Action

Progress Report: A Victory For American Green Jobs

Robert Borosage — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:40:53 -0800

We have good news to report in the fight to create green jobs in America.

After news broke of a Texas wind farm project seeking stimulus funds that was going to create 2,000 jobs in China but only 30 jobs in America, we at Campaign for America's Future asked you to help stop the misuse of U.S. taxpayer dollars.

This week, the American and Chinese companies involved in the project announced they would build a U.S. plant to manufacture wind turbines and create 1,000 American jobs. USA Today reported it would be one of the biggest American plants of its kind.

The announcement is a significant victory. These companies heard our voices and recognized they could not ask for U.S. taxpayer support without giving back to the U.S. economy.

We can have a balanced global economy, partner with companies headquartered in other nations, and share profits and technology. But it is egregiously unbalanced to let our stimulus funds meant for creating and saving American jobs, be used to create jobs in other countries.

Thank you for your support for our efforts, and to Sen. Charles Schumer and his team for taking the lead on behalf of a sustainable economy.

But this is just the first step. That announcement still raises serious concerns, as The New York Times has reported. The new plant won't be making the turbines for that Texas project, which will still import the high-value gearbox components at the heart of the turbines from China. Plus, we still lack guarantees that American green stimulus money will only be invested in creating American green jobs whenever possible. Even this Texas wind farm project could still use stimulus funds to send jobs overseas if we don't keep a watchful eye on where the money goes.

Still, let's celebrate this success—even as we keep pushing.

Fight for Choice. Keep Stupak Out of Final Health Bill

OurFuture.org Staff — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:54:56 -0800

The historic passage of health reform in the House last week was severely marred by the inclusion of the anti-reproductive choice Stupak amendment, which would overnight end the routine practice of including abortion in insurance coverage.

But this fight against Stupak is far from over. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has yet to finalize his version of the bill. The Senate floor debate has not begun. The House and Senate have not met to work out legislative differences.

Most importantly, the voices of America's pro-choice majority have not been heard in Congress. At least, not yet.

The Campaign for America's Future urges you to support these action campaigns from our progressive allies:

Planned Parenthood Petition to President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid

EMILY's List petition to Senate Majority Leader Reid

NARAL Pro-Choice America email campaign to your state's Senators.

CREDO petition targeting 20 formerly "pro-choice" male Democrats that voted for Stupak.

American Wind Power Made In China? Let's Create Jobs Here

Isaiah J. Poole — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:23:29 -0800

Click here to tell Energy Secretary Steven Chu: Don't send our Recovery Act tax dollars overseas. American stimulus funds must create American green jobs.

Our stimulus money could end up being used to send green jobs to China. With unemployment in America just having surpassed 10 percent, that is economic malpractice.

A planned $1.5 billion dollar Texas wind farm—seeking financing with U.S. stimulus money—will create only 30 permanent jobs here, but 2,000 jobs in China manufacturing wind turbines, according to a Wall Street Journal story.

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer is pressing Energy Secretary Steven Chu to take action. On November 5, he sent Dr. Chu a letter saying, "I urge you to reject any request for stimulus money unless the high‐value components, including the wind turbines, are manufactured in the United States."

It is imperative for our economy to support Schumer and call on the Energy Department to direct American stimulus money towards creating American green jobs.

This is about more than one pending project. Sen. Schumer notes: "... 84 percent of the $1.05 billion in clean‐energy grants distributed by the U.S. government since September 1 have gone to foreign wind companies. ... Our U.S. wind industry ... is fully capable of providing [wind turbines] and other high‐value components..."

China has every right to use its funds to stimulate its own green economy, and thankfully it is. But it makes no sense to use American stimulus money to create jobs overseas when we can do the job and we've lost millions of jobs in the last two years.

We have the technology, the skills, and the labor to build a sustainable clean energy economy. But we need robust public investment and a commitment to American manufacturing.

We've spent billions bailing out Wall Street bankers. It is inconceivable that we will now spend millions to subsidize new energy jobs in China.

It's time for a strategy to invest in jobs at home, and to lead the green industrial revolution. We can have it, if we demand it. Click here to tell Energy Secretary Chu: American wind power should not be "Made In China." Don't offshore green jobs with our tax dollars.

Spread the Good Word

Ian Mishalove — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:00:00 -0800

Click here to see recent posts that CAF staff and OurFuture community members have flagged as “must-reads”. Please take a look, judge for yourself, and help spread the word. Click “Broadcast” on any post you’d like to share with friends or publish on popular social networks.

Start Making Sense

Ian Mishalove — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:00:00 -0800

Check out "Making Sense" -- our guide to kitchen-table issues, including tools and resources you can use to make the case for progressive solutions to our nation's problems.