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9/28/17                                                            http://roganslist.blogspot.com/

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Many newspapers, including New York Times and Washington Post require subscriptions, but without one we can see a few articles each month.  We can also check with our local libraries to find out how to get online access through them.

1.      Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the US; its residents are American citizens.  But these citizens cannot vote in federal elections and have no voting representative in Congress.  Apparently, their plight since being decimated by two hurricanes is of much less concern to Congress than that of the voters in Texas and Florida.  60% of the island is without water; all of it is without electricity; food is scarce.   The impending “humanitarian crisis” has not prompted Congress to act nor has it garnered expressions of sympathy from Trump, who finally tweeted to bemoan the condition of the island’s electric grid and blame  PR’s “deep trouble” on its Wall Street debts: 
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/26/trump-puerto-rico-crisis-massive-debt  PR Gov. Ricardo Rosello predicts, understandably, a huge exodus to the mainland if greater federal aid is not forthcoming.  Given that our fellow citizens have no voice, it is critical that we demand that our MoCs immediately provide the resources Puerto Rico needs to avert a crisis.

2.      “In the United States, outdoor burning and detonation is still the military’s leading method for dealing with munitions and the associated hazardous waste….[There are at least] 51 active sites across the country where the Department of Defense or its contractors are today burning or detonating munitions or raw explosives in the open air, often in close proximity to schools, homes, and water supplies….[T]he military’s open burn program not only results in extensive contamination, but ‘staggering’ cleanup costs that can reach more than half a billion dollars in a single site.” https://www.propublica.org/article/military-pollution-open-burns-radford-virginia Let’s tell our MoCs that it’s long past time for the US to join its Western allies in destroying aging weaponry without emitting toxic waste.

3.      "…during his speech at the United Nations, President Trump said his government would “totally destroy North Korea” if necessary to defend the United States or its allies. On Friday, Kim Jong Un responded, saying North Korea “will consider with seriousness exercising of a corresponding, highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history.” The North Korean leader didn’t elaborate on the nature of this countermeasure, but his foreign minister provided a hint: North Korea might test a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean. Hydrogen bombs are far more powerful than atomic bombs, capable of producing many times more explosive energy. The initial blast could kill most of the life in the strike zone—scores of fish and other marine life—instantly. The explosion would send radioactive particles flying through the air and into the water. Wind could carry the dangerous particles over hundreds of miles. The smoke from the blast site could block out sunlight and hinder life forms at sea that depend on photosynthesis to survive. The exposure to radiation could cause severe health problems for nearby marine life. Radioactivity is known to damage cells in humans, animals, and plants by causing changes in their genes. The changes could lead to crippling mutations in future generations. The eggs and larvae of marine organisms are especially sensitive to radiation, according to experts. Affected animals could pass the exposure up the food chain.  https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/09/north-korea-bomb-pacific-ocean/540825/  Let's ask the White House to come to the table, stop the name calling and make peace. Our Planet can't afford the consequences. 

4.      Our Revolution's People's Platform is focusing its efforts on the Automatic Voter Registration Act (H.R. 2840), which would automatically register anyone 18 years old or older who is eligible to vote and who has provided their information to the state motor vehicle authority. Although the bill has 130 cosponsors, it has been stuck in committee since June. Let's make sure that our Representatives cosponsor and support H.R. 2840. We can also contact the House Committee on House Administration, and tell them that we support the Automatic Voter Registration Act and want to see it pass out of committee: (202) 225-8281 1309 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 We can learn more about the People's Platform here: https://ourrevolution.com/press/60-members-congress-sign-peoples-platform/

5.      Next week, on October 3rd, the House will be voting on Rep. Franks' Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36), which would outlaw abortions after 20 weeks gestation http://bit.ly/2hyc3XD Not only does this infringe on women's bodily autonomy and reproductive rights, but it presents a clear misunderstanding of why some women have abortions at or beyond the twenty-week mark of a pregnancy 

http://bit.ly/2ysugcp Further, according to the CDC, only 1.3% of abortions in the U.S. in 2013 took place after a pregnancy reached 20 weeks http://bit.ly/2jvxyYd Let's make sure to call our MoC and tell them that we expect them to support women's bodily autonomy, and oppose H.R. 36.

