Campaign Alert! Bring Green Jobs to Great Falls

TAKE ACTION!!
The Melinda Gopher Campaign Issues this Alert
December 22, 2009

STIMULUS FUNDS FOR GREAT FALLS JOINTLY OWNED
LITTLE SHELL/MIGISEW CHIPPEWA WIND TURBINE MANUFACTURING PLANT

These two landless, dispossessed Chippewa treaty bands deserve America’s attention, and a step up. Because of their status as landless for over a century—they understand the value of hard work—these bands’ members fought for equality on the Montana Indian Firefighting crews. Today, I am proposing a jointly owned wind turbine manufacturing plant to be located in the vacant but usable Buttrey Foods warehouse and it’s adjacent outdoor property. The potential for the creation of good paying jobs is enormous—these jobs average 30,000 to 60,000 per year.

I do not agree that 84% of over 1 billion in stimulus funds for green jobs allocated since September of this year have gone to foreign companies. This is not the purpose of ARRA. I point to the joint project in Texas, as illustrated in a New York Times story;

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/business/energy-environment/06wind.html
The NYT article states:

The Texas project — a joint venture between the American private equity firm U.S. Renewable Energy Group, Cielo Wind Power and A-Power Energy — would create about 300 construction and operational jobs in Texas, according to the partners, but substantially more manufacturing jobs in China.

My answer is no: we need these jobs here in Montana. We must be careful in the green economy; that in the push to create alternative energy—federally funded efforts do not do the opposite of the whole point of the ARRA of 2009. I am proposing the city, GFDA, and these two tribes work to bring these jobs to Great Falls. I am also proposing an immediate ban on use of ARRA funds for jobs overseas. I want tribes prioritized in the new green economy.

There is a problem with over-reliance on the manufacturing of green technology and energy components to foreign firms. We need the help of the public and private sector to create these jobs here in America. With the help of many people, the Montana Jobs Coalition, Loud Thunder International, and these two tribal groups—we can make this happen. I am asking for the directive of the Congress and the Obama administration to re-direct this contract for the Texas project to these bands.

A proposal for this is under development—the Montana delegation will be asked to come on board to support this, and help garner the resources to make this happen. I have asked directed my campaign to work to make this happen. You can reach Glenn Gopher, at 761-4871, Richard Parenteau at 231-7577, and Brock Conway, 728-1055. We ask you present your ideas and indicate the ways you want us to help.

Read more...

I Support Buy American Act

I support this legislation introduced by Sen. Feingold, I would also support amending the Act to prioritize American manufacturing of green energy components here in the U.S. Green energy jobs must stay here in America.

http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2009/12/17/feingold-calls-for-tighter-buy-american-requirements-for-government

Read more...

My Message to the Smurfit Stone Employees

I would like to thank you all for all that you have done for the Missoula community throughout the years. I, like many are saddened to see the closing of the Smurfit Stone company's operations in our community. I am very heartened to see the response of Gov. Schweitzer, Sen. Tester and others to act quickly to ease what must be a terrible hardship on all of you. I believe they, along with Mayor Engen, Missoula County Commissioners, and the support of the local community, will aid in some meaningful way, to return all of the generosity you have shown throughout the years. I know this must be a very difficult time for all of you; you are all in my thoughts and prayers this holiday season.

Read more...

MELINDA'S CAMPAIGN XMAS WISH LIST

Donations Needed:

Laptop, nearly new

Monetary donations to my campaign: for all our lofty goals, we cannot do it without money.

* Special Alert....

I would like to direct some traffic to the PCCC and donate to your candidate as well, http://www.actblue.com, I am also listed there.

The Senatorial Campaign of Jon Tester:

I support Jon's re-election in Montana in 2012. He is also listed on ActBlue. There are some initial press reports that Jon will face a challenge by Denny Rehberg, whether that is true or not; Sen. Tester needs support for his re-election.

The Senatorial Campaign of Russ Feingold: He is up for re-election in 2010, his blog is: http://www.russfeingold.org/home.html

This has all his campaign info.

Volunteer Positions with my campaign:

Volunteer Coordinator
Voter registration Coordinator
Intern--Communications
Canvassers
Fundraiser

(please forward your resumes to me, MelindaGopher@gmail.com)

* My position is to use homegrown talent to the greatest extent possible. I wish to keep my campaign local, so to the extent that can be done, it is my policy.

Read more...

Questions Remain Over How to Reform the Reform Bill

In a nod to sheer lunacy, progressives are now discussing ways to reform the Senate health care reform bill. Sen. Harkin stated the reform bill is "not a mansion but a starter home"--a $1 trillion dollar starter home. Senator Nelson stated with pride in announcing his support of the bill after concessions made by Senate Democrats--of his effort to kill a public option. This was the compromise in lieu of single payer, one which Sen. Baucus killed early on.

Health care is a deeply personal issue for every one of us. I am sorry to see it handled in such an impersonal and calculating manner. Our voices were blocked in August when Sen. Baucus, as leader of the Senate effort--all but shut down public debate on this issue. Since then, we have been forced into a life of being screaming schill. It is degrading.

The Senate Democrats have momentarily fought off a kill the bill effort. This is a momentary pause before the bill goes to conference. I am vowing as almost the lone voice in my state to continue on in the war. I am asking the American people, if we have to put up with a badly thought out, bought out, insurance reform bill that is in need of massive reform while it is under consideration--the least the Democrats we have elected can do is insert on amendment a single payer trigger.

