Vermont Livable Wage Campaign Action Alert!

Action Alerts!

4.18.08 Vermont Livable Wage Campaign Action Alert:

Economic Development and Budget Cuts, Speak Out

1. Action: Important Economic Development Meetings Across the State

2. Action: Call the Governor and Legislature - Proposed Budget Cuts Hurting Vermonters

3. Labor Forum: Turn American Health Care Around – Wed. April 23^rd, 6:30pm

4. Internships: Spend the Summer Fighting for Social Justice at the PJC

5. On the Radio: Hunger in Vermont – What can be done?

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1. Action: Important Economic Development Meetings Across the State

The Commission on the Future of Economic Development (CFED) will begin a series of public meetings around the state next week. We need long-term investments in our workforce (education & training), high quality infrastructure (roads, bridges, telecom, renewable energy), and quality of life (social infrastructure - affordable housing, environmental protection, affordable child care). We need to solve the health care crisis and we need to become more self-reliant. These are the foundations of a strong and sustainable economy.

The scheduled meetings are:

Brattleboro - April 23 Wednesday	Middlebury - May 5 Monday
Rutland - April 29 Tuesday	White River Jct. - May 8 Thursday
St. Albans - April 30 Wednesday	Burlington - May 21 Wednesday

The Governor complains about taxes on the rich; tells anyone who will listen that Vermont is anti-business; and suggests that demographic changes are our biggest problem. These are just excuses.

Please consider attending one of the meetings. If you want more information on state economic development funding, priorities, and performance, see Phase 9 of The Job Gap Study and the Addendum to Phase 9 on the myth of business relocation.

If you want to know more about the CFED, go to http://www.snellingcenter.org/cfed/

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2. Action: Call the Governor and Legislature - Proposed Budget Cuts Hurting Vermonters

Our state government put together a list of cuts that targets our poor, our elderly, our children, those with mental illness, and those with disabilities to a far greater degree than the rest of the population.

The House has passed an extremely austere budget, which was followed Tuesday by news that there is likely to be $25 million less in revenue in the coming fiscal year. So far, our leaders have only considered how they can further cut their way to a balanced budget. We need to look beyond the particulars of individual programs and demand that our leaders consider a balanced approach that includes finding the revenue needed to meet the basic needs of the state.

Action Needed:

Please contact the Governor and your own legislators immediately with a strong message:

The budget passed by the already contains reductions in spending that will hurt too many Vermonters.
Do not cut any additional funds from the 2009 budget - find the money somewhere, such as using some rainy day funds, closing the capital gains loophole and/or passing a temporary tax increase on those who can afford it.
There is already a lot of suffering going on among every-day Vermonters. We are counting on our leaders to step in now, when we need them the most.

We suggest that you ask them a question like this: "What kind of state have we become that we would force poor and elderly Vermonters to pay $10 million more for prescriptions -- or more likely, go without -- before we're willing to close a tax loophole that even the Governor said was "grossly unfair" ? (The Governor suggested closing a loophole in the state's capital gains tax.) Feel free to use your own example of a cut; see below for a list of many of them.

To reach the Governor, call toll-free 1-800-649-6825 (voice or TTY)

To email, use the form at here.

Your local legislators can be reached at the Statehouse toll free 1-800-322-5616

To find their email and home contacts follow the links from here.

Share your views with the Vermont media and let them know that you contacted the Governor and your legislators. Please send a copy of your email to:

Times Argus letters@timesargus.com
WCAX channel3@wcax.com
Burlington Free Press letters@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com
VPR: use form at here

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3. Labor Forum: Turn American Health Care Around – Wed. April 23^rd, 6:30pm

The Washington-Orange-Lamoille Labor Council, AFL-CIO is joining hundreds of other labor councils around the country in featuring the fight for health care. Speakers include Traven Leyshon and Dr. Marvin Malek as well as the film “Turn Around America: Health Care” discussing health care and labor in 2008.

Wed. April 23^rd

6:30pm
Montpelier's Kellog-Hubbard Library, downstairs in the East Montpelier Room

This is part of a national AFL-CIO campaign to win universal health care.

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4. Internships: Spend the Summer Fighting for Social Justice at the PJC

Deadline Extended to May 1, 2008

The PJC is seeking reliable, smart, politically aware, progressive interns to assist the PJC staff in the day to day functioning of the Center. The positions include: assistant organizers for the Vermont Livable Wage Campaign, assistant organizers for the Peace & Human Rights Project, assistants for the Peace & Justice Store Fair Trade Campaign, and assistants for the fundraising and development. Read more about our positions at: www.pjcvt.org

All positions are unpaid, but PJC internships offer a very hands-on opportunity to work in for social justice organization. PJC interns often have full access to all levels of program work. This is a great opportunity to build strong writing and verbal skills, learn about advocacy from an activist perspective, learn how to plan events and actions, and learn the inter-workings of a non-profit.

To apply for any internship listed, please email cover letter and resume to Kecia Gaboriault at vista@pjcvt.org by May 1, 2008. Please indicate the internship you are applying for in your cover letter.

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5. On the Radio: Hunger in Vermont – What can be done?

A reminder that every Monday the PJC, through the VLWC, will host "Equal Time Radio" from 1-2pm on WDEV in Waterbury - FM 96.1 AM 550.

On Monday, April 28^th we hope to be speaking with members of the Washington County Hunger Council and the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger about the current state of hunger and what programs need more attention.

No Equal Time Monday April 21st

Join in the conversation on Equal Time Radio with any of the host by calling 1-877-291-8255.

Missed our show, look for the audio from past shows on our website at www.vtlivablewage.org

Have a show idea email Colin at livablewage@pjcvt.org or call 802-863-2345 x8

Vermont Livable Wage Campaign
21 Church Street, Burlington, VT 05401
802.863.2345 x8 livablewage@pjcvt.org
© 2007 Vermont Livable Wage Campaign