Rogan's List

5/4/18

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

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.       The current Farm Bill expires September 30th; the House Agriculture Committee has passed the new version of the bill, which includes stringent food stamp eligibility and work requirements. Close to two-thirds of SNAP participants are children, elderly, or disabled, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, while the remainder, mostly low-wage workers, are more likely than other workers to experience periods of unemployment or see their monthly earnings drop (https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/most-working-age-snap-participants-work-but-often-in-unstable-jobs). The bill also neglects rural communities, which have the highest percentage of SNAP recipients, due in part to the prevalence of food deserts (https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/05/the-future-hardships-of-rural-america/559343/). Let’s call our Representatives to demand a 2018 Farm Bill that maintains food security for those who need assistance. We can also contact the leaders in the Senate Agriculture Committee and tell them that as they draft their version of the bill, we expect them to leave out unnecessary work requirements for SNAP recipients. Mailing address: U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry 328A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC, 20510 Phone: (202) 224-2035

2.      NPR’s All Things Considered has aired a horrifying and informative two-part broadcast on FEMA’s failure in Puerto Rico and Wall Street’s role in bankrupting the island.  We can listen to them here and here. PBS’s Frontline also aired “Blackout in Puerto Rico,” based on the same investigative reporting; it can be watched here. Let’s listen or watch, then tell FEMA Administrator William Long that his agency’s activities in Puerto Rico are unacceptable, and we expect him to take extensive action to fix the failings of FEMA: 202-646-2500 or 500 C Street SW, Washington DC 20472.

3.      The White House has released a 27-page talking point defense for CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel (http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/386031-white-house-messaging-document-lists-5-key-talking-points-for-haspel). The strategy appears to stonewall any serious attempts at looking into her past record of torture with platitudes like “impeccable professional experience,” and “exceptionally strong work ethic and common sense.” It also tries to minimize the offensiveness of the act, with claims that “her role in [torture] is not as deep or not as horrific as Democrats are describing it.” Haspel’s hearing is scheduled for next week. In addition to Democrats, a few key Republican Senators, such as Rand Paul (R-KY), John McCain (R-AZ) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are expressing concerns. Let’s make sure to keep calling our Senators about Haspel’s record and make it clear we do not want someone with her controversial background as the head of the CIA.

4.      An ominous trend is growing with Trump's extremist judicial nominees: more and more of them are refusing to answer whether or not they believe the landmark school desegregation case Brown v. Board of Education was correctly decided (http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/was_brown_v._board_of_education_correctly_decided_these_judicial_nominees_w). This is shocking and frightening, and should be disqualifying for any judge. If our senators are on the Judiciary Committee, let's call them and tell them we want every nominee asked about this case. And let's all tell our senators we expect them to vote no on any nominee who refuses to express support for it.

5.      Scott Pruitt’s EPA has rolled back standards governing auto emissions, citing “challenges for auto manufacturers due to feasibility and practicability...potential concerns related to automobile safety...significant additional costs [to] consumers”--none of it proven (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/02/environmental-protection-agency-emissions-standards-cars-trucks-rollback). These standards are, arguably, the most important single policy for cutting the nation’s climate-warming emissions. 17 states and DC--representing 44% of the US population (and more than a third of vehicles sold in the US)--are suing the EPA over this effort to weaken emissions standards
(https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01052018/states-lawsuit-epa-vehicle-emissions-standards-fuel-efficiency-rollback-pruitt-climate-change). Let’s weigh in and let Pruitt and the EPA know that we don’t want to return to the days of unbreathable air, smog “inversions,” and filthy cities: 202-564-4700 or 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20460

6.      Led by the Texas attorney general, seven states have filed a suit claiming “that the federal executive branch lacks the power to unilaterally grant unlawfully present aliens lawful presence and work authorization.” Leaving aside its larger effects, ending the program would cost Texas 100,000 workers and billions in GDP losses, some say:
https://www.texastribune.org/2018/05/01/texas-and-six-other-states-sue-end-daca/  Time yet again to defend DACA, a program overwhelmingly supported by Americans, according to the pollsters. Let’s tell our MoCs and our attorneys general that we think the federal government has a responsibility to protect the young people who benefit from DACA.

7.      “A coalition of more than 25 organizations representing more than 5.5 million active and former members of the U.S. military just told Congress it opposes legislation backed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that would allow military families to use public money for private-school vouchers,” (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/04/10/military-groups-to-devos-drop-plan-for-private-school-vouchers-we-dont-want-them). We can read more here, then let’s also make sure that our MoC and Secretary DeVos (1-800-872-5327 or U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202) know that we oppose the Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act (H.R. 5199/S. 2517).

8.     Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s newest attorney, took to the Sean Hannity show on Wednesday night to note that Trump did reimburse Michael Cohen for the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, and then he doubled down on Fox & Friends on Thursday morning: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/385965-giuliani-trump-reimbursed-cohen-for-payment-to-stormy-daniels  Let’s let Trump know that he would do better to save face with a simple resignation:  The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington DC 20500 or on Twitter @realDonaldTrump  and let’s also let our MoC know that we have had enough of the lying; Trump must be held accountable for his actions, and investigations should be conducted to determine if there was a violation of campaign finance laws.

Election 2018 – General

1.       Let's make that Blue Wave happen: Some information on May elections from Political Charge: "What a busy month! There are 13 special elections, 11 primaries and 1 runoff scheduled in May 2018. Use this information for your own civic engagement, or share to your network to spread the word and increase awareness and turnout!" Heads up TX, IN, NC, OH, WV, PA, ID, NE, AR, GA, and KY. https://politicalcharge.org/2018/04/26/primaries-special-elections-may-2018/

2.      Last year, 2000 volunteers wrote cards for state elections with Postcards For Virginia ("Postcards4VA"), a get-out-the-vote team, and now the Postcards for Virginia gang is at it again! After helping to flip 15 seats in the VA House of Delegates and getting Democrats elected to top offices in 2017, they’re now setting their sights on turning out Democrats for the state’s June 12^th primary. We can find out more, sign up and get addresses at Postcards4VA. We can write cards from any state, but let's make sure our Virginia friends and family are aware of this postcarding opportunity as well.

