Rogan's List

12/14/17

Contact Federal Government Officials

Find senator’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/RLiotu

Find representative’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/5i7SXC

Fax legislators for free:  Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php

and Senate: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

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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.       Less than 12 hours after the Democrat defeated Republican Roy Moore, at least five senators have called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to seat Jones immediately and delay a final vote on the legislation until he is sworn in. Such a request by Democrats is not without precedent, as they afforded their Republican colleagues such a courtesy in 2010 when they held the majority, allowing former Republican Senator Scott Brown to take his seat after he won a Massachusetts special election. Following that election, then–Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, "We’re going to wait until the new senator arrives until we do anything more on health care." We can read more in Newsweek. Let's call both of our Senators to ask that the tax bill vote be delayed until Jones is sworn in.  If we are Alabama voters, we need to be particularly loud in contacting Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL).

2.      Today, the FCC will vote on the question of ending net neutrality--despite the fact that Chairman Ajit Pai has been informed of potentially millions of fraudulent public comments made about this issue, that Democratic FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel has called on the Commission to pause and investigate: 

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/12/10/fcc-commissioner-urges-fraud-investigation-ahead-net-neutrality-vote  and that those whose names have been used without their knowledge or permission ostensibly to oppose net neutrality have written protesting their misrepresentation: (https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonybradley/2017/05/26/victims-demand-fcc-remove-fake-anti-net-neutrality-comments/#6529f1376e79 It is unclear who is hacking the comments or to what end, but that the comments to the FCC have been meddled with seems clear to everyone: 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2017/06/01/fake-net-neutrality-comments-found-both-sides-fcc-issue/102389708/  We must call on Congress to denounce this corruption of one of the few processes by which we can make our voices heard.

3.      Congressional Republicans have reportedly reached a tentative deal on a final version of their reverse Robin Hood tax scam, and we could see votes as soon as next week. This could be our final opportunity to make sure they know that hiking taxes on working families so that they can cut them on the wealthy is unacceptable  (http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/13/politics/republican-tax-plan-deal/index.html). Indivisible is bringing back their peer-to-peer calling tool to help make sure key Republican Senate votes hear our voices. Let’s join them in helping connect our fellow progressives with their reps at this link: https://www.trumptaxscam.org/calls-to-kill-the-tax-scam/.

4.      Our last chance at keeping this tax bill from arriving on Trump’s desk next week is to make the public outcry loud enough that even the willfully deaf Republicans hear us. Let’s call all our representatives yet again and impress on them our opposition to a partisan tax bill that would fatten the rich, worsen inequality, decimate our schools and our healthcare, lead to severe cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, and increase the deficit.  If we harbor any doubts about the effects of tax cuts like those in this bill, check out the impact of Kansas’s “Brownback” tax cuts: https://www.npr.org/2017/10/25/560040131/as-trump-proposes-tax-cuts-kansas-deals-with-aftermath-of-experiment

5.      Now that the voters of Alabama have declared accused sexual predator Roy Moore unfit for office, it's time to redouble our calls to pass the same verdict on the P-grabber-in-Chief. Are we to accept the idea that what isn't good enough for Alabama is supposed to be good enough for the whole country? We should join with the 100+ MoCs who are calling for a full investigation of the accusations of sexual assault/misconduct leveled against Trump by 18+ women. Call your MoCs and thank them for joining the call (if they have) or tell them they'd better (if they want women and their allies to vote for them). https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/12/16766800/democratic-congress-members-trump-investigation-women

6.      On Tuesday morning, Trump sexually harassed Senator Kirsten Gilibrand for the world to see as he sent out a tweet implying that Senator Gilibrand was willing to trade sexual favors for political donations http://bit.ly/2z8QlA9 Let's contact our MoC and demand that they take action against this abhorrent behavior. We can ask that they at least open an investigation into Trump's sexual misconduct, and/or call for his resignation.

7.      “President Donald Trump’s commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, is facing allegations of insider trading related to the sale of his shares in the Bank of Ireland several years ago.” http://www.newsweek.com/wilbur-ross-accused-insider-trading-bank-ireland-745421 Let’s contact our MoC to ask them what they’re doing to ensure that our Commerce Secretary isn’t financially benefitting from his term in office.

8.     Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) issued a rare rebuke Tuesday of two of President Donald Trump's most controversial judicial nominees, urging the White House to rethink the picks. Grassley told CNN that he is advising the White House to "reconsider" the nomination of Jeff Mateer, who was selected to become a federal judge in Texas. He said the White House "should not proceed" on the nomination of Brett Talley, whom Trump picked to become a federal judge in Alabama. Let's read more at CNN.  We Rogan's listers have been taking action against these two nominees and now we have some power behind our next calls. Let's call our Republican senators and tell them to join Grassley in asking for these nominees to be withdrawn for consideration.

