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6/15/18 

Contact Federal Government Officials


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.       The first group of journalists has been granted permission to go through Casa Padre, the shelter for detained child migrants in Brownsville, TX, the one that Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) has been denied entrance.  Nearly 1500 10-17-year-old boys are held in this facility that features Trump murals.  https://twitter.com/jacobsoboroff/status/1007047629493161984  and https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/shelters-undocumented-children-nearing-capacity-trump-immigration-policy/story?id=55882840 Given this new information, let’s contact all our MoCs to tell them we want this cruel family separation policy to end. This is not good for children.

2.      Secretary of State Mike Pompeo got testy with a reporter who was seeking to understand the details of the agreement with North Korea: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/13/north-korea-nuclear-deal-trump-next-steps-what-will-happen  Let’s let Secretary Pompeo know that we the people have a right to understand the details of the agreement and that winging it is not okay: U.S. Department of State,2201 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520 or on Twitter @SecPompeo

3.      It’s not just family separation. Children have been mistreated at the border for a long time; this 2016 fact sheet from the American Civil Liberties Union tells us "Every day the U.S. government brings children into immigration court where they are forced to defend themselves without counsel. As a result, thousands of children, some as young as 3 and 4 years old, are ordered deported without legal representation.” https://www.aclu.org/fact-sheet/fair-day-court-kids-act-factsheet  Unaccompanied children apprehended at the border are very vulnerable. They should at the very least have access to legal counsel. That's why Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) has introduced S. 2468: Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2018. It currently has 14 co-sponsors. Let's check if our Senators have signed on. Let’s thank them if they have, but if not, let's ask them to do so. It shouldn't even be an issue. 

4.      Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ruled that our country will no longer grant asylum to most victims of domestic abuse and gang violence. This cruel decision – driven, clearly, by the hate and extremism at the heart of the Republican administration – will condemn tens of thousands of men, women and children to death. Let's read more at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and join their call to action by contacting the DOJ main comment line at 202-353-1555. SPLC has included a suggested script to help us get started.

5.      The ethics scandals against EPA chief Scott Pruitt keep increasing. In the latest incident, Pruitt solicited a GOP donor’s help in finding his wife a job http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/392021-pruitt-had-aide-gop-donors-help-wife-find-job-report. Former White House ethics chief, Walter Shaub, has gone on record to claim that Pruitt is simply unfit for public service, and now even hard-line conservatives like Fox News Commentator Laura Ingraham and Pruitt’s home-state Senator, James Inhofe are calling for his resignation. Let’s tell our MoCs to keep calling for Pruitt’s resignation. We should also contact the White House and the EPA directly (pruitt.scott@EPA.gov; https://www.facebook.com/EPA/; Twitter: @EPA) and let them know that these ethical violations are serious and unacceptable, and that Pruitt must cede leadership of the EPA.

6.      In 2014, due to a temporary, but unusually large influx of unaccompanied minors at our southern border, make-shift housing was provided temporarily in tents and what appeared to be cages.  Now, with the government-made increase of unaccompanied children taken from their parents at the border, are now creating a tent city in Texas.  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/trump-admin-will-house-migrant-kids-tents-tornillo-texas-n883281  As Sleeping Giants asked on Twitter yesterday, “Who is the tent manufacturer willing to profit from this? Who is the bed manufacturer? Who is the company willing to handle the data? Who is the food supplier? Who are the other companies willing to detain children for cash?”  When we find out, we will boycott. 

7.      North Carolina is trying to suppress the vote again, which makes it more important than ever that the federal judges overseeing North Carolina are committed to protecting voting rights. Thomas Farr has made it very clear he’s not, not only defending racist voter ID laws in court but actually participating in attempts to suppress black voters (http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article211659684.html). Let’s call our senators and tell them to oppose his nomination.

8.     The United States Department of Agriculture has released guidelines related to the GMO food labeling law, which was passed by Congress in 2016. The problem is that the labels they are suggesting do not mention the known words, “GMO.” Instead they use misleading smiley faces, along with the term “BE,” which stands for the lesser-known term, “bio-engineering.” (We can see pictures of what’s being proposed here.) There are no clear requirements to label ingredients derived from GMO crops, and companies have the option to forgo GMO labeling on product packaging all together and substitute a sentence referring people to a website or QR code for more information. Let’s check out this posting from the Sierra Club for more information, and then submit a public comment that calls for clear, thorough, unbiased labeling that uses the more known term “GMO” and assures the American public that all possible GMO-derived ingredients are noted.

