[mpen-dayton4] FW: "Criminal Charges: Flint Water Crisis" & "Saudi Arabia blackmailing US over 9/11 bill, ..." & "Sign the petition to CNN re: superdelegates" and more

FYI.   Best, Munsup

P.S. Please reply back to me with 'unsubscribe' on the subject line if you no longer want to receive my e-Newsletters. The convenient link to unsubscribe is no longer available due to security reasons to protect my email servers.
P.P.S. "He who dares not offend cannot be honest" - Thomas Paine
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·         FW: Verizon

·         FW: Criminal Charges: Flint Water Crisis

·         FW: New research: 401(k)s aren't cutting it

·         FW: Add your name: corporations need to pay their fair share of taxes!

·         FW: "Biden: Netanyahu moving Israel in wrong direction"

·         FW: In every generation

·         FW: How is Donald Trump's Campaign Affecting Schoolkids? Sorely.

·         FW: Saudi Arabia blackmailing US over 9/11 bill, which holds Saudis responsible for terror attacks

·         FW: Murphy's bill on U.S. aid to Saudi Arabia

·         FW: My Washington Post interview

·         FW: Sign the petition to CNN re: superdelegates

·         FW: No Jail Time and Reduced Charge of Criminal Negligent Homicide for Peter Liang

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From: Bernie Sanders
Subject: Verizon

The CEO of Verizon makes almost $20 million a year in compensation. He leads one of the most profitable companies in the country.

Yet Verizon wants to take away employees' health benefits. Verizon wants to outsource decent-paying jobs. Verizon wants to avoid paying federal income tax. And right now, Verizon is refusing to sit down and negotiate a fair contract with its employees.

In other words, Verizon is just another major American corporation trying to destroy the lives of working Americans. But this time, Verizon's employees are fighting back.

Thousands of very brave employees of Verizon and Verizon Wireless are on strike until they can get a fair contract. They made a very difficult decision that puts their families at risk -- but it's a choice they made to stand up for justice against corporate greed.

I'm asking you today to stand up and tell the CEO of Verizon that you think Verizon employees deserve a fair contract that protects health benefits, guarantees fair pay, and stops outsourcing. Click here to add your name in support of Verizon employees.

Add Your Name »

Twice last week in New York City I stood with Verizon workers in the streets. I did so because they're doing something very brave: they're standing up not just for themselves, but for the millions of Americans who don't have a union.

The working class of this country deserves to earn decent wages, decent benefits, and not see their jobs go to low-wage countries.

Verizon's CEO doesn't think that. He called me "contemptible" for saying that his employees need a fair contract, and that Verizon should pay its fair share in federal income taxes.

What I think is contemptible is CEOs with multi-million dollar compensation packages, presiding over extremely profitable companies, and still refusing to give their employees fair contracts.

Corporate greed is a scourge on this country, and it will take all of us standing up for justice in order to rein it in. One significant way you can stand up to corporate greed is by standing with Verizon employees who are out on strike.

Add your name and say you support Verizon employees who are standing up to the CEO in order to get a fair contract with health benefits, fair pay, and job protections.

Corporate America is slowly beginning to realize that they cannot have it all. Thanks for helping them know it.

Contribute

Paid for by Bernie 2016

 

 

From: Mike Honda
Subject: Criminal Charges: Flint Water Crisis

The thousands of working families in Flint who were poisoned by lead in their drinking water are about to get justice.

A district judge filed criminal charges against two state and one city official over the water crisis. A crisis which is still impacting people to this day. A crisis that would not have happened if Flint was a primarily white, middle class community, instead of a poor community of color.

This is a prime example of how despite all of the progress we've made, our country is still riddled with injustices. Bringing felony and misdemeanor charges against these three Michigan officials is a start, but we need to hold all of those responsible accountable, and that includes Governor Rick Snyder, who let this tragedy happen under his leadership.

Stand with the people of Flint and add your name demanding
that Governor Snyder take responsibility and resign immediately.

Everyone should have access to clean, safe, drinkable water. Your race or class should not limit your ability to live a healthy life or live in a clean environment.

That's why earlier this year, I proudly voted yes on a law that would give American families more information about lead contamination and improve communication between water utilities, states, and the EPA. This legislation will help protect families across the country from similar future attacks on their clean drinking water.

