Contact Federal Government Officials
Fax legislators
for free:
Or use Resistbot: https://resist.bot/
Or use StampsLicked to have
messages hand-delivered to our own legislators:
https://stampslicked.org/
White House
contact: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house
1.
MUELLER REPORT: Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) blocked a vote on a
Senate resolution calling for the Mueller report to be made public. https://www.axios.com/mcconnell-blocks-resolution-release-mueller-report-public-ac30a037-2c00-4cc5-8a78-9e6c6122c44b.html. This was after the House voted 420-0 on the same
resolution and even
after Trump himself said he didn’t
mind making the report public. Let’s remind our GOP Senators that 87% of Americans want to see the report made public, and ask
them to put pressure on McConnell to allow for a vote on this resolution. While the DOJ is now saying
they will make the report public, we’ve learned that the White House will see it
first should Trump want to declare executive privilege over anything. https://www.businessinsider.com/barr-mueller-report-white-house-executive-privilege-2019-3 We still need to press our senators for full
information as soon as possible.
2.
MUELLER REPORT: According to at least one expert in the struggle
against executive overreach, we should expect Trump and Attorney-General Barr
to aggressively try to suppress Mueller's report (https://theconversation.com/how-trump-and-barr-could-stretch-claims-of-executive-privilege-and-grand-jury-secrecy-114166). This has been attempted before, so let's
tell our House reps to fulfill the House's role as the "Grand Inquest of
the nation" by denying Barr's "Midas Touch" doctrine and
enforcing the limit that prohibits Trump's executive privilege from
concealing any crime (i.e. obstruction of justice).
3.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS: We’ve seen
time and again how the Trump administration preys on and removes protections
from the marginalized: women, minorities, and now Special Olympians. Yesterday Education Secretary Betsy Devos,
appearing before a House subcommittee, defended the $18 million dollar cut to
Special Olympics in Trump’s new budget. https://thehill.com/policy/finance/435918-betsy-devos-defends-special-olympics-budget-cuts-we-had-to-make-some-difficult
Let’s make sure our MoCs know that we do
not support any cuts to such a valuable program and especially not when there
is increased money for charter schools.
4.
DISABILITY RIGHTS/SHOCK DEVICES: Last fall, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced that the FDA would be issuing a ban on
electronic stimulation devices, which have been classified as torture by the
U.N. and human rights groups (https://n.pr/2HTSiFg) While this is encouraging, Gottlieb did not
indicate a specific time frame, other than by the end of 2019, and his
departure from the FDA is set for next month (https://bit.ly/2HjjpKz). More than 200 disability rights groups are
participating in a campaign to urge the FDA to implement the ban on shock
devices immediately. Let's join in by asking our MoC to urge the FDA to
#StoptheShock. The Autistic
Self Advocacy Network has
call scripts, as well as sample e-mails and letters available here. We can
also check out their #StoptheShock social media toolkit here to
learn about more ways to get involved.
5.
BORDER WALL: Yesterday it was reported that the “Department of
Defense is shifting $1 billion from a military personnel account to build a
57-mile fence at the southern U.S. border, saying the funds were freed up after
some service branches fell short of their recruiting goals.” https://www.npr.org/2019/03/26/706795716/pentagon-authorizes-1-billion-for-fence-construction-at-mexico-border
Later yesterday, “The U.S. House of
Representatives Armed Services Committee on Tuesday denied the Pentagon’s plan
to shift $1 billion to build a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico, a move that
while largely symbolic, highlights the concern lawmakers have about using the
defense budget to pay for the wall.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-defense/house-armed-services-chairman-denies-1-billion-transfer-for-trump-wall-idUSKCN1R724J
Let’s thank the members of the House Armed
Services Committee for their foresight: https://armedservices.house.gov/meet-our-members
6.
PUERTO RICO: “The federal government
provided additional food stamp aid to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in
2017, but Congress missed the
deadline for reauthorization in March as it focused on other issues before
leaving for a week-long recess. Federal lawmakers have also been stalled by
the Trump administration, which has derided the extra
aid as unnecessary.” https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/political-pulse/os-ne-trump-federal-aids-puerto-rico-20190325-story.html
Let’s tell our MoCs to get on the ball and
get this reauthorized. Our citizens in Puerto
Rico have suffered too much already.
7.