A SINGLE PAYER TRIGGER NOW

As part of the need to reduce the federal deficit--a single payer trigger should automatically kick in and people can opt into it--if it is evident the Baucus reforms have not worked and create deficit spending within a fixed period, no exceptions. This current bill is not a win/win but a lose/lose scenario. How did this happen?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I cannot envision this Senate bill going forward without a public option. I do not support it in its current state--I don't believe the House progressives will pass a final bill without a public option. Should this bill go forward--it will be on the Congress to extend tight regulation of the health insurance industry. This will be costly to implement.

I agree the changes proposed for 2014 will likely cost Democrats the White House, the Senate and the House in the interim. All for Senator Baucus' political career, and personal gain. I reject this--a public option or Medicare buy-in is needed NOW, not five years down the line. America is too poor for this bill. I do not know what reality President Obama and Senator Baucus live in; but the average family cannot afford this kind of reform. The President can simply tell Congress he will not sign a bill without at least a public option.

Read more...

A FULL BLOWN IN-STATE REVOLT TO KILL THE BILL

I am urging Montana State residents to help me kill the disastrous Baucus health care bill. This bill is not wanted by the majority of the American people. The bill is a testament of the appeasement of the insurance industry by a handful of conservative Democratic Senators, including our own Max Baucus.

This effort is a betrayal of the progressive, women, minority, the differently abled, youth and Native American voters who supported President Barack Obama in his historic win. My message to the Montana state Demcratic leadership is simple: if you stand with Max Baucus on this bill, you will be standing alone with him.

We do not want an insurance bailout bill masquerading as health care reform. We reject mandated buy-ins, period. This nation must move toward a full single payer system, NOW. We cannot wait for 2013--when Sen. Baucus is up for re-election; to see relief from health insurance costs, and unbelievably high deductibles that are rocketing skyward. We have had enough.

I have worked closely with both reservation, urban, womens groups and the health care reform movement in Montana. As an urban-situated Native American--I reject this bill. I ask the Native American voting block, including the powerful United Native Voters, based in Great Falls to join me and prominent leaders like Howard Dean to kill this bill.

I have seen the unwillingness of the in-state progressive leaders on the health care reform effort this past year--act with great restraint and reluctance to confront Senator Baucus on his mishandling of the critical issue of health care reform. I refuse to stand silent any longer, our silence as a powerful Native American swing vote is equal to complicity in this travesty.

I urge President Obama and the progressive leaders in the Senate such as Sen. Rockefeller, Sen. Feingold, Sen. Sanders and others to retrench the effort to re-instate single payer as the only real answer to true health care reform. I urge Sen. Baucus to get out of the way, if this bill can't be achieved in an ethical way--by you or your staffers--get out of the way.

The Native American vote in the state believes the Montana Democratic Party has been amiss in its blind loyalty to our errant Senator. I can only encourage party leaders, and elected officials to understand we have a voice in this issue--we have great concern this bill will deepen the economic abyss our nation has fallen into. In terms of a mandated buy-in, the length of time for reform to kick in, and the lack of a public option and/or Medicare buy-in--at the very least. We do not stand with this, we urge the state leadership to course correct--or you will pay a price during campaign season. We reject the Baucus sell-out bill, so should you. The Native American vote urges Senator Tester to enact strong single payer amendments to the HELP-Kennedy bill--and by doing so, snatch this nation from the jaws of a second Great Depression.

Read more...

Kill the Bill

This is today's Press Release:

GOPHER JOINS DEAN IN “KILL THE BILL”

Missoula—Melinda Gopher, a candidate for the U.S. House, joins with former Presidential Candidate and former national Chair of the DNC Howard Dean, in calling for the U.S. Senate to kill the Baucus Health Care Reform bill. Statement of Gopher follows:

I believe the Democrats have the political power to enact single payer health care through the budget reconciliation process--now. I urge Congress to step back to the health bill left by the late Sen. Kennedy, insert single payer provisions and rush it through the reconciliation process. Single payer must be enacted now as a last ditch effort in response to the economic crisis we are in. Baucus has proposed that many of the reforms begin to occur in 2013; most American families, and Montana families are in economic distress. We cannot wait that long for affordable health care.

The Baucus bailout bill for the health insurance industry must be killed now. The provision of mandated coverage is a scary proposition; this may be the provision that has brought the teabag movement to life. This saga has gone on for too long, at a time of high unemployment and the deepest recession since the Great Depression. This bill may very well plunge us into a second Great Depression. This industry reform bill is out of the means for most Americans. We have not addressed the underlying economic conditions that have resulted in millions of families losing their health insurance coverage in the first place. We have lost jobs---this is what we must be addressing.

Democrats must maintain control of the U.S. Congress—the Baucus bill is hugely unpopular; the American people are expressing their hatred of this bill. More telling, a good majority of the nation was exasperated and disgusted when Baucus took single payer off the table early on. I think this is a gross miscalculation that will result in higher costs for families at a time our nations has lost jobs by the millions. Prosperity may be lost for a generation in our country. We must do health care right.

A single payer, Medicare for All bill is the only mechanism to rein in high costs of health care. For the teabagger, anti reform movement, insert a provision in the bill that will allow them to keep their insurance, as well as enabling the purchase of additional coverage on the private market. Allow those that wish to stay in the private market entirely; the opportunity to do so. This is a way to counter act the accusations of government rationing and death panel nonsense. Other nations have enacted private market insurance as an add-on to a single payer system. These nations, such as France, deliver less costly health care that is higher in quality.

I reiterate this bill is not the change people voted for in the 2008 historic elections. I urge the melding of the Kennedy bill to the House bill with the creation of a single payer system. This is the only viable alternative before the American people; we just cannot afford anything else. This is not a right or left issue; single payer makes economic sense.

Read more...