-- Scotts Contracting - StLouis Renewable Energy

Search This Blog

7.21.2011

Stop Sen. Blunt's crazy, cowardly ploy to cut Medicare and Social Security




CREDO Action | more than a network. a movement.

Tell Sen. Blunt: It's crazy to cut Medicare and Social Security.

Hold Sen. Blunt accountable
Take Action!

Clicking here will automatically add your name to this petition to Sen. Blunt:

"The constitutional amendment you are supporting to 'balance the budget' will inevitably lead to brutal cuts to Social Security and Medicare, while preventing tax increases on the rich. This constitutional amendment is not a plan for fiscal responsibility — it represents a crazy imbalance between the needs of our nation and the greed of a few."

Automatically add your name:
Take action now!

Learn more about this campaign

Dear Friend,

No matter how dire the situation, Senate Republicans seem determined to prove they can act irresponsibly.

Senate Republicans are unanimously supporting a draconian constitutional amendment that they claim will balance the budget, but is really nothing but a cowardly ploy to force devastating cuts to vital social programs, including Social Security and Medicare, while writing into the constitution an impossible requirement — a two-thirds vote — to raise taxes.

Last week, in a column called "Getting to Crazy," Paul Krugman closed by noting that "there has been no pressure on the G.O.P. to show any kind of responsibility, or even rationality — and sure enough, it has gone off the deep end."

We agree. We need you to be part of that pressure. Even though we know it is unlikely that Republicans will break ranks and do the right thing, we must hold individual Republicans like Sen. Blunt accountable to reality and let him know his constituents see through his fantasy proposals.

Tell Sen. Blunt: It's crazy to cut our Social Security and Medicare benefits while protecting the Koch brothers and Paris Hilton from paying their fair share. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

Even worse, the amendment the Senate Republicans are backing wouldn't actually balance the budget, rather it would arbitrarily cap government spending at 18% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

To put this in perspective, the last time government spending was 18% of GDP was 1966. And no president in nearly half a century, Republican or Democrat, has even proposed a budget where spending is 18% of GDP or less.1

It's simply insane.

And this is the crux of the real problem.

The Big Lie spread by Fox News and its Tea Party allies is that the United States — the richest country in the history of the world — is too broke to afford a social safety net.

The fact of the matter is that right now we are confronting the effects of a tax-cutting binge and an eagerness for wars of choice that conservatives and so-called moderates in both parties have been indulging in for decades.

You have to go back 60 years to find a time where the U.S. government took in less taxes revenue relative to our GDP than the government takes in today.2

And yet, the Republicans tell us that they think the responsible thing to do is to put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block so we can afford tax cuts for the Koch brothers.

They need a reality check that only you can provide.

Tell Sen. Blunt: It's crazy to cut our Social Security and Medicare benefits. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

Thank you for speaking out to defend Medicare and Social Security.

Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

1. "Spending Cap Is Bad No Matter How You Slice It," Michael Linden and Michael Ettlinger, American Prospect, 07-18-2011.
2. "Historical Source of Revenue as Share of GDP," The Tax Policy Center, 03-25-2011


This is a message from CREDO / Working Assets. © 2011 CREDO. All rights reserved. Questions? Send us an email or write us at: 101 Market Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94105.



--


7.18.2011

Re: back on PACE



On Thu, Jul 14, 2011 at 2:42 PM, Adam Browning, Vote Solar <adam@votesolar.org> wrote:

Friends-

We are writing with good news.  Remember PACE, the innovative energy financing program that ran into a roadblock because of objections by the Federal Housing Finance Agency? Well, next week legislation will be introduced in Congress to fix the situation.

Take Action

The "PACE Assessment Protection Act of 2011," to be introduced imminently by Congresspersons Nan Hayworth, Daniel Lungren and Mike Thompson (bi-partisan!), addresses potential concerns by establishing strict underwriting criteria and lender protections.  It guarantees that PACE assessments will only be allowed for credit-worthy participants, and that improvements must be revenue positive.  Details here.

In return, FHFA and other federal agencies simply have to back off, and let the 27 states that have passed enabling legislation for PACE programs get to work reducing energy use, saving homeowners money, and creating jobs.  Seems like a fair deal.

We know that the program works: jurisdictions with PACE programs report higher construction and green job activity (Links here, here (pdf), and here)

And of the 2,565 homes with PACE assessments currently in place around the country, we know of only 2 defaults.  That's 1/30th of the national average default rate--which is to be expected, as PACE lowers the cost of living, and puts homeowner in a better financial position.  The irony is that PACE saves FHFA money, too.

This bill doesn't cost money, doesn't impose any government mandates, or touch non-participants' taxes.

The bill does restore states rights, does leverage private capital, and puts America to work saving homeowners money.

What's not to like?  Let's pass this sucker: stop reading this email, and get on the horn to ask your representative to be a co-sponsor.

Take Action

While this is helpful for solar, it will do a lot for energy efficiency too, and energy efficiency is no joke.

Onwards-

Adam + Team

The Vote Solar Initiative
300 Brannan Street, Suite 609
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.votesolar.org
http://twitter.com/votesolar





--


7.15.2011

Re: Say "NO" to nuclear business-as-usual


 
Join List

 Join List 


Say "no" to nuclear business-as-usual


child

act

Sign a petition to protect the children of Fukushima against radioactivity

Aileen Mioko Smith, director of Green Action Japan, has just announced an opportunity for individuals and organizations across the world to sign a petition demanding increased protection for the children of Fukushima against the clear and present danger from the Dai-ichi nuclear power plant's ongoing releases of hazardous radioactivity. To read and sign the petition, go to the Green Action Fukushima Updates website.


