Mediaboss Marketing

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

The Trump administration unveiled its budget proposal, which significantly reduces spending on climate change, earlier this week. Mulvaney declared that the Trump Administration is not spending money on that anymore. We consider that to be a waste of your money.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

Climate activist groups seek to divide the Trump administration by using Secretary of Defense James Mattis past statements against the Trump administrations budget proposal. Secretary Mattis said:

Climate change can be a driver of instability and the Department of Defense must pay attention to potential adverse impacts generated by this phenomenon. As I noted above, climate change is a challenge that requires a broader, whole-of government response. If confirmed, I will ensure that the Department of Defense plays its appropriate role within such a response by addressing national security aspects. I agree that the effects of a changing climate such as increased maritime access to the Arctic, rising sea levels, desertification, among others impact our security situation. I will ensure that the department continues to be prepared to conduct operations today and in the future, and that we are prepared to address the effects of a changing climate on our threat assessments, resources, and readiness.

Sierra Club legislative director Melinda Pierce said that Secretary of Defense James Mattis has made it clear that to protect our national security, we have to tackle the climate crisis. Its disgraceful and dangerous that Trump and Mulvaney refuse to give our government the resources to tackle the critical mission at hand.

Trumps budget proposal removes funding for the EPAs Clean Power Plan, and scraps funding for climate change research programs. Under Trumps proposal, the EPA would be cut by $2.6 billion, and as many as 3,200 EPA jobs could be cut.

Mulvaney told reporters yesterday to expect changes in energy policy in the budget. He said, You can expect reductions in the EPA that dont line up with the presidents view on things like global warming and alternative energies. You will see a reduction in subsidies, a reduction in participation in those types of programs.

Read the original post:
Progressives Attempt to Divide Trump Administration on Climate Policy Funding - Breitbart News

In his first appearance in Tampa since officially declaring his candidacy for Governor, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum said the Democratic Party can win back the Governors Mansion next year if itconvinces the voters of Florida thatitcan make an impact in changing their lives for the better.

What we have to do is convince them that voting for us will make a difference in our lives, he told the member of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Floridain Tampa on Saturday. That we have an agenda that can actually impact that and impact that for the better, and I believe we can do that. As a matter of fact, I believe I can do that, if you all allow me to be the Democratic nominee for governor for the state of Florida, as the crowd cheered.

Elected as mayor in August of 2014 at the age of 35, Gillum has been making decisions in office of late that would undoubtedly appeal to theprogressive wing of the party. He successfully defended Tallahassees gun laws in court after two gun rights group sued the city to try to expand firearms in public parks, and has declared Tallahassee a sanctuary city, a move not many other Florida communities are embracing under the current administration in Washington.

Gillum used the first part of his half-hourspeech to give a quick biography to the progressives who are gathering this weekend at theHillsborough Classroom Teachers Association building in West Tampa. In referring to his public school upbringing (including the fact that he was the first in his family not only to graduate from college, but also high school), he gave a major shoutout to public school teachers, saying that what they do is themost difficult work that happens on Planet Earth.

He ultimately warmed up to tossed some choice red meat for the liberal audience. Rick Scott? Trump before Trump was Trump.

Gillum savaged the Governor for his stance on climate change, declining Medicaid expansion and stimulus money for high-speed rail, and for his reluctance to accept Syrian refugees into the state.

Never mind that the Governor has no right to say whos welcome and who isnt in the state of Florida, but since he took liberties, I took liberties, he said to titters of laughter. I said, come to the Capitol City, where youre welcome, adding,Remember, these are people being forced out of their homes. Their lives are being threatened. Persecuted.

On making Tallahassee a sanctuary city, he chided the use of the term illegal aliens, saying, Illegal is not a noun. You dont call people illegals, he said, saying the term was a way of stripping away someones humanity.

He said Florida should be the capital of solar energy production, adding that if the private sector was too reluctant to be a leader in solar, municipal electric authorities should take the lead, and made sure to mention that his cityis currently building a 200-acre solar farm.

