Rogan's List

12/20/17

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.       Last night the Senate passed the tax bill. The House will re-vote on it today after the Senate parliamentarian ruled that three provisions would have to be removed from the bill because they did not fit the rules of a reconciliation bill requiring only 51 votes.  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/these-3-provisions-are-forcing-a-house-revote-on-the-tax-bill    If our representative voted no, we can thank them and make sure they will do so again. If they voted yes, we can use this script from Celeste Pewter to demand that this time, they vote NO.  https://mobile.twitter.com/Celeste_pewter/status/943266574948909057/photo/1 

2.      Steven Gardner is a longtime coal industry consultant, and he has called the agency’s marquee Obama-era regulation the product of “one of the most disingenuous and dishonest efforts put forward by a government agency.”  But in Gardner’s case, there is an unusual — and contentious — twist: He runs an engineering firm that produced a report as part of the process of preparing that regulation, and the agency deemed it so shoddy that it cut ties with Gardner’s company. Now he’s the nominee to head that agency, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. (In broad terms, OSMRE — pronounced “oz-muhr” — focuses on mining’s effect on the environment, while the other key regulator, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, focuses on the welfare of miners.) We can read the whole story at ProPublica.  Let's tell our senators that Gardner is the wrong choice to head OSMRE.

3.      The Republican regime's mining regulators are reconsidering rules meant to protect underground miners from breathing coal and rock dust -- the cause of black lung -- and diesel exhaust, which can cause cancer. An advocate for coal miners said Friday that this sends a "very bad signal." The Mine Safety and Health Administration has asked for public comments on whether standards "could be improved or made more effective or less burdensome by accommodating advances in technology, innovative techniques, or less costly methods." Let's read more at ABCNews.  We can submit public comments on the Exposure of Underground Miners to Diesel Exhaust until January 9, 2018.

4.      “The Trump administration is rolling back Obama-era rules for how animals should be treated if their meat is going to be sold as “certified organic.”” The rules would “govern an animal’s access to outdoor space, transportation and slaughter, among other things.” http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/365613-ta-nehisi-coates-deletes-twitter-account We have until January 18 to protest the withdrawal of this rule. Let’s submit our comments here https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=AMS-NOP-15-0012-6686

5.      “A group of small farmers filed a petition in a federal appeals court last week in hopes that the USDA will reinstate an Obama-era rule that it revoked in October. The rule, which had not yet taken effect, would have made it easier for independent farmers to sue big agriculture companies for whom they raise livestock.”

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/365627-farmers-sue-usda-over-obama-era-litigation-rule-that-trump-revoked Let’s contact our state Attorney Generals to ask them to support this challenge to the withdrawal of a rule that would have helped small farmers. 

6.      Although the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality, there is still more that we can do; we can contact our MoC and ask them to support a Resolution of Disapproval to overturn the FCC vote http://reut.rs/2BzbHss Battle for the Net has a form letter that we can edit and send to our MoC https://www.battleforthenet.com/ We can also check out which of our MoC have either spoken out against net neutrality, or not stated a position either way, then call them to ask that they change their position and support a Resolution of Disapproval.

7.      The Senate Banking Committee has voted to reject Trump nominee Scott Garrett to head the Export-Import Bank http://bit.ly/2BNmteD Garrett had previously been vocal in his desire to shut down the Ex-Im Bank altogether. While we can thank all the Democrats of the Banking Committee for opposing the nominee (http://bit.ly/2sxD4e1), let's also make sure we send a "thank you" to the two Republicans who rejected Garrett: Senators Mike Rounds: (202) 224-5842, Hart Senate Office Bldg., Suite 502 Washington, DC 20510 and Tim Scott: (202) 224-6121, 717 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510

8.     One of the NSA's most powerful surveillance tools, the Section 702 power to allow collection of Americans’ electronic communications, is scheduled to expire on December 31st. With Congress divided on the future of Section 702, some are trying to sneak an extension through, attaching privacy-invasive riders to must-pass funding bills (http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article190614254.html). This would rob surveillance reform of its own vote and the opportunity for a real and much-needed debate. Let’s join the Electronic Frontier Foundation in calling our members of Congress to urge them to oppose expanding the surveillance state and ask them to insist that this issue be addressed on its own and not tacked on to government funding bills. We can learn more and get connected at this link: https://act.eff.org/action/stop-the-expansion-of-nsa-spying.

9.      Congressional Republicans are continuing to prioritize cutting taxes for the rich over ensuring our children have health insurance, rushing forward their Reverse Robin Hood tax scam while ignoring the need to finally extend funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. CHIP helps almost nine million children and pregnant women access health care, and states are being forced to prepare to shut down their programs with Congress more than two months late on reauthorizing it (http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20171218/NEWS/171219890). 5 Calls is organizing people across the country to call their governors and asking them to join the bipartisan coalition putting pressure on Congress to act. We can join them and make the call at this link: https://5calls.org/issue/pressure-governors-support-chip.