6.      United We Dream has a helpful infographic that we can share to help explain the DREAM Act (S. 1615 and H.R. 3440) and much more conservative SUCCEED Act  http://bit.ly/2xwcfNE Let's make sure that our MoC are cosponsoring and supporting the DREAM Act. We can also check out United We Dream's We Are Here to Stay website, which has a plethora of resources and calls to action to help support and defend immigrants in the U.S. http://weareheretostay.org/

7.      Although waived for Florida, Louisiana, and Texas in the aftermath of the hurricanes that hit those states, the Trump administration took days in approving a waiver of the 100-year-old Jones Act that would help ease ships getting to Puerto Rico to dealing with the humanitarian crisis there: Public and Congressional pressure helped him move in this direction, however the reason he cited for not doing it sooner was that a lot of shippers did not want it.  http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Trump-Waives-Jones-Act-to-Help-Puerto-Rico-After-Criticism-448446173.html Let’s remind Trump that in times of public crisis, the needs of people come before the wants of industry.  https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/write-or-call

8.       The Elder Abuse Protection and Prosecution Act, bipartisan legislation to protect seniors from neglect and financial exploitation has passed the Senate as part of the Court-Appointed Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act that would help crack down on elder abuse by strengthening oversight and accountability for guardians and conservators.    https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/8/klobuchar-cornyn-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-seniors-from-abuse-and-financial-exploitation-passes-senate  Let's contact our representative asking support of S178 as it heads to the House for a vote.

9.      As the world sees an extraordinary number of refugees—especially from war-torn areas like Iraq and Syria—Trump intends to set the ceiling for refugees to the US at 45,000, the lowest number since the signing of the 1980 US Refugee Act.           http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-refugees/trump-expected-to-set-u-s-refugee-cap-at-45000-sources-idUSKCN1C12RB  He will not relent on the Oct. 5th deadline for applying for DACA renewal, and he has added Chad, North Korea, and government officials from Venezuela to his now-indefinite travel ban, in hopes that we will be fooled into thinking that it is not directed at Muslims: http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/24/politics/trump-travel-restrictions/index.html  Let’s let the White House and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson what we think of these attacks on immigrants: 202-647-4000 or  U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20520

10.  "President Trump said Wednesday that he is “not happy” about revelations that Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price took numerous flights on government-funded private jets for work and personal trips. Responding to questions from reporters, Trump said he is “looking into” the situation and that “personally, I'm not happy about it, and I let him know it.”  Price has been criticized for using public funds to pay for private flights more than two dozen times, according to Politico, mixing in some personal travel with business trips."  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/09/27/trump-not-happy-about-hhs-secretary-tom-prices-travel-on-private-jets/?utm_term=.b70290539c65 Let's ask Trump to practice what he preaches. Let’s ask him to stop his excessive vacation trips paying his own properties and breaking the bank for secret service paychecks while enriching his pocketbooks. 

11.  Now more than ever, we are in need of broad-based change to our political institutions, from campaign finance reform to redistricting reform to automatic voter registration to formally requiring the President to put their assets in a blind trust. That’s why Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and Representative David Price (D-NC) have joined together with reform organizations to introduce the We The People Democracy Reform Act, which takes a comprehensive approach to the systemic issues we face (https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-09-27/political-reformers-have-a-new-asset-trump). Let’s show Congress that this is what Americans demand, not more attempts to take away our health care, and ask them to co-sponsor and publicly declare their support for this legislation.

12.  Trump has nominated Eric Dreiband, who has a long history of protecting companies from being held accountable for violating civil rights, to be the assistant attorney general in charge of enforcing our civil rights laws (http://www.npr.org/2017/09/06/548985268/civil-rights-division-nominee-eric-dreiband-appears-before-senate-panel). The Trump Administration may not be committed to civil rights, but our country is, and our senators need to know that before they vote on this nomination. Let’s tell them to oppose Dreiband's confirmation and to ask the White House to send them a nominee who we can trust with the Civil Rights Division. ​

13.  While Mueller is conducting his investigation we all know that more is needed. He is bound by special counsel regulations.  “That is why we need a bipartisan commission to investigate the matter and produce a comprehensive public report.”  http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/352289-mueller-isnt-all-powerful-we-need-a-bipartisan-election-interference  Let’s use this guide from Postcards for America to understand the need so we can contact all our federal legislators and ask for such a commission.   https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sHuQJGvbSwdOrweIk7m8dMoUsbS6fdIbpAi_8PLARik/edit

State Actions

1.      MI:  The state needs to hear from Michiganders who support clean energy and climate action.  http://www.miclimateaction.org/comment_on_energy_plan

