6/11/18
Contact Federal Government 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. This
week in Congress: Forty (40) bills and resolutions are on the
House Majority
Leader's Schedule for
this week starting on Tuesday. Additionally, 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
motion to proceed to H.R.5515, the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2019. (Source: Senate Calendar)
2. The
notion of a discharge petition to bring an item to a vote can be confusing, but
it may be the only way to get a DACA bill on the floor. https://politicalcharge.org/2018/06/08/the-republican-revolt-over-immigration-whats-going-on/ Butm we only have today to convince three
more House members to sign up. If we
have a GOP House member, let’s call them this morning and encourage them sign
on and let’s get this done!
3. Given
Trump’s abysmal, uncooperative, and embarrassing behavior at the G7 meeting in Quebec
this past weekend, it is becoming clear that he lacks the understanding why we
need to work with our allies. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/06/10/what-led-to-trumps-outburst-against-trudeau-behind-the-scenes-at-the-g7.html It is
all the more imperative that we ask our senators to back Sen. Corker’s (R-TN)
bill (yet unnumbered) to check Trump’s tariff’s authority:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/06/sen-bob-corker-tells-trump-he-wont-stop-fighting-his-tariffs.html
4. In a
late add-on last Thursday, the House voted Thursday night on
the rescission bill ( H.R.3) that will cut $15 million in programs
including from the Children’s Health Insurance Program
(CHIP). These cuts are to offset the cost of the omnibus
spending bill passed earlier this year. The vote was 210-206. http://thehill.com/homenews/house/391252-house-passes-trumps-plan-to-claw-back-15-billion-in-spending The
bill now goes to the Senate. Let's tell our senators that this is not the
right way to go. Children's lives are at stake here.
5. Another
discharge petition in the House, also with a deadline of today, is the only way
that net neutrality can stay alive. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/06/net-neutrality-will-be-repealed-monday-unless-congress-takes-action Let’s
call our GOP reps and tell them to sign on.
We can also: A) If we have a
website, we can offer a way to take action on our site. The code can be
found here. B) Change our profile picture,
avatar, cover photo, or banner on social media. We can check out a whole folder
of graphics here. C)
Check out BattleForTheNet.com has a fresh new look for June 11th. Let’s
check it out and share it on social media and with our email lists and
networks.
6. While
the Dept. of Justice is supposed to uphold existing U.S. laws, Trump’s Justice
Department told a federal court on Thursday that it would not defend
crucial provisions of the Affordable Care Act that protect consumers with
pre-existing medical conditions, on the grounds that these are part of an
"unconstitutional scheme" requiring Americans to have health
insurance: https://khn.org/morning-breakout/justice-department-refuses-to-defend-health-law-in-court-saying-certain-provisions-are-unconstitutional/ The legal fate of this decision is
unclear, but Jeff Sessions (https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/u-s-department-of-justice) and Trump need to hear from us about this
latest attempt to undermine what remains of the ACA and we need to ask our MoCs
to loudly denounce this assault on our health care rights and re-affirm the
principle that any health care policy must cover everyone, the sick and the healthy,
at a fair and affordable price. In particular, let’s remind our GOP MoCs that
they tried to reassure the American public that pre-existing conditions, one of
the most popular provisions of Obamacare, would still be covered in their new
bill last year. http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2017/may/01/donald-trump/does-new-version-ahca-still-cover-pre-existing-con/
7. Trump’s
hostility to and abysmal ignorance of science is obvious, and its impact is now
felt all across government: there is no White House science advisor (for the
first time since 1941) assisting at the North Korea talks; the departments of
State, Agriculture, the Interior, and the EPA have, one way or another,
decimated their scientific advisory arms; and last year, Justice announced that
it would no longer use “guidance documents” to enforce laws, including
science-based laws: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/in-trump-white-house-science-is-unwelcome-and-so-is-advice/ Fortunately, a judge has asked Scott
Pruitt to produce some scientific evidence to his claims. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/judge-orders-epa-to-produce-science-behind-pruitts-warming-claims/ Let’s
join this judge and demand of these agencies and of the White House that they
provide us with scientific evidence whenever they take action—each and every
time.
