<I>Hey All,
I have not been here in a while so this topic may already be in here somewhere, but if not....
This is from MoveOn.org, a good group trying to liberate America from power lust, insanity and greed ...
Please check this out and add your signature to stop the FCC from allowing a monopoly in the Media!
HomerJ GENERIC Canned Moose

</I>
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
If you're concerned about a few big companies controlling our country's
access to news, information, and entertainment, please join me in
letting Congress know now.

Later this week or early next week, the Senate will likely take up its
last major vote on media reform, and it'll be very close. After a
grassroots groundswell tipped the balance toward rolling back the FCC
rule change that would allow greater media concentration, lobbyists
from big media conglomerates have been working around the clock to tip
it back.

On Wednesday, MoveOn.org will be holding a crucial press conference
with Senator Dorgan (D-ND) and Senator Snowe (R-ME) and groups across
the political spectrum to highlight the broad opposition to the FCC
rule change. MoveOn needs to show that over 100,000 people have
voiced their demand that the Senate vote to roll back the rule
change. Please help us reach 100,000 signers by this Wednesday --
you can join me in signing at:

http://www.moveon.org/stopthefcc/

Together, we can make sure that America's media is diverse,
competitive, and balanced.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Dear MoveOn member,

I wanted you to be among the first to know: today at 11:30am EDT, the
Senate voted 55-40 to roll back the entire FCC rule change.

We're on a roll, and you've been instrumental in making it happen.
When our friends at Free Press and the Consumer's Union delivered your
petition comments to Senators' offices on Thursday, they were
impressed and shocked. We know your signatures contributed to the big
win today. Special thanks to those of you who made calls -- over
10,000 of them in the last week -- which played a critical role.

Your petition comments were also prominently featured in a press
conference with Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Trent Lott (R-MS) on
Thursday. For a photo of part of the petition (just part!) and the
two Senators, go to: http://www.moveon.org/images/dorganlott-big.jpg

Of course, this is still an uphill battle. Media lobbyists will be
working around the clock to ensure that the new rules stay in place.
We'll keep you posted on what you can do to make sure the final
appropriations vote goes our way. But with each winning vote, we move
closer to a decisive defeat of massive media consolidation and the FCC
rule change.

You're making our country a better place.

With many thanks,
--Eli Pariser
MoveOn.org
September 16th, 2003

P.S. Our press release on the vote is online at: http://www.moveon.org/FCC0916release.htm

P.P.S. For more on the vote, check out the Washington Post's coverage:

SENATE APPROVES MEASURE TO UNDO FCC RULES
By Frank Ahrens
Tuesday, September 16, 2003 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18674-2003Sep16.html

HomerJ ... MoveOn also notifies me of state issues. In addition to the FCC ruling thing, I also recently signed a petition to keep Canada's garbage/sewage out of Michigan. This is the reply I received via email from my senator:

September 16, 2003

Thank you . . .

. . for signing the petition to stop Canadian trash imports! I appreciate you joining with me in this important fight. We must insist that the Administration enforce international agreements to protect our environment and public health.

Just recently, the city of Toronto announced plans to ship 55,000 tons of sewage sludge into Michigan each year. We must continue to protect our state from the pollution and safety threats caused by these imports. I will soon be meeting with the EPA Administrator where I will deliver your petition, and I commend you for your commitment to this cause.


Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator

edited 'cuz sometimes I'm not too bright.

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