like providing more health care and college scholarships for our families.” ·Cost of restoring Arizona K-12 education funding ($76.9 million) = 5 hours 36 minutes of Iraq war spending ·Full Title I funding for U.S. schools ($14.4 billion) = 45.6 days of Iraq war spending ·Cost of restoring Arizona child care funds ($12.1 million) = about 53 minutes of Iraq war spending ·Cost of restoring Arizona child support funding ($10.2 million) = about 44 minutes of Iraq war spending ·Cost of restoring Arizona job training funds ($19.6 million) = about 85 minutes of Iraq war spending ·Cost of fully funding SCHIP coverage in the United States for one year = about 53.4 days of Iraq war spending Bush administration officials and Republican leaders have suggested they would shut down the government before passing even modest increases in funding for these vital priorities. “It is unconscionable for President Bush and GOP leaders to threaten to shut down the government over a fraction of what they are spending on the endless war in Iraq,” said Brown. Our members of congress should vote to override President Bush’s veto of new funding that makes a down-payment toward fully funding children’s health care, job training, education and other priorities that have been neglected for far too long.”
# # #
USAction Education Fund and our affiliates in 24 states connect issues to elections and policy to politics. We seek to take our democracy back from the corporate elite and the well-heeled special interests that dominate the political process today – because we believe that government has a critical role to play in ensuring liberty and justice for all.The Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation is USAction Education Fund’s Arizona affiliate.
Arizona Advocacy Network For Immediate Release Contact: Linda Brown August 23, 2007 Phone: 602-297-2500
MEDIA ADVISORY Rally Will Ask Congressman Rick Renzi to Take a Stand to End the Iraq War
Colorful Signs and Enthusiastic Activists at Wheeler Park
Phoenix—A group of activists and organizations seeking an end to the Iraq War will rally in Flagstaff’s Wheeler Park on Tuesday, August 28th to ask the elusive—now lame-duck-- Congressman Rick Renzi to take a stand to bring an end to the occupation in Iraq. The action will be one of dozens of similar events nationwide organized by Americans Against the Escalation in Iraq, Moveon.org and local groups.But Congressman Renzi won’t be there.“Since February we have contacted his offices 27 times by phone, fax and email and they have responded only three times, each time to tell us that Rep. Renzi doesn’t have time to meet with his constituents,” said Linda Brown, executive director of the Arizona Advocacy Network, one of the groups behind the rally.“His current term doesn’t end until January of 2009.He no longer has any committee assignments so he should have plenty of time to fulfill his other obligations as a congressman.If he can’t, then he should step down now.”Brown said they will address a cardboard cutout of the congressman at the rally and participants will sign letters telling Rep. Renzi to bring an end to denounce President Bush’s failed Iraq policy and vote to safely and responsibly end the war. “Until he’s out of office, Rick Renzi still represents the first district of Arizona,” said Kathleen Mac Thompson, of Yavapai County.“Pro-war members of congress are wasting billions of taxpayer dollars and bogging down our troops in an endless civil war that cannot be won.We simply want our congressman to commit to putting an end to this madness when he returns to Washington.” Lance Morris, of the Blackhawk Point Intertribal Council added, “We as Indian people have a tradition of warriors and fighting for our country.Traditionally, our chiefs are responsible for the lives of our warriors and they know not to spend those lives foolishly.Each warrior gone is a son, a father a nephew, maybe a future leader gone. If our congressman can’t be bothered to meet with his people to discuss these matters, he should resign.”
WHAT: Take A Stand Congressman Renzi Rally; RELEASE OF COST OF WAR REPORT WHO: Arizona Advocacy Network, End the War Coalition, WHEN: Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 5:30 pm WHERE: Wheeler Park, 212 West Aspen Avenue, Flagstaff
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For Immediate Release Contact: Linda Brown Date: June 8, 2007 602-622-6641
Representatives Franks, Shadegg & Flake Sign Loyalty Oath to Bush; Threaten to Support Veto of Vital Human-Needs Funding for Arizonans
Representatives Have a Clear Choice: Stand with the President’s Tax Cuts for Millionaires, or Support Arizona’s Hardworking Families
Phoenix, AZ – The Arizona Advocacy Network blasted Reps. Franks, Shadegg & Flake today for joining a number of their Republican colleagues in an ill-advised loyalty oath to President Bush, threatening to vote in favor of a veto of any appropriations bill that increases spending on health care, education and other critical needs for lower- and middle-income families.
