Some quick “reality checks” on common misconceptions about climate change legislation in the United States.

By Jessica Forres and Polly Ghazi

Cap & Trade

Myth: Cap-and-trade will cost jobs

Reality: climate and energy policy will create renewable energy jobs. Putting a price on carbon will make clean energy industries, such as solar and wind power, more competitive and create jobs in these clean tech sectors. According to a WRI report, the Renewable Energy Policy Project suggests national demand for wind and solar power systems could create more than 30,000 new jobs and more than $10billion in total investment in the Southeast U.S. alone. Nationally, clean energy jobs have been growing at two and a half times the rate of the jobs overall.

Reality: climate and energy policy will create energy efficiency jobs. According to a WRI report, The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy estimates that a 20 to 30 percent gain in energy efficiency across the country could lead to a net increase of 500,000 to 1.5 million jobs by 2030.

Reality: climate and energy policy will help keep energy dollars within communities/regions. Using local renewable energy and investing in energy efficiency reduces the amount of energy we import from overseas. For example, the southeast spent more the $1 billion in 2006 on coal imports from Colombia, Indonesia, Poland and Venezuela, according to a WRI report. Greater use of renewable energy would keep those dollars invested in local economies.

Reality: climate and energy policy will produce home-grown innovation. The race to create breakthrough clean technologies has already started, and the U.S. is falling behind. Currently, only one of the world’s top five manufacturers for wind technology is American - General Electric. Only one of the ten largest solar panel producers, and two of the top 10 advanced battery manufacturers, are American. By comparison, China’s ambitious renewable energy targets will create 150,000 jobs through the deployment of 120 gigawatts of wind power by 2020 – an amount equivalent to today’s global total.

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Myth: Cap-and-trade will make the U.S. less competitive with other countries
Opponents of climate legislation argue that putting a price on carbon in the United States will affect some industries’ competitiveness and drive jobs overseas. In particular, there is concern that China will take jobs from the United States

Reality: China is examining and planning its transformation to a clean energy economy. Beijing is investing 10 times as much on clean power, as a percentage of gross domestic product, than the United States. According to several leading U.S. businesses, the real competitiveness issue is who will win the race to supply technology to tomorrow’s global clean energy markets. Without strong climate change legislation here in the United States, China will have a clear advantage by virtue of its ambitious clean energy policies. Already, four of the top five wind technology manufacturers and nine of the top ten of the largest solar panel producers is headquartered overseas.

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Myth: Cap-and-trade programs don’t work
Opponents claim that problems encountered early on by the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme indicate that cap-and-trade won’t work.

Reality: The United States has successfully operated cap-and-trade systems. The Federal Acid Rain Program employed a sulfur emissions cap–and-trade system that produced a 50 percent cut in emissions, at much lower cost and greater efficiency than predicted.

Reality: The first phase of the EU trading system did not have enough data to determine how many permits to issue or where to set the cap. As a result, it was over-supplied with permits (allowances) for the level of emissions. Current and future phases of the program include design changes to correct for lessons learned during the initial phase.

Reality: The West, Midwest and Northeast United States, covering more than 20 states and half of the U.S. population, are already discussing regional climate cap-and-trade programs. The Northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, established a trading system that has been up and running since January 1, 2009.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA)

Myth: ACESA will send your energy bills through the roof

Reality: The overall net impact on the average household—including the benefit of many of the energy efficiency provisions in the legislation—in 2020 would be 23-48 cents per day ($84-$175 per year), according to estimates by the U.S. EPA, DOE (EIA Basic case) and Congressional Budget Office.

Reality: ACESA has designed safeguards to help protect low income households. Over 50 percent of the value of allowances between 2012 and 2025 would be channeled into programs to assist income energy consumers through tax assistance for low-income citizens and natural gas, heating oil and electricity cost relief. In addition, state governments and businesses will receive millions of allowances to cushion the transition to a clean energy economy, which will benefit their citizens and preserve jobs.

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Myth: 85 percent of the allowances allocated will be given away to fossil fuel intensive industries

Reality: According to a WRI analysis on the distribution of emission allowances to aid industries and consumers affected by the transition to a clean energy, low carbon economy, 76 percent of the allowances are directed to consumer assistance and other public benefits between 2012 and 2025. The remainder is given to industry for free or after meeting certain technology deployment requirements.

Climate Change

Myth: Anthropogenic climate change doesn’t exist

Reality: The IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report released in 2007—reviewed by thousands of climate science experts—confirms beyond any reasonable doubt that climate change is occurring, and to a significant degree is human-induced.

