6/8/18
Contact Federal Government Officials
********************************
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
our outrage at the separation of children from their parents at the border
leads us to forget the long history of child snatching in the US—enslaved
Africans, Native Americans, for example—this forgetfulness means we need to
respond with even greater urgency to current “family separations”:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/03/opinion/children-border.html As of Sunday, almost 300 of the
550 children currently in custody at US border stations had spent more than 72
hours there--the time limit for immigrants of any age—and half of those are
younger than 12: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hundreds-migrant-kids-separated-parents-are-stuck-border-stations-n878696 We must tell our MoCs to intervene in
this horror--https://www.aclu.org/issues/call-senators-stop-dhs-separating-children; we need to protest to Homeland
Security--202-282-8495 or DHSSecretary@hq.dhs.gov--and the White House; we need
to show up at local actions at ICE facilities.
2. There is
a growing bipartisan effort in Congress to pass legislation that would thwart
Trump’s tariffs. Since Trump cited
national security as his reason for the tariff’s, senators would like to be
informed about the threat and have that shared with the American people as
well. http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/391048-senators-introduce-bill-to-curb-trumps-trade-authority The
tariffs are yet another way Trump is choosing nationalism over international
cooperation and it will hurt many. Let’s
tell our senators to get on board with this pending legislation.
3. “The
Trump administration's school safety commission held its first public listening
session Wednesday, a day after the panel's chair, Education Secretary Betsy
DeVos, told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the commission wouldn't focus on
guns.” Unfortunately, DeVos was not in
attendance to listen to those who spoke, including students. https://www.npr.org/2018/06/06/617719491/federal-school-safety-commission-holds-first-public-session-devos-wasnt-there It is
bad enough that there are no teachers, students, or other school personnel on
the commission, but to not be available to listen at a session designed for
just that makes one question DeVos’ integrity and interest in the topic at
hand. Let’s tell her she has much to
learn from these citizens: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/u-s-department-of-education
4. On April
30, the NYT published a list of the questions Special Counsel Robert Mueller
wants to ask Trump, that is, if he can ever get an interview/hearing with
him:
5. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/30/us/politics/questions-mueller-wants-to-ask-trump-russia.html.
It's in the news again because Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, keeps making
statements and appearances designed to badmouth Mueller and hedging on whether
Trump will speak with Mueller or not: http://www.businessinsider.com/giuliani-trump-mueller-interview-russia-investigation-cnn-2018-5 This
is all smoke and mirrors, though, since the questions make clear that Mueller
has Trump dead to rights. Read the list of the questions here, with short
commentary included, from The Loyal Opposition:
https://twitter.com/i/moments/1003398854958637061 It's
pretty clear that Mueller has a solid case. The question is: will Congress hold
Trump and his cohorts accountable once the truth is fully revealed? Let's
remind our MoCs that we fully support Mueller's investigation and that he and
Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein need to be protected.
6. The
Department of Housing and Urban Development’s new proposal would raise rents
for the poor by 20 percent, nearly six times more than the average growth in
hourly wages. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/391143-study-hud-proposal-would-raise-rents-for-poor-by-20-percent. Let’s tell Housing Secretary Ben Carson (202-708-1112;
451
7th Street S.W.; Washington, DC 20410; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HUD/; Twitter: @SecretaryCarson) to heed the findings from the nonpartisan Center on
Budget and Policy Priorities,
which refutes the administration’s claim that this policy will inspire more
people to work. In fact, homelessness would be likely to increase and the
people most harmed would be children of the working poor. Let’s also tell our
MoCs to speak out against this latest attack on our most vulnerable citizens.
7. On June
30th, FEMA's Transitional Shelter Assistance Program is set to end for Puerto
Ricans (https://nbcnews.to/2M7fGPp).
The program provides those who have been displaced following Hurricanes Irma
and Maria with short-term housing. Rather than simply ending the program, FEMA
should be activating the Department of Housing and Development's Disaster
Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) to provide more long-term solutions for those
impacted by the hurricanes, as it did following Hurricanes Sandy, Rita,
Katrina, and others (http://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/DAHP-Program.pdf).
