11/21/17
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.
When, as history and most economists predict, “trickle
down” economics fails, and the US economy does not grow at the absurd rate
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin claims it will, not only Medicaid but
Medicare and Social Security will be on the Republican chopping block
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/23/trumps-shiny-tax-cut-plan-has-a-1-point-5-trillion-problem.html
Paul Ryan has already in effect admitted as much when he told a VA town
hall, "You cannot get the national debt under control, you cannot get that
deficit under control, if you don’t do both — grow the economy, cut
spending,"
http://www.ncpssm.org/EntitledtoKnow/categoryid/22/social-security
Rather than address the increasing dependence of a rapidly-growing aging population on Social Security and Medicare, the GOP has drafted a tax bill that will justify their long-standing desire to cut the “entitlement”, that is “earned benefits”, programs into which we all contribute, paycheck by paycheck. The call volume in opposition of the tax bill, even though it contains essential elements concerning healthcare, are not as high as it was for the healthcare bill. We are tired, but we must keep calling, faxing, emailing. If we needed another reason to call our senators and stop this tax bill, we might consider our retirement!
Rather than address the increasing dependence of a rapidly-growing aging population on Social Security and Medicare, the GOP has drafted a tax bill that will justify their long-standing desire to cut the “entitlement”, that is “earned benefits”, programs into which we all contribute, paycheck by paycheck. The call volume in opposition of the tax bill, even though it contains essential elements concerning healthcare, are not as high as it was for the healthcare bill. We are tired, but we must keep calling, faxing, emailing. If we needed another reason to call our senators and stop this tax bill, we might consider our retirement!
2.
Ajit Pai, "the head of the Federal Communications Commission
[,] is set to unveil plans next week for a final vote to reverse a landmark
2015 net neutrality order barring the blocking or slowing of web
content." https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-internet/fcc-plans-to-vote-to-overturn-u-s-net-neutrality-rules-in-december-sources-idUSKBN1DG00H If this happens, it will
allow "ISPs like Verizon to block apps, slow websites, and charge
fees to control what we see & do online. Once they announce the vote, it's
hard to stop. But if we flood them with calls now, *Congress* can stop the
vote." We can go to this website for fantastic resources on why net
neutrality is so important, what we can say to our MoCs, tweets to send,
graphics to download, etc. "Nearly everyone who understands and depends on
the Internet supports net neutrality, whether they're startup founders,
activists, gamers, politicians, investors, comedians, YouTube stars, or typical
Internet users who just want their Internet to work as advertised—regardless of
their political party." Let's stop this boondoggle for big cable
companies!
3.
Most us do not think that enough has been done for
Puerto Rico following hurricane Maria. http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/361233-poll-majority-of-americans-say-puerto-rico-not-getting-enough-help-after Last Sunday, thousands of us marched in
Washington in the Unity March for Puerto Rico, which was attended by Broadway
star Lin-Manuel Miranda and others who have been critical of the Trump
administration’s response to the hurricane. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/thousands-march-in-show-of-support-for-puerto-rico Let’s listen to Lin-Manual Miranda catch us
up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTxLZz-MHEk&feature=share
Let’s use this insight to contact our MoCs and remind them that we would
not let this happen in the contiguous U.S.
4.
The public comment period regarding the National Park
Service's proposed fee increase closes on November 23rd http://bit.ly/2xkdSL1 The drastic increase will make
attendance to National Parks inaccessible for many of us with fewer means. For
those of us who have not yet submitted a comment regarding the proposal, let's
make sure we tell the NPS and Department of Interior how we feel about their
proposal http://bit.ly/2iz0VdA Let's keep national parks accessible
and affordable!
5.
Charles Clymer has written a helpful piece for NBC News
titled “I’m an Army Veteran and gun owner. The ‘good guy with a gun’ theory is
a myth.”:
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/i-m-army-veteran-gun-owner-good-guy-gun-theory-ncna821976 Let’s write to our MoC to say that we
have not forgotten Las Vegas; we have not forgotten Sutherland Springs; we have
not forgotten Rancho Tehama Reserve; and we expect more than relying on a
faulty theory about how to stop the carnage.
6.
Common Cause New York has published a report worth our
reading wherever we are: “The Count Starts Now: Taking Action to Avoid a Census
2020 Crisis”:
http://www.commoncause.org/states/new-york/research-and-reports/the-count-starts-now-2020-census.pdf This report details how the
national census works and, as importantly, how it is used in electoral
districting. We should all know this, and we should demand that the census
be adequately funded, which it is not now. We need to insist that our
MoCs ensure that whatever funding the Census Bureau requires is forthcoming.
