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5/9/18

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.    In yet another isolationistic move, Trump has withdrawn the US from the Iran nuclear deal. There will be consequences:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/05/08/5-big-consequences-of-trumps-iran-blunder/?tid=ss_tw&noredirect=on and https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/08/israel-goes-on-high-alert-over-syria-as-trump-quits-iran-deal.html  We have to tell our MoCs that we know this is not normal, that the world will be less safe, and the consequences will be steep. The American people do not want war.

2.   After a report by Alliance for Justice revealed Trump’s judicial nominee Ryan Bounds had a history of expressing alarming views about the LGBTQ community, people of color, sexual assault and the rights of workers, both Oregon’s U.S. senators announced they will not support his nomination moving forward. The Senate Judiciary Committee is pushing him forward anyway, and will hold a hearing on his nomination today (http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article210401154.html).  Let’s contact our senators and let them know we expect them to oppose his confirmation.

3.   Let’s contact our senators and let them know we expect them to oppose his confirmation.  Gina Haspel will receive her confirmation hearing to be director of the CIA today. The Senate is moving forward in spite of her involvement in the CIA’s torture program after 9/11 and the objections of more than 100 retired military leaders (http://time.com/5250440/gina-haspel-retired-military/). Let’s use these resources from Indivisible to urge our senators to treat torture as disqualifying for high office.

4.   While we are at it, Senator Cornyn (R-TX) is frustrated by the efforts to block nominee Gina Haspel for the post of CIA Director and said that Democrats already “smeared” one nominee: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/386622-gop-senator-defends-haspel-democrats-already-smeared-one-nominee   Let’s let Sen. Cornyn know that pointing out facts is not smearing: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact  

5.   Several prominent websites are rallying to save net neutrality.  https://www.wired.com/story/your-favorite-websites-are-rallying-in-a-last-ditch-effort-to-save-net-neutrality/ We can join in this “red alert” by signing in here and using the resources on our own websites or in our social media:  https://www.battleforthenet.com/redalert/  We can also watch this short video by Our Next Four Years and use their site to contact our MoCs and the FCC:  https://www.ournext4years.org/videos/psa020

6.   Maybe it is time to look at the tax laws again.  When corporations have the ability to pay no taxes, and do it legally, we need to look at just who is really getting government assistance.  http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/may/03/bernie-s/amazon-paid-0-federal-income-taxes-2017/ Our MoCs need to know that we think that US corporations should pay their fair share of taxes.

7.    In short succession on Monday night, a piece came out in the New Yorker by Jane Mayer and Ronan Farrow with accusations from four women about physical abuse suffered at the hands of NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman: https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/four-women-accuse-new-yorks-attorney-general-of-physical-abuse  and then Schneiderman resigned:   http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/386633-new-york-ag-resigns-after-allegations-of-physical-abuse  Let’s let Missouri Governor Eric Greitens and President Donald Trump know that we still await their resignations:
https://governor.mo.gov/get-involved/contact-the-governors-office  and  The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20500 or on Twitter @realdonaldtrump

8.   When it comes to climate change, everyone is talking about the Paris Agreement these days. Can we keep warming to under 2˚ Celsius? Will it cost too much? Should we even try? What gets lost in all this noise is the fact that climate scientists agree that Paris is a MINIMUM commitment and note that the difference between 2˚ and 1.5˚ is 150,000,000 premature deaths by the year 2100!  https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/5/7/17306008/global-warming-climate-change-scenarios-ambition  With that in mind, let's demand that our MoCs (and everyone else) prevent as many of those deaths as possible by pushing as hard as possible to reduce use of fossil fuels, shift to carbon-neutral/negative energy sources, and develop carbon-capture technology

