3/1/18
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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.
In a
surprise move yesterday, Trump told members of Congress that he supports some
commonsense gun reforms and thinks it should happen quickly: https://www.apnews.com/6c9e8e91eff04956921a127c952fb72a/Trump-calls-for-quick-action-on-school-safety,-guns Let’s contact our MoCs and tell them we agree
and that we want them to get on this and save some lives.
2.
Admiral
Mike Rogers, director of the U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security
Agency, has just told Congress that the White House isn't doing nearly enough
to combat foreign meddling in our elections, and that the 2018 midterms are in
jeopardy as a result (https://apnews.com/7d50079b8eda4d0ba832dac98608bce9/Top-intel-official:-US-must-do-more-to-stop-Russian-meddling).
Congressional Democrats, after consulting with intelligence experts, want to
include $300+ million in the next spending bill (deadline March 23rd) to
counter foreign interference in the midterm elections (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-fbi-election-interference-20180221-story.html).
Since this sort of meddling has already begun, let's make sure our
Congresspeople know that we want this money to be made available to help
safeguard our democracy.
3.
Trump
judicial nominee Gordon Giampietro has been caught calling birth control pills
“an assault on nature” and “against God’s plan,” calling the Court’s decision
to recognize marriage rights “an assault on the conscience,” and calling
diversity “code for relaxed standards.” (https://www.buzzfeed.com/zoetillman/one-of-trumps-judicial-nominees-once-wrote-that-diversity?utm_term=.pr7en3qXa#.svxwLnJeQ)
These regressive, reactionary views have no place on the federal bench. Let’s
make sure our senators know we want them to oppose his confirmation.
4.
Senator
Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced legislation (S.J. Res 52) on
Tuesday to begin the Congressional Review Act process to overturn the
FCC's decision to repeal net neutrality http://politi.co/2HP6MUv The
Senate will have to vote on the resolution, as it has the thirty supporters
needed to bring it to the floor, but they still need the support of one more
senator in order to pass it. For those of us with Republican senators, let's
tell them that we need their support for net neutrality. We can all also call
our representatives in the House to make sure that they plan on supporting the
resolution to overturn the FCC's decision.
5.
For
nearly 20 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been
subject to a ban on funding to study gun violence called the “Dickey
Amendment.” It has suppressed crucial efforts to study gun violence and how to
reduce it (http://thehill.com/homenews/house/374149-gop-chairman-congress-should-rethink-cdc-ban-on-gun-violence-research?amp&__twitter_impression=true).
It’s time for the federal government to recognize gun violence as the public
health issue it is and allow the CDC to do its job again. Let’s use this script from 5Calls to
tell our MoCs to end the Dickey Amendment.
6.
In a
move that is not as fiscally prudent as Ben Carson claims he wants to be with
the public’s money, he went lavishly beyond the allotted $5000 to redecorate
his HUD office suite. The whistle blower
on this was demoted when she refused to comply with the overage. HUD is now under scrutiny. https://www.npr.org/2018/02/28/589493664/ben-carson-and-hud-face-allegations-of-lavish-spending-including-31-000-furnitur Let’s tell
Ben Carson to pay us back and stick to the legal limit requirement. With
more than eight billion dollars set to be cut in the HUD budget, this is not
responsible. Tweet @SecretaryCarson, or telephone HUD at: (202) 708-1112
7.
Next
month Sen. Duckworth (D-IL) will become the first woman to give birth while
being a member of the Senate. If she
takes a maternity leave, she cannot vote.
If she brings her baby to work, she is not allowed to breastfeed on the
Senate floor and could miss votes. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tammy-duckworth-faces-battle-in-senate-over-maternity-leave/
Let’s sign this petition from ultraviolet to get these archaic procedures
changed: https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/duckworth_maternity Let’s
tell our senators, too, that it is time to change this or make appropriate
accommodates for Sen. Duckworth and women legislators to come.
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.
There
was a little more blue-wave good news on Tuesday night – two
Republican held state legislature seats went blue yesterday in New Hampshire
and Connecticut: http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/375943-dems-flip-two-gop-held-seats-in-special-elections These are reminders that we should be
competing everywhere. Let’s check in with SwingLeft to see what we can do to
help: https://swingleft.org
Election 2018 –
By State
1.
TX: Primary on March 6 - http://projects.houstonchronicle.com/2018/elections/primaries/
2.
PA: PA-18 Special election on March 13 - https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/23/17013730/conor-lamb-rick-saccone-pennsylvania-special-election
3.
IL: Primary on March 20 - https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/voting-guide/
Other Actions
1.
Dick’s
Sporting Goods will no longer sell assault-style firearms and will ban
high-capacity magazines, and will not sell any guns to people younger than 21, CEO
Edward W. Stack announced during an appearance on
“Good Morning America”, as well as through a company statement
that said “thoughts and prayers are not enough” in the wake of America’s latest
mass shooting.” https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/28/589436112/dicks-sporting-goods-ends-sale-of-assault-style-rifles-citing-florida-shooting Let’s
send a thank you to Mr. Stack: Dick's Sporting Goods, 345 Court Street, Coraopolis,
Pennsylvania 15108 or (724) 273-3400 (Use
Option 1, Dial by Name Directory) or Edward.Stack@dcsg.com or tweet
@DICKS We can also call our closest store manager
with thanks as well. We need to support the
businesses that are taking action when our lawmakers refuse to do so.
2.
Walmart
has not sold modern sporting rifles, like the AR-15, since 2015, nor do they
sell high-capacity magazines or bump stocks.
