12/1/17
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.
Senator John McCain’s
sudden Thursday announcement that he will vote for the Senate tax
bill (http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/362553-mccain-a-yes-on-tax-reform-boosting-republicans) means we must now apply even greater
pressure on those who might oppose this giveaway to the wealthy and the
corporations. Republicans like Susan Collins, Jerry Moran, James
Lankford, Steve Daines, and Ron Johnson—and those with reservations and nothing
to lose—like Jeff Flake and Bob Corker--may be our only hope. Voting
is to resume at 11 this morning. Keep calling – including McCain. Let’s remind him of what he said about the
Bush tax cuts in 2001 when he voted against them? "I cannot in good
conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most
fortunate among us, at the expense of middle class Americans who most need tax
relief. Here are some salient wedge
issues to use:
A) Increases deficit by one trillion dollars.
Even Goldman Sachs warns against this unprecedented risk. Corker, Flake, Lankford,
Moran have expressed concerns.
B) Pass Through -- Johnson and Daines want tax
cuts for Pass Through businesses, ones that aren't corporations. Not as simple
as small vs big business, but a sticking point in negotiations right now, if
you want to weigh in. We can read more about this here:
.C)
Healthcare- 13 Million lose insurance –Sen. Collins wants to think that
passing Alexander - Murray AFTER this Tax Scam passes will make up for loses
for repealing the individual mandate. She is dreaming, and we can wake her up.
We
have what may be a small window here this morning, so let's make the most of
this opportunity! We can use the Trump Tax Toolkit to make it easier: https://trumptaxtoolkit.org/
2.
If you are looking for a simple way to explain net
neutrality to inspire like-minded friends to get into action, this piece from
The Oatmeal walks through it in a simple and humorous way: http://theoatmeal.com/blog/net_neutrality Then you can remind them we
only need to convince ONE of the other FCC Commissioners (who is not already a
no) to flip to a No vote to save Net Neutrality: A) Ajit Pai: 202-518-7399 / email: Ajit.Pai@fcc.gov/ Twitter: @AjitPaiFCC, B) Michael
O'Rielly: 301-657-9092 / email: mike.o’rielly@fcc.gov Twitter
@mikeofcc, and C) Brendan Carr: 202-719-7305 / email: Brendan.Carr@fcc.gov/
Twitter: @BrendanCarrFCC
3.
If it hears us and wants to, Congress can stop the FCC
from ending net neutrality, whatever the vote of Ajit Pai’s committee.
Consumer Reports urges us to call our MoCs and urge our leaders to save the
internet for us all. It provides us with an easy link:
4.
Organizing For Action has published a list of "Rubber Stamp
Reps," 34 member of Congress who have voted completely or nearly
completely to approve the Trump administration's morally/fiscally bankrupt
agenda, despite majorities in their districts rejecting it. Let's have a look
at their mugshots (https://www.ofa.us/rubber-stamp-reps/), then let them know that betraying one's
constituents is political suicide. This goes double for those of us who have
the misfortune of actually being (mis)represented by a Rubber Stamp Rep.
5.
Trump's judicial nominee for Middle District of
Alabama, Brett Talley, is beyond unqualified. He has never tried a case and has
only practiced law for three years, was deemed "unqualified" by the
American Bar Association, did not disclose of conflicts of interest, and
although he has pledged his financial and political support for the NRA, he
would not commit to recusing himself from any potential gun regulation
cases http://bit.ly/2z0c130 Let's contact our senators and make
sure that they are taking these confirmation votes seriously, and that they
oppose such an obviously poor choice for judicial nominee. We can also use
Sierra Rise's action tool to send a message or tweet to our senators: http://bit.ly/2nggqcu
6.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright tells
us that there is a national emergency of diplomacy in the Trump administration
State Department and that it is weakening us in many ways: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-national-security-emergency-were-not-talking-about/2017/11/29/9fddd7ba-d53b-11e7-a986-d0a9770d9a3e_story.html?utm_term=.e630741320ea
Let’s use this information to implore our MoCs to safeguard the State
Department the best they can.
7.
“In the first 10 months of the 115th Congress,
Republicans have introduced more than 80 bills that attack public lands, weaken
environmental safeguards on those lands or turn over control to states and
local governments. These attacks come despite the fact that the vast majority of voters across political parties support
protecting and maintaining forests, national parks, monuments and other public
lands and waters.” Bills are advancing
in the House now: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2017/public-lands-11-29-2017.php Our
representatives need to know how we feel about these bills.
8.