9.    “Imagine a system of justice in this country that strips its citizens of their Constitutional rights, voids their existing legal documents, gives others the right to spend their money and sell their assets, isolates them, and has the ability to limit the time they can spend with their loved ones. This description refers to a judicial system that preys on the elderly and is determined to deem them unable to care for themselves. It is a system that allows those in control to take full advantage of their “wards of the state”—legally and under the watchful eyes of judges. It is called guardianship.”  Americans Against Abusive Probate Guardianship  helps us to understand and fight this.  We need to   ask for Federal investigations into these guardianship crimes because the judges protect their attorney allies in their local bar associations and then the judiciary protects judges no matter what they do. This is simply major exploitation of the public they have sworn to protect.   Lawyers coerce people into guardianships as a solution for just about anything targeting people of wealth.  They do not adhere to due process or inform the family what it will cost if they are wealthy. Families are literally conscripted into a guardianship mill.  The lawyers know exactly how costly and unaccountable professional guardianships are and that people's assets are redistributed to layers of lawyers.  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffnwcgFu8LI)  Let’s contact every member who sits on the Special Senate Committee on Aging and let them know that these hearings have been going on since the 1980s and that exploiting a vulnerable individual is not be a for profit industry, but a crime and they need to act or they will not be re-elected.  Let's also contact our Senators and Representatives and tell them the same. 

10. The FDA has still not implemented its ban on electrical stimulation devices (ESDs), or Gradual Electronic Decelerators (GEDs), leaving the disabled children and adults at the Judge Rotenberg Center at risk of receiving harmful shocks (https://rewire.news/article/2018/03/16/activists-tell-fda-head-ban-electric-shocks-people-autism/https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2018/04/16/will-fda-ban-shock-devices/24980/). The Autistic Self Advocacy Network has created a page of action items, as well as shareable pdf's we can use to help spread awareness and call out the need for the FDA to act immediately. We can also use their easy click-to-tweet messages to tell the FDA to #StopTheShock against disabled people.

11.  We’ve learned that the Trump administration plans to make border crossing more difficult for families and are planning to separate children from their parents. 
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/07/us-border-rules-prosecutions-parents-families  When this proposed rule is published, there will be a public comment period.  So, in addition to contacting our MoCs, let’s make sure to take advantage of this comment period as well.  The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) will let us know when the comment period opens if we sign up here:  http://action.nilc.org/page/s/nilc-publiccharge-nr

12.  The House of Representatives was supposed to conduct a hearing yesterday on the controversial citizenship question that is currently on the 2020 census form.  This dangerous question threatens to undercount people of color, and Congress should absolutely have a role in determining its legitimacy.  However, the person responsible for getting that question on the census, John Gore, head of the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ, didn’t show up. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/5/8/17332356/census-citizenship-john-gore-congress-hearing. Let’s ask Trey Gowdy, Chair of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, to subpoena Gore to show up. We can contact the committee at 202.225.5074. Let’s also tell our Representatives, especially those who are on the committee, that we expect them to make sure Gore shows up and provides answers.

13. The U.S. Forest Service is closing a public road that people have been using to get food and water to anti-pipeline protesters who have set up an encampment at a proposed pipeline site in Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. http://www.roanoke.com/news/local/road-closure-violates-the-free-speech-rights-of-pipeline-protesters/article_0557e7ce-135e-5ccf-b54b-bd45a294c1f9.html. A Virginia state senator is now suing the Forest Service, claiming that this is a violation of the protesters’ first amendment rights and a threat to their public safety. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/va-state-senator-files-suit-against-forest-service-in-support-of-pipeline-protests/2018/05/02/197cfcf2-4e1f-11e8-b725-92c89fe3ca4c_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.5ca27b026758. Let’s thank Senator Chap Petersen and also contact the U.S. Forest Service at Jefferson National Forest at 888-265-0019 or through this form and demand that they open the road immediately.

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.    Donald Trump pulling out of the #IranDeal tells the world that the word of the United States is only as good as its next election (https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-iran-nuclear-deal/index.html). The only way to repair the damage he's doing is to start putting a check on his power ASAP. Register to vote here:   (https://www.rockthevote.org/resources/online-voter-registration-tool/).

