Fuse Newsroom

"I'm 38 years old and I'm a cancer survivor and I will be for the rest of my life," explained Melissa "Nikki" Mackey, a slight woman with a tremulous voice, by way of introduction. "But cancer was not in my plans."

Nikki is just one of 90 Washington women suing state Attorney General and gubernatorial wannabe Rob McKenna for breach of ethics and lying about the ramifications of his national pursuit to overturn Obama's Affordable Care Act (ACA).

90 local women are suing Attorney General Rob McKenna. They say he isn't representing them, or the people of Washington State.

Melissa Mackey has breast cancer. She was horrified her Attorney General said the law is unconstitutional. "Rob McKenna and others with a political agenda are desperately trying to take away the Affordable Care Act," Mackey said.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers District 751 (the 45,000-member Boeing workers' union) endorsed Progressive Majority leader and Washington Bus Board member Noel Frame.

Frame, who's been active with Progressive Majority organizing for liberal candidates for the past several years, has already picked up a batch of endorsements from progressive legislators such as state Sen. Sharon Nelson (D-34, W. Seattle, Vashon), and progressive campaign groups such as Fuse.

"Craig will finally bring oversight and accountability to the billions of dollars in tax loopholes and expenditures on the books in our state," according to a statement made by Fuse. "Unlike some of his primary opponents, Craig's leadership is based on progressive values: he's been a consistent defender of women's health, marriage equality and environmental protections."

The progressive group Fuse Washington issued early endorsements in some state races yesterday, including in Seattle's hotly contested 36th Legislative District (Ballard, Queen Anne) where a pack of Democrats are running to take retiring state Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson's open seat. Fuse endorsed Progressive Majority executive director and founding Washington Bus board member Noel Frame.

Some other Fuse picks: They endorsed Bellevue attorney Cyrus Habib in the Microsoft suburban 48th, where he's running to replace retiring Rep. Deb Eddy; and liberal state Sen. Craig Pridemore (D-49, Vancouver) for state auditor. Pridemore is running against his fellow state legislator Rep. Mark Miloscia (D-30, Federal Way), a labor Democrat, but social conservative.

Fuse Washington released its early endorsements for the 2012 elections, including support for Ballard resident Noel Frame in her race for the 36th Legislative District.

With the help of volunteers, Fuse will raise funds and educate voters about these candidates in the 2012 primary and general election. The full list of Fuse endorsements will be released in the primary Progressive Voters' Guide in mid-July. In 2010, Fuse early-endorsed candidates Joe Fitzgibbon, Tami Green, and Charlie Wiggins.

We created this chart showing how the Affordable Care Act ends discrimination against women in health insurance premiums. After just a few days, our chart had received nearly 1 million views from social media and Mother Jones, Daily Kos, and The Ed Schultz Show. We even got a retweet from the White House!

"Today's Winner: Fuse. The local lefty activist group Fuse published a spoof version of the Seattle Times today: The Slanted Times."

"However, we wouldn't be giving Fuse today's winning Jolt if it weren't for something they actually did last week, which blew up online today with thousands of likes on Facebook and landing on the front page of Mother Jones after getting 'Chart of the Day.'"

Op-ed by Fuse Executive Director Aaron Ostrom: "As I sort through the extended budget fights in Olympia, I've found it useful to keep a compass handy. It helps me stay focused on our true priorities as a state: Does this budget point toward stronger families, a more secure middle class and a better world for our children, or not?"

It's mid-March and Tim Eyman isn't running around the state proselytizing on an initiative. Could this be a year Mukilteo's initiative impresario doesn't try to push an initiative onto the ballot?

"What we've seen in recent years is that powerful conservative interests with money buy their way onto the ballot easily," said Aaron Ostrom, executive director of Fuse Washington, a coalition of progressive groups. "So, unless or until every wealthy conservative says they will not give Tim Eyman a dime, we're not out of the woods yet."

Protesters were out in force in Seattle on Thursday night when Romney held a fundraiser at a civic center in Bellevue, Washington, near Seattle, attended by the local political establishment and well-heeled locals. About 100 protesters turned up for a spirited but peaceful demonstration with signs, props and inventive chants, including some of those who have participated in the Occupy Wall Street movement. A cardboard cutout of the candidate was on the scene, holding a sign that said "Of the 1 percent, by the 1 percent, for the 1 percent."

"Pressure from environmental groups appears to have blocked legislation geared at making it easier for developers to build in upland areas while a shoreline permit is under appeal."

"But Takko's comments were little comfort to environmental groups ranging from Futurewise, Fuse Washington, the Surfrider Foundation, the Center for Justice in Spokane, the People for Puget Sound and others, which sent out e-mail blasts, issued blog alerts and made phone calls urging legislators to kill the bill as written."

However, a number of online petitions had begun circulating to protest Komen's decision, from efforts such as MoveOn.org ("Put Women's Lives Ahead of Politics") and Credo Action ("Don't Throw Planned Parenthood Under A Bus"). In Washington state, a group called Fuse collected signatures under the cause, "I Stand With Planned Parenthood!"

Collin Jergens of Fuse, the state's largest progressive organization, talks with Gavin Dahl about a new proposal in Olympia that could generate $500 million of new revenues annually in the state of Washington.

Fuse Washington, a group that promotes progressive candidates and causes, took issue with the examples Republican state AG Rob McKenna, who's running for governor, cited at a recent health-care conference as evidence that Massachusetts' mandatory health care system doesn't work.

Eisinger says the state needs to pursue something that goes into effect immediately. "The best revenue package there is in some respects is the package that can get through," she said. At the same time, she and others want to find a long-term solution to Washington's revenue problem.

"We already have one of the most regressive tax systems in the nation," said Collin Jergens, spokesperson for Fuse, a nonprofit advocating for progressive change in Washington.

King County Elections won't post the final tally until late this afternoon, but civic activist John Stokes has apparently won an open Bellevue City Council seat over Kemper Freeman, Jr. -backed attorney Aaron Laing.

"It means Kemper has gone  zero-for-four this year," joked Collin Jergens of Fuse Washington.  The progressive group put energy into the Bellevue contests and has watched the recount.

After years of debate and months of suspense, an often-divided Bellevue City Council put its differences aside Monday night and unanimously approved an agreement with Sound Transit for a light-rail route that tunnels through downtown. The 7-0 vote finalizes an agreement on the East Link rail route and funding for the downtown tunnel.

Saturday's march was part of a larger event called "move your money day" or "make Wall Street pay" in which people were encouraged to switch their accounts to credit unions or community banks from national banks.

In Olympia, the event was organized by the Occupy Olympia outreach committee, as well as MoveOn Olympia and Fuse Washington, a progressive advocacy group, said Fuse campaign director Jim Dawson.

The state Republican Party gave David Condon's campaign for mayor $25,000 on Oct. 27. It's easily the largest contribution to a Spokane candidate this year, and has supporters of Mayor Mary Verner calling foul.

State law bars parties from promising donors that their contributions will go to certain campaigns, a practice known as "earmarking." Tanya Riordan, an organizer for the activist group Fuse Washington, filed a complaint with the Public Disclosure Commission this week.

A dueling group of protests occupied the corner of Bellevue Way and Northeast Eighth Street Wednesday night in response to rampant spending in Bellevue City Council races.

The rally was originally planned by Fuse Washington, a progressive public policy group, to protest negative mailers sent out against council candidates Claudia Balducci and John Stokes. The protestors were upset about what they said were negative mailers were sent by a political action committee tied to local developer Kemper Freeman. They accused him of attempting to buy an election.

Today's loser: State attorney general Rob McKenna.

"The Supreme Court sent Rob McKenna a very blunt message that he needs to stop playing politics and do his job," said Aaron Ostrom, Executive Director of Fuse Washington. "His job is to represent the people and the state of Washington, and he completely abandoned his responsibilities."