9.      The House farm bill went down to defeat; the Senate Agriculture Committee has now advanced a different bill, soon to come to the Senate floor; while the Senate’s Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, is largely a continuation of the current farm bill, it removes SNAP (food stamp cuts), includes new investments to make nutritious food more accessible, opens new opportunities for farmers and struggling rural economies, and protects the environment:   https://newfoodeconomy.org/senate-farm-bill-2018-primer/  and https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/senate-agriculture-committee-releases-farm-bill-that-protects-snap/article_8f7ec96a-a736-5dd9-9e83-06f0c8a605c2.html  The Union of Concerned Scientists points out that this is our last chance to urge our senators to make changes that would further strengthen our food system and has mounted a letter-writing campaign; to use their tools, go to:

10.  “Satellites monitoring the state of the White Continent indicate some 200 billion tonnes a year are now being lost to the ocean as a result of melting. Governments will need to take account of the information and its accelerating trend as they plan future defences to protect low-lying coastal communities.”   https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44470208  “Mr. Trump is the first president since 1941 not to name a science adviser, a position created during World War II to guide the Oval Office on technical matters ranging from nuclear warfare to global pandemics.”  https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/09/climate/trump-administration-science.html   Let’s pressure congress to tell trump to name a “real scientist” as an advisor. 

11.   The Republican administration is pushing a "gag rule" designed to block people from getting accurate information about their health care, and to prevent patients from getting birth control and preventive care at Planned Parenthood health centers. It would also allow doctors and nurses across the country to withhold information from their patients. We can read more about the gag rule in this Planned Parenthood article. Let's use this handy tool at Planned Parenthood to submit an official comment to the Department of Health and Human Services telling them we oppose this attempt to allow doctors to withhold information from their patients.

12.  When a reporter asked Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) if he was confident in EPA Admin. Scott Pruitt, Ryan’s response was "Frankly I haven't paid that close attention to it ... I don't know enough about what Pruitt has or has not done to give you a good

13.  " Backed by broad support from national and state doctor groups, the American Medical Association is launching a renewed push to curb gun violence and mobilize physicians to lobby Congress for legislation doctors say is long overdue."  https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2018/06/12/ama-intensifies-pitch-for-gun-control/#5d5a21c14dd0  Let's tell our MoCs that we agree with the AMA because gun violence IS a public health issue.  We want to see these changes.  If they can't do it before the election, we will be electing people who will.


Election 2018 – General

An election guide from Postcards for America:  In this Google doc (updated regularly), 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:  

1.       Link correction:  We’ve all learned a lot about the importance of the secretary of state’s office since Trump, as cybersecurity of elections and voting rights have been thrust into the national spotlight. Now it’s time to act, with 26 states seeing their secretaries of state up for a vote this fall (http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-state-races-handicapping-election-2018-governor-sos-ag-legislative.html). Let’s read up on the seats that may be competitive in this article from Governing, and then sign up to help Let America Vote and iVote elect voting rights champions.

2.      From one of our own:  Please pass the link on to any/all American and ex-pats needing to register [to vote]. Their vote matters whether they are overseas or out of state. So, if you know anyone abroad, living out of state or in need of an alternative to their assigned polling place - this covers all;  https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/vote/state-elections/state-election-dates-deadlines.htm

3.      Vote411.org, http://www.vote411.org/ , is a project of the League of Women Voters Education Fund. Not only can we use it to register to vote; we can see who is running for office in our community or browse information on races and candidates. The info includes candidates’ websites, so we can be in touch and help get Democrats elected up and down the ballot. Let’s check it out: http://www.vote411.org/ballot

4.      Swing Left has announced that they will be offering the Swing Left College Fellowship, which "trains student activists to organize teams of volunteers on their campuses—and to get out the vote in critical Swing Districts. This program offers online training and coaching from veteran organizers over the summer to help students hit the ground running in the fall semester." Students must be enrolled in a college or university within sixty miles of a swing district. If we, or someone we know, would qualify, let's encourage them to apply for this great opportunity. The deadline to apply is June 25th: https://bit.ly/2t6tKQs

5.      With all the attacks on voting rights we face, we have a chance in Florida to massively expand the right to vote at the ballot box in November. Not only will passing Amendment 4 strengthen democracy, it will also be good for Florida’s economy (http://www.wtxl.com/news/study-voting-yes-to-amendment-could-save-fl-taxpayers-millions/article_24509028-6957-11e8-9f5a-bbed278b1129.html). Second Chances Florida is hosting another day of action on Saturday, June 23rd. We can sign up to host a call party in our area here. Or we can sign up to make calls anytime for this crucial ballot initiative at https://secondchancescallteam.youcanbook.me/.

