Why Is The USDA Trying To Kill Us

Domino's Pizza's domestic sales were falling last year. Then an organization called Dairy Management offered to help. They developed pizzas for Domino's that contained 40 percent more cheese, and then devised and paid for a $12-million marketing campaign.

But Dairy Management is not a private business -- it is a creation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA helps helm a government anti-obesity program that discourages some of the very foods that Dairy Management is vigorously promoting.

The New York Times reports:

"... [I]n a series of confidential agreements approved by agriculture secretaries in both the Bush and Obama administrations, Dairy Management has worked with restaurants to expand their menus with cheese-laden products."

What's wrong with the FCC's draft Order on Net Neutrality

If you saw my op-ed in the Huffington Post yesterday, you know how concerned I was about today's FCC meeting on net neutrality (and, by the way, would you mind sharing it on Twitter and Facebook?).

Chairman Genachowski's draft Order was worse than nothing--and we needed to make sure the FCC didn't approve it today.

Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that, thanks to Commissioners Copps and Clyburn--not to mention a nationwide network of net neutrality activists like you--the proposal approved today is better than the original. For instance, the FCC has now stated that it does not condone discriminatory behavior by wireless companies like Verizon and AT&T--an important piece that

was missing from the first draft. We made a difference.

The bad news is that, while it's no longer worse than nothing, the Order approved today is not nearly strong enough to protect consumers or preserve the free and open Internet. And with so much at stake, I cannot support it.

I'm still very concerned that it includes almost nothing to protect net neutrality for mobile broadband service--often the only choice for broadband if you live in rural or otherwise underserved areas. And I'm particularly disappointed that the FCC isn't specifically banning paid prioritization--the creation of an Internet "fast lane" for corporations that can afford to pay for it.

But here's the important thing to remember: This fight's not over. The FCC must vigorously enforce these new regulations--and it must follow through on addressing wireless discrimination going forward.

So what now? First, we need to work together to make sure the FCC keeps the promises it made today--just as our movement was instrumental in improving these regulations from the first draft, we'll be critical in ensuring that the regulations are enforced vigorously.

And I'm going to keep working with net neutrality advocates to see if there are legislative or administrative steps that can be taken to strengthen these protections.

But, for today, know that the work we're doing to save the Internet is making a difference. Today, the FCC took a small step forward--too small by my estimation, but forward nonetheless.

Thanks for your support,

Al

Paid for and authorized by Al Franken for Senate 2014

www.AlFranken.com

Study: Supreme Court becoming a tool for corporate interests - Topix

Study: Supreme Court becoming a tool for corporate interests - Topix

Tell Harry Reid to "Grow A Pair"

Today is a make-or-break moment in the fight to let the Bush-Cheney tax cuts for the wealthy expire as planned at the end of this year. Over the weekend, the White House continued to work on striking a tax cut deal with Republicans that would increase deficit spending by 700 billion dollars over the next ten years.

So instead of playing hardball with Republicans by exposing them for this reckless spending, they're ready to cave again. Instead of exposing Republicans for voting against tax cuts for the middle class, instead of daring them to be responsible for raising taxes on all Americans if the Bush-Cheney tax cuts expire before Republicans agree to the Democratic plan, instead of providing America with real leadership and a fiscally responsible backbone that sets Democrats apart from Republicans -- this White House is ready to surrender.

The U.S. Senate can stop them. Call your Senators right now and demand "no deals on tax cuts for the wealthy."

• Sen. Nelson - (202) 224-5274
• Sen. LeMieux - (202) 224-3041
• Or for another State Call (202) 224-3121

REPORT YOUR CALL HERE

Thanks to Nancy Pelosi's continued leadership, the House of Representatives has already told the White House "No deals on tax cuts for the wealthy" and passed a bill that fulfills President Obama's campaign promise to not raise taxes on people who make less than $250,000 a year, while letting the the Bush Tax Cuts for those making more than $250,000 a year expire.

Now, it's up to the U.S. Senate to do that same thing. But they will only do it if they hear an overwhelming outcry from all of us telling them that we need them to go to the mat to stop Republicans -- even if President Obama won't.

That's why we've joined with progressive allies at the MoveOn, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, CREDO Action, True Majority and SEIU for today's emergency call-in day.

Pundits and scared Democrats in Washington will be advocating capitulation, but we need Senate Democrats to stand strong. They have the upper hand, with big majorities of Americans who want to see the wealthy pay their fair share. A new poll from CBS shows that only 26% of voters want the tax cuts for the wealthy extended.

If the Republicans are so committed to stopping tax cuts for the middle class unless tax breaks for millionaires are extended too, then they should have to defend that position in the next election.

Democrats in the Senate should make Republicans vote over and over and over again against relief for struggling families and prove to the American people that their millionaire donors are more important to them than their constituents.

That's what the American people want the Senate to do. Let's make sure Senate Democrats get the message. Please make your call right now.

• Sen. Nelson - (202) 224-5274
• Sen. LeMieux - (202) 224-3041
• Or for another State Call (202) 224-3121

REPORT YOUR CALL HERE