Comments on: Now is the time: Call Congress to Close the SOA/WHINSEC http://www.icpj.net/2007/soa_call_now/ Mobilizing people of faith and conscience to build a better world Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:08:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Chuck http://www.icpj.net/2007/soa_call_now/#comment-25780 Chuck Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:59:47 +0000 http://www.icpj.net/2007/06/19/soa_call_now/#comment-25780 First, the bad news: Last night we saw a close, 6-vote loss on the amendment to cut funding to the School of the Americas. The final vote was 203 to 214, not enough votes to cut funding. Both Rep. Dingell and Rep. Walberg voted "no." That is, they voted to continue funding the School of the Americas/WHINSEC. This was despite a last-minute push by ICPJ members right as the amendment was up for debate. We flooded Dingell's office with calls saying "vote YES on the McGovern amendment to cut funds to the SOA/WHINSEC" Overall, Michigan did well. Eight of our 15 representatives voted to cut funding (breakdown below). You can learn more online at www.soaw.org Next, the good news. We did see Congress vote to improve U.S. policy to Colombia. The Latin America Working Group reports: "WE DID IT! After many years of advocating for change, we are thrilled to tell you the positive new approach to Colombia has been approved by the full House of Representatives. With all of your calls to the Congress, those who supported the old approach decided against offering an amendment since they did not have the votes to turn back the clock." (details at: http://lawg.org/countries/colombia/alert_06-22-07.htm ) Thank you all for all you hard work! In peace, -Chuck YES Camp, Dave, Michigan, 4th-- Yes Conyers Jr., John, Michigan, 14th --Yes Ehlers, Vernon J., Michigan, 3rd -- Yes Kildee, Dale, Michigan, 5th -- Yes Kilpatrick, Carolyn, Michigan, 13th -- Yes Levin, Sander, Michigan, 12th -- Yes Stupak, Bart, Michigan, 1st -- Yes Upton, Fred, Michigan, 6th -- yes NO Hoekstra, Pete, Michigan, 2nd-- No Knollenberg, Joseph, Michigan, 9th -- No McCotter, Thaddeus, Michigan, 11th -- No Miller, Candice, Michigan, 10th -- No Rogers, Mike, Michigan, 8th -- no Walberg, Timothy, Michigan, 7th -- No Dingell, John D., Michigan, 15th-- No First, the bad news:

Last night we saw a close, 6-vote loss on the amendment to cut funding to the School of the Americas. The final vote was 203 to 214, not enough votes to cut funding.

Both Rep. Dingell and Rep. Walberg voted “no.” That is, they voted to continue funding the School of the Americas/WHINSEC. This was despite a last-minute push by ICPJ members right as the amendment was up for debate. We flooded Dingell’s office with calls saying “vote YES on the McGovern amendment to cut funds to the SOA/WHINSEC”

Overall, Michigan did well. Eight of our 15 representatives voted to cut funding (breakdown below).

You can learn more online at http://www.soaw.org

Next, the good news. We did see Congress vote to improve U.S. policy to Colombia. The Latin America Working Group reports: “WE DID IT! After many years of advocating for change, we are thrilled to tell you the positive new approach to Colombia has been approved by the full House of Representatives. With all of your calls to the Congress, those who supported the old approach decided against offering an amendment since they did not have the votes to turn back the clock.” (details at: http://lawg.org/countries/colombia/alert_06-22-07.htm )

Thank you all for all you hard work!

In peace,
-Chuck

YES
Camp, Dave, Michigan, 4th– Yes
Conyers Jr., John, Michigan, 14th –Yes
Ehlers, Vernon J., Michigan, 3rd — Yes
Kildee, Dale, Michigan, 5th — Yes
Kilpatrick, Carolyn, Michigan, 13th — Yes
Levin, Sander, Michigan, 12th — Yes
Stupak, Bart, Michigan, 1st — Yes
Upton, Fred, Michigan, 6th — yes

NO
Hoekstra, Pete, Michigan, 2nd– No
Knollenberg, Joseph, Michigan, 9th — No
McCotter, Thaddeus, Michigan, 11th — No
Miller, Candice, Michigan, 10th — No
Rogers, Mike, Michigan, 8th — no
Walberg, Timothy, Michigan, 7th — No
Dingell, John D., Michigan, 15th– No

