Rogan's List

12/12/17

Contact Federal Government Officials

Find senator’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/RLiotu

Find representative’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/5i7SXC

Fax legislators for free:  Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php

and Senate: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

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

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, the Senate will vote to confirm 3 nominees for lifetime appointments on the US Circuit Courts and US Court of Appeals — A)  Leonard Steven Grasz (Unanimously rated "not qualified" by the American Bar Association ), B) Don Willett (Shapes his judicial decisions based on his personal (often anti-LGBT, anti-worker) policy views), and C) James Ho (Has written that the U.S. should "abolish all restrictions on campaign finance," helped defend the use of torture as part of the Bush Administration, and has often sided with extreme anti-LGBT stances).  Clearly, the best among us. These nominations are extreme choices...and ones that are being recklessly rushed through the confirmation process.   This is a clear attempt by the Senate GOP to pack our federal court system with extreme judicial choices, hand-picked by the right-wing Federalist Society (and by an administration currently under federal investigation).  Let’s let our senators know that we do not agree with these choices or the selection process.  (h/t to Dave Nuscher and 5 Calls)

2.      Democrats have begun attacking the government policies that facilitate the big mergers that are consolidating business in the hands of a few corporate leaders.

http://thehill.com/policy/technology/364035-dems-push-for-stricter-antitrust-rules-amid-megadeals Let’s contact our MoCs to ask them what they’re doing to enforce antitrust rules and to support small business. 

3.      We cannot let up in demanding that our MoC support a clean DREAM Act. Whether we have called our senators and representatives already or not, let's make sure they keep hearing from us. We can also take a moment to thank those senators who voted against the stop-gap funding bill, which did not include any protections for DREAMers, that recently passed Congress. Call scripts and click-to-tweet "thank yous" can be found here:  https://www.dreamerpledge.org/call-script/

4.      Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are still facing a devastating recovery process, as efforts continue to restore power and give all residents access to water: 

http://to.pbs.org/2njr41Y  Funding needs to be provided for FEMA assistance, infrastructure recovery, and debt relief. Senators Sanders and Warren have introduced the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act (S. 2165) to help provide this funding and support the recovery process. Let's contact our senators and ask that they cosponsor and support this legislation.

5.      Important to know what is really causing rising income inequality.  Spoiler alert: it isn't immigration, or international trade, or even technology/automation. The real cause: government regulation. Not the kind that trickle-downers and conservatives obsess about, but rather the vast network of protective rules and policies that the 1% have bribed/bullied into existence. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/17/upshot/income-inequality-united-states.html and https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/26/opinion/trump-made-the-swamp-worse-heres-how-to-drain-it.html When next we chat with our MoCs, let's make a point of demanding the right kind of regulatory reform, the kind that creates a level playing field for all citizens and really "drains the swamp." 

6.      The Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed regulations that would allow restaurant employers to be able to pool tips earned by servers, allowing them to share the tips with untipped employees like cooks, dishwashers, and others in the back of house — if they share them at all. The proposed changes, first announced in July, roll back the Obama administration’s 2011 regulations that expressly prohibited the distribution of tips to anyone other than the front-of-house staff who earned them. Backers argue it’s a regulation that could go a long way towards erasing income inequality between back and front of the house. Others say it’s a recipe for a host of evils, ranging from tip-pocketing by management to unsustainably high labor costs. A big problem with the new regulations is that employers may now legally pocket tips if they decide to follow the DOL’s new rule, and they don’t take the tip credit, and instead pay minimum wage of $7.25 an hour to all their employees, then tips are no longer considered the property of the employee; they become property of the employer. That employer could split those tips between back and front of the house. Then again, the employer could also keep them all. We have until January 4, 2018 to submit public comments to the DOL.  Let's make sure that people we know who work as servers are aware of this proposed change that would greatly affect them.

