MEDICAID EXPANSION STREET THEATER

from Ted Parsons

It's the last week of the Florida legislative session and still no movement on Medicaid Expansion. As many as six people a day are dying without it. 360 have died during this legislative session.

We've carried signs, called, written and emailed legislators, so in one last effort before the end of the session we are resorting to -- STREET THEATER!! 

If the press won't come to us, we will go to them.

AWAKE Palm Beach County coalition presents:
Street Theater and Die-in
4:30pm on April 30th (yep, 4:30 4/30)
In front of the Palm Beach Post

2751 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida 33405

*Die in---6 people a day are dying due to the blocking of Medicaid expansion
*Three grim reapers who are refusing the 51 billion dollars we have coming to the people of Florida
*Nurses that will not have jobs and will not be able to treat the dying

Our message:
1. No support for the budget without Medicaid Expansion!
2. Those who are blocking the Medicaid expansion are responsible for these deaths.

Act a role, or carry a sign. But please join us to send this important message!

* * *

AWAKE Palm Beach County
is part of the AWAKE THE STATE movement. We are a coalition of diverse community organizers and activists coming together to build coalition and collaborate on important progressive issues.

FLORIDA NOT ALL ABOARD

Dear FNAA Supporter,

Stopping a train isn’t easy. Stopping 32 trains a day sounds impossible, particularly when they’re traveling at speeds up to 110 miles per hour through our communities. But, we must stop these trains. Otherwise we’ll face traffic jams at crossings, boats blocked at bridges, air and noise pollution everywhere and public safety hazards every day. In time our tourism and property values will decline as well.

      All Aboard Florida, the company behind these trains, is a subsidiary of a firm backed by Fortress, a $62 billion hedge fund whose only goal is profit for shareholders. Disruption, damage and danger for residents are not their concern. They’ve even gone so far as to claim they’re a private company while at the same time seeking a $1.5 billion loan from the federal government. They act like their unstoppable and don’t have to explain themselves to anyone. We call their train Big Choo Choo, evil on wheels.

We’re Florida Not All Aboard, a grassroots organization fighting to stop Big Choo Choo. With over 9,000 petition signatories, our movement is growing daily. Recently both Commissioner Sarah Heard and Congressman Patrick Murphy have begun questioning Big Choo Choo. In response, All Aboard Florida has hired a big PR firm to silence our growing public outcry using the vast resources and government contacts of Fortress.

        Now we’re planning a major campaign including TV, print, EBlasts, phone calls, letters, emails and community presentations. Our goal is to stop Big Choo Choo in his tracks. To make this a reality, we need your support. Sign our petition. Join our “Stop Big Choo Choo Rally” in downtown Stuart on May 4. The rally is free and open to the public. It starts at 10am at Flagler Park in Downtown Stuart, 201 Flagler Avenue. Rally speakers include U.S. Congressman Patrick Murphy, Martin County Commissioner Sarah Heard, and Indian River County Commissioner Bob Solari. And, if possible, please donate to Florida Not All Aboard. We cannot do this without you. Visit floridanotallaboard.com to make an immediate donation or send a check to P.O. Box 2043, Palm City, FL 34991.

       To sign the petition, click here.

April 2014 Meeting Reminder

from John Debus

Hi Everyone, A reminder of our event this Tuesday evening, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, April 29, 2014 at the American Legion Post #40, 810 S. US 1, Fort Pierce, Fl. 34950. Please use the front entrance (on US1) and it is the large room on the right side as you come in the front door. Plenty of parking is on the side of the building. We have water and Green Tea (free) available or you can purchase drinks from the bar in the next room. Come early for some Social time before event, doors are open at 6:00pm. We must start on time to insure we get out on time.

 This month we will be hosting the Presidents of the NAACP from our three counties, Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River. They will tell us about their organization, their mission and plans for the Treasure Coast future. We will discuss how we can work together and support each other for a better Community/World. Try to decide the best way to bring "awareness" to our common issues, "Moral Monday Marches"??? Come listen, add your opinion and decide on what we can and should do together.

 The action table at our event is set up for group's information, sign-up sheets, upcoming events and petitions. All groups will also have 1-3 minutes at the beginning, to tell us about themselves. You can also contact Kathy or myself to have your events posted on our web-site happenings page. Check often for up to date HAPPENINGS.

