Aug 28th, 2008 11:49 PM UTC
By John Ryan
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Ginny just emailed this post to me (picture coming soon, the AT&T cell phone traffic is so heavy out there that I’m just getting this now):
I’m here at Invesco field representing ONE while we wait for Senator Obama to give his speech accepting the Democratic nomination for the presidency.
All over the stadium ONE members and staff are proudly wearing our ONE shirts, buttons and stickers – and in doing so, working to raise the profile of the fight to end global poverty in this election. (And as Meighan just let us know, there’s even a dedicated ONE in the very front row. Maybe you can catch her on TV?)
Here’s a pic of the crew I’m with now.
(Update: picture)
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Aug 28th, 2008 8:39 PM UTC
By John Ryan
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If you’re at Senator Obama’s acceptance speech or watching it from home, keep your eyes peeled for one of us sitting up front during the speech. Megan Kline, long time ONE member, has been selected out of the 70,000 people in attendance to sit in the “donut” in front of the podium. They’re moving people around but as of the last report, she’s sitting in the front row.
And like any proud ONE member, she’s wearing her ONE shirt!
So, keep an eye out for her and post a comment here if you see her.
Thanks Megan for making sure ONE is seen and thanks to all ONE members for making sure our issues are heard by so many in Washington and across the country.
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Mar 14th, 2008 12:49 AM UTC
By John Ryan
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Just moments ago, at 1 am, Senators Biden and Lugar won an amendment on the Senate floor to restore $4.1b to the International Affairs budget. Over the course of the day, ONE members helped bring 34 cosponsors to the amendment. It was a great collaborative effort with InterAction and US Global Leadership Campaign, as well as over 75,000 members who signed the petition and made well over 3,500 calls to their Senators’ over the last two days.
The final vote was 73-23. In our favor!
As background, President Bush requested a $3.1b increase to this part of the budget. The House Budget committee gave a $1.5b increase ($1.6 below the President). The Senate Budget Committee cut $4.1b…cutting all of President Bush’s requested increase, PLUS $1b from current spending.
At first, we thought we could only get support for a floor amendment for $2.6b, which would bring the Senate level up to the House. We lined up Senate sponsors, worked with ONE members and partners, and coordinated media outreach. Then in a late night push, Senators Biden and Lugar stepped up to offer an amendment that restored this account to the President’s level…a $4.1b amendment. This was twice the size of any amendment we’ve ever won. All our champions from the earlier amendment moved to support this and we thank every Senator that put their support behind the final, new amendment.
Make no mistake, this is an amazing victory that will translate to millions of lives saved.
It’s late, I’m tired and I’m going to bed — but I know I’ll sleep well. For tonight at least, good night and thank you.
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Mar 13th, 2008 6:57 PM UTC
By John Ryan
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It’s going to be a late night for us and the Senate. The vote on the Biden-Lugar Amendment is scheduled to happen tonight and the Senate will be in session late as they vote on a large series of amendments.
Below is the list of supporters for the Biden-Lugar Amendment. The number currently stands at 40 known supporters, spanning all sides of the aisle – and we are sure there are more out there. ONE Members have placed thousands of calls over the last two days to let their senators know that this amendment is important to them and to the lives of millions of people around the globe. Keep up your hopes and prayers, and check back soon for updates.
Thanks each and everyone of you who have put so much support behind this effort!
Sen. Biden (D – DE)
Sen. Bingaman (D – NM)
Sen. Bond (R – MO)
Sen. Boxer (D – CA)
Sen. Burr (R – NC)
Sen. Brown (D – OH)
Sen. Cantwell (D – WA)
Sen. Cardin (D – MD)
Sen. Clinton (D – NY)
Sen. Coleman (R – MN)
Sen. Collins (R – ME)
Sen. Corker (R – TN)
Sen. Dodd (D – CT)
Sen. Dole (R – NC)
Sen. Durbin (D – IL)
Sen. Feingold (D – WI)
Sen. Feinstein (D – CA)
Sen. Hagel (R – NE)
Sen. Isakson (R – GA)
Sen. Johnson (D – SD)
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Sen. Kerry (D – MA)
Sen. Kennedy (D – MA)
Sen. Leahy (D – VT)
Sen. Levin (D – MI)
Sen. Lieberman (I – CT)
Sen. Lincoln (D-AR)
Sen. Lugar (R – IN)
Sen. Martinez (R – FL)
Sen. McCaskill (D – MO)
Sen. Menendez (D – NJ)
Sen. Mikulski (D – MD)
Sen. Obama (D – IL)
Sen. Schumer (D – NY)
Sen. Smith (R – OR)
Sen. Snowe (R – ME)
Sen. Specter (R – PA)
Sen. Sununu (R – NH)
Sen. Vitter (R – LA)
Sen. Voinovich (R – OH)
Sen. Whitehouse (D – RI)
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Mar 13th, 2008 3:46 PM UTC
By John Ryan
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…than when they are united in their objects and wishes.”
- Marcus Tullius Cicero
I just want to take a moment to point out that struggles like today’s hopeful passage of the Biden-Lugar Amendment are rarely won without the hard work of many individuals and NGOs.
Two coalitions in particular, Interaction and the US Global Leadership Campaign, are playing critical roles in organizing and leveraging numerous other organizations in support of the Biden-Lugar Amendment.
Thanks, good luck, and keep up the hard work!
Feel free to give them some love in the comments, we’ll send the messages on.
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Mar 13th, 2008 12:52 PM UTC
By John Ryan
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Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) sign on as cosponsors to the Biden-Lugar Amendment!
That’s all I got…nothing to see here…move along…just the hard work of saving millions of lives.
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Mar 13th, 2008 11:25 AM UTC
By John Ryan
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Just had one of our Government Affairs people run over. He’s confirming that the vote on the Biden-Lugar Amendment will happen today.
If you have not called your senators, you must now – 202-224-3121. Because this funding determines expenditures for the entire year, losing this fight will make every other fight that much more difficult. (Up-to-date list of senators cosponsoring the amendment here.)
The call is easy to make, all you need to tell your Senators’ office is:
- You are constituent and a ONE member
- You want them to support the Biden-Lugar amendment to restore $4.1 billion to the international affairs budget, to match the president’s budget request.
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