6/15/18
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.
The
first group of journalists has been granted permission to go through Casa
Padre, the shelter for detained child migrants in Brownsville, TX, the one that
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) has been denied entrance. Nearly 1500 10-17-year-old boys are held in
this facility that features Trump murals.
https://twitter.com/jacobsoboroff/status/1007047629493161984 and https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/shelters-undocumented-children-nearing-capacity-trump-immigration-policy/story?id=55882840 Given this new information, let’s contact
all our MoCs to tell them we want this cruel family separation policy to end.
This is not good for children.
2.
Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo got testy with a reporter who was seeking to understand
the details of the agreement with North Korea: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/13/north-korea-nuclear-deal-trump-next-steps-what-will-happen Let’s let Secretary Pompeo know
that we the people have a right to understand the details of the agreement and
that winging it is not okay: U.S. Department of State,2201
C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520 or on Twitter @SecPompeo
3.
It’s not
just family separation. Children have been mistreated at the border for a long
time; this 2016 fact sheet from the American Civil Liberties Union tells us
"Every day the U.S. government brings children into immigration court
where they are forced to defend themselves without counsel. As a
result, thousands of children, some as young as 3 and 4 years old, are
ordered deported without legal representation.” https://www.aclu.org/fact-sheet/fair-day-court-kids-act-factsheet Unaccompanied children apprehended at
the border are very vulnerable. They should at the very least have access to
legal counsel. That's why Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) has introduced S. 2468: Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of
2018. It currently has 14 co-sponsors. Let's check if our Senators have
signed on. Let’s thank them if they have, but if not, let's ask them to do so.
It shouldn't even be an issue.
4.
Attorney
General Jeff Sessions has ruled that our country will no longer grant asylum to
most victims of domestic abuse and gang violence. This cruel decision –
driven, clearly, by the hate and extremism at the heart of the Republican
administration – will condemn tens of thousands of men, women and children to
death. Let's read more at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and join their call to action by
contacting the DOJ main comment line at 202-353-1555. SPLC has included a
suggested script to help us get started.
5.
The
ethics scandals against EPA chief Scott Pruitt keep increasing. In the latest
incident, Pruitt solicited a GOP donor’s help in finding his wife a job http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/392021-pruitt-had-aide-gop-donors-help-wife-find-job-report. Former White House ethics chief, Walter
Shaub, has gone on record to claim that Pruitt is simply unfit for public service, and now even hard-line conservatives like
Fox News Commentator Laura Ingraham and Pruitt’s home-state Senator, James Inhofe are calling for his resignation. Let’s tell
our MoCs to keep calling for Pruitt’s resignation. We should also contact the
White House and the EPA directly (pruitt.scott@EPA.gov; https://www.facebook.com/EPA/; Twitter: @EPA) and let them know that these
ethical violations are serious and unacceptable, and that Pruitt must cede
leadership of the EPA.
6.
In 2014,
due to a temporary, but unusually large influx of unaccompanied minors at our southern
border, make-shift housing was provided temporarily in tents and what appeared
to be cages. Now, with the
government-made increase of unaccompanied children taken from their parents at
the border, are now creating a tent city in Texas. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/trump-admin-will-house-migrant-kids-tents-tornillo-texas-n883281 As Sleeping Giants asked on Twitter yesterday, “Who is the tent
manufacturer willing to profit from this? Who is the bed manufacturer? Who is
the company willing to handle the data? Who is the food supplier? Who are the
other companies willing to detain children for cash?” When we find out, we will boycott.
7.
North
Carolina is trying to suppress the vote again, which makes it more important
than ever that the federal judges overseeing North Carolina are committed to
protecting voting rights. Thomas Farr has made it very clear he’s not, not only
defending racist voter ID laws in court but actually participating in attempts to
suppress black voters (http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article211659684.html). Let’s call our senators and tell them to
oppose his nomination.
8.