Statistical agencies like the Bureau are what makes evidence-based policymaking
possible.
7.
US officials have decided not to recertify the office
of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), the main Palestinian
negotiating body. These officials have promised to reopen the office in 90
days if it’s decided that the Palestinians “have entered into “direct,
meaningful negotiations with Israel.’” In response to the closure of this
office, the PLO is threatening to “put on hold all communications with the U.S.
administration.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/palestinian-president-says-us-threat-to-close-plos-dc-office-dangerous-for-peace/2017/11/18/78406dc2-cc9d-11e7-aa96-54417592cf72_story.html?utm_term=.135753d7cba1 Let’s contact our MoC to make sure
that they’re keeping tabs on this situation and that they will stop tensions
from escalating. We need to keep the lines of communication open if peace is
going to be negotiated in the Middle East.
8.
Earlier this month, ICE took a single mother and Occupy
Boston activist named Siham Byah into custody. They’re planning on deporting
her to Morocco… leaving behind her eight-year-old son, a U.S. citizen http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2017/11/ice_moves_to_deport_occupy_boston_activist) Let’s
join immigration activists and help pressure the local ICE office to #FreeSiham
and release her back to the community. You can find details on how to call and
a feedback form where you can help track the results of this effort at this
link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXt7vN8puhzPd7XQXFBZmlFRF-wTMWEwlaHPwHssERBF0Gyg/viewform.
9.
"The United States says it was one of three
countries to vote against a U.N. resolution condemning the glorification of
Nazism over freedom of speech issues and concerns that Russia was using it to
carry out political attacks against its neighbors. The resolution entitled
"Combating glorification of Nazism, Neo-Nazism and other practices that
contribute to fueling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance," was approved by the U.N.'s human
rights committee on Friday with 131 in favor, 3 against with 48 abstentions. Ukraine
and Palau were the other no votes."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-votes-against-anti-nazi-resolution-at-united-nations/ Let’s
contact our MoCs to ask if this is really what we are about now.
10. In
late October, U.S. Steel accidentally dumped 56.7 pounds of chromium into Lake
Michigan, then asked the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for
"’confidential treatment’ of the incident.” We only know about the dump
because law students happened to stumble upon the incriminating letter. Neither
the EPA nor state officials had informed the public about the incident, though
authorities tested the water and closed some beaches. Recent water quality
tests show that Chicago drinking water contains hexavalent chromium levels that
are 11 times the health goal set in California in 2009. And studies show that
chromium can cause cancer, kidney and liver damage, and reproductive problems.
But national water standards have yet to be established.http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-lake-michigan-toxic-chromium-20171114-story.html Let’s contact our MoC asking them to
implement nationwide water quality standards and if we live in one of the
states bordering on Lake Michigan, let’s ask our state officials why we weren’t
notified of the contamination right away.
1.
Doug Jones may be ahead in the polls right now, but we
cannot rest easy. Republicans will try every dirty trick in the book, smear
campaigns, voter suppression to defeat him, so we MUST make sure the turnout is
strong. To do so we can contribute to Allied Progressive Front, who are
raising money for bus and van transport on Election Day. They are working with
the Democratic Party and community leaders, scheduling round trips to the
polls. 10 buses = 3,350 more Democrats to the polls, 40 = 13,400! https://www.gofundme.com/EliminateRoyMoore
2.
MA—If we’re in the Worcester & Middlesex State
Senate District, let’s make a plan to vote in the special election
on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, and elect Democrat Susan A.
Chalifoux-Zephir http://www.suechalifouxzephir.com/ . Others running are Republican Dean
A. Tran, Green-Rainbow Charlene R. DiCalogero, and Unenrolled Claire M. Freda.
This district covers Berlin, Bolton, Clinton (Precincts 1&2), Fitchburg,
Gardner, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Sterling, Townsend, and Westminster.
3.
PA—If we’re in Pennsylvania House of Representatives
District 133 (Lehigh County), let’s make a plan to vote in the December 5,
2017, special election. Let’s elect Democrat Jeanne McNeill http://www.padems.com/2017/10/pa-democratic-party-announces-candidate-special-election-house-district-133/ . The Republican candidate is David
Molony.
4.
We can also write postcards to Alabama Democrats,
reminding and encouraging them to Vote. For addresses, we can text HELLO
to (484) ASK-ABBY which is (484) 275-2229. Remember, Abby the Address Bot will
also email you the same instructions and addresses as a courtesy. If
we do not have a smartphone or prefer not to text, email:
State
Actions
1.
