Jerry McNerney's website

Jerry Interviewed on "The Quake" Radio

Jerry McNerney was interviewed today on the "Will and Willie" show (hosted by comedian Will Durst and former California speaker and SF mayor Willie Brown) on KQKE "The Quake" -- the local San Francisco Bay Area "Air America" radio affiliate.

Listen here (mp3)

Send an Earth Day message to Pombo

There is no issue that separates me more from Richard Pombo than environmental policy. My entire adult life as an engineer in clean and renewable energy production has been dedicated to finding a way to create economic growth that does not take place at the expense of the environment. Pombo, on the other hand, prioritizes short-term profit over protecting our nation's natural heritage.

I am not alone, of course. Millions of Americans just like you and me are appalled by Pombo's pillaging of our environment. Unfortunately, Pombo has not been held accountable for his exploits.

We need to change this and change it now.

With Earth Day coming up this Saturday, please join me in sending a clear message to Pombo that our nation’s natural treasures are not his trash.

http://JerryMcNerney.org/earthday.asp

As Chair of the House Resources Committee, Pombo has consistently voted to weaken environmental protections, to open our most beautiful natural treasures to risky exploitation schemes, and to deepen our nation’s dependency on fossil fuels. Pombo opposed efforts to raise auto emission standards that would have helped clean our polluted air. His proposal to sell off national park and forestland to mining interests and real estate developers would deny public access to these natural reserves and cost taxpayers billions.

We need to hold Richard Pombo accountable. Please take just a minute to sign this Earth Day petition telling Pombo and Congress that we can not allow America's environment to be "Pombo-ized."

I am standing up to Pombo and running for Congress because I believe America needs a new vision for our environment and our economy. Protecting our natural heritage while growing our economy is one of my most urgent concerns and is the inspiration for my vision to bring thousands of new energy technology jobs to American and the 11th Congressional District. Meanwhile, Richard Pombo and the current leadership in Washington have turned their back on this vital responsibility.

Will you join me in making this an Earth Day to remember by signing this petition to Pombo and forwarding it to your friends, family and neighbors?

We have a moral obligation to our children and to the future of our nation to protect our natural heritage. Taking care of our environment is part of taking care of ourselves. When I am elected to Congress, we will fight to put our country on a path of sustainable economic growth; a path that will enable America to lead the world in new energy technology while meeting its obligation to protect the environment.

Together, we can make this vision a reality.

Sincerely,

Jerry McNerney

http://JerryMcNerney.org/earthday.asp

Call / Walk for Jerry This Weekend

Despite the non-stop rain, Team McNerney has been knocking on doors and talking to voters for weeks. And now, with the primary election fast approaching, we are expanding our precinct walking to both weekend days -- Saturday and Sunday (volunteers can walk precincts any day, of course).

Can you walk precincts for Jerry this Saturday and/or Sunday in Dublin or Pleasanton?

This Saturday: 9 am to 2 pm (trainings at 9 am and 10:30 am)
and/or
This Sunday: 3 pm to 8 pm (trainings at 3 pm and 4:30 pm)

If you can make a commitment to door-knocking for Jerry, PLEASE RSVP NOW by sending an e-mail with your date/time to Eden (At) JerryMcNerney _· org. By RSVP'ing, you'll help us make enough copies and order enough food!.

Tri-Valley Precinct Walks are held every Saturday and Sunday from McNerney Headquarters at 6250 Village Parkway (cross street is Dublin Blvd), 2nd Floor, Dublin.

If it rains, please still come! Rain or shine, there's always something important to do!

Call for Jerry

In addition to phone banks in Dublin and Stockton, Team McNerney is launching a new phone bank in Oakland on Tuesday nights and in Concord starting in May. If you're new to phone banking, don't worry -- it's easy! And you'll really like your fellow callers -- wonderful people volunteering for a wonderful cause. Contact Eden at the above Email address or fill out this form to get yourself on the volunteer list.

p.s. if you are unable to volunteer for Jerry, you can still help him win by contributing $25, $50, $100, $250 or any amount up to the federal maximum ($2,100). With your financial support, we will be able to provide Jerry with the resources he needs to get out the vote and put an end to Pombo Politics. Permanently. Wouldn't that be priceless?