The
United States Department of Agriculture has released guidelines related to the
GMO food labeling law, which was passed by Congress in 2016. The problem is
that the labels they are suggesting do not mention the known words, “GMO.”
Instead they use misleading smiley faces, along with the term “BE,” which
stands for the lesser-known term, “bio-engineering.” (We can see pictures of
what’s being proposed here.) There are no clear requirements to label
ingredients derived from GMO crops, and companies have the option to forgo GMO
labeling on product packaging all together and substitute a sentence referring
people to a website or QR code for more information. Let’s check out this posting from the Sierra Club for more information, and then submit a public comment that calls for clear, thorough, unbiased
labeling that uses the more known term “GMO” and assures the American public
that all possible GMO-derived ingredients are noted.
9.
The
House farm bill went down to defeat; the Senate Agriculture Committee has now
advanced a different bill, soon to come to the Senate floor; while the Senate’s
Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, is largely a continuation of the current
farm bill, it removes SNAP (food stamp cuts), includes new investments to make
nutritious food more accessible, opens new opportunities for farmers and
struggling rural economies, and protects the environment: https://newfoodeconomy.org/senate-farm-bill-2018-primer/ and https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/senate-agriculture-committee-releases-farm-bill-that-protects-snap/article_8f7ec96a-a736-5dd9-9e83-06f0c8a605c2.html The
Union of Concerned Scientists points out that this is our last chance to urge
our senators to make changes that would further strengthen our food system and
has mounted a letter-writing campaign; to use their tools, go to:
10. “Satellites monitoring the state of the White
Continent indicate some 200 billion tonnes a year are now being lost to the
ocean as a result of melting. Governments will need to take account of the
information and its accelerating trend as they plan future defences to protect
low-lying coastal communities.” https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44470208 “Mr.
Trump is the first president since 1941 not to name a science adviser, a
position created during World War II to guide the Oval Office on technical
matters ranging from nuclear warfare to global pandemics.” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/09/climate/trump-administration-science.html Let’s pressure congress to tell trump
to name a “real scientist” as an advisor.
11.
The
Republican administration is pushing a "gag rule" designed to block
people from getting accurate information about their health care, and to
prevent patients from getting birth control and preventive care at Planned
Parenthood health centers. It would also allow doctors and nurses across the
country to withhold information from their patients. We can read more about the
gag rule in this Planned Parenthood article. Let's use this handy tool at Planned Parenthood to submit an official comment to
the Department of Health and Human Services telling them we oppose this attempt
to allow doctors to withhold information from their patients.
12. When a reporter asked Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI)
if he was confident in EPA Admin. Scott Pruitt, Ryan’s response was "Frankly
I haven't paid that close attention to it ... I don't know enough about what
Pruitt has or has not done to give you a good
comment." https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1007402554651602944 Let’s
take the time to let Ryan know about a few issues with Pruitt: https://www.npr.org/2018/06/14/619934982/as-the-scandals-mount-conservatives-turn-on-scott-pruitt
Contact: https://paulryan.house.gov/contact/
13. " Backed by broad support from
national and state doctor groups, the American Medical Association is launching
a renewed push to curb gun violence and mobilize physicians to lobby Congress
for legislation doctors say is long overdue." https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2018/06/12/ama-intensifies-pitch-for-gun-control/#5d5a21c14dd0 Let's tell our MoCs that we agree with
the AMA because gun violence IS a public health issue. We want to see
these changes. If they can't do it before the election, we will be
electing people who will.
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.
Link
correction: We’ve all learned a lot
about the importance of the secretary of state’s office since Trump, as
cybersecurity of elections and voting rights have been thrust into the national
spotlight. Now it’s time to act, with 26 states seeing their secretaries of state
up for a vote this fall (http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-state-races-handicapping-election-2018-governor-sos-ag-legislative.html). Let’s read up on the seats that may be
competitive in this article from Governing, and then sign up to help Let
America Vote and iVote elect voting rights champions.
