4/25/18
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.
Andrew
Oldham, a Trump nominee for a federal judgeship in the Fifth Circuit, will be
considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee today. He has a long history of
fighting back against common sense protections for the environment, working
families, consumers and civil and reproductive rights ( https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/03/greg-abbott-andrew-oldham-fifth-circuit-judicial-appointees/). Let’s let our senators know we want them
to closely analyze his record and vote against his confirmation if they have
any doubts he will do the right thing on the bench.
2.
The
administration wants to reclassify Native Americans as a race rather than as a
sovereign nation in order to include them in work requirements for people
receiving Medicaid, which have now been enacted by several states. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/22/trump-native-americans-historical-standing-492794. Tribal leaders are insisting that this
violates treaty agreements that date back from when George Washington was
president. Let’s contact the White House, the Department of Health and Human
Services, (1-877-696-6775) and our MoCs, and insist that the sovereign rights
of Native American nations be respected and recognized.
3.
Accounts
of the confiscation--and return by his father--of the Nashville shooter’s guns
point to the failure of existing gun control laws: first, because it seems that
revoking Travis Reinking’s Illinois gun license did not make his gun possession
in Tennessee illegal; and, second, because Reinking—like more than half of the
others (11,000 in 2016) whose gun licenses were revoked in Illlinois—did not
file the “mandatory” form indicating to whom the guns were given—nor did law
enforcement follow up: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-waffle-house-shooting-suspect-morton-20180423-story.html We need serious federal laws, and
enforcement of those laws, to begin to end gun violence in the US—age
restrictions, the banning of bump stocks, and apparently state-by-state
legislation alone will not adequately address this problem. Let’s, yet
again, tell our MoCs that we want immediate and effective action by Congress.
4.
Though
the unplanned teen pregnancy rate is at its lowest since 1990, Health and Human
Services has announced a rule change that would favor “abstinence only” sex
education programs—now rebranded as “sexual risk avoidance education”—and
weaken the requirement for evidence of effectiveness—convenient, given that a
2007 HHS study found that abstinence programs have “no overall impact on teen
sexual activity” and yield “no differences in rates of unprotected sex.” The
HHS policy changes were overseen by Valerie Huber, now an HHS official but
previously the head of the National Abstinence Education
Association: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/377304-abstinence-only-education-making-a-comeback-under-trump We should vigorously object to this
rule change (and to the appointment of officials with no respect for scientific
evidence) : Don Wright, Acting Secretary of Health & Human Services, 200
Independence Ave., SW, DC 20201, 1-877-696-6775
5.
As
promised, the Trump administration has begun the process to allow drilling in
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (https://www.ecowatch.com/arctic-refuge-drilling-trump-2561725554.html) Now is the time to voice our
concerns. "Comments on issues, impacts and potential alternatives to be
analyzed may be submitted in writing until June 19, 2018." Info
here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/04/20/2018-08302/notice-of-intent-to-prepare-an-environmental-impact-statement-for-the-coastal-plain-oil-and-gas
6.
While it
was first reported back in March that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt would be
proposing a new regulation that would only allow studies with public data to
influence writing regulations, in the name of “transparency,” it has now been
officially proposed (http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-epa-transparency-20180424-story.html). This new regulation would drastically
reduce the pool of scientific research on which the EPA could base its rules,
eliminating many environmental health studies that involve confidential patient
information or proprietary details about companies (https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/3/23/17147330/epa-science-regulations-pruitt). Pruitt is considering a short open
comment period of 30 days, but until that begins, let’s still let him know that
we oppose this rule and make it clear that we recognize censorship even when
it’s called “transparency”: @EPAScottPruitt or 202-564-4700 or Environmental Protection Agency,
Mail Code 1101A, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460.
7.
Ajit
Pai's FCC is poised to severely limit its Lifeline program, which provides a
small subsidy to lower-income people to help them afford phone
and Internet service (https://www.wired.com/story/ajit-pais-plan-will-take-broadband-away-from-poor-people/). Under the proposal, hundreds of thousands
of Americans who depend on Lifeline will be cut off, including many in Puerto
Rico and other disaster-stricken parts of America. Let's tell Pai and the FCC
"No!" to their cruel and senseless plan (https://act.freepress.net/sign/internet_lifeline_fcc/, https://www.fcc.gov/about/contact), then let's tell our MoCs to introduce/sponsor legislation
to protect Lifeline.
8.
