[mpen-dayton] FW: "Under Trump, Coal Mining Gets New Life on U.S. Lands" & "SCROTUS Shield" & "from common cause: if Mueller ..." and more

FYI. Best, Munsup

P.S. Please reply back to me with ‘unsubscribe’ added to 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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• FW: [Info] August 5, 1963 - Limited Test Ban Treaty
• FW: NYT Today's Headline: Under Trump, Coal Mining Gets New Life on U.S. Lands
• FW: Turns out public officials can't block social media users just for criticizing them
• FW: 37 MEGA DRUG COMPANIES FUND NO ON ISSUE 2 CAMPAIGN IN OHIO
• FW: SCROTUS Shield
• FW: The Changing Face of Retirement
• FW: Let Medicare negotiate
• FW: This Republican lied. Let's make him pay
• FW: Police in Washington D.C. wearing white power symbols over their uniforms
• FW: from common cause: if Mueller ...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: carl bunin
Subject: [Info] August 5, 1963 - Limited Test Ban Treaty

August 5, 1963

The U.S., U.S.S.R. and U.K. signed the Limited Test Ban Treaty in Moscow, banning nuclear testing in the atmosphere, in space or underwater. Underground testing, however, was not prohibited.

It has since been signed by more than 100 countries. bit.ly/LimitedTestBanTreaty

 

 

From:
Subject: NYT Today's Headline: Under Trump, Coal Mining Gets New Life on U.S. Lands

Trump Rules
Under Trump, Coal Mining Gets New Life on U.S. Lands
By ERIC LIPTON and BARRY MEIER

A business-friendly secretary of the interior has moved to invigorate a struggling industry, reversing Obama-era restrictions to help create "wealth and jobs."

 

 

From: CREDO Condensed
Subject: Turns out public officials can't block social media users just for criticizing them

CREDO Action Headlines:
  

• READ: The Trump-Russia investigation is headed to a grand jury
• READ: The explosive Russia testimony you may have missed
• READ: Senate unanimously blocks Trump from making recess appointments over break
• READ: As Trump hits affirmative action, let’s remember how Jared Kushner got into Harvard
• SIGN: Tell Congress: Trump investigation must be truly independent
• READ: Turns out public officials can't block social media users just for criticizing them
• READ: Mueller's Trump investigation team adds expert on foreign bribery
• READ: Infamous Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio convicted for his immigrant roundups
• WATCH: Trump adviser rants in defense of racist immigration policy
• READ: Federal court to Trump's EPA: Enforce Obama's anti-pollution rule
• READ: Sen. Cory Booker introduced a bill to legalize marijuana nationwide
• READ: U.S. reportedly intercepted suspected Russian agents' chatter that Manafort asked for their help with Clinton
• IRONY ALERT: Kushner subpoenaed for issuing green cards while the administration takes them away
• READ: Federal judges reject racist North Carolina redistricting

 

 

From: David P. Little
Subject: 37 MEGA DRUG COMPANIES FUND NO ON ISSUE 2 CAMPAIGN IN OHIO

For Immediate Release, August 4, 2017

37 MEGA DRUG COMPANIES FUND NO ON ISSUE 2 CAMPAIGN
Drug Companies Can Run But They Can’t Hide

COLUMBUS – With the opponents of Issue 2 keeping Ohio in the dark about who is bankrolling their campaign, supporters of the November ballot measure Friday released the names of 37 drug companies that belong to the industry trade group opposing Issue 2.

On Monday Issue 2 opponents failed to disclose the names of the drug companies that are funding their campaign in finance statements they filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. Instead they only disclosed that their campaign received $15.8 million from a recently created limited liability corporation. On Wednesday Issue 2 supporters  filed a complaint with the Ohio Election Commission alleging the opponents were waging an illegally secretive campaign. 

“We’re confident our complaint will prevail and our opponents will be forced to provide the detailed disclosures required by the law,” said Dennis Willard, spokesman for the Yes on Issue 2 campaign.

