Who just got an e-mail from Harry Reid?

[SharonRB]

He's introducing 10 bills covering the Democratic agenda for the 109th Congress and is asking for citizens as co-sponsors.

The agenda includes these main categories:
1. Security
S.11 Standing With Our Troops
S.12 Targeting the Terrorists More Effectively
S.13 Fulfilling Our Duty to America's Veterans
2. Opportunity
S.14 Expanding Economic Opportunity
S.15 Quality Education
S.16 Making Health Care More Affordable
S.17 Democracy Begins at Home (this bill covers voting standards)
3. Responsibility
S.18 Meeting Our Responsibility to Medicare Beneficiaries
S.19 Fiscal Responsibility for a Sound Future
S.20 Putting Prevention First

Here's the link: http://democrats.senate.gov/cosponsor-form.html

[coloradodem2005]

1. What does this entail?

n/t

[SharonRB]

2. The co-sponsoring?

If that's what you're asking, just go to the link and sign up. It doesn't require any kind of donation or anything.

[louis-t]

3. Me, me, I got one!

Haven't gone to the site yet, but I will.

[asjr]

4. Where is protecting social security?

[SharonRB]

10. I think it falls under Responsibility somewhere

S.18 or 19, I believe. Go out to the site and check it out.

[SharonRB]

11. I take my answer back

I just went out to read these again, and I don't see SS mentioned specifically anywhere. Good point. I wonder what's up with that.

[moggie12]

14. This package is their agenda, they are fighting SS separately

This is the Dems attempt to pro-actively put an agenda on the table. (It's what I've been wanting them to do -- not just react against Bush proposals, but to come out swinging with a set of their own ...) It think it's a good mix: Fight Bush hard on SS, push ther ideas at the same time.

[sherilocks]

5. #17 looked interesting --Democracy begins at home

"Equal opportunity in this country is based upon equal representation and fair voting. Democrats are determined to reforming the voting system in this country to create Federal standards for our elections. The bill adds verification, accountability and accuracy to the system. It increases access to the polls with Election Day registration, shorter lines and early voting. The bill also aims to modernize our election equipment and increase impartiality and provides the resources to our states to implement the bill."

[Pirate Smile]

6. Here is a summary of the points from Daily Kos

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/24/16443/0031

[MasonJar]

7. I told them that I would cosponsor a bill on the environment, which

is the most pressing issue in the world today. Scientists are now saying that 2010 may be too late to reverse the affects of global warming. And the US is stuck with this cretin in the WH.

[Liberty Belle]

13. How did you reply to them? I looked for a link,

but couldn't find one. I posted a thread earlier saying the same thing--that Reid needs to add a point on the environment.

Big problems in the Bush policies include trashing our air and water through "Clear Skies" and other Orwellian-termed initiatives. Mercury poisoning is approaching epidemic proportions in the US as a result, medical experts I've spoken with this week agree. A news story today reveals factory farms (huge pig farms and dairy operations) have been exempted out of pollution restrictions. Meanwhile, Republicans want to drill for oil in the Alaska wilderness and the White House blithely ignores scientists warnings about global warming--a threat Britain's chief scientist says is a bigger danger to global security than terrorism.

[super simian]

8. Me, me! I got one, too! n/t

[H2O Man]

9. I did. n/t

[genius]

12. Someone please suggest his resign as minority chair

Notice how he ranks things. Where are peace and cancellation of NAFTA? Oh, that's right. He opposes that.

[moggie12]

15. This isn't where we propose "peace"

This 10-point plan is part of tactical strategy to get the Dems back into power. It's not a comprehensive list of everything that needs to be done. It's modelled after Newt's "Contract with America", which successfuly grabbed Americans' attention and got the Repubs into power. This is just a start -- Dems can't get anything huge done until they have the votes in Congress and that means electing more Dems. IMO, Dems are less likely to start insane, counter-productive wars!!

If for no other reason, I hope you signed this thing because election reform is one of the ten proposals. The more public support the Dems have, the more likely they'll be able to defeat the Bushies at their sleazy PR games, and the more likely Dems will start winning again. Sorry for this lengthy reply, but do you see what I'm saying?

[katinmn]

16. 40k more troops. Who supports this?

Not me. Why not focus on a roadmap out of Iraq? Since the miltary isn't meeting its quota of volunteers now, and we've seen reports that 30% or more of those called for deployment are no-shows, this would guarantee a draft. This pisses me off. If this is what "Democrats believe" them I'm not one.

PUTTING AMERICA’S SECURITY FIRST:

S.11: Standing With Our Troops. Democrats believe that putting America’s security first means standing up for our troops and their families. Democrats will work to increase our military end strength by up to 40,000 by 2007. We will create a Guard and Reserve Bill of Rights to protect and promote the interests of our dedicated citizen soldiers. Democrats will also fight for the families of those who serve our country. This includes providing income security and immediate access to affordable health care.