2/14/18
Contact Federal Government Officials
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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.
While
the Senate continues to debate immigration, a second federal court has blocked
DACA protection from ending in March: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-ruling/second-u-s-judge-blocks-trump-administration-from-ending-daca-program-idUSKCN1FX2TJ This
may give us extra time, but we need to continue to let our MoCs know that an
immigration bill that protects Dreamers and maintains family unification is of
upmost important to us.
2.
A presidential
budget is a statement of values. With
Trump’s 2019 budget we clearly see his values that support industry over
services, corporations over people, and military/wall over humanitarian
concerns. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-budget/trump-budget-seeks-cuts-to-domestic-programs-medicare-favors-military-and-wall-idUSKBN1FW0BL A
presidential budget is a wish list. It
rarely makes it through Congress intact, rather, it includes many changes made
by our MoCs. Let’s let our MoCs know
that when it is time to debate this we expect them to value services over
industry, people over corporations, and humanitarian concerns over
military/wall.
3.
“FBI
Director Christopher Wray on Tuesday said President Trump hasn’t
directed him to stop Russian efforts to interfere in this year’s midterm
elections.” http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/373650-fbi-director-trump-hasnt-directed-me-to-stop-russian-meddling-in-2018 This
gives more reason that Congress needs to take action on the “Defending
Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act,”( S.
2313/ H.R.
4884)
which lays out specific foreign actions against U.S. elections that would
warrant penalties from the federal government.
Let’s continue to encourage our MoCs to sign on as co-sponsors and to
support this legislation.
4.
After
Kellyanne Conway’s mind-boggling comments about not being concerned about Hope
Hicks (in intimate relationship with Rob Porter) because of how smart and
capable she is, Rob Porter’s first ex-wife Colbie Holderness penned this great
op-ed:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/rob-porter-is-my-ex-husband-heres-what-you-should-know-about-abuse/2018/02/12/3c7edcb8-1033-11e8-9065-e55346f6de81_story.html?utm_term=.2064936ec0ee Let’s share it with Conway with a
reminder that her perspective on domestic violence is highly flawed: The White
House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20500 or on Twitter
@KellyannePolls
5.
Trump's
interim appointee to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Mick Mulvaney,
is making changes intended to deter the agency from aggressively protecting
Americans from being ripped off by financial firms (reported through NPR http://n.pr/2BTfqkX). A new strategic plan (https://www.npr.org/documents/2018/feb/cfpb_strategic-plan_fy2018-fy2022.pdf) details these moves, and under his
leadership the bureau has already dropped several cases, including one against
a payday lender that contributed to Mulvaney's campaign. Let's let the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau (https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/contact-us/) know that we expect them to be watchdogs
and to act in the interest of the public and not predatory lenders. We can also
contact Mulvaney at the Office of Management and Budget:
6.
Sen. Tim
Kaine (D-VA), one of the Senate leaders in the fight to rein in presidential
war powers, is demanding the release of a secret memo outlining Trump’s
interpretation of his legal authority to wage war (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/sen-tim-kaine-demands-release-secret-trump-war-powers-memo-n846176). Between the ever-growing reach of
anti-terrorism efforts and the administration’s nuclear saber-rattling with
North Korea, it’s more important than ever to know exactly how much power to
launch military strikes without congressional approval Trump thinks he
has. Let’s contact Senator Kaine to thank him for continuing to press on
this issue. And let’s contact our own MoCs to ask them to add their voices to
his and to let them know they need to rescind the 2001 authorization for use of
military force resolution and pass a new one with clear limits.
7.
U.S.
Representative Devin Nunes doesn't like how mainstream media report on his
shameless shilling for Trump, so he's attempting to shape the news directly by
funding his own online news outlet: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/11/17000954/devin-nunes-memo-fake-news Let's let him know what we think of
politicians who try to fool the people by dressing up propaganda as news. https://nunes.house.gov/contact
8.
From Indivisible Ventura: ICE
has been entering the grounds of courthouses, hospitals, churches, and schools to
conduct warrantless searches. These actions make our communities less safe and
less healthy for all of us. "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act" (H.R. 1815/S.
845),
will keep them 1000 feet away from these locations. https://www.abqjournal.com/1043926/ice-should-be-barred-from-sensitive-locations.html Let’s
call our MoCs and ask them to co-sponsor this legislation and help bring it to
a vote.
9.
Let's
remember to hold our representatives accountable this week, especially since
Congress is on recess. The Townhall Project reminds
us: "162 members of Congress have not held a single in-person
town hall since January 1, 2017. Is yours one of them?" Their great
infographic gives the full list of these "MIA" reps -- the vast
majority of them Republican -- and whether they voted for AHCA (aka
Trumpcare)/are located in a swing district. We can even contact them directly
on social media with buttons directly on the page! Let's ask them why they have
not met with us, their constituents. https://townhallproject.com/#missing-members
10. Trump’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
intends to repeal the rule that requires oil and gas companies on federal land
to capture planet-warming methane rather than releasing it into the
atmosphere. Methane is 25 times more potent at trapping heat than carbon
dioxide: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/373496-trump-admin-proposes-repealing-most-of-obama-methane-leak-rule Once the agency publishes its
proposed rule change, there will be a 60-day public comment period. Let’s
comment now! Dept of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 202-208-3801 or 1849 C Street NW, Room 5665,
Washington DC 20240
11.