Other Actions

1.      Again, this year, all fourth graders (or 10-year-olds) have access to a free pass to them and their families to attend national parks, monuments, forests, etc. Here’s a good explanation:  http://allthemoms.com/2017/08/10/free-national-park-pass-fourth-grader/  Let’s sign up with our fourth-graders!  https://www.nationalparks.org/our-work/campaigns-initiatives/every-kid-park

2.      On Tuesday night, Roy Moore won the Republican Senate run-off in Alabama against Luther Strange to fill Jeff Sessions’ seat. It would be difficult to overstate how repugnant Moore is (the fifth section of this calls attention to his views about homosexuals and Muslims):  http://thehill.com/homenews/the-memo/352614-five-takeaways-from-the-alabama-run-off Please consider making a donation to his Democratic opponent Doug Jones for the December election:  http://bit.ly/2wkeGlh

3.      "Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban lent the team plane to point guard J.J. Barea to fly food, water, and supplies to Puerto Rico, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.  Barea, who is from Puerto Rico, set up a relief fund for Hurricane Maria victims with his wife, Puerto Rican actress and model Viviana Ortiz. They have raised over $140,000, according to MacMahon. Barea reportedly left Monday after communicating with his parents for the first time Sunday and learning where help was most needed. He'll reportedly return on the team plane Tuesday night. "  http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-cuban-mavericks-plane-jj-barea-puerto-rico-relief-2017-9  Let’s thank Mark Cuban via Twitter @mcuban or a message on his Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/markcuban/ or write to him in care of Dallas Mavericks, The Pavilion, 2909 Taylor Street, Dallas, TX 75226.  We can also thank J.J Barea  via Twitter @jjbareapr or at the Dallas Maverick’s address. 

4.      From Chop Wood/Carry Water:  we flipped two seats blue yesterday [Tuesday] --one in Florida and one in New Hampshire--in what were both SUPER red districts. The Florida victor, Annette Taddeo, was outspent her by opponent by over a million dollars! The candidate in NH, first timer Kari Lerner, won by 39 votes! In a district Trump won by 23 points. Guess what pushed them both over the edge? Canvassing and POSTCARDING! That's right!  So PLEASE consider doing some! It's so easy; you don't have to talk to anyone, and just think: Kari Lerner won by thirty-nine people. EVERY VOTE MATTERS. So Text HELLO to (484) ASK-ABBY and Abby the Address Bot will help you immediately with instructions and addresses!

Petitions

1.      “The Democratic opposition to Ajit Pai's re-confirmation was launched today by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who accused the Federal Communications Commission chairman of abandoning the public interest. Cantwell criticized Pai's in-progress attempt to eliminate net neutrality rules and said he has taken other actions that hurt Americans. “  https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/09/senator-launches-opposition-to-ajit-pais-fcc-re-confirmation/  Let’s sign this petition to voice our agreement:  http://act.freepress.net/sign/internet_fire_pai

2.      Let’s join in the petition to the Dept. of Homeland Security and Trump to waive the Jones Act to help our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico:  https://www.change.org/p/department-of-homeland-security-waive-the-jones-act-for-all-cargo-at-ports-in-puerto-rico-to-aid-hurricane-maria-relief

Marches/events/teleconferences to attend/organize

 Reading/Watching

1.      Here’s in insight into why getting ID for some people is so problematic:  http://www.bridgemi.com/detroit-journalism-cooperative/poor-michigan-no-id-i-am-somebody-i-just-cant-prove-it

2.      Fox Sports commentator Nick Wright says, "The protests have been hijacked by folks with an agenda. I tried to set the record straight this morning. I think this is worth your time."  https://www.facebook.com/NickWrightFS1/videos/1675829499156048/

3.      Details of the Trump tax plan are still not clear, but all indication points to this being a very good plan for the very rich and businesses, not so much for the middle class or our country as a whole.  ““If this framework is all about the middle class, then Trump Tower is middle-class housing,” said Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee.”   https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tax/trump-proposal-slashes-taxes-on-businesses-the-rich-fuels-deficit-worries-idUSKCN1C213M  A radio commentator offered that getting this legislation passed will make the ACA repeal/replace effort look like a walk in the park.

Rogan’s List is a participant in and strategic part ner 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.
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Rogan’s List is also part of RISE Stronger’s United States of Resistance






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