CHARTER SCHOOLS:
We are all aware of some
charter schools that are performing very well and have happy learning
students. However, the infrastructure
for charter schools is too weak. “The
U.S. government has wasted up to $1 billion on charter schools that never
opened, or opened and then closed because of mismanagement and other reasons,
according to a report from an education advocacy group. The study also says the
Education Department does not adequately monitor how its grant money is spent.
“ https://www.statesman.com/zz/news/20190325/us-wasted-up-to-1-billion-on-charter-schools-and-still-lacks-oversight-report-finds
Let’s let our MoCs know that if schools are
going to be using federal taxpayers’ dollars that there needs to be much better
oversight and accountability. Let’s also remind them that schools should NOT be
profit-making.
8.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT: The Department of Justice is now siding with a Texas
District Court that ruled last December that the entire Affordable Care Act is
unconstitutional and must be repealed. Previously, they only wanted to allow
insurance companies not to cover pre-existing conditions and to charge higher
premiums. https://www.axios.com/justice-trump-court-affordable-care-act-unconstitutional-ab8bf281-65fc-4b91-8606-d1f3f65818d6.html. Let’s tell the DOJ (202-353-155) that we
see this decision as wreckless and insensitive to the health care needs of
millions of Americans who depend on the ACA. And let’s tell our MoCs that we
want them to do everything they can to assure that every American has health
care, which includes considering how to implement Medicare for all.
9.
IMMIGRATION: After March 31st, thousands of Liberians in the U.S.
will lose their Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status, putting them at risk
of deportation (https://bit.ly/2Tei4pL). Since 1991, Liberians have held either DED or
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the U.S. due to civil unrest in Liberia,
but last year, the Trump administration revoked DED. Let's call our MoC
and ask them to pressure the Trump administration to reinstate Deferred
Enforced Departure status for Liberians. We can also ask our representatives in
the House to support H.R. 6: The
American Dream and Promise Act, which would protect Liberians and other TPS,
DED, and DACA recipients in the U.S.
10. DISABILITY
RIGHTS/SHOCK DEVICES: April 24th marks five
years since the FDA first held hearings on electronic stimulation devices, and
while they ruled in favor of a ban, it has still not been implemented.
Meanwhile, the Judge Rotenberg Center continues to torture disabled people with
these devices. This year, April 24th will be a day of action: let's
take to twitter and other social media and join local disability rights groups
in community wait-ins, to let the FDA know that #WeAreStillWaiting for them to
#StoptheShock. We can find more information on the day of action here.
Elections
1.
VIRTUAL TEXTBANKING: We can join
a text team to chat with Wisconsin voters about the Supreme Court special
election on April 2. When we sign up
here, we’ll be sent what we need to do: https://www.mobilize.us/dnc/event/88317/
2.
POSTCARDERS NEEDED: Postcards to Voters' Campaign 149: Sara Sadat for Village of Lisle, Illinois trustee is in
progress. This short list for an April 2 election may already be
completed. Let's request 5 addresses today for whichever
campaign is now open.
3.
LETTER WRITERS NEEDED: Vote Forward got all of its letters to out to Wisconsin and
now it's got 10,000 to send for a Pennsylvania State Senate seat, and
soon! Election Day is April 2nd! Please hop on and take 5 letters--most of it
is just printing and then adding one line of personal text. It's been proven to
make a difference. Help! Thanks! (h/t Chop Wood, Carry Water )
4.
POSTCARDERS NEEDED: Postcards
to Voters' volunteers are still working hard to reach every registered Democrat
in Wisconsin for Campaign 146: Judge Lisa Neubauer for state Supreme Court. The special election
is next Tuesday, April 2 so we are in the final push to reach as many voters as
we can. Let's request 5 addresses today to help finish this campaign.
Other Actions
1.
VOTER REGISTRATION: No matter where we live, we can learn how to
register voters in Maine. Let’s sign up to participate in this webinar
call with Swing Left: https://swingleftboston.org/event/online-how-to-register-maine-voters-with-field-team-6
2.
ATTENTION PHOTOGRAPHERS: EcoWatch is sponsoring an Earth Day (April 22) photo
contest. This year's theme is "Protect Our Species." Let's
submit our own best photographs of creatures that inhabit Earth. We
can find all the information for the contest here.
3.
LGBTQ SUPPORT: The San
Antonio City Council voted recently to block Chick-fil-A from opening a
restaurant at San Antonio International Airport, citing what it called the
company's "legacy of anti-LGBT behavior." Let's read more at NBC News and send notes of support to the San Antonio City Council.
4.