“Donald Trump has started filling the ranks of the
federal judiciary, and a single pattern has emerged: Few women. Few candidates
of color. Ninety-one percent of Trump's nominees are white, and 81 percent are
male, according to an analysis by the Associated Press. But don't think of this
as a partisan issue. Our last Republican president, George W. Bush, went out of
his way to identify minority candidates. Why? Bush recognized that a judiciary
that more closely reflects the faces of the population tends to display a
broader range of viewpoints. A diverse bench engenders more confidence than a
uniformly whitewashed one.” http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Whitewashed-courts-12393461.php We must pay attention to both the
state and federal appointments to our courts and let our Reps know that our
judges should reflect the diversity of our country and the districts.
9.
Alabama Sen. Richard
Shelby (R) said on Monday that he did not vote for
Republican nominee Roy Moore in the state's Senate special election.
"No, no, no, I voted absentee. I didn't vote for him. I voted for a
distinguished Republican write-in," Shelby told reporters when asked if he
would vote for Moore, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple
women. "Well, it's not a good situation. I wish we had another candidate."
Shelby,
like most GOP senators, endorsed Luther Strange, who was appointed to the seat
vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in the primary. Let's
read the full article at The Hill. We Rogan's listers always appreciate
when our Republican senators do the right thing. Let's send "thank
yous" to Senator Shelby for voting for someone other than accused
pedophile Roy Moore. Senator Richard Shelby, 2005 University Blvd Ste
2100, Tuscaloosa AL 35401 or we can use his website contact
form.
10. Senator
John Kennedy (R-LA) is finally standing up to the regime's awful judicial
nominees. Kennedy said Tuesday that he would vote “in a
heartbeat” against Brett Talley — one of President Donald Trump’s most
controversial judicial nominees — as he leveled a harsh criticism of the administration
about the caliber of their candidates for the federal bench. Kennedy cited
a litany of concerns about Talley, who has been nominated for a district court
seat in Alabama yet has faced significant pushback. Talley has been rated not
qualified by the American Bar Association and has never tried a case in
court. Kennedy supported his [Talley's] nomination in the Senate
Judiciary Committee, but that came before the New York Times reported that
Talley is married to White House counsel Don McGahn’s chief of staff, which was
not disclosed in committee documents. “I had no idea his connection,” Kennedy
said Tuesday of Talley’s marriage to a White House staffer. “And he’s
never tried a lawsuit in his natural life. And he’s gonna be on the federal
bench? Give me a break. A break. It is embarrassing. And I think the president
of the United States is getting some very, very bad advice.” Let's read the
full article at Politico. Let's take two (2) actions: A) send “Thank
yous” to Senator John Kennedy, 500 Paydras St Ste 364, New Orleans LA 70130
or web contact form; and B) contact our own Senators to tell
them to join Sen. Kennedy in saying "no" to unqualified and ABA-rated
"not qualified" nominee Talley for this important lifetime judicial
appointment.
11. Yesterday,
House Republicans passed another bill to hand over protected lands to industry.
H.R.3905 would allow toxic sulfide-ore mining
in a particularly vulnerable habitat area. It’s been established that
mining here would pollute the local watershed, but Congressman Tom Emmer’s bill
would do just that (http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/government-and-politics/4367346-house-passes-bill-reopen-areas-near-bwcaw-copper-nickel).
Let’s call our senators and let them know we oppose this and all other
attempts to turn protected areas over to industry, and want the bill to go no
further. We can find talking points here and see how our House reps voted here. (Via Calvin’s List)
12. Only
a few more days left to submit our stories of our use of birth control that
Generation Progress will share with the Trump administration:
1.
According to a new poll, Roy Moore is up 5 points on
Doug Jones in the race for the Alabama Senate seat. http://thehill.com/campaign-polls/362305-poll-roy-moore-up-5-points-on-dem-opponent But, this is what Doug Jones’ campaign
volunteer coordinator Beau Bowden says: “From a campaign staffer. Please share
in all the Facebook groups you're in.
Enough with the handwringing and pearl clutching over each "poll" and expert "analysis". Let's just win this thing. Something special is happening here. So far, we have knocked on 75,000 doors, and our volunteers have completed nearly a half million calls to targeted voters. Those numbers will double over the next 2 weeks. The supporter/volunteer engagement in this race is unprecedented in my 25 years in Alabama Politics. We are going to win and need your help. We are anywhere from up 2 to down 2, over the past few days. You can make a difference in this race. Make calls, knock doors, send postcards. It matters.” Let’s make sure that we’re talking to our friends and family in Alabama about the importance of voting for Doug. And let’s join a campaign to reach out to additional voters like this one through https://postcardstovoters.org/
Enough with the handwringing and pearl clutching over each "poll" and expert "analysis". Let's just win this thing. Something special is happening here. So far, we have knocked on 75,000 doors, and our volunteers have completed nearly a half million calls to targeted voters. Those numbers will double over the next 2 weeks. The supporter/volunteer engagement in this race is unprecedented in my 25 years in Alabama Politics. We are going to win and need your help. We are anywhere from up 2 to down 2, over the past few days. You can make a difference in this race. Make calls, knock doors, send postcards. It matters.” Let’s make sure that we’re talking to our friends and family in Alabama about the importance of voting for Doug. And let’s join a campaign to reach out to additional voters like this one through https://postcardstovoters.org/
2.