Let's contact FEMA and ask them to enact the DHAP immediately: Phone:
1-800-621-3362 Mailing Address: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500
C Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20472 or Administrator
Brock Long on Twitter @FEMA_Brock
8. Reminiscent
of other government leaders who appear to be charged with dismantling the
departments and agencies they were chosen to lead, Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s acting
head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has fired all 25 members of
the legally-mandated Consumer Advisory Board, a group of outside experts that
acts as the agency’s sounding board on important economic, financial, and
policy issues. Mulvaney has effectively refused to meet with the Board
recently, although his schedule suggests that he has found plenty of time to
meet with representatives of the financial industry. Mulvaney has also
dismissed the outside experts who made up two other boards, one dealing
with credit unions, the other small community banks; in total, 60 members
across the three boards were dismissed on Wednesday: https://www.apnews.com/c12e629d738842cfb654902a1e105cb6 and https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cfpb-boards/trumps-consumer-financial-chief-disbands-key-advisory-boards-idUSKCN1J22PN Let’s
tell Mulvaney we demand that our voices be heard at the CFPB: 855-411-CFPB
(2372) or FAX 855-237-2392 or write him here:
The Office of Management and Budget 725
17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20503 or tweet him here: @MickMulvaneyOMB
9. A
bipartisan effort to curtail U.S. involvement in the Saudi Arabian war against
Yemen has been included as a provision in the annual defense policy bill by Todd
Young (R-IN) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). http://thehill.com/policy/defense/391208-senate-defense-bill-includes-limits-on-us-support-for-saudi-campaign-in-yemen. Let’s tell our Senators that the
humanitarian crisis and civilian death toll in Yemen is unacceptable and ask
them to make sure this provision, which would impose stricter limits on U.S.
involvement in the Saudi war, is included in the final version of the bill.
10. From one of our own: One Pulse for America has set up an action page to contact Betsy
Devos to demand the School Safety Commission to study access to guns. Script
and links included: https://www.onepulseforamerica.com/action-alert/tell-school-safety-commission-to-study-easy-access-to-guns/
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. Momentum
is continuing to build for January Contreras in her race to be Arizona’s next
Attorney General (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/arizona-several-latina-progressives-democrats-run-local-state-races-n871961). Most recently, she earned the endorsement
of former U.S. Attorney General and redistricting reform advocate Eric Holder.
We can help her win from anywhere in the country by joining OpenProgress’ Text
Troop. We can sign up here: https://www.openprogress.com/text-troop.
2. As we
head deeper into this election year, gerrymandering and election security have
become issues crucial to the future of our country. However, many elections
boards and secretaries of state have yet to take meaningful action, and with
nothing but silence coming from the White House, it falls to us to push for
what's needed. One simple step we can all take to bring/keep focus here is
to follow Postcards for America's list of postcarding actions:
Election 2018 –
By State
1. Upcoming
voting dates and deadlines:
|
June 11
|
South Carolina
|
In person absentee voting ends
|
Primary
|
|
June 12
|
Connecticut
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
|
June 12
|
North Dakota
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Same Day registration
|
|
June 12
|
Maine
|
In person absentee voting ends
|
Primary
|
|
June 12
|
Utah
|
Early Voting begins
|
Primary
|
|
June 12
|
Maine
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 12
|
Nevada
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 12
|
North Dakota
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 12
|
South Carolina
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 12
|
Virginia
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 12
|
Wisconsin
|
Election date
|
Special-State Assembly District 42
|
|
June 12
|
Wisconsin
|
Election date
|
Special-State Senate District 1
|
|
June 14
|
Maryland
|
Early Voting Begins
|
Primary
|
|
June 15
|
New Hampshire
|
Filing Deadline
|
(source: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WJiqNAZNlWPSCAvuRpQ5e5dFiC5IY3O3epicrCuHINs/edit#gid=514224366 We
can also see this info by state here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IMWqHIktIBS7jPxS4mVV1--YKYVa-2yYWjV8QHsi1F4/edit#gid=1798528701)
2. Five states have primaries next Tuesday:
Other Actions
1. Outrage
continues to build as we learn more about the plight of immigrant families torn
apart at our borders. To stop these injustices, we must speak up and so United
We Dream, the National Domestic, Workers Association, MomsRising, and the
ACLU have assembled this Twitter Kit to a be a one stop shop that includes
points of contact, tweet copy, and other content to share. We can find tweets
to send out here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dffg3aeRu9huc0cTRi06u75WP8jZz6ORZfICn9Qm2as/edit We
can also use these #FamiliesBelongTogether Graphics:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/18EXFe74_5zZBEEqozde2r_Oy4pPbhjcC Then we can tweet at @realDonaldTrump and
@SecNielsen. We Belong Together's demands for the Administration can be RT’d
here:
2. We
know that Russian Intelligence interfered with the 2016 election, continues
interfering now and will no doubt attempt to interfere with our upcoming
elections. Their goals are to divide and disrupt us, but we can start to fight
back by seeing what they are up to, exposing their tactics and sharing this
information with our friends. The
Alliance for Securing Democracy, an international collaboration of security experts,
is an excellent place to start. As a “bipartisan, transatlantic initiative
housed at The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF),” they “develop
comprehensive strategies to defend against, deter, and raise the costs on
Russian and other state actors’ efforts to undermine democracy and democratic
institutions.” From their website, we
can access resources like the Hamilton 68 Dashboard to see the hashtags, topics
and URLs promoted by Russian Intelligence. Forewarned is forearmed, so let’s get
better prepared for the next Information Wars stage: http://securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/
3. Many
of us use Vanessa Otero’s media bias chart when discerning our news sources. Here is her part two of four blog posts
explaining how she does it: http://www.allgeneralizationsarefalse.com/
Let’s continue to use her chart and share it with others so that we all
have a better idea of bias when we are consuming news.
4. South
Dakota lawmaker Michael Clark said after the recent Supreme Court ruling that
businesses should be able to turn customers who are “people of color”. He later
apologized: https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2018/06/05/s-d-lawmaker-says-businesses-should-able-turn-away-customers-based-race/673317002/ Let’s let Rep. Clark know that
although we appreciate the apology we think he has a long way to go on this
issue: http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Legislators/MemberDetail.aspx?Session=2018&Member=1301&Cleaned=True
5. From
Postcards From Kate: Stanford Law Professor Michele Dauber
successfully led the Recall Aaron Persky Campaign in California this week which
concluded with him being recalled from the bench
in Tuesday’s election. He came to negative prominence for his lenient
sentencing of rapist Brock Turner:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/06/06/judge-aaron-persky-who-gave-brock-turners-lenient-sentence-sanford-rape-case-recalled/674551002/ Let’s take a moment to thank
Professor Dauber: Michele Dauber, Frederick I. Richman Professor of
Law, Stanford Law School, Room N340, Neukom Building, Crown
Quadrangle, 559 Nathan Abbott Way,
Stanford, CA 94305-8610
6. Here’s
another round of postcarding opportunities from WhatIfKnits: http://www.whatifknits.com/2018/06/issues-addresses-june-7-2018/
7. The
News Literacy Project invites us to take this quiz to test our “ability to
recognize and distinguish “fake news” sites from those of legitimate,
standards-based news organizations.” Let’s
try it and share it with friends, too: https://newslit.org/get-smart/which-is-legit/
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1. “On June 9, our March for the
Ocean (M4O) campaign
will organize mass events including flotillas, SCUBA dives, marches and rallies
in our nation’s capital and around the country in order to protect our human
and wild communities and restore the blue in our red, white and blue. Blue
Frontier Campaign and 70+ partners will mobilize an inclusive and diverse
constituency to ensure we have a healthy ocean and clean water for future
generations.” We can find out more here
about the rally in DC and other cities.
