Can you sign the letter? Can you help deliver the letter to the Towson office on March 19 at 4:30 PM

Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore, 325 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218

Rep. John Sarbanes
600 Baltimore Ave.
Suite 303
Baltimore, MD 21204

March 19, 2014

Dear Representative Sarbanes:

Members of the Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore are voters and supporters of Progressive Democrats of America. We call upon you to cosponsor and publicly support the “Better Off Budget,” a thoughtful alternative budget that would sharply decrease the deficit while investing in our future to make the American People better off. We also call upon you to speak out against and to vote against the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act (H.R. 3830), any “Fast Track” legislation, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) itself.

The “Better Off Budget” would create good jobs, improve wages, and defend Social Security. It would also help the long-term unemployed, guarantee equality under the law for everyone, restore food stamps (SNAP), and reform the tax system to make it fair for all.

We need a budget that will invest in all Americans and make everyone better off. Vote for the Congressional Progress Caucus (CPC) Budget Alternative when it comes up on the House floor. Also, direct your staff to contact Michael Darner michael.darner@mail.house.gov with the CPC for more information, and to cosponsor the “Better Off Budget.”

The TPP is a bad deal for America. Members of Congress and trade officials report that it would send American jobs overseas, and ban efforts to save jobs like the “Buy America” campaign. It would empower foreign companies to sue Americans in international tribunals for $billions in “future lost profits,” and contravene local, state and federal laws protecting consumer safety, workers, and the environment.

“Fast Track” would take away your authority by railroading the deal through the Congress. Good deals don't need “Fast Track,” only bad deals do. Therefore, you must speak out and vote against the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act H.R. 3830, any "Fast Track" trade authority, and against the TPP itself whenever it comes up for debate or vote.

Finally, we are seeking an end to the use of killer drone strikes, which we believe to be illegal and unconstitutional. We ask you to speak out against this assassination program, which ignores any veneer of due process. Consider as well a request for the full, unclassified release of information surrounding the administration’s drone policy.

We look forward to your response. And when you are ready, we would like to meet with you, preferably in Baltimore. But if necessary, we will travel to your D.C. office. We thank you for your consideration regarding these critically important issues, and look forward to ongoing discussion and engagement with you in the coming months.

Peace,

Max Obuszewski, on behalf of Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore/Fund Our Communities

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs