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11/1/17                                                                                       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.      Amid the Mueller/Russia news, it can be too easy to forget that the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico continues to unfold following Hurricane Maria. The Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations Human Rights division released a statement expressing concern about mounting human rights issues in the face of inadequate response:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22326&LangID=E  The experts cited in the report said, ““We call on the United States and Puerto Rican authorities to remove regulatory and financial barriers to reconstruction and recovery. All reconstruction efforts should be guided by international human rights standards, ensuring that people can rebuild where they have lived and close to their communities. Reconstruction should aim to increase the resilience of Puerto Rico’s infrastructure, housing and hospitals against future natural disasters.” Let’s remain in touch with our MoC to make it clear we know this is a crisis in dire need of focused attention in both the near-term and longer-term.

2.      The Trump tax plan was supposed to be rolled out today, but like the healthcare bill, it is not quite in a finished state so it is being delayed a day:  https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/31/house-republican-tax-plan-244385 Let’s keep reminding our MoCs that if it includes cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, or does anything to harm any of our most vulnerable citizens or takes away from the middle class to give a break to the wealthy, (no cuts to 401 contributions, keep all state and local Tax (SALT) deductions. keep the mortgage deduction for all houses, not just the ones worth over $801,000) that we are not in support and do not want them to be either.   Every delay, every negative element brought to light, makes it harder for this terrible plan to pass, so let's get those phones ringing off the hooks!

3.      If, out of deference to his service, we were attempting to give White House Chief of Staff John Kelly third, fourth, and fifth chances, it seems that we can now be done. On Monday night, Kelly gave an interview to Fox News in which he doubled down on not owing Rep. Frederica Wilson an apology after lying about her, praised Robert E. Lee as “honorable”, and said that the Civil War was caused by an inability to compromise: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/31/john-kelly-says-us-civil-war-was-prompted-by-inability-to-compromise Let’s let Kelly know that we do not need his brand of patriotism in the White House: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20500 We can also tweet him:   @GenJohnKelly

4.      Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) has called for the resignation of the Press Secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, saying that “She lacks any credibility, outright lies to the American people.” This was in response to Sanders’ claim that Monday’s indictments had “nothing to do with the president” and “everything to do with the Clinton campaign.” 

5.      Trumpcare open enrollment starts today (Nov.1) and runs through Dec. 15.  The Trumpcare open enrollment is much shorter than for Obamacare.  Additionally, Rogan's Listers are reporting that their Trumpcare premiums will cost them up to 400% more per month.  Let's be sure to talk about all the negative healthcare elements as "Trumpcare."  Trump tweeted over the weekend: "As usual, the ObamaCare premiums will be up (the Dems own it), but we will Repeal & Replace and have great Healthcare soon after Tax Cuts!"  (more about his Tweetstorm at NBCNews.) The Republican regime needs to know that in fact, THEY are the ones who own healthcare now and we are not happy with Trumpcare.  Let's target our Republican members of congress with our complaints about Trumpcare.  

6.      Trump’s Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that they oppose replacing the current Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which technically permits using force only against those responsible for the 9/11 attacks; if it is replaced, as Senators Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) have proposed, they want no time constraints or geographical limits on the government’s war powers:  http://thehill.com/policy/defense/357899-mattis-tillerson-describe-conditions-of-support-for-new-war-authorization   The Flake-Kaine replacement AUMF would limit the authorization to five years, at which time it would have to be renewed by Congress. Given the past 16 years of unchecked and often secret US military intervention around the globe without any declaration of war by Congress as the Constitution requires, some constraints would seem necessary.  Let’s tell the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker (R-TN) and of MoCs that we don’t want endless, illegal war waged in our name: Sen. Bob Corker, 202-224-3344 or Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., SD-425, DC 20510.

7.      As part of his aggressive new strategy to confront Iran, Trump announced recently that he would no longer certify Iran’s compliance with Iran agreement, as required every 90 days. Trump’s action shifted the fate of the agreement to Congress, which may now reimpose sanctions on Iran. Now, 90 American experts in atomic sciences, including a designer of the hydrogen bomb, all three 2017 Nobel Prize winners in Physics, a former director of Los Alamos, and a 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, have sent a letter to Congress urging that the Iran nuclear agreement be preserved: 

8.      Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been working hard and we’ve started to see the results of his efforts. This is good news, but technically, the "President has the legal authority to fire the Special Counsel." The closer Mueller approaches Trump's immediate circle of family and friends, the more his position is in danger. Rather than wait for Trump to make this likely move, let's take action. "Both houses of Congress presently have identical bills before them entitled the Special Counsel Integrity Act (H.R 3771 and S. 1741). The bills would allow Muller, in the event of his firing, to appear to a court of three judges within fourteen days. If the firing is found to be inappropriate, Muller would be automatically reinstated to his position. In essence, it takes away President Trump’s ability to unilaterally fire a Special Counsel." https://resistbot.news/fireproofing-mueller-4b056241aac6  Let's contact our MoCs in both houses and ask them to support these bills!

9.      A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation yesterday to regulate bump stocks, the device used by the Las Vegas mass shooter to make semi-automatic rifles fire faster. Another bill has been introduced to bar the manufacture, sale or use of bump stocks entirely:   http://thehill.com/homenews/house/358014-bipartisan-lawmakers-propose-regulating-gun-bump-stocks  Let’s contact our lawmakers and let them know we want them to do whatever they can to put sensible gun control laws in place, and we would like them to vote for either of these proposals and push for hearings and votes on both of them instead of letting this issue fade until the next massacre.

