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4/24/18


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.       A bipartisan group in the House is urging Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, to bring legislation to protect DREAMers to the floor.  (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-congress/push-for-dreamer-immigration-bill-gains-steam-in-u-s-house-of-representatives-idUSKBN1HP2JQ)  Let's ask our representative to be part of this push and let's let Ryan know (using the contact info for one of his state offices, if we are not a constituent) as well that we want these young people protected:  https://paulryan.house.gov/contact/ 

2.      "Federal agents ignored President Trump's pledge to protect from deportation undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children by sending a young man back to his native Mexico, the first such documented case," (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/04/18/first-protected-dreamer-deported-under-trump/100583274/)  Let's ask Trump to reverse this move, and let our MoCs know as well that this should not have happened and ask how they can help.

3.      On Saturday in Georgia, neo Nazis held a Swastika burning ceremony (http://time.com/5249811/neo-nazis-burn-swastika-georgia/). Meanwhile, our president used an anti-Semitic tweet referring to “sleepy eyes” Chuck Todd, a distinction that was used in German propaganda on how to identify a Jew (http://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/story3.htm, and Kenez, Peter (2013) The Coming of the Holocaust: From Antisemitism to Genocide. New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-107-04335-0). Let’s contact the White House and ask the President to publicly apologize for his anti-Semitic slur, and ask our MoCs to loudly condemn both of these acts.
  
4.      Just as Trump disregarded the “unqualified” ratings that his judicial nominees received from the American Bar Association (https://wapo.st/2Jmx7cz, https://bit.ly/2Jlqx66), Mitch McConnell was prepared to follow suit. Disregarding the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he said he would, whatever their vote, bring Mike Pompeo’s nomination as Secretary of State to a full floor vote (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/critical-week-mike-pompeo-rocky-path-senate-confirmation-n867891). For those of us in Kentucky, let’s be sure to contact Senator Rand Paul (202-224-4343) to tell him what we think about his about-face, which gave Pompeo a win from the Foreign Relations Committee (http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-pompeo-20180423-story.html). Senators Heidi Heitkamp (202-224-2043), Joe Manchin  (202-224-3954), and Joe Donnely (202-224-4814)—red state Democrats all—have pledged to support Pompeo, meaning he is likely to win in the Senate.  If we are constituents in North Dakota, West Virginia, Indiana, let’s tell our senators what we think of their going along with Trump and McConnell. For those of us who reside outside of those states, let’s still call our own senators and make sure that they plan on opposing Pompeo’s nomination when it comes to a full senate vote.

5.      From Chop Wood, Carry Water: “Let's call Mitch McConnell's office and demand that he bring the Special Counsel Integrity Act (S. 1741) to a vote. Tell him why you're worried. Just be honest, and be nice. Let's flood his phones. (502) 582-6304 or (859) 224-8286 or (859) 578-0188.  I always like to lead with ‘I am calling him in his capacity as Majority Leader.’” We can also call our representatives in the House and ask them to sign the discharge petition for the Special Counsel Integrity Act (H.R. 4669).

6.      The 2018 Farm Bill ("Agriculture and Nutrition Act"), HR2, is now headed to the House floor after last Wednesday’s approval by the GOP-controlled House Agriculture Committee on a party-line vote. In addition to requiring new work and job requirements from those who receive food stamps, sustainable farming advocates say the bitterly contested bill would eliminate programs that help farmers get their products to market and undermine successful investments that have helped create more resilient farms. We can read more at KIOW and also specifics about anti-environment aspects of the bill at the Center for Biological Diversity. Let's contact our own representatives to let them know we oppose HR2. A vote is expected during the first week of May.

7.      Bristol Bay, Alaska is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world and the source of the world's largest wild salmon fishery. Right now, it’s threatened by a proposed gold and copper mine known as Pebble Mine, which could destroy this pristine habitat (http://kbbi.org/post/community-protests-and-comments-pebble-mine-scoping-meeting). We have until June 29 to submit public comments in opposition to this devastation. Let’s join World Wildlife Fund in making our voices heard here, or we can submit a comment directly with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers here.

8.     If enacted, the Abuse of the Pardon Prevention Act (H.R. 5551 ) would create a disincentive for the President to issue pardons related to investigations involving himself or a family member. The disincentive is that evidence against the pardoned person would have to be turned over to Congress by the Department of Justice (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/18/schiff-offers-bill-discourage-trump-granting-pardons-russia-probe/526555002/, https://schiff.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-schiff-introduces-legislation-to-prevent-abuse-of-presidential-pardons). Let’s tell our MoCs to support this bill to prevent Trump from using his pardon power to obstruct justice.

9.      If there's one thing to be learned from the ongoing Facebook scandals and the abuse of our online privacy, it is that social media is a unique medium and requires new laws to ensure the well-being of its users. Facebook has even greater reach than the biggest traditional media outlet, yet because of the current laws governing user-generated content, Facebook has little responsibility for what it spreads. Congress is our instrument for shaping digital law, of course, so let's be good constituents by knowing a bit about the Communications Decency Act (CDA) and how it, and specifically Section 230 of the CDA, enables the current environment of fake news, hate-mongering, and online harassment (https://theconversation.com/the-law-that-made-facebook-what-it-is-today-93931). Then, let’s contact our MoC and ask them to revise the CDA, and introduce new legislation, to better enable us to hold social media outlets accountable for their content.

