WAND’s November Bulletin

 

 

 

 

 

SUPER COMMITTEE DEADLINE

The so-called “Super Committee”, or the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, is on the brink of its due date for making recommendations for at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions over the next decade. The committee is scheduled to finalize their legislative proposal the day before Thanksgiving, November 23.  Negotiations, rumors and speculation are running rampant on the Hill, but progress in any given direction is unclear.  Please take the time today to let the Super Committee know that you think they should cut excessive Pentagon spending. Send them a message here

After the Super Committee makes its recommendations, Congress will have to approve the recommendations by December 23. If the Super Committee fails to agree on a recommendation, or Congress does not approve the recommendation for sufficient deficit reduction, a set of automatic cuts –or “sequestration”- will go into effect. Under sequestration, the Department of Defense is in line for automatic cuts. The administration, defense contractors and some in Congress are already finding ways to make sure that the automatic sequestration cuts are changed so that the Pentagon won’t be cut. Among scare tactics, defense industry advocates have made some fairly outrageous claims about the number of defense jobs that would be lost and the negative effect this would have on the economy. We know that, in fact, federal spending in the defense sector creates far fewer jobs than spending in other sector such as education, energy and environment, or healthcare.

For more on WAND’s take on the defense industry’s campaign opposing Department of Defense cuts, see a recent blog post written by WAND Public Policy Director, Kathy Robinson.

For more on military spending and job creation see Military Spending: A Poor Job Creator by William Hartung.

Join us on our December 13 webinar with Chris Hellmann of the National Priorities Project, "After the Super Committee: What's Next?"

2012 SPENDING

Congress is now also working to complete its overdue Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 budget. This week both the House and Senate must approve an extension of the current Continuing Resolution which is providing place-holder funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 that started at the end of September.  It is anticipated that this time a short extension to mid-December will easily pass both chambers – no threat of government shutdown this time.

ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS: Meanwhile, in order to get the final FY 2012 spending allocation done, the Senate has been striving to work through appropriation bills but running into difficulty. This week the Senate began considering  the Energy and Water Development Appropriation (which includes spending on nuclear weapons and nuclear nonproliferation programs), but progress has stalled and it is not clear when work on the measure will be completed.

DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION: The Senate is planning to take up the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on November 17.This measure could have a number of possible amendments related to Pentagon spending, Afghanistan policy and nuclear weapons, although amendments may be limited as the Senate tries to get the bill done and leave for its Thanksgiving recess.

Check our website for a summary of significant outcomes from the Senate in the coming week.

For more about how the budget process works, see our guide: Budget Process Basics.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL

There have been a number of Republican Presidential debates already, but Saturday November 12, was the first nationally broadcast debate focused on national security issues. On Tuesday, November 22, CNN will hold another debate focused on national security issues. You can submit questions to CNN and then join WAND for live twitter discussion of the debate. It’s so much more fun to be tweeting with friends during these debates!

Learn more about taking part in the debate here.

Read WAND's own Kathy Robinson's reflections on the November 12th debates here.

TIME TO SPEAK UP

These budget battles provide numerous opportunities to highlight budget priorities and raise concerns about excessive military spending. Would you like to write a letter to the editor, op-ed or blog about this? Or maybe you have an opportunity to speak up while visiting with your Member of Congress, attending a public gathering, or participating in a radio show discussion. We are happy to help you with talking points, tips and other support, just contact Elaina Ramsey, Field Coordinator at 202-544-5055

WiLL

This year four states elected new state legislators. New Jersey, Mississippi and Virginia have completed their elections and Louisiana will hold runoff elections on November 19. Unfortunately, it is certain that the number of women state legislators will once again drop this year. This is why we partner with groups like The 2012 Project, which encourages more women to run for office! We will be hard at work recruiting newly elected women to join WiLL’s ranks and working to engage women already serving!

Please check out our Pacesetter profiles at www.willwand.org! Once a week, we highlight one of the 10 WiLL members who received Pacesetter awards at the 2011 WiLL/WAND conference. These incredible, inspiring women represent just a portion of the great work done by WiLL members all over the country!

 

WAND PAC is pleased to announce the endorsement of two new candidates in the 2011-2012 election cycle!