The loyalty letter pledging to cut domestic spending comes at a time when the president’s approval rating for his handling of domestic issues is at an all time low.“It’s mind-boggling that Representatives Franks, Shadegg & Flake would choose to hitch their wagons to a broken-down garbage truck when they should be standing up to the president and fighting for the people of Arizona,” said Linda Brown, executive director of the Arizona Advocacy Network.“It’s also curious that after six years of irresponsible tax cuts that favor millionaires and corporate interests, our representatives - especially Franks & Shadegg, have discovered a newfound interest in fiscal responsibility.”
“Under new leadership, Congress has finally passed a budget that reflects the values and priorities of ordinary Americans,” said Tim Schmaltz of Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition.“But that’s not enough. We need our Representatives to have the courage to stand up to the threat of a presidential veto. By signing this irresponsible letter,our officials, who are elected to represent the people, are blindly following the President down a dangerous fiscal path – a path that has already led to soaring budget deficits and left millions of Americans with little help as they struggle to make ends meet.” During the past six years, the costs of health care, education and other critical needs have soared while incomes remained stagnant. Congress passed a budget last month that begins to reverse six years of upside-down priorities in previous Republican budgets, but the White House has threatened to veto any domestic spending above the president’s requested levels, claiming that these much-needed and overdue increases would be too expensive. But the fact is that the president’s budget would spend more on tax cuts for millionaires than it would save from all of the cuts to domestic discretionary programs.
# # #
For Immediate Release Contact: Linda Brown Date: June 7, 2007 602-622-6641 50 More Years in Iraq? Bush/McCain see America’s 50-year presence inSouth Korea as model for Iraq commitment
PHOENIX, AZ. – The White House announced last week that President Bush is modeling his Iraq policy after the U.S. presence in South Korea, where troops have been stationed for more than 50 years.
Senator John McCain endorsed the 50-year plan a speech to more than 250 Nationwide Insurance employees in Des Moines, saying “We have had troops in South Korea for sixty years and nobody minds.If you stay (in Iraq) a long, long time, but have the Iraqis doing the fighting, and your people are back in the bases and away from the firing line, I think Americans would be satisfied.”*
“This is a slap in the face to the millions of Americans who are demanding an end to the war. Once again President Bush and Senator McCain are demonstrating how incredibly out of touch they are with the American people,” said Linda Brown, executive director of the Arizona Advocacy Network. “Outrage over the President’s Iraq policy has reached a boiling point, with a majority of Americans supporting a timeline to bring the troops home.It is beyond belief that President Bush would turn around and model his Iraq policy after S. Korea, where our troops have been stationed for more than 50 years.And for John McCain to mimic this stance shows that he still doesn’t get it.Arizonans do not support an endless war.”
“The public is more energized than ever before – President Bush and Senator McCain should prepare for the barrage of rallies, protests, press conferences, phone calls, prayer vigils and letters that are headed their way,” said Chris Fleischman of the End the War Coalition.“Arizonans are furious and we will not let up until our troops are safely home from Iraq.”
For Immediate Release Contact: Linda Brown Date: June 4, 2007 602-622-6641
AZ Advocates Condemn Bush Loyalty Letter
Pressure Rep. Renzi not to sign
PHOENIX, AZ – A letter being circulated by conservative members of the House of Representatives has drawn the ire of leading Arizona advocates for health and human services, good government and sound fiscal policy.The letter asks members of Congress to commit to sustaining any presidential vetoes of pending budget proposals well before the details of these bills have been determined.Three members of the Arizona congressional delegation, Congressmen Shadegg, Flake and Franks, have already signed the letter that is being circulated by a conservative group called the Republican Study Committee.They are seeking to give advanced assurance to President Bush that they will stand by his planned vetoes of budget proposals that have not yet worked their way through Congress.