Instead
of a federally-funded program to repair US roads, bridges, water systems, etc.,
Trump’s infrastructure plan depends on the privatization of whatever might turn
a profit to raise the necessary funds. Apparently, Trump hopes to sell
off federal “assets” to private corporations--which would benefit mightily.
In addition to Washington’s National and Dulles International airports, the
administration wants to unload “assets” across the country, including the
George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, both
run by the National Park Service; the Washington Aqueduct, which supplies
drinking water in the District and in Northern Virginia; and power transmission
“assets” all over, among them the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Bonneville
Power Administration:
http://www.pennlive.com/nationworld/2018/02/donald_trump_infrastructure_se.html We should tell the White House what we
think of putting our public resources into the hands of private, profit-hungry,
entities and let our MoCs know that we are counting on them to oppose Trump's
infrastructure scheme, whatever he threatens.
Election 2018 –
General
1.
Here’s
our regular reminder that special elections are important. Why? A) Special
elections are anyone’s game. Most voters don’t show up at the polls for them,
so the normal rules don’t apply. The party that’s paying the most attention has
the best chance of winning, B) There are dozens of special elections every
year—and each one gives us an opportunity to flip or defend a seat. Since
November 2016, Dems have won more than 30 special elections, C) By getting out
the vote for these low-profile races, Dems can make quiet progress nationwide.” There are special elections in MN, OK, GA, FL
this week! We can find out here whether there’s one coming up in our area, and
then get out and vote! https://www.flippable.org/get-smart/special-elections/
Election 2018 –
By State
1.
CA: From one of our own: There is a new FB group, working with Central
Valley Indivisible, to connect Bay Area groups and individual activists who
want to flip CA-22, Devin Nunes' district, and elect Andrew Janz. Please share
with like-minded folks. Let's do this! Click here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BayAreaForCA22/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BayAreaForCA22/
2.
FL: Margaret Good flipped a seat blue yesterday
in the State House! https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2018/02/13/in-third-bellwether-contest-florida-democrats-again-carry-the-day-and-hope-for-a-blue-wave-251975
Other Actions
1.
Valentine’s
Day is always a big occasion for giving jewelry, but Human Rights Watch is
warning that the real cost of those presents is much higher than what’s listed
on the price tag. Their recent study of 13 leading jewelry brands found that
most of the companies aren’t doing enough to prevent human rights abuses in the
supply chain for their gold and diamonds (https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/human-rights-watch-supply-chains/). Let’s join their #BehindTheBling campaign
today and push these companies to step up. We can find more information and
easily contact the companies at this
link.
2.
After
successfully organizing for Doug Jones in Flip Alabama, Flip Nation was born,
with a mission to ignite passion for civic engagement, win elections, and
create a just society. They are really close to having FlipNation Members
and Moderators in every location elections will occur. Now they need our
help getting members for these last four states: A) Arkansas, B) Delaware, C) Oklahoma, and D)
Rhode Island. If we live in one of these
states we can join or, if we know anyone who does and might be interested we
can let them know. They also need Moderators, who help run the groups, in
these four states. To join, we can first
Join FlipNation here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipNationUSA/. Once
accepted, we can post which state we want to join and we will be added. Let’s Flip this Nation Blue!
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1.
Let’s join the #LoveIsLouder Twitter Storm #TW tonight (2/14)
5pm PT/8pm ET. Here is the link to the Tweet sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XX3-2YjsoxFkTNjlfsJhmI6jEsf3cOqPs6y4KD-hhSY/edit?usp=sharing
States
1. IA: Conservatives and corporations have been
quietly pushing for a convention of states to rewrite the U.S. Constitution.
The consequences for our nation’s future would be unthinkable if this effort is
successful. Opponents scored a key victory Friday, with a convention
resolution dying in committee in the Idaho House of Representatives: http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article199300844.html
Now we need to commit to stopping them
in Iowa.
Let’s call our state senators and
let them know we want them to oppose this effort.
Reading/Watching
1.
Let’s
pause to feel gratitude for this small win – Thomas Brunell has been withdrawn
from consideration for leading the 2020 Census:
2.
“From
the Green Book to Facebook, how black people still need to outwit racists in
rural America” - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/11/green-book-facebook-black-motorists-racist-america-road-trip-pitstops-safe
3.
“How
Immigration Communicators Can Fine-Tune Their Strategy” - https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/12/05/start-engines-immigration-communicators-can-fine-tune-strategy/
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