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10/5/17                                                            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.      Trump visited Puerto Rico on Tuesday and, as Clint Smith III noted, threw paper towels at people like a game show host. Here is a summary of his visit:  http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/353737-the-memo-five-takeaways-from-trump-in-puerto-rico and https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/10/trump-puerto-rico-visit/541869/ As Trump is likely to cross Puerto Rico off his to do list and move on to other topics, we must keep pressure up on our MoC for a disaster still affecting millions of Americans.

2.      How deep does the hypocrisy go? US Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA), a vocal anti-abortion legislator, reportedly asked his mistress to have an abortion during a pregnancy scare: https://www.apnews.com/cb007be76dc440c994603f600adfb891/Report:-Anti-abortion-US-rep-asked-girlfriend-to-get-one Let’s let Murphy know we’ve had enough of his hypocrisy: https://murphy.house.gov/contact-me/

3.      “The Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general is reviewing Secretary David Shulkin's 10-day taxpayer-funded trip to Europe in July, during which Shulkin and his wife spent time shopping and sightseeing in Denmark and the U.K.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/veterans-affairs-inspector-general-is-reviewing-david-shulkins-10-day-europe-trip/ Let’s write to Shulkin expressing our concern over this misuse of taxpayer funds (especially given that he’s an official overseeing Veterans Affairs, which has a history of mismanagement): David Shulkin, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington DC 20420. Let’s also share our concerns with the VA Inspector General: 1-800-488-8244 (being sure to mention if we are a veteran or have family members who are veterans).

4.      The Action Network is launching a letter writing campaign to ask our members of Congress to support a clean Dream Act (S. 1615). They have provided background information, talking points, and a link to connect us with our MoC: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sign-and-send-a-personalized-letter-pass-a-clean-dream-act-bill

5.      Homeland Security has published a new rule that would allow "social media handles and aliases, associated identifiable information and search results" to be included in the department's immigrant files."  DHS would collect this information on all immigrants, including permanent residents— “green card” holders—and naturalized citizens.  This rule will go into effect on October 18, but  between now and midnight of the 18th, we can—and should—submit comments on this latest harassment of immigrants, regardless of their status: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/09/18/2017-19365/privacy-act-of-1974-system-of-records#open-comment

6.      The new budget needs to be passed before tax reform can begin. The GOP federal budget is to be voted on by the House today and it will be the set-up for tax reform.  We all know there are many flaws and that many of our most vulnerable citizens will be hurt it is passed in its present form.  http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/02/gop-budgets-tax-reform-collision-243320 Let’s contact our reps and voice our opposition to this budget.

7.      The new tax plan has some generous giveaways to the wealthy and some frightening budget cuts that will negatively affect the middle class and poor.  http://www.npr.org/2017/10/04/555433641/who-will-benefit-most-from-gop-tax-plan-early-report-suggests-the-wealthy  Let’s use this Trump Tax Toolkit to make some contacts and express our opposition:  https://trumptaxtoolkit.org/

8.      Today is the deadline for DREAMers to renew their DACA status, and United We Dream is focusing efforts on making sure Congress receives an avalanche of phone calls, encouraging them to support a clean DREAM Act. Let's each call our MoC, then join United We Dream's Text to Call so that we can invite others to make the call as well http://www.calltodream.org/

9.      Ajit Pai, who has been spearheading efforts to roll back net neutrality, was reconfirmed as FCC Chairman by a Senate vote of 52-41 
http://bit.ly/2xT3tHk  http://bit.ly/2yo7pD0 Although the vote was mostly along party lines, four Democrats voted in favor of Pai: Senators Claire McCaskill, Gary Peters, Joe Manchin, and Jon Tester. Let's make sure that we hold these senators accountable for their votes. We can call their offices to express our disappointment and ask for an explanation: Sen. McCaskill (202) 224-6154 Sen. Peters (202) 224-6221  Sen. Manchin (202) 224-3954 Sen. Tester (202) 224-2644.  We can also use the sample tweets available from the Free Press Action Fund: 1) These senators just sold you out to ISPs by reconfirming Trump's FCC chairman: @clairecmc @Sen_JoeManchin @SenGaryPeters @SenatorTester.  2) .@SenatorTester just endorsed the end of the internet and sold you out to Verizon and Comcast by reconfirming Trump's FCC chairman. 3) SHAME: @clairecmc voted to reconfirm @FCC Chairman Ajit Pai who wants to end #NetNeutrality & push through the dangerous #Sinclair merger. 4) @SenGaryPeters just sold you out to internet service providers by voting to reconfirm Trump’s @FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai. 5)  SHAME: @Sen_JoeManchin just sold you out to Verizon and Comcast by voting to reconfirm Trump’s @FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai.

10.  It took three airplanes on 9/11 to make airport security safer. It took one shoe-bomber to make flying safer.  It took seven Tylenol murder victims to change packaging protections for safer over-the-counter medications.  It took three deaths to ban lawn darts to make us safer. Our government has long been involved in helping to make citizens safer. Safety from guns, however, seems to be directly related to the influence of the NRA: http://billmoyers.com/story/todays-nra-price-freedom/   Yesterday, following the most deadly gun tragedy in the U.S., House Republicans voted 231 to 189 to block an up-or-down vote on creating a bipartisan Select Committee on Gun Violence, which would have bene charged with studying and reporting back common sense legislation to address the gun violence epidemic within 60 days.  https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-after-house-gop-blocks-vote-to-create-bipartisan-select  Let’s contact our reps and tell them that we want this to happen.  We want Congress to begin this process of safeguarding our lives against gun violence.

11.  It is the loophole in the 30-year-old automatic weapons ban that make it possible for a civilian to attain one that most likely made the Las Vegas tragedy worse.  https://www.wired.com/story/las-vegas-shooting-automatic-rifle/  Let’s ask our MoCs to address this by looking at this loophole by signing on to Sen. Feinstein’s (D-CA) legislation to close the loophole:  http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article176871581.html

12.  In a shocking act of irresponsibility, congressional Republicans who wasted months attacking Obamacare let a September 30th deadline pass without renewing federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. States will exhaust their federal CHIP money as early as December if action isn’t taken ASAP, endangering health care access for millions of children (http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-chip-funding-20170929-story.html). Let’s join 5Calls in demanding our reps step up and fix this now:  https://5calls.org/issue/recOlc0pl4JKvJA4H
State Actions

1.      VT: Central and Southern Vermont Hurricane Relief is collecting and sending supplies to assist with hurricane relief. Let’s look at the list of requested items and opportunities to volunteer, and see how we can help out: https://www.facebook.com/centralandsouthernvermonthurricanerelief

2.      MI: “Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof introduced Senate Bill 594 on Wednesday, September 27. This legislation is authorization to create a private police force. These “private” law enforcement personnel can be hired by governments. There is no prohibition against eliminating an existing public police force and they would be awarded full arrest powers on duty. This legislation is a solution in search of a problem.  Please contact the following members of the Senate Government Operations Committee and urge a no-vote:  1)  Senator Mike Kowall:  Phone: (517) 373-1758 -- Email: SenMKowall@senate.michigan.gov, and 2) Senator Geoff Hansen: Phone: (517) 373-1635 -- Email: SenGHansen@senate.Michigan.gov

Other Actions

1.      Here’s a spot of good news in a bleak week - public trust in the media is going up:http://www.reuters.com/article/us-trump-effect-media-poll/the-press-branded-the-enemy-by-trump-increasingly-trusted-by-the-public-reuters-ipsos-poll-idUSKCN1C813L Let’s continue to financially support trusted media sources as we are able.

2.      Ben & Jerry’s has signed a historical contract to ensure the rights of dairy workers in its supply chain. https://migrantjustice.net/victory (Note: If you were planning to participate in Thursday’sNational Day of Action, these have been cancelled in light of this move.) Let’s send our thanks to Ben & Jerry’s by mail (Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc., 30 Community Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403-6828), online (https://secure.benjerry.com/about-us/contact-us?) or by phone (802-846-1500 Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm. [Ask for Consumer Services]).

