Rogan's List

 5/21/18

Contact Federal Government Officials

Find elected officials: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

Fax legislators for free:  Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php

and Senate: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

White House contact:  https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house

 

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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.     This week in Congress:  Twenty (20) bills and resolutions are on the House Majority Leader's Schedule for the this week. At govtrack.us we can also see that HR2991 has carried over from last week's calendar. We can look at this week's House committee schedule here.  Let's know what's coming.  The Senate begins their Monday session by resuming consideration of the nomination of Dana Baiocco, of Ohio, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. (source: Senate Calendar).  We expect Baiocco to be confirmed. Let's get to know more about him in this Oct. 2017 Intercept article. We can see Baiocco's compensation sources in his financial disclosure at Politco. 

2.    The Santa Fe, TX school shooting on Friday was the 22^nd school shooting of 2018.  More of our children have been killed at school this year than our children serving in the military.  http://thehill.com/homenews/news/388375-more-people-have-died-in-schools-than-service-members-in-2018-report  Let’s ask our MoCs if now is a good time to DO something to save our school children because if this Congress won’t do it, we will vote in a Congress who WILL. 

3.    Legal commentator Benjamin Wittes is warning that Trump's threat that he will today officially demand the Department of Justice look into whether or not the FBI or Justice Department infiltrated the Trump campaign for political purposes may produce a moment of reckoning (https://twitter.com/benjaminwittes/status/998259993819394049). Let's make sure we're ready if it does. More than 350,000 people are currently signed up for rapid response protests if Trump crosses a red line. Let's join them, or if we're already among them ask at least one friend to do so at https://www.trumpisnotabovethelaw.org.

4.    Over the weekend, the New York Times broke a story that in addition to connections with Russia, Donald Trump Jr. met with representatives of the crown princes from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates who were offering help with the 2016 campaign:  https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-election/trump-jr-met-gulf-princes-emissary-in-2016-who-offered-campaign-help-idUSKCN1IK0S1   This situation also involves Erik Prince, whose sister Betsy DeVos was then nominated to be the Secretary of Education. Let’s get loud with our MoC to say that we are tired of the corruption and debasing of our republic and that we expect them to protect the Mueller investigation with great vigor and clarity.

5.    “In Puerto Rico, 22,000 people still have no electricity in advance of hurricane season, which begins June 1. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which was brought in to restore power after Hurricane Maria, is preparing to leave the island as its electric grid remains unreliable.”  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/army-corps-of-engineers-will-leave-puerto-rico-as-thousands-lack-electricity  Let’s call our MoCs and ask if this would be the same protocol if this had been Florida or Texas or……

6.    Currently, the US State Department monitors exports of firearms, and is required to notify Congress of overseas sales exceeding $1 million. The Trump administration is moving to shift control to the Commerce Department and weaken congressional oversight. https://www.thetrace.org/rounds/gun-export-rules-trump-administration-plan/ ; http://thehill.com/regulation/administration/387785-trump-administration-releases-plan-to-shift-gun-export-approvals . While we’re waiting for the proposed rule to be published in the Federal Register and be subject to public comments, let’s tell our MoCs that the export of firearms is a national security issue and it belongs where it is: in the State Department, with strong congressional oversight.

7.    There’s strong evidence that Russia used the NRA to sway the 2016 election in Trump’s favor. Conservative Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin argued last week that politicians who benefited from NRA donations should return the money. Let’s (1) read her thoughtful column, https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/05/17/politicians-who-took-nra-money-ought-to-give-it-back/?utm_term=.cadc23466e03, and (2) if our MoCs took NRA money (look up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/nra-donations/?utm_term=.2a37bd99fad1 ), demand that they return it—because it is blood money, and because they are being influenced by a hostile foreign government.

8.    A coalition of House Democrats has begun proceedings to force a vote to restore net neutrality protections. The discharge petition, introduced by Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), allows the House to force a vote if half the representatives sign on, giving activists until the end of the session in January to collect the necessary signatures. They currently have 90, all from Democrats.”   https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/18/17352480/house-democrats-net-neutrality-vote  Let’s check our reps to see where they sit when it comes to net neutrality:  https://checkyourreps.org/, then let’s contact them to thank them for signing on or to tell them to do so.

