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7/31/17

The Rogan's List Team is on vacation from July 30 through August 13, but because of the extension of the Senate calendar we have decided to run a smaller list during this time. We look forward to being back to the full list on August 14.

Contact Federal Government Officials

OR
Search all members of Congress here:  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/current
OR
Fax your legislators for free:  Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php
OR
Find senators Twitter and Facebook Accounts here:
Find representatives on Twitter here:

********************************

If your senators and reps aren't saved in your phone yet,
text your US postal address to (520) 200-2223 and get a text back with their contact information.

1.       This week in Congress: The House is on recess until Sept. 5.  The Senate will be in session through Friday, Aug. 11.  The one item on the schedule right now for Monday, July 31 is continued consideration of the nomination of Kevin Newson of Alabama as a judge of the US Court, 11th Circuit. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/calendars.htm  Let's tell our Senators that we oppose Newsom.  "As Alabama's solicitor general, he spent much of his time defending the state’s ability to execute people, and in 2005, he expressed regret at the Supreme Court’s ruling that it is unconstitutional to execute juveniles." http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/14/trump-judicial-nominees-civil-rights-newsom-bush-schiff-215253 Let's also stay vigilant in watching for nominee confirmation hearings and a possible additional try at Trumpcare. 

2.      Trump had a vigorous tweet-storm on Saturday about health care and other topics. There are signals from the GOP in the Senate that their health care efforts are not done: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/29/senate-republicans-obamacare-repeal-241128  Please let your Senators know that they need to return to a respectful and dignified path of bipartisan committee work with hearings and opportunity for comment if their goal is to improve health care in the United States.

3.      It is becoming clearer that Trump broadsided military brass with his ill-conceived transgender military ban as announced via Twitter while Secretary of Defense Mattis was on vacation: http://thehill.com/policy/defense/344391-trump-transgender-decision-rattles-pentagon  Let’s use this time to express our concern to Secretary Mattis about the ban and about what Trump’s process signals about making critical decisions in the future: Secretary James Mattis, 1000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC, 20301

4.      We know that Trump wants Sessions out of the AG position and he could have his golden opportunity while the Senate is on recess in August because if the Senate is not in session for ten days in a row, Trump could make a replacement that does not require confirmation.  However, before they leave, the Senate could invoke a procedural option called "pro forma sessions," during which they are on recess only three days at time thereby requiring a Senate confirmation for any appointment.  http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/343643-senate-dems-warn-they-will-block-recess-appointments Let's contact our senators and ask them to do just this.

Other Actions

1.       The vast majority of Americans think money has too much influence in politics, and with the opportunity to fill a Supreme Court seat with someone who understands that money isn’t speech lost to Trump we’re going to need to elect politicians who will amend the Constitution. (http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/money-has-too-much-influence-politics-say-americans). Let’s join American Promise in asking candidates to take the pledge to end unlimited spending our elections. We can sign up here, and register here for a conference call on their candidate pledge effort August 1st.

2.      The Action Group Network is holding virtual and in-person Resistance 101 trainings throughout August to connect folks with skills, resources and coaching to keep resisting in the long term. After the training, you’ll be connected with a dedicated and experienced coach who is available to support you long term as you develop strategies, plan actions and tackle challenges head on. Those of us who are interested can register at this link.


3.      Amy Siskind is keeping track of all of the not-normal things that happen each week because "experts in authoritarianism advise to keep a list of things subtly changing around you, so you’ll remember."  https://medium.com/@Amy_Siskind/week-37-experts-in-authoritarianism-advise-to-keep-a-list-of-things-subtly-changing-around-you-so-95953670b72a  Let's read and reflect upon last week's list, week 37.



Rogan’s List is a participant in and strategic partner of the Action Alliance,
            a loosely-federated group of organizations that, in the wake of the
2016 election, are sharing daily or weekly calls to action.
Other member sites are listed here: https://www.actionalliance.co/  --scroll down and click through and you'll find many more opportunities to make a difference.
******
Rogan’s List is also part of RISE Stronger’s United States of Resistance


7/29/17

Just a reminder that there will be no Rogan’s List tomorrow.

The Rogan's List Team is on vacation from July 30 through August 13, but because of the extension of the Senate calendar we have decided to run a smaller list during this time. We look forward to being back to the full list on August 14.


Contact Federal Government Officials


OR
Search all members of Congress here:  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/current
OR
Fax your legislators for free:  Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php
OR
Find senators Twitter and Facebook Accounts here:
Find representatives on Twitter here:

********************************

If your senators and reps aren't saved in your phone yet,
text your US postal address to (520) 200-2223 and get a text back with your
STATE & FEDERAL legislative rep phone numbers.

Correction:  On Monday, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced two (2) amendments to the Make America Safe Appropriations Act (H.R. 3219) that would help protect state secrets and limit funds going from the Defense budget to Trump-owned properties http://thehill.com/homenews/house/343468-dem-amendments-target-kushner-trump-businesses Let's tell our reps that we support Lieu's amendments.  