There never has been and never will be a safe level of lead in drinking water. It's been months and tests are still finding toxic levels of lead in Flint homes. This is unacceptable. The people of Michigan need a new leader who will quickly fix this public health disaster and make sure it never happens again.

Sign our petition calling on Governor Snyder to resign.

CONTRIBUTE

Paid For By Mike Honda for Congress

 

 

From: Michael Phelan, Social Security Works
Subject: New research: 401(k)s aren't cutting it

Today in America, over half of households 55 and older have nothing saved for retirement. Now, new research by the Economic Policy Institute helps us understand how a move away from pension-based retirement plans toward the 401(k) savings model has left low- and middle-income families behind.

The solution? Expand Social Security!

Stand with Social Security Works and our partners today in calling on Congress to expand the only universal guaranteed source of retirement income – Social Security! Sign the petition to Congress today.

Research shows that only one in 10 families in the bottom 20 percent of income earners have retirement savings accounts. This is because lower-income workers receive skimpier matching contributions from employers, can least afford to contribute or bear investment risks, and receive little or no tax benefit – but still face a penalty if they need to tap their savings early.

Conversely, nine in 10 families in the top 20 percent have a retirement savings account and make up 74 percent of the TOTAL retirement savings in America.

This disparity across income groups highlights a serious policy failure by Congress, which is exacerbating income inequality and causing the current retirement security crisis.

Click here to call on Congress to address the retirement security crisis by expanding Social Security benefits for millions of Americans.

Right now, two-thirds of seniors rely on Social Security for the majority of their income. And, as Americans face an unprecedented $7.7 trillion retirement savings gap – meaning that for the first time in our country's history, current and future retirees are preparing for a lower standard of living in retirement than their parents – it is critical that Congress act to ensure that more Americans are not retiring into poverty.

At a time when the wealthiest Americans are doing phenomenally well and the middle class is disappearing, Congress needs to find ways to raise everyone's standard of living and that means expanding, not cutting Social Security.

Please, join us in calling on Congress to act immediately to address the growing retirement security crisis in America. Demand that Congress expand, not cut Social Security!

Sign

 

 

From: Mara Schechter; Daily Kos
Subject: Add your name: corporations need to pay their fair share of taxes!

Munsup, each year on Tax Day, it becomes clear how rigged our system is in favor of big corporations. The American people pay their share of taxes every April, but wealthy U.S. corporations often shirk their responsibility.

Recently, you and thousands of others signed this petition to the Treasury Department to stop corporations like Pfizer from dodging billions of dollars in taxes.

And we saw a victory: the Treasury Department issued new rules to make it harder for corporations to dodge taxes through merging with foreign companies -- which is just what Pfizer was trying to do. So Pfizer cancelled its merger -- and lost out on a $35 billion tax dodge!

Send in a comment to the Treasury Department this Tax Day: we support your new proposed regulations limiting corporate tax dodging.

The Treasury Department is now gathering public comments on these new regulations before making them final. And corporate lobbyists are working very hard to gut the new regulations. We can't let that happen.

The regulations take away tax breaks for "serial inverters," or corporations that have done multiple mergers with foreign companies, or inversions -- like Pfizer -- in order to dodge U.S. taxes.

The Treasury Department's regulations are an important step, but they could be even stronger. Even after these rules, some corporations will invert, since they'll still be able to dodge taxes after inversions by using "hopscotch loans" to avoid paying taxes on existing offshore profits at the time they invert. The Treasury's rules should be expanded to prevent this practice, too, so U.S. corporations changing their legal address to a tax haven pay the taxes they owe.

Tell the Treasury Department this Tax Day: we support the new rules cracking down on corporate tax dodging -- in fact, we'd like the rules to be even stronger.

 

 

From: Judy Burnette
Subject: "Biden: Netanyahu moving Israel in wrong direction" | Veterans Today

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2016/04/19/biden-netanyahu-moving-israel-in-wrong-direction/

 

 

From: Ilana Lerman; Rabbinic Council Organizer, JVP
Subject: In every generation

As we gather together at Pesach, let's recommit to fighting for peace and justice.

Freedom and slavery, liberation and oppression. Both are always present and always possible. 

This weekend, Jews and allies will gather together at seder tables around the world to celebrate Pesach. We'll tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt, drink four cups of wine, and commit to one another that in every generation, we all must personally feel as though we ourselves were liberated from slavery.

