Without offering too much commentary on the election, it seems clear that voters across the country expressed a desire for change and for greater accountability from their elected officials. Apart from the obvious changes in congressional leadership, the degree to which other changes are positive ones depends on the continuing involvement and advocacy of concerned citizens. There remain a lot of difficult problems to address--the war in Iraq, budget deficits, increasing poverty and inequality, and the growing health care crisis. However we feel individually about the election results, it is critical that we continue to hold all Members of Congress accountable to the values and priorities we expect from our leaders and our government!

          LAME DUCK BEGINS--BUDGET QUESTIONS REMAIN         

With the dust still settling from last week's election and many looking ahead to the changes in store next year, it's easy to overlook the fact that the current Congress had quite a bit of unfinished business to tend to before the end of the year. The biggest of these unfinished items is, once again, the federal budget. All but two of the annual spending bills remain incomplete and rumors abound about how Congress will tackle all of the spending bills. As it currently stands, leaders have indicated that they would like to try to pass all of the spending bills individually rather than relying on an omnibus (putting all the bills together) bill or a long-term continuing resolution (keeping funding at 2006 levels). However, this will likely prove difficult because of the budget cap that Members agreed to earlier in the year, which could force significant cuts to housing, health, and human services programs.

Congress, can, though, still make the right choices and provide the funding for these important programs that was promised earlier in the year. But, they need to hear from you to make it happen!

          ACTION NEEDED         

Write your Representative and Senators and urge them to provide additional funding for human needs programs as they make the final spending decisions. A sample letter is available for you to edit and send at our action website (NOTE: the letter may not yet be available).

In January (dates to be determined) a new documentary, Lives for Sale, by Maryknoll will be airing on Public Television and the Hallmark Channel. This powerful documentary exposes the painful, rarely seen human side of illegal immigration -- especially the growing black market trade in human beings and is an important tool in educating the American public about the problem of human trafficking.

Though Lives for Sale airs in January, each PBS station must decide if it will carry it, and then has to download it from a satellite feed that only occurs on November 19. A station is more likely to air a program if it knows there is local interest, especially if there is a possibility of partnering with local organizations to spread the word.

          ACTION NEEDED         

A page of talking points, a press release and flyer that will guide you in approaching your Public Television station can be downloaded at the "Lives for Sale" website.

Also, if you are successful with your local station and have time, please let the good people at Maryknoll know of your success by sending an e-mail to livesforsale@maryknoll.org. They are hoping to track the outreach the program might facilitate.