Gillum isalso againstthe construction of the $3 billion, 515-mile Sabal Trail Pipeline planned to run from Alabama through Georgia to Osceola County.

I had to make a public statement against it. I thought it was a no-brainer, I didnt know that you had to do that, but apparently you do, he said, as the audience gave him a hearty round of applause. And he promised to putthe teeth back into the states Department of Environmental Protection.

Regarding the governors race, he spoke to the progressive caucus language by saying that the Democrats wouldnt win in 2018 by being Republican lite.

When our issues on the ballot, absent the candidates name, people agree with us! They stand with us! So what is the disconnect? he asked. I believe we can win by leaning into our values and not running away from them.

Whether you are a working class white voter or a working class black voter or a working class Latino voter, if this economy isnt working for you, youre pissed off! We have to lean into that. This debate about whether we double down on our base or talk to working class white people is ridiculous. You have to go everywhere. We have to go everywhere and we have to talk to everybody.

As proof that hes not just all talk, Gillum mentioned his visit to The Villages last weekend, where he said he spoke to a crowd of 500 people (the Villages Democratic website reported it overflowed the 350-seat recreation center)

Referring to the fact that Democrats suffer tremendously from a lack of participation in off-year elections which happen to coincide for when the state votes for governor and other cabinet positions, Gillum said one reason might be that the party hasnt given voters sufficient motivation to turn out, before quickly emphasizing that he wasnt attacking any recent Democratic statewide candidates.

Gillum is the first major party candidate to enter the race, and has since been joined by Central Florida businessmanChris King. Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine seems likely to announce his candidacy soon, as does former Tallahassee based Congresswoman Gwen Graham. The jury is still out on what Orlando attorney and fundraiser JohnMorgan will end up doing.

Read the rest here:
At gathering of progressives in Tampa, Andrew Gillum says ... - Florida Politics (blog)

A Donald Trump supporter and a young protestor get into a heated debate outside the U.S. Cellular Center before a Trump rally on Sept. 12, 2016. Ever since the election, the left has been tarred in the United States as being hopelessly out of touch.(Photo: Angeli Wright/awright@citizen-times.com)Buy Photo

So, ever since the election of the groper-in-chief, the man who mocks the handicapped, routinely lies about the most mundane facts, and can't seem to come clean about his Russian connection, the left has been tarred in this country as being hopelessly out of touch.

Or worse. Apparently, if you're a progressive, liberal, Democrat or even lean left, you're just an idiot. This came home hard for me last week when I got into a heated argument with a relative, who wondered why the press is being so mean to President Trump for lying and suggesting former President Obama had Trump Tower wiretapped while lingering on these strange Russian doings.

So, I went off. To lay the groundwork, I consider myself a pretty moderate personpolitically. I have voted for some Republicans in the past and in some Republican primaries, but I'll be honest: I usually vote Democratic, or more accurately for people I feel want real progress.

And here's why: Progressives have usually been right in this country on the big issues, the ones that really affect our daily lives.

Now let's not confuse being progressive with one party or the other, as the progressives of the mid-late 1800s and early-mid 1900s were Republicans, including Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. They wanted progress for society, whether it was freedom for slaves or the preservation of pristine lands as national parks.

Democrats, the conservatives of the day, wanted what conservatives have always wanted: to keep things exactly the same, and that means no progress. So yes, Southern conservatives wanted to preserve slavery, because that was the way of life, the pillar of their economy.

So this is a conservative-progressive argument. The parties change, but the philosophies do not.

I'll also say I don't think either side has all the answers or is right all the time.

Generally speaking, progressives tend to spend others' money a little too freely, boost taxes too much, and probably don't demand as much personal responsibility as I would like. Republicans often have a keener business sense on controlling waste, believe government should stay out of the people's way as much as possible, and they want people to be more independent and less reliant on the government.