“We expect our members of Congress to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work required to appropriate funds in accordance with America’s priorities,” said Linda Brown, executive director of the Arizona Advocacy Network. “They are not supposed to be a rubber stamp for the President and his failed policies.We have already seen where that has gotten us.It’s time for Congress to get down to the people’s business.”
“Our members of Congress need to remember that they were elected to serve and represent the people of Arizona, not be toadies to President Bush,” said Reverend Trina Zelle, executive director of Interfaith Worker Justice, “Those that sign this loyalty oath to President Bush are choosing to abdicate their responsibility to their constituents and they can expect to be held accountable for their actions.”
The Budget Resolution just approved by Congress allows an increase of 3.1 percent beyond inflation for non-defense appropriations. “That is modest progress, but it is urgently needed,” said Tim Schmaltz of Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition.“This funding would enable Congress to take meaningful steps towards addressing education, health, child welfare, nutrition, and other vital needs.”
The group has sent its own letter to Congressman Rick Renzi, who is currently being targeted by his colleagues to sign on to the letter.They are asking that he refuse to sign.
“Signing this letter would short-change the people of the first congressional district,” said Lance Morris, Chairman of the Blackhawkpoint Intertribal Council of Rimrock.“We need Representative Renzi to show some backbone and stand up for his constituents.”
More than 135 members of congress have already signed the letter.They need 146 to ensure that they can sustain any presidential veto.The group says they will continue enlisting other leaders and activists in his district to contact the congressman until Congressman Renzi affirms his loyalty to his constituents--not the president-- by pledging not to sign the Bush loyalty letter.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2007
Contact: Linda Brown Phone: 602-622-6641
President Bush Vetoes the Will of the American People, Continues Policy of Unending War in Iraq
Despite Overwhelming Demand to End the War, Bush Recklessly Vetoes Legislation To Begin Safe, Responsible Redeployment of Troops Out of Iraq
PHOENIX, AZ – Today, in yet another example of President Bush’s isolation and failure to understand the ramifications of his failed war in Iraq, the President vetoed legislation passed by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and supported by the overwhelming majority of the American people that would have set responsible timetables to bring our troops safely out of Iraq. “The only thing worse than mismanaging the war in Iraq for over four years, as President Bush has done, is to reject a responsible exit strategy supported by Congress, military experts, and the American people. Today President Bush did just that,” said Linda Brown, executive director of the Arizona Advocacy Network. “The status quo in Iraq is not working, it has not worked for some time, and there’s no reason to expect it will work in the future.After four years, more than 3,200 American troops losing their lives, tens of thousands wounded, and over $400 billion spent, it’s safe to say that the war in Iraq has been a grave failure.”
State Representative Ed Ableser, an outspoken critic of the war said “It’s a sad day when the President of the United States is so far removed from reality that he refuses to sign legislation that’s in the best interest of our troops and of our national security because of a stubborn refusal to change his own failed policy.”
“President Bush’s veto is not surprising, given his record of stubbornly clinging to failed policies,” said Iraq veteran and ASU graduate student Chris Sheppard, “but that doesn’t make his action any less devastating for the troops being sent into harm’s way, their families, and all of us who hold out hope for a responsible end to the war.”
Opposition to the Iraq war and the President’s escalation stretches all across the country and includes a growing number of Iraq veterans and the families of our troops.Brown, Sheppard and Ableser will be joined by other legislators and opponents of the escalation at a rally protesting the president’s veto on Wednesday, May 2nd at the Arizona State Capitol at 12:15pm.
The Arizona Advocacy Network is part of the national campaign Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, which is working for a reasonable and responsible time frame to bring an end to the war in Iraq.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 12, 2007
Contact: Linda Brown Phone: 602-622-6641
Groups Release Report Highlighting Upside-Down Priorities in President Bush’s FY 2008 Budget
Call on congressional leaders to restore critical funding and put First Things First for Arizonans.
Phoenix, AZ—The Arizona Advocacy Network, the Coalition on Human Needs, the Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition, Interfaith Worker Justice, the Arizona Ecumenical Council, the Alliance for Retired Americans and the Emergency Campaign for America’s Priorities released a report March 12th entitled “First Things First for Arizona: The President’s Budget Makes the Wrong Choices for Arizona.”