Election 2017

1.      All States - Vote for Science:  The organization "314 Action is a nonprofit 501(c)4 that was founded by members of the STEM community, grassroots supporters and political activists who believe in science.  We are committed to electing more STEM candidates to office, advocating for evidence-based policy solutions to issues like climate change, and fighting the Trump administration's attacks on science." 314 Action has put together a list of candidates that they endorse that reflect this mission. Let's check out these 314 Action endorsed candidates. Let's stand with them on the side of science and give these candidates our votes on Nov. 7.

2.      All states - VOTER I.D: If we have elections next week, let's make sure we have the correct I.D. for our state. Spread the Vote has put together this handy resource for us to use.  Let's check to make sure we know which I.D. we will need and be sure to let friends and family in our state know too.  

3.      All states - COLLEGE STUDENTS: "Young people have the power to make a difference. An important way to achieve this is to make their voices heard at the polls on Election Day." In 2012, the Fair Elections Legal Network (FELN) launched Campus Vote Project (CVP) to focus and expand its work around student voting issues. CVP works with universities, community colleges, faculty, students and election officials to reduce barriers to student voting. CVP's goal is to help campuses institutionalize reforms that empower students with the information they need to register and vote...One of the biggest barriers for students to register and vote is the lack understanding of registration deadlines, where to register (their home or school address), ID requirements, and other information on voting. CVP has developed state-specific guides to help students understand their rights and how to register and cast a ballot in their school or home community. If we are college students, let's find the student information for our state here.  

4.      CO:  A) Jeffco Democrats is seeking volunteers to join its GOTV efforts for the 2017 elections.  Phone banking can be done from your home.  Email Chair@JeffcoDems.org and ask for a GOTV phone banking list.  They have 258 precincts to cover county-wide, and more than 113,000 Democrats to contact, so your help is needed, and B) Colorado Democrats is seeking volunteers to join its GOTV efforts for the 2017 elections.  Email Volunteer Coordinator Meike Babel if you can help at volcoordinator@coloradodems.org.

State Actions

1.      ALL:  Open enrollment in the Healthcare Marketplace begins today for 2018 insurance packages.  The enrollment period ends on Dec. 15.  This is a much shortened, and much less publicized enrollment period than in past years due to Trump’s take-aways.  Some people will pay less, while others will pay more.  The secret to a good policy for next year is taking the time to shop various plans.  http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/10/30/560836963/shop-around-subsidies-may-offset-your-2018-health-insurance-price-hike  Let’s take this info to heart and get the word out that there is not as much time this year.  Here’s the link to peruse plans and sign up:  https://www.healthcare.gov/  We can also use this toolkit from Get America Coveredhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1zqJOgrGdBcfj-ZGA7MIqcLFapKR1tsx170pnkIpaJBw/edit

Other Actions

1.      Will Trump fire Special Counsel Mueller? We wouldn’t put it past him. If he does, a swift, strong grassroots protest will be very important. That’s why MoveOn, Center for American Progress, Public Citizen, Indivisible Guide, Common Cause, and other groups are organizing non-violent, rapid-response “Nobody is Above the Law” rallies across the country. These rallies will take place only if Trump fires Mueller. Let’s sign up here: https://www.trumpisnotabovethelaw.org

2.      The cruelty of Trump’s deportation machine has been laid bare again by the case of Rosa Maria Hernandez. Rosa Maria is 10 years old and living with cerebral palsy. She and her adult cousin, a U.S. citizen, had to go through an interior Border Patrol checkpoint to get her to a hospital for emergency gallbladder surgery. Armed agents then followed them to the hospital and detained her after she came out of the operating room. She is currently being held in an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) shelter with no access to her parents and no clear path to release.  As Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) stated, “A small child who just had surgery is not a threat to Texans’ safety or our national security.” http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/26/health/undocumented-child-federal-custody-surgery-trnd/index.html  Let’s call the ORR at 202-401-9246 to demand she be let go, and join the ACLU in tweeting with the hashtag #FreeRosa to help the issue trend on Twitter. (H/t Jessica Craven)

3.      The NY Times has published a very helpful guide for those trying to enroll in the ACA during this year’s truncated enrollment period from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15: 
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/14/us/affordable-care-act-enrollment.html  It is worth using our limited access to the NYT to read—and to distribute! —this guide.

4.      The Republican regime has chosen large companies over small farmers again:  "The Trump administration is rescinding an Obama-era rule that would have made it easier for independent farmers to bring lawsuits against big food companies they raise chicken and other livestock for. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyard Administration last week withdrew an interim final rule a day before it was set to take effect. The rule aimed to make it easier for farmers to bring companies like Tyson Foods, Pilgrim Pride and Perdue to court over what they say are unfair, deceptive and retaliatory practices." We can read more at The Hill.  Be informed about and discussing ways this administration is hurting farmers is one way we may be able to find common ground with our conservative friends and family. Let's make sure they know about this.