In the meantime, the Yes on Issue 2 campaign is providing voters with a list of the 37 companies that are members of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). See the attached list.

PhRMA spokesman Dale Butland, reacting to the storm of criticism about the group’s financial disclosure statement, told reporters Tuesday that “PhRMA gets its money from its member companies….We’ve been totally open about the fact that PhRMA, the trade association for the pharmaceutical industry, is funding this campaign.”

“Simply stating that PhRMA is involved in the campaign isn’t good enough,” said Willard. “The law requires the disclosure of the names of the drug companies contributing to the campaign and disclosure of the precise amounts of money each company has contributed.”

“The drug companies are playing this shell game because they don’t want to be named in black and white, in an official report, available for all to see,” Willard added. “These drug companies don’t want Ohio voters to know that they’re spending tens of millions of dollars to protect their outrageous prices, their outrageous profits and their outrageous greed by torpedoing Issue 2 and hurting Ohio families.”

The attached list of PhRMA members includes the following companies:
   

• Pfizer Inc., a company that this year raised the average price of its drugs by 20 percent – or nearly ten times the rate of inflation. Pfizer has paid billions of dollars in fines to settle lawsuits against the company brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. For example, in 2013, Pfizer – and its subsidiary Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. - agreed to pay $2.3 billion in fines for fraudulently marketing some of their drugs to consumers and causing government health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, to be over-billed by hundreds of millions of dollars. The DoJ called the settlement a “landmark” in protecting “the public from those who seek to earn a profit through fraud.”
• Gilead Sciences, a company that sells its hepatitis C drugs (Sovaldi and Harvoni) at astronomic prices ($85,000 and $94,500). A U.S. Senate committee investigating Gilead’s pricing blasted the company for its greed.  One senator said: “Gilead knew these prices would put treatment out of the reach of millions and cause extraordinary problems for Medicare and Medicaid, but still the company went ahead.”
• Purdue and Teva, companies that were sued recently by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine for misleading Ohioans about the addictive risk of their opioid-based prescription drugs and for creating an appetite for opioids that has fueled the state’s deadly heroin epidemic. In 2007 Purdue settled $634.5 million lawsuit filed by the U.S. DoJ  alleging the company misled millions of Americans about the addictive nature of its drug Oxycontin.
• Merck, a company whose drug Vioxx caused an uproar in 2004. At that time Merck pulled Vioxx off the market after learning the drug - prescribed to treat arthritis – also contributed significantly to a risk of heart failure. One study said Vioxx was to blame for more than 46,000 heart attacks. The company set aside $4.85 billion to settle the thousands of lawsuits filed by persons claiming the drug had hurt them or their families. In 2008, Merck paid out $58 million to settle claims it deceptively marketed Vioxx.

“Pfizer, Gilead, Merck, Purdue and Teva, for example, have proved to be bad corporate citizens,” said Willard. “Voters need to know if these same companies are bankrolling the campaign against Issue 2. Their campaign should be judged by the company it keeps.”

Issue 2, if approved by voters, will create a pricing system for drugs purchased for 4 million Ohioans by more than two-dozen state agencies, including Medicaid. That pricing system is modeled after the program successfully and uneventfully used by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the last 25 years. The VA obtains at least a 24 percent discount on the drugs it purchases for about 9 million veterans nationwide. It has been estimated Issue 2 will save the state $400 million a year.

“That’s money that is now going into the pockets of the drug companies,” said Willard. “If Issue 2 passes, that money will stay here in Ohio.”

The Yes on Issue 2 campaign is a broad-based, bi-partisan coalition. More than 200,000 Ohio voters signed petitions to put an amendment on the ballot in November that will lower drug prices for over 4 million Ohioans, including 164,000 children, save taxpayers $400 million annually, reduce healthcare costs for everyone and teach greedy drug companies and their CEOs a lesson. 

