2/28/18
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Contact Federal Government Officials
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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.
Russian
involvement in our election process remains a grave and continuing
concern. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/19/17023240/election-2018-russia-interference-stop-prevent Trump
has yet to impose the Congress-approved sanctions against Russia, nor has he
instructed his National Security Agency to disrupt Russian cyberattacks: http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/375784-nsa-director-says-he-hasnt-receive-orders-from-trump-to-disrupt-russian There are a few important bipartisan bills
currently pending in the House and Senate, that would address this.
The Honest Ads Act (S.
1989/H.R.
4077)
would close the disclosure loopholes for campaign-related ads being run by
foreign interests on the Internet, making it harder for foreign social media
campaigns to go unnoticed. The DETER Act (S.
2313/H.R.
4884)
would provide strong new sanctions for any foreign interest interfering in our
elections. The PAPER Act (H.R.
3751)
would provide federal assistance and financial support for states to modernize
the security and protect the integrity of their election systems. The Secure
Elections Act (S.
2261)
would provide grants to states and establish an advisory panel of independent
experts to share information about election cybersecurity incidents, threats
and vulnerabilities. Let make sure that our MoCs know every
day that this is a major concern that we want addressed.
2.
In
November of last year, representatives in the House introduced a background
check bill which would ensure that background checks occur in all commercial
firearm sales, including gun shows, classified ads, and over the internet http://bit.ly/2HRsEPc Although the bill has bipartisan
support, and over 160 cosponsors, it has been sitting in the
House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and
Investigations. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA)
filed a discharge petition this week to bring the bill to the House floor for a
vote. Let's call our reps and make sure that they have signed on to the
discharge petition, and that they support H.R. 4240 - Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights
Protection Act of 2017.
3.
The Hill
reported yesterday that Democrats are fearful of taking too many steps on gun
control, because they worry it might lose them elections. http://thehill.com/homenews/house/375719-dems-fear-overreach-as-left-presses-assault-weapon-ban
But Democrats should be echoing the message of
Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), who was on the money, when he recently
claimed, “I’d much rather lose an election than a child.” http://www.gazettenet.com/McGovern-speaks-on-tourism-at-Franklin-County-Chamber-of-Commerce-15785846. Let’s tell our Democratic MoCs that it’s
time for them to show leadership and take a courageous and moral stand on
banning assault rifles, a position currently supported by 67% of the American
public. https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2521
4.
Thomas
Farr has a record of not only defending racist voter suppression laws, but
actually participating in efforts to suppress black voters (http://www.businessinsider.com/thomas-farr-modern-white-supremacist-black-civil-rights-leaders-say-2017-12). Donald Trump wants to give him a lifetime
appointment as a federal judge, where he’ll have tremendous power to continue
putting up barriers to the voting booth. Members of the North Carolina NAACP
are traveling to D.C. today to oppose his confirmation. Let's have their backs
and ask our senators to commit to voting against him. We can find talking
points in this
script from 5 Calls.
5.
Though
it usually takes a mass shooting to focus national attention on gun violence,
we should remember that 90 Americans are killed by guns every day – many of
them children (http://abcnews.go.com/US/parkland-mass-shootings-children-wounded-killed-guns-daily/story?id=53197811). Donald Trump thinks the problem will be
solved by arming teachers. We need to remind him that the scope of this crisis
is much larger than that. States United to Prevent Gun Violence has launched the #BackfireTrump
project,
where we can sign up to auto-tweet at Trump weekly, daily or every time an
American dies from gun violence to remind him and our Twitter followers of the
toll that guns take on us. Those of us with Twitter can sign up to take part in
it here: http://backfiretrump.com/.
6.
Since
Speaker Ryan has repeatedly failed to demonstrate the courage to stand up
against the gun lobby, advocates are trying to go around him. As
of Monday evening, 87 House Democrats had signed a discharge petition
to force a vote on H.R. 4240, a bipartisan bill that would create
universal background checks for gun sales and make sure everyone who should be
prohibited from buying firearms is listed in the National Instant Criminal
Background Check System (https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2018/02/27/fix-nics-senate-debate-gun-control-251408). We can find a list of reps who have signed
on here. Let’s contact our MoCs and either thank
them for their leadership or ask that they sign the petition.
7.
“A
federal environmental program that distributes grants to test the effects of
chemical exposure on adults and children is being shuttered amidst a major
organization consolidation at the Environmental Protection Agency.” http://thehill.com/regulation/energy-environment/375725-major-epa-reorganization-will-end-science-research-program Let’s
remind our MoC that a Republican president established the EPA and that we all
have a vested interest in the effect of human activities on our health. Then,
let’s voice our displeasure to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt: https://www.epa.gov/home/forms/contact-epa or on Twitter at @EPAScottPruitt
8.
We need
one more net neutrality supporter for the Congressional Review Act to move
forward in the Senate. While all Democratic senators are in favor of the CRA, Sen.
