SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS THAT OWS PROTESTORS ARE BEING HEARD

by Sheila Musaji

It is very important to keep any positive movement in focus.  It is also important to note who is attempting to address issues raised by OWS and to do what we can to help them.

President Obama aims to provide relief to student loan borrowers **  Obama plans to accelerate a plan to cap student loan payments at 10 percent of income, bringing it forward to start in 2012 instead of 2014, and to forgive the debt after 20 instead of 25 years.  This is a good start, but would like to see the interest rate lowered and capped, and all public service, social work, teaching, etc. jobs qualify for a reduction in principle for every year worked.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus Releases Recommendations to Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction **  The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) sent policy proposals to Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Jeb Hensarling, Co-Chairs of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, recommending that the work of the committee focus on creating jobs, raising revenues through fair taxation and protecting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. The CPC identified more than $4 trillion in savings, which would increase to more than $7 trillion if the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire on schedule. The recommendations direct the savings toward job creation, the single most important means to reduce the deficit.

President Obama’s mortgage relief proposal is his latest attempt to ease the economic and political fallout of a housing crisis that has bedeviled him as he seeks a second term.  “I’m here to say that we can’t wait for an increasingly dysfunctional Congress to do its job,” the president declared outside a family home in Las Vegas, the epicenter of foreclosures and joblessness. “Where they won’t act, I will.”

Nearly 100 House lawmakers are slated to release a letter this week urging the supercommittee to cut $4 trillion from the federal deficit — a much bigger figure than the $1.2 trillion goal set for the deficit panel.

Paul Blumenthal reports that The backlash against the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission continues to grow as a trio of progressive media icons have launched a new effort to remove corporate money from elections.  The We the People Campaign began this week, with The Nation editor Katrina vanden Heuvel, former Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower and former Mother Jones publisher Jay Harris in charge of the effort to bring progressive media and advocacy groups together.  ...  We the People is working with media outlets through the Media Consortium to bring attention to journalism that exposes corporate spending in politics. ...  The group also seeks to match potential supporters with a number of advocacy groups, including Public Citizen, People for the American Way, Common Cause, PRWatch, Free Speech for People and Move to Amend. It will be involved in planning house parties for the second anniversary of Citizens United and working with local organizers with the same goals.

Zaid Jilani reports that six Democratic senators — Tom Udall (NM), Michael Bennett (CO), Tom Harkin (IA), Dick Durbin (IL), Chuck Schumer (NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), and Jeff Merkely (OR) — introduced a constitutional amendment that would effectively overturn the Citizens United case and restore the ability of Congress to properly regulate the campaign finance system.  The amendment as filed resolves that both Congress and individual states shall have the power to regulate both the amount of contributions made directly to candidates for elected office and “the amount of expenditures that may be made by, in support of, or in opposition to such candidates.”  “By limiting the influence of big money in politics, elections can be more about the voters and their voices, not big money donors and their deep pockets,” said Harkin of the amendment. “We need to have a campaign finance structure that limits the influence of the special interests and restores confidence in our democracy. This amendment goes to the heart of that effort.”  Hayley Miller also reports.

Leaders in Congress have introduced the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act to support local farmers and food markets. A recent UCS report found that expanding local food systems will boost local economies, create jobs, and encourage consumption of fruits and vegetables. As a bonus, these farmers are also more likely to embrace practices that protect our air, water, and soil.  With enough support, this bill could become part of the larger Food and Farm Bill, currently moving through Congress at a lightning pace. The Union of Concerned Scientists has a page where you can write to your members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act.

Zaid Jilani reports that

the Progressive Change Campaign Committee teamed up with seven progressive Democratic Party candidates for the House of Representatives to occupy Congress by delivering petitions from thousands of members of the 99 percent to Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH). The petition asked Boehner to pass the Jobs Act and to stand with the 99 percent, not the richest 1 percent of Americans.

“We need people in Congress who have the right priorities. Who don’t let Wall Street destroy Main Street,” said Franke Wilmer, who is running for an at-large seat in Montana, as the candidates gathered to enter the capitol. “Workers didn’t fire themselves and senior citizens didn’t cause this recession.” When the seven candidates got to Boehner’s office, Brittany Brammell, Boehner’s press secretary, did not allow them in but did promise to take the petitions. She did not tell them when Boehner would take up the jobs bill. Watch video here

Rep. Barney Frank told reporters on Friday he believes federal budget cuts are a “zero-sum game.” He said Congress needs to cut military spending or it will be forced to cut something else, such as Medicare and Medicaid.  “If we do not in this current round of deficit reductions make a substantial cut in our worldwide military posture and the spending that it demands, then I think we’re going to see a serious and indefinite reduction in our capacity to improve quality of life through government,” said Frank.  Read more

Ryan Grim reports Boosted by the Occupy Wall Street movement, two Democrats in the House and Senate are renewing a push for a transaction tax on speculative trades. The tax would be set at a nominal rate designed to have little impact on pension funds that buy and hold securities for the long term or on individual investors who don’t make hundreds or thousands of trades a day. “This proposal will not only curb some risky trading activities, but will also raise greatly needed revenue in a way that does not negatively impact middle-class Americans,” said Kate Cyrul, a spokeswoman for Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who plans to introduce Senate legislation when the upper chamber, which is now in recess, returns.

Alex Seitz-Wald reports the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations have helped shift media coverage away from conservative concerns about the federal debt and deficit to the more progressive (and important) issues of unemployment and unequal income distribution. Now, the 99 Percent Movement’s influence on the wider political landscape is becoming clear. According to a new poll from the Hill, the majority of likely voters now say “income inequality has become a big problem for the country,” and “majorities across practically all income levels, and all political, philosophical and racial lines agreed that the middle class is being reduced.” Nearly seven in 10 respondents said the current tax system — which a recent Congressional Budget Office report said is partially responsible for income inequality — is “unfair.”

