Contact Federal Government Officials
Find senator’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/RLiotu
Find representative’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/5i7SXC
********************************
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.
The FCC will vote tomorrow on their
proposal to scrap net neutrality, taking away Obama-era protections for a free
and open Internet. While the Republican appointees are a majority on the
commission and are likely to prevail, we still must take advantage of this last
opportunity to make our voices heard (https://www.wabe.org/atlantans-protest-pending-repeal-net-neutrality/). We can use this script from 5 Calls to
contact FCC chairman Ajit Pai and make sure he knows we want net neutrality to
remain in place: https://5calls.org/issue/defend-fcc-net-neutrality.
2.
We can also contact our members of Congress to
let them know that if the FCC does abandon net neutrality, we want them to
pursue legislative solutions ASAP. We
can ask our Representatives in the House to sponsor or promise to vote for
HR4585, preventing the FCC from relying on the many proven fake comments
submitted in support of killing a Net Neutrality. Federal Law requires the FCC
to consider public comment before making this decision, and HR4585 would
prevent them from using patently fake ones i their rush to ram this through. We
can read more about the bill here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4585
3.
Jimmy Kimmel, whose young son recently had heart
surgery, does a wonderful job of explaining the value of CHIP (Children's
Health Insurance Program) for nearly 9 million children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqulWPljawo&app=desktop He encourages us to call our MoCs to ask
that Congress set aside the tax bill long enough to pass legislation to
continue this valuable resource for our children before time runs out. Lots of
parents are worried about this: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/12/12/569953391/parents-worry-congress-wont-fund-the-childrens-health-insurance-program
4.
“More than 50 female members of Congress want
House leaders to investigate alleged sexual misconduct by President Donald
Trump before he was in the White House.”
https://www.voanews.com/a/congresswomen-want-trump-sexual-misconduct-probe/4159958.html On Tuesday, some of them held a press
conference: https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/1823721567659325/
Let’s show these women our support and ask our own MoCs to join in if
they have not already done so. Then, Let's
join these congresswomen and tell Chairman Gowdy ((202)
225-6030) and Ranking
Member Cummings ((202) 225-4741) that we want the Oversight Committee to
open an investigation ASAP. Rep Cummings has already positively responded
and asked Rep. Gowdy to begin this immediately. Here is the list of the women
who signed: https://drive.google.com/open?id=17rr_MB5dMyO-JXYxfcggoyFmP3k6ZJn_
5.
Following the allegations of sexual harassment
and assault against trump, five senators have called for Trump to resign http://politi.co/2BUhoxs The White House's response has been to
say that the "American people voiced their judgment by delivering a
decisive victory" http://wapo.st/2BVUzts Trump's being elected President does
not excuse him from repercussions for his actions. Let's call our senators,
representatives, and state governors, and ask that they acknowledge and support
the brave women speaking out about Trump's sexual misconduct, and call for
Trump's resignation.
6.
The Treasury Department is releasing false
information regarding tax bill. http://www.businessinsider.com/treasury-report-trump-gop-tax-reform-bill-analysis-2017-12 Let’s
contact Treasury to say that we expect more than propaganda from them. https://www.treasury.gov/connect/Pages/contact-us.aspx
7.
With so very many things tossed into the tax
bill, it is hard for anyone to know all that is in it. Most people did not realize that a provision that
“Sen. John Cornyn slipped an obscure tax break for pipeline giants into the GOP
tax bill, he wasn't just helping major Republican Party donors, he was also
potentially helping 16 of his congressional colleagues. Together those 16
lawmakers — 13 Republicans, three Democrats — own multimillion-dollar
stakes in the special investment vehicles that stand to benefit from Cornyn’s
amendment.” http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/tax-bill-john-cornyns-fossil-fuel-provision-would-personally-enrich-republican Again,
let’s let our legislators know that we want them to use this tax bill to
improve the lives of all our citizens, not just the wealthy.
8.
The tax bill conference committee is scheduled
to meet today. Much work has been going
on behind the scenes to appease all the elements which is highly unlikely: http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-republican-tax-reform-bill-poll-numbers-underwhelm-2017-12 and http://politi.co/2C5UDrt Let’s keep on our MoCs to make sure that any
tax bill does not take its toll on the workers and the middle class while
giving permanent breaks to large corporations.
A large deficit is does not have to happen if large corporations would
pay their share. A vote is expected to
take place next week, so let's use this time to visit our senators' and
representatives' offices. MomsRising has provided a letter that we can take with
us, which details how detrimental this tax plan would be for moms across the country: http://action.momsrising.org/signup/tax_delivery/
9.