5.      We all know that the number of registered voters is very low in the U.S. as is the number of people who actually go out and vote.  There are a growing number of “Get Out the Vote” (GOTV) initiatives, but let’s try to beef up the number of registered voters by following these guidelines from the American Association of University Women (AAUW):  https://www.aauw.org/resource/organize-a-voter-registration-drive/

6.      “Facebook accounts run by Russian trolls repeatedly called for violence against different social and political groups in the U.S., including police officers, Black Lives Matter activists and undocumented immigrants.”  http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/31/media/russia-facebook-violence/index.html  Add this to what was learned yesterday about Facebook ads purchased by Russians to sway the election: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/facebook-russia-ads-investigation-twitter-google-testimony-senate-judiciary-committee-2017-10-31/  We need to let Facebook know that we users do not want to use a social media platform that cannot be better monitored from such interference with our democracy:  Facebook Headquarters, 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025

7.      From Postcards from Kate:  There are sexier topics in the fishwrappers today, but superficial interpretations of history can't be ignored. Ta-Nehisi Coates takes on General Kelly's read of the Civil War in this thread, which includes this snappy diss:  “Praising Bobby Lee as an honorable man is just sad. Like some kid insisting his deadbeat dad is actually a secret agent away on a mission."  And there's more, historically accurate, profound, 140 characters at a time. Read the whole thread on Twitter, and then send Coates thanks via The Atlantic, where he is a correspondent:  Ta-Nehisi Coates,
The Atlantic, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20037 or @tanehisicoates

8.      Scott Pruitt's EPA has launched a full out assault on the very Environment it is meant to protect. Fortunately, we now have help fighting back. Former EPA Staffers have written a guide to the EPA, similar to Indivisible's, to help us resist Trump's rollback of environmental protections.  It tells us how regulations are made, the required public input process and how it can be used to resist the damage proposed by Pruitt, and how to use other effective strategies. Check it out here and start resisting the EPA's attacks on the Environment.  http://saveepaalums.info/a-practical-guide-for-resisting-the-trump-de-regulatory-agenda/

Petitions

1.      When a parent is a match for a child’s much-needed transplant it is an easy call, right?  Emory University Hospital has refused because the father broke parole.  Following the denial, the child, a 2-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital with an infection; http://www.ajc.com/news/local/boy-rushed-emergency-room-after-kidney-transplant-from-father-denied/epgsckxxpVgDjXOe5eha0M/  Let’s join this Color of Change petition asking the hospital to let this father save his son’s life:  https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/emory-do-the-surgery

2.      Now that we know that Russians hacked social media to influence the election, the “FEC should require online campaign ads to include disclaimers as to who is paying for them — just like is done for television and print advertisements.”  https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/fec-require-political

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

Reading/Watching

1.      “'If Not Me, Who?' Thousands of Women Plan Their Political Takeover” -- http://time.com/5001389/womens-convention-political-takeover/

2.      “Inside the Most Popular Panel at the Women's Convention: "Confronting White Womanhood"” -- http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a13113728/womens-convention-confronting-white-womanhood-panel/

3.      “Senator John McCain has issued a veiled critique of President Donald Trump, warning future service members to be wary of “propaganda and crackpot conspiracy theories” and the "seductions of authoritarian rule".” -- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/john-mccain-trump-speech-conspiracy-theories-propaganda-attack-a8029571.html

10/31/17                                                                                     http://roganslist.blogspot.com/

Contact Federal Government Officials



OR
Search all members of Congress here:  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/current
OR
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OR
Find senators Twitter and Facebook Accounts here:
Find representatives on Twitter here:
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Learn about ResistBot here:  https://resistbot.io/

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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.

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

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.      With the arrests yesterday of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and former Trump campaign official Rick Gates, along with the admission of guilt by former Trump foreign policy advisor, George Papadopoulos, concern is growing once again that Trump will act to obstruct justice by firing the special counsel:  http://www.newsweek.com/trump-impeachment-fire-mueller-republicans-696675  It’s going to take a strong demonstration of public will to make sure that Congress takes the necessary steps to stop this from happening – or ensures justice will prevail if Trump moves before they have a chance. Every Voice is among the many organizations organizing resisters to contact our reps and tell them to support bipartisan bills (S. 1735, S. 1741, and H.R. 3654) that would protect the investigation. Let’s call our MoCs, then let Every Voice know the results of our calls here:
http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51152/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=11030. Let’s also ask our MoCs to make a strong public statement warning Trump there will be real consequences if he fires Mueller before this legislation is passed into law.

2.      Although the Healthcare Marketplace 2018 plans are now online (https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans ), enrollment does not start until tomorrow.  Due to Trump’s removal of subsidies, costs are predicted to sky-rocket in many places as we can see here:  https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/how-the-loss-of-cost-sharing-subsidy-payments-is-affecting-2018-premiums/    The Murray-Alexander healthcare bill is a 2-year fix that will address issues and keep people covered. http://www.king5.com/news/politics/bipartisan-murray-alexander-bill-gains-support-in-senate/484703534 We need to keep on our MoCs to get this bill brought to the floor for a vote.

3.      "A federal judge in Washington on Monday blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a ban on transgender people serving in the military, writing that the presidential memorandum issued by President Donald Trump in August would likely be found to violate the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.'
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-10-30/federal-judge-blocks-trump-administration-from-banning-transgender-people-from-military%3fcontext=amp. The courts come through for us again. See item 6, 7 and 8 from yesterday's Rogan’s List for the next confirmation appointments for judges and what we can do.

