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5/15/18

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

 
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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.    At least 55 Palestinians were killed and another 2700 injured by Israelis on Monday while protesting the US move of its embassy to Jerusalem. Nearby, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Steve Mnuchin celebrated at a party:  https://apnews.com/42e68289e3244ca2879f258d4e445850  We know that the history in this region is fraught and long, but let’s let our MoCs know that whatever the question, Jared Kushner is not the answer.

2.   The effort to protect Net Neutrality continues and Democrats hope it can be a key issue in the midterm elections:  http://thehill.com/policy/technology/387357-dems-increasingly-see-electoral-wins-from-net-neutrality-fight   It is reported that the vote will be tomorrow.  Let’s continue to contact our MoC to let them know that we expect them to protect Net Neutrality and will remember their decisions when we reach the polling stations.

3.   In a new head-scratching move, Trump took to Twitter to seek to improve the employment situation in China through lifting sanctions on the technology company ZTE which is suspected of being used for cyber-security violations against us: 
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-zte/in-concession-trump-will-help-chinas-zte-get-back-into-business-idUSKCN1IE0QI  Let’s let our MoC know that we are not seeking to bolster ZTE. We can take the lead of California Congressman Adam Schiff who said this: “Our intelligence agencies have warned that ZTE technology and phones pose a major cyber security threat. You should care more about our national security than Chinese jobs.” 

4.   Investigating and exposing the fraud in for-profit colleges has been stopped in the Dept. of Education.  Several people currently working for Betsy DeVos’ department originally worked at schools the department was investigating.  https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/13/business/education-department-for-profit-colleges.html  As Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said, “Secretary DeVos has filled the department with for-profit college hacks who only care about making sham schools rich and shutting down investigations into fraud.” It is time to ask our MoCs who is going to pick up that role that helps our students not get taken by these types of schools. 

5.   The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed an injunction to prevent the separation of immigrant families who enter U.S. illegally (http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-sd-ice-separation-20180505-story.html). We can read more about the Department of Justice's new policy here, then, while we await the judge's decision on the injunction, let's call our MoC and ask them to use their oversight to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from exercising this cruel practice of separating children from their parents. We can use this call script at 5calls.org 

6.   Last week Congressional Democrats released a trove of information about the 3500+ Facebook Ads that were purchased by Russia's infamous Internet Research Agency. Half of those ads sought to divide us over racial issues, trying to exploit one of our biggest cultural vulnerabilities. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/5/13/17349670/facebook-russia-ads-race-house-democrats All indications are that Russia will continue these kinds of information attacks, so what can we do about it? Well, one concrete thing to do is call our Senators and demand that they support and advance the Honest Ads Act (S. 1989), a piece of proposed legislation that Mark Zuckerberg himself endorses.  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/facebook-hearings-what-is-the-honest-ads-act/

7.   Florida Senators Marco Rubio (R) and Bill Nelson (D) have introduced the Sober Home Fraud Detection Act (S. 2828). The bill is seen as a small step forward as lawmakers figure out how to regulate the industry, which has been plagued by misleading marketing and insurance fraud. We can read more at the Sun-Sentinel. Let's tell our own Senators to co-sponsor or support S. 2828 to help protect vulnerable consumers.

8.  Although there is an open public comment period on Pruitt’s request to lessen the regulations on the insecticides Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, and Malathion (https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2018-0141-0001), “for both humans and wildlife, the Republican reauthorization of the Farm Bill would usher in the weakest federal protections against pesticide abuse since Silent Spring.”  http://www.ehn.org/farm-bill-pesticides-hurt-environment-2567912597.html  Our MoCs need to know that we are fully aware of the sneaky way that this Agriculture and Nutrition Act (H.R. 2) is full of items (including allowing these insecticides) that are good for industry, but not for people and we do not support the bill.