Reality: Climate Science: Major New Discoveries—a WRI compilation of scientific developments since the release of the Fourth Assessment Report in 2007—concludes that climate change impacts are already happening, and at a faster rate than previously projected. For example:
Melting rates for 30 mountain glaciers doubled between 2004 and 2006
More than 28,000 plant and animal species are changing habits due to new climatic conditions
From 1996 to 2006, the rate of Antarctic ice mass loss increased by 75 percent
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in the Southeastern United States

Myth: Southeastern states don’t have enough renewable resources to meet clean energy and efficiency mandates

Reality: Findings from WRI’s research suggest that more than 25 percent of the Southeast U.S. region’s electric power could come from locally-available renewable energy supplies by 2025. Energy efficiency improvements could reduce electricity use more than 10 percent in the Southeast in the next six years

Some member of Caribbean community are urging the U.S. Census Bureau to add a
Caribbean-American race category to the 2010 census.

Jessica Forres reports…



Hundreds of local residents are celebrating D-C’s 17th annual
Caribbean Carnival at Banneker Recreation Park. Among the vendors is
the U.S. Census Bureau. Representatives with the agency are passing
out information about the 2010 U.S. Census.

Chris Toussaint is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, but he’s lived
in the U.S for more than twenty years. He believes American-Caribbean race
category should be added to the census.

IT’S NOT THAT WE’RE TRYING TO SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM BLACK-AMERICANS
BECAUSE WE ALL BLACK PEOPLE, BUT WE WANT TO SAY YES AMONG THESE BLACK
PEOPLE, THIS PERCENTAGE IS FROM THE CARIBBEAN.

Judith Martin…who was born in the U.S.… disagrees. Her grandparents
are from Jamaica and Antigua, but she considers herself
African-American.

I FEEL WE’RE ALL ONE YOU KNOW THAT WE ALL BLEND IN AS ONE. I DON’T
CONSIDER US AS SEPARATE EVEN THOUGH WE’RE FROM THE CARIBBEAN.

Alison Assanah-Carroll is a spokeswoman for the Bureau. She urges
residents to fill out "other" if they don’t identify with a particular
group.

BY DOING SO IT CAN ACTUALLY ESTABLISH A GIVEN PATTERN AND HELP TO
DESIGN FUTURE QUESTIONAIRES RELATIVE TO HOW WE SEE THE DATA BEING
TABULATED OR REPORTEDBY PERSON’S WHO ARE SELF-IDENTIFYING WHEN THEY
RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONAIRE.

More than 300-billion dollars of government funding are awarded to
states and communities based on census data.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 news.

More than 12-thousand young environmental activists have descended on the District.
Jessica Forres reports… they are urging Congress to pass climate change and energy legislation.



At the Washington Convention Center, hundreds of students and young professionals are excitedly wandering throughout the foyer and exhibit halls.... where they are buying global warming posters, attending activist training sessions and protesting…

[NAT: HI HO, HI HO, WE’RE DONE WITH DIRTY COAL]

They are in Washington for the 2009 Power Shift summit organized by the Energy Action Coalition. Jessy Tolkan is with the group. She says Congress needs to build a green economy and address the climate crisis.

WE’RE HERE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT OUR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION DIDN’T STOP ON ELECTION DAY. WE’RE HERE TO HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE. AND WE’RE GOING TO DO WHAT OUR PRESIDENT ASKED US TO DO.

On Monday, the activists will head to Capitol Hill to lobby legislators.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

D-C Councilmember Marion Barry is successfully recovering from a kidney transplant at Howard University Hospital.

Jessica Forres reports…



Natalie Williams, a spokesperson for Barry, says the former mayor is awake and a little groggy after undergoing a kidney transplant yesterday evening...

HE SAID YOU TELL THE RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT THAT I'M DOING A OKAY.

Williams says the donor, Kim Dickens, who is 47 and a long-time friend of Barry, is also well and resting without complications. Dickens, she says, was out with a group of friends when Mr. Barry shared with them that he needed a new kidney...

THE NEXT DAY SHE CAME TO HOWARD UNIVERSITY AND WAS TESTED AND THE FOLLOWING DAY SHE WAS TOLD SHE WAS A MATCH.

Barry's doctors say his kidney problems are the result of diabetes and hypertension.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News.

Federal economic stimulus money will spare schools in Maryland from millions in proposed cuts.

Jessica Forres has more ....



Gov. Martin O'Malley says federal economic recovery money will enable Maryland to avoid 700 state employee layoffs and any cuts to an education fund designed to help areas where schooling costs more. The state had been facing 69 million dollars in education funding cuts...