4.      In response to Trump's rolling back of the contraceptive coverage mandate, Senator Patty Murray and Representative Diana DeGette have introduced legislation in the Senate and the House, which would repeal religious exemption rules in the ACA. Protect Access to Birth Control Act has 37 cosponsors in the Senate, and 74 in the House. Let's check to see if our members of Congress are cosponsors, and if they are, thank them https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4082/cosponsors https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1985/cosponsors If they are not, let's be sure to call and tell them that we want them to support this legislation. Nancy Kaffer, of the Detroit Free Press, lays out some great talking points we could mention during our calls, on why contraceptive coverage is essential: http://on.freep.com/2zZ42zL

5.      This ACLU resource page helps us call the Office of Refugee Resettlement to demand release of Rosa Maria Hernandez (10 year old with cerebral palsy taken into ICE custody after surgery): https://www.aclu.org/issues/release-rosa-maria-hernandez?redirect=ReleaseRosaTW&ms=TW_171027_immigrantrights_rosamaria  This Time article has more information about Rosa’s situation: http://amp.timeinc.net/time/4998940/girl-detained-cerebral-palsy-texas/?source=dam

6.      The Heartbeat Protection Act (H.R. 490), introduced back in January, would ban abortions once a pregnancy reaches six weeks, or when a heartbeat is detectable. While the legislation went months with no action, the House has now scheduled a hearing with the Judiciary Committee for Wednesday, November 1st to discuss the bill https://www.teenvogue.com/story/six-week-abortion-ban We can contact Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte ((202) 225-5431) and Ranking Member John Conyers ((202) 225-5126) and ask that they oppose this incredibly dangerous legislation. Let's also be sure to call our own representative to make sure that they oppose H.R. 490

7.      The Trump tax plan is gearing up and will be introduced on Wednesday.  http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/scheduling/357593-this-week-republicans-to-unveil-long-awaited-tax-bill Here is a link to the updated tax bill timeline:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GVH1VkonJG0ZT-fKk6usAO8zoDTbJPY5-GOEEa3s4Hc/edit  Thursday, November 2 is National Call In Day to defeat the #TaxReform bill.  We need to let our MoCs know that this is not a plan that will benefit most Americans and we don’t want it.  Let’s take a look at the Not One Penny’s toolkit and use it to get the word out: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19G0tMLn5l291J4vxUQemb22y0HUvXTws3j6hr9RuFPc/edit

8.      “Before Rep. Pat Tiberi takes a lucrative job heading a major Ohio business organization, he will spend a couple of months helping revamp the federal tax code in ways that likely will directly affect his future private-sector employer. They say that by agreeing to take a job at the Ohio Business Roundtable, an organization representing some of the most powerful business leaders in the state, Tiberi, a senior member of the House tax-writing committee, appears beholden to his new bosses as he begins the hard work of rewriting the tax code. Tiberi will begin his job at the roundtable sometime around Jan. 31, 2018 — after the new tax bill is scheduled to be finished. The reality here is that there is an enormous focus in this tax bill on how it will treat and benefit corporations and other business interests,” said Fred Wertheimer of the watchdog group Democracy 21. He said Tiberi “is a lame duck member of Congress. He has made the decision to leave Congress and go out and function in the private sector. ... He should not be reaching decisions that would benefit them at the expense of all taxpayers.” http://www.dispatch.com/news/20171030/ethics-problem-tiberi-helping-change-tax-laws-that-could-affect-future-employer Tiberi should not be revamping the tax code with this huge conflict. Let’s call our Reps and ask he be removed from crafting the tax plan due to his conflict.  

9.      We need a clean Dream Act before December.  This program should not be allowed to fade out.  So many young people are in limbo at this moment after coming forward in hopes of a new, legal life here.  http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/10/making_hostages_out_of_dreamer.html  The necessary legislation is languishing in both houses:  S. 1615 and H.R. 3440.  Let’ use this from United We Dream to contact our legislators to impress upon them the benefits of making sure that the DREAMers can stay:  https://unitedwedream.visitthem.org/campaigns/clean-dream-act

10.  On Oct. 19, over the objections of Democrats, black lawmakers and some civil rights groups, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-9 to recommend the nomination of Thomas Farr to the full Senate. If confirmed, he'll serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina for a lifetime appointment.  We can read the full story at WUNC. Farr is one of the judicial nominees that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell may try to push through. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Hum­­­­an Rights, a coalition of more than 200 national organizations committed to promoting and protecting the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States wrote a letter to the Senate detailing their opposition to Farr: "Mr. Farr has devoted much of his 38-year legal career to restricting voting rights and defending employment discrimination.  As the Congressional Black Caucus wrote in a letter last month opposing Mr. Farr’s nomination: “It is no exaggeration to say that had the White House deliberately sought to identify an attorney in North Carolina with a more hostile record on African-American voting rights and workers’ rights than Thomas Farr, it could hardly have done so.” NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) also wrote a letter of opposition to the Senate.  Let's call our Senators to tell them to oppose discriminatory Thomas Farr for US District Court.

11.  From one of our own: I wrote NPS earlier in the week to ask them not to increase the admission price to national parks, but we should also write Michael T. Reynolds, Acting Director of the US National Park Service, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240 to reinstate the grant for documenting the Black Panther Party’s legacy. They were on the forefront of providing meals and education to their communities and pointing out structural issues.  http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/10/27/amid-uproar-national-park-service-yanks-98000-grant-for-black-panther-party-legacy-project/ [and https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/national-park-service-drops-funding-for-black-panther-party-project ]

12.  Trump and Congressional Republicans are continuing their attack on our public lands with H.R. 3990. This bill would make it impossible to designate special landscapes as national monuments, and dramatically broaden the president’s authority to roll back existing monuments, which is why opponents have deemed it the “No New Parks” bill. http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2017/10/11/house-committee-advances-bill-to-limit-presidents-monument-creation-power-under-111-year-old-antiquities-act/ Let’s contact our reps and tell them to publicly commit to opposing this and other efforts to block new national parks and repeal protections for the places we love, and instead work to permanently protect our public lands and waters. (H/t RESISTBOT)

13.  The resolution to cut off U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition’s war in Yemen may be voted on as soon as this week. Our assistance has enabled the coalition to continue a conflict that has led to thousands of civilian deaths, famine and epidemic:  http://www.businessinsider.com/lawmakers-want-the-us-to-stop-helping-saudi-arabia-in-its-war-on-yemen-2017-10  Let’s contact our reps and let them know that if H. Con. Res. 81 does come up, we want them to support it, along with other measures to take away Trump’s blank check to make war.