9.      Remember the Equifax breach earlier this year?  It seems that people to took the strident step of freezing their accounts are now having trouble getting health coverage via the ACA:  http://www.benefitspro.com/2017/12/13/credit-report-freeze-could-trigger-insurance-enrol  Let’s tell our MoCs that some kind of waiver needs to be given to those of us who thought we were doing the right thing at the time. 

10.  On Tuesday, the Senate confirmed Leonard Steven Grasz, nominee to be a circuit judge for the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, by a vote of 50-48; Grasz was rated as "not qualified" by the American Bar Association (ABA).  Not that Trump cares: the administration notified the ABA in March that it was ending its long-standing practice of inviting its independent Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary to review the professional qualifications of nominees to the lower federal courts on a pre-nomination basis:  http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/364515-senate-confirms-controversial-trump-nominee-in-tight-vote  On Wednesday, however, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that two of Trump’s court nominees—Jeff Mateer and Brett Talley (who has withdrawn)—will not be forwarded for confirmation.  Like Grasz, Mateer was found “unfit” by the ABA, and both he and Talley have celebrated discriminatory groups or policies publicly: 

11.   https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/two-controversial-federal-judge-nominees-will-not-be-confirmed-senate-republican-says/2017/12/13/e3876ffa-e02e-11e7-8679-a9728984779c_story.html  Maybe we should let the Senate Judiciary Committee know how we feel about the judicial nominees to date. Current members are listed here:  https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/about/members; Grassley can be reached at 135 Hart Senate Office Building. Washington, DC 20510. Phone: (202) 224 - 3744. Fax: (202) 224-6020

12.  The House and Senate are both working on bills to re-write higher education law  The House version, H.R. 4508,  was passed in committee on Tuesday and now goes to the full House.  As in other legislation, there is much doing away of Obama-era protections, but is streamlining some other elements.  http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2017/12/house_education_committee_approves_higher_education_overhaul.html Let’s keep an eye on this as it works its way to Trump’s desk.  There seems to be something for everyone to like and to dislike. 

Election 2017/2018

1.       Postcards to Voters proudly tells us that 6,376 of our closest, newest friends (and many of their own friends, families, groups, and clubs) mailed 347,709 fully-handwritten election reminder postcards to get out the vote. We wrote to every Democratic household in Alabama! If we haven't joined already, let's check out Postcards to Voters and join the fun in 2018. We only need to write 5 postcards to make a difference. Email: JOIN@TonyTheDemocrat.org   

 Other Actions

1.       From one of our own:  “Friendly reminder that, for most states, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15th is the last day to sign up healthcare through the ACA exchange (aka Obamacare).
Unless you live in CA, WA, CO, MN, NY, MA, RI, CT, or DC -- if you need to switch healthcare plans or - if you're like me and don't have an employer, school or parent paying for your healthcare for the first time ever, head over to https://www.healthcare.gov/ by Friday.”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SyFA9O-6Iw  If you don't need to sign up for healthcare, be a friend and share this video with someone who might.

2.      Christmas may not be so merry this year for kids in Puerto Rico, so Lin-Manuel Miranda (of Hamilton fame) is organizing a toy drive for them. The goal is to deliver 10,000 gifts to kids in Puerto Rico on Three Kings Day., January 6, 2028. Gifts start at five dollars. We can find out more about how to contribute here:  https://www.toysrus.com/toys4PuertoRico

3.      From one of our own: "Today media is already erasing the work black folks and especially black women did to win “unwinnable ruby red” Alabama. Don’t let them get away with it...Call out every single instance of it you see, please! It’s part of our work to disrupt a white supremacist narrative which yes, is what erasing black peoples work and giving unearned credit to others, is." One place we can start is here, with NBC's Jonathan Allen, who credited white women, stating "Fifty-eight percent of Alabama women voted for the winner, Democrat Doug Jones, including 35 percent of white women, according to exit polling," yet Allen fails to point out the staggering statistics that while the majority of white women (63%) voted for Moore, 98% of black women voted for Jones:  http://nbcnews.to/2nWTpf9 http://wapo.st/2BjXYpe Let's contact NBC and Jonathan Allen, and let them know that this kind of reporting is unacceptable; we will not stand for the erasure of black people. Twitter: @NBCNews, @jonallendc, E-mail: jon.allen@nbcuni.com , Online form for NBC News: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10285339/t/contact-nbc-news/

4.      From Nasty Women Action Network:  "The numbers don’t lie. One great way to thank Black women for their hard work and votes [in Alabama] tonight? Give to Higher Heights for America (https://www.facebook.com/HigherHeights4/), an org helping more Black women get elected to office. http://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/ " 

5.      From Postcards from Kate:  WOOHOO!! THANK YOU, Alabama, for helping to "bend that moral arc a little closer to that justice" last night. We're all celebrating with you!

