8/4/17
The Rogan’s List Team is on vacation from July 30 through August 13, but because of the extension of the
Senate calendar we have decided to run a smaller list during this time. We look
forward to being back to the full list on August 14.
Contact Federal
Government Officials
Find your legislators here: https://www.theloyalopposition.net/rep-finder/
OR
Search all members of Congress here: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/current
OR
Fax your legislators for free: Reps:
https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php
and Senate: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php
OR
Find senators’ Twitter and Facebook Accounts here:
Find representatives on Twitter here:
********************************
If your senators and reps aren't saved in your
phone yet,
text your US postal address to (520) 200-2223 and get a text back
with their contact information.
1. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is
uncovering damning materials in his probe into Russia's interference in our
2016 presidential election, and Trump doesn't like it. In response to the
possibility that Trump may try to fire Mueller in an effort to obstruct the
investigation, Thom Tillis (R) and Chris Coons (D) introduced legislation yesterday to make it more difficult for a president to remove a
special counsel without legitimate cause. The Special Counsel Integrity Act is
retroactive to the date that Mueller was hired, and would allow for a court
hearing in the event of termination.
(http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/bipartisan-senate-bill-aims-protect-special-counsels-job-49001867) Let's
call our MoCs to ask them to support this important, bipartisan bill. If they
won’t say yes, let’s ask them why.
2. Trump hit Twitter again and
blames Congress for our challenging relationship with
Russia: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/345111-trump-you-can-thank-congress-for-us-russia-relationship-at-all-time. Let’s
let Trump know that we want to hold Russia accountable for their interference
in our election: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC
20500. And let’s let our MoCs know we’re not falling for Trump’s nonsense and we
support them keeping up the pressure on Russia.
3. The Ozone Standards
Implementation Act of 2017, which would delay clean air regulations and
undermine the Clean Air Act, has passed the House. (http://bit.ly/2eO41bS) The bill is on its way
to the Senate, where their own version of the bill was introduced in February.
Let’s make sure our senators are opposed to the Ozone Standards Implementation
Act (H.R. 806 and S. 263). We can check on the status of both bills on
GovTrack here: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr806
and https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s263.
4. Betsy
DeVos is considering dismantling Title IX and protections for survivors of
sexual violence on campus. (http://college.usatoday.com/2017/07/14/advocacy-groups-react-after-title-ix-summit-with-betsy-devos/).
We need to let our reps know that we do not want to be dragged back, and we
want them to stand up against campus sexual violence by supporting the Campus
Accountability and Safety Act (S. 856 and H.R. 1949).
Let’s join our friend and ally Jen Hoffman and make the call.
5. A bipartisan bill has just been
reintroduced in the Senate, which would work towards ending preventable
maternal and child deaths worldwide (http://bit.ly/2vu3fXL). We
can call our senators and ask that they cosponsor and support the Reach Every
Mother and Child Act of 2017 (also titled "A bill to implement policies to
end preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths globally" or S. 1730).
6. The Senate blocked President Trump
from being able to make recess appointments on Thursday as lawmakers
leave Washington for their summer break. Now Trump will have to go through the
normal confirmation process instead of sneaking through any
appointments. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), doing wrap up for
the entire Senate, locked in nine "pro-forma" sessions — brief
meetings that normally last roughly a minute. Let's be sure to thank her for
her efforts on this issue as well as her efforts in blocking the repeal and
replace (http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/345261-senate-blocks-trump-from-making-recess-appointments-over-break). Contact: Senator Murkowski: 522 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC
20510
7. It is hard to bear the tone
and content of Trump’s calls with the leaders of Mexico and Australia early in
his term which were revealed in leaked documents (https://apnews.com/d2f1b84b26a7463fa0a48d1c7f422da6/Trump-talked-tersely-with-leaders-of-Mexico,-Australia) Let’s
take a moment to remind our MoC that Trump is unfit to serve.
8. The deadline for public comments
regarding mining in the protected Minnesota Boundary Waters is Aug. 11.
http://wilderness.org/blog/time-running-out-keep-minnesotas-boundary-waters-clean%E2%80%94speak-today
This is a federal review, not state, so we can all use the link (where it says
"Take Action") on the Wilderness.org link to submit our comments.
If we are Minnesota residents, let's also contact our representatives to
let them know this is important to us.
9. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)
introduced the Marijuana Justice Act, S1689, that would legalize marijuana
nationally. (http://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2017/08/01/booker-seeks-federal-marijuana-legalization-113716)
While we know this particular bill has no chance under the current regime,
let's help build momentum for the future. Let's send letters, emails and postcards
asking our Democratic senators to co-sponsor the Marijuana Justice Act. In
states with legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana, let's also ask our
Republican senators to co-sponsor S1689.
10. The Trump administration and two
Republican senators have unveiled a plan to cut LEGAL immigration in half (http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/02/trump-legal-immigration-reduction-bill-241249).
