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4/18/18 Rogan's List




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


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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.       We’re a week away from any vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is already saying he won’t bring it up for a floor vote if it passes. He does not believe it is necessary, because he thinks it is unlikely that Trump, who has reportedly tried to fire Mueller at least twice, will fire Mueller (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-17/senate-won-t-consider-measure-shielding-mueller-mcconnell-says). We need to let our senators know this is not okay, and we want them to speak out in support of the legislation and against Mitch McConnell’s decision. We can call using this script from Celeste Pewter on Twitter here.



2.       Senator Dianne Feinstein, who voted to confirm Mike Pompeo as CIA director, announced today she will not support his nomination to be Secretary of State, citing his “disdain for diplomacy” (http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/383624-feinstein-comes-out-against-pompeo). No Democrat has yet announced they will support Pompeo, and with Rand Paul in opposition and John McCain away from the Senate he will need at least one and all the other Senate Republicans. We are in position to stop this. Let’s call our senators and ask them to publicly announce they’ll vote no.



3.       Last week's missile strikes on Syria were conducted without authorization from, or even consultation with, Congress. And this came in spite of Defense Secretary James Mattis push Trump to get congressional approval first (http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/383670-mattis-wanted-approval-from-congress-before-syria-strikes-but-was). This was a violation of the Constitution, and Trump must be called to account for it. Indivisible guide has provided a short and sharp list of points to make when demanding action from our members of Congress here: https://www.indivisible.org/resource/escalated-situation-syria/.



4.       This week, Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released their proposal (S.J. Res. 59) for a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) bill, which would replace the 2001 and 2002 versions which were used to authorize the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/corker-releases-aumf-without-expiration-date). While it is expected to be challenging gaining enough bipartisan support for it to pass, and it is likely to go through multiple revisions before a final bill is voted on, this is still an important first step. Let's read through Lawfare's rundown of the bill and its comparison to the 2001/2002 AUMF, then contact our senators to let them know that this legislation is important to us and we want to see an updated AUMF which explicitly ensures Congressional approval before the use of military force.



5.       On Sunday, our ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, announced that there would be forthcoming sanctions against Russia. On Monday, the White House walked this back (https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/16/trump-nikki-haley-russia-sanctions-526856). Let’s ask Ambassador Haley why she thinks the president will not stand up to Russia: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/u-s-mission-to-the-united-nations. We can also let our MoC how disturbing we find this.



6.       "President Trump is right to want to assist ‘innocent Syrians’ who are victims of ‘heinous attacks.’ There are many ways the United States can help: President Trump can increase U.S. humanitarian aid; accept refugees from Syria; help frontline states Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq minister to the victims; press for humanitarian access corridors so aid can reach the war-torn Syrian population; and press for the implementation of a ceasefire to accompany the start of peace talks." (https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/04/09/more-us-bombs-syria-will-help-no-one) Let's encourage Trump and our MoCs to work on these ways to help the people of Syria.  



7.       Under Obama, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau started to fight back against racial discrimination in auto lending, warning lenders that if they used dealer markups to overcharge people of color they’d be subject to investigation. A recent report by the National Fair Housing Alliance found there is still more work to be done to stop this problem (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/new-report-finds-auto-dealerships-discriminate-against-people-color-n837136). Instead, Trump and the Republicans are trying to undo the Obama administration’s work – and the Senate could vote on it today. Let’s join Americans for Financial Reform and tell our senators to oppose discrimination and vote down S.J. Res 57 – we can find a letter and talking points for calls here. We can also tell our reps to oppose the companion bill, H.J. Res 132.



8.      We have only until April 23 to comment on the Department of Health and Human Services’ new rule on short-term health insurance.  This rule, as Kaiser Health News explains, is part of Trump’s effort to undermine the Affordable Care Act: “The new rule is expected to entice younger and healthier people from the general insurance pool by allowing a range of lower-cost options that don’t include all the benefits required by the federal law — including plans that can reject people with preexisting medical conditions. Most short-term coverage excludes benefits for maternity care, preventive care, mental health services or substance abuse treatment”: https://khn.org/news/trump-administration-unveils-proposed-rule-to-loosen-restrictions-on-short-term-health-plans/. Here is a tool to assist us in submitting a comment: http://familiesusa.org/product/taking-action-prevent-harmful-impact-short-term-plans.



