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3/6/19 

Contact Federal Government Officials



1.   So, Mitch McConnell refuses to give fair hearing in the Senate for the House's bill to improve voters' access and election security, even as we struggle with the ongoing effects of gerrymandering, loss the Voting Rights Act, and  proven interference in both the 2016 and 2018 elections. https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/432584-mcconnell-house-election-reform-bill-wont-get-senate-vote  This blatant subversion of democracy must not stand unopposed, so each call to our senators needs to include a demand that the Senate take up H.R. 1, known as the For the People Act of 2019. 

2.   On Monday, the House Judiciary Committee, as led by Rep. Jerry Nadler, released a list of 81 people and organizations from whom they are seeking documents in a now wide-sweeping investigation of Trump:  
and  https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/432549-the-81-names-targeted-in-democrats-expanded-trump-investigation  First, let’s pause in celebration of what our effort in the 2018 mid-terms has made possible. Then, let’s thank Rep. Nadler and the committee for what they are doing:   https://nadler.house.gov/contact-me  and let our Congressional representatives know that we expect them to take this investigation seriously.  Let’s also ask them, given the gravity of this, that they open an independent commission or at least a special committee as was done in Watergate.

3.   It now appears that both Congress and the Senate have enough votes to reject the notion of Trump’s declaration of a national emergency which will tee up Trump for his first veto if he proceeds:  https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-congress-emergency/congress-on-verge-of-rejecting-trumps-border-emergency-idUSKCN1QM15U  and  https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/432560-gop-braces-for-showdown-on-wall-emergency-with-trump   Let’s let our MoC know that we do not abide Trump’s abuse of power to fuel his racist wall promise and that we expect them to take part in a veto-proof majority in both chambers.

4.   The House is poised to pass a resolution today condemning anti-Semitism, ostensibly in response to statements made by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar about Israel.  https://www.npr.org/2019/03/04/700163118/democrats-planning-another-public-rebuke-of-rep-ilhan-omar. Let’s make sure to educate ourselves on the differences between anti-Semitism and criticism of Israel, which many Democrats and Republicans alike are equating as the same thing, despite the fact that there are many Jewish groups that are critical of the policies of the Israeli government. One of these groups, Bend the Arc, has released a statement asking Congress to add to this resolution a condemnation of racism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia, all of which have been present at times on Capitol Hill, as pointed out so clearly by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. https://thehill.com/homenews/house/432613-ocasio-cortez-questions-criticism-of-omar-no-one-seeks-this-level-of-reprimand. Let’s contact our MoCs and add our voices to the call.

5.   The U.S. has a terrible track record of military intervention in South America. Let's not add Venezuela's current situation to the list. "Trump has declared that 'all options are open' in Venezuela. That’s as clear as it gets: He’s threatening a disastrous military intervention. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) just introduced a bill, H.R.1004, that would block the Trump administration from taking any military action related to Venezuela without the approval of Congress." The bill is currently in committee:  House reps to sign on. We can do so through this form if we like:  https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/tell-rep-block-venezuela-military-action_H1004

6.   “President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Violence Against Women believes that arming women in domestic violence situations is key to their safety, despite experts’ warnings that the introduction of guns into abusive relationships can imperil victims.”  https://www.thetrace.org/rounds/trump-shannon-lee-goessling-guns-domestic-violence/  Let’s tell our Senators that Shannon Lee Goessling is NOT the person for this job. 

Election/Voting

1.  “So far in March, there are 22 elections scheduled. If one of these is your district, make sure you vote! For everyone else, please share this with your network to spread the word in order to increase awareness and turnout!” Let’s let  Political Charge tell us about them and then let’s help where we can:  https://politicalcharge.org/2019/02/28/elections-in-march-2019/

2.  Postcards to Voter's has launched Campaign 147: Brendan Csaposs for Baton Rouge, Louisiana Metro Council. The special election will be held on Saturday, March 30. The city’s Metro Council has had a Republican majority of 7 to 5. This Special Election has created an opportunity to change that by moving to a 6-6 even split and giving progressives greater footing to enact reforms in the state’s second-largest city. Let's request 5 addresses for this campaign today. If we are new, we can get started here.