14.  One of Trump’s biggest accomplishments, and one that will be most difficult for us to roll back, is his success in moving forward lifetime nominations on the federal bench. Four extreme right-wing nominees are up for confirmation votes for seats on U.S. courts of appeals this week, starting with Amy Coney Barrett (https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/26/judicial-nominees-mitch-mcconnell-244210). The lower courts don’t often receive the attention that Supreme Court seats do, and Republicans are trying to take advantage of that by pushing through these nominees without garnering much public attention. Let’s contact our senators and let them know we’re paying attention, all four of these nominees are unacceptable, and we will hold them accountable if they do not vote against them. We can find talking points and send an e-mail to them with People for the American Way at this link: http://act.pfaw.org/sign/oppose-trump-coa-noms

New Section:  Election 2017

1.      All States: Our colleagues at Flippable found that at least 100 million Americans have a state, city, or district election on November 7. That’s about 1 out of every 3 people nationwide! They’ve compiled a handy list of these elections. Let's check it out to make sure we are aware of all of our own local elections and make our plans for voting. Let's check out the information here and be sure to share it with other voters.

State Actions

1.      CO: Those of us who live in Denver and participate in online activism may want to consider registering for a free digital strategy training session being offered by CREDO Action.  "CREDO Action is launching a targeted program that will train and equip grassroots leaders with digital organizing skills to strategically support the resistance efforts in their state and build a stronger progressive movement. Colorado activists are invited to apply now for this free training, which will be held the weekend of November 18th-19th, 2017 in the greater Denver metro area." Apply here:  https://actionnetwork.org/forms/colorado-credo-digital-strategy-training-application

2.      MA: Last week, the State Senate voted for sweeping criminal justice reform. Now the measure heads to the House of Representatives. http://www.wbur.org/news/2017/10/27/mass-senate-approves-justice-reform  If we’re in Massachusetts, let’s contact our State reps and tell them that we support legislation that will reduce incarceration, including ending mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offenses, diverting young people and people ill with drug addictions away from the criminal justice system and toward rehabilitation and treatment, ending solitary confinement, and enacting prison programs that will reduce recidivism rates. We can find our state reps here:   https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/ or use this ACLU site to contact them:  http://www.wbur.org/news/2017/10/27/mass-senate-approves-justice-reform

Other Actions

1.      Hopefully, now that former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort has been indicted, Trump will not be foolish enough to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller but none of us are holding our breath! Let’s keep this mobilization resource nearby in case we face this eventuality and share with people in our communities:   https://act.moveon.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response-events/search/

2.      Since Trump is sabotaging the ACA Open Enrollment Period, Rapi Castillo has created an app that gives us another to get our message out, by taking a Google Spreadshet and turning it into a Social Media Toolkit. Create your own memes and resources to spread the word here:

3.      The EPA is facing the gravest threat to its existence in the form of its lead administrator, Scott Pruitt, who is ousting or silencing the agency’s scientists and replacing them with personnel straight from the industries that the EPA is supposed to regulate (https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/10/27/16552766/epa-science-advisory-board-scientific-counselors). This is a textbook example of regulatory capture, a form of political corruption, and while we have no direct means of removing Scott Pruitt from the EPA, we can lend our support to the organizations fighting his dangerous pro-polluter and anti-environment agenda. For example, the Natural Resources Defense Council has a handy list of actions to take (https://www.nrdc.org/actions), and a donation link as well.

4.      Under the pressure of terrible publicity, the governor of Puerto Rico has cancelled the power authority’s $300 million contract with Whitefish Energy Holdings to restore power to the 70% of Puerto Ricans still without power six weeks after Hurricane Maria: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/29/puerto-rico-governor-whitefish-power-contract-cancelled  Quite aside from whatever links Whitefish may have to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, the Army Corps of Engineers, ordered by Trump to restore power within 40 days, has just 7 engineering crews in PR; FEMA has not confirmed the legitimacy of the prices listed in the contract; the House Committee on Natural Resources, which oversees Puerto Rican affairs, has demanded that the power authority turn over all records connected to the contract; the inspector general’s office at Homeland Security is investigating as is PR Governor Rosselló, who has ordered an audit of the contract; and the board Congress created to oversee Puerto Rico’s financial affairs has asked a federal court to appoint a new manager to supervise the power utility.  It is heartening that those in hopes of privatizing public services are being questioned, but it is imperative that we offer our support to those who are using the hurricane damage to rethink long-term disaster preparedness and clean energy solutions in Puerto Rico as well as supplying solar generators to the most underserved areas:
Resilient Power Puerto Rico

5.      Republicans are trying to steamroll TrumpTaxScam through very quickly, with a release of the initial House Bill from Ways and Means Committee this Wednesday, November 1.  The Bill is a stealthy, terrifying transfer of wealth from all of us to corporations and the 1 percent, so let's make as much noise about it as possible. In addition to calling your Reps, you can join #TheResistance’s “Halloween Tweetday” against Tax Scams. You can use the tweets here, prewritten and ready to go with just a click: https://resistancetweetsheets.wordpress.com/2017/10/30/halloween-scary-taxtricksnottreats-say-no-to-gop-taxreform/   We can write our own tweets using the hashtag #TaxTricksNotTreats. Here's a list of House Ways and Means Members to tweet at ,too:

Petitions

1.      "The National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) is discriminating against women and violating its legal obligations by blocking star wrestler Marina Goocher from competing because of her gender. The courts have consistently struck down policies excluding women athletes based on gender stereotypes. Judges have held that women should be given equal opportunity to participate in athletics, including contact sports like wrestling, even if there are no women’s teams." Let's join the ACLU in asking the NCWA to let wrestler Marina Goocher complete by signing this petition.  We can also write to the NCWA , Attn: Jim Giunta, Executive Director, 13111 North Central Expwy, Fifth Floor, Dallas, TX 75243. Phone: 214-378-9900

2.      Let’s join MomsRising and sign this petition concerning the special-needs child ICE targeted, separating her from her family and the special medical care she needs! As soon as she was discharged from emergency surgery, this beautiful young girl with cerebral palsy was taken away from her family, her doctors and community, and placed in a facility over 150 miles away. Let’s tell ICE to return Rosa Maria Home to Her Family NOW:  http://action.momsrising.org/sign/Rosa_Maria

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.      This afternoon, Win Without War will be hosting a Q&A with Representative Ro Khanna about his legislation, H.Con.Res.81, which would remove United States Armed Forces from Yemen. Rep. Khanna will discuss the legislation, as well as what we can do to help make sure that it passes. If we'd like to submit a question, we can do so here http://bit.ly/2ydPIWR Then, let's be sure to tune in from 1-1:30pm ET this afternoon (October 31st) on Win Without War's Facebook page for the Facebook Live with Rep. Khanna https://www.facebook.com/winwithoutwar/ Finally, if we have not yet done so, let's make sure we call our representatives to ask that they support H.Con.Res. 81

2.      For those who can make it, there is a “Rally to Resist the Republican Tax Bill” on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, November 1, sponsored by Not One Penny.  Here is the link to the Facebook event:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1914463498815726  

3.      On Thursday, November 2nd, resistance groups will be participating in a National Call In Day, where we will call our MoC to voice our opposition to the tax bill. Trumptaxscam.org has offered call scripts for our Democratic MoC http://bit.ly/2zQQx4B and Republican MoC http://bit.ly/2zRDWxU Let's participate in the National Call In Day, then check out Indivisible Guide's resource on other ways we can help stop the tax bill https://www.indivisible.org/resource/trump-tax-scam-happens-next/

4.      Operation Dream Act Now, sponsored by United We Dream, is scheduled for November 9 at 1pm in DC, but “young immigrants and allies across the DMV area (and nation!) will be leading school walkouts and mobilizing thousands to Capitol Hill to demand that Congress pass a clean Dream Act by December.”  We can learn more here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/385869448496851/

Reading/Watching

1.      Paul Manafort’s central role in the Trump-Russia investigation, explained:  https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/8/31/16125776/paul-manafort-russia-trump-mueller

2.      “Only an hour after former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was indicted on conspiracy against the U.S., money laundering and other charges on Mondaymorning, President Donald Trump’s son sent out a campaign fundraising email asking for contributions. The mass email from Eric Trump makes no reference to charges against Manafort and his former business associate Richard Gates, but the subject line reads “Still standing,” and the timing speaks volumes. “Thanks to your constant support, we have the momentum to combat their vicious attacks, and we’re working day and night to deliver on each and every promise made last November,” the site also states.” 
http://www.newsweek.com/eric-trump-using-manaforts-indictment-raise-cash-loyal-republicans-696265Targeting the trump base, Eric is asking for $1.00 donations by the end of the month. 

3.      Member of Congress Michael Capuano (D-MA) is keeping a running list of actions taken by the Trump Administration and the House of Representatives that are hacking away at our social safety net, civil rights and liberties, environmental and workplace protections, and so much more. The list is at 177 and counting. Let’s check it out: http://capuano.house.gov/news/curtain.shtml

4.      It is looking all the more likely that Watergate story-breaker journalist Carl Bernstein may well be right in suggesting  that Trump wants to sabotage’ Mueller investigation:   http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/357624-bernstein-trump-trying-to-sabotage-mueller-investigation




10/30/17                                                                                     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.      This week in Congress.  The House will be considering 15 bills this week per the Majority Leader Schedule.  The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m. on Monday to resume consideration of the nomination of Trevor N. McFadden to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia. Roll Call tell us that "once Trevor McFadden is confirmed to the district court in Washington, D.C., Monday evening, the judicial wars appear sure to resume with a cloture vote to limit debate on President Donald Trump’s nomination of Amy Barrett (see Rogan's list below) to be a judge on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals."  We need to stay alert for the push by McConnell to get nominees through and make our calls to our Senators in opposition to these conservative extremist candidates.  We'll talk about  the four nominees discussed in Politico in that we expect to see in the Senate this week. These are lifetime appointments. 

2.      On Friday evening, news came out that the first indictments have been filed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in the Trump/Russia investigations – with approval from a federal grand jury --  with arrests to be made as early as today.  http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-charges/first-charges-filed-in-u-s-special-counsels-russia-investigation-source-idUSKBN1CX00V More information will be forthcoming and many are seeing a connection to the administration’s Friday and Saturday flurry about Clinton and the Russia uranium deal – trying to muddy the waters as much as possible. Before whatever is ahead, let’s take a moment to thank Mueller and his team for stepping into this time in history under immense pressure: https://www.justice.gov/contact-us  Let’s also contact our MoCs and ask them to protect Mueller’s investigative role. 