6.      The Voter Mentor Project aims to create a community of knowledgeable mentors who are willing to connect with others they know who are less informed about voting, and therefore less likely to vote. The aim of the project is to help citizens overcome their sense of alienation and become active participants in our democracy. Started in western Massachusetts, this model can be easily replicated anywhere. Let’s find out more how voter mentoring can work and start something similar in our community.   

Election 2018 – By State

1.       Upcoming voting dates and deadlines:

June 15
New Hampshire
Filing Deadline
June 15
South Carolina
In Person absentee voting begins
runoffs
June 18
Arkansas
Early voting ends
runoffs
June 18
Colorado
Early voting begins
Primary
June 19
Utah
Voter Registration Deadline
Primary (in person/online)
June 19
Washington D.C.
Voter Registration Deadline
Primary (at polls)
June 19
Washington D.C.
Election date
Primary
June 19
Arkansas
Election date
Runoffs
June 21
Maryland
Early Voting ends
Primary
June 21
Oklahoma
Early Voting begins
Primary
June 22
Utah
Early Voting ends
Primary
June 23
Oklahoma
Early Voting ends
Primary

2.      AK: Introducing FLIP ALASKA, a Facebook group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state project that came out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones elected by squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join here, get some new ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful state the Bluest it’s ever been, so let’s start getting our country back, state by state! We can check the group out, then, if we like it, join here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipAlaska/  

3.      AZ:  Introducing FLIP ARIZONA, a Facebook group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state project that came out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones elected by squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join here, get some new ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful state the Bluest it’s ever been, so let’s start getting our country back, state by state! We can check the group out, then, if we like it, join here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipArizona/

4.      WI:  Introducing FLIP WISCONSIN, a Facebook group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state project that came out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones elected by squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join here, get some new ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful state the Bluest it’s ever been, so let’s start getting our country back, state by state! We can check the group out, then, if we like it, join here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipWisconsin/

5.      WY:  Introducing FLIP WYOMING, a Facebook group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state project that came out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones elected by squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join here, get some new ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful state Blue, so let’s start getting our country back, state by state! We can check the group out, then, if we like it, join here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipWyoming/

Other Actions

1.       To continue the momentum built by yesterday’s action rallies to stop separation of children and families at the border, we can donate to eight organizations fighting this issue in one step here. This link also has information about each of these agencies if we want to contribute individually.  Congressman Joe Kennedy III's campaign is matching the first $25,000 donated.

2.      If we live abroad and want to do something about the immigration issue at our southern border, let’s check this out:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/17qwcesjUWsyXHtd7B8JAga2vOtSSO77Tftd29vc87aQ/edit

3.      The National Redistricting Foundation (NRF) is the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, a 527 political action committee chaired by former US Attorney General Eric Holder.  The foundation has launched lawsuits in Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana to undo gerrymandered electoral maps that "pack" many black voters into a few voting districts while "cracking" others into small groups within other districts. The net effect is a dilution of the black vote in those states, amounting to denial of representation and violation of the Voting Rights Act.  (https://apnews.com/d30b289c43f543079555304f2be53b6a/Lawsuits:-Congressional-maps-dilute-black-voters-in-3-states). The NRF could use our help with the hard work of undoing gerrymandering and voter suppression. We can start getting involved here:   https://democraticredistricting.com/get-involved/

4.      GOP Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel took to Twitter to say that anyone who doesn’t support President Trump will be making a mistake:  
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/392198-gop-chairwoman-anyone-who-doesnt-support-trump-will-be-making-a-mistake    Let’s let Ms. Romney McDaniel know that we are confident that we are not making a mistake and want the GOP to wake up to the destruction of our democracy and be the leaders they once were: Republican National Committee, 310 First St SE, Washington DC 20003 or on Twitter @GOPChairwoman 

5.      Harley-Davidson ("Harley") workers in Kansas City were stunned to learn that 800 jobs are being slashed after the company received huge benefits from the new tax law. Workers are concerned that their jobs will be going to Harley's new Bangkok facility thought Harley claims the plant closure and plant opening are unrelated. Let's read more at NBCNews.  If we're disappointed by this move from an iconic American company, let's contact Harley Davidson. Let's be sure to tell our Harley-loving friends that their beloved products are no longer quite so American. 

6.      Survivors of the mass shootings at Pulse nightclub and Parkland are planning to pressure Walt Disney Co. to withdraw its support of self-described “NRA sellout” Adam Putnam by holding a “die-in” at a Disney property sometime this month. Disney has donated at least $789,000 to Putnam’s political committee. National Die-In, a group co-founded by Parkland survivors, is in the early stages of organizing the demonstration where protesters lie in a corpse-like pose to emphasize the effect of shooting massacres. The protest would be at a Disney headquarters or Orlando theme park. Let's read more at Orlando Sentinel.  We can write to Disney at WDW Community Relations, Walt Disney World Co., P.O. Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.

