Center for American Progress Action Fund

April 10, 2009

Dear Friends,

We are excited to highlight that on Wednesday, April 15, we are co-hosting an all-day conference with the University of Southern California’s Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics entitled, “The Obama Presidency: An Early Progress Report.” Featured speakers include former U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor, American Progress Senior Vice President for Communications Jennifer Palmieri, American Progress Senior Fellow Matt Miller, and former Rep. Tom Campbell (R-CA). There are a few slots left, so please click here for more information and to RSVP.

We are also pleased to report that over the past month several CAP-inspired bills have been introduced on Capitol Hill:

  • On April 2, Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) reintroduced her Wellness Trust bill as H.R 1940. The bill has three original cosponsors, Reps. Bruce Braley (D-IA), Lois Capps (D-CA), and John Sarbanes (D-MD), and is based a 2006 report from CAP.
  • On March 18, Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH) introduced H.R. 1550, a bill establishing a Cash for Clunkers auto trade-in program. The Sutton bill joins separate bills from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) based on CAP’s white paper outlining out to get high-polluting cars off the roads.
  • On March 5, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced S. 539, the Clean Renewable Energy and Economic Development Act, a bill to create a smart electrical grid. Much of the bill’s language is based on recommendations from CAP’s “Wired for Progress” report.

Finally, in the realm of the absurd, Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly sent one of his producers to stalk, harass, and ambush our colleague and ThinkProgress.org’s managing editor Amanda Terkel on Saturday, March 21. Upset over a ThinkProgress report that noted O’Reilly’s insensitivity to rape, O’Reilly sent two men to track Amanda in a car for two hours, and they then confronted her with hostile questions while she was on vacation. ThinkProgress.org has since launched a campaign aimed at O’Reilly’s advertisers that wants them to issue a clear statement explaining their opposition to O’Reilly’s “ambush journalism.” View corporate responses including the announcement from UPS that they will stop advertising on The O’Reilly Factor here.

Warmest,
Anna, Nina, and Shana

 

More Links


Video: Olbermann Interviews Amanda Terkel


Report: Job Creation in a Clean Energy Economy


Statement: Winnie Stachelberg on Marriage Equality Vote in Vermont

 

The Center for American Progress Action Fund is the sister advocacy organization of the Center for American Progress. The Action Fund transforms progressive ideas into policy through rapid response communications, legislative action, grassroots organizing and advocacy, and partnerships with other progressive leaders throughout the country and the world. The Action Fund is also the home of the Progress Report.

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