3/2/18
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Contact Federal Government Officials
Find senator’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/RLiotu
Find representative’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/5i7SXC
********************************
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.
Even
with the NRA it is about Russia and with more details being revealed. “"These revelations suggest that for
years the NRA courted a top Putin ally who is now reportedly attracting
scrutiny from the FBI," John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun
Safety, told NPR. "NRA leaders still haven't explained their close
relationship with Russian officials in Putin's orbit. Until they do, people
will continue to wonder what the NRA is hiding." https://www.npr.org/2018/03/01/590076949/depth-of-russian-politicians-cultivation-of-nra-ties-revealed
Something is amiss and our Congress needs to insist on investigations
that will get to the root of the matter and address this.
2.
Senate
Minority Leader Charles Schumer has just unveiled a comprehensive gun-control
plan that includes universal background checks, court orders to block dangerous
individuals from getting a gun, and a ban on assault weapons. http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/376286-schumer-unveils-democratic-gun-control-plan-with-plea-for-trump-support.
Let’s tell our MoCs and the White House that we want to see these measures
enacted.
3.
The
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R.
38) which passed the House in December, is
expected to be voted on this year in the Senate: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/376096-trump-background-checks-will-never-pass-if-concealed-carry-is Let's check out the summary at
Indivisible, then use their call scripts as we call our senators to determine
where they stand on the bill: http://bit.ly/2oLLAWT We can also use the information available at
Indivisible to hold our representative in the House accountable and tell them
that we will not forget how they voted.
4.
The
corruption keeps rolling on with news that Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law,
got millions in loans after arranging a White House meeting for the involved
equity firm: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/376177-kushner-group-got-millions-in-loans-after-a-white-house-meeting Let’s let Trump know that we have had enough
of the nepotistic nightmare that Kushner brings: The White House, 1600
Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20500 or on Twitter @realdonaldtrump
5.
Leaving
aside the issue of nepotism, Jared Kushner, whose security clearance was just
lowered, is embroiled in a stunning number of what are apparently conflicts of
interest--partly on account of his unwillingness to divest himself of about
$761 million’s worth of real estate holdings and other investments--and
is the avowed subject of efforts at manipulation by a number of foreign
governments: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/03/01/report-kushners-family-business-got-loans-after-white-house-meetings-executives/384242002/
Despite all this, he remains Trump’s “senior advisor,” with duties ranging from
making peace in the Middle East, managing the opioid crisis, acting as liaison
to Mexico, China, and to the Muslim community, working on criminal justice
reform. Do we really want Kushner involved in any of this? Let’s tell the
White House.
6.
The
League of Conservation Voters maintains a report card of our MoCs that reflect
how they support environmental issues called the National Environmental
Scorecard. Here is this year’s: http://scorecard.lcv.org/members-of-congress Let’s keep this on hand to use when speaking
with our MoCs about environmental issues and encourage them to bring their
scores up if it is an issue with us.
7.
Saudi
Arabia’s campaign in Yemen has killed thousands of civilians, and Human Rights
Watch has found that they’ve committed war crimes that have
worsened the massive humanitarian crisis.
Trump has not only continued to back Saudi Arabia, he’s expanded American support for their war,
despite the fact that Congress has never authorized our involvement in the
conflict in the first place. Senator
Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) have introduced
a bipartisan resolution that calls for an end to U.S. military assistance to
the Saudi-led war in Yemen, where nearly 8.4 million people are "a step
away from famine." https://www.thenation.com/article/senators-bernie-sanders-mike-lee-and-chris-murphy-invoke-war-powers-act-to-end-us-involvement-in-yemen/ Let’s tell our MoCs to support SJ
Res 54.
Let’s contact our senators and let them know we want them to support
this effort. We can use talking points and call scripts from Indivisible here. Likewise, let’s call our representatives
asking them to support H.C.R.
81, which would end all U.S. support for the Saudi-led
coalition in Yemen.
8.
Bypassing
the need for gun reform talks, next week, the Senate is set to have a floor
vote on the deceivingly-titled 'Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and
Consumer Protection Act ( S.
2155), a bill rolling back Obama-era Wall Street
reforms and letting big banks run wild again: (http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/19/news/companies/dodd-frank-senate-crapo-bill/index.html).
Senators from both parties have expressed support for this bill. Let’s make
sure we let them know we think taking the reins off big banks is a mistake and
we want them to oppose this legislation. We can use this explainer and call script
from Indivisible.
9.
In a
piece published in The Hill, Representative Cheri Bustos (D-Illinois) laid out
the case for ending forced arbitration of sexual harassment in the workplace;
an issue which is addressed in H.R.
4570, with bipartisan support (and the support of
every single state attorney general) http://bit.ly/2t1kU9B In
the article, Bustos implores Speaker of the House Paul Ryan to bring the bill
to the floor for a vote. Let's help add pressure by asking Speaker Ryan to move
this legislation forward: Office Location: 1233 Longworth HOB Washington, D.C.
20515 Phone: (202)
225-3031 We can also call our representative and
ask them to support H.R. 4570: Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment
Act, while asking our senators to support the Senate version of the bill: S.