A recent
report from CNN revealed that the president is using his personal cell phone on
government business, ostensibly to keep chief-of-staff John Kelly out of the
loop. https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/23/politics/donald-trump-cell-phone/index.html. We need to call the president out for his
hypocrisy after lambasting Hillary Clinton for using a private email server,
and more importantly, raise the issue with our MoCs about the ethics of this
practice. We deserve communications at all levels of government that are secure
against foreign eavesdropping and have the ability to capture conversations for
government accountability.
9.
U.S.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been operating almost entirely
without oversight (https://www.propublica.org/article/pennsylvania-ice-who-polices-the-immigration-police). With protections for immigrants and
asylum-seekers disappearing, and with the Trump administration continuously
ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)
for people whose country of origin is too dangerous to return to, we cannot
afford to have our immigration agency running amok. Let’s contact our MoC and
tell them that we want them to work with the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) to reign in ICE.
Election 2018 – General
1.
After
the Obama administration took the first real steps towards a new approach on
criminal justice reform, Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions have committed
themselves to rolling it all back ( https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/jeff-sessions-slowly-surely-undoing-america-s-criminal-justice-progress-ncna823126). If we are going to see change on these
issues over the next few years, it is going to have to come from the state and
local level. One way we can help is supporting Real
Justice PAC in their efforts to elect progressive prosecutors and sheriffs. We can
sign up to make calls, text or do other volunteer work from home here.
Election 2018 – By State
1.
Some: Eleven
states have their midterm primaries in May. Let's click here to learn
"key facts and competitive/important races for the primary" in these
states: https://politicalcharge.org/2018/04/23/midterms-2018-states-with-primaries-in-may/
2.
OH:
People in jail who are state residents, are not detained for a felony, and are
otherwise eligible can vote in Ohio. Let’s check out the ACLU of Ohio’s jail
voting toolkit and see how we can help ensure the voting rights of the more
than 18,000 people in Ohio’s jails. www.acluohio.org/jailvoting
3.
VA: The
women of Network NoVA ( North Virginia) present the second Women’s Summit to
continue the grassroots momentum of building coalitions across the state to
flip Virginia’s Congressional delegation blue in 2018. The Summit will feature
opportunities to engage across all 11 Congressional Districts to connect our
networks to be a FORCE to win votes, races, and hearts. Teamwork will be the
key to strategizing to win elections across the state and beyond. This weekend
event on Sat, June 23, 2018, will feature speakers, workshops, an
advocacy fair, gear shop, and most importantly, network opportunities. We'll
examine what worked in Virginia, what didn’t, and what it’ll take to win big in
2018. There is a pre-conference on Friday, and, in conjunction with the
Summit, EMILY’s List is holding a ½ day training on Sunday (6/24/18 | 8:30am-1:00pm)
for those thinking of running for office. There is no charge for this training,
but we do need to apply. Click here to apply. We can find out more about the event here http://networknova.org/virginia-womens-summit/ Or contact them via e-mail: networkvirginia@gmail.com
Other Actions
1.
The two Sacramento
police officers who shot and killed Stephon Clark have returned to work, though
the investigation into the killing is ongoing (http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article209448074.html). Meanwhile, Sacramento County District
Attorney Anne Marie Schubert has stated that she has not yet received the case
from the Sacramento police for review (http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/04/18/district-attorney-stephon-clark/). Let’s contact DA Schubert and tell her that
it’s time for charges to be brought against the police officers. Mailing
address: 901 G. Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-874-6218 E-mail: daoffice@sacda.org
2.
Governor
Andrew Cuomo is expanding voting rights in New York; he has signed an executive
order, restoring 35,000 parolees’ right to vote (http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/383741-breaking-cuomo-giving-parolees-right-to-vote-via-executive-order). Let’s send Governor Cuomo a “Thank you”
for doing what the state legislature refused to do: The Honorable Andrew M.
Cuomo Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 or
https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form Then, for those of us outside of New York,
let’s contact our own governors and encourage them to take executive action to
expand voting rights in our own state.
3.
With the
media’s coverage of the black
men who were arrested in Starbucks,
the black woman who was arrested while waiting
for a manager’s contact information at an Alabama Waffle House, and then the police
being called on
members of a country club who are also black women, there is a growing
awareness that we have a pressing need to find ways to de-escalate situations,
rather than make them worse by increasing the risk of harm to individuals. In
2016, educator Aaron Rose created a toolkit titled What To Do Instead of Calling the Police, “for anyone who wants to
build a world where we have safe, strong communities. Where we know and trust
our neighbors. Where our response to emergencies of all kinds leads to peace
and connection rather than escalated violence and disconnection.” Let’s
read through this great resource, then put the information to use in our own
communities: http://www.aaronxrose.com/blog/alternatives-to-police
4.
Election
interference continues to be a concern following the 2016 election (https://www.npr.org/2018/01/27/579683042/5-ways-election-interference-could-and-probably-will-worsen-in-2018-and-beyond). Joohn Choe, author of “The Resistance
Information War Handbook” has noted that campaigns are currently far too
vulnerable to hacking. Recently,
state-level campaigns and resistance groups have experienced website hacking
and puppet “same name” personae on social media (https://n.pr/2K948Kx, https://bit.ly/2HmfGwe, https://bit.ly/2HJ61z7). Let’s
keep an eye out, and if we’re seeing this happen to us or candidates we know,
we can contact Joohn Choe at jc@dialectica.us to help us spread the word. We can learn
more about hacking, use of weaponized information, and other social media
attacks, and learn how we can combat it here: https://medium.com/@joohnchoe
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize
1.
Today, let's add our voices to say
#NoMuslimBanEver. "On April 25, 2018, the Supreme Court will hear
oral arguments in the Muslim Ban litigation...Join us in front of the Supreme
Court from 8:30 am to 11:30 am for the National Day of Action.
Learn about the rally through the Facebook event
page and endorse the rally
too." We can find more information, including nearby events and an action
toolkit, by visiting https://www.nomuslimbanever.com/.
2.
Thursday, April 26 is National Immigrant
Resilience Day. United We Dream is offering a
toolkit to help us learn how to be better allies and create safe spaces for
undocumented students and their families. Let's sign up for the
toolkit at https://www.actionnetwork.org/forms/national-immigrant-resistance-day-2018 and see how
we can help.
3. “South Jersey
Women for Progressive Change is honored to serve the mothers of the Truth, Hope and Justice Initiative, whose children’s
lives have been lost from acts of police brutality and abuse of power.” We
can support them and allied partners, Women’s March NJ Indivisible and Hope
Rises Up as they call for reforms with the #STAND
Day of Action on Capitol Hill on May 10, 2018 (Thursday before
Mother’s Day). Mothers and families who have lost a loved one to police
shootings and/or affected by police brutality are encouraged to #STAND on
Capitol Hill to address these issues and demand justice and raise awareness
about the need for police reform. Additionally, all allies are asked to stand
in solidarity at this important event. We can read more about ways we can
help, whether we are a family member affected by police violence, an ally, or
whether we would like to donate to help those affected, here. We can also check out the Truth,
Hope and Justice Initiative.
States
1.
MI: The
Michigan Senate has passed S.B.
897,
which would require Medicaid recipients to work at least 29 hours a week in
order to receive health care coverage. From Michigan Resistance: “Public policy research shows that a
majority of Medicaid recipients who can work, do work. Over 680,000 low-income
residents have enrolled in the Medicaid expansion program since its launch in
2014. The current program has helped reduce uncompensated medical care in the
state by 50 percent. Republican lawmakers argue that the bill will encourage
people to work and that the current spending for program is out of control. But
they offer no evidence for these claims. Experts predict that SB897 would likely result in the loss of
health insurance for many. The bill has passed the Senate and is now being
considered by the House Appropriations Committee.” Let’s contact Appropriations
Committee Chair Laura Cox and let her know that we do not support this bill: Phone:
517-373-3920 E-mail: LauraCox@house.mi.gov Let’s also be sure to contact our own
representatives in the House and let them know that we oppose S.B. 897: https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
2.
CA: MomsRising
is gathering signatures in support of linguistic diversity in California's
education system. The passage of Proposition
58
eliminated the legal requirement for English-only instruction in California
schools, and now Governor Brown and state lawmakers need to hear how much
people want them to invest in dual-language education. https://action.momsrising.org/sign/CA_DLL_Evergreen/?
1.
A recent poll conducted by Greenberg Quinlan
Rosner Research and the Vera Institute of Justice indicates that rural America
may be shifting its attitude on mass incarceration: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/04/study-law-and-order-voter-attitudes/558425/
2.
Diane C. Mutz’s article in the April Proceedings
of the National Academy of Science dramatically revises the narrative of the
Trump voter as the economically “left behind,” showing instead that white,
Christian, and male Trump backers feared a loss of their privileged
status: https://www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/news/fear-losing-status-not-economic-hardship-drove-voters-2016-presidential-election
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