Contact Federal Government Officials
Find elected officials: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
********************************
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. Following
the Parkland shooting in February, Trump established a Federal Commission on School
Safety headed by Betsy Devos. The group
has met once. Children continue to be
killed at school. https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/zm8nmw/what-exactly-is-besty-devos-school-safety-commission-doing Let’s
ask Betsy DeVos and our MoCs just how long we need to wait for answers to this
national crisis. DeVos: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/u-s-department-of-education
2. 197 have
signed, but 218 signatures are needed in the House on the discharge petition
that will allow a floor vote on DACA. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/article/Dreamer-petition-could-force-DACA-vote-on-House-12932113.php Let’s
check here to see if our rep has signed:
http://clerk.house.gov/115/lrc/pd/petitions/DisPet0010.xml If
yes, let’s contact and give thanks, if not, let’s tell our rep to sign and get
this important, life-saving issue brought to the floor.
3. Both the
House of Representatives and the Senate have introduced the “Protect and Serve”
Act which will make a deliberate, targeted attack on a law enforcement officer
a hate crime and designating the profession a protected class. This law is
unnecessary, divisive and plays into a false narrative that law enforcement
officers are under attack at a time when the opposite is true (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/05/16/law-enforcement-house-passes-tough-penalties-attacks-officers/617154002/). The House passed it by a sweeping 382-35
vote – including 162 Democrats voting yes. Let’s check out how our reps
voted here and let them know how we feel about
their votes. And let’s use this
script from 5Calls to
tell our senators to not let this go further and oppose S.2794.
4. The
House may vote soon on the #BankLobbyistAct, which repeals crucial protections
we established for consumers against Wall Street after the financial crisis (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-milken-conference-mccarthy/house-may-vote-on-dodd-frank-changes-in-may-majority-leader-idUSKBN1I126X). To get enough conservative votes to pass
in the House, they may have to go even further than the Senate in rolling back
consumer protections. Let’s let our reps know they work for us, not the big
banks, and we expect them to vote no on this. We can use this script from 5Calls. You can also send an email to your reps
with American for Financial Reform here.
5. Connecticut
Senator Chris Murphy has been a stalwart proponent of sensible gun legislation
in the aftermath of Newtown. He continues to do so passionately with each new
tragic event: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/388451-dem-sen-i-support-real-second-amendment-not-imaginary-one Let’s take a moment to thank
Senator Murphy: https://www.murphy.senate.gov/contact
6. Trump
has proposed a “domestic gag rule,” a change in Title X that will, among other
things, cut off federal funding to health groups that perform abortions or even
provide information about them. Planned Parenthood, which will be hard-hit by
this rule change, sized up its significance in an email to reporters: "For
nearly two decades, Title X law has been clear: Health care providers cannot
withhold information from you about your pregnancy options. This rule means
they can": https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/05/18/612445385/what-does-trumps-proposal-to-cut-planned-parenthood-funds-mean Planned Parenthood has made it easy
for us to send a comment to the Department of Health & Human
Services: https://www.
7. We’ve
all used testimonials, reviews, etc. to help us make good consumer
decisions. The Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau (CFPB) maintains a Consumer
Complaint Database
that helps us evaluate financial products/services. CFPB’s “acting director Mick Mulvaney told a
large crowd of bankers gathered in Washington that he doesn’t have to run a
“Yelp for financial services, sponsored by the federal government.””
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mulvaney-cfpb-doesnt-have-to-run-a-yelp-for-bank-customers-2018-04-24 A
group of 35 Democratic senators have
asked Mulvaney too keep the database public:
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/democratic-senators-urge-cfpb-to-continue-public-disclosure-complaint-data Let’s
contact Mulvaney at the CFPB (https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/contact-us) and tell him that we need information that
helps us make good decisions. Let’s make
sure our senator also signs on.
8. Tony
Perkins, notorious as head of the anti-LGBT Family Research Council and
vociferous in his anti-Muslim sentiments, has been appointed to the US
Commission on International Religious Freedom by Senator Mitch McConnell: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/longtime-gay-rights-opponent-tony-perkins-named-u-s-religious-n875016 Perkins is just the latest Republican
appointment to the USCIRF since Trump took office to attract condemnation from
LGBTQ and civil rights advocates. We must tell not just Trump and McConnell but
the USCIRF what we think of this appointment: Daniel Mark, chairman USCIRF, 32
North Capitol St NW, Washington, DC 20002 or (202) 523-3240
9. In the
1980s, Yucca Mountain in Nevada was designated the site for storing the
nation’s radioactive nuclear waste. Nevada residents and businesses have
since successfully fought the project, but on May 10th, the House
overwhelmingly passed the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act, allowing the
Department of Energy (DOE) to resume planning for and building the Nevada site
and, in the meantime, to build or license a temporary storage waste
facility--despite the fact that we do not yet have the science to support this
form of storage. Nonetheless, ignoring the risk of contamination by
nuclear waste bound for Yucca Mountain to communities in 44 states, Trump’s
Energy Secretary Rick Perry has said the government has a "moral
obligation" to continue working on the Yucca project: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/387086-house-votes-to-advance-yucca-mountain-nuclear-waste-project We need to tell our senators to stop
this bill so that no community lives under the threat of a nuclear waste
accident ruining their water or their health.