2. The 9th Annual Citizens’ Climate Lobby
Int’l Conference & Lobby Day is set for June 10-12 in Washington, DC. We can find more
information here: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/2018-conference/ On June 12th, hundreds of citizens from
across the nation will meet with members of Congress in Washington, D.C.
to ask for carbon fee and dividend legislation to be
introduced. Before that, we are invited to contact our MoCs about this
issue: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/call-congress-to-act-on-climate/#/38/
3. On June 14, cities across the
country will host marches, rallies, and vigils to protest the current
administration’s callous treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers. We can
find more information about Families Belong Together and sign up
here:
States
1. MOST: New Jersey is leading states on
the East Coast in putting up practical obstacles to Trump’s plan to expand
offshore drilling. They’ve passed legislation that bars oil drilling in their
state waters and the construction of infrastructure in their state to deliver
oil and natural gas from drilling platforms in federal waters (https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/why-new-jersey-is-leading-the-resistance-to-trumps-offshore-drilling-plan/2018/05/27/98b405e4-5886-11e8-858f-12becb4d6067_story.html?utm_term=.77a611707194).
New York has passed a similar law. Let’s check to see if there are proposals
like this in our states and tell our state legislators and governors to support
them.
2. MA: Last week the MA Senate passed a budget with an amendment containing
four key protections for immigrants: (1) No police inquiry about immigration
status; (2) An end to collaboration agreements with ICE; (3) Basic due process
protections; and (4) a ban on contributing to any discriminatory registry. To
become law, this now needs to be passed by the House and signed by the
governor. Let’s make sure to call our state
reps;
House Speaker Robert DeLeo (617-722-2500) and Governor Charlie Baker
(617-725-4005) and let them know that we strongly support these four key
immigrant protections. More information and a call script is available from the
Safe
Communities Coalition
3. MI: The Michigan House and Senate
have voted to repeal the prevailing wage law, pre-empting the proposal that was
set to be on the ballot in November. (http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/06/prevailing_wage_law_repealed_i.html).
While supporters of the repeal argue that the prevailing wage law put too much
of a burden on taxpayers, opponents of the repeal point out that it assured
that contracted workers for state building projects would receive a fair wage,
thereby making it more likely that residents (and taxpayers) of Michigan would
be the ones vying for contracted work. Because the repeal was part of an
initiative process, it does not need a signature from Governor Snyder, and
because the voting process was rushed, the 2/3 votes that would have been
necessary for the repeal to go into effect immediately were sidestepped. Let's
be sure to call our state MoC and either thank them if they voted against the
repeal or hold them accountable for not letting the voters decide on this issue
if they voted "yes." https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
4. WA: The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project reports that “Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) transferred as many as 120 asylum seekers from Texas to the
Federal Detention Center (FDC) in SeaTac, Washington. Initial reports
demonstrate the group consists of many women who originally arrived with their
children seeking asylum, but were then separated from their children by Border
Patrol officials and prosecuted for unlawful entry, a federal misdemeanor.” https://www.nwirp.org/as-many-as-120-women-transferred-to-federal-detention-center-in-seatac-separated-from-children-while-applying-for-asylum/ Let’s
help how we can: https://www.nwirp.org/join-us/
Reading/Watching
1. “‘I
Want to Hate …’” - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/06/opinion/trump-central-park-five.html
2. A couple
of days ago, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein delivered a talk to the
alumni association of Central High School in Philadelphia. Since the talk is
posted to the DOJ website, his words are for the rest of us as well. What he
had to say makes it clear that a) he considers his nonpartisan role very
seriously, and b) that it is not just people like him, but We the People, who share responsibility for defending our
democracy: "[W]e are all keepers of the republic. But the farther we get
from the founding generation, the less we appreciate how much it depends on
people rather than just words." Words are never enough, but his eloquent
words may help remind us why we must continue the fight to uphold our
laws. We can read it here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/deputy-attorney-general-rod-j-rosenstein-delivers-remarks-associated-alumni-central-high
3. “The Quiet Rage Of Mazie Hirono” - https://www.npr.org/2018/06/07/617239314/the-quiet-rage-of-mazie-hirono
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