Correction:  Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke picked up the phone to call Alaska Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski to threaten financial retribution to their state because of Murkowski’s health care votes: https://www.adn.com/politics/2017/07/26/trump-administration-signals-that-murkowskis-health-care-vote-could-have-energy-repercussions-for-alaska/?outputType=amp-type Let’s let Zinke know that this is not a Banana Republic and that his actions are out of bounds: https://www.doi.gov/contact-us  and https://twitter.com/SecretaryZinke

  1. House is now on recess until Sept. 5.  The Senate is expected to start their recess on Aug. 7 and return on Sept. 5. We can keep contacting our MoCs during this time on issues important to us and we can also see if there are any Resistance Recess events we can attend:  https://www.resistancerecess.com/event/aug-resistance-recess-events/search/

  1. Now that the repeal/replace of the ACA has failed again, we know that Trump is predicting and assisting the ACA’s failure.  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-28/obamacare-survives-for-now-trump-may-try-to-kill-it-slowly and https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/19/us/what-trump-can-do-to-let-obamacare-fail.html Let’s make sure to let all three of our MoCs know that we are counting on them to maintain the ACA’s stability while they work on a bipartisan effort to repair what needs to be fixed so that more people have better coverage at better prices.

  1. Kudos to the Congressional Problem Solvers Caucus http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2017/07/22/Bipartisan-in-deed-Bravo-for-Problem-Solvers-Caucus-in-U-S-House/stories/201707220027 as they work on health care ideas:  http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/28/house-group-obamacare-repeal-meeting-241083  This is what democracy looks like.  Let's ask if our MoCs are part of this group and thank them if they are, and tell them to get on it, if they are not.

  1. Donald Trump and his Republican allies are continuing their assault on the separation of church and state during the appropriations process. They added a measure to a government spending bill that prevent the IRS from enforcing a law prohibiting houses of worship from endorsing political candidates (http://thehill.com/policy/finance/340284-gop-spending-bill-would-ease-enforcement-of-political-activity-by-churches).  Let’s join Americans United for Separation of Church and State, contact our members of Congress and ask them to push for this provision to be removed: http://p2a.co/G8XZ7Le.

  1. The EPA is moving forward with a Clean Water Act repeal. The 30 day public comment period is now open.  http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/343898-epa-to-seek-comments-on-obama-water-rule-repeal  Let's go to the Federal Register to submit our own comments. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/07/27/2017-13997/definition-of-waters-of-the-united-states-recodification-of-pre-existing-rules  Let's share this on social media and tell our friends. We want clean water! 

  1. Habitat for Humanity offers us this site to ask our MoCs to support the programs that make decent housing a reality for Habitat partner families across the country.  https://secure.habitat.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=255

  1. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) are working together on bi-partisan legislation to protect special counsels such as Robert Mueller.  https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/07/27/sen-lindsey-graham-introduce-bill-protect-special-counsels-such-robert-mueller/517098001/  While this legislation has not yet been filed and does not yet have a number, let's go ahead and let both of our own Senators know that we support protecting special counsels.

  2. Everytown for Gun Safety, a movement of Americans fighting for common-sense reforms to reduce gun violence, invites us to write a postcard to our MoCs about not gutting our gun safety laws.  They will deliver the postcards for us. http://act.everytown.org/sign/postcards-dont-gut-our-gun-laws/

  1. So far this year, the Department of Education has not accepted any applications for student loan forgiveness for those who have been defrauded by their schools. Under the Borrower Defense Rule, students can apply to have loans forgiven in cases where the school used illegal measures to push students to borrow more money http://bit.ly/2v7P22Q Let's tell Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos that this delay of federal student loan relief is unacceptable and that she needs to process these applications ASAP https://twitter.com/BetsyDeVosED

  2. Representative Labrador (R-ID) has introduced the Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act of 2017 (H.R. 2826) which would place additional, unnecessary, restrictions on refugees attempting to enter the United States. The security screening and vetting process is already incredibly rigorous and effective, and is detailed in this helpful pdf from the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants: http://bit.ly/2w81Seu Let's tell our Representatives to oppose H.R. 2826. 5calls has helpful background information and a call script https://5calls.org/issue/recOjzFukqfi0c3Dd

  3. The House passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2017 (H.R. 3219), which included $1.6 billion for Trump's border wall http://bit.ly/2w4fur2 Let's be sure to see how our representative voted, then give them a call and hold them accountable  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/115-2017/h435   

  1. “On Friday [yesterday], Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) introduced the American Hope Act of 2017, a bill to give those with DACA and others who arrived in the United States as children a path to permanent legal status and eventual citizenship.”  There were over 110 cosponsors at the time the bill was introduced.  https://gutierrez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/american-hope-act-introduced-protect-immigrant-youth-and-those-daca The bill has not yet been numbered, but let’s keep an eye out for this one to make sure our rep know we support this.

