Three-Year Absence for Former Top HSU Recruit Teaches Life Lessons
Read the inspirational story written by Tom Trepiak, Associate Athletic Director at Humboldt State University, about HSU’s standout basketball player, David Howard. Click here: David Howard Story by Tom Trepiak
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| Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 USA © 2009 Colorado State University |
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| Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 USA © 2009 Colorado State University |
Increasing wealth and income inequality in the United States is the great moral and economic issue of our time. It speaks to whether we will be a nation with a vibrant and growing middle class, or an oligarchic form of society in which a handful of incredibly wealthy families control our economic and political life.
In America today, the top 1% owns 38% of our country’s financial wealth. The bottom 60% owns all of 2.3%. In the last several years, 95% of all new income has gone to the top 1%. Sadly, we recently learned that in 2012 the top 40 hedge fund managers in the country earned $16.7 billion dollars, as much as 300,000 public school teachers combined — almost a third of all high school teachers in America. How’s that for national priorities!
In recent months, world leaders from the president to the pope have been speaking out on this long ignored, but critical issue. Several months ago a number of us in the Senate and House urged President Obama to issue an executive order to raise the minimum wage for federal contract workers from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. Recently, the president did just that. I applaud him for taking this important step forward. But much more needs to be done.
Within the next several weeks Democrats in the Senate will be bringing forth legislation to raise the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. If this effort succeeds, 30 million Americans will be getting a long overdue pay raise. And, just last week, House Democrats indicated that they are preparing to undertake what is known as a discharge petition which would force a vote on the minimum wage in the Republican controlled House of Representatives.
Momentum is on our side. Now is the time for Congress to act!
Please join me and Democracy for America in calling on Congress to increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.
Currently, powerful forces in the Republican Party, under the influence of the Koch brothers and other billionaire families, continue to call for major cuts in programs desperately needed by working families. While the rich become richer and the poor become poorer, these billionaires are waging a relentless fight to cut nutrition programs, education, health care and more.
Incredibly, instead of supporting an increase in the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, they want to end the concept of the minimum wage — and create a situation where workers in high-unemployment areas could be forced to work for $3 or $4 an hour. For them, “freedom” means that desperate people are “free” to work for starvation wages.
Working together, our job is to create an economy and a government that works for working families and the most vulnerable Americans, and not just Wall Street and multi-national corporations. And Congress should begin by raising the minimum wage!
Thank you for all that you do.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders
Dear R
I’ve been married to Debbie for more than 20 years, and to say the least, I know her pretty well.alph,
One thing I know is she can take the heat.
Last fall, the Republican National Committee got an early start — running robocalls lying about her record of support for veterans. Now, there’s a TV ad spreading more lies about Debbie’s record — and I’ve had enough.
While I know she can take the heat, I also know she needs our help to fight back.
Clearly, this is the earliest the other side has begun their attacks. I want you to help me ensure Debbie has the resources she needs against the three Republicans who have filed to run against her.
Debbie’s goal is to raise $25,000 this month, and every little bit counts. If you can give $5 to help Debbie keep fighting for middle class families, you’ll be standing up to the obstructionists who have ground Congress to a halt — and you’ll be supporting a strong voice for all of us.
Debbie’s counting on you, and I know you’ll come through like you always do. Thank you for everything you do.
Sincerely,
Steve Schultz
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Ralph —
Progressives need to keep Reid out of that dangerous position. And we can’t do that without the vocal support of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
Nancy Pelosi is with us on the issues that matter most 90% of the time. She voted against giving President Bush fast track authority in 2002, and she was a vocal opponent of other similar trade deals like CAFTA. She’s said publicly that she has concerns about the TPP. Yet she continues to avoid taking the kind of bold stance against Fast Track and TPP that might make a difference in the legislation’s chances.
Right now, we need leadership — not lip service — to stop the next NAFTA. Potential Democratic co-sponsors of Fast Track in the House are watching Pelosi closely. They don’t want to go against party leaders publicly. But if they can claim ignorance of the Minority Leader’s position, they might jump in and give this bill the bipartisan credibility it needs to become law.
Thank you for keeping Democrats honest,
Jim Dean, Chair Democracy for America
Friend —
President Obama’s speech last night reminded me of something that one of New Jersey’s most famous philosophers,Bruce Springsteen, once said:
“You can’t have a United States if you are telling some folks that they can’t get on the train.”
That’s what our President and our party are all about: Making sure that everyone can get on that train.
But it’s going to take everyone doing their part to make that vision a reality.
It wasn’t easy for me to decide to run for the Senate, but I did it because like Bruce, President Obama, and so many of us, I believe that every child deserves a chance at success. I’m in D.C. to make sure every kid in New Jersey and every kid in America has a seat on the train — no matter where they live or what their background is — and I need your help.
If you’re with us in the fight to make sure every American has the opportunity to succeed, chip in $10 or more to support Democratic candidates today:
https://my.democrats.org/State-of-the-Union
Thanks so much for joining me,
Cory
Senator Cory Booker
New Jersey
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Folks, our friends at the DCCC are giving away free (no donation necessary) “Stop the War on Women” bumper stickers. See below for more, get your bumper sticker, and show the right wing Republicans that you are fighting back! John Hlinko, Left Action
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“Al Franken must be defeated.”
— Conservative Campaign Committee email
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Dear Ralph,
I think that line pretty much says it all. The special interests are targeting Al.
According to a recent report by NBC’s Chuck Todd, Minnesota just made the short list of states that the GOP is targeting this year’s elections.
And the billionaire Koch brothers haven’t wasted a minute taking advantage of Minnesota’s new “competitive” status — their special interest group, Americans for Prosperity, has already begun running attacks.
The Koch’s and their special interest friends have made their move. Now it’s our turn. This month, we’ve got a goal to hit — $200,000 by January 30th — but we can’t do that without you. Contribute $5 or more right now to help us get there.
Special interests are spending millions of dollars in states like Minnesota this year. Their goal is to go into races people don’t think are competitive and buy enough influence to push right-wing candidates over the top.
And, according to Chuck Todd, they’re getting pretty good at it.
There’s only one thing standing between Al and these special interest attacks: Us.
Thanks for everything.
Matt Burgess
Campaign Manager
Al Franken for Senate 2014
P.S.: There’s no telling when the next round of attacks will come. And we can’t just wait around to find out. We need to fight back now — give $5 or more to help us hit this $200,000 goal.