3.      From one of our own:  My cousin Miguel Alberto De Angel, the priest in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, reported last night that his town has yet to receive any aid. He went to buy supplies for his town with his own money but the bottled water is all sold out and the only water he could bring back was bottled coconut water. My heart breaks. If you would like to help him and his town directly he is receiving help at Padre Miguel Alberto De Angel, P.O. Box 362632, San Juan, Puerto Rico  00936.  They need:  Batteries, diapers for adults and children, milk boxed, water, basic medicines, or money to acquire. [Remember since Puerto Rico is part of the US, it is regular postage] Or, we can donate here: https://www.youcaring.com/padremigueldeangeliglesiacatolicadeyabacoa-969244 

4.      The ACA enrollment period has been shortened to November 1 to December 15, and funds to advertise it and assist users, have been cut.  http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2017/09/28/obamacare-enrollment-period-and-assistance-cut-half-iowans/712693001/ Let’s help make sure that those who need to know this information have it:  https://getamericacovered.org/

5.      Regardless of where we live, what happens in the Virginia election in November will affect us all.  Let’s watch this short video explaining why:  https://youtu.be/YJ0xJEioIyg , then let’s sign up with Why Virginia 2017 Matters to find out how we can help:  http://www.whyvamatters2017.com/

6.      Along the same line, FLIPPABLE unveiled a new website today. From their email to subscribers. "On November 7, we have an opportunity to make history for Democrats. We can flip the Washington State Senate—and turn the West Coast blue—by supporting one excellent candidate. In Virginia, we can expand healthcare, protect choice, and restore voting rights by working to flip the House of Delegates. We’ve picked 5 districts where your time and money will go the furthest. Learn more about these campaigns—and recommit to taking action—on our new Virginia and Washington pages."   https://www.flippable.org/?utm_source=flippable_list&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=relaunch&utm_content=email_171004_1  This is one of our best chances to change this government is to flip the house in 2018. Let’s check out this website and see what we can do to be part of the change. 

7.      Rosanne Cash, daughter of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, has called on country musicians to stand up to the NRA:  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/03/opinion/rosanne-cash-country-musicians-nra.html  Through their NRA Country, the NRA is attempting to seek younger members to offset their aging base: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/04/nra-country-gun-lobby-music-nashville  Let’s contact our favorite country music musicians and ask them to distance themselves from the gun lobby. 

8.      Pen America, the national branch of the well-established international organization that fights for press freedom, is trying to help us fight back against the recent attacks on the free press in our country. "The Press Freedom Incentive Fund will support new initiatives to invigorate local communities with ideas, information, questions, and discourse around press freedom defense. Proposals may center on events, panel discussions, campaigns, outreach efforts, educational initiatives, guest speakers, or other formats that can be effective in reaching local audiences." Anyone is eligible, and grants of $1000 - 4000 are available. Let's find out more here: https://pen.org/press-freedom-incentive-fund/.

9.      The horrors we saw in Las Vegas this past weekend have brought renewed attention to the need to strengthen our gun control laws. Let’s commit to getting informed and engaged in this fight for the long haul by subscribing to the free daily roundup e-mail of gun control news and analysis from The Trace. We can subscribe here: https://www.thetrace.org/#subscribe

Petitions

1.      Most Americans favor commonsense gun control, even Republicans.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/10/03/lots-of-republicans-actually-support-gun-control/?utm_term=.1ff7d785c246  Let’s sign this petition asking for Congress to get working on it:  https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/gun-control-now

2.      “The GOP budget plan calls for a staggering 44 percent cut to overall social and environmental spending by 2027. This would all but guarantee cuts to the programs that keep our air clean, our water drinkable, and our climate safe. We need your help to stop the Dirty Budget!” Let’s sign this Friends of the Earth petition:  https://us.e-activist.com/page/3492/action/1

Marches/events/teleconferences to attend/organize

1.      National Month of Mobilization on Taxes:  October 4-13.  Let’s join Stop Trump Tax Cuts to see how we can participate:  http://stoptrumptaxcuts.org/events/

2.      We can still register for the Women’s Convention to be held in Detroit, October 27-29:  http://www.womensconvention.com/register.html

3.      Volunteers are needed for the Women’s Convention in Detroit.  Attendance to the convention is free for the day we work.  We can sign up here:  https://liveunitedsem.galaxydigital.com/aem/corp/event/?doc_id=4485&key=a07caa6d6d98caa618d4da204d16ef09

Reading/Watching

1.      Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, wrote an excellent op-ed for The Guardian that includes some action items regarding reaching our MoC about specific legislative efforts: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/03/americans-gun-laws-lobbyists-national-rifle-association

2.      This is what deportation is like for a young Mexican raised in the United States:  http://www.bridgemi.com/detroit-journalism-cooperative/michigan-deportee-adjusts-mexico-i-dont-wish-anybody

3.      The Week in Science & Technology by RISE Stronger:  https://www.risestronger.org/newsroom/week-36-science-technology


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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