Watch Doug Jones' victory speech here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9AY1KtIDYI  And then send the entire campaign staff a special congratulatory thank you card!   Address:  Doug Jones Campaign Chairman Giles Perkins, Staff, and Volunteers, Doug Jones Campaign HQ, 4500 5th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222

6.      Another way to honor the African-American voting bloc in Alabama for getting Doug Jones elected and flipping this deep-red Senate seat to blue is to donate to one or both of these organizations that worked so hard to get the vote out on Tuesday:  A) Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, http://alnaacp.org/ and B) The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Black Women’s Roundtable, #PoweroftheSisterVote, http://www.unitycampaign.org/power-of-the-sister-vote

7.      The World Bank has announced that it “will end its financial support for oil and gas exploration within the next two years in response to the growing threat posed by climate change.” https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/dec/12/uk-banks-join-multinationals-pledge-come-clean-climate-change-risks-mark-carney If we’re employed by companies with investment portfolios, let’s encourage them to follow suit.

8.     If we need some ideas for holiday gifts, this might help - “The Progressive’s Guide to Book Giving—for Every Personality: - http://www.yesmagazine.org/happiness/the-progressives-guide-to-book-giving-for-every-personality-20171213

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

States

1.       ALL:  The FBI found that hate crimes in the United States have increased to a point not seen in recent history. However, it turns out we can only guess at how dangerous Trump’s America really is, as the Bureau relies on voluntary participation by law enforcement to gather its data and many law enforcement agencies do not submit statistics (http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/13/politics/hate-crimes-fbi-2016-rise/index.html). Let’s make sure we know the full scope of the problem. We can contact our governors, state legislators and mayors and ask them to confirm whether our state and local law enforcement agencies are submitting hate crimes data to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, and if they are not what can be done to ensure that they do so.

2.      CT:  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 only 26 days to get 26 more supporters.  We can help them reach their goal to set off a Thunderclap, a social media flash mob message blast. We can click, add our social media support on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.  THEN cut, paste and share:  https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/64859-colorado-enrollment-alert  Find out more about how Thunderclap helps grassroots organizing here:  https://www.socialworkhelper.com/2013/10/02/thunderclap-can-help-grassroots-organizing/amp/

3.      CO:  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 only 3 days to get 30 more supporters.  We can help them reach their goal to set off a Thunderclap, a social media flash mob message blast. We can click, add our social media support on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.  THEN cut, paste and share:  https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/64859-colorado-enrollment-alert  Find out more about how Thunderclap helps grassroots organizing here:  https://www.socialworkhelper.com/2013/10/02/thunderclap-can-help-grassroots-organizing/amp/

4.      FL: attention registered voters in Florida! Here's a petition really worth signing. "1 in 10 Florida adults is banned from voting because of a past conviction. Florida is one of only four states that permanently takes away their vote. We need 270,745 more Florida registered voters to sign this petition by February 1st, 2018 to put an initiative on the ballot that would restore their ability to vote." Let's help make that "blue wave" happen! Those of us who don't live in FL can help get the word out by sharing the petition on social media: https://florida.ourstates.org

Reading/Watching

1.       Thanks to Unearthed, Greenpeace UK’s award-winning journalism project, we finally know how much federal land could be at stake in Trump's rush for more drilling:  https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2017/12/05/area-protected-land-larger-california-risk-drilling-trump/

2.      “My beliefs as a conservative evangelical teenager were dogmatic and fervent — until they weren’t. Now I know there was never any place in that faith tradition for someone like me.” - https://www.buzzfeed.com/tomiobaro/i-used-to-be-a-conservative-evangelical-now-i-see-theyre?utm_term=.yrwd9weK3#.mqdQa08kO

3.      Why Doug Jones’ win is so remarkable – written only days before the election:  https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/12/can-doug-jones-get-enough-black-voters-to-win/547574/

4.      Even the BBC picked up on the USA Today editorial: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42328467