8. Indivisible
East Bay (CA) monitors nominees for federal court positions: https://indivisibleeb.org/judiciary/ Let’s
check them out and particular note their assessment of and recommended action
against Britt Grant: https://indivisibleeb.org/judiciary/monitoring-nominees/grant/
9. From Alt
National Park Service
(6/7) - National Alert (Important Please Read): The superintendent, Dan Wenk, of Yellowstone
National Park is being forced out of his post by the Trump administration and
is set to be replaced by August. Acting Director Paul Smith stated that a new
superintendent would fill Wenk's position by August. Wenk is being forced out
because of an ongoing disagreement between himself, the administration and with
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke over the number of bison the park can handle.
Wenk said that Zinke, who served as a Montana congressman prior to joining the
administration, and his staff have argued that the bison population is too
high. However, Wenk argues that the number of bison, presently more than
4,000, is sustainable. We need your help to save the superintendent of
Yellowstone National Park's job and our bison from being slaughtered. To help
us please share this post and spread the word!
TWEET ZINKE. @SecretaryZinke
10. The Federal Commission on School Safety,
which was established after the Parkland shooting to “address school safety and
the culture of violence,” is claiming that it’s outside of their purview to
look at the relationship between guns and school violence. http://time.com/5301750/betsy-devos-school-safety-commission-gun-violence/ Let’s
tell the commission that school safety absolutely depends on common sense gun
restrictions, as data from other countries has consistently proven. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-america-school-shootings-20180215-story.html. We can reach the commission through a
special email set up for public input on this issue: safety@ed.gov. We can also write directly to Secretary of
Education Betsy DeVos at betsy.devos@ed.gov.
11. Instead
of graduating high school this June, Manuel Antonio Cano Pacheco, a Dreamer who
came to the United States when he was three, was killed by a gang three week
after he was deported to Mexico. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/rekha-basu/2018/06/07/deportation-death-des-moines-high-school-dreamer-daca-mexico-drug-cartels/680234002/Let’s tell our MoCs that we should not be
facilitating the senseless deaths of hard-working young people by sending them
back to dangerous countries they have no connection to. We need to pass the
Dream Act (S1615/HR 3440) now!
12. Even though nearly 15,000 deaths annually are
caused from asbestos-related diseases, and ignoring the scientific
evidence otherwise, Trump has called asbestos poisoning a mob-led
conspiracy. His Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has announced that it will no longer “consider the health risks
and impacts of asbestos already in the environment when evaluating the dangers
associated with the chemical compound.” http://www.newsweek.com/pruitt-trump-asbestos-chemicals-trump-962703 Let’s tell Trump, Pruitt and our MoCs that
this is not a healthy decision for our citizens.
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:
1. Postcards
to Voters currently has two (2) open campaigns. 1) FL-Campaign 91-Eileen Higgins for Miami-Dade County Commissioner. 2)
TX-Campaign 92: Eric Holguin for US Congress. Let's help get
out the vote by writing 5 cards for each of these campaigns. We can sign
up here.
2. We've
got a chance to bring the blue wave to Wisconsin TOMORROW, when the
special elections for vacant State Senate and General Assembly seats Scott
Walker tried to avoid will be held. (https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/06/07/wisconsin-special-elections-could-offer-clues-possible-blue-wave/677784002/). Thanks to Flippable, we can help the
Democratic nominees Caleb Frostman and Ann Groves Lloyd win from wherever we
are by making phone calls. Let's sign up for a shift here.
3. Let’s
read “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election,” and then let’s take
action! https://politicalcharge.org/2018/05/04/15-ways-to-help-a-campaign-win-their-election/
Election 2018 –
By State
1. Upcoming
voting dates and deadlines:
June 11
|
South Carolina
|
In person absentee voting ends
|
Primary
|
June 12
|
Connecticut
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
June 12
|
North Dakota
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Same Day registration
|
June 12
|
Maine
|
In person absentee voting ends
|
Primary
|
June 12
|
Utah
|
Early Voting begins
|
Primary
|
June 12
|
Maine
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
June 12
|
Nevada
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
June 12
|
North Dakota
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
June 12
|
South Carolina
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
June 12
|
Virginia
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
June 12
|
Wisconsin
|
Election date
|
Special-State Assembly District 42
|
June 12
|
Wisconsin
|
Election date
|
Special-State Senate District 1
|
June 14
|
Maryland
|
Early Voting Begins
|
Primary
|
June 15
|
New Hampshire
|
Filing Deadline
|
(source: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WJiqNAZNlWPSCAvuRpQ5e5dFiC5IY3O3epicrCuHINs/edit#gid=514224366 We
can also see this info by state here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IMWqHIktIBS7jPxS4mVV1--YKYVa-2yYWjV8QHsi1F4/edit#gid=1798528701)
2. Five
states have primaries tomorrow:
1. ME: Question 1 on the ballot tomorrow
has confusing language for a reason. http://hotstove.bangordailynews.com/2018/04/25/home/yes-on-question-1-keep-ranked-choice-voting/
Here’s the thing, if we want to keep ranked choice voting, we need to vote “YES”.