 We had our quarterly board meeting on 22 April, 2014. Some of the things we discussed: Adding members to our board, filling positions in our committees, with our committees meeting quarterly to plan actions. Stop Keystone group has decided to temporary discontinue their meetings and to do two actions a month until the decision is made by President Obama. 1- I-95 overpass protest 2 May 2014, 5pm to 6pm at Oslo Rd. and I-95 Vero Beach. 2- TD Bank rally 16 May 2014, 5pm to 6pm at TD Bank (call us for location).

TCPA Communications Committee will meet 6:30pm, 20 May 2014 at Dunkin Donuts on US 1 (north of Virginia Ave) in Ft. Pierce. Anyone interested in getting involved and helping in their own way is invited to attend.

The National March on Monsanto Rally is scheduled for 10:00am to 12:00pm, 24 May 2014 at the Library, across from the Farmers Market in downtown Fort Pierce. Bring your signs and join us for a fun time, with bringing "awareness" to the community. Our next Event will be Global Warming presented by Jerry Buechler on 27 May 2014 at the American Legion Post #40, 810 S. US 1, Fort Pierce, Fl. 34950. A lot of good information, come join us and get involved with this issue. Doors will open at 6pm. Thanks for your support,

Take care, See you Tuesday, John

TED VIDEO LINKS

from Erika Alvarez
The following is a link to a TED Talk (Technology, Education, Design) delivered by Lawrence Lessig entitled: THE UNSTOPPABLE WALK TO POLITICAL REFORM (2014).

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rssradio-mobile/id382552897

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TEDTalks_video/~3/bxxAi498NZY/lawrence_lessig_the_unstoppable_walk_to_political_reform

As Mark Stockhoff said, "As I was watching this very interesting 15 minute presentation, it occurred to me just how relevant and fundamental this is to ALL of the issues the T.C.P.A. is currently focused on.

Whether we're talking about the KXL Pipeline or climate change, campaign finance reform or pay equity and the stranglehold that corporations have on our economy, it ALL boils down to a dysfunctional government that requires fundamental change before any of these other issues can be effectively addressed! In fact, successful government reform will eliminate the majority of these issues eliminating the need to address them piecemeal."

Also, last night I was searching in the Showtime website and found another documentary made by Oliver Stone: "The Real History of the United States."  I watched Episode 1 for free on my smart TV.

REGISTER TO VOTE

from Ted Parsons

Dear Friends & Allies,

We have 115 days to go before the first absentee ballot is mailed in the primary election. You may have read stories about the purging of voters from the rolls. You could be one of them. Mistakes do happen. There are 3 things we need to do for ourselves and our families before it is too late:

1.     Verify that your registration status is active and you are able to vote.

2.      Register to vote or have your family members register to vote. It is also important to update your signature if you have not done so in the past few years. This is very important.

3.     Request a ballot to be mailed to your home so you have ample time to fill it out and research candidates and information.

Please make sure you discuss this with your family members and have them verify their registration status, register to vote and request to vote by mail/absentee ballot. We will need a large turnout to help keep fighting for working families in Florida.

Remember, the sooner you find a mistake in your voter registration the sooner it can be fixed. Please use the easy links below to verify and update your Voter Registration Status and also request  a Vote by mail/Absentee Ballot. These requests are only good for 2 General Election cycles and do not automatically renew.

Thank you for your participation.

How to verify your registration status:

All Counties:

You can check your status here:  http://registration.elections.myflorida.com/CheckVoterStatus

(When you check your Registration status at the above link there is also a link to check your Absentee Ballot Status as well.)

How to register to vote:

Palm Beach County - http://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=21

Martin County - http://www.martinvotes.com/content.aspx?id=17

St. Lucie County - http://www.slcelections.com/Register-to-Vote.aspx

Indian River County - http://www.voteindianriver.com/VOTERS/Update-your-Information.aspx

Okeechobee County - http://www.voteokeechobee.com/?id=148

Request a Vote by mail/Absentee Ballot:

Palm Beach County - https://www.pbcelections.org/genericform.aspx?id=5

Martin County - https://www.martinvotes.com/Genericform.aspx?id=1

St. Lucie County - http://www.slcelections.com/Absentee-Voting/Absentee-Request-Form.aspx

Indian River County - http://www.voteindianriver.com/Absentee/Request-Absentee-Ballot.aspx

Okeechobee County - http://www.voteokeechobee.com/?id=150

SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM SCHEDULE

from Nancy Stiefel

The April SJ film will be shown on Sunday, April 27 at 7 PM in the UUFVB sanctuary.  The film is “Two Who Dared: the Sharp’s War” – a documentary about a Unitarian minister and his wife who left two young children in 1939 to go to Nazi-controlled Europe to help Jews get out of Czechoslovakia and Hungary.  Rabbi Birnholz of Temple Beth Shalom will conduct a short Holocaust Remembrance service following the film.