3.   There’s a special election on April 2, 2019, in Wisconsin for a seat on the state’s Supreme Court. Let’s help Lisa Neubauer, who is currently Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, defeat Brian Hagedorn, former chief legal counsel to Wisconsin’s infamous Republican Governor Scott Walker, and start shifting the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a more progressive direction.  https://ballotpedia.org/Wisconsin_Supreme_Court_elections,_2019 Let’s sign up with Vote Forward, https://votefwd.org/ , and send letters to Democratic-leaning Wisconsin voters to urge them to vote. Even sending just five letters can make a difference!

4.  There's an upcoming special election in Pennsylvania and Sister District is supporting Democrat Pam Iovino in her bid to win in State Senate District 37. This is an important, winnable seat-- we can do this! Please find out how you can help, either by making a donation of any size or signing up to postcard. Here's the link.  (h/t Chop Wood Carry Water)

Other Actions

1.    The House will be on recess from March 16th through March 24th, making this the prime window for getting in touch with them and letting them hear about the issues that matter the most to us. From family separations, to Medicare for All, to paid family leave, the Green New Deal, H.R. 1, and others, there are plenty of bills that we can focus on. Indivisible has a March recess hub that contains planning resources and detailed information on the bills making their way through the House. Let's check it out so we can be prepared to take action as soon as Recess starts. We can also register for Indivisible's recess training webinar, which takes place this evening at 7:30pm ET.

2.   From one of our own:  I posted this as a comment on another thread that is discussing the so-called "Green New Deal" [H. Res. 109] and rep. Ocasio-Cortez. Since there seem to be some misconceptions about the GND, even here, I thought I would post the comment as a standalone thread.  Even in this group, which is generally a pretty well-informed bunch, there seems to be a LOT of misunderstanding about what the Green New Deal is. In fact, it took me more than a few clicks on Google to find the actual text, so maybe it's hard for people to look it up.  Here it is. It is 14 pages. NOTHING in it is "stupid". It is a policy GUIDELINE, not a bill that imposes specific regulations or laws.  It does NOT call for banning cars. It does NOT call for banning airplanes. It does NOT call for banning cows. It does NOT call for banning plastic straws or plastic bags.  Please read it in its original form:  https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/5729033/Green-New-Deal-FINAL.pdf  It is an EXCELLENT starting point for responsible policy development moving forward.

3.   In his rambling, incoherent--“unhinged,” some say--speech at the Conservative Political Action Committee meeting Saturday, Trump pledged that he would issue an executive order denying federal research funds to colleges and universities that do not “support free speech,” to the enthusiastic delight of the crowd: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5HHZI_pe3w  It's clear he’s learned nothing lately about executive actions, and it is totally unclear what he might actually do.  We, however, might want to join with the American Association of Professors to express our dismay: 

4.  Jane Mayer broke another bombshell story this week with her piece in the New Yorker about the role of Fox News in burying the Stormy Daniels story and Trump’s effort to intervene through the Department of Justice to harm CNN during a proposed media merger:  https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/03/11/the-making-of-the-fox-news-white-house  and   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/04/fox-news-stormy-daniels-rupert-murdoch-trump-win   Let’s thank Ms. Mayer for her tireless work: The New Yorker, 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007and share the story with others.  Let’s also write to Shep Smith and Chris Wallace at Fox News to say that their journalistic efforts are lost in the propaganda of Fox News and that they should depart in protest: 1211 Avenue of The Americas, NY, NY 10036

5.   The National Butterfly Center in Texas is fighting Trump’s border wall as it will destroy the sanctuary.  They are getting hate mail for their resistance.  https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2019/02/27/butterfly-sanctuary-border-wall-trump-weir-orig.cnn  Let’s counter that hate mail with messages of support for this national treasure.  Contact:  https://www.nationalbutterflycenter.org/contact

6.   Amidst the current debate about reparations for the descendants of African-American slaves, some of us may wonder, "why pay people who weren't even the children of slaves, let alone slaves themselves?" One answer is that financial racism didn't end when black people ceased to be property, and has disadvantaged black Americans throughout the nation's history, uninterrupted. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-why-black-families-have-struggled-for-decades-to-gain-wealth-2019-02-28  Let's keep this legacy in mind when considering our presidential choices for 2020, and talking about reparations with our MoCs. 

