Occupy Boston Live on Citizens United – Jan 14, 2012 (YouTube Video)

Watch me on Occupy Boston Live with Suffolk Law Professor Donna Palermino give a teach-in on the implications of corporate personhood, and what we can do about it.

YOUTUBE VIDEO:
Occupy Boston Live Citizens United Jan 14, 2012

Atkins letter to MBTA: Proposed Service Reductions

January 19, 2012

Jonathan R. Davis, Acting General Manager

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

10 Park Plaza, Suite 3910

Boston, MA 02116

Dear Mr. Davis,

I write in regard to the proposed service reductions in the MBTA.

I represent the towns of Acton, Concord, Carlisle, and Chelmsford. My district is served by the Fitchburg

commuter rail line, which stops at Concord, West Concord, and South Acton. The proposed service reductions

would eliminate train service to my district on weekends.

I am strongly opposed to this proposal. First, some of my constituents are disabled and are unable to drive. The

commuter rail is the best way for them to travel to Boston. Taking away weekend trains strips these people

of their independence and their dignity.

Second, many of my constituents ride the train on weekends to attend concerts, sporting events, and other

recreational activities in Boston. Forcing these people onto the roads will increase air pollution and road

congestion if train service is eliminated on weekends.

Third, Concord is a popular tourist destination. Many of Concord’s historic homes and battlefields are within

walking distance of the train station. Ending weekend train service will deny visitors the opportunity to

come to Concord and learn about our history.

Thank you for your consideration. Please feel free to contact me at any time.

Sincerely,

Cory Atkins

State Representative

Fourteenth Middlesex District

Sign the petition to pass S.772 – Free speech is for people

Pass S772 – Free speech is for people

It’s time Massachusetts took a stand against corporate dominance in our democracy. The State Legislature should pass Resolution S772 to send a message to Congress that we, the people of Massachusetts, believe that free speech belongs to people, not corporations.

S772 declares that “the Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby calls upon the United States Congress to pass and send to the states for ratification a constitutional amendment to restore the first amendment and fair elections to the people.”

Sign the petition today.

http://action.massvote.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=9251

Politically Incorrect Show January 2012

Here is a link to the video of the new Politically Incorrect Show that we taped last night. The panelists on this show are: State Rep Cory Atkins, State Senate candidate Michael J. Barrett, Selectman Jim Lane, & School Comm. member Allen Thomas. We talked about local, State and National topics on the show. I hope you find it interesting and informative.
http://origin.peg.tv/pegtv_player?id=T01497&video=45887

AG Martha Coakley Supports Constitutional Amendment to Reverse Citizens United, corporate “rights”

I spoke at a briefing organized by Free Speech for People (Jeff Clements)and MassVOTE concerning the need for MA-based organizations and their constituencies to join the state and federal campaigns working to pass resolutions at all levels of government. This call for the passage of a constitutional amendment transcends party lines, and Congress needs to hear from as many elected and citizen groups as possible. Our founders wrote “we the people, not we the corporations.” It is up to us now to defend and restore our democracy.

AG Martha Coakley Supports Constitutional Amendment to Reverse Citizens United, corporate “rights”

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Jeff Clements

Attorney General Martha Coakley today became the first sitting Attorney General in the nation to call for a Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens United v. FEC and the Supreme Court’s fabrication of corporate Constitutional rights to unlimited corporate election spending. Here’s her press release from her office, with a link to her letter to Massachusetts legislative leaders considering a resolution calling for the 28th Amendment.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            MEDIA CONTACT:

December 8, 2011                                                                  Melissa Karpinsky/Emalie Gainey                                                                                                           

(617) 727-2543

AG COAKLEY SUPPORTS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO LIMIT UNLIMITED, UNDISCLOSED CORPORATE SPENDING IN ELECTIONS

In Letter to State Judiciary Chairs, Urges Passage Of Resolution Supporting Federal Constitutional Amendment To Reverse Citizens United Decision 

BOSTON – Stating that individual voters are being increasingly disenfranchised by the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars of undisclosed contributions by corporations, Attorney General Martha Coakley today voiced her support for a federal constitutional amendment to make clear that corporate spending is not free speech.

AG Coakley expressed her support in a letter to the Chairpersons of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, Senator Cynthia Creem and Representative Eugene O’Flaherty. In the letter, she supports passage of Senate Bill 772, “Restoring Free Speech,” which is a resolution that calls for a federal Constitutional Amendment to reverse the United States Supreme Court Decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

The federal amendment has been proposed with bipartisan support by Congressman James P. McGovern. The state Resolution was introduced by Senator James Eldridge and Representative Cory Atkins.

“As we have seen, average citizens are feeling increasingly disenfranchised and believe that our current political system favors the wealthy few instead of the public good,” AG Coakley said in her letter. “Individual people’s voices will continue to be steadily drowned out if corporations are allowed to spend billions in unreported and unaccounted funds to influence elections. The passage of the Resolution would send a strong message that it is time to put the electoral process back in the hands of the people, not corporations.”