The Huffington Post reports that Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) along with eight other congressional Democrats are eating on a budget of about $4.50 a day to show solidarity with food stamp recipients who receive $32.59 a week.  The personal thrift, which is part of a challenge organized by Fighting Poverty With Faith, was reported by Pacifica Patch. ...  Food stamps have been a target of Republican-led budget cuts. House Budget Committee Chair Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) proposed transfering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, into a block grant program administered by the states

James Sanna reports that Rep. Keith Ellison

for liberals to follow their political beliefs and support the Occupy Wall Street movement.

“In Washington what I’ve heard from a lot of people is, ‘If the movement turns violent, maybe it will be wise not to be connected to it,’” Ellison told TheUptake on Oct. 16. “Let’s get rid of super-playing safe, cowardly chicken-style, let’s lead with what we believe for a change and say, ‘These people are absolutely right to get out there and express their outrage with these conditions.’”

At the same time, Ellison told the Kansas City Star, it’s not the place of prominent liberal politicians to try to lead the protesters.

“This thing is jelling, but it has to have time to do it,” Ellison said. “At this point, these (Occupy Wall Street) folks are so distanced from the political system that the last thing they want is some politician telling them what to do. They’ll discover it for themselves.”

Ellison followed his call for leadership with an attack on a vote by US House Republicans to rewrite environmental regulations on cement plants. House majority leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) alleged that the EPA regulations “stand in the way of investment and growth.”  In an email to constituents on Thursday, Ellison called the vote a stalling tactic to “avoid job creation.”  “This is as dishonest as it is wrong,” Elison wrote. “Environmental protections have been shown to create jobs and protect health. Clean air regulation that Republicans oppose will reduce toxic pollutants produced by cement plants and will prevent 2,500 premature deaths every year. This clean air regulation will also provide up to $19 in public health benefits for every dollar spent on reducing harmful air pollution. This is an investment we should make.”

The ACLU reports that “More than 50 policy experts, and others across the country via live stream and Twitter, joined Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and the ACLU Washington Legislative Office for a discussion about the desperate need for Congress and the Obama Administration to end racial profiling in law enforcement. The forum called on Congress to pass the End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA) and for the Administration to change agency-run programs and guidelines that lead to profiling.

Brett Neely reports  Rep. Keith Ellison has introduced two bills in the U.S. House to combat state voting laws introduced primarily by Republicans in 34 states that the DFL lawmaker says would “disenfranchise” millions of Americans.  One bill would require all states to offer same-day voter registration for federal elections, similar to what Minnesota has offered for many years.  The second bill prevents state officials from requiring photo identification before a citizen is allowed to vote.  Ellison’s bills are co-sponsored by Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI). Given that Republicans are behind many of these state-level voting laws and that GOP members regularly express concern about voter fraud, it’s unlikely that the GOP-controlled House will take up either bill.

Max J. Rosenthal reports Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) acknowledged that the Occupy movement could help advance legislation they rolled out designed to “squeeze ... volatility out of the market.”  Joined by Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), the chairman of the Populist Caucus, Harkin and DeFazio introduced the Targeted Wall Street Trading Tax bill. It would levy a tax equivalent to three cents for every $100 on transactions like stock trades, credit swaps and derivatives that were largely blamed for the mortgage market meltdown and financial crisis of 2008 that plunged the economy into recession.

Tonya Somanader reports that

While Republicans resist any attempt to address growing income inequality, more and more of America’s wealthy are asking to pay their fair share. Joining billionaire Warren Buffet, Microsoft founder Bill Gates recently issued his support for “millionaires and billionaires” paying more in taxes.

Now, Gates is taking it a step further and traveling to the G-20 meeting in Cannes, France today to champion the “Robin Hood tax” — a small financial transaction tax on each stock and bond trade — in order to help financially strapped developed nations meet their global aid pledges to the poor. Aware that countries like the U.S. are not currently receptive to this or any taxes, Gates told the Guardian that hopes his “credibility” lends credence to the idea that such taxes work

...  Gates is not alone in his effort. Yesterday, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced legislation that proposes a 0.03 percent tax on financial transactions that could raise $150 billion to “invest in our future, our infrastructure and our middle class.” As TP Economy editor Pat Garofalo notes, the tax — which has been embraced by the Occupy Wall Street protests, the governments of France and Germany, and even the Archbishop of Canterbury — could raise serious revenue while slowing down some of the high frequency trading that “mega-banks like Goldman Sachs employ to churn up quick profits.”

SEE ALSO:  TAM ARTICLE SERIES DOCUMENTING THE OWS MOVEMENT

— The “Occupy Wall Street” American Autumn Movement summary of the movement since 9/17 with extensive article collection
— OWS demands are clear with updated information on demands, statements, etc. from the movement.
— The OWS Movement and Law Enforcement including updated information about arrests, law enforcement responses, etc.
— Occupy Together - the Spiritual Dimension includes information about participation, or lack thereof, of clergy, interfaith leaders and religious institutions, and an article collection.
— Our Elected Representatives Need to Respond to Clear OWS Demands including updated information about the positions (pro and con) taken by various elected representatives and politicians.  It’s Time to Fight Back and Take the Occupy Movement to the Ballot Box as a response to these politicians.
— Some Encouraging Signs That OWS Protestors Are Being Heard

Originally posted 10/30/2011