]]> By: Chuck http://www.icpj.net/2007/soa_call_now/#comment-25769 Chuck Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:15:36 +0000 http://www.icpj.net/2007/06/19/soa_call_now/#comment-25769 <p>Here's the notice we just received from SOA Watch:</p> <p><P align=center </p> <p>editor_id="mce_editor_0"></P> <DIV editor_id="mce_editor_0"> <DIV align=left></p> <p align="left"><font face="verdana" size="2" color="000000"><b><a </p rel="nofollow"> <p> href="http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=367284990&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.democracyinaction.org%2Fdia%2ForganizationsORG%2Fsoaw%2Fcampaign.jsp%3Fcampaign_KEY%3D11949">Click here to Email/Fax your Representative Now!</a></b><small><i>(Be sure to click the "Send a Fax" box to have the fax sent)</small></i></p> <p><b>SOA Watch has received NEW information, that WHINSEC </p> <p>has a secret weapon and that the Pentagon's public relations campaign has won some influence with the Representatives who have already told you they will </p> <p>vote YES</b>. </p> <p>Yesterday was a busy day in Congress and they were not able to finish the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, so we have bought more time to counteract the Pentagon campaign and persuade Congress to vote YES to cut funding for the SOA/ WHINSEC. </p> <p>Beginning at 10:00am on Thursday, June 21, the amendments to the Foreign Operations Appropriations for fiscal year 2008 will be debated, including the McGovern - Lewis (GA) amendment to prohibit funding for the SOA/ WHINSEC.</p> <p>As this unfolds, you should be able to view or listen to that House floor debate or watch the vote count on <b></p> <p><a href="http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=367284990&url_num=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.c-span.org" rel="nofollow">C-SPAN</a></b> </p> <p><small><i>(At the bottom of the page, click on "Live Stream")</i></small></p> <p><b>Due to this new information, you MUST make your calls again. We need YOU to keep up the pressure on Congress</b> by making telephone calls and sending emails and faxes now, even if you have already made calls. It's very important that you continue to contact congress today to let members know that they have constituents who support human rights and the closing of the SOA/WHINSEC.</p> <p><center><b><big>Call Congress Now at 202-224-3121 !</b></big></center></p> <p>Please take a few minutes today to call the DC office of your Representative through the Capitol Hill Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask to speak with the foreign affairs legislative assistant. </p> <p>Here is a NEW suggested message for you to convey when calling your Representative:</p> <blockquote><p>"I am calling Representative________ to urge him/her to vote YES on the McGovern amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. This amendment prohibits funding for the School of the Americas/ WHINSEC. New information indicates that WHINSEC has allowed known human rights abusers to instruct and receive training at the school. The governments of Costa Rica, Argentina and Uruguay have made public announcements they will no longer send students to the school, citing the negative image and history of this institution. Voting YES on this amendment sends a positive human rights message to Latin America and will help to improve the U.S. image abroad. As an elected official in Washington D.C., I hope you will represent me and vote YES on any amendment in the House that would cut funding for the school."</p> </blockquote> Here’s the notice we just received from SOA Watch:

editor_id=”mce_editor_0″>

href=”http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=367284990&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.democracyinaction.org%2Fdia%2ForganizationsORG%2Fsoaw%2Fcampaign.jsp%3Fcampaign_KEY%3D11949″>Click here to Email/Fax your Representative Now!

(Be sure to click the “Send a Fax” box to have the fax sent)

SOA Watch has received NEW information, that WHINSEC

has a secret weapon and that the Pentagon’s public relations campaign has won some influence with the Representatives who have already told you they will

vote YES.

Yesterday was a busy day in Congress and they were not able to finish the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, so we have bought more time to counteract the Pentagon campaign and persuade Congress to vote YES to cut funding for the SOA/ WHINSEC.

Beginning at 10:00am on Thursday, June 21, the amendments to the Foreign Operations Appropriations for fiscal year 2008 will be debated, including the McGovern - Lewis (GA) amendment to prohibit funding for the SOA/ WHINSEC.

As this unfolds, you should be able to view or listen to that House floor debate or watch the vote count on

C-SPAN

(At the bottom of the page, click on “Live Stream”)

Due to this new information, you MUST make your calls again. We need YOU to keep up the pressure on Congress by making telephone calls and sending emails and faxes now, even if you have already made calls. It’s very important that you continue to contact congress today to let members know that they have constituents who support human rights and the closing of the SOA/WHINSEC.

Call Congress Now at 202-224-3121 !

Please take a few minutes today to call the DC office of your Representative through the Capitol Hill Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask to speak with the foreign affairs legislative assistant.

Here is a NEW suggested message for you to convey when calling your Representative:

“I am calling Representative________ to urge him/her to vote YES on the McGovern amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. This amendment prohibits funding for the School of the Americas/ WHINSEC. New information indicates that WHINSEC has allowed known human rights abusers to instruct and receive training at the school. The governments of Costa Rica, Argentina and Uruguay have made public announcements they will no longer send students to the school, citing the negative image and history of this institution. Voting YES on this amendment sends a positive human rights message to Latin America and will help to improve the U.S. image abroad. As an elected official in Washington D.C., I hope you will represent me and vote YES on any amendment in the House that would cut funding for the school.”

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