Christians for JubileeChristians for JubileeObtaining Debt Relief for Poor CountriesObtaining Debt Relief for Poor Countries
2HLRM, LLP
Background
• Poor countries – insurmountable debt
• Jubilee 2000– Religious movement with nearly unanimous global support
• U.S. is the only major holdout– $1 in U.S. appropriations = $90 in global debt relief– Entire success of movement relies on U.S. participation
Background (continued)
• 1998 G8 meeting - creditor gov’ts embrace debt relief
• Clinton requests total of $920 million over four years
• Support for bill rests along party lines
• Republicans control both House and Senate
Background (continued)
• Pelosi calls for emergency funding amendment, but subcommittee votes it down (8-7)
• Full Committee also votes it down (32-21)
• Senate reduces funding to $75 million
• Clinton threatens veto of Appropriations Bill
The Players
• Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations (8 to 7 against)– Supporters: Democrats: Pelosi, Jackson, Kilpatrick, Lowey, Sabo, Obey
and Republican: Wolf– Opponents: All Republicans: Callahan, (chair of subcommittee),
Kingston, Knollenberg, Lewis, Packard, Porter, Wicker, Young
• Full House Appropriations Committee (21-32 against)– Wolf – only Republican to vote in favor– Democrats – 3 voted against
The Players (continued)
• Republican Leaders– Dick Armey (House Majority leader) and Tom DeLay – cut
appropriations by $300 million.– Calling for provisions to safeguard funding from foreign corruption
• Celebrities - Pope, Dalai Lama, Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, Muhammad Ali, Bono, Jeffrey Sachs.
• Interest Groups – Supporters and Opponents that fall along party lines
• What Now?
Strategy
• Two-pronged Attack– Goal is to gain legislative approval of significant
appropriations for debt relief
– Inside political strategy
– Outside political strategy• Complements and coordinates with Inside strategy
Inside Strategy
• Overcome Callahan and House Republican leaders, Armey and DeLay– They have strong influence on other House Republicans
• Meet with Pelosi (D) and Wolf (R)– Convince Wolf to take lead on debt relief– Wolf may gain Republican support
Inside Strategy (continued)
• Add provisions to prevent corruption
• Play the religious angle– Use religious networks to pressure representatives from
Southern Baptist states
• Leverage Clinton’s veto power
Outside Strategy
• Join with other interest groups– Pool resources, expand network– Diverse coalition – make detractors seem like out of touch
“Scrooges”
• Expand religious support– 40,000+ Southern Baptist Churches– Build support using existing network of Christian fellowship
Outside Strategy (continued)
• Use celebrity “star power”– Pope, Bono, Muhammed Ali, Billy Graham, Jeffrey Sachs– Sponsor a Jubilee Concert Tour – U2, Christian/Country acts
• Media Campaign– New Media (Use web to spread info, accept donations)– Traditional Media (TV, Radio, Print)
Commercial
Commercial
Questions?
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