I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE AMERICAN REINVESTMENT AND RECOVERY ACT WILL ALLOW US TO PRESENT A PLAN TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE ALL OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS SYTEMS WHOLE IN OTHER WORDS, THE CUTS, THE MID-YEAR CUTS AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE OUT SCHOOL SYSTEM WHOLE.

The governor also says the federal money will contribute $329 million to the projected growth of teacher pension costs.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

National and local education leaders toured a local high school to show support for school modernization provisions in the economic stimulus package.

Jessica Forres reports....



Students…inside a classroom…are complaining to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, about the poor conditions at Arlington, Virginia's Wakefield High School.

NAT:] IT'S 96 DEGREES IN THIS ROOM ALL DAY

Temperatures in the classroom are their biggest complaint. Paul Stetkluh is a sophomore. He says his teachers often switch rooms...

WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY HARD ON US BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUR TEACHERS ALL THE TIME OR GET TO THEM AT LUNCH WHEN WE NEED TO.

Inside the school's library, Secretary Duncan says he's urging Congress to fund school construction and renovation projects in the stimulus package. The provisions were passed in the House but not in the Senate...

RIGHT NOW THERE'S ZERO DOLLARS IN THE SENATE BILL. THAT TO ME IS STAGGERING. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME THAT WE DON'T SEE THE HUGE STIMULATIVE IMPACT OF PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK NOW WITH TREMENDOUS UNMET NEED BEYOND 20 BILLION DOLLARS AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN WE CAN DO TO CREATE FACILITIES OUR STUDENTS.

Through Gene Wilhoit…with the Council of Chief State School Officers there are shovel-ready projects in Virginia and nationwide that could benefit...

THIS BUILDING IS ONE THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT BUT ALL ACROSS VIRGINIA YOU WOULD HAVE THAT SAME SORT OF SITUATION AND WE WOULD BE PUTTING THE MONEY IN THE PLACES WHERE WE HAVE THE GREATEST NEED

Two new high schools in Arlington are scheduled to be rebuilt, but are not fully funded.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

_____________________________________________________


National and local education leaders are asking Congress to add school construction projects in the economic stimulus package.

Jessica Forres reports…they toured a local high school to show their support....

The U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, is taking a tour of Arlington, Virginia's Wakefield High School. He stops to talk with some students inside a classroom.

[NAT:]

He is using the occasion to talk about education provisions in the economic stimulus package. The provisions, which include 20 billion dollars for school construction and renovation projects, were passed in the House but not in the Senate.

SO AS THIS DISCUSSION GOES INTO CONFERENCE WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT CONFERENCE IS OF STAGGERING IMPORTANCE. AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT OUR LEADERSHIP HERE UNDERSTANDS THAT, ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR PARENTS.

The students at Wakefield certainly do. Principal Doris Jackson says the school is scheduled to be renovated in 2013.

WELL THE BUILDING HAS OUTLIVED IT'S USEFULNESS. YOU CAN LOOK AROUND IT IS TRULY A 1950, 1960's SCHOOL.

But Gene Wilhoit…with the Council of Chief State School Officers…says the 20 billion will be dispersed to school districts with shovel-ready projects.

WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS AN ABILITY TO MOVE THOSE PROJECTS AS SOON AS ANY MONEY WOULD FLOW WITHOUT ANY DELAY IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION AND IT PUTS PEOPLE IN JOBS IMMEDIATELY.

Wakefield and Yorktown High Schools in Arlington are scheduled to be rebuilt, but are not fully funded.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

As President-elect Obama takes the Oath of Office, one non-profit is asking Americans to do the same.

Jessica Forres reports....


David Smith with the National Conference on Citizenship is reading one of the five pledges that make up the Citizen's Oath…

I COMMIT MYSELF TO BE INFORMED,

His organization is asking citizens to pledge the Oath today, when Mr. Obama is sworn into office...

WHILE OBAMA IS TAKING HIS OATH. WHAT ARE WE DOING? IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE OUR VOWS OR RENEW OUR VOWS OF CITIZENSHIP.

That includes citizens becoming more involved in their communities and the political process. Nick Centanni, a college student, is in town for the inauguration. Though he didn't vote for Obama, he is willing to do what he can as a citizen...

I THINK THE PRESIDENT-ELECT HAS HIS HANDS FULL AND I'D LIKE TO DO WHAT I CAN TO HELP OUT IN OUR COUNTRY.

Smith's organization will distribute copies of the Citizen's Oath during the inauguration and some of the inaugural balls.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

Students, veterans and leading figures from the arts, government and media took part in a weekend event at the Newseum to celebrate the Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.