But as supporters of Jewish Voice for Peace, you and I know that the struggle for liberation did not end with the Exodus. For too many people, in Israel/Palestine, in the U.S., and around the world, the struggle for freedom and human rights is far from over.

That's why Pesach is such a gift. It's a specific time to connect the struggles for freedom waged by our ancestors to the struggles for freedom being waged today. And to celebrate, JVP members and Rabbis have updated the The Jewish Voice for Peace 2016 Haggadah. Click here to download a free copy.

As we dip karpas in salt water, we'll stand with the people of Flint, poisoned by lead in their drinking supply. As we spill wine onto our plates reciting the 10 plagues, we'll share 10 commitments we all can make to challenge the plagues of racism and Islamophobia. And as we raise our glasses four times, we'll toast to our movements for peace and justice, and resolve to continue fighting.  

Whether you're expecting 30 people for dinner, traveling to relatives or chosen family, having a quiet seder on your own, or you're just interested to learn more about Pesach -- our Haggadah is for you. Click here to download it from our website.

And there are even more resources on our website! We've got Passover recipes, details about JVP seders happening nationwide, and a recording of our webinar "Exodus Now," linking together the Pesach story of liberation, and the fight for justice for immigrants and refugees from Mexico to Palestine. 

Go to JVP.org/Passover, and find out more.

I love that this holiday brings me closer to my loved ones, gathering us together in ritual, story, and song. I love that this holiday is a reminder that the struggle for justice belongs at the heart of every Jewish community. And I love that in JVP, I've found a Jewish community that's truly committed to putting that into practice. 

From this year's JVP Haggadah:
May you find moments in this seder to exhale, to lean your head on the shoulder
of a friend or comrade, to feel yourself arriving on the shores of liberation.
Chag Sameach from all of us here at JVP.

P.S. Pesach is just the beginning! On Saturday, April 23rd we begin counting the Omer, the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuot, the holiday of revelation. We will be hosting nightly phone calls for all 49 days in order to come together as a community, keeping liberation at the forefront of our minds, hearts and actions. Please join us on these transformative calls, led by JVP members and Rabbis. For more information about these 49 nightly calls, visit JVP.org/omer.

Jewish Voice for Peace is a national membership organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for the freedom, equality, and dignity of all the people of Israel and Palestine. Become a JVP Member today.  Donate

 

 

From:. Jonathan Zalman; Tablet Magazine
Subject: Tablet Magazine: How is Donald Trump's Campaign Affecting Schoolkids? Sorely. Jonathan Zalman

How is Donald Trump's Campaign Affecting Schoolkids? Sorely. A report from the Southern Poverty Law Center about the impact of today's presidential campaigns on schoolchildren offers an alarming picture of fear and new kinds of bullying in America's classrooms By Jonathan Zalman|Read Article »

 

 

From: CLG_News
Subject: Saudi Arabia blackmailing US over 9/11 bill, which holds Saudis responsible for terror attacks

News Updates from CLG on 19 April 2016
All links are here:
http://www.legitgov.org/#breaking_news

Saudi Arabia blackmailing US over 9/11 bill, which holds Saudis responsible for terror attacks - report | 16 April 2016 | Saudi Arabia appears to be blackmailing the US, saying it would sell off American assets worth a 12-digit figure sum in dollars if Congress passes a bill allowing the Saudi government [aka ISIS on steroids] to be held responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The warning was delivered by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir last month during a visit to Washington, the New York Times reported. He said his country would sell up to 750 billion in US treasury securities and other assets before the bill puts them in jeopardy...Possible links between the perpetrators of the attack and Saudi Arabia may be hiding in 28 classified pages of the 2002 congressional report on 9/11, which allegedly describe how Saudi Arabian nationals with links to the government financially assisted the 19 hijackers who flew airplanes into World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

9/11 families hit Obama for 'siding with Saudi Arabia,' want secret report declassified | 18 April 2016 | President Barack Obama is facing increased pressure due to a renewed effort to make a secret Congressional report public that may describe links between Saudi Arabia and the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. Over the past week, families of 9/11 victims have criticized President Obama because of reports stating that his administration is lobbying Congress to block a bill that would allow terror victims to sue foreign governments connected to attacks on American soil. The criticism comes as Obama prepares to travel to Riyadh for the fourth time in his presidency. One 9/11 widow, Mindy Kleinberg, told the New York Times "it's stunning to think that our government would back the Saudis over its own citizens."