2203
10. Now that the deadline has been removed,
Congress seems to have put DACA on the back burner https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/with-no-more-deadline-congress-has-stopped-talking-about-immigration/2018/03/01/12d66ad6-1c9d-11e8-b2d9-08e748f892c0_story.html?utm_term=.e8fa3f0c9e82 This is too important an issue to allow so
many young people to be left hanging.
“Video is a powerful and increasingly popular civic tool, which is
incredibly effective at capturing your unique stories and perspectives. It
dramatically amplifies your voice and is the perfect way to help you shape
public opinion, inspire others to action, and meaningfully influence
lawmakers.” Let’s share a video of what
DACA and DREAMers means to us and keep pressing our MoCs: https://tellyourreps.com/alyssa-protect-daca/
11.
From one
of our own: This is the single most
comprehensive & concise overview of the problems with electronic voting
machines & election processes. REQUIRED reading. Pls read & send to
legislators! http://patriotnotpartisan.com/elections/handout-truth-computerized-election-systems/
12. If you or someone you know needs help in
obtaining a proper ID to use for voter registration, Spread the Vote can
help! Check it out here: https://www.spreadthevote.org/vote
Election 2018 –
General
1.
Run
for Something has
begun a new fundraising campaign for young progressives running for
office. This campaign, Fund for
Something, which “will send people with money directly to the campaigns without
taking a cut. This enables Run for Something to boost candidates without
navigating different states’ campaign finance laws.” https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/01/progressives-run-for-office-fundraising-431425
2.
Election
2018 update: On Tuesday, Democratic candidates won two special
elections for state legislative seats in the Northeast, another
indication for the party that a blue wave is forming ahead of November's
midterm elections. In New Hampshire, Laconia voters elected substance
abuse counselor Philip Spagnuolo (D) over Republican Les Cartier, a former
state employee, in a district President Trump carried by a 13-point
margin in 2016. In Connecticut, Democrat Philip Young defeated Republican
Bill Cabral to win a Stratford-based district that has been in Republican hands
for decades. (Source: The
Hill) Postcards to Voters' volunteers contributed get-out-the-vote postcards to Democratic
voters in Spagnuolo's district. Let's be inspired by these wins and keep up our
efforts to get out the Democratic vote in 2018.
3.
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.
4.
Rep.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) has taken more
than $25,000 from the NRA, and earned an A rating from them. Last week, a fundraiser featuring her
had to cancel a plan to auction off an AR-15 after Politico caught on to the
story (https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/20/mcmorris-rodgers-ar15-fundraiser-417636). She’s exactly the sort of politician we
need to throw out if we want real gun control. Her sole Democratic challenger,
Lisa Brown, has been running close behind in McMorris Rodgers in recent polls. Let’s help her win! We
can check out her website and donate here and follow her on Twitter and Facebook to help amplify her message.
Election 2018 –
By State
1.
AK: This March 3, Saturday,
the Alaska Democrats will be holding their district caucuses around the state.
Marches and phone calls are great, but if you really want change, attend a
caucus. Find the caucus in your district at http://www.alaskademocrats.org/2018-district-caucus/
2.
TX: Let's make a plan to VOTE
next Tuesday, March 6 in the Democratic or Republican
primaries. We can read about the Democratic primaries here and the Republican
primaries here. Let's go to the polls
informed.
3.
PA: PA-18 Special election on March 13 - https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/01/politics/five-reasons-conor-lamb-could-win/index.html
Let’s see how we can help him: https://conorlamb.com/
4.
IL: Primary on March 20 - https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/voting-guide/
Other Actions
1.
High
schools should make sure that all students who are eligible to do so are registered
to vote before they graduate. https://www.acslaw.org/acsblog/high-school-students-launching-national-movement-have-potent-political-tool-at-fingertips-%E2%80%93 Let’s
contact (via a google search) our state’s board of education, our district’s
school board, and our district’s superintendent of schools and tell them that
we want them to institute a voter registration program in our public schools.
2.
"Marjory
Stoneman Douglas student and activist David Hogg
suggested Saturday that students should boycott trips to Florida for
spring break until lawmakers enact gun legislation." https://www.local10.com/news/parkland-school-shooting/boycott-spring-break-until-florida-enacts-new-gun-laws-stoneman-douglas-survivor-says Instead
of Florida, why not Puerto Rico? http://www.seepuertorico.com/ It's
a beautiful place, and they could use the tourism dollars and support.
3.
A couple
of students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida have
started a social media campaign directed at parents. "The goal of Parents
Promise to Kids (PPTK) is to get parents to vote for candidates who believe
that the safety of our children is much more important than the right to own
guns. We urge parents to sign a contract, found under the CONTRACT page, and
then post it on social media. The contract is a promise to their kids to assure
that they will never leave their homes in fear of being attacked by people with
assault weapons." Let's get in on the act and post our photos showing that
we plan to vote for gun safety/control legislation! Let’s check it out: https://www.parentspromisetokids.org
4.
