2/19/18
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.
This
week in Congress. Both the House and Senate are scheduled for state work
periods this week. If we can, let's show up at their local district offices
and attend any town halls they may be having. We can also use this Recess
Toolkit from Indivisible: https://recess.indivisible.org/
2.
Over the
weekend, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior Emma Gonzalez called for
action on gun control and called out politicians who took money from the NRA in
a powerful speech (https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/17/us/florida-student-emma-gonzalez-speech/index.html). Gun control activists are launching a new
campaign that heeds her call and aims to make the NRA’s endorsement
radioactive. #NoNRAMoney features two petitions, one allowing candidates to
publicly reject NRA support, and the other for voters to vow to oppose any
candidate who takes NRA money. We can take the pledge, and ask candidates to
take it, at https://www.nonramoney.org
3.
Newsweek reported this week that a woman mailed a
check for thoughts and prayers to her Republican Congressman. http://www.newsweek.com/woman-mails-thoughts-and-prayers-check-809846. The photo has gone viral. Let’s send
Speaker Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and any of our own MoCs
who receive NRA contributions a check for thoughts and prayers and with a
strong message that we will not vote for any representative who prioritizes NRA
funding over the lives of children. If we’d rather not use real checks, we can
print these postcards that look like checks:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16m3veYhtk5CnJsFDSqyqGxSj5m9r86Yo/view We
can find out which of our MoCs receive contributions here. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/nra-donations/?utm_term=.9ca312b931f1
4.
“The
National Rifle Association has a financial chokehold on much of Congress. It’s
one of the main reasons why, in the wake of mass shootings such as the
ones in Parkland, FL, Sutherland Springs, TX, Las Vegas, Orlando, San
Bernardino, and Sandy Hook, we remain unable to pass commonsense gun laws. In the wake of the Las Vegas tragedy,
two representatives–Representatives Tim Ryan (Ohio) and Tim Walz
(Minnesota)–have donated previous NRA contributions to gun violence protection
groups. Now, MoveOn members across the country are petitioning
their fellow lawmakers to join them.”
Let’s see how much our MoCs have accepted and find a petition to sign: https://front.moveon.org/has-your-member-of-congress-received-campaign-support-from-the-nra/#MI
5.
An
extremely under-reported story is the number of civilian deaths resulting from
U.S. airstrikes in Syria and Iraq, which has reached an all-time high under the
current administration. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-civilian-deaths-syria-iraq-middle-east-a7649486.html. We need to express our outrage and insist
on greater transparency and ask our MoCs to pass H.R. 700, which subjects the National Security
Council, who are responsible for making decisions about drone strikes to
Freedom of Information Act requests. More information can be found from this
excellent op-ed: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-samdani-civilian-deaths_us_5a81ec3ee4b0580d3d6d5659.
6.
From Families USA: Members
of Congress will be home this week for recess: Use our toolkit to let them know
you're holding them accountable to defend #healthcare in 2018 and ask for a #DreamActNow http://bit.ly/2o9Qnkg
7.
“Earlier
this week, EPA announced that its National Exposure Research Laboratory in Las
Vegas would close. Fifty employees will have to either relocate to another EPA
office in Cincinnati, Ohio or Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina, or leave EPA altogether by Sept. 30, 2018. But Pruitt is not
planning dramatic shuttering of big offices to reduce EPA. Rather, this
administration will embark on “workforce reshaping” to weaken the EPA to
rubble. Ever since embarking on his campaign, Trump has saved his most virulent
attacks for the EPA, paradoxically one of the most effective federal agencies
of the past 50 years. At first, Trump did not even know the correct name of the
agency he sought to condemn, telling Sean Hannity that “The Department of
Environmental…I mean, the D-E-P is killing us environmentally, it’s just
killing our businesses.” The key to stopping further slides in EPA’s
effectiveness will be if Congress ceases to authorize this administration to
“reshape” the “workforce” by including millions of dollars in incentives for
retirement while continuing to allow the agency to maintain its effective
hiring freeze. http://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/374167-the-79-million-plan-to-gut-epa-staff Let’s pressure our Reps in
Congress to authorize the funds to keep the EPA working for all of us and stop
the “workforce reshaping” that Pruitt and Trump want to use to destroy the EPA
and our natural resources for business gains.
8.
As soon
as next week, the House will vote on H.R.
3299, a
bill that would give the green light to payday lenders to charge debt
trap-level interest rates to low-income consumers (https://www.consumerfinancemonitor.com/2017/11/20/house-financial-services-committee-approves-madden-fix-bill/). Consumer advocates and 20 state attorneys
general have warned that this bill is dangerous. Let’s tell our
House members we expect them to listen to them and vote no. We can call
or use this tool from Americans for Financial
Reform to e-mail.
9.
In
Florida, it is easier to buy an AR-15 assault rifle than a handgun. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/us/ar15-mass-shootings-guns.html. While one has to be 21 to drink or buy a
handgun, one can buy an AR-15 at age 19. Congress instituted a 10-year ban on
assault rifles in 1994, but the Republican-controlled Congress let the ban
expire in 2004. It’s time to tell our MoCs that no one’s rights are impinged by
a ban on these dangerous weapons that have no other use than to kill people. Let’s ask our senators to co-sponsor and support
S.2095: Assault
Weapons Ban of 2017. It is time to
reinstate this ban and save lives.