Susan Collins (R-ME) remains the only Republican to support it. If we have a
republican senator, let's be sure to give them a call and tell them we need
them to reverse the FCC's decision on net neutrality by supporting the CRA. If
we've already contacted our members of Congress, let's check out Indivisible's
explainer on the process of the a Congressional Review Act so we can be
prepared for our next action: https://www.indivisible.org/resource/process-using-congressional-review-act-protect-net-neutrality-explained/
9.
Yesterday,
the Supreme Court began hearing arguments in Janus vs. AFSCME,
a case that affects the long-term viability of public-sector unions: https://www.npr.org/2018/02/01/582539884/supreme-court-could-bleed-unions-dry After long years of attacking unions in the
private sector, big business and conservatives are now setting their sights on
unions of government workers using so-called right-to-work laws, which lower
wages and endanger workers in multiple ways:
https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/videos/1874540772558510/ As the Court deliberates this landmark case,
let's be sure our representatives in Congress know that Progressives stand with
unions, because they stand with us.
10. The humanitarian crisis in Syria is
devastating, and hardly anyone is paying attention. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-syria-ghouta-humanitarian-crisis-iran-0226-20180222-story.html The
Syrian American Medical Society reports that in East Ghouta, more than 400,000
people (including 95,000 children) are under a siege that is restricting the
inflow of food and medical supplies, and 13,000 children are in urgent
need of medical care. https://www.sams-usa.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/East-Ghouta-Talking-Points-3.pdf. Let’s tell our MoCs to call for an end to
the siege and an immediate humanitarian convoy to bring essential food and
medical relief to the people of Syria.
11.
The
Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that detained immigrants do not have a
right to bail hearings, overruling the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals which had
ruled that bond hearings are required after six months to determine whether
detainees who do not pose flight risks or a danger to public safety may be
released while their cases proceed. Writing in an angry dissent, Justice
Stephen Breyer said that the Court’s decision was most likely “the first time
ever” that it had interpreted a federal law to allow the long-term confinement
of people held in the United States and accused of misconduct without an
opportunity to obtain bail. “An ‘opportunity,’” he added, “does not necessarily
mean release. . . “ https://www.npr.org/2018/02/27/589279446/supreme-court-rules-immigrants-held-in-detention-are-not-entitled-to-bail-hearin Twenty-nine members of Congress
submitted an amicus curiae brief in support of this decision:
http://www.scotusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/15-1204-amicus-pet-29USRepresentatives.pdf If any of our MoCs are among them,
let’s tell them that we do not want people detained without recourse.
12. A memo from Betsy DeVos’s Department of
Education has come to light; it argues that the nation's loan servicers should
be protected from state rules that may be far tougher than federal law on
student loan debt collectors who have been accused of deceiving and abusing
student borrowers and have been sued by attorneys general in a handful of
states: https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/02/27/588943959/education-department-wants-to-protect-student-loan-debt-collectors We should contact the Dept of
Education now, before a rule blocking the states from taking action against
these abusive debt collector is put in place: 1-800-872-5327 or U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20202.
Election 2018 –
General
1.
We’re
closing in fast on our first chance to flip a congressional seat in 2018,
the March 13th special election in the Pennsylvania 18th. Democratic
nominee Conor Lamb, a U.S. marine and federal prosecutor who will fight for
workers’ rights and is refusing corporate PAC donations, is just three points
behind Rick Saccone, an anti-union, anti-choice, pro-tax scam reactionary
(https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/23/17013730/conor-lamb-rick-saccone-pennsylvania-special-election). But this is a tough district and Conor
Lamb needs our help to turn out every voter he can. Let’s sign up to phone bank
for him at bit.ly/FlipThe18th.
2.
Imagine
if we each got five people to register to vote. Do we know teens turning 18? New
neighbors? New co-workers who relocated? Let’s share this link on social media
and on neighborhood listservs, etc. https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
Election 2018 –
By State
Other Actions
1.
One of
the perks of belonging to the NRA are the numerous financial benefits received
from partnering companies: https://medium.com/@nraboycott/companies-need-to-cut-their-ties-with-the-nra-c2e7de041e53 The
public pressure on these companies by gun reform people is having an effect
with many companies ending their partnerships with the NRA. Let’s keep track here and keep applying
pressure: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Oh_NQIOmEZAA7goe4Z_xKQ5wZxp405sx3FAcmVaQl1Y/edit#gid=0
2.
The March for Our Lives organizers have set up a site that matches
DC-area hosts with high school students and chaperones who need lodging for
the March 24 event. The website is dcambs.org/lodging Let’s
share widely.
3.
From one
of our own: As you may have heard, the
GA government is threatening Delta airlines (removing tax exemption perks)
because of their decision to break ties with the NRA... word on the street is
that Delta may buckle TODAY under the pressure.
Please support their decision to stop offering NRA discounts: Call Delta
at 404-715-2600; dial ‘0’ to get the operator; Tell them you want to be
transferred to the NRA comment group of Customer Service. They are creating
cases w/ comments. Have your skymiles membership ready if ya have it... but
comments welcomed from all!
4.
