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8/22/18 

Contact Federal Government Officials


Fax legislators for free: 

or use Resistbot:  https://resist.bot/

 
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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 an effort to fortify the fossil fuel industry, the Trump administration announced a new energy policy today that would lighten regulation on coal-fired power plants.”  This rollback of the Clean Power Plan which was designed to address climate change causes. Deep in the technical analysis of the new policy however is a statement that reads, “Implementing the proposed rule is expected to increase emissions of carbon dioxide and the level of emissions of certain pollutants in the atmosphere that adversely affect human health.”  It is estimated that this change will knowingly increase the number of early deaths each year by 470 to 1,400 people by 2030.   https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/21/17764254/trump-epa-air-regulations-coal-affordable-clean-energy  Not only should we take part in expressing our concerns when the public comment 60-day period begins, but we should remember that utilities are controlled by the states.  Let’s contact out state regulatory commissions to keep our states changing to renewables, no matter what Trump does:  https://www.naruc.org/about-naruc/regulatory-commissions/

2.      Yesterday, Paul Manafort was found guilty on eight counts with a mistrial called on the other ten counts.   https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/manafort-convicted-8-counts-n901231  Manafort is also facing another set of criminal charges in a DC federal court.  If Trump pardons Manafort, we will follow the same plan as if he were to interfere with Mueller or Rosenstein’s work, so let’s all make sure we are signed up and know where to rally should this happen:  https://act.moveon.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response-events/search/

3.      Also, yesterday, Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen pled guilty to campaign finance violations and other counts of fraud.  https://www.apnews.com/74aaf72511d64fceb1d64529207bde64. And, he has stated that he and Trump together arranged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and playboy model Karen McDougal. Trump has been implicated in a felony. While a sitting president can’t be indicted for law-breaking, he can be impeached. Let’s tell our MoCs that it’s time to take swift and immediate action. The Kavanaugh nomination must be put on hold until this matter is thoroughly investigated; the integrity of the 2016 election needs to be re-examined in light of this information. We cannot allow the president to continue exercising power when it is getting clearer and clearer that he did not come by it honestly. The future of our democracy depends on this!  

4.      Now that we know that children can hack a state’s election system and change the outcome, we know it is time to set some standards and protections for the hallmark of our country.  https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/08/21/i-just-hacked-a-state-election-17-not-a-good-hacker-219374  “Two bills in Congress – the Secure Elections Act [S. 2261] and the PAVE Act [H.R. 3406] – would implement a number of best-practice policies around cybersecurity and vote tabulation that are endorsed by most experts. “It may be too late to make these improvements for midterms, but let’s contact our MoCs to ask that they co-sponsor and support these essential pieces of legislation.

5.      It is important to call the members of the Senate Rules Committee this morning because today the Senate Rules Committee will consider amendments to the Secure Elections Act (S.2261).  . This bipartisan bill would replace electronic voting systems with scanners that could read paper ballots, and improve auditing practices https://demwritepress.com/2018/08/21/call-the-senate-about-the-secure-elections-act-by-8-22-to-protect-our-votes/  Let’s also contact Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell (202-224-2541) and ask him to make sure this gets to the floor for a vote ASAP.

6.      According to a recent poll from CNN, Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh has the lowest public approval rating since Robert Bork.  http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/402179-cnn-poll-kavanaugh-has-lowest-public-support-of-supreme-court-nominee-since. Let’s remind our Senators that only 37% of the American public want to see Kavanaugh confirmed, and they should not be afraid of voting against this confirmation just because they might be running for re-election. In fact, given all that happened yesterday with key players in the Trump campaign, no more confirmations should happen until Mueller’s work is done. 

7.      Immigrants pay their taxes, and actually contribute more to our healthcare system than they take out, so why is the Trump administration planning to restrict or prohibit them from using government benefits that they help pay for?  (https://www.npr.org/2018/08/20/640262463/trump-administration-moves-to-penalize-immigrants-for-using-government-benefits) This is an attack on legal immigrants and their (often U.S.-born) children, so let's make sure our MoCs know that we expect them to legislate equal protection for all Americans, including the new ones. Let's also tell that to the instigator of this latest injustice:  (https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrumphttps://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump).