But looking at the big picture, the historical flow, conservatives have proven themselves to be wrong on the big issues over and over. Allow me to go scattershot: They've opposed freedom for slaves, opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, opposed women's voting rights, opposed the 40-hour work week and restrictions on child labor (really, they oppose anything that can cut into profits, including nearly all regulation), opposed integration of schools, opposed the establishment of Social Security and Medicare (both demonized as socialism, if not downright communism), opposed national parks because pretty much all land should be privately owned and developed as the owners want), opposed environmental controls to the point that the Cuyahoga River caught on fire and bald eagles nearly died out (couldn't curtail DDT profits, you know), opposed equal rights for gays and gay marriage, opposed women serving in the military and equal pay for women, opposed the right to unionize, which has brought us all higher wages and benefits such as paid vacation, although I'll acknowledge that some unions have become corrupt and overly greedy, and yes, opposed health coverage for everyone.

Sure, some more moderate conservatives had a hand in some of these programs and issues, but today, moderation has melted away from the Republican Party like a, ahem,snowflake in the sun.

Modern conservatives are more keen on war and military spending than progressives, often relying on baseless fear-mongering think Trump's "Travel Ban," which banned travelers from Muslim countries, although the vast majority of terror attacks in our country have been from radicalized U.S. citizens and notfrom members of these countries. They do this while turning a blind eye to the less privileged, the poor and the elderly. One example: Trump wants to curtail federal funding for Meals on Wheels, for god's sake, which apparently hasn't shown good enough results, other than feeding poor, elderly shut-ins.

Also, I give you modern Republicans current struggle to "repeal and replace" Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act. They had eight years to formulate a plan, and they voted more than 60 times to repeal it, knowing Obama would veto it.

But they had no plan of their own, and now their replacement plan, which by the laws of the Republican obstructionists must be called "Trumpcare," looks like it will boot 14 million people off insurance. Trump's promise to provide "access" to health insurance seems to mean access for those with good jobs, the same way insurance has worked for decades, leaving millions with no access.

Hey, Obamacare has huge problems and should be fixed, but conservatives aren't looking at that. Most conservatives just don't believe every American has a right to insurance coverage and regular health care. They can spin, bloviate and obfuscate, but at a fundamental level, they believe "the market" will take care of all problems, as if "the market" understands compassion or basic human decency, or that a society has a responsibility to care for all its people, and that the pursuit of happiness might just involve being healthy andnot going bankrupt and homeless because you get sick.

I encourage you to read my colleague Mark Barrett's excellent story on the Republicans' proposal in Sunday's paper, which details how the Republican plan will benefit wealthier folks at the expense of the poor. It's the conservative way.

The arc of history may bend toward justice, but it's not because of conservative philosophy.

This is the opinion of John Boyle. Contact him at 232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com

Read or Share this story: http://avlne.ws/2nDo2Sl

Continued here:
Boyle column: Progressive? Democrat? You must be a total idiot - Asheville Citizen-Times

Underground Party uses Music and Arts to mobilize Progressives in Orlando Orlando Political Observer Progressives from all over Central Florida were in Orlando on Saturday night for the Contact Music Festival, an underground party that offered multiple stages of musical acts, art exhibits, and classes on political activism aiming to activate ...

Continued here:
Underground Party uses Music and Arts to mobilize Progressives in Orlando - Orlando Political Observer

The PCCC, MoveOn, Democracy for America, 350.Org, and Presente are making the closing argument supporting Keith Ellison for DNC Chair in an open letter to DNC voting members before tomorrows vote.

As CNN just reported, it highlights the fact that Ellison is the best candidate in the Chair race to connect the DNC to the vibrant resistance energy having earned the trust of grassroots groups representing millions of people:

In a letter to DNC members obtained by CNN, the leaders of five groups at the heart of the political left MoveOn, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Democracy for America, 350 Action and Presente Action argued that only Ellison can bridge the divide between the Democratic establishment and the partys grassroots.