2.   On Tuesday, Postcards to Voters launched Campaign 84: Lisa Lott for Superior Court Judge for Georgia's Western Judicial Court.  All four of the current judges were appointed by the Republican governor and have never been challenged. If we are already volunteers, let's write 5 cards today. If we are new to the effort, we can sign up as a Postcards to Voters' volunteer here.  While the current Congress is packing the higher courts with their ultra-conservative nominees, let's do what we can to keep progressive judges in elected positions.


Election 2018 – By State

1.    CA:  In our open primaries, the top two candidates with the most votes, from either party proceed to a run off. Therefore, in a race with only two Republicans and four Democrats, splitting the Democratic vote four ways could end up with the two Republicans advancing to the run off. For some congested CA races, it is a matter of getting one Democrat through the open primary—what Fight Back California PAC is focusing on with polling—as a reality check to help converge on the strongest candidate. We can see their polling results here to help us decide who to support. https://www.ca7project.com/polls

2.   GA:  If we are looking for information about upcoming elections, we can check out 159 Georgia Together’s website, with detailed information on races and candidates throughout the state. Of particular note is their detailed coverage of the upcoming Judicial elections on Tuesday. May 22. These elections matter because any candidate who gets over 50 percent of the vote will be the elected judge. Runoffs will only happen if no one gets over 50 %, with the top two finishers facing off on July 24. 159 Georgia Together reminds us why the stakes are so high for this election: Judicial elections are important. Judges keep their seats in Georgia for a four or six-year term. Incumbents are rarely unseated when re-elections occur. While the races are nonpartisan, judges are human, and their beliefs and ideology can influence their decisions on how laws are interpreted. Examples of this can be found in the news accounts of immigration and gerrymandering decisions in recent memory. Superior and State Court judges have a daily influence on criminal justice reform and sentencing standards. We can find out more, in depth, about the judicial, candidates here:  https://159georgiatogether.org/the-judiciary

3.   ID: Primary is May 15. Early voting is now through May 11. To vote by mail, apply now, mail in by May 15. https://idahovotes.gov/

4.   NE: Primary is May 15. Early voting is now through May 14. To vote by mail, apply May 9, mail in by May 15. https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/VoterView/

5.   OR: Primary is May 15. No early voting. Deadline to apply for mail-in voting was March 8; mail-in deadline is May 15. http://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/current-election.aspx

6.   PA: Primary is May 15. No early voting. Apply for mail-in voting by May 8; mail-in by May 11. www.votespa.com/en-us

Other Actions

1.    Code Pink is circulating a letter of apology from the American people to the people of Iran, calling, among other things, for the UN to sanction the United States for violating the nuclear agreement with Iran. We can sign it here:  
https://www.codepink.org/an_apology_to_the_people_of_iran  And we should call the White House and remind Trump not only that a deal is a deal—and that no other country can now trust the US when it makes a deal—but also that it is the US, not Iran, that is now in violation of the Iran nuclear agreement; that we want to resolve, not escalate, conflict in the Middle East; and that we renounce the foolhardy actions of this administration.

2.   The National Mama’s Bail Out—a “coordinated effort by more than a dozen organizations to reunite families on Mother's Day and bring attention to the true costs of money bail and mass incarceration”-- is in its final days.  https://www.colorlines.com/articles/national-black-mamas-bail-out-seeks-reunite-families-mothers-day  Let’s contribute what we can:  

3.   Mandy Manning is this year's National Teacher of the Year.  She teaches immigrant and refugee children, and brought letters to Trump from them, but he did not mention her students in his talk.  The press was not invited this year, so we didn’t get to hear Ms Manning’s speech. Fortunately, in an interview with Amy Goodman, we are able to learn what she had to say:  https://www.democracynow.org/2018/5/7/meet_the_teacher_who_staged_a  Let’s congratulate Mandy Manning on her award and thank her for her work with some of our most vulnerable students:  Ferris High School, 3020 E. 37th Ave., Spokane, WA 99223