State Actions

  1. UT: Primary Ballots are on their way to Utah mailboxes for the August 15 primary election.  http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865685480/Primary-ballots-on-their-way-to-Utah-mailboxes.html Early voting starts Aug. 1.  Let's check out this article for important election dates and other information. GOP primaries are closed in Utah so we must be registered as Republican to vote in the Republican primary. The deadline to switch parties has passed.  However, if we are unaffiliated, we can still register as Republican at the polls or online.  

Other Actions


  1. From Center for American ProgressAl Gore’s new film An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power http://www.npr.org/2017/07/27/539734176/-an-inconvenient-sequel-is-an-effective-cautiously-optimistic-i-told-you-so ) premiered yesterday. We can use Climate Reality Project’s social media toolkit to draw attention and raise public awareness on climate change. 

  1. After helping Karen Gaddis to a 95-vote win to flip a state legislative seat in Oklahoma, Postcards to Voters is expanding its operations! (http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/karen-gaddis-sworn-into-the-oklahoma-house-after-winning-special/article_6e1f77d1-f7f1-58be-8ab7-2f70e3b0b6b6.html) They’ve just announced their next TWO campaigns – helping a progressive win a city council seat in Phoenix and another special election for the state house in Iowa. Let’s join them in helping get our voters out to the polls! We can sign up and get more info here: http://mailchi.mp/ind-d6/postcards-to-iowa-and-arizona-voters.

  1. From 2 Hours a Week:  ACTION 187: Five Things You Can Do To Oppose Trump's Ban On Transgender People In The Military:  http://mailchi.mp/2hoursaweek/action-187-five-things-to-oppose-trumps-transgender-military-ban

  1. Molly Ivins was an American newspaper columnist, author, political commentator, and humorist who was legendary.  There is a new documentary about her life being made called Raise Hell. Let’s check her to read more about Molly and how we can support this work: http://mollyivinsfilm.com/

  1. Save EPA, a volunteer organization of former Environmental Protection Agency staffers, has recently published a guide for activists working against the Trump administration’s rolling back public protections issued by any federal agency. http://www.hillheat.com/files/GuidetoresistingEPADereg.2017.pdf Let’s use this guide to help direct our environmental efforts.

  1. Yesterday, while in a speech in New York regarding gang-related deaths, Trump told the attending law enforcement officers that is was okay not to be too nice to their arrestees.  http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-tells-l-i-cops-dont-be-too-nice-when-dealing-with-gangs/ Immediately, the local police department came out with a statement refuting that advice saying that they “ do not and will not tolerate roughing up prisoners."  Let’s thank the Suffolk County Police Department for their quick and proper response:  John L. Barry Police Headquarters, 30 Yaphank Avenue, Yaphank, New York 11980.  The International Association of Chiefs of Police also felt the need to address the situation:  https://theiacpblog.org/2017/07/28/statement-from-the-international-association-of-chief-of-police-on-police-use-of-force/ Let’s thank them, too44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314

Petitions


  1. Let's join together to end the use of plastic straws. Urge McDonald's, and its 14K U.S. locations, to stop using straws and start saving wildlife.  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/669/846/505/mcdonalds-end-the-use-of-plastic-straws/   

  1. Robert Reich and MoveOn.org have teamed up with a petition to denounce the Koch brothers and their negative impact on our country.  This explains what is happening:  https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/videos/1652270574785532/ Let’s sign the petition:  https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/we-denounce-the-koch

Marches/events to attend/organize


  1. Today, all over the country, there are “Our Lives are on the Line” rallies being planned in opposition to the health care bill.  Let’s see if there is one near us and attend, or if not, let’s plan one:  http://ourlivesontheline.org/

Reading/Watching


  1. Here’s this week’s United States of Resistance from RISE Strongerhttps://www.risestronger.org/newsroom/healthcarevictory

  1. Leave God Out of Our Hate:  http://www.dirtysexyministry.com/2017/07/leave-god-out-of-our-hate.html

  1. And, our weekly dose of Small Victories, thanks to Peace is Loudhttp://peaceisloud.org/small-victories-issue-30/


Rogan’s List is a participant in and strategic partner of the Action Alliance,
         a loosely-federated group of organizations that, in the wake of the
2016 election, are sharing daily or weekly calls to action.
Other member sites are listed here: https://www.actionalliance.co/  --scroll down and click through and you'll find many more opportunities to make a difference.
******
Rogan’s List is also part of RISE Stronger’s United States of Resistance




7/28/17

Contact Federal Government Officials


OR
Search all members of Congress here:  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/current
OR
Fax your legislators for free:  Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php
OR
Find senators Twitter and Facebook Accounts here:
Find representatives on Twitter here:

********************************

If your senators and reps aren't saved in your phone yet,
text your US postal address to (520) 200-2223 and get a text back with your
STATE & FEDERAL legislative rep phone numbers.

  1. In their desperation to rid themselves of the ACA, late in the night the Senate GOP hastily crafted their 8-page skinny bill, The Freedom Health Care Act and the vote commenced.  Sen. Collins (R-MA), Sen. Murkowski (R-AK), and Sen. McCain (R-AZ) voted against it to bring it to defeat. Both the bill itself and the process were to blame. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/7/28/16054700/senate-obamacare-repeal-john-mccain-susan-collins-lisa-murkowski Let's take the day to congratulate ourselves and rest, then, let’s thank all the senators who voted against this harmful bill.  Most importantly, let's remind ALL our MoCs that we are pro-healthcare voters and we will use our votes in upcoming elections and that we now expect some healthy bipartisan work from them.