The
immigration justice movement won a victory when the Supreme Court refused on
Monday to hear the administration’s challenge to a lower court ruling that has
upheld DACA. http://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/375575-supreme-court-refuses-to-hear-trump-challenge-on-daca. This means that many eligible DACA
recipients can file renewals, for now; however, many of them don’t have the
necessary funds. United We Dream is collecting donations to help DACA-eligible
immigrants pay renewal fees and they are also running clinics to help
DACA-eligible immigrants with the renewal process. We can donate here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/renewalfund-courtdecision.
5.
Last
fall, the NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors issued this statement that included, “In lieu of a visit to the White House, we
have decided that we’ll constructively use our trip to the nation’s capital in
February to celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion — the values that we
embrace as an organization.” Yesterday,
while in DC, the team visited the National Museum of African American History
and Culture with area school children.
http://wjla.com/sports/content/golden-state-warriors-spending-time-with-dc-students-instead-of-visiting-white-house Let’s
thank them for using their time so well:
The Golden State Warriors, 1011 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607 or (510)
986-2200
6.
Applying
for college, but worried about whether colleges will penalize students who have
been disciplined by their high schools for protesting against gun violence? Many
universities and colleges are assuring us that there will be no negative impact
on applicants. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/02/23/admissions-officers-take-stand-back-high-school-students-engaged-anti-gun-protests Here’s
where we can get authoritative information: The National Association for
College Admission Counseling “has collected information from member colleges
and universities that outlines their practices around how disciplinary actions
related to activism will be factored into the admission process.” They are
updating the information regularly.
7.
If we
are looking for more ways to combat the NRA, we can see if we own any stocks or
funds that support them and then divest. Even in the last few days, this idea
is rapidly gaining momentum. Several financial institutions are starting to
reject their NRA alliances as, as more of us divest, more will follow. Already First
National Bank of Omaha, the biggest privately-owned U.S. bank, is ending its
partnership with the NRA. Bank of America has announced it is investigating its
holdings, pension funds are looking into divesting and gun stocks are trending
down on a Wall Street. Now is an excellent time to deprive the NRA of its
lifeblood: Money. If we want to divest as individuals, we can read this: https://twocents.lifehacker.com/how-to-divest-from-gun-stocks-1823069001 If we
want to divest from our retirement funds we can read about it here: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/your-401k-probably-has-gun-stocks-in-it-heres-how-to-get-rid-of-them-2018-02-23 We
can also call our fund administrators directly and tell them to divest. Although the data here was last updated in
2016, we can also do a preliminary check here, then call the funds to verify: https://goodbyegunstocks.com/
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1.
Tonight at 5pm EST, join We Belong Together Chair Jess
Morales Rocketto and National Domestic Workers Alliance Director Ai-jen
Poo for a Facebook LIVE conversation about what's happening in Congress and
what’s next in the fight to protect Dreamers and their families from
deportation. More information and sign-up here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/whats-next-in-the-fight-to-protect-dreamers-and-their-families-que-sigue-en-la-lucha-para-proteger-a-ls-dreamers
States
1.
ALL: As one of the many educators fiercely
opposed to arming teachers, this one an ex-Marine, put it, “I will help
students to survive an armed intruder if I have to. But I will not arm myself
with a gun in my own classroom just because those in power refuse to wield the
more powerful weapon of common sense. That is where I draw the
line.”
http://time.com/5172852/trump-guns-teachers-nra/ While teachers (and Americans: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/02/23/in-2017-americans-narrowly-opposed-allowing-teachers-and-school-officials-to-carry-guns/) express their opposition, the real stakes
in Trump’s plan to militarize schools are increasingly highlighted:
“Groups at the bottom of American race hierarchy receive the brunt of state
violence. . . . This was true for mass incarceration ... for stop and frisk … for the war on drugs, and it is true for zero
tolerance in schools. To think that it won’t be true of a world where teachers
and faculty are empowered to use weapons is pure fantasy”:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2018/02/27/arming-teachers-would-put-black-and-latino-kids-in-danger/ For the sake of all children, we must
fight the effort to put guns in schools both at the local and the federal
levels. Let’s voice our opposition to our city and state reps as well as our
MoCs.
Reading/Watching
1.
“Why the
Russia Investigation Could Be More Like Iran-Contra Than Watergate” - https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/why-the-russia-investigation-could-end-more-like-iran-contra-than-watergate/554345/
2.
Unpredicted
and underreported, a change is sweeping our nation. Nobel Prize winning
economist Paul Krugman show how our activism creates a chain reaction of social
change: When people see the status quo as immovable, they tend to be
passive even if they are themselves dissatisfied. Indeed, they may be unwilling
to reveal their discontent, or to fully admit it to themselves. But once they
see others visibly taking a stand, they both gain more confidence in their
dissent and become more willing to act on it — and by their actions they may
induce the same response in others, causing a kind of chain reaction. - https://goo.gl/gL7NfS
3.
Max Boot has a fine column in the Washington
Post titled “Trump vs. Mueller is a Battle for America’s Soul”: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-vs-mueller-is-a-battle-for-americas-soul/2018/02/26/0979904c-1b19-11e8-9de1-147dd2df3829_story.html?utm_term=.4296ef0ceddc