Other Actions
1. The Facebook group Comfort
for Kids in ICE Detention, has been looking for places to send comfort
parcels and received a reply from The Florence Project, https://firrp.org/ . Let’s
check out this Google doc to see what items we can send to comfort immigrant
and refugee children: https://drive.google.com/open?id=17X2jauqjeWQ5BpqyffeN3M8mtT_GmT-m
2. Children separated from their parents at the border
are now being sent to various states for foster care. http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2018/06/09/borderseparations/Z95z4eFZjyfqCLG9pyHjAO/story.html We can fight the cruel new policy and help the
children by opening our hearts and homes until they can be returned to their
parents. Let’s check here to see how we
can become foster parents to these children:
http://www.usccb.org/about/children-and-migration/foster-care/index.cfm
3. From The Loyal
Opposition: If Trump
pardons key witnesses in the #TrumpRussia probe, it's a
red-line that triggers automatic, preplanned, nationwide peaceful protests,
sponsored by leading non-profits, including @MarchForTruth17. Learn about what
you can do to help the effort at http://TrumpIsNotAboveTheLaw.org .
4. From Chop Wood/Carry Water: I found a great organization called Kind that has
been helping children in immigration proceedings for ten years. Please check
them out (link to their website is above).
Let's also follow KIND online @supportkind on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to get the
latest news and information about family separation and the protection of
children. Let's amplify the amazing work this group is doing in every way
we can.
5. The recent suicides of Anthony Bourdain and Kate
Spade have shaken many of us and demonstrated how hard it can be to know that
someone is troubled and needs our help. While caring and concern are important,
there are also practical steps that we can take to prevent future tragedies.
TheCDC’s very comprehensive Suicide Prevention guide provides very thorough,
useful information for both communities and individuals. We can read it here,
then share as we see fit. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/suicidetechnicalpackage.pdf
6. Tampa Bay Times reporting has revealed that for
more than a year, the state of Florida failed to conduct national background
checks on tens of thousands of applications for concealed weapons permits
(http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/06/08/adam-putnams-office-stopped-concealed-weapons-background-checks-for-a-year-because-it-couldnt-log-in/). This
unbelievable act of irresponsibility was overseen by the Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and its elected commissioner,
Republican Adam Putnam. Putnam is running for governor and has highlighted his
expansion of concealed carry permit as a key accomplishment. Let’s join his
Democratic opponents in calling on him to drop out and resign his position by
emailing him at info@adamputnam.com. And let’s
support their efforts to defeat him by contributing to the Florida
Democratic Party.
7. Federal magistrate judges are on the front lines of
the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy that is criminalizing
asylum-seekers and forcibly separating them from their children. This article
from The Intercept, https://theintercept.com/2018/05/29/zero-tolerance-border-policy-immigration-mass-trials-children/ , spotlights
how the courtroom of Federal Magistrate Judge Ronald G. Morgan (Brownsville,
TX) has become a zero-tolerance factory. It includes Judge Morgan’s dramatic
statement to US prosecuting attorney: “What you’ve done, in effect, by
separating these children is you’re putting them in some place without their
parents. If you can imagine there’s a hell, that’s probably what it looks
like.” Judge Morgan nevertheless went on to give the parents in his courtroom
false hope by telling them that they would be rejoined with their children in
detention. Let’s tell Judge Morgan that if he checks ICE’s publicly accessible,
online database, he’ll see that almost all the people who have gone through his
courtroom have been taken to detention camps that house only adults. #FamiliesBelongTogether Email: Bertha_Vasquez@txs.uscourts.gov (Judge
Morgan’s case manager); Linda_Garcia@txs.uscourts.gov (his
judicial assistant); and Craig_Smith@txs.uscourts.gov (his law
clerk). See also: http://www.txs.uscourts.gov/content/united-states-magistrate-judge-ronald-g-morgan
8. This summer, MoveOn is launching the Resist &
Win program to support grassroots activists like us to ending GOP control of
the House of Representatives and to grow our long-term movement to build the
democracy we dream of. World class organizing training sessions will
be offered online as part of the MoveOn Digital Summer Camp
from July 8 to August 8 2018, just 3-5 hours per week. We’ll also be
able to apply to attend the two-day MoveOn National Grassroots
Leadership Summit with hundreds of grassroots movement leaders from around
the country on August 25-26, 2018. We’ll be trained to lead volunteer
campaigners during the summer and fall to help our candidates win. We can click
here to apply, then share with our friends. Applications are accepted on a