  1. On the same day that Trump dismissed transgendered persons from serving in the military, his Dept. of Justice filed an amicus brief in a federal court case arguing that civil rights protections for LGBT citizens is not covered by federal law by saying that Title VII doesn't cover employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/07/27/trump-administration-intervening-in-major-lgbt-case-says-job-bias-law-does-not-cover-sexual-orientation/?utm_term=.3ad77c6142c9  Time to contact all our legislators to tell them that the definition of “sex” needs to be updated in the federal law to include language to protect ALL our brothers and sisters. 

  1. Trump’s proposed 2018 budget is a vicious attack on critical programs in almost every corner of the federal budget… and yet he found $23 billion of our tax dollars to put into the boots, walls, and detention facilities that make up his out-of-control deportation machine, and so far Congressional Republicans are giving him most of what he wants. (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-11/house-republicans-1-6-billion-border-wall-plan-sets-up-fight) Let’s join Indivisible in calling our members of Congress and telling them to oppose funding for Trump’s deportation agenda. We can get more information here.

  1. Donald Trump is proposing deep cuts to federal aid for affordable housing… except, of course, for a program that would benefit him personally. (http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/338701-trump-budget-calls-for-cuts-to-housing-aid-except-for-subsidy-that) Affordable housing advocates are fighting back as part of a week of action, and we can help. Let’s join CarsonWatch and the No Cuts Coalition in writing to our members of Congress and asking them to fully fund housing aid. We can find a sample letter here.

  1. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski is taking threats from Trump via Twitter and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke via phone because of her health care “no” votes in the Senate and she has encouraged Trump to focus on governing :http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/343904-murkowski-after-trump-attack-were-here-to-govern?amp Let’s thank Murkowski and ask her to stand strong under all this pressure: https://twitter.com/lisamurkowski and https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/contact

  1. In addition, "Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) on Wednesday defended President Trump's criticism of Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) as fair, saying someone needs to go to the Senate and “snatch a knot in their ass.” http://thehill.com/homenews/house/343970-gop-rep-responds-to-female-senators-vote-against-repeal-snatch-a-knot-in-their  Since when is it ok for a president to bully Senators or for a representative to support the president's behavior with such a crude comment because you don't like the way they (she) voted. Let’s contact Sen. Murkowski and let her know we support her. Contact:  https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/contact.  Then, let's tell Rep. Carter that we think his crude comments are disgusting and inappropriate.  Contact:  https://buddycarter.house.gov/contact/ (scroll down for local offices)

  1. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke picked up the phone to call Alaska Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski to threaten financial retribution to their state because of Murkowski’s health care votes: https://www.adn.com/politics/2017/07/26/trump-administration-signals-that-murkowskis-health-care-vote-could-have-energy-repercussions-for-alaska/?outputType=amp-type Let’s let Zinke know that this is not a Banana Republic and that his actions are out of bounds: https://www.doi.gov/contact-usa and https://twitter.com/SecretaryZinke

  1. From Grandmothers in ActionThe so-called Election Integrity Commission is a disgrace.  Its first act was to request of all Secretaries of State not only their voter rolls, but each voter's party registration, voting history and the last four numbers of the Social Security number.   Luckily, most Secretaries have refused. The Commission's purpose is perfectly clear: to restrict as much as possible the votes of minorities and the poor.  Let's make sure it gets disbanded before it can do more harm.  A number of House and Senate Democrats have introduced the Anti-Voter Suppression Act, S. 1547, to eliminate the Commission.   The bill has been referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration, chaired by Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama and where Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota is the Democratic ranking member. We urge you to contact your Congressional delegation about the importance of this bill and urge them to pass the bill out of committee before the Commission further destroys our voting system.   And we hope you will urge your friends and relatives to make these calls too.

  1. Ten governors (5 Republicans and 5 Democrats) have written a letter together to Congressional leaders to cry foul on the folly on “skinny repeal”: http://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/10-governors-including-republicans-against-obamacare-skinny-repeal-health-care/  These are the governors of Nevada, Massachusetts, Ohio, Maryland, Vermont, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. And, let’s add in the Independent of Alaksa, too. If your governor is on this list, please say thanks: https://www.usa.gov/state-governor

  1. Need more motivation to speak up to your MoC about Trump’s planned trans military ban? Here’s some perspective:http://amp.usatoday.com/story/515058001/ and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has spoken out against it. Yes, THAT Orrin Hatch:http://amp.usatoday.com/story/512333001/  Let’s thank him, too:  https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-orrin