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and Representative
Terri Sewell (D-AL) contributed an op-ed piece to The Hill calling on the
Senate to reject unqualified nominee Brett Talley for a lifetime judicial
position in federal district court in Alabama. Talley lacks the most basic
qualifications and experience to serve as a federal judge. He has practiced law
for only three years. He has never tried a case, and he has never argued a
motion or presented a witness in court. The American Bar Association’s Standing
Committee on the Judiciary unanimously rated Mr. Talley “not qualified” –
making him only the fourth nominee to receive such a rating in the past quarter
century. Talley has never tried a case, and he has never argued a motion
or presented a witness in court. Let's read the whole piece at The Hill then call our Senators to demand that
they say "no" to this unqualified nominee. Let's call about
Talley even if we have called before. Let's be annoying about Talley. We
may not be able to stop most of the egregious nominees but stopping Talley may
be in reach because of the depth of his lack of qualifications.
10. In
speaking about Jeff Mateer and Brett Talley, “Sen. Chuck
Grassley (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says
he’s told President Trump to “reconsider” two controversial judicial
nominees. “ http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/364504-grassley-tells-trump-not-to-proceed-on-two-judicial-nominations
Since Grassley is now agreeing with us, let’s thank him and tell him
that want him to keep protecting the unbiased nature of our courts.
11.
Hate crimes are on the rise in Trump’s America,
with the FBI seeing an increase in the annual number of hate crimes reported to
them for the first time since they started collecting data in 1992 (http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/13/politics/hate-crimes-fbi-2016-rise/index.html). Congressional Democrats have introduced
legislation to try to keep us safe from those that commit them: The Disarm Hate
Act (S.1324/H.R. 2841), which would prohibit Americans
convicted of misdemeanor hate crimes at the state and local level from buying
or possessing guns. Let’s make sure our members of Congress know that this is
the kind of action we want them to see against hate, not tweeting platitudes.
We can check to see if our senators and representatives are already
co-sponsoring the proposal here and here, and contact them to thank them or to ask
them why they haven’t signed on.
12. One
of the most powerful conservative lobby groups, ALEC, “is considering a resolution recommending
that Congress repeal the 17th amendment, adopted over 100 years ago to allow
citizens to directly elect their U.S. senators instead of state
legislators.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-08/corporate-revolt-has-business-group-at-a-crossroads-over-climate
Let’s contact our MoCs to make sure that they
oppose any measure that would deny our rights to directly choose our senators.
And let’s do our part to flip state governments blue, so that conservatives
don’t have the majority they would need to call a constitutional convention.
1. We
are all so happy that Doug Jones won yesterday, but as Ben Wikler, Washington
director of MoveOn, said on Twitter yesterday, “Make a deal with yourself -- If
Roy Moore wins today, you’ll do everything in your power to take away GOP
control of Congress in 2018. And if Doug Jones wins today, you’ll do everything
in your power to take away GOP control of Congress in 2018.
2. Progressive
energy is building for the upcoming 2018 midterm elections, and now we're told
that a record-smashing 391 Democratic candidates for state & local races
have registered and are raising campaign funds like crazy (https://www.vox.com/2017/12/11/16748716/chart-democrats-2018-midterms-elections). To channel our energy into a true Blue
Wave, though, we need to start helping these folks get organized, raise
awareness, engage with voters and, yes, raise money. Let's find a campaign in
our own district/state to support! Unsure where to look? Start with the
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee:
https://races.dlcc.org/
Other
Actions
1. For
most all states, this Friday is the last day to sign up for ACA health
insurance. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/12/12/569981749/deadline-is-friday-for-most-aca-insurance-sign-ups-with-important-exceptions If
we or someone we know needs to sign up, let’s do it! Sign up here:
https://www.healthcare.gov/
2. Military
Times has a survey about allowing transgendered people into the military. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2017/12/11/tell-us-do-you-support-a-court-ruling-to-allow-transgender-recruits-to-join-the-military/ Let’s take it.
3. The
Southern Poverty Law Center is looking for volunteer attorneys, law students,
and fluent bilingual speakers of English & another language. Volunteers are
needed to help protect the right to due process for immigrants detained in the
Southeast. Both remote and on the ground efforts needed. Mentorship and
training is provided. More info available at http://bit.ly/2l50icZ
4. Part
of fighting back against centuries of systemic racial oppression includes doing
what we can to make reparations https://policy.m4bl.org/reparations/ http://theatln.tc/2j2mgr4 Last year, Seattle-based artist Natasha Marin created
"Reparations," a website and Facebook group, which connects people of
color who need help or services, with white people who are able to satisfy
those services or offer help http://bit.ly/2aAaHJ5 From the Reparations website, "I
invite People of Color to ask for what we need to feel better, be happier, be
more productive by posting in this space. These may be both material and
immaterial requests. I invite people who
identify as White to offer services or contributions to People of Color in need
of time, energy, substantive care, and support," http://www.reparations.me/about For those of us who would like to
participate, let's take advantage of this opportunity to ask for or offer help.