Election 2018 – General

An election guide from Postcards for America:  In this Google doc (in process), each State shows ALL Democratic Candidates running for Congress, Governor, Lt Gov, Attorney General, Secretary of State (if applicable) with links to their websites and Twitter. Each has a link to a Twitter Thread, a Shareable Facebook Post and a Document. For most States, there are also Info & Links for Voter Registrations, Absentee Ballots, Early Voting & Voter ID, Age Requirements and being a Poll Worker.  Let’s check this out and use and share it:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NCYjsm3xKb79z19Gx7PWt5Zs9lkLiTqglHBHYs9mlX8/edit

1.    This Tuesday's special elections include five (5) campaigns for which Postcards to Voters volunteers sent cards to get out the vote. 1)PA-Campaign 72: Helen Tai for State House. 2) OR- Campaign 78: Joe Berney for Lane County Commissioner. 3) PA-Campaign 79: Clark Mitchell for State House. 4) AL-Campaign 80: Juanita Healy for State House. 5) NE- Campaign 83: Machaela Cavanaugh for State Legislature. Those of us who write postcards know that Tuesday election returns have become what Fantasy Football Sundays are to football fans. If we want to write cards for current open campaigns, we can sign up here. Let's make Tuesdays exciting! (Our Rogan's List contributor was so excited about these elections that they submitted this information last week in error. We regret any confusion.)

2.   Kids can help make the blue wave happen, too, by signing up new voters. "Want to HAVE A VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE AT YOUR SCHOOL? Let's make it happen! HeadCount can provide you with a guide to running your own voter registration drive." Of course, registration drives are nonpartisan, and teachers and administrators can sign up to hold one, too. Parental permission is necessary for those under 18. We can get more information on this great initiative, here: http://info.headcount.org/signup

3.   State attorneys general have been on the front lines of the Resistance to Trump, leading the way in protecting immigrants and the environment (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-emissions/17-u-s-states-sue-trump-administration-over-vehicle-emissions-idUSKBN1I241H). But we’ve also seen Republicans in those offices putting pressure on the White House to do even more damage (http://www.fox4news.com/news/attorney-general-paxton-6-other-states-sue-trump-admin-to-end-daca). We need to make sure we’re putting the right people in these powerful positions nationwide. Let’s join OpenProgress’ text troop and help progressives turn out voters to win attorneys general races in states from Arizona to Wisconsin this November: https://www.openprogress.com/text-troop.

4.   Some mailed-in ballots may require more than a single first-class postage stamp, and ballots lacking proper postage may or may not be delivered to election officials for counting. We may have seen articles like this one.  Postage requirements seem to be mixed based on the district per this fact-checking article in Snopes..  If our mail-in ballots are two pages or longer and we are unsure of postage requirements we should check with our local election board or post office to ensure proper delivery. Please note that the 47 cent stamps mentioned in these articles are now 50 cents or any first class "forever" stamp. Let's ensure that our ballots are received and counted.

5.   Las Vegas casino owner and Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson has kicked in $30M to stop a Democratic House takeover.  Let's read more at Politico.  That's our own "Blue Wave" they are trying to stop. Let's show them that their money can't trump (pun intended) our hard work, dedication and numbers. Let's stay engaged and keep doing what we're doing. 

6.   This is what Sister District is all about –inter-state support:  a CA EVENT for CO State Legislature -- CRAFTS FOR CANDIDATES MAKER’S FAIR!  Sister District South Bay invites you to a fun and creative afternoon. Each guest receives $50 worth of lovely maker items. Fellow activists will be donating handcrafted jewelry, woodworking, knit and crochet items, award-winning paintings, container gardens, children’s puppets, paper art and more.  Savory and sweet treats served with wine or another beverage. Minimum donation of $50 per person. Every dollar raised is matched by a generous donor. Proceeds go to Colorado campaigns of Tammy Story and Faith Winter. Working to turn Colorado state legislature Blue. June 10, 2018. Details to purchase a ticket and RSVP or make a donation can be found here.  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe692UUL7FPrz6R-BPbchSBduoMbhU9lCqrSZUco-xji2092A/viewform?entry  Now, let’s all join Sister District and volunteer:  https://www.sisterdistrict.com/volunteer

7.   If we are a candidate or are working for one, we can get help spreading the word about our campaign from 21st Century Campaign Strategies’ Li Longo, political consultant. She is willing to help any candidate with one free ad and one-hour free conference call on how to use digital media or any other questions. Li is a former Obama for America Sr Data Analyst, Sr Alumni Trainer, Digital Fellow and Organizing Fellow, who has worked on campaigns for 10 years, doing everything from campaign budgets to field plan design, talking points, strategy and fundraising. She knows what it’s like to be a candidate as well, since she ran her own successful school board race in 2015.  We can email her at lisa@consultcts.com or phone her at 215-527-9705