In January 2010, the United States Supreme court handed down its decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The Supreme Court ruled that restrictions on corporate political campaign advertisements violated the First Amendment’s free speech protections, thereby allowing corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections.

That decision has resulted in a torrent of undisclosed corporate and special interest money into the electoral process through 501(c) non-profit organizations which are not required to disclose their donors. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the amount of money spent by non-party committees during the 2010 Congressional elections was more than $300 million, more than four times the amount spent during the 2006 Congressional elections.  The 2012 election will be the first presidential race since the Citizens United ruling.

A copy of the Attorney General’s letter can be found here.

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Dept. of Public Utilities’ Public Hearings – part of investigation into Oct. 29 snowstorm

Below is the Department of Public Utilities’ Notice of Public Hearings, Request for Comments, and Petitions for Intervention, for National Grid, NSTAR Electric Company, and Western Massachusetts Electric Company, as part of our investigation into the October 29, 2011 snowstorm. Below is a summary from the Notices of the schedules for the public hearings. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

National Grid:

Monday, December 5, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

East Longmeadow High School, 180 Maple Street, East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Belchertown High School, Room 317, 142 Springfield Road, Belchertown, MA 01007

Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

DCU Center, 50 Foster Street, Worcester, MA 01608

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Brookfield Town Hall, 6 Central Street

Brookfield, MA 01506

Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Tyngsborough High School, 36 Norris Road, Tyngsborough, MA 01879

NSTAR Electric Company:

Tuesday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m. Maynard Town Hall, 195 Main Street

Maynard, MA 01754

Western Massachusetts Electric Company:

Monday, December 5, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Duggan Middle School, 1015 Wilbraham Rd, Springfield, MA 01109

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Greenfield High School, 1 Lenox Ave., Greenfield, MA 01301

Nov. 14 8:30 – 11 A.M. Public Symposium at College of the Holy Cross – On the Chopping Block: The Super Committee, Federal Financial Aid, and What It Could Mean for MA

You are invited to attend a Symposium: On the Chopping Block: The Super Committee, Federal Financial Aid, and What It Could Mean for Massachusetts

Monday, November 14^th  8:30am to 11am

College of the Holy Cross, Hogan Campus Center, Room 401

1 College Road, Worcester, MA 01610

Hosted by Senator Michael Moore and Representative Tom Sannicandro

Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Higher Education in the Massachusetts Legislature

Right now, in Washington members of the Super Committee are discussing ways to cut trillions of dollars in spending.  Financial aid is on the chopping block.  This symposium seeks to bring together members of the higher education community, the business community, and policy makers to understand the staggering effect cuts to financial aid could have on Massachusetts families and the Massachusetts economy and to discuss ways in which these communities can come together to find creative ways to respond to potential cuts.

Hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts families rely on federal financial aid to put their children through college.  Financial aid often makes the difference between whether or not a student can go to and finish college.  Massachusetts has an economy built on an educated workforce and we rely on people graduating with college degrees to fuel our economic growth and sustained health.

Panel 1:  The View from Washington

What is the super committee considering?

What outcomes should Massachusetts be prepared for?

Panel 2: What’s at Stake?

What are the financial aid programs at stake?

How many Massachusetts families rely on federal financial aid?

What is the relationship between financial aid and college completion?

Panel 3: What financial aid cuts could mean for the Massachusetts economy?

What is the higher education industry’s role as an employer?

What is the relationship between college completion and the Massachusetts economy?

Concurrent Discussion Section 1: Framing the Issue

How do we frame the potential impact and engage potential stakeholders?

Concurrent Discussion Section 2: Response
How do we mitigate a potential negative impact and move forward as a state given our limited resources?  What are the roles of the different groups of stakeholders?

Nov. 17 at 7 P.M. Dept. of Conservation & Recreation Public Meeting on the Preparation of a Visitor Services Master Plan for Walden Pond State Reservation

Department of Conservation and Recreation Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Public Meeting on the Preparation of a Visitor Services Master Plan for Walden Pond State Reservation

Thursday, November 17, 2011

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Harvey Wheeler Community Center Auditorium, 1276 Main Street, Concord

At the meeting, DCR will present, and obtain public input on, various alternatives for a Visitor Center location and other visitor improvements at Walden Pond State Reservation. The presentation will be available after the meeting on DCR’s website at http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/rmppast.htm.

If you have questions about the public meeting, please contact DCR.Updates@state.ma.us or call (617) 626-4974.

Thurs. Oct. 27 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Campaign for the Updated Bottle Bill’s Trick or Treat Postcard Delivery Day

The Campaign for the Updated Bottle Bill’s Trick or treat: postcard delivery day

Thursday, October 27, 2011, 11am-1pm

11:00am: MEET AT THE MASSPIRG OFFICE (costumes optional)

11:15am: after coffee and candy corn, we will walk up to the State House and do a ‘press availability’

11:30-11:45am: Press availability, Grand Staircase, State House

11:45-1:00pm: DELIVERY: deliver 10,000 postcards to legislators, walking all over the State House in costume to deliver our message:

Maximum Weekly Benefit Rate for New Unemployment Claims to Increase