4.   Who *doesn't* want to win a trip to go see Hamilton in Washington D.C. WITH its creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda? By donating at least $10 to this sweepstakes, we not only have a chance to win this prize, but also support the Centre for Popular Democracy in Action, Let America Vote, BlackPAC, and Latino Victory Project, four great grassroots organizations "that spend every waking minute educating voters, eliminating barriers to vote, and getting people to the polls, not just for national elections, but for crucial state and local elections as well." Find out more about this fabulous opportunity and how to enter/donate, here: 

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.    “On May 19th, we want you and everyone who attends your [school] walkouts to join us as our movement takes its next steps: to envision a future free from gun violence so that we can start to craft a platform and an agenda together.  We want every school to host a meeting where you’ll discuss the impact gun violence is having in your community and create a list of what you want the student-led movement to tackle. We want you to play a central role in creating the strategy with us.”  Sign up to host or attend a meeting here:  https://www.nationalschoolwalkout.net/whats-next-1/

2.   Indivisible Marin In California is hosting a fundraising event on June 3. They are raising funds to send volunteers to battleground districts in CA, AZ and NV to canvas for Democrats to turn red to blue. You can help by attending the event, donating an item or making a monetary donation. Details can be found here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indivisible-marins-benefit-to-take-back-congress-tickets-45425427677

States

1.   MANY: “Despite improvements since Russia's attack on the 2016 presidential race, the U.S. elections infrastructure is vulnerable — and will remain so in November.” 
https://www.npr.org/2018/05/08/599452050/the-u-s-voting-system-remains-vulnerable-6-months-before-election-day-what-now  It is imperative that we let out state election officials know that we know that a paper backup is the only way to go. We can find those offices here:  https://www.usa.gov/election-office

2.   IA: "Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed one of the country's most restrictive abortion bills into law on Friday." https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/05/05/608738116/iowa-bans-most-abortions-as-governor-signs-heartbeat-bill "The 2018 Iowa gubernatorial election will take place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor of Iowa. Incumbent Republican Governor Kim Reynolds is running for election to a full term. Primary elections will be held on June 5, 2018”  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_gubernatorial_election,_2018 Let's vote this woman out. Register to vote here: 
https://mymvd.iowadot.gov/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fVoterRegistration. Planned Parenthood plans to file a lawsuit challenging the legislation Reynolds signed. 
https://www.apnews.com/07f9127a79534eeba4af65ddbb7be518 We can donate to them too, here: 

3.   NY:  NY State Legislators decide replacement for NY AG #Schneiderman in a Joint Session. New Yorkers, contact your Reps NOW about who they will choose. Find them here http://nyassembly.gov/mem/  And here https://www.nysenate.gov/contact  Mentions so far include Preet Bharara, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York who was fired by Trump, and Hillary Clinton. 

Reading/Watching

1.    “The 315 people connected to the Russia probes’ - https://www.politico.com/interactives/2018/trump-russia-investigation-ties/

2.   Donald Glover continues to draw our attention to white supremacy and racism in the U.S., in his latest song and video release "This Is America." From writer Ijeoma Oluo: "Glover's facial expressions in This Is America as he stares at the camera are such an indictment of the viewer as a consumer of black culture and brutalizer of black people." Let's watch the video and read more about it here: https://www.colorlines.com/articles/whats-really-happening-americahttps://www.npr.org/2018/05/07/609150167/donald-glovers-this-is-america-holds-ugly-truths-to-be-self-evident

3.   Ta-Nehisi Coates has written a very powerful piece in The Atlantic titled “I’m Not Black, I’m Kanye” – it is worth the read:  https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/05/im-not-black-im-kanye/559763/





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