You can learn more by visiting yesonissue2.com or following us on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information, contact Dennis Willard, 614.209.8945, dennis@precisionnewmedia.com

Paid by Ohio Taxpayers for Lower Drug Prices

 

 

From: Eric Kramer
Subject: SCROTUS Shield

"They don’t care that he lies every time he opens his mouth. They’ve already convinced themselves that God uses imperfect people. God used King David, God used all these other people who were flawed. But there’s even more than that: they believe Trump is Elijah, he’s King David, he’s Cyrus."

This is some truly scary shit! As this writer asks, "I think smart people should start thinking about what it means to someone like Donald Trump, who clearly has a huge ego and is narcissistic. Does it make him more dangerous that he has people telling him all the time, ‘You are anointed by God, God put you in this position, you have a divine mission?’”
http://religiondispatches.org/a-president-anointed-by-god-potus-shield-and-religious-rights-affair-with-trump/     -  E

 

 

From: Thomas Scott
Subject: FW: The Changing Face of Retirement

A cautionary tale of what awaits many baby boomers upon retirement.  This is very scary and should be a wake up call for all who are still working. Check out these reports:

55, unemployed and faking normal: One woman's story of barely scraping by

Are you hanging off a financial cliff? Here's how to cope

Fifty-five, Unemployed, Faking Normal | Elizabeth White | TEDxVCU

 

 

From: Michael Phelan, Social Security Works
Subject: Let Medicare negotiate

Americans pay the highest price for prescription drugs in the world. And as a result, nearly 1 in 5 U.S. residents―35 million people―do not fill a prescription each year because they cannot afford it.

At a time when the 37% of the average Social Security check goes toward out-of-pocket health care costs, it is critical that Congress act to protect the American people from the out-of-control pharmaceutical industry.

Sign the petition to Congress demanding they pass legislation requiring Medicare to negotiate prices with drug corporations.

In 2015, the five largest drug corporations raked in more than $50 BILLION in profits. Yet, Donald Trump and Republicans’ “health care” bill did nothing to rein in abuses by drug corporations.

Earlier this year, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the “Improving Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs Act.” Among other things, this bill would allow Medicare to negotiate fair drug prices and accelerate the closing of the Part D “donut hole.”

Instead of padding insurance company profits, Congress should focus on bills―like Sanders’s bill―that rein in abuses by drug corporations and make sure people can afford the health care they need.

Stand with Social Security Works and demand Congress act immediately to pass legislation that requires Medicare to negotiate prices with drug corporations.

Together we’re taking on the greedy, out of control drug corporations and fighting for a health care system and retirement system that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.

Paid for and Authorized by Social Security Works

 

 

From: Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Adam, Holly, Kathy, Onyi, Susan, Anathea, Audine, Shannon, Emma, Pilar,
            Natalie, Melody, Pam, Lindsay, and Ryan, the UltraViolet PAC team, UltraViolet PAC
Subject: This Republican lied. Let's make him pay.

On June 23, Nevada's Republican Senator Dean Heller announced that he would not for vote the Senate version of Trumpcare or any other bill that takes health care away from tens of millions of Americans.¹

Then, when Trumpcare went the floor of the Senate, Sen. Heller turned around and voted yes.

Why did Sen. Heller change his mind? Follow the money. Yesterday, Mitch McConnell's Super PAC announced that they are going "all-in" to spend whatever it takes to get Sen. Heller re-elected. They even admitted that they were giving him the money as a reward for "tough votes"--practically admitting to a quid pro quo bribe.²

We're going all-in to fight back and throw Dean Heller out of the Senate. Will you chip in $5?

Yes, I'll chip in $5 to help defeat Dean Heller and hold Republicans accountable for voting for Trumpcare.