The groups also said theyd be eager to engage directly with the partys infrastructure under Ellisons leadership. It was an implicit rebuke of former Labor Secretary Tom Perez, who is in a tight race with Ellison for DNC chair. They continued: If Keith Ellison is DNC chair, we can hit the ground running and because of the pre-existing trust that exists between Keith and the grassroots, every state party would have a head start harnessing the power of the resistance.

The PCCC has been a top Ellison organizing force recently announcing four new voting members for Ellison earlier this week: NH Sen. Martha Fuller-Clark (D-Portsmouth), Sheila Selkregg from Anchorage, AK, Edward Wesley from Anchorage, AK, and Curtis Wylde Wells, a Missouri Democratic Party State Committee member.

We are leaders of organizations representing over 10 million people who are vital to building power at the state level and opposing the Trump agenda nationally.

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Progressive Change Campaign Committee

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Marissa Barrow

Starting today, Trumps corrupt catering to billionaires and Wall Street at the expense of working families will be more visible than ever. It wont be pretty.

Progressives are prepared to foster a historic resistance that merges the power of millions of people taking action with the leadership of Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Keith Ellison, and others in Congress.

Elizabeth Warren says, Our agenda is still Americas agenda, fighting for that agenda is more important than ever, and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee is one of my main partners in the fight. Could you chip in $3 or more so the PCCC is ready for our next big fights with President Trump and the Republican leadership in 2017? Click here.

Weve already seen evidence our resistance works.

The resistance is strong. And growing.

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Progressive Change Campaign Committee

PCCC co-founder Stephanie Taylor went on C-SPANs Washington Journal on Tuesday to talk aboutthe role of progressives as the general election phase of the presidential campaign begins. During the 45-minute interview, she discussed the relationship between progressives and the Clinton-Kaine ticket: Theres trust there, but its a fragile one.

Take a look:

It was very exciting to see in [Clintons] acceptance speech a litany of issues that progressives have worked very hard on, like expanding Social Security, like debt-free and tuition-free college, opposing unfair trade deals. She really needs to keep the volume high and keep talking about these issues throughout the campaign.

Stephanie also gave this analysis a few hours before Hillary Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination on Thursday, July 28, during a POLITICO Hub panelin Philadelphia, including AFSCME president Lee Saunders, Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver, and pollster Mark Penn with POLITICOs Susan Glasser and Glenn Thrush moderating.Click here to watch.

Click here to share on Twitter.

Click here to share on Facebook.

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Marissa Barrow

On Wednesday, President Obama made huge news by saying for the first time that we must expand Social Security benefits not cut them. This represents a sea change from 2012 when the White House was pushing to cut benefits as part of a grand bargain with Republicans.

THIS IS A GIANT WIN FOR PROGRESSIVES.

And it didnt happen in a vacuum. Three years of activism by PCCC members and progressive allies led to 7 senators, then nearly all Democratic senators, then the majority of House Democrats, and then both Democratic candidates for president supporting expanding not cutting Social Security. And now, a sitting president. Activism matters. Together, we made history.

In 2 weeks, we have an opportunity to etch this victory in stone.Thats when a small committee of 15 Democrats will start writing the 2016 Democratic Platform.

Sign the petition to the platform drafting committee.Tell them to make sure it reflects big progressive ideas that have risen to the forefront in recent years starting with expanding Social Security, and also including debt-free college, breaking up too-big-to-fail banks and monopolies, paid family leave, a $15 min wage, banning for-profit prisons, ending fracking, a carbon tax to fight climate change, restoring voting rights, grand jury reform, public financing of congressional elections, overturning Citizens United, massive infrastructure investment, and ending the revolving door between Wall Street and government.

In 2013, PCCC co-founders Stephanie Taylor and Adam Green met with Elizabeth Warren shortly after her victory. In the course of a wide-ranging conversation, they brought up how hard PCCC members and progressive allies had been fighting against proposed Social Security cuts.