Let’s send our MoCs a copy of Emma Lazarus’ New Colossus (the poem at the base
of the Statue of Liberty, text here: https://www.nps.gov/stli/learn/historyculture/colossus.htm)
and let them know what this country stands for. While we’re at it, let’s send a
copy to Stephen Miller, the White House aide who said during a press conference
that the poem is not an original part of the statue and discounted its meaning
(https://apnews.com/4480009609c644bca851cb69a04f0fd2/Trump-aide-dismisses-Statue-of-Liberty-%27huddled-masses'-poem).
The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20500
State Actions
1. FL: Great news for voting rights! The
ACLU has joined the push to amend the Florida state constitution to restore
voting rights to felons who have served their time. (https://blavity.com/aclu-felon-voting-rights-florida-amendment-constitution) Forty-seven
other states already re-enfranchise ex-felons. If we're in Florida, let's help
put the Voter Restoration Amendment on the state's November ballot by signing
up here: https://www.floridiansforafairdemocracy.com/
2. MA: The pressure’s on to allow
residents to register to vote on Election Day, following a state court ruling
last month that the Commonwealth’s 20-day voter registration requirement is
unconstitutional. (https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/07/24/judge-overturns-state-voter-registration-deadline/B4Ah02C1GW9hMMOQNrkftL/story.html)
Same-day voter registration has the potential to improve voter turnout by
between 2% and 10%. But Secretary of State William Galvin is appealing the
court decision, citing the need for additional funding to implement same-day
registration. States with same-day voter registration have not found it to be a
financial or logistical burden. (http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/08/02/states-with-election-day-registration-see-bonus-for-democracy/RkdGMQXCqJd1kEoJM1cW4J/story.html?event=event12)
Let’s tell Galvin to drop the lawsuit, and let’s tell our state legislators to
support enact S.371, H.354, and H.2093, which would establish same-day voter
registration in Massachusetts. You can reach Secretary of State
William Galvin at cis@sec.state.ma.us or by mail at One
Ashburton Place, Room 1705, Boston, MA 02108. You can find contact info for
your state reps here: http://hq-salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5950/getLocal.jsp.
3.
WI: Foxconn can
ignore Wisconsin environmental laws if the proposed bill for their new facility
passes the Wisconsin legislature. http://www.businessinsider.com/r-activists-attack-wisconsins-foxconn-deal-as-harmful-to-wetlands-2017-8.
If we are in Wisconsin, let's start calling our state legislators about
this now. We can find their contact info here: https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/.
The vote on the bill is expected this month. Governor Scott Walker needs to
hear from us too: https://walker.wi.gov/contact-us. For this local issue, let's try to recruit a friend or two who usually
does not make calls but may feel more inclined to do so when the issue is in
their backyard.
Other Actions
1. The
fundamental importance of science in our daily lives, the agencies and
departments that promote and utilize science are under attack by the current
administration. (https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-public/trump-proposed-budget-science-research-funding)
So Rise Stronger, the Union of Concerned Scientists and other groups are
calling on us to speak up for science by writing op-eds in our local newspapers
in support of government funding for science, technology, and the programs that
enrich and improve our society and local communities. Those of us who are
interested can find topic suggestions, background information, and a team ready
to edit and publicize our op-eds at this link: https://risestronger.org/newsroom/op-ed-fy18-budget-science.
2.
Every
Case Matters is a non-profit group that advocates against
police killings. Often such small groups have a tough time in raising awareness
for their cause. Let’s check out their website and follow them on Facebook for updates.
Reading/Watching
1. While some may argue that Trump has not
accomplished anything significant during his presidency thus far, it’s
important to look at the administration as a whole and take stock of the
changes that are being made in various departments. From border to security to
judicial appointment to civil rights to police reform, The Atlantic takes a
look at the damage being done, noting that “these less heralded, less noticed
and sometimes obscure changes to federal policy are more fragile than major
legislation… but their effects are no less real, and in many cases they’re
drastic”: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/what-trump-is-actually-accomplishing/535458/
2. An interesting perspective from David
Frum on the negatives of Trump’s call transcripts to world leaders being
leaked: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/why-leaking-transcripts-of-trumps-calls-is-so-dangerous/535809/?utm_source=atltw
3. In case we missed conservative
columnist Peggy Noonan’s article (“Trump is Woody Allen Without the Humor”) in
the Wall Street Journal last week, here’s a recap of the highlights from The
Hill: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/344292-peggy-noonan-weak-and-sniveling-trump-is-not-as-strong-as-his
4. This op-ed in the New York Times
calls attention to those responsible for the GOP not passing their health care
bill and spoiler alert... heavy mention of citizens/activists. Well done all! https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/opinion/obamacare-trumpcare-citizen.html
Rogan’s List is a participant in and strategic partner of
the Action Alliance,
a
loosely-federated group of organizations that, in the wake of the
2016 election, are sharing daily or weekly calls
to action.
Other member sites are listed here: https://www.actionalliance.co/ --scroll down and
click through and you'll find many more opportunities to make a difference.
******
Rogan’s List is also part of RISE Stronger’s United States of Resistance
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