7.   The Republican administration is gearing up to strip protection from nearly every wolf in the lower 48 states. The Center for Biological Diversity is fighting back with "Call of the Wild," a national grassroots campaign to save America’s wolves. This week, over 60 events are happening nationwide. Let's read more and find out about events near us and how we can get involved at Ignite Change: Call of the Wild.

8.   Incoming Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva has already apologized for comments he made about abortion in an interview in which he repeatedly used the term "host body" to describe pregnant women. We can read his apology at 10tvWBNS. Let's continue to give Speaker Oliva feedback nationally on his inappropriate de-humanizing rhetoric to stop this type of language before it becomes a Republican standard. 

9.   “Emily’s List is looking to expand the Democratic House majority and flip the Senate next year, naming 43 House Republicans and six GOP senators on its initial list of 2020 targets,”  https://www.rollcall.com/news/campaigns/emilys-list-names-2020-house-senate-targets  Let’s see if we can help with any of these races.

10. From one of our own:  Here’s a list of issues and options for postcard writing: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10sxBPBrX0v2_XCeW4Ryx2V2ayQsseK0gh3sZ2AJyhaE/edit   Let’s get a postcard-writing party going!  

11. Google says that it won’t pull Absher, a controversial government app from Saudi Arabia, from its app store, telling California representative Jackie Speier that it did not violate its policies, and that it would remain up, according to Business Insider.  recent report from Insider outlined how Saudi men could use the app to control female dependents, as it can be used to revoke travel privileges, keep tabs on their location, and send SMS messages with updates about their whereabouts. Following the publication of the report, human rights groups such as Amnesty International have criticized both companies for hosting the app. At the same time, Speier and a group of fellow representatives sent a letter to the CEOs of Google and Apple, asking them to pull the app from their respective stores.  https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/3/18248956/google-absher-wont-pull-controversial-saudi-arabian-app-womens-rights. We can join Rep Jackie Speier and Amnesty International by contacting Google and Apple CEOs to ask them to remove this app because tracking women, stalking women and revoking their travel documents violate women’s rights.  TIM COOK  tcook@apple.com or @tim_cook  and SERGEY BRIN  sergey@google.com Or @sergeybrin

12. Chaco Canyon is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, it is a sacred ancestral home for the Hopi, Navajo, and Pueblo people. Oil and gas developments across the region are threatening the landscapes, cultural resources, and living native communities while ignoring federal law. We cannot let this stand. When we click here, we can join anthropologist, educator, humanist, member of the El Dorado County Indian Council, James Snoke to demand protection against fracking for this historic site:  https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/save-chaco-canyon-from-1

13.  If we are classroom teachers, staff developers, librarians, school counselors and administrators who are currently active in K–12 education, including people working at the university level in teacher preparation programs, we can consider applying to become Teaching Tolerance Advisors. Being a Teaching Tolerance advisor is a great way to give back to the education community, learn more about our work and network with other anti-bias educators. Established in 2011, the board helps ensure that materials are relevant and reflect the diverse needs of educators working in school communities across the country.  We can learn more about the position here:

https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/join-our-advisory-board  We can apply by clicking this link:   https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdykjCCy4ZKDcjtQrplH6-m5ScjSz7xI8hoUmqZUJepu8tf3A/viewform The deadline is March 11; new advisory board members will be notified by April.  


State Actions

1.    ALL:  Twenty states and the District of Columbia are teaming up with the ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Rights and suing the administration for the change in Title X ruling that would prevent Planned Parenthood from making abortion referrals or counseling women on all their reproductive options, and also transfer tens of millions of dollars to faith-based organizations. 
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-abortion-lawsuit-funding-title-x-court-a8808626.html. If we live in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin or the District of Columbia. Let’s thank our attorney general. If we live in any other state, let’s contact our attorney general and ask them to join the lawsuit. We can find contact information for our attorney general here. For more information and talking points, and to sign an open letter, we can go to Planned Parenthood’s website here.