9.       The Park Service has re-opened a public comment period for a proposal to allow fracking in the pristine Ruby Mountains of Nevada (https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/conservationists-fight-ruby-mountains-oil-development/). However, it will close again on April 23rd. Let’s email or use the USDA website to submit comments.  If we’ve been there, let’s include personal stories and photos. We can also just write a few lines saying we oppose opening up park lands to oil and gas companies. We can email comments-intermtn-humboldt-toiyabe-mtncity@fs.fed.us or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52443 to submit comments online. More info and the opportunity to submit comments through the Center for Biological Diversity. (via Calvin's List, an environmentally-focused action list).



10.   Trump’s border wall won’t stop the illicit flow of people and or drugs across the border. “But what is undeniable is that the 654 miles of walls and fences already on the US-Mexico border have made a mess out of the environment there. They’ve cut off, isolated, and reduced populations of some of the rarest and most amazing animals in North America, like the jaguar and ocelot (also known as the dwarf jaguar). They’ve led to the creation of miles of roads through pristine wilderness areas. They’ve even exacerbated flooding, becoming dams when rivers have overflowed” (http://econewsmedia.org/2018/04/09/2547/). Let’s let our senators and governors know that we don’t want any more funds appropriated for the Wall.



11.    The Senate is set to vote this week on a bill that would significantly weaken water pollution rules. The VesselIncidental Discharge Act (VIDA) would allow the Coast Guard, rather than the EPA, to oversee the discharge of ballast water taken in by ships and exempt this from Clean Water Act regulations. This water is often discharged at different ports, which has resulted in the spread of pollutants and invasive species (http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/383495-senates-coast-guard-bill-would-weaken-water-pollution-rules-greens). Let’s tell our Senators to vote No on S. 168.



12.    Women-owned businesses (WOBs) are 21% less likely to win federal contracts compared with other businesses. Every year, the federal government is supposed to award a certain percentage of contracts to WOBs, but often fails to do so because of lax oversight. Plus, WOBs tend not to be awarded the most expensive contracts (https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2018/04/women-owned-biz-receive-fraction-of-fed-contracts/). Let’s tell our MoCs that we want them to investigate and correct this state of affairs.



13.    The CEO of Goldman Sachs has actually gone on record to ask if curing patients is a sustainable business model, creating another grave concern about the motives of for-profit health care (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/11/goldman-asks-is-curing-patients-a-sustainable-business-model.html). Let’s make sure our MoCs are aware of the potential inherent conflict between making money and saving lives, and ask them once again to support HR 676, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All, and S 1804, the Medicare for All Act of 2017.

Election 2018 – General

1.       On May 8th, voters in Ohio have a chance to vote for a more fair redistricting process with Issue 1 on the ballot. While not perfect, this measure would almost certainly increase the degree of minority-party participation in redistricting, along with public participation and transparency in the mapmaking process (https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/ohio-senate-bipartisan-compromise-redistricting/552413/). If we live in Ohio, let’s pledge to vote Yes on Issue 1. And all of us can help make phone calls to get redistricting reform passed by virtual phonebanking from this link. (If we’re new to this, we can check out the tutorial here.)

Other Actions

1.       In a surreal twist, it was revealed on Monday that Michael Cohen’s third unnamed client is Fox News’ Sean Hannity: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/383396-trump-lawyers-previously-unnamed-client-is-sean-hannity. Hannity did not disclose this conflict of interest when lambasting the investigation into Cohen’s dealings on his show. Let’s let Fox know that we have had more than enough of their yellow journalism: Fox News, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036.


2.       The City Council in Albuquerque, New Mexico voted to protect their residents with some immigrant-friendly measures: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration/albuquerque-new-mexico-passes-immigrant-friendly-measures-idUSKBN1HO0EW. Let’s say thanks to the City Council: https://www.cabq.gov/council/find-your-councilor/contact-all-councilors or in writing: City of Albuquerque – City Council,  City-County Building - 9th Floor, 1 Civic Plaza, NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87102.


3.       The group Let America Vote (LAV) is working to elect candidates who support voting rights and oppose voter suppression. For the 2018 midterm elections, LAV is opening field offices in Nevada, Georgia, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Iowa and is looking for volunteers to help elect candidates who are committed to expanding voting rights. Let’s sign up here: https://www.letamericavote.org/landing/2018/.


4.       Who knew bake sales could fuel the resistance? Bake America Great is “powered by volunteers, we launch pop-up bake sales and potlucks to raise dough for great causes. Since launching in 2017, we’ve raised $100,000 for Planned Parenthood, Miry’s List (aiding immigrant arrivals), the IRC (International Rescue Committee), Trevor Project (preventing teen suicides in the LGBTQ community) and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. We donate 100% of funds raised. Find out how you can join our grassroots movement, right from your own front lawn!” Let's check out their Facebook group, too:  https://www.facebook.com/bakeamericagreat. Let's start baking for the cause!