rolling basis, so let’s apply today! https://bit.ly/2y07rlb
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1. This is the fifth week of the Poor People’s
Campaign. Let’s check
where we can participate: https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/events/ We can keep up with them via their Facebook
page: https://www.facebook.com/anewppc/posts/1716803651749136
2. Voter turnout will play an important part in our
2018 Midterm Elections, Organizing For America is presenting a Voting Rights
Webinar on Tuesday, June 12 at 7pm CT/8pm ET. This informative
conversation with the Brennan Center for Justice will discuss some of the
barriers to voting in communities across the country, how we can work to
overcome them, and why it’s important that we are all involved in protecting
our democracy in 2018. We can register here. https://bit.ly/2sXxkvU
3. On June 14th, 2018, thousands of people
across the US will join marches, rallies, and vigils to protest the
administration’s cruel and inhumane treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers. Let’s find an event near us: http://map.familiesbelong.org/search.php
States
1. ALL: Because the employee couldn’t log
into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, for more than a
year, concealed carry applications, over 200,000, were approved without the
required check. http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/06/08/adam-putnams-office-stopped-concealed-weapons-background-checks-for-a-year-because-it-couldnt-log-in/
2. ALL: While the FCC's repeal of net
neutrality protections goes into effect today, there is still plenty that we
can do at the state level to ensure that we retain equal access to content on
the internet. Indivisible details four ways that we can work to
protect net neutrality: by contacting our state Attorney General, asking our
state MoC to introduce legislation, asking our governor to take executive
action, and asking our local municipalities to create net-neutral broadband
networks. Let's learn more about these actions, and check to see where our
state stands on net neutrality here, then let's get to work!
3. MOST: Birth certificates have a long
history of being used to reinforce bigoted policies (https://theatln.tc/2kYQVIA). While they have previously been referenced
to prevent racially mixed marriages, to support eugenics, and to uphold white
supremacy, now they are used as a tool to prevent the transgender community
from having their gender identity match their legally-recognized sex. There are
still states that completely outlaw changing gender markers on birth
certificates, and numerous others which require individuals to appear in court,
or to undergo surgery before their birth certificate can be changed (https://bit.ly/2J8Xa7v). We can help fight back against this by
working with our state legislators to afford greater protections to transgender
individuals and oppose discriminatory bills that are introduced. Let's check
out the Transgender Law Center's map
of state legislation,
and get in touch with our state MoCs.
4. CA: Net Neutrality ENDS MONDAY,
June 11, but we have a slim chance of saving it in California if we stop
lobbyists from killing SB822 in Committee. We can check here to see if our
Representative is one the key Committee that votes to advance or kill the bill.
Especially if we live in District 28, we can call Evan Low, the lynch pin of
this deal and ask him to support it. We can then ask our friends or family in
his district to call too. If Kevin DeLeon is our Representative, we can
ask him to support this bill which does not have the loopholes that his bill
does. We can see if our State Representatives are on this crucial committee,
find out more about the bill and how to make contact here: https://www.facebook.com/events/276018149607190/?ti=icl
5. NC: North Carolina could be the next
state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). http://www.wect.com/story/38362420/nc-could-be-deciding-state-in-push-for-constitutional-amendment Let’s
check out what we can do here: https://www.ratifyera.org/
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, "Trump continues to act as
if he is solely in charge, attending the Group of Seven summit in Toronto where
he arrived late, left early, delivered a harsh, toothless speech, and
complained Russia wasn’t invited — further
alienating our former allies and achieving nothing before leaving for his
summit with Kim Jong Un next
Tuesday." Let's review Amy
Siskind's list week 82.
2. Whether it's Bannon’s “destruction of the
administrative state”—the undoing of regulations, pacts, and taxes that he
believed constrain American power—or Trump’s war on the “deep state,” we’d do
well to know the details of the hollowing out of our government: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/05/21/trump-vs-the-deep-state
3. As usual, our weekly dose of Small
Victories which announces that they are beginning their summer schedule of
publishing every other week. They remind
us that we can still find them “on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and we’ll be back to regularly weekly updates
just as election season heats up.”
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.