2.
From one
of our own: Please pass the link on to
any/all American and ex-pats needing to register [to vote]. Their vote matters
whether they are overseas or out of state. So, if you know anyone abroad,
living out of state or in need of an alternative to their assigned polling
place - this covers all; https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/vote/state-elections/state-election-dates-deadlines.htm
3.
Vote411.org, http://www.vote411.org/ , is a project of the League of Women
Voters Education Fund. Not only can we use it to register to vote; we can see
who is running for office in our community or browse information on races and
candidates. The info includes candidates’ websites, so we can be in touch and
help get Democrats elected up and down the ballot. Let’s check it out: http://www.vote411.org/ballot
4.
Swing
Left has announced that they will be offering the Swing Left College Fellowship, which "trains student activists
to organize teams of volunteers on their campuses—and to get out the vote in
critical Swing Districts. This program offers online training and coaching from
veteran organizers over the summer to help students hit the ground running in
the fall semester." Students must be enrolled in a college or university
within sixty miles of a swing district. If we, or someone we know, would
qualify, let's encourage them to apply for this great opportunity. The deadline
to apply is June 25th: https://bit.ly/2t6tKQs
5.
With all
the attacks on voting rights we face, we have a chance in Florida to massively
expand the right to vote at the ballot box in November. Not only will passing
Amendment 4 strengthen democracy, it will also be good for Florida’s economy (http://www.wtxl.com/news/study-voting-yes-to-amendment-could-save-fl-taxpayers-millions/article_24509028-6957-11e8-9f5a-bbed278b1129.html). Second Chances Florida is hosting another
day of action on Saturday, June 23rd. We can sign up to host a call party
in our area here. Or we can sign up to make calls anytime for
this crucial ballot initiative at https://secondchancescallteam.youcanbook.me/.
6.
The Voter Mentor Project aims to create a community of knowledgeable mentors who are willing to
connect with others they know who are less informed about voting, and therefore
less likely to vote. The aim of the project is to help citizens overcome their
sense of alienation and become active participants in our democracy. Started in
western Massachusetts, this model can be easily replicated anywhere. Let’s find out more how voter mentoring can work and start something similar in our
community.
Election 2018 –
By State
1.
Upcoming
voting dates and deadlines:
|
June 15
|
New Hampshire
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
|
June 15
|
South Carolina
|
In Person absentee voting begins
|
runoffs
|
|
June 18
|
Arkansas
|
Early voting ends
|
runoffs
|
|
June 18
|
Colorado
|
Early voting begins
|
Primary
|
|
June 19
|
Utah
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary (in person/online)
|
|
June 19
|
Washington D.C.
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary (at polls)
|
|
June 19
|
Washington D.C.
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 19
|
Arkansas
|
Election date
|
Runoffs
|
|
June 21
|
Maryland
|
Early Voting ends
|
Primary
|
|
June 21
|
Oklahoma
|
Early Voting begins
|
Primary
|
|
June 22
|
Utah
|
Early Voting ends
|
Primary
|
|
June 23
|
Oklahoma
|
Early Voting ends
|
Primary
|
(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.
AK: Introducing FLIP ALASKA, a Facebook group dedicated to winning
elections! It's part of a 50-state project that came out of the success of FLIP
ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones elected by squeezing every possible vote
out of the state. We can join here, get some new ideas and meet new folks.
Together we can turn our beautiful state the Bluest it’s ever been, so let’s
start getting our country back, state by state! We can check the group out,
then, if we like it, join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipAlaska/
3.
AZ: Introducing FLIP ARIZONA, a
Facebook group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state project
that came out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones
elected by squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join here,
get some new ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful state
the Bluest it’s ever been, so let’s start getting our country back, state
by state! We can check the group out, then, if we like it, join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipArizona/
4.