3.      Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has affirmed the White House position that all of Trump’s sixteen accusers regarding sexual assault and harassment are lying:https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/27/donald-trump-sexual-harassment-claims-women-lying-white-house Let’s be in touch with Huckabee Sanders to ask how she has such confidence: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC, 20500 or on Twitter @PressSec  We can consider listing the numbers 1-16 on our communications.

4.      Now that Senators Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Bob Corker (R-TN), and John McCain (R-AZ) have made clear their belief that Trump is unfit for the presidency, let’s hold their feet to the fire. Let’s  A)  Ask Corker, who is head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to hold hearings on Trump’s erosion of America’s position in the world, and B) Ask all three to (1) support the Special Counsel Integrity Act (S.1741) protecting the investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, (2) support the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017 (S.200) that checks the power of the president to launch nuclear weapons unilaterally, and (3) be ready to support impeachment. A) Flake: 202-224-4521 https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-jeff   B) Corker: 202-224-3344 or https://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailme   C) McCain: 202-224-2235 or  https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form   (Hat tip: New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/27/opinion/thank-you-jeff-flake.html)

5.      The contract between Whitefish and Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) has been made public, and there are many aspects of it that are highly concerning http://n.pr/2gNpZgA The language within asserts that FEMA approved of the contract, which FEMA disputes. The contract also prohibits audits on "the cost and profit elements" its labor rates, which creates a highly concerning lack of transparency, as well as a concern for price gouging. Two House committees and a federal watchdog group have opened investigations into the deal, with numerous members of Congress in both chambers noting their own concerns  http://bit.ly/2hk9ANJ San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz has called for the deal to be voided altogether http://bit.ly/2llAjxZ Let's contact our MoC and ask that they speak out against the deal between Whitefish and PREPA, and that they follow Mayor Cruz's lead in asking for the contract to be voided.

6.      Let's take a look at two of the extremist judicial nominees we anticipate we'll see in the Senate early this week through the letters of opposition written about them by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to the Senate.  1) Amy Coney Barrett - (full letter here)  "Professor Barrett’s statements and writings reveal a strong bias against reproductive freedom and LGBT rights."  Her record demonstrates a dangerous lack of deference to long-standing precedent and judicial restraint." We are expecting a cloture vote TODAY to limited debate on Barrett. 2) Allison Eid - (full letter here.) "As a member of the Colorado Supreme Court since 2006, Justice Eid has a demonstrated record of conservative extremism.  She has consistently rejected civil rights and public interest claims, often in dissent."  We need to call our Senators TODAY to tell them that we oppose extremists Barrett and Eid for the US Courts. 

7.      Nominee to the the 3rd Circuit Court, Stephanos Bibas, needs to be carefully questioned by Senators on his record per the Alliance for Justice (AFJ).  "In more recent year, in his academic writings, Bibas also has taken troubling positions on mass incarceration, people addicted to drugs, and certain core constitutional protections. For example, Bibas has minimized racial disparities in the criminal justice system and stated that drug addiction was not a disease but rather something that people could choose to overcome. Moreover, Bibas has questioned the propriety of the Miranda doctrine and argued against robust habeas corpus protections."  Let's ask our Senators to ask for more clarification of specific issues that concern us.

8.      The fourth nominee that Mitch McConnell will try to confirm this week is Joan Larsen.  The Alliance for Justice writes "Significantly, Larsen has written about presidential power in ways that suggest she would not act as an independent check on the Executive Branch, an issue of particular import at a time when the President publicly lambasts judges and demonstrates repeated disdain for the rule of law." Let's tell our Senators that we need to continue to have an independent judiciary and that we oppose Joan Larsen.

State Actions

1.      ID: Put Medicaid Expansion on the November 2018 ballot! The grassroots group Reclaim Idaho is collecting 48,000 signatures to get a direct voter referendum on the ballot which, if it passes, will extend affordable health care to 78,000 Idahoans. If we’re in Idaho, let’s offer to sign and to volunteer by writing to reclaimidaho@gmail.com, and let’s consider donating at:                                                

2.      ALL: ACLU's People Power has launched the Let the People Vote campaign. The campaign focuses efforts on voting rights, as well as ensuring that each state is implementing key modernizations to voting, such as automatic voter registration, online registration, no-reason absentee voting, and more. People Power has constructed an action plan for each state. Let's sign up with People Power and learn about how we can pressure our state legislators to expand voting rights https://vote.peoplepower.org/getinvolved

3.      VA: If we’re not going to be around for the big November 7, 2017, election, let’s be sure to get our absentee ballot! The deadline to request that an absentee ballot be mailed to us is 5PM tomorrow, October 31, 2017. Let’s apply here: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/absentee-voting/ , and let’s spread the word!