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. Republican
candidate for Congress in California, Jazmina Saavedra, followed a transgender
woman into a bathroom, filmed and harassed her, and then proudly shared the
video: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/388251-gop-candidate-films-confronts-transgender-woman-using-womens-bathroom We can support the
Democratic incumbent in this district: Nanette Barragan: http://barraganforcongress.com
2. “Poll
watchers, sometimes known as election observers, are the people who watch over
the activities at polling locations on election days. Their job is to report
any voting/registration irregularities to the proper authorities and ensure
that all votes are counted correctly. Usually, polling places allow one
observer per party at the polls at any given time.” Let’s learn why this is
important and how to become one: https://politicalcharge.org/2018/05/21/why-2018-is-the-year-you-should-be-a-poll-watcher/
3. This
Tuesday's elections include three campaigns for which Postcards to Voters
volunteers sent cards to get out the vote. A) AR-Campaign 77: Teresa Gallegos for State Senate. B) GA-Campaign 82: LaKeisha Gantt for Clarke County Board of Education . C)
GA- Campaign 84: Lisa Lott for Superior Court Judge. Let's watch
the election returns to see how "our" candidates do. If we
want to write cards for current open campaigns, we can sign up here.
Election 2018 –
By State
1. Voting
dates and deadlines this week:
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)
|
2. FL: Publix Super Markets continues to receive backlash from their decision
to give over $1 million to Republican gubernatorial candidate and NRA
"A+ rated" Adam Putnam and his PACs. (Source: Palm Beach Post.) In addition to Putnam's
conservative-extremist positions, he and his family also had a controversial
land windfall. In July of 2005, Florida taxpayers spent $25.5
million on 2,042 acres of Putnam's family's ranch—land that had been valued at
only $5.5 million a year earlier. (Source: Bradenton Times) If we are unhappy with Publix support of
Putnam, let's contact Publix to let them know. We can also "say
it with our wallets" and start shopping elsewhere
3. GA: In the Savannah area, The NAACP offers FREE RIDES to the polls. We can
find contact information here: http://www.wsav.com/news/your-local-election-hq/naacp-offers-free-rides-to-polls-for-may-22-election/1184874942
4. KY: Fayette County Democratic Party (FDCP) will
once again be offering rides to the polls on election day. Talk to you
friends, church members, neighbors and family and find out who will need a
ride on election day. To schedule a ride call 859-268-4448 or send an email to FayetteDemocratsKY@gmail.com. We can find out our districts and
precinct polling location on THIS PAGE of the Fayette County Clerk’s website
or at www.govoteky.com. FCDP also has a list of
Democratic Candidates on their 2018
Primary Candidates Page.
(Please note: offices with uncontested primary races will not appear on our
ballot today.) Also, if we live in Lexington, Lextran Lexington Public
Transportarion System will be offering FREE RIDES on Tuesday, May 22nd for
the Primary Election. We can find our voting location by visiting: https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/vic/ then share the information with
friends, family and neighbors who need a way to the polls.
Other Actions
1. Right
now, the Federal Elections Commission is accepting public comments as it
considers updates to its disclosure rules for online campaign ads. One possible
rule, called Alternative A, would require online ads to follow all the rules
about disclosing an ad's sponsor(s) that already apply to ads on traditional
media. This proposal is the one supported by Common Cause, a D.C. watchdog
group, and they are asking the public to co-sign their comment supporting
Alternative A and asking for permission to speak in an upcoming hearing. https://actionnetwork.org/forms/co-sign-to-demand-a-transparent-democracy
2. Former
Education Sec. Arne Duncan is proposing
parents keep children home from school until gun laws change. ““It’s wildly impractical and difficult,”
Duncan said. “But I think it’s wildly impractical and difficult that kids are
shot when they are sent to school.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/local/education/obamas-education-secretary-lets-boycott-school-until-gun-laws-change/2018/05/19/5ce3ebb0-5bab-11e8-8836-a4a123c359ab_story.html Let’s
contact our local parent organizations and schools and look at this option as a
tool.
3. If our
postcard group is looking for some good material to write from, we can check
out this weekly list: http://www.whatifknits.com/2018/05/issues-addresses-for-may-20-2018/
4. Are we
looking for a sport in which we can be fans and activists at the same time?
Maybe we're looking for the WNBA! The league is launching the "Take a
Seat, Take a Stand program." The initiative directs a portion of
WNBA ticket sales to spectators’ choice of national nonprofits that champion
causes ranging from sexual assault prevention to women's health. We can read
more at Glamour and find out more about the WNBA's teams
and schedules at the WNBA website. Let's support women athletes who are making
a difference.
5. From one
of our own: The American Civil Liberties Union said Monday it is
looking into an incident in which a Border Patrol agent detained and questioned a woman and her
friend —
both U.S. citizens — when he overheard them speaking Spanish at a gas
station in Montana. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/05/20/a-border-patrol-agent-detained-two-u-s-citizens-at-a-gas-station-after-hearing-them-speak-spanish/?utm_term=.73c09aff0595 I’m
pretty sure that my husband who speaks fluent Spanish and is a white man would
not have been detained by the agent. If your pocketbook can manage it,
let’s try to support the ACLU. You can donate here: https://action.aclu.org/give/donate-to-aclu
6.
If we
are Dreamers looking to renew our DACA, or if we know someone who is, we can
use UnitedWeDream’s new website with all the information we need to renew
our DACA, including a quiz, list of resources and step by step guide, We can
check it out here: RenewMyDACA.com. If we are onTwitter, we click this tweet to
share the information with our followers https://ctt.ac/SExc5
7. A few
months ago, activist Alicia Garza launched Black Futures Lab “to engage advocacy organizations and
legislators to advance local-, state- and federal-level policies that make
Black communities strong” https://www.colorlines.com/articles/alicia-garza-launches-new-organization-harness-black-political-power The new organization is conducting a black
census. “This survey, the largest of
Black people in recent history, will capture a more accurate picture of who we
are and what we care about. The Black Census asks Black communities what we see
as the key issues in our communities and asks us about what we think needs to
be done to address those issues, so that our lives can change for the better.” Let’s partake in this and share it as well: https://www.blackcensus.org/
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1. “People around the country are coming together with
a simple message: there's more we can do to end gun violence. Join the movement
by signing up to attend an event during Wear Orange Weekend, June 1-3.” Let’s join Everytown for Gun
Safety and their partners and check out more about the
weekend and where we can show up to participate: https://wearorange.org/
States
1. CA: Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation aimed at protecting people
living in the country illegally from having their immigration status disclosed
in open court. The measure signed last Thursday would require lawyers to
get permission from a judge before discussing someone's immigration status
publicly. California SB785 takes effect immediately but only
remain law through 2022 unless reauthorized. We can read more at NBC Los Angeles. If we are Californians, let's contact
Governor Brown to
thank him for signing this legislation into law.
2. MA:
Governor Charlie Baker wants to introduce legislation to bring the death
penalty back to Massachusetts. Let’s A) read about why that’s a terrible
idea, https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2018/05/20/nothing-pragmatic-baker-death-penalty-gambit/xeruhkN92elQR4n4N6Ga9J/story.html , B) tell Governor Baker not to
introduce this legislation (call 617-725-4005, write Massachusetts State House,
Office of the Governor, Rm 280, Boston, MA 02133, or email via this form:
www.mass.gov/governor/constituent-services/contact-governor-office/), and C) double-down on flipping the
Massachusetts governor’s seat to blue in November.
Reading/Watching
1. "Some Americans would feel less polarized
and alienated from their fellow citizens if they recognized that some of the
people fighting on “the other side” of a polarizing issue actually hold values
and beliefs that are strikingly similar to their own." - https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/a-better-way-to-look-at-most-every-political-issue/552752
2. Here is a needed resistance smile: After New
York lawyer Aaron Schlossberg harassed two Spanish-speaking women in a
restaurant and threatened to call ICE, someone started a GoFundMe that hired a
mariachi band and taco food truck to show up outside his apartment where
hundreds gathered to sing: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/388438-mariachi-band-plays-outside-home-of-ny-lawyer-who-threatened-to
3. Ever wonder the story behind Rogan’s
List? - https://politicalcharge.org/2018/05/20/bluewave-interview-susan-rogan/
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