Fw: now-action-list Action Alert: GOP Pushes to Advance Conservative Agenda

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----- Original Message ----- From: National Organization for Women

now-action-list@...

Sent: Friday, September 28, 2001 4:41 PM

Subject: now-action-list Action Alert: GOP Pushes to Advance Conservative Agenda

ACTION ALERTGOP Pushes to Advance Conservative AgendaSeptember 28, 2001Signs of a split in the bipartisanship exhibited by both parties inCongress since the September 11 terrorist attacks are beginning to appear,as conservatives try to attach bad amendments to legislation on airportsecurity, defense appropriations and anti-terrorism bills.TAKE ACTION: Our representatives in Congress need to hear from you toinsure that in the frenzy to protect the country and bail out sufferingindustries, the interests of women and workers are taken into considerationwith a fair balance between corporate and human needs. This is no time to"ram through" legislation that will result in significant economic andenvironmental impacts for generations to come. As the economy heads towards a possible recession, it appears that manymore thousands may be laid-off from service-sector jobs. Such actions hitwomen the hardest, especially minimum wage employees and women who haverecently moved off welfare. In light of the massive layoffs of low-wageworkers and the likelihood of high unemployment, we are particularly urgingthat the clock be suspended on the 5-year time limit for receiving welfareassistance.During this time of crisis, it is imperative that we continue to bevigilant to protect our civil liberties and to be a voice for those who arenot being heard. Please write to your members of Congress by clicking onthe following link:http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=58742'>http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=58742 & type=CO & azip= BACKGROUND: In a clear indication that the Bush administration and theRepublicans in both chambers of Congress intend to take advantage of thebipartisan atmosphere and unity during this national emergency, several keybills before Congress right now contain amendments to further theconservative agenda in areas such as tax cuts and energy policy.For example:- The Republican leadership renewed efforts to pass an "economic stimulus"package that includes a reduction in the capital gains tax rates, corporateincome tax rates and other special breaks for large corporations, butvirtually nothing for the hundreds of thousands of workers who will bedisplaced in an economic downturn;- Senate Republicans pressed for amendments to the $343 billion defenseauthorization bill for Fiscal Year 2002 that would implement an energy planto accelerate oil and gas exploration (including drilling in the ArcticNational Wildlife Refuge), to increase our reliance on greenhousegas-producing energy sources and to relax environmental protectionregulatory programs; and,- The administration is promoting to tack on provisions to expand Bush'strade negotiating powers (Fast Track Authority). These would be added tothe Passenger Airline Safety and Security Act (H.R. 2958/ S. 1461),scheduled to be taken up next week. Expansion of presidential authority ininternational trade is opposed by liberal and progressive groups out of afear that workers' rights will be further diminished and that developingcountries will become even more impoverished. Poor women, especially, havebeen disadvantaged in the race towards economic globalization.The Democrats are introducing proposals of their own as follows:- Provisions in the Passenger Airline Safety and Security Act asking for$3.75 billion in financial aid, job training and health care for laid-offaviation industry workers. Similar elements were originally included in theairline bailout package recently authorized but were pulled at the lastminute by the House Republican leadership. - Varying plans are being offered to increase federal spending for schoolconstruction, infra-structure rebuilding, job training and other neededpublic works projects as a means to stimulate the economy -- instead offurther tax cuts for the wealthy.We expect that legislation on airline security, anti-terrorism initiativesand an economic stimulus package may be acted on by Congress before theirimpending recess around October 16.That link again, to write to your members of congress:http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=58742'>http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=58742 & type=CO & azip=