Oregon State Senator Suzanne Bonamici is running in a special election for Oregon's first Congressional district! Suzanne was appointed to the state Senate and elected to her Senate seat in 2008 and 2010. As a state legislator, she has led the fight for consumer protections and education. The seat in Oregon’s first district opened up when Congressman David Wu resigned. The special election will be held on January 31, 2012.

Two-term State Representative Kelda Roys is running for Congress in Wisconsin's 2nd District! At age 32, Representative Roys is the youngest woman in the Wisconsin State Assembly and serves as Caucus Chair, representing Wisconsin’s 81^st District in Northwestern Dane County. Kelda has continuously proven her great leadership by pushing for various progressive issues and fighting tirelessly against Gov. Scott Walker’s proposition to remove workers' rights from public employees.

Our WAND PAC Endorsees support the goals that WAND holds dear: a reduction in violence and militarism and redirection of excessive military resources to unmet human and environmental needs. We want to help these progressive women candidates to change the face of Congress!

Chapter and Field News 

David Cortright Visits Arkansas WAND

Arkansas WAND hosted David Cortright of Notre Dame's Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice to discuss his book, Ending Obama's War: Responsible Military Withdrawal from Afghanistan, at the Clinton School for Public Service on November 3. The next day Cortright visited with and encouraged Occupy Little Rock participants and students at the Pulaski Academy and the University of Arkansas' Little Rock to practice nonviolence. David and his wife Karen Jacob (WAND Inc. Board Chair) also participated in the November 5 community dedication of Arkansas WAND’s Beacon of Peace and Hope monument and the Peace Garden. It was an inspiring and memorable visit for all!

WAND Members Receive the Janice Kelley Volunteer Award

Congratulations to Debbie Goolsby of Arkansas WAND and Annie Laura Stephens of Georgia WAND for receiving the Janice Kelley Volunteer Award! Both women were honored at the 2011 WiLL/WAND National Conference for their activism and commitment to building a more peaceful world. Click here to learn more about these incredible women.

Nominate the Next WAND Member of the Month

Know a dedicated WAND member? Here’s your chance to nominate your fellow member to be featured in the next E-bulletin as the WAND Member of the Month! Simply send your nomination(s) and a brief description of each candidate to WAND Field Coordinator Elaina Ramsey at eramsey@wand.org.

 

Upcoming Events

Oregon WAND to Host Two Great Events

On November 17, Oregon WAND member Pat Hoover will share her personal story as a “downwinder” affected by Hanford, a former nuclear weapons production site in south central Washington State. The following day, Dr. Bob Gould of Physicians for Social Responsibility will speak about the health risks associated with nuclear weapons. For more information about both of these events, click here.

 

Donor Spotlight on Susan and Andrew Magdanz.

For the third year in a row Susan and Andy are opening the doors to their Avon Place Glass Studio in Cambridge to host a WAND fundraiser.  This unique event gives guests an opportunity to attend a festive holiday cocktail reception while previewing the latest collection of glass pieces designed by expert glass blowing artists. It is yet another way our supporters offer their resources to raise money for WAND. We thank them and encourage all to come by to check out the 3^rd Annual Glass Sale on December 9^th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

For ticket information please go here.

If you are interested in hosting an event for WAND, please contact Mahua Heath at mheath@wand.org or call 781-643-6740.

Take Action!

WAND has partnered with the producers of a short film called The Story of Broke to call for a shift away from military spending and government subsidies and toward investments in the 21^st century green economy. Watch The Story of Broke to support our year-long campaign to rebuild our economy!

Then help fix our economy by visiting the online suggestion box of the Super Committee to send this message: “Much of the unchecked Pentagon spending is directed at last-century strategies, leaving us vulnerable as we fail to address 21^st century security needs. Pentagon spending discipline is needed to contribute to deficit reduction and to maintain our nation’s economic strength and security. Cut Pentagon spending, not human needs!”

 

Make sure to mark your calendars for WAND's upcoming webinars!

• TODAY: Thursday, November 17 at 3:00pm ET
  Women Strike for Peace: 50 Years and Counting
  Join WAND's Public Policy Director Kathy Robinson as she takes us through the history of Women Strike for Peace and reminds us why the work of WSFP is so important today.
  Sign up here. 

• Tuesday, December 13 at 3:00pm ET
  After the Super Committee: What's Next? with Chris Hellman of the National Priorities Project
  Sign up here.

Sign up and learn more about these webinars by clicking here.

Thank you for all of your hard work!