MI: The issues
with Enbridge's Line 5 seem never ending, as we learn that there are dozens
more gaps in the protective coating on the pipeline http://on.freep.com/2inMPZLThree public feedback sessions have been scheduled for the
upcoming month: December 6th in Taylor, December 12th in
St. Ignace, and December 13th in Traverse City http://bit.ly/2yKF7Db Let's make sure that we attend these
sessions and let our officials know that we want Line 5 to be decommissioned.
We can learn more about the upcoming events at Oil & Water Don't Mix's
Facebook page:
2.
MA—If we’re in the Worcester & Middlesex State
Senate District, let’s make a plan to vote in the special election
on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, and elect Democrat Susan A.
Chalifoux-Zephir http://www.suechalifouxzephir.com/ . Others running are Republican Dean
A. Tran, Green-Rainbow Charlene R. DiCalogero, and Unenrolled Claire M. Freda.
This district covers Berlin, Bolton, Clinton (Precincts 1&2), Fitchburg,
Gardner, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Sterling, Townsend, and Westminster.
3.
PA—If we’re in Pennsylvania House of Representatives
District 133 (Lehigh County), let’s make a plan to vote in the December 5,
2017, special election. Let’s elect Democrat Jeanne McNeill http://www.padems.com/2017/10/pa-democratic-party-announces-candidate-special-election-house-district-133/ . The Republican candidate is David
Molony.
4.
PA: With
demanding work schedules, family member care responsibilities and other life
circumstances, having greater flexibility when casting a vote to elect
candidates to represent our voice is a commonsense option that can ultimately
boost greater turnout and make our election results more representative of what
the people actually want. In 30 States
and the District of Columbia, voters have the option of no excuse absentee
voting, also referred to as optional vote by mail. To date, Pennsylvania is NOT
one of those states. But you have the
power to change this by signing this petition.
By signing this petition, volunteers in Pennsylvania through People
Power, Let People Vote will personally deliver the petitions with your
signature to the Pennsylvania state legislature urging them to enact
legislation that would authorize no excuse absentee voting. Sign the Petition to clearly convey that our voting system
should be set up so that every eligible citizen has a fair chance to vote
without imposing artificial obstacles to make it difficult to vote.
5.
AL: If you are, or know someone who is, an Alabama
citizen with a felony conviction, this link will help you determine if you lost
your right to vote, and if so, if and how your voting rights can be
restored: http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/news/blog/alabama-voting-rights-restoration-toolkit
6.
WA: De-Escalate
Washington is collecting
signatures for I-940, a police accountability initiative that would provide
additional mental health and de-escalation training to officers, require that
officers give first aid, and make it possible to prosecute officers for use of
deadly force. We need just 21,000 more signatures (before 12/28) to bring this
initiative before the WA state legislature.
Can you spare a few hours this weekend to get I-940 to the finish line?
I am volunteering on Saturday. Here is the to upcoming events, including
canvassing slots on Saturday and Sunday:
http://www.deescalatewa.org/calendar
Other
Actions
1.
Moms Rising has a helpful tool to help us write letters
to the editors of our local papers regarding the impact of the tax bill on
health care:
http://action.momsrising.org/lte/SenateTaxesHC_LTE/?t=4&akid=9968%2E2526945%2Et8JyUG Let’s make our voices heard from coast
to coast about this pathetic reverse-Robin Hood bill.
2.
As we make our Thanksgiving preparations, let’s not
forget that 50% of our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico are still without
power: http://thehill.com/latino/361118-lin-manuel-miranda-to-trump-we-still-need-your-help-in-puerto-rico In lieu of cranberry sauce and
stuffing, let’s consider a virtual food drive with a donation: https://www.hispanicfederationunidos.org
3.
The advertising boycott of Trump propagandist Sean
Hannity is getting good results, but there are still far too many companies
sending him their ad dollars. Let's turbocharge this boycott with some simple
consumer activism. We can easily check the updated list: https://www.mediamatters.org/research/2017/05/23/these-are-sean-hannitys-advertisers/216607 , then pick 1 or 2 companies whose products
we use, then let them know that our continued loyalty depends on their refusal
to support Hannity's harmful lies. We can use this from #Grab Your Wallet for
contact info for the companies: https://grabyourwallet.org/
4.
With both the House and Senate on break for
Thanksgiving, now is a great time to write a letter to the editor in our local
newspaper. There are some must-pass pieces of legislation, including the KIDS
Act of 2017 (S.1827) to extend funding for CHIP and the DREAM Act of 2017 (S.