Other Actions

1.      This article provides an interesting perspective on why the Resistance has been less engaged about Ralph Northam’s bid for governor in Virginia than we were in the Ossoff congressional race in Georgia: https://www.apnews.com/fa3b81a105f34aaf9ad325a0ace63f0a/Power-of-anti-Trump-resistance-in-question-in-Virginia-race This race has consequences on many fronts including gerrymandering so let’s do what we can before the November 7th polls open:  https://ralphnortham.com

2.      Don’t boo. Vote! Of all the actions we take, nothing—nothing—is more important than voting. In every election. Local. Statewide. National. Let’s use these tools from the League of Women Voters to register to vote and get personalized voting information. And let’s encourage others to do the same by sharing this link: http://www.vote411.org/home

3.      On October 20th, Los Angeles' KFI morning radio host Bill Handel called Representative Frederica Wilson, who has been outspoken against Trump, a "cheap, sleazy, Democrat whore" http://bit.ly/2yZ3Pi4 Since then, Handel has only offered a defensive clarification, saying that he should have referred to Representative Wilson as a "media whore" http://bit.ly/2yXTEsh Meanwhile, as Trump continues his own attacks on Representative Wilson, she has been receiving multiple death threats http://bit.ly/2id9SWp It is clear that Handel's words do real damage, and the lack of action from KFI and iHeartMedia Inc. is unacceptable. Let's join Color of Change in asking that iHeartMedia fire Bill Handel immediately. We can contact iHeartMedia by phone: (210) 822-2828 mail: 6222 W Interstate 10, San Antonio, Texas 78209 or send KFI a message: https://kfiam640.iheart.com/contact/ We can also sign Color of Change's petition http://bit.ly/2iIctLP

4.      We have appealed unsuccessfully to Scott Pruitt and the EPA not to yield to chemical industry lobbyists and change (or refuse to implement) rules governing the use of pesticides, including the dangerous chlorpyrifos marketed by Dow Chemical, the infamous producer of napalm B and (with Monsanto) of Agent Orange for the U.S. military. (A brief but horrifying account of the effects of chlorpyrifos, especially on children, is here:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/28/opinion/sunday/chlorpyrifos-dow-environmental-protection-agency.html) Dow has a long history of ignoring the impact of its products on human beings as long as they remain profitable.  Maybe it is time to barrage Dow with phone calls, faxes, letters, postcards (with copies to the EPA) demanding that they stop flooding the country (and the world) with dangerous chemicals: 1-989-636-1000 or FAX 1-989-832-1456 or Andrew N. Liveris, CEO, Dow Chemical, 627-693 Washington St., Midland, MI 48640

5.      Postcards to Voters launched Campaign #27 for Kelly DeLucia, Virginia House of Delegates. Voters in Virginia's 96th House District will have their first chance to vote for a Democrat to the House of Delegates since 2007. Returning writers may text KELLY to (484) ASK-ABBY which is (484) 275-2229 and get addresses right away, 24/7 with an emailed courtesy copy for added convenience. If we are new, we can send an email to: JOIN@TonyTheDemocrat.org    We can also check out the new Postcards to Voters website at https://postcardstovoters.org/ for more information about the organization and the people involved.

6.      One League of Women Voters group in North Carolina found a fun way to raise funds.  They are holding the inaugural Gerrymander 5k this weekend.  http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/10/26/voting_rights_group_holds_gerrymander_fun_run_in_north_carolina.html  If we are looking for something new to fund resistance activities, let’s take a look at this!

Petitions

1.      Barack Obama is on a MISSION to get more Democrats out to vote!  Let’s sign up to help him:  http://go.turnoutpac.org/page/s/stand-with-president-obama

2.      Stop Trump from putting a campaign donor's interests ahead of the people of Puerto Rico: https://us.e-activist.com/page/3732/action/1

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.      There is concern on several fronts that now that arrests will be made because of the Mueller investigation that Trump will try to fire Mueller.  https://lawnewz.com/high-profile/is-trump-looking-for-an-excuse-to-fire-mueller-before-hes-impeached/ This has been a concern before and rapid response teams are already on alert in many parts of the country.  Let’s check here to see more information such as materials, press, partners and to see if there is an event scheduled close to us, or if we should create one  https://www.trumpisnotabovethelaw.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response/search/ 

2.      Warning:  There are marches being planned for November 4 organized by Refuse Fascism.  These rallies aren't planned or endorsed by any of the major, organized Resistance groups like Women's March, MoveOn, etc. It is an outgrowth of the Revolutionary Communist Party and we will not participate.

Reading/Watching

1.      Experts in authoritarianism advise us to keep a list of things subtly changing around us, so we’ll remember.  Amy Siskind is keeping that list for us. Amy writes, " The feelings of anxiety and fear amid continued chaos and eroding norms were palpable in this second-consecutive, record-setting week. The Trump regime continued their attacks on rights and protections, while the Republican Party split deepened after a historic anti-Trump/save our country speech by Senator Jeff Flake. The week closed with the unexpected news that the Mueller probe has produced its first results: charges filed in federal court. The news provided the first relief, and possible accountability after unending news of corruption, incompetence and kleptocracy. The humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico worsened amid news of an insider-deal and cover-ups, as Trump continued to turn a blind eye of indifference." "  Let's review Amy Siskind's list week 50

2.      In follow-up to recent news story, an update: the school district in Biloxi, Mississippi was going to be striking To Kill a Mockingbird from their curriculum because it makes some people uncomfortable. Now, following public outcry, it will remain in the curriculum but with permission slips from parents and alternative options: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/28/mississippi-to-kill-a-mockingbird-harper-lee

3.      Before we get too excited about Hollywood, Weinstein, and celebrity sexual harassment, it is worth listening to Lin Farley, an originator of the term, talk about the widespread but largely-ignored use of sexual harassment as a way of controlling the young, female, low-wage workforce: http://www.wnyc.org/story/sexual-harassment-revisited/

4.      And, as always, our weekly dose of Small Victories which now has its own webpage:  https://www.celebratesmallvictories.com/, and Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/SmVictories/ and Twitter handle:  https://twitter.com/SmVictories