Oppose Confirmation of Unqualified Nominee Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary

TAKE ACTION
http://action.now.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=12652
January 24, 2017

Oppose Confirmation of Unqualified Nominee Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary
DeVos is Clearly Unqualified – Betsy DeVos, a voucher and charter school promoter, has absolutely no experience with public education and is one of the most unqualified candidates to be picked by the incoming Trump administration. A billionaire, DeVos has spent millions to promote vouchers using taxpayer funds which often end up supporting religiously-affiliated schools, unaccountable charter and online schools. The billions of public dollars that now flow to these private, religious and even for-profit entities deprive local public schools of critically needed finances.

Charter Schools Unaccountable – Numerous studies have shown that, in general, taxpayer-funded, voucher-supported charter schools do not improve student outcomes as compared to similar public schools. Additionally, these schools do not have to comply with certain state and federal laws and students are not covered by the same protections that public school students are provided. Voucher-supported schools are not financially and administratively accountable to the public; lack of transparency and fiscal mismanagement characterize many voucher-supported schools in various states.

Michigan Student Achievement Declines – In Michigan where charter schools abound – thanks to the DeVos family – the state sends $1 billion in education funding each year to charter schools; 80 percent of charters are for-profit operations. Over the last two decades Michigan’s rank has fallen on national reading and math tests and most charter schools perform below average. A 2015 federal review found “an unreasonably high” percentage of charter schools on Michigan’s list of lowest-performing schools.

DeVos Wants to “Advance” God’s Kingdom in Schools – DeVos’ family has contributed more than $200 million to the Republican Party and $47 million to politicians committed to undermining public schools, including campaign contributions to Republican senators considering her nomination. A religious fundamentalist, DeVos has said that her work is a way to “advance God’s kingdom” and, if confirmed, will help Donald Trump carry out a promise to send $20 billion of taxpayer funds to unaccountable voucher-supported schools.

Hearings Demonstrated DeVos’ Lack of Understanding – During the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearings, Ms. DeVos consistently demonstrated her lack of understanding of such important programs as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Title IX equal education protections and enforcement of policies related to sexual harassment and sexual assault on campus, as overseen by the Office for Civil Rights. When asked if she would commit to upholding the Department’s guidance on Title IX as it relates to sexual assault, DeVos would not commit to doing so at this time.

Please use the formatted message (or write one of your own) in this action alert to urge senators to oppose the confirmation of Department of Education (DoED) secretary nominee, Betsy DeVos.

NOW condemns Trump’s plan for sweeping changes in immigration policy

NOW condemns Trump’s plan for sweeping changes in immigration policy
Statement of NOW President Terry O’Neill
01.26.2017

In his draft executive order that makes sweeping changes in legal immigration policy, Donald Trump has doubled down on a white male supremacist agenda, xenophobia and hate speech. NOW stands in solidarity with our Muslim and immigrant sisters and brothers in opposition to this contemptible misuse of presidential authority.

According to the draft, Trump wants to indefinitely block Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. and close the door to refugees from the rest of the world for at least 120 days.

Once again putting “alternative facts” ahead of established truth in justifying an amoral and unconstitutional political stunt, Trump claims that we have “no idea” who Syrian refugees are. But in point of fact the U.S.’s refugee policy is among the most rigorous in the western world.

The screening process takes an average of 18 months to two years and involves multiple federal intelligence and security agencies, beginning with an initial vetting by the United Nations’ refugee agency. Prospective candidates are then referred to the US, where officials from the state department, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the defense department conduct further vetting.

The Syrian refugees who are coming to the US are among the most vulnerable in the Syrian conflict: many are women and their children, religious minorities and victims of violence or torture. Many have fled to escape the brutality of both the Islamic State, or Isis, and the Assad government and are doing so at their own peril.

Donald Trump would rather fulfill a campaign promise that appealed to the worst instincts of his supporters than honor the oath he has just taken as president to preserve and protect the Constitution of the United States. His executive orders are a sneak attack on democracy that will be opposed by the millions who marched in protest after his inauguration, and the millions more who are horrified by his disregard for human rights. 

http://now.org/media-center/press-release/now-condemns-trumps-plan-for-sweeping-changes-in-immigration-policy/

What to do next?

JOIN US! 

 To become a member you can pay dues at any meeting, send check ($35) to NOW Baton Rouge, P.O. BOX 66706, BR, LA.70896 or go to now.org/join

AND/OR
You can become a NOW activist by just showing up and working on our issues!

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COME TO A MEETING!

We meet twice a month. 

Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, La. 70806

February 11, 2017

March 11, 2017

April 8, 2017

May 13, 2017

LSU Women's Center 

February 21, 2017

March 21, 2017

April 18, 2017

May 23, 2017

JOIN NOW BATON ROUGE

IN NEW ORLEANS!

New Orleans March to Center on Women's Rights, Human Rights, and Equality for All

Women’s March New Orleans, Our Revolution, NOW Baton Rouge, and Millennials March join together and march in New Orleans

On Saturday, January 21, 2017,  at 1 pm. Louisianans will gather in New Orleans in solidarity with groups across the United States and the world to show their support for women’s rights, human rights and equality for all.

Louisiana groups Women’s March New Orleans, Our Revolution, NOW Baton Rouge, and Millennials March have joined together to highlight the importance of holding our elected officials accountable to maintain the civil rights victories gained by people of color, women, and the LGBT community. We call on officials to maintain healthcare for everyone, including reproductive healthcare for women; to protect our planet for generations to come by fighting climate change and guide our economy to be fair and equitable for all.

  

Speakers to Include

• Karen Carter Peterson - Louisiana State Senator (Dist. 5)
• Helena Moreno - Louisiana State Representative (Dist. 93), Founder of Ignite Advocacy Network
• LaToya Cantrell - New Orleans City Council Woman
• Meredith Walker - Co-Founder/ Executive Director Amy Poehler's Smart Girls
• Corinne Green-Research and Policy Coordinator at Equality Louisiana, President of Louisiana Trans Advocates
• many others and musical guests!

  March Location & Route

Attendees will gather at Washington Square Park (700 Elysian Fields Ave) in New Orleans at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21st. At 2:00 p.m. the march will proceed down Elysian Fields Ave., turn right on Decatur Street, cross Canal and continue on Magazine St., turning right up Poydras Street. The march will make a right on Loyola Ave. and continue left onto Perdido Street and end at Duncan Plaza. There will be speakers and musical entertainment from approximately 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

 

The march will go on rain or shine. Attendees are urged to check weather reports and plan appropriately.

JOIN US TO PROTECT HEALTH CARE!

Take action to oppose confirmation of Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General 

Senator Sessions has consistently opposed legislation to address the pay gap, protect access to reproductive health, and reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. He also opposed the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and marriage equality; and he supports restrictive voter ID laws. NOW opposed the nomination of Senator Sessions to the federal court in 1986 and believes he is not qualified to be the top law enforcement person in this nation now.

Call your Senators and urge them to vote against Senator Session’s confirmation. Join the national call-in day on January 5 using this call-in number: 877-959-6082 or look up and call them directly.

Senator Sessions’ Record

• Opposed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
• Voted multiple times against consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act.
• Opposed Title X funding legislation, which supports contraception, breast cancer screening and other health services for low income women.
• Opposed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2013.
• Opposed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The next Attorney General must recognize that hate crimes exist and vigorously investigate them (700 hate incidents reported since the election).
• Strongly supports restrictive voter ID laws and called the Voting Rights Act “intrusive.”
• Fiercely opposes comprehensive immigration reform; received awards from two anti-Muslim hate groups and supports Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims entering the U.S.

This is hardly the record of someone to be trusted to protect rights of women, LGBTQIA persons, immigrants, and all Americans!