  1. The House Appropriations Committee passed the House budget plan along with the Andy Harris Amendment, which prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from collecting data related to employees' wages and hours worked http://bit.ly/2vbFkNI http://bit.ly/2w3Iyz2 With this amendment in place, funding is removed from a program which would have expanded wage transparency; something which is sorely needed as equal pay is still a huge issue in our country. Let's be sure to call our reps, to let them know that we do not support this amendment. We can also be vocal on Twitter on Monday, July 31st for #BlackWomensEqualPay Day; via MomsRising: " Black women have to work ALL of 2016 + an extra 212 days in 2017 to earn what White men earned in 2016 alone. This is because Black women are typically paid just 63¢ for each $1 paid to White men." http://bit.ly/2vMMB3z We can find more actionable ideas at the Equal Pay Today website: http://www.equalpaytoday.org/black-womens-equal-pay-day/

  1. Tom Udall (D-NM) has introduced a bill, S1624, to protect us from the toxic chloropyrifos pesticides that were recently ok'd by the Trump regime.  http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-environment-pesticide-bill-idUSKBN1AA1QD  Let's ask our Senators to support S1624.  We can thank Senator Udall at: Tom Udall, 400 Gold Ave SW Ste 300, Albuquerque NM 87102-3253.

  2. On Monday, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced two (2) amendments to the Make America Safe Appropriations Act (H.R. 3219) that would help protect state secrets and limit funds going from the Defense budget to Trump-owned properties http://thehill.com/homenews/house/343468-dem-amendments-target-kushner-trump-businesses Let's tell our Senators that we support Lieu's amendments.  

  1. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) who supported, and perhaps even encouraged Trump’s tweets banning transgendered persons from the military, cited the costs involved as a major reason.  http://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article163906153.html Let’s let her know that we are concerned about costs as well and are waiting for her to introduce legislation that will eliminate the military’s use of Viagra as it costs at least fives times more than the costs determined by the Rand Corp. for transgender medical costs.  http://www.businessinsider.com/pentagon-transgender-medical-comparison-2017-7  Contact:  https://hartzler.house.gov/contact/offices

State Actions

Other Actions


  1. From one of our own:  I know that the last few months have contained too much political drama for many of us and we are feeling somewhat dispirited.  So I have a plan! How about this:  on August 10th send out at least 5 postcards to people you know and admire that have been sources of encouragement these last dismal months.  Send out more if you wish.  Let’s spread some good cheer and give folks something to smile about.  Thanks. 

  1. Swing Left has launched "District Funds," a new tool to help fundraising efforts for Democratic candidates in swing districts https://swingleft.org/fundraise They also offer a fundraising guide to help make our fundraising events as successful as possible http://bit.ly/2tGlLsx Let's check it out and help out our candidates in nearby swing districts.

  1. We've been hearing a lot about gerrymandering.  There are two types: racial gerrymandering and partisan gerrymandering.  We can read this Vox article about the two types and watch the included short video to increase our understanding:  https://www.vox.com/videos/2017/7/24/16012440/racial-partisan-gerrymandering-redistricting-supreme-court-video  Since the Republican regime seems determined to gerrymander large areas of Republican voters (partisan gerrymandering), we can help them out by registering as Republicans.  If we are currently non-partisan or independent, let's consider changing our registration to "Republican."  Our registration does not effect who we choose to vote for or give money to. In closed-primary states, it will also open up our ability to vote in Republican primaries.  If enough of us join in, we will be able to change the direction of the Republican party from the inside.  (For those of us familiar with the children's Dr. Seuss story "The Sneetches", registering as Republicans can be our "star-on" machine.) 

  1. The U.S. has one of the worst maternal and infant mortality rates of any wealthy nation. Infants in the U.S. are less likely to make it to their first birthdays than babies in other wealthy nations and our maternal death rates have increased steadily over the past 20 years.  Join MomsRising this Monday, July 31, 8-9pm ET for a Twitter Storm at #MaternalJustice with March of Dimes, Black Mamas Matter Alliance and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine as we share info and stats on infant and maternal health. Also please share YOUR birth story or the birth story of someone you love to make a difference!  Click here to share your birth story: http://moms.ly/2uxRejs

  1. Marc Ryan, Eagle Scout, father, scout executive, posted what most thought should have come from the national Boy Scouts of America office when he wrote this apology on the Facebook page of the Lake Erie Council of the BSA: https://www.facebook.com/LakeErieBSA/posts/1597850970261230 Let’s take the time to thank him for taking a stand on Trump’s presentation at the Jamboree.  Marc Ryan, Greater Cleveland Council, 2241 Woodland Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44115. 