WI: Introducing FLIP WISCONSIN, a
Facebook group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state project
that came out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones
elected by squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join here,
get some new ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful state
the Bluest it’s ever been, so let’s start getting our country back, state by
state! We can check the group out, then, if we like it, join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipWisconsin/
5.
WY: Introducing FLIP WYOMING, a
Facebook group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state project
that came out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones
elected by squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join here,
get some new ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful state
Blue, so let’s start getting our country back, state by state! We can check the
group out, then, if we like it, join here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipWyoming/
Other Actions
1.
To continue the momentum built by yesterday’s
action rallies to stop separation of children and families at the border, we
can donate to eight organizations fighting this issue in one step here. This link also has information about each of
these agencies if we want to contribute individually. Congressman Joe Kennedy III's campaign is
matching the first $25,000 donated.
2.
If we live abroad and want to do something about
the immigration issue at our southern border, let’s check this out: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17qwcesjUWsyXHtd7B8JAga2vOtSSO77Tftd29vc87aQ/edit
3.
The National Redistricting Foundation (NRF) is the
501(c)(3) affiliate of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, a 527 political
action committee chaired by former US Attorney General Eric Holder.
The foundation has launched lawsuits in Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana to undo
gerrymandered electoral maps that "pack" many black voters into
a few voting districts while "cracking" others into small groups
within other districts. The net effect is a dilution of the black vote in those
states, amounting to denial of representation and violation of the Voting
Rights Act. (https://apnews.com/d30b289c43f543079555304f2be53b6a/Lawsuits:-Congressional-maps-dilute-black-voters-in-3-states). The NRF could
use our help with the hard work of undoing gerrymandering and voter
suppression. We can start getting involved here: https://democraticredistricting.com/get-involved/
4.
GOP Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel took to
Twitter to say that anyone who doesn’t support President Trump will be making a
mistake:
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/392198-gop-chairwoman-anyone-who-doesnt-support-trump-will-be-making-a-mistake Let’s
let Ms. Romney McDaniel know that we are confident that we are not making a
mistake and want the GOP to wake up to the destruction of our democracy and be
the leaders they once were: Republican National Committee, 310 First St
SE, Washington DC 20003 or on Twitter @GOPChairwoman
5.
Harley-Davidson ("Harley") workers in
Kansas City were stunned to learn that 800 jobs are being slashed after the
company received huge benefits from the new tax law. Workers are concerned that
their jobs will be going to Harley's new Bangkok facility thought Harley claims
the plant closure and plant opening are unrelated. Let's read more at NBCNews. If we're
disappointed by this move from an iconic American company, let's contact Harley
Davidson. Let's be sure to tell our Harley-loving friends
that their beloved products are no longer quite so American.
6.
Survivors of the mass shootings at Pulse nightclub
and Parkland are planning to pressure Walt Disney
Co. to withdraw its support of self-described “NRA sellout” Adam
Putnam by holding a “die-in” at a Disney property sometime this
month. Disney has donated at least $789,000 to Putnam’s political
committee. National Die-In, a group co-founded
by Parkland survivors, is in the early stages of organizing the demonstration
where protesters lie in a corpse-like pose to emphasize the effect of shooting
massacres. The protest would be at a Disney headquarters or Orlando theme park.
Let's read more at Orlando Sentinel. We can
write to Disney at WDW Community Relations, Walt Disney World
Co., P.O. Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.
7.
A representative of
the CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project tweeted yesterday
afternoon: Attys, Paralegals, Law Students! If you speak Spanish
& can aid detained parents & children in Texas (6-day stint), contact
CARA Family Detention Project! The need is urgent! If you don't speak Spanish
but can find an interpreter-partner that wd help too. If we call into any
of those categories, we can learn more here: http://www.aila.org/
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1.