7.      It is still possible that Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine will not vote for the reconciled Senate tax bill: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tax-collins/senator-collins-says-undecided-on-final-tax-bill-vote-idUSKBN1E40UH Let’s take a moment to ask Senator Collins to stand up for all people in the US not just the super-rich: https://www.collins.senate.gov/contact

8.     While the GOP members of Congress and the Trump administration tell us that the tax bill will be a good fix for America, “…. the vast majority of outside analyses have found that the GOP tax plans would fall far short of being fully offset. The Joint Committee on Taxation said the Senate tax bill would add about $1 trillion to the deficit over a decade, and the non-partisan Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center said Monday that the Senate tax plan would increase gross domestic product by 0.7 percent in 2018 before falling off in ensuing years.”  https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/11/treasury-tax-cuts-republican-plan-217504 Let’s let our MoCs know that while this may address some wants from the wealthy and large corporations, it is not good for workers in this country or for this country as a whole.

9.      On Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R, SC) tweeted: “Trump International Golf Club is a spectacular golf course. Great day of fun playing with@POTUS @realDonaldTrump.” https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/939988068823715842  Let’s contact Sen. Graham to express our displeasure with his use of a Twitter account to help Trump violate the emoluments clause of the Constitution (Twitter: @LindseyGrahamSC, (202) 224-5972, 290 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510).

10.  After 700 departures from the EPA, many through buy-outs designed to reduce the agency’s size, we now learn that EPA enforcement officers no longer have the authority to order certain air and water pollution tests, known as requests for information, without receiving permission from Washington. These tests are essential to building a case against polluters, leaving local governments trying to deal with hazardous pollution with nowhere to turn.  Trump’s regulatory rollback does not mean a free pass for violators of environmental laws, claims EPA administrator Scott Pruitt, but “as the Trump administration moves from one attention-grabbing headline to the next,” the NYT reports, “it has taken a significant but less-noticed turn in the enforcement of federal pollution laws”:  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/10/us/politics/pollution-epa-regulations.html  It is worth our while to read the Time’s detailed account of how the “new” EPA works to the great advantage of polluters not people—and to let Pruitt know what we think: @EPAScottPruitt or Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 1101A, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 2046

11.   “A group of women who have accused Donald Trump of sexually inappropriate behavior on Monday demanded that Congress open an investigation.”  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/11/women-accusing-trump-demand-congress-investigate-sexual-misconduct Let’s join Ultraviolet’s request that we all demand the same:  https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/conyers-franken-trump/

12.  On Monday, lawyers for the Trump administration urged a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the government by the Children’s Trust, representing a group of 21 young plaintiffs ranging in age from 10 to 21 who allege that federal energy policies drive climate change that will hurt them as they grow up and aim to force the government to address the issue.  Federal lawyers said the case could lead to “litigation that is distracting the executive branch from the discharge of its duties.” As Trump has made clear, averting environmental devastation is not, in his view, a "duty" of the executive branch or, indeed, of the federal government. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eric Grant told a panel of judges on the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, “Plaintiffs seek unprecedented standing to pursue unprecedented claims in pursuit of an unprecedented remedy”: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/364312-feds-push-court-to-dismiss-children-climate-change-lawsuit  Given that our children and grandchildren will, as Julia Olson, the executive director of the Children’s Trust, puts it, “disproportionately experience the impacts of climate change, and will going forward,” perhaps it is time for an “unprecedented remedy’ to the depredations wrought by humans seeking profit. Let’s tell the Justice Department to stop opposing the children who are our future: DOJ comment line 202-353-1555 or switchboard 202-514-2000 or U.S. Department of Justice. 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001

13.  Kathleen Hartnett White has denied climate science, criticized wind and solar energy as a “false hope” and repeatedly said carbon dioxide is not a harmful pollutant. She’s in favor of increasing the use of fossil fuels and an opponent of the Endangered Species Act. And she’s a Senate vote away from being confirmed as the head of the Council on Environmental Quality, which helps coordinate federal interagency policy discussions on energy and environment (https://insideclimatenews.org/news/28112017/kathleen-harnett-white-senate-confirmation-ceq-vote-trump-climate-change-carbon-dioxide). Her positions have led more than 300 scientists to write to the Senate asking for her to be rejected in the same of scientific integrity. Let’s add our voices to theirs and contact our senators to let them know we want them to oppose White and demand a nominee who understands the challenges we face from climate change. (H/t Jessica Craven)

14.  Thomas Farr’s nomination for the longest-running federal district court vacancy was always going to be controversial, as the seat was only still open because Senator Richard Burr blocked two highly-qualified African-American female nominees from even receiving a hearing during the Obama Administration. But the Trump White House doubled down by putting forward the chief attorney for the North Carolina GOP’s voter suppression efforts, someone who has been defending laws rejected by the Fourth Circuit for targeting African-Americans with “almost surgical precision”:   http://www.charlotteobserver.com/article174539786.html Let’s contact our senators and let them know that we believe that voter suppression is a threat to democracy, and we want them to oppose Farr and demand judicial nominees we can trust to protect our right to vote.

Election 2017/2018

1.       Today is voting day in Alabama for the special Senate election. Republican Senator Richard Shelby has spoken out with great clarity against Roy Moore: 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/10/roy-moore-alabama-election-richard-shelby Hopefully this will help tip the scales to Doug Jones. If you are on the ground getting out the vote, we all send our thanks to you. If we are in Alabama or know folks in Alabama, let’s reach out to friends and neighbors with reminders to get to the polls.  If we can drive folks to today, let’s let the campaign know by emailing rides@dougjonesforsenate

2.      Downtown Mobile HQ on URGENTLY needs staff TODAY Tuesday, Election Day! We MUST connect with the 5000 Dem voters in Mobile County who only vote in presidential election years. They will vote for Doug but it’s up to us to get them to the polls. We’ll be calling, visiting, and offering rides to these voters. We can join any 2 hr. Shift between 9a and 5pm.  Call Taylor Packer (205) 757-1013 or Austin Noble at (205) 440-5681.

3.      From one of our own: “On the action about the Alabama Senate Election [in yesterday’s Rogan’s List], I experienced a problem when commenting on the Alabama Chamber of Commerce website. If I used the name "Roy Moore" in my comment, it was flagged as unacceptable and I was told there was a problem. I re-wrote my comment using "Republican candidate" and my comment was accepted. Just an FYI. They are obviously trying not to receive comments about Mr. Moore.”  Let’s try this again, we can “vote” with our wallets and let Alabama know that we will not be traveling to/in their state or spending money there.  Let’s tell the Alabama Tourism Department:  http://tourism.alabama.gov/contact-us/ and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama: https://alabamachambers.org/members/

 Other Actions

1.       CORRECTION:  The fires in southern California are devastating.   Here’s how we can help:   https://www.fastcompany.com/40505480/how-to-help-california-fire-victims-11-things-you-can-do-for-ventura-and-l-a-right-now

2.     If Trump actually fires Robert Mueller as he's suggested he would, "this would be a constitutional crisis for our country. It would demand an immediate and unequivocal response to show that we will not tolerate abuse of power from Donald Trump." This website has a plan to automatically mobilize massive protests all over the country if Mueller is fired. Let's check here for the nearest planned protest event -- there are already hundreds -- or add our own, so that we can be ready for this eventuality.  

https://www.trumpisnotabovethelaw.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response/search

3.      The Republican National Committee (RNC) has officially endorsed accused rapist and child molester Roy Moore http://bit.ly/2ikjvTm While RNC donors, like Comcast, AT&T, and Microsoft, may not wish to do so, they must take responsibility for what their donations support. They may say that they do not support Moore, but that is precisely what their money is doing https://thinkprogress.org/corporate-contributions-rnc-roy-moore-cc9f837209e2/ Let's contact these corporations and ask that they stop funding the RNC. AT&T Board of Directors: Office of the Secretary of AT&T Inc., 208 S. Akard Street, Suite 3241, Dallas, Texas 75202 Twitter: @ATT  Comcast Corporate Headquarters: One Comcast Center Philadelphia, PA 19103 Twitter: @comcast Microsoft: Microsoft Headquarters One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052 Corporate Office Phone:1-425-882-8080 Twitter: @Microsoft

4.      Drain the NRA, a new group whose goal is “draining the gun lobby's blood money by protesting, boycotting & divesting from the gun industry & flipping the politicians it pays off!” Their first “campaign will focus on boycotting, protesting and divesting from companies that incentivize membership to the NRA by offering benefits and discounts to its members. (https://benefits.nra.org/)  Our first company: Santa Monica-based TrueCar which partners with the NRA to advertise its car buying and cost savings services directly to NRA members. 