  1. Want yet another way to contact federal legislators?  Electronic Frontier Foundation, the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world, has developed Democracy.io, a website where we can enter our address, find our MoCs, and write them messages.  Let’s check it out here:  https://democracy.io

Petitions


  1. Let’s join in this Credo petition to "Oppose the Orphan Product Extensions Now (OPEN) Act, which would grant drug manufacturers six additional months of exclusivity, the monopoly power that allows the companies to charge as much as they like." https://act.credoaction.com/sign/no_pharma_monopolies

Marches/events to attend/organize


  1. Saturday, July 29, all over the country, there are “Our Lives are on the Line” rallies being planned in opposition to the health care bill.  Let’s see if there is one near us and attend, or if not, let’s plan one:  http://ourlivesontheline.org/

Reading/Watching


  1. Dan Rather said today on Facebook, “Vox's Ezra Klein is one of the most astute political and policy analysts writing today, and his treatment of what is taking place is spot on.’  Here is the article to which Rather was referring:  https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/7/27/16035644/republicans-obamacare-repeal-lying

  1. In the midst of the health care debate in Congress yesterday, the House GOP tweeted this:  What has the House done over the last 7 months? Find out :  https://www.didyouknow.gop/

  1. And, as if Washington was not chaotic enough, Anthony Scaramucci, the new White House communications director, is starting off in a very questionable manner, yet supposedly condoned by Trump:  http://www.newyorker.com/news/ryan-lizza/anthony-scaramucci-called-me-to-unload-about-white-house-leakers-reince-priebus-and-steve-bannon


Rogan’s List is a participant in and strategic partner of the Action Alliance,
         a loosely-federated group of organizations that, in the wake of the
2016 election, are sharing daily or weekly calls to action.
Other member sites are listed here: https://www.actionalliance.co/  --scroll down and click through and you'll find many more opportunities to make a difference.
******
Rogan’s List is also part of RISE Stronger’s United States of Resistance





7/27/17

Contact Federal Government Officials


OR
Search all members of Congress here:  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/current
OR
Fax your legislators for free:  Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php
OR
Find senators Twitter and Facebook Accounts here:
Find representatives on Twitter here:

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If your senators and reps aren't saved in your phone yet,
text your US postal address to (520) 200-2223 and get a text back with your
STATE & FEDERAL legislative rep phone numbers.

  1. Yesterday, the Senate voted to reject  (45-55) the repeal without replacing the ACA.  Seven Republicans voted against the measure — Senators Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Susan Collins of Maine, Dean Heller of Nevada, John McCain of Arizona, Rob Portman of Ohio, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.  http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-set-vote-straight-repeal-obamacare-n786691 Let’s look again at the flow chart to see where we are in the process:  https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/7/24/16019984/obamacare-repeal-republican-flow-chart  The next big Senate event is the vote-a-rama to push a "skinny repeal":  http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/what-s-next-health-care-vote-rama-end-game-n786776  KEEP CALLING.  We all deserve better healthcare and legislation-making than this.

  1. Protect Our Care is gathering stories to email to Senate healthcare staffers.  We can tell our story via video, photo, text.  We can submit our stories here:  https://script.google.com/macros/s/AKfycbzUoQztRS8wit3vfdhV5Cd6xevw-c-aEXKZDvKD1yvwED3OdtR_/exec

  1. Again, we know it is purely distraction, but despite that fact that in early July Gen. Mattis, defense secretary, moved to delay the admission of openly transgendered persons into the military for further study and the fact that he is currently on vacation, and that thousands of transgendered persons are already serving, yesterday, Trump tweeted that they would no longer “accept or allow” them to serve due to the burden of the cost and disruption . http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/343847-trump-calls-for-ban-on-transgender-individuals-in-military This announcement serves as a huge set back for transgender rights, and does not detail what will happen to those service members who have already come out as transgender. This discriminatory policy is cruel and stigmatizing, and even Republicans have condemned it. But words aren’t enough.  Let’s contact our reps and tell them to add language to the “security-bus” spending bill to overturn the ban, then let's make sure the White House, Secretary of Defense, and our members of Congress understand that banning openly transgender individuals is unacceptable and ask how they plan to handle other expensive or disruptive situations among our service members.  White House:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis: Secretary of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1000 703-571-3343

  1. The head of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit in charge of deportations has directed his officers to take action against EVERY undocumented immigrant they cross paths with, including those with zero criminal history. Congress has traditionally used its annual spending bill to instruct the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize the deportation of convicted immigrants based on the severity of their crimes… but that language was left out of the omnibus spending bill for the current fiscal year, paving the way for broader enforcement. https://www.propublica.org/article/ice-officers-told-to-take-action-against-all-undocumented-immigrants But we’re about to enter a new fiscal year, and congressional Republicans are busily trying to finalize the language for new spending bills. Let’s contact our members of Congress and ask them to restore this instruction, so that our friends and neighbors will be a little less vulnerable to Trump’s deportation machine.

  1. The Republicans have made it clear that their priority is cutting taxes for the wealthy, and they’ll happily hurt regular Americans to do it. With the Resistance having beaten #Wealthcare, they’re focusing explicitly on a new package to make the 1% pay less. But to do it, they’re going to have to pass reconciliation instructions in the next budget so that Democrats can’t block them in the Senate. http://www.npr.org/2017/07/19/537959833/heres-whats-in-the-house-republican-budget-and-why-it-matters Their budget proposal is bad enough on its own, and our reps should oppose it. But they also need to know we’re onto their game, and that as far as we’re concerned if they vote yes on the budget they’re voting yes on whatever package of tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires the GOP comes up with. Let’s call them and tell them so.