Because of the conflict with Mother’s Day, the May SJ film will be shown on Sunday, May 18.  That documentary is titled “Move to Amend.”  It provides a clear history lesson in Supreme Court decisions and explains the movement to amend the US Constitution so that corporations do not have the rights of persons.   

The June 8^th (back to our regular 2^nd Sunday of the month schedule) film will be “Blackfish” – the documentary about Orca whales in captivity.

APRIL 2014 MEETING

t.c.p.a.

Treasure Coast Progressive Alliance

Monthly Event

NAACP

Presidents of the NAACP from the three counties will come and discuss their mission and plans for the Treasure Coast future. We will discuss how we can work together and support each other for a better Community/World.                                                                                                                                     Come listen, add your opinion and decide on what we can and should do together to make our people “AWARE”.

“MORAL MONDAY MARCHES?”

                    Our Events are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.                       

They are Social, Net Working and Educational Events. 

     Come out, listen, voice your opinion, and join us. 

        The Event will be 6:30 pm, 29 April 2014 at the American Legion              Post #40, 810 S. US 1, Ft. Pierce Fl. 34950. Doors will open 6pm.

For more information contact:

 John Debus 772-349-5328     

LEGAL REDRESS

from Del Hall

LEGAL REDRESS

           

Martin County Branch, NAACP is presenting Legal Redress with

Presenter:       David Honig

Special Counsel for Civil Rights and

Chair, Legal Redress Committee

Florida State Conference, NAACP

(Licensed in DC only)

O- 202-669-4533

F- 202-332-7511

www.flanaacp.org

Wednesday April 23, 2014.

Time:     5:30-8:30 PM

Location: 10^th Street Community Center

                          724 SE 10^th Street, Stuart FL 34994

Please come learn what Legal Redress is and how you can help.

Thank you for supporting your local NAACP

We need your rsvp to insure seating and materials.

Please e-mail Del Hall at gloria196152@yahoo.com                                             

on or before Friday, April 11, 2014

FREEDOM FUND BANQUET

from Rev. Jerry L Gore, Sr

NAACP 2014 FREEDOM FUND BANQUET

Dear Friends,

The Martin County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will be hosting its annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Saturday, May 10, 2014.  Our theme, “SPREADING UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES” is our continuous goal.

This special event will honor two local citizens who have dedicated their time and know-how to help the community of Martin County.  These citizens exemplify the values of the NAACP’s mission “to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination”.

Please consider being a sponsor of this event. All proceeds help this branch continue its efforts in advancing economic and social equality in our community.  This branch strives to increase community involvement and support in the educational process.  Our efforts include assistance with the clemency process, restoration of rights and sponsorship of a community round table with law enforcement and local government leaders.

As a sponsor, your company’s name and logo will be featured in our event material, all advertising and radio announcements giving public recognition of your donation.

This event promises to be a wonderful night of dinner and dancing.  Please join us at:

ST. MARY’S PETTINGER HALL, 623 East Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34994

Sponsorship details are included for your review.  Please direct any questions regarding further information to Jerry Gore Sr., at 772-834-5823 or the unit secretary at gloria196152@yahoo. com.  You may send your checks or money orders to PO Box 41, Stuart FL 34995.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Rev. Jerry L Gore, Sr

Martin County Branch NAACP

President

Full Page Ad

 $100

  Half Page Ad

$50

Quarter Page Ad

 $25

 SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES:

Platinum Sponsor ($1,500.00)

• Premium seating and a table seating ten (10) during the dinner
• Full page ad in event program
• Name and logo as our Platinum Sponsor on all printed materials
• Named as “Platinum Sponsor” in event program
• Special acknowledgement at the event
• Featured acknowledgement in all publicity and press releases

 Gold Sponsor ($1,000.00)

• Reserved seating for five (5) during the dinner
• Full page ad in event program
• Name and logo as a Gold Sponsor on all printed materials
• Named as a “Gold Sponsor” in event program
• Special acknowledgement at the event
• Featured acknowledgement in all publicity and press releases

Silver Sponsor ($750.00)

• Reserved seating for five (5) during the dinner
• Half page ad in event program
• Special acknowledgement at the event

Bronze Sponsor ($500.00)

• Reserved seating for three (3) during the dinner
• Quarter page ad in event program
• Special acknowledgement at the event

NOTICE OF SPONSORSHIP

Business Name:_________________________________________________________________

Contact:_______________________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________________________

City:_____________________________ State:________ Zip Code:_______________

Phone: _________________________ Fax:___________________________________

E-mail: _________________________________________________________________

I will be a :

Platinum Sponsor $1,500.00  __

Gold Sponsor $1,000.00          __

Silver Sponsor $750.00            __

Bronze Sponsor $500.00         __

Please return your response to us by US Mail, fax or e-mail.