9.   The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF); is deciding whether or to ban bump stocks, which turn a semiautomatic weapon into a machine gun. These devices were used in the Las Vegas Massacre, and are still unregulated and available to anyone. Fortunately, the Giffords Organization informs us that the “ATF counts every comment submitted and takes them into account when making their decision, so every comment counts. “We have only until June 27th at 11:59 pm EST, to get our comments in, so let’s act now.  We can learn more and submit our comments here:  https://giffords.org/banbumpstocks/  We can read about the issue here https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/justice-dept-proposes-banning-bump-stocks-branding-them-machine-guns/2018/03/23/8a62e050-2edd-11e8-8ad6-fbc50284fce8_story.html?utm_term=.53f7db3d9346

Election 2018 – General

An election guide from Postcards for America:  In this Google doc (updated regularly), each State shows ALL Democratic Candidates running for Congress, Governor, Lt Gov, Attorney General, Secretary of State (if applicable) with links to their websites and Twitter. Each has a link to a Twitter Thread, a Shareable Facebook Post and a Document. For most States, there are also Info & Links for Voter Registrations, Absentee Ballots, Early Voting & Voter ID, Age Requirements and being a Poll Worker.  Let’s check this out and use and share it:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NCYjsm3xKb79z19Gx7PWt5Zs9lkLiTqglHBHYs9mlX8/edit

1.      
There’s little to say about the horrors visited on Santa Fe High that hasn’t already been said about Parkland, Sandy Hook, or any of a dozen other names that instantly evoke tragedy (https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/19/us/texas-school-shooting/index.html). But there is something we can do. We can read and share this response from Texas senate candidate Beto O’Rourke on Medium, and sign up to text voters to help him unseat Ted Cruz here. The bloodshed won’t stop until we elect politicians we want real gun control, in Texas and everywhere else.

2.   In case we were wondering, here is the #1 effective action to get out the vote and how to do it:  https://politicalcharge.org/2018/05/19/what-is-the-1-most-effective-way-to-get-out-the-vote/

3.    It’s looking like a big year for Democrats even in deep-red areas, and activists in districts where the left doesn’t usually compete are organizing to take advantage (https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/once-safe-republican-districts-suddenly-in-play-as-democrats-expand-the-map/2018/03/17/441460ea-2921-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html?utm_term=.c6cfe96ba998). Rapid Resist/Resistance Labs is helping recruit candidates in Kansas, making sure that as many seats as possible there are contested. We can help them reach out to activists who might want to run by signing up to text here.

4.    From one of our own:  The Election Assistance Committee (EAC) knows that “IT election experts have serious concerns re: the barcode balloting touchscreens that many state & county election officials are rushing to buy. So why won’t u address it publicly? How is this not ur job?! #ProtectOurVotes”  https://medium.com/@jennycohn1/progress-states-are-replacing-unverifiable-touchscreen-voting-machines-with-unverifiable-3d77c0905cfd  Let’s contact the EAC and ask them:  https://www.eac.gov/contact/

5.    This weekend, Postcards To Voters launched Campaign 87: Tracey Rosebud for Mississippi State House, District 30.  Tracey is the pro-Public Education candidate and only Democrat running. The Special Election Runoff is next Tuesday, May 29, so cards for this campaign need to be in the mail early this week. We can sign up as a Postcards to Voters' volunteer here.  Other campaigns are currently open.

Election 2018 – By State

1.     Voting dates and deadlines this week:

May 21	Alabama	Voter Registration Deadline	Register-State primary
May 21	Arkansas	Voter Registration Deadline	Runoffs
May 21	California	Voter Registration Deadline	primary
May 21	South Dakota	Voter Registration Deadline	Primary
May 21	Virginia	Voter Registration Deadline	Primary
May 21	Georgia	Early Voting ends	Primary
May 22	Maine (by mail) no deadline in person	Voter Registration Deadline	Primary
May 22	Arkansas	Election date	Primary/special-assembly dist 16,29,83
May 22	Texas	Election date	Runoffs
May 22	Georgia	Election date	Primary
May 22	Kentucky	Election date	Primary
May 22	Arkansas	Election date	Special-State Senate 29
May 25	Iowa	Voter Registration Deadline	Primary
May 26	Utah	Voter Registration Deadline	Primary (postmark)

(source:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WJiqNAZNlWPSCAvuRpQ5e5dFiC5IY3O3epicrCuHINs/edit#gid=514224366)

2.    KS:  Only 26% Of Kansas Precinct Committee positions are filled so very few Kansans have representation in their parties, leaving many important decisions to just a few people.  Elections are won in the precincts, and a strong organization helps all candidates, up and down the ballot. We can help out by signing up to be a Precinct Captain to engage members of our community and provide them a voice in the party. Captains learn the concerns of their community, ensure their neighbors’ voices are heard, and deliver that message to help shape the party platform. Precinct Captains are a mouthpiece for voters within the larger party system.  We can find out more and sign up here:  http://precincts.info/

3.    OH:  From one of our own:  To protect your votes, tell the House Finance Committee to amend voting system bill #SB135 to allow funds 2 be used ONLY for scanners & #handmarked #paperballots! NO touchscreen voting machines. NO touchscreen ballot markers. NO barcodes on ballots! VOTE LIKELY WED!  Tell lawmakers that touchscreen ballot markers should be limited to those who are unable to hand mark their ballots. All other voters should use #handmarked #paperballots counted on optical scanners (or by hand).  https://medium.com/@jennycohn1/touchscreens-with-voter-verifiable-paper-audit-trails-vvpats-are-almost-as-bad-as-paperless-bec8a63bde4a  Click on the committee member’s photo to find contact info:  http://www.ohiohouse.gov/committee/finance

Other Actions

1.     In a tragic pas de deux whose moves we are all becoming way too familiar with, news broke on Friday that another mass shooting took place in a school – this time killing ten people at Santa Fe High School in Texas:  

https://apnews.com/ee2b420523b94825ba8366fe3ef8a1e8  The evidence is clear that “thoughts and prayers” will not stop the bloodshed. Let’s let our MoC know that we will be paying close attention to this issue for the midterm elections and let’s consider joining and giving a donation to Everytown for Gun Safety (umbrella organization that includes Moms Demand Action): https://everytown.org/who-we-are/

2.    In the aftermath of the Santa Fe High School mass shooting, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo wrote a powerful statement in favor of anti-gun violence legislation, https://www.facebook.com/ChiefArtAcevedo/posts/1676298439150998, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/19/us/texas-shooting-art-acevedo-guns.html.

Let’s send him a note of gratitude: Chief Art Acevedo, Houston Police Department, 1200 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002.

3.   The new Poor People’s Campaign continues the work started by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Indivisible Ventura gives us an eye-opening summary of the effort:   https://indivisibleventura.org/2018/05/17/the-poor-peoples-campaign-has-started-again-50-years-later-were-in/  Let’s see where we can be part of this campaign:  https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/

4.      Let’s thank “Christopher Wylie for blowing the whistle on Cambridge Analytica for alleged misuse of Facebook data. Thank you for speaking out about the undemocratic practices of your employer on behalf of all Americans. Address on Twitter: @chrisinsilico” (h/t Jen Hofmann)

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

States

1.    CO: Five years ago, Colorado enacted a law to protect victims of domestic violence by subjecting their attackers to court orders to relinquish guns and ammunition. The trouble is, the law is not being enforced. https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/investigations/a-colorado-law-supposed-to-make-some-suspects-give-up-their-guns-is-not-working/73-552261756 Let’s contact our Colorado state legislators:

 https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/ and Colorado Chief Justice Nancy E. Rice, 720-625-5460, and tell them that we want systems put in place that will enable the enforcement of gun relinquishment orders.

2.    NY: As the song goes, it’s up to you, New York! As the Mueller investigation discovers Trump cronies who likely violated New York State criminal laws, there’s the possibility that a presidential pardon will shield them from prosecution. Let’s read about New York’s double-jeopardy loophole here, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/19/opinion/sunday/trump-pardon-new-york.html , and here, https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4441944-Eric-Schneiderman-Letter-to-Lawmakers-4-18-2018.html , and let’s tell our state legislators to carefully craft legislation that will close the loophole and survive constitutional challenge. https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/  Let’s also call Governor Cuomo and tell him that we want him to support the proposal:      

https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

3.    TN: “Authorities in Tennessee have few checks to make sure criminals and mentally ill citizens give up their firearms as the law says they must,” 

http://fox17.com/news/local/tennessee-officials-frustrated-by-inability-to-keep-guns-away-from-felons Let’s tell our state legislators that we expect them to fix this deadly problem:  https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

Reading/Watching

1.    Experts in authoritarianism advise us to keep a list of things subtly changing around us, so we’ll remember.  Amy Siskind is keeping that list for us. Amy writes, "This was the first week in many, many months that the Republican Party showed any signs of standing up to Trump...Trump shocked the country, referring to undocumented immigrants as “animals,” ... Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were the faces of our country as Trump moved the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, leading to protests, scores of deaths, and hundreds of injuries."  Let's review Amy Siskind's list week 79. 

2.    Libby Schaaf, mayor of Oakland, CA responds, “No, Mr. President, I am not obstructing justice” --  https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/no-mr-president-i-am-not-obstructing-justice/2018/05/18/0d64e5cc-5ab5-11e8-b656-a5f8c2a9295d_story.html?utm_term=.59789d1bb186

3.    As usual, our weekly dose of Small Victories - https://mailchi.mp/peaceisloud/small-victories-the-resistance-means-business?e=86890239c4