Diocesan Social Action

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland

Legislative Hotline

April 11, 2014

Sponsored by the 5 Catholic Commissions and the Campaign for Human Development

In This Issue

Ways You Can Advocate

US Government

Ohio Government

Clemency for Arthur Tyler

Support Unemployment Benefits

Day of Action

Ways You Can Advocate for Issues

1. Call the district office with a supporting message.

2. Arrange a district office visit when Congress is in recess. Use links for the Hill Visits.

3. Use email contact forms to send the messages. Contact information for senators is below as well as website link to find your representative.

4. Put information in your parish bulletins encouraging others to support our message. You can use the background and message links that have been prepared. The message sheets can be left with the local offices if you do office visits.

5. Go to the Diocesan Social Action website page for more tips on Advocacy.

US Congress Contacts
Senator Brown: Washington, DC: (202) 224-2315 Ohio: Toll Free: 1-888-896-OHIO (6446) or Cleveland: (216) 522-7272 Lorain: (440) 242-4100 Email Sen. Brown Senator Portman: Washington, DC : 202-224-3353 Ohio: Toll-Free: 1-800-205-6446 (OHIO) Cleveland: 216-522-7095 *Email Sen. Portman* Find your US Representative

Ohio General Assembly Contacts
Governor John Kasich Riffe Center, 30th Floor 77 S. High Street Columbus, OH 43215-6117 (614)466-3555 Email Gov. Kasich Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor Riffe Center, 30th Floor 77 S. High Street Columbus, OH 43215-6117 Ohio House of Representatives *Ohio State Senate*

Dear Friends,

We are continuing to help Ohioan's To Stop Executions to advocate clemency for Arthur Tyler. If you have not written to Gov. Kasich, please do so soon. There is only about 1.5 months left before his execution date.

The U.S. Bishops are asking us to push for unemployment benefits. For some people the economy has not gotten better. There are still more people looking for jobs than jobs that exist. Please help our neighbors who are struggling to find employment. Your voice is needed now to protect poor and vulnerable people across the United States.

Thanks for all you do!

Sr. Kathleen Ryan, Diane Zbasnik, Pat O'Bryan, Kelly Davis, Rachel Schmidt and Ann Coplan

Clemency for Arthur Tyler

Arthur Tyler will be executed on May 28th, 2014 unless the Governor intervenes. The co-defendant in the case, Leroy Head, confessed no less than eleven times that he killed the victim, Sander Leach. Today Leroy Head is a free man while Mr. Tyler awaits the death penalty.

There is new information that has been released.

Arthur's website was updated on March 17, 2014 to include the egregious procedural errors that were made in this case. They include (but are not limited to):

During Mr. Tyler's post-conviction appeal, a sworn affidavit by Mr. Head that once again confirmed he was the murderer was inexplicably lost by the court during the proceedings.
During federal habeas proceedings, the court allowed Mr. Head to be deposed under oath thus providing an opportunity for Mr. Head to correct his trial testimony and tell the truth. But the prosecutor refused to grant immunity to Mr. Head and accordingly, Mr. Head asserted his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and said nothing.

The clemency phase is Mr. Tyler's last chance to receive a fair sentence. In a case so riddled with doubt and inconsistencies, the Governor would be more than justified to ensure the integrity of our criminal justice system by commuting Mr. Tyler's sentence.

Write Governor Kasich today and urge him to grant clemency for Arthur Tyler.

Action Alerts

Support unemployment insurance for workers searching for decent jobs! Economy still failing to produce sufficient decent job opportunities for all who want to work.

Yesterday the Senate passed a temporary extension of emergency unemployment benefits. Now the House of Representatives needs to act to restore this basic financial security for the most vulnerable job seekers.

There is still a large gap between the amount of job seekers and available positions. Additionally, research shows that workers unemployed for longer than six months face very long odds and, in many places, discrimination in their job search.

Unemployment is an evil that wounds human dignity. During times of economic pain and high unemployment, there is a moral obligation to ensure unemployed workers and their families have a basic level of security so that they can continue to meet basic needs.

Write to your representative today and urge them to extend emergency unemployment compensation.

Take Action Now!

Day of Action to Protect Pollinators

Monday, April 14, is an opportunity to think about and take action for the imperiled pollinators that are essential to food production and the natural environment. The improper or excessive uses of pesticides and herbicides pose unnecessary problems for pollinators such as monarch butterflies and bees. Now is an apt time to show the concern for the pollinators that help bring us our daily bread and offer nature's services to keep our food system secure.

Events are taking place all across the country from on April 14; some events begin at dusk on Sunday, Palm Sunday. Visit Make Way for Monarchs for more information and links to resources.