Sen. Heller is the most beatable Republican in the entire U.S. Senate.³ Trump lost Nevada to Hillary Clinton. The latest poll says Sen. Heller's approval rating is down to 22 percent.⁴ And he just voted for Trumpcare--one of the most unpopular pieces of legislation in history.⁵

Every single Republican who voted for Trumpcare is now at risk of losing their seats. Republicans in purple and blue states, like Sen. Heller and Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, are especially in danger.

That's why Mitch McConnell is trying to buy these elections--because he knows that the voters have rejected his agenda and this is his only way to win.

But we're not going to let them get away with it. Between now and Election Day 2018, we're going to follow Sen. Heller and other Republican senators and representatives who voted for Trumpcare all over their home districts, reminding voters that they voted take health care away from 20 million people.

Will you chip in $5 to help defeat Dean Heller and hold Republicans accountable for voting for Trumpcare?
CONTRIBUTE

Sources:

1. GOP Senator Dean Heller Won't Support Senate Healthcare Bill, The Atlantic, June 23, 2017
2. McConnell-linked SuperPAC says it's all in for Heller, The Nevada Independent, August 3, 2017
3. Nevada senator has most vulnerable Senate seat in 2018 midterm election, The Washington Times, July 4, 2017
4. Dean Heller's Approval Rating Takes A Hit After Health Care 'Debacle', The Huffington Post, August 2, 2017
5. The most unpopular bill in three decades, Axios, July 7, 2017

Want to support our work? UltraViolet is funded by members like you, and our tiny staff ensures small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

 

 

From: Law4BlackLives-DC via OrganizeFor
Subject: Police in Washington D.C. wearing white power symbols over their uniforms.
   

Law4BlackLives-DC just started a petition to Kick Racist Cops Out Our Community! Tell MPD To Fire Officer Altiere! Sign now

 

We just started a petition titled "Kick Racist Cops Out Our Community! Tell MPD To Fire Officer Altiere!" On June 2, 5, and 13, 2017, Officer Vincent Altiere, Badge #4440, of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department, was seen in the DC community and at the DC Superior Court (where he was present to testify in a criminal case), wearing an offensive, racist, and threatening shirt. The shirt displays symbols of police harassment, hate, and death while prominently displaying the symbols and emblems of the Metropolitan Police Department. We're asking that you join us, together we can voice our extreme concern about this offensive shirt and demand that Mayor Bowser's administration, Metropolitan Police Department and the Office of Police Complaints take immediate disciplinary action against Officer Altiere and any other Officers who have worn this or similar shirts. Our effort is already having an effect, the Metropolitan Police Department has already stated that they're taking Officer Altiere off the street for the time being. We are also demanding that officials take proactive measures to address a department culture that allowed this type of misconduct to go unchecked. The Seventh District is a Black community being policed by an officer openly displaying white supremacist symbols! The shirt displays a “sun cross,” replacing the letter “O” of “PowerShift” with a notorious white supremacist symbol adopted by the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist hate groups. Immediately below is the image of the Grim Reaper, a personification of death in the form of a hooded skeleton, holding an assault rifle and a Metropolitan Police Department badge. Below, the shirt reads “Let me see that waistband jo,” referring to “jump outs” and the routine practice of demanding to see the waistbands of individuals, who are disproportionately young Black and Brown men, often for no legitimate reason. Given the prominent placement of MPD logos and a badge number, the shirt does not appear to be attributed to Officer Altiere alone, but instead, appears to have been designed for a group of officers associated with the MPD Seventh District. Ninety-five percent of the residents in MPD’s Seventh District are black and too many Seventh District residents have experienced harassment and abuse at the hands of the police. It is time for the leadership of this city to acknowledge and address the systemic violation of rights, and threat of violence to Black people here in Washington D.C. This shirt is offensive and indicates systemic bias in the policing of people of color. Join us to fight back. White supremacy and insinuated threats of death should never be associated with or tolerated in police departments who are sworn to protect and serve. Such ideologies are dangerous and demonstrate a blatant disregard for Black and Brown life. They are at the root of rampant police abuse and result in the unconstitutional terrorizing of Black and Brown communities and the callous murder of Black and Brown men and women at the hands of the police, both in Washington, DC and across the country. On behalf of a number of community organizations and community members, Law4BlackLives-DC has formally filed complaints with both the  Internal Affairs Division of the Metropolitan Police Department and the Office of Police Complaints regarding this shirt and the message it propagates. The shirt stands alone as an affront to the community. It also embraces ongoing patterns of constitutional violations and constitutes a blatant disregard of MPD’s own general orders, including MPD General Orders 110.11, 201.26, 304.10, and 304.15. We are also asking concerned community members to let Mayor Bowser know that she must step in to check this culture for the people of Washington D.C.  Such Officers are a threat to public safety and erode public trust in the police. Inaction by the Metropolitan Police Department, Office of Police Complaints, and the Mayor's office would be an endorsement of this shirt’s hateful message and an acceptance of a policing culture infected by racism and violence. We're going to keep pushing until we win substantive change, we won't rest until he is fired and everyone who has taken part in this disgraceful conduct is gone. Will you pledge to join the fight against racist policing? Sign now