From one
of our own: On March 14, in honor
of the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the planned national
school walk out, and in GREAT appreciation for the courage shown by Dick's
Sporting Goods, I will be making an online purchase from that company. Will you
join me? Let's SHARE this across the nation as a thank you to corporate leaders
who understand what REALLY matters. PLEASE SHOP and SHARE, SHARE, SHARE!
5.
While we
have seen numerous companies respond to the call to cut ties with the NRA, the
tech companies that are streaming NRATV have not offered any response, aside
from Roku, which defends its choice by stating that NRATV does not violate any
of its policies http://wapo.st/2FwC4yw Sleeping
Giants is asking that we contact these companies and ask them to reconsider
their support for the NRA: Google: Philipp Schindler, Chief Business Officer
& SVP e-mail: philipps@google.com Roku:
Chas Smith GM and SVP of Roku TV & Players: e-mail: csmith@roku.com Phone:(408) 556-9391 Apple:
Timothy Twerdahl VP Apple TV: e-mail: ttwerdahl@apple.comAmazon:
Marc Whitten VP & GM, Fire TV e-mail: marcw@amazon.com.
E-mail template is available on the Sleeping Giants Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/slpnggiants/posts/2005492059693433
6.
Roll
Call has been examining the finances of members of Congress since 1990 by
combing through their annual financial disclosure reports. Now they present a
Wealth of Congress study that comes from compiling more than 28,000 rows of
data from the most recent filings — snapshots of the assets and liabilities of
every House member and senator just as their service in the 115th Congress
began. We can read the summaries for the 431 voting members of the House (there
are four vacancies) and the nonvoting members from U.S. territories and the
District of Columbia, plus 99 of the senators, here.
Let's continue to become more informed about our elected officials.
7.
"#CripTheVote
is an ongoing Twitter-based conversation about disability in electoral politics
and policy." The activists behind this movement are asking folks to fill
out their anonymous survey. It's a good way to get involved in the conversation
on this neglected topic. "Your responses will help identify more clearly
what the disability community's concerns and priorities are. We will publish
the results of this survey in the Spring, and share them as widely as possible
with the disability community, and with candidates in the 2018 Midterm
Elections." Find the survey, and more info on #CripTheVote, here:
8.
Now that
Dick’s and Wal-Mart have changed their sales policies to curb gun violence,
there is one remaining major retailer: Bass Pro, that still sells
semi-automatic rifles. http://time.com/money/5178963/dicks-semi-automatic-rifles-cabelas-bass-pro-shops/
Let’s ask BassPro to follow Dick’s and Walmart’s footsteps, and stop selling
semi-automatic assault rifles or any guns to people under 21. Be sure to also
thank them for stopping the sale of bump stocks in October. We can email or
chat them from this link or call 417-873-5000 and
ask for their customer relations department.
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
States
1.
MOST: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) says the
nation should adopt something similar to his state's assault weapons
ban. Data show the Massachusetts assault weapons ban is working. Let's
read more at Masslive. Let's contact our own governors to
ask them to join Gov. Baker in calling for an assault weapons ban.
2.
MI:
Following the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, the East Lansing School
Board has passed a resolution opposing guns in all schools, with the exception
of guns carried by law enforcement personnel http://bit.ly/2CQ7TQ8 One
of the school board trustees went further, asking the State Board of Education
and Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction to oppose guns in schools as
well. Let's follow East Lansing's example, and ask our local school board
members to pass a similar resolution. Then, let's contact State Board Executive
Marilyn Schneider to ask that the Board push for a resolution to oppose all
guns in Michigan schools: Phone: 517-373-3902 Email: schneiderm@michigan.gov We
can also contact State Superintendent Brian Whiston: Mailing address: 608
W. Allegan Street P.O. Box 30008 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone
number: 517-373-3324 e-mail: WhistonB@michigan.gov or
to request a meeting with the superintendent, we can send an e-mail to:
CarefootK@michigan.gov Finally,
for those of us who are able, let's attend the next Michigan State Board of
Education meeting on March 14th (contact to determine time/location): http://bit.ly/2GTFTgL http://bit.ly/2F2LmRX
Reading/Watching
1.
Those of us on the liberal/progressive side of
things like to think we are savvier than our opponents when it comes to squelching
fake news, bots, and the array of digital actors trying to drag down our
country/society. Note, however, that in our rush to outrage-share that article
touting the latest right-wing conspiracy theory, we are promoting that content
by increasing its popularity and ranking by the all-powerful algorithms. Our
information ecosystem runs on an attention economy, so let's direct our
eyeballs in directions that will promote what we want to be seen: https://www.wired.com/story/how-liberals-amped-up-a-parkland-shooting-conspiracy-theory/
2.
“Young People Everywhere Can Be Activists and
Advocates” - https://www.teenvogue.com/story/young-people-everywhere-can-be-activists-and-advocates
3.
“The Geeks Who Put a Stop to Pennsylvania’s
Partisan Gerrymandering” - https://www.wired.com/story/pennsylvania-partisan-gerrymandering-experts/
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