Obama Administration Lobbies Congress to Block Bill Holding Saudi Arabia Responsible for 9/11 Attacks | 15 April 2016 | Saudi Arabia has told the Obama administration and members of Congress that it will sell off hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of American assets held by the kingdom if Congress passes a bill that would allow the Saudi government to be held responsible in American courts for any role in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The Obama administration has lobbied Congress to block the bill's passage, according to administration officials and congressional aides from both parties, and the Saudi threats have been the subject of intense discussions in recent weeks between lawmakers and officials from the State Department and the Pentagon.

And More Articles ….

CLG needs your support. http://www.legitgov.org/donate.html

Or, please mail a check or m*ney order to CLG:
Citizens for Legitimate Government (CLG)
P.O. Box 1142
Bristol, CT 06011-1142
Contributions to CLG are not tax deductible.

 

 

From: Robert Naiman; Just Foreign Policy, MoveOn
Subject: Murphy's bill on U.S. aid to Saudi Arabia

Maybe you missed it in all the hubbub about the New York primary. But Senator Chris Murphy has introduced a bill that would put new conditions on U.S. military aid to Saudi Arabia.

For U.S. arms transfers to Saudi Arabia to go forward, the President would have to certify that 1) Saudi Arabia is acting to limit civilian casualties from its war in Yemen and 2) Saudi Arabia is cooperating with the U.S. against ISIS and Al Qaeda terrorism.

Not too radical, eh? 

I have a piece up about the Murphy bill on Huffington Post. Can you help me spread the news by reading my piece and sharing it on Twitter or Facebook or however you share things?

Senators Murphy and Paul Challenge U.S. Military Aid to Saudi Arabia
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/senators-murphy-and-paul_b_9740330.html

Want to make a donation? MoveOn is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

 

From: albert baca
Subject: FW: My Washington Post interview

Thought some of you would enjoy reading this:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Sunday, April 17, 2016 11:36 PM, albert baca wrote:

Hi Diane,

I am in my 78th year so I have been around the block a few times.

During my working life, I was a USAF Civilian Logistician. I began my career as a Management Intern. I was soon writing policies and procedures. As I progressed, I was soon working with the President's Budget, Appropriations, Apportionments and Expenditures. I was also writing letters for General Officer signature and answering my share of Congressional Inquiries. So I know a bit about how the federal government works.

As a life long student of economics, history, politics and finance, I proudly state that I feel the Bern. I am what is known as a yellow dog democrat. I have been preaching what Bernie Sanders is saying for years.

I am astute enough to realize that in all likelihood, Hillary Clinton will be the party's nominee. I don't especially like the Hill because of her Neocon tendencies but in the general, I will certainly vote for HRC. There is absolutely no way on God's green earth that I could bring myself to vote for any of the clowns riding in the GOP clown car.

Albert B. Baca; Proud Democrat

-------------------------------------------------------------
On Sunday, April 17, 2016 9:23 PM, Rep. Diane Russell wrote:

Dear Albert,

If there's one thing I've always fought for, it's the right of voters to have our voices heard.

For years, I've fought for same-day voter registration, Clean Elections, and ranked choice voting.

Last week, I voted to make Maine a presidential primary state because it's just not right that thousands of people would be disenfranchised because they can't stand in line for five hours at a caucus.

And now I'm leading the fight to end super delegates as part of the Democratic Party's presidential nominating process.

At the Maine Democratic Convention next month, I will offer an amendment to end the undemocratic super delegate system, and I was honored to discuss my proposal with The Washington Post last week.

Click here to read the full interview.

Since I announced my proposal, I've gotten an incredible response across the party--from rank-and-file voters to party leaders, Hillary backers as well as those feeling the Bern.

I'm even hearing from delegates in other states who wish to compare notes and offer a similar amendment in their own states.

Again, click here to read the full interview, and feel free to share your thoughts with me on this or any issue by simply clicking reply to this email.

P.S. To stand with me on this and so many other important fights, click here to make a donation.
Paid for and authorized by Diane Russell for Senate.

 

 

From: Diana Herberger
Subject: Sign the petition to CNN re: superdelegates

Tell CNN: Stop including superdelegates in your election results.