BORDER VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED: Grannies Respond/Abuelas
Responden have been
helping at the border since last summer.
The work they do is so important.
https://www.facebook.com/brutamerica/videos/2304263829802969/
Let’s see how we can either become a helping
Granny/Abuela or support their work: https://www.granniesrespond.org/volunteer
5.
BORDER BOND HELP: Al Otro Lado, the cross-border legal services organization
working to help refugees at our southern border, has created a bond fund for
the people they work with. “For clients and migrants today, bonds are set in a
completely arbitrary manner and the conditions faced in detention are
horrendous and dehumanizing. For many asylum seekers, bonds are set anywhere
between $5,000-$15,000. Posting for bond is ultimately the only way to buy
their freedom which is completely out of reach for almost all of the families
we support.” https://alotrolado.networkforgood.com/projects/68785-vida-libre-bond-fund The Vide
Libre Bond Fund will help so many. Let’s
contribute if we can.
State Actions
1.
CA: LOBBY
AGAINST SPECIAL INTERESTS SECRET FUNDING OF ISSUE ADS: We’ve made a lot of progress revealing
the special interests behind political ads but there is more to
do. Special interests can still use Issue Ads anonymously try to fool the
public and sway legislators. Now we have a solution. The Issue Ad
DISCLOSE Act requires shady Issue Ads to show their real funders just
like ballot measure ads and superPAC ads already do, thanks to our California
DISCLOSE Act and the Social Media DISCLOSE Act. On
April, 4AB 1217 has its first hearing and vote in the Assembly Elections
Committee. We can join Clean Money supporters and pack the room to
show our representatives that voters want AB 1217 to require that lobbying
Issue ads show who's really behind them.
We can click this link for more details:
https://www.yesfairelections.org/events/ab1217-ab1784-asm-elections.php
2.
MI: LITERACY: From EveryLibrary: "The Michigan Association for
Media in Education (MAME),
the state association for school librarians, needs your help in passing three
bills that would go a long way to restoring school librarians to each and every
school in the state. House Bill 4393: Requires every public school in Michigan
to offer a library beginning in the 2019-20 school year that meets certain
criteria. (Rep. Koleszar), HB 4392: Requires a school district board to employ
at least one certified media specialist for each school library operated by
that district beginning in the 2018-19 school year. (Rep. Camilleri), HB 4394: Requires
a principal or other appropriate administrator to designate an individual to
supervise students in a school library when a certified media specialist is not
present. (Rep. Pagan). Please join us in sending a message to the state
House Education Reform Committee to move HB 4392, HB 4393,
and HB 4394 to
the full House today because our students deserve access to their school
libraries."
3.
NM—ELECTION DAY VOTER REGISTRATION: Voter rolls close four weeks before election day,
but a bill awaiting Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s signature would
change that and allow New Mexicans to register to vote on Election Day. https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/governor-has-yet-to-sign-election-day-voter-registration-bill/1875091083 Let’s tell Gov. Grisham that we want
to make it easier for people to vote, and that she should sign this bill into law:
505-476-2200 or
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1.
MUELLER REPORT/MOVEON RESPONSE: MoveOn has a sign up for rapid response if the full
Mueller Report is withheld from the people. If that happens, MoveOn is
organizing to take to the streets to demand that they #makeitpublic &
#releasethereport. Let’s make sure we’re ready: let’s sign up right now for
a rapid response protest near us: https://act.moveon.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response-events/search
2.
SIGN UP FOR ADVOCACY TRAINING IN DC: Registration for The Campaign Workshop’s Advocacy
Training will close this Friday, March 28. Held in Washington DC from
April 1-2, this training offers us the tools to navigate today's political
landscape. Using real-world examples and experienced trainers, this
intensive, two-day course covers a range of topics such as defining our goals,
fundraising, building a digital presence, and much more! We can learn more and sign up for the
workshop here: https://tcwadvocacy.com
Reading/Watching
1.
What does socialism even mean anymore? | The Fact
Checker - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz1xug2EW0A
2.
We Can’t Just Show Up For Social Justice Issues When
It Impacts Our Own Lives - https://www.teenvogue.com/story/we-cant-just-show-up-for-social-justice-issues-when-it-impacts-our-own-lives
3.
Document Shows Trump Administration
Has Known Since 2017 That Chlorpyrifos Jeopardizes Existence of 1,399
Endangered Species -
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2019/chlorpyrifos-03-26-2019.php
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