  1. Now that both the Senate and the House have passed the Russian sanctions bill, Trump is in a tough spot between wanting to please Congress and wanting to please Russia, but he can’t have it both ways.  http://www.newsweek.com/trump-hillary-clinton-hostage-congress-moscows-reaction-sanctions-641974 Let’s encourage Trump to side with Congress:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

  1. From Indivisible: There are many things to deplore in Trump's proposed budget, but here's one item that stands out because of the funding splurge he wants. "Call your MoCs today and let them know that no budget that includes increases to Trump’s deportation force or any funding for Trump’s mass deportation agenda should get their support, even if that means withholding the votes needed to avert a government shutdown. Tell them you want a federal budget that invests in families, not fear." Here's more information on this part of Trump's budget request: https://www.indivisibleguide.com/resource/defund-trumps-mass-deportation-machine/

  1. The Trump administration is working on undoing an overtime pay rule which was initially set to go into effect December 2016 http://reut.rs/2tZfWFX Under the new rule, the maximum salary one could receive in order to qualify for legally mandated overtime pay would have increased to $47,000, double the current threshold. The current salary limit for mandated overtime pay is simply not sufficient; it does not account for different costs of living across the country, and has not been adjusted for inflation since the threshold was set, in 2004. The Labor Department has just put out a Request For Information, where we can share our thoughts on the current minimum salary threshold; all comments will be due by September 25th. Let's be sure to read through the Department of Labor's eleven concerns with a very critical eye, then share our thoughts by leaving a comment https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=WHD-2017-0002-0001

  1. Religious extremist Amy Coney Barrett is a judicial nominee for the US Court of Appeals.  http://www.wisconsingazette.com/news/group-asks-trump-to-withdraw-wisconsin-judicial-nominee-who-says/article_edb9c39a-6ff6-11e7-8fb7-5f13d109a205.html  The Alliance for Justice (AFJ) is calling for Trump to withdraw this nomination after Barrett declared that the bible takes precedent over the Constitution. Let's join the AFJ in asking the White House to withdraw Barrett's nomination and also let our Senators know that, if the nomination goes ahead, we oppose Barrett for US Court of Appeals.

10.  Republicans are trying to rush through defense appropriations as part of a “security-bus” spending bill this week in spite of the fact that it exceeds budget caps, ignores crucial issues like putting checks on Trump’s war powers, and spends more than a billion dollars on Trump’s wall. (https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2017/07/26/congresss-defense-budgeting-headed-toward-colossal-crack-up/) The progressive national policy advocacy group Win Without War is organizing people to e-mail Congress in support of amendments to Defense appropriations defunding the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, curbing our involvement in Saudi bombing of civilians in Yemen, and stopping any spending on the wall. We can send those e-mails here:  http://act.winwithoutwar.org/letter/act-now-congress-voting-war-week/.

State Actions

  1. ALL:  From one of our own:  The MA Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that state and local court officials & police CANNOT cooperate with ICE by complying with immigrant detainers when criminal charges have not been filed.  http://www.wbur.org/news/2017/07/24/sjc-ruling-sreynoun-lunn-case  Let’s advance this same kind of program in our own states. 

  1. TX: The Texas Senate okay'd transgender bathroom-restriction bill SB3.   https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2017/07/25/follow-live-texas-senate-debates-called-bathroom-bill   Now this bill goes to the Texas House.  If we are Texans, let's contact our Texas state house representative to let them know that we oppose SB3.

  1. UT: This Saturday, July 29, Utah's largest unions will join with political advocates to stage a march in downtown Salt Lake City in support of public education. http://www.sltrib.com/home/5549228-155/responding-to-policies-from-trump-and  The event is scheduled to begin at the downtown City Library, 210 E. 400 South, at 10 a.m. before moving across the street to the City and County Building. If we are Utahn's for public education and we can fit this march in our plans, let's try to attend.  

  1. AL: Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice and current US Senatorial candidate Roy Moore says that "Islam is a false religion." http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/alabama-candidate-u-s-senate-islam-false-religion-article-1.3354486  The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 15 and the primary run-off will be on Sept. 26.  The final election to fill the Senatorial seat vacated by AG Jeff Sessions will take place on a December 12, 2017 special election.  We can read about all of the candidates at ballotopedia:  https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_special_election_in_Alabama,_2017  Let's show up for the primary and the election and vote for someone other than Roy Moore.