Japan learns lessons of Fukushima; US ignores dangers of its own Mark I reactors

Prime Minister Naoto Kan announced this week that Japan needs to decrease and eventually eliminate nuclear energy and must "aim to bring about a society that can exist without nuclear power." As Japanese reactors come off line for inspection, they may not be re-started which could potentially mean no reactors in operation there as early as April 2012. But Kan did not put a timetable on the nuclear exit. Germany and Switzerland have already announced nuclear phase-outs. The Italian public voted never to re-start that country's nuclear program. But the US continues to turn a blind eye to the unacceptable risks posed by its own Mark I reactors almost identical in design to those at Fukushima. Worse, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission instead envisages "more than 100 nuclear power plants operating throughout the United States for decades to come."

Such backward thinking, along with a continued policy of allowing the nuclear industry self oversight through "voluntary initiatives" were revealed in the publication of the NRC's "Near-Term Task Force Review of Insights from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Accident" released on the same day as Kan's announcement. That's not something Beyond Nuclear believes should continue. Please join us as a co-petitioner to suspend the operation of all Fukushima-style reactors in the United States. More

Thanks for taking action. And please also consider making a donation to Beyond Nuclear today. Your support will help us build a grassroots movement to close dangerous nuclear plants and create a safe energy future for our children.
Thank you for working with us for a nuclear-free world.

sunflower
The Beyond Nuclear Team

empowered by Salsa







Green Jobs Created Through Energy Independence Program

  • construction-related jobs in Sonoma County increased 8.4 percent between January, 2009 and September, 2009 after the implementation of the $100 million Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP)


Green Jobs Created Through $100 Million Sonoma County Energy Independence Program


Sonoma County Construction-related Jobs Increase 8.4%
Sonoma County Water Agency
11-20-2009

Santa Rosa, CA – Despite rising unemployment in California and nationwide, construction-related jobs in Sonoma County increased 8.4 percent between January, 2009 and September, 2009 after the implementation of the $100 million Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP). Data from SCEIP, the Construction Industry Research Board and California Employment Development Department shows that construction-related jobs increased at the same time more than $14 million was contracted with homeowners and businesses participating in SCEIP. California's unemployment continued its increase to a high of 12.5 percent and nationwide 9.5 percent in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Sonoma County unemployment hit 10.1 percent.

An example of a local Sonoma County business that has increased construction-related jobs due to SCEIP funding is The Sun Connection.

"Since SCEIP began, we have hired 9 new employees to meet the demand, and look forward to continued growth in the spring," said Alicia Collins, owner of The Sun Connection, a family owned company in Santa Rosa, CA that specializes in whole house energy saving solutions. "After 16 years of doing business in Sonoma County, 2007 and 2008 were our slowest years. SCEIP has parted the clouds of the recession, shinning the light on solar. The future looks bright at The Sun Connection."

The Sonoma County Water Agency and County of Sonoma jointly pledged up to $100 million to fund energy efficiency and water conservation improvements for residential and commercial property owners. SCEIP allows property owners to finance energy efficiency, water efficiency and renewable energy improvements through a voluntary assessment attached to the property, paid back through the property tax system over time.

"It was our goal to develop a program that would benefit the environment and economy," said SCWA Chairman and County Supervisor Paul Kelley. "SCEIP is a model for the nation on how to build green jobs, reduce greenhouse gases and conserve our energy and water resources."

In particular, more than $5.6 million in SCEIP projects were contracted in July and August 2009 at the same time a spike of 500 new construction jobs were reported by the California Employment Development Department.

"We are excited by the twofold benefits: lower utility bills and new green construction jobs, of the County's new Energy Independence Program," said Rod Dole, Sonoma County's Auditor/Controller, who administers the program. "We believe the $37 million participation by Sonoma County property owners made these community benefits possible."

While Sonoma County's construction-related jobs increased, neighboring counties either saw a drop or slight increase - Napa County jobs declined by -3% and in Solano County jobs increased by only 1.3%. Neither county implements a SCEIP program. SCWA and Sonoma County will continue to monitor and evaluate the positive economic impact SCEIP is having on its local economy.

Local economists agree that SCEIP has helped increase green jobs in Sonoma County.

"Energy Independence is our future. Programs like this one seize this opportunity to not only drive our economy toward a future of using fewer natural resources but also employing other resources, such as workers in construction industries and other trades, to implement this program in homes and businesses," said Dr. Robert Eyler, director, Center of Regional Economic Analysis, Sonoma State University. "This program is exactly what we need to see in a sustained recovery."

Property owners who want to use SCEIP funding must agree to repay the program through an assessment on their property taxes over a term of 5, 10, or 20 years. The tax assessments are tied to the properties, and may, therefore, be passed from one owner to the next. Details of the program, including application procedures, a list of approved projects, and frequently asked questions, may be obtained on the program's Web site www.sonomacountyenergy.org.

The chart below displays construction job growth in Sonoma County within the activity period of SCEIP. The data suggests large gains in construction job growth are closely correlated with the increase in SCEIP funded projects.

Click here to view the chart

CONTACT: Brad Sherwood 707.547.1927


--


Connect with Scotts Contracting

FB FB Twitter LinkedIn Blog Blog Blog Blog Pinterest