3.      On Wednesday, Postcards to Voters launched Campaign 82: LaKeisha Gantt for Clarke County, Georgia, Board of Education. With Betsy DeVos heading up the Dept. of Education, it's more important than ever than we select good, qualified board of education candidates.  LaKeisha has made a career consulting with schools on ways to improve their climate and culture to foster healthier and safer environments for learning. If we are current volunteers, let's write 5 postcards to Clarke County voters.  If we are new to Postcards to Voters, we can sign up here or email: JOIN@TonyTheDemocrat.org 

Election 2018 – By State

1.       MA: There will be a question on this November’s ballot to repeal protections for transgender people. Let’s make sure to tell our friends and neighbors to uphold this state law that prohibits transgender discrimination in public places by voting “yes” to keep the law as it is. We can find out more and get involved at https://www.freedommassachusetts.org/.

Other Actions

1.       From The Nation: After traveling for miles from their homes in Central America to escape poverty and violence, migrants [of the caravan] were initially told the port of entry had “reached capacity” before the first eight were finally allowed to enter the country on Monday night, with only a handful more following them on Tuesday. Donate to a fund created by Undocumedia and Pueblo Sin Fronteras, and help the migrants access food, shelter, diapers, sanitary pads, blankets, clothes, and other much-needed items. 

2.      If anything has become clear since Trump announced his candidacy, it's that Americans know far too little about our history of white supremacy, and about the brave advocates who resisted it. One of those was Ida B. Wells, one of America's leading anti-lynching activists. Her granddaughter is raising funds to build a monument so that her story can be told (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-ida-b-wells-monument-project-20180420-story.html). We can contribute at idabwellsmonument.org.

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.       After seven years of Syrian war, millions of families have been displaced, forced to leave their home with little or nothing to sustain them. In 2017, four women stepped up to help, starting Parcel of Love to give Syrian refugee moms and their newborns a better start. Last year, they delivered 1500 Baby Boxes to displaced moms, and now this year, their goal is to send 2000 Boxes containing warm clothing, blankets, health care items, and a packable bassinet. We can help spread the word about their campaign by joining Action Together Network’s Twitter Warriors twitterstorm this Sunday, May 6, from 8pm -9pm ET. When we click here, we will find Tweets already written for us; all we have to do is click to send them. We can find out more about the Parcel of Love project here.

2.      On the Saturday before Mother’s Day, Parkland moms who lost family members are organizing a Shop In to thank Dick’s Sporting Goods, which not only stopped selling assault rifles, but destroyed the ones they had in stock, and Wal-Mart, which raised the age to buy guns and ammunition to 21. Both stores have faced tremendous backlash to their stances and this is a way to thank them and honor those we have lost to gun violence. We can go shopping in either or both stores on May 12^th, then post pictures to show our support of common sense gun safety. We can also share this information on social media and in any groups we are in, organize shop ins, contact mom’s groups, and involve other interested parties, including teens. We can read more about this at The Hill. We can also find out more in this tweet from a Parkland parent.

States

1.       IA: “Iowa’s Republican-controlled legislature passed the most restrictive abortion ban in the United States on Wednesday, outlawing the procedure after a fetal heartbeat is detected, often at six weeks and before a woman realizes she is pregnant,” (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iowa-abortion/iowa-passes-fetal-heartbeat-abortion-ban-most-restrictive-in-us-idUSKBN1I3257?h_sid=09504c80bb-5a9e0f4c17af7716507f1ad8). The bill is intended to be contested in court, with the goal being to challenge Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court, which currently has a conservative majority. Let’s be sure to contact Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and tell her not to sign this dangerous bill:  1007 East Grand Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50319 Phone: 515-281-5211

2.      OK: The Oklahoma State Senate just passed SB 1212; a bill allowing anyone over 21 to carry guns without a license http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/386030-oklahoma-senators-approve-bill-allowing-adults-to-carry-guns-without, raising grave questions on how easy it might be to have firearms fall into the wrong hands. The bill is now headed to Governor Mary Fallin. Let’s tell her not to sign this bill that compromises our safety. Address: Oklahoma State Capitol 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 212 Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Phone: (405) 521-2342

3.      IL: Last week, the Illinois House passed a bill, HB4208, to put more social workers in schools. The House voted 64-25 to establish a grant program for schools who hire mental health professionals to maintain calm in the hallways. Let's read more at WIFR (Springfield). This bill now heads to the Illinois Senate where it has been assigned to the Education Committee. If we are Illinois voters, let's contact our state senators to let them know we support HB4208.

Reading/Watching

1.       We could learn a lot from this study of the mass racial cleansing that wracked towns and counties across the country just a few generations ago: Buried in the Bitter Waters - The Hidden History of Racial Cleansing in America (Elliot Jaspin). This is history forgotten/denied by most of us, but it is a key factor in today's racism and inequality: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8893124

2.      Hawaii is the first state in the nation to ban chlorpyrifos pesticides. Chlorpyrifos is a neurotoxin that can trace its genealogy to nerve agents used in World War 1. Let's read about this important win for people and the environment at Hawaii Reporter. Even against great resistance, we can get things done working together.

3.      Postcards to Voters' volunteer Courtney Tait describes her own postcarding experiences in her article "How Writing Postcards To Strangers Keeps Me Sane in Trump's America."