Jessica Forres listened as they read the U.S. Constitution…


Standing at a podium is Charles Overby...

THE FIRST AMENDMENT, CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION,
OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS.

He's chairman of the Newseum...

YOU KNOW WE HAVE A SEVENTY FOUR FOOT HIGH SIGN OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING RIGHT THERE ARE PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE. SO TO BE ABLE TO READ IT IN FRONT OF ALL THE PEOPLE AND FOR THEM TO SPONTANEIOUSLY CHEER FOR EACH FREEDOM WAS VERY HEARTWARMING.

The People for the American Way Foundation selected the 34 readers. Kathryn Kolbert... the group's president....says it's the first time the organization has held an Inaugural reading...

WE ARE THRILLED TO BEGIN THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION WITH THE READING OF THE CONSTITUTION SO THAT WE CAN RESTORE THE RULE OF LAW TO THIS NATION.

Helen Ingalls and Susan Gutchess of DC sat in the front row...

OUR EXPERIENCE OF THE INAUGURATION IS GOING TO BE COMPLELTELY AMORPHOUS. WE'RE GOING TO ENJOY THE MUSEUM. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT TODAY.

Civil rights pioneer Mary Frances Berry and students from DC's Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy also participated.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

Thousands of volunteers have received their assignments and are gearing up for Inauguration Day.

Jessica Forres met some of them at the third and final training session held by the Presidential Inaugural Committeee.


Inside an exhibit hall at the Washington Convention Center, 5-thousand people are waiting for their assignments and getting fired up over volunteering Inauguration Day...

[NAT: FIRE IT UP, READY TO GO, FIRE IT UP]

Juanita Ballingame of DC is assigned a blue ticket, which means her post will be on the National Mall. She expects...

MASS CONFUSION, LOTS OF PEOPLE JUST ENJOYING THEMSELVES. HAVING A GOOD TIME.

Mass confusion is what the Presidential Inaugural Committee is trying to avoid. That's why they held three volunteer training sessions.

Kevin Griffis... a spokesperson for the committee...says the sessions highlight the basics of crowd control...

ABOUT 85 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE USHERS. THEY ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE STATIONED AT METRO STATIONS, ALONG MAJOR PEDESTRIANS ROUTES, WHERE THE FOLKS ARE GETTING LET OFF OF BUSES.

Most of them, he says, helped out with the campaign and see this as an opportunity to stay involved. Peter Ohr canvassed during the general election....

IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME THING FOR MANY, MANY PEOPLE AND YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

Joan Lee is from Laurel, Maryland....

WELL I VOLUNTEERED IN DENVER AND IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK SO I'M GOING TO TAKE OFF MY JOB AND JUST HOPEFULLY HAVE A MEMORABLE ALBUM AND SAY I WAS REALLLY A PART OF HISTORY, I MEAN REALLY A PART OF HISTORY.

The 18-thousand inaugural volunteers will be wearing badges and red stocking hats.

Jessica forres WAMU 885 News

In the District, some grandparents are urging lawmakers to continue funding for a program that helps them support their grandchildren.

Jessica Forres reports....


Inside her grandmother's one-bedroom apartment, Tierra Joppy who is eight years old, remembers when her classmates cruelly teased her about her clothes...

AND MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD SAY THAT'S ALL WE CAN GET BECAUSE WE WAS BROKE.

Balinda Cunningham...Tierra's grandmother...says social security wasn't enough to cover all of her expenses...eventually they were forced to live in a homeless shelter. They were there for two years...

TIERRA HAD TO SLEEP IN A TENT ON THE FLOOR AND THEN SHE COULDN'T SLEEP IN THE BED BECAUSE THE MICE WOULD CRAWL UP IN THE BED.

Last summer, things started looking up - when they were accepted into the Grandparent Caregiver Pilot Program, which allows eligible grandparents to receive the same child care subsidies that are given to foster parents.

But Cunningham is worried the three-year pilot program will be cut when it sunsets at years end.

WE PRAY HARD EVERY DAY, EVERY NIGHT THAT WE CAN SURVIVE AND IF THE SUBSIDY IS CUT OFF I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

Councilmember Tommy Wells supports the program, but concedes that expansion to cover 1-hundred and fifty children on the waiting list is unlikely.

IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM WHEN THE CITY'S FACING A 3-HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR FINANCIAL SHORTFALL.

A-A-R-P says the percentage of children in D-C living in a household headed by a grandparent is more than twice the national average.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News…
_______________________________________

A-A-R-P is urging lawmakers from DC to continue subsidizing low-income residents who are raising their grandchildren by themselves.

Jessica Forres reports…

Balinda Cunningham and her granddaughter Tierra Joppy, who is eight, are sitting in the living room of their apartment in Southeast, DC...

HER MOTHER WAS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS AND WASN'T ABLE TO CARE FOR HER AS A PARENT. IF NOT TIERRA WOULD HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE. AND HER FATHER IS NO WHERE AROUND IT WAS UP TO ME AND MY SOCIAL SECURITY.

But social security wasn't enough to cover her expenses...

THE BILLS WERE JUST TOO MUCH WE JUST COULDN'T MAKE IT SO WE WERE EVICTED AND WE LIVED IN A SHELTER FOR TWO YEARS.

Last summer, she was accepted into the Grandparent Caregiver Pilot Program, which gives grandparents the same child care subsidies that are given to foster parents. Denise Rolark-Barnes is with AARP… hopes the city will make the program permanent at yearsend and will also cover those on the waiting list....

THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM COSTS ABOUT 40-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR FOR ONE CHILD THAT GOES INTO THE FOSTER SYSTEM. THE GRANDPARENT PROGRAM COST 7-HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH.

Councilmember Tommy Wells supports continuing the subsidies, but is doubtful the program will be expanded....

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO CUT THE SUBSIDY OFF… THE DIFFICULT THING WILL BE ANY EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM SINCE WE HAVE A SEVERE BUDGET DEFICIT THE CITY IS FACING.

A-A-R-P says the percentage of children in D-C who live in a household headed by a grandparent is more than twice the national average.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

More than 57 million Americans live in communities governed by homeowners' associations.

But as Jessica Forres reports, Maryland lags behind other states when it comes to regulating these associations.



In the Worman's Mill neighborhood of Frederick, Maryland, flashing snowflakes and lights decorate the outside of three adjacent townhomes.

Debra Sachs has the most colorful display...

HOW CAN YOU SELL A PIG WITH GIFTS ON HIS BACK AND IT'S NOT TACKY, EVEN STANDING ALONE IT'S TACKY I DON'T DOUBT IT BUT IT'S ALSO INCREDIBLY TEMPORARY…

But she and her two neighbors received letters from their homeowner's association asking them to remove the decorations or face a fine of $25 dollars a day. Donald Suhaka, a neighbor, says it's the first he's ever lived in a community with an HOA.

I HAVE TO SELL MY HOUSE AT SOME POINT SO I SHOOT MYSELF IN THE FOOT WHEN I SAY THIS BUT I WOULD CHECK WITH AT LEAST TEN OR FIFTEEN PEOPLE CUZ EVERYONE OF THESE PEOPLE IS UPSET WITH THIS THIS PLACE.

The dispute was resolved last night when their association decided to give up the fight.

Jeanne Ketley is with Maryland's Homeowner's Association… a non-profit group advocating for more homeowner rights in the state.

MARYLAND VIRTUALLY HAS NO LAWS PROTECTING PEOPLE THAT ARE ENFORCEABLE. THERE'S LOTS OF LAWS ON THE BOOKS BUT BECAUSE THERE'S NO ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THERE'S NO REALLY ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY FOR HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION ISSUES.

In Maryland, she says, associations can foreclose on your property if you don't pay your dues.

WHEN YOU BUY INTO A CORPORATION, YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE BY THE RULES OF THE CORPORATION AND YOU SOMETIMES YOU'VE LEFT THE UNITED STATES AND YOU NOW LIVE IN CORPORATE LAND.

The Community Associations Institute says more than 70% of people are happy with their HOA.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and Mayor Adrian Fenty say the District is making progress toward meeting the needs of its special education students.

Jessica Forres reports...



Inside the library at Noyes Elementary School in Northeast, Mayor Fenty and others talk about their efforts to reform the Office of Special Education…

WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING FROM HIRING FULL-TIME CASE MANAGERS, TO HIRING MORE FULL_TIME STAFF< TO OVERSIGHT.

Two lawsuits resulted in court actions that require the District to address special education issues…

THESE CONSENT DECREES AND COURT INVOLVEMENT DON'T CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK OR FREELY MAKE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS AND THE QUICKER WE CAN GET OUT THEM THE MORE QUICKLY WE CAN IMPROVE PERFORMANCE.

Standing next to Fenty is Chancellor Michelle Rhee who is confident her leadership will produce high-quality special education programs located within DC's public schools…

EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING IS EXATRAORDINARILY AGGRESSIVE FROM TACKLING THE BACKLOG NUMBERS. ENSURING THAT WE ARE HOLDING PRINCIPALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR TIMLINESS OF IEPS ETC. TO ENSURING THAT WE HAVE GOOD PROGRAMS IN PLACE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

The district now spends more than 82 million dollars every year to send public school special-ed students to private schools.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

A Latino advocacy group says some hispanic voters in Prince William County may have been intimidated by the heavy police presence at one polling site.

Jessica Forres reports...

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

Two police cruisers flashing their emergency lights are parked at the entrance of Occoquan Elementary School in Woodbridge.

Gabriela Lemus is with the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. She says her group has been monitoring the site all day.

FIRST IT STARTED OFF WITH ONE SHERIFF THEN WE HAD THREE THEN THERE WERE SIX. NOW THERE ARE FOUR.

The police presence, she says, could be seen by some Latino voters as intimidating.

I THINK IT DOES KIND OF INTIMIDATE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF SORT OF THE ANTI-ATTITUDES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND HERE. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FOCUES ON CRIMINAL IMMIGRANTS BUT IT REFLECTS ON THE WHOLE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

Glendell Hill, the County's Sheriff, says no more than three officers were present at the location….and they were there to direct traffic.

YOU KNOW WE WERE NOT THERE TO INTERFERE WITH VOTERS JUST TO MAKE SURE THE CITIZENS GOT IN AND OUT SAFELY.

Lemus says her group is considering filing a complaint to the State Board of Elections.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 NEWS

In Virginia, some local cab drivers will provide free transportation to voters tomorrow.

Jessica Forres talked with one driver who is volunteering his time…

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

[NAT: LET ME HAVE YOUR NUMBER INCASE703- 915]

Mulugeta Yimer, a taxi driver for Union Cooperative Cab, is writing down Tameka McClure's phone number. She's a passenger who says she can't vote on Election Day.

I MOVED FROM NORTH CAROLINA AND I CAN'T VOTE BECAUSE I TRIED TO REGISTER HERE AND I WAS TOLD I'D GET MY INFORMATION AND I'VE NEVER GOTTEN IT.

Yimer is a volunteer for a voter outreach group called Virginia New Majority.

I WISH IF I KNOW HER BEFORE BECAUSE WE WORK WITH A CERTAIN DIFFERENT GROUP SO WE CAN DO THAT MAILING FOR HER IN PERSON.

His group is working with 24 Union cab drivers who will give voters free rides to the polls tomorrow.

I BELIEVE TO HELP PEOPLE. THE AMERICAN COUNTRY DID A LOT OF THINGS FOR US FOR US REFUGEES.

He is orginially from Ethiopia and now a U.S. Citizen...being able to vote is a dream come true.

YOU'RE SCARED TO VOTE, YOU'RE SCARED TO RAISE YOUR VOICE. IN THE UNITED STATES YOU CAN SAY ANYTHING TO THE PRESIDENT YOU'RE STILL ALIVE. THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY AND IT'S BUILT ON IMMIGRANTS.

He says voters can call Union Cab on Tuesday for free rides.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

______________________________________________

In Northern Virginia, some taxi drivers are volunteering their time to help voters get to the polls on Election Day.

Jessica Forres reports….

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

Driving a mini-van, Mulugeta Yimer, a taxi driver, picks up a passenger at Braddock Metro Station in Alexandria.

[NAT: CAN YOU TAKE ME TO REGAL THEATER-YA]

His meter is on today, but on Tuesday he will turn it off. He and 23 cab drivers with Union Cooperative Cab will provide free transportation to voters on Election Day.

FIRST OF ALL IT'S A CIVIC DUTY, NUMBER TWO WHEN WE COME TO THIS COUNTRY THIS IS A FREEDOM FOR US TO HELP FOR ELECTION SO WE ARE HELPING THE PEOPLE HERE.

Yimer says he's orginally from Ethiopia and now a U.S. citizen.

By giving people free rides to the polls, he says, he can help them take part in the democratic process.

IN MY COUNTRY YOU DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE IF YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE THEY ARE GOING TO ARREST YOU BECAUSE THE SAME PEOPLE WANT TO GET ELECTED EVERY YEAR YOU CANNOT CHANGE..IN THIS IS COUNTRY YOU HAVE FULL FREEDOM TO CHANGE THE PRESIDENT, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, OR WHOEVER.

He says voters in need of transportation should call Union Cab.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

Long lines and large crowds have been the rule at DC's Office of Elections and Ethics as Election Day approaches.

As Jessica Forres reports, officials are trying to solve the problem...

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

Voters have waited for as many as a few hours to cast their ballots at 441 Judiciary Square, but when we were there, it only took approximately 15 minutes to cast an in-person absentee ballot.

Gina Barr is smiling...

THEY WERE VERY WELL ORGANIZED, I ZIPPED IN AND ZIPPED BACK OUT. IT WORKED OUT FINE.

Dan Murphy...with DC's Office of Elections and Ethics....explains some of the changes that have been made...

WE MOVED THINGS DOWNSTAIRS ACTUALLY WE WERE UPSTAIRS ON THE SECOND FLOOR SINCE WE STARTED ON THE 20th AND I THINK THAT THINGS ARE MOVING A LITTLE MORE EFFICIENTLY TODAY BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SIGNIFICANTLY A HIGHER NUMBER OF PEOPLE PROCESSING VOTERS AND WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE SPACE DOWN HERE THAN WE DID UP STAIRS.

But for Akite Daniel, voting absentee wasn't so easy...

I CAME HERE TO VOTE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T RECEIVED MY ABSENTEE BALLOT YET.

She says the system seems antiquated...

AND EVEN WHEN YOU'RE CASTING THE VOTE HERE THEY HAVE LIKE RUSTIC BOXES YOU HAVE TO FOLD IT AND LIKE SHOVE IT IN. I FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT SECURE.

DC residents can still cast their in-person absentee ballots from 8:30a.m to 4:45pm today, Saturday and Monday.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

A local non-profit is tackling the problems that day laborers face in DC.

As Jessica Forres reports... the group wants the city to build a workers' center...

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

[THE COMPANY DRIVER TAKES YO U IN THE BACK OF A VAN]

Hassan Shakur, a homeless Vietnam Vet, who works as a day laborer, says even getting to work can be dangerous...

SOMETIMES A VAN HAS NO WINDOWS AND THE DOOR LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE SO IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT WE COULDN'T GET OUT.

The Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs reports that immigrant and homeless day laborers are often exploited.

Lisa Estrada with the Arent Fox law firm supervised the study...

WE DISCOVERED NON-PAYMENT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE. THAT COMES IN THE FORM OF UNDERPAYMENT, INSSUFICIENT CHECKS...

The committee supports building a workers' center in Ward 5 near the Home Depot, where day laborers wait for jobs.

Harry Thomas, Ward 5's council member, says such a center should also consider the concens of local residents...

I THINK THE BIGGER SOLUTION IS THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND HAVING A SOLUTION TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT RELATED ISSUES.

The committee's report says approximately 500 day-laborers regularly seek work in the District.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

In Fairfax County, Virginia the Office of Elections has been asked to closely monitor satellite voting sites after someone defaced an absentee voting sign.

Jessica Forres reports…

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

Nearly twenty people are waiting in line to vote at the Franconia Government Center…a satellite voting site where someone deliberately changed the hours for in-person absentee voting.

At the Center, Antoinette Glover, a resident, waits with her son.

I THINK THAT'S HORRIBLE AND I HOPE THEY CHANGED IT BACK AND PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE REAL HOURS ARE.

Jeff McCay is the Supervisor for that district.

SOMEBODAY HAD TAKEN A BLACK MAGIC MARKER AND JUST TRANSFORMED THE ONE INTO A FOUR AND A VERY SIMPLE MOVE CONFUSED A LOT OF PEOPLE AND SENT OUT A VERY WRONG MESSAGE.

He thinks it was an effort to suppress voting.

THE STORIES ARE ALREADY OUT THERE THAT IN FAIRFAX COUNTY WE ARE HAVING RECORD HIGH NUMBERS OF PEOPLE VOTE AND THERE ARE SOME FOLKS OUT THERE WHO BELIEVE IF LESS PEOPLE VOTE THEY WILL FAIR BETTER IN THE ELECTION.

The Board of Supervisors voted last week to ask the Office of Elections to closely monitor every sign at each of the seven satellite voting sites.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News


______________________________________________________________
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has voted to ask the Office of Elections to closely monitor informational signs about voting hours.

Jessica Forres reports…

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

The Board of Supervisors is asking election officers to examine signs at each of the seven satellite voting sites after someone tampered with one at Franconia Government Center.

Jeff McCay is the supervisor for that District. He says someone neatly changed the one into a four.

IT READ ABSENTEE VOTING WAS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM FOUR TO EIGHT PM.

He says it's the responsibility of election judges to make sure people are getting accurate information.

THERE'S SO MUCH EMOTION ATTACHED TO THIS ELECTION THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING THINGS THAT ARE ILL-CONCEIVED OR THAT ARE BEYOND PROMOTING DEMOCRACY AND THE ELECTION JUDGE SHOULD HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY EACH DAY WHEN THEY OPEN THE POLLS AND CLOSE THE POLLS THAT THE RIGHT INFORMATION IS POSTED.

The hours for in-person absentee voting are from 1 to 8pm Monday through Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

The "Respect My Vote" bus is touring across the U.S. to encourage young people to vote on November 4th.

Jessica Forres reports the bus stopped in the District last night.

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 885 FM

A 45 foot, wrapped tour bus is parked outside the 9:30 club, a popular music venue in D.C. The words "Respect My Vote" are written on the side.

Reverend Lennox Yearwood with the Hip-Hop Caucaus helped organize the tour. He sits inside a small room at the back of the bus.

THERE IS A TV AND EVERYTING BUT THIS WHERE WE COME IN AND PLAN OUT THE DAY. IT'S ACTUALLY OUR CONFERENCE ROOM.

The tour is meant to target registered voters between the ages of 18 and 29 who have not gone to college. He explains 93 percent of the people who fall in that group did not vote on Super Tuesday.

IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY AREN'T GOING TO A STUDENT CENTER. A LOT OF THEM ARE MARRIED, A LOT OF THEM HAVE KIDS, OR MAKE A LIVING FOR THEMSELVES AND JUST GOING HOME. THAT'S WHY THIS CONCERT TONIGHT IS SO IMPORTANT. IT HELPS US BRIDGE THAT INSTITUTIONAL VOID...SO 9:30 CLUB BECOMES OUR STUDENT CENTER SO WE CAN REACH THOSE NON-COLLEGE STUDENTS.

Crystal Gissentanna, who recently graduated from Howard University, is happy to help out.

BASICALLY I'M GOING TO PASS OUT AND INFORM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR VOTING RIGHTS AND VOTER PROTECTION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

The bus will tour 18 cities in the next two weeks.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 NEWS

As Barack Obama and John McCain race to the finish line, some local residents are hitting the streets and working the phones to campaign for the presidential candidate they support.

Jessica Forres met up with some volunteers from both campaigns in Northern Virginia.

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

[NAT: knock, knock..good morning. My name is Jan Jacobs and I'm a volunteer in the neighborhood for the barack obama campaign.]

Jacobs is canvassing a neighborhood near her house in Woodbridge, Virginia.

Mary Fry is working the phones at MCCain's campaign office in Arlington.

[HELLO MY NAME IS MARY AND I'M CALLING FROM THE JOHN MCCAIN CAMPAIGN]Both volunteers are similar... They spend their free time campaiging for the presidential candidates they support. But their differences become apparent when they explain why they got involved.

Jacobs started knocking on doors in June.

WELL I'M DIONG THIS MAINLY BECAUSE I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN. MY SON WAS IN IRAQ THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND I'M READY TO SEE AN END TO THIS WAR.

And Fry says she's made at least a thousand phone calls since March.

I CAME ORIGINALLY IN MARCH BECAUSE I FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT JOHN MCCAIN. I'M VERY MUCH A PRO-LIFE PERSON. AND HIS PRO-LIFE STAND WAS VERY CLEAR AND I WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT MINE.

Jacobs and Fry say they will campaign up until election day on November fourth.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

______________________________________________________________

As Election Day approaches, Jessica Forres reports that both presidential campaigns are seeing more people in Virginia stepping up to volunteer.

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

[HELLO MY NAME IS MARY AND I'M CALLING FROM THE JOHN MCCAIN CAMPAIGN]

Mary Fry is making phone calls at McCain's campaign office in Arlington. She's been helping out since March.

WELL THERE WAS A PHONE FOR EVERY PERSON BUT THERE WERE ONLY THREE PHONES WHEN I FIRST STARTED AND SO EACH TIME I CAME THERE WERE MORE TABLES AND MORE PHONES.

Now…there are more than 50 volunteers making phone calls in the same room as Fry.

Jan Jacobs is also volunteer, but for Barack Obama's campaign. She is canvassing a neighborhood in Woodbridge.

[NAT: KNOCK, KNOCK]
I'M LOOKING FOR JESSE IS THAT YOU
-SPEAKING

She says there are more volunteers now compared to when she first started knocking on doors.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE CANVASSERS NOW THAN WE HAD IN JULY AND IN JULY I WAS DOING IT ALL BY MYSELF. I WOULD GO FROM DIFFERENT PLACES ALONE.

In Virginia, there are more than 14-thousand volunteer working in each presidential campaign.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News