Elizabeth Warren informed the PCCC for the first time that two of her colleagues had bills to expand Social Security benefits. Stephanie and Adam stared at each other in disbelief.

This idea had been written about by progressive thinkers, ranging from Duncan Black to Heather Parton. But now, with legislation from a red-state senator and a senator from the first presidential state of Iowa, there was an opportunity to fundamentally shift the debate.

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Adam Green

HUGECNN HEADLINE:Donald Trump in 2006: I sort of hope real estate market tanks

In 2006, Trump cheered on a housing market crash saying, I sort of hope that happens because then people like me would go in and buy. If there is a bubble burst, as they call it, you know you can make a lot of money.

Last night, Elizabeth Warren gave a speech that is going viral slamming Trump for being a small, insecure money grubber who is in the pocket of Wall Street and looking to con the American people.

(Also share this amazing video on social media! Click here to share it on Facebook and click here to share it on Twitter.)

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Marissa Barrow

The Warren Wing won tonights debate, hands down. For the 4th Democratic debate in a row, key Warren wing priorities of debt-free college, Wall Street accountability, and expanding Social Security benefits were discussed. We are seeing a race to the top on economic populism issues a stark contrast to the extremism, intolerance, and race to the bottom in the Republican primary.

Adam Green, co-founder, Progressive Change Campaign Committee

Posted on January 17, 2016 by Marissa Barrow

Tuesday night is President Obamas final State of the Union. We asked allies across the progressive movement what executive actions they would like to see in the presidents final year in addition to any bigger fights he picks with Congress. From disclosing corporate political spending to increasing wages for federal workers, here are 10 concrete progressive actions President Obama could take on his own with a single signature.

We know these can work because the presidents own former communications director said so:

Like and share your favorite!

Debt-Free College:

On Facebook | On Twitter

Wall Street reform:

On Facebook | On Twitter

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Marissa Barrow

Legislators in 10 states nationwide will be introducing debt-free college legislation, making debt-free college a central 2016 campaign issue from the top to bottom of the ticket.

This state-level action will give voters a unified Democratic message going into the 2016 election. All three Democratic presidential candidates have embraced debt-free college, and so have 100 members of Congress.

Progressive organizing has led to all three Democratic presidential candidates embracing debt-free college and 100 members of Congress have endorsing it.

Progressives are unifying the Democratic Party around a bold Elizabeth Warren-style agenda that motivates people to get to the polls and that would be a game changer in millions of lives, said PCCC debt-free college campaign director Kayla Wingbermuehle. The progressive strategy now is to go deep, unifying the Democratic Party around debt-free college and ensuring that theres an undeniable mandate in November of 2016.

Lawmakers include those fromthe First in the Nation states with Rep. Marjorie Porter of New Hampshire, Rep. Chris Hall of Iowa, and Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter of South Carolina, from key battleground states with Rep. Stephanie Howse of Ohio and Rep. Katrina Shankland of Wisconsin, plus Rep. Paul Mark of Massachusetts, Rep. Will Guzzardi of Illinois, Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal of Missouri, Rep. Paula Hawks of South Dakota, and Rep. Kaniela Ing of Hawaii.

Join the call for debt-free college in your state sign the petition at DebtFreeCollegeNOW.com and contact your state legislator to ask them to sign on!

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Marissa Barrow

The PCCC, Democracy for America, and MoveOn.org are asking the Democratic candidates to be bold during the debate in addressing economic populism issues such as debt-free college, expanding Social Security benefits, and Wall Street reform and accountability.

These issues motivate the base in primaries, and candidates need to go bold with an Elizabeth Warren-style agenda to inspire voters. Watch the video and read the letter sent to Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin OMalley below.

Take a look below to see how much progressives have shifted the debate on issues like debt-free college, expand Social Security, and Wall Street accountability. Then share with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter!

Share on Twitter | Share on Facebook

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Marissa Barrow

Originally posted here:
Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC)