In a press release, League president Mary G. Wilson said:

“Health care reform is a critically important issue for Americans – an issue that requires action from all of us. After watching opponents of health care reform repeatedly attempt to scare people with lies and disorderly conduct, the League decided that we must speak up.

“This is an unusual step for us. But as a non-partisan membership organization that believes in reasoned and civil debate we felt compelled to take a stand against the lies and the distortions. We know our modest buy is a drop in the bucket compared to the vast resources being spent by special interests, but we also know that our message is shared by countless, everyday Americans.”

Women are disproportionately affected by our broken health care system. In many states, insurance companies are allowed to discriminate on the basis of gender. One recent study found that a 25-year old woman is charged 45 percent more than a 25-year old man for the same coverage, and thousands of women have been denied coverage because of so-called "pre-existing" conditions, like having had a C-section or a previous pregnancy. You can watch the LWV's adhere.

Here’s an excerpt from Kaine’s statement:

“Throughout her hearings, Judge Sotomayor demonstrated why she is one of the most qualified candidates ever nominated to the Court. With experience as a prosecutor, a corporate litigator and a judge, she will bring more federal judicial experience than any justice in the 100 years. And her incredible life story is something all Americans can draw inspiration from. Every American should be proud today that the country is one step closer to having our first-ever Latina Supreme Court Justice.

“I want to congratulate Judge Sotomayor on this historic step and thank Chairman Leahy (D-VT) for his outstanding leadership. Despite the attempts of some Republicans to play politics with the Judge’s confirmation, the process remains on schedule so that Judge Sotomayor will be able to join her colleagues on the Court in early September.”

Full remarks below.

Full remarks of the President are below.

The legislation now heads to President Barack Obama's desk for signature.

The U.S. economy lost 524,000 jobs in December, closing out the worst year for job losses since World War II, the Labor Department said Friday.

Nearly 2.6 million jobs were lost in 2008, with 1.9 million destroyed in just the past four months, according to a survey of work places. It's the biggest job loss in any calendar year since 1945, when 2.75 million jobs were lost as the wartime economy was demobilized.

The 1.5 million jobs lost in the fourth quarter were the most in any three-month period since 1945.
As a percentage of employment, job losses in 2008 totaled 1.8%, the worst since 1982 and the third largest since the war.

The numbers were released as Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-California) began her Senate confirmation hearings as the next Secretary of Labor for President-elect Barack Obama's incoming administration.

President-elect Barack Obama's pick to become the top U.S. labor official said on Friday her priorities would be to boost job training and search assistance to fight a deepening U.S. recession.

Democratic Rep. Hilda Solis, tapped by Obama to become labor secretary, also told her Senate confirmation hearing she would fight job discrimination and ensure employees "get the pay they have earned working in safe, healthy and fair workplaces."

The President-elect also named Karen Mills as Administrator of the Small Business Administration and former Mayor Ron Kirk as United States Trade Representative.

Hilda has always been an advocate for everyday people. When she received an award several years ago, she said, “Fighting for what is just is not always popular, but it is necessary.” And that is exactly what she has done throughout her career, blazing new trails every step of the way. Whether it’s creating green jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced or expanding access to affordable health care or raising the minimum wage in California, Hilda has been a champion of our middle class. And I know that Hilda will show the same kind of leadership as Secretary of Labor that she showed in California and on the Education and Labor Committee by protecting workers’ rights – from organizing to collective bargaining, from keeping our workplaces safe to making our unions strong. [...]

Few understand our infrastructure challenge better than the outstanding public servant I am asking to lead the Department of Transportation – Ray LaHood. As a Congressman from Illinois, Ray served six years on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, leading efforts to modernize our aviation system by renewing our aging airports and ensuring that air traffic controllers were using cutting edge technology. Throughout his career, Ray has fought to improve mass transit and invest in our highways. But he has not only helped rebuild our landscape, he has helped beautify it by creating opportunities for bikers and runners to enjoy our great outdoors. When I began this appointment process, I said I was committed to finding the best person for the job, regardless of party. Ray’s appointment reflects that bipartisan spirit – a spirit we need to reclaim in this country to make progress for the American people.

I stand before you as a woman who has seen how this opportunity can lift people up. And when I see Barack Obama and Joe Biden, I see the same decency and values that my hard-working parents taught me.

I see the wonderful promise of America, and I see the opportunity of a lifetime to bring about the change we need.

I’m a Democrat because I believe in the power of opportunity.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden will fight, so that all Americans can pursue their dreams. And that’s change we can all believe in.

My name is Quincy Lucas. My sister Witney was my best friend. In 2003, she was murdered at the hands of her ex-boyfriend. I later learned that she was one of 58 women who lost their lives to domestic violence in Maryland alone that year.

Violence against women often happens in the shadows, out of public view. Since that time, I’ve devoted my life to bringing it into the light. But I can only speak so much. I realize that sometimes to change lives, you have to change the law.

Joe Biden heard my story. In 1994, he wrote the Violence Against Women Act, so every woman would have a place to turn for support. He’s constantly making sure it has the funding it needs. And today, countless women get a second chance at life because of Joe Biden.

So it is in memory of my sister and in the name of women all across this country, that I’m proud to place into nomination the name of Joe Biden to be our next vice president.

Thank you.

Acts of courage like theirs happen everywhere American troops serve. They are happening right now. I know that—so does my family. My father served in Vietnam, my brother served in the Coast Guard, my husband just returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom. We served because we believe in this great nation and the opportunities it has given us. And because our service members support us, we must always keep the faith with them.

The administration of George Bush—supported by John McCain every step of the way—has let our warriors down. Our troops are courageous, strong and fierce. This administration has re-deployed them until they are overstretched, stressed and strained.

Our warriors should fight in Afghanistan where al-Qaida and the Taliban are on the offensive.

But instead of destroying the enemies who attacked us on 9/11, we have diverted our military might to Iraq, which had nothing to do with 9/11. When our warriors come home they deserve the best VA medical care, but too often they get bureaucracy, not benefits. They find inadequate access, inferior facilities and infuriating paperwork.

And now, John McCain wants to ration care. Under his plan, the VA will serve combat injuries, but everyone else gets an insurance card. Barack Obama and the Democrats have a different idea. Barack Obama will live up to their tradition of honor and sacrifice. Barack Obama will use war not as a first choice, but a last resort. Barack Obama understands that for a commander-in-chief to support the military, he needs more than a “Mission Accomplished” banner, more than wearing a borrowed flight suit, and definitely more than four more years of the same failed foreign policy.

President Obama will restore the might of the military, invest in our troops and only send our sons and daughters to war if they have a clearly defined mission and the tools they need to succeed.

I speak from more than a gut feeling on this. I know Barack Obama. I met him when he visited me and other wounded troops at Walter Reed. He came without reporters. He wasn’t looking for credit. He just cared about how we were doing. He knew that wherever you stand on the war, you must love the warrior, and he does.

I testified before his committee; I listened to him talk, but then I watched what he did and how he voted. As a Senator, Barack Obama worked to improve the lives of all our veterans. He fought to fix our rundown hospitals. He fought to cut through the red tape. Unlike John McCain, Barack Obama fought for a new GI bill—and won—so that every veteran has the same opportunity to pursue their American dream just like his grandfather had after World War II. So I know what he’ll do as president.

An America with President Obama will have a 21st century VA. He’ll improve access to health care. He’ll speed up disability claims. He’ll increase services for nationwide post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries as we have already done in Illinois under Governor Blagojevich’s leadership.

And Barack Obama will have a simple principle for homeless veterans: zero tolerance, because we are all dishonored when those who’ve worn the uniform sleep on our streets. But here’s what he won’t do: President Obama will reject John McCain’s plan to privatize the VA system. We won’t force veterans to search for medical care with nothing but a plastic card and the promise of payment. We won’t have means testing for access to the VA. Why? Because Barack Obama knows this: no one asked us where we lived or how much money we had when we enlisted, and no one should ask us that after we’ve bled for our country.

Fellow Democrats, fellow Americans: I believe in this nation that I love more than my own life.

Today we have an opportunity to honor our military men and women by living up to that soldier’s creed. Today we have an opportunity to give our veterans the benefits they rightfully earned. Today we have the opportunity to change our relations with the world.

I believe that America will elect the leader who has always fought to keep our nation’s promise to our veterans. I believe America will elect the leader who can best keep this nation strong.

Barack Obama is right for our military. Barack Obama is right for our veterans. Barack Obama is right for our country. And that’s why Barack Obama will be our next commander-in-chief.

God bless you, and always, God bless America.

I could not vote in the United States, but for 20 years as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, I served the United States. Like others who have worn the uniform, I know what it is like to serve in harm’s way—you need the right leadership, the right equipment. And I know that after eight years of George Bush, our military cannot afford being overstretched and underequipped. And John McCain is more of the same.

Our military cannot afford more of the same. They need a Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama who had the judgment to oppose the Iraq war from the start and is determined to end the war and bring our troops home and win the fight against the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11.

I know how hard it is to serve your country while raising your family, in my case, a daughter and stepdaughter. At times, duty took me away. Other times, I stayed at home when my husband, David, also in the Coast Guard, deployed overseas. And I know that after eight years of George Bush, our military families cannot afford the long, repeat deployments and short visits home. And John McCain is more of the same.

Our military families need a change. They need a Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama who will ease the burdens on their families, support spouses back home and ensure that military paychecks can support military families.

Barack Obama is the change we need. Now that both my husband and I are retired, we know it is not enough for a president to simply be a veteran; we need a president who truly serves veterans.

We cannot afford John McCain. He thought a new GI Bill for today’s veterans was too generous. He wants to limit health care at the VA to only combat injuries.

We need a commander-in-chief Barack Obama committed to a world-class education and affordable health care for every veteran. As a veteran, I know something else—true patriots, like Barack Obama, never challenge the patriotism of others for political gain.

For America, the stakes are high. For us veterans, the choice is clear. We need Barack Obama as the next commander-in-chief, the next President of the United States of America.

Thank you, gracias.

All of the women who wrote those letters are saying the same thing: We can’t afford four more years of the same policies that have gotten us into these problems in the first place.

This convention is a time of joy and hope. At the same time, we are deeply saddened to be without one of our sisters in Congress—Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones from Ohio.

Congresswoman Tubbs Jones was a forceful advocate for economic empowerment, affordable health care, and quality education. We will miss her terribly.

Everything is on the line for women in this election. Barack Obama will deliver the change that the women who wrote these letters need, and all of us need. This November, when women vote, women win – and America will win with Barack Obama as the next president of the United States!

Shelly in Utah wrote to Barack Obama to tell him about the discrimination she faced in the corporate world. Ten years ago, because of stories like hers, I introduced the Paycheck Fairness Act. Every year, the Republican Congress blocked our bill. But after 10 long years and a new Democratic Congress, we were successful. That doesn’t mean our work is done.

The Supreme Court ended a woman’s right to challenge discrimination, and when Congress tried to change it, John McCain didn’t even bother to show up to vote. Barack Obama was there. He voted yes. As president, he will continue saying yes to equality for women because he knows that women can’t afford more of the same falling wages and income.