Join us and start your own petition on OrganizeFor today!

Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.

 

 

From: Andrew J. Tierman
Subject: from common cause: if Mueller ...

Common Cause urges preparation [see forwarded pledge email]: pledge to defend Democracy! Here is a concept of mine, which needs editing - and could be individually diversified - and could be carried on two-sided posters, if or when lawful 1st Amendment action is timely: see attached jpg:   [  I P M A E C H ! ]  {orthographic coding intentional for eeperday overcay }    - Andrew
______________________________________________________________
From: Stephen Spaulding; Chief of Strategy and the team at Common Cause
Subject: Our action plan

http://act.commoncause.org/site/R?i=KwdGtrMiEwHOAWW-XBleUg

Dear Andrew,

This is a precarious and unpredictable situation for the rule of law.

President Donald Trump has made clear his hostility towards Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating his administration’s ties to Russian election meddling and any resulting obstruction of justice.

You and I both know that if Trump fires Mueller, he’ll be crossing a MAJOR red line.

How We The People respond will matter greatly for the rule of law. That’s why I’m asking you, today, to take this pledge and be ready to take to the streets if this President does the unthinkable.

Common Cause and partners are mobilizing hundreds of rapid response rallies -- pledge to take part in an event near you today or host one in your community.  <http://act.commoncause.org/site/R?i=BxYxyMO1qP7vgt0LJk4r3Q>

Trump firing the special counsel would undermine our systems of checks and balances and raise the stakes of a constitutional crisis. But our democracy has faced this challenge before -- and with your help, we can emerge even stronger.

When Richard Nixon fired the special prosecutor looking into Watergate, Common Cause members like you sprung right into action, winning the accountability and lasting reform that Americans demanded.  We are in another historic moment -- and what we do next will make all the difference.

Our democracy is premised on checks and balances to preserve our ability to hold power accountable.

Each and every one of us must step up. Pledge to join thousands of Americans fighting back at rapid response rallies across the country. http://act.commoncause.org/site/R?i=3SFbnJCxqo_ESsCZ8S7nTw

We’ve heard members of Congress -- Democrat and Republican alike -- say that firing Mueller would cross an unacceptable red line.1 With your help,  we’ll take to the streets to make sure they back their words with action.

I hope you’ll join us.

P.S. Our response must go beyond Donald Trump -- we must use this moment to mobilize and educate our fellow Americans about the common-sense solutions we can take to protect our democracy and strengthen its resilience.

Our experts have developed a 10-point plan. Can you take a moment to read, show your support, and share this Country Over Party agenda?
http://act.commoncause.org/site/R?i=gdDZDNEFGnPQV6S-rWdhkw

1) http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/27/lindsey-graham-trump-robert-mueller-241027

 

End of MPEN e-Newsletter