10.  From Mothers Out Front: To continue the energy of Earth Day, let’s watch this two-minute video on carbon pricing, then ask our MoCs to speak out for carbon pricing as a fair and just way of funding renewable energy initiatives.


Election 2018 – General

1.       Today’s special election in New York’s 37th Senate District will be closely contested, and the outcome could determine whether Democrats maintain their newly established hold over the New York state senate (http://wamc.org/post/democrat-shelley-mayer-discusses-her-bid-nys-senate-seat). Let’s make sure we help Shelley Mayer win! We can sign up to phonebank for her at this link. (H/t Flippable)

2.      Today is the special election for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, where Dr. Hiral Tipirneni is running as the Democratic candidate, and where Trump won by twenty points (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/03/democrats-arizona-special-election-hiral-tipirneni). ER doctor and cancer research advocate Hiral Tipirneni's message on protecting Medicare and Social Security has struck a chord, and the national GOP is pouring money into the race to protect her scandal-tarred opponent. Let’s help Dr. Tipirneni get out the vote. We can sign up to text or call for her here: http://hiralforcongress.com/gotv.

3.      Election 2018: Postcards to Voters’ 78th campaign will be our first in the state of Oregon! Campaign 78: Joe Berney for Lane County Commissioner. Oregon is a 100% vote-by-mail state so our postcards could have an even greater effect at convincing Democratic voters to send back their ballots casting their votes for Joe. We can sign up to volunteer to write postcards here

4.      John Heenan, a Democratic House candidate in Montana, is launching a television ad bashing Sinclair broadcasting that will run on Sinclair-owned stations starting this week. “Heenan, who is running to unseat Rep. Greg Gianforte (R), accuses the broadcasting company of taking ‘advantage of journalists, our democracy, and the people of Montana’ in the ad.” Let's read more at The Hill.  Let's support and expand this effort. We can consider donating to John Heenan's campaign. Then, let's contact our own favorite Democratic candidates for Congress to suggest that they consider running similar ads on our local Sinclair stations.



Election 2018 – By State

1.       GA, FL, MI, OH, NC, PA, VA: If we are a Democrat running against Republicans for state House and Senate seats in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, Michigan, and Florida, we have a chance to qualify for a $5,000 donation from Only If You Run, which raises money for Democrats running against Republicans for state House and Senate seats in the country's most gerrymandered states. We can check out their page here: https://www.onlyifyou.run/ Then we can see their criteria and apply here: https://www.onlyifyou.run/candidate-criteria

2.      FL: Special elections May 1: FL House of Representatives District 39. Let’s be voters for Democrat Ricky Shirah, https://www.rickyshirah.org/ FL House of Representatives District 114. Let’s be voters for Democrat Javier Fernandez, https://javierforflorida.com/


Other Actions

1.       James Shaw, Jr., the man who fought off and disarmed the gunman who shot and killed four people at a Tennessee Waffle House, has set up a GoFundMe for the families of the victims (http://time.com/money/5250449/james-shaw-jr-waffle-house-hero/). For those of us with the means, let’s consider contributing to the campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/5g07bvs

2.      The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has officially cut ties with Wells Fargo, after the banking institution failed to take any meaningful action against the National Rifle Association or gun manufacturers (https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/04/19/wells-fargo-guns-aft/529717002/). Let’s send a big “Thank you!” to AFT for taking a stand against gun violence. We can reach them online, over the phone (202-879-4400), or by mail:  American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO 555 New Jersey Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20001

3.      Resistbot now works directly from Twitter. Send “resist” to @resistbot as a direct message to write to your officials without leaving Twitter. This is a real boon for those of us who don't use smartphones, or overseas voters without a U.S. phone number. We can read more about this new service: https://resistbot.news/im-now-on-twitter-a67d09bbfa46


Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize


States

1.       Many: Last week, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed into law a bill meant to block offshore drilling for oil and natural gas in state-controlled waters. Let's read more at The Hill. If we live in coastal states, let's contact our own governors to tell them that we want similar legislation in our own states. We can send thanks to Gov. Murphy here.


2.      CA: If we are concerned about dark money behind social media ads, we can join the Clean Money Action Fund at Wednesday’s (April 25) huge Assembly Elections Committee hearing and vote for AB 2188, the Social Media DISCLOSE Act, the bill to expose secretive money behind political ads on social media. We'll pack the hearing and then lobby legislators.  Let’s meet at the State Capitol, 1315 10th St, Sacramento. We can RSVP, find meeting times, and check to see if any carpools are available here.


Reading/Watching

1.       We can read a lawyerly consideration of Trump’s executive orders on immigration (https://www.justsecurity.org/55059/supreme-court-rethink-deference-executive-travel-ban-case) while awaiting the immediate audio release of Wednesday’s arguments in Hawaii vs. Trump before the Supreme Court: https://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/press/pressreleases/pr_04-13-18
2.      Public sector jobs—teachers, fire fighters, bus drivers, nurses, etc.—now account for the smallest share of the American civilian work force since 1967 and those who remain are being financially “downgraded.”  As Arizona’s teachers plan to strike on Thursday, we can learn about the situation of public servants more generally:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/22/business/economy/public-employees.html (For those of us without access to the New York Times, we can also read the article through the Seattle Times, or we can check out the synopsis at Axios).

3.      Multiple southern states are celebrating Confederate Memorial Day this week, but let’s not forget that the Confederacy was created to preserve slavery.

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