2.   AZ:  Arizona could well be the next state to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).  “Arizona needs to reclaim its place in the march toward equality by ratifying the ERA in 2019 and becoming the 38th and decisive state to give all women their rightful place in the U.S. Constitution and moving toward the day that all discrimination will end.”  https://erataskforceaz.com/  Beginning March 11, there will be a 38-mile in support of the ERA in AZ.  Let’s check out event and see how we can participate:  https://www.facebook.com/events/323158318313894/

3.   CO: There are so many powerful grassroots efforts going on in Colorful Colorado. Those of us looking to get involved might want to consider One Colorado, "the state’s leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Coloradans and their families. We effectively advocate for LGBTQ Coloradans and their families by lobbying the General Assembly, the executive branch, and local governments on issues like safe schools, transgender equality, relationship recognition, and LGBTQ health and human services." They have so many great events and opportunities to get involved, so let's check them out! Change always starts at the local level. https://one-colorado.org/about/

4.   MI: As we learn more about PFAS contamination across Michigan, we are also finding that polluters are not held to sufficient standards when it comes to contamination sites and a facility's responsibility to clean it up. Legislators Yousef Rabhi and Jeff Irwin have introduced bills in the House (HB 4212) and Senate (SB 116) which would change this by requiring polluters to pay for the cleanup necessary to meet specific safety standards. Right now, the House bill is in the Committee for Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation. Let's join Michigan Resistance in contacting the Republican members of the committee, and asking them to support this important legislation: Committee Chair Gary Howell: 517-373-1800, Rodney Wakeman: 517-373-0837, Julie Calley: 517-373-0842, John Reilly: 517-373-1798, Daire Rendon: 517-373- 3817, Gary Eisen: 517-373-1790

5.   NV: Indivisible Northern Nevada tells us that state bill SB166, Pay Equity legislation, will have a hearing in the Government Affairs Committee on Friday, March 8, in the early afternoon. Let's: 1.)  Email the committee members expressing our support. 2) Make a plan to attend a hearing in a) Carson City or b) Las Vegas on Friday. a) Carson City arrive by 12:30 pm in Room 2149 at the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson Street. b) Las Vegas, arrive by 12:30 pm at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave. The room notice will be posted for the Government Affairs Committee hearing.

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.   If we are elected women or self-identifying women activists, we can check out the free Power Through Education webinar series, presented by Rep19 and Vote Run Lead. Organizers inform us that presenters will include, “our country’s top thought leaders, elected officials and political experts.” We can for as many webinars as you would like. but some webinars are limited exclusively to elected women. All webinars will be at noon EST / 9am PST, starting on March 6. Information will be sent out prior to the event. We can find out more and register here. https://rep19.com/events

2.  On March 15 there will be Youth Climate Strikes all over the world.  Let’s keep an eye on this site for updates of where and when we can attend and help: https://www.youthclimatestrikeus.org/ 

3.   There’s a free webinar to learn about grassroots campaigning offered by the Association of State Democratic Committees. Let’s sign up by April 14 and learn what we can do to help Democratic candidates win. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeirXkMJHmn1PS7-v-OZ8yVAmn4Mx0In-tEik-TDi8oRLKB3w/viewform

Reading/Watching


1.    Words That Don’t Work - https://georgelakoff.com/2011/12/11/words-that-dont-work/

2.   Heatwaves sweeping oceans ‘like wildfires’, scientists reveal - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/04/heatwaves-sweeping-oceans-like-wildfires-scientists-reveal

3.   The Facts on the Born-Alive Debate - https://www.factcheck.org/2019/03/the-facts-on-the-born-alive-debate/

4.   The Trump/Cohen revelations are awful. So why am I yawning? - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/03/trump-revelations-dangerous-president






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