7.      A representative of the CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project tweeted yesterday afternoon:  Attys, Paralegals, Law Students! If you speak Spanish & can aid detained parents & children in Texas (6-day stint), contact CARA Family Detention Project! The need is urgent! If you don't speak Spanish but can find an interpreter-partner that wd help too.  If we call into any of those categories, we can learn more here:  http://www.aila.org/practice/pro-bono/find-your-opportunity/cara-family-detention-pro-bono-project

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.       “On Saturday, June 23 the #PoorPeoplesCampaign will be headed to the US Capitol for a mass rally in Washington, D.C. as part of our Global Day of Solidarity, rounding out the #40DaysofAction and launching our next period of movement building for the long haul. The rally will begin at 10am.  Join us as we show our elected leaders we will no longer allow attention violence to keep poor and disenfranchised people down! Learn more here: http://bit.ly/MassRallyDC   

2.      “On June 29, lawyer moms around the country are organizing to gather at our senators’ offices and deliver an open letter stating our opposition to the current federal policy of separating migrant children from their parents.  Each of us would do anything to keep our children safe. Each of us swore an oath to defend the Constitution. We will not let this unconscionable practice stand on our watch. Join us. Let's make some noise.  More info here:  Lawyer Moms of America - https://www.facebook.com/events/1308273125973346/

States


Find elected state officials: https://openstates.org/


1.       ALL:  Republican state legislatures have imposed draconian “free speech” rules on public colleges and universities, and bills to establish campus speech guidelines are under consideration in at least 7 states.  Part of a growing and well-funded campaign, these efforts have been supported by the White House—which convened a discussion called “Crisis on College Campus” identifying opioid abuse and the suppression of free speech as coequal culprits in that “crisis” --while the DoJ filed its support for a lawsuit challenging the University of Michigan for establishing “bias response teams”: 
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/conlaw/2018/06/check-it-out-nyt-on-campus-free-speech.html If we want to know funding details and state-by-state versions of this campaign, the American Association of University Professors has issued a report:  \
https://www.aaup.org/report/campus-free-speech-legislation-history-progress-and-problems  We should keep a careful eye on whether our state legislators are voting on bills that would constrict speech on campus--and we should let the White House know that we regard these attempts to represent protest on campus as a "crisis" as part of a larger Republican effort to discredit higher education.

2.      CA:  California’s “Gold Standard” Net Neutrality Law, SB822 is about to be turned to lead by ATT funded Lobbyists and think tanks. With protections hailed the strongest in the land, the Bill has become a target for a well funded misinformation AstroTurf and lobbying campaign. We still have a chance to save Net Neutrality in our State, but we must act NOW, as the hearing is scheduled for next week. We can read more about how this bill protects all of us, especially low-income users.  https://bit.ly/2JVof1z  We can send an email here:
https://action.consumerreports.org/netneutrality20180607comments   We can click here to get a call script and be connected to our legislators:  https://bit.ly/2JGz7wT

3.      MI: From Indivisible MI-08: "Urge Republicans to support House Bill 4120, which would amend the Safe Water Drinking Act to require a supplier of water to a public school to collect and analyze water at that school." We can learn more, and find phone numbers and a call script here.

4.      NY:  Governor Cuomo called for reforms to NYS antiquated voting system and then apparently forgot to include these in his budget.  Let’s insist that the state senate bring S3304A, which includes Automatic Voter Registration, pre-registration of 16 & 17-year-olds, and a new deadline for switching party registration, and S7400A, which sets up an 8-day voting period, to the floor for a vote. Here are phone numbers and a script:  https://mailchi.mp/7da1a3016272/action-331903?e=ca5dfc055f

Reading/Watching

1.       It’s All Too Much, and We Still Have to Care:  What’s going on at the border is horrifying, but we can’t go numb and turn away” - https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/06/family-separation-is-horrifying-but-we-cant-go-numb-and-turn-away.html

2.      The Center for Responsive Politics OpenSecrets.org has a great primer on dark money: https://www.opensecrets.org/dark-money/basics , and an infographic: https://www.opensecrets.org/dark-money/shadow-infographic, and its role in elections. Even if we think we know what dark money is, these are good refreshers.

3.      “Here are the 5 key takeaways from the report on the FBI's Clinton email investigation - https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/14/key-takeaways-from-inspector-general-report-clinton-email.html






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