The “First Things First” report details the administration’s upside-down priorities and its failure to address the growing needs of low- and middle-income Arizonans. This budget includes drastic cuts to a variety of services, including the KidsCare (Arizona’s State Children’s Health Insurance Program or SCHIP), the Head Start program, Food Stamps, child care, job training, and Medicare and Medicaid – cuts that will hurt millions of people, young and old alike. These critical services have already suffered drastic cuts in recent years.Doug Hart, President of the Alliance for Retired Americans reacted to the President’s proposed budget by saying "I cannot understand why President Bush would cut taxes for the rich, spend recklessly on a war that few if any believe has a solution, then cut programs for citizens of this country. The President has his priorities completely backwards." Thirty two percent of Arizona’s budget comes from federal funds; the President’s Budget would devastate Arizona by cutting Special Education by $10.4 million, the Low Income Energy Assistance Program by $9.1 million, and Head Start by $5.6 million. “When is enough, enough?” asked Tim Schmaltz, CEO of the Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition.“When is this relentless attack on the poor and working families going to stop?We need to address their needs, not undermine them.“ The groups call on Congress to recognize the inadequacies in the president’s recommendation of only $392 billion for domestic spending, and to move substantially toward meeting Arizona’s needs and strengthening our economy by providing $450 billion for domestic, annually appropriated programs in the Budget Resolution for FY2008.Congress can take this opportunity to invest in America’s future and remain fiscally responsible by reversing next year’s $55 billion tax cut for millionaires.
“Arizona families are watching their chance at the American dream slip away. They are finding it harder to make ends meet, educate their children, put food on the table, and keep a roof over their heads,” said AzAN Executive Director Linda Brown.“The administration’s proposals would lock these trends into place. We need to reverse them. Congress needs to set the right priorities and put first things first.”
ECAP would like to see a budget resolution from Congress that does the following:
Provides $450 billion for domestic annual appropriations in FY 2008.
Increases outdated benefit levels and eligibility for Food Stamps, funds SCHIP at levels adequate to cover all eligible children, restores funds cut from child support enforcement, and strengthens the unemployment insurance program.
Rejects new tax breaks for the wealthy and special interests, and any changes in the tax system, such as an AMT “fix,” that do not make the system more progressive and that do not, at a minimum, replace lost tax revenue.
The Reverend Trina Zelle of Interfaith Worker Justice added, "As individuals and as a society, the best measure of our value system is how we spend our money. I believe that Americans have better values than those reflected in the President's budget -- so let's make it match."
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March 7, 2007
Groups assail Congressman Rick Renzi for voting against working families.PHOENIX, AZ --Representatives from social justice advocacy groups and organized labor assailed Congressman Rick Renzi for his vote against the Employee Free Choice Act which passed out of the House late Thursday.Calling his vote “a blow to basic human rights” the groups vowed to let the congressman’s constituents know exactly where he stands.
The Employee Free Choice Act makes it more difficult for employers to interfere with employees’ right to choose to form a union by enacting stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations.It will also provide mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes and allow employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation.Advocates say these changes are necessary. “The current system for choosing a union is seriously broken,” said Ervin Jackson, President of NAL-NiSHii-Federation of Labor.“Employer interference is off the charts. Every 23 minutes a person is fired or otherwise punished for supporting a union. Employer lawlessness is rampant in the workplace and there are no meaningful penalties for breaking the law. This legislation will change that.We are very disappointed with Congressman Renzi for voting against us.”
“Congressman Renzi often talks about the fact that he represents one of the most poverty-ridden congressional districts in the country.This was a chance for him to take a stand on something that would affect the lives of so many of his constituents,” said Linda Brown, executive director of the Arizona Advocacy Network.“Instead he has turned his back on them in favor of the big money business interests that are fighting against this needed legislation.”
The groups point consider this bill to be major advance for human rights, the right of a worker to associate freely and to bargain collectively. The freedom to form a union is a human right recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the internationally recognized standard of the most basic and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. Article 23 of this document states: 'Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.'
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