OMAHA
1. ABOLITION OF DEATH
PENALTY
March 1st is National Abolition Day. We will celebrate with a
"vigil" at 72nd and Dodge Streets on March 1st from 5 to 7 PM. Bring
signs if you wish, bring a friend, but bring yourself! A recent conversation
with one of Nebraska's legislators reminded me that until the people SHOW
our senators that we support the abolition of the death penalty, they will
assume that the majority of Nebraskans condone murder in their names.
Senator Chambers has introduced a bill (LB 18) to abolish the death penalty
in favor of a life sentence without the possibility of parole. A
significant presence on Thursday could give our senators the proof they
need. Questions? Call Marylyn Felion at 551-5834
2. OTOC HOUSE MEETINGS
OTOC congregations will be holding house meetings during the months
of March and April to surface issues THEY feel should be part of the council
and mayoral race and agenda for the upcoming year. If your parish/congregation
is a member of OTOC, be sure to attend. If your parish is not a member
of OTOC, I am hosting two house meetings in my home on Tuesday, March 13
and Tuesday, March 20 at 7 PM. If you are interested in attending
a house meeting, reply to my email and I can give you the details and the
address.
NATIONAL:
1. Campaign Finance Reform
and Senator Hagel
Senator Chuck Hagel holds a key vote that "could make or break" the
passage of campaign finance reform legislation (NETWORK). Urge Senator
Hagel (and Nelson) to support S 27, the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform
Act of 2001 by cosponsoring the legislation. A summary of the bill
and more information is available through www.networklobby.org. You
can even send a computer-generated letter through this website.
2. Bush Tax Proposal
From NETWORK: "According to an analysis by the Center on Budget and
Policy Priorities, more than one of every two black and Hispanic families
with children would receive no assistance from the Bush tax proposal.
The large majority of the excluded families include wage-earners.
These families have incomes too low to owe federal income taxes, but do
pay payroll taxes and other taxes. The Bush plan only cuts income
taxes and taxes on large estates. NETWORK believes that this tax
cut proposal is unjustly tilted toward people who have already benefited
from the economic boom." ACTION: Contact Terry, Hegel and Nelson
and urge them to reject the proposed tax cut as unfair and unwise.
You can send a letter through www.networklobby.org
3. Minimum Wage Increase
Call or write Hegel, Nelson, Terry asking them to cosponsor S277/HR665,
the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2001. This would raise the minimum wage
by $1.50 by January 1, 2003. The bill would also apply to the US
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, where laborers currently
work for just over $3/hour. For Cardinal Mahoney's statement regarding
minimum wage, http://www.nccbuscc.org/sdwp/national/minimumalert.htm.
The White House comment line is 202-456-1111
Contact:
Senator Chuck Hagel: 1-202-224--8544
Senator Ben Nelson: 1-202-224-6551
Rep Lee Terry: 1-202-225-4155 |