Since 2004, HeadCount has registered 500,000 voters.
Headcount is a giant team effort between musicians, concert promoters, and
volunteers. They have street teams in most major cities, and affiliations with
over 100 touring musicians including Dave Matthews
Band, JAY-Z, Wilco, Phish, and the Dixie
Chicks. HeadCount stages voter registration drives
at concerts and run programs that translate the power of music
into real action. Let's check out HeadCount.org to
find out more. We can also follow HeadCount's efforts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
State
Actions
1.
FL: In a misguided response to Hurricane
Irma’s power outages, the Florida Legislature is considering cutting
local tree protections. Because wind-whipped trees were largely
responsible for toppled power lines, two lawmakers are pushing bills that would
kill local tree ordinances they say make it too hard to fire up
chainsaws. Surprisingly, Rep. Katie Edwards, a Democrat from Plantation,
is one of them. Edwards says city and county tree regulations cause
confusion and unnecessary permitting costs for property owners trying to trim
or cut down trees. She says she filed [Florida] House Bill 521 as a way to create statewide tree
standards that help Florida better prepare for future storms. She says she
doesn’t want to destroy the tree canopy, simply make it easier for people to
trim and remove trees. She also wants to encourage people to plant trees better
suited to withstand high winds. Problem is, her two-page bill offers no
such encouragement. It simply prohibits local governments from doing anything
to protect trees. It offers not a sliver of state protection for neighborhood
trees. We can read more at the Sun-Sentinel. If we are Floridians, let's contact our
own state representative (lookup here) to oppose House Bill 521 without language
protecting neighborhood trees. If we are in Rep. Edwards 98th district, let's
call or show up at the office to let her know that we want tree-protection
language added. Let's find a balance. Rep. Katie Edwards, District
Office, 1601 NW 136th Ave, Bldg. A, Sunrise FL 33323-2834. Call: 954-838-1371.
2.
NY - Net Neutrality: New York attorney general Eric
Schneiderman wants New
York state residents to report fake net neutrality-related comments sent under
their names. Schneiderman’s office has put up a page where New
Yorkers can search the FCC’s comment database, then report any fake submissions
to help with an investigation that Schneiderman announced last week. The Page asks users to post links to fake
comments and answer a few accompanying questions, including whether the content
matched their actual view of net neutrality. Schneiderman has previously
said that “tens of thousands” of New Yorkers may have had their names attached
to fake submissions. While people from across the country have
reported having their
identities used in
fake comments, only New Yorkers are supposed to use this particular submission
system. We can read more at The Verge. If we are New Yorkers, et's check to see if our names were used for
fake comments and then report it. We can go to ag.ny.gov/fakecomments and
follow the instructions. Let's tell our fellow New Yorkers to do the same.
3.
ALL: State
attorneys general from across the country are taking legal action against
Trump’s assault on access to birth control, joining in support of
Pennsylvania’s lawsuit against the White House’s new rules making it easier for
companies to deny coverage to their employees (http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/11/massachusetts_attorney_general_38.html). Let’s let them know we have their backs.
For those of us whose states are listed as part of the suit, let’s contact our
AGs (see this link) and let them know we appreciate their
efforts. If they are not, let’s let them know we want them to take action.
Other
Actions
1.
Progressive organizations have set up some great tools
we can use to help spread the word about the ACA's open enrollment period which
ends on December 15 for most states. The National Partnership for Women has
created a flyer that we can print out
http://bit.ly/2zBO8uM as well as a page with more resources
and recommendations on how we can help get information out http://bit.ly/2ArtTUo Indivisible has an Open Enrollment
Organizing Toolkit which provides guidance and materials to help us more
effectively spread the word: https://www.indivisible.org/resource/open-enrollment-organizing-toolkit/ Let's take advantage of these
resources and help as many people as possible get healthcare coverage!
2.
As we have learned from watered-down language in the
media in relation to neo-nazis (using terms like "alt-right"
instead), the words we use can have a significant effect on the public
perception on a given issue, including creating a sense of normalcy where
something is far from normal http://bit.ly/2i6h86V With this in mind, GLAAD is launching
the "Drop the F Word" campaign to ensure that as journalists cover
the court proceedings in the Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil
Rights Commission case, that they use the term "religious exemptions"
instead of "religious freedom" to accurately describe the issue. We
can read more about the campaign and add our names to the list of people who
promise to hold the media accountable for its news coverage here: https://www.glaad.org/DropTheFWord
3.