8.     Since 2015, the United States has been supporting the war in Yemen through weaponry and intelligence. The war has fueled a cholera outbreak, and a humanitarian crisis in which young girls are being sold into childhood marriage:
http://nyti.ms/2fX1olt http://bit.ly/2xowRYX The U.S. has been involved with a botched raid, an airstrike on a Doctor's Without Borders facility, and most recently, the bombing of a school bus which killed 40 children. The Trump administration has made it clear that it will continue to support this war, but that does not mean that Congress is powerless. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) has introduced an amendment to the 2019 spending bill which would end U.S. funding of attacks on civilians (https://bit.ly/2OXdFG7https://bit.ly/2N2fNfb). Let's call our senators and tell them that we want them to support Senator Murphy's amendment.

9.      The Farm Bill is now in conference committee with both members of the House and Senate to combine their two bills into one.  The Senate version does not cut SNAP (food stamp benefits).  Let’s use this Hands Off SNAP tool to make our wishes known to the House committee members that we want SNAP to be left alone and not cut in the final version:  https://www.handsoffsnap.org/

10.  Over 175 State Department and Pentagon officials from both the Bush and Obama administrations have added their names to a petition decrying the president’s revocation of former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance and stating that they believe “the country will be weakened if there is a political litmus test applied” before former officials are allowed to voice their views. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-clearances/new-outcry-over-trumps-revocation-of-brennan-security-clearance-idUSKCN1L515D. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) has introduced an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill that would limit the president’s ability to revoke these clearances.  https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/8/warner-introduces-legislation-to-prohibit-president-trump-from-revoking-security-clearances-for-political-reasons. Let's keep voicing our extreme concern to our Senators on this continued attempt by the president to subvert our democracy by punishing his critics and ask our Senator to vote in favor of Warner's amendment.

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.       California Republican Representative Duncan Hunter, an early avid Trump supporter, has just been indicted for using $250000 in campaign funds for personal use, including dental work and vacations to Italy and Hawaii. http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/rep-duncan-hunter-indicted-for-misuse-of-campaign-funds  Since it is too late for his name to be removed from the ballot, Hunter’s formerly “lean Republican” seat is even more competitive now. To help Flip our Congress Blue, we can help out his opponent, former Obama administration official, Ammar Campa-Najjar who is endorsed by both Barack Obama and Our Revolution. We can sign up to volunteer here:  https://www.campacampaign.com/volunteer  We can find out more about his campaign here:  https://www.campacampaign.com/

2.      Attention overseas voters! Don't despair. Even though we're so far away, we can still help in real ways to get out the vote for the midterm elections. For example, phone banking! Join the Democrats Abroad phonebanking team. It's easy as pie -- call for free from your computer to fellow DA members all over the world! Setup instructions are simple and take only about 15 minutes. Make as many or as few calls as you want, whenever you want. Let's do this thing! Sign up here: https://www.democratsabroad.org/phonebanking

3.      In an effort to increase voter turnout for the midterms, former first lady Michelle Obama will be touring the country, registering voters and promoting a week of action with the non-profit organization, When We All Vote (https://usat.ly/2nX2vW4). The week of action will   be September 22-29, and will consist of voter registration drives throughout the U.S. We can learn more about how to get involved and sign up to volunteer here.

4.      School’s starting soon, and with it, an opportunity to register young voters. If we’re students, let’s use this resource to register our classmates; if we’re not, let’s share this resource with the young people in our lives: https://capgownvote.org/  

5.      “Poll watchers, sometimes known as election observers, are the people who watch over the activities at polling locations on election days. Their job is to report any voting/registration irregularities to the proper authorities and ensure that all votes are counted correctly.”  https://politicalcharge.org/2018/08/20/why-democrats-need-more-poll-watchers-at-the-2018-midterms/  This is an important piece of our election process.  Let’s check with our local precinct and see how we can help in this way. 