I'm Diana Herberger, a MoveOn member in Wichita, Kansas, and I started a petition to CNN, which says:

Stop including superdelegates in delegate counts when reporting on election results.
Sign Diana's petition

Superdelegates are not determined through the election process and should not be included in delegate counts reported during election coverage. Superdelegates may, and have been known to, change which candidate they support, often based on the popular vote. This practice is misleading, especially to less-informed viewers.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you. It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online petitions. You can start your own petition here.

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

 

 

From: Sato Kazuya
Subject: FW: No Jail Time and Reduced Charge of Criminal Negligent Homicide for Peter Liang

No Jail Time and Reduced Charge of Criminal Negligent Homicide for Peter Liang

By Shirley N Lew; AsAmNews New York Correspondent

Judge Danny Chun sentenced ex-NYPD officer Peter Liang today to a reduced charge of criminally negligent homicide from second degree manslaughter.

Peter Liang supporters across the street from the courthouse on day of his sentencing.

With the reduced charge, Chun's sentenced Liang to five years probation and 800 hours of community service. The judge removed the recommended six months of house arrest, but increased the community hours from 500 as originally recommended by the Brooklyn DA, Ken Thompson.

Liang was facing up to 15 years of manslaughter for an accidental shooting of Akai Gurley in the Pink Houses during a vertical patrol in 2014.

Chun felt Liang would be more productive if he was not just sitting at home under house arrest and also acknowledged the over 40,000 form letters he received in support of Liang.

"I am compelled to modify and reduce the sentence to criminal negligent homicide. The people needed to prove that substantial and unreasonable risk would occur. There is no evidence that the defendant was aware of Gurley's presence. Shooting that gun and killing somebody was the last thing on his mind," the judge said.

Sobs were heard from Gurley's family and supporters in the courtroom as the judge read off Liang's sentence.

"It's still a conviction even-though it's a criminal negligent homicide," said community activist and Director of Free Masons,  Karlin Chan. "It's a relief to get rid of the manslaughter charge. Like I've said, I've sat in on so many trials and the verdict was reached with unsupported testimony and evidence presented at the trial, and that it was more an emotional verdict to hold police accountable. The judge looked at the evidence, he did the right thing. He stood by the letter of the law and he made the right decision. "

Assemblyman William Colton's also reacted to Liang's reduced charge and sentence.

Peter Liang supporters across the street from the courthouse on day of his sentencing.

BKLYN ASSEMBLYMAN, WILLIAM COLTON ON LIANG - April 19, 2016 from Video Gal on Vimeo.

Supporters of Gurley believed that Liang never called for help.  Complicating the matter the night of the incident is that Liang and his partner Shaun Landau did not know immediately that a man was shot. When they did, they both were not able to perform CPR, they said because of inadequate training.

Landau testified in the trial and was then fired from the NYPD. He was never charged.

When asked if the Liang's legal team will still appeal, Chan replied, "We will discuss that even though it is now a Class E felony. We still try to clear his name totally."

Just before the judge read Liang's sentence, Liang read his statement, "I always treated people fairly and with respect."

Demonstrator, Marquis Jenkins outside courthouse on the day of Peter Liang's sentencing.

Outside the courthouse, demonstrator Marquis Jenkins said, "For decade and centuries, the criminal justice system has been holding people of color hostage. We are yet again disappointed, but not surprised by today's verdict. We will continue to advocate, immobilize and organize for justice. We can not allow another person of color to fall, to die in the hand of the system that was designed to protect us."

Before the 2:30pm sentencing, about a hundred Liang supporters already formed across the street. They held signs in English and Chinese that read "Stand up to justice," and "Tragic accident does not equal manslaughter."

Peter Liang's lawyer, Gary Schectman outside the courthouse.

For over a year and a half, this case has captured the attention of many. As some have said, there are no clear winners here. One can only hope that with time, everyone will heal.

There is a dead man and a fired police officer with an uncertain future. The case even created division among many Chinese Americans over Liang's conviction. This case is surely to be re-examined in law schools and there will plenty of discussions to take place in homes.

One thing is for sure,  the supporters on both sides wanted justice.

The probation department will determine when the sentencing will begin and the type of service Liang will be performing in the community.

 

End of MPEN e-Newsletter