Attn: Freedom Fund Banquet Sponsorship

PO Box 41

Stuart FL 34995

772-834-5823

Fax: 772-237-5323

Make your check or money order payable to The Martin County Branch NAACP

Please forward your ad my email to jerrygore333@comcast.net or gloria196152@yahoo.com. 

All ads must be received by April 12 to ensure quality printing

WAGE THEFT

from Ted Parsons

LEGISLATIVE ALERT

Rules Rams Through

Wage Theft Preemption

Late Wednesday, the Senate Rules Committee rammed through a DISASTROUS amendment to SB 926, that reverts the language of the bill to the same “zombie-like” back from the dead legislation working families killed last year. On the record, Legislators claimed this amendment was a compromise. Off the record, working families were NEVER offered a seat at the table. Legislators decided rather than provide an effective mechanism for victims of wage theft to recover their stolen wages, they would make it EVEN HARDER for those victims. This move by Big Retail and their allies is nothing more than a direct and DELIBERATE ATTACK on working people and home rule by blocking local governments from passing ANY effective wage theft ordinances. Over 100 million dollars in wages are stolen every year in the state of Florida, and corporations like Macy’s, Publix, Office Depot and Play it Again Sports are using the Florida Retail Federation to make sure this shadow economy keeps booming.

SB 926 IS HEADING TO THE SENATE FLOOR

ALL HANDS ON DECK! IT’S TIME TO TAKE ACTION!

CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR NOW!

888-264-6154

CLICK HERE TO BE CONNECTED

Tell them: “VOTE NO ON SB 926!

Stop defending WAGE THIEVES

and support local government.”