(https://nra.truecar.com/main.html?referrer_id=ZNAT000021299)” We can learn more about their efforts at their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/drainnrabloodmoney/
And follow them on twitter at @DraintheNRA.  We can sign their petition asking True Car to "divest" from the NRA:  https://www.change.org/p/bernie-brenner-neeraj-gunsagar-end-truecar-s-relationship-with-the-nra  (H/t Jessica Craven)

5.      The same day Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore whipped out a gun at a campaign rally, he received a hefty contribution from one of his biggest donors: the founder of Cinemark Theatres, which demanded nearly $700,000 from the victims of a mass shooting at one of its locations.  Lee Roy Mitchell, who is also the chairman of Cinemark, and his wife, Tandy Mitchell, an executive at the company, have donated at least $13,500 to Moore's campaign, according to FEC filings. The Texas-based Cinemark is one of the largest theater chains in the country, and also Moore's fifth-biggest campaign contributor, according to OpenSecrets.  Cinemark Holdings owns and operates 533 theaters and 5,957 movie screens in the U.S. and Latin America, and it owns the Cinemark, Century, Tinseltown USA, CinéArts and Rave theaters. The company is publicly traded and holds more than $4 billion in net assets. Let's read the full story at Newsweek. Between supporting Roy Moore and going after shooting victims, Cinemark deserves to hear from us. Let's write to: Cinemark USA Inc, Attn: Lee Roy Mitchell, 3900 Dallas Parkway Ste 500, Plano TX 75093-7865. An even better way to send a message to Cinemark: let's not go to their theaters. We can find the theaters near us on the Cinemark website.  If we are Cinemark shareholders, let's consider this as a reason to "sell."

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.       Break the internet -online day of activism:  With only a few days before The FCC votes to end net neutrality—breaking the fundamental principle of the open Internet, only an avalanche of calls to Congress can stop it. So Today,  Tuesday, December 12th,  we can "Break the Internet" on our site, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, LinkedIn, reddit,  Tumblr,  Youtube or in whatever wild creative way you can to get your audience to contact Congress. That’s how we win. We can learn more and sign up here:  https://www.battleforthenet.com/breaktheinternet/  If we are in DC on Wednesday December 13, we can join a protest at the FCC. We can learn more and sign up here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/397458310684312/  We can find more information and talking points here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/17M1v5lMOu2yFVcG6KM8QzaE1dy9701ZXhQzQ-N53LJo/edit

2.      Tomorrow, December 13, for those who are in Washington, D.C. there will be a People’s Rally Against the GOP Tax Scam.  More info here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/100850750707551/

States

Reading/Watching

1.       A United Nations official investigating poverty in the United States was shocked at the level of environmental degradation in some areas of rural Alabama, saying he had never seen anything like it in the developed world. “I think it's very uncommon in the First World. This is not a sight that one normally sees. I'd have to say that I haven't seen this," Philip Alston, the U.N.'s Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, told Connor Sheets of AL.com earlier this week as they toured a community in Butler County where "raw sewage flows from homes through exposed PVC pipes and into open trenches and pits." According to the Census Bureau, nearly 41 million people in the U.S. live in poverty. Let's read the whole Newsweek article to understand more about poverty in the US.

2.      A group of high school student go to Washington and help change the mind of their representative:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb_GtE8aH-0&feature=share

3.      Update:  “UW professor: The information war is real, and we’re losing it” - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/uw-professor-the-information-war-is-real-and-were-losing-it/