10. In a bit of irony, the “Secret Service
confirmed Thursday that those attending President Trump’s Friday speech to the
National Rifle Association in Atlanta must leave their guns outside.” http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/330973-secret-service-no-guns-at-trump-nra-speech#.WoY5iLgmrL8.twitter Let’s
let the White House know that the same instructions should be followed for
schools, movie theaters, shopping center, and all other public places,
too.
Election 2018 –
General
1.
Even if
we think we already know, let’s take this quiz from iSideWith.com to see how we align with political parties
and candidates.
2.
Postcards
to Voters continues its first primary campaign with Campaign 54 for Marie Newman, Democrat for Illinois
congressional district 3. It’s time for a True-Blue progressive like
Marie Newman to hold this seat in Congress. We can help by writing 5 postcards
to voters in IL03 to get out the vote. Returning writers may text WIN to
(484) ASK-ABBY which is (484)
275-2229 and get addresses right away, 24/7 with an emailed courtesy copy
for added convenience. If we are new to this effective grassroots effort:
Email: Join@TonyTheDemocrat.org OR
text JOIN to (484) ASK-ABBY. If we have any friends or relatives in or
near Chicago, let's be sure to tell them about this campaign.
3.
The
special election for Kentucky House District #89 will be held on February
27th, and the Democrats have nominated university librarian and progressive activist
Kelly Smith to face off against Republican Robert Goforth. Smith is running to
fight back against education funding cuts and privatization and wants to push
for everyone to pay their fair share (http://www.richmondregister.com/opinion/brosi-kelly-smith-emerges-for-th-district/article_35a6abc8-082c-11e8-b6eb-1fd646f6dc57.html). Let’s help her out! We can sign up to
write postcards for her BY TOMORROW with #PostcardsToVoters. Find instructions here.
4.
Eleven
sitting lawmakers have used campaign funds to pay membership dues to the
National Rifle Association (NRA). The FEC (Federal Election Committee) bans
lawmakers from spending campaign money on personal expenses, but it does allow
for those funds to be used on “membership dues in an organization that may have
political interests.” The general counsel at the watchdog group Campaign Legal
Center told McClatchy the key question is how lawmakers view their NRA
membership as it relates to their office and if they would be a dues-paying
member if they weren't an elected official. Are they saying they would not be a
member of the NRA if they weren’t an officeholder?” he told McClatchy. The NRA
has spent over $1 million on elections in the 2018 cycle, according to Open
Secrets. It also spent $30 million to back President Trump in
the 2016 presidential race.
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/374214-eleven-lawmakers-have-used-campaign-funds-to-pay-nra-dues-report Let’s
be sure to check out who we are electing in November and make sure they aren’t
paying the NRA membership fees with campaign dollars or taking NRA
contributions.
Election 2018 –
By State
1.
KY: There is a special election today Kentucky
House District 49, so let’s make sure we cast our ballots for Linda Belcher (http://kycir.org/2018/02/12/in-special-election-bullitt-county-voters-face-very-different-choices/).
2.
MS: Special election tomorrow for those of us in
Mississippi’s House District 60. Let’s get
out and vote for labor activist Morris Mock (https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/4-run-for-vacant-mississippi-house-seat-in-rankin-county/).
Other Actions
1.
Former
Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, has pledged to match all donations
to Everytown for Gun Safety. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/04/mike-bloomberg-offers-to-match-every-donation-to-fight-gun-violence.html?__source=sharebar|facebook&par=sharebar. Watch 14-year-old Parkland, Florida high
school student Emma Gonzalez’s amazing speech https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/17/us/florida-student-emma-gonzalez-speech/index.html and then double your impact by donating now
to this common sense gun control activist group. https://everytown.org/
2.
Short,
but important piece by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) on three things we can do right
now to fight gun violence: https://medium.com/@ChrisMurphyCT/three-things-you-can-do-right-now-to-fight-gun-violence-b666c6f52c5e Let’s all do them.
3.
Students
at Pelham (NY) High School walked out of school Friday morning to ask
Congress to act following the deadly shooting in Florida. High schoolers in
Pelham watched the shooting unfold in the high school in Parkland, Florida, and
say they now wonder if their school could be next. http://westchester.news12.com/story/37527508/pelham-high-school-students-stage-walkout-after-florida-shooting #MENEXT is now a powerful Twitter hashtag. The #MENEXT movement now has a Facebook page
growing in larger numbers everyday with students across the country posting
their faces with the same hash tag sign the students at Pelham used in their
protest. It’s a powerful statement to see those faces with that hashtag.
You can “like and follow” the FB page at the link. Adults in most
cases are encouraging students with other post of news articles in favor of
sensible gun laws. As always there are a few trolls. Let’s encourage this
powerful movement. https://www.facebook.com/menext2018/
4.