Late yesterday, Walmart announced that it would no longer sell guns to
people under the age of 21 and that it will remove from its website items “resembling
assault-style rifles, including nonlethal airsoft guns and toys.” http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/376154-walmart-to-raise-age-limit-on-gun-purchases Let’s thank the corporate office for taking
this additional step: Walmart
Headquarters 702 S.W. 8th St. Bentonville, AK 72716 or (800)-925-6278.
3.
From one
of our own: I can't say enough good
about Rancho
Gordo, which sells heirloom beans and works
closely with Mexican farmers. Now I have another reason to love them. Steve
Sando, their CEO, has just announced that Rancho Gordo is ending its
relationship with FedEx because of FedEx's partnership with the NRA. This would
be a great time for a thank-you note. Also, a great time to buy beans. Write to
them at Rancho Gordo New World Specialty Food, 1924 Yajome Street, Napa CA
94559
4.
As
public sentiment surges against gun violence, we can continue to find ways to
combat it, using this link from Think Progress. If our bank is on this
list, they are helping weapons manufacturers stay afloat. We can read more
about who our financial institution supports, then contact our bank and ask
them to no longer support the makers of assault weapons. https://thinkprogress.org/banks-financing-guns-c985a46dd4d1/ If
we are not happy with our banks response and decide to leave them, we can find
a list of nearby credit unions, using this tool: http://mapping.ncua.gov/
5.
If we
are looking for ways to refute the specious pro NRA rhetoric, we can use this
easy tool from our friends at Suit Up Maine.
We can click here for simple, effective, point by point refutations of
major NRA talking points: https://www.suitupmaine.org/arm-yourself-with-facts/ It’s time to debunk Gun Nonsense so we can
move forward with real reforms.
6.
The
Parkland students who have taken a stand against the NRA following the mass
shooting on Feb 14th are now receiving harassment and death threats (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/social-media-blocks-abuse-parkland-shooting-survivors-online/story?id=53250460).
We can help their cause by scanning social media platforms like Twitter and
Facebook and reporting posts that are threatening these young activists. A
Twitter account threatening violence has already been suspended, using the
following process: We can help by
reporting any threatening tweets by: A) Clicking
on the threatening tweet, B) click the down arrow in the right-hand corner, C) Check
"abusive or harmful", D) Check "threatening physical harm",
E) Check "to someone else". The
tweet will be added to an incident report.
On Facebook, use the "Report post" link near the abusive text
(three little gray dots to the right of poster's name). These kids are doing
great things and gaining traction, let's do what we can to make sure they
aren't being harassed for it.
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1.
March
14
is the Women’s March Youth Empower group’s 17-minute #Enough National School
Walkout at 10am all over the country. We
can join and support here and find more information including a toolkit: https://www.womensmarch.com/enough
2.
If we need transportation to go to Washington, D.C.
for the March for Our Lives on March 24, let’s check out the Rally Bus
options that are already created or create one ourselves: http://rallybus.net/march-for-our-lives/ If we can’t
make it there, let’s see if we can find a March for Our Lives event near us or
create one if there is not: https://event.marchforourlives.com/event/march-our-lives-events/search
States
1.
FL: The Florida House Appropriations Committee
approved a bill Tuesday to implement measures to prevent future
school shootings, including a $67 million program to train teachers to carry
guns. The Tampa Bay Times reported that the Republican-controlled committee
voted along party lines to approve a “school marshal” program. The bill
proposes putting 10 teachers trained to carry a gun in every school. The
state's Senate Appropriations Committee passed a similar bill on Tuesday.
Many educators, including some in Parkland, have also spoken out against the
idea. http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/375992-florida-lawmakers-approve-bill-to-arm-teachers The Parkland students voiced their objections
to arming teachers, but the Republicans in Florida overrode their voices. If
you are a Florida resident, call your Representatives and ask them to vote NO
on this Bill.
2.
FL: Animal
advocates say [Florida] House Bill 7087 has
disguised language that is hard for the regular person to understand, that
could ultimately end puppy mill bans, even if local jurisdictions have
ordinances to outlaw them. Let's read more at ABC Action News. Let's
call our Florida state representatives to
let them know we oppose the amendment that would over-ride local puppy mill
ordinances. Let's be clear that we oppose puppy mills.
3.
MI: State House Rep. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake)
is drafting a bill which would "allow school districts to provide access
to guns in locked, undisclosed locations in school buildings to teachers who
volunteer and who are trained in firearm use."
http://on.lsj.com/2oE5Byp Arming teachers and putting more guns
in school is the opposite of what we need. Scientific American has published an
article which discusses the laws we should be implementing instead: http://bit.ly/2hpauff Let's
be sure to contact our Michigan rep and ask that they oppose any legislation
which puts more guns on school grounds.
Reading/Watching
1.
“We studied
thousands of anonymous posts about the Parkland attack — and found a conspiracy
in the making” - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/we-studied-thousands-of-anonymous-posts-about-the-parkland-attack---and-found-a-conspiracy-in-the-making/2018/02/27/04a856be-1b20-11e8-b2d9-08e748f892c0_story.html?utm_term=.454408994070
2.
From The Climate Reality Project: "How Does Wind Energy Work, Anyway?" Let's
become more knowledgeable about this alternative energy source.
3.
Unless the left can effectively pull together,
the GOP could easily maintain control of Congress in 2018: https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/02/27/how-republicans-can-win-the-2018-midterms-217088
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