Election 2018 – By State

1.       Upcoming voting dates and deadlines:

August 23
Oklahoma
Early Voting begins
Runoffs
August 25
Oklahoma
Early voting ends
Runoffs
August 25
Guam
Election date
Primary
August 25
Florida
Early Voting ends
Primary
August 28
Arizona
Election date
Primary
August 28
Florida
Election date
Primary
August 28
Oklahoma
Election date
Runoffs
August 28
Arizona
Early voting ends
Primary
September 1
New Hampshire
Voter Registration Deadline
Primary by mail: in person-same day
September 3
Alaska
Voter Registration Deadline
REAA
September 4
Massachusetts
Election date
Primary
September 6
Delaware
Election date
Primary
September 11
New Hampshire
Election date
Primary
September 12
Rhode Island
Election date
Primary
(source:  by date:  https://goo.gl/gjFv2u   by state:  https://goo.gl/7gTzvE)

2.      Upcoming Primaries:

A)     Tuesday, 8/28



Other Actions

1.       From the Obama Foundation:  we are looking for 20 rising stars from around the world who are working alongside their communities to solve important public problems in creative and powerful ways. The two-year, non-residential program offers hands-on training, leadership development, and a powerful network to equip Fellows to scale the impact of their work.  We're searching for candidates who are civic innovators, discipline-diverse, at a tipping point in their work, not yet connected to the networks they need to advance their work and motivated by the powerful desire to help others. You can learn more about what we look for when selecting Fellows here.  If you share these qualities, please apply to join the next class of Obama Fellows by September 18, 2018. Or, if you know someone who should apply, please let them know that the call for applications is now open. Click here:  https://www.obama.org/fellowship

Marches/events/webinars/TwitterStorms to attend/organize

1.       Trump himself may have been fingered by his former lawyer, but that does not mean we can let up on opposing Trump's latest nominee to the Supreme Court. "Join us on August 26th as we hold a national day of action in all 50 states to fight Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and demand that our representatives in Washington act NOW to protect our most fundamental rights and freedoms. Roe v. Wade, voting rights, workers' rights, LGBTQ rights, immigrant rights, and much more are all in grave danger if this Supreme Court nominee is confirmed. With so much at stake, we cannot back down." Let's find and participate in the nearest Unite for Justice event to protest Kavanaugh's nomination, here: https://uniteforjustice2018.com 

2.      On September 8, the Peoples Climate Movement will lead a national mobilization for climate, jobs, and justice. We can find a Rise for Climate event near us here, or we can sign up to organize our own.  (Note:    Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice action in New York City will be held on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Battery Park.)

3.      On September 22 there will be a protest at Trump’s Mar-A-Lago in Florida in commemoration of the first anniversary of Hurricane Maria:   

States


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


1.       ALL:  The state of education in the United States is anything but good and certainly not of even quality throughout the country.  “Examine the grades and scores that states and the nation earned on Quality Counts 2018 with this interactive map, grade-summary table, and top-to-bottom ranking.”  http://www.edweek.com/ew/collections/quality-counts-2018-state-grades/report-card-map-rankings.html  It’s time to start making some noise with our state departments of education and try to get some positive changes made:  https://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html

2.      CA:  We CAN stop Kavanaugh, but only if we act now. Senator Feinstein needs 67,000 calls ASAP. Her office has said they wanted 1 million, but ,so far,  they’ve had only 33,000. There’s still time to make our voices heard. The SF Chronicle quotes prominent local professor and Constitutional Law expert Rory Little as saying that “a ‘galvanized grassroots movement’ might change the equation.” And even the head of the libertarian/right-wing Federalist Society told the ultra-right wing corporate overlord Koch network that we have a chance to scuttle this nomination. BUT: WE need to pick up that phone AND then get all our friends to pick up their phones.  Contact:  https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Reading/Watching

1.       How to Use Your White Privilege the Right Way - https://www.theroot.com/how-to-use-your-white-privilege-the-right-way-1827923949

2.      The Mueller investigation is showing how badly we’ve failed to prosecute white-collar crime - https://www.vox.com/2018/8/21/17757636/cohen-manafort-white-collar-crime







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