Election 2018 – By State

1.    Voting dates and deadlines this week:

May 15
Nevada
Voter Registration Deadline
Primary
May 15
New Jersey
Voter Registration Deadline
Primary
May 15
Alabama
Election date
Special-State house 04
May 15
Alabama
Election date
Special-State Senate 26
May 15
Idaho
Election date
Primary
May 15
Nebraska
Election date
Primary
May 15
Oregon
Election date
Primary
May 15
Pennsylvania
Election date
Primary
May 15
Pennsylvania
Election date
Special- house 178,68,48
May 18
Texas
Early voting ends
Runoffs
May 18
Washington
Filing Deadline
May 19
Washington D.C.
Voter Registration Deadline
Primary (postmark)

Other Actions

1.    There are large disparities in the maternal health and morbidity rates of black women, as compared to white women, in the U.S. (https://n.pr/2kDpjvWhttps://nyti.ms/2GOKeCf). Systemic racism and sexism in our country, including in our healthcare system, is at the heart of this crisis, and there is much we can do to help protect black mothers. Let's check out this article published following Black Maternal Health Week, which shows us concrete actions we can take to ensure that we are listening to, trusting, and investing in black women to help improve black maternal health.

2.   For years, conventional wisdom has held that the right cares far more than the left about judicial nominations, and the Republicans taking the White House and holding the Senate after the blockading of Merrick Garland seemed to be a confirmation of that. So a group of Obama White House and Clinton campaign operatives are launching a new organization to push progressives to take the courts just as seriously as conservatives (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/us/politics/merrick-garland-judicial-trump.html#click=https://t.co/GpHNyAB4JU). Let’s join the fight. We can follow Demand Justice on Twitter here and sign up for email updates and learn more at their website here.

3.   “The original 1968 Poor People's Campaign was a multicultural, multi-faith coalition planned by Martin Luther King. It brought thousands of Americans living in poverty to the national mall to demand better living conditions and higher wages.”  MLK was not able to see the Poor People’s Campaign through, but 50 years later, a new group, led by Rev. William Barber, is ready to pick up where he left off.  https://www.npr.org/2018/05/14/610836891/the-poor-peoples-campaign-seeks-to-complete-martin-luther-king-s-final-dream Yesterday started the first of 40 days of non-violent action in capitols all over the country.  Let’s find ways to help:  https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.    “The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is uniting tens of thousands of people across the country to challenge the evils of systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, ecological devastation and the nation’s distorted morality.”  Let’s join in their 40-day nonviolent moral direct actions.  Find out more here:  https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/events/

2.   If we are African, Arab, Asian Pacific Islander, Latino or Caribbean American and are thinking about running for office, we can apply to New American Leaders Ready to Lead Summer Free Training Program designed by and for immigrants. If we know someone who fits this description, we can share this information with them too. In these workshops, we can learn how to message, target, fundraise, embrace our heritage and become a successful candidate. Upcoming training application deadlines are nearing, so let’s learn more and apply now:  https://www.newamericanleaders.org/what-we-do/ready-to-lead/

States

1.    ALL (except DE):  Delaware has become the first state in the country to ban child marriages.  Marriage under the age of 18 is no longer legal under any circumstances.  https://www.teenvogue.com/story/delaware-first-state-ban-child-marriage-new-jersey-next   Let’s encourage our own state lawmakers to follow suit:  https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

Reading/Watching

1.    As the Poor People’s Campaign kicks off 40 days of nonviolent direct action across the country, https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/events/ , let’s become conversant with the issues by reading “The Souls of Poor Folk: Auditing America 50 Years After the Poor People’s Campaign Challenged Racism, Poverty, the War Economy/Militarism, and Our National Morality,” from the Institute for Policy Studies: www.ips-dc.org/souls-of-poor-folks/ 

2.   Amber Tamblyn, an actress who has been pivotal in the #MeToo movement has written a powerful piece for Time magazine in time for Mother’s Day: 

3.   "This country has room for everybody who believes that there’s room for everybody. For those who don’t—well, that’s partly a battle about who controls the narrative and who it’s about."  https://lithub.com/rebecca-solnit-the-myth-of-real-america-just-wont-go-away/




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