“On Saturday, June 23 the #PoorPeoplesCampaign will be
headed to the US Capitol for a mass rally in Washington, D.C. as part of our
Global Day of Solidarity, rounding out the #40DaysofAction and
launching our next period of movement building for the long haul. The rally
will begin at 10am. Join us as we show
our elected leaders we will no longer allow attention violence to keep poor and
disenfranchised people down! Learn more here: http://bit.ly/MassRallyDC”
2.
“On June 29, lawyer moms around the country
are organizing to gather at our senators’ offices and deliver an open letter
stating our opposition to the current federal policy of separating migrant
children from their parents. Each of us
would do anything to keep our children safe. Each of us swore an oath to defend
the Constitution. We will not let this unconscionable practice stand on our watch.
Join us. Let's make some noise. More
info here: Lawyer
Moms of America - https://www.facebook.com/events/1308273125973346/
States
1.
ALL: Republican state legislatures
have imposed draconian “free speech” rules on public colleges and universities,
and bills to establish campus speech guidelines are under consideration in at
least 7 states. Part of a growing and well-funded campaign, these efforts
have been supported by the White House—which convened a discussion called
“Crisis on College Campus” identifying opioid abuse and the suppression of free
speech as coequal culprits in that “crisis” --while the DoJ filed its support
for a lawsuit challenging the University of Michigan for establishing “bias
response teams”:
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/conlaw/2018/06/check-it-out-nyt-on-campus-free-speech.html If we want to know funding details and
state-by-state versions of this campaign, the American Association of University
Professors has issued a report: \
https://www.aaup.org/report/campus-free-speech-legislation-history-progress-and-problems We should keep a careful eye on
whether our state legislators are voting on bills that would constrict speech
on campus--and we should let the White House know that we regard these attempts
to represent protest on campus as a "crisis" as part of a larger
Republican effort to discredit higher education.
2.
CA: California’s “Gold Standard” Net
Neutrality Law, SB822 is about to be turned to lead by ATT funded Lobbyists and
think tanks. With protections hailed the strongest in the land, the Bill has
become a target for a well funded misinformation AstroTurf and lobbying
campaign. We still have a chance to save Net Neutrality in our State, but we
must act NOW, as the hearing is scheduled for next week. We can read more
about how this bill protects all of us, especially low-income users. https://bit.ly/2JVof1z We
can send an email here:
https://action.consumerreports.org/netneutrality20180607comments We can click here to get a call script and be connected to our legislators: https://bit.ly/2JGz7wT
https://action.consumerreports.org/netneutrality20180607comments We can click here to get a call script and be connected to our legislators: https://bit.ly/2JGz7wT
3.
MI:
From Indivisible
MI-08:
"Urge Republicans to support House Bill 4120, which would amend the Safe
Water Drinking Act to require a supplier of water to a public school to collect
and analyze water at that school." We can learn more, and find phone
numbers and a call script here.
4.
NY: Governor Cuomo called for reforms to NYS antiquated voting system
and then apparently forgot to include these in his budget. Let’s insist
that the state senate bring S3304A, which includes Automatic Voter
Registration, pre-registration of 16 & 17-year-olds, and a new deadline for
switching party registration, and S7400A, which sets up an 8-day voting period,
to the floor for a vote. Here are phone numbers and a script: https://mailchi.mp/7da1a3016272/action-331903?e=ca5dfc055f
Reading/Watching
1.
“It’s
All Too Much, and We Still Have to Care:
What’s going on at the border is horrifying, but we can’t go numb
and turn away” - https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/06/family-separation-is-horrifying-but-we-cant-go-numb-and-turn-away.html
2.
The Center for Responsive Politics
OpenSecrets.org has a great primer on dark money: https://www.opensecrets.org/dark-money/basics ,
and an infographic: https://www.opensecrets.org/dark-money/shadow-infographic,
and its role in elections. Even if we think we know what dark money is, these
are good refreshers.
3.
“Here are the 5 key takeaways from the report on
the FBI's Clinton email investigation - https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/14/key-takeaways-from-inspector-general-report-clinton-email.html
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