Consider: even if Trump’s presidency
ended tomorrow (which it won’t), the Federal Government and most of
the States would still be governed by Republican politicians—governed, that is,
by people who are willing to follow for expediency’s sake a president that has
long collaborated with Russia, our foreign adversary. Flippable.org has a plan
for 2018 to wrest back power from these politicians. In an effort to flip 100
seats across the country from red to blue, Flippable is working to target
states: A) “where winning just a few
seats can flip a whole chamber of the state legislature” Colorado, Maine, and
Minnesota, B) “with histories of gerrymandering or voter suppression”
Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Florida, North Carolina, C) “where we
can reverse Republican gains and lay the groundwork for future progressive
victories” Texas, Utah, Arizona, D) “where the state legislatures or governors’
seats are blue, but are at risk of flipping red in 2018” Washington, Delaware,
Oregon. Let’s visit this page and sign
up to help: https://www.flippable.org/focus-states/
4.
From Rapid Resist: we
are texting up a storm to fight the GOP tax bill. We need all hands on deck to
defeat this thing! If you would like to text with us, sign up at bit.ly/text-resist Please
make sure to go over the training presentation BEFORE texting, bit.ly/resist-text-trainingand join our closed FB group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/rapidresist/ If your group is in a GOP led state or
district and you have events that you would like us to support, fill out
our form http://bit.ly/RapidResist or email me at alysia@rapidresist.org
5.
Huge budget cuts crippled outreach that lets people
know when, how and where to sign up for the ACA, so Indivisible ACA Signup
Project is spreading the word through social media.
They
have 9 days left to spread the word. We can help them reach their goal
by Dec 10, to set off a Thunderclap, a social media flash
mob message blast. First, we can click, add our social media support on
Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. THEN cut, paste and share: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/64860-aca-open-enrollment-ends-soon Find
out more about how Thunderclap helps grassroots organizing here: https://www.socialworkhelper.com/2013/10/02/thunderclap-can-help-grassroots-organizing/amp/
6.
On the same day that Colin Kaepernick received the 2017
Sport Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award (https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2017/11/30/colin-kaepernick-muhammad-ali-legacy-award),
the NFL reached an agreement to fund player activism to the tune of $90
million. (http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/362714-nfl-agrees-to-nearly-90-million-deal-to-fund-players-activism
) Let’s thank SI for their choice: 225 Liberty St, New York, NY 10281 or ((212)
522-1212, and let’s tell the NFL to give Kaepernick
a job: 345 Park Ave, New York, NY 10154
or (212) 450-2000
Petitions
1.
Trump retweeted anti-Muslim videos—one already
debunked, the others dubious in their origin—posted in the UK by Jayda Fransen,
deputy leader of Britain First, a virulently racist, far right party.
She was delighted, claiming “I’m facing prison for criticising Islam. Britain
is now Sharia compliant . . . . “; PM Theresa May was genteelly condemnatory,
saying “Britain First seeks to divide communities by their use of hateful
narratives that peddle lies and stoke tensions.”; Labor ministers were furious,
calling for a cancellation of Trump’s upcoming state visit. But Trump, when
asked in 2015 about his propensity for retweeting, was crystal clear: he said
that he considered retweets endorsements: “You know, I retweet, I retweet for a
reason”: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/29/trump-account-retweets-anti-muslim-videos-of-british-far-right-leader MPower Change and Linda Sarsour have
launched a petition to be delivered to Jack Dorsey, the Twitter CEO, demanding
that Twitter close Trump’s account: https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/stop-enabling-trumps And if you can stand to view the
bigotry first-hand, report Trump’s account directly on Twitter (click the icon
next to the "Follow" button and hit "Report
@realDonaldTrump") or tweet Jack Dorsey directly using this link: https://twitter.com/intent/tweet Trump may be impervious to our
outrage but the profit-seeking Dorsey may not be.
2.
Let’s also join MPowerChange in telling Twitter to stop enabling Trump’s
anti-Muslim hate speech: https://act.mpowerchange.org/sign/twitter-trump-hate-speech/
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms
to attend/organize
Reading/Watching
1.
“Citizen engagement in 2017: Is this the start of
something historic?” - https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2017/11/29/historic-citizen-engagement-in-2017/
2.
Powerful essay by a Navy admiral about his son’s opioid
death: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/11/an-epidemic-from-which-no-one-is-safe/546773/
3.
Megyn Kelly On Matt Lauer's Dismissal: ‘We are in a sea
change in the country’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htFS9wcojyk&app=desktop
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