SPACE COAST PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE NEWS

Space Coast Progressive Alliance eNews for March 30, 2014.Click the links below to access recent articles of interest to Space Coast progressives. SCPA 1st Thursday Event ...  6:30pm April 3, 2014 Front Street Civic Center, Historic Downtown Melbourne (Map) 2205 S. Front Street, Melbourne, FL 32901 Free and open to the public Documentary film: "Last Call at the Oasis" is a documentary film that focuses on world crisis in water supply, which is looming in Florida, too. Establishes urgency of the global water crisis as the central issue facing our world this century. Open Mike opportunity: Got something to say about water crisis in Florida? Three slots open, speak for 3 minutes followed by Q+A. Info and submit proposal, click here. MORE INFO, plus links to film review by SCPA's Bob Serody, film trailer, and more about global water crisis, click here. Action! Brevard County Commission Public Hearing: Brevard County Commissioners consider stormwater drainage fee 5pm Thurs. April 3, at Brevard County Commission, Viera Govt. Center Jim Waymer in Florida Today: "Would you be willing to pay an extra $2.35 a month to cleanse the runoff that's ruining the Indian River Lagoon?" It seems Commissioner Trudi Infantini is not so sure. A strong show of citizen support is needed to get votes for drainage fee increase -- which is currently low compared to other counties. ACTION: Attend the hearing, or, if you cannot attend, call or send supportive email. Complete contact info, we make it easy, click here. Civil Rights U.N. Human Rights Committee Calls on Florida ... to Restore Voting Rights to Former Felons WGCU News, by John Davis The United Nations Committee on Human Rights is calling on states like Florida to change policies that restrict former felons’ voting rights. In a statement issued March 27, the committee said Florida policy, as well as policy in other U.S. states, is a violation of human rights. Economy America’s Taxation Tradition New York Times, by Paul Krugman, op-ed columnist In short, the demonization of anyone who talks about the dangers of concentrated wealth is based on a misreading of both the past and the present. Such talk isn’t un-American; it’s very much in the American tradition. And it’s not at all irrelevant to the modern world. So who will be this generation’s Teddy Roosevelt? Education House pushes school voucher bill The Ledger, by Gary Fineout, the Associated Press Backers of a Florida program that helps low-income children attend private schools, many of them religious, are trying a second time to move ahead a bill that would authorize a major expansion of the program. Taxpayer dollars teach that evolution is 'wicked and vain' Daily Kos, by Laura Clawson Laws that govern how evolution is and is not taught in public schools draw public debate, but privatization is the main way creationism is making inroads in publicly funded schools. That's because many states have voucher programs that include religious schools with an extreme anti-science curriculum, as Politico's Stephanie Simon found ... College financial aid needs a rethink Tampa Bay Times Editorial …Florida's financial aid policy should have a coherent, two-fold purpose: making college affordable for promising poor students who couldn't otherwise pay, and offering the best and the brightest an incentive to stay in state to avoid a brain drain of top talent…. Florida Politics Florida Legislators with ALEC Ties The Center for Media and Democracy publishes this wiki, SourceWatch. [Ed. note: ALEC -- American Legislative Exchange Council -- now infamous for ties to Koch brothers, is a 'corporate bill mill' through which corporations deliver ready-to-go legislative bills to state and federal legislators.] This is a partial list of Florida politicians that are known to be involved in, or previously involved in, ALEC. Healthcare "Staunch" Republican: ObamaCare Works! Daily Kos, by JoanMar This is precisely what Ted Cruz feared; this is what he warned about: Once people knew what it meant to have health insurance, and what ObamaCare can do for them, they will not allow the GOP to take it from them. A Fox-loving, "staunch" Republican gives his testimony ... Hospitals chart ways to boost care, funding... USA Today, by Alicia McElhaney Hospitals are getting creative when it comes to meeting tough new mandates in the Affordable Care Act to improve care and increase patient satisfaction — and they're getting paid more as a result… the federal government gives money to hospitals that deliver better care, rather than just paying them for procedures covered by Medicare and Medicaid. In Tallahassee, Miami Nurses Confront Medicaid Expansion Reality WGCU News, by Rick Stone The campaign - and some would call it a doomed campaign - to expand Medicaid for Florida's uninsured poor continued in Tallahassee on Thursday with a mass lobby conducted by doctors and nurses from Miami's Jackson Hospital. They went from office to office in the state capitol seeking legislative support, but got basically nowhere. Media Public Radio WGCU News [Ed. note: Wow! Here's a public radio/tv station in Florida -- a 'member-supported service of Florida Gulf Coast University' in Fort Myers -- that actually provides news coverage with their own staff reporters, proving it can happen even in Florida, INDEPENDENTLY of any corporate media! WGCU is Southwest Florida's source for PBS and NPR. In this issue of SCPA's eNews, we have two news items that come from WGCU reporters.] Women's Issues Brevard NOW round table discussion: Women, Feminism and Our Future 5:30pm Tues. April 8, 2014 The Blue Cellar, 924 E. New Haven Ave. downtown Melbourne. …to assess and shape future strategies for the advancement of women's rights and opportunities in Brevard County. Individuals and organizations interested in collaborating new strategy to bring our feminist movement to its full potential strength are invited to join discussion. Free & open to public. Call 321-720-3520. More info, click here. Like SCPA on Facebook ... http://www.facebook.com/SCPAFlorida Follow SCPA on Twitter ... https://twitter.com/SCPAFlorida Submit an item for eNews: To submit an item for publication in the next eNews issue, visit the scpaflorida.com and click on the eNews menu button. Select Submit News Item and fill out the form. Please note that we can only include your item if you provide a URL (internet link) to the source article. Visit the SCPA Progressive Communicty Calendar on our web site: http://www.scpaflorida.com/calendar/month.calendar/ Progress Florida Daily Clips - (Excellent resource for Florida progressives) Subscribe here to receive a daily mail with links to progressive news items from around Florida. http://www.progressfloridainstitute.org/dailyclips/ Join or Renew SCPA membership or make a donation 10th Anniversary in 2014, if you haven't joined SCPA or renewed, now's the time to do so. Donations graciously accepted! Membership $20 a year for individuals, $30 for family. Join up at any 1st Thursday program, or send check payable to Space Coast Progressive Alliance, mail to: SCPA, PO Box 412, Melbourne FL 32902-0412. TO CONTACT SCPA, click here. **SCPA WANT ADS** Lots of ways to be part of Team SCPA! Help plan a fun(d) raiser? Contact us, put 'fund raiser' in subject line: Click here. Video: Can you create YouTube videos? If yes, put 'video' in subject: Click here. Good Writer? Exceptional blog opportunity. Put 'blog' in subject: Click here. Good Greeter? Report to membership table, 6pm (early) on 1st Thursday!   We look forward to your progressive participation!