More Strong Endorsements for McNerney

SEIU's Califorinia State Council Endorses Jerry

We have received another big labor endorsement, as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California State Council voted to give Jerry their enthusiastic endorsement. SEIU represents over 600,000 people in California and, more importantly, SEIU locals have a strong membership presence in the district. Following the 2-million member California Labor Federation endorsement, we're thrilled that our support from the labor community in California and the district continues to grow.

Endorsements from East Bay Young Democrats, DFA Tracy

The East Bay Young Democrats -- a thriving group of young party activists under the age of 36 -- enthusiastically endorsed Jerry on Monday night, adding yet another Democratic organization to our long list of community endorsements. Receiving a Young Dems endorsement is more difficult than most endorsements, as it requires a favorable vote from at least two-thirds of the eligible voters. Despite the high threshold, the Young Dems voted for Jerry overwhelmingly, demonstrating that they believe Jerry is the best candidate to defeat Richard Pombo in November. Then, on Tuesday, DFA Tracy also endorsed Jerry overwhelmingly. DFA Tracy is just one of hundreds of Democracy for America chapters across the country changing America one precinct at a time. We can't wait to door-knock for democracy with DFA Tracy and other McNerney supporters in Richard Pombo's hometown over the next seven weeks.

Pombo allied with front group

(Article written by Jerry McNerney, appeared in the April 19 edition of Tracy Press)

The Tracy Press needs to question Congressman Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, for having a pharmaceutical industry-linked front group, Medicare Today, lead his office's Medicare Part D prescription drug seminar Monday. Having this group lead the seminar is like calling in the preverbial fox to guard the henhouse.

Medicare Today is a slick, well-financed, nationwide front group designed by Washington, D.C., lobbyists to protect the taxpayer-subsidized profits that Part D gave to the pharmaceutical industry.

This group's parent is the Healthcare Leadership Council, an organization that is financed by the pharmaceutical industry. Among Healthcare Leadership Council's primary goals are to fight provisions against the importation of Canadian prescription drugs and prevent having Medicare negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies as the Department of Veterans Affairs does.

Part D was written by and for the pharmaceutical industry. The lead congressional negotiator on the Medicare prescription drug bill, Republican Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, became the head of the drug industry's lobbying group PhRMA one month after the law was signed.

Medicare Part D provides no coverage for annual costs between $2,250 and $5,100, so millions of seniors will be denied coverage while they still pay monthly premiums. Part D allows insurers to take drugs off their approved coverage list or charge more for drugs during the year, but seniors cannot change plans until the following year.

As for the timing and location of my educational seminar in Stockton, also Monday: if the Tracy Press actually attended, it would have noticed that our educational seminar was clearly neither in the location of the Pombo event nor designed to confuse those in attendance.

As my late mother-in-law would have said, "Always show respect for your elders." It's time for Congress to do the same and write legislation that protects senior citizens, not the interests of the pharmaceutical lobby.

A Strong First Quarter

The McNerney for Congress campaign just issued a press release, with two bits of great news, excerpted here:

The campaign raised over $50,000 in the period ending March 31, an increase of more than 25% over the final quarter of 2005, when McNerney raised $41,000. McNerney's fundraising numbers demonstrate the campaign's continued momentum and growing support within the 11th Congressional District in California.

"As we move towards the June primary I am excited that our campaign continues to grow. The dollars demonstrate our increasing financial power, but what I am most excited about is our growing people power," said Jerry McNerney. "We are building a strong grassroots network that will put an end to Pombo Politics in November."

The second bit of news:

The McNerney for Congress campaign also demonstrated its widespread support within the California Democratic Party on Saturday, nearly surpassing the 70% threshold to obtain the California State Democratic Party nomination at the pre-primary convention. Of the 39 votes cast by 11th Congressional District delegates to the State Central Committee, McNerney received 27 votes, nearly tripling the tally of his nearest competitor while finishing one vote shy of the 28 needed to secure a spot on the consent calendar for endorsement at the California Democratic Party convention April 28-30 in Sacramento.

There's a great analysis of what this means for the McNerney Campaign at the Say No to Pombo blog.