5.       We have all seen how Russian and other bots have infected Twitter, stirring up discord and dissension, but it is not always easy to know when we are interacting with one.  Now, Ben Nimmo, Senior Fellow for Information Defense at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, gives us the key identifiers of bots, activity, anonymity and amplification as well as other signs that we are being targeted for manipulation. If we can identify these bots we are less likely to influenced by them, and if we report them, we can help stem the flow of misinformation. We learn more about ways to spot bots here: https://medium.com/dfrlab/botspot-twelve-ways-to-spot-a-bot-aedc7d9c110c.


6.       There is a way to check to see if your Facebook account was compromised by the Cambridge Analytical misuse of data. Check here: https://www.facebook.com/help/1873665312923476.

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize 

States

1.       CO: "Teachers in Colorado on Monday became the latest in the United States to converge on their state capital to lobby lawmakers for more funding" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colorado-education/colorado-teachers-follow-other-state-educators-in-pressing-for-more-funding-idUSKBN1HN2FC. Teacher salaries in Colorado are among the lowest in the country, there's a drastic teacher shortage, and now the Republican Party wants to cut retirement benefits as well. We should call our state legislators in particular about Senate Bill 200, which in its current form "has something for everyone to hate" and lets teachers down.https://www.denverpost.com/2018/03/07/pera-bill-cut-benefits-boost-contributions/?returnUrl=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/03/07/pera-bill-cut-benefits-boost-contributions/?clearUserState=true. Let's tell them our teachers need more funding. Let's tell them our children's education is important to us. We can find our state legislators here: https://leg.colorado.gov/find-my-legislator.


2.       MA: The common sense gun law known as the Extreme Risk Protection Order bill, H. 3610, has been voted out of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. Now, it’s set for a full vote before the House. (https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/red-flag-gun-bill-heading-to-massachusetts-lawmakers/). Let’s keep up the pressure. We can check out if our legislators are signed on to the bill here:  https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H3610. Then we can contact them and ask them to support quick passage of this bill:  https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator. We can also join the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence in helping with literature drops at the State House or attending their Day of Action on April 30th, and can sign up for either of those here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1iZPq2UzN5BbyDAVrx-ztUF_AusUv8aSg5tTEFbPc1bU/viewform?edit_requested=true.


3.       CA: California has taken a stand in the fight to protect immigrants by passing the California Values Act, which limits how state and municipal law enforcement agencies can cooperate with federal authorities in immigration matters. A few conservative local governments have publicly sided with Trump, with several even joining Jeff Sessions' lawsuit against California (https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-County-Joins-Lawsuit-Against-SB54-480039933.html). He knows that California leads the nation on many progressive issues, so let's send a message across the state telling every local government to publicly support and affirm the California Values Act http://act.couragecampaign.org/sign/CaliforniaValuesActdefense/.


4.       NJ: Action Together New Jersey is hosting a live stream discussion with Senator Bob Menendez on April 26 and is looking for people who can submit questions, especially on these topics: the environment, climate and animal protection, sea level rise preparedness, and the EPA . Questions for the Senator are to be submitted in advance from people who will watch the live stream to hear the answers. The live stream will be broadcast on Action Together New Jersey’s Facebook page on April 26 at 6:45 pm EST. Let’s work together to protect our environment! We can find out more about the event and how to access it here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1003877603121685/?ti=icl. We can submit questions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduNpXGO8-MUzUfSguKDxIVy60BlQH8lugmJO-T2DyNT9ROcg/viewform.


5.       VT/ALL: Last week Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed into law new restrictions on gun ownership, including new background check requirements, age restrictions on gun purchases and a ban on "bump stocks." Vermont has long held some of the most permissive rules in the nation. Let's read more at The Hill. Let's encourage our own governors, especially other Republican governors, to follow Gov. Scott's lead. We can also send our thanks to Gov. Phil Scott.

Reading/Watching


1.       This is a helpful (though difficult) primer on the devolution in Syria over the past seven years: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/04/syria-chemical-weapons/558065/



2.       If Trump is concerned about illegal chemical attacks on civilians in Syria, perhaps he—and we—should consider other, and more frequent, war crimes committed there, like the use of cluster bombs and incendiary weapons: https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/syria



3.       On April 25th at 10 a.m., the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Trump vs Hawaii, the challenge to Trump’s “Muslim travel ban.”  Given wide interest in this case, the Court has made a highly unusual decision. It will make the audio (and the unofficial transcript) of this hearing available to the public as soon as it can be unloaded and has explained how we can hear it: https://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/press/pressreleases/pr_04-13-18.

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