We can visit the Reparations website, or the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/reparations.me/
5. MassMutual
is adamant that they do not support the Senate campaign of Roy Moore, the
Alabama Republican accused of preying on teenage girls. However, they donated
$15,000 to the Republican National Committee (RNC) which did support Roy
Moore. “MassMutual does not support – nor will we ever support – Mr.
Moore’s campaign,” the company added in their statement last week. Let's read
the article at boston.com. If Roy Moore has won the Alabama seat,
let's contact MassMutual to let them know that we consider any donations from
them to the RNC to be verification their support for Roy Moore and child
molesters. MassMutual, Attn: Roger William Crandall, Chairman, CEO, &
President, 1295 State St, Springfield MA 01111-0001. If we have insurance with
MassMutual and Roy Moore wins, we may want to consider finding a new insurance
company. If we do change, let's be sure to tell them why: we don't support
companies that support pedophilia.
6. Surprisingly,
the powerful conservative lobby group, ALEC, has “scrapped a measure
declaring that climate change is not a risk after opposition from Exxon
Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp.” And “Exxon Mobil Corp. has agreed to regularly
disclose analyses of the impacts to its business from climate change and
policies meant to fight it.”https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-08/corporate-revolt-has-business-group-at-a-crossroads-over-climate and http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/364435-exxon-to-disclose-climate-change-risks Let’s thank Exxon and Chevron for
doing the right thing here http://corporate.exxonmobil.com/en/company/contact-us/email-us and https://www.chevron.com/about/contact/email-chevron
7. Roland
Martin, one of the most important Black voices in the media, has just had his
show News
One Now cancelled. After the loss of Melissa Harris Perry and Tamron
Hall, it's beyond time to speak up. Whitewashing airwaves is a serious
problem as media markets consolidate into fewer, richer whiter hands. When that
happens, stereotypes remain unchallenged and serious issues remain unaddressed.
We can join Color of Change in protesting this by adding our voices here,
thanking Roland Martin for all he has done and calling on multimedia companies
to invest in his and other Black-led media programs. http://bit.ly/2yU9zte
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1. In
DC today: “Republicans are pushing hard to pass this tax bill fast, whether the
American people want it or not. THIS WEDNESDAY, leaders from the Women's March,
Center for Popular Democracy, Housing Works, and others will come together to
say NO to Trump's brazen attempt to steal from the poor and middle class in
order to enrich himself and Republican donors. We are going to stand up and
fight for health care, for women's economic rights, against crushing student
debt, and for a fairer, more equitable nation.:
Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccXhs6Dr8H9n79phw6hUmmJtMJUkJbLunLriCnaoT0IeMvZQ/viewform
2. With
the upcoming 5th anniversary of the Sandy Hook shootings, nationwide
vigils and events are being held to end gun violence. Let’s find one here, or start one: http://foundation.newtownaction.org/2017/11/01/2017-nationwide-vigils-events-endgunviolence/
States
1. KY
- Kentucky State Representative Dan Johnson has been accused of sexually
assaulting a teenager. Despite calls for his resignation, Johnson refuses to
step down. Mac Brown, chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky, said
in a statement this week that the sexual abuse story was "extensively
sourced" and that Republicans "once again find ourselves in a
position where we must call for him to resign, this time, from the Kentucky
General Assembly." Mary Nishimuta, executive director of the Kentucky
Democratic Party, called on Johnson to step down immediately on Monday.
"This is indicative of a corrupt culture in Frankfort that the Republican
Party continues to accept," she said. "Kentucky’s families deserve
better.” And Republican House leaders, including Speaker Pro Tempore
David Osborne, said in a statement that the latest allegations were
"shocking" and that Johnson should resign. The group said the
"victim’s statements, made on the record in her own name, are compelling
and deeply troubling." Let's read more at the Courier-Journal. If we are Kentuckians, let's call on
our Kentucky State
Representative to call
for an immediate investigation into the abuse allegations since Johnson refuses
to resign.
Reading/Watching
1.
“Here’s How to Find Out If Your Elected
Officials Are Blocking Constituents on Facebook and Twitter” - https://www.propublica.org/article/how-to-find-out-if-your-elected-officials-are-blocking-constituents-on-facebook-and-twitter
2.
“Understanding the Evangelical obsession with
Israel” - https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2017/12/11/understanding-evangelical-obsession-israel
3.
With Doug Jones’ win yesterday, we all know how
we helped, but massive voter turnout and the organizing behind that is a major,
and very encouraging story. We can read this tweetstorm from Al Giordano about
how the NAACP and several other groups carefully orchestrated an outstanding
GOTV effort. We can learn from this for the next elections as we continue to
flip this country Blue!
https://mobile.twitter.com/AlGiordano/status/940657094050615297
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