10.  “President Donald Trump is trying out a new campaign slogan: “How’s your 401(k) doing?” The answer for more than half of Americans is that they don’t have one.”  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-19/trump-asks-how-s-your-401-k-but-most-voters-don-t-have-one  Perhaps Trump does not realize this.  Let’s tell him:  1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500 or (202) 456-1111

Election 2017/2018

1.       Just in case we feel our single vote doesn’t count, or we hear that sentiment from someone else, remember that yesterday, in the Virginia State House, a seat flipped to blue by one vote making that House ratio now 50/50.  “After a recount conducted Tuesday, Democrat Shelly Simonds had 11,608 votes to Republican incumbent David Yancey's 11,607 votes …”  https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/19/democrats-tie-virginia-house-of-delegates-244598  Let’s make sure in 2018 that we put helping with voter registration and getting out the vote at the top of our resolution list. 

2.      One productive way to react to this heinous tax bill is to donate to the eventual Democratic candidates who will run against the Republicans who voted for the bill. This campaign allows us to do exactly that. "Your donation will be evenly split among the eventual Democratic nominees in the GOP-held Swing Left Swing Districts where the Representative votes for a bill that would result in a net tax reduction for the richest 1 percent of tax units, on average, as determined by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, on or before 12/31/17."  

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/notonepennyfund We can refer to the full list of potentially-targeted districts here.

 Other Actions

1.       Had there been an office pool about which newspaper would have important and critical editorials/op-eds during this political era, probably none of us would have chosen USA Today but they have been stepping up consistently and with great clarity. The most recent example is this one by Sally Q. Yates (former Deputy Attorney General who was fired by Trump):https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/12/19/what-kind-country-we-speak-out-core-american-values-sally-q-yates-column/951828001/  Let’s find ways to share this with friends and family who may roll their eyes at the NYTimes and Washington Post but might hear it in this venue. And then we can thank Yates on Twitter @SallyQYates and take a moment to say thanks to USA Today who have mercifully veered from neutrality:  http://marketing.usatoday.com/contact

2.      Let's join the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is calling on Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló to veto a bill passed by the Puerto Rico Senate that could allow anyone who claims a religious exemption the right to discriminate against the Commonwealth’s LGBTQ community and visitors. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, currently focused on Hurricane Maria recovery efforts in her city, stated: "Discrimination--whatever it may be--disguises hatred, fear, and ignorance. There will never be a justification to hide it behind any law." Let's read more at HRC.  At a time when Puerto Rico is struggling, this discriminatory bill does not seem like a smart move.  Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, La Fortaleza, P.O. Box 9020082, San Juan, PR 00902-0082;  Phone 787/721-7000;  Fax:787/721-5072.  We can also contact him on his website (note: Spanish only). 

3.      The Hill has always been a center/right publication, but now former Trump advisor, Sebastian Gorka, is being given space as an opinion contributor: http://bit.ly/2oNb75d If we want to stop normalizing racism and bigotry, we should at least make sure we are not giving white supremacists a platform http://bit.ly/2vpGGRk Let's make sure to contact The Hill to let them know how we feel about this: http://thehill.com/contact 

4.      If we find ourselves with lots of shipping boxes at our houses during the holiday season, we can either recycle them or use Give Back Box to ship our no-longer-needed clothing and household goods at no cost to an agency that can use them.  Let’s get more info here:  https://givebackbox.com/

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.       Tonight, December 20th at 8 pm EST let’s join in on the Facebook Live event to learn what we can do to protect the Trump-Russia investigations.  This event will feature commentary and discussion with experts, activists and special guests from the Congressional leadership.   More info here:   https://www.facebook.com/events/1329588500503206/

States

1.       MN:  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 20 days to get 31 more supporters.  We can them reach their goal 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/65114-minnesota-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/

2.      WA: 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 21 days to get 23 more supporters.  We can them reach their goal 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/65113-washington-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/

Reading/Watching

1.       CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics) is reminding us that it wouldn't be so easy for Trump to fire Mueller from his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election (and the possible collusion of the Trump campaign in this)   https://www.citizensforethics.org/trump-cant-easily-remove-mueller-happens-tries/ There are growing rumors, however, regarding the possibility that Trump may just do that. Even the authors of the CREW white paper are behind the nationwide preparations for rallies should that happen.  We can register at  

https://act.moveon.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response-events/search/   

2.      Naomi Klein has penned a stirring piece for Sierra Club titled “Hope Trumps Nope: A Blueprint for Resistance: https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2018-1-january-february/feature/hope-trumps-nope-blueprint-for-resistance

3.      Offered a deal that could have created 3,500 good jobs but ruined the beloved rural character of a corner of Bourbon County Kentucky, Fiscal Court members did a remarkable thing in this money-obsessed age: They said no.  It helped that this courageous act was popular with their constituents: More than 150 people packed the courthouse Thursday night to make sure magistrates killed this risky deal, which had been sprung on them only a week earlier. With their unanimous action, magistrates struck a blow against corporate welfare. They also set the stage for a conversation many Kentucky counties need to have: How can they grow and prosper in the 21st century without losing their identity, sacrificing their quality of life and selling their soul to multinational corporations that are here today but may be gone tomorrow? Let's read more at Herald-Leader.  Let's be inspired to protect our own town's from corporate take-overs in 2018.

4.      “19 Acts of Heroism in 2017 -- Many unheralded moments of courage, altruism and sacrifice lurk behind news stories. Here are some of our favorites.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/world/heroism-altruism-courage-compassion-2017.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=1 A nice reminder of the good, unselfish and kind people in this world. We can return to a better Country.