PassMass Press Release

November 9th, 2013 · leftyfb · News and Announcements Comments Off

MEDIA ALERT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 9, 2013

PRESS RELEASE FOR THE “PASSMASSAMENDMENT BALLOT INITIATIVE”

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

The PassMassAmendment Ballot Initiative (www.PassMassAmendment.org), is a 3+ year process to ask Massachusetts voters to amend (clarify) the state Constitution to declare:

“Corporations Are Not People, Money Is Not Speech”

Late last year, we began the formal ballot initiative process with a meeting at the Attorney General’s office of the Commonwealth. On August 7, 2013, we filed our formal petition. Over the summer PassMassAmendment organized petition teams and allies to engage the public to gather 68,911 valid signatures this September 18th through November 20th.

Hundreds of PassMassAmendment petitioners have been gathering signatures around the state since September 18th, on street corners, in parking lots, in churches, and in meeting halls. Today, PassMassAmendment launches its “print-sign-mail” petition campaign to draw in voters! People who want to sign the petition can print, sign and mail the petition form to town clerks around the state for their signatures to count!

Once enough signatures are gathered, the Amendment will need 25% of two consecutive Legislative Sessions voting in favor, for it to be on the 2016 Ballot. The proposed amendment already has more than 20% of that support in the Legislature.

The formal language, and the legal discussion can be found at: www.PassMassAmendment.org.

Over the last century and more, the people have been losing their influence over our democratic process. We believe that the root of this issue is the corrupting influence of corporations and money on our political process. We have asked our legislators to rectify this. The “Clean Elections Law” passed in 1998 by a 2 to 1 majority by ballot initiative. But our legislators refused to fund it and ended it by voice vote. We have passed resolutions around the state asking our legislators to act to amend the US Constitution to rectify this.

They have not acted. As a result, we believe that it’s time for citizens to act. Absent of action by our legislators, we intend to amend (clarify) the Massachusetts Constitution ourselves.

Endorsed by:
U. S. Congressman Jim McGovern, State Reps: Cory Atkins, Ellen Story, Denise Provost, Timothy J. Toomey Jr, Sean Garballey, Jennifer Benson, Carl Sciortino, Jason Lewis, Harold Naughton, State Senators:Katherine Clark, Barry Finegold, Karen E. Spilka (Majority Whip) Other (in order of appearance): Noam Chomsky, Ironworkers Local 7, Occupy Winchester, Greater-Boston Chapter of the Green-Rainbow Party, The Somist Institute (led by Dr Carmine Gorga), Bill McKibben (Founder of 350.org), Cape Cod Move to Amend, Assabet River Valley Chapter of the Green Rainbow Party, Occupy Falmouth, Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Boston),
North Shore Move to Amend.

PRESS CONTACT: Terra Friedrichs 978 808 7173 terraf “at” compuserve dot.com

GA Summary – 3 September 2013

September 5th, 2013 · Steve · General Assembly, Passed Resolutions 2 comments

Most of tonight’s GA focused on revisiting (and amending) the disbursement proposal from July 9th.

We decided to liquidate Occupy Boston’s remaining credit union funds. Assuming we got the math right, this breaks down as follows:

$4294 for the street medics
$908 for strike debt
$2000 for Mesob’s food truck (see minutes)
$1000 for Bobbi’s Urban Pioneer proposal (see minutes)
$492 for Food Not Bombs
$492 for E5

GA Minutes: http://wiki.occupyboston.org/wiki/GA_Minutes_Tue_Sep_03_2013.

GA Summary – 9 July 2013

July 11th, 2013 · Steve · General Assembly, Passed Resolutions Comments Off

Proposals passed during the July 9th 2013 General assembly.

Natgat Endorsement

The general assembly agreed to endorse Natgat 2013.

Proposed by Aria. Passed in the consent bucket

Natgat Funding

We agreed to donate $500 to Natgat.

Proposed by Aria. Passed by consensus

Puppet Collective Funding

We agreed to give $1500 to a Puerto Rican puppet collective, to rent a van and travel to Bread and Puppets 50th anniversary.

Brought by David and Dey. Passed by consensus

Legal Aid

We agreed to give Linda $253 for legal aid and court costs.

Brought by Linda. Passed by consensus

Occupy Boston remaining funds

We agreed to hold $500 of Occupy Boston’s remaining funds in reserve (for operating expenses), and disburse the rest as follows:

50% to street medics,
30% to E5,
10% to food not bombs, and
10% to strike debt.

Future income will be set aside for operating expenses.

Proposed by Dana. Passed by consensus

(Note: this proposal is subject to reconsideration at the next GA)

Next GA: September 3rd 7pm

Minutes: http://wiki.occupyboston.org/wiki/GA_Minutes_Tue_July_09_2013

July 2nd GA Postponed to July 9th

June 28th, 2013 · Steve · General Assembly Comments Off

Occupy Boston July General Assembly is postponed from July 2 to July 9: 7-7:20 potluck, 7:20-9pm meeting, at the Community Church of Boston. The GA has been postponed because a significant number of regular attenders had conflicts and requested a change.

May 16th – Stop the Cuts

May 10th, 2013 · Steve · Events One comment

Submitted by Carolyn

We’re paying our taxes…
Why are our services being cut, and
Why is the President proposing cuts to Social Security and Medicare ?

Budget cutters in Washington have already slashed Meals on Wheels, Head Start, Housing, Education, Fuel Assistance, Unemployment, Health Programs, AIDS Housing, and family violence prevention. Many people’s jobs are threatened. Now the President wants to cut even more vital programs.

But there is an alternative.

1. End Corporate Tax Breaks!

Very high income people and giant corporations get hundreds of billions of dollars a year in tax breaks through loopholes and offshore tax shelters. The CEOs of Bank of America, Citigroup, and Verizon are key members of Fix the Debt, a corporate group pushing for big cuts in critical public programs and even lower corporate taxes.

2. Redirect Pentagon Spending to Jobs and Vital Programs for People

The US war budget is greater than the military spending of the next 10 largest military powers combined. Much of it funds destructive wars like Iraq, wasteful weapons systems like the F-35, and keeping us in Afghanistan for years to come.

Join us on Thursday, May 16, to say Stop the Cuts!

When: 12 noon

Where: Tip O’Neill Federal Building, 10 Causeway Street, Boston – North Station (Green Line) Regional Headquarters for the Social Security Administration and Housing & Urban Development

We’ll also visit tax dodgers Verizon, Citibank, and Bank of America at 6 Bowdoin Square, Boston.

Sponsoring organizations: Budget for All Coalition; Mass. AFL-CIO; Mass. Jobs with Justice; AFGE Locals 3258 and 1164; SEIU Locals 615 and 888; Mass. Alliance of HUD Tenants; Mass. American Friends Service Committee; Mass. Peace Action; Disability Policy Consortium; Boston Workers Alliance; ACTUP/Boston; Veterans for Peace; Dorchester People for Peace; United for Justice with Peace; Boston Coalition to Fund Our Communities-Cut Military Spending 25%; Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom; Human Rights City Boston & Beyond; Survivors Inc.; SEIU Local 509 Lavender Caucus; Brookline PAX; Worcester Unemployment Action Group (list in formation)

Budget for All!
11 Garden Street, Cambridge MA 02138
www.budget4allmass.org 617-354-2169

Last November Massachusetts voted 3 to 1 for the Budget for All referendum to: Create jobs, Save vital services, Place Fair Taxes on rich individuals and corporations, End the war and Redirect Pentagon Spending

Latest News: