Governor Jerry Brown
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA
By fax: 916.558.3160
September, 2011
Dear Governor Brown:
After reading material on Patricia Wright, I have serious concerns regarding her innocence, but this letter is a plea for mercy. Cancer has taken Ms. Wright’s vital organs including a vital part of her womanhood. My purpose in writing to you is to ask that you use the power of your office to grant her clemency. I understand from those who have been fighting for her release that your office has the right to grant her clemency without going through the Board of Parole Hearings or the Supreme Court.
Te family also understands that given her sentence, Patricia does not qualify for compassionate release, but that it is within your power to grant Ms. Wright a pardon, clemency or you can commute her sentence of life without the possibility of parole to life and then be in a position to grant a compassionate release. Cancer cells have invaded Patricia Wright’s body such that each day she loses her hold on life. THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE.
With so little life left in her, Patricia longs to be with her children for the few months she has left.
She must not be allowed to die in prison. Please consider Patricia Wright, her five children and her large family when making your decision. The pain they are suffering due to her advanced stage of cancer has become all the more unbearable because they are unable to be with each other at this difficult stage of her life.
Sincerely,
For more information contact
Geri Silver
FACTS Education Fund:
Families to Amend California's Three Strikes
213.746.4844
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Press Conference: Think Before You Click! Don't Help Amazon Cheat California
Multi-billion dollar corporations like Amazon.com have long taken advantage of tax breaks and loopholes that deprive California of the revenue needed to provide vital public services programs. Amazon.com has made billions by doing business in California. Now they want to overturn legislation passed at a time of unprecedented fiscal crisis, after California cut $14.6 billion from basic public services ranging from schools and parks to health care for children, seniors and people with disabilities. Amazon’s repeal effort threatens to force even deeper cuts to services for seniors and people with disabilities. Please join us on August 31st at 11:45am at Skylight Books to ask Amazon.com to do the right thing!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Americans need Jobs, not Cuts! Sign "Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act" Petition
Dear members,
We have a jobs crisis in this country, and we know we can't cut our way to prosperity. Yet for too long, some members of Congress have pretended that brutally cutting the budget and irresponsibly cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy will get people back to work.
The private sector will not create the jobs we need in this country any time soon, so it's up to the federal government to step in. Rep. Jan Schakowsky has introduced the "Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act" that would put over 2 million people back to work and reduce unemployment by an estimated 1.3%. It's exactly the type of ambitious and aggressive response to the jobs crisis that we need.
Tell Congress: We don't need cuts, we need jobs. Click here to automatically sign the petition telling Congress to support the "Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act."
There's nothing mysterious or hard to understand about the bill. Tens of millions of Americans are either unemployed or under-employed. Besides the personal pain this causes, the impact of legions of unemployed Americans on our economy is staggering.
At the same time, there's a huge need in our communities for more teachers, firefighters, health care workers and police officers. Many of our public schools are rundown and need to be repaired and upgraded. And there are all sorts of unmet community needs, like maintaining our public parks, that could be addressed by paying people to take them on.
The "Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act" would fund jobs programs to put millions of Americans back to work in these areas.
Large-scale federal jobs programs worked during the Great Depression, and they'll work now.
It's time for Congress to stop using the jobs crisis as a pretext for even more corporate welfare and go big on the jobs front. The best way we can lower the federal deficit and get our economy moving again is getting people back to work.
Thank you for speaking out for an aggressive plan to get Americans back to work.
Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets
We have a jobs crisis in this country, and we know we can't cut our way to prosperity. Yet for too long, some members of Congress have pretended that brutally cutting the budget and irresponsibly cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy will get people back to work.
The private sector will not create the jobs we need in this country any time soon, so it's up to the federal government to step in. Rep. Jan Schakowsky has introduced the "Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act" that would put over 2 million people back to work and reduce unemployment by an estimated 1.3%. It's exactly the type of ambitious and aggressive response to the jobs crisis that we need.
Tell Congress: We don't need cuts, we need jobs. Click here to automatically sign the petition telling Congress to support the "Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act."
There's nothing mysterious or hard to understand about the bill. Tens of millions of Americans are either unemployed or under-employed. Besides the personal pain this causes, the impact of legions of unemployed Americans on our economy is staggering.
At the same time, there's a huge need in our communities for more teachers, firefighters, health care workers and police officers. Many of our public schools are rundown and need to be repaired and upgraded. And there are all sorts of unmet community needs, like maintaining our public parks, that could be addressed by paying people to take them on.
The "Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act" would fund jobs programs to put millions of Americans back to work in these areas.
Large-scale federal jobs programs worked during the Great Depression, and they'll work now.
It's time for Congress to stop using the jobs crisis as a pretext for even more corporate welfare and go big on the jobs front. The best way we can lower the federal deficit and get our economy moving again is getting people back to work.
Thank you for speaking out for an aggressive plan to get Americans back to work.
Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets
Friday, August 26, 2011
Peter V. Lee named first Executive Director of the California Health Benefit Exchange
Pat Powers to continue as Acting Administrative Officer through the end of December.
SACRAMENTO – The California Health Benefit Exchange Board unanimously approved the appointment of Peter V. Lee as its first Executive Director, Chair Diana Dooley announced today.
"Peter is a nationally respected leader in health care who has led innovative projects aimed at promoting health, improving care quality and reducing cost in the health care delivery system," said Dooley, who is also California Health and Human Services Secretary. "His more than 25 years of health policy experience and deep understanding of California 's challenges and opportunities make him the right leader to ensure the success of our new health insurance marketplace."
As Executive Director, Lee will oversee the planning, development and ongoing administration and evaluation of the California Health Benefit Exchange. He will join the Health Benefit Exchange on October 17, 2011.
"I am honored, humbled and excited by the opportunity to lead the California Health Benefit Exchange," said Lee. "It is an historic time in reforming our health care system and the California Health Benefit Exchange will serve as a national trailblazer toward establishing new consumer-oriented health insurance marketplaces to help more people have access to quality affordable health care."
Lee currently serves as the Deputy Director for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in Washington DC where he has helped shape initiatives to identify, test, and support new models of care in Medicare and Medicaid that can result in higher quality care while reducing costs. Previously he served as the Director of Delivery System Reform at the federal Health and Human Services' Office of Health Reform.
"Peter's leadership has helped to chart a course toward a patient-centered, value-based health care system,” said Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services. "I'm encouraged that we will be able to keep working with him as he applies his talents to launching the Exchange in his home state of California."
From 2000-2008, he served as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Business Group on Health in San Francisco. From 1995-2000, Lee served as the Executive Director of the Center for Health Care Rights and from 1993-1995, he practiced law at Tuttle and Taylor in Los Angeles. From 1984-1993, he served in a variety of leadership positions in Washington DC , including the Director of Programs for the National AIDS Network. Lee holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley.
California was the first state to create a Health Benefit Exchange following the passage of federal health care reform. It is charged with creating a new insurance marketplace in which individuals and small businesses will be able to purchase competitively priced health plans using federal tax subsidies and credits beginning in 2014.
The Exchange is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the Governor and Legislature; the California Health and Human Services Secretary serves as an ex official voting member and its current Chair.
For more information on the Exchange including meeting calendar, visit www.healthexchange.ca.gov/
SACRAMENTO – The California Health Benefit Exchange Board unanimously approved the appointment of Peter V. Lee as its first Executive Director, Chair Diana Dooley announced today.
"Peter is a nationally respected leader in health care who has led innovative projects aimed at promoting health, improving care quality and reducing cost in the health care delivery system," said Dooley, who is also California Health and Human Services Secretary. "His more than 25 years of health policy experience and deep understanding of California 's challenges and opportunities make him the right leader to ensure the success of our new health insurance marketplace."
As Executive Director, Lee will oversee the planning, development and ongoing administration and evaluation of the California Health Benefit Exchange. He will join the Health Benefit Exchange on October 17, 2011.
"I am honored, humbled and excited by the opportunity to lead the California Health Benefit Exchange," said Lee. "It is an historic time in reforming our health care system and the California Health Benefit Exchange will serve as a national trailblazer toward establishing new consumer-oriented health insurance marketplaces to help more people have access to quality affordable health care."
Lee currently serves as the Deputy Director for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in Washington DC where he has helped shape initiatives to identify, test, and support new models of care in Medicare and Medicaid that can result in higher quality care while reducing costs. Previously he served as the Director of Delivery System Reform at the federal Health and Human Services' Office of Health Reform.
"Peter's leadership has helped to chart a course toward a patient-centered, value-based health care system,” said Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services. "I'm encouraged that we will be able to keep working with him as he applies his talents to launching the Exchange in his home state of California."
From 2000-2008, he served as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Business Group on Health in San Francisco. From 1995-2000, Lee served as the Executive Director of the Center for Health Care Rights and from 1993-1995, he practiced law at Tuttle and Taylor in Los Angeles. From 1984-1993, he served in a variety of leadership positions in Washington DC , including the Director of Programs for the National AIDS Network. Lee holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley.
California was the first state to create a Health Benefit Exchange following the passage of federal health care reform. It is charged with creating a new insurance marketplace in which individuals and small businesses will be able to purchase competitively priced health plans using federal tax subsidies and credits beginning in 2014.
The Exchange is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the Governor and Legislature; the California Health and Human Services Secretary serves as an ex official voting member and its current Chair.
For more information on the Exchange including meeting calendar, visit www.healthexchange.ca.gov/
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
End Abuse in California's Youth Prisons
Over the last several months, members of Families for Books Not Bars have shared horror stories of violence and extreme isolation within California's youth prison system. Demand that Secretary Cate, the head of California’s prison system, immediately guarantee an end to all of these abuses. Our youth and their families cannot wait!
We have three common sense demands:
https://secure3.convio.net/ebc/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=199
We have three common sense demands:
- End Solitary Confinement: Provide at least 8 hours of quality educational and rehabilitative programming outside of cells for all youth.
- Stop the violence: Ensure youths' safety, particularly mentally ill and disabled youth, from fights and chemical spraying. Guards who abuse youth, instigate or fail to prevent violence must be held accountable.
- provide adequate food: Denying people, especially growing youth, adequate food is antithetical to rehabilitation. Depriving youth of meals is outright abusive.
https://secure3.convio.net/ebc/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=199
Monday, August 22, 2011
HHS, Treasury take new steps to help states build Affordable Insurance Exchanges!
Tax credits to help millions of middle-class families
The Departments of Health and Human Services and Treasury today took the next steps to establish Affordable Insurance Exchanges – one-stop marketplaces where consumers can choose a private health insurance plan that fits their health needs and have the same kind of insurance choices as members of Congress. Among other policies, the proposed rules describe how middle-class families will gain access to unprecedented tax relief that will dramatically reduce the cost of coverage.
Since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act on March 23, 2010, over half of states have taken actions to build an Exchange. Today, HHS awarded $185 million to 13 states and the District of Columbia to help them build Affordable Insurance Exchanges and, with Treasury, posted three proposed rules that will provide a simple, streamlined, and affordable path for consumers to use the Exchanges to purchase private health insurance. Additionally, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to governors laying out options and resources available to states to set up their Exchanges.
Too many American families have been priced out or locked out of the health insurance market. Exchanges will give them control and could save them thousands of dollars a year,” said Secretary Sebelius. “I am encouraged by the progress states have made to date and am excited to give them more resources to continue their work.”
“Today we’re laying the foundation to provide tax incentives to help working families purchase health insurance,” said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. “This new tax credit brings us a big step closer to achieving one of the signature goals of the Affordable Care Act – to provide tens of millions of Americans with access to affordable health insurance coverage.”
The Affordable Care Act creates Affordable Insurance Exchanges that will allow eligible individuals, families, and small businesses to shop for coverage starting in 2014. More than half the states have already taken action to begin building an Exchange and the new grant awards will accelerate that progress. The Exchange Establishment grants awarded today build on earlier investments in states. In 2010, HHS awarded 49 states and the District of Columbia $50 million to begin planning their Exchanges. HHS expects to make more grant awards in coming months.
The three proposed rules released by HHS and Treasury focus on the following:
In the weeks ahead, the Administration will conduct an aggressive outreach campaign and ask for public comment on the three proposed rules from employers, consumers, state leaders, health care providers and insurers, and the American people. In addition to accepting written public comments for the next 75 days, the departments will hold forums. These forums will help ensure more Americans have the opportunity to share their views regarding the establishment of Affordable Insurance Exchanges. Forums will be held in:
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Denver, CO
New York, NY
Portland, OR
Sacramento, CA
The departments expect to modify the proposed rules issued today based on the feedback we receive from the American people.
