Rogan's List

1/10/18

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

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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.       “A child born in the United States has a 70 percent greater chance of dying before adulthood than kids born into other wealthy, democratic countries, a new study has found.”  We came in at the very last of 20 countries:  https://www.vox.com/health-care/2018/1/8/16863656/childhood-mortality-united-states  If we let this continue, we are far from the country we thought we were.  Let’s let all our MoCs (federal, state, and local) that we want this to be addressed.  This has nothing to do with party. This is not who we are.

2.      “Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Tuesday released the transcript of congressional investigators' interview in August 2017 with Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson, whose firm was behind a controversial dossier alleging ties between President Donald Trump and Russians.”  The interviewee has asked for this to be done and so have we, the citizens of the U.S.  The GOP has stonewalled on this.  As Amy Siskind said today, “We are on the part of Watergate when the Pentagon Papers were released.” https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/09/feinstein-releases-transcript-of-interview-with-fusion-gps-co-founder-329573  Let’s thank Sen. Feinstein for realizing the need for transparency: https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact or on Twitter @SenFeinstein

3.      Tom Brunell, a political scientist, is apparently Trump's top pick to lead the Census Bureau and therefore the 2020 Census. "Brunell, a registered Republican, has no prior government experience and a deeply partisan background. He has testified or produced expert reports for Republicans in more than a dozen redistricting cases and has defended new voting restrictions passed by Republicans."

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/01/trumps-pick-to-run-2020-census-has-defended-racial-gerrymandering-and-voter-suppression-laws/. His publication history indicates too that appointing him to the job is a clear "effort to shape the 2020 census, the nationwide count that determines which states lose and gain electoral votes and seats in the House of Representatives."https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/21/trump-census-pick-causes-alarm-252571 In other words, manipulating the census to their advantage is yet another way in which the Republicans will try to skew the electoral system in their favor. Let's call our MoCs and tell them to put on the pressure against this unqualified and clearly biased candidate.

4.      Trump gave a speech at the Farm Bureau and told attendees that they were lucky and privileged to get to vote for him: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/367986-trump-to-farmers-you-are-so-lucky-i-gave-you-the-privilege-of-voting Let’s remind him that the privilege is his in serving not ours in voting: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20500

5.      It sounds like Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team is working with Trump’s lawyers about how Trump can be questioned in the probe: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia/trump-could-be-interviewed-within-weeks-in-russia-probe-washington-post-idUSKBN1EX1C0 If we did not have time before the holidays to say thanks to Mueller and his team for their tireless (and often deeply thankless) work, let’s take a moment now: US Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001

6.      The Trump administration announced Monday that they will terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador. This decision strips legal status away from almost 200,000 people who have lived in this country more than 15 years (http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/08/politics/temporary-protected-status-el-salvador/index.html). Congress needs to act as soon as possible to protect our friends and neighbors from being taken away from their homes. Let’s join the American Friends Service Committee in contacting our reps and telling them to step up at this link: https://secure.afsc.org/onlineactions/cFVNaXrAeUiS0ziA_2_uTg2. 

7.      Due to the bipartisan outcry, Zinke has taken Florida off the states from which off-shore drilling will be allowed.  http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/368208-zinke-to-take-florida-out-of-offshore-drilling-plan  Let’s continue this bipartisan outcry until all the states get that same treatment:  https://www.doi.gov/contact-us

8.     Last year, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt hired a political supporter with no experience in pollution cleanups and a lifetime ban from the banking industry to oversee a task force charged with revamping Superfund. This task force issued more than three dozen recommendations for changes in how Superfund works, all of which Pruitt immediately adopted. Now with environmental advocates demanding to know how these changes were developed, the EPA is claiming they produced literally nothing but the final report – no meeting minutes, no reference materials, no work product at all: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-epa-pruitt-superfund-task-force-records-20171220-story.html This is a remarkable claim that makes the questions of how and why the EPA is changing Superfund like this all the more serious. We need answers, and Polluting Pruitt won’t give them without pressure. Let’s contact our members of Congress and ask them to request a hearing about this task force to establish how the unqualified Albert Kelly was selected to lead it and how exactly they came up with this intricate plan to revamp the program.