1615), to protect DACA recipients. We also need to express opposition to the
GOP tax plan. If we're stuck on talking points regarding the tax bill, we can
use this tool from MomsRising, which including a sample letter: http://action.momsrising.org/lte/SenateTaxesHC_LTE
5.
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is launching their Holiday Hotline again
this year! If we get stuck in conversation with family over Thanksgiving, we
can just text SOS to 82623 and they'll help us out!
6.
From Americans United for the Separation of Church and
State: Not All Evangelicals
Agree With Jerry Falwell Jr. And Liberty University– And They’re Speaking Up. Secularists,
non-Christians and progressive Christians have long been critics of Religious
Right leader Jerry Falwell Jr. But lately Falwell has had to deal with flak
from an unexpected source: fellow evangelicals who are angry over his support
for President Donald J. Trump and his blend of nationalist and fundamentalist
rhetoric. “When he uses his platform to praise and defend Trump,
Falwell makes it seem as though Liberty as an institution agrees with him,”
Liberty student Dustin Wahl, who organized an anti-Trump petition, told
ThinkProgress. “In reality, most Liberty students have very different
priorities than their president.” We can also follow Americans United on Facebook to keep up with the latest on the
separation of church and state. If we are, or know someone who is, a
member of the clergy who wants to get involved in protecting true religious
freedom, join Faith Leaders United, a theologically diverse network of
religious leaders that Americans United formed to ensure that religion is not
being used to harm people or take away their rights.
7.
Nabisco moved some of their plants to Mexico and now
some of our favorite Nabisco snacks are made there. Let's read about this
from NWLaborPress.org in their article Outside a Portland
Walmart: The Nabisco Boycott Day of Action. "The union boycott against Mexican-made Nabisco products
doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon. Since March 2016, the Bakery,
Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers union has waged a boycott campaign
against Mexican-made Oreos, Chips Ahoy and other Nabisco products — to protest the
decision by parent company Mondelēz to lay off hundreds of Chicago union
workers and shift production to a factory outside Monterrey,
Mexico. The campaign, which has the backing of the national AFL-CIO,
asks consumers to check the label when they buy Nabisco products, and leave it
on the shelf if it says, “Made in Mexico.” Let's be informed consumers
and be sure to double check the labels of any Nabisco products we purchase for” Made
in USA."
8.
New from Swing Left! The Complete Guide to Taking Back the House: https://d1h4zokikhjm0v.cloudfront.net/content/Swing-Left-Guide-to-Taking-Back-the-House.pdf Now is the time to mobilize for the
November 2018 midterms to make electoral gains in the US House of
Representatives—and maybe even knock the GOP out of power there. Let’s look at
the Guide and sign up to help.
Petitions
1.
We read above about ICE’s detention of Siham Byah, an
immigrant from Morocco who has been in the United States since 1999. Let’s join in this petition for her release
here:
2.
Trump has announced that he put a hold on the decision
regarding trophy hunters. Let’s sign
this petition to Zinke that the ban be made maintained: https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/secretary-zinke-do-not
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms
to attend/organize
1.
Let's raise our voices against this terrible Tax Scam
by joining Action Together Network's #GOPTaxScam Twitterstorm this
Tuesday 8-9pm Eastern Time. Twitterstorms raise awareness by getting
hashtags trending, then noticed by Senators, voters and the media. We can start
by clicking this link. Tweets are prewritten and ready to go with a click.
Together, we can raise a storm to Kill this Bill! https://www.facebook.com/events/1979518768929837/
Reading/Watching
1.
In addition to ending the Temporary Protection Status
(TPS) of thousands of Nicaraguans and Hondurans, the Trump administration is
also ending that status for over 50,000 Haitians who fled their country
following the 2010 earthquake. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article185716193.html
2.
The latest climate change survey from Yale and George
Mason Universities is out, and it shows that Americans are still
poorly-informed about the causes of global warming. Only 54% understand that
it’s mostly human-caused, while 33% incorrectly believe global warming is due
mainly to natural factors. While Americans are becoming pessimistic about the
prospect that we’ll successfully prevent dangerous climate change, these survey
results are a reason for optimism. It’s only a matter of time before the
country’s leaders catch up with the public understanding of the climate change
threat. Given the current state of affairs in the Trump administration,
that pessimism is certainly justified. However, there are still reasons for hope, especially since the
climate-denying Republican Party is beginning to lose its grip on power. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/nov/20/battered-by-extreme-weather-americans-are-more-worried-about-climate-change
3. “Making
America More Like Scandinavia” - https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/nordic-countries-united-states/490847/
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