To view a detailed list of states that received grants visit: www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets/exchanges05232011a.html.
For more information about the proposed rules, visit:
Overview: www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets/exchanges08122011a.html;
Easy, Simple Access to Coverage for Consumers and Small Businesses: www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets/exchanges08122011b.html
Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit: www.treasury.gov/press-center/Documents/36BFactSheet.PDF
http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/exchanges08122011c.html
Medicaid Eligibility: www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets/exchanges08122011c.html
A copy of the letter is available here: www.healthcare.gov/center/letters/exchanges08122011a.html
The Departments of Health and Human Services and Treasury today took the next steps to establish Affordable Insurance Exchanges – one-stop marketplaces where consumers can choose a private health insurance plan that fits their health needs and have the same kind of insurance choices as members of Congress. Among other policies, the proposed rules describe how middle-class families will gain access to unprecedented tax relief that will dramatically reduce the cost of coverage.
Since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act on March 23, 2010, over half of states have taken actions to build an Exchange. Today, HHS awarded $185 million to 13 states and the District of Columbia to help them build Affordable Insurance Exchanges and, with Treasury, posted three proposed rules that will provide a simple, streamlined, and affordable path for consumers to use the Exchanges to purchase private health insurance. Additionally, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to governors laying out options and resources available to states to set up their Exchanges.
Too many American families have been priced out or locked out of the health insurance market. Exchanges will give them control and could save them thousands of dollars a year,” said Secretary Sebelius. “I am encouraged by the progress states have made to date and am excited to give them more resources to continue their work.”
“Today we’re laying the foundation to provide tax incentives to help working families purchase health insurance,” said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. “This new tax credit brings us a big step closer to achieving one of the signature goals of the Affordable Care Act – to provide tens of millions of Americans with access to affordable health insurance coverage.”
The Affordable Care Act creates Affordable Insurance Exchanges that will allow eligible individuals, families, and small businesses to shop for coverage starting in 2014. More than half the states have already taken action to begin building an Exchange and the new grant awards will accelerate that progress. The Exchange Establishment grants awarded today build on earlier investments in states. In 2010, HHS awarded 49 states and the District of Columbia $50 million to begin planning their Exchanges. HHS expects to make more grant awards in coming months.
The three proposed rules released by HHS and Treasury focus on the following:
- · Easy, Simple Access to Coverage for Consumers and Small Businesses: New rules will make it easy for consumers to enroll in high-quality health plans and get help paying for health coverage through premium tax credits and cost sharing reductions. Small employers participating in the Small Business Health Options Program will be able to offer their employees a choice of health plans and cut their costs with new tax credits.
- Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit: Individuals and families will receive premium tax credits to help defray insurance costs, increasing access to health coverage for millions of middle class American families.
- Medicaid Eligibility: Coordinating the Exchange with Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility will make enrollment seamless for qualified Americans and reduce the administrative burden on states.
In the weeks ahead, the Administration will conduct an aggressive outreach campaign and ask for public comment on the three proposed rules from employers, consumers, state leaders, health care providers and insurers, and the American people. In addition to accepting written public comments for the next 75 days, the departments will hold forums. These forums will help ensure more Americans have the opportunity to share their views regarding the establishment of Affordable Insurance Exchanges. Forums will be held in:
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Denver, CO
New York, NY
Portland, OR
Sacramento, CA
The departments expect to modify the proposed rules issued today based on the feedback we receive from the American people.
To view a detailed list of states that received grants visit: www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets/exchanges05232011a.html.
For more information about the proposed rules, visit:
Overview: www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets/exchanges08122011a.html;
Easy, Simple Access to Coverage for Consumers and Small Businesses: www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets/exchanges08122011b.html
Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit: www.treasury.gov/press-center/Documents/36BFactSheet.PDF
http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/exchanges08122011c.html
Medicaid Eligibility: www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets/exchanges08122011c.html
A copy of the letter is available here: www.healthcare.gov/center/letters/exchanges08122011a.html
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