4/24/18
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.
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.
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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).
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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