  1. MI:  LGBTQ activists have called on the Michigan Civil Rights Commission to clarify what is meant by the word “sex” in the State’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act that lists attributes people can’t discriminate for – like race, religion and sex.  They want it to now include sexual orientation and gender identity.  http://michiganradio.org/post/lgbtq-activists-call-clarity-state-s-civil-rights-law  A period of public comment is now open until Aug. 15.   MI residents can email comments to MCRC-Comments@michigan.gov

Other Actions


  1. Here, we can find more actions we can take to stand with our trans friends and neighbors here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vb_0FK4T_mcKLP2BJkxtd-FiTOnUHyaYCzxhRwNh_Xw/edit?usp=sharing

  1. If we participated in the Tony the Democrat postcard writing campaign for Kevin Cavanaugh in the State Senate of New Hampshire, Cavanaugh pulled off an upset: http://amp.wmur.com/article/democrat-cavanaugh-pulls-upset-in-state-senate-special-election/10360495  Let’s pat ourselves on the back and keep writing!  There are other elections coming up! We can all join in here:  https://goo.gl/mqgwvx

  1. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) is recovering from her second surgery for stage 4 kidney cancer. She went to the senate on Tuesday, July 25th and voted NO to protect the health insurance of 20+ million people. She did not get a standing ovation or time to make a speech with Television coverage.  She made a speech against the health care bill on June 27 before her own cancer surgery.  https://www.attn.com/stories/18493/other-senator-fighting-cancer-who-voted-against-tuesdays-motion  Let's send a note of thanks and/or a card to wish her well in her battle c/o her Hawaii Office300 Ala Moana Blvd. Rm. 3-106, Honolulu, HI 96850

  1. From one of our own:  The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) organization apparently condones Trump’s words and behavior at their annual Jamboree earlier this week.  Their silence concerns many.  However, it seems that the president of the BSA, Randal Stephenson who is also the chairman of AT&T, has been courting the Trump administration for a merger with Time Warner.  https://qz.com/1038359/boy-scouts-president-randall-stephenson-has-been-lobbying-donald-trump-to-approve-the-att-time-warner-merger/ Let’s continue our pressure on the BSA to do the right thing for our youth.  Contact BCA by on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theboyscoutsofamerica/ or emailing them:  myscouting@scouting.org   or tweeting them @boyscouts   or writing to them:  PO Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079

  1. Here’s yet another way we can help the #resistance:   Rapid Resist is a non-profit stopping Trump's agenda by helping organizers in conservative areas by text-banking.  We can sign up here and be assigned to a group. Every time that group has a live target, you'll get a notification to start texting people to recruit!  We can sign up here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZeZzukCxzvvDTDALdPk_NGqkbn5c1JLuFnC31f9tOSq7UpA/viewform

  1. "Indiana has purged nearly a half-million registered voters from its rolls since Election Day. The purge is part of a massive effort to update the state's voter rolls after years of improper maintenance and neglect, Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson said. Since the November elections, 481,235 registered voters have been taken off the list."  http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/329659-indiana-purges-nearly-half-a-million-from-voter-rolls This article is from April but a great reminder to all of us to check that we are still registered to vote in our own states. If we missed voting in an election, let’s check that we are still registered and if not, register again before the 2018 elections. Let’s remind our friends and family. We need all of our voices and use our votes. If we have family in Indiana, let’s advise them to check out their voter registration.  

  1. From one of our own:  Last week, the Department of Homeland Security sent private contractors to the National Butterfly Center (NBC), where they began to survey the land and to clear trees to build Trump's border wall--all without the permission of the NBC, which is located on privately-owned property. Trump's border wall threatens 30 million square feet of vegetation along a 38-mile swath of land that includes the National Butterfly Center, the 2,000+-acre Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge, and the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. Support the National Butterfly Center's legal defense fund by following the link below and making a donation. No donation is too small to help protect the wildlife that calls this land home  https://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/stop-trump-s-border-wall 

 

Petitions


  1. Let’s sign VoteVets.org petition supporting the rights of the transgendered to serve in the American military:  http://action.votevets.org/page/s/trans-ban

  1. Sen. Stabenow (D-MI) wants us to join her in telling Senate Republicans to vote no on anything that takes health insurance away from anyone:  https://stabenow.bsd.net/page/s/Tell-Senate-Republicans-To-Vote-No

Marches/events to attend/organize


  1. Saturday, July 29, all over the country, there are “Our Lives are on the Line” rallies being planned in opposition to the health care bill.  Let’s see if there is one near us and attend, or if not, let’s plan one:  http://ourlivesontheline.org/

Reading/Watching


  1. The Skinny on the GOP’s Last Resort on Health Care: ‘Skinny Repeal’http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/the-gops-last-resort-on-health-care-skinny-repeal-w494379

  1. If we’ve been wondering what the Magnitsky Act and Russian adoptions have to do with the current state of affairs with Russia (and Trump’s campaign) here is financier Bill Browder’s written testimony for his Wednesday appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee and he walks through the history (and his personal connection to Magnitsky) of how we got to today and who the players are in the Don Trump Jr., Kushner, Manafort meeting in Trump Tower: https://www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/534864/

  1. Photos that bear witness to modern slaveryhttps://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_kristine_glimpses_of_modern_day_slavery


Rogan’s List is a participant in and strategic partner of the Action Alliance,
         a loosely-federated group of organizations that, in the wake of the
2016 election, are sharing daily or weekly calls to action.
Other member sites are listed here: https://www.actionalliance.co/  --scroll down and click through and you'll find many more opportunities to make a difference.
******
Rogan’s List is also part of RISE Stronger’s United States of Resistance