From one
of our own: Charlotte, NC is preparing a
bid to host the 2020 Republican National Convention. I have started a Petition
on Change.org, asking them to scrap plans on hosting the RNC and to
withdraw any bid that may have already been made - until the Republican Party
pledges to extend full equality and dignity to all LGBTQ citizens of America. Please sign my Petition here and share it
across all your social media networks https://www.change.org/p/charlotte-mayor-vi-lyles-charlotte-nc-just-say-no-to-the-rnc
5.
“As
outrage after the Parkland,
Florida, school shooting hits
a fever
pitch, Everytown
for Gun Safety (which reportedly received some $750,000 in unsolicited
donations immediately after the attack) has released a “five-action
plan”—called Throw
Them Out—to
kick out lawmakers beholden to the gun lobby and to energize supporters ahead
of the 2018 midterm elections. Everytown is also organizing 200 vigils around
the country.” https://www.vogue.com/article/everytown-throw-them-out-action-plan-congress-gun-lobby-parkland-florida-shooting Let’s
join this effort and work this plan.
6.
Russian
bot activity increased significantly after Parkland. They are poised to control
any story as soon, or even before, it breaks. Now we have a chance to fight
back. We can sign up with Active Resist,
choose campaign or causes we want to follow. Then, we’ll get notified
when our candidate or cause needs likes and comments to boost visibility on
Social Media Platforms. This way, real people instead of bots, will be
amplifying the message and getting control of the narrative. We can read more
about how Active Resist works here: https://activeresist.com/about.html We
can sign up here: https://activeresist.com/register.html If we
are running for office, we can also sign up for this free service by agreeing
to play nice during primaries and sending an email to admin@activeresist.com
7.
Students
are stepping and demanding laws to protect them from gun violence. If we are a
student who wants to become involved, or if we know such a student, we can
check out Students Demand Action, a new group from Everytown for Gun
Safety and Moms Demand Action: http://act.everytown.org/sign/join-students-demand-action
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1.
This year, on February 24, working
people and our allies will join together to demand an end to an economy that’s
rigged against working people and defend the freedoms that Dr. King fought and
died for, like the freedom from want, the freedom from hate, the freedom to
vote, the freedom to join together in strong unions. On Feb. 26, the
Supreme Court will hear a case that involves whether public-sector workers can
be forced to join or otherwise financially support their workplace's unions as
a condition of employment. (Source: Washington
Examiner) Ahead of this care, the AFL-CIO is
sponsoring the Working People's Day of Action. We can read more about it and
find an event near us at itsaboutfreedom.org.
2.
The survivors of the Parkland shooting are turning
their anger into action, and they are organizing a march on Washington D.C. on March
24 to demand action against gun violence (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/florida-teen-shooting-survivors-announce-march-washington-demand/story?id=53178265). We can commit
to marching with them in D.C. or in our own communities and supporting their
efforts at their website, on Facebook or on Twitter.
3.
Network for Public
Education is calling “for mass action on April 20,
the anniversary of the horrific shootings at Columbine High School. We urge
teachers, families, students, administrators and every member of the community
to engage in acts of protest in and around their schools. Create actions that
work best in your community. Organize sit-ins, teach-ins, walkouts,
marches–whatever you decide will show your school and community’s determination
to keep our students safe.” https://networkforpubliceducation.org/2018/02/join-us-day-action-stop-gun-violence-schools/
4.
We’ve seen over the last few days how powerful the
voices of the students who survived the horrors of school shootings can be, and
how this generation of students is taking the lead in the fight for common
sense gun control (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/02/17/we-last-mass-shooting-florida-students-might-tipping-point-gun-debate/347992002/). Young people
are coming together to schedule a national school walkout
at10:00am on April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine
shooting, to demand action against gun violence. Let’s support their efforts.
We can find them on Twitter here and on Facebook here.
5.
One of our own is attempting to create a spreadsheet
of all the gun reform events being held around the country. If we are aware of any not on this list,
please follow the instructions in red on the spreadsheet so the list can
grow. Click here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fbpir2Mz83LiOkDV75iL6QKv720OhnMrsxNxlMl2hwE/edit#gid=0
States
Reading/Watching
1.
Experts in authoritarianism advise us to keep a list of things subtly changing around us, so we’ll remember. Amy Siskind is keeping that list for us. Amy writes, "Another mass shooting shook the country and left Trump and his regime flat-footed ahead of bombshell indictments unsealed by Mueller against Russians on Friday" Let's review Amy Siskind's list week 66.
Experts in authoritarianism advise us to keep a list of things subtly changing around us, so we’ll remember. Amy Siskind is keeping that list for us. Amy writes, "Another mass shooting shook the country and left Trump and his regime flat-footed ahead of bombshell indictments unsealed by Mueller against Russians on Friday" Let's review Amy Siskind's list week 66.
2.
Some insights into bots and trolls: https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000005414346/how-russian-bots-and-trolls-invade-our-lives-and-elections.html
3.
And, as usual, our weekly dose of Small
Victories: https://mailchi.mp/peaceisloud/small-victories-joyful-protest?e=86890239c4
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