9.      Thomas Homan, acting Director and Trump's nominee to run Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has stated that politicians who do not cooperate with ICE and those who head up sanctuary cities should be charged with crimes and held personally accountable http://bit.ly/2CKFOdx Following California's decision to become a sanctuary state, Homan has stated that there will be an increased presence of ICE throughout the state, along with an increase in deportations. It is clear that with Homan in charge of ICE, an organization which largely operates without transparency and accountability, he will use his authority to take out his vendetta against sanctuary cities across the country. Let's make sure to contact our senators and ask that they oppose Homan as Director of ICE.

10.  Energy Secretary Rick Perry attempted to get the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to cooperate in his effort to pass a giveaway to the coal and nuclear energy industries.  Four FERC commissioners were nominated by Trump, yet the commission unanimously rejected Perry’s claim that current electric markets are unfair to coal and nuclear companies: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/overnights/368006-overnight-energy-ferc-rejects-perrys-call-to-boost-coal  Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s shill, loudly blamed the “deep state”:  http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/368071-lewandowski-slams-deep-state-regulators-for-rejecting-perry-coal   We should tell Perry that we don’t want to favor dirty energy producers: at The.Secretary@hq.doe.gov or 202-586-5000 or fax 202-586-4403 or U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20585.

11.   Yesterday, Trump signed an executive order designed to help reduce the suicide of veterans. http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/368089-trump-to-sign-executive-order-to-reduce-veteran-suicides  Let’s thank him:   https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house

12.  “Kicking off the new year with a partisan fight left over from 2017, the White House on Friday resubmitted the names of 21 candidates for federal judgeships who didn't get confirmation hearings before the Senate calendar ran out in December.”  Some of these are candidates that do not meet the ABA (American Bar Association) standard and some are re-nominees.  https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2018-01-08/trump-aims-for-mass-confirmation-for-judicial-nominees  Let’s hope that today’s addition of Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) will help right this process and stop the unqualifies nominees from moving forward.  Let’s let the Senate Judiciary Committee members know our thoughts on this:  https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/about/members  and the two new members:  https://www.harris.senate.gov/ and https://www.booker.senate.gov/

13.  And in yet another re-tread, “The White House is considering finding a role for Andrew Puzder, President Donald Trump’s first pick for labor secretary, who withdrew his nomination in February after old allegations of domestic abuse resurfaced, according to three people familiar with the discussions.”  https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/08/andy-puzder-white-house-administration-328240  Let’s tell the White House that if Puzder isn’t any more acceptable now than he was then, for any position in the government:  https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house

Election 2018 - General

1.       Since this season of resistance began (and long before) many of our leading voices have belonged to black women. Oprah made a great speech at the Golden Globes yesterday, but let’s not forget those who are speaking out in government right now to defend our rights and descry injustice, leaders like Kamala Harris and Maxine Waters. Now, let’s check this list of over 100 black women who are running for election in 2018, and find some to support in their fight for all of us! https://www.awesomelyluvvie.com/black-women-in-politics

2.      Roll Call's Election Guide 2018 gives us a place to find out more information about incumbents and the projection (tilt-Republican, strong Democrat, toss-up, etc.) for each race based only on generic candidates. The tool lets us look at House, Senate and Governors' races. Let's check it out and bookmark it as an Election resource.

3.      The Blue Wave is coming but lack of financial support means we won’t always get the good candidates we need in tougher Red leaning races. Fundraising PAC, It Starts Today, wants to change this, making sure that every district has funds to run good campaigns. If we make can make a monthly contribution through them, it will be evenly distributed to all districts through November 2018. We can read more about the organization and how it works here:

http://prospect.org/blog/checks/new-pac-will-back-every-single-democrat-running-congress  We can sign up to contribute here:  https://contribute.itstarts.today//2018 

Election 2018 – By State

1.       MI:  Here is a breakdown on who is running for Congress so far:  http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/01/see_whos_running_for_congress.html  Let’s find our blue candidates and contact them to see how we can help.

