mushinnoshin

More action-alert stuff, this one via the Buddhist Peace Fellowship Tennessee list. I would think Cohen would be another good candidate for cosponsoring. Cooper too should be pressured to at least support it, if not cosponsor.

And of course this is the sort of issue that Republicans should support, if they actually mean any of their anti-tax or their pro-religion rhetoric. I assume they will, as usual, prove otherwise. I’m looking at you, Marsha.

From: National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund

A strong push is needed NOW!

Dear friends and supporters of the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund proposal,

Yesterday, after meeting with a delegation visiting Representative Frank Wolf and speaking with staff in lead sponsor John Lewis’ office, I found and visited 39 congressional offices. To say the least, I was worn out by 6pm. All these Representatives cosponsored HR2631 in the 109th Congress and were reelected.

Representative Lewis will reintroduce the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund (RFPTF) bill to the 110th Congress on March 20 or 21. The letter I delivered to each office yesterday explained that fact, along with RFPTF background, a thank-you for past support and how their office could reenlist during the coming 2 weeks before the bill is “dropped.” I also found, yet rarely met with, the key staff person responsible, in order to follow through.

During this next week, I will visit some of the six new Representatives who replaced previous cosponsors.

Now it’s your turn. Please choose one of the following Representatives and email a short personal note encouraging their cosponsorship of the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund bill. If you don’t ideally live in one of their districts, find something with one which makes the connection (note some only accept mail from their
constituents). Our goal is to have at least 30 “original” sponsors by May 20.

For each Representative, you can go through www.congress.org and type in your zipcode.

Previous cosponsors of RFPTF whom should be thanked and urged to reenlist:

Baldwin (WI02), Brown (FL03), Carson (IN07), Clay (MO01), Conyers (MI14), Cummings (MD07), Davis (IL07), DeFazio (OR04), Delahunt (MA10), Eshoo (CA14), Farr (CA17), Fattah (PA02), Frank (MA04), Hinchey (NY22), Holt (NJ12), Honda (CA15), Hooley (OR05), Jackson (IL02), Jackson-Lee (TX18), Johnson (TX30), Kanjorski (PA11), Kilpatrick (MI13), Kucinich (OH10), Lee (CA09), Lewis (GA05), McDermott (WA07), McGovern (MA03), Meeks (NY06), Moran (KS01), Norton (DC), Oberstar (MN08), Paul (TX14), Payne (NJ10), Rangel (NY15), Rush (IL01), Serrano (NY16), Towns (NY10), Watson (CA33), Watt (NC12), Woolsey (CA06)

New Representatives who replaced previous cosponsors:

Sutton (OH13), Loebsack (IA02), Johnson (GA04), Clark (NY11), Welch (VT), Wilson (OH06)

Other priorities for new cosponsors:

Wolf (VA10), Schwartz (PA13), Shays (CT04), Christensen (VI), Clyburn (SC06), Waters (CA35), Faleomavaega (AS), Slaughter (NY28), Gilchrest (MD01), Moore (WI04)

Here’s the message we have on our postcards and petitions which you may wish to cut and paste as a basis of your message, but again, we urge you to add your personal story and convictions.

“Thousands of Americans have deeply held religious and moral beliefs which prevent them from participating in war in any form, including paying for it. However, they are currently forced into an unacceptable dilemma: either violate their conscience and pay taxes for war and war preparation, or refuse to pay military taxes and risk fines, seizure of assets, and even jail. They seek to pay their full taxes, but cannot pay them in good conscience.

I urge you to become a sponsor of the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill (H.R. 2631 in the 109th Congress, to be reintroduced by Representative Lewis on March 21). When enacted, the Bill will enable conscientious objectors to war to have their federal taxes directed to a special fund to be used for non-military purposes only. It will provide a legal alternative to paying for war. To those in Congress who support our efforts and are cosponsors of this legislation, we convey our sincere thanks.”

Thanks for your efforts at this crucial time! More news on our Senate efforts in April or May. We continue to seek courageous Republicans in both chambers.

Connecting us with our hopes and with each other,

Alan Gamble – executive director
National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund
202-483-3751