WNPJ Action Alerts: Week of July 2nd

Action Alert 1: End tax breaks for offshoring jobs
Action Alert 2: "If I had a trillion" youth video festival
Action Alert 3: Petri, Baldwin, Moore vote "Out of Afghanistan"

Action Alert 1: End tax breaks for offshoring jobs
Background: The Bring Jobs Home Act, introduced by Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, would eliminate the tax break allowing companies to deduct expenses associated with moving operations overseas, while also providing a tax credit to corporations that can show and increase in the employment of full-time employees in the United States. In the last decade alone, 50,000 manufacturing sites in the U.S. have been closed and 6 million American jobs have been lost due to outsourcing.
Take Action: Neither Herb Kohl (202-224-5653) nor Ron Johnson (202-224-5323) has signed on as a cosponsor of the Bring Jobs Home Act. A companion bill in the House, H.R.5542, is co-sponsored by Wisconsin Representatives Tammy Baldwin and Ron Kind. Contact info for your Representative here...
Contact for more info: Wisconsin AFL-CIO, 414-771-0700, solidarity@wisaflcio.org

Action Alert 2: "If I had a trillion" youth video festival
Background: For the third year in a row, National Priorities Project and the American Friends Service Committee are cosponsoring the If I Had A Trillion Dollars Video Film Festival. The contest asks youth ages 10 to 23, "If you had a trillion dollars, how would you spend it in your community, your nation, your world?" National Priorities Project says of the project, "It's about youth recognizing their own power as advocates for a federal budget that reflects their priorities, and proving that the nation's youth care." Over the last two years, youth from 18 states have participated and nearly 60 young people have traveled to Washington, D.C. to take part in the formal celebration and activities.
Take Action: Share this information with teachers and youth: Entries are due by January 11, 2013. Selected videos will be entered into the IHTD 2013 film festival, leadership training, and a Congressional screening held in Washington D.C. in spring 2013. Click here for information about how to enter.
Contact for more info: Nina Bellio, National Priorities Project, 413-584-9556, nbellio@nationalpriorities.org

Action Alert 3: Petri, Baldwin, Moore vote "Out of Afghanistan"
Background: Last month, Congress voted on the 2013 Defense Authorization bill, authorizing $642 billion in military spending, including $88 billion to continue the war in Afghanistan. One of the few bright spots was surprisingly strong support for an amendment offered by California Representative Barbara Lee, which would have forced the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. A majority of House Democrats, including Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin and Gwen Moore, voted "yes" to the Lee amendment despite opposition by the Obama administration. Wisconsin Representative Tom Petri was one of only 12 Republicans who voted for the Lee Amendment, which failed by a vote of 303 to 113.
Take Action: Please call Representatives Petri (202-225-2476) Baldwin (202-225-2906) and Moore (202-225-4572) to thank them for their votes in favor of getting our troops out of Afghanistan.
Contact for more info: Rusti Eisenberg, United for Peace and Justice Legislative Action Working Group, Hiscze@aol.com
 

WNPJ is forwarding these weekly alerts from member organizations, individual members and national affiliates. If you are a WNPJ member and have an alert you would like posted , please send it to Steve Burns at: outreach@wnpj.org