Other Actions

1.       Let’s thank this Twitter user for sending two powerful messages at the same time:  https://twitter.com/DemWrite/status/950625408273149952  Let’s thank Nick here:  @DemWrite 

2.      Motel 6 has released a statement regarding the additional Motel 6 locations, this time in the state of Washington, that have been found to be giving private information, including names, birth dates, driver's license numbers, license plate numbers and room numbers, to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) http://n.pr/2CER6Uc The company stated that "In September, Motel 6 issued a directive to every one of our more than 1,400 locations, making it clear that they are prohibited from voluntarily providing daily guests lists to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Motel 6 takes this matter very seriously, and we have and will continue to fully cooperate with the Office of the State Attorney General." Let's contact Motel 6 CEO Jim Amorosia and inform him that we take these matters seriously as well, and that we will be sure to stay elsewhere when traveling. We can write via mail or e-mail to Jim Amorosia 4001 International Parkway Carrollton, TX 75007 jamorosia@g6hospitality.com We can also send tweets to both Motel 6 (@motel6) and the investment firm which owns Motel 6, the Blackstone Group (@blackstone).

3.      “The White House re-nominated K.T. McFarland for the position of U.S. ambassador to Singapore on Monday, despite her coming under scrutiny by congressional investigators as part of their probe into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.” https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/08/kt-mcfarland-singapore-nominee-trump-328484 Let’s contact our Senators urging them to oppose McFarland’s confirmation.

4.      National Bail Out--a coalition, led by Black women, working to end pre-trial detention and the larger system of mass incarceration--has posted a video about the corrupt money bail system and their work in 2017: https://nomoremoneybail.org  They are encouraging us to share this video on Facebook and Twitter. They are also gearing up for another year of bail-outs of people without the money to avoid pre-trial detention.  Insofar as we are able, let’s help them with a donation.

5.      If we aren’t already subscribed to Your Weekly Pep Talk & Action List! we can do it here: http://mailchi.mp/15b7bc82bb08/your-weekly-pep-talk-action-list?e=4a9124dbd5

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.       The Women’s March 2018:  Power to the Polls is a week from Saturday in Las Vegas, NV.  We can find more information here:   http://www.powertothepolls.com/ We can register for the Las Vegas event here:  http://www.powertothepolls.com/rsvp.html and find or create a sister march here:  http://www.powertothepolls.com/anniversary.html

States

1.       NE - Nebraska is now the first Republican-controlled state to launch its own attempt to save net neutrality rules. Last Friday, Nebraska state Sen. Adam Morfeld (D) introduced legislation, Legislative Bill 856, in the state legislature to enshrine net neutrality regulations in law on the state level. Let's read more at The Hill. If we are Nebraskans, let's contact our state senators now to ask them to support Legislative Bill 856.

2.      FL - The Pregnancy Support and Wellness Services bill (SB 444/HB 41) seeks to make permanent an annually renewed program that will send even more taxpayer money to Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs), which are non-medical, anti-contraceptive, anti-abortion offices that openly preach to vulnerable, scared women across the state.  Most of them are funded by anti-abortion Christian organizations and they are also funded by the state of Florida.  (Source: Gainesville Sun.) Republicans in the Florida House and Senate are looking to fast-track these bills. Floridians, let's tell our State Senator and State Representative that we oppose permanent funding for anti-abortion centers.

Reading/Watching

1.       “The top 10 most viewed fact-checks of 2017” - http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/dec/27/top-10-most-viewed-fact-checks-2017/

2.      “Ginsburg Signals Plan To Outlast Trump By Hiring Clerks Through 2020” - https://forward.com/fast-forward/391714/ginsburg-signals-plan-to-outlast-trump-by-hiring-clerks-through-2020/

3.      “At Inter-Korea Talks, Pyongyang Agrees To Send Athletes, Cheerleaders To Olympics” - https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/01/09/576656